Has GSO ever been self-supporting through contributions?

Hi Friends, June's Self Support Topic has kindly been addressed by Roy R. one of our past Delegates. Please read the below and if you feel so inclined take the June Poll. My thanks to Roy for so cleverly addressing this tough question.

Has GSO ever been self-supporting through contributions?

Alcoholics Anonymous has had a philosophy of being self-supporting since the early years, when we were rebuffed by John D. Rockefeller, "I am afraid that money will spoil this thing." Through the interpretation and understanding of our Seventh Tradition, most groups have attained the self-supporting stage.

Over the years, our central offices have frequently been entities of a different colour. Rather than quietly operating under the ‘self-supporting umbrella’, the Fellowship frequently has imposed the apparent virtue of ‘corporate poverty’ on our service centres. GSO / ‘Head Office’ has been no exception.

In the very early years, both Bill and Dr. Bob were thrilled when the Trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation allotted each of them some of the monies coming in from sales of the Big Book.
“Two years ago the trustees set aside, out of AA book funds, a sum which enabled my wife and me to pay off the mortgage on our home and make some needed improvements. The Foundation also granted Dr Bob and me each a royalty of 10% on the book Alcoholics Anonymous, our only income from AA sources. We are both very comfortable and deeply grateful.” (Language of the Heart pages 62-66)

The decade following World War II saw much activity. Nell Wing, Bill’s secretary (and later the first GSO Archivist) wrote.
“The year I came to the foundation--in fact, that entire decade, 1945 to 1955--was an exciting and important time in AA history, probably the most productive period of growth and development we've seen to date.
What was happening? The Big Book was earning money, and had been since 1942. Old debts had been repaid. The trustees were passing resolutions about making AA self-supporting. By 1945, the groups were contributing to the support of the office.”
(Grapevine, September 1977)

Those must have been heady, exciting times. But I found no solid proof that the Fellowship has ever completely supported GSO through contributions. I asked a couple of staffers at GSO. Both thought not. I also asked Donald Meurer, the CFO of AAWS, Inc., whose ‘standard AA folklore’ answer was yes – once, a long time ago.

Bill W. wasn’t concerned that literature sales were made to outside entities. He felt that usually these copies would wind up in the hands of alcoholics. With Overeaters Anonymous and other 12-Step programs purchasing our literature, one might wonder if that is still the case today.
At the Special Forum held in Philadelphia in the fall of 2006, the topic arose during one of the Question and Answer sessions.

Question: Is A.A. self-supporting if we use revenue from the sale of literature to support services? What percentage of literature sales are sold to non-A.A. entities?

Response: Currently 17% of literature sales are to non-A.A. entities. In the 1980s, the number was 30%. Our co-founder Bill W. said that even books bought by outside entities usually end up in the hands of alcoholics.

The use of literature revenue to fund services was the case even in Bill W.’s and Dr. Bob’s time. If the Fellowship were to fund 100% of services through Seventh Tradition contributions, or if services were reduced, we may be able to lower the price of literature. Meanwhile, revenue from literature makes up for the shortfall of contributions.

One trustee, though, has shared that if we really want to control the destiny of G.S.O. and our Central Offices, we need to stop reliance on literature sales.

So there you go, a typical AA answer. Probably, but then again, maybe not. One thing is for sure – if each of us and each of our groups digs a little deeper and contributes a little more to our Intergroups and Districts and Area and GSO, we could become truly self-supporting through these contributions, for the first (or second) time.

Roy R.
Panel 53 Delegate,
Area 83 Eastern Ontario International

June Topic - Are we really Self Supporting ?

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

Self Support Tidbits

GSC Agenda Item

A. Discuss a request to increase the maximum annual contribution (or a one time bequest) that the General Service Board can receive from an A.A. member from $2,000 to $3,000.

Results

A. This item was discussed and passed, therefore making the maximum annual contribution (or one time bequest) that the General Service Board can receive from an A.A. member is now $3,000.00.
The above figures are in American dollars.



Delegates Report


Yesterday I had the privilege of hearing our Delegates
(Dot D.) first report on the General Service Conference, Dot spoke enthusiastically about her experience. Area 83 was ably represented at the GSC.

Encourage others to hear her report by attending the Zone and District Services Days that are hosting her over the next couple of months. She is carrying the message from General Service Office to the Area/Districts and Groups. Let’s support her and our fellowship by attending Service Days.

2007 G.S.O. Budget*

*Condensed, for full budget please read the next Box 459 due to be mailed in 3 weeks.

Contributions for 2007 have been budgeted at $6,200,000 in total. (Contributions received for the year 2005 were 12% or $650,000 greater than in 2005.)

During 2006, contributions from groups and individuals of totaled $5,922,000 which was $517,000 or 10% greater than budget and $640,000 or 12% greater than 2005. Contributions received from World Service Meeting Countries toward the World Service Meeting International literature fund amounted to $145,000 approximately $20,000 more than 2005. In total, Contributions received for 2006 were just over $6,068,000. In addition to the work trusted servants are doing to carry the message of the necessity for voluntary contributions, historical evidence suggests that usually in the year following an International Convention, we enjoy a healthy increase in contributions.

Total Operating Revenue for 2007 is anticipated at $12,525,550, approximately even with the 2006 Budget and 1.5% less than the 2006 actual results.

Total Operating Expenses for 2007 have been budgeted at $12,525,550 approximately $231,000 or 2% more than 2006, and $242,000 or 2% more than the 2006 budget as well.


Grapevine Update

Did you know that for 2007 the Grapevine anticipates a loss of $81,300. This compares with the 2006 budgeted profit of $19,883 and an actual loss from operations of $48,857.

http://www.aagrapevine.org

June’s Blog Topic

Is A.A. really Self Supporting?