The video "Bill Discusses the Twelve Traditions"
is available from GSO (VS-20).  It is in the
current catalog in the AV material section
catalog number (VS-20) a 1/2 in VHS video price
$15.00.  ** Bill Discusses the Twelve Traditions
-- Bill W. tells how the principles safeguarding
AA unity developed. 60 minutes.

I own a copy of this video and have dubed it
to DVD to save it for future use.  My VCR only
works intermittantly and find that DVD format
is the way to go...

I have noticed that many of the AV materials
GSO offers are on VHS format.  Even at a recent
Area meeting there was extensive discussion on
producing materials in DVD format vice VHS
format... .I believe it was the ASL signing of
the Big Book which is available however excludes
most of the stories from the back of the book.

You may contact GSO to receive a catalog of
materials available their number is 1-212-870-3312
/ this is also the order number if you decide
to order the VHS tape.

Hope this was helpful.



C h u c k   D a v i d
cuzimacowboy2@...
Litrature & GV rep
Oak Harbor Group
Oak Harbor, WA

- - - - - - -

Thanks to all, we got the same information
from a number of our members:

"Bent Christensen" <bent_christensen5@...>
(bent_christensen5 at yahoo.com)

"Chris Budnick" <cbudnick@...>
(cbudnick at nc.rr.com)

alan dobson <dobbo101@...>
(dobbo101 at yahoo.com)

Bill Lash <barefootbill@...>
(barefootbill at optonline.net)
"momaria33772" <jhoffma6@...>
(jhoffma6 at tampabay.rr.com)

Gary Rohde <feelgoodcp@...>
(feelgoodcp at yahoo.com)

ROGER WHEATLEY <chief_roger@...>
(chief_roger at yahoo.com)

The Just for Today cards are actively used in
AA in Australia.

Best wishes from Australia

Ollie

- - -

> "Can anyone tell me where the just for today cards
> we use in the UK originate from. Also are they used
> in the rest of the world, USA, etc.?"

We have a small group of AA's from Baltimore that
want to visit Akron in Feb or March 2007.

Any recommendations about who to talk to, what
to see , where to stay, etc...?

It would be nice to get a good plan together
before we leave.  Dr. Bob's House, Seiberling
Estate, Mayflower Hotel, Dr Bob's Hospital,
etc.

thanks

Rob W.
Baltimore
410-328-8549


Robert White, University of Maryland,
Baltimore, Department of Psychiatry

I was given a copy of Mary Darrah's biography
of Sister Ignatia for Christmas.

Early on the book mentions that soon after Sr
Ignatia's death there was some thought that
she might be canonized. Does anyone know if
any progress was made in that direction?

   Jim C.

- - -

From the moderator:

I have been given to understand that, whenever
the subject of starting the canonization
process for Sister Ignatia is brought up in
Catholic Church circles, the immediate
response is apt to be that Mary Darrah ought
to initiate and oversee the process, as the
one most qualified to do it.

Mary tells me that it takes a whole lot of
money to do all of the extensive research
necessary to carry out that process, and
that she does not have the funds (and I
would suspect probably doesn't have the
time either) to initiate and supervise such
an extremely involved process.

It involves truly massive research into
the candidate's whole background in enormous
detail, and is apt to require a widespread
campaign involving hundreds (if not thousands)
of supporters to get someone canonized as a
saint.

But if there is some group already working
seriously on campaigning for Sister Ignatia's
canonization, a group that I don't know
about, please send us a message.

Glenn Chesnut
South Bend, Indiana

P.S. Not to detract from Sister Ignatia's
extraordinary labors and spiritual power,
we already have an alcoholic saint.

St. Monica (the mother of the great African
church father, St. Augustine) was a childhood
alcoholic, but was able to stop drinking by
turning to the spiritual life.  Augustine
tells her story in his "Confessions."

That's St. Monica, as in Santa Monica,
California.

