72nd General Service Conference – Agenda Topics (2022)

I. Agenda

1. Review suggestions for the theme of the 2023 General Service Conference.
2. Review presentation/discussion topic ideas for the 2023 General Service Conference.
3. Discuss workshop topic ideas for the 2023 General Service Conference.
4. Review the General Service Conference Evaluation Form, distribution process and 2021 Evaluation Summary.
5. Discuss progress report on Conference improvement.

II. Cooperation with the Professional Community

1. Review progress report on A.A.W.S. LinkedIn page.
2. Review suggested revisions for the draft pamphlet “A.A. in Your Community.”
3. Review progress report on the development of outward facing pamphlets for the mental health professionals.
4. Consider creating a new pamphlet designed to help C.P.C. committees reach as many doctors as possible.
5. Review content and format of C.P.C. Kit and Workbook.

III. Corrections

1. Review contents and format of Corrections Kit and Workbook.
2. Reconsider use of the term “person in custody” in A.A. literature.
3. Consider requests to limit changes to the book Alcoholics Anonymous.
4. Discuss request to make A.A. literature changes slowly and with A.A.’s primary purpose in mind.

IV. Finance

1. Review Self-Support Packet.
2. Consider request to add a historical disclaimer to the front of the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
3. Consider request that all proposed changes to the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions be handled in footnotes.

V. Grapevine/La Viña

1. Review progress report on AA Grapevine Workbook revisions.
2. Review progress report on Grapevine and La Viña Instagram accounts.
3. Consider the list of suggested Grapevine book topics for 2023 and later.
4. Discuss the wide-ranging impact the Preamble change has had on our A.A. Fellowship.

VI. Literature

1. Annual review of recovery literature matrix.
2. Review draft language regarding safety and A.A. to be included in Living Sober and the pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship.”
3. Review draft pamphlet based on A.A.’s Three Legacies.
4. Review draft pamphlet “The Twelve Steps Illustrated.”
5. Review progress report regarding the pamphlet “The Twelve Concepts Illustrated.”
6. Review progress report regarding the pamphlet “Too Young?”
7. Review draft of the revised pamphlet “Young People and A.A.”
8. Review progress report regarding update of the pamphlet “A.A. for the Black and African-American Alcoholic.”
9. Review progress report regarding update of the pamphlet “A.A. for the Native North American.”
10. Review progress report regarding development of a Fourth Edition of the book Alcohólicos Anónimos.
11. Review progress report regarding the translation of the book Alcoholics Anonymous (Fourth Edition) into plain and simple language.
12. Review progress report regarding requests to develop study guide workbooks for A.A.
13. Review progress report regarding development of a Fifth Edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous.
14. Discuss the existing version of the pamphlet “Twelve Traditions Illustrated.”
15. Discuss G.S.O. Publishing updates per the A.A.W.S. print policy:
    1. Review the draft update of the pamphlet “Is A.A. for You?”
    2. Review the draft update of the pamphlet “Is There an Alcoholic in Your Life?”
    3. Review the draft update of the pamphlet “Frequently Asked Questions About A.A.”
    4. Review the draft update of the pamphlet “This Is A.A.”
16. Review progress report regarding strategy to make current literature accessible in all possible formats.
17. Review progress report regarding Literature Committee workbook.
18. Discuss changes to the text of the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as directed by the 71st General Service Conference.
19. Consider an update of the book Experience, Strength and Hope.

VII. Policy/Admissions

1. Review G.S.O. general manager’s report regarding General Service Conference site selection.
2. Review dates for the 2026 General Service Conference.
3. Discuss the procedure: “Process for Approving Observers to the Conference.”
4. Review progress report on the development of a process using virtual meeting technologies for polling the G.S.C. between meetings.
5. Discuss report on the Equitable Distribution of Workload process.
6. Consider request to restore a paragraph in the story “Freedom from Bondage” in the book Alcoholics Anonymous.
7. Consider request to revise the pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship” to reflect shared experience on service sponsorship.

