1 00:00:01,290 --> 00:00:02,760 - The views and opinions expressed 2 00:00:02,760 --> 00:00:05,400 during this podcast are those of our guests. 3 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,486 No one person speaks for A.A. as a whole. 4 00:00:08,486 --> 00:00:09,480 (upbeat music) 5 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,030 - Welcome to episode eight, the season one finale 6 00:00:12,030 --> 00:00:13,650 of Our Primary Purpose. 7 00:00:13,650 --> 00:00:16,230 My name is Nathan and I'm an alcoholic. 8 00:00:16,230 --> 00:00:17,403 Welcome to GSO. 9 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,863 (upbeat music) 10 00:00:25,530 --> 00:00:29,310 All season long we've been talking about GSO's many roles 11 00:00:29,310 --> 00:00:33,330 including organizing and supporting meetings and events. 12 00:00:33,330 --> 00:00:34,800 But the most important event 13 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,830 of the year is the General Service Conference. 14 00:00:37,830 --> 00:00:41,070 When delegates from across the US and Canada come together 15 00:00:41,070 --> 00:00:43,710 to make decisions about A.A. 16 00:00:43,710 --> 00:00:45,570 They are responsible for ensuring 17 00:00:45,570 --> 00:00:47,790 that the groups in A.A. have a voice 18 00:00:47,790 --> 00:00:49,950 in the affairs of the fellowship. 19 00:00:49,950 --> 00:00:51,900 The work of the General Service Conference 20 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:53,700 is not all business. 21 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:57,210 There is something deeply spiritual about the responsibility 22 00:00:57,210 --> 00:00:59,640 of charting A.A.'s future. 23 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,810 At the 1954 General Service Conference, Bernard B. Smith, 24 00:01:03,810 --> 00:01:07,770 non-alcoholic, then chairperson of the Board of Trustees, 25 00:01:07,770 --> 00:01:09,210 and one of the architects 26 00:01:09,210 --> 00:01:12,750 of the A.A. service structure spoke on the topic. 27 00:01:12,750 --> 00:01:15,270 We asked retired GSO staffer Jeff W. 28 00:01:15,270 --> 00:01:17,490 to read from Smith's remarks. 29 00:01:17,490 --> 00:01:19,410 Why do we need a conference? 30 00:01:19,410 --> 00:01:21,990 - We may not need a General Service Conference 31 00:01:21,990 --> 00:01:24,540 to ensure our own recovery. 32 00:01:24,540 --> 00:01:27,930 We do need it to ensure the recovery of the alcoholic 33 00:01:27,930 --> 00:01:30,240 who still stumbles in the darkness. 34 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,940 One short block from this room. 35 00:01:32,940 --> 00:01:34,680 We need it to ensure the recovery 36 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:39,540 of a child being born tonight destined for alcoholism. 37 00:01:39,540 --> 00:01:42,570 We need it to provide in keeping with our 12th step, 38 00:01:42,570 --> 00:01:45,270 a permanent haven for all alcoholics 39 00:01:45,270 --> 00:01:48,840 who in the ages ahead confined in A.A. 40 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,693 that rebirth that brought us back to life. 41 00:01:52,830 --> 00:01:56,340 We need it because we more than all others are conscious 42 00:01:56,340 --> 00:01:59,700 of the devastating effect of the human urge for power 43 00:01:59,700 --> 00:02:04,700 and prestige, which we must ensure can never invade A.A. 44 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,040 We need it to ensure A.A. against government 45 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,740 while insulating it against anarchy. 46 00:02:10,740 --> 00:02:12,660 We need it to protect A.A. 47 00:02:12,660 --> 00:02:15,090 We need it so that Alcoholics Anonymous 48 00:02:15,090 --> 00:02:19,290 and Alcoholics Anonymous alone is the ultimate repository 49 00:02:19,290 --> 00:02:24,290 of its 12 steps, its 12 traditions and all of its services. 50 00:02:25,350 --> 00:02:29,400 We need it to ensure that changes within A.A. come only 51 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,300 as a response to the needs and wants of all A.A. 52 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:35,520 and not of any few. 53 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,760 We need it to ensure that the doors of the halls of A.A. 54 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:43,200 never have locks on them, so that all people for all time 55 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,370 who have an alcoholic problem may enter these halls unasked 56 00:02:47,370 --> 00:02:49,290 and feel welcome. 57 00:02:49,290 --> 00:02:53,160 We need it to ensure that Alcoholics Anonymous never asks 58 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:57,120 of anyone who needs us, what his or her race is, what his 59 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,145 or her creed is, what his or her social position is. 60 00:03:01,145 --> 00:03:03,895 (peaceful music) 61 00:03:08,910 --> 00:03:11,220 - So the Conference is responsible 62 00:03:11,220 --> 00:03:15,090 to help guide A.A. today and in the future, 63 00:03:15,090 --> 00:03:17,220 and GSO is responsible 64 00:03:17,220 --> 00:03:20,160 for implementing their recommendations. 