Personal Mission Statement: “I’m committed to being totally available and responsible to Mid-Southern California Area 09 members, to help provide a healthy infrastructure to communicate among individuals, Groups, Districts, Area, and the General Service Office, while using as few acronyms as possible!”
MSCA 09 Rocks!
- I attended the following District business meetings: #7 on 1/11; #17 & #18 on 1/12; #1/3 and 5 on 1/14; #19 on 1/17; #8 on 1/20; #6 on 2/2; #4 & #10 on 2/3; #12 on 2/4; #7 on 2/8; #17 on 2/9; #1/3 and 5 on 2/11.
- I also attended the Hispanic Interdistrict meeting with six Districts on 1/31, am scheduled to meet with District 20 on 2/22 and again with the Interdistrict on 2/28. I’m vigorously committed to ensure our Hispanic brothers and sisters remain informed, and only just now (shame on me) created a Hispanic DCM group email that I used a half dozen times in the first week.
- Within an hour after the 1/10 Area Service Assembly, I schedule my first report-back with District 04 on 5/5 (congratulations, Maryka, you are officially first in line!) Please let me know when I can report back to your Districts on the Conference. I’m scheduled to report-back to District #06 on May 4th; #04 on May 5th; #12 on May 6th; #07 on May 10th; #1/3 on May 11th; #5 on June 10; #18 on July 13; #20 on May 3; #8 on May 19; and #24 on May 18.
- The Electronic Media Subcommittee (EMSC), Cooperation with the Elder Community (CEC), and Literature Committee have prepared revised guidelines to be considered today and going forward for formal adoption. Also, thanks to Jim B, Area 09 chair of the Literature Committee for updating our Workbook, which we asked to be posted on 2/8.
- The EMSC and remote communities ad hoc committees are both recommending that new standing committees be formed, including the Technology Committee and Remote Communities Committee, respectively, which will be considered today and going forward for formal adoption.
- District workshops I attended: #5 on 1/23 with Concepts I-IV (I present on II), and there will be two more to cover other eight Concepts, including 2/20. On 1/24 Hispanic RSG (Representante de Servicio General = General Service Representative) with 18 members; on 1/27 Cooperation with Elder Community where revised guidelines are finalized.
- After a few snags, the Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) committee was able to purchase 20 two-year subscriptions to Grapevine and 12 two-year subscriptions to La Viña; sent to 11 different agencies within MSCA 09 at 20 different locations; some of which include Mental Health America, the Veteran’s Village Substance Abuse Recovery Center in Long Beach, Torrance Memorial and Hoag Hospital’s Chemical Dependency Units, a church-based community outreach program in Anaheim Hills, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Long Beach Unified School’s Health Services Department, a LA Unified High School Library, and the American Indian Changing Spirits Recovery Program. Great job to Maryka, Cynthia, and others!
- Our District Committee Member School (DCM School) met on 1/29 and has decided to pursue a DCM Manual, so on 1/30 I asked for input from the other 14 Area delegates to inform the effort and provided materials back to Manya W, as they were received.
Activities within the Pacific Region
- Pacific Region A.A. Service Assembly, or PRAASA 2021, is scheduled for March 5, 6, and 7 (my 62nd birthday), costing $15 to register at PRAASA.org. We have seven volunteers including four English-speaking members and three Spanish-speaking members: 2 speakers (Romy S and Rozanne P), 3 moderators (Michele K, Lauren O, and Paco B), and 2 readers (Jose M and Jose A).
- On 2/1, I send an email to Area officers asking if I can use my PRAASA budget to pay registration for all Area 09 GSRs with financial difficulties. They immediately concur, and Ana R (Alex’s friend in Puerto Rico) produced a beautiful flyer that is featured on the website. If you are a GSR needing financial help to attend PRAASA, please fill out the following form and return it to me: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5thec3pdu31bv0u/PRAASA%20GSR%20registration%20form.2-2-2021.docx?dl=0.
- Random thought: How about a 10-15 minute Zoom session during PRAASA to take a screen shot of our Area?
- On 1/19, I join the first Zoom meeting with all 15 Pacific Region delegates of Panel 70 and 71!
- On 1/20, I ask Pacific Region Trustee, Kathi F to preside at our October 2021 election, which she accepts!
- On 1/30, I learn that Jim F, Panel 70 delegate from Area 58, Oregon, had to step down. He will be replaced by Alternate Delegate, Amber N. who will replace him on the Public Information Conference Committee.
All Things Conference-Related
- I’d like to have about 10 minutes at upcoming District Business Meetings in March or April to present a Power Point entitled, “The Group Conscience in Preparation for the 2021 General Service Conference,” which is available and may be previewed at the following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2oerjsnml1y6qhi/2021%20Preconference%20Forum.pdf?dl=0.
- On 1/14, I joined the other eight delegates, Secretary Steve S, and Trustee David N comprising the Conference Literature Committee, for an hour to discuss 16 potential new Agenda Items for Literature. Maybe a dozen of these will be added to the Literature Agenda Items forwarded from the 2020 Conference.
