A.A. Grapevine / La Viña Presentation (NAATW 2025)

Transcript

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability from the original caption file. Speaker names are standardized using first name and last initial where available. Timestamps match the edited audio timeline.

Presentation: A.A. Grapevine / La Viña Presentation. Presenters: Niurka M. and Wendell O., A.A. Grapevine & La Viña Digital Publishing Department. From the NAATW 2025 Workshop.

[0:00] Presenter Introduction

[0:00] Buck R.: Niurka Meléndez, Digital Publishing Manager, and Wendell Oviedo, Digital Publishing Coordinator from A.A. Grapevine, our meeting in print, and La Viña in New York. Both are non-alcoholic members of the Grapevine team, and terrific friends and supporters of the NAATW workshop. We are so grateful that you're here. They bring their great experience and enthusiasm to their work, helping ensure Grapevine and La Viña continue to connect, inform, and inspire members across the fellowship through innovative digital outreach and communication. We're truly glad to have them with us again this year. Please join me in welcoming Niurka Meléndez and Wendell Oviedo from A.A. Grapevine and La Viña.

[0:52] Wendell O.: Thank you. Good afternoon, or good morning, everyone. Hello, thank you for having us and for joining us today. We are very happy to be part of the National A.A. Technology Workshop once again. As Buck said, my name is Wendell Oviedo.

[0:52] Welcome and NAATW Context

[1:09] Wendell O.: I'm here with my colleague, Niurka Meléndez. Just a heads up, I will turn off my camera, because the internet connection, but I'm here. We are truly grateful for this opportunity to participate in this workshop. We have been attending the National A.A. Technology Workshop since 2019, and every year it's a great experience to connect, learn, and share ideas about how technology helps us carry the message. This year's theme, Adapt, Connect, and Protect, building the A.A. Technology Toolbox, really resonates with what we do at A.A. Grapevine. Our mission is to connect members through digital platforms, adapt to new technologies, and protect the message of recovery as we make it more accessible for everyone.

[2:02] Wendell O.: Today, we will be sharing some updates on the digital publications and tools A.A. Grapevine offered to support the fellowship and how this connects with the goals of the workshop. Okay, here is a brief overview of what we will be covering in our presentation. We will start with a brief look at the Grapevine and La Viña website, then we will move to our mobile apps.

[2:14] Agenda

[2:27] Wendell O.: After that, we will be sharing about our podcast, and finally, we will talk about our social media channels. Now is the time to hear my colleague, Niurka.

[2:37] Website Overview

[2:37] Niurka M.: Thank you, Wendell. Thank you, Buck. Thank you, Luis. Thank you, everyone, for the invitation, for having us again here. I will do the same, I will turn off my camera, but I didn't want to do it before thanking everyone for having us again here. It's my great pleasure to talk about our website. So, starting by saying one of the things that I must be honest about: I have to give credit to Judy B., who is our senior editor. Who always says, in the… on the websites, it's almost everything, and he's right. Let me explain why.

[3:16] Niurka M.: We decided to highlight in this presentation some of the most useful landing pages that you will see later in my presentation, which are available, most of them for free, meaning that you don't need to log in or subscribe to Grapevine to get access to, for instance, the Sobriety Calculator, the Daily Quote, and even access to the store. By saying this, I want you and also invite you to just take a picture or maybe a screenshot, depending on where you are, of all those URLs that we will share in every single slide that we prepare with all our love for you today. Let's start with the page. Oh…

[4:04] Share: Stories, Photos, Events, and Audio

[4:04] Niurka M.: From the page in which you can share everything, meaning your story, your photo, your event, and even your audio. We are talking about the Share landing page, which is the URL that you are seeing… you are seeing right now on the right of your screen. As you see now, this screen… I mean, this landing page allows you to share, and everything that you share there will go to the GV editorial, department. So, if you are published, you will get a notification from the GV editorial department. The same happens for events, where we first show you the guidelines.

