1 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:03,150 - The views and opinions expressed 2 00:00:03,150 --> 00:00:05,760 during this podcast are those of our guests. 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,970 No one person speaks for A.A. as a whole. 4 00:00:08,970 --> 00:00:11,760 - 475 Riverside Drive in New York City is 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,730 where the General Service Office currently resides. 6 00:00:14,730 --> 00:00:17,130 We've been here since 1992. 7 00:00:17,130 --> 00:00:19,800 It's a beautiful location looking over the Hudson River. 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,920 And if you, listener would like to come visit the office 9 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,400 and see some of the many ways GSO supports A.A.'s primary 10 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,830 purpose, you're more than welcome. 11 00:00:28,830 --> 00:00:30,810 Tours are available every business day 12 00:00:30,810 --> 00:00:32,640 and we can't wait to see you. 13 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,560 Just let us know ahead of time that you're coming 14 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,660 so we can welcome you. Now, 15 00:00:36,660 --> 00:00:39,690 if you're not able to make the trip, that's no problem. 16 00:00:40,980 --> 00:00:42,840 We'll bring the office to you. 17 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,050 You just take the 1 train up to 116th Street 18 00:00:46,050 --> 00:00:48,240 and stroll a few blocks to our building. 19 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,750 Take the elevator up to the 11th floor past the wall covered 20 00:00:51,750 --> 00:00:53,190 in serenity prayers. 21 00:00:53,190 --> 00:00:54,390 - Grant me the serenity 22 00:00:54,390 --> 00:00:56,370 to accept the things I cannot change. 23 00:00:57,330 --> 00:00:59,490 - Translated into 26 languages 24 00:01:02,940 --> 00:01:05,190 plus braille and into the reception 25 00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:07,290 area where we'll start our tour. 26 00:01:09,420 --> 00:01:10,420 Welcome to GSO. 27 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,055 - Hello, my name's Jake, I'm alcoholic. 28 00:01:19,055 --> 00:01:21,060 Hi, I am Mary and I'm an alcoholic. 29 00:01:21,060 --> 00:01:22,980 Hi, I am Jeanie and I'm an alcoholic. 30 00:01:22,980 --> 00:01:24,990 - Hi, I am Fred and I'm an - Alcoholic. 31 00:01:24,990 --> 00:01:26,730 - Hello, - I'm Richard Alcoholic. My name's Christopher 32 00:01:26,730 --> 00:01:29,490 I'm a recovered alcoholic. I'm Nathan, I'm an alcoholic. 33 00:01:29,490 --> 00:01:31,320 - And I am Marissa and I'm not an alcoholic, 34 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:33,325 but I am gonna be your tour guide today. 35 00:01:33,325 --> 00:01:36,390 - Marissa Sblendorio is a staff associate here at GSO. A.A. 36 00:01:37,410 --> 00:01:39,030 membership is not a requirement 37 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:41,130 for all positions here at GSO, 38 00:01:41,130 --> 00:01:43,500 but there are some that do require membership. 39 00:01:43,500 --> 00:01:45,360 We'll learn more about those later. 40 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:46,530 Leading these tours is one 41 00:01:46,530 --> 00:01:48,600 of the staff associates many assignments 42 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,580 - Starting in 1938 43 00:01:50,580 --> 00:01:53,580 the General Service Office grew up around Bill W., co-founder 44 00:01:53,580 --> 00:01:56,640 of Alcoholics Anonymous, the General Service Office 45 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:00,090 and the Grapevine offices occupy the entire 11th floor. 46 00:02:00,090 --> 00:02:02,280 - In total, between these two service offices, 47 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,060 there are approximately 100 employees working here at GSO. 48 00:02:06,060 --> 00:02:08,160 We begin our tour and our first stop is 49 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:12,060 to view a sepia toned wall-mounted replica of a US map used 50 00:02:12,060 --> 00:02:15,840 by GSO headquarters from 1940 to 1945, 51 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,270 covered in about 500 push pins. 52 00:02:18,270 --> 00:02:20,670 The GSO Archives department found a letter written 53 00:02:20,670 --> 00:02:23,700 by a staff member in 1940 explaining the use 54 00:02:23,700 --> 00:02:24,990 of the different colored pins. 55 00:02:24,990 --> 00:02:25,990 - It reads, 56 00:02:25,990 --> 00:02:28,800 At our office, we have a large map worked out with a system 57 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,410 of pins, white pins to indicate localities 58 00:02:31,410 --> 00:02:33,180 where weekly meetings are held. 59 00:02:33,180 --> 00:02:35,430 Red pins to indicate places where there are few men 60 00:02:35,430 --> 00:02:37,230 and women working towards weekly meetings 61 00:02:37,230 --> 00:02:40,320 and green pins to indicate individuals working alone. 