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Quinn G./alcoholic/Panel 59/Area 39/Western Missouri Delegate Conference Reference Documents I arrived at 5 PM Saturday at White Plains Airport - 5 miles and a $35 cab ride from the hotel. Many things were different this year. I missed the hospitality room get together (noon - 4 PM) and the Remote Communities presentation (4 - 6PM) due to United redoing my 2 PM arrival time. I checked into room 432 ( 28th floor last year). I had dinner with some of the Southwest Region Delegates. Then it was coat and tie time starting at 7:30 PM Saturday night at The Delegates Only Meeting. I was excited yet very calm since I knew the program contents and also knew a lot of the people from my first Conference. Lowell L.(Eastern PA.)delegate chairperson gave the welcoming remarks. I met my Panel 60 Delegate Buddy ,Ino F., (Puerto Rico). There were presentations/sharing from Panel 59 Delegates on "Overview of Conference Week"; "Why We Are Here"; "Trusting The Committee Process"; "the Full Committee Process". Kathy O.`s tiara and Re`al`s Fre/English comments were the hits of the night. There was a feeling of participation, trust, mutual respect, and love in the air with no personal agendas. We were off to a great start and the Conference did not officially start until 10:30 AM Sunday I returned to my room to continue ironing clothes for the week ahead. 5 AM - midnight became my normal routine for the next 8 days. Thank God for my 35 minute 6:30 AM walks around the wooded grounds; the big prayer rock; readings; and 7:30 - 8:30AM A.A. meetings. I also had phone conversations with Kathi, my Sponsor, Steve P. (Alt. Del. ) and various A.A. folks to help keep me grounded and balanced. You are never alone unless you make that choice. Sunday at 8 - 9 AM I attended the 1728 meeting. This is an open meeting to help Class A Trustees and other non-alcoholics learn more about recovery thru a discussion format involving the history, practice, and experience in the Twelve Steps, Traditions, and Concepts which form the three legacies of A.A (12X12X12=1728). I officially registered at 9:30 AM and received my badge, committee workbook and conference notebook. Our opening session started at 10:30 AM. Phyllis H., our General Service Manager, did the roll call. I got goose bumps when my name was called and I answered "present". We had a review of the week`s agenda ,along with an explanation of the working of the Conference including the new Floor Action procedure. I got reacquainted with last year’s terms (Recommendations, Friendly Amendments, Reconsiderations, Advisory Actions, Additional Considerations, Call the Question, Decline To Consider). Bill Clark, Class A Trustee, gave the keynote address "Living The Path". There was a lunch and Delegate Orientation for all eight regions in separate rooms. Conley B, Southwest Regional Trustee, chaired for our eleven Delegates (Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado) and special guest Jim Estelle. 1:15 - 2 PM the Conference heard three presentations on "Practicing These Principles in All Our Service Affairs" - General Service Conference/service in general; Love and Tolerance is Our Code; and Setting An Example - Attraction to Service. These Panel 59 presenters, as well as all other service opportunities at the Conference, receive "a loving invitation" letter to participate. I have copies of all the Conference presentations, workshops, Board/GSO reports; general data, finances, Grapevine data, and Committee reports if anyone wishes to look at them or obtain copies. 2:15 - 5:15 PM the various Joint Trustees/Conference Meetings (one hour-no voting) were held. Trustee Chairs give the report and take any questions. I now had a little spare time for more clothes ironing and engaging in "mini-meetings" all over the hotel - just like our Area. Sunday night from 6:30 - 10:30 PM we had the Opening Dinner and A.A. Speaker Meeting for all Conference attendees and their guests. I had dinner next to one of the new Class A Trustees - Frances B. After dinner came the five speakers (two Delegates, a Regional Trustee, GSO Staff member, Grapevine Director). One of my duties this year as Alternate Chair on Agenda Conference Committee was to introduce the speakers from the podium. I got to share some stories about them with the audience. Each speaker had a 10 minute time limit. We had a lot of fun. Conference