Monthly Archives: September 2015

2014 Membership Survey available…

Standard

In 2014 more than 6,000 A.A. members from the U.S. and Canada participated in a random survey of the membership. Such studies have been conducted every three to four years since 1968 by the General Service Office.

Alcoholics Anonymous conducts this survey to keep members informed on current trends in membership characteristics. The survey also provides information about A.A. to the professional community and to the general public as part of A.A.’s purpose to carry our message to those who still suffer from alcoholism.

Download from AA here.

Or download from District 11

Some highlights are:

Composition of Members; Men at 62%, Women at 38%
Average Age is 50
86% have Home Groups
Members attend an average of 2.5 meetings a week
Length of Sobriety, How you got sober, How you were introduced to AA,  Occupations: Figures are included.

Advertisement

More on Call for Stories…

Standard

 Lela M., past delegate, has come up with these guidelines for all submissions for Literature to Alcoholics Anonymous and Grapevine that she has presented to Area Workshops.

Experience, strength and hope guidelines!

• Everyone has a story. You are here. If you only follow one suggestion — it is simply this: Share your experience, strength and hope the same way you would in a meeting!
• Purpose – The purpose of A.A.W.S. recovery literature is for the member to identify with the problem and find hope for the solution. The literature is the welcoming arm into A.A. – often the first step in the process to working one-on-one with another member!
• Your writing does not need to be elite. The story needs to be accessible. One person who was published in Grapevine shared at the International how she didn’t graduate from college and she was published anyway.!
• We TRY to carry the message!
• Focus on message of hope!
• Focus on theme!
• It’s not “me – ville.” Focus on the reader!
• Reference and quote literature!
• Write until you find the love!
• Ask your sponsor or someone you trust to read it before you submit it!
• The review process will include very thorough and inclusive review. The process very much follows the “principles before personalities” approach. They read submissions blind (anonymous), multiple times. “They” is “us” :)!
• Details bring the story alive. Where are you? Was it cheap beer or expensive? However, watch for clutter!
• Keep it simple!
• Pull someone in at the introduction!
• You don’t have to be a great writer. There are editors. They keep your voice. Don’t worry about being perfect.
• Follow the word count as best you can. Suggestion to write first. Then count. Then edit as many times as necessary!
• Have a clear flow to the story line – with a beginning, middle, and end!
• Be authentic. Be yourself. You are the only one who has your story!
• We cannot dual submit between AAWS and GV. Send one memo and one submission to correct address in time for the deadline!
• Brainstorming: could cluster; could create an outline; could just start writing chronologically!
• Some people want to know where to get more insights on writing. I (Lela M.) will share this great author in case you want to learn more. But it’s not necessary. William Zinsser and his two books, On Writing Well and Writing to Learn.

 
For AA submissions, e-mail literature@aa.org or mail to Literature Coordinator,General Service Office, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163

For Grapevine submissions ( manuscripts, calendar events, and humor submissions), e-mail gveditorial@aagrapevine.org or mail to New York Office, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115

For Grapevine general editorial information (writers guidelines, etc.) you can e-mail gveditorial@aagrapevine.org

Call for Stories and More Workshop

Standard

Writing Workshop

Hosted by District 15, Saturday, September 12, 2015, 11am – 2pm

Potluck from 11-12, Workshop from 12-2

Please join them for a writing workshop in Chico to learn more about sharing your story of recovery with AA as a whole.

Personal recovery stories are needed from AA members for the revised pamphlets, “AA for the Woman” and “AA for the Gay/Lesbian Alcoholic” as well as for a new piece of AA literature for the alcoholic with mental health issues.

The workshop will also give an overview of the entire process of revising our AA literature and creating new AA literature. They will also discuss how to write and submit your story for publication in the Grapevine or La Vina.

It’s the same location that District 15 held their last mock conference workshop. The workshop is independent of California Northern Interior Area 07, so it won’t be the same one that Sacramento and Stockton are doing.

New Vision Fellowship Church

1600 Mangrove, Suite 175, Chico 95926

For more information contact

dcm@aabutte-glenn.org

Download flyer here.