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

GRATITUDEI 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 StatisticsAvg. 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?