[4:47] Niurka M.: and the same you will see later for the photos and even the audio project. Everything will be, once approved, will be posted on our website or YouTube channel, depending on what specific you are sharing. But for us, the most important thing is to let you know that everything, you can share it on or through our website.

[5:09] Get Involved Resources

[5:09] Niurka M.: Then we decided to give a little bit of attention to a landing page that we consider is just like a library. You know that it might not be easy to find that specific book that you are looking for in that library, but you know it's there. That is our Get Involved landing page. Again, you will find the URL on the right here on the screen, so just take a picture to know where to find not just how to become a rep, or how to become a La Viña representative in the case of La Viña landing page, but also resources, carry the message. Also, from there, you can share your story, submit the caption for the cartoon for the next print magazine at your event, and so on. Let's pay attention also to this one, which is basically the GVR resources that is not just for GVRs.

[6:02] Niurka M.: Anybody can visit this landing page, and from there, again, download free postcards, forms, and even, as you see now, the catalog is just downloadable. If you hit that button on the right, that will provide you the PDF. The same happened, not just, as I said, for forms, but also share your picture. If you feel so proud to share what you displayed in your home group, you can send us along that picture, and we will post that in… on this landing page. The same happened for the postcard, and it's as easy as clicking whatever you need, and then download if you need to, just share this information with your, group.

[6:50] Niurka M.: Another landing page, and for this one, we make it a little bit longer, the demonstration, is our archive. As you can see on the left, there are many filters that allow you to narrow your results.

[6:50] Archive Access

[7:04] Niurka M.: You can type whatever you are looking for. Let's say the author name, let's say a title that you think might be relevant, or even anything that you recall from the content. and it will bring you what is related to that. You can filter by format, by topic, by year, magazine issue, but it's important for us to say that to have access to the archive, at least all the features that I'm telling you now, you must be a digital or complete subscriber. Let me show you how it looks when we are not logged in let me go as… there, you can also sort it by, by, organize it by A to C, or, or, or vice versa. And here, you see, I'm logged in, let me log out. the website.

[7:59] Niurka M.: ask you, are you sure? Yes, I'm sure, because I want to show you how it looks, the archive, when we are not subscribers. They will still show you the articles, but let's say that I'm looking for this one, and I would like to read it. They engage you and encourage you to visit our subscription page in order to become, again, either a complete or digital subscriber of our wonderful digital products.

[8:29] Mobile Apps

[8:29] Wendell O.: Thank you, Niurka. Okay, let's continue, and let's look at one of our most exciting digital tools, the Grapevine and La Viña mobile apps, which make it easy for members to read and listen to Grapevine and La Viña content anytime, anywhere. These apps bring everything Grapevine and La Viña right to your fingertips. The access is exactly the same as Niurka mentioned that we can access on the website, but through your mobile, all in one easy-to-use place. We launched both apps in September 2023, and since then, they have made it easier than ever to stay connected with Grapevine and La Viña wherever you are. You can simply go to the Apple App Store or Google Play, and search for A.A. Grapevine or La Viña to download the app.

[9:19] Wendell O.: In addition to all the access you have through the website, that you can now also have it in the app, the app also offers exclusive features, such as gratitude list, as you can see on the video right now, and a spiritual maintenance list, which allow members to reflect Stay grounded, and track their personal growth in recovery. With a digital or complete subscription, you get full access to all the content, every story, every issue, and all audio features that Grapevine and La Viña offer. One special benefit of the app is that it includes a free one-month subscription, which is great for newcomers who wants to explore everything before subscribing. Members, as you can see, can get unlimited access to the app.

[10:08] Wendell O.: as well as A.A. Grapevine, or La Viña, or La Viña, browse web-exclusive articles, and every story, remember that we publish in print, listen to the audio version of each article, access to our archive. One issue we release every month, in the case The Grapevine, or every other month for La Viña, and more. All from the app, or directly on our website. Remember, the first month is free only with the app or through the app.

