When you buy recovery literature through the International Service Organization of SAA, where do the profits go? In fact, why are there profits at all? Why not just sell the literature at cost or a little above?

Good questions. First, in order for the ISO of SAA to carry out its work of service to the fellowship and to the still suffering addict, there has to be a place, phones, a staff. There are utilities to be paid, supplies, insurance -- all the expenses of operating an office. There are also costs related to the Board and committees, particularly the Literature Committee which is responsible for SAA literature. Plus our bimonthly newsletter, the Plain Brown Rapper, is mailed free to every registered SAA group, to inmates, and to anyone else who requests it. There is also the cost of running the web site and operating the on-line store.

The way we stand today, income from member contributions covers only about 40-45% of our costs. Although the SAA Annual Convention can be a source of income, the amount varies greatly and, realistically, it might be counted on for less than 20% our income. This means that as much as 40% of the bills must be paid out of proceeds from literature sales.

In addition to meeting its other expenses, the ISO reaches out, sending SAA literature and a literature catalog to all who request information about the program. It is not unusual to receive 3-5 such requests each day. Free literature is also supplied to all prison inmates who request it, and their numbers continue to grow each year.

So when you purchase literature from the ISO, you are paying for the literature that these suffering addicts desperately need. For most, it is their first contact with recovery. And for many, it is their only support in recovery.