Alano Club 1050 State St. Redding, CA
11:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Lunch Potluck
Panel 44 Delegate, Inez Y.; Panel 58 Delegate, Lee W.
COME FIND OUT WHAT SUGGESTED CHANGES TO AA ARE ON THIS YEAR’S AGENDA.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME.
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.
• 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
9:00 AM Morning Meditation – Prayer & Meditation Room
10:00 AM Native American Panel – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
10:00 AM Parenting in Sobriety – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
11:00 AM Young at Heart: Too Old for YPAA? – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
11:00 AM Mesa de Habla Hispana – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
12:00 PM LGBTQ Panel – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
12:00 PM Traditions Workshop with Q&A – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
1:00 PM God Could and Would If He Were Sought: 3rd Step Panel – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion; ASL Interpreted
1:00 PM Never Had a Legal Drink – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
2:00 PM Lopsided Triangle: Too Much Service? – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
2:00 PM (We Don’t Drink) No Matter What – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
3:00 PM Old Timers Panel – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
3:00 PM Alateen Workshop with Q&A – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
4:00 PM 11th Tradition and Technology – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
4:00 PM We Will Comprehend the Word Serenity: Emotional Sobriety – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
5:00 PM We Will Not Regret the Past – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
7:00-8:00 AM – 5K RUN – Sacramento River Trail Runners will meet in front of the Red Lion @ 7am.
8:00-10:00 AM – SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS – Red Lion, Sundial Room All your favorite cartoons and breakfast cereals. Roll out in your jammies.
10:00-4:00 PM – BODY PAINTING – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby
11:00 AM -Noon – YOGA – Red Lion, Sundial Room
12:00-4:00 PM – PHOTO BOOTH – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby
1:00-4:00 PM – LAWN PARTY! – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby; Epic lawn party, part deux.
3:00-5:00 PM – MC BATTLE – Civic Auditorium, Main Stage; It’s a rapper’s delight
5:45-6:15 PM – FIRE DANCERS – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby; Don’t miss this special surprise outside by the fountain.
10:00-1:00 AM – MAIN-STREAM MASH-UP – Civic Auditorium, Main Stage
10:00 PM-11:30 PM – DRAG SHOW – Red Lion, Ballroom/Sierra Room The Adventures of Aurora Forté.
12:00-3:00 AM – THE HOUSE OF HIGHER POWER – Red Lion, Ballroom/Sierra Room EDM After Party Dance
9:00 AM Morning Meditation – Prayer & Meditation Room
10:00 AM Nothing Counted but Thoroughness and Honesty: 4th Step Panel – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
11:00 AM No Way Separate from AA as a Whole: Service Panel – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
12:00 PM If We Are Painstaking About This Phase of Our Development: 9th Step Panel – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
1:00 PM In the Sunlight at Last: Spiritual Journey – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium Leader:
1:00 PM Group Inventory Workshop with Q&A – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion
2:00 PM Sponsorship Workshop with Q&A – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
3:00 PM The Family Afterward – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
4:00 PM Controversy in Your YPAA with Q&A – Siskiyou Room, Red Lion;
4:00 PM Boy Meets Girl on AA Campus – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
5:00 PM From the Joint, to Everlasting Freedom: Prison Panel – Bill W. Room, Civic Auditorium
11:00 AM-Noon – YOGA – Red Lion, Sundial Room
1:30 PM=2:30 PM – WALKING MEDITATION – Arboretum, Turtle Bay – The walk will start near registration at the Civic Auditorium
1:00 PM-3:00 PM – REGGAE LOUNGE & GAMES – Red Lion, Sundial Room
1:00-4:00 PM – LAWN PARTY! – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby Shhh. Big surprises await you at the lawn party.
9:00 PM-1:00 AM – PHOTO BOOTH – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby
9:15-9:45 PM – BELLY DANCERS – Civic Auditorium, Front/Lobby These belly dancers are here to distract you while we get set-up for the dance.