Augustine himself was what we would call
today a sexual addict, who could not stop
his compulsive womanizing until he finally
realized that he had to do the same thing
that his mother had done to deal with her
alcoholism.  It worked for his problem too,
which is one of the major themes in his
"Confessions."

I heard a tape of Bill Wilson talking about the
12 Traditions, dated 1969.

Towards the end of the tape, he mentioned that
his talk was being filmed.  He also stated that
the film was only for AA use.

Does anyone know of such a film, and if so, how
to obtain a copy?

I recently p/u a 12x12 on eBay that does not
list a printing number.

The copyrights are 1952, 1953, and 1981 and has
"First Printing, April 1953" right under the
copyright declaration.

The footnote on p. 18 says "In 1990, A.A. is
established in 134 countries."

Does this volume have a printing number and
the publisher forgot to note it?

Tommy H in Baton Rouge

I have always been taken by the talks I have
heard on Tape of Burnie Smith. I wanted to ask
if anyone knows were I could aquire his talks
on disk (CD). I asked GSO and their reply was
that they have them but are not sure who owned
the copyright and are working on that.

So if anyone can tell me were I can get any
and all of his talks please drop me a line or
posting.  I have some in text but the delivery
means so much.

<feelgoodcp@...>
(feelgoodcp at yahoo.com)

First, I apologize for confusing Barry Leach and
Jerome Ellison in my earlier post.  Mel:  thanks
for catching that so gently.

Second, as I remember it, I saw the "attack"
piece (also by Ellison rather than Leach) in
manuscript form -- I cannot now recall where it
was published, though I believe it was submitted
to the Saturday Evening Post.  Mel, perhaps you
can again be of help here?  Your memory is truly
amazing -- far better than my notes or archives.

Thanks again, to all who contribute to our wider
and deeper appreciation of AA's full story.

ernie kurtz

__________________________

pgbunnyca wrote:
>
>
> From: "Ernest Kurtz" <kurtzern@...>
> (kurtzern at umich.edu)
>
> -- not to mention a scathing
> attack on the political conservatism of the AA
> Board of Trustees.
>
> Is this article available online?
>
> Yours in Sobriety,
>
> Peter G.

I used to have a whole bunch of "Who Me?" pamphlets
printed by Cleveland AA Central Committee in the early
days. I do believe these were green in color.

It is quite often difficult to ascertain where much of
this early literature originated unless there was
local documentation announcing it. AA groups around
the country obtained pamphlets etc. from other groups
or traveling members and in turn, published them as
their own. I had several pamphlets, all the same but
often with different titles and all published by
different AA entities.

"Our Charge," "If God Spoke to AA," and others all
contained a portion of a speech given by Judge John M.
T. in Chicago in the early 1940's. This pamphlet/card
showed up all across the US often with "author
unknown" or anonymous or the name of a well known
local AA member as the person this was taken from. It
all was pretty much the same portion of that early
Chicago address.
________________________________

From: "John Wikelius" <nov85_gr@...>
(nov85_gr at graceba.net)

The "Who Me" brochure

I wrote one with the same name this year
2006.  Encompasses why the newcomer is so
important to AA.
________________________________

> I would like more information on the decision
> about the "Who Me" brochure since I believe it
> was developed and printed in Birmingham, Alabama,
> by Street Printing Company. Our own local archive
> does not have an original copy but we  are
> seeking some locally.
>
> Tim B
> District 6/7 Archive Chairman

There is an impressive display of early members
in the house next to Dr. Bob's on 855 Ardmore.
That house was purchased and turned into archives.
I have some pictures of the pictures if anyone
is interested.

Chris B.
Raleigh, NC

PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS DIRECTLY AT:
cbudnick@...
(cbudnick at nc.rr.com)

WE DON'T HAVE A "FORWARD" BUTTON
ON THE YAHOO GROUP SYSTEM

I was hoping that someone else would respond to
this question so that I could get additional
history on this subject. In Philadelphia we have
what is referred to as a Green Card. (Don't
confuse it with immigration.)

