Questions & Answers about OYPAA
OYPAA brings the newcomer into the Mainstream of AA Recovery, Unity, and Service through the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts of World Service of Alcoholics Anonymous, carrying AA’s message to the suffering Alcoholic. YPG’s are no way separate from AA as a whole. Members of OYPAA are involved in and committed to all levels of AA Service, from the group level to the General Service Convention. Newcomers are shown by people their own age that using AA principles in their daily lives, and getting involved in the AA Service structure, can lead to a lasting sobriety and comfortable Sobriety.
What Happens at the Convention?
There are meetings around the clock, a banquet on Saturday night and various events throughout the weekend. The Convention is a chance to meet sober people throughout the region and to establish lifelong friends and engage in fellowship.
It’s called a Young People’s Convention. Are There any Age Restrictions?
No, Everyone is welcome. We define “Young People” as anyone who still has room to grow. Alcoholic’s Anonymous has no age barriers.
We also have panel discussions where members share their experience on specific issues of sobriety. After the Saturday night banquet, a speaker tells his or her story. All meetings are open to registered conference attendees
What are Meetings Like?
There are Step, Tradition, and Speaker meetings as well as open discussion meetings.
Are the Meetings the Main Purpose of the Convention?
Although the style or form of the program may not matter as much as the feeling and spirit that is present in the meetings, they give us the opportunity to come together and share experience, strength, and hope with each other. Meetings bring a sense of unity to the convention and in this atmosphere we find fellowship, warmth, laughter, and understanding we crave.
How Do I Bring OYPAA To My City?
You must meet the bid requirements. You can contact the Advisory Council though OYPAA2002@yahoo.com or by calling (440) 998-3099 or (440) 356-9020.
Purpose of Council
The specific purpose of the OYPAA Advisory Council is to further the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous among young people by: 1) sponsoring, promoting and producing the annual convention of young people in Alcoholics Anonymous; 2) providing information to the general public regarding the recovery of young people through the Alcoholics Anonymous groups and young peoples Alcoholics Anonymous groups; 3) providing information to and sharing our experience with Alcoholics Anonymous general service office (GSO) on a regular basis throughout Alcoholics Anonymous.
How Can I Get More Information On This Year’s Convention?
The Advisory Council can send you registration forms and flyers. Mail your request to:
The OYPAA Advisory Council
23 Pond Drive
Rocky River, Ohio 44116
Bidding Requirements
1) Three (3) people, two of which have more than one year of continuous sobriety, must present the Bid; the presentation must be at least 15 minutes.
2) The bidding committee must show adequate food and housing for the convention, presenting a primary conference facility and at least one secondary facility, two secured weekends for each location submitted is required.
3) The bidding committee must have a permanent mailing address that can be used for the OYPAA Convention; do not use a personal residence.
4) The bidding committee must assure that its OYPAA convention and all related functions will abide by the Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous.
5) The chosen bid committee must agree to turn all OYPAA Convention proceeds over to the Advisory Council for proper dispersal at their discretion within the Twelve Traditions, Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous (Seed money not to exceed $1,000)
6) The bidding committee must assure that the OYPAA convention does not directly conflict with any state or large scale AA event.
7) The bidding committee must have letters of support from their local AA community (groups, service organizations, and any area young peoples meetings)
8 ) The bidding committee must show that the OYPAA convention will be self-supporting by submitting a projected budget for its conference with a starting balance of ($0)
9) The bidding committee must agree to make available the minutes of their meetings, on a monthly basis, to officers of the Advisory Board.
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Convention Guidelines
1) Return to your city and disband as a bidding city. Hold a meeting with the young people in your area and, as a whole; elect the principle officers (Chairperson, Co-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Hotel Chair)
2) The Convention does a greater job of carrying the message to the young alcoholics when the conference planning committee is comprised of 6 to 12 members, each with one year’s sobriety.
3) Good liaison with city Intergroup, Area Committee may be best assured if both provide non-voting Advisory Committee members, each with a minimum of one year’s sobriety.
4) Many alcoholics travel great distances to hear and meet with other young alcoholics and to hear how the young alcoholic achieves sobriety. With this in mind, the committee should endeavor to obtain speakers representative of young people.
5) Knowing that there are excellent young alcoholics who make good speakers or meeting chairperson’s, we encourage a request for tapes to be sent in with pre-registration, in addition to the program committee’s efforts in finding speakers.
6) At the convention, wherever the main convention registration is located, or the central focal point, we urge that nothing but AA Conference literature be sold. Experience has shown that a “flea” market can develop, and those unaware of our endeavor can be misled, especially the press, radio and television media. Keep the 12 Traditions in mind at all times.
7) We ask that the Advisory Council be put on the program for a Friday evening workshop. This is our way of answering questions or to provide information for future bids.
8 ) The Host City will agree to set aside non-conflicting time in the program to hold the Bid Session on Saturday of the Convention.
9) Please publicize the Convention early. Experience has shown completed registration flier 4 – 6 months prior to the conference is best for pre-registration.
10) Do not close the Convention on Sunday morning. Present the OYPAA banner to the new Host City and invite the attendees to the next Convention.
11) The Advisory Council is at your disposal. Feel free to call on us at any time.
12) The Host Committee should be directly involved with any activity that generates funds. No one should ever be charged. Instead all monies should be in the form of Donations by AA members.
13) For AA’s welfare and our primary purpose, let us always make considerations for the 12 Steps, Traditions, Concepts and Convention Guidelines and OYPAA actions.
14) Experience suggests Robert Rules of Order and Third Legacy Procedure (General Service Manual) work best in business meetings.
16) The Host Committee is asked to make this document available to ALL interested bidders, as is the Advisory Board.
AA Convention: Why do I have to Pay?
One reason for holding a convention is that it is a natural thing to do. Almost any organization likes to take time out now and then to observe some phase of its own development. But in AA – such an event is far more than routine cause for celebration. A convention also sets up a useful opportunity to share the AA experience in a broader way.
There are many conferences and conventions held around the Ohio area and one of the most common misconceptions of these gatherings is that they are AA meetings, and since, ‘There are no dues or fees for AA membership. There should be no fees to attend.’ Conventions and Conferences are special Events, not regular meetings. They require months of planning, preparations, and money to be spent. Since most events are held in commercial businesses, like hotels, there is a charge for the use of the facilities. Other expenses include travel and lodging for the speakers, (they are never paid a fee for speaking), printing of flyers, schedules, badges, and other supplies. We want the OYPAA Convention to be self-supporting. The cost of the event is-paid-through-ticket-sales (registration). No baskets are passed. The ideal event is break-even: therefore, the registration cost is nominal compared to a weekend’s worth of entertainment anywhere else. Attendance is voluntary and as responsible AA members we pay our own way.
Questions & Answers
about OYPAA
The Ohio Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous meets annually. The convention provides an opportunity for AA’s from all over Ohio and neighboring states, to come together and share their experience, strength, and hope as members of AA OYPAA is overwhelming evidence that large numbers of people are achieving lasting and comfortable sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. Like any other Convention, it is an opportunity to learn more about the program and sobriety.
