2013 Delegate’s Conference Report

by Steve O., Delegate Eastern Pennsylvania General Service Assembly

Mini-Assembly IJune 2, 2013

63rd General Service Conference

“The General Service Conference Takes Its Inventory – Our Solution In Action”

April 21 – 27, 2013Crowne Plaza Hotel, New York, NY

GRATITUDE

I am deeply grateful to our Eastern PA General Service Assembly members for the opportunity to participate on

your behalf –

Thank You!

The 2012-13 AA Service

Manual, pS16

Conference Membership

• Area Delegates – from US & Canada93 = 71%

• Trustees, A.A.W.S. & Grapevine Directors25 = 19%

• General Service & Grapevine Staff13 = 10%

• Total 131

Delegate Statistics

Avg. Age 57yrs.Oldest 75Youngest 36Avg. Sobriety 21Longest Sobriety 37Shortest Sobriety 7Avg. Sobriety 16Longest Service 37Shortest Service 3

I. Agenda

• Theme for 2014 General Service Conference:“Communicating Our Legacies – Vital In A Changing World”

II. Cooperation with Professional Community

• Revised pamphlet “If You Area A Professional” – in section Referrals from Court &

Treatment Facilities:

“Some groups at the request of the prospective member, have the A.A. Group Secretary sign or stamp the court slip.”

III. Corrections

• Recommendation that, revised pamphlet, “A Message To Corrections Professionals” be approved.

IV. Finance

• No recommendations or actions• Mirrors Area 59 pre-Conference

Sharing

V. Grapevine

• No Recommendations – as in Area 59• One Floor Action:– Discontinue current La Vina formatting

requirements

• Motion failed

VI. Literature

• Draft pamphlet “AA Spiritual Not Religious”–Motion to re-commit to Trustees

Literature committee; Passed

• Discussion about mention of any specific religion

• Some “atheist” versus “agnostic” discussion

VI. Literature, cont’d.

• Recommendation: The 2nd paragraph on inside, front flap of the dust jacket be revised. Failed

• Recommendation: The Primary Purpose (blue card) be revised. Failed

VII. Report & Charter

• Recommendation: that a typo in AA Service Manual be corrected. Passed.– From “”uniformed” to “uninformed”

• Recommendation: Duty description for the G.S.B. Chairperson be included in the AA Service Manual – Passed

• Recommendation: A paragraph “The Principle of Rotation” be added to the AA Service Manual - Passed

VIII. Treatment/Special Needs -Accessibilities

• No Recommendations• Expressed the need for translations

of existing AV material into Spanish & French

• Need for better sound production for some materials

IX. Trustees

• All slates of candidates for boards & directors (AAWS & Grapevine, Inc.) approved

• Reviewed G.S.B. Plan for proposed “inter-locking directorate”– Took No Action

X. Archives

• Recommendation: “Marking On The Journey” be revised – Passed

• Recommendation: A 75th Anniversary Edition of the original “Big Book” be published in April 2014 – Passed

• Recommendation: posting of freely accessible, anonymity-protected archival audio clips on GSO’s AA web site - Passed

XI. International Convention/Regional Forums

• Recommended 3 cities as possible sites for 2025 International Convention–Montreal– St. Louis– Vancouver, B.C.

• Recommended: up to 21 non-AA speakers be invited attend the 2015 International Convention

XII. Public Information

• Recommendation: Short form of the Eleventh Tradition implicit includes internet, social media and all forms of public communications. Passed

• AAWS be permitted to use commissionable digital channels & third party stores to sell literature – passed

XIII. Policy/Admissions

• Recommendation: change deadline to submit Conference Agenda Items– From January 15th to December 15th

– Passed

Floor Actions

• All 6 failed• Discussion about 75th Anniversary

Commemorative Edition of Big Book in French & Spanish – failed

• “The Plan” any vote on reorganizing be decided by three-quarters - Failed

Summary

• Area 59 Delegate voted consistent with all Pre-Conference sharing

• Trust Committee Process– Especially with regard to the “Plan”

• All participants well prepared– Discussion deliberative and informed– I worked to keep an open mind

Questions?