AA Grapevine and La Vina AA Grapevine Mission

AA Grapevine and La Vina

AA Grapevine Mission Statement The AA Grapevine INC is a publisher of the international Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. Its primary purpose is to carry the AA message to everyone interested in alcoholism through it magazines, websites, and related items, which reflect the experience, strength and hope of its members and friends on topics related to recovery, unity and service. It strives in all its activities to operate in accordance with the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of AA, without monetary contributions from AA members or groups to fund operating expenses.

Grapevine Fun Facts * Early AA groups adopted the AA Grapevine as the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1946 * Conference Advisory Action, 1986 : “ Since each issue of the Grapevine cannot go through the conference-approval process, the conference recognizes the Grapevine as the International Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. * Bill W. wrote more than 150 articles in the Grapevine between 1945 -1970. The Language of the Heart is a compilations of these articles. * Twelve Suggested Points for AA Tradition was an article by Bill W. to introduce the fellowship to the Traditions in 1946.

* The Preamble was written by a Grapevine editor, based on the Foreword to the First Edition of the Big Book. It was published in the Grapevine in June 1947 * The AA grapevine is entirely self-supporting through the sale of the magazine and related items. * In 2020 and 2021 a big focus and support has been the AA grapevine Carry the Message project. Approximately 5000 subscriptions have been purchased and will be distributed to those who are asking for help. The AA grapevine will be there.

FUN FACTS

* In 1991, an expressed need was brought to the General Service Conference where a recommendation was issued that the Grapevine begin publishing at least one article in Spanish each month. These article appeared regularly from 1991 to June of 1996 * IN 1995, the General Service Conference addressed the expressed need within the USA and Canada for a Spanish edition of the Grapevine and endorsed the idea. * In July 1995, a special edition of the Grapevine was produced in Spanish, comprised of articles that had already appeared in the magazine in English. *After a business plan was presented, and was approved for the new magazine to the trustees finance committee, the Grapevine began preparations for La Vina which was planned as a bi-monthly publication for Hispanic AA members. * The first issue of La Vina was released in June 1996.

* The first issue of La Vina was distributed throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and in Europe. * Originally the Conference voted in favor of La Vina’s production as an experiment for five years. In 2001, the General Service Conference recommended that La Vina continue to be published by the AA Grapevine and with the support of the Service Board. * La Vina subscriptions are currently low. Gone from approximately 10, 000 subscriptions, to just over 6. 000 to date. * La Vina to launch an SMS project in early 2021 to help stimulate interest in La Vina

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON GRAPEVINE AND LA VINA Composition: There are not more than nine voting members of this committee and a non-voting secretary. The new panel members will be selected by lot geographically in mid. December (at the time of the A. A. W. S. meeting), in the presence of two trustees or members of the Trustees Conference committee. The members of the committee will include: not more than five delegates from the previous year’s panel ( they continue to serve on this committee for two years). And not more than five Delegates from the current year’s panel. The new Chairperson and alternate Chairperson are elected by written ballot at the final committee meeting from the first-year panel members and take office immediately following the Conference.

Scope: The Grapevine committee was formed in 1954. It is responsible for reviewing the development and circulation of the Grapevine for the past year at the individual and group level. It’s members are invited to make suggestions and recommendations in any area of the Grapevine, including material and format.

Procedure: 1. Meet as a committee during the annual meeting of the General Service Conference. 2. Meet jointly at least once with the AA Grapevine Corporate Board during the annual meeting. 3. When appropriate, make recommendations, reached in committee by majority vote, to the entire Conference. 4. Present these recommendations to the Conference for approval, disapproval, or amendment in a report given by the committee chairperson. 5. Maintain correspondence with the committee secretary and other committee members during the year.

st 71 General Service Conference 2021: AA in a time of change V. Grapevine and La Vina

Grapevine and La Vina Agenda Items: for the 71 st General Service Conference _______________ To be held virtually Round Two…. Here we come!!! April 18 -24 2021: AA in a time of change

71 st General Service Conference Committee Members Panel 70 Panel 71 Johnny C. Tim B. Ruth L ( Chair ) Kris H. Jess N. Jody K. Nikki O. Jerry S. ( Alt-Chair ) Sheryl T. Secretary: Jon W.

Item A: +Review progress report on A. A. Grapevine Workbook revisions. From 2019 additional considerations: The committee reviewed the progress report on the AA grapevine workbook revisions and looks forward to reviewing a progress report or draft at the next conference. The committee also forwarded suggestions to the grapevine office including expanding shared experience and how to use GV/LV as a recovery tool.

2020 Office report AA Grapevine workbook AA Grapevine INC management has contracted a freelancer. Who is also familiar with the Grapevine service structure, to oversee the rewrite and the design of the AA grapevine workbook. He was instructed to review the current workbooks content and expand on shared experience and how to use Grapevine a La. Viña nd as a recovery tool. In addition, in order to streamline the workbook and make it easier to use most of the historical copy and service forms have been removed and will be available on the aagrapevine. org website.

Item B: +Review progress report on actions taken from the findings of the A. A. Grapevine Fellowship Feedback Survey. 2019 Additional considerations: The committee reviewed the AA grapevine fellowship survey and summary and noted the actions the grapevine board and staff have taken on the findings. The committee looks forward to a progress report at the next conference on further actions taken.

