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BOX5 #9400Theme: The AA GroupGeneral ServiceConference IssueWhere It BeginsEarly Bird EditionVol. 22, No. 3June-July 1977Quality of Local A.A. GroupStudied by 1977 ConferenceFamous A.A. to CelebrateHis 15th Anniversary"Although you can’t say he ever ’got theprogram,’ " according to the Grapevine editor, "in the pages of our magazine, somegreater power has somehow enabled VictorE. to avoid that first drink, and he’ll be celebrating his 15th anniversary in July."Speaking as he sketched, Jack M. (GVeditor and the artist who created Victor inJuly 1962) gave Conference members a behind-the-scenes peek at how one popularfeature of A.A. ’s monthly journal starts itsjourney to over 90,000 Grapevine subscribers every month.Bud G. (North Dakota), delegate chairmanof the Conference GV Committee, sharedseveral personal experiences at getting moreA.A.’s to read the magazine. He encourageddelegates to join him in greatly increasingcirculation of this "valuable tool for strengthening sobriety."NEW YORK, N.Y., April 23-Folks back intheir hometown A.A. groups dominated thethinking and actions of members of the 27thmeeting of the General Service Conferenceof Alcoholics Anonymous (U.S. and Canada)ending here today.Theme of the annual gathering was "TheA.A. Group Where It Begins," as 91 delegates from the states and provinces joinedtrustees of the General Service Board, A.A.World Services and Grapevine corporate directors, and the General Service Office(G.S.O.) and Grapevine staffs for six daysand evenings of work at the Statler HiltonHotel.In workshops, committee meetings, committee and staff reports, discussions, regionallunches, Ask-It-Basket periods, and the moreformal presentations made before the entireConference, concerns of local groups wereclearly uppermost in deliberations of all 133voting Conference members entrusted withthe guidance of A.A.’s world affairs.In the opening keynote address, retiringtrustee Margaret C., Agawam, Mass., suggest-(continued on p. 8)Groups and MembersSpring 1977Six Trustees Chosen forGeneralVmigPi.6RI ,1One nonalcoholic and five A.A. trusteeswere named for the General Service Board atthe 1977 meeting of the A.A. (U.S.-Canada)General Service Conference.W. J. Estelle Jr., Huntsville, Tex., directorof the Texas Department of Corrections, isthe nonalcoholic selected to succeed AustinMacCormick, who retired in November.(continued on p. 8)ed group inventories, noting that the quality of A.A. groups determines the quality ofA.A. growth. Five sessions were devoted toreports by Panel 27 delegates on highlightsof service activities in their home areas.The principle of rotation in hometowngroups, as well as throughout the rest of theFellowship, was subject of both the firstformal presentation and small workshopsMonday.Responding to delegates’ 1976 suggestion, for the first time Conference committee meetings this year began on the first day.As a result, committee reports, on whichmost Conference Advisory Actions are based,were available Wednesday evening, in ampletime for discussion and voting the last working day of the Conference.Other topics of the week included how thegroup conscience operates, the ConferenceCharter and Warranties, Box 4-5-9, selling ofnon-A.A. literature by A.A. groups, the 1977membership survey, the Fourth World Service Meeting, the feasibility of relocatingG.S.O. and of producing a facsimile of thefirst edition of the Big Book, role of the regional trustee, cooperation and communication among all levels of service, and theGrapevine.W. J.Estelle Jr., new nonalcoholic trusteeGroupsMembersUnited StatesCanadaOverseasHospitalsPrisonsLone 0574,318Including nonreported groups and members,it is estimated that there are nearly 30,000groups and more than 1,000,000 members,in 92 countries.)
