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The Top 10 List
The
ten agenda items I’d most like your feedback on, listed by Committee, not
priority. The entire agenda listing begins here.
Send feedback to Ross D,
918-261-3301
delegate@aaoklahoma.org
Corrections Agenda Item B.
Review progress report from
trustees’ Committee on Corrections on signing sponsorship agreements and
legally binding documents.
Have you been asked to sign documents before going into correctional
facilities? If so, what? And was it a problem for you?
Finance Agenda
Item B.1.
“Self-Support:
Where Money and Spirituality Mix” (Pamphlet)
Consider request to replace the
"pie charts" on page 12 with text such as:
Each group is
autonomous and its informed conscience should determine the contribution
amounts to the following entities: District; Area; G.S.O. and
Intergroup/Central Office, if one services your district.
Do you prefer the pie charts, or the proposed text? Which is more helpful to your group?
Literature
Agenda Item C.
Consider developing
Conference-approved literature which focuses on spirituality that includes
stories from atheists and agnostics who are successfully sober in Alcoholics
Anonymous.
Is such a pamphlet of personal stories of how members have gotten past
the “God thing”
needed? Might it have helped
you?
Literature
Agenda Item E.
Consider request to update the
pamphlet
“A.A. and the Armed Services” with new
stories reflecting more recent experience.
Does the pamphlet seem dated to you?
Are more stories of veterans needed?
Literature
Agenda Item F.
Consider request to review the
booklet
Living Sober.
Does the booklet seem dated to you?
Literature Agenda
Item I.
Consider request to develop a book
on the history of “early pioneer women in A.A.”
Is such a book needed? Would
it be a good addition to our existing history books?
Public Information Agenda
Items B.3 and B.4.
Public Service Announcements
(P.S.A.s):
3.
Review current television P.S.A.s
for relevance and usefulness.
Our public service announcements can be viewed here. Do any of them seem dated and need to be taken out of circulation?
4. Assess the need for a new television
P.S.A.
In addition to those now on the web, we will be adding a new one this year. How important is it to produce a new one next year?
Public Information Agenda
Item F.
Consider development of a policy
on the practice of showing full faces of actors who are portraying A.A. members
or potential A.A. members in Conference-approved visual media.
What do you think? Should we
stop using full faces of actors in our videos?
Report and Charter Agenda
Items A 5 and A 6.
A.5. Consider request to (a)
publish and distribute The A.A. Service Manual every other
year and in years not produced, distribute a supplement of changes, and (b)
publish the A.A. directories (Canada, Eastern U.S. and Western U.S.) in
alternate years when the Service Manual is not published.
A.6. Consider request that The A.A. Service Manual be reprinted
only as necessary and consider publishing every three to five years with
changes being sent as inserts to existing manuals.
Given the minimal savings should the service manual be published
every year, every other year, or only as needed? Should the directories be
published every year, or is every other year sufficient?
Report and Charter Agenda
Item B.1.
Consider request that areas may
choose to opt-out of the 30-day pending period to complete processing of new
groups.
Is it worth delaying group registrations to avoid registering an
occasional non-group? Should Areas
be given the choice?
Entire Agenda (Arranged by Committee)
The entire agenda with background notes. Your input and questions are invited for
any or all of these.
I. Agenda Committee
This is to choose the theme for next year’s conference from a list of suggestions submitted from around the fellowship.
This is to choose the topics for presentations and discussions next year.
And similarly to choose the Workshop Topic next year..
At the end of the Conference, we fill out an evaluation form. This is to decide the evaluation form format for next year.
II. Cooperation With the Professional Community Committee
A routine review of the CPC Kit and Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
III. Corrections Committee
Last year the 2009 Conference recommended that the pamphlet be revised, with more current and recovery oriented stories and less “directive” language. In this last year, a trustees committee has done a review and has begun a search for new stories. This agenda item is to give the 2010 Corrections Committee a progress report and get their input. The process will then likely continue with the 2011 Conference reviewing a draft, and perhaps approving, or suggesting further changes.
