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18. A revision be made to page 117 in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,replacing the phrase “opposite sex” with the word “partner” as follows, and that afootnote be added to provide context to the change as it relates to inclusivity:The text on page 117 which currently reads:"Nearly every sound human being, experiences at some time in life, acompelling desire to find a mate of the opposite sex with whom the fullestpossible union can be made – spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical.This mighty urge is the root of great human accomplishments, a creativeenergy that deeply influences our lives. God fashioned us that way. ."Be revised to read:"Nearly every sound human being, experiences at some time in life, acompelling desire to find a partner with whom the fullest possible unioncan be made – spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. This mightyurge is the root of great human accomplishments, a creative energy thatdeeply influences our lives. God fashioned us that way. ."19. The sentence which includes the phrase “lustful enough to rape” in paragraph one onpage 66 in the chapter “Step Six” of the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,be revised to refer to the Seven Deadly Sins without specific mention of examples thatare severe in nature as follows, and that a footnote be added to provide context as tothe basis for the change:The text on page 66 which currently reads:"No one wants to be angry enough to murder, lustful enough to rape,gluttonous enough to ruin his health."Be revised to read:"No one wants to commit the deadly sins of anger, lust or gluttony.”20. The pamphlet “A.A. for the Black and African-American Alcoholic” be updated toinclude fresh stories and a new title that is respectful and inclusive and that a progressreport or draft pamphlet be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee onLiterature.21. The existing version of the pamphlet “The Twelve Traditions Illustrated” not be retired.22. The draft update of the pamphlet “The Twelve Traditions Illustrated” be approved withthe working title, “Experience Has Taught Us: Our Twelve Traditions Illustrated.”5

23.The Long Form of each Tradition be included at the end of each essay for thatTradition in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and that the complete setof Traditions at the back of the book be retained as is.24.A Fourth Edition of the book, Alcohólicos Anónimos, be developed, including anupdate of stories to better reflect current membership, and that a progress report bebrought back to the 2022 Conference Committee on Literature.25. The pamphlet, “Frequently Asked Questions About A.A.” be revised by omitting thetext on page 17 “ including coffee, sandwiches, cakes or whatever else may beserved,” as follows:The line on page 17 currently reads:“ to defray the cost of renting a meeting place and other meetingexpenses, including coffee, sandwiches, cakes or whatever else may beserved.”Be revised to read:“ to defray the cost of renting a meeting place and other meetingexpenses.”26. The paragraph containing the suggestion that sponsor and newcomer be of the samesex on page 12 in the pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship” be revisedas follows:The paragraph on page 12 currently reads:In most instances, A.A. custom does suggest one limitation, alreadynoted on page 10: If the group is large enough to allow a choice, sponsorand newcomer be of the same sex. The reasons are the same from bothviewpoints; we A.A. members, no matter how long we have been sober,remain thoroughly human, subject to emotions that might divert us from“our primary purpose.”Be revised to read:A.A. custom does suggest one limitation: sponsorship should be avoidedwhenever a romantic entanglement might arise between sponsor andsponsee. We A.A. members, no matter how long we have been sober,remain thoroughly human, subject to emotions that might divert us from“our primary purpose.”27. The draft pamphlet for Spanish-speaking women in A.A. be approved.6