The first page has AA on the top, and under that
it says "But for the Grace of God. Miracles Do
Happen" then it has "A guide to Living" which
consists of four short sentences.

Beneath that is the Intergroup office address
and telephone  number.

The middle two pages consist of "Just for Today"
and the back page is "Yesterday- Today-Tomorrow."

We were not sure of its origin but we thought
it came from Cleveland. I remember our office
manager contacting Cleveland Intergroup and
asking if we "borrowed " it from them. They said
they thought they "borrowed "it from us.

Since it is published by an Intergroup no
permission is needed from General Service to
make it available. Many members carry it in
their wallets and when I first came around
I was told to read a paragraph a day from
this lifesaving can-opener.

I hope others can elaborate further on this
subject.

YIS

Shakey Mike Gwirtz

"Can anyone tell me where the just for today cards
we use in the UK originate from. Also are they used
in the rest of the world, USA, etc.?"

The Just For Today card comes from Al-Anon.  One
can purchase them from Al-Anon as well as Hazelden
and other resources devoted to recovery services.

tmd

From: "Ernest Kurtz" <kurtzern@...>
(kurtzern at umich.edu)

   -- not to mention a scathing
  attack on the political conservatism of the AA
  Board of Trustees.

  Is this article available online?

  Yours in Sobriety,

  Peter G.

Hi Friends,

   I concur that B.L. from Manhattan was Barry
Leach.  I took a photo of him with Lois at AA's
45th anniversary in Akron; the speaker was Jack
Bailey of "Queen for a Day" fame.

   But I don't think Barry wrote "Twelve Steps
and the Older Member," or at least the series I
remember by that name.  The author of that
series was Jerome Ellison, who had once held
good positions with The Readers Digest and
Colliers Magazine.   He followed up his GV series
with another called "Twelve Steps and the Older
Member Revisited," or something like that.

   Jerry was editor of the Grapevine very briefly
in the early 1960s.  He was a very good writer
and had done several books.  The book I liked,
and still have, is "Report to the Creator,"
which covers his drinking, collapse, and recovery.

   I met Jerry once at the Grapevine offices and
later on at his home in Guilford, CT.   He died
some years ago at age 73.

Mel Barger

melb@...
(melb at accesstoledo.com)

All twelve of the articles are (I believe) in
Volume I of The Best of the Grapevine -- though
not in order.  Perhaps they could be reprinted
in order by the Grapevine -- or, failing that,
by the Archives in NYC?

I would like more information on the decision
about the "Who Me" brochure since I believe it
was developed and printed in Birmingham, Alabama,
by Street Printing Company. Our own local archive
does not have an original copy but we  are
seeking some locally.

Tim B
District 6/7 Archive Chairman




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Are there any pictures of the First 100?

- - -

From the moderator:

Closer to forty than a hundred.  But some
versions of Nancy Olson's biographies of the
authors of the stories in the Big Book have
photos (when they could be found).  See
http://www.a-1associates.com/aa/Authors.htm
for one version that has the photos.

There used to be nice large photos of some of
the early people hanging on the wall in one of
the archives in Akron, I believe the one next
door to Dr. Bob's house.

Use Google, which has a button to click where
you can look for images instead of text.

Other members of the group can probably give
us some valuable online sources of early AA
photos, which I hope they will do.

Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana)

From Mitchell K., Tom White, and Ernie Kurtz:
it was Barry Leach.

- - -

From: "Mitchell K." <mitchell_k_archivist@...>
(mitchell_k_archivist at yahoo.com)

Could be Barry Leach (author of Living Sober).

- - -

From: Tom White <tomwhite@...>
(tomwhite at cableone.net)

A good guess for BL of Manhattan is the late
Barry Leach, a very considerable scribe, a good
friend (secty?) to Lois, and author of the
popular AAWS title Living Sober.

