General Service Conference-Approved Literature

“Service Material from the General Service Office

CONFERENCE-APPROVED LITERATURE

“Conference-approved" - What It Means to You

The term “Conference-approved” describes written or audiovisual material approved by the Conference for publication by G.S.O. This process assures that everything in such literature is in accord with A.A. principles [see Traditions]. Conference-approved material always deals with the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous or with information about the A.A. Fellowship.

The term has no relation to material not published by G.S.O. It does not imply Conference disapproval of other material about A.A. A great deal of literature helpful to alcoholics is published by others, and A.A. does not try to tell any individual member what he or she may or may not read [a fairly self-evident statement. Most people could probably work out that one out by themselves. However such material would not have to conform to AA principles eg. Primary Purpose material viz. the AA programme according to Joe and Charlie's so-called “Big Book study”, Wally P Back to Basics etc].

Conference approval assures us that a piece of literature represents solid A.A. experience [which presumably doesn't imply that any non-Conference approved literature doesn't represent solid AA experience – but then how would a newcomer know that for example?]. Any Conference-approved booklet or pamphlet goes through a lengthy and painstaking process, during which a variety of A.A.s from all over the United States and Canada read and express opinions at every stage of production.

How To Tell What Is and What Is Not Conference-Approved

Look for the statement on books, pamphlets and audiovisual materials:

“This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature”

Not All “A.A. Literature” Is Conference-Approved

Central offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces meet the needs of the local membership, they may be legitimately classified as “A.A. literature.” There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S. – publishers of Conference-approved literature), and central offices or intergroups – rather they complement each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such material [we have to assume that such material is subjected to the same degree of rigorous inspection as that applied by AAWS – or do we? Moreover this licence to publish such material – if it may be called that – seems to fail to take into account Tradition Four ie. not only must it satisfy the needs of a “local membership” it must also satisfy the requirement that the respective publications produce no 'adverse' impact on “other groups or AA as a whole”. Moreover see Traditions relating to non-endorsement, non-affiliation etc. Those groups which use non-conference approved literature emanating from outside sources are effectively endorsing and aligning themselves with those same entities eg. Primary Purpose, Back to Basics amongst others thereby contributing to yet another breach of the Traditions].

G.S.O. does develop some literature that does not have to be approved by the Conference, such as Service Material, Guidelines and bulletins.

Available at Most A.A. Groups

Most local A.A. groups purchase and display a representative sampling of Conference approved pamphlets, and usually carry a supply of hardcover books. Conference approved literature may be available at central offices and intergroups, or it may be ordered directly from G.S.O. Groups normally offer pamphlets free of charge, and the books at cost [but see: The Big Book makes a tidy little profit!]

Grapevine and Conference Approval

An often asked question is whether or not Grapevine is “Conference-approved.” General Service Conference approval is a lengthy review process that can take years for longer projects, with several stages of committee evaluation along the way.

Since Grapevine comes out 12 times a year, and the Conference meets only once a year, the magazine would never come off the press if it had to go through the Conference review process. However, the Conference has always supported the concept of Grapevine and, in 1986, a Conference Advisory Action specifically addressed the issue of Conference approval for the first time with the following statement: “Since each issue of (the) Grapevine cannot go through the Conference approval process, the Conference recognizes (the) Grapevine as the international journal of Alcoholics Anonymous.” In addition, the Conference Charter guarantees the right of Grapevine’s editor to accept or reject material for publication; there is a Conference Committee on Grapevine, formed in 1954; and any Grapevine or La Viña matter of importance to the Fellowship as a whole is brought to the Conference through that committee.

So, the concept of Grapevine has been endorsed by the Conference as a whole and the use of Grapevine and its publications as recovery tools has been encouraged throughout the Fellowship year after year [however this does suggest - editorial discretion notwithstanding - that information published in this fashion should be treated with rather more circumspection than approved literature. Grapevine, in particular, at one stage might better have been described as the 'Plymouth (Road to Recovery) Echo' (cult group) so infested was it with articles relating to their particular sponsorship-obsessed brand of recovery!].

Copyright

Conference-approved literature is copyrighted with the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. To insure the continued integrity of A.A. literature, and to make sure the A.A. recovery program will not be distorted or diluted, permission to reprint must be obtained from A.A.W.S. in writing. Permission to reprint Grapevine content must be obtained from A.A. Grapevine, Inc. (AAGV) in writing [but see copyright law, in particular Fair Use and Fair Dealing].

However, A.A. newsletters, bulletins, or meeting lists have blanket permission to use the material, providing proper credit is given to insure that the copyrights of A.A. literature are protected. Please visit aagrapevine.org http://www.aagrapevine.org/website-policy for the copyright and reprint policy that applies to AAGV, Inc. content.

The A.A. Preamble is copyrighted by A.A. Grapevine, Inc. (not by A.A. World Services). Beneath it, these words should appear: “Reprinted with permission of A.A. Grapevine, Inc.” The Steps and Traditions should be followed by these words: “Reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.”” [but see Fair Use above]

(our emphases)(our observations in red print)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)