AA'S Guidelines on Conferences and Conventions

This article is being written to help those in our fellowship fully understand what makes an A.A. conference or convention. The following are excerpts from G.S.O.‘s conferences and conventions guidelines and quotes from G.S.O.’s Box 4-5-9.

    A.A. Guidelines are compiled from the shared experience of A.A. members in the various areas. They also reflect guidance given through the Twelve Traditions and the General Service Conference (U.S. and Canada). In keeping with our Traditions of autonomy, except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole, most decisions are made by the group conscience of the members involved. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist in reaching an informed group conscience.

How AA’s Make Their Get Togethers Enjoyable As Well As Effective in Carrying the Message of Recovery

    It’s clear that A.A. get togethers beyond the group have become an established part of A.A. life. The calendar in Box 4-5-9 or in the Grapevine shows how many conventions, conferences, and banquets are being held by AA’s throughout the world.
    What makes an A.A. convention click for its participants? It’s probably not style or form that matters so much as the spirit and feeling behind it. As one member puts it, the best A.A. convention is "just a darned good A.A. meeting blown up big." Just watch enthusiastic members at any convention and you’ll get what he means. The atmosphere alone is worth the trip. Here you’ll find fellowship, laughter, warmth, and understanding— "heaped up, pressed down, and running over."
    An A.A. convention is almost any A.A. get-together beyond the group-meeting level. These range from special meetings of one evening’s duration to longer events—area, statewide, or regional weekend conventions.

The Weekend Convention

    This is an ideal form for a state, provincial, or regional convention. Members often arrive for an opening meeting session or "coffee & conversation" on Friday evening. Additional meetings and workshops—as well as other activities—continue through Saturday and even into Sunday afternoon. The convention may include a banquet, luncheons, special breakfasts, Saturday-night dancing and entertainment, and perhaps s spiritual meeting on Sunday morning.

The Convention Begins With a Planning Committee

     One method of forming the committee is simply to appoint a general chairperson who then completes the committee by finding able volunteers to chair the various committees.

    These are frequently asked questions by AA’s to the General Service Office in New York.

Question: What are the criteria for listing A.A. conferences, conventions and similar events in Box 4-5-9 and the A.A. Grapevine?

Answer: We generally try to list all A.A. events of two or more days in length about which we are informed in time. There would not be enough room to list one-day events.

Question: Okay then what is an A.A. event?

Answer: As far as we are concerned, any event which is run by AA’s about A.A. and for AA’s is an A.A. event. Some are under the auspices of regions, areas or districts; and some of central offices or Intergroups or even groups; and still others of a committee of A.A. members. Al-Anons are included in some events. Many of the events are service-connected, others are purely for A.A. sharing and fun.

    About 3 ½ years ago eleven A.A. members from around the State got together and decided to put on an A.A. conference in Portland. We organized a committee and started planning. We decided to focus the conference on the "Big Book" and hold workshops on all 12 steps. One of the first issues we had to deal with was when to hold it. It was unanimous that we did not want to compete with the Maine Area’s Roundup, so we decided to hold it in March. We decided to name this conference "Northeast Fellowship of the Spirit." NEFOTS is the acronym.
    Last year we had a past Trustee at Large for our Saturday night speaker. At the Sunday morning breakfast I thanked him for speaking and mentioned to him in our conversation that there are some in our fellowship who say this is not an A.A. event. He looked at me and said "If this is not an A.A. event then what is it"?
    In closing I want to let all in our fellowship know that the purpose of this conference has always been to have a fun weekend focused on the recovery from alcoholism through the 12 steps as found in our Big Book. If anyone wishes to contact me with questions or concerns my number is below. I hope that any who may have a problem will contact me personally. 