Committee Meetings began Monday and Tuesday mornings (9 AM - noon). Eight of the thirteen Committees met for over the reserved six hours - Policy/Admissions, Report/Charter - 12+; Finance - 9+; Literature, Agenda, Trustees - 8+. Any spare time and shortened lunches/dinners are used until the business of A.A. Committee work is done! There are eleven standing committees and two secondary committees (Archives, International Conventions/Regional Forums). There are 8 - 9 Delegates on each Committee (part Panel 59s/part Panel 60s) . Each Delegate serves both years on the same committee. Monday, after lunch, we heard Panel 60 (First Year ) Delegate two minute Delegate Reports on Area Service Highlights from Eastern Canada (4) and West Central (4) Regions. At week`s end there were only three Delegates who ran over the green-yellow-red light on the podium. 2 - 4 PM, we had more reports. The General Service Board Report was given by Ward Ewing. He shared about new people at GSO and the General Service Board; the new Forum Orientation Sessions; GSO travels; ICYPAA; and Vulnerable Members in A.A. The A.A.W.S. Board Report contained information about what AAWS does; Regional/Special Forums and other events; international travel; finances; literature sales; and GSO staff operations. Next, we had a demonstration of the new service "Contributions On Line" which is anticipated to go live sometime in May 2010. This was a lively topic with many questions. I have given a copy of the handout to our Area Treasurer/Alt. Treasurer. Grapevine Board report included information on circulation; 2009 literature distribution figures; income; costs; expenses; Board activities/projects; why A.A. Grapevine is in deficit and steps they are taking to reverse this trend. The Finance Report (graphs/charts/figures) was on a big screen and a 28 page handout. GSO Functional Expenses were down. The 2009 cost of services per member - $6.40; per group - $142.64. 44.3% of total groups contributed to GSO in 2009 (W.MO - 50.9%) . US DEPT Labor: fascinating fact-inflation calculation page - $1 in 1945, buying power is $11.92 in 2009; $1 in 2009 - buying power in 1945 = $.008. We had more Area two minute Service Highlights - Southeast Region - 6; Northeast Region - 10; East central Region - 6; and Western Canada Region - 2 with dinner served in the middle of all this activity. I had a great dinner/conversation with Leonard B. - past chairman of the board. Michelle Mirza - new Archives Director gave a presentation. She is our 5th director; been there since 1999 and is not one of us. We had one of our three Sharing Sessions - "What`s on Your Mind". I closed out Monday with ice cream at 10 PM with our Southwest region. Delegate statistics: average age - 55; age range - 34 to 75; service year range - 5 to 28; average service years - 15; sobriety range - 7 to 33 years. There were 131 voting members - 93 Delegates (71%); 24 Trustees/AAWS, Grapevine Directors (18.3%) and 14 GSO/Grapevine Staff (10.7%). There were also 30 (non-voting) GSO personnel assisting with the Conference. Tuesday 9 AM to Noon, there were more Conference Committee meetings. My Committee had lunch in their meeting room as they continued to work. After lunch, there were more two minute Area Service Highlights from Panel 60 Delegates from the Southwest Region (4) and Pacific Region (8) . A thrilling moment is when each region finishes the rest of the Conference audience gives them a loud standing ovation! There was no trip to the GSO offices this year. Then we had three Panel 59 Delegate presentations on "Unity Through Inventory" - "Our Common Welfare Should Come First"; "This We Owe to A.A.`s Future"; and "What Happens After Inventory?". After another "What`s on your mind" sharing session, I participated in a workshop - "Discuss The General Service Conference Agenda Selection Process". There were 10 workshop groups with numerous ideas about what is working /not working and how to improve the process. I got to learn the GSO staff and trustees thoughts on this important responsibility. The Delegates only dinner was next, followed by more reading, writing, and ironing in my room. Wednesday morning 9 - 11 AM were elections for the new Pacific Regional Trustee (Rod B. - Utah) from 14 candidates, and Eastern Canada Trustee (Donald C. - Northwest Quebec) from 9 candidates. Neither election went to the hat. I was selected to list each name and tally the elections