65 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,030 Today we meet the person who leads GSO, 66 00:03:24,030 --> 00:03:24,900 Bob W. 67 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:26,610 - Glad to be here. - Bob's title 68 00:03:26,610 --> 00:03:29,640 is General Manager, which is comparable 69 00:03:29,640 --> 00:03:32,880 to an executive director at any large nonprofit. 70 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,090 But this role comes with some key differences. 71 00:03:36,090 --> 00:03:38,850 The General Manager must have at least 10 years 72 00:03:38,850 --> 00:03:41,400 of continuous sobriety in A.A., 73 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,940 along with extensive A.A. service experience. 74 00:03:44,940 --> 00:03:47,490 The GM works closely with our two boards, 75 00:03:47,490 --> 00:03:49,200 that's the General Service Board 76 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:53,310 and AA World Services Board, the General Service Conference 77 00:03:53,310 --> 00:03:55,440 and the Fellowship at large. 78 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,200 That's US, Canada, and abroad. 79 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,450 So the person in this key role 80 00:04:00,450 --> 00:04:02,730 must also have a deep understanding 81 00:04:02,730 --> 00:04:05,550 of how the service structure functions. 82 00:04:05,550 --> 00:04:07,860 But on the day-to-day in the office. 83 00:04:07,860 --> 00:04:12,540 - What I do is I provide leadership for those employees 84 00:04:12,540 --> 00:04:15,150 for the AAWS employees. 85 00:04:15,150 --> 00:04:18,480 GSO has about a hundred employees 86 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:21,390 between A.A. World Services and A.A. Grapevine. 87 00:04:21,390 --> 00:04:24,270 So I like to say that I provide leadership. 88 00:04:24,270 --> 00:04:26,460 You lead people and manage things. 89 00:04:26,460 --> 00:04:29,700 And so we talk a lot about in A.A. in our principles 90 00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:32,850 of delegating responsibility. 91 00:04:32,850 --> 00:04:34,470 From the day that I got here, 92 00:04:34,470 --> 00:04:36,240 about three and a half years ago, 93 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,790 I committed to infuse the principles 94 00:04:38,790 --> 00:04:41,850 of Alcoholics Anonymous into the operations 95 00:04:41,850 --> 00:04:43,320 of the General Service Office. 96 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,540 And that's what I try to do a day at a time. 97 00:04:45,540 --> 00:04:48,690 And again, that translates to servant leadership, 98 00:04:48,690 --> 00:04:50,970 which is a principle based leadership, 99 00:04:50,970 --> 00:04:52,140 the right of decision. 100 00:04:52,140 --> 00:04:55,980 Our Third Concept, I try to exercise as a leader 101 00:04:55,980 --> 00:04:57,870 to the various department heads 102 00:04:57,870 --> 00:04:59,700 and people that report to me. 103 00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:04,050 And I try to lead by example to all of those managers 104 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:07,230 and directors to do the same, to allow them to be able 105 00:05:07,230 --> 00:05:08,640 to make decisions. 106 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,340 Another principle we hear about is the right to be wrong 107 00:05:11,340 --> 00:05:12,993 and how we're not punitive in A.A. 108 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,110 Other principles like the right of participation 109 00:05:16,110 --> 00:05:18,030 and how important that is. 110 00:05:18,030 --> 00:05:21,390 And we hear in A.A., a good idea can come from anywhere. 111 00:05:21,390 --> 00:05:24,210 And so I allow for participation 112 00:05:24,210 --> 00:05:25,560 and I want to hear from others. 113 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,630 So that's what I try to do a day at a time 114 00:05:27,630 --> 00:05:31,440 and try to put things in place throughout the office 115 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,690 to allow for that to happen. 116 00:05:33,690 --> 00:05:35,670 Maybe I lead the General Service Office. 117 00:05:35,670 --> 00:05:38,430 I'm a leader in the General Service Office 118 00:05:38,430 --> 00:05:39,600 and I say a leader 119 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,060 because my leadership style is more one 120 00:05:42,060 --> 00:05:43,860 of servant leadership. 121 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:46,050 Really principle-based leadership. 122 00:05:46,050 --> 00:05:47,460 It's a we program 123 00:05:47,460 --> 00:05:50,370 and it's a we office, to try to simply state 124 00:05:50,370 --> 00:05:53,040 what the General Service Office is difficult 125 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:54,600 because it supports so much. 126 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,320 It supports all the members and groups of the US and Canada, 127 00:05:58,320 --> 00:05:59,940 but really around the world. 