Great Lakes Regional Convention of Young People in A.A. (GLRCYPAA) DISBANDED - COMMITTEE NO LONGER EXISTS |
The Great Lakes Regional Convention of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous meets annually. The convention provides an opportunity for A.A.'s from all over the Great Lakes Region and all over the world, to come together and share their experience, strength and hope as members of A.A. GLRCYPAA is overwhelming evidence that large numbers of people are achieving a lasting and comfortable sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Like any other convention, it is an opportunity to learn more about the program and sobriety.
Q & A about GLRCYPAA Purpose of Advisory Council Bidding Requirements
Convention Guidelines GLRCYPAA Preamble Facts, Aims and Purposes
Mailing Address: GLRCYPAA P.O. Box
3407 Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Questions & Answers about GLRCYPAA
GLRCYPAA brings the newcomer into the mainstream of A.A. Recovery, Unity, and Service through the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts for World Service of Alcoholics Anonymous, carrying A.A.'s message to the suffering alcoholic. Young Peoples Groups (YPGs) are in no way seperate from A.A. as a whole. Members of GLRCYPAA are involved in and committed to all levels of AA Service, from the group level to the General Service Convention, and at every level in between. Newcomers are shown by people their own age that using A.A. principles in their daily lives, and getting involved in the A.A. Service structure, can lead to lasting and comfortable sobriety.
What happens at the convention?
There are meetings around the clock, a banquet on Saturday night and even a dance or two. The convention is a chance to meet sober people from throughout the area, to make friends and engage in fellowship.It's called a young people's convention. Are there any age requirements?
No. Everyone is welcome. We define "Young People" as anyone who still has room to grow. In the past, we've had people in their teens and people in their seventies at GLRCYPAA.What are meetings like?
There are Step, Tradition and Speaker meetings as well as open discussion meetings. We also have panel discussions in which more experienced members give their views on specific issues of sobriety. After the Saturday night banquet, a speaker tells his or her story. All meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend.Are the meetings the main purpose of the convention?
Not exactly. Although the meetings are important, the fellowship is important too. But there's another reason for the convention: To promote unity in the host city. The convention itself lasts only three days but planning takes a whole year and involves dozens of people. By hosting a convention in your city, you can create a sense of unity among individuals and among groups. This unity is the real purpose, and unity is one of A.A.'s three legacies.How can I bring GLRCYPAA to my city?
You must meet the bid requirements. You can write the Advisory Council at the address listed at the top of this page and we will contact you.How can I get more information on this year's convention?
The Advisory Council can send you a registration forms and flyers. Mail your request to the GLRCYPAA Advisory Committee.Back to Young People's Groups
Top of Page
The GLRCYPAA Advisory Council is formed for the express purpose of furthering the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous - through it's annual convention, and it's post office box. The council is the custodian of the convention experience. It shall offer, to anyone who may request it, information regarding young people in A.A., and Young People's Groups as pertaining to recovery from alcoholism in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. It shall make it's knowledge and experience available to the General Service Office of A.A. on a regular basis for use throughout A.A. and to anyone else who may request it.
Back to Young People's Groups
Top of Page
We strongly encourage members of all ages to participate, however, we do ask that each committee have at least three members who have one or more years of sobriety.
Bidders must have commitments from at least two hotels, including dates showing availability of banquet and speaking rooms in the hotels, and proof that the hotels require no commitment as to number of people attending.
Assurance must be given that no state A.A. Conference of larger will be held in their city within a 30-day period before, and a 30-day period following the proposed convention date
Statements of support from the A.A. area chairperson, and the intergroup secretary or regional counterpart must be brought to the bidding convention.
Bidders will be required to demonstrate financial autonomy within the 12 Traditions of A.A.
If awarded the convention, bidders must agree that all proceeds, after expenses, will be turned over to the GLRCYPAA Advisory Council for their disposition within 60-days at the end of the convention.
There is a maximum of 30 minutes for the presentation of each bid.