on a big board behind the podium. The 2011 Delegate Conference Chair - from the hat - was Leon A. (Area 41); Alt. Chair - Louie B. (Area 55). After another "What`s On Your Mind" sharing session, there was another regional luncheon for the Delegates. Mary D. (our Southwest Regional correspondent at GSO) and Don M. General Service trustee) were our guests. We discussed the Conference; 2013 Regional event in Oklahoma City; 2010 International Convention; and Southwest Region Trustee candidate"s elections in the fall of 2010. After lunch, we had three more Panel 59s giving presentations on: General Service Conference Agenda Selection Process - 1. How it Works, 2. Collective Participation, and 3 Communication - The Key to an Informed Decision. Other 2009 highlights/information: 2011 Conference will be in N.Y. City. Grapevine Editor in chief, Robin B. is leaving. 38,000 registered for the 2010 International Convention. 1,513 visitors to GSO and 1,703 new registered groups in 2009. GSO staff members were invited to help carry the message in other countries (Japan, Guatemala, South Africa, Columbia, Peru, Germany, Thailand) . 2009 contributions for 2009 were 2.5% less ($166,700) than 2008. GSO 2009 net profit - + $1.273,600 million. Big Book sales - 55.5% of all books sold. 30.6% of all books purchased were by non-A.A.s. 2009 contributions plus literature sales = $14.50 million. 2009 net losses: Grapevine ($132,599) LaVina ($54,472). Their circulations were 102,000+ and 9600+. LaVina has a new editor (female). There are about 1,400 Grapevine subscriptions in the entire state of MO. Archives at GSO had 1,200 requests for information. Corrections Department received 600 pieces of mail/month and had 1,271 new inmate requests for Corrections Correspondence Services. GSO STAFF - 11 A.A. members answered 51,000 calls/e-mails/letters (25% increase over 2008). GSO staff at the end of 2009 - 78 full time , 5 part-time employees. The 2010 International Convention has 650 speakers and over 200 meetings. Here we were at 2 PM - the start of Committee Reports and Discussion - the main business of the week. The Committees can make recommendations that are voted on after full floor discussion. If 2/3 majority approves, the recommendation becomes a Conference Advisory action, which becomes binding when approved by the General Service Board. The Conference committee can also vote to take no action (decide no change is needed); defer action to the next Conference; or put Agenda items under an Additional Consideration heading - where only questions can be asked but no vote taken. A Committee Chair can be requested (friendly amendment) from the floor to talk to their committee about changing wording in a particular recommendation. Last resort is a floor action - we ended up with 17 of those! More on that later. Ward and Phyllis were ready at the podium to guide the Conference Reports proceedings as presented by the Delegate Chairs. Six empty mikes awaited on the floor. Two minutes per person at the mike and no repeating anything previously spoken - you have to have your thoughts in order! This is where I did much listening, reading, and writing notes - all at the same time! Another special exciting moment for all of us seated in the audience! I also got to count votes for each recommendation until Friday night. It was a good break to get on my feet and count hands in rows. We ended up with 37 Conference Advisory Actions; 61 Additional Committee Considerations; and 4 approved Floor Action recommendations. Before the Conference, the trustees Committees had tabled 9 proposed agenda items and and took no action on another 14 . Committee order is drawn out of the hat unless a Committee has unfinished business to discuss. All Committees elected a new Chairperson and Alternate Chairperson from the Panel 60 Delegates for 2011 Conference as their last order of business. Treatment Facilities/Special Needs/Accessibilities Committee was first. They had no Recommendations and 5 Additional Considerations. They had language suggestions for the proposed Special Needs recovery pamphlet. "Facilities" will stay in the Committee title. The Trustees will further develop and expand two locally created BTG forms. Young People`s videos and the DVD - Hope will be included in the treatment kit. Ideas were suggested using outpatient treatment settings to carry the A.A. message in the Treatment Kit. Illiteracy and