128 00:05:59,940 --> 00:06:02,850 There's 62 other General Service Boards 129 00:06:02,850 --> 00:06:05,220 and/or General Service Offices around the world 130 00:06:05,220 --> 00:06:07,230 that are autonomous from us. 131 00:06:07,230 --> 00:06:09,750 But we bring experience, strength and hope to them. 132 00:06:09,750 --> 00:06:11,820 So many, many groups 133 00:06:11,820 --> 00:06:14,550 and many members require 134 00:06:14,550 --> 00:06:17,397 assistance in carrying the message of A.A. 135 00:06:17,397 --> 00:06:20,640 and we try to help facilitate that process. 136 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:23,040 And that happens in a number of ways. 137 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:27,450 Literature, podcasts, all sorts of different services 138 00:06:27,450 --> 00:06:30,420 to help members and groups to carry the message. 139 00:06:30,420 --> 00:06:33,180 Our office is a repository of shared experience 140 00:06:33,180 --> 00:06:36,210 with many members and groups who've contacted us, 141 00:06:36,210 --> 00:06:38,790 who we've helped or have shared what they've done 142 00:06:38,790 --> 00:06:40,380 and we've collected their experience 143 00:06:40,380 --> 00:06:43,110 and we share it with other groups who need that help. 144 00:06:43,110 --> 00:06:46,710 The General Service Office is very much like 145 00:06:46,710 --> 00:06:48,420 any other business in a lot of ways, 146 00:06:48,420 --> 00:06:50,340 but it's a spiritual business. 147 00:06:50,340 --> 00:06:52,110 When we say to visitors, welcome 148 00:06:52,110 --> 00:06:54,750 to your General Service Office, we really mean it. 149 00:06:54,750 --> 00:06:57,450 It truly is their office. 150 00:06:57,450 --> 00:06:59,220 But it's kind of a lot. 151 00:06:59,220 --> 00:07:01,140 - It is a lot. - There's a lot there. 152 00:07:01,140 --> 00:07:04,380 But thank God for the slogans 153 00:07:04,380 --> 00:07:07,050 of Alcoholics Anonymous One Day at a Time. 154 00:07:07,050 --> 00:07:09,570 My sponsor has moved me into the nanosecond most 155 00:07:09,570 --> 00:07:12,570 of the time, so I can keep stress free. 156 00:07:12,570 --> 00:07:14,940 I try to do that and, yeah. 157 00:07:14,940 --> 00:07:17,220 - Well, you're in high demand. - Yep, absolutely. 158 00:07:17,220 --> 00:07:19,530 - In the past couple of years, you've traveled a lot. 159 00:07:19,530 --> 00:07:21,990 Can you tell us a bit about why it's important 160 00:07:21,990 --> 00:07:23,610 for the General Manager to travel? 161 00:07:23,610 --> 00:07:26,520 - Well, it's definitely a part of what I do, 162 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:31,020 and there's different reasons why I go to various places, 163 00:07:31,020 --> 00:07:33,450 countries, or states or provinces. 164 00:07:33,450 --> 00:07:37,860 One of the big pieces of my travel are regional forums, 165 00:07:37,860 --> 00:07:41,820 which are gatherings to allow for members of the Fellowship 166 00:07:41,820 --> 00:07:44,190 to meet members of the General Service Board, 167 00:07:44,190 --> 00:07:46,440 the corporate boards and the office, 168 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,590 and ask questions of any kind and share information. 169 00:07:49,590 --> 00:07:52,860 And so one of the parts of my role is a co-chair 170 00:07:52,860 --> 00:07:53,880 of those regional forums. 171 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,920 I do that with Scott H. 172 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:57,930 The chair of the General Service Board. 173 00:07:57,930 --> 00:08:01,590 But I've also traveled by invitation to local areas. 174 00:08:01,590 --> 00:08:05,310 I choose those based upon the requests that come in. 175 00:08:05,310 --> 00:08:07,350 I have to balance that between the time I need 176 00:08:07,350 --> 00:08:09,630 to spend in the office as well. 177 00:08:09,630 --> 00:08:13,830 And internationally, I traveled to Poland 178 00:08:13,830 --> 00:08:18,030 for the 50th anniversary celebration of A.A. in Poland 179 00:08:18,030 --> 00:08:20,310 and also Portugal. 180 00:08:20,310 --> 00:08:25,260 Portugal held an international convention in October. 181 00:08:25,260 --> 00:08:28,830 And those international trips usually in most cases 182 00:08:28,830 --> 00:08:30,150 are trustees at large. 183 00:08:30,150 --> 00:08:33,120 And the person on our international assignment 184 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:34,050 goes on those trips. 185 00:08:34,050 --> 00:08:37,530 And sometimes there's reasons that I might go. 186 00:08:37,530 --> 00:08:39,630 In the case with Poland, 187 00:08:39,630 --> 00:08:42,570 there was a real solid business purpose behind that. 188 00:08:42,570 --> 00:08:44,100 We've been doing an awful lot of work 189 00:08:44,100 --> 00:08:47,610 with licensing our literature internationally. 190 00:08:47,610 --> 00:08:50,190 And in Portugal, they asked me specifically 191 00:08:50,190 --> 00:08:53,040 to give a presentation on our licensing process 192 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,290 and the history of our licensing. 193 00:08:55,290 --> 00:08:58,110 And it was just an incredible experience. 194 00:08:58,110 --> 00:09:00,750 I found a story of a person who was very pivotal 195 00:09:00,750 --> 00:09:05,340 and the work that she went through to be able to translate 196 00:09:05,340 --> 00:09:08,070 that book into Portuguese was unbelievable. 