Yours in the Fellowship,
Brian P
207-785-3176
www.nefots.org 

New England Conference of Young People in AA
(NECYPAA)
Coming to Maine

    The New England Conference of Young People in AA (NECYPAA) Maine Bid Committee is pleased to announce that at this year’s NECYPAA XII Conference in Worcester, MA, Maine was officially chosen as the host state for NECYPAA XIII, to be held January 3-5 of 2003 in South Portland, ME.
    Many thanks to those involved in the bid process, and also to District One, the Maine Area, and the Central Service Office for supporting us in this effort. We would like to invite anyone interested in becoming involved with this exciting event to join us at the first planning meeting of the NECYPAA Host Committee. We will meet on Sunday, January 27, 2002 at the Central Service Office at 2 PM. This is an excellent service opportunity, and we look forward to seeing you there! No age limits or restrictions, all are welcome. Call 773-3852 or CSO for more information.

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CSO UPCOMING EVENTS
Valentines Dance - February 15, 2002
CSO Breakfast - Sunday March 17, 2002

December 2001 Summary Literature Sales $ 4,934.55 Total Donations $ 3,383.92 Total Shipping Income $ 27.75 Functions Income $ .00 Functions Expense $ .00 Total Income $ 8,430.45 Total Expenses $ 8,370.43

Hotline Report (summary) The Central Service Office logged over 566 calls in December 2001, of which 16 were Twelve Step Calls. Many calls go unlogged when daily activity becomes too busy. The hotline coverage has been very good.

GROUP DONATIONS December 2001 Here's the part of the newsletter where we print out group donations for the month. We know members love to see their own group listed here and know they are carrying on the work of helping alcoholics. In an effort to conserve funds and resources, the Central Service Office has stopped sending out "thank you" letters to groups and individuals for their donations. If you note any discrepancy in the BEAM's report, please call the CSO office. The CSO is here to aid in carrying the message. Your donations are greatly appreciated. Anyone wanting transaction reports showing their group's activity for sales or donations may call the office or write requesting this and the information will be promptly sent out. Auburn Serenity Group $125.00 Hotline Allotments Bangor Friendly Group $25.00 District 1 $90.00 Bar Harbor Islanders Serenity Group $100.00 District 6 $90.00 Bath Not Too Tightly Wrapped Group $25.00 District 13 $180.00 Biddeford Fresh Air Group $5.00 District 16 $80.00 Biddeford Not So Perfect Group $60.00 District 17 $55.00 Brunswick Haven't Got a Clue Group $77.50 Denmark AA Group $25.00 Ellsworth Step Sisters $9.18 Falmouth Group $144.53 Frenchman's Bay Discussion Group $100.00 Kennebunk Early Bird $100.00 Kingfield Group $100.00 Lewiston Hope Group $50.00 Limmerick Group $20.00 Old Orchard Beach Big Book Group $80.00 Other Donations Portland Attitude Adjustment Group $350.00 Anonymous Donations $8.50 Portland Don't Drink Group $187.00 Anniversary Donations $25.00 Portland High Noon Men's Meeting $100.00 Non-Anonymous Donations $115.00 Portland Keep Coming Back $400.00 Corrections Donation $108.21 Portland Monday 12 & 12 $5.00 BEAM Donations $142.00 Portland New England Rehab $10.00 Hotline Donations $50.00 Rockland Brown Bagger's Group $16.00 Faithful Fivers Donations $5.00 Rockland One Day At A Time Group $40.00 Rockport As You Like It $100.00 Sanford Brown Bag $85.00 South Paris Friday Night Discussion $20.00 West Newfield Wednesday Group $15.00 Westbrook Alumni Group $100.00 York Pass It On Group $30.00 TOTAL DONATIONS $3,383.92

For a complete list of Group donations for 2001 click here

Where to send your contributions CSO Central Service Office 78 Portland Street Portland, ME 04101 GSO General Service Office P.O. Box 459 Grand Central Station New York, NY 10164-0371 MAINE AREA Maine Area Treasurer P.O. Box 153 Morrill, ME 04952

CSO MISSION STATEMENT Our Central Service Office is a visible service existing and united in partnership with the AA Groups in the common purpose of carrying the message of AA to the alcoholic who still suffers and to those recovering from the disease of alcoholism.

ANNIVERSARIES
District 12 Service Structure
Jim B. 4 Years
(Jim B. is the Hotline coordinator)