62 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,270 - The pins cover about 10% of the map. 63 00:02:42,270 --> 00:02:44,610 - If the map were updated today, every inch 64 00:02:44,610 --> 00:02:46,410 of it would be covered in pins. 65 00:02:46,410 --> 00:02:48,120 It's amazing how much the fellowship has grown 66 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:49,200 since the 1930s. 67 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,750 - Heading down the hallway, we meet Sharon Vasquez, 68 00:02:51,750 --> 00:02:54,330 the Mets Manager, METS. 69 00:02:54,330 --> 00:02:55,920 METS stands for 70 00:02:55,920 --> 00:02:59,320 - Meeting Events and Travel Services department. 71 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,860 Overall, we see all GSO driven events when it comes 72 00:03:02,860 --> 00:03:05,170 to conference, regional forums 73 00:03:05,170 --> 00:03:07,450 or any one of virtual events as well. 74 00:03:07,450 --> 00:03:08,890 - Then we see Beverly Jones-King. 75 00:03:08,890 --> 00:03:10,240 - This is Beverly. 76 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,790 She is our, I'm gonna give you the correct title, 77 00:03:12,790 --> 00:03:14,800 our Executive and Legal Administrator. 78 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,240 Beverly, would you mind just describing 79 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:17,920 what you do here at AAWS? 80 00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:20,890 Very briefly. Everything 81 00:03:20,890 --> 00:03:22,030 - legal is what they say. 82 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:25,630 - Thank you, Beverly. And 83 00:03:25,630 --> 00:03:28,000 before we know it, we are in the office of the 84 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,610 - General Manager. Bob W. 85 00:03:30,610 --> 00:03:31,610 - Please come in. 86 00:03:31,610 --> 00:03:36,010 It's amazing. Some 30 years ago I was on a bus on Riverside 87 00:03:36,010 --> 00:03:39,130 Drive down here when I was like, you know, whatever, 88 00:03:39,130 --> 00:03:41,950 sober a few months sober and, and, 89 00:03:41,950 --> 00:03:44,110 and I, I came on a tour of this office 90 00:03:44,110 --> 00:03:46,480 and I just pinch myself that I work here now. 91 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,060 You know, it's just, it's such a privilege really. 92 00:03:49,060 --> 00:03:52,000 It really is. I, I can't even believe I get paid to do this. 93 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,720 I'm glad I get paid because it's a hard job, 94 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,160 but it's, it's a blessing. 95 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,380 It's an absolute blessing. Okay, 96 00:04:00,250 --> 00:04:01,660 - We'll be sitting down with Bob 97 00:04:01,660 --> 00:04:04,030 for a proper conversation later this season. 98 00:04:04,030 --> 00:04:05,230 So let's move on. 99 00:04:05,230 --> 00:04:09,340 Down the hall from Bob's office to staff Services, everyone 100 00:04:09,340 --> 00:04:11,800 who works at GSO is an employee, 101 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,460 but the 12 GSO staff members are all AA members 102 00:04:15,460 --> 00:04:17,170 and hold rotating positions 103 00:04:17,170 --> 00:04:19,360 of different regional correspondents 104 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,370 and service assignments, like 105 00:04:21,370 --> 00:04:22,900 - Public information. 106 00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:25,155 This looks like a very busy office. Yes, 107 00:04:25,155 --> 00:04:26,950 - This has an - Office has a lot going 108 00:04:26,950 --> 00:04:29,800 - On, - A lot of papers on the table. A lot you, 109 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,300 - They're all busy offices. 110 00:04:31,300 --> 00:04:32,560 There's a lot of work to do 111 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,750 and unfortunately we're not always available 112 00:04:34,750 --> 00:04:37,750 to meet all our visitors and this tour is no exception, 113 00:04:37,750 --> 00:04:39,460 but we do get to sit down 114 00:04:39,460 --> 00:04:42,220 and chat with Patrick on the Public Information desk 115 00:04:42,220 --> 00:04:43,480 in our next episode. 116 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,240 So until then, let's move on down 117 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,400 to Treatment and Accessibility 118 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:49,400 - Here. 119 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,790 Welcome everyone to the General Service Office. 120 00:04:51,790 --> 00:04:55,660 My name is Misha and I am an alcoholic. 121 00:04:55,660 --> 00:05:00,490 So the Treatment and Accessibility desk is responsible not 122 00:05:00,490 --> 00:05:03,910 only for working with the trusted servants 123 00:05:03,910 --> 00:05:05,140 who work on Treatment 124 00:05:05,140 --> 00:05:07,360 and Accessibility, we also do Remote 125 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:09,760 Communities, Bridging the Gap. 126 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,670 We have trusted servants who work on H and I, 127 00:05:12,670 --> 00:05:14,765 - Which stands for Hospitals - And Institutions. 