Survey – opportunities identified Ongoing actions 1. There is an opportunity to improve perceptions and relevance of Grapevine and as La. Viña important personal recovery tools. 2. There is confusion about how Grapevine and La. Viña are funded; clarifying this may increase revenue. 3. Current content formula could be improved to reach younger members and be more relevant to members with long term sobriety. 4. There is a desire for a simpler subscription model and less interest in a stand alone digital subscription. 5. Existing digital experience problems to adoption; these should be prioritized for improvement. 6. There is an opportunity to learn from the La. Viña engagement strategies.

Item C: +Consider a request to develop an A. A. Grapevine pamphlet on how the AA Grapevine can be utilized to carry the A. A. Message Letter from Area 39 Background information includes: The new pamphlet should include the AA Grapevine statement of purpose.

The new pamphlet could also include separate sections discussing how to use the AA Grapevine in specific area of AA life, such as: • • • 1. Meeting topics 2. Correctional Facilities 3. Probation and Parole 4. Treatment Facilities 5. Loners 6. Public Information (Displays, Barbershops, Dr’s Offices, etc. ) • 7. Accessibilities • 8. AA Anniversary Gifts • 9. Newcomer Packets • • 10. Sponsoring Newcomers 11. Military AA’s stationed overseas 12. Vacation/Travel 13. Telling your own story (including how to submit your story) • 14. Art/Photographs (photo of your group) • 15. AA Grapevine booklets/book • 16. AA Grapevine website (archives as well as current articles) • 17. Area, District and/or Group Grapevine Representative Each section might include a paragraph describing how to use the AA Grapevine in each specific area of AA life.

Item D: Review progress report on development of an Instagram account. From 2020 Advisory Action The committee discussed a request for AA Grapevine Inc to establish an Instagram account in line with the twelve Traditions and encouraged them to continue with their planning. The committee suggested that the Grapevine Board provide additional information on implementation, anonymity, security, affiliation, outside contributions, privacy and promotion and bring a progress report back to the 71 st General Service Conference.

Why use Instagram? As outlined in the background, the strategy of using Instagram could be an extension of Grapevine’s graphics, videos and audio content. The objective; to expose more people to Alcoholics Anonymous and A. A. Grapevine by sharing out inspirational content, information, and resources to support recovery from alcoholism. 1. Instagram makes imagery engaging – evoking emotions 2. Instagram is another platform with which to work with non-profits will help to reach a wider audience, including younger member and subscribers that the A. A. Grapevine has yet to reach. 3. 59% of Instagram users are between the age of 18 -29. more than 300 million of them use it daily. Other reasons: ( to succeed with Instagram, it will help to have a clearly defined strategy, a noticeable visual style, a commitment to regular posts, and an in-depth knowledge of the target audience, subscribers and AA members)

Item E: Review suggested gender-neutral language options for the changes to the A. A. Preamble. 2020 Additional Considerations: The committee discussed making suggested changes to the A. A. Preamble for gender neutral pronouns. The committee requested that the Grapevine Board consider developing examples of generalized language options and that a progress report or draft be brought back to the 71 st General Service Conference.

In developing some possible suggestions for gender neutral language options, the A. A. Grapevine Board took into consideration the following: 1. AA’s Twelve Traditions 2. The guidelines used by the AA Publishing department when making updating AA materials. The AA Grapevine Board identified the following possibilities: * Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share…. * Alcoholics Anonymous is a community of people who share…. * Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship for sharing experience, strength and hope to solve our common problem and to help others to recover from alcoholism. * Alcoholics Anonymous is a community for sharing experience, strength and hope to solve a common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The background for this item (E) is truly insightful, well researched and personally challenged me to keep an open mind. I love how AA does that, this is A god shot. Words matter. I never knew just how inclusive/exclusive they could be. The shared letters contained within the Background are real, thought provoking and such valuable material. Just my own personal experience…and thoughts shared. Watching this unfold over the last two years especially, has allowed me to witness loving debate and discussion guide us with God’s loving grace while practicing spiritual principles. The whole experience is spiritual in nature, from start to finish. So, on we go friends…. to the final Agenda Item for the Grapevine and La. Viña Conference Committee….

Item F: Consider the list of suggested Grapevine book topics for 2022 or later. Background notes: From 2002 Advisory Actions: It was unanimously recommended that the Conference Committee on the Grapevine annually review list of proposed related items at least one year in advance of the possible production, so that the Conference might provide guidance, recognizing that the committee may request more than one year to review some proposed items. A second Advisory Action from 1992 is also included in the background that gives a deeper history of how this came to be.

AA Grapevine Items Suggestions for production in the year 2022 or Later: 1. AA’s Twelve Concepts (working title) 2. The Home Group (working title) Conference – Approved GV Book Ideas ( to possibly produce). * How I found my Higher Power * Steps 4&5 * Twelve Steps II * All about GV Reps ( doing service with GV & LV ) * AA & Families * The Early Days ( 40’s, 50’s, 60’s – AA’s Earliest Days ) * Getting Involved In General Service * Fun in sobriety * Voices of long-term sobriety 2 * Accessibilities * Diversity in AA * Gratitude * Mid-sobriety Crisis

Thank you our loved and trusted servants of Eastern Canada. Blessed we are to remain united in our mission to carry the A. A. message to the still suffering alcoholic. All 2021, 71 st General Service Conference Background for each Committee has been made available on the Dashboard. For more details concerning any of the Grapevine and La Vina conference Committee agenda items, I encourage you to reference the background.