197 00:09:08,070 --> 00:09:10,830 And so it was great to be able to be there to give 198 00:09:10,830 --> 00:09:12,810 that presentation, to answer questions 199 00:09:12,810 --> 00:09:15,420 and to share what we do and how we do it. 200 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:17,850 - The world is growing more and more virtual. 201 00:09:17,850 --> 00:09:21,870 Why is it so important to physically go to these locations? 202 00:09:21,870 --> 00:09:23,490 - You know, I think it comes down to the root 203 00:09:23,490 --> 00:09:25,950 of Alcoholics Anonymous with one member sitting down 204 00:09:25,950 --> 00:09:28,200 with another, sharing their experience, strength and hope. 205 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,690 And not that we don't see that happen virtually, 206 00:09:30,690 --> 00:09:33,870 it happened, people got sober through that time. 207 00:09:33,870 --> 00:09:36,480 But there's something about just being together 208 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,690 and meeting people and be able to build those relationships. 209 00:09:39,690 --> 00:09:42,660 And there were many members from other countries 210 00:09:42,660 --> 00:09:44,670 around the world that attended those conventions, 211 00:09:44,670 --> 00:09:46,620 not just us from the United States and Canada, 212 00:09:46,620 --> 00:09:48,930 and some of them were international delegates 213 00:09:48,930 --> 00:09:51,060 to our world service meeting. 214 00:09:51,060 --> 00:09:53,460 And so we ate together, we went 215 00:09:53,460 --> 00:09:54,750 to meetings together while we were there, 216 00:09:54,750 --> 00:09:56,040 we got to know each other. 217 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,710 And so you forge those relationships. 218 00:09:58,710 --> 00:10:00,630 And then you fast forward to our World Service Meeting 219 00:10:00,630 --> 00:10:02,760 that we just had in the end of October. 220 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:03,960 And there were several folks there, 221 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,890 including the representatives from both Poland and Portugal. 222 00:10:07,890 --> 00:10:12,330 But there were people there from Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, 223 00:10:12,330 --> 00:10:13,560 a lot of other countries. 224 00:10:13,560 --> 00:10:17,430 And so just that more tighter one-on-one connection 225 00:10:17,430 --> 00:10:21,330 of being there together in that moment with the individual, 226 00:10:21,330 --> 00:10:24,960 that was really paramount in translating the big book 227 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,940 into Portuguese, being able to see her and give her a hug 228 00:10:29,940 --> 00:10:33,960 and just be in that space, it just couldn't have happened. 229 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,690 - Okay, let's step back from the international stage. 230 00:10:36,690 --> 00:10:39,660 I want to go back to something you said a few minutes ago. 231 00:10:39,660 --> 00:10:42,540 We were talking about how the GSO serves groups 232 00:10:42,540 --> 00:10:45,150 in the US and Canada. 233 00:10:45,150 --> 00:10:48,810 How do we make sure that we do that effectively? 234 00:10:48,810 --> 00:10:50,460 - Yeah, it's challenging. 235 00:10:50,460 --> 00:10:52,350 We have a service structure that goes 236 00:10:52,350 --> 00:10:56,430 through the group level of a GSR to a district, to an area, 237 00:10:56,430 --> 00:10:59,340 to an assembly, to the General Service Conference, 238 00:10:59,340 --> 00:11:00,660 to the General Service Board. 239 00:11:00,660 --> 00:11:02,850 And the office is wielded around 240 00:11:02,850 --> 00:11:05,340 that General Service Board and the Conference. 241 00:11:05,340 --> 00:11:08,730 Yet there's members who are not connected to that, 242 00:11:08,730 --> 00:11:12,270 that never see that, that will raise their hand 243 00:11:12,270 --> 00:11:14,670 on social media sometimes and other places 244 00:11:14,670 --> 00:11:18,000 and say, why is our money getting spent like that? 245 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,470 But they're not necessarily talking 246 00:11:19,470 --> 00:11:20,910 with delegates and that type of thing. 247 00:11:20,910 --> 00:11:23,070 So it is very challenging. 248 00:11:23,070 --> 00:11:23,940 - Yeah. Yeah. 249 00:11:23,940 --> 00:11:25,830 All right. Full plate. 250 00:11:25,830 --> 00:11:27,570 Lots of challenges. 251 00:11:27,570 --> 00:11:29,040 What about the highlights? 252 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:30,633 - Oh, highlights. 253 00:11:32,070 --> 00:11:36,990 I think some of the changes that we've made at GSO 254 00:11:36,990 --> 00:11:40,530 in really all to the good speaking of that process, 255 00:11:40,530 --> 00:11:42,030 the stronger desire 256 00:11:42,030 --> 00:11:44,610 to deliver background in English, French 257 00:11:44,610 --> 00:11:46,740 and Spanish at the same time 258 00:11:46,740 --> 00:11:48,630 and what it takes to do that. 259 00:11:48,630 --> 00:11:52,800 So our translation processes were in great need 260 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:54,810 of revision. 261 00:11:54,810 --> 00:11:58,230 And also our international licensing was another function 262 00:11:58,230 --> 00:11:59,880 that was very challenging. 