News and Notes from the General Service Office of A.A.® www.aa.org Vol. 51, No.3 June-July 2005

■■ 55th General Service Conference Basics of Our Home Group—Recovery, Unity and Service Under the theme “Basics of Our Home Group— Recovery, Unity and Service” the 136 Conference members (delegates from the 93 areas in the U.S. and Canada, trustees of the General Service Board, A.A.W.S. and Grapevine directors and G.S.O. and Grapevine staff) of A.A.’s 55th General Service Conference met at the Crowne Plaza Times Square, April 17-23. The Conference opened Sunday afternoon with the roll call, welcoming remarks, greetings from the delegate chair and the keynote address. What is this annual closed meeting, often referred to as A.A.’s “annual business meeting,” about? Delegate chairperson Jimmy Jack B., of Kansas, speaking Sunday afternoon, said: “We are really the voice of Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole. We need not forget the group conscience of our areas, but you may set those views aside long enough to listen like you have no opinion. This is a whole lot harder than it sounds. It allows me to levitate above the heat of the debate and to get a better look at Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole. It removes my blinders, so to speak. It brings the importance of what we do into the light. Learn to trust the committee process, the Conference process. There will be times we will be given a new perspective that may not agree with how our respective area wants us to vote. Remember, we are here to decide what is best for Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole. Trust the group conscience of your committee; trust the Conference process. We will see spiritual principles in action and experience the unity of the Conference.” This year’s Conference was chaired by Greg M., G.S.O.’s general manager; Elaine McDowell, Ph.D., (nonalcoholic) chair of the board; Class A (nonalcoholic) trustee Leonard Blumenthal; and Jimmy Jack B., delegate chairperson. Eva S., G.S.O. staff, was Conference coordinator.

Sunday evening Conference members and their guests gathered for the opening dinner. An open A.A. meeting followed, chaired by Laurie E. (Southern New Jersey), and led by Mike Y. (Western Michigan). Speakers were Catherine G. (New Hampshire), Don M. (New Brunswick/PEI), Dorothy H. (GV director), Chuck B. (trustee) and Mary Clare L. (G.S.O. staff). Spaced throughout the week were reports, workshops, area service highlights, What’s on Your Mind? sharing sessions, and presentation/discussion sessions. Presentations addressed the three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service, and there was a Finance Powerpoint presentation. Conference members heard a report on the 18th World Service Meeting, as well as a summary of A.A. Around the World. The A.A. Grapevine presentations addressed “A Vision for the Future.” For those who like to start their day with an A.A. meeting, the 2005 G.S.C. Serenity Group met at 7:30 a.m. Chaired by Buck R. (Delaware), the daily topic was a reading from A.A. literature. Terry W. (Northern Illinois), served as secretary/ treasurer. New York City Intergroup hosted a hospitality suite Saturday, where early arrivals could have coffee, reconnect with old friends and get to know the new Panel 55 delegates. Throughout the week, local A.A. and Al-Anon members met with the families and friends of delegates and accompanied them on a variety of trips around the city. They visited the United Nations, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Intrepid Sea/Air Museum, among other sites. Some went to a matinee Wednesday afternoon, or shopping, and, of course, some went to local A.A. and Al-Anon meetings. Tuesday afternoon, all Conference members and their guests took the subway uptown for a visit to the General Service Office and the Grapevine office. The main focus of the Conference is on the delibera­

Box 4-5-9 is published bimonthly by the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115, © Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 2005 Mail address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 G.S.O.’s A.A. Web Site: www.aa.org Subscriptions: Individual, $3.50 per year; group, $6.00 for each unit of 10 per year. Check—made payable to A.A.W.S., Inc.—should accompany order.

tions of each of the 13 Conference committees, and it is during the committee meetings that the major work of the Conference is done. After a joint meeting with corresponding trustees’ committees, the Conference committees review material and recommendations, weigh and discuss various issues and come up with recommendations which may result in Conference Advisory Actions (Highlights of Advisory Actions, p. 3). Wednesday afternoon trustee elections were held. The new Southeast regional trustee, replacing Dick G., will be Howard L. of Columbia, Mississippi; East Central regional Dorothy M., will be followed by Bob M. of Ontonagon, Michigan; and the trustee-at-large/U.S. will be Dorothy W. of Indianapolis, filling the spot previously held by Charlie B. New general service trustees are Paul C., Oceanside, California, who will be a director on the A.A.W.S. Board, and Ray M. of Western Canada on the Grapevine Board. Also rotating at the end of Conference was Elaine McDowell, who has served the General Service Board well since 1992, and as board chair from 2001. Assuming the responsibilities of chairman of the board is Leonard Blumenthal, L.L.D. of Alberta, Canada, who has served as Class A trustee since 2000. Taking Leonard’s place on the board will be new Class A trustee Jeanne Woodford of Benicia, California. Delegate chairperson for the 2006 General Service Conference will be Mike S., North Florida; alternate chairperson will be Joyce P., Nevada. With only two months until A.A.’s 70th Anniversary celebration, June 30 to July 3, in Toronto, excitement ran high. Friday morning a presentation/discussion session focused on the 2005 International Convention, chaired by Eastern Canada regional trustee Bob P. The speakers were Doug R., G.S.O.’s International Convention coordinator, and Barb K., Eastern Ontario delegate. Then, as in previous Convention years, the 475 Players (G.S.O. staff members) presented their Conference skit, titled “No Theatre.” After the final committee reports had been given, the 2

resulting Advisory Actions recorded and the final presentation delivered, the Conference was officially closed Friday afternoon with the Serenity Prayer in three languages, led by Donald C., Northwest Quebec in French; Hernan M., La Viña editor, in Spanish; and Nancy J., MidSouthern California in English. Saturday morning Conference members gathered for the last time at the closing brunch, with farewell talks by rotating trustees: Charlie B., trustee-at-large/U.S.; David E. and John K., general service trustees; Dick G., Southeast regional; Dorothy M., East Central regional; and Elaine McDowell, chair of the General Service Board. Lest we forget that “Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety”: During the 2004 Conference, several delegates went to a 9:00 p.m. A.A. meeting at St. Malachy’s Church, just a few blocks from the hotel. There they met a young lady on her first day of sobriety. The next day she came to the Conference’s morning A.A. meeting. Before they said goodbye, Jacki P., the delegate from Vermont, gave her phone number to the newcomer. Last week, that newcomer called Jacki to announce she was celebrating one year of sobriety. And Tuesday evening some of the delegates went to the A.A. Anniversary meeting. The name of the group at St. Malachy’s – Believe It Or Not.

■ Estimates of Groups and Members as of January 1, 20051 United States Canada Sub-Total Correctional facilities2 Internationalists Lone members Total Outside U.S. & Canada3 Grand Total

Groups

Members

52,651 4,872 ______ 57,523 2,562

1,190,637 95,984 _________ 1,286,621 66,963 76 223 _________ 1,353,883 729,097 _________ 2,082,980

______ 60,085 45,209 ______ 105,294

______ 1. The General Service Office does not keep membership records. The information shown here is based on reports given by groups listed with G.S.O., and does not represent an actual count of those who consider themselves A.A. members. 2. U.S. and Canada only. 3. We are aware of A.A. activity in more than 180 countries, including 58 autonomous general service offices in other lands. Annually we attempt to contact those G.S.O.s and groups that request to be listed in our records. Where current data is lacking we use an earlier year’s figures.

