General Service Conference Delegates
Intergroup and Central Offices
International General Services Offices

Date: February 15, 2023

Warm greetings – we hope that this letter finds you well. We are writing today to inform you of an upcoming price increase affecting our English, Spanish, and French books, booklets, and pamphlets. The new prices will go into effect on April 3, 2023, and generally reflect a 20% increase on books and a 30% increase on pamphlets (with rounding and some minor adjustments).

Some of you have indicated that you anticipated the need for an increase. For historical reference, the last price increases were made in 2014 (18.75%) and 2009 (33.3%). The decision to raise prices in 2023 resulted from prudent fiscal planning with the goal of longer-range stability. Alcoholics Anonymous is not immune from the changes that are impacting all businesses, and one of the greatest to us has been a notable drop in the margins associated with the sale of our literature. To be specific, prior to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the costs associated with the production, material, warehousing, and shipping of literature, collectively known as the cost of goods sold, hovered between 31-34% of sales. These same costs have fluctuated from 42-56% of sales in the last two years, resulting in a revenue loss that is greater than $1.2 million each year. We do not expect this change in the cost of goods sold to resolve in our favor, and the impact is great when considering that the General Service Office is supported through both voluntary contributions and this revenue associated with the sale of literature. We continue to monitor and trim expenses where possible, being mindful of the immense significance of each ‘nickel in the basket’ sent to the General Service Board.

Because we appreciate that there may be high demand in ordering leading up to the increase, we will be taking steps to ensure that purchasing not be monopolized by large buyers during the transition. We will maintain the reduced shipping charges schedule that was adopted in 2022 and the mixed-title quantity discount schedule that was adopted at the close of 2022. The new pricelist, which can be found here will be reflected on the online store as the increase goes into effect. We anticipate issuing a revised and updated literature catalog in digital and print versions in the coming months.

With gratitude as we await spring,

Deborah K.,                                          Bob W,                                                     
AAWS Board Chair                              General Manager of the General Service Office

Greetings all, we are happy to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 District 14 Service Evolution Workshop. The District committee is hard at work planning and preparing for the workshop.  The workshop will be held Saturday March 25^th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM.  Coffee and lunch will be served and you will hear from several speakers on service in AA from the first day in the rooms of AA and positions in groups, to District service, to Area Service, all the way to GSO.

An Agenda will be published prior to the event.  In the meantime you can view the “Service Evolution Workshop Flyer”

Or register for the event using this link:  https://forms.gle/4evZEtpWWsHmtWZS9

Thank you all and we hope to see you at the workshop!

An exciting new source of information for the AA Newcomer is now available on-line.

The purpose of this website is to provide accurate information to newcomers—people who might be new to A.A.—about Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s meant to guide someone to the right spot for A.A.’s approved material, and its simplicity is intentional. While there are many valuable resources available for someone interested in the A.A. program, this is not an attempt to replace any of those. This is an attempt to make it easier for the still suffering alcoholic to find the information they need to begin their journey.

Checkout the new website by visiting https://newtoaa.org

We are looking for women who are willing to help with treatment commitments.  

New Beginnings Treatment Center has a need for one or more women to bring meetings to their women’s facility on the 2^nd and 4^th Mondays of the month.  The meetings can either be in person or virtual.

If you or your AA group are interested in signing up for this commitment please contact the District Treatment Chair, Rick L. @ 605-593-7730.

We have several Committee Chair positions open in the district.  Below is a brief description of the positions that need to be filled.  If you have interest in serving in any of these positions, please contact Mike H at 952-270-3500 or email at dist14@area35.org .

CPC Chairperson

The district CPC (Cooperation With the Professional Community) Chairperson works with A.A. groups to provide information on Alcoholics Anonymous to professional persons, groups and organizations.  This work can entail reaching out via email, hosting an information breakfast for professionals, attending a community or civic event and attending the staff meeting of a group of professionals.  It is a good idea for the person serving in this position in our district to participate in the Area 36 committee meetings on the CPC Committee.

Sample suggestions for District CPC Activities:

1. Do outreach with the National Guard Offices to help AA’S in the service.
2. Place Big Books in school libraries through guidance counselors.
3. Become involved in the many events in Area 36 reaching out to GBLT, Asian, Homeless and Veterans.
4. Get literature out to health care facilities in your District.
5. Focus on clergy. See if you can put literature in your churches common area.
6. Provide Meeting Directories to professionals, clergy, doctors, social workers, police departments, and libraries.
7. Sponsor a Professional (clergy, lawyer, doctor, etc.) and sign them up to receive the About AA newsletter.
8. Do AA Informational presentations before professionals and civic groups.
9. Buy Grapevine subscriptions for your professionals.

PI Chairperson

The district PI (Public Information) Chairperson works to increase awareness of AA in the general public.   This work can entail putting together public service announcements about AA in our community and organizing a public information booth.  It is a good idea for the person serving in this position in our district to participate in the Area 36 committee meetings on PI Committee.

Sample suggestions for District PI Activities:

1. Set up an answering service for 12 step calls and requests for meeting locations and time.
2. Have a P.I. (Public Information) booth at the county fair.
3. Get your District to help with the State Fair.
4. Have a P.I. (Public Information) luncheon.
5. Get AA contact information into the local papers and PSAs on the local cable community TV channel.
6. Public Service Announcements to radio stations.
7. Provide literature at the government offices.

Remote Communities (formerly Accessibilities) Chairperson

The district Remote Communities Chairperson serves to make the groups/meetings in our district more accessible – both for those with special needs and during times of crises (ex: COVID-19).  It is a good idea for the person serving in this position in our district to participate in the Area 36 committee meetings on the Accessibilities Committee.

The definition of Accessibilities community is where it is difficult to carry the AA message because of language, culture, geography, or life condition. The central mission of this committee is to go to any lengths necessary to carry AA’s message to all those who need it and is just one more link in the chain of responsibility in our effort to help the alcoholic to who still suffers.

Sample suggestions for District Remote Communities Activities:

1. Sign up to write to a Loner.
2. Work with language barrier communities.
3. Work with hearing, visual and physically impaired communities.
4. Work with the homeless community and senior citizen Groups.