28. A draft version of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (Fourth Edition), be translated intoplain and simple language and be developed in a way that is accessible and relatableto as wide of an audience as possible and that a progress report or draft be broughtback to the 2022 Conference Committee on Literature.Policy/AdmissionsIt was recommended that:29. Krishna M.V., general secretary of the General Service Board of A.A. India, beadmitted to the 71st General Service Conference as an observer. (Note: This agendaitem was approved using the Conference Polling process.)30. The trustees’ General Service Conference Committee develop a process for pollingthe General Service Conference between annual meetings that makes use of virtualmeeting technologies, in order to enable real-time discussion and debate, broadparticipation, and greater efficiency than the current process.31. The Equitable Distribution of Workload Process, as detailed in the Report from the2020 trustees’ General Service Conference Committee, be implemented for the 72ndGeneral Service Conference on a three-year trial basis, with a progress report to bebrought to the Conference Committee on Policy and Admissions after each year ofthe trial.32. The U.S./Canada General Service Structure recognize online groups and encouragetheir participation, listing those groups who ask to be listed within the group’s preferreddistrict and area, with the default option being the location of the group’s primarycontact. This supersedes the 1997 Advisory Action that designated online groups as“International Correspondence Meetings.”33. The General Service Board form a committee to explore future possibilities for theparticipation of online groups in the U.S./Canada General Service structure.Public InformationIt was recommended that:34. In keeping with the “Policy on Actors Portraying A.A. Members or Potential A.A.Members in Videos Produced by the General Service Board or Its Affiliates,” the videoPSA utilizing full face actors “Party” (working title) be approved with the followingrevisions: That the voiceover “scratch tracks” be replaced, and other minor editorialedits to be conducted in post-production.35. In keeping with the “Policy on Actors Portraying A.A. Members or Potential A.A.Members in Videos Produced by the General Service Board or Its Affiliates,” the video7

PSA utilizing full face actors “Wall” (working title) be approved with the followingrevisions: That the voiceover “scratch tracks” be replaced, and other minor editorialedits to be conducted in post-production.36. In addition to the work of local committees, one to two PSAs be centrally distributedto broadcast media, tracked and evaluated at a cost not to exceed 60,000, and thatthe information gathered from the process be brought back to the 2022 ConferenceCommittee on Public Information.37. A feasibility study on paid placement of PSA videos on streaming platforms including,but not limited to, Netflix, Hulu and YouTube be conducted and that a report on theresearch be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee on Public Information.38. Podcasts providing sharing within the Fellowship and information about A.A. to thepublic be produced and distributed by G.S.O. in cooperation with the Grapevine Office.The committee requested that a progress report on the development andimplementation of podcasts be forwarded to the 2022 Conference Committee onPublic Information.The committee noted that podcasts would serve as a new format to produce “servicematerial” to communicate on topics with similar sharing that can be found inBox 4-5-9, About AA, aa.org, and sharing from AA Grapevine and La Viña.39. The trustees’ Public Information Committee revise the pamphlet “Speaking at NonA.A. Meetings” to better reflect carrying the A.A. message to diverse public audiencesin non-A.A. settings and include a section on media training/press interviews, and thata draft or progress report on the revision be brought back to the 2022 ConferenceCommittee on Public Information.40. The trustees’ Public Information Committee revise the flyer “A Message to Teenagers”to better reflect carrying the A.A. message to young people. In addition to revisions tolanguage in the twelve questions and updated graphics, the committee requested thatthe trustees’ Public Information Committee provide suggestions on what the bestformat would be to present information contained in the flyer.Report and CharterIt was recommended that:41. The compilation and printing of the A.A. Directories (Canada, Eastern U.S. andWestern U.S.) be discontinued.42. The revised manuscript distributed to all Conference members in April 2021 with theinclusion of the Original Conference Charter be approved as the 2021-2023 Edition ofThe A.A. Service Manual combined with Twelve Concepts for World Service.8

43. A revision be made to paragraph one, the Purpose statement of the CurrentConference Charter, found in the Appendices of The A.A. Service Manual combinedwith Twelve Concepts for World Service, which currently reads:Purpose: The General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous is theguardian of world services and of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ofAlcoholics Anonymous. The Conference shall be a service body only; never agovernment for Alcoholics Anonymous.Be amended to read:Purpose: The General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous is theguardian of world services and of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions andthe Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Conference shall be aservice body only; never a government for Alcoholics Anonymous.44. A new section be added at the end of the Twelve Concepts for World Service titled“Amendments,” and that it contain an updated version of the Concept XI essay thatincorporates the information in the current footnotes and endnotes, along withcomprehensive descriptions of the current General Service Board committees, andthat a draft or progress report be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee onReport and Charter.Treatment and AccessibilitiesIt was recommended that:45. The following audio interviews with A.A. members who are in the Armed Forces,developed by the trustees’ Cooperation with the Professional Community/Treatmentand Accessibilities Committee, be approved and posted on G.S.O.’s A.A. website: Male – Navy CaptainFemale – Air Force PilotMale – Army Combat MedicTrusteesIt was recommended that:46. The following slate of trustees of the General Service Board be elected at the annualmeeting of the members of the General Service Board on April 24, 2021 followingpresentation at the 2021 General Service Conference for disapproval if any:9