128 00:05:14,765 --> 00:05:16,810 We also have trusted servants who do cooperation 129 00:05:16,810 --> 00:05:17,980 with the elder community, 130 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:20,110 and we work on LIM, which is the Loaners 131 00:05:20,110 --> 00:05:23,110 and Internationalist Meeting, which is an amazing thing 132 00:05:23,110 --> 00:05:24,190 to get to be a part of. 133 00:05:25,660 --> 00:05:29,830 I cover correspondence for the East Central Region, 134 00:05:29,830 --> 00:05:33,430 and so I get to have emails with members 135 00:05:33,430 --> 00:05:36,730 who sometimes they email us with a question about something 136 00:05:36,730 --> 00:05:37,990 that's happening in their group 137 00:05:37,990 --> 00:05:42,520 or maybe there's a conflict over traditions and, 138 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,190 but sometimes they, they don't know how to reach A.A. 139 00:05:45,190 --> 00:05:48,130 or they haven't figured out if they have a problem. 140 00:05:48,130 --> 00:05:50,770 Maybe in the middle of the night they just send an email 141 00:05:50,770 --> 00:05:54,280 like randomly to A.A. 142 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:56,260 and they say, there was one I'm 143 00:05:56,260 --> 00:05:57,620 actually just answering right now. 144 00:05:57,620 --> 00:06:00,500 And the person said, I'm really angry all the time 145 00:06:00,500 --> 00:06:02,000 and I can't stop drinking. 146 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:04,010 So I get to answer that and I get to try 147 00:06:04,010 --> 00:06:08,330 and help them figure out where a meeting is near them, how 148 00:06:08,330 --> 00:06:11,690 to find a, a person that they can talk to 149 00:06:11,690 --> 00:06:13,520 that hopefully can help them connect 150 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:15,200 with a message that we have here. 151 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,970 - Does is A.A. in a business 152 00:06:16,970 --> 00:06:19,760 of recommending treatment centers? 153 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,700 - No, that's a great question. 154 00:06:23,660 --> 00:06:28,070 A.A. doesn't have any opinion on, on, on treatment centers on, 155 00:06:28,070 --> 00:06:30,080 we actually don't have any opinion on whether 156 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:31,910 or not people should go to treatment. 157 00:06:31,910 --> 00:06:34,910 That is entirely a, a personal decision, 158 00:06:34,910 --> 00:06:37,250 a healthcare decision, one that people make 159 00:06:37,250 --> 00:06:39,290 with their families, with their physician. 160 00:06:40,250 --> 00:06:42,110 What A.A. does do, 161 00:06:42,110 --> 00:06:46,130 however, is recognize that many of the people who do go 162 00:06:46,130 --> 00:06:50,750 to treatment may self-identify as alcoholics 163 00:06:50,750 --> 00:06:53,900 and may make that decision that they need help 164 00:06:53,900 --> 00:06:56,810 and that Alcoholics Anonymous may have an answer for them. 165 00:06:56,810 --> 00:06:58,790 - Can you maybe explain Remote Communities? Is 166 00:06:59,780 --> 00:07:01,640 - That is another fabulous question. 167 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:05,720 Thank you so much. So Remote Communities are, 168 00:07:06,830 --> 00:07:11,570 are communities that we think of as having a, a challenges 169 00:07:11,570 --> 00:07:16,220 with finding, reaching, accessing the message 170 00:07:16,220 --> 00:07:17,810 of Alcoholics Anonymous 171 00:07:17,810 --> 00:07:22,340 because of barriers presented by culture, 172 00:07:22,340 --> 00:07:24,380 language or geography. 173 00:07:24,380 --> 00:07:26,450 So if you think about it, there are some communities 174 00:07:26,450 --> 00:07:29,450 that live in really geographically remote places 175 00:07:29,450 --> 00:07:32,330 that are far away from the closest A.A. meeting. 176 00:07:32,330 --> 00:07:35,270 Maybe they're not even accessible by road. 177 00:07:35,270 --> 00:07:38,300 There are places that people have to fly into or take a boat 178 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:40,160 or a sea plane or, 179 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,970 and so in some of those places, getting access 180 00:07:43,970 --> 00:07:45,980 to the message is really challenging. 181 00:07:45,980 --> 00:07:49,040 We also know about geographically remote places is that many 182 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,810 of them don't have great internet. 183 00:07:50,810 --> 00:07:52,910 There are also probably right next door, 184 00:07:52,910 --> 00:07:54,620 if you live in a big urban area 185 00:07:54,620 --> 00:07:57,440 or even a small urban area, even a small town, 186 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,910 there are probably people near you 187 00:07:58,910 --> 00:08:01,580 who speak languages other than 188 00:08:01,580 --> 00:08:04,430 the locally spoken majority language 189 00:08:04,430 --> 00:08:07,940 and who might need to hear our message of hope and recovery. 190 00:08:07,940 --> 00:08:10,910 So you could be walking down the street right here on this 191 00:08:10,910 --> 00:08:13,910 very block, and there might be somebody who speaks Farsi 192 00:08:13,910 --> 00:08:18,910 or Urdu or, or Bengali, who doesn't know that we exist. 