New York State Informational Workshop 2016
July 29th – 31st 2016 on the Canisius College Campus, Buffalo NY
“SECURING OUR FUTURE THROUGH SERVICE”
The NYS Informational Workshop is an educational sharing forum for the purpose of carrying the AA message through our General Service Committees. We meet annually with the four General Service Areas in NY State to share our experiences with the most effective ways to do our 12th Step Work.
We arrived in time for dinner though not in time for the Archives Panel at 5pm. The Archives display set up in the Break Room was impressive and well worth a visit. This evening we learned a great deal from the Website Panel regarding how to use our Website to connect with our Members and potential Members to spread information, collect data, collect contributions and just about anything we can imagine. Area 47 was represented by Dave from our Website Committee. Later this evening a couple of us joined the Round Table for Accessibilities where we learned that GSO is going to remove the designation “Special Needs” from all our AA literature. Sharing what has been done by others covered: auditing meetings to confirm accessibility, Parking, Child Care, providing reading glasses, ADA for forms.
Day 2 was nonstop Panels with representatives from each of the 4 Areas.
Accessibility covered how to meet the needs of each individual as discussed last night at the Round Table, as well as some sharing of personal experience. Sponsorship was also noted as a key to making AA attractive and fulfilling. Corrections provided some interesting historical facts about Attica meetings started by Sammy Kaye. Sharing covered meeting to the Jails, Bridging the Gap to provide contact for inmates being released from prison; literature, correspondence, getting young people involved. Brenda represented Area 47. Public Information addressed how AA is dealing with misinformation; what AA is and is NOT; get the literature out there, have workshops to inform your Districts. Laurie, Area 47 was on the Panel. CPC is provided in many ways; Intergroup presentation, pamphlets, videos, speak to Doctors and other groups of professionals; have the facts and help attendees overcome contempt prior to investigation. Josh represents Area 47. Treatment talked about Centers where AA members go to speak; that the 3rd Tradition is more than just a desire to not drink; know the AA facts – what AA is and is not; do no harm. Pete represented Area 47. Grapevine discussed the prices for the Grapevine and LaVina and how loaning magazines is a good thing to do but it does not provide money to AA. There was a story about a person leaving his copy of the Grapevine at a Doctors office and a few weeks a man showed up at his Home Group and said he had read a magazine from AA and it caused him to seek out AA. Yikes, it works! There was also a statement from GSO that the Grapevine is not in the red and IS making a profit – counter to what we have been hearing the last few years. Much discussion followed. Mike represented Area 47.
Keynote Speaker was Gary L – Past Northeast Regional Trustee. As always he presented he story in an interesting heartfelt manner.
The Roundtable Reports were given Sunday morning followed by the Ask It Basket questions.
Respectfully submitted, Anita Lee, Alternate Delegate
