November 14, 2024
To: GSRs, Alt GSRs, DCMs and Chairs, Area Officers and Committee Chairs, Delegates, Alt Delegates, Appointed Committee Members, Non-trustee Directors, Trustees, GSO Employees, Intergroups and Central Offices, Group Contacts
Dear A.A. Friends:
As a Fellowship, we celebrate and recognize November as Gratitude Month. This is a time when we A.A.s reflect on the many gifts and blessings sobriety has given us. The program of Alcoholics Anonymous encompasses many facets: our home groups, sponsorship, the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Fellowship among each other, service on many levels, and much more. As the General Manager of the General Service Office (GSO), I’m grateful to see firsthand the many services GSO provides that support the spiritual purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous – carrying the message of sobriety to the alcoholic who still suffers. These services assist the many facets of the A.A. program.
Last year I shared with you the challenges of the financial health of Alcoholics Anonymous and the potential of continued challenges ahead. As I’ve shared in subsequent communications throughout this year, the response from the Fellowship has been very generous and heartfelt. Our groups and members truly heard and understood that the long-term solution to the financial challenges we face as a Fellowship lie with “more frequent and incremental contributions.”
Year to date through October, contributions exceeded the same period last year by more than $760,000, which is about a 9% increase. Also significant is the number of contributions, which increased about 5%. In addition, with the exception of August and October, contributions each month have exceeded those for the same month in the previous year.
The office, along with the A.A. World Services Board and General Service Board, have continued to work hard to manage our finances through prudent budgeting and making every effort to deliver the services to our groups and members that help them to meet our primary purpose. Please take a moment to review the attached snapshot of “Services Provided By GSO.” As you review this document, you will likely realize as I do how many of these areas have helped you and your fellow A.A.s to not only find your way to A.A. but also to stay in A.A. I know each of us shares a strong desire to do all we can to provide assurance that our Fellowship continues and is here for future generations of alcoholics in need of A.A.’s solution to freedom from alcohol and a full and useful life.
Your contributions are vital to providing this assurance and keeping our services in place. Together, we have made great progress over the last year, but there is still more work to do–for example, the replenishment of the Reserve Fund. The Reserve Fund is intended for extraordinary expenses and circumstances and thankfully carried us through the financial challenges we faced due to the pandemic. Now it’s time to begin replenishing the fund. The general expectation within our Fellowship is that its balance be sufficient to cover 9-12 months expenses. The current balance stands at 6.41 months. To reach the 9-month mark would require an additional $4.8 million.
Your participation and generosity have helped us immensely over this last year and has sustained us through very difficult times. As members we often say that when A.A. needs money, the Fellowship will respond. The financial need and challenges continue, so if your group is able, in the spirit of gratitude month, please consider a special contribution to the General Service Board. You can make an online contribution here. If you’re interested, you can also set up a recurring contribution.
When contributing by check, please make your check payable to the General Service Board and use the applicable mailing address below.
Thank you so much for everything each of you do for Alcoholics Anonymous.
With gratitude for all the sacrifices you make for A.A.,
Bob W.
General Manager, G.S.O.