193 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:22,760 And so we might think of them as as being 194 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:24,800 in some ways a remote community. 195 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,770 And then there are also people that find themselves 196 00:08:29,090 --> 00:08:32,390 unable or find it difficult to access the message 197 00:08:32,390 --> 00:08:34,100 because of cultural barriers. 198 00:08:34,100 --> 00:08:36,920 It might be that in their community there are additional 199 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:41,240 barriers of stigma that prevent them from, from being able 200 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:42,710 to reach out to us. 201 00:08:42,710 --> 00:08:46,310 And so I think there's, there's a challenge that we have 202 00:08:46,310 --> 00:08:47,960 to figure out how do we reach out to them? 203 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,380 - Moving on down the hall right next door to Misha. So 204 00:08:54,380 --> 00:08:56,370 - This is the Corrections assignment, 205 00:08:56,370 --> 00:09:00,660 - Eileen. I'm Eileen, I work on the Corrections desk. 206 00:09:00,660 --> 00:09:03,030 It's amazing. I always say this desk has 207 00:09:03,030 --> 00:09:05,160 spiritually rearranged me. 208 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:07,140 - Later this season we're gonna talk corrections 209 00:09:07,140 --> 00:09:08,550 with Eileen in depth, 210 00:09:08,550 --> 00:09:10,350 but just to give you a bit of an idea of 211 00:09:10,350 --> 00:09:12,300 what the Corrections desk does. 212 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:15,420 - So the few services that we provide 213 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:17,640 through the office are the Corrections, 214 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,570 Correspondence Service, the Pre-release Contact Information, 215 00:09:21,570 --> 00:09:25,140 as well as we respond 216 00:09:25,140 --> 00:09:28,590 to over 80 to a hundred letters a week 217 00:09:28,590 --> 00:09:32,400 where we provide, we provide services 218 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,100 to the person in custody, we respond to the letters 219 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:38,190 and from the letters we create a newsletter called Sharing 220 00:09:38,190 --> 00:09:40,890 From Behind the Walls, which we produce every three months 221 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:50,320 - Throughout the office. 222 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,600 Are photographs showing GSO and A.A. history. Outside 223 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,350 the next office is A GSO favorite: a six foot tall, black 224 00:09:58,350 --> 00:10:00,360 and white picture from the 1968 225 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:01,970 International Congress of A.A. 226 00:10:01,970 --> 00:10:03,750 A man with a crew cut 227 00:10:03,750 --> 00:10:06,210 and skinny tie talks to a woman in a white shift, 228 00:10:06,210 --> 00:10:07,890 dress in matching cardigan 229 00:10:07,890 --> 00:10:09,630 and a bouffant hairdo in front 230 00:10:09,630 --> 00:10:13,200 of a sparkling tinsel decorated CPC display. 231 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:14,850 CPC stands for 232 00:10:14,850 --> 00:10:17,490 - Cooperation with the Professional Community. 233 00:10:17,490 --> 00:10:20,070 - Welcome. Hi everyone, my name is Michael. 234 00:10:20,070 --> 00:10:22,800 I am the CPC Coordinator here at the GSO. 235 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:25,530 - We're gonna get more time with Michael in a later episode, 236 00:10:25,530 --> 00:10:28,950 but for now here is in essence what Cooperation 237 00:10:28,950 --> 00:10:30,510 with the Professional Community is. It's 238 00:10:30,510 --> 00:10:33,540 - Informing professionals and it can be any professional. 239 00:10:33,540 --> 00:10:35,820 We think of, of course, doctors, you know, 240 00:10:35,820 --> 00:10:37,620 nurses, mental health professionals. 241 00:10:37,620 --> 00:10:40,980 But I've received inquiries from athletic coaches 242 00:10:40,980 --> 00:10:45,240 of a high school sports team, social workers, 243 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,590 community centers, churches, nursing homes, 244 00:10:49,590 --> 00:10:53,400 HR departments, an owner of a small business, 245 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,440 any professional we define 246 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,930 as someone whose work might put them in touch 247 00:10:57,930 --> 00:10:59,670 with somebody who needs help. 248 00:10:59,670 --> 00:11:01,170 - Before we left Michael's office, 249 00:11:01,170 --> 00:11:02,580 a guest noticed a note stuck 250 00:11:02,580 --> 00:11:04,380 to Michael's computer monitor that read 251 00:11:04,380 --> 00:11:05,380 - Turn around. 252 00:11:05,380 --> 00:11:07,020 So I don't like notes, I don't like stickies, 253 00:11:07,020 --> 00:11:09,480 but I have this one because sometimes, as you can see, 254 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,910 I'm staring at computer screens. 