Last year the 2009 Corrections Committee had an agenda item to consider the various documents that AAs are sometimes asked to sign before carrying the message behind the walls. Since then, sharing has been gathered on the subject from all around the fellowship, and the Trustees have completed a review of existing literature. This agenda item is to consider that sharing and continue the discussion. Meanwhile the Trustees have suggested various changes to improve wording on the subject in the Corrections Workbook and other service material, as well as minor changes to three conference approved pamphlets to better clarify the wording. (See the next three agenda items.) The revised wording essentially clarifies that when we go into facilities we are subject to the regulations of those facilities.
See Item B above..
See Item B above..
See Item B above..
A routine review of the Corrections Kit and Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
IV. Finance Committee
A continuation of last year’s discussion on the topic. The sense of the collected sharing is that full funding of services by group contributions is an ideal to work toward. But that we should continue with the current practice of using literature funds to support group services.
Each group is
autonomous and its informed conscience should determine the contribution
amounts to the following entities: District; Area; G.S.O. and
Intergroup/Central Office, if one services your district.
Agenda item to consider these three suggested changes to the pamphlet
Each year the Finance Committee has this discussion as a routine part of their agenda.
V. A.A. Grapevine Committee
A routine review of the Grapevine Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
Periodically the Grapevine publishes collections of GV Stories in booklet or book form. Three examples now available are booklets of stories on Home Group, Spiritual Awakenings, and Emotional Sobriety. This annual agenda item is to discuss possible collections for publication next year. Proposed this time are “Step by Step”, a collection of articles on the steps, “The Sponsorship Book”, a collection of articles on sponsorship, and “Staying Sober Through Adversity”, a collection about handling rough patches in sobriety.
Last year’s conference asked the Grapevine Board to report on the history of Conference Actions on the relationship between the Grapevine Conference Committee, the Grapevine Board, and the Grapevine. The report has been prepared, and found areas for improvement in communications between the Conference Committee, Board, and Office. This agenda item is to review that report, to discuss and perhaps clarify that relationship, and consider suggestions for improvement.
In March of last year, the Grapevine Magazine got a new look, making the magazine much more attractive. This agenda item is to consider making the same kinds of changes to the Spanish language La Viña magazine. The cost of doing so would increase the current 2010 budged loss of $79,000 to something like $123,000. And similar cost increases would follow in subsequent years.
VI. Literature Committee
The 2007 Conference asked AAWS to revise this pamphlet of stories sharing AA’s experience on the subject. It was last revised in the 1980s. Thus the need of updating--drugs and terminology have changed in the last 25 years. The 2008 Conference heard a progress report and asked AAWS to continue. Last year, the 2009 Conference reviewed a draft revision, and sent it back for further work. This agenda item is to review an updated draft, and we may approve it, or send it back for more work.
This pamphlet was created in 1954, and underwent a major revision in 1974. Since then it has had only minor changes. Last year‘s conference asked that the trustees review and update the pamphlet with a view to eliminate outmoded ethnic, cultural and vocational references. The trustees have done that and has a draft revision for consideration. This item is to review that draft, and approve it or send it back for more work.
Last year ‘s conference considered a similar question and after some procedural detours, finally ended up sending it to the Trustee’s Literature Committee. That Committee has gathered more input from the fellowship and added it to the previous background materials (now over 100 pages). This agenda item is for the Conference to look at the question again, with the added input. This would be a recovery pamphlet of stories of AA members and how they got past their initial reluctance about “the God thing”. Its purpose would be to help newcomers or prospective members get past their resistance.