10:00 PM -1:00 AM – ROCKETED TO THE 4th DIMENSION – Civic Auditorium, Main Stage Glowstick Dance
10:00 -11:30 PM – COMEDY SHOW – Red Lion, Ballroom/Sierra Room
12:00 2:00 AM – MAFIA – Red Lion, Sundial Room
12:00-3:00 AM– AFTER PARTY DANCE – Red Lion, Ballroom/Sierra Room
THURSDAY
| Time | RED LION | ||
| Ballroom/ Sierra Room | Sundial Room | Siskiyou Room | |
| 5pm | Registration, Memorabilia & Hospitality opens 5pm | ||
| 6pm | |||
| 7pm | Main Speaker Meeting | ||
| 8pm | |||
| 9pm | Marathon Meetings 9pm-9am | ||
| 10pm | Throwback Thursday Kick-off Dance 10pm-2am | ||
| 11pm | |||
FRIDAY
| Time | RED LION | CIVIC AUDITORIUM | |||||
| Ballroom/ Sierra Room | Sundial Room | Siskiyou Room | Bill W. Room | Dr. Bob Room | Main Stage | Lobbies/ Front | |
| 9am | Morning Meditation (Sacramento Rm) | Marathon Meetings | |||||
| 10am | 4th Step Panel | ||||||
| 11am | Yoga | Service Panel | |||||
| 12pm | 9th Step Panel | ||||||
FRIDAY (cont.)
| Time | RED LION | CIVIC AUDITORIUM | |||||
| Ballroom/ Sierra Room | Sundial Room | Siskiyou Room | Bill W. Room | Dr. Bob Room | Main Stage | Lobbies/ Front | |
| 1pm | Reggae Lounge & Games | Group Inventory Workshop | In the Sunlight At Last Panel | Marathon Meetings | Walking Meditation 1pm-2pmLAWN PARTY! 1pm-4pm | ||
| 2pm | Sponsorship Workshop | ||||||
| 3pm | The Family Afterward Panel | ||||||
| 4pm | Controversy in Your YPAA- Workshop | Boy Meets Girl on AA Campus | |||||
| 5pm | Prison Panel | ||||||
| 6pm | |||||||
| 7pm | Main Speaker Meeting | ||||||
| 8pm | |||||||
| 9pm | Marathon Meetings | Belly Dancers | |||||
| 10pm | Comedy Show 10pm-11:30pm | Rocketed to4th DimensionGlowstick Dance | Photo Booth 9pm-1am | ||||
| 11pm | |||||||
SATURDAY (early morning)
| 12am | MainstreamMashupAfter-Party Dance12am-3am | Mafia | Marathon Meetings 12am-9am | Dance (cont.) | |||
| 1am | |||||||
| 2am |
SATURDAY
| RED LION | CIVIC AUDITORIUM | ||||||
| Time | Ballroom/ Sierra Room | Sundial Room | Siskiyou Room | Bill W. Room | Dr. Bob Room | Main Stage | Lobbies/ Front |
| 7am | 5K Run meet in front of Red Lion | Marathon Meetings | |||||
| 8am | Saturday Morning Cartoons | ||||||
| 9am | Build YourOwn God Box(Sacramento Rm)9-11am | Marathon Meetings | Bidding | ||||
| 10am | Native American Panel | Parenting in Sobriety Panel | Body Painting | ||||
| 11am | Yoga | Spanish Speaking Panel | Too Old for YPAA? Panel | Committee iuam-4pm Skit Sessions 9am-2pmPhoto Booth | |||
| 12pm | Traditions Workshop | LGBTQ Panel | |||||
| 1pm | 3rd Step Panel: (ASL Interpreted) | Never Had A Legal Drink Panel | LAWN PARTY! 1pm-4pm | ||||
| 2pm | Too Much Service? Panel | No Matter What Panel | |||||
| 3pm | Alateen Panel | Old Timers Panel | MC Battle 3-5 pm | ||||
| 4pm | Emotional Sobriety Panel | 11th Tradition & Technology Panel | |||||
| 5pm | We Will Not Regret the Past | Fire Dancers 5:45-6:15pm | |||||
| 6pm | |||||||
| 7pm | Main Speaker Meeting | ||||||
| 8pm | |||||||
| 9pm | Marathon Meetings | ||||||
SATURDAY (cont.)