■ 2005 Conference Advisory Actions and Additional Considerations Conference Advisory Actions represent recommendations made by the standing committees and approved by the Conference body as a whole; or recommendations discussed and voted upon by all Conference members during general sessions. Some Advisory Actions and a few additional committee considerations appear below in condensed form. A complete list will be published in the Final Conference Report.

Advisory Actions Floor Actions — that the draft manuscript, A.A. in Prison: Inmate to Inmate, including revisions suggested by the 2005 Conference Committee on Corrections, be returned to the trustees’ Committee on Corrections for review and revision, mindful of the concerns expressed during the Conference discussion, and that the revised draft manuscript be submitted to the 2006 Conference Committee on Corrections. Agenda—that the theme for the 2006 General Service Conference be: “Sponsorship, Service and Self-Support in a Changing World”; that the Workshop topic for the 2006 General Service Conference be “Passing It On in a Changing World.” Correctional Facilities—that the “Singleness of Purpose statement,” be included in the pamphlet “A Message to Correctional Professionals”; that the name of the Conference Committee on Correctional Facilities be changed to the Conference Committee on Corrections. Finance— that in the interest of self-support, area contributions for delegates’ expenses be increased from $800 to $1,200 effective with the 2006 Conference and that areas continue to be encouraged to make contributions over and above this requested amount to help cover a greater portion of the Conference costs. International Conventions/A.A. Regional Forums— that an encrypted, anonymity-protected, delayed extranet broadcast of the 2005 International Convention Opening Flag Ceremony be approved. Literature—that the Spanish-language Third Edition Big Book, Alcohólicos Anónimos, continue to be developed and a progress report and/or draft copy be brought to the 2006 Conference Literature Committee; that the term “sexual preference” be replaced with “sexual orientation” on page 10 in the pamphlet “A.A. and the Gay/Lesbian Alcoholic; that the revisions suggested by the committee to “The A.A. Group” pamphlet, be approved. Policy/Admissions— that the timetable for the election of delegates from the Western Canada Region be revised to allow for an even distribution of new delegates on each panel; that the 58th General Service Conference be held April 27-May 3, 2008.

Public Information—that the Membership Survey pamphlet and the one-way Membership Survey display be updated to reflect the findings from the 2004 Membership Survey with the following revision to the reporting categories under “Length of Sobriety”: Sober more than 10 years. Sober between 5-10 years. Sober between 1-5 years. Sober less than 1 year; that the television public service announcement (PSA) “Living in Chaos,” developed by the trustees’ P.I. Committee, be approved. Report and Charter— that online meetings in languages in addition to English, French and Spanish be listed in A.A. directories under “ONLINE MEETINGS” with the meeting language indicated next to the listing and in accordance with a 1997 Conference Advisory Action. Trustees—that new language be added to existing language of the Bylaws of the General Service Board regarding successor terms of Class B trustees in the event of resignation or death; that the slate of trustees and officers be elected at the annual meeting of the members of the General Service Board in April 2005.

Additional Considerations Archives— the trustees provided updates to the Conference committee on the following ongoing projects: preparations for the International Convention, Ownership of Material, the current status of the audio preservation project, and distribution increase of the Markings newsletter. Cooperation With the Professional Community— discussed the need for a pamphlet directed to the criminal justice system and requested that the trustees’ Committee on Treatment Facilities/Cooperation With the Professional Community review current C.P.C. literature to see whether it provides easily accessible information on singleness of purpose, open and closed meetings, proof of attendance at meetings, anonymity and how to contact A.A. locally, and report to the 2006 Conference Committee on C.P.C. Grapevine— agreed to forward to the Grapevine Corporate Board the request that a collection of A.A. Grapevine stories for young people be produced in 2006 or later. Treatment Facilities— reviewed the results of the 2004 Treatment Facilities Committee Survey, which noted that in many areas, inpatient treatment services have decreased and outpatient services have increased; and, many local Treatment Facilities Committees bring A.A. meetings into other institutions such as nursing homes, halfway houses and homeless shelters. 3

■ Reports From G.S.O., the General Service Board, and Trustees’ Committees ■ General Service Board Trustees’ report: As I reflect on our last year together, I am struck by the many gifts trustees receive from A.A.’s trusted servants. We have the privilege of observing dedicated service on the front lines at home, in the U.S. and Canada, and in far flung areas of the world. We look forward to sharing this 55th General Service Conference with you and celebrating the Conference theme, “Basics of Our Home Group — Recovery, Unity and Service.” This year we welcomed four new trustees: Class A (nonalcoholics) trustees Bill Clark, M.D. and Ward Ewing, D.D., as well as two Class B (alcoholic) trustees: Chuck B., West Central region trustee and Tom K., Western Canada regional trustee. At the close of this Conference, Leonard Blumenthal rotates in as chairman of the board and I rotate on. It is with both joy and faith in rotation and great sadness that I leave my spiritual family after so many years. We will go forward at this Conference without our beloved staff member and last year’s Conference coordinator, Bill A., who lost his struggle with cancer last June after leading us through a very special Conference experience. Those of us who knew him will miss his marvelous presence and devotion to the principles that embody our Fellowship. Many of us experienced Bill’s wonderful spirit and his ability to change the occasional bleak moment into one of joy and harmony. Adrienne B., G.S.O. staff member, Greg M., general manager and various trustees have traveled to South Africa, Panama, Singapore, Colombia, Mongolia, China, Poland, Greece, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, France and Great Britain. In November, Greg, Adrienne and I joined members of the General Service Board of France to discuss the possibility of a Central Africa Zonal Meeting in 2007 with members of the General Service Board of Cameroon. Greg and Adrienne plan to attend the Second Sub-Saharan Zonal Meeting in June. We also had the privilege of participating in Togo’s first A.A. convention, and witnessed the beginnings of the general service structure in Mongolia. The General Service Board hosted the 18th World Service Meeting last October in New York, with 48 delegates from 35 countries, with the theme “One Message — Many Languages — One Fellowship.” We join you in looking forward to the 2005 International A.A. Convention celebrating the Fellowship’s 70th Anniversary in Toronto, June 30 – July 3, 2005, with the

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theme “I Am Responsible,” where tens of thousands of A.A.s will rededicate themselves to their own sobriety and to our Fellowship of the Spirit. We will hear the echo of the voice of our co-founder, Bill W., from 1965 in Toronto, “Stirred by gratitude beyond expression, we shall give thanks to God whose grace has made it possible for us to achieve the quality of responsibility, individual and collective, that has brought our Fellowship into its present state of well-being and worldwide reach.” (The Language of the Heart, p. 328) Elaine McDowell, Ph.D., (nonalcoholic) chair

■ Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Directors’ report: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.) directors are responsible for oversight of the General Service Office (G.S.O.), which provides group services, including printing and distribution of Conference-approved and service literature. The committees of the A.A.W.S. Board are: Services, which considers the needs of all service assignments; Publishing, which reviews reprints, foreign literature and publications concerns; Finance, which oversees salary and budget, audit review, and retirement; and Nominating. Long-range planning is done within each committee and by the board as a whole. In the past year, G.S.O. welcomed 1,388 visitors, incluing several groups of 15-50 members, some traveling great distances to spend a day in their office. A net total of 619 new A.A. groups registered with G.S.O. last year. Each new group’s general service representative (G.S.R.) or contact received A.A. literature and basic information to encourage the group to link with the local structure and to support Twelfth Step service work. The Services Committee presented reports to the full board on G.S.O.’s Web site activity for all quarters, as well as an annual report for the year (2004). “A Brief Guide to A.A.” was added to our Web site. The board also recommended that public service announcements (PSAs) be added to our Web site; a list of A.A. offices overseas; policies applicable to Intellectual Property; and, The A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service. As of mid-March, 30,000 people had registered to participate in the celebration of A.A.’s 70th Anniversary, June 30-July 3, in Toronto, Ontario. The countdown to the

opening meeting continues, and G.S.O. reminds all attending the unique weekend that proper travel documentation is necessary (for U.S. members a current passport is preferable). Our members with prior convictions for criminal offenses are reminded of the necessity of obtaining clearance through Canadian Immigration authorities in advance of the event. 2005 Budget — The board approved G.S.O.’s Budget for 2005 and forwarded it to the trustees’ Finance & Budgetary Committee for review. The budget includes an increase of $1 per title on books published by A.A.W.S., with the exception of all formats of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, effective July 1, 2005. The budget includes implementation of a 10% service charge on all orders under $250, with a minimum service charge of $3, effective July 1st. On March 25th, information on price changes was mailed to all central and intergroup offices, G.S.R.s, and non-A.A. purchasers; and was also included in the April/May issue of Box 4-5-9. Publications — In 2004, G.S.O. distributed a total of 1,953,631 units, up 9% from 1,784,278 units in 2003. Through December 2004, A.A. purchases totaled 472,586 units; while non-A.A. purchases accounted for 481,045 units, or 25%. Last year, 1,202,089 book units were distributed, compared with 1,014,393 units for the same period in 2003, representing an increase of 187,696 units, or 19%. We recently published the 25 millionth copy of Alcoholics Anonymous, and during the 2005 International Convention in Toronto this June, the 25 millionth Big Book will be presented to a friend of A.A. Translations of A.A. literature approved and printed included: Simplified Chinese: “A Brief Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous” and “Is A.A. for You?”; Japanese: Daily Reflections; Latvian: Big Book, “The A.A. Group,” “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship,” “Understanding Anonymity,” “Is There an Alcoholic in Your Life?” and “If You are a Professional”; Sinhalese: “This is A.A.,” “Is A.A. for You?,” “44 Questions,” “A Newcomer Asks,” “A Brief Guide to A.A.,” and “Information on A.A.;” Swahili: “A Newcomer Asks,” “Is A.A. for You?,” “A Brief Guide to A.A.,” “This is A.A.” and “44 Questions;” and Zulu: Big Book. Copyright Infringement Cases in Germany — In July 2004, we learned that the defendant in the copyright infringement cases in Germany had remitted payment of court costs and attorney fees (approximately $27,000 U.S.) as ordered by the German Appeals Court in October 2003. Language was added to our licensing agreements to

discourage use of our copyrighted material on the Internet without permission. We will insert similar language into all new agreements, and will also apply addendums to existing licensing agreements. During the transition and implementation of improvements, Information Technology (IT) functions are being overseen by Don Meurer, controller and chief financial officer. IT functions are now supported under a contract with a consultant. We completed conversion of our Exchange Mail to Utopia Systems, Inc., an application service provider (ASP). In January 2005, A.A.W.S. engaged Invision of Hauppauge, NY, to outsource our IT infrastructure. Ron G., chairperson

■ Archives Trustees’ report: A short video presentation of the Archives was prepared with the intent to include it on our Web site. The audio preservation project was halted due to budgetary concerns. The original project of digitizing and formatting many reel-toreel tapes has been completed. An inventory of remaining items was prepared and in 2005 the development of a project for reformatting and digitizing this material will be discussed. Gary K., chairperson

Archivist’s report: We started 2004 with a renewed Markings newsletter and continue to welcome articles contributed by local archivists. Early in 2004 we started to utilize a new underground storage facility north of New York City, where we can store documents under strict climate control, while providing optimum security for our vital records. Judith Olah, archivist

■ Audit Committee Trustees’ report: The General Service Board’s Audit Committee consists of four trustees and the board treasurer. The committee reviews such items as audit process, audit results, internal controls, best accounting practices, and management integrity. Vincent Keefe (nonalcoholic), treasurer

■ Conference Trustees’ report: We reviewed the Advisory Actions, including the theme chosen for the 55th Conference, “Basics of Our Home Group — Recovery, Unity and Service,” and the Evaluation Questionnaires. We discussed the electronic transmission of agendas and background material and recommended the material be made available on CD format for the 2005 Conference. We reviewed and finalized the Agenda and

reviewed all agenda items submitted and forwarded each to the appropriate committee or board for consideration. Arnold R., chairperson

Staff report: The Conference coordinator is the G.S.O. contact for Conference members. The Conference process continues throughout the year and the coordinator corresponds regularly with delegates and alternate delegates. The coordinator is also the contact for area and district committee members, as well as past delegates, in the 93 areas throughout the U.S. and Canada. The coordinator is responsible for: serving as secretary to the Conference Agenda Committee and the trustees’ Committee on the General Service Conference; assembling suggestions for the Conference theme, presentation/ discussion and workshop topics; working with the G.S.O. staff and general manager on planning and coordinating each phase of the Conference; scheduling and assembling reports and other information for the Conference Manual, the Early Bird edition of Box 4-5-9 and the Conference Final Report.

their professional work. In 2004, the C.P.C. desk responded to more than 1,900 inquiries from professionals, 961 of which were associated with visits to G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site, other requests came by letter, email and phone. Meetings with medical students throughout the year is an important part of this assignment. About A.A. is also the responsibility of this assignment. Rick W.

Treatment Facilities — The purpose of this assignment is to provide information and service material to assist the work of A.A. committees who carry the message to alcoholics in treatment. We now are in contact with 82 area T.F. chairpersons, and nearly 401 district and “other” local chairpersons. We maintain an up-to-date list of these committee chairs and provide them with information and literature. Area T.F. chairs are sent the Treatment Facilities Kit, a guide to carrying the message in Treatment Facilities. Treatment facilities sharing is provided to G.S.O. through minutes and reports sent in by treatment facilities committees. Irene K.

Eva S.

■ Corrections ■ Cooperation With the Professional Community/ Treatment Facilities Trustees’ reports: C.P.C. — The committee assists local C.P.C. committees to provide A.A. information to professionals who, through their work, may come in contact with the still-suffering alcoholic. The committee gave the go-ahead to produce the Cooperation With the Professional Community Kit in a three-ring binder format. The committee reviewed the 2004 list of 54 exhibits as well as the exhibit evaluations. Offers to exhibit at professional conferences are considered based on expanding the range of professions and on new geographical locations. Treatment Facilities — The committee began a long-range discussion of the effectiveness of T.F. committees and the G.S.O. Treatment Facilities staff assignment. The Conference T.F. Committee asked staff to mail a survey regarding T.F. activities to T.F., BTG and H&I chairs, as well as central and intergroup offices. Survey results were compiled, analyzed and reviewed by the committee. The survey results were widely distributed in January 2005. Allen Ault, (nonalcoholic) chairperson

Staff reports: C.P.C. — The staff member on the C.P.C. assignment, along with a capable assistant, provides information about A.A. and facilitates good communication with those outside of A.A. who may have direct contact with the still-suffering alcoholic through

Trustees’ report: The committee reviewed a draft manuscript for the revision of A.A. in Prison: Inmate to Inmate and recommended it to the 2005 Conference Committee on Correctional Facilities for review and consideration. We also forwarded a report on the feasibility and cost of producing an informational video featuring someone highly credible in the corrections field introducing A.A. into training programs for corrections personnel. The committee recommended that its name be changed from “Trustees’ Committee on Correctional Facilities” to “Trustees’ Committee on Corrections” and this was approved by the General Service Board. Leonard M. Blumenthal, LL.D., (nonalcoholic) chairperson

Staff report: This assignment is responsible for helping A.A. members and local committees carry the A.A. message to alcoholics confined in a variety of correctional settings. Nearly 700 letters a month arrive from inmates, most asking for free literature, many asking for names of outside A.A. members with whom to correspond, or for help in making contact with A.A. upon release. We try to facilitate these requests, primarily through our network of area, district and local Correctional Facilities committees. The newsletter, Sharing From Behind the Walls, containing sharing from inmate letters sent to G.S.O., is also a responsibility of this assignment. The Corrections Correspondence Service (CCS), is coordinated by this desk. Mary Clare L.