255 00:11:11,910 --> 00:11:15,900 I need to remind myself, turn around, appreciate where I am, 256 00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:17,280 take a view out over the river. 257 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:19,500 There's often a tugboat sitting out over there, 258 00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:20,580 moving some freight around. 259 00:11:20,580 --> 00:11:22,200 I get to see across the river to New Jersey 260 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,870 and I get to kind of just pause and breathe 261 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,370 and then I can refocus and turn back around 262 00:11:29,370 --> 00:11:31,020 and I'll have a little bit more clarity 263 00:11:31,020 --> 00:11:32,790 and a little more serenity hopefully to bring 264 00:11:32,790 --> 00:11:33,810 that into my work. 265 00:11:43,020 --> 00:11:45,060 - For more information about A.A., 266 00:11:45,060 --> 00:11:49,290 please visit our website at aa.org. 267 00:11:49,290 --> 00:11:50,340 - And this way guys. 268 00:11:50,340 --> 00:11:53,620 We're gonna have... -So we continue around to some other staff 269 00:11:53,620 --> 00:11:55,360 and meet the staff associates, 270 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:57,550 and then we stop at another department essential 271 00:11:57,550 --> 00:11:59,020 to the function of GSO. 272 00:11:59,020 --> 00:12:01,840 - We're actually gonna go into the mail room right now. 273 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:03,280 How are you? This is Aubrey. He's great. 274 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,190 - Aubrey Pereira has worked here for more than 40 years 275 00:12:06,190 --> 00:12:09,190 and has seen GSO grow in two different locations. 276 00:12:09,190 --> 00:12:11,020 - We take care of all the incoming mail, 277 00:12:11,020 --> 00:12:14,560 which is about 40,000 pieces annually 278 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:19,210 that we we do here and distribute 'em on the staff and, 279 00:12:19,210 --> 00:12:20,470 and all the different departments. 280 00:12:22,270 --> 00:12:26,860 And so we, whatever request we get that you guys send in 281 00:12:26,860 --> 00:12:30,460 to staff and they, they can send it outta here. 282 00:12:30,460 --> 00:12:33,490 They respond to your emails and letters, it'll be done here. 283 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:35,950 As far as product goes, 284 00:12:35,950 --> 00:12:38,950 we don't do any shipping outta here anymore. 285 00:12:38,950 --> 00:12:41,740 So it's, it goes outta Kansas City if it's within the 286 00:12:41,740 --> 00:12:43,600 United States, if it's going overseas, 287 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:44,650 it'll go outta Canada. 288 00:12:46,270 --> 00:12:48,130 A little bit of economics, you know, it's cheaper 289 00:12:48,130 --> 00:12:51,460 to send it from Canada than it is to ship it from New York 290 00:12:51,460 --> 00:12:53,830 and it's a lot less hassle. 291 00:12:53,830 --> 00:12:56,290 So we look for every opportunity 292 00:12:56,290 --> 00:12:58,870 to make sure you get your stuff on time 293 00:12:58,870 --> 00:13:01,780 and save some money at the same time. In case a 294 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:05,890 fellow suffering alcoholic needs it, we have it. 295 00:13:05,890 --> 00:13:08,470 - Moving on. - Hi Member Services. 296 00:13:08,470 --> 00:13:11,500 - Member Services, handles matters of records, orders 297 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:12,970 and contributions. 298 00:13:12,970 --> 00:13:15,250 If you contact GSO, there's a good chance 299 00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:17,710 that this department will be the one that helps you. 300 00:13:17,710 --> 00:13:19,625 Member Services is a part of 301 00:13:19,625 --> 00:13:21,460 - The Operations department. 302 00:13:21,460 --> 00:13:25,150 My name is Malini Singh and I'm the Director of Operations. 303 00:13:25,150 --> 00:13:30,040 We manage over 1000 pieces of unique inventory, 304 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,130 warehousing and shipping, the front desk 305 00:13:33,130 --> 00:13:34,960 and Member Services. 306 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,000 - There are signs throughout the Member Services 307 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:38,080 department that say, 308 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,020 - Well, Member Services is not just a department, 309 00:13:41,020 --> 00:13:42,460 it's an attitude. 310 00:13:42,460 --> 00:13:45,070 - Margaret Matos, Member Services Manager, 311 00:13:45,070 --> 00:13:47,980 - If you would like to place an order, you can contact us. 312 00:13:47,980 --> 00:13:49,840 If you would like to make a contributions 313 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,210 with your credit card, you can contact us. 314 00:13:52,210 --> 00:13:55,780 List a group, become a GSR, you can contact us. 315 00:13:55,780 --> 00:13:59,110 We are seven busy bees here working to help the fellowship. 316 00:13:59,110 --> 00:14:00,110 - Member Services. 