Generally, those opposed to the new literature say there is already a lot of material for atheists and agnostics and other spiritual paths scattered throughout our literature, and that such a pamphlet might water down the spiritual aspect of the program. Those wanting the new literature say that material scattered in pieces through various literature is not helpful in giving the atheist or agnostic newcomer clear and concise shared experience to help them get past their reluctance. They also point out that the AA membership contains only those of us who have gotten past our reservations about God; those who didn’t get past that hurdle are not in AA to discuss this question or tell us of the need. And they discuss the condescending tone they sometimes encounter in AA on this subject.
The pamphlet includes, on page 22, the question “What is a Closed Meeting”. The answer currently in the pamphlet indicates only members of that group or another group may attend closed meeting, which would leave out AA members not currently a member of any group. The suggestion here is to change the statement to simply say Closed meetings are for AA members.
This agenda item originated as a request from an Area for a recovery pamphlet for veterans. The trustees noted that the “AA and the Armed Services” pamphlet already includes stories of veterans as well as active duty personnel. That pamphlet was last updated in 2003. This item is to consider updating the pamphlet with more current stories generally, as well as consideration of the need for inclusion of more veterans’ stories.
This booklet for newcomers was first published in 1975 from stories collected in the early ‘70s, and has not been changed significantly since. This agenda item is to consider reviewing the booklet to see where it may be dated or need revising, and make recommendations to next year’s conference on whether it needs updating
For our conference approved literature, the General Service Conference decides the content, and the GSO Publications Department can make routine editorial changes as needed. (Example: to update the footnotes about how many members and groups we have, or to fix obvious typos.) This agenda item proposes to more precisely define what we mean by “editorial changes.”.
This 22 minute video is for informing the fellowship about the services provided by GSO and the Grapevine, and explains the functioning of the Service Structure of the General Service Conference and the General Service Board. Produced in 1998, it may be time to review it to see where it might need updating. There is also a request to consider expanding description of the Service Structure to include the GSR and DCM levels.
This request points out that our history books, “Pass It On”, “Dr Bob and the Good Old Timers”, and “AA Comes of Age” have very little about the first women in AA, and asks us to consider adding a history book to cover that subject. The cost of producing the book is estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.
VII. Policy/Admissions Committee
A.
Consider approving admission to
the 2010 General Service Conference of Donna Gibson, alternate delegate, Area
33, Southeast Michigan, in place of Derek Daniel, the Panel 59 delegate for
Area 33, who resigned.
When a Delegate cannot serve for any reason, the alternate delegate takes his place. This routine formality is for the conference to accept the alternate as the delegate.
B.
Approve invitations for two
observers from the General Service Board of
Each year, we allow two observers, generally a Trustee
and a GSO Staff member, from up to two other “GSOs” to sit in as
observers to our conference. This
agenda item is the formal approval for two observers from
C.
Review dates for the 2013 General
Service Conference.
This committee will set the dates for the 2013 Conference.
D.
Discuss report forwarded by the
General Service Board regarding the General Service Conference undertaking a
comprehensive inventory of itself.
In the last few years, the Trustees, AAWS, and the Grapevine have taken inventory of themselves. (Similar to a Group Inventory.) This agenda item is to consider whether or not the Conference should take its own inventory, and if so, what such an inventory might look like.
E.
Discuss report forwarded by the
General Service Board regarding the development of procedures for the
submission of Concept V minority appeals to the General Service Conference.
Concept 5, in its first paragraph indicates that any Trustee, Director or Staff, if they believe a grave error has been made that would seriously affect AA as a whole, they can appeal directly to the Conference. Note that in the entire history of the Conference, only two such appeals have been raised, and for the most recent one, there was no process for it. This agenda item asks us to develop a procedure for these appeals, should another one come up.
VIII. Public Information Committee
A.
Consider 2009 Annual Web site
Report from the trustees’ Committee on Public Information.
Our aa.org web site is under the direction of a committee in AAWS. That committee makes quarterly reports to the Trustees PI Committee, and in turn, they produce an annual report for the Conference PI Committee. Thus AAWS has the flexibility to keep the web site current, while providing reports that let the Trustees and the Conference maintain oversight. This agenda item is for the Conference PI Committee to review the annual report.