VIII. Public Information

1. Review the 2022 Public Information Comprehensive Media Plan.
2. Public Service Announcements (PSAs):
   1. Review the distribution and tracking information for two video PSAs:
      1. “Sobriety in A.A.: My Drinking Built a Wall”
      2. “Sobriety in A.A.: When Drinking is no longer a Party.”
   2. Review the 2021 report on the “Relevance and Usefulness of Video PSAs.”
3. Review a progress report and the G.S.O. Podcast Plan.
4. Review report on “YouTube Performance.”
5. Review report on “Google Ads Performance.”
6. Review report on “Meeting Guide Performance.”
7. Review the “2021 Fourth Quarter Report on A.A.W.S. Board Oversight of G.S.O.’s A.A. website.”
8. Review report on “AAGV/La Viña Website, Marketing and Podcast.”
9. Discuss feasibility research on paid placement of PSA videos on streaming platforms.
10. Discuss Public Information pamphlets/materials:
    1. Consider suggestion to revise the flyer “A.A. At a Glance.”
    2. Review suggested revisions to the pamphlet “Speaking at Non-A.A. Meetings.”
    3. Review suggested revisions to the pamphlet “Understanding Anonymity.”
    4. Consider request to retire and replace the “A.A. Fact File.”
11. Review request to create a new form of communication to address anonymity on social media.
12. Review report on development and distribution ideas for the “A.A. Triennial Membership Survey.”
13. Review content and format of P.I. Kit and Workbook.

IX. Report and Charter

1. Discuss General Service Conference Final Report.
2. Review The A.A. Service Manual, 2021-2023 Edition.
3. Review progress report from A.A.W.S. Publishing on a new section to be added at the end of the Twelve Concepts for World Service titled “Amendments.”
4. Consider request to include a G.S.R. preamble in the pamphlet “G.S.R.: Your Group’s Link to A.A. as a Whole.”
5. Consider requests that the chapter titled “The Doctor’s Opinion” be returned to page one, as it was in the First Edition.

X. Treatment and Accessibilities

1. Review progress report on pamphlet “A.A. for the Older Alcoholic.”
2. Review progress report on military audio interviews.
3. Discuss draft version of A.A. Guidelines for remote communities.
4. Review contents and format of Treatment Kit and Workbook.
5. Review contents and format of Accessibilities Kit and Workbook.
6. Consider request to revise the pamphlet “The A.A. Group” to reflect the importance of the group as a “spiritual entity” as stated in the Long Form of Tradition Five.
7. Consider request to revise text in the chapter “Getting plenty of rest” in the booklet Living Sober.

XI. Trustees

1. Review resumes of candidates for:
   1. Eastern Canada Regional Trustee
   2. Pacific Regional Trustee
2. Review slate of trustees and officers of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc.
3. Review slate of directors of A.A. World Services, Inc.
4. Review slate of directors of AA Grapevine, Inc.
5. Discuss the revised “Procedures for a Partial or Complete Reorganization of the General Service Board, the A.A.W.S. or AA Grapevine Boards.”
6. Consider revising text highlighting service roles at the group level in the pamphlet “The A.A. Group.”
7. Consider request to revise the pamphlet “Do You Think You’re Different?” to include stories reflecting greater diversity.

XII. Archives

1. Review content and format of Archives Workbook.

XIII. International Conventions/Regional Forums

1. Discuss update report on methods of closing the Big Meetings at the International Convention.
2. Discuss ways to encourage interest in Regional Forums and attract first-time attendees.

Background Information

For background information, please visit the Area 06 website. If you need the passcode, please Contact Us.

Area 06 Summaries

Due to the length of the summaries, they are provided here in download form.

General Service Conference Highlights

For a full summary of all changes, please visit the Area 06 website (click the link in the paragraph “Click here to read our Delegate’s results from the 72nd General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.”). If you need the passcode, please Contact Us.

All 72nd Conference Files

All conference files are located here in a single download. If you need the passcode, please Contact Us.