Responsibility

June 4, 2013Written by

63rd Annual General Service Conference 2013

Results for topics that came to a vote or were decided in committee at the GSC from our 2013 Delegate’s Questionnaire are summarized in the table below. We’ll have more details online shortly.

TOPIC	2013 GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE	SENY ASSEMBLY CONSCIENCE
C) Consider a request to replace language in the second paragraph of the dust jacket of the 4^th Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous.	The recommendation of the Literature Committee that the language be replaced did not pass.	160 in favor of changing the language, 55 opposed.
D) Consider a suggestion to add “Non-alcoholics may attend open meetings as observers” to the end of the open meeting side of the Primary Purpose (blue) card.	The recommendation of the Literature Committee that the language be added did not pass.	130 in favor of changing the language, 90 opposed.
E) Consider a request to add an index to the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.	The Literature Committee took no action noting that our Big Book is spiritual in nature, not academic and that an index might discourage a full reading of the material.	114 in favor of adding the index, 93 opposed.
C) Discuss Fellowship sharing on the effectiveness of the language of the short form of Tradition Eleven.	The Public Information Committee recommendation that the Conference affirm that the Internet, social media and all forms of public communication are implicit in the last phrase of the short form which reads: “… at the level of press, radio and films.”	113 agree with the Conference that the language is effective, 105 do not.
E) Consider a request from A.A.W.S. for permission to use commissioned online stores to sell and distribute digital A.A. literature.	The Public Information Committee recommendation to use digital channels passed.	105 in favor of using digital channels, 66 opposed.
Establish a presence on FACEBOOK	The GSC Public Information Committee agreed with the conclusion of the Trustees’ Public Information Committee that AA World Services, the General Service Office and the AA Grapevine and La Vina cannot establish a presence on Facebook in a manner which would be consistent with AA Traditions and took no action.	Not Available
The A.A. Service Manual, 2013-2014 Edition:8) Consider request to update information about suggested qualifications for area registrars on page S45.	The committee forwarded recommendations to the Publishing Committee so that drafts may be produced for review at the 2014 GSC but took no action at this time.	164 favored updating the qualifications, 40 opposed.
B) Consider a proposal to publish a commemorative “75^th Anniversary Edition” of the First Edition, First Printing of Alcoholics Anonymous in April 2014.	The Archives Committee recommendation that a commemorative edition be published initially failed, but passed after reconsideration.	191 in favor of publication, 23 opposed.

Thanks to Mercedes for unearthing our groovy Articles of Association and By Laws. You can find them in Resources.

“I am responsible, When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that, I am responsible.”

Reprinted from Pamphlet P-1, This is A.A., page 24, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

The Suffolk County General Service Meetings provide a link between individual Suffolk County AA groups and the Alcoholics Anonymous World Service Office on matters of concern to Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole, and works with the Suffolk Intergroup Association on matters of mutual concern.

Every Suffolk County AA group is encouraged to designate a General Service Representative (GSR) and an Alternate to attend. Orientation for new General Service Representatives (GSR) and Alternates, begins at 7:30PM immediately preceding the monthly General Service meeting.