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■ Finance and Budgetary Trustees’ report: At last year’s Conference we reviewed the proposed budget for 2004 and reported that the G.S.O. expected a loss from operations of approximately $618,241, which after mid-year adjustments, resulted in an estimated loss of $760,991. Actual results for 2004 were some $389,000 better. Net revenues were about $349,000 better than expected and expenses were about $40,000 less than budgeted. At the end of 2004 the Reserve Fund balance represented approximately 8.4 months of operating expenses. Our revenue essentially comes from two sources: profit from literature sales and contributions. We should all be encouraged that contributions in 2004 were again higher than the previous year, even if ever so slightly. This represents the seventh year that contributions have increased. Contributions of $5,064,000 received from groups and members were $37,000, or 0.7%, less than budgeted, but $67,000 more than in 2003. The $5,064,000 in contributions came from about 25,140 groups, individuals, and service entities. That, for comparison, represents 43.7% of the 57,523 groups registered with G.S.O., and this percent is just slightly less than the previous year. Beginning in 2002 we were obliged to record funds received on behalf of the World Service Meeting International Literature Fund as Contributions to G.S.O. Total contributions of $5,191,634, as reflected in our 2004 financial statements, include approximately $128,000 received to help carry the message around the world from those participating countries. During 2003, the comparable number was $102,900, and it was $108,000 in 2002. Turning to the other major component of our income, net sales of literature were $11,297,500. This was $630,000, or 6%, greater than budgeted, and $837,000 higher than 2003. In general, units of books sold increased slightly in 2004 over 2003. In total, printing and other manufacturing costs, shipping expenses and royalty payments were greater than budgeted, as were sales. As a result, gross profit of $5,710,842 was $330,000 more than budgeted. The combination of contributions and net literature sales resulted in total G.S.O. revenue of $10,905,100, some $349,000 greater than originally budgeted. Total operating expenses for G.S.O. during 2004 were $11,217,318. This was $100,000 less than budget, but $762,000 more than the previous year. Therefore, compared with the budget, the increase in revenues, augmented by the decreased expenses, resulted in an operating loss of $312,148 for the year, a substantial improvement from the budgeted loss of $760,991. In 1994, G.S.O. lowered prices and

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increased discounts on literature. These changes were undertaken to lower the Reserve Fund, which was approaching the upper limit established by the General Service Conference. The Conferenceapproved limit is 12 months of combined G.S.O. and Grapevine operating expenses. We had accomplished the objective of lowering the Reserve Fund. At December 2004 the balance was about 8.4 months. At $9,075,500 (the adjusted balance used for the calculation), the Reserve Fund amounts to $157 per listed A.A. group. To give perspective to this number, contributions per group averaged about $88 for the 57,523 groups registered, while expenses to support services to those groups averaged $133. Your responsible trusted servants, after reviewing financial matters, recommended an increase in prices of books and booklets (except the Big Book) as well as an imposition of a small shipping charge effective July 1, 2005. The price increase and shipping charge both come one year after the price restoration of the Big Book, on July 1, 2004. Prudence dictates that even though contribution revenue has seen an upward movement during the last several years, a restoration of the revenue stream is appropriate. Trusted servants continue to explore methods to reduce the costs of operations, as well as assess the services supplied. This year’s budget includes a slight increase in contributions. The budget envisions approximately a 2.5% decrease in costs when compared with 2004 actual, and a 3.3% decrease when compared with the 2004 budget. Based on these primary assumptions – a slight decrease in dollar sales; a 1.5% increase in contributions; a decrease in total operating expenses — the projection for 2005 is for an excess of revenue over expenses of $71,083, which compares with the 2004 budgeted loss of $760,991. In 2004 we spent $7,622,288 on services to the Fellowship, approximately $534,000, or 7.5%, more than the $7,088,055 spent in 2003. This compares with $7,182,000 spent in 2002, $6,685,600 spent in 2001, $6,143,300 spent in 2000, $5,876,500 in 1999, $5,867,700 in 1998, and $5,944,000 in 1997. Contributions provided 68% of this and 32% came from the profit on literature sales. (This compares with 72% and 28% in 2003, 71% and 29% in 2002, 70% and 30% in 2001, and 73% and 27% for 2000.) Services spending amounted to $132 per listed A.A. group, up $7 from last year, while contributions were about $90 per group, up $1. The 2004 service dollar was spent on the following activities: Group Services, 32.2% (which includes the Group Services assignment; Box 4-5-9; A.A. Directories; records and files; contributions processing; and French services); the General Service Conference, 12.5%; Loners, Internationalists, and Overseas Services, 9.6%; trustees’ and directors’ activities,

6.7%; Regional Forums, 7.8%; Archives, 10.2%; C.P.C., 5.4%; Spanish Services, 1.1%; Public Information, 4.1%; Correctional Facilities, 3.9%; and Treatment Facilities, 1.9%; Convention activities, 2.9%,World Service Meeting activities, 1.7% At the Grapevine, magazine income was approximately 2% greater than the prior year, while average circulation was down approximately 3.9%. Average circulation during 2004 was 108,203, compared with 112,614 for 2003, 115,753 for 2002, 115,000 in 2001, 115,700 in 2000, 115,900 for 1999, 117,300 for 1998, 120,679 for 1997, and 128,360 during 1996. Gross profit on the magazine was $1,174,119, which was $18,000 more than the previous year, but $62,000 less than budgeted. Revenue of Other Items was $192,000, less than budgeted and $37,000 less than the previous year as well. Gross profit on Other Items, was approximately $106,000 less than budgeted but only $14,000 less than 2003. Therefore, total income, including interest income, was $1,631,360, almost exactly even with 2003, but about $166,700 less than budgeted. Costs and expenses for editorial, circulation and business, and administration (excluding the Digital Archives Project funded by the General Service Board) were $1,570,410. This is $56,000 less than last year, and $123,000 less than budget as well. As a result, the Grapevine (excluding La Viña) reported a profit from operations of $60,945, compared with the $5,400 profit last year. The Grapevine’s 2005 budget, excluding La Viña, anticipates magazine subscription income of $1,816,700, essentially even with the $1,817,900 realized in 2004, an increase in magazine direct costs of $36,000, and a gross profit of $1,125,200. Gross profit on Other Publishing Income is anticipated to increase $58,000, while interest income should be about even. The anticipated profit for 2005 of $17,783 is expected and, when achieved, will make three successive positive years of Grapevine operations. La Viña, in 2004, averaged a circulation of 9,316. This compared with 2003 average circulation of 9,222, up slightly from the 2002 circulation of 9,000. The project has incurred losses each of the past eight and one-half years. During 2004, subscription income was $75,430 and direct costs of publishing were $66,530, resulting in a $8,900 gross profit. During 2004, La Viña realized approximately $13,900 from the sales of CDs net of costs. Operating expenses directly associated with the publication were $130,830. These include the editorial, circulation and administrative costs attributable to La Viña, making the overall loss on the project for the year $108,050. In summary, steps taken to enhance the revenue side of the equation, reductions in the expense side, and consideration of long­

term obligations help insure that the Fellowship’s finances remain in good condition. The outlook for this year appears favorable, and we continue to have the financial wherewithal to carry the message. Vincent Keefe (nonalcoholic), treasurer

