2015 NERAASA Reports

From Area 47 Panel 65 Delegate, Vicky S.

NERAASA February 20 – 22, 2015

North East Regional Alcoholics Anonymous Service Assembly gathered for the 24^th annual event at Somerset, New Jersey, hosted by Area 44 Northern New Jersey. It was a wonderful experience to meet members from 11 different states. There are 18 Delegate Areas that make up our North East Region. There are 8 Panel 65 Delegates from the North East region. Areas: 11 CT, 13 DC, 30 EMA, 44 NNJ, 47 CNY, 49 SENY, 59 EPA, & 60 WPA. There were two Delegate Round Tables and I got to meet the North East Regional Trustee, J Gary L. and 17 other Area Delegates and several Alternate Delegates. J Gary L. chaired the Delegates meeting in the late evenings and had the Panel 64 Delegates share pointers on what to expect, what to wear, importance of getting informed by your Area GSR’s and how to report back to the Area after conference. I was able to share my modified Area highlights again. I also was on the panel for Ask It Basket Questions and Answers. I was personally asked to register for our Young People Convention in Rochester. There was an “Ask It basket” question: “Can older people attend a young people’s event?” The answer is, YES, the young and young at heart are all welcome!

J Gary L. will be rotating out and a new North East Regional Trustee will be voted in this April at the General Service Conference. Our Area 47 Past Delegate Bob W was nominated by our Area 47 Assembly and he is willing to serve A.A. in a 4 year term if elected.

There were many presentations on various items asking panelist Questions about various topics such as:

• Panel 1—PUBLIC INFORMATION

1. Transitioning the membership Survey to Digital Format
2. Improving Membership Awareness of Anonymity Concerns
3. How Our Lack of Diversity Affects Our Membership

• Panel 2—LITERATURE

1. A Book on the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts
2. Literature for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Alcoholics
3. The Need for Literature on Individual Safety in the Rooms

• Panel 3—OUR TRADITIONS

1. Is Our Singleness of Purpose Still Relevant Today?
2. Social Media – Is Our Anonymity Helping or Hindering?
3. Should We Continue to Avoid Public Controversy?

• Panel 4—A.A. AND SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Defining an Anonymity Break on Social Media
2. A Service Structure for Non-Geographical Districts (Online Meetings)
3. Anonymity Concerns of Online Meetings

• Panel 5—FINANCE

1. Literature Price Increases and Group / Individual Contributions
2. Restructuring Our Business Model and Corporate Structures
3. Should La Vina be Reported Financially as a “Service”?

• Panel 6—A.A. AS A WHOLE

1. A Book of general Service Conference Presentations
2. Should general Service Conference Presentations Recordings be made Available?
3. A Separate Pamphlet for “Bridging the Gap” in Corrections

We heard a report from the North East Regional Trustee J Gary L. That report can be located for your viewing on the www.neraasa.org site tab from N.E. TRUSTEE. This helps you understand why our Literature prices increased and lots more.

I heard a variety of perspectives on various ways to carry the message, to fulfill our primary purpose as well as many topics on issues we are faced with today. Most importantly I learned that information through social media or anything that is put out on the World Wide Web is not confidential, even if it is secret or private. It is really important to talk about our Traditions in your home groups to keep, protect, and inform new members of the Spiritual Principles of this wonderful program.

I attended a Delegates Luncheon with your Alternate Delegate Anita L. and Area 47 Past Delegates – Patty S, Jack H. and Bob W. There were two Past Delegates who also served as Trustee of Southern California in attendance. I personally had a conversation with the first Native American Delegate and Trustee from Southern California Region. He is a very Spiritual man who is well grounded and has a certain kind of peace about him. I shared carrying the New York State Flag with the Panel 65 Area 49 SENY Delegate Jim W. during the Saturday night flag ceremony. I am so blessed to have the privilege of serving my God and this Area to experience these moments that are so awesome and indescribable by words. There is truly something so special and spiritual about gatherings with other members in this program that leave you a changed person by just being a part of… Come join us on this road to happy destiny and your life will never be the same. J

Link to original document .pdf

From Our Alternate Delegate, Anita L.