B.
Public Service Announcements
(P.S.A.s):
Last year’s Conference approved developing a new television Public Service Announcement (PSA). The PSA has been developed, and this agenda item is to review, and approve (or reject) that PSA for distribution.
For recent PSAs, we have hired a service to distribute
our new PSAs to about 800 TV stations in three languages across the
Right now we have five previous PSAs available in our literature catalog for local PI committees to order for delivery to local stations. You can view them here. This item is to review them and decide whether any of those are outdated and should be removed from distribution.
This is to decide whether or not to produce a new PSA next year. Historically we have produced a new one each year. Television stations don’t like to play the same PSAs over and over, and we can keep the appeal fresh and up to date. A new PSA costs about $40,000 to develop.
C.
Consider adding a statement to the
pamphlet “Understanding Anonymity” to clarify
the importance of not breaking the anonymity of living A.A. members in memorial
announcements when one of our Fellowship dies.
Last year’s conference suggested adding such a statement. This is for approval of the change which will be an added sentence on page 10 of the pamphlet, after the statement about guarding a deceased member’s anonymity. This new change is brought up by occasional statements in obituaries like “…among his AA friends were…” and listing the deceased’s AA friends.
D.
A.A. Videos for Young People
Project
1.
Consider approving the video with
the working title “Animation” as part of the A.A. Videos for Young
People Project.
Last year’s conference approved producing the first DVD containing four videos for young people. These videos had been submitted by AA members and feature young AAs telling their stories. (Anonymity protected of course.) We have received a 5th video and this agenda item is to consider adding it to the DVD.
2.
Consider the trustees’
Public Information Committee Report on the A.A. Videos for Young People
Project.
The Young People’s video project is on-going—we are encouraging submission of other videos. This will be a report from the Trustees PI committee on how that is going
E.
“A.A. at a Glance”
1.
Consider replacing the term
“drying out” with “detox” in the “What A.A. Does
Not Do” section of the “A.A. at
a Glance” flyer so that the phrase
“provide drying-out or nursing services or sanitariums” is changed
to “provide detox or nursing services or sanitariums.”
The current phrase “drying out place” seems somewhat dated. This would replace it by the more current “detox”. A similar change would be made in the “Information on AA” service piece, but that does not require Conference approval.
2.
Consider placing the full text of
the “What A.A. Does Not Do” section of the service piece “Information
on A.A.” into the “What A.A. Does Not Do” section
of the “A.A. at
a Glance” flyer.
Last year’s conference noted that the two publications have different lists of what AA does not do, and suggested that the two lists be made the same. This is to approve the change to the pamphlet to match the service piece.
F.
Consider development of a policy
on the practice of showing full faces of actors who are portraying A.A. members
or potential A.A. members in Conference-approved visual media.
In our videos, including PSAs, we have always used actors to portray AA members or potential AA members, making it clear with disclaimers that there are no actual AA members in the video. Some videos show the full faces of the actors, others show only partial faces, rear shots etc as if protecting anonymity, even though they are actors. There is some thought that the use of full faces may send a subtle message that we are not serious about anonymity. Others say that sometimes using full faces allows expressing more emotion and a stronger message, and that showing partial, hidden faces may give the impression that we are a secretive organization. This agenda item is to come up with a policy on the question of whether we will use full faces of the actors in future videos. To get a feel for the difference, view our PSAs here. Some of them use full faces and some do not. Also see the videos for professionals here.
G.
Consider submitting a request to
the trustees’ Committee on the Conference to hold a future General
Service Conference on the theme of “Anonymity in a Digital Age.
There is growing concern about the anonymity implications of the world wide web, and considerable misunderstanding within the fellowship about the issues involved. In particular, social networking sites like Face Book present tremendous new challenges. This agenda item will allow the PI committee to consider the issues, and perhaps suggest a wider discussion by making it the theme of a future General Service Conference.