Class A TrusteesMolly AndersonHon. Christine CarpenterLinda Chezem, J.D.Sr. Judith Ann Karam, C.S.A.Al Mooney, M.D., FAAFP, FASAMNancy McCarthyKevin Prior, MBA, CFA, CPAClass B TrusteesBeau BCathi CJimmy DJosh EKathi FFrancis GTom HDeborah KTrish LJan LMike LPaz PMarita RIrma V47. The following slate of officers of the General Service Board be elected at the annualmeeting of the members of the General Service Board on April 24, 2021 followingpresentation at the 2021 General Service Conference for disapproval if any:Chairperson:First Vice-Chairperson:Second Vice-Chairperson:Treasurer:Secretary:Assistant Treasurer:Assistant Secretary:Linda Chezem, J.D.Trish LJan LKevin Prior, MBA, CFA, CPAFrancis GPaul K*Jeff W**G.S.O. employees48. The following slate of directors be elected at the annual meeting of the members ofthe A.A. World Services Corporate Board on April 24, 2021 following presentation atthe 2021 General Service Conference for disapproval if any:Beau BJimmy DVera FDeborah KGeneral Manager*Irma VCarolyn WJohn WJeff W**G.S.O. employees10

49. The following slate of directors be elected at the annual meeting of the members ofthe AA Grapevine Corporate Board on April 24, 2021 following presentation at the2021 General Service Conference for disapproval if any:Josh EIno FCindy FFrancis GCoree HMike LNancy McCarthyPaz PAAGV Publisher**AA Grapevine employee11

April 202171st GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCECOMMITTEE CONSIDERATIONSAgendaCommittee Considerations: The committee discussed the 2020 and 2021 “Reports on the Implementation andEffectiveness of the Conference Agenda Process Including Sharing from theConference Committee Chairs” and two years of the annual survey responses fromConference committee chairs on the effectiveness of the ongoing communicationbetween the trustees' committee chair or corporate board chair and theircorresponding Conference committee chair. The committee noted the value ofrecent improvements to the Conference agenda process. The committee alsosuggested the following:The committee requested that the trustees’ General Service ConferenceCommittee consider a survey suggestion to create a workbook or guidelineabout the role of a Conference committee chair and forwarded a list ofsuggestions to the trustees’ General Service Conference Committee.That the trustees’ General Service Conference Committee explore thefeasibility of the three chairs of the corporate boards creating snapshotanonymity-protected videos after each quarterly board weekend, like theprerecorded board videos completed for the recent virtual General ServiceConferences. These videos could include current project updates andprovide details that are synchronized with but enhance the quarterlyreporting that is distributed and reported out by regional trustees todelegates. Regional trustees and delegates could share such videos locallyproviding enhanced communication up and down the service structure.The committee agreed and requested that the trustees’ General ServiceConference Committee consider new ways, such as creating short videos,demonstrations, or visual workflows, to communicate the information in theopening session that describes how the Conference operates and flooractions so that all Conference members may understand them andeffectively participate in the annual meeting. The committee reviewed the 2019 and 2020 General Service Conference evaluationform and process and made the following suggestions:That each question on the evaluation have an open comment section.That a survey like the September 2020 Conference Improvements surveybe continued annually.1