Box 4-5-9 is published bimonthly by the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous,468 Park A venue South, New York, N. Y. 10016.Reports IFrom[SWthill'Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.,1977.Mail address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, N Y. 10017.Subscriptions: Individual, 1.50 per yr.; group, 3.50 for each unit of 10 per yr. Checkpayable to A.A. W.S., Inc. must accompany order.General Service BoardOur numbers keep rising,but costs are held downTrustees’ report: The problems of A.A. seemfew and minor. Brought up most at regionalforums are those of internal communicationsand external relations with professionals,treatment centers, court programs, and problems other than alcohol. The important thingis to keep from pushing the panic button.We have made great progress. We mustkeep the doors of A.A. open, keep our ownminds open, and "be friendly with ourfriends." There is a great deal of Fellowshipexperience to be shared, in the literature, inthe Guidelines, and in day-to-day experienceArchivesMemoirs of A,A.’s earlydays by Ruth HockTrustees’ committee: Nell Wing has reportedprogress in microfilming, compatible taping,cataloging, and interviewing. Special event:taping of the "early times" of Ruth Hock,Bill W.’s first secretary, a nonalcoholic.Interest in A.A. archival material is growing; local centers are being started. Atan additional workroom now houses memorabilia and provides more space for staff, researchers, and visitors.The committee reviewed classifications ofarchival material, to remain as open as possible to serious researchers and allow A.A.members free access to their historical legacy,while protecting the material and assuringthe privacy of all individuals.Milton Maxwell (nonalcoholic), chairmanConferenceCorrespondence, answers toquestionnaires affect agendaStaff report: The Conference secretary, apoint of contact among Conference members, corresponds with past delegates and allthose serving on area committees. Our mailing list now totals nearly 3,000.in one area that may be helpful to another.A.A. is protected from the ills that plagueother segments of societyprotected by ourindisputable success (the sick do get wellhere!), by our Traditions, and by the spiritual basis of our program.All indicators in A.A. are up. Number ofgroups, estimated membership, literaturesales, contributions, and Grapevine circulation all reached record high levels in 1976.One reason for A.A.’s financial health is thatG.S.O. and the Grapevine have kept operatingcosts down. Despite steady A.A. growth, theG.S.O. staff is no larger than it was threeyears ago, and the total of A.A.W.S. andGrapevine employees has increased onlyslightly.Austin MacCormick, our beloved Class Atrustee, resigned in November. The boardasked him to continue as a "trustee emeritus." I indicated my own intention to stepdown as chairman of the board following the1978 Conference. Bob H., chairman of General Services, will retire at the end of thisyear: Bob’s contributions to the Fellowshiphave been many. I shall particularly remember his meticulous determination and patience, when chairing the Conference, toAny A.A. can send in suggestions for theConference agenda, usually through the delegate. Suggestions are presented to the trustees’Conference and Conference Agenda Committees for approval, then shared with everyone (in Box 4-5-9, for instance).The Conference secretary is secretary ofthose two committees; collects items for thetheme and agenda; corresponds with all delegates; works with the general manager, theoffice manager, and the staff in planning andcoordination of the Conference; schedulesand routes all material for Conference Manuals, Early Bird edition of Box 4-5-9, andthe Final Conference Report; prepares Advisory Actions and summaries of Ask-ItBasket questions.Mary Ellen W.Trustees’ committee: As a result of the 1976Conference questionnaire, we agreed thatArea Service Highlights be cut to two minuteseach, and the number of workshops andpresentations be reduced.The 1977 agenda has been arranged toallow for: (1) committee reports Thursdayand Friday; (2) opening dinner and A.A.meeting Sunday; (3) delegates’ dinner andmeeting Tuesday; (4) midweek A.A. meeting; (5) more time for regional luncheons.The delegates’ meeting had requested thatno restrictions be placed on discussion topics at this meeting. A letter to the delegatechairman pointed out that matters to bebrought before the Conference should be dis-make sure the rights of the minority werescrupulously observed.The board approved a report from theA.A.W.S. Office Relocation Study Committee, and forwarded it to this Conferencewith the recommendation that it is not inthe Fellowship’s best interest to relocateG.S.O. at this time.The board’s other actions during the yearare covered in the reports of A.A.W.S. andof the trustees’ committees, which follow.John L. Norris, M.D. (nonalcoholic),chairmanA.A.W.S.Literature prices reducedDirectors’ report: We recommended reducing the price of the Big Book by 60 , liberalizing the discount structure, and increasingthe distribution of no-charge literature. Increased group participation through increasedcontributions is necessary if the reduced costof literature to the