T he The A.A. SERVICE MANUAL Combined With

1 The SERVICE MANUAL Twelve concepTS for world SERVICE , inc. 2018-2020 This is General ServiceConference-approved literatureTheA. A. SERVICE MANUALC ombined WithTWELVE cONCEPTSfor wORLD SERVICEby Bill Editionreflecting actions of the2018 general SERVICE 17/16/18 12:08 PMTHE MANUAL Combined withTWELVE CONCEPTSFOR WORLD SERVICEby Bill W. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

2 Is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve by AA Grapevine Inc.; reprinted with Declaration of UnityThis we owe to s future; to place our common welfare first; to keep our Fellowship united. For on unity depend our lives, and the lives of those to Am anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of always to be there. And for that: I am 2018 First printing of Revised Edition, 1999 Alcoholics Anonymous World services , rights address: Box 459, Grand Central StationNew York, and Alcoholics Anonymous are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World services , 8/18 (PAH) Printed in SERVICE MANUALT able of Contents Note: Vertical lines in outer margins (like that at left) indicate changes made in the 2018-2020 s Legacy of SERVICE (Foreword and historical background by co-founder Bill W.)

3 S1 The Twelve Traditions (long form) .. S13 Chapter One: Introduction to General ServiceThe Conference Structure: An Overview .. S15 An Upside-Down Organization .. S15 Communication Through the Structure (group district area Conference trustees) .. S17 Chart of the General SERVICE Conference Structure .. S18 The Conference Charter (see Appendices A, C) .. S19 Glossary of General SERVICE Terms .. S19 Why Do We Need a Conference? by Bernard B. Smith .. S20 Third Legacy Procedure .. S21 Chart of Third Legacy Procedure .. S22 Stimulating Interest in General SERVICE .. S23 The Principle of Rotation .. S24 Tools Available from .. S24 Chapter Two: The Group and Its The importance of a home group.

4 S25 The General SERVICE Representative (qualifications, duties, financial support).. S26 Term and Method of Election .. S27 SERVICE Structure Inside the Group .. S27 Inactive General SERVICE Representative.. S28 Group Information .. S28 New group form .. S29 Group information change form .. S30 Chapter Three: The District and the The District .. S31 The District Committee Member ( ) (qualifications, duties, term, eligibility, election procedures) .. S31 Inactive District Committee Member .. S33 The Alternate .. S33 Redistricting .. S34 District Information.. S34 District Information Change Form .. S35 Chapter Four: The Area Assembly and ActivitiesDescription of an area.

5 S36 The Area Assembly .. S36 Composition .. S37 Eligibility to vote (area procedures).. S37 Inactive SERVICE Workers.. S37 Timing and Location of Assemblies .. S37A Typical Election Assembly .. S38A Typical Non-Election Assembly.. S39 Area Activities .. S39 Help on the Annual Conference Program .. S39 Sharing Sessions .. S40 Area Archives .. S40 Area Newsletters or Bulletins .. S41 Area Websites .. S41 Working with Local Intergroups and Central Offices .. S42 Area, State, Provincial, and Regional Conventions .. S43 Forming a New Delegate Area .. S43 Requesting a Change of Region .. S43 Guidelines for Changing Regional Boundaries .. S44 Chapter Five: The Area CommitteeComposition.

6 S45 Chairperson (duties, qualifications).. S45 Suggestions on chairing assembly meetings .. S46 Secretary (duties, qualifications).. S46 Registrar (duties, qualifications).. S46Tr e a s u r e r (duties, qualifications) .. S47 Other Officers.. S47 Alternate Committee Officers .. S47 Past Delegates .. S47 Financial Support .. S48 Area Information .. S49 Chapter Six: The DelegateDuties .. S50 Term of Office.. S51 Expenses .. S51 Qualifications .. S51 Geographical Rotation within the Area .. S52 The Alternate .. S52 Personal Experience (preparing for the Conference) .. S52 Leadership in : Ever a Vital Need (excerpts), by Bill W.. S53 Reporting on the Conference .. S54 Chapter Seven: The Annual Conference MeetingGeneral Warranties of the Conference.

7 S56 What Goes On at the Conference .. S57 Sources of Agenda Items .. S57 Conference Membership .. S58 The Voting Process .. S58 Conference Advisory Actions.. S59 Can the Conference Act for AA as a Whole?, by Bill W.. S59 Reporting to the Membership .. S60 Chapter Eight: Conference CommitteesCommittee meetings .. S61 Selection of committee members.. S61 The Conference Committees (names and general scope).. S62 Secondary Committees .. S63 Chapter Nine: The General SERVICE Board The trustees relationship to the Conference structure .. S64 Mission, Vision, Action Statement .. S65 Composition .. S65 Election of Trustees and Officers.. S66 Qualifications of an Effective Trustee .. S66 Chairperson of the General SERVICE Board.

8 S67 Nonalcoholic (Class A) Trustees (role, qualifications, how chosen) .. S68 Regional Trustees (role, qualifications, how elected) .. S68 Schedule of regional elections .. S69 Regional map, and Canada .. S69 Trustees-at-Large (role, qualifications, how elected) .. S70 General SERVICE Trustees (role, qualifications, how elected).. S71 Trustees Emeriti .. S72 General SERVICE Board Committees (names and functions).. S72 Appointed Committee Members (role, qualifications, how elected) .. S73 Regional Forums .. S74 Local Forums .. S74 World SERVICE Meeting .. S75 Meeting of the Americas .. S75 Chapter Ten: The Board s Operating Corporations Relationship of the General SERVICE Board to its operating entities.

9 S76 The General SERVICE Board Reserve Fund .. World services , Inc. (corporate board, board committees, financial support) .. S78 The AA Grapevine, Inc. (corporate board, financial support) .. S79 Choosing Nontrustee Directors for World services and AA Grapevine .. S79 Trademarks, Logos and Copyrights.. S80 Chapter Eleven: The General SERVICE OfficeGeneral description .. S81 Structure .. S81 services .. S81 Structure Chart of and .. S82 Archives .. S84 Publishing .. S84 Finance .. S85 Literature Published by World services .. S85 Chapter Twelve: The AA Grapevine General description .. S89 Nature of the magazine .. S90 Structure and Support .. S90 (Editorial Advisory Board).

10 S90 Grapevine Structure Chart .. S91 What Gets Done at Grapevine .. S91La Vi a .. S92 Grapevine and La Vi a Content Related Items .. S92AA Grapevine and La Vi a websites.. S92 Grapevine Story Archive .. S93 What Does a Grapevine/La Vi a Representative Do? .. S93 Literature Published by the Grapevine .. S94 General Guidelines for Reprinting Art and Articles from AA Grapevine .. S95 Logo and Artwork .. S95 Area Maps and Canada .. S96 Appendix A Original Conference Charter, 1955 .. S98 Appendix B 1955 Resolution .. S103 Appendix C Current Conference Charter .. S105 Appendix D Conference Panels .. S111 Appendix E Bylaws of the General SERVICE Board.. S114 Appendix F Bylaws of World services .