NERASSA 2015, hosted by Area 44 – Northern New Jersey was held in Somerset NJ. We were 919 strong and a most enthusiastic band of AAer’s we were. The pace of the Assembly was fast and steady. All Panel topics touched on are items to be covered at the General Service Conference in April. I was completely swallowed up in the information presented – can’t wait to find out what the results are after the Conference.

There was a great emphasis on Gay, Lesbian, Transgender – diversity in general that is not something I hear much about in the North Country. Discussion following each Panel was as varied as we all are though I was happy to note that there were those that reported finding the answers in the Big Book just as we have learned. Personal safety is also an item I have heard little about in the past. Timers kept everyone in check so many people could participate.

Round Table sessions started at 10pm. This was time for our Delegates and Alternate Delegates to meet with Gary L. the NE Regional Trustee (NERT). Panel 64 & 65 introduced themselves then discussed items of mutual interest regarding the Conference. Panel 65’s asked questions of 64’s; talked about report backs, what and where activities would be, what to expect and what to wear.

The N.E. Regional Trustee gave his report – that is where we learned about the Grapevine moving to the 11^th floor with GSB at a cost of $1.3 million and the debacle re the 75^th edition of the BB. Please encourage everyone to buy this special edition! Overall the report was upbeat and things look good though we need to encourage our Groups to contribute to GSO.

Our Area 47 was well represented at NERASSA providing service at several Roundtables.

Just when I think AA can’t get any better it proves me wrong. I look forward to NERASSA 2016.

Respectfully submitted,
Anita L., Alternate Delegate

Link to original document .pdf

From: Peter G., Area 47 Secretary

To: Central New York Area 47
Re: NERASSA MEETING FEB. 20 – 22, 2015
I wanted to attend the 2015 NERASSA Meeting, and Area 47 approved my trip to New Jersey. I wanted to maximize cost savings, and found two others who wanted to attend also. We split the cost of the Room, and Travel Expenses. We left early on Friday so we could get to GSO for the AA Meeting, and Tour of Headquarters. We met a number of people and I was impressed with the many people helping others on the phones, and in person. We completed our visit at GSO, and traveled to NERAASA, in Somerset, NJ.

We were greeted by a throng of AA Members. I was, and still am in awe, of the silent, yet strong inner circle of love, and respect for all AA Members at this gathering. We conducted the Business of NERAASA in all day Meetings, and late night Roundtables. I met with all the other Area Secretaries to discuss how we preform our duties as Secretaries. There were many differences in how we complete Area Minutes, many of the other Areas have their Minutes Printed by a Printer, some have their Minutes electronically sent by the Printer after their assembly, one Area has all Reports sent to the Secretary with a 200 word max, and then they are emailed to all members. Area 47 and two others assemble and print our reports, then email and use the US Post Office for ground.

The most important thing many of us learned and will follow is; “Area Minutes capture what is done, not what is said verbatim.” “The minutes capture the moment of what is meant, and are not “verbatim transcripts” which encourage pontification, intimidation, and peer pressure.” I will follow this approved form of reporting the Area Minutes, capture what happens, and use verbatim for important issues. My job is not to publish verbatim transcripts.

I thank Area 47 for helping me to be a better Secretary for Area 47.

Respectfully, Peter G.

Note: Parliamentary Journal, Vol. LI, No.3 July2010,Doris Abbate; Amer. Ins. of Parliamentarians Bylaw & Rules Committee. Updated 3/22/15. PMG

Link to original document .pdf

Treasurer’s Report

I attended the 2015 NERAASA as a brand new incoming Area Treasurer. The treasurer and finance chair roundtables, held for an hour and a half on both Friday and Saturday nights were invaluable (and chaired by our own Bill S!) I was able to ask lots of specific questions to help me do the best possible job I can and compare how we do things with other Areas in the Northeast. We all exchanged phone numbers and emails and have been using one another as resources ever since.