317 00:14:00,110 --> 00:14:01,485 How can I help you 318 00:14:02,985 --> 00:14:04,600 - You can place a book order with us 319 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,130 so when you order in bulk, you 320 00:14:07,180 --> 00:14:08,013 - Get 321 00:14:11,235 --> 00:14:12,940 sure to do Contribution 322 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,290 - Absolutely is as an individual contribution to your group. 323 00:14:17,290 --> 00:14:22,210 - Just last year we responded to over 27,000 emails. 324 00:14:22,210 --> 00:14:24,940 We processed 31,000 literature orders 325 00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:29,020 and we spoke to over 14,000 individuals over the phone 326 00:14:29,020 --> 00:14:30,760 helping them with all their needs. 327 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,500 Thank you for calling GSO, have a great day 328 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,440 - To find a meeting near you or a meeting online 329 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:47,710 ownload the Meeting Guide app on your mobile device. 330 00:14:47,710 --> 00:14:50,870 - Just around the corner from Member Services is Grapevine. 331 00:14:50,870 --> 00:14:53,360 Here's Chris, Grapevine Publisher. 332 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:57,080 - So the Grapevine is a monthly magazine 333 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,690 of A.A. sharing. 334 00:14:59,690 --> 00:15:01,880 It's a, it's a great way for members to share 335 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:05,180 with one another in a, in a sort of mass media way. 336 00:15:05,180 --> 00:15:09,290 We're also involved in a podcast of our own. 337 00:15:09,290 --> 00:15:11,660 We've had a great response to that. 338 00:15:11,660 --> 00:15:15,290 People can follow us on Instagram, apps for both Grapevine 339 00:15:15,290 --> 00:15:17,030 and La Viña Magazines. 340 00:15:17,030 --> 00:15:20,330 La Viña is our Spanish language magazine. 341 00:15:20,330 --> 00:15:22,010 - The development of The Grapevine. 342 00:15:22,010 --> 00:15:23,360 How did that come about? 343 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,700 - Well, there was, there was a group, a group 344 00:15:25,700 --> 00:15:29,120 of people in New York who started a newsletter 345 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:32,930 and they came to Bill W. in the New York office and, 346 00:15:32,930 --> 00:15:37,930 and pitched the idea of making a national newsletter. 347 00:15:38,150 --> 00:15:41,450 Marty M. was one of the original editors. 348 00:15:41,450 --> 00:15:43,670 She was a good friend of Bill's and they pitched the idea 349 00:15:43,670 --> 00:15:48,500 and Bill loved it and they started the grapevine back, 350 00:15:48,500 --> 00:15:50,600 I think in 1944. 351 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:52,700 Folks that are here will be able to see that. 352 00:15:52,700 --> 00:15:54,440 The first copy of The Grapevine, 353 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,360 it's in our display case over there. 354 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:57,920 - Grapevine, Editor in Chief, 355 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,830 John W. showed us the display case, including 356 00:16:00,830 --> 00:16:02,270 that first copy of Grapevine. 357 00:16:02,270 --> 00:16:05,510 - Yeah, oh yeah. We also have the very first Grapevine. 358 00:16:05,510 --> 00:16:09,020 It looks like a newspaper. It was put out in 1944. 359 00:16:09,020 --> 00:16:11,360 And we have that right here on in the frame. 360 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,090 So the slogans you find on a meeting walls, they, 361 00:16:14,090 --> 00:16:16,760 they were all originally done by the Grapevine 362 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,820 and that like that first things first and easy does it 363 00:16:19,820 --> 00:16:21,170 and one day at a time 364 00:16:21,170 --> 00:16:24,620 and think, think, think those all came from the Grapevine. 365 00:16:24,620 --> 00:16:26,600 I didn't know that until I worked here. 366 00:16:27,890 --> 00:16:30,560 Over 30 something books. 367 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,920 We have a whole book full of military experiences in A.A. 368 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:38,150 We have an atheist agnostic book, we have a woman's book, 369 00:16:38,150 --> 00:16:40,580 a book for young and sober members. 370 00:16:40,580 --> 00:16:41,840 We have lots of books and many 371 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,390 of them are in Spanish and French. 372 00:16:44,390 --> 00:16:46,580 And you know, the Spanish members love, 373 00:16:46,580 --> 00:16:49,700 love the books just like they love La Viña, 374 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:53,240 which is the Spanish language magazine that we produce. 375 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:56,270 - Oh, we gotta swing by La Viña. - Hey everybody, I am Paola. 376 00:16:56,270 --> 00:16:58,400 I am La Viña editor. 377 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:01,010 La Viña is the international magazine 378 00:17:01,010 --> 00:17:05,360 of Alcoholics Anonymous, is the Spanish magazine that we have 379 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:06,650 for the Hispanic members 380 00:17:06,650 --> 00:17:10,490 that write their recovery stories for our magazine. 