| Time | RED LION | CIVIC AUDITORIUM | |||||
| Ballroom/ Sierra Room | Sundial Room | Siskiyou Room | Bill W. Room | Dr. Bob Room | Main Stage | Lobbies/ Front | |
| 10pm | The Adventures of Aurora Forté:Drag Show 10:00-11:30pm | MarathonMeetings(cont.) | MainstreamMashup MainDance10pm-1am | ||||
| 11pm | |||||||
SUNDAY (early morning)
| 12am | The House ofHigher Power:EDM After-PartyDance 12am-3am | Marathon Meetings 12am-9am | Dance (cont.) | ||||
| 1am | |||||||
| 2am |
SUNDAY
| Time | RED LION | ||
| Ballroom/ Sierra Room | Sundial Room | Siskiyou Room | |
| 9am | Memorabilia open 9am-12pm | ||
| 10am | Main Speaker Meeting 10:30am-12:00pm | ||
| 11am | |||
| 12pm | |||
Some Links
From our Panel 64 Delegate for California Northern Interior Area 07
The 2014 General Service Conference (GSC) Agenda Items and background information is now available for General Service Representatives (GSR) to discuss with their Home Groups. At our Pre-Conference Assembly on April 12 in Woodland, we encourage every GSR to come to the microphone and share their group conscience on Agenda Items with the California Northern Interior Area (CNIA) Delegate. This spiritual experience is the foundation of our Area’s Conference process.
As GSR, you are the link in the chain of communication between your Group and the General Service Conference which operates all year round. Why do we need a Conference? See S20 in the A.A. Service Manual for a superb answer. The short answer is so we can better help the alcoholic who is still suffering.
The General Service Conference Annual Meeting will be held April 27-May 3 in New York. Our theme is “Communicating Our Legacies—Vital in a Changing World”. As the CNIA Delegate, I will represent our Area at the Conference and need your help to send me to New York as a well informed Delegate for our Area.
Confused already? You are not alone. As a first year GSR, the Conference process can seem very confusing and intimidating. There are dozens of Agenda Items — so how should you go about choosing which Items to discuss with your Home Group and what format should you use to discuss the Agenda items so you can get the group’s conscience?
The Confidential Agenda and Background information, available from your District Committee Member (DCM), gives a detailed explanation of each Item. Remember this information is Confidential (full names of members are used) and for A.A. Members only. Please do not allow anyone to post this on bulletin boards or place on websites or social media. Please help us protect the anonymity and confidentiality of our members.
When looking at the GSC Agenda Items decide what your group has a passion for; Grapevine magazine? Public Information? Cooperation with the Professional Community? Literature? Finance? Corrections? There are interesting Agenda items covering all of these areas including an Item to approve a correction to inaccurate text in the Big Book!
How do groups participate in the Agenda process? Many groups hold a GSC Agenda items meeting separate from their regularly scheduled recovery and business meetings to discuss the Agenda Items. Some groups have a pizza party or go to a coffee shop after the meeting to discuss the items. Other GSRs make the entire list of Agenda Items available to the group and ask members to share their opinions or take a survey. Each group is autonomous, so any way that you and your group decide to participate is the right way for you.
If your group has never done this before, ask for suggestions from your DCM or someone who attended PRAASA or a Pre-Conference Workshop. You might consider only discussing two or three Items at first while providing the entire list to anyone interested. By focusing the discussion on a couple of Items you can get your Home Group members involved.
Don’t worry about always having to come to a consensus among your group. Please take notes on majority and minority opinions, and then attend the Pre-Conference Assembly and share them with me. Please let me know WHY your home group members feel a certain way about the Items (not just a score card of who’s for it and who’s against). I’m looking for your group’s conscience, opinions, ideas and experience on these Agenda Items.