The committee reviewed the summary reports of the 2019 and 2020 General ServiceConference evaluations. The committee noted several repeated comments andsuggested the following:Explore the feasibility of the translated Conference background beingcompleted sooner than the current Advisory Action deadline of the first weekof March (French and Spanish).Consider a year-over-year statistical and comparative analysis of eachevaluation category. The committee discussed a proposed change to the General Service Conferenceschedule and the method of sharing on agenda items and took no action. Theproposal suggested allowing for the Conference committees to hear opinions orideas from their areas on agenda items from delegates who are not members of thecommittee. The committee strongly believed we should trust the committee systemand felt that the proposal did not provide benefits warranting a change. The committee considered a proposal suggesting the inclusion of additional avenuesfor A.A. members to share input on G.S.C. agenda items and took no action. Thecommittee would like to challenge all area delegates to consider innovative ways toencourage local members to participate in the Conference process. The committee reviewed survey results on the 2019 January conference call thatprovides committee members a voice in evaluating the trustee and corporate boarddisposition decisions on proposed agenda items. The committee requested that thissharing be gathered annually and forwarded to the Conference Committee onAgenda. The committee asked the trustees’ General Service Conference Committeeto act on a survey request to include more background material on all proposedagenda items discussed at this meeting.ArchivesCommittee Considerations: The committee reviewed the Archives Workbook and made the followingsuggestions regarding the section “Guidelines for Collecting Oral Histories”:Include text offering suggestions on ways to conduct ASL interviews with deafmembers to offer a greater diversity of sharing.In the sub-section “Sample Interview Questions,” add sample questionsrelating to "vision for the future." The committee reviewed the report on “Proposed Book on A.A. History” and took noaction. The committee noted that the scope of the project is too large for one volume,2

and that a single volume may not sufficiently cover the expanse of A.A.’s historyfrom 1955 to present. The committee also noted that A.A.'s worldwide Fellowship isethnically, and culturally diverse and such a book might unintentionally leave outsome portions of the Fellowship that are today under-reported. It was also noted thatthe scope and purpose of the Archives is to collect and preserve materials relevantto the history of the Fellowship and expending resources on a history book at thistime would not be a prudent use of archives resources. The committee also notedthat several works on various aspects of A.A.’s history have been published byhistorians utilizing primary resources, including those available in the G.S.O.Archives.Cooperation with the Professional CommunityCommittee Considerations: The committee reviewed the C.P.C. Kit and Workbook and made the followingsuggestions:That the digital C.P.C. Kit be available in a format that is easily accessible onall digital devices, including desktop, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.Improve the organization on the digital C.P.C. Kit content page, so it can beeasily navigated and include links to all items available digitally.That a QR code connecting to the “For Professionals” page on the aa.orgwebsite be added to all appropriate materials in the C.P.C. Kit.Create a tabletop display with a QR code connecting to the “For Professionals”page on the aa.org website for use at C.P.C. exhibits.Develop a virtual C.P.C. exhibit.Update the language to service material in the C.P.C. Kit including theWorkbook, C.P.C. PowerPoint presentation, and A.A. Guidelines to reflectcurrent ways to find A.A., references to professionals, and how C.P.C. effortsare implemented in today’s environment.CorrectionsCommittee Considerations: The committee requested that the trustees’ Corrections Committee review thelanguage used in Corrections materials for Corrections professionals and explorethe need for developing different language to refer to “persons in custody.”3

The committee received a report from the A.A.W.S. publishing director with severalviable options that had been identified to make A.A. literature in digital formatsavailable for alcoholics in correctional settings. The committee requested that thetrustees’ Corrections Committee develop a service piece that will explain the digitaldistribution terminology to local committees who are carrying the message behindthe walls, including step by step guidance on using digital materials in localcorrection settings. The committee recognized the Correction assignment’s ongoing efforts to collectshared experience from members who participate in Corrections work – currentlyavailable upon request. The committee requested that the trustees' CorrectionsCommittee actively pursue the exploration of thread-based forums and newcommunication models that would allow members and committees carrying themessage behind the walls to access and provide shared experience. The committeerequests that a progress report be brought to the 2022 Conference Committee onCorrections. The committee reviewed the Corrections Kit and Workbook and asked the secretaryto forward a list of changes to the trustees' Corrections Committee including usingcurrent language, correspondence samples, literature, links to A.A.W.S. Inc. and AAGrapevine digital platforms, and videos from the G.S.O. website. The committeealso requested that the existing stock of Corrections Workbooks and Kits be retiredonce updates are completed.FinanceCommittee Consid

Two lines in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are being revised. On page 117, it states: “Nearly every . Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their . 12. A watermark with th