263 00:11:59,880 --> 00:12:02,400 Licensing our literature around the world 264 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:05,280 is a lot of demand for that, 265 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,080 large number of requests come in for that. 266 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,330 And translating the actual literature itself 267 00:12:09,330 --> 00:12:13,710 and then licensing it for distribution to other countries. 268 00:12:13,710 --> 00:12:17,190 So we created a language services department 269 00:12:17,190 --> 00:12:21,510 to handle all of the document translation, 270 00:12:21,510 --> 00:12:24,450 to put some focus around the function. 271 00:12:24,450 --> 00:12:26,790 And so there's much more clarity now, 272 00:12:26,790 --> 00:12:30,390 which I'm so excited about, to open the door 273 00:12:30,390 --> 00:12:33,990 to actually translate our literature into other languages. 274 00:12:33,990 --> 00:12:36,690 But it's not just our Big Book, it's our 12 and 12, 275 00:12:36,690 --> 00:12:37,620 it's our pamphlets 276 00:12:37,620 --> 00:12:42,180 and the other incredible lifesaving literature that we have. 277 00:12:42,180 --> 00:12:47,130 So those are things to me that have been very exciting. 278 00:12:47,130 --> 00:12:50,520 I think on top of all of it, we have 279 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,980 incredible comradery among each other. 280 00:12:52,980 --> 00:12:56,040 And all of this work that we've done together has brought 281 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:57,300 some great feeling 282 00:12:57,300 --> 00:13:00,690 and really like, you know, living the 12 steps, 283 00:13:00,690 --> 00:13:02,460 part of the 36 principles, 284 00:13:02,460 --> 00:13:04,740 I'm confusing the principles into the operations. 285 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:07,350 And, you know, we get along, we like each other 286 00:13:07,350 --> 00:13:10,203 and you know, we do good work together. 287 00:13:11,130 --> 00:13:14,490 - I'm sure there's many, but was there a moment 288 00:13:14,490 --> 00:13:16,980 or two that's left a lasting impact on you 289 00:13:16,980 --> 00:13:18,363 during your time as GM? 290 00:13:19,710 --> 00:13:24,120 - I was in Cuba in 2022, I believe it was. 291 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,823 And it was amazing to be there. 292 00:13:28,266 --> 00:13:31,350 A.A. was having a very difficult time there. 293 00:13:31,350 --> 00:13:33,300 And so I attended their conference 294 00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:35,430 and their conference was really struggling. 295 00:13:35,430 --> 00:13:38,290 And I think about the challenges we have 296 00:13:39,510 --> 00:13:43,080 and to see that kind of struggle, you know, 297 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,360 inflation just through the roof 298 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,315 and yet watching them all come together to still find 299 00:13:48,315 --> 00:13:51,600 a way to do the work of Alcoholics Anonymous, 300 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,090 but seeing those kinds of things, 301 00:13:54,090 --> 00:13:57,183 this role is way bigger than me. 302 00:13:59,252 --> 00:14:01,230 And this is a movement 303 00:14:01,230 --> 00:14:04,983 of Alcoholics Anonymous and amazing things happen. 304 00:14:06,030 --> 00:14:08,730 - And those of us that work at GSO are reminded of 305 00:14:08,730 --> 00:14:10,620 how spiritual that work can be. 306 00:14:10,620 --> 00:14:12,183 - Yep, absolutely. 307 00:14:13,290 --> 00:14:17,033 I think the lasting impact of the work 308 00:14:17,033 --> 00:14:21,570 that happens here at the General Service Office, 309 00:14:21,570 --> 00:14:24,300 that's fed from all the members of the groups 310 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:28,170 and how we're all part of the same team. 311 00:14:28,170 --> 00:14:29,880 And at the end of the day, 312 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,660 sometimes we get involved in a lot of the details 313 00:14:33,660 --> 00:14:36,330 of the structure and the way that our assemblies work 314 00:14:36,330 --> 00:14:37,440 and our conference works 315 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,800 and all of those things are really, really important. 316 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:43,320 But one thing I think it's important to always remember 317 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,440 is that, how does it transmit? 318 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,370 How does it find the next still suffering alcoholic? 319 00:14:50,370 --> 00:14:53,670 I remember a very big argument in a local area 320 00:14:53,670 --> 00:14:55,980 where I come from in Western Massachusetts 321 00:14:55,980 --> 00:15:00,420 several years ago, who argued, should we be putting When 322 00:15:00,420 --> 00:15:03,360 and Where meeting lists in the local library? 323 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:05,160 And some thought it might be crossing 324 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:06,750 a tradition for whatever reason. 