To: GSRs, DCMs, Trustees, Non-trustee Directors, Area Officers and Committee Chairs, Delegates, Appointed Committee Members, Intergroups and Central Offices, Group Contacts, GSO and Grapevine Employees

October 23, 2025

Dear A.A. Friends:

Wishing you all warm fall greetings from the General Service Office. This season always brings thoughts of gratitude for the many blessings of sobriety that so many throughout the world have found as a result of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s fitting that October begins the annual recognition of our gratitude, as it coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday in Canada and the U.S. in November. This time of year many of us reflect on the blessings our sobriety has given us and pay those blessings forward to ensure hope for the alcoholic whose sobriety begins today and for the alcoholic not yet born.

Among the many things I’m grateful for is our two-country structure and the unity it demonstrates to A.A. around the world, and the inclusiveness of our Fellowship. The composition of all three of our boards reflects this, and together we have trudged the road of happy destiny for over 90 years as the Fellowship has spread to nearly every country around the world. I am especially grateful for the many Canadian friends I have made throughout my years in A.A., which reminds me of a phrase I have often heard within the halls: “friendships in A.A. are lasting.”

I recently learned of a great story from the GSO Archives of the early days of A.A. in Canada that reminds me of the wonderful example many of my Canadian A.A. friends reflect.

In 1944, a young Quebec banker named Dave B. reached a horrible alcoholic bottom. He read the Big Book, which his sister in Connecticut had previously sent him. He contacted AA Headquarters in New York and his call was answered by Headquarters secretary, Bobbie B., who told him, “we’ll help you.” Bobbie B. sent Dave the names of 400 Canadian alcoholics who had written the New York Office seeking help and Dave B. became what Bill W. would later call a “marathon Twelfth-Stepper,” tirelessly calling on drunks. By 1949, in an astonishing spurt of growth, the Fellowship had spread across Canada, from Toronto to the Northern Territories, from the Maritime Provinces to British Columbia. Vast distances sometimes separated people from their meetings – and still do – by car, plane, snowmobile, dogsled and skis, they managed to get there.

Without a doubt, some reading this letter now are sober as a result of Dave B’s efforts and the assistance he received from his sister and GSO. Today, GSO continues to deliver services to the Fellowship with the same spirit: “We’ll help you!”

From its early days in 1941, when Rev. George Little, the Toronto minister and nonalcoholic, discovered the Big Book and worked tirelessly to share it with many problem drinkers, to the remarkable efforts of Dave B. and his “marathon Twelve Stepping,” A.A. continues its rich history in Canada. We saw this enduring spirit front and center this summer when Vancouver, British Columbia, welcomed 33,700 members and friends from around the world to the International Convention, which marked the 90^th anniversary of A.A. Several thousand local members came together to assist in hosting a joyful and memorable experience that united us all in love and service.

Reflecting on the sacrifices made by those who came before us, we can clearly see the many ways they safeguarded our Fellowship through the years and maintained the integrity of our A.A. message. Their dedication has paved the way for each of us to receive the gift of sobriety. We are now each responsible for honoring our legacy by carrying forward their example to ensure that others who have yet to find us have the same opportunity we had.

Your GSO coordinates and delivers an array of services to support members and your group’s efforts to honor this legacy. The list is too long to include here, but I encourage you to learn more about them. Highlights may be found in our overview of SERVICES PROVIDED BY GSO/AAWS and our Seventh Tradition Fact Sheet. Also, several new services are added each year through actions taken at the annual General Service Conference, many of which result in special projects. Notable projects are the development of the 5^th edition of the Big Book and the 4^th edition of the Spanish Big Book. The implementation of projects like these often requires the formation of special trustee committees that need support and coordination. And I would be remiss not to mention our gratitude for the opportunity to plan and support the International Convention. Many of our employees provided support for the Convention, including coordinating public information opportunities, staffing various display and information booths, and working on numerous behind-the-scenes planning and logistical details. Carrying out this work is a great example of the service GSO provides to the Fellowship.

Your contributions to the General Service Board are a great expression of your gratitude for A.A. and for the substantial sacrifices made by those who came before us. They are also vital to ensure the preservation of our Fellowship for the alcoholic who still suffers. 

In the spirit of the season and gratitude for our Fellowship, please consider a special contribution to the General Service Board. You can make a contribution through aa.org here or by mail.

When contributing by check, please make your check payable to the General Service Board and use the applicable mailing address:

With gratitude for all the sacrifices you make for A.A.,

Bob W.
General Manager, GSO