[10:43] Niurka M.: Let's talk about the podcast or, as our boss says, the meeting after the meeting. I love it.

[10:43] Podcast

[10:51] Niurka M.: So basically, as everything, and as I said, as I told you at the beginning, everything is on the website. However, it's important to remark that you can listen to our podcast from every platform that you prefer. Let's say Google, YouTube, Spotify, Apple, but yet, for us, it's important to highlight, look, on the, in the top of the, of the screen. There is the podcast landing page where the notes are, in which you can also listen to our podcast. Each week, every single week, on Mondays, 9 a.m, around 9 a.m. in the morning, Easter time. Our department is in charge of charting on that landing page that you are seeing there. What

[11:36] Niurka M.: if we, the host, Dong, Ollie, and Sam, interview with different, members that want to be a part of this wonderful tool, digital tool. If you want to be a part, again, go to that landing page, URL display on the right of your screen, and send us an email. Chris and the host of the podcast, We review your request, and then you will be contacted to be a part of the… So far, we have nine seasons, which translate in over 100 episodes. Yes, that is another digital publication that we wanted to let you know.

[12:19] Social Media

[12:20] Wendell O.: Yes, okay, then let's continue talking about social media. We are connecting with the fellowship through, Instagram. In this case, you can find A.A. Grapevine and La Viña on Instagram, where we continue to share inspiration, information, and stories from our community. We are on Instagram since July 2021. Members can see our daily quote each morning, get updates when new magazine issues are released, learn about our books, and find inspiration from A.A. members. Through this platform, we hope to help members stay connected to Grapevine, La Viña, and A.A. as a whole by bringing daily encouragement and recovery reflections right into their social media feed, as you can see now in the video. Instagram is also great.

[13:13] Wendell O.: ways for members to participate, but sending us group photos, as Niurka explained it a few minutes ago, for our photo contests, short stories, writing by members, and by keeping up with special offers and video contents that help carry the A.A. message. In a modern way, as you can see on the screen now.

[13:37] YouTube Channel

[13:37] Wendell O.: Let's move on now to YouTube. Our channel continues growing with more than 16,500 subscribers and over 400 videos, and the collection keeps expanding. There, you will find A.A. stories in video format, interviews, events, and even American Sign Language videos designed to make our content accessible for the Deaf community. We invite you to visit and subscribe to our channel. Explore the videos and share them with others who might benefit. Every view, every share helps us carry the message to more people. Proving once again how technology can connect and inspire in the spirit of A.A. unity. Stay inspired wherever you are.

[14:27] Digital Subscriptions

[14:27] Niurka M.: Yes, and almost finishing, we would like to invite you to subscribe to our digital products to have full access and to enjoy the full experience of navigating, for instance, the website and the apps. Most of the features that we have shown today are free, but there are others, like the audios, articles, archives, and other features that need to be… you need to be a subscriber in order to get the full access and full experience. It's beyond having access to all the digital publications, but helping us.

[15:05] Niurka M.: keep carrying the message in the quality and with the love we do from our digital department. It is important to highlight what are the three plans that we currently offer. All of them are available on our store pages, either through GV or La Viña, and from there, you don't need to log in to just have access and explore the prices, as Wendell stated in one of our slides, it's just affordable options that we offer, and they are the print subscription, which is basically the print magazine that will go to your mailing address, the complete that will mix

[15:47] Niurka M.: a print magazine plus the access to our digital publications, and then we have the new one called the digital subscription, which is basically access to our website and the apps. There you have the URLs, feel free to take a picture and just visit us there. important updates. That is also… you can find that, URL here on the… on the left. On our homepage. We update this landing page at least twice a month.

