Delegate Report - October 2024

Good morning, Area 41 - First things, first, hot off the press! Final Conference Reports from the 74th General Service Conference are here! Please take one for you and many for other members and GSRs at home. See Chuck or Mark at the back of the room. One error that I’m aware of - on page 51, there was one item that passed with a simple majority but the printed copy says none. The digital version available on www.aa.org has been corrected.

Since July, I submitted the three agenda items for the 75th General Service Conference the Area voted to submit. In a follow-up to our discussion on District 9’s request, one group has moved to Area 76. It has been a busy few months of traveling around the Area to meet with districts and groups. So far, I have gone more than 4,000 miles to share 19 delegate reports. I have 5 scheduled this quarter, 4 more are pending a district, and I haven’t heard back from 7 districts. If your district or group would like a report or there’s something I can do to serve you, please let me know.

I, along with more than a dozen delegates, submitted Concept 5 appeals to the General Service Board on a range of topics after this year’s GSC. This is the first time in our history sitting delegates have submitted appeals. Most of the appeals focused on the Board’s conduct and not allowing the Conference to finish the work of the Fellowship at the 74th GSC. These were discussed at the July Board Meeting, but to date, we have received no response from the Board. We did learn that the Board took no action on the floor actions that were left over after Conference. The Board cited respecting the Conference process as the reason. I haven’t been able to find a trustee that can explain how that makes sense.

Now for some updates from General Service:

• The Plain Language Big Book will be available November 1st. 70,000 units were printed and it will cost $11 or $11.99 for the e-book.
• If you have ideas for themes or workshop topics for the 76th GSC, please let me know!
• A Corrections Survey was just released from the General Service Office to gather shared experience on how A.A. members encourage and engage members in corrections. The deadline to participate is December 15. I will email out a link if you’re interested.
• The Military Outreach Project has a landing page at www.aa.org and the GSO Treatment Desk has a call out for experience from those who have had successful outreach to active duty and veterans. If you’d like to participate, please let me know.
• A new accessibilities project has been released! Videos in ASL for Alcoholics who are Deaf are now available on the Grapevine and La Vina Youtube channels. The people signing in the videos are not members of the Fellowship and disclaimers appear on the videos.
• The updated Black in AA and Bridging the Gap pamphlets are available!
• The Corrections desk at GSO is looking for members to participate in the Corrections Correspondence Service. This is essentaially a penpal-style correspondence with a person in custody that would like to be in contact with an A.A. member. There is a specific need for women, spanish-speaking men, and members who identify as transgender or non-binary. Talk to me and I’ll get you connected.
• The price of La Viña is increasing to $18. Effective 1/1/25, this is the first price increase in 10 years.
• A new Literature Committee workbook is being created as service material from GSO, like the workbooks available for other committees.
• Young People Survey - how we reach young people, give me feedback!

A few dates for upcoming events you won’t want to miss!

• The 2025 WCRAASC is in Casper, WY. Flyer is being developed. February 28-March 2, 2025. This event is a great opportunity to connect with other members and discuss what’s going on in A.A.
• Our General Service Board Chair, Scott H., from Canada, will be at our April Assembly. Scott is the first-ever Class B Board Chair of the GSB elected by the GSC.
• The 2025 International Convention will be in Vancouver, Canada July 3-6, 2025. Registration is open and rooms are still available. We’ve had over 22,000 members register so far! If you booked an extra room or want to adjust a room, do before 10/31 to avoid a cancellation fee. If you can’t make it in person, there will be a virtual track available for $35.
• The WC Regional Forum will be in Omaha next fall - September 19-21, 2025. See me if you’re interested in helping with the host committee! We only get to host every 16 years.

To wrap up, I’ve been thinking a lot about communication the last few months. From the groups down to the Board and all the way back up. Communication is essential in our service structure to ensure that information flows between groups and each of our service bodies. Each of our roles—whether as a DCM, GSR, committee chair, officer, or however we serve—contributes to the effectiveness of our work to serve groups and support their efforts to carry the message. By fostering clear and open dialogue in both directions, we can share experience, address challenges, and promote unity within the Fellowship. I encourage us all to think about how we can help increase communication.

Thank you for allowing me to serve! In love and service, Nick.