Barb C, Area 47 treasurer

Treatment Committee 2015 NERAASA Report

In my capacity as Area 47 Treatment Committee Chairperson I attended the 2015 Northeast Regional Alcoholics Anonymous Service Assembly (NERAASA) held February 20-22 in Somerset, New Jersey. This was the fifth year that I have attended and my overall impression was that Area 44 (Northern New Jersey) did an exceptional job of hosting this event. Though there were no panel presentations that directly addressed treatment, I found that all of the panels and their question and answer sessions were very informative and of tremendous value to my ability to carry the message as Treatment Chair.

I attended the treatment roundtable sessions held on Friday and Saturday nights. There were approximately 20 participants in attendance on each night. Service positions held by these individuals included treatment representatives from groups, intergroups, districts, and areas. The amount of experience in carrying the message into treatment facilities by these individuals varied from almost none to more than 30 years. To a person, the primary reason for attending the roundtable session was so that each person could help better carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

While there was some discussion during the roundtables of trying to carry the message into nursing homes and other “non drug and alcohol treatment facilities”, the primary focus of both Friday and Saturday night focused on traditional inpatient and outpatient drug and alcohol treatment facilities.

Friday’s roundtable discussion focused primarily on general issues concerning carrying the message into treatment facilities. Saturday’s discussion was almost exclusively devoted to the setting up and administration of the Bridging the Gap Program for Treatment Facilities.

The greatest area of concern regarding general issues for participants was the inability to get members of the fellowship interested and involved with carrying the message into treatment facilities. More than once I heard the refrain that “5% of the members of AA do 90% of the work.” The solutions that we talked about to overcome this problem were attraction through enthusiasm, sponsorship, workshops, and outreach to beginners or members who have never been involved in this manner of service.

Other issues of concern were AA members violating facility rules, AA members or groups not showing up for commitments, AA members not carrying a message that reflects the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, facilities wanting to dictate the message that is brought in, and facilities wanting AA members and groups to address drug use and other outside issues. The solution to these problems that was discussed was orientation sessions, systems of attendance keeping, sharing sessions with AA members and treatment facility staff to improve communication on what AA is and what it is not, and better sponsorship.

Saturday night’s roundtable addressed the Bridging the Gap Program (BTG). The BTG is designed to pair patients coming out of treatment facilities with members of Alcoholics Anonymous. The idea is that when a patient is released from a treatment facility they have a local AA member to act as a temporary contact to help them transition by getting them to meetings and introducing them to other members.

Though GSO provides guidance, information, and encouragement for the Bridging the Gap Program for Treatment Facilities, they do not coordinate directly with any individual treatment facilities. The BTG program is setup by individuals, groups, districts, intergroups, and/or areas coordinating with facilities to provide a list of AA members willing to act as a temporary contact.

Saturday’s roundtable was conducted as a general sharing session. Representatives from Area 31 (Western Massachusetts) and Area 48 (HMB), who have both established comprehensive BTG programs, shared their experience in setting up and administrating these programs. Ideas that were discussed to help facilitate a BTG program were the use of GSO pamphlet P-49 (Bridging the Gap), F-184 (Bridging the Gap Volunteer Form) and F-183 (Temporary Contact/Bridging the Gap Request), providing simple business cards to facilities, workshops with both staff and AA members, and the tireless dedication to outreach with facilities and the seeking of of AA members who are willing to volunteer and act as a temporary contact person.

As your current Treatment Chairperson, I would like to thank Area 47 for the opportunity to attend this year’s NERASSA. I strongly believe that this experience has provided me with ideas, and information that will improve my ability to serve Area 47 and to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

YIS,

Pete B.

Area 47 Treatment Chairperson     

Filed in: NERAASA, Reports