■ General Sharing Session Trustees’ report: The topic of the July 2004 session was “A.A. Principals: General Service Conference, General Service Board, General Service Office.” In October the topic was, “Attraction vs. Promotion.” In January 2005 the session focused on “A.A.’s Seventh Tradition—Are We Truly Self-Supporting?” In November the topic was “Our Vision For A.A.’s Future—Our Responsibility for Long Term Planning.” In February 2004 the session focused on “Informing the Informed Group Conscience.” Herbert Goodman, (nonalcoholic) chairperson

■ Group Services Staff report: To assist groups, G.S.O. provides service material to the Fellowship, based on an indicated need, to provide information and share experience not found in Conference-approved literature. Examples of service material include: A.A. Guidelines; List of Fellowships Similar to A.A.; a catalog of A.A. Literature and Audiovisual Material for Special Needs. Ongoing projects: Coordinating A.A. directories; supervision of service files, Group Handbooks, and G.S.R. Kits. Currently all correspondence in Spanish from the U.S./Canada, comes to the Group Services desk. G.S.O. continues to work toward providing services in English, French and Spanish. The staff member also serves as liaison with intergroup/central offices, Special Needs/Accessibilities Committees, and for G.S.O.’s Web-site. Julio E.

■ International/ World Service Meeting Trustees’ committee: This committee is responsible for suggesting policies and actions to assure that the A.A. message is available around the world, especially in areas where there is no established service structure. We provide shared experience, support translations of A.A. literature in other languages and encourage the expansion of regional or zonal service meetings. The committee is the primary link between the international A.A. community and the U.S./Canada General Service Board. The 18th World Service Meeting was held October 24-28 in New York City with the theme “One Message—Many Languages—One Fellowship.” Forty-eight

delegates from 35 countries or zones participated. Murray McI., chairperson

Staff report: The International desk receives correspondence from groups, individual A.A.s and professionals interested in obtaining information about A.A. in countries outside the U.S. and Canada. The staff member corresponds with 58 international G.S.O.s and literature distribution centers. Other responsibilities on the assignment are: Coordinating the biennial World Service Meeting (WSM) and maintaining contact with delegates and their offices throughout the year; maintaining communications with our Publications Department on requests for new translations of literature and the beginnings of new General Service or Information offices that may be able to distribute literature locally. Adrienne B.

■ International Conventions/ A.A. Regional Forum Trustees’ report: International Conventions — The focus of our work during the year revolved around the 2005 International Convention, Toronto, Canada, June 30 – July 3, 2005. The committee approved the Convention Program, and reviewed the list of non-A.A. speakers for the Convention panels and the formats for the Big Meetings. We forward to the 2005 Conference Committee for consideration, the concept that an anonymity-protected delayed broadcast of the 2005 International Convention Friday Night Opening Flag Ceremony be made available electronically. Regional Forums — Since the Conference, the following regions have held Forums: Pacific, Eastern Canada, and Southeast. Special Forums were held in Goose Bay, Labrador and Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada. Phyllis H., chairperson

Staff reports: International Convention — This assignment entails coordinating the myriad details involved in producing the A.A. International Convention, held every five years. The International Convention coordinator is responsible for bringing the Convention to life and to ensure that thousands of A.A.s can share and celebrate A.A.’s Anniversary. This time in Toronto, Canada, June 30 – July 3, 2005. Doug R.

Regional Forums — The staff member on Regional Forums is responsible for coordinating all arrangements necessary for holding Forums in the U.S. and Canada. These weekends help foster wider commu­

nication and understanding among A.A. service workers, the General Service Board, A.A.W.S., and GV and G.S.O. staffs. Forums are held at the invitation of a particular region every two years. A region may request a Special Forum. The staff member serves as secretary of the trustees’ Nominating Committee and Conference Committee on Trustees. Warren S.

■ Literature Trustees’ report: Projects forwarded to the Conference Literature Committee for discussion: Revision of the pamphlet “It Happened to Alice”; a revised manuscripts of “The A.A. Group” and “Too Young?”; a progress report on the Spanish-language 3rd edition Big Book and “Young People and A.A.” Mike P., chairperson

Staff report: The Literature coordinator works closely with the editor, writers and illustrators on preparing all new recovery pamphlets, books and audiovisuals, in accordance with recommendations from the Conference. The literature desk receives and responds to correspondence from A.A. members and groups about literature, and maintains contact with 66 area, 346 district, 213 intergroup/central offices and A.A. group literature chairpersons, and also serves as editor of Box 4-5-9. Mary D.

■ Loners, Internationalist, Homers Staff report: Loners are A.A.s who are unable to attend meetings because there are no groups nearby. There are about 223 Loners in 58 countries. Seagoing A.A.s, known as Internationalists, number about 76 as well as 57 Port Contacts. We now have 195 Homers, A.A.s who are housebound due to illness or physical disability. Homers, Loners and Internationalists stay sober by sharing with each other through letters, tapes and e-mails. Each new Loner, Homer and Internationalist receives a directory of members, a subscription to Box 4-5-9 and the Loners/Internationalists Meeting-By-Mail (LIM), a confidential bimonthly bulletin which shares excerpts of letters received at G.S.O. from LIM members. There are also over 483 Loners Sponsors, who share A.A. activities and personal experience. Irene K.

■ Nominating Trustees’ committee: The committee recommended to the General Service Board

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the names of two candidates for Class A (nonalcoholic) trustees to be approved following the 2004 Conference. We forwarded the proposed slates of General Service Board members, officers of the board, and A.A.W.S. and Grapevine directors to the 2004 Conference Committee on Trustees, as well as the slate of trustees, to the annual meeting of the members of the General Service Board in May, following presentation at the 2004 Conference for disapproval, if any. John K., chairperson

■ Public Information Trustees’ committee: Over the past year we: Reviewed and made adjustments to a new TV public service announcement (P.S.A.) and forwarded it to the Conference P.I. Committee. We reviewed and mailed the Annual Anonymity Letter to the Media. We also reviewed the draft of “Alcoholics Anonymous 2004 Membership Survey” and forwarded it to the Conference P.I. Committee. Robert P., chairperson

Staff report: This assignment is charged with assisting A.A. members who carry our message to the suffering alcoholic through schools, health fairs, and all forms of the media. A crucial part of P.I. work at G.S.O. is to act as a resource and central repository of the sharing from P.I. committees in the U.S. and Canada. During the year the staff member and an assistant respond to hundreds of written and telephone inquiries from the public and the Fellowship. The staff member also responds to all inquiries that come from the media, providing them with accurate information about A.A. The staff member communicates with over 700 P.I. Committee chairpeople at the area, district, intergroup/central office and group level. Gayle S. R.

