Area 53 Assembly
Next Area 53 Assembly
March 8th, 2026
Location: Deer Creek
22300 State Pk Rd 20, Mt Sterling, OH 43143
About the Area 53 Assembly
The Area 53 Assembly of Alcoholics Anonymous shall always be a service body and shall respect the autonomy and privilege of dissent of any or all AA Groups in the Area 53 General Service Conference Area.
In the course of its deliberations and discussions, the Area Assembly shall be ever mindful of the ideals expressed in the Twelve Traditions, Twelve Concepts, and The AA Service Manual and shall strive to be the true voice and group conscience of Area 53 AA Unity. In all of its proceedings, the Area 53 Assembly shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Traditions.
Service shall be the Area Assembly’s primary purpose. The Area Assembly shall encourage all Area 53 AA Groups to participate in the business of the Area Assembly and to support the Area Assembly in its efforts to cooperate with Alcoholics Anonymous at all levels.
THE AREA ASSEMBLY AND ITS ACTIVITIES
“An outstanding characteristic of every good operational structure is that it guarantees harmonious and effective function by relating its several parts and people in such a way that none can doubt what their respective responsibilities and corresponding authorities actually are. Unless these attributes are well defined; unless those holding the final authority are able and willing properly to delegate and maintain a suitable operational authority; unless those holding such delegated authority feel able and willing to use their delegated authority freely as trusted servants; and unless there exists some definite means of interpreting and deciding doubtful situations — then personal clashes, confusion, and ineffectiveness will be inevitable.” — Concept X
The areas hold an important position in the U.S./Canada General Service Conference structure. The areas are directly connected to the A.A. groups and their members through DCMs and GSRs. At the same time, they participate in the decision-making of A.A. through area delegates. At the heart of each area is the assembly meeting, where the democratic voice of our Fellowship expresses itself. While each area has the autonomy to conduct its meetings according to its conscience, Concept XII offers the General Warranties of the Conference as the guiding principles to remain democratic in thought and action.
Not all areas operate in the same way, but generally speaking, an area’s purpose is threefold:
1.To elect a delegate who will represent the area’s conscience at the annual General Service Conference,
where decisions are made that affect A.A. throughout the U.S. & Canada.
2.To form a local decision-making structure so groups can collectively decide on matters that affect
their area.
3.To carry out Twelfth Step work that may not be practical for groups, districts or intergroups to take
on by themselves. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Accessibility
• Area bulletin or newsletter
• Cooperation with the Professional
Community (CPC)
• Corrections
• Informational website
• Language translation services
• Literature, including Grapevine and La Viña
• Public Information (PI)
• Treatment Facilities
Great care shall be taken:
- That the Assembly never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power;
- That sufficiency of operating funds be its guiding financial principle;
- That none of the Assembly members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; and
- That all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity.
- No Assembly action shall ever be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy. Though the assembly may act for the service of Alcoholics Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government.
- Like the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, which it serves, the Assembly itself shall always strive to maintain unity in thought and action.
About Elections
At this special meeting, held once every two years, the delegate is elected, typically, along with area
officers. It is common for little or no other business to be conducted. In an election year, this assembly
is usually scheduled in the fall, with plenty of time for the newly elected delegate and area officers to
prepare to take office in the new cycle.
The Area Assembly is charged with electing a delegate to the General Service Conference, giving the delegate financial support so that he or she may serve the Area and assisting the delegate in their duties of the office.
The Area Assembly also elects an alternate delegate and area officers and alternates as outlined in Article V of the Guidelines.
Area elections occur at the September assembly in even-numbered years. The elected delegate and other officers assume their roles in the new panel that commences the following January in the odd-numbered year. The current Area 53 panel serving during 2025-2027 is "Panel 75." The next panel starting in January 2027 will be "Panel 77." Area 53 panel numbers are always odd numbers.
Current Officers
Area Documents
Subscribe to Area 53 News
Thanks for subscribing! You'll receive email updates as they occur.