Fellowship is to be maintained.We agreed to finance the printing of ourcussed by all Conference members, not justby delegates, who comprise only two-thirdsof the Conference membership.John f4), chairmanCooperation with theprofessional communityProfessionals’ interest inA.A. steadily increasesStaff report: Over the past year, staff andcommittee members have participated inseven professional events. Our ProfessionalExhibit was shown at 12 national professional meetings. As a result, we received 2,094requests for literature.During the World Service Meeting, we arranged for several delegates, at their request,to visit local treatment facilities and an industry program.An International Lawyers Group in A.A.,listing some 70 members, now meets annually.The A.A. Guidelines on Industry Programshave been updated.Phyllis M.Trustees’ committee: Our participation inthe 1976 N.C.A. Annual Forum was integrated into specific programs. We also hadtwo mini-workshops. At the annual meetingof the Alcohol and Drug Problems Association of North America, we participated in
General Service Board, and Trustees’ Committeesliterature (up to 18,000) for a new literature distribution center for Costa Rica,Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Wehope El Salvador will join.We approved: the printing in Brazil of 8,000 worth of Portuguese literature, inventory to be owned by A.A.W.S.; expenditureof 5,000 for research on Dr. Bob; publication of a G.S.O. salary table.Literature sales for 1976: 2,244,200, anincrease of 320,600 over 1975mostly reflecting retail price adjustments May 1, 1975,less offset due to a decrease in the Big Bookprice and further liberalization of bulk discounts Sept. 15, 1976. To help defray costsof other services that contributions couldnot meet, A.A.W.S. donated 500,000 tothe General Fund.In 1976, distribution of books, pamphlets,and miscellaneous items reached 5,167,900units. Free literature sent to service groupsand to inform the public amounted to433,000 pieces; inventory value, 20,700.A.A.W.S. is also responsible for the operation of the following departments at G.S.O.:Accounting, Files, Mail, Records, Shipping,and Stenographic/Clerical.Walter M., chairman"A.A. and the Private Service Deliverersexamples of effective cooperation."At the recommendation of the Conference, a paper for prospective members from,and administrators of, court programs andother referral agencies and treatment facilities has been prepared.A chapter on A.A. by Dr. John L. Norrisand a committee member will appear in anencyclopedia on alcoholism in 1977. Dr.Norris has also written "Management of theChronic Alcoholic" for a publication entitled"Controversy in Psychiatry."Robert M., chairmanFinanceHopes rest on the A.A. groupTrustees’ committee: A.A. growth continuedto be reflected at G.S.O. Contributions in1976 (see p. 7) showed a 17% increase over1975. But the percentage of groups contributing was dangerously low-56%. TotalG.S.O. incomepublishing gross profit, contributions, and interestwas over 1975 by 348,100 and 69o’ over budget. Total G.S.O.expenses were over 1975 by 196,700, almost 1% under budget. To sum up: net expense of the General Fund of G.S.O., 249,800; publishing net income, 776,700;net G.S.O. income, 526,900.The committee reviewed and approved the1977 budget (see p. 6).If we all keep our eyes on our goal, wecan continue to reduce our reliance on literature income and further expand our base ofgroup support.InternationalistsArthur Miles (nonalcoholic), chairmanStaff report: In the past year, Internationalists have started new groups in Italy andTurkey. About 610 of these seagoing A.A.’scarry the message around the world. We helpthem keep in touch with one another andG.S.O.A package of A.A. material is sent to allwho join this service. Every other month, Internationalists, Port Contacts, and Internationalists groups receive Loners-Internationalists Meeting, our newsletter sharing correspondence received at G.S.O. Box 4-5-9 issent them bimonthly.Group services coordinatorGuidelines, films, handbooks,directories useful to groupsStaff report: The group services coordinatorsupervises production of service materials,updating of listings and the 12 Guidelines,and distribution of films, literature displays,handbooks, and other material. She conducts monthly staff meetings.Our three handbooks are all newly revised:Group Handbook, Prison Group Handbook,and Hospital Group Handbook. Each newgroup in the U.S. and Canada receives aGroup Handbook, complimentary literature,Box 4-5-9, and the appropriate directory.The four A.A. directories are now published annually; the two directories of A.A.groups in institutions, biennially.Also available: "Bill’s Own Story" and"Bill Discusses the Twelve Traditions,"16mm. color films; "P.O. Box 459," the newfilmstrip about G.S.O.The group services coordinator is secretaryof A.
tor, "in the pages of our magazine, some greater power has somehow enabled Victor E. to avoid that first drink, and he’ll be cele-brating his 15th anniversary in July." Speaking as he sketched, Jack M. (GV editor and the artist who created Victor in July 1962) gave Conference members a be-hind-the-scenes peek at how one popular feature of A.A. ’s monthly journal starts its journey to over .