autism special needs shared A.A. experience gathering was requested. No action was taken on rescinding the revised Hope video or on developing a Special Needs poster. Next up was CPC. CPC had no Recommendations and 4 Additional Considerations. In the CPC Kit: sample format on contact with professionals; developing a Class A trustees Grapevine, LaVina, LaVigne shared experience service piece; and using various videos. Have the Trustee CPC Committee consider a follow up process for professionals attending national CPC exhibits. Look into consolidating CPC pamphlets and other materials into cost effective digital media (CD,DVD) for professionals. Consider adding a question to "About A.A." postcard for professional f/u contact with local CPC Committees. Policy/Admissions had 5 Recommendations and no Additional Considerations. The alternate Delegate, Area 33,Southeast Michigan, was seated due to Delegate`s resignation. Two members of the General Service Board of Venezuela were seated at the Conference as observers. The 63rd General Service Conference will be held April 21-27, 2013. The General Service Conference will conduct a thorough inventory of itself. A Conference Inventory Planning Committee will be established to develop an inventory plan/cost estimates and forward this to the 2011 Policy/Admissions Conference Committee for consideration. A recommendation for a procedure for the submission of Concept Five minority appeals to the General Service Conference was voted 110 No 12 Yes. A Floor Action Friday night recommitted this to the GSB for a report back to the 2011 Policy/Admissions Conference Committee. 108 Yes. 11 No. Thursday morning, Corrections had 3 Recommendations and 5 Additional Considerations. The sentence "obey the rules of the facility you are visiting" in the pamphlet "Carrying the Message Into Correctional Facilities" has been replaced. The last sentence on page 4 "Policy Meetings" in the pamphlet "A A. in Correctional Facilities" has been revised. Two sentences have been added to the end of the first paragraph under "Inmate Group" in the pamphlet "A Message to Correctional Professionals". Staff members were requested to continue to gather sharing on local solutions on signing sponsorship agreements and legally binding documents at facilities. Suggestions were made regarding the Corrections Kit/Workbook and the pamphlet "It Sure Beats Sitting in A Cell". Grapevine Conference Committee had 2 Recommendations and 3 Additional Considerations. Publish LaVina on a spiritual parity with the A.A. Grapevine (bimonthly, perfect-bound, black and white, 68 pages) for 2011 and review results in 2012 for 2013. The Conference will obtain responses from the Fellowship on four questions about A.A. Grapevine for review by the 2011 Grapevine Conference Committee. The Grapevine Board History of Advisory actions and the Grapevine Workbook contents were reviewed. Electronic updates were suggested. The Committee suggested production in 2011 or later, the collection of stories on: The Steps; a Sponsorship ; and Staying Sober thru Adversity. After lunch, Don M. (trustee at large) and Warren S. (GSO staff) gave heartfelt presentations on A.A. Around the World. Next were three presentations by Panel 59 Delegates on The A.A. Grapevine - "Carrying The Message" using The A.A. Grapevine, LaVina,and LaVigne as topics. PI Committee had 6 Recommendations and 12 Additional Considerations. The PSA "My World" was approved. A statement about anonymity of living AA members in memorial announcements was added to the Anonymity pamphlet. The A.A. video for Young people "Animation" was approved (about 5 minutes video length-fantastic!). We saw it 6 times. The term detox will replace drying out in "What AA Does Not Do" section of AA at a Glance. The Trustees PI Committee was recommended to report back to the 2011 PI Conference Committee with a draft policy on showing or not showing full faces of actors who are portraying A.A. members or potential A.A. members in conference-approved visual media. Another hot topic! Suggestions were made regarding anonymity on online media; AA Videos for Young People; all PSAs; having a possible future Conference theme on "Anonymity in a Digital Age The PI Kit/Workbook were reviewed. At the end, the PI Chair put on her catcher`s mask and asked - "any more questions!" Literature, 5 Recommendations and 3 Additional Considerations, started Thursday night and resumed Friday morning. 