H.
Review contents of P.I. Kit and Workbook.
A routine review of the PI Kit and Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
VIIII. Report and Charter Committee
Each year the AA Grapevine Board reviews the Service Manual and suggests any needed changes. This item is to consider such changes.
Similar review of suggestions from the AAWS Board.
Similar review of suggestions from the General Service Board
To approve a long list of routine, minor changes to Service Manual.
This suggestion was made as a cost reduction idea. AAWS says going to every other year for the Service Manual would be minimal savings. Going to every other year with the Directories would save $32,000 to $40,000 each year it is not produced.
Suggested as cost saving measure. It would produce minimal savings.
This suggestion points out that we really haven’t asked the fellowship how they view the Service Manual and what uses they make of it—which could make a difference in how it is arranged and what information it should contain. This idea is to ask the fellowship at large for their thoughts.
A fairly minor suggestion for change that might help clarify.
Currently, when GSO receives notification of a new group, they pass the information along to the delegate for that Area, and wait 30 days to give the delegate or someone a chance to visit the new group and verify that it is really there, and that there is no reason not to list it. After the 30 days, the group is listed unless word is received from the delegate. This may occasionally prevent listing a non-existent or non-functioning group, but it also delays the new group getting its new group packet etc by 30 days. This item would give Areas the option to opt out of the practice and have new groups listed immediately.
A routine review of the format and content of the Directories.
Right now, the Conference Final Report lists those Committee recommendations and floor actions that passed into Advisory Actions near the front of the report. The Committee recommendations and floor actions that are not passed are listed separately near the back. This agenda item suggests moving the “did not pass” list up front right after the list of those that did pass.
A routine review of the format and content of the Conference Final Report
X Treatment Facilities Committee
Last year the Conference voted to develop a new recovery pamphlet of stories of AA members with special needs. Some 38 stories have been submitted. This agenda item is to review those stories along with the Trustee’s Committee recommendations. The Conference could recommend the Trustees proceed to develop the pamphlet, they could recommend collecting more or different stories, or they can just end the project.
Last year’s conference recommended a review of current treatment literature with a view to expanding the information to cover out-patient programs. A trustees sub-committee made that review, and realized that the very phrase “Treatment Facility” is somewhat limited and outdated. The current treatment world includes detox, outpatient, inpatient, day programs, gender specific programs, youth, aftercare, half-way, sober living, etc. They also realized that the literature would be more current if instead of referring to “Treatment Facilities”, the text was changed to simply “Treatment”, or sometimes “Treatment settings”, or “Treatment services”. This agenda item is to consider making those changes and to rename the committee itself accordingly.
An area that uses forms comparable to our Area 57 purple and yellow cards are submitted, and this is to consider creating such cards at GSO for distribution though our catalog. Individual Areas can produce their own, but there is some thought that a GSO produced form might have more credibility, in the Treatment and Corrections facilities.
A routine review of the Treatment Kit and Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
A routine review of the Special Needs Kit and Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
XI. Trustees Committee
(For Items A thru D) Each year the Conference approves or elects Trustees and Directors to fill vacancies left by rotation, resignation, etc. For privacy of the candidates, only the Trustees Committee receives the resume’s in advance. Then at .the conference, those who are involved in the voting for a given seat are able to review the resumes of the candidates actually standing. Thus for A through D, the consideration will necessarily be at the Conference.
The language referred to on page S65 is a bit confusing and this minor recommended change is to clarify.
XII. Archives Committee
A routine review of the Archives Workbook for accuracy, currency, effectiveness.
This item suggests producing the presentation to give folks that can’t visit the archives to get a feel for what it is like. While such a presentation can be made, it is pointed out that we already have a DVD called “Markings on the Journey” which covers much of this same information.
XIII. International Conventions/Regional Forums Committee
This will be a report updating us on the most recent status of the 2010 International Convention.
The 2010 Convention is in
A general discussion of the subject.