325 00:15:06,750 --> 00:15:08,730 And it was a very big debate. 326 00:15:08,730 --> 00:15:11,460 And it turned out that what won the day was yes, 327 00:15:11,460 --> 00:15:13,860 they could go into the libraries. 328 00:15:13,860 --> 00:15:15,420 And about six or eight months later, 329 00:15:15,420 --> 00:15:18,000 I remember a speaker got up to the podium 330 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,400 and talked about how they were at the end of their rope 331 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:21,720 and they were at their local library 332 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,070 and picked up a meeting list of When and Where. 333 00:15:25,410 --> 00:15:26,880 And it made me think back to that 334 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,310 and how important that was. 335 00:15:29,310 --> 00:15:31,650 And you know, that's an example from the local level. 336 00:15:31,650 --> 00:15:34,380 But things like that are happening here at GSO all the time. 337 00:15:34,380 --> 00:15:37,170 And we don't necessarily hear it or know it. 338 00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:39,840 I think it's important to just remember, you know, 339 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:43,833 who we are and what we're doing and how it transmits. 340 00:15:45,090 --> 00:15:46,343 - Thank you Bob. - Thank you. 341 00:15:47,424 --> 00:15:50,007 (upbeat music) 342 00:15:55,785 --> 00:15:56,820 - To find a meeting near you 343 00:15:56,820 --> 00:15:58,260 or a meeting online, 344 00:15:58,260 --> 00:16:01,203 download the Meeting Guide app on your mobile device. 345 00:16:03,990 --> 00:16:06,060 For more information about A.A., 346 00:16:06,060 --> 00:16:08,973 please visit our website at aa.org. 347 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:12,510 - Bob spoke on how one 348 00:16:12,510 --> 00:16:14,760 of the highlights in his time here as GM 349 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,890 has been the establishment and success 350 00:16:16,890 --> 00:16:19,770 of the new Language Services Department. 351 00:16:19,770 --> 00:16:22,950 A.A. World Services is a three language organization. 352 00:16:22,950 --> 00:16:26,040 That means to the extent possible, we make our print 353 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,160 and digital content available in English, French 354 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:30,600 and Spanish. 355 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,650 Roberto, a visitor to GSO from Miami, is a great example 356 00:16:34,650 --> 00:16:38,550 of the importance of carrying the A.A. message in Spanish. 357 00:16:38,550 --> 00:16:41,100 - So my name is Roberto, I'm an alcoholic. 358 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:45,060 I am from Miami, Florida, born and raised. 359 00:16:45,060 --> 00:16:47,040 I got here at 25 years old. 360 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,230 I'm currently going on 31. 361 00:16:49,230 --> 00:16:53,160 Yeah, about five years clean now. 362 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,630 I found my home group immediately 363 00:16:54,630 --> 00:16:59,280 and I have not changed my home group ever since. 364 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:01,590 My home group is a Spanish speaking home group. 365 00:17:01,590 --> 00:17:03,420 My first language was Spanish, 366 00:17:03,420 --> 00:17:05,040 despite the fact that I was born here, 367 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:08,100 my parents have lived here for many years. 368 00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:11,310 I choose to be there I think mainly because 369 00:17:11,310 --> 00:17:14,790 I didn't have any other experience of an English group. 370 00:17:14,790 --> 00:17:16,560 Honestly, I haven't had the experience. 371 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:20,340 This is probably about third time 372 00:17:20,340 --> 00:17:23,790 that I shared an experience or I talked about A.A. 373 00:17:23,790 --> 00:17:26,460 or I talked about a testimony 374 00:17:26,460 --> 00:17:28,080 or anything of that matter in English. 375 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:29,820 Yeah, the second time was this morning 376 00:17:29,820 --> 00:17:32,250 when I shared at the meeting of the GSO. 377 00:17:32,250 --> 00:17:35,610 My experience in Spanish groups of A.A., 378 00:17:35,610 --> 00:17:36,660 Hispanic groups of A.A., 379 00:17:36,660 --> 00:17:39,960 is they showed me a very strong presence 380 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:41,850 of brotherhood immediately. 381 00:17:41,850 --> 00:17:44,250 And I think I was looking for that. 382 00:17:44,250 --> 00:17:46,650 I was looking for that and that helped a lot. 383 00:17:46,650 --> 00:17:50,160 I think that I stopped fighting the obsession 384 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:51,990 and I started to hope 385 00:17:51,990 --> 00:17:54,810 and desire for my group to be open 386 00:17:54,810 --> 00:17:58,320 so that the message could continue to be sent out. 387 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,020 You know, if somebody comes or wants to come in 388 00:18:01,020 --> 00:18:03,750 and the doors are closed, what am I doing? 