2024 General Service Conference

Judy F.

How exciting is this…. the 74th General Service Conference will be taking place in New York the week of April 13th – the 20th with participation by our elected Delegate from Area 93. The theme of this year’s conference is Connecting With Love, Unity and Service.

Some of the subjects that will be voted on by all the conference members are:

• Cost effectiveness and sustainability of continuing to print La Viña (Spanish edition of the Grapevine)
• Explore the services provided by AA Grapevine and how they should be funded
• Consider a request to develop a pamphlet on the transgender alcoholic in A.A.
• Consider the continuation of the writing of the Plain Language Big Book

Have you ever wondered who determines the titles and content of our literature, or when the next edition of the Big Book will come out? Have you ever sat in a meeting and considered the real scope of Alcoholics Anonymous and thought if you had an opinion how it would be heard?

With the formation of the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1951 it provided a permanent connection needed between our society and its Trustees. The Conference represents the conscience of A.A. world-wide and to which our Trustees are directly accountable.

It was at the 20th Anniversary Convention in 1955 that Bill turned over the full and permanent possession of the Three Legacies of A.A. inheritance – the Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. It was in this resolution that the guardianship of A.A.’s Twelve Traditions and full guidance and control of the World Service of our Society was turned over to the Trustees and the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.

So, from 1951 to 2024, our elected representatives have been our trusted servants, our voice, to discuss and vote on important decisions that affect Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole.

To Bill, this was a momentous occasion. A.A. turned a historic corner when the leadership fell upon a wider company than in the past. “ Bill asked that we give thanks to God for His goodness to us, for the way He has guided and prospered and used and enriched and developed this wonderful force in our time, and for all the promise A.A. holds out for uncounted thousands and perhaps millions in the future.”

You might ask how your voice or your group’s voice is heard. Your group must be registered and have a registered GSR with NY. Attend your District’s meeting on the 2nd Monday of the month to learn more about General Service work and the role it plays in A.A.’s future. Hopefully, you will come to understand and appreciate my opening statement concerning the 74th General Service Conference. My voice will be heard!