Bidders are asked to prepare a statement of what they think the benefits of hosting a GLRCYPAA in their area would be.
Back to Young People's Groups
Top of Page
The suggestions by the Advisory Council are for the planning committee's consideration. They are based on previous convention experience.
Return to your city and disband as a bidding committee. Hold a meeting of all those involved in your successful bid and as a whole elect your principal officers (Chairman, Cochairman, Treasurer, and Secretary) and establish your various committees.
This convention does a greater job of carrying the message to the young alcoholic when the Convention Planning Committee is comprised of members of age 40 and under, with a minimum of one year of sobriety, and this committee is comprised of 15 - 21 members.
Good liaison with city Intergroup and State Committee may be best assured if both provide a non-voting Advisory Committee of 2-3 members to give guidance as requested by the Planning Committee.
Many alcoholics travel great distances to hear and meet young alcoholics and to learn how the young alcoholic achieves sobriety. With this in mind the committee should endeavor to obtain speakers representative of young people.
At the convention, wherever the main convention registration is located, or at the center focal point, we suggest that nothing but A.A. Conference Approved Literature be sold. Experience has shown that a "flea market" can develop and those unaware of our endeavor can be misled, especially the press. Keep the Twelve Traditions in mind at all times.
We ask that the Advisory Council be put on the program for a Friday 11:00 p.m. Workshop. This is our way of answering any questions which may arise or to help those who wish to have information for future bids.
If there is an "Early Bird" meeting at the Convention, please publicize this as soon as possible.
Do not close the convention on Sunday morning. Present the GLRCYPAA banner to the new host city, and invite everyone there to the next convention.
The Advisory Council is at your disposition, feel free to contact us at any time.
The Host Committee should be directly involved in any activity from which funds may be generated.
Back to Young People's Groups
Top of Page
We, the members of the GLRCYPAA Advisory Council set forth this day to establish the Convention Experience. In 1991, the Great Lakes Regional Convention of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous was founded for the purpose of furthering the principles of A.A. amongst young people. Ann Arbor, Michigan was the site of the first GLRCYPAA, where a permanent, rotating committee, was established for the preservation of the experience and material. We do think it beneficial to establish a custodian to preserve the efforts and material, lest they be lost. Being cognizant that not all young people find our convention necessary, we do not propose to be a universal answer or governing body for young people. We believe it beneficial to share our experience with all who may request our help. For it is through our sharing that we have learned to function within the framework of the Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts for World Service of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Back to Young People's Groups
Top of Page
Alcoholism recognizes no barriers, age included. The first Young People's Groups (YPG's) in Alcoholics Anonymous appeared in 1945 in Los Angeles, California and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1957, at Niagara Falls, a meeting of young A.A.'s from accross the U.S. and Canada started what is now the International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA). Bill W., at the 1960 A.A. Convention, noted that the age of new members was much lower than when he and Dr. Bob founded A.A., 25 years earlier. An ICYPAA pamphlet, in 1975, put the ages of people in YPG's in their twenties and thirties, with occasional teenagers. The trend has continued. In 1983, an A.A. survey reported 20% of respondents were under 31 years of age, and 3% were under 21. The number of young people who suffer from alcoholism who turn to A.A. for help is growing and the purpose of YPG's, just as it has been for many years, is to carry A.A.'s message of recovery to alcoholics, NO MATER WHAT THEIR AGE. GLRCYPAA provides the young newcomer with a meeting where they can see and share the experience of sobriety with other young people. Through the ICYPAA experience, the Great Lakes regional Convention of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (GLRCYPAA) was created. It's main purpose is to build and strengthen unity in A.A., throughout the Great Lakes Region. The region is defined as any state or Canadian province, which borders one of the five Great Lakes. Any city or area within this region is eligible to host a GLRCYPAA.
Back to Young People's Groups
Top of Page
*from the pamphlet- Questions and Answers About GLRCYPAA