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process. There are amazing opportunities for growth on this spiritual journey we are on together. Thank you for your Service!
January 2014
2014 General Service Conference Committees
Preliminary Agenda Items
Below are the preliminary agenda items for the 64th Conference committees. During the February meetings of the trustees’ committees, additional items received by the January 15th deadline may be assigned to appropriate Conference committees. Please keep in mind that this is a preliminary list and agenda items may be added or subject to change by the trustees’ committees at the February board weekend.
I. Agenda
II. Cooperation With the Professional Community
III. Corrections
IV. Finance
V. Grapevine
VI. Literature
VII. Policy/Admissions
VIII. Public Information
IX. Report and Charter
X. Treatment/Special Needs-Accessibilities
XI. Trustees
XII. Archives
XIII. International Conventions/Regional Forums
During the workshop, Tom A., speaking on “Where Your $$ Goes,” mentioned a 9 page document. It is available on this site, but here are some highlights.
CPC Literature Discount Package Order Form and CPC-related service material
AA exhibit at national conferences for professionals and refers local conference invitations to local committees
Publishes About AA bulletin for professionals
Every three years, hosts the Annual Day of Sharing with AI-Anon Family Group Headquarters and National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD)
Distributes the video “Carrying the Message Behind These Walls”
Every other year, sends informational letter to wardens and correctional professionals in U.S./Canada
Responds to letters from inmates
Provides limited complimentary A.A literature to inmates, upon request
Provides AA information in response to inquiries from corrections professionals, and refers to local committees, whenever appropriate
Annual Anonymity Letter to Media
Triennial AA Membership Survey
Press Releases and Public Service Announcements for TV and Radio
Refers invitations for A.A informational presentations at schools/educational institutions to local committees
Refers invitations to local health/community fairs to local PI committees and provides limited quantities of AA literature for this purpose and upon request
Provides accurate and consistent information about AA in response to inquiries from media/researchers/students and refers to local committees whenever appropriate
Recovery Conference-approved AA Literature
Bimonthly Box 4-5-9 publication for the Fellowship
AA literature display package for conventions/conference/roundups
Receives and acknowledges all contributions from AA groups and membersProvides self-support packets upon request and supervises service material such as group contribution envelopes and birthday envelopes
Responds to all inquiries pertaining to group contribution records, account balances, and AA finances where appropriate
Sets up and supervises annual budgets and in general maintain accurate financial records
Edits, designs and publishes all AA Conference-approved literature, video, audio and special needs items in three languages: English, Spanish and French
Creates catalogs and order forms
Maintains Inventory control.
Processes all literature orders
Maintains small in-house shipping department
Manages outsourced warehousing and shipping companies
Oversees translations/licensing of AA World Services copyrighted material
Research and development for new publications and new formats
Box 4-5-9
G.S.O. Quarterly Report
AA Directories and Lists of Domestic and International offices
AA Markings
About AA
Sharing Behind the Walls
Loners and International Members (LIM) newsletter
Gives office tours, upon request, to visitors
Provides visitor welcome packets
Provides informational packets containing some AA literature in response to general inquiries for general information about AA.
Sets up annual visit/tour for GSC delegate visitors and guests during Conference week
Sets up large group visits and provides welcome/presentation meeting with refreshments (Coffee, etc.)
Provides local AA office information to anyone looking for AA meetings; provides group contact information to AA members where no local office exists for Twelfth-step purposes and when appropriate
Arranges Board meetings, housing and meal forms, mailings for the quarterly meetings, minutes, dashboard, etc.
Handles reprint requests for AA copyrighted material
Lela’s sobriety date is January 1, 1990. She has a home group (Rocklin Racetrack — not in Rocklin or near a racetrack). She has a sponsor. She works the steps every day. She always holds a service position. Currently she serves as CNIA 07 Delegate for Panel 62, and she’s coming to town at the Alano Club in Redding on July 21 for a District 11 Workshop from 12:30 to 4 to tell about her experience at the 63rd General Service Conference.
