Monthly Archives: October 2013

The A.A.W.S. online store has launched!

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We are pleased to inform you that the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Online Store for general consumers has been deployed as of today, October 15, 2013.

You may access the Online Store via the link noted below.

https://B2C.AAWS.org

Please note that the e-book division for all devices except iPhones, iPads, iPods has yet to be launched.

Advertisement

75th Commemorative Edition

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AA_big_book_order_form_r5.indd

A.A. World Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the publication of the only authorized reproduction of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous. This new edition will be a faithful replica of the original, with the famous “circus cover” dust jacket and bulky paper (which is why it was initially called the Big Book).

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic publication of Alcoholics Anonymous in April 1939, the 2013 General Service Conference approved the creation of this facsimile edition of the first printing of the first edition.
Pre-orders: Starting November 15, 2013 you may pre-order copies. Pre-ordered books will be shipped directly to the purchaser and gift orders to the address provided, in April 2014.

Go here to download PDF of order form.

Letter from AAWS

We are pleased to send to Conference members a preview of the flyer that will announce the publication of the 75th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book). You will note that order information is spelled out on the flyer, including shipping charges and discount pricing. We will begin taking pre-orders on November 15, 2013, and the books will ship in April 2014, the month of the 75th anniversary of the first publication. We plan to send out the flyer as an insert in the Holiday Edition of Box 4-5-9 and the other print newsletters later this fall, as well as to post it prominently on our Web site, www.aa.org, and feature it on the A.A.W.S. Online Store for easy ordering. The flyer will be posted in a black and white version for easy printing, as well as color, and in the three languages of our Conference. For any questions regarding this publication, please feel free to contact the Publishing Department at orders@aa.org.

Being Available

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The following commentary was prepared by a past CNIA Delegate for the 1991 Election Assembly.

In a very short time we will be gathered together at the election assembly. This assembly will consist of the outgoing and incoming Panel District Committee Members and General Service Representatives. Some of you have either already been elected or are in the process of being elected by the districts and groups.

At this assembly you will have the privilege of carrying out one of your most important responsibilities to the group and district you represent and to AA as a whole. That is to participate in the election of the next Panel’s area officers and delegate who will serve CNIA for the next two years.

This is one of the few times we get to take the inventory of others and then act on it. This is basically what you are doing when considering how you will vote. I ask myself the following questions before I vote.

  • Do they have the leadership qualifications described in Concept IX?
  • Do they have the time available to give what is necessary to do the job? (All jobs are different, some very demanding.)
  • What have they demonstrated in the past regarding willingness, dedication, promptness, commitment and reliability?
  • Do they listen, are they teachable or do they already know everything?
  • Are they a good example of the AA fellowship and sobriety?

As I look back over the last four years and take my own inventory (which I won’t publish), I have been one of your elected servants and it has been up to me to learn how to serve through reading, listening, and, of course, sharing. It has been up to the DCMs and GSRs to teach me what the area needs, doesn’t need and what it feels. Also, what it likes and what it dislikes.

It takes all of us working together to serve our area and the fellowship as a whole. It takes a commitment to participate.

An assembly would not go well with only half of the area officers present. At the same time, it doesn’t go well with only a quarter of the GSRs present, but thank God for those who are present.

The election assembly is the time and place for all Groups and Districts to speak and participate. The choice for leadership for the next two years is theirs.

There is a question I hear frequently: I don’t know if I should make myself available for election or not? For me the answer is simple.

IF I AM GRATEFUL, I AM AVAILABLE- THE REST CAN BE LEFT TO THE FELLOWSHIP AND GOD.