Area 53 Mini-Conference

The Hospitality Room at the 2017 Area 53 Mini-Conference on March 10-12 at Salt Fork State Park will be open from Friday night to Sunday morning, whenever the Conference is not in session.

John P. and his hospitality committee will be offering coffee and snacks throughout the mini-conference. We do encourage all mini-conference attendees to visit and enjoy the coffee. Please drop by and load up on coffee before each meeting so we can minimize using Salt Fork’s very expensive coffee. The hospitality room, quite likely, will be better suited to folks like us.

In addition to coffee and snacks, the hospitality room is offering full menus on a donation basis as a way of helping you save money. Planned menus for the weekend are:

• Friday night: Hot Dogs, chips, beverages
• Saturday breakfast: Omlettes (made to order), burrito wraps, breakfast sandwich, hotcakes, and sausage
• Saturday lunch: Taco salad with Mexican side dishes
• Saturday dinner: Spaghetti, penne pasta, and fettuccini alfredo with salad and dinner rolls
• Sunday breakfast: Anything left from Saturday breakfast

We are anticipating a large turnout to help support our area delegate, Frank G., get prepared for his first General Service Conference in April 2017. If you haven’t done so, please register online and encourage others to join the area’s efforts to develop an informed group conscience about the issues that will determine our future.

Thanks for your commitment and your service,

Stephen S, Panel 67 Mini-Conference Committee Chair

The Mini-Conference will be held March 10-12 at Salt Fork State Park. We’ve been there before. In our follow-up surveys, we have heard two concerns: (1) nearby restaurant options are not available, and (2) the service in the Park’s restaurant is sometimes slow – due to the fact that we all show up at the same time and overwhelm the service staff.

To address these concerns, this year we have added more options to eating in the restaurant.

First, we have added more planned group meals to avoid the wait time in the restaurant. In addition to the Saturday night banquet, we have added a scheduled dinner on Friday night and lunch buffets on both Saturday and Sunday. The full menus can be viewed on the Mini-Conference/Meals tab at area53.org, but here are the main courses and costs for each of the meals. The cost included a 20% service charge for the wait staff.

• Friday night, 5:30 pm: Chicken Picata with Lemon-Caper Sauce ($25)
• Saturday lunch buffet: Pot roast with carrots, celery and onions ($20)
• Saturday Banquet, 6:00 pm: Honey Glazed Ham, Roast Turkey Breast and gravy ($35)
• Sunday lunch buffet: Meat/Cheese Lasagna ($20)

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available on request.

The meals, unfortunately, cannot be offered on a walk-in basis. The cutoff for registering for these meals is February 24. We have to provide Salt Fork with an estimated number who will be attending each meal on that day. If you have not yet registered, please go to the website or mail the form in.

“We may not need a General Service Conference to insure our own recovery. We do need it to insure the recovery of the alcoholic who still stumbles in the darkness one short block from this room.

We need it to insure recovery of a child being born tonight, destined to alcoholism. We need it to provide, in keeping with our Twelfth Step, a permanent haven for all alcoholics who, in the ages ahead, can find in A.A. that rebirth which brought us back to life.”

Bernard B. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 1954 (AA Service Manual)

Howdy everyone,

This year’s 2017 Area 53 Mini-Conference is in the beautiful state park Salt Fork – yes even in winter. It is located at 14755 Cadiz, Lore City Ohio 43755.

This year we have some agenda items that are important for AA future. You can see them on the Mini-Conference homepage. Please don’t miss being part of AA as a whole. Each year I attend the mini-conference I learn more and appreciate the importance of respecting our principles. Don’t be mistaken, it is not all study; there is good fellowship and great food served at the lunches and banquet. If your on a budget, we also have a fantastic hospitality room. Our “chef” has really out did himself last year! The food at the hospitality room has no charge, just donate what you can. Yea hospitality committee!

I enjoy best the lively and informative discussion Saturday afternoon when every member is able to voice there view. Please consider bringing an guest. There is plenty for them to do while your in committee, swimming pool, fitness room and game room. This year the weather has been mild we can enjoy the sandy beach and nature trail. There might be time for all of us to slip away and enjoy the park. AA principles and pleasure what a sweet deal.

While you are at the mini-conference, please look me up and say “hi.” I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.

Your trusted servant,
Frank G., Delegate Area 53 Panel 67

If you are a GSR, you might ask your home group if they are willing to cover some of your mini-conference expenses.

Each group is autonomous in this matter. However, it is a common practice for home groups to provide some financial support for the expenses of their trusted servant. This might include the miniconference registration fee and some of the expense for travel, housing and meals. Attendees often share rides and lodging at the
mini-conference to make attending more practical.

The mini-conference strives to be self-supporting and registration fee covers planning and events expenses.

Expenses include literature for agenda items to be discussed, printing flyers and agendas, mailing costs and office supplies. Speakers are not paid a fee; their travel and hotel are covered.
At the conference, coffee is served throughout the day. The hospitality room is self-supporting and accepts voluntary donations from conference attendees.

Your Mini-Conference Team

“We may not need a General Service Conference to insure our own recovery. We do need it to insure the recovery of the alcoholic who still stumbles in the darkness one short block from this room.

We need it to insure recovery of a child being born tonight, destined to alcoholism. We need it to provide, in keeping with our Twelfth Step, a permanent haven for all alcoholics who, in the ages ahead, can find in A.A. that rebirth which brought us back to life.”

Bernard B. Smith, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, 1954 (AA Service Manual)

Absolutely! We will have speaker meetings on Saturday evening and Sunday morning in the ballroom, and a discussion on Saturday morning with you morning coffee.

Come join us on Saturday morning at 7:30am for the AA Early Bird Meeting chaired by Brenda B. The meeting format will be “dancing gents and single girls,” says Bill Y. We will be in the Scarlet Oak Room – grab a coffee from the Hospitality Room before you arrive.

Saturday evening at 7:00pm the Open Speaker Meeting is in the Ballroom featuring Tommy B., Delegate from Area 19 (Chicago). This is a special meeting you don’t want to miss! Coffee-o-plenty will be served outside the ballroom.

Sunday morning another Open Speaker Meeting will be held in the Ballroom at 8:00am . The speaker will be Calvin L. from Cleveland Ohio, Area 54.

Not enough AA meetings to meet your needs? We have an idea for “AA Meetups on Demand.” If you want to hold your own AA meeting during any times that committees are not meeting or the conference is not in session, send an email to with a suggested time. We will let you know what space is available for you to use.

In my continued sobriety, I recount why Dr. Bob’s story in the Big Book holds such simple truths. His story conveys that Unity (fellowship), Recovery (meetings) and Service (freely giving back so what we have been given) are our legacies. As Dr. Bob quotes, “I take out a little more insurance for myself against a possible slip.” (page 181, Big Book)

Brenda B.
Your Mini-Conference Team