389 00:18:03,750 --> 00:18:06,660 But I have to do everything I can to maintain the doors open 390 00:18:06,660 --> 00:18:09,060 and maintain unity within my group. 391 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:10,860 - Where did that need come from? 392 00:18:10,860 --> 00:18:14,610 - It was based on the services I started to partake in, 393 00:18:14,610 --> 00:18:16,860 it was based on the experiences I was acquired 394 00:18:16,860 --> 00:18:19,620 because my sponsor motivated me 395 00:18:19,620 --> 00:18:21,660 to always have a service. 396 00:18:21,660 --> 00:18:24,330 And it started off with something very simple, in Spanish, 397 00:18:24,330 --> 00:18:26,370 they're called 'guardias' (Spanish) or guards, 398 00:18:26,370 --> 00:18:28,320 which is the themes of the week 399 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,590 or the coordinators of the week for a meeting. 400 00:18:31,590 --> 00:18:34,950 'Cause in our group, they change, 401 00:18:34,950 --> 00:18:37,266 every day is a different coordinator. 402 00:18:37,266 --> 00:18:39,153 And it started with that. 403 00:18:40,050 --> 00:18:43,410 Next thing you know, I'm in charge of events. 404 00:18:43,410 --> 00:18:45,060 Next thing you know, I'm secretary. 405 00:18:45,060 --> 00:18:46,620 Next thing you know, I'm treasurer. 406 00:18:46,620 --> 00:18:48,210 Next thing you know, I'm the coordinator. 407 00:18:48,210 --> 00:18:50,520 I don't know exactly most of these words, I don't know how 408 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:51,480 to say them in English 'cause I 409 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:52,980 never did anything in English. 410 00:18:52,980 --> 00:18:54,960 It's all been in Spanish, 411 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,147 but in, in Spanish it's called the coordinator of. 412 00:18:58,147 --> 00:18:59,310 (Roberto speaking in Spanish) 413 00:18:59,310 --> 00:19:01,110 The table of services. 414 00:19:01,110 --> 00:19:02,850 I'm not sure exactly how it is in English. 415 00:19:02,850 --> 00:19:03,990 I haven't really read it, 416 00:19:03,990 --> 00:19:07,380 any of the information or any of the literature in English. 417 00:19:07,380 --> 00:19:09,180 Everything is in Spanish for me. 418 00:19:09,180 --> 00:19:13,320 And when I got my first service as the coordinator, 419 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,770 the head coordinator of the group, I experienced 420 00:19:16,770 --> 00:19:18,000 so much and I learned so much. 421 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:21,900 And I started to create character and the personality 422 00:19:21,900 --> 00:19:24,750 and actually like be able to defend myself. 423 00:19:24,750 --> 00:19:28,050 And next thing you know, I get another service. 424 00:19:28,050 --> 00:19:30,960 I haven't stopped serving ever since. 425 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,060 And then within my third, fourth year, 426 00:19:33,060 --> 00:19:35,790 I started traveling constantly. 427 00:19:35,790 --> 00:19:39,750 I started to go to New York, Chicago, Atlanta, 428 00:19:39,750 --> 00:19:42,060 Oklahoma, Texas. 429 00:19:42,060 --> 00:19:45,120 And I started to experience what the literature spoke 430 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:47,310 to me about, but I couldn't actually visualize. 431 00:19:47,310 --> 00:19:49,350 - And what was that? - I started to experience 432 00:19:49,350 --> 00:19:51,330 how big this really was. 433 00:19:51,330 --> 00:19:54,000 How big, like I said, I don't know how to say it in English, 434 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:58,570 but I think it's how the heart of A.A. pumps 435 00:19:59,820 --> 00:20:01,623 through the veins of all the groups. 436 00:20:02,558 --> 00:20:04,920 I think it's something like that, right? 437 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:06,630 I went to Oklahoma, 438 00:20:06,630 --> 00:20:09,150 I never imagined myself going to Oklahoma. 439 00:20:09,150 --> 00:20:11,370 And I had like an out body experience 440 00:20:11,370 --> 00:20:14,610 because of the service, not because I saw anything. 441 00:20:14,610 --> 00:20:18,870 I just felt like I was accomplishing something 442 00:20:18,870 --> 00:20:22,110 that would help my group stay open. 443 00:20:22,110 --> 00:20:25,050 I think that's what it was. 444 00:20:25,050 --> 00:20:28,323 But the greatest experience I had was going to Mexico. 445 00:20:30,180 --> 00:20:31,230 - Tell us that story. 446 00:20:32,569 --> 00:20:35,130 - So there was a service for Mexico 447 00:20:35,130 --> 00:20:37,380 and I couldn't cover it because at the time I was going 448 00:20:37,380 --> 00:20:39,120 through financial struggles 449 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:42,750 and two members of the group said, listen, 450 00:20:42,750 --> 00:20:44,103 most of us can't go. 451 00:20:45,390 --> 00:20:48,450 They bought the ticket probably a few hours 452 00:20:48,450 --> 00:20:50,370 before going to the airport. 