[16:10] Important Updates

[16:23] Niurka M.: to let people know what is new. Nowadays, I just wanted to bring this to your attention. Starting November 1st, we put live and running the free shipping on all products for La Viña and Grapevine that is just right now available through the holiday season, meaning December 31st, and then starting also November 1st. We put this new bulk book discounts that will consider discounts from 5 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 29, and then 30 plus discounts up to $3 per book of book that you want to buy from GV and La Viña store. Again, more than that, not just the discounts, but… or discounts, sorry, but also the new release for, for books or products, such as the one I'm showing now for the giving cards, you can find such an announcement under our landing page.

[17:26] Niurka M.: important updates.

[17:28] Contact and Support

[17:28] Niurka M.: Good to know. We are here to help, we are here to answer any question you have through the website, through the apps, even send us a direct message, but also wanted to let you know that anything related to, let's say, I don't recall my credentials, I'm not sure if my subscription is still active, I think I need to renew my subscription. I don't know what is my passport and stuff like that. Feel free to call our customer service team. from 9 to 5.30 Eastern Time, or send them an email. They are capable and available to answer your question in English. Spanish and French. There you have not just their phone numbers here in the US, but also if you are located outside the U.S, And if you are a person like me that prefers to send emails.

[18:22] Niurka M.: there you have their email address. Also, take a picture, feel free also to reach out to us if you don't recall the exact information. We are here also to answer any question. And with that, we are more than grateful, truly grateful for being another year here with us, open to answer any questions you might have. Right now, and there, you will find our email address. The first one is mine, Niurka Meléndez, and the second one is… goes directly to Wendell Oviedo. Once again, Buckuis, and everything… everybody down there in Ohio, thank you so much for inviting us and allowing us to talk about our… our responsibility and duty that we are more than happy to answer any question. Thank you.

[19:09] Buck R.: Thank you. Wonderful, wonderful. Thank you both. We have two people in line, if you would please.

[19:10] Q&A / Discussion

[19:19] Damon: My name is Damon, I am an alcoholic, Area 16. Good to see you again. I’ve seen you for a couple of years here; in person was great, thank you. One of the great things that came about in the last few years was the digital gift certificates. We get them for our, anybody who's celebrating their first year in our home group. There has been… there was a recent issue that we encountered with ordering them and then not getting the attachment to the digital certificate. Can you talk about how that might be straightened out now, and maybe what might have happened? Thank you.

[20:01] Niurka M.: Sorry, yes, you're welcome. So, my pleasure to, project again, if you don't mind, book, let me go back and forth in our presentation. Sir, please, feel free to reach out to Customer Service. They are the one in charge of, I mean, tracking and knowing what happened with your, gift certificate, but this is the right department and the appropriate department to answer any question regarding, look, I subscribed to the magazine, but I haven't received it yet, but I'm not sure if… Whatever related to the store pages, please feel free to take a picture of this. If you prefer, Niurka, you know what, I prefer to send you an email, do so, and I will forward that to our customer relation manager, Sonia Dominguez.

[20:47] Niurka M.: that she might be more than happy to… to address and see what will happen with that, order.

[20:55] Audience member: Thank you. In person, please. Hi, my name is, Jackie, B, from San Francisco. I'm also, along with Roger, who's here, are members of the Editorial Advisory Board, so we're really grateful, for all your hard work, I also wanted… one of the things to mention was the ASL channel on the YouTube page. It's actually very historic, because it's the first time Deaf members have been able to tell their stories in their native language, because the Deaf member in ASL, which is not English, it's not signed English, it's a completely different language, works with an interpreter of their choice who's a non-alcoholic Alcoholic to tell the story, and then the non-alcoholic is filmed.

[21:47] Audience member: So people don't realize that the big book in ASL only has Bill and Bob's stories. It's abridged. So there has literally been access to maybe 3 or special needs, like, four stories in the history of A.A. You have to imagine you only had access to four personal stories, and the stories are… integral. So, it's a really big deal, and to let people know about it, and then, I forgot what I was gonna say. Oh, I guess my point Question is, things that… GVRs can print at home. I feel like that's the struggle, and would the grapevine… would you guys be open if, area chairs or people would able to send in the flyers that they use locally that can help people easily subscribe? We have a really successful Carry the Message, poster that's…

[22:44] Audience member: can print at home and has QR codes. So, I'm wondering if that might be something possible, or is that a copyright issue with the type of resources that become available?

