A young people's conference is not unlike many other conferences held by other groups of AA's at various different hotels. Though each young people's conference is put on by a separate, autonomous group, most have a few common elements: marathon (around the clock) AA meetings, keynote AA speakers, a sobriety countdown, dances, a banquet dinner, and gallons upon gallons of coffee.

We want you and we need you! All ages are welcome to participate in committees as well as attend events and the conference.

Throughout the year, the NHSCYPAA host committe collects sponsored registrations for those who would like to attend the conference but can't afford to do so.

Sponsored registrations are available on a first come, first served basis at the conference, so show up early!

A bid is a proposal to host the conference in your city. Every year at the conference the advisory council holds a session where the different bid committees can present their bids. After a committee is awarded the bid, that committee disbands and forms a new host committee. For more information, see the "bids" section of the website.

A bid committee consists of a chair, co-chair, secretary, treasurer, hotel site chair, and other members. The purpose of the bid committee is to create a proposal to hold the conference in accordance with our bid requirements. More information on the bidding process is available in the bids section of the website.

The NHSCYPAA advisory council and host committee are two separate, autonomous bodies in accordance with AA's 12 Traditions.

The advisory council is ultimately responsible for making sure that the conference goes on, and that the experience and history of past host committees is kept alive to share in the future. The advisory council only takes over the planning and execution of the conference if there is no suitable committee in place to do so.

The host committee is responsible for putting on the conference. Over the course of about a year, it plans the conference as well as events to outreach the conference and to raise awareness of NHSCYPAA. At the conference, the host committee is responsible for making things go as smoothly as possible.

The following excerpts are from our bylaws:

The NHSCYPAA Advisory Council is comprised of members from past NHSCYPAA Host Committees. It is a custodial body that preserves the efforts, experience, and history of NHSCYPAA. The advisory council does not speak for Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole. The advisory council is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the annual conference takes place.

The Host Committee operates under the AA guidelines for conferences and conventions, consisting of officers, sub-committee and committee members. The host committee shall remain autonomous from the advisory council except in matters affecting other conferences or AA as a whole.

NHSCYPAA stands for the New Hampshire State Conference of young people in Alcoholics Anonymous.

For more clarification on what we do, see the following excerpt from our bylaws:

The New Hampshire State Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (NHSCYPAA) is a group of young men and women who work together within the state and local community to assist others in recovering from alcoholic addiction. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety through hosting an annual conference and other activities throughout the year to carry the message to alcoholics who still suffer. NHSCYPAA operates in accordance with the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous.