Updates from GSO
General Service Office Closure
As a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19), New York State has shut down 100% of operations of “nonessential” businesses/organizations. The General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. located at 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY is closed, effective March 20, 2020, until further notice.
A.A.W.S. and A.A. Grapevine staff are “teleworking” until further notice as we continue our commitment to serving the A.A. Fellowship. Although we are available to support our membership and groups, these circumstances limit our abilities to be as effective as we would like. We ask that you please limit your communication with G.S.O. to email or aa.org.
We also have limited ability to access and process regular mail. Once again, it would be helpful, if possible, to email your correspondence. If you are a member and are considering sending a contribution, doing so online would be most helpful. Make a contribution.
Thank you for your patience as we all work through these difficult challenges. (Posted 3.21.20)
March 19, 2020
he General Service of Alcoholics Anonymous (G.S.O.) U.S./Canada functions as a repository for A.A. members and groups who are looking for the shared experience of the Fellowship. As the global situation related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop, we are fully committed to continue to serve as a resource center of shared experience to help navigate this unprecedented public health emergency. It is important to note the G.S.O. is not an authoritative body over our groups, nor does it initiate rules or directives, as each A.A. group and entity is autonomous and decisions are made through its group conscience. Providing guidance on health issues is outside the scope of the A.A. sharing that G.S.O. offers. For anyone experiencing health and safety questions, it is suggested they contact national, state/provincial and local health authorities for appropriate information. However, in response to the global outbreak, we do have some general experience regarding how some A.A. groups and members have begun to address this issue. Many are following ‘’social distancing’’ guidelines established by local, state, provincial, and federal officials, while at the same time maintaining their recovery and attending digital A.A. meetings. By attending digital meetings, groups can focus on A.A.’s primary purpose: to carry its message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers. Many groups have alerted local A.A. offices or hotlines if they are temporarily not meeting in their regular space. Some groups have shared that they are utilizing digital platforms such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, or conducting conference calls. A.A. groups are also creating contact lists, keeping in touch by phone, email or social media. Many local A.A. central/intergroup offices, and areas have added information to their websites about how to change a meeting format from “in-person” to a digital platform. A.A. in the digital age has certainly taken on a new meaning in these challenging times.
We are here to help by providing a list of resources. • General Service Office Website: www.aa.org o Videos/Audios https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/videos-and-audios o Read/Listen/ASL “The Big Book” and Twelve Steps/Twelve Traditions Book https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/read-the-big-book-and-twelve-steps-and-twelvetraditions o A.A. Archives and history https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/archives-and-history o A.A.W.S. YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nfvf9DeDA7QYvLeq4pQ-w • A.A. Grapevine website: https://www.aagrapevine.org/ o Audio, digital, hard copy resources o A.A. Grapevine YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI9uFLJ__aXT3-At0PlPWUQ • A.A. Online Intergroup: https://www.aa-intergroup.org/ • Understanding Anonymity: https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/p-47_UNDERSTANDINGANONYMITY.PDF