AA News Page

Our growth continuing, the combined income of Alcoholics Anonymous members will soon reach the astounding total of a quarter of a billion dollars yearly. This is the direct result of AA membership. Sober we now have it; drunk we would not.

For instance, the AA General Service Office now cost us $1.50 per member a year. As a fact, the New York office asks the groups for this sum twice a year because not all of them contribute. Even so, the sum per member is exceedingly small. If an AA happens to live in a large metropolitan center where an Intergroup office is absolutely essential to handle heavy inquiries and hospital arrangements, he contributes (or probably should contribute) about $5.00 annually. To pay the rent of his own group meeting place, and maybe coffee and doughnuts, he might drop $25.00 a year in the hat. Or if he belongs to a club, it could be $50.00. In case he takes the AA Grapevine, he squanders an extra $2.50!

So the AA member who really meets his group responsibilities finds himself liable for about $5.00 a month on the average. Yet his own personal income may be anywhere between $2.00 and $2,000 a month—the direct result of not drinking.

“But,” some will contend, “our friends want to give us money to furnish that new clubhouse. We are a new small group. Most of us are still pretty broke. What then?”

I am sure that myriads of AA voices would now answer the new group saying: “Yes, we know just how you feel. We once solicited money ourselves. We even solicited publicly. We thought we could do a lot of good with other peoples’ money. But we found that kind of money too hot to handle. It aroused unbelievable controversy. It simply wasn’t worth it. Besides, it set a precedent which has tempted many people to use the valuable name of Alcoholics Anonymous for other than AA purposes. While there may be little harm in a small friendly loan which your group really means to repay, we really beg you to think hard before you ask the most willing friend to make a large donation. You can, and you soon will, pay your own way. For each of you these overhead expenses will never amount to more than the price of one bottle of good whiskey a month. You will be everlastingly thankful if you pay this small obligation yourselves.”

When reflecting on these things, why should not each of us tell himself: “Yes, we AA’s were once a burden on everybody. We were ‘takers’. Now that we are sober, and by the grace of God have become responsible citizens of the world, why shouldn’t we now about-face and become ‘thankful givers’! Yes, it is high time we did!”

The Grapevine is faced with some real difficulties at this time and we need to make every effort we can to help out. The Grapevine Board would like as much input as they can get.

The SW Region Delegates will be sending out these 4 questions to the fellowship regarding the Grapevine and then will compile the responses and report back to the AA Grapevine Corporate Board by 12/31/10

Please work with your GSR/DCM/GVR to provide your input as it is very important for this effort.

The Area 39 Delegate’s Report for the 2010 Conference is on the Western Area of Missouri Website in English, Spanish, and French. If you have not yet had a chance to hear the Delegate’s report his travel schedule is also posted on the site— www.wamo-aa.org then click on Area 39 on the menu.

MONTHLY C.O. DELEGATE MEETING

Next meeting on August 8 at Noon, to be hosted by the Paseo Group, 3151 Olive St. (Linwood & Olive), Kansas City, MO. map

REGULAR DISTRICT AND SERVICE

Dist. 9 : GSR and Service Mtg. 2nd Thursday each month, 7pm Bethel Group, 7856 Leavenworth Rd. Kansas City, KS

Dist 10: GSR and Service Mtg. 6:30pm 1st Thursday each month, Leawood Group, 2715 W. 83rd St., Leawood , KS

Dist. 3 GSR and Service Committee Mtg. The 2nd Sunday each month
(except for Mother's Day) at the Liberty Group, 1323 E. H Hwy, Liberty, MO 64068 816-781-9766.

Dist 6 Business Mtg. are held on the first Sunday of each month, unless a holiday,
1:30-3:30pm at KCMO #1 Group. 311 W. 80th Terr., Kansas City, MO.

Western Area Missouri Assembly - September 25 & 26- Sedalia Best Western, Sedalia, MO

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE—THEY WILL BE MISSED

Bruce J.-24&7 Group

Nancy G-H. Richmond Group

Things we can not change

There are many opportunities to work with the wet drunk and a lot of sober ones. Carry the Central Office Pager for a week. It is a great way to do a little service work.

Did you know that your Central Office has a folder for every group. We keep up with the groups beginning and moving or group meeting time changes. If you haven’t sent us a group history, please do so. When you visit the Office ask to see if we have a group history on your group. We have a folder for every group in the area.

Ways to support your Central Office

1. Birthday Contributions—it is suggested a $1.00 per year of sobriety; some give more, the limit set by your General Service office is $3,000.00 per year.

2. Group Contributions—the office has about 240 groups listed. Group contributing to Central Office on a regular basis is about 13% of the 240.

*3. Anonymous Contribution—An individual can contribute on a monthly basis. With the same limit as #1 states. Some other Central Office have a “faithful fiver club” in which individual members contribute or pledge a certain amount to be donated on a monthly basis.

4. Pay for your literature orders when you get them. Some groups are not paying their bills for 60 to 90 days. Which makes the cash flow slow down.

If you have other ideas that could be considered, please, we would like to hear from you. Central Office needs your help.

*We have started a monthly contribution called Central Office Angels. Those who would like to commit to a regular amount can put it on your credit card. You need to come by and fill out and sign a form to let us charge the monthly amount to your card. Thanks for helping us to help others.