April 24 in A.A. History

In 1989, Dr. Leonard V. Strong, Jr [right], 90, died of pneumonia at McKerley Health Care Center in Rutland, Vermont. He was the brother-in-law of Bill W., married to his sister Dorothy, and served as a Class A [non-alcoholic] Trustee of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous.

April 24–28

In 1963, at the 13th General Service Conference, held at the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City, the following were among the advisory actions:

• That in an Area where Delegates have been chosen by two A.A. service entities, the Area's representation in the Conference… be deferred until the Area… is able to select a single Delegate^*.
• Approved the admission to the Conference… of a second Delegate from the Province of Quebec… [to serve] French-speaking group in the Province.
• Viewed “with favor” possible increased participation by overseas A.A. units in General Service Conferences and recommended that a study of factors be made by G.S.O.
• [Denied] the request that a representative of the Young People in A.A. be permitted to attend the General Service Conference as an Observer.
• “Partners,” when revised be retitled [sic] “The Group Handbook” with subtitle, “How the A.A. Group Starts and Grows.”
• Recommends a joint meeting of the G[eneral] S[ervice] B[oard] and Conference Finance Committee be held in October or November. Also that this be extended to other Committees as deemed necessary.
• [Established a number of committees to plan the 1965 International Convention.]
• An amount in excess of $6,500 has been collected in Canada for the Guarantee Fund;… the General Service Board [put aside] $6,500 from the General Fund… representing… [their] share…  of the 1965 Convention Guarantee Fund [to cover any losses resulting from that Convention.

    Bill Wilson spoke about group conscience in his talk titled “A.A. Takes Its Inventory”:

    I think that we have developed almost a fetish that there is some terrific infallibility in the group conscience, and I would like to modify it to this extent: that when the group conscience is thoroughly informed, and when experience backs a decision or conclusion it has reached, and when it isn't too mad or too fearful, it can be (and almost always is) supremely wise as to the best interest of Alcoholics Anonymous.

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^* The Chicago Area (19) had two such Delegates. Both were invited to meet with the Conference Admissions Committee at their own expense.

April 24–29

In 1973, at the 23rd General Service Conference, held at the Hotel Commodore in New York City, the following were among the advisory actions, all unanimous:

• That Conference Committee Secretaries… serve in an advisory capacity only, and… not… vote.
• In declining to approve the [Agenda/Admissions] committee recommendation, the Conference voted that Quebec be allowed a fourth delegate.
• [Denied a recommendation] that the Agenda/Admissions Committee participate, as a committee, in the final approval of suggested agenda items and their distribution to the various committees, etc., and no longer be restricted to ust “making recommendations.”
• The Unity declaration be added to all A.A. literature when feasible and economical…
• Any A.A. member's evaluating another A.A. member is totally in opposition to our Traditions.
• That the money in the Bill Wilson Memorial Fund be transferred to the General Fund as expeditiously as possible.

April 24–30

In 2022, at the 72nd General Service Conference, held at the Omni Park Central Hotel in New York City, COVID wreaked its havoc, although this was the first face-to-face Conference in since 2019. Two sitting Area delegates were replaced by alternates at almost the last minute. Some G.S.O. employees who had been working on Conference preparations had to go into quarantine after contracting the virus. After the Conference started, Conference members, more G.S.O. employees, and Conference guests began to get sick. As the Final Report put it:

    At least 25 people [were] infected by the end of the week and closer to 50 in the days following the Conference. With no no established protocols or plans in place to address the expanding infection rate, a series of ad hoc procedures were adopted to keep Conference members in the loop of the Conference itself. Recognizing Concept IV and the need to develop a means of communication for those Conference members quarantined in the hotel or who had chosen to leave the Conference over Covid concerns, an audio link was established to provide access to the deliberations of theConference, though the full participation of these Conference members fordiscussion, voting and minority opinion was not possible.
     Further complicating matters… the hotel had no room service capabilities.…
     Another issue…, especially as brought to the fore by the pandemic, [was] the growth, importance and representation of online groups and meetings.

The following were among the advisory actions:

• [That] the… Board develop a… report on the progress and outcomes from the 2013–2015 Conference inventory and include a draft plan for another Conference inventory… to be brought back to he 2023 Conference Committee on Agenda.
• [A]ll Conference… background be made available simultaneously in English, French and Spanish.
• Chapters [8–12] of The A.A. Service Manual be revised to correct inaccuracies and to provide clarity and consistency.