Delegate's Report Archive

Delegates Report - September 2008

Fellow WSEA 92 Members,

This last month has been full of fellowship and service as I had the opportunity to travel to Spokane, Coeur d’ Alene and Grandview for Delegate reports to our Area and to attend the Pacific Regional Forum (PRF).

The Delegates report in Spokane on 8/9 was held at beautiful Comstock Park up on the South Hill in conjunction with District 2’s first annual picnic. Districts 3, 13 and 17 also had members in attendance and the food and fellowship was wonderful as always and the weather couldn’t have been better. Many members stayed for the report and there was an enthusiasm for the news from the General Service Conference (GSC) as revealed by the questions during the Q&A session following the report. Thanks to all of the members who helped organize and put on the “first” annual event I am sure there will be many more to come.

On the evening of 8/12 District 8 had me up for a Delegates report at the Church of the Nazarene in Coeur d’ Alene where they hold their monthly District meeting. It was a potluck affair and when given the choice of going before or after the District meeting of course I opted for before as that would assure me a captive audience. All kidding aside the District meeting and report were “very” well attended and even though I ran over my time limit in delivering the report no one seemed to mind. It was gratifying for me to see so many members of District 8 involved in the service structure of their district and I would like to thank them all again for the opportunity to give the report of the 2008 GSC to them.

The weekend of 8/23-24 was spent with Mauro P. WSEA 92 Alternate Delegate during which time we delivered a Delegates report to District’s 16 and 21 in Grandview. On Saturday the 23rd I travel to Mauro’s Pasco home and was treated to warm hospitality by Mauro’s wife Lydia and their growing family and as happens many times when recovering alcoholics get together Mauro and I got a chance to deepen our understanding of one another by continued sharing of our stories. On Sunday we arrived early and had a chance to talk with members who were just finishing up a meeting. During the Delegates report Mauro not only translated for me as the report was delivered to the members gathered he also took the time to inform the members of the details of each segment of the report in order that they would have a completed understanding of the agenda items as they were reported. Mauro’s efforts were instrumental in providing the best possible report to our Spanish speaking members. After returning to Mauro’s home I was invited to stay for a triple birthday party that was taking place when we arrived. I was reluctant to leave that evening as the atmosphere of family and happiness made me feel relaxed and content.

Sunday evening the 24th was spent at Mike and Patsy McM’s home in Spokane before flying to Sacramento, CA. Monday morning to meet up with my wife Jill and her family at their home in Pioneer, CA. I returned to Spokane on Thursday evening the 28th around 6:00 PM and by 7:30 PM Mike McM (Spokane local host), Patsy McM (PRF Registration), Rick W (GSO Forums Coordinator), Ivy R (GSO Forums Assistant) and I met at dinner to kick off the PRF weekend.

During the PRF weekend I could not have been more proud of our Area’s participation. Everyone of our members was so friendly and enthusiastic, from the greeters making sure that no one was missed with a welcoming handshake or a welcoming hug to the members at the registration desk that met everyone with a smile that came from way down inside. My responsibility at the PRF other than moderating a workshop on Saturday evening was just to be a helper to the PRF host committee making sure that Rick, Ivy and the other GSO guest’s weekend was as incident free as possible and that everyone enjoyed themselves and I think we succeeded. Mike McM said that the attendance number was officially just a few short of 700 but that the number was probably greater taking into account walk ins making WSEA 92’s first PRF the third most attended PRF since the first one held in 1978. Wow! Way to go Pacific Region!

My favorite memories of the weekend included taking several members who had questions about some part of our service structure to the GSO Trustee, Director or Staff to have those questions answered and the look on their faces when that GSO member greeted them and made them the focus of their attention. The other was when after the PRF was over Mike McM and I took Dorthy W (Trustee at Large US) and her husband Jim on a tour of Spokane and the Spokane Valley. We visited Duncan Garden in South Hill’s Manito Park, the historic Davenport Hotel downtown and took a drive to the Coeur d; Alene resort all the while doing our best to explain the history of the area. It felt good to share our little corner of the world with someone who has literally seen much of the world in service to AA. Thanks to Mike and the 2008 PRF committee for doing an awesome job. I heard many times during the weekend “how did you guys keep this place a secret, it’s fantastic”!

The July GSO Board weekend was held from 8/1 – 8/4. The following is a condensed version of the highlights from that weekend sent to me by our Pacific Region Trustee Madeleine P. For a complete reporting contact me either by email or phone and I can get the full report to you. Area DCMs have had the full report since 8/14 and may be contacted for information regarding the July Board weekend.

