Latest News From The General Services Manager Of GSO
June 26, 2024
Dear A.A. Friends,
Warm summer greetings from the General Service Office!
I’m grateful to share some updates from GSO. Since the 74th General Service Conference (GSC) in April, the office has been engaged in the process of organizing the actions of the Conference and planning for their implementation.
Of significance was the election of a new Chair of the General Service Board (GSB), Scott H. Previously, Scott served as trustee-at-large/Canada from 2015-2019. He is the first Class B (A.A. member) chair to serve the GSB. Scott and I served together on the GSB, both as trustees-at-large, and he is a very dear friend. I’m very excited and grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with him again.
Also significant is the passing by substantial unanimity of the Plain Language Big Book. This project began as the result of discussion during the 66th GSC (2016). Since that time, the project was discussed at each subsequent Conference. It received approval by Advisory Action to move forward from the 71st GSC (2021). The Publishing Department in collaboration with the Trustees Literature Committee of the General Service Board worked diligently together over the last three years and prepared a draft. At both the 73rd and 74th Conferences, reading rooms and sharing sessions were arranged to offer all Conference delegates the opportunity to spend time privately reviewing the draft and to share feedback. This allowed for a fully informed group conscience. Serving as a co-chair of the Conference, I presided over much of the discussion and can attest that it was robust and thorough. This timeline of discussion and development is one of the best examples of how the group conscience of the Fellowship is exercised through the General Service Conference.
I also want to take this opportunity to provide an update on A.A.’s finances. The response to the initial call for contributions last November continues to be strong and very heartwarming. I have expressed over the last several months that the solution to ensure our financial needs are met in the long term is embodied in Tradition Seven and the principle of participation. That is, it is important that contributions come from a larger representation of our groups and members and that they be more frequent and sustained.
For the period of January to May 2024, we received contributions from more than 32,000 groups and members, which is an increase of a little over 4% of what we typically receive during this period. This increased participation has resulted in an increase in contributions received of about $738,000 compared with this time period in 2023. Net literature sales (literature income) for the same period decreased by about $200,000.
Expenses are trending under budget, and we are current with our accounts payable and have no past due balances.
The Reserve Fund is measured in the number of months of operating expenses and stands at 6.29 months as of March of this year. The target range is 9 to 12 months. As reported at the General Service Conference: “at its January meeting the General Service Board authorized the withdrawal of $1,064,652 from the Reserve Fund. This was based on 2024 budgets and cash flow projections for the GSB, AAWS, and AAGV. Of this amount $500,000 was allocated to GSO to ensure sufficient cash on hand for services and address cash deficiencies which have been carried over since 2022. The remaining $564,652 was allocated to the Grapevine.”
You can find further financial information in the latest GSO Quarterly Report available here. This report is published three times each year and contains details of the work of the General Service Board and its committees, which they carry out during their work sessions at the Board Weekends held in January, July, and October.
Overall, finances have improved. This was possible in large part because of your increased participation and contributions. Your continued support is much appreciated and necessary to reach a more sustained balance to effectively deliver services and to rebuild the Reserve Fund.
If you’re interested in making a contribution to the General Service Board, you can do so through our online contributions site, which can be accessed through aa.org or by clicking here.
Thank you again for your participation not only with our Seventh Tradition but with all each and every one of you do for our beloved Fellowship.
With gratitude for all each of you do for A.A.,
Bob W.
General Manager, G.S.O.