6 Committees done - 7 to go! The revised pamphlet "The AA Member - Medication and other Drugs" was not approved (99Yes 22No; Reconsider-83Yes 35No; Vote-54Yes 68No). Passed floor action returned this to trustees Literature Committee. The booklet "Living Sober" will be reviewed. The pamphlet "AA and the Armed Services " will begin to be updated. The paragraph regarding closed meetings in the pamphlet "Frequently Asked Questions About A.A." - page 22 - will be replaced. The Trustees` Committee on Literature will begin to develop literature which focuses on spirituality that includes stories from atheists and agnostics who are successfully sober in A.A. No action was taken on developing a book on the history of early pioneer women in AA. No action was taken on defining the editorial responsibility of GSO`s Publications Department. "This is Your GSO" literature piece was tabled. Report and Charter had 3 Recommendations and 11 Additional Considerations. It was recommended the Publications Department publish the Area Service Highlights in their entirety in the Final Report. A section be added to The A.A. Service Manual describing the role of trustees emeriti. Advisory Actions and Additional Considerations be published exactly as approved by the Conference in the Final Report - this was rescinded by floor action #4. Publishing AA Directories annually and letting areas choose to opt of the 30-day pending period to complete processing of new groups did not pass. Revisions and numerous updates were made concerning The A.A. Service Manual. No action was taken to publish the Manual other than annually or to move a section of the Final Conference Report. Rick W., International Convention Coordinator gave a presentation (89% registered online; 72 countries; American Medical Association will receive the 30th million copy of Big Book). Agenda Committee had 3 Recommendations and 3 Additional Considerations. The 2011 General Service Conference Theme will be "We Are Responsible for A.A.`s Future - Let it Begin With Us." There will be 12 presentation/discussion topics under 4 main headings: Alcoholics Anonymous in a Digital Age; An Informed Group Conscience:The Voice of A.A.; Diversity in A.A.; Sponsorship. The workshop topic will be "How to Increase Participation in A.A - Striving for Self-Support in All Our Affairs." Suggestions were made regarding the Conference Evaluation Form. The Trustees Conference Committee tabled: extending the Conference; prioritizing conference agenda items; and interfacing this Committee and the Conference Agenda Committee for approval of any/all proposed GSC agenda items. Trustees Committee had 4 Recommendations and 6 Additional Considerations. The slate of the trustees and officers of the General Service Board were reviewed and approved. The slates of directors for A.A. World Services, Inc. and A.A. Grapevine, Inc. were reviewed/approved. The resumes of the Pacific and Eastern Canada Regional trustee elections were reviewed and approved. Suggestions were forwarded to 2011 Report/Charter Conference Committee about language in S65, S67 in The A.A. Service Manual regarding Regional Trustee and Trustee-at-large Election procedures. Further discussion will be requested from the Trustee committee on Nominating regarding the impact of unplanned, unfilled regional trustee; Class A; and General service trustee vacancies. Archives had no Recommendations. The new Digital Archives Exhibit will be launched in May 2010. The Archives workbook was reviewed. No action was taken on the addition of a daily historical reference to GSO`s Web Site. International Conventions/Regional Forums had no Recommendations and 3 Additional Considerations. Reports were heard for the upcoming International Convention. The report on International site selection was reviewed. Ways to encourage interest in Forums were discussed. Finance - the final report - due to the "Pie Chart" floor actions (more later) had 3 Recommendations and 3 Additional Considerations. The request to replace the existing pie charts on page 12 of the pamphlet "Self-Support: Where Money & Spirituality Mix" will be recommitted to the trustees Finance Committee and report back to the 2011 Conference Committee on Finance. (original vote 72 yes 50 no = not 2/3). Using the Grapevine magazine/literature purchases as a form of self-support participation will be added to this pamphlet. No specific limit should be placed on the use of literature profits to fund services. The trustees` Finance Committee should gather personal stories drawn from the Fellowship that humanize the impact of Seventh Tradition monies. After dinner, we had a fun spot - the International Convention Skit put on by GSO office staff. Now at 8:20 PM - 10:12 came the 17 Floor Actions - 4 passed. I will skim thru my list for you - get ready for a wild rundown! 