■ Staff Coordinator Staff report: Services to A.A. groups and members are provided through 11 staff assignments; in addition, staff members correspond with groups and members in a specific region. Staff members rotate assignments every two years; assignments are assisted by the staff coordinator. In 2004 staff received a total of 31,168 pieces of mail (including faxes and e-mail). As assistant secretary of the General Service Board, the staff coordinator is responsible for scheduling meetings, distributing advance material, preparing the minutes of the board meetings and also serves as editor of the Quarterly Report. In the past year, G.S.O. welcomed 1,800 visitors. Valerie O’N.

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■ Reports from the A.A. Grapevine Directors’ report: One of the operating arms of the General Service Board, the A.A. Grapevine, Inc., publishes and distributes the A.A. Grapevine magazine, the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous, along with collections of Grapevine articles in books, CDs, and other formats and Spanish- and French-language editions of Grapevine books, signs, and recordings. The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., as a service to the General Service Board and the Fellowship, also publishes La Viña, the Spanish-language journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. As the chief executive of the Grapevine, the executive editor defines the operational goals of the corporation and oversees its administration. Operations are divided among five departments: editorial, finance, customer service, Internet operations, and La Viña. The editorial staff is responsible for the content, design, and production of the magazine and all other publications. The finance department, supervised by a controller, is responsible for payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and financial reports, and assists in the preparation of the annual budget. The controller also oversees in-house shipping and the services performed by the fulfillment house. Customer service has been handled by a staff of four, two of whom are bilingual. To improve customer service and make ordering easier, some of this work now will be done by the fulfillment house. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, though it came in behind budget by $44,159, the Grapevine Corporation still realized a net income of $60,945, the second year in a row in the black. Average monthly circulation for 2004 was 108,203. This is a 4,464 lower than budgeted and 4,411 lower than 2003. Total magazine income for 2004 was $1,895,960. This was $44,781 lower than budgeted and $36,714 lower than 2003 actual results. Direct costs of the Grapevine magazine for 2004 were $721,841, which was higher than budgeted by $17,310. Actual gross profit on the magazine for 2004 was $1,174,119, below budget by $62,091. Gross profit on the magazine in 2003 was $1,156,152. Actual gross profit on the magazine for 2004 was ahead of the 2003 gross profit results by $17,967. In the last quarter, the Grapevine published a Spanish-language edition of the updated The Best of Bill, a collection of six Grapevine essays by Bill W., and A Guide to the Grapevine: A Workbook for Grapevine and La Viña Reps. This spring, an updated edition of The Home Group: Heartbeat of A.A. will be available along with I Am Responsible, and a new collection of Grapevine stories. In January 2005, the Grapevine office

took responsibility for distributing the French-language editions of Grapevine publications, shipping most items from the warehouse in Canada. Financial results for La Viña show a net loss of $108,051 for 2004, compared to a budgeted loss of $118,700, which is $10,649 better than expected. Average monthly circulation for 2004 was 9,316. This was 184 copies lower than budgeted, resulting in total magazine income of $75,434. This is $7,586 behind the budget of $83,020. Gross profit for the magazine was $8,905 or $4,513 lower than the budget of $13,418. Sales of the La Viña CD were $17,418 and costs were $3,542. David E., chairperson

Staff report: Marking its 60th year of publication, the Grapevine has redoubled its efforts to fulfill its mission “to carry the A.A. message to as many people as possible, both inside and outside the Fellowship, through publication of its magazines and related items.” Special sections of the Grapevine this year have focused on carrying the A.A. message to deaf alcoholics, seniors, newcomers, and A.A.s in correctional facilities and in the military. Others have featured stories on sponsorship, home groups, and families with several generations in A.A. A special anniversary issue was published in June, a staple-free edition of the magazine for prisons came out in July, and a Victor E. anniversary poster was released in August. June also saw the launch of the Grapevine’s Digital Archive, which makes all Grapevine articles, letters, and cartoons published from 1944 to 2004 available on the Web site by subscription or a $2.00 monthly fee. La Viña has expanded its service to the Fellowship as well. This year circulation reached a monthly average of 9,500, and the first two CDs with recorded stories from La Viña were made available to the Spanish-speaking Fellowship. The Spanishlanguage portion of the Web site has also been expanded. Improving customer service and other fulfillment service continue to be the top priorities. To speed delivery, magazines are going into production sooner, new subscribers’ issues are being mailed earlier, and postal services have been upgraded. The staff continues to look for ways to support the magazine representatives in each group (GvRs and RLVs), with better communication. To consolidate its publications, in January the Grapevine began distributing Grapevine publications that have been translated into French. The corporation employs fourteen fulltime staff and four regular freelancers. Robin B., executive editor

The Budget Highlights 2005 G.S.O. Budget This budget describes the “OPERATIONS” of the General Service Office. It includes expenses of A.A. World Services (the Publishing operation) and the General Fund (Service activities). It excludes any activities reported separately in the Reserve Fund, Convention Fund, or the Capital Projects Fund. The Grapevine operations are described below in a separate report. Income: The 2005 budget projects net sales of $11,125,000, an increase of approximately $450,000 (4%) from the 2004 budget but $173,000 less than the 2004 actual results. The 2005 budget includes increases in the price of books and booklets (effective 7/1/05) (with the exception of the Big Book, which was restored to the $6.00 level effective 7/1/04). In addition, a small shipping and handling charge is proposed, also effective 7/1/05. After accounting for leveling in unit sales of the 4th edition and the “Anthology of Stories dropped from earlier editions,” generally sales of other products are expected to be flat. One should remember that when introduced, the price of the 4th edition of the Big Book was set at $5.00, less than the $6.00 price on the 3rd edition, with the expectation of reducing Gross Profit and the Reserve Fund as well. It was expected that, depending on increases in Contributions, Prices would need to be increased in a few years. Manufacturing costs are budgeted slightly less than 2004. Part of the reduction allows for a mix of costs resulting from the expected leveling of 4th edition and “Anthology” sales. Some is attributable to estimates for better cost of product. Royalties are budgeted at $175,000. Shipping and warehousing costs are budgeted somewhat less as well. While there may be expected increases in operational costs due to inflationary pressures, we intend to ship products using less expensive methods even if it takes a day or two longer to reach their destination. In addition there is some expected recovery from the shipping and handling charge imposed, as mentioned above. After subtracting manufacturing costs, royalties and shipping expense, gross profit is budgeted at $5,733,600 or 51.5%. This is just $23,000 more than 2004. The Gross profit compares with 50.5% and $5,710,800, for 2004. It should also be remembered that as we continue to strive to have literature available for our Service Conference in the Spanish and French languages as well as English, lower print runs in those languages result in higher production costs. Because we strive to have similar selling prices regardless of our manufacturing cost, lower overall gross profits could occur and thus price increases become necessary. Prudence dictates that even though contribution revenue has seen favorable upward movement during the last several years, other actions have been necessary. Trusted servants continue to explore methods to reduce the costs of operations as well as assess the services supplied. Contributions for 2005 have been budgeted at $5,275,000 in total. Contributions received for the year 2004 were slightly ahead of 2003. During 2004, contributions from groups and individuals of $5,064,000 were $37,000 (less than 1%) under budget but $67,000 (1.3%) greater than 2003. Contributions received from World Service Meeting countries toward the World Service Meeting International Literature Fund amounted to $128,400, approximately $25,000 more than in 2003. Total Operating Revenue for the period is anticipated at $11,011,100, approximately 4% more than the 2004 budget and 1% greater than the 2004 actual results. Total Operating Expenses for 2005 have been budgeted at $10,940,000, approximately $277,300 or 2.5% less than 2004 and $377,000 or 3.3% less than the 2004 budget as well. This year’s decrease represents serious efforts to reduce costs without significantly affecting service. For 2005 the GSO has budgeted excess of revenue over expense of $71,083. This compares with an actual loss for 2004 of $312,171, and the $760,991 loss budgeted. The GSO operating losses as well as other withdrawals from the Reserve Fund (La Viña, Computer projects) all have worked to reduce the Reserve Fund balance.

