Holiday and New Year wishes to everyone as Area 43 launches into a brand-new year with a brand-new Panel 76!
Your Area was well represented at the Northeast Regional Forum (NERF) in Rhode Island Area 61. NERF only comes around every other year, so for our new panel to have the advantage of meeting the General Service Board Trustees and Staff members in person was a terrific opportunity, especially for Alex our incoming delegate. Thank you Area 43.
Don’t miss out….Meet you in Maine for the Northeast Regional Service Assembly! I will be at the “First Timers Table”
Down to the last minute….did you register yet?
Go to the website: neraasa.com (choose tabs)
Please note: Hotel registration must be received by January 19th
NERAASA and meals pre-registration must be received by February 8t
DCM/ALT DCM Sharing Session Thursday January 22nd: 7-8 PM
Join us online at: Zoom ID 755 883 2087 Passcode Area43
This first session in 2026 our Alternate Chair Judi R. will join us.
The Special Online Forum for Deaf A.A. Members is Saturday January 17, 2026,
12 pm– 8 p.m. (EST). This is open to ALL members of AA to take advantage of.
To register follow the link below, or use the QR Code it’s free!
https://web.cvent.com/event/75b675fe-7dee-4e5e-876c-600a8c85ff9e/summary
Call for Stories – “A.A. for the Asian and Asian-American Alcoholic,” Pamphlet
The deadline for submission is: March 31, 2026 to pamphletstories@aa.org
Be sure to keep on the lookout for writing workshops as they appear. There will be one at NERAASA . You can ask for help from members here in Area 43 as well, contact your officers for suggestions, your DCMs, or your delegate for assistance. Below is a list of suggestions from the Trustees Literature Committee:
The trustees’ Literature Committee is seeking stories of personal recovery from all members in the A.A. structure of the United States and Canada with ethnic or cultural ties to Asia. Please encourage all who qualify to submit their stories. The success of the pamphlet depends on having a broad range of stories to choose from.
Stories of recovery may include but are not limited to:
- Experience, Strength, and Hope• Steps, Traditions, and Concepts
- Ethnic, cultural, sexual and gender diversity
- Sponsorship and Service
- Experience in A.A. meetings
- Safety, Racism, and Belonging through AA principles
- Sobriety and Mental Health
- Cultural Reconnection
- Diversity of socio-economic status
- Atheist/Agnostics
- Newcomer Experiences
- Finding A.A.
- Experience in Linguistic A.A. groups and/or communities
- Accessing A.A. despite cultural barriers
The suggested format for typed manuscripts is 500-1,000 words, double spaced, in 12-point font. Handwritten manuscripts should be approximately 5 to 8 pages. Include your complete name, address, and email/phone information on the first page of your manuscript. A copy of your manuscript should be retained for your files. The anonymity of all authors will be observed whether their story is selected for publication or not.
Web submission:
https://www.aa.org/submit-story-asian-and-asian-american-alcoholic-alcoholicpamphlet
Email submission: pamphletstories@aa.org
Subject Line: A.A. for the Asian and Asian American Alcoholic
Postal Mail Submission: Attn. Literature Assignment, General Service Office, Box
459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163On the envelope: The word “Pamphlet” should be written on the envelope and at the top of the first page of the manuscript.
Summary of Fourth Quarterly Meeting of the Trustees and Members of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc.
Board Reports: The board met on November 3rd 2025. Regarding Correspondence, all submitters have received acknowledgements of their correspondences. The two new Appointed Committee members attended the Board Meeting this time.
Corporate Report: AAWS Chair Ken T. welcomed staff member Nick S. as the new Self-Support & Finance assignment and secretary on both committees, a price reduction for the International Convention Souvenir book and a bundling discount on the Plain Language and the hard cover Big Book. Two PAIs were reviewed by the GSB, but on further consideration were returned to the Grapevine (one was PAI 76 regarding the Preamble).
Committee Reports:
Archives: The key topic was a discussion of changes to archives Sound and Moving Image Policies and Procedures. These will be proposed by legal counsel.
Cooperation with the Professional Community/Treatment and Accessibilities
The committee is awaiting an update for 4th quarter Linked in reports, and upcoming mental health pamphlet, review of the CPC presentation to provide current information on Alcoholics Anonymous effectively. The Military project will be concluded with a video of an active service member’s friendly solute to A.A., that will be uploaded to aa.org.
Corrections: More people than ever have access to A.A. and Grapevine literature than in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. The tablet analytics and Edevo reporting has continued and the usage of this material as a resource to area corrections chairs has been quite valuable.
Finance and Budgetary Committee:
September 30,2025 report showed Total operating revenue = $13,775,293.
This is 6% less that the YTD budget. Total operating expenses before depreciation are $13,664,759, which is about 3% less than the YTD budget. Operating surplus before depreciation is $110, 534 compared to a YTD budgeted surplus of $549,561.
Literature accounts receivable is $520,329, of which 35.5% is current, 28.1% is less than 60 days past due, and 36.4% is more than 60 days past due. The reserve fund is at 60.2 months of 2025 budgeted GSO, GV and LV operating expenses versus a target range of nine to 12 months.
Discussion concerning self-support contributions shortfall, and a call to action using the Meeting Guide app, the “What’s New” section of aa.org, area delegates, as well as follow up efforts to communicate to the Fellowship current financial status.
The Board approved a recommendation from the trustees’ Finance and Budgetary committee that the CSP be amended to include the following procedure:
“The Quarterly Financial Report is drafted by the GSO SFO and Grapevine controller and submitted to the GSB treasurer for review and approval. Upon approval by the treasurer, the CFO forwards the Quarterly Financial Report to the Language Services Department for translation. After translation, the CFO forwards the Quarterly Financial Report to the Conference assignment for distribution to Conference members.”
Trustees General Service Conference Committee: The grid of PAIs was sent to all Conference members. The boad approved a recommendation that the delegate chairpersons be invited to attend the October Board weekend instead of the January Board weekend no sooner than October 2026. The Sunday opening dinner and AA meeting for the 2026 conference will again be only Conference members. The Post Conference trip to Stepping Stones should be a “pay your own way” basis.
International Convention/Regional Forums:
A discussion has begun considering a new Declaration for the 2030 Convention
Literature Committee: The committee reviewed progress on: 4th edition Big Book (Spanish), 5th edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous, development of the pamphlet for the Transgender, report of the working group for the pamphlet for the Asian and Asian American alcoholic, report on the update to the book Living Sober, report on the study of exploring the needs of the Spanish-speaking community to access the book, Alcoholics Anonymous,
Nominating Committee: The committee received appointments of rotations of trustees following the 2026 General Service Conference, as well as nominations for the new slate to approve a non-trustee director candidate on the AA World Services Corporate Board, following approval of the new slate at the 2026 General Services Conference.
Public Information: The GSO Podcast “Our Primary Purpose” is looking forward to a Season Three. A great deal is being done with review of the Public Service Announcements, especially to support the French and Spanish communities. More to come in Quarter 1 2026.
The last two years have been an experience like no other, with support from the entire fellowship of Area 43.
I wish to thank everyone for the privilege of serving as your P74 Delegate,
~Sue W.