381 00:17:10,490 --> 00:17:13,130 We used to just translate Grapevine, you know, 382 00:17:13,130 --> 00:17:15,620 the stories from the gGrapevine into Spanish. 383 00:17:15,620 --> 00:17:17,570 But now because the community, 384 00:17:17,570 --> 00:17:21,050 the Hispanic community has grown so much, we receive 385 00:17:21,050 --> 00:17:23,540 so many stories in Spanish 386 00:17:23,540 --> 00:17:27,260 and we are able to only publish Spanish stories from our 387 00:17:27,260 --> 00:17:29,000 Hispanic members. 388 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:32,600 Thanks everybody. Have a great time. Wonderful. 389 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,910 - For more information on Grapevine 390 00:17:40,910 --> 00:17:44,720 and La Viña, including the magazine's podcast, Instagram 391 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,170 and apps, please visit aagrapevine.org 392 00:17:48,170 --> 00:17:50,070 and aa aalavina.org. 393 00:17:52,230 --> 00:17:54,030 - Switching gears next to Grapevine 394 00:17:54,030 --> 00:17:56,550 and La Viña is our Finance department. 395 00:17:56,550 --> 00:18:00,150 Let's meet our chief financial officer, Paul Konigstein. 396 00:18:00,150 --> 00:18:02,670 - Hey guys, come on in. This is Paul. 397 00:18:02,670 --> 00:18:05,220 So you tell us about finance, Paul. 398 00:18:05,220 --> 00:18:08,670 - So finance's primary function is to make a record 399 00:18:08,670 --> 00:18:12,480 of all the activities of the organization. 400 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,240 So record of all the contributions received 401 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,100 of all the literature sold 402 00:18:17,100 --> 00:18:21,210 and of all the expenditures made to help carry the message. 403 00:18:21,210 --> 00:18:24,810 So we have a team of eight people 404 00:18:25,860 --> 00:18:29,700 who make sure that that information is recorded timely 405 00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:33,870 and accurately and they categorize it to different accounts 406 00:18:33,870 --> 00:18:37,950 so that we can understand where the money is coming from 407 00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:40,230 and how it's being used. 408 00:18:40,230 --> 00:18:44,280 And my responsibility is to take that information 409 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:46,560 and then turn it into something that's understandable 410 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:50,850 to non-financial people so that I create reports 411 00:18:50,850 --> 00:18:52,290 for the trustees 412 00:18:52,290 --> 00:18:56,850 and for the fellowship that show whether 413 00:18:56,850 --> 00:18:59,040 as Kevin, the general service board treasurer likes 414 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,420 to say, AAWS and Grapevine are on a sustainable path. 415 00:19:03,420 --> 00:19:05,820 - How do you go about like validating 416 00:19:05,820 --> 00:19:07,350 that the money's coming from an A.A. member? 417 00:19:07,350 --> 00:19:09,840 In some of those, it seems like a very difficult 418 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,400 mission to figure that out. 419 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:12,930 - On the contribution envelope, there's a box 420 00:19:12,930 --> 00:19:14,910 to check if they're a member 421 00:19:14,910 --> 00:19:16,800 and if the box is not checked, 422 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,540 then someone on the contributions team attempts 423 00:19:18,540 --> 00:19:21,390 to contact them to confirm whether they're a member. 424 00:19:21,390 --> 00:19:23,100 And if we can't confirm that they're a member, 425 00:19:23,100 --> 00:19:25,170 then we return the contribution. 426 00:19:25,170 --> 00:19:28,620 If someone is contributing online, the online form has a box 427 00:19:28,620 --> 00:19:30,030 to check that says, I'm a member 428 00:19:30,030 --> 00:19:32,610 and you can't go any further unless you check that box. 429 00:19:32,610 --> 00:19:34,410 - Come this way guys. We're gonna have 430 00:19:34,410 --> 00:19:37,050 - Our next stop was the Communication Services Department 431 00:19:37,050 --> 00:19:38,070 where we ask the Director 432 00:19:38,070 --> 00:19:40,350 what responsibilities the department handles, 433 00:19:40,350 --> 00:19:41,880 - What does that entail? 434 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:46,350 That entails, as you may know, a variety 435 00:19:46,350 --> 00:19:50,370 of responsibilities including our website, 436 00:19:50,370 --> 00:19:53,430 aa.org, the Meeting Guide app, 437 00:19:53,430 --> 00:19:56,880 our social media platforms, LinkedIn 438 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,360 and YouTube, Google ads, analytics 439 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:02,400 for our platforms, 440 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,610 newsletters including Box 459 441 00:20:05,610 --> 00:20:09,180 and About A.A., mass communications 442 00:20:09,180 --> 00:20:10,650 to the fellowship. 443 00:20:10,650 --> 00:20:15,650 For example, messages from the General mManager news about 444 00:20:15,810 --> 00:20:16,920 publishing. 