For many decades now, A.A. has formally set aside all of November as Gratitude Month as a time to express our collective gratitude for our individual sobriety.

The history of gratitude month dates back to the 1940s when the General Service Board hosted small “Gratitude Dinners.” In the November 1949 Grapevine, Bill W. made a suggestion that Thanksgiving week be adopted as Tradition Week during which special attention will be paid to the Traditions. You can read more about this in the Box 459 — Oct-Nov 2000 issue.

By the 1960s they had become larger, more elaborate “Gratitude Luncheons.” The motivation behind these gatherings was to express personal gratitude for sobriety and appreciation to our professional friends for their articles, books, radio and T.V. interviews relating to A.A. over the past year.

Though the luncheons were discontinued in 1968, the concept of gratitude persisted and expanded in scope marking the occasion with special contributions to G.S.O., though there is no proscribed manner for celebrating Gratitude Month.

Groups are encouraged to come up with their own imaginative ways to foster an attitude of gratitude among the fellowship. The Box 459 — Oct-Nov ’94 issue put it so well: “How about trying something new, something your group has never done before, which will make the members’ gratitude more tangible and real?”

So how about it? What kind of new and creative actions can you and your groups take to honor Gratitude Month?

Three Legacies of A.A.

Taken together, the Steps, Traditions and Concepts embody what are known as the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous: Recovery, Unity and Service. As November is the 11th month, let’s take a closer look at Step 11, Tradition 11 and Concept 11.

Step Eleven — Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer is the sense of belonging that comes to us. We no longer live in a completely hostile world. We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless. The moment we catch even a glimpse of God’s will, the moment we begin to see truth, justice, and love as the real and eternal things in life, we are no longer deeply disturbed by all the seeming evidence to the contrary that surrounds us in purely human affairs. We know that God lovingly watches over us. We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter. — Reprinted from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions© (page 105), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Tradition Eleven — Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films. This Tradition is a constant and practical reminder that personal ambition has no place in A.A. In it, each member becomes an active guardian of our Fellowship. — Reprinted from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions© (page 186), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Protecting anonymity is a major concern for members, who are accessing the Internet in ever-growing numbers. When we use digital media, we are responsible for our own anonymity and that of others. When we post, text, or blog, we should assume that we are publishing at the public level. When we break our anonymity in these forums, we may inadvertently break the anonymity of others. For more information, see the A.A. pamphlet Understanding Anonymity, the October 2010 issue of A.A. Grapevine on Anonymity on the Internet, and the A.A. Guidelines on the Internet.

Concept Eleven — While the Trustees hold final responsibility for A.A.’s world service administration, they should always have the assistance of the best possible standing committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Therefore the composition of these underlying committees and service boards, the personal qualifications of their members, the manner of their induction into service, the systems of their rotation, the way in which they are related to each other, the special rights and duties of our executives, staffs, and consultants, together with a proper basis for the financial compensation of these special workers, will always be matters for serious care and concern. The longtime success of our General Service Board will rest not only on the capabilities of the Trustees themselves; it will depend quite as much upon the competent leadership and harmonious association of those non-Trustee committee members, corporate service directors, executives and staff members who must actively carry on A.A.’s world services. Their quality and dedication, or their lack of these characteristics, will make or break our structure of service. Our final dependency on them will always be great indeed.– Reprinted from The A.A. Service Manual combined with Twelve Concepts, 2021-2023 Edition (page c37) , with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Stories Wanted for the Big Book Alcohólicos Anónimos

The G.S.O. Literature Committee is seeking stories of recovery from a wide representation of the Hispanic community for the fourth edition of the Big Book Alcohólicos Anónimos. While all A.A. literature and communications are published in English, Spanish, and French, this edition of the Big Book features stories from Spanish-speaking members who share their experience, strength, and hope. Deadline for submission: December 15, 2022.

You can submit your story online here, or by email to 4LGHistorias@aa.org, or by postal mail — Attn. Literature Assignment, General Service Office, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163.

For more information go here. For additional assistance, contact 4LGHistorias@aa.org

Advisory Actions of the General Service Conference

In efforts to reduce costs and streamline resources, the newly formatted booklet Advisory Actions of the General Service Conference, 1951-2022 (M-39/FM-39/SM-39) is now available in an anonymity-protected, digital version, in English, French and Spanish. Note: The printed, confidential version of the booklet was discontinued in 2022, per decision of the A.A.W.S. Board.

Download your PDF from aa.org.

About A.A. – Fall 2022

About A.A. is the newsletter from the General Service Office of the U.S. and Canada for professionals of all types who deal with alcoholics. The Fall 2022 issue highlights the Media Library as a valuable resource for professionals seeking to bring the A.A. message to individuals who struggle with their drinking. Public service announcements (PSAs) — short videos or audio messages — are an integral part of the A.A. Media Library and a critical part of how A.A. informs the public about the program — what it does and how to contact the Fellowship.

Also in the issue, meet two new General Service Board Class A Trustees and find helpful links to more information about AA of interest to professionals.

G.S.O. Reopens to Visitors

The General Service Office (G.S.O.) began welcoming visitors again on October 5. This also included reinstituting the Friday 11:00 a.m. A.A. meeting. Much has changed in the two and a half years since they last received visitors, making it necessary for them to make some adjustments. Some key highlights to help make anyone visiting as smooth and special as possible are as follows:

• Visitors are welcome on Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• The Interchurch Center (the landlord) has instituted new security protocols that have changed the logistics of how visitors can enter the office. These protocols require that all visitors be registered into the building system in advance of their visit. You can do this when you arrive; however, contacting them prior to your visit will allow for a quicker and easier entry.
• For groups of 10 or more, please contact them in advance so they can best prepare for your time at the General Service Office.
• To schedule your visit, please contact them at gsotours@aa.org or (212) 870-3430.

For additional details and guidance, please go here.

The AA Grapevine Half-Hour Variety Hour

The AA Grapevine Half-Hour Variety Hour turned one-year-old on October 3. To celebrate they created a special anniversary episode. First Don and Sam talked with the gang at Grapevine about the creation of the podcast. Later they played some hilarious bloopers that didn’t make it onto the weekly podcast.

To listen to the special anniversary episode and all other ones go here.

While they provide the podcast at no charge, it is not free to produce. To support the AA Grapevine Podcast, please subscribe to the magazine or purchase books or other items at store.aagrapevine.org.

G.S.O. Staff Positions

G.S.O. is updating their file of applications from A.A. members who are interested in being considered for possible future openings for the position of G.S.O. staff member. Currently there are 11 staff members who cover a variety of assignments. Minimum qualifications include a minimum of six years continuous sobriety; legally authorized to work in the U.S., a background in service at the group and district and area levels; business or professional experience; and excellent communication and organizational skills. Willingness to relocate to New York, and fluency in French and/or Spanish with excellent oral and written skills will be considered a plus for all candidates. For additional details, please go here.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact: Director of Staff Services via email at directorstaffservices@aa.org or by postal mail at: Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163.

Quarterly Report from G.S.O

The latest Quarterly Report from the General Service Office is where you’ll find recent activities of the General Service Board, A.A. World Services, Inc., and AA Grapevine, Inc.

Mark Your Calendar

Upcoming events that may be of interest to you.

• Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting — Join us on Thursday, November 3 at 6PM via Zoom. Please note new Meeting ID: 987-8110-5001 and Passcode: 914711. Our intergroup is a resource for 12-Step work and Alcoholics Anonymous information in Southern Delaware.

• SDIAA Archives Committee Meeting — Join the Archives Committee at their next monthly meeting on November 14 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Rd in Rehoboth Beach. The committee meets every 2nd Monday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. Doors open at 6:15 PM. For more information, send an email to archives@sussexaa.org

• 2022 Gratitude Breakfast — It’s back this year live and in person on November 19 at the Indian River Fire Hall located on 32628 Oak Orchard Road in Millsboro. This year the Gratitude Breakfast will coincide with Gratitude Month — a traditional time to express our collective gratitude for our individual sobriety. For more information, contact events@sussexaa.org

• Annual Thanksgiving Dinner — Thursday, November 24 from 10AM to 5PM, the Oak Orchard Thursday Third Tradition Group will once again be hosting their Thanksgiving Dinner at the Indian River Fire Hall located on 32628 Oak Orchard Road in Millsboro. Open A.A. meetings begin at 10AM and recur on even hours through 4PM. Dinner will be served beginning 11AM and will continue through 4PM. Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of this event! If you have any questions or would like to help out, please contact us at support@sussexaa.org. Currently, the 4PM slot is open. For more information, see the event flyer and share with others.

• Annual Thanksgiving Alcathon — Sponsored by Courage to Change through Northern Delaware Intergroup, the November 24 alcathon will be held in-person at the Jesus House Retreat Center located at 2501 Milltown Rd in Wilmington, DE and online via Zoom — Meeting ID: 860 4543 6713
  Password: 882376. The meeting room will be open from 10AM to 10PM for people to talk, listen and relax. Marathon speaker/discussion meetings will held on even hours, beginning at 10AM through 8PM. For more information, please see the event flyer.

• 59th International Women’s Conference (IWC) — Held February 16 through 19, 2023, the IWC will be a hybrid event at the Renaissance Dallas Addison Hotel, 15201 Dallas Parkway, Addison, TX and online via Zoom. For more information on the conference and to register, please see their website.