2016 NYSIW Report from Rob S., Area 47 Literature Rep.

NYS Information Workshop
July 29-31, 2016
Roughly 120 registrants
Submitted by Rob S.
Click to view or download a .pdf of the report.

Literature Representative’s Report

Although there was not a literature panel listed on the agenda for this workshop, based upon my interpretation of the responsibility and duties of my current position as outlined in our current handbook, I was to represent Area 47 at this workshop. I have since made suggestions to the committee working on the handbook to perhaps make this NYS Informational Workshop optional at the discretion of the person holding the position – unless otherwise called upon by a hosting area outside of Area 47.

Archives Panel:

Try to make sure your group is keeping all of its minutes and records. Ask AAWS if they have any history on your group. Do young people’s AA fellowships have an archives or archivist?

Website:

The AAWS Website Committee may go through a name change. Something more along the lines of “Technology Committee” since they deal with more than just websites. Area 50 is trying to simplify their website with less buttons. They would like to have maybe three buttons for a person to choose from. Are you in AA, For the Professional and Non AA Members. May try to place an archives section on the website that would have presentations, talks, videos, etc.

Accessibility:

Areas 48 and 50 were represented. The use of “special needs” was voted out at the last GSC and the name may be changed to accessibility. The panel knew of one meeting that offered a babysitting service for attendees and questions came up regarding liability etc. Make sure others know of the different literature that is offered in large print. Keep your meeting place clean as individuals using walkers have actually fallen when their walker stuck to the floor. Churches are not required to be accessible. When picking a meeting place, nursing homes and hospitals are already accessible. Try to represent accessibility on your meeting lists or remove if it not. There are different icons for use on Google. Make AA literature available in all libraries and have a place in the front of the literature to keep and updated meeting list. Make this a possible service position.

Corrections:

First group was founded at San Quintin prison and Warden Duffy allowed it which was a big step at that time. The second group started at Attica in NYS. Sammy K. was a long time prisoner that was ease dropping on someone being 12^th stepped from a person from GSO. He decided to start AA in Attica, but if you were not eligible for parole you could not attend. Or at least close to being paroled. Sammy K. was not able to attend the meeting for 20 years, but he wrote what is called the Attica Beacon that continues to this day. He is credited with writing the 12 rewards. There is an AA pamphlet regarding pre-release. It was shared that our fellowship needs more people to carry the message into correctional facilities so no single or group of people get burned out. The people need to be patient and go by all the rules. AA also offers an inmate correspondence program to basically be a pen-pal with someone inside the walls that is not in your region or state. Bridging the Gap is available. Some groups will purchase subscriptions of the Grapevine to send into a facility. AA had taken out the staples from the Grapevine to allow it to be used in correctional facilities. There is a new DVD out called New Freedom. Filmed inside correctional facilities in the U.S. and Canada, this 30 minute video features a diverse group of A.A. members who are currently incarcerated or have been incarcerated and are staying sober one day at a time. This can be seen on AAWS website.

Public Information:

A big concern is addressing misinformation that is heard during meetings. They asked that attendees check out the discussion on the Web called “Has AA Lost Its Edge. This is on YouTube. It last about 1.25 hours. Also, look to the literature if ever in doubt about something. Area 50 is doing presentations to medical students (1^st year residence). They were asked by the largest liquor store if they would like to meet. Apparently the owner was concerned with all the calls he was receiving asking him not sell liquor to their loved ones. Area 50 placed a literature rack inside the store. Recommendations were made to place literature information in hotels, laundry mats, grocery stores and any other place you can think of. Area 48 suggested that groups consider getting the MP3 from the GSO that is used for radio station spots.

Treatment Committee:

Did not attend

Grapevine:

Grapevine started in 1944 at a cost of $0.15/copy. It was provided to all Armed Forces for free. This year the project loss is $50,000. However, panel members stated that the Grapevine has been self-supporting for the last 5 years, and that AAWS does not subsidies the Grapevine. This according to the Executive Editor of the Grapevine. La Vina is not the Grapevine just translated into Spanish. It is its own magazine and there are 6 copies per year, unlike Grapevine that is one each month. Grapevine is not AA approved literature – meaning it does not have to go through the approval process.

General Questions and Observations:

• Very few young people in attendance at the workshop.
• GSO and other Areas are looking into the use of Gmail and Google for Non-Profits to perhaps store and distribute data. They will check into whether or not data mining is going on for the Non-Profits.
• Does any group use its website for contributions? Having a contribution button you can use to make anonymous donations?
• Do webmasters use Google analytics to determine traffic on the website and where it is coming from?

Filed in: 2016 NYSIW, Literature, NYSIW, Reports