GUEST SPEAKER
Albin Z.
No stranger to the inner (and outer) workings of AA Grapevine, Albin Z. took over as publisher and chief executive of AA Grapevine, Inc., In February 2019. A longtime resident of Long Beach, New York, Albin got sober in 1989 and quickly got active, serving as group literature chair and clean-up person and taking on a monthly commitment as chairperson of meetings at a New York City rehab and a local detox. In later years, his service continued on the Grapevine Editorial Advisory Board (2006- 08); as a nontrustee director on the Grapevine Board (2009-13); as a Class B (alcoholic) trustee to the General Service Board (2013-16); and, most recently, as G.S.O.’s director of administration and services (2016-19).
In addition to his broad knowledge and familiarity with the A.A. service structure and the relationship between A.A.’s three corporate entities (the General Service Board, AA Grapevine, Inc. and A.A. World Services, Inc.), Albin spent 30 years in the publishing industry, most recently as associate publisher of a news- paper company headquartered in New Rochelle, New York. There, he managed a staff of 32 full-time and 14 part-time employees who put out four community weeklies, a Spanish-language daily, a New York City trade weekly and numerous other publications.
At its core, says Albin, Grapevine is very simple. “We share the experience, strength and hope of A.A. members — stories of individual recovery — that create identification, exchange vital information about working the program, and amplify the very heartbeat of today’s A.A.”
In addition to his broad knowledge and familiarity with the A.A. service structure and the relationship between A.A.’s three corporate entities (the General Service Board, AA Grapevine, Inc. and A.A. World Services, Inc.), Albin spent 30 years in the publishing industry, most recently as associate publisher of a news- paper company headquartered in New Rochelle, New York. There, he managed a staff of 32 full-time and 14 part-time employees who put out four community weeklies, a Spanish-language daily, a New York City trade weekly and numerous other publications.
At its core, says Albin, Grapevine is very simple. “We share the experience, strength and hope of A.A. members — stories of individual recovery — that create identification, exchange vital information about working the program, and amplify the very heartbeat of today’s A.A.”