- As I receive them, I continue to provide latest versions of 2021 Conference Agenda Items (12/18/2020 and 1/15/2021), which are immediately posted on the website by Faith under the General Service Office (GSO) dropdown tab. On 2/4, the list of Final Agenda Items was received, posted on the website the same day (see “GSO” “Conference Materials” link), and eblasted in a special transmission the next day.
- On 1/27, Jose A, Treasurer Accounts Payable sends a check for $3,200 to GSO in support of my attending the Panel 71, 2021 Conference where I will represent Area 09.
- On 2/3 I vote yes to admit Pavan Kumar Shrivastava, general secretary of the General Service Board of A.A. India, as an observer to the General Service Conference.
- I was in a District 12 business meeting on 2/4 when the 96+/- Final Agenda Items were emailed to me, which I shared with DCMC Romy S and forwarded to Ryan W and Faith B for dispersal!
- The 21 Trustees, 13 Conference Chairs, and others met at their General Service Board weekend on January 29 through February 1, and Kathi gave us her Trustee’s report on 2/8.
- Kathi F’s General Service (GSB) weekend trustee’s report is posted on the website (“GSO Announcements”) and was shared with the Pacific Region delegates on a Zoom meeting on 2/8. Some of the highlights include:
- Contributions revenue in 2020 reached an all-time high of $10,304,185, which is $417,930 greater than the reforecast; $1,442,421 in December, alone. ($8.8 million in contributions in 2020 had been the record high).
- The revenue split between gross profit on literature sales and contributions in 2020 is about 37% literature/63% contributions compared to the historical split of 58% literature/42% contributions.
- “Our Great Responsibility” has sold over 43,000 copies (since May 9, 2019 release) and added nearly $400,000 of gross sales revenue.
- We are about to see a significant number of videos added to the website and YouTube including five new video pamphlets (“Young People and A.A.”, “Access to A.A.”, “A.A. for Alcoholics with Mental Health Issues”, “A Newcomer Asks”, and “Frequently Asked Questions about A.A.”).
- The Carry the Message Project almost 5,000 subscriptions were purchased to carry the message to those behind the walls, as well as many others. The Corrections desk is working to get a Grapevine subscription to anyone behind the walls who has contacted the General Service Office asking for literature or to sign up for the Corrections Correspondence Service.• In the Spring of 2021 GV will publish a Prison Book to be titled: “Free on the Inside”.
- La Viña’s new website is up and running and has been programmed in Spanish: https://www.aalavina.org/ Next Spring (2021), La Viña will publish a book for Hispanic Women.
- Treatment and Accessibilities Committee: The committee requested that the staff secretary release another call for stories with a deadline no later than March 15 for the “A.A. for the Older Alcoholic” pamphlet.
- Finance Committee: The committee recommended that the General Service Board approve the 2021 G.S.O. budget, which reflects total revenues of $15,594,000, total expenses of $14,952,613 and a bottom-line surplus of $641,387.
- Trustees’ Literature Committee: Forwarded following draft pamphlets to Conference Literature Committee (on which I serve): Twelve Traditions Illustrated, Spanish Speaking Women in A.A., A.A.’s Three Legacies, and Young People in A.A.
- On 2/11, as the brainchild of Donny M, the Delegate’s Chair for 2021, I attend the very first US/Canada all-delegate’s Zoom meeting with 40 of the 93 delegates for an hour!
News from New York:
- On 1/11, we receive an email from General Service Office that Stephanie L, Senior Director of Administration and Strategy, will serve as Interim General Manager, with the signing authority of the General Manager, but not a member of the AAWS Board or General Service Conference.
- On 1/28, we receive the 21-minute video from Cathy B explaining the results of the subcommittee (RIPTAB = subcommittee on Researching Issues, Possible Tools, and Access to the Book, Alcoholics Anonymous) researching the need for a Plain Language Big Book. More to come, but for now here is the link to view this 21-minute video and a place to register your feedback under the Delegate’s tab, Confidential Info tab. A link to the presentation is in the following document: https://www.dropbox.com/s/41m9co5i2kwk2mu/Plain%20Language%20Big%20Book%20Video%20Presentation.1-28-2021.pdf?dl=0.
More Will Be Revealed!
- I have registered for the Northeast Regional A.A. Service Assembly – NERAASA – which is scheduled for 2/26-28/2021, registration is $21 at NERAASA.org. I’ve also registered for WRAASA, 2/27-28/2021, which is Western Canada Region A.A. Service Assembly, and is free.
- At least one District has asked that I not attend business meetings until after the Conference so that I don’t influence their discussion and votes on Agenda Items. I routinely attend all virtual District business meetings to make myself available, but if I am adversely affecting or detracting from the group dynamic, I encourage you to call and discuss your concerns with me.
Delegate’s Bulletin Board
- On 1/10, I posted my Delegate’s Sharing Session notes from the Area Service Assembly on that date, and these notes will be posted very soon.
- On 2/10, I post a Power Point on our proposed approach to gather information from members, Groups, and Districts regarding Final Agenda Items, entitled “The Group Conscience in Preparation for the 2021 General Service Conference.”
Miscellaneous
- On 2/10, I joined five other A.A. panelists to present to about 80 people in Area 19, Chicago on preparing for the Conference and gathering Area 09 group consciences.
In Love and Service,
Ed
msca09delegate70@yahoo.com
(760) 964-0012