February 2025

Hello Area 78! During our terrible cold snap last month, I noticed out my window what I thought
was a Robin Red Breast! So I dressed up warm and went out to investigate! Instead I found
about 20 Pine Grosbeak’s in the trees behind my house! The sounds of their whistles and
cracking of the pine cones, along with Geese honking overhead and chickadees twittering in the
afternoon sun, made me think here comes Spring! And sure enough, today, everything is
melting and we are all shaking off our winters hibernation introspection! Wake up world, here we
come! I hope you are out walking and swinging your arms to a wide stride, for indeed walking
uplifts the spirit!
What a busy time it has been! Our General Service Office has sent out the Agenda Items and
background information for the 75th Conference and I have made sure they are on our
area78.org website under the information – private downloads section. I have created the
summary assignments for our Area 78 Committees and they will be seeking your participation in
preliminary on-line Committee Meetings. And then most importantly we will all be attending the
Area 78 Spring Assembly coming up in Red Deer April 11, 12 and 13. Mark your Calendars and
plan to attend!
So go and take a look at our area78.org website, you can find further information on our Spring
Assembly as well scroll through to the Items that your assigned committee will be discussing
and at whatever else interests you! The background information is also on our website – so you
can see for yourself how ideas get discussed. We all want the very best for AA so lots of
suggestions on how to evolve carrying our message so those still staggering around in the dark
can find us.
So much to information is there for you to discover, the Comprehensive Media Plan, the
Analytic’s on all sorts of media outlets. You can read about the new ideas for publications and
PSA”s (Public Service Announcements). Be part of the discussions of the process towards
defining what is Simple Majority and Super Majority votes! See where you can put in your idea
towards developing communications to address anonymity and social media! Something for
everyone!
If you are a new GSR, please email Raymond at grouprecords@area78.org he is our Panel 74
Group Records Chair and will be happy to assign you a committee so that you can participate in
Committee On-line discussions.
AA works best when we allow as many voices as possible to aid us all in the discussion’s
towards Substantial Unanimity, which is a $10 word for us agreeing to something that has been
fully discussed and voted on to obtain a ⅔ majority. In this manner we are doing our part in
being responsible for the good of AA as a whole. I love how we vote on something, asking for In
favour and Opposed hands – and then the opposed vote gets to speak to the reason they voted
against. This minority voice is what sets AA apart from any other organization, as we have
process that can turn a vote completely around based on someones courage to speak against
what the majority has voted for. I have seen it myself, a truly amazing thing indeed, there is no
politicking here, we listen to the voice of reason, we know the truth when we hear it. Thank God
we have a process that allows that quiet voice to be heard.
Two weeks after we meet in Red Deer, I will then carry your collective Group Conscience to
New York for the 75th Conference, April 26 to May 3. To be able to actively participate in the
evolving of AA, you will want to make sure your Group has a GSR (General Service Rep)

attending the Spring Assembly in Red Deer. This is how we communicate in AA, and a healthy
structure can only exist where there is full participation. You and me – we are responsible for this
thing, and I am super happy not to be doing this alone! Goodness! You too, no doubt!
As well at Spring Assembly we are going to be asking for bids for the May and January Area
Committee Meetings! These ACM’s allow Districts to participate in a unique way, building Unity
and fostering Leadership.
We are also seeking Bids to host the 2028 Forum! It is a ways off, so at this point we are only
looking to find a contact person and where it will be. Recent Area 78 Forums have been held in
Cranbrook, Grand Prairie, and was supposed to be in Calgary 2020, but well, you know. So
basically a place that can look after hopefully around 400 people. This is where our General
Service Office sends some staff as well as the GSO Treasurer so that people can learn about
our Structure and how it all works in a very practical way! If you have any questions about that
please do feel free to call or email me.
I enjoyed attending the January Board meeting in New York as the Delegate Chair to the 75th
Conference. An amazing privilege and honour that happened just because I let my name be put
in yet another hat! I got to participate as the Committee Chairs and Trustees built Unity. What
was most interesting is seeing how the Committee’s listen and discuss the reports towards
making their suggestions and recommendations that is now included in our Pre-Conference
Agenda in the form of background information.
Also it was a pleasure seeing the Committee Chairs understand our process even better!
Building Respect for our Process. The Theme of the 75th Conference is Working together,
Increasing Trust.
Which was also the theme at the 2025 WRAASA in Winnipeg a truly heart warming experience!
There were 116 souls and quite a few from Area 78, creating more Unity and leadership
opportunities! Presentations from several people involved in service all across our inverted
Triangle presented on: Its OK to ask for Help, How to make the voice of Every AA count, Our
Financial responsibility in carrying the message. Working together increasing trust and the
importance of the group conscious.
Similar questions will go out now in the Spring Agenda for you to participate in! All GSR’s need
to take these questions to their groups and get feedback on them, this is one what Area 78 has
discovered helps people learn and gain experience in our culture of inclusion and awareness.
In case you have not yet registered to join us at the 2025 International Convention being held in
Vancouver July 3-6, I again encourage you to do so! I learned while at the Board Weekend that
28,000 people have registered from 48 different countries! This event will have meetings of all
sizes and touch on a huge variety of topics. There will be pavilions to build awareness and
understanding of how we work with Professionals, Remote Communities, and how we inform
the Public. As well some new technologies that is helping people in Jails and Institutions, and
with Accessibility issues, something for everyone!
Housing is constantly being released, and there is a facebook page on the International
Convention that you can join if your looking for sharing accommodation.

I continue working and increasing the volunteer list for the Western Region Hospitality suite at
the International Convention and so if you are going there is place where you can go to get or
give a hug! As well as we will have lots of other fun, interesting things going on.
This celebration is not to be missed, the energy that is created by so many people who have
found a way to live in sober recovery is something I cannot describe. The fullness of my heart
as I sit in those big meetings and think, how many lives have been effected in a positive and
healing way because of the miracle of sobriety and our program of action. I find my eyes leaking
right now as I think of this. We share in this together and there is nothing quite like the power of
that much love. Warm Regards and Loving Service,
Karen OC
Area 78, Panel 74 Delegate
delegate@area78.org
cklinservice@icloud.com
403-479-6883
Public Information Committee
International/Regional Forum Committee
75th GSC Delegate Chair
“Forget me, but go you and do likewise. Add your own link to our chain. With God’s help, forge
that chain, well and truly.” Dr Bob “AA Comes Of Age"