Feedback on the A.A. website

Late last year we re-developed the A.A website with the funds you contributed during Gratitude Month. It has proven to be a fantastic resource for the fellowship and the still suffering alcoholic.

Since the launch on November 19^th, there have been 81,206 visits to the site. Daily traffic to the site doubled what we were previously getting ( this also tripled during lockdown) Visitors are staying on the site longer too with an increase in average session time from 22 seconds to 2 minutes and 31 seconds. This tells us that it’s easy to navigate and people are finding what they are looking for, which is meeting information, newcomer information and the shop as the top areas of interest in that order.

We have had 6 months ironing out the operations of the new site and now we would like to hear from you. What you like and what we could improve or add?

The link below is to a short survey covering the different aspects of the site. Please take the time to help us improve this valuable resource.

Access to the survey can be found here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F2QD2HM

International Convention – July

We are excited to share with you that the 2020 International Convention Virtual site is now accessible on aa.org. Below I have included a direct link for your convenience:  https://2020convention.aa.org

The site is available in English, French and Spanish.  To access the website in French or Spanish please click on your preferred language at the top of each page.

The site will be available all throughout the month of July 2020.  Have fun!

Your Friends at G.S.O., U.S. and Canada!

Literature Price Rise/ Reminder Service Positions / A.A help email

Literature Price Rise

Some will have noted after the office reopened there was a literature price increase. The Board runs literature pricing in accordance with a set policy including pricing according to landed cost and the biggest factor is the currency exchange rate between $NZ and $US.

Just prior to lock down a new shipment arrived with a currency rate below the 5% tolerance we factor in before repricing (as per Literature Policy). We waited until after the Covid-19 lock down of the office to change prices resulting in some feedback. The policies for pricing are not the variable here, cost ex USA is and this is something the Board cannot control. AAWS had a price increase last year that was not passed on to the fellowship.

We are bringing this to your attention so there is better understanding of price rises. The result is stock newly arrived increased in price while stock which did not have new orders placed has remained at old pricing. Obviously fast moving popular stock items are affected the most in this scenario.

The Board recently reviewed all pricing to ensure the literature pricing policy is working. As a result we did find an opportunity to change the pricing on four of the more popular pamphlets. A single pamphlet is $1 but for those pamphlets regularly held in stock by groups for newcomers we are offering packs of 10 for $5 and this change is on the website.

Service Positions

A reminder that we are looking to fill the service positions below. Further information on the roles  and application forms can be found here

• Chat Function Admin: 2 year term (New service position/ immediate start)
• Board Treasurer: 3 years term
• Class A Board Member: 3 year term
• Class B Conference Experienced Board Member: 3 year term
• Class B Board Member Media & Communications: 3 year term

The A.A help email

A reminder that the help@aa.org.nz is for the still suffering alcoholic to make contact with us. This email account is manned by a member of the fellowship and we would like to ensure the focus remains on outreach.

If you have any queries about the website please email website@aa.org.nz Any other queries should go to GSO on nzgso@aa.org.nz

Thank you and Convention 2021 update

We would like to say a big thankyou to groups, area assemblies and individuals who continued to contribute over lockdown, Because of your commitment to supporting A.A our financial position is stable and is allowing us to meet our commitments.

Convention Update

As you are aware, due to the financial risks associated with the National Convention during these uncertain times of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Board made the difficult decision to cancel the Just for Today Convention 2021 in its current form. The Board is aware that was a huge disappointment to many and have spent a few weeks reviewing other potential options.

The Board is excited to announce that the Host Planning Committee for 2021 has worked hard with a couple of Board members to bring to the fellowship:

Just for Today 2021 online!

We are finalising the programme and budget in the next few days and Delegates will be provided with further information to give to their areas at the June/July assemblies. The webpage and registration form will also be updated around that time.

AA Service Positions vacant 2020/2021

There are a number of new AA service roles listed on our service page here. The close off for 2021 Board applications is July 31st 2020. The website and chat function roles are for immediate start.

Update 26/05/2020

Guidelines for level 2 with groups of up to 100

Yesterday the government announced that groups of up to 100 can gather. This means groups will be able to work towards meeting again from Friday lunchtime.

Here are some suggestions that you may want to discuss with your conscience group. While you’re at perfect liberty to handle this matter any way you please we have compiled some thought starters to help those groups who may be looking for guidance.

We ask that you please email us with any changes so we can update the website. This should include start dates if physical meetings and commencing again. website@aa.org.nz

All the latest information on Covid-19 from the Ministry of Health can be found here.

Meeting venues

All groups will need to adhere to any requirements that the venue may have regarding cleaning and social distancing. We suggest you talk to the venue to find out what they will require from the group.

Contract tracing

Each group should decide their course around contract tracing via an informed group conscience, with the spirit of all of our Traditions in mind.

Vulnerable members and groups continuing to meet online

Groups may want to consider having a combined physical and zoom meeting to enable those still vulnerable in level 2 to attend their regular meetings. Other groups may wish to continue online.

Update 12/05/2020

After yesterdays announcement there may be some confusion about if groups can meet again from Thursday. We would suggest that groups meet and discuss the following

1) Is the groups venue open under level 2

2) If so then what is the venues criteria for using the space?

3) Is there an option of running a combined virtual and physical meeting?

4) Can the group meet at a different venue (split venues if more than 10)?

5) Does the group want to continue on zoom until the numbers who can gather increase?

We would suggest the groups also discuss how best to serve the newcomer and are the vulnerable people in the group being incorporated somehow?

Previous covid-19 updates are available here.

Coronavirus

Given the news around the Coronavirus, we are sharing some information which you may find useful. As of now New Zealand has only one confirmed case  of 2019-nCoV in  New Zealand, but the Ministry of Health are advising precautions for the general public to take which we’ve included here.

What does it mean for A.A.?

The board met on Monday night to discuss the possible impact of 2019-nCoV on A.A. While the risk to our fellowship is currently low we have taken the steps below;

• Tasked our World Service Delegates to liaise with other countries and gather thoughts and suggestions.
• Formed a subcommittee to look at alternative ways to meet should this be required.
• Monitoring the Ministry of Health website daily.

What does it mean for your A.A group?

As each A.A group is autonomous it is up to each group to decide on how it will deal with 2019-nCoV. We would like to suggest that the Ministry of Health Guidelines around prevention is adequate for now.

If you have any concerns please don’t hesitate to email us on nzgso@aa.org.nz

Fellowship Support For Mainstay

Mainstay has been a valued part of A.A. since its inception in June 1955 and was given by its founders to the AA membership to manage in 1964. It has been our meeting in print all those years but in recent times subscription rates have been falling and with the approval of the November Conference your Board has set up a sub-committee to try and revitalise interest in Mainstay.

We have made the changes we needed at the magazine and Board end and we now need the support of the membership of A.A. to ensure we have not only a financially viable magazine but one that is an asset to our fellowship in carrying the message of A.A. For that we are all responsible and the assistance  we need from the fellowship is;

• Less than 25{9c341533a9a7e8ea90ae7f26ba9f634d1806e5e8314d3a4109a04d5c6e928e02} of registered A.A. Groups subscribe to Mainstay. Please at your next group conscience discuss subscribing to one or two Mainstays.
• Some groups, Intergroups or District Committees have also sponsored subscriptions into Prisons, Treatment Centres etc. It is 12^th Step work which can be done at local level.
• Individual subscriptions are also important with a printed subscription available and a new option of an electronic version at a reduced cost now an option. Will you become a subscriber? Go to our website and subscribe! Go to org.nz and click on the shop tab (top right hand side) and see the subscription options listed on left hand side below book selections.
• We also need letters sharing our recovery stories. We will suggest topics but any letters on a recovery subject dear to your heart are welcome. Please discuss with others as well and see if your groups can organise a flow of letters. This is 12^th step work which reaches a large audience. We now have a dedicated site for letters which is mainstay@aa.org.nz and the previous 600 word limit is dropped.
• Any other content suggestions are welcome and also we want your feedback as each issue comes out and a website for this has been set up. Email feedbackmainstay@aa.org.nz

Annual subscriptions run from April each year with six magazines produced every even calendar month. A printed copy mailed is $36 and an electronic version available to download via an emailed link is $24. New subscription outside the 12 month period April 2020 to March 2021 have a pro rata cost according to the number of issues left for the subscription year.

Yours In Service

Mainstay Sub Committee

NZ General Service Conference

Click here to read the New Zealand Service Manual

Freight charges for Literature

Following GSO’s recent review of freight charges, which have steadily increased in recent years, we realise that we are not covering our costs when sending out small packages.
At its meeting in April, Conference agreed the following:
For orders under $150, a charge of $10 will be added toward shipping costs.
For orders over $150, shipping will remain free of charge.