[22:58] Niurka M.: Yes, of course, it is possible, and there are many areas that I know, because you know that, we hold, every other month, GVRs and area chairs, meetings. that the office manager, the current office manager before Janet. the current offer managers organize in order to let the GVRs and area chairs what is available for them. And one of the things that I was really pleased to hear, the last one that we had in October, was learning from many area chairs and GVRs that they are creating a very, I mean, I mean, attractive and nice,

[23:38] Niurka M.: forms and flyers with QR codes and stuff like that. And we are, of course, more than open to have you guys do this kind of creative material in order to spread the word. The only thing that I know, there are people that reach out to the office manager. It's basically for licensing. But to share a link. to share a QR code that links to, let's say, the resources page, or I'm not sure about what is the important updates URL, you can reach out to us, we can send you the link, and you can use it, whichever is the best way for you to spread the word. Regarding the resources page, and I said this during the GVR presentation, so regarding the resources page, again, remember, you can also

[24:28] Niurka M.: also reach to this landing page through the Get Involved, is that my strong recommendation is instead of, for instance, using the URL that are, let's say, under this PDF, let's say. this, URL. If there is any update regarding that document, for sure, that URL will change. But instead, if I use, let's say, the URL for resources page, that will save my QR, and that will also save the link that I'm putting in my own digital flyer, let's say, so I will not, break, if I can use that term, the QR code, because I know the landing page will be always there. But related to, let's say, the upcoming 2026 catalog, that URL will change, so instead, I would recommend that you use the

[25:26] Niurka M.: main route, which is the one that I'm highlighting right now. So, again, guys, to your question, and forgive me, because I always get excited to talk about my baby, but Jed, you can feel free to direct traffic to our website and other products by using the links through your flyers and QR codes. That is totally doable and possible to… to do it from your group.

[25:56] Buck R.: Thank you for your answer. It is 1-11. We go to 1.15, and for some reason, the timer shows 4.46 now. We have time. Eldin, online, please.

[26:09] Eldin: Everyone, Elden Alcoholic, from, area 30, Massachusetts, and the 5th Dimension Young People's Group Online. We have been a subscriber to the A.A. Grapevine, for some time, and we use it in our meeting. One… well, we read stories from the Grapevine sometimes. One of the things that I loved through all the years of using the Grapevine is when they used to have the EPUB version. It was an electronic version. Because this is a technology workshop, I think it's important to talk about the technology, not just, like, the overall lens of, like, what the grapevine is, because, you know, this is presented in many different avenues, and the technology side of it, it's so important.

[27:00] Eldin: It doesn't have the EPUB that looks like a magazine on your web browser. It slides over the pages just like if I was reading the physical magazine, and I think that was such an important version that they just, like, removed when they decided to do this, website version. So that's it.

[27:19] Niurka M.: Oh, thank you for your comment. Thank you for your comment, Eldin. Yes, as you can see, sorry, because while you were explaining your point, I went directly to our apps landing page. Through then, I found the frequently asked question, in which one of the things that we put there is that the EPUB was just replaced by the apps. We were really mindful to keep the mobile style for every single article that you will see using the apps, but you are right. The EPUBs were replaced by the apps, even though, the EPUB product at that moment, gave you the experience of flipping through the pages. Nowadays, it's just more… more,

[28:07] Niurka M.: app view, if I can tell that way. It's still, you know, mobile-friendly and, you know, easy to scroll up and down, but yeah, you are right, you are right, the EPUB was totally replaced in 2023 by the apps.

[28:26] Buck R.: Thank you for the answer. Niurka and Wendell, everyone's gonna clap for you now. We're grateful for you being here. Thank you so much.

[28:36] Wendell O.: Thank you.

[28:38] Buck R.: And, no, we're going.