10:20 - 11:40 PM we had the Farewells - one minute each at the mikes - by rotating (59s) Delegates. It was the first time in 3 years - very emotional for me, with much laughter and tears by all! Ward Ewing had closing remarks. The closing was The Serenity Prayer, spoken in English, French, and Spanish by 3 Panel 59 Delegates. 11:53 PM - we are done! I got the right closure to the Conference! Saturday was the closing brunch and the farewell talks by the rotating Trustees - Bill Clark/Class A and Madeline P. /Class B-Pacific Region. Great talks! Their level of dedication and love of service was very evident. Tears of joy and much laughter was shared by all in the audience. 10 AM - we were loaded on buses for the trip to Stepping Stones. Before I forget, three sayings I heard that stuck with me this week - "this horse is dead - dismount; my bladder is smaller than your lungs; I am because you are". I hope you all get an opportunity to visit and experience Stepping Stones! I have a postcard display and some pictures to share. I got to sit in Bill`s chair at his desk where he did all his writings. What a thrill that was for me! This small building (Wit`s End) is up the hill from the main house. I wondered what went thru Bill`s mind when he sat there dealing with the many challenges to A.A.`s growth. The house was crammed pictures, letters, tributes, furniture, books, dishes, and musical instruments (including Lois`s piano by the front door that all visitors are invited to play). A special cleaning company comes in to work on the house interior. I sat in the kitchen by the coffee pot where numerous alcoholics before me sat sharing the language of the heart. Bill`s daily prayer was on his bed. The bible he wrote in five different times - dated - where he told Lois this time he was quitting drinking, was open in a display case. He drank five more years after the last entry. My favorite item was a map of A.A. groups in the US 1935-1942. There were little ink dots showing group locations. One dot in St. Louis. One dot in Kansas City. Nothing in between there and California! Bill tried to get Dr. Bob to move there at one time. The housing search never worked out. It felt special to be here among these historical treasures. My Sponsor was here 12 years ago. It was everything he said it would be, and more. We had a picnic on the front lawn and headed back to the hotel. I had dinner at an Italian restaurant with most of the other Delegates in our region topped off by ice cream at "The Last Lick". Sunday morning at 4 AM, I started my journey home. My 11:15 AM arrival time at KCI became 10:30 PM. I had airplane delays, breakdowns, cancellations, reservation mix-ups, and weather problems in N.Y. and Chicago. I was running below empty. "Don`t rush" were the the repeated phone messages to Kathi. I was very happy to be home after the 55 mile drive from the airport. PS - my luggage ( 2 ruined bags) arrived on my doorstep at 6 AM the next day. The 36 principles were alive and in action at the Conference. I will remember these experiences for the rest of my life. So many wonderful people I encountered in my two NY trips - the GSO staff; Class A & B Trustees, and all the Panel 58,59,60 Delegates. The love and group conscience voice of A.A. spoke on the floor and in the Committees. Genuine service humility was displayed. There was respect, appreciation, and commitment evident. A.A. is in good hands. The Conference participation was democratic in thought and action with an authority and responsibility balance. I wondered if our first Delegate at the first Conference in 1951 - 3 days - (David Millar - Sedalia, MO. - Agenda Committee) returned with as much hope as I did at the Conference conclusion. Thank you for allowing me to serve you as your trusted servant. Some of you out there will be the future Delegates for Area 39. I am available to help you in any possible way. Thank you for allowing me to share this report. |
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