Conference Questions 2026 Online Feedback Form

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Conference Questions 2026 Online Feedback Form

Use this form to submit your group’s responses directly to the CER Delegates to Conference. If you experience any issues with this form, please send your feedback to the delegates via email at confdel.cer@aamail.org

Important notes:

This feedback form is only intended for English-speaking Groups within the Continental European Region of AA GB. If your group is in the UK, or outside of Europe, then your responses ought to be submitted to your local Region Delegates, usually via your local Intergroup. More details on intergroups and regions in CER and the UK can be found in our Structure Handbook (Folder Handbooks in our AA GB Members Library).
Conference 2026 runs from 17th – 19th April 2026. To give the Delegates time to review your answers please submit them before the end of March 2026.
All feedback is appreciated – even just one answer to a single question!
Consider the contribution to the carrying of the message, financial and practical implications when deliberating each question.

Questions

Committees 1-6 Conference Questions 2026

Background

First Name

Are these responses from an Intergroup, Group, or an individual member?

Group Intergroup Individual Member

Have these responses also been passed on to your Region Rep?

Yes No Not sure

Committee 1

Question 1.

Would Conference consider the adoption of inclusive wording in the AA GB Preamble— specifically replacing “a fellowship of men and women” with “a fellowship of people”—in light of AA’s Responsibility Pledge and the Third Tradition.

Background

2022 Conference Decision (Committee 5, Question 1)

Responsibility Pledge
Tradition 3 (Long Form)
Jump to Background Docs above

response1-1

Question 2.

Would Conference discuss and recommend suggestions as to how our AA Groups could increase their 7th Tradition contributions so that our Fellowship is as financially robust as it can be for the future in terms of carrying its message to the still suffering alcoholic?

What Issue Does This Address?

In recent years (since 2022/23) the Prudent Reserves across the Fellowship has come under pressure due to declining contributions and increasing costs. With societal moves towards a cashless society and the norm of “the pound in the pot” this is likely to continue unless the trend can be reversed.

Whilst Gift Aid and Gratitude Week are good and worthy initiatives, they will not address the ongoing structural issues the Fellowship faces in terms of its ongoing funding needs from Groups down through structure to the General Service Board.

It is therefore appropriate that this issue be addressed as soon as practicable.

Has This Issue Been Discussed Before Within …

The ongoing finances of the Fellowship have been discussed extensively in Conference and all through structure in recent years. From experience this is very much a “hot topic” across the Fellowship as a whole..

Background

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ‐ Tradition Seven

Concept XII ‐ Warranty Two (The AA Structure Handbook for GB 2025/26)

The Pot… Where AA money and spirituality mix (AA GB pamphlet)

AA Money ‐ Page 100 AA Structure Handbook for GB 2024

How Will the Alcoholic Who Still Suffers Benefit ……

By ensuring the hand of AA will aways be there.

Jump to Background Docs above

response1-2

Question 3

Review revised Chapter 7 of the AA Service Handbook for Great Britain & Continental Europe – AA in Prisons

Background

Revised Service Handbook Chapter 7 – AA in Prisons

Jump to Background Docs above

response1-3

Committee 2

Question 1

Would Conference share their experience, and consider the need to expand on the guidance provided in the Structure Handbook (page 119) with specific reference to children, minors and juveniles attending AA meetings?

What Issue Does This Proposal Address?

Whilst the Fellowship has general safeguarding guidelines referencing this matter, it is felt that the Fellowship would benefit from sharing its experience on this subject given the increasing needs of parents/guardians to bring their children to the meetings they attend, as well as children, minors and juveniles attending meetings in their own right.

Background

AA Structure Handbook for GB 2025/26 ‐ page 119

How Will the Alcoholic Who Still Suffers Benefit ……

Although groups are autonomous, by sharing their experience how we might accommodate parents/guardians and their children in meetings we will make our meetings more accessible to those with parental demands.

By making it clearer how best the Fellowship can support children, minors and juveniles who may suffer from alcoholism we will be helping our members to be of maximum service to those so affected.

Jump to Background Docs above

response2-1

Question 2

Would Conference discuss how the Conference process could be made more attractive, inclusive, and engaging for the Fellowship, so that all members and groups feel connected to, and part of, the way AA’s collective conscience is expressed?

Background

The General Service Conference is where AA’s collective conscience is expressed for our Fellowship as a whole. Concept One tells us that the final authority and responsibility rests with the groups. But some members/groups feel distant from the process, unsure how to connect with it.

The aim is to help all members feel connected to our collective conscience.

AA GB Structure Handbook 2025/26
- Alcoholics Anonymous Great Britain & Continental Europe – Section 6.
- The Twelve Concepts
-The General Service Conference

General Service Conference Pamphlet

Jump to Background Docs above

response2-2

Committee 3

Question 1

Does Conference believe the Fellowship is doing enough to help and support older alcoholics in finding our Fellowship and finding recovery? Would Conference consider what more could be done to make our Fellowship more accessible to older people with serious alcohol related issues?

What Issue Does This Address?

I came to the Fellowship as a 57‐ y e a r ‐ o l d man who thought they had they had lived their life with alcoholic loneliness my only future. Whilst I was welcomed on my arrival I found (very) few people coming to the Fellowship at a similar age to myself and who had similar shared experience, though I did see specific support for younger people, people of colour, people with issues other than alcohol, gender diversity etc., etc. Whilst not feeling excluded I did feel my entry point different from many people and in hindsight some additional support would have been welcomed.

In his excellent article in the AA Winter Service News (Winter 2024) Dr Kieran Moriaty wrote about alcohol and older people and described it as a “silent epidemic”. From personal experience as a Regional Health Liaison Officer I now see this firsthand in many of the service activities I undertake and it would be good to see our Fellowship rise more specifically to the challenge of this “silent epidemic”.

Background

GSB approved pamphlet ‐ available via AAGB website shop ‐ “AA for the Older Alcoholic ‐ Never Too Late”

Alcohol and Older People ‐ A Silent Epidemic ‐ AA Service News (Winter 2024) ‐ Dr Kieran Moriaty (NA Trustee)

How Will the Alcoholic Who Still Suffers Benefit….

By making the Fellowship more accessible to older people we will make it easier for this growing segment of society to find the recovery they need and broaden the base and representation of our Fellowship in the future.

Jump to Background Docs above

response3-1

Question 2

Would Conference consider and share their experience of how the Fellowship can improve its understanding and application of the 12 Concepts within Service?

Background

The Steps, Traditions and Concepts make up the 36 spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, but the Concepts are often overlooked.

AA GB Structure Handbook 2025/26
‐ Section 6.2 - Twelve Concepts for Service
‐ Section 6.3 - Bill W.’s essays on The Twelve Concepts for World Service

Jump to Background Docs above

response3-2

Committee 4

Question 1

Would the Fellowship discuss and share experience regarding how we might strengthen our practical application of Tradition One — “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity” — so that we maintain safety and unity within AA, and avoid the need to use the term “safeguarding" in our literature?

Background

When applied practically, Tradition One leads us to create safe, welcoming environments, in which the still‐suffering alcoholic can recover.

In recent years, Conference discussion has given rise to literature being created by the Board and subsequently approved by Conference: it can be found in the Structure Handbook P115‐123.

The General Service Board (as a charity) is required by law to hold a Safeguarding Policy.

Some members believe that the Fellowship itself should not be seen to adopt external policy frameworks, or use terms like ‘safeguarding’, as they may compromise AA’s Traditions.

If groups use this question to discuss their practice of common welfare, and share with Conference their conclusions and suggestions, then we will strengthen the daily, practical application of Tradition One — in meetings, service structures, sponsorship, and Fellowship life — so that AA continues to offer a safe and unified environment in which our primary purpose (Tradition Five) can be fulfilled.

Tradition One (Short form and Long Form)

Tradition Five

Jump to Background Docs above

response4-1

Question 2

Would Conference share members experience of the safeguarding role at all levels of the service structure to inform a role description and sobriety length for the Service Handbook.

Background

Guidance would ensure those in Safeguarding roles are of maximum benefit/service in supporting the groups to adhere to healthy safeguarding practices in their meetings. This, in turn would enable the group to better carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic, protect the newcomer, members and the fellowship as a whole.

AA GB Structure Handbook 2025/26 - Chapter 5 – The Group – Safeguarding and Personal Conduct

Jump to Background Docs above

response4-2

Committee 5

Question 1

Would Conference consider the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Alcoholics Anonymous, and more specifically:

i. How AI might assist the Fellowship in carrying out its primary purpose
ii. What risks AI may pose to AA, especially regarding anonymity, data privacy and automation
iii. Whether shared experience and/or guidance is needed to help ensure any use of AI remains in line with AA’s Traditions and spiritual principles.

Background

Artificial Intelligence is advancing rapidly and becoming an integral part of everyday life, already influencing how people seek help, connect with others, create content, and access information.

These developments may also affect how members and newcomers encounter AA, as well as how service is carried out within the Fellowship.

For example, AI is increasingly used in online search, automated translation, content generation and interactive chat tools—areas that could help make AA’s message and services more widely accessible. At the same time, such technologies raise important concerns around anonymity, data privacy, and automation (i.e. no longer one alcoholic helping another).

It therefore seems timely for the Fellowship to consider AI’s potential impact, both positive and negative, and to decide whether shared experience or guidance is needed to ensure its use remains in line with AA’s Traditions and spiritual foundations.

Jump to Background Docs above

response5-1

Question 2

Would Conference share its experience on the importance of the Greeter role at our meetings, and make recommendations for inclusion in the Structure Handbook.

Background

Most group level roles are detailed in the Structure Handbook but this vitally important role has been overlooked.

Jump to Background Docs above

response5-2

Committee 6

Question 1

Could Conference explore and recommend safe ways for AA members in early sobriety to reengage socially in light of the increasing presence of alcohol‐free beers, wines, and spirits on the market?

Background

An old AA saying is that when Daniel escaped the lion’s den with his head, he didn’t go back for his hat! However, AA newcomers are faced with the difficulties of returning to social situations at work and with friends.

The opinion of established AA members can differ on these issues. Some feel that recovering alcoholics can drink alcohol‐free drinks whereas others are of the opinion that this is wrong. Some members remark that ‘non‐alcoholic beer is for non‐alcoholic people’.

AA Big Book references:
1. These allergic types can never safely use alcohol in any form at all (The Doctor’s Opinion, page xxvi)
2. If tempted, we recoil from it (alcohol) as from a hot flame (Into Action, page 84)

Jump to Background Docs above

response6-1

Question 2

Review revised Chapter 8 of the AA Service Handbook for Great Britain & Continental Europe – Probation/Criminal Justice Social Work Services (CJSWS)

Background