445 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:19,410 And Sam, am I forgetting anything that 446 00:20:20,460 --> 00:20:24,720 - The - Podcast, the podcast is a joint project with PI 447 00:20:25,890 --> 00:20:27,450 that we're very excited about. 448 00:20:28,345 --> 00:20:30,995 - So talk about the podcast. On the podcast. 449 00:20:30,995 --> 00:20:35,880 - Exactly. And our final stop is gonna 450 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:38,430 be with publishing with David. 451 00:20:38,430 --> 00:20:41,520 Hey. Hi David, how are you? 452 00:20:42,660 --> 00:20:44,730 - Well, this is where it's all happens. 453 00:20:44,730 --> 00:20:48,850 Yeah, the publishing department, we implement all 454 00:20:48,850 --> 00:20:51,790 of the advisory actions that affect book, booklets, 455 00:20:51,790 --> 00:20:56,470 pamphlets, guidelines, everything that's the written word 456 00:20:56,470 --> 00:21:00,040 and the other forms of communications. 457 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,790 We work very closely with the communications department. 458 00:21:03,790 --> 00:21:08,140 We're very happy to share our space so we can collaborate 459 00:21:08,140 --> 00:21:12,610 and share resources to fulfill our responsibilities. 460 00:21:12,610 --> 00:21:15,310 You know, carrying the message to the sick 461 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:17,830 and suffering Alcoholic is our mission 462 00:21:17,830 --> 00:21:20,230 and we like to think that we do that 463 00:21:20,230 --> 00:21:22,660 and we extend the hand of A.A. 464 00:21:22,660 --> 00:21:26,980 And in that hand perhaps is an item of literature, 465 00:21:26,980 --> 00:21:30,430 maybe a Big Book, maybe a link to the website, 466 00:21:30,430 --> 00:21:33,670 maybe an audio book. 467 00:21:33,670 --> 00:21:36,700 We're seeing a huge uptick in interest 468 00:21:36,700 --> 00:21:40,000 and in consumption of our audio book material. 469 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:42,010 Also projects like 470 00:21:42,010 --> 00:21:47,010 how can we print more effectively our, our big focus for us 471 00:21:47,020 --> 00:21:48,070 with our print production 472 00:21:48,070 --> 00:21:52,660 and distribution, the new jacketless hardcovers are a 473 00:21:52,660 --> 00:21:56,920 godsend, it's very popular format in trade publishing. 474 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,770 Now for the first time we have the big book and the 12 475 00:21:59,770 --> 00:22:04,330 and 12 in this gorgeous, gorgeous show them what they won. 476 00:22:04,330 --> 00:22:07,120 A jacketless hardcover 477 00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:10,510 that cuts down on the delivery time, 478 00:22:10,510 --> 00:22:13,780 saves in the expense category. 479 00:22:13,780 --> 00:22:15,220 We're always looking on how 480 00:22:15,220 --> 00:22:17,950 to contain costs for the fellowship. 481 00:22:17,950 --> 00:22:19,870 This is dollars in the basket 482 00:22:19,870 --> 00:22:22,390 and we can do that with new formats 483 00:22:22,390 --> 00:22:23,800 and we're working on some others. 484 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:24,940 So stay tuned. 485 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,570 - Stay tuned indeed, because 486 00:22:31,570 --> 00:22:34,150 besides hearing more from David later in the season, 487 00:22:34,150 --> 00:22:36,850 we are just cracking the surface of all we have to share 488 00:22:36,850 --> 00:22:38,530 with you, including rarely 489 00:22:38,530 --> 00:22:41,830 before heard recordings from the GSO Archives. 490 00:22:41,830 --> 00:22:43,810 There is far too much to share from Archives 491 00:22:43,810 --> 00:22:45,220 to include in this episode, 492 00:22:45,220 --> 00:22:47,980 which is why we will be dedicating an entire episode 493 00:22:47,980 --> 00:22:50,020 to it later in the season. 494 00:22:50,020 --> 00:22:52,960 If you are interested in visiting GSO in person, 495 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:57,820 you can schedule a tour by emailing gsotours@aa.org 496 00:22:57,820 --> 00:23:02,680 or calling 212-870-3430. 497 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,170 For current and all past issues of Sharing from 498 00:23:05,170 --> 00:23:08,230 Behind the Walls, please visit the Newsletter section 499 00:23:08,230 --> 00:23:11,320 of the Resources tab on aa.org. 500 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:13,360 We hope you enjoyed this episode. 501 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:16,060 Be sure to subscribe so you can keep coming back. 502 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:26,120 - In this podcast 503 00:23:26,120 --> 00:23:28,720 we respect the anonymity of AA members. 504 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,350 Last names are shared only For those who are not in A.A. 505 00:23:35,020 --> 00:23:37,810 Thank you for listening to our Primary Purpose, 506 00:23:37,810 --> 00:23:41,350 a podcast produced by the General Service Office on behalf 507 00:23:41,350 --> 00:23:44,140 of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in the US 508 00:23:44,140 --> 00:23:44,973 and Canada.