Area Literature Committee
July 2023
Greetings Area 46!
I hope everyone is enjoying your summer:)
Here’s a couple of updates from your Literature Committee:
For the August Assembly I have once again asked our Delegate Eloy to lead our Committee meeting with a report from the recent General Service Conference, and once again he has graciously accepted! Eloy has spent his rotation as our representative from Area 46 serving on the Literature Committee at at the GSC, and as such has been front and center for much of the sometimes difficult discussions and decisions regarding our AA Literature and therefore our ability as a whole to ensure that we are effectively carrying the message to the still suffering alcoholic. Because recovery in AA is a deeply personal and unique experience for each one of us, we of course have very strong feelings about how to move forward and keep growing in both our personal and collective processes. Therefore I feel that rather than me trying to translate Eloy’s experience in service on behalf of our Area, it would be best if he has the opportunity to address those who are passionate about our Literature directly. I attended our first State Convention in 4 years (!) in Carlsbad in June and attended Eloy’s first post-Conference report and was moved, grateful, and proud to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous as well as humbled by the challenges we continue to confront and work through as a fellowship. Please join us!
During my rotation as your Literature Committee Chair I have also had many changing ideas about what this position entails, and after spending time with some of our District Literature Chairs helping to define what their role is, it has helped bring some clarity to me about how our Area Committee can be more effective. Based on the guidelines we drafted to help the District Chairs, we will be submitting a motion to update and help clarify some of the job duties for the Literature Committee Chairperson in our A.I.P. The focus will be more about supporting and coordinating with the District Chairs to assist with matters such as ordering and inventory, and with items of importance such as the Conference Agenda Items, the role of the Literature Committee, and how to participate in General Service in AA. The other goal is to streamline our Area Literature inventory with a focus on all service related materials such as our Service Manual and AIP, the various committee workbooks, guidelines and other service related pamphlets and materials, a limited quantity of standard AA materials such as the Big Book, Twelve and Twelve, and Daily Reflections, and showcasing new additions to our AA Literature. Additionally, we now have a PayPal account that needs to be referenced, as well as maintaining an account with aa.org/literature on behalf of Area 46.
Considering the importance of our Literature, the work of the GSC Committee and the role of Publishing to AA, it seems unfair that in order for someone to pursue this important commitment in our Area they need to own a truck, have half a garage or storage locker for the inventory and displays, and literally the physical strength to move it all around. I would like to see the materials be able to fit in the trunk of a car and the actual work be more reflective of the job duties outlined in Concept 11 “The Literature Committee” (on page C39 of the current Service Manual). I hope we will have your support!
I have begun to share the Suggested Guidelines that we drafted for District Literature Chairs, and I will be sending them out to all of the DCM’s following the Assembly as everyone starts to prepare for the next rotation. And speaking of rotation, if anyone out there is interested in the position of Area 46 Literature Chairperson for the 2024 and 2025 team, please reach out to me at literature@dev.aa-nia.org, or please come see me at the Assembly.
Thank you for letting me be of service!
Phillip F