When she was a GSR in the mid 90s in Santa Clara County, she learned about commitment to her home group. As DCM, she practiced courage. As DCMC (DCM Chair), she learned more about Tradition Seven — specifically, she learned how to budget at the service and individual level. As Recording Secretary for CNIA 07, she learned to listen like she had no opinion. As Alternate Chair, she learned about our “right of participation.” As Area Chair, she grew to love Tradition Nine’s “Universal respect is the key to our usefulness.”
Lela works in corporate America. She tries to share about topics that impact the future of A.A. with a business perspective balanced with our principles of love, care, inclusiveness and respect.
Come hear about Lela’s current favorite tradition, and how she relied on it at the Conference this year. As Lela shares about her Conference experience, she really tries to bring a personalized and humanized view.
Vikki has a sobriety date of May 4, 2002. She has been in General Service since she was a year sober. She got elected alternate GSR for the Forbes group in Yuba City (District 19). Two weeks later, the GSR resigned, and she was suddenly thrown into the bramble patch as GSR.
She has been going to CNIA Assemblies, Pacific Region Alcoholics Anonymous Service Assemblies (PRAASA), and Regional Forums every chance she gets since then!
She was the District 19 Secretary for one panel. Then she was elected DCM. While she was serving as DCM, she was appointed to the Area Finance Committee, becoming Finance Chair. Following that, she was elected Area 07 Secretary and now is Area Chair for Panel 62.
She, and Past Delegate Woody from Panel 50, will talk on General Service at District 11’s July 21 Workshop where free pizza, soda and water will be served.
Tom, currently CNIA 07 Treasurer for Panel 62, will be speaking on “Where the $$ Goes” in the Area and GSO at District 11’s July 21 Workshop. He was Area Finance Committee Chair before being elected Treasurer mid-panel. He served District 22 (Western Slope of El Dorado County AKA Placerville and the surrounding Historic Gold Country) as Alt DCM for Panel 60, chaired the Post-Conference Assembly Committee and was GSR for the High Flyers Group.
He was Alt GSR for that Group the previous panel, and served as meeting secretary for High Flyers and Sunrise Attitude Adjustment. Other local service from 2008 to 2012 includes H&I Jail Meetings and Tele-service.
Thanks to all who helped put on another fabulous District 11 Workshop. Speakers representing the various Service Entities were well informed, the Mexican food was top notch, the play was a hit, and the Sponsorship Speakers were truly speaking the language of the heart. Special thanks to our visitors; the current CNIA 07 Chair and the Past-Delegate from Panel 50.
For those that missed the skit, “The Sponsoring Game”, you missed some of the best lines ever. Or, as overheard, “I know that person.”
When the Sponsee, Fran Newbie, tried to ask Sponsor #1 her first question, Edna Hardassia rudely interrupted with, “THAT’S MIZZ SPONSOR # 1 TO YOU, MISSY!” and after Fran was able to ask the question of what #1 would say about her having a bad day and was thinking about drinking, Edna responded with “WHAT KIND OF STUPID QUESTION IS THAT? FIRST OFF, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT HOW BAD YOUR DAY IS SWEETHEART. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REAL PROBLEMS. I WOULD SAY DRAG YOUR BUTT TO A MEETING AND QUIT WHINING.”
Sponsor #2 was Lenny Lamour (‘Nuff said!).
There was a commercial break, advertising your chance to be the one in control with RoboSponsor, coming fully assembled with pre-programmed sound bites like, “You don’t need to call me anymore, I’ll just call you.” and “I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about.”
Despite some of the audience favoring #1 or #2, the Sponsee was able to make her own decision, wisely choosing Sponsor #3, Keisha Simple, who would share the simple program of recovery as laid out in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, going step-by-step and being careful to be as willing, as thorough and as honest as possible. Fran and Keisha would realize it’s not a destination, it’s a journey; a journey filled with laughter, tears, pain, and victory all encompassed in the wonderful fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were encouraged that all shall be with them in the fellowship of the spirit and they would surely meet some as they trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.
District 11 News 