AAWS
Total distribution of all books through 06/08 was 1,089,218, up 2% from the same time in 07. Total AA purchases=884,172 units, non-AA purchases=205,046 units.
Second quarter 08, translations were completed on the following in Vietnamese: AA Fact Sheet, A Brief Guide to AA, A Newcomer Asks. In Greek: Alcoholics Anonymous, As Bill Sees It, Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers. In Croatian: Alcoholics Anonymous, Living Sober. In Malagasy (Madagascar): Alcoholics Anonymous. In Russian: Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers. In Maltese (Malta): Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. In Sinhala (Sri Lanka): Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
Contributions received for first half of 08 were$3,087,000. $85,000 (+ 2.8%) than first half 07. Total revenue (gross profit from literature sales, contributions, and interest earned on cash flow) = $6,774,000. Up $210,000 from same time 07. Unaudited net profit for first half 08 = $43,500. Budgeted loss <$74,000>.
We have traveled to Cuba, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Germany, Great Britain, Trinidad and Tobago, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Lithuania, Austria and Hungary.

AAGV
Total avg. monthly circ.: GV (print and audio) = 107,967; DA = 3,064 and avg. bimonthly circ. of LV = 10,642. Website received 61,411 visitors in June, up 52%. YTD: GV has distributed 37,537 books, 9,362 CDs and 8,217 other items. By the end of the second quarter, there were 4,409 GV and LV reps.
First half 08: GV Corp. down <$66,168> budgeted loss <$60,387>, due to an unexpected increase in postage. LV <$40,013> budgeted loss <$33,686>, due to postage increases and decline in subscriptions.
GV and the GSC: At the Conference Committee’s request, the GV is making plans to produce a portable GvR Handbook similar to the recently revised RLV Handbook in size and format and to update the GV History booklet. These are scheduled for publication by 03/09. The current GV Handbook will continue to be available as a free download at the GV website.

Archives
Archivist Amy Filiatreau has tendered her resignation. Amy is moving to be closer to an ill family member and will be missed. She brought so much to the position in her short tenure and I know everyone benefited from her contributions.
There will be major construction going on in our Archives Department, beginning this Fall and into the early Spring so this will cause possible delays in archival requests.
Revisions to the Archives Workbook have been implemented and will soon be posted to the aa.org web site. The new workbooks are planned to be translated into Spanish and French and are being considered for posting to the aa.org web site, rather than producing printing of these items.

Conference
Probably the biggest topic for this committee was the new practice from this past GSC of “commit to committee”. The chair has appointed a subcommittee to examine the process of Floor Actions at the GSC.
The GSO GM reported on the 2010 Conference site selection process and noted that management continues to investigate possible alternate sites and will bring a recommendation to the trustees’ Conference Committee at their November 1, 2008 meeting.

CPC/Treatment Facilities
A subcommittee was appointed to discuss the possible creation of a "fact sheet" for drug court professionals.
A rough cut of the video Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous will be reviewed at the November 2008 meeting.

Finance
The committee discussed the Conference advisory action “that the trustees’ Finance and Budgetary Committee gather input from the Fellowship on the benefits and liabilities, both spiritual and practical of fully funding GSO Services to the Fellowship (GSO functional expenses) by the voluntary contributions of AA members and groups and that this information be forwarded to the 2009 Conference Committee on Finance.” After reviewing the background material provided, and understanding that this may be a multi year discussion, and hearing that some Areas are ready to discuss the topic, the Trustees Finance Committee determined that it would like to clarify issues and insure adequate information is provided to the Fellowship for discussion. A subcommittee will develop a work plan to present at the next meeting.

Literature
The revised draft of the pamphlet, "AA for the Native North American" will be available at the November committee meeting. Also, the draft revised pamphlet, "The AA Member – Medications and Other Drugs," will be reviewed by a subcommittee and their report discussed at the committee’s November 1 meeting.
The committee’s scope has been expanded to include oversight to reviewing all changes to the AA Service Manual.

Nominating
This committee remains busy as there are five trustees rotating this year, including the chair of the GSB. Five candidates were interviewed by this committee at this board weekend.

Public Information
The committee reported they continue to have about 4-6 valid video submissions for the Young People’s Video Project. This committee remains committed to this project and will continue to request submissions from the fellowship.

General Manager Search Committee
Candidates for the GM positions will be interviewed by the full board at the October board meeting.

Important upcoming dates are:
10/17/08 – 10/19/08 > WSEA 92 Fall Assembly, Mirabeau Park Hotel, Spokane
      Gather suggestions for theme and workshop topics for the 2010 GSC
      Select candidate for Class B Trustee at Large US
12/19/08 > Deadline for submission of suggestions for theme and workshop topics for the 2010 GSC
12/31/08 > Deadline for submission of candidate for Class B Trustee at Large US

Yours in the Fellowship,
Rad M.
WSEA 92 Delegate P58