2005 Grapevine Budget The 2005 Grapevine Budget calls for an average circulation 106,500 approximately 6,000 copies fewer than the 2004 budget and approximately 1,700 copies fewer than the 2004 paid circulation number of 108,203. Circulation for 2003 was 112,614, 2002 was 115,753, 2001 was 115.034, 115,734 in 2000, 116,000 in 1999 and 117,300 in 1998. Income: Magazine income of $1,883,300 is expected, about $12,000 less than 2004. Other Publishing Income from books, cassette tapes, and miscellaneous items is budgeted at $651,000, approximately $84,000 higher than 2004. The increase in the “other items” category anticipates sales of new products. Total Gross Profit: Combining the magazine and other publishing items, the gross profit of $1,587,150 is budgeted compared to $1,578,250 achieved for 2004 and the 2004 budget of $1,746,000. Total Operating Expenses: Total Operating Expenses for 2005 are budgeted at $1,621,400, approximately $51,000 more than the 2004 actual of $1,570,413. Net Income: For 2005 the Grapevine anticipates a profit of $17,800. This compares with a 2004 budgeted profit of $105,100 and an actual profit from operations of $60,945.

2005 Spanish Grapevine Budget Following the 1995 General Service Conference Advisory Action #7, the publication of the Grapevine magazine in Spanish was approved by the Grapevine Board of Directors and the trustees’ Finance Committee of the General Service Board. Recognizing this publication as a new venture, both boards will review the financial impact on the Fellowship and the progress of circulation and continue to monitor the viability of this venture. In 2001 the board recommended and the 2001 Conference approved that the Spanish magazine continue to be published by the Grapevine but Funded by the General Fund instead of continuing to draw funds from the Reserve Fund. For 2005 La Viña expects a gross profit on the magazine of $9,783 compared with a $8,900 gross profit for 2004. Circulation for 2005 is estimated at 9,500, slightly higher that the 2004 average of 9,316. Total costs and expenses are estimated at $131,373 for 2005, compared with $130,800 for 2004. The 2005 budget projects a net loss of $93,838 compared with a loss of $108,051 for 2004, a loss of $111,638 for 2003, $103,815 in 2002, and $119,385 loss for 2001. To date the La Viña project has incurred start-up costs/operating losses of $887,569 as follows: $29,500 in 1995, $138,290 in 1996, $102,140 in 1997, $66,182 in 1998, $59,224 in 1999, $49,570 in 2000, $119,385 in 2001, $103,815 in 2002, $111,638 in 2003 and $107,828 in 2004.

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BULLETIN BOARD Items and Ideas on Area Gatherings for A.A.s — Via G.S.O.

Calendar of Events Events listed here are presented solely as a service to readers, not as an endorsement by the General Service Office. For any additional information, please use the addresses provided.

June 3-5—Farmington, New Mexico. 2005 Area 46 New Mexico State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 475, Flora Vista, NM 87415 3-5—Grand Island, Nebraska. Nebraska State Reunion. Write: Ch., Box 53, C o l u m b u s , NE 68601 rd 3-5—Hot Springs, Arkansas. 3 Annual TriLakes Convention. Write: Ch., 1719 Cedarhurst Dr., Benton, AR 72015-3168 3-5—New Orleans, Louisiana. 37th Big Deep South Convention. Write: Ch., 3117-D Independence St., Metairie, LA 70006; Website: www.aa-neworleans.org 3-5—San Antonio, Texas. Weekend in S.A. Write: Ch., Box 790565, San Antonio, TX 78279 10-12—Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Calgary’s 24th Annual Gratitude Round-up. Write: Ch., #2 4015 1st Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 4X7, Canada 10-12—Clear Lake, Iowa. Area 24 Spring Conference. Write: Ch., Box 135, Forest City, IA 50436 10-12—Pascagoula, Mississippi. 2005 MS State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 7176, D’Iberville, MS 39540 10-12—San Jose, California. NCEEAA 58th Annual Summer Conference. Write: Ch., 2416 Inglewood Dr., Lodi, CA 95242 10-12—Springfield, Missouri. 15 th Annual Heart of the Ozarks Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 1607, Springfield, MO 65801 10-12—Tallahassee, Florida. 2 nd Annual Founders Day Florida Style. Write: Ch., Box 16076, Tallahassee, FL 32308; Website: www.foundersdayfl.org 10-12—Vernon, British Columbia . 33 rd Vernon Roundup. Write: Ch., 3614 21 Ave., Vernon, BC V1T 1H6, Canada 10-12—Würzburg, Germany. Miracles in Progress 1st Annual International RoundUp. Write: Ch., Florian-Geyer Str. 48, 97076 Würzburg, Germany 10-12—Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. District 35 Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 2813, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada X1A 2R1 16-19—Hagerstown, Maryland. 35th Annual Area 29 Maryland State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 70364, Baltimore, MD 21237; Website: www.marylandaa.org; E-mail: stateconvention@marylandaa.org 17-19—Blenheim, Ontario, Canada. 27th MidSeason Campout. Write: Ch., 21-273 Elgin St., Brantford, Ontario, Canada N3S 5B2; E-mail: themidseasoncampout@hotmail.com 17-19—Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Cache Creek / Ashcroft 30 th Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 558, Cache Creek, BC V0K 1H0, Canada

17-19—Camp Verde, Arizona. 10th Annual Sobriety Convention. Write: Ch., 4063 E. Del Rio Drive, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 17-19—Casper, Wyoming. 30th Annual June Jamboree. Write: Ch., 531 So. Forrest Dr., Casper, WY 82604 17-19—Coombs, British Columbia, Canada. 45th Annual Parksville/Qualicum “Living Free” Rally. Write: Ch., Box 956, Parksville, BC V9P 5G6 17-19—Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Annual Granite Creek Camp-Out. Write: Ch., Box 10701, Jackson Hole, WY 83002 17-19—Richmond, Virginia. Primary-Purpose Conv. Write: Ch., Box 5646, Midlothian, VA 23112 30-3—Toronto, Canada. In the Military Ice Breakers/Dry Dock Groups and Others. Write: Ch., 5452 Park Ave., Garden Grove, CA 92845-2450

July 1-3—Sept-Iles, Quebec, Canada. 26th Congres District 89 -10. Write: Ch., C.P. 1242, SeptIles, QC G4R 4X7, Canada 8-10—Huntington, West Virginia. WV Area 73 – 53rd Annual State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 2862, Huntington, WV 25728 8-10—Mankato, Minnesota. Southern Minnesota Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 146, Mankato, MN 56002 8-10—Montgomery, Alabama. Alabama/ Northwest Florida Area 1 Assembly. Write: Ch., 1314 Stanford Rd., Dothan, AL 36305 8-10—Rivière-du-Loup. 30ime Congrès. Write: Ch., 171, Rue Fraser, Rivière-du-Loup, Quebéc 8-10—Tulsa, Oklahoma. OSRYPAA Oklahoma State Round-up of Young People. Write: Ch., Box 1561, Tulsa, OK 74101-1561; Website: www.osrypaa.org 10-12—Diberville, Mississippi. 2005 Mississippi State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 7176, Diberville, MS 39540 14-17—Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock Caprock Convention. Write: Ch., Box 6511, Lubbock, TX 79493; Website: http://lubbockaaconvention.tripod.com

JUNE – JULY 2005 15-17—Edson, Alberta, Canada. 2005 Edson District 5 – 45th Roundup. Write: Ch., 1423 54th St., Edson, Alberta, Canada T7E 1H4 15-17—Kaposvar, Hungary. 11 th Annual Convention of Hungarian AA; Website: http://www.anonimalkoholistak.hu 15-17—Madison, Minnesota. 29 th Annual Freedom Fest. Write: Ch., 62506 455th St., Correll, MN 56277 22-24—Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada. 21st Annual Cache Creek/Ashcroft Campout. Write: Ch., Box 1050, Ashcroft, BC, V0K 1A0 22-24—Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. 23rd Annual Chilliwack RoundUp. Write: Ch., 41-45111 Wolfe Road, Chilliwack, B.C., Canada V2P 1V6 22-24—Prescott, Arizona. Prescott Shoestring Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 3813, Prescott, AZ 86302 22-24—Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Area 10 Summer Assembly. Write: Ch., Box 881787, Steamboat Springs, CO, 80488-1787 22-24—Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The 30th Annual Windsor-Essex Convention. Write: Ch., Box 1502, Stn. A, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6R5, Canada 28-31—Durham, North Carolina. 58th North Carolina State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 71144, Durham, N.C. 27722 28-31—Memphis, Tennessee. Southeast Regional Conference of Young People. Write: Ch., Box 753252, Memphis, TN 38175; E-mail: chair@sercypaa05.org 28-31—Silver Creek, Colorado. Fellowship of the Spirit Conference. Write: Ch., Box 480642, Denver, CO 80248 29-31–Baie, Comeau. Congrès de BaieComeau. Write: Ch., 1145 rue Nouvel BaieComeau, QC G5C 2E3, Canada 29-31—Elko, Nevada. 9th Annual Serenity in the Rubies Campout. Write: Ch., Box 1134, Elko, NV 89803; E-mail: serenityintherubies@yahoo.com 29-31—Valier, Montana. Lake Frances Roundup. Write: Ch., 3611 E. Lake Road, Valier, MT 59486

Planning a Future Event? To be included in the Box 4-5-9 Calendar, information must be received at G.S.O. three months prior to the event. We list events of two or more days. For your convenience and ours — please type or print the information to be listed on the Bulletin Board page, and mail to us: Date of event: from ___________________________ to ________________________, 20 _________ Name of event: _______________________________________________________________________ Place (city, state or prov.): __________________________________________________________________________ For information, write: (exact mailing address) ______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Contact phone # (for office use only): _______________________________________________________

August

September

3-7—Palm Desert, California. International Doctors in A.A. Write: Ch., 3311 Brookhill Circle, Lexington, KY 40502 5-7—Cathedral City, California. 31 st Annual Maad Dog Daze (District 9 Convention). Write: Box 4383, Palm Desert, CA 92261; Website: http://www.aainthedesert.org/maaddog05/reg05 .pdf; E-mail: Maaddog411@aainthedesert.org 5-7—Cowley, Alberta, Canada. Crowsnest Pass Camp-Out. Write: Ch., Box 402, Blairmore, AB, T0K 0E0, Canada 5-7—McLeod, Montana. 13th Beartooth Mountain Conference. Write: Ch., Box 23406, Billings, MT 59104 5-7—Mountain View, Arkansas. 65 th Old Grandad Arkansas State Convention. Write: Ch., 105 Sonnet, Hot Springs, AR 72560 5-7—Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Annual Red Deer Roundup. Write: Ch., #21, 6300 Orr Drive, Red Deer, AB T4P 3T6 12-14—Carrabassett Valley, Maine. 28th Annual Maine Area Round-Up (with ASL signing). Write: Ch., Box 208, Blue Hill, ME 04614 12-14—Centre-Paul-Régimbal, Granby, Québec. 27ieme Congres Granby et Region. Write: Ch., 200 Blvd. Robert Granby, Quebec, Canada J2G 9J6 12-14—Clair, Nouveau Brunswick, Canada. Agir Et Penser Diféremment Congrès Haut Madawaska À Clair. Write: Ch., 15 Pau P’Teso, Edmundston, Nouveau Brunswick, E3U 3X7, Canada 12-14—Grinnell, Iowa. 9 th Annual Rock Creek Recovery Campout. Write: Ch., 512 N. 15th St., Marshalltown, IA 50158 12-14—Leusden, The Netherlands. 19 th Annual Round-Up. Write: Ch., 9, 2172 JM, Sassenheim, Netherlands 12-14—Oakhurst, California. Summer Serenity in the Sierras. Write: Ch., Box 116, Oakhurst, CA 93644 12-14—Soldotna, Alaska. 32nd Annual Wilderness Jamboree. Write: Ch., Box 4285, Soldotna, AK 99669 13-14—Salem, Virginia. Roanoke Valley Conference. Write: Ch., Box 21507, Roanoke, VA 24018 19-21—St. Jérôme, Québec, Canada. Congrès St. Jérôme. Write: Ch., C.P. 25, St. Jérôme, QC, J7Z 5T7, Canada 19-21—York, Pennsylvania. 8th Annual Sunlight of the Spirit Conference. Write: Ch., Box 3538, York, PA 17402; Website: www.sosyorkpa.org 22-24—Rimouski, Québec, Canada. Congrès du Bas St-Laurent District 88-06. Write: Ch., 60 Rue de l’Évêché ouest, Rimouski, Québec, Canada G5L 4H6 26-28—Fortuna, California. Redwood Coast Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 4702, Arcata, CA 95518 26-28—Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. 53 rd Michigan State Convention. Write: Ch., Box 1308, Adrian, MI 49221; Website: www.cmia32.org 26-28—Papinachois, Quebec, Canada. Congres autochtone de Betsiamites. Write: Ch., (418) 567-9367 26-28—Teton Canyon, Wyoming. 4 th Teton Canyon Campout. Write: Ch., Box 153, Driggs, ID 83422

2-4—Chicago, Illinois. Illinois State Conference. Write: Ch., Box A3901, Chicago, IL 60690-3901 2-4—Fukuoka, Japan. Japan 30 th Anniversary Celebration. Write: Ch., 1309 Pedro St., San Jose, CA 95126-3841; Website: www.aajapan.org 9-11—La Tuque, Québec, Canada. 38th Congrès “Renaître Avec”. Write: Ch., 725 Ducharme Blvd., La Tuque, QC, G9X 3B4, Canada 9-11—Osage, Minnesota. 15th Annual Heartland Round-Up. Write: Ch., 22623 Bass Lake Road, Osage, MN 56570 15-18— Huntsville, Alabama. ALA/NW FLA Area Convention (50th). Write: Ch., 603 Blaine Dr. SW, Decatur, AL 35603-1303 16-18—Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Your 25th Annual Autumn-In-The-Ozarks. Write: Ch., 1040 Harding Boulevard, Cotter, AR 72626 16-18—Lenox, Massachusetts. Back to Basics. Write: Ch., 368 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210

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