- - -

From: "Ernest Kurtz" <kurtzern@...>
(kurtzern at umich.edu)

The "B.L." inquired about in a recent post was
Barry Leach, who was also the main author of the
AA book on spirituality called "Living Sober"
and the pamphlet/series "Twelve Steps for the
Older Member" -- not to mention a scathing
attack on the political conservatism of the AA
Board of Trustees.

- - -

Message 3954 from <rmcmillan5630@...>
(rmcmillan5630 at yahoo.com) asked:

> Hello all and best wishes!  I am doing some
> research on the Traditions and found a series of
> articles in the Grapevine Archives written by a
> B. L., Manhattan, NY.  Each article seems to be
> a "checklist" for each one the traditions.
>
> I visited our archives and searched on B.L. to
> no avail.  Can someone help me out, please?
>
> Gratefully yours,
>
> rm
>
>

Hi John,

I have a 25th printing and it is the larger style.
The title page gives Hazelden Center City as being
the publishers. The same as the 23rd & 24th
printings of 1969 & 1970. In 1996 Hazelden issued
a 50th anniversary edition in the same format.

In fellowship - Dudley



In a message dated 12/14/06 02:02:38 GMT Standard Time, nov85_gr@...
writes:

Was the 25th printing the larger format?

To the AAhistorylover's group,

   I send my personal thanks, and another apology,
in case anyone was inconvenienced by the problems
that I had this year presenting accurate times
for the Ceremony itself.

   With many thanks to you, the ceremony itself
was a success, and very moving for those of us
who were present...I like to think that we each
brought a little of that light home with us.
With your support the size of the affair has
more than doubled from the first year's
attendance, and we are hoping that with
additional recognition the size will continue
to grow in the next few years until we reach
that magic  "more than one hundred men and
women" number that is mentioned in the Forward
to the First Edition of the Big book in 1939.

   This year following dinner at a local restaurant
eight of us walked the two and one half blocks
to Townes Hospital to discover that several of
you were there and waiting for us with more to
arrive shortly including a wonderful couple from
London in the U.K.  With their presence, there
were three countries, the US, Mexico, and the UK,
and people from various cities and places
including New York, Ohio and Akron, Stepping
Stones from upstate New York, and New Jersey
represented at the Candlelight gathering.

Some arrived earlier in the day, and some later
still at night, with the result that at least
twenty were able to visit and pay their respects...
the following evening we removed the Candle from
the window in a similar ceremony to the first.

We hope to see more of you next year,  and we
wish to thank those who were able to attend this
year, (and those of you here, in Denmark, and
certain Groups in Mexico who were with us in
spirit).

I came away with a spiritual charge and a sense
of recommitment and dedication to our AA
Fellowship.

   Many thanks too, to the friend's of AA that
made this event possible by opening their hearts
and homes to our spiritual quest, and allowing
the candle to remain, lit, in what is now a
private residence.

   Along the way I made a lot of new friends
with members of this group who met us in different
places including Stepping Stones, on the streets
of New York, and at our New York GSO Archives.
It was a special journey for me, it helps to
open my eyes to the amazing journey which we
have taken, and are still undertaking, as a
fellowhip in a very large and still expanding
global village.

   If you feel the need for, or might enjoy a
modern pilgrimage, we'll be there again next
year.

   Thanks again to this group,
   Woody in Akron

-- In AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com, "dobbo101"
<dobbo101@...> wrote:
>
> Can anyone tell me where the just for today cards
> we use in the UK originate from. Also are they used
> in the rest of the world, USA, etc.?
>
Your question about the Just For Today card used
in Great Britain AA is interesting.  I had never
seen it in 18 years of sobriety in the USA.

I only encountered it after moving to Europe in
2002 and becoming involved in AA through Continental
European Region.

I have a copy of the Conference Digest from its
beginnings 1965-2006.  I searched it for references
hoping to learn when and if this pamphlet was
approved by the autonomous GSC of Great