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CENTRAL OFFICE REPORT – GNOSB MEETING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

ICOAA Convention. Attended ICOAA Sept. 18-21, 2025 – An awesome opportunity to connect with other central office and intergroup special workers; brought back inspiration and guidance to support past, present, and future service efforts of our Central Office and GNO Service Board committees. Submitted travel budget estimate for approval, then submitted budget actual ($770.81 total for registration, hotel room and parking, fuel) and receipts to Trustees after event; was within the proposed Travel Expenses budget ($1,100) for the fiscal year. More updates forthcoming to products and procedures as inspired by the experience. Thank you for the opportunity to attend and represent our Greater New Orleans intergroup efforts.

Meeting in a Pamphlet. To support T&C efforts, we condensed and reformatted the Meeting in a Pocket booklets into pamphlets; this was actually inspired by another special worker’s in-house printed products on display at ICOAA. Our intention for the Meeting in a Pamphlet is to get the meeting readings and format info into a more widely accessible format for newcomers, as staples are generally not allowed in correctional and treatment facilities. These are available at Central Office with our other complimentary literature (Digital Newcomer Pak, Digital Service Pak, Meeting List printouts, etc.) and on various Resource pages of our website.

Pamphlet Backstock Reduction Effort. Provided initial proposed estimate of costs to Trustees for this effort; received approval. Distributed backstock of pamphlet paks and pamphlets among Districts 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, about a dozen paks of pamphlets to each district. A shift to from home groups to a district focus was inspired by something heard at ICOAA: “We don’t offer to one group/district what we can’t offer to them all.” Next steps tol review actual costs of this effort thus far, per pamphlet inventory counts/value in Square before and after pamphlet distribution. Then will assess counts and costs of what pamphlets remain to support future service projects. Will present at the October 2025 GNOSB meeting. 

Large Print Newcomer Pak. Created a large-print version of the Newcomer Pak as another option to improve accessibility of how we carry the message to the newcomer. Contains Large Print versions of pamphlets where available, and we will print on-demand the most up-to-date Large Print meeting list at time of sale. Inspired by District 21 and Area 27 Accessibility Committees’ efforts to bring literature into assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

Sober Fest Resource Expo Table Participation. Our organization has been welcomed to host a table for the Resource Expo at Sober Fest, November 22, 2025. We plan to have printed literature, such as Meeting Lists, Meeting Books, Digital Newcomer Paks, Meeting in a Pocket, etc. as well as some of the pamphlet backstock. We hope to help carry the message of our recovery program to attendees of this recovery event.

Motion to approve participation for Central Office to host a public information table at the Resource Expo Table at the Sober Fest event on November 22, 2025.