Our Mission
The Area 72 Young Peoples Standing Committee acts as a bridge for the young alcoholic to the general service structure– meetings, groups, and service committees within the Area. Our emphasis is on assisting young people in understanding Recovery, Unity, and Service through the 12 Steps, Traditions, and Concepts for World Service. We connect young people with one another and encourage participation in general service. Utilizing services provided by the area to further the purpose of AA, to reach out the hand to all alcoholics who are suffering.
The purpose of the Area 72 YP committee is to bring the A.A. message to spaces where young people are – and to those who work with them – to help them understand how and why A.A. works, and that they are not “too young” to find recovery in A.A. We meet this aim by liaising with existing Area committees such as Accessibility, Corrections, PI/CPC, etc. to establish youth-related projects, and working with organizations outside A.A. that serve young people. We aim to connect young people to the program, create spaces for fellowship, lower barriers to access and teach them about the service structure.
Our goal is to participate in the Conference structure through our Area Service Committee quarterlies and to teach others interested in YP and General Service opportunities. This committee encourages young people to get involved in every facet of AA service. Although the focus of the committee is on supporting young people, all AA members are encouraged to participate.
What We Do
- Encourage YP participation in General Service in the Western Washington Area through outreach, workshops, and quarterly committee meetings.
- Discuss with those who got sober young how they came to AA their misconceptions regarding alcoholism and effective outreach strategies.
- Develop & maintain relationships with agencies and organizations that serve adolescents and young people.
- Coordinate with established linguistic districts and Area committees such as Public Information, Cooperation with the Professional Community, Accessibilities, Treatment Facilities, and Corrections to identify opportunities to carry the AA message.
- Collaborate with other standing committees in order to reach out to underrepresented communities looking for AA participation (i.e. LGBTQ organizations, indigenous communities, elder care facilities, etc.).
- Be the main point of contact for those looking for Young Peoples’ information, resources, or service requests.
How to reach us: ypchair@area72aa.org
Recent History of Young People in Area 72
- July 2014- At the July quarterly the Washington State Council of Young People in AA (WSCYPAA) reported to the Area Standing Committee in Enumclaw. Since that point in time, all Young People’s committees have been invited to report to the body at every quarterly and assembly.
- October 2014- At the Area Assembly in Bellingham, Whatcom County Young People in AA took a major role in hosting the assembly including running registration and greeting.
- October 2015- WSCYPAA helped the Assembly host committee in directing and greeting the incoming GSRs around the assembly and Seattle.
- October 2016- A discussion topic on how to best serve the young alcoholic was brought to the floor at the Area Assembly in Vancouver, it was moved to the quarterly process.
- December 2016- District 35 (Issaquah, Sammamish) created the first Young Persons standing committee position. Following the implementation of the position, District 34 created the position as well.
- January-April 2017- Members of WSCYPAA received requests to make presentations at districts around Area 72 and at the April quarterly in Kenmore. This prompted the split of the committee to distinguish from WSCYPAA which had become a conference host committee. The District Young People’s Chair committee was formed to focus on working within the general service structure to outreach young(or young at heart) alcoholics.
- Summer 2017- Requests from districts for more presentations sent the District YP Chair Committee members across Western Washington and created a need to form a more organized committee. At this time there were around 10-14 standing committee chair positions created in the districts.
- September 2017- As needs for collaboration and organization increased, the committee decided to have its first official meeting at Seattle Intergroup in September. The purpose of the meeting was to bring the district chairs together and help organize for the Area Assembly in October. The committee decided to meet monthly as a means of understanding what is happening with the different chairs and what needs weren’t being met.
- October 2018- The Area continued to discuss how to best serve the young alcoholic, with a focus on creating a position and determining what that would look like. The topic was again moved to the quarterly process.
- July 2019- After discussion during the quarterly process the Area moved the motion to the assembly.
- October 2019- After a lengthy discussion the assembly body moved to create an Young People chair mirroring the appointed committee process.
- January 2020- At the Area Quarterly the first YP chair was approved by the Area committee (Electeds, Appointeds, and DCMs).
Committee Distinctions
- Area 72 Young Persons Standing Committee- A group of district YP representatives focused on integrating young people into the general service structure, as an Area 72 standing committee.
- WSCYPAA- Annual Conference for young people to celebrate sobriety and connect with other young people throughout the state, rotates location year to year, next year’s conference will be in Spokane.