453 00:20:50,370 --> 00:20:54,420 I was still debating whether I should just say F it 454 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:55,890 and not go. 455 00:20:55,890 --> 00:20:57,840 Someone told me, go, you have to go. 456 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,270 I promise you it'll be worth it. 457 00:21:00,270 --> 00:21:02,460 Like the idea was that members of the group 458 00:21:02,460 --> 00:21:04,800 that I was gonna go visit were just gonna push me aside. 459 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,350 And it was like, ah, it's American guy. 460 00:21:07,350 --> 00:21:09,510 He's young, he's 30 years old. 461 00:21:09,510 --> 00:21:10,560 That's what I thought. 462 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,450 The way that these guys took care 463 00:21:12,450 --> 00:21:14,520 of me when I arrived to the group. 464 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,680 I mean, I've never seen something like that. 465 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:17,640 It was incredible. 466 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:19,170 There was so many people there. 467 00:21:19,170 --> 00:21:21,000 I felt a presence. 468 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,590 I covered my service. 469 00:21:22,590 --> 00:21:26,370 I spoke in front of like about a hundred people 470 00:21:26,370 --> 00:21:28,083 and I shared my experience. 471 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:30,690 I stepped down and I went 472 00:21:30,690 --> 00:21:32,310 to the bathroom and I started crying 473 00:21:32,310 --> 00:21:33,810 'cause I couldn't believe where I was. 474 00:21:33,810 --> 00:21:36,030 I couldn't believe how big this was. 475 00:21:36,030 --> 00:21:39,780 I couldn't believe how all these people at some point got 476 00:21:39,780 --> 00:21:42,750 the same opportunity that I got of this information 477 00:21:42,750 --> 00:21:44,910 that I think you guys facilitate, right? 478 00:21:44,910 --> 00:21:47,160 I couldn't believe that I was granted a second opportunity 479 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:50,010 at life to see and witness all these things. 480 00:21:50,010 --> 00:21:51,030 I couldn't believe it, 481 00:21:51,030 --> 00:21:52,710 it was incredible. 482 00:21:52,710 --> 00:21:56,490 I guess it's kind of like a paradox, right? 483 00:21:56,490 --> 00:22:00,570 Or something illogical that two hours or an hour 484 00:22:00,570 --> 00:22:04,560 and a half in a room with other people talking, 485 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:06,090 but sharing those experiences 486 00:22:06,090 --> 00:22:08,250 of what they've gone through is how he stay sober. 487 00:22:08,250 --> 00:22:10,200 I can't believe I've stayed sober for so long. 488 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,513 I can't believe most of the, 489 00:22:12,513 --> 00:22:14,580 I can't believe this is happening right now. 490 00:22:14,580 --> 00:22:16,980 I can't believe I got my son back. 491 00:22:16,980 --> 00:22:21,000 I can't believe that my mom could sleep at night now. 492 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,100 But it's there. 493 00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:23,933 It's there. 494 00:22:23,933 --> 00:22:26,133 And I'm witnessing it all firsthand. 495 00:22:27,390 --> 00:22:30,180 There's a saying in in our groups in Spanish that says 496 00:22:30,180 --> 00:22:32,100 that the service doesn't recover. 497 00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:33,390 It maintains. 498 00:22:33,390 --> 00:22:36,510 I like to think that the service has done 499 00:22:36,510 --> 00:22:39,600 so much for me in the last two to three years 500 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,940 to make me visualize 501 00:22:41,940 --> 00:22:44,723 where I'm heading more than anything in the world. 502 00:22:46,872 --> 00:22:49,455 (bright music) 503 00:22:53,706 --> 00:22:57,539 (Roberto speaking in Spanish) 504 00:23:04,154 --> 00:23:06,737 (bright music) 505 00:23:08,474 --> 00:23:12,750 - And that concludes season one of Our Primary Purpose. 506 00:23:12,750 --> 00:23:14,040 We hope you've enjoyed listening 507 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:15,840 as much as we've enjoyed producing it, 508 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:18,480 and we cannot wait to bring you season two, 509 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,430 which is already in the works. 510 00:23:20,430 --> 00:23:21,630 Be sure to subscribe 511 00:23:21,630 --> 00:23:26,280 and stay tuned for a very special bonus episode coming soon. 512 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:30,813 And in the meantime, as always, keep coming back. 513 00:23:30,813 --> 00:23:33,396 (bright music) 514 00:23:36,360 --> 00:23:39,930 - In this podcast, we respect the anonymity of A.A. members. 515 00:23:39,930 --> 00:23:43,183 Last names are shared only for those who are not in A.A. 516 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,080 Thank you for listening to Our Primary Purpose, 517 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:52,620 a podcast produced by the General Service Office on behalf 518 00:23:52,620 --> 00:23:54,660 of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous 519 00:23:54,660 --> 00:23:55,910 in the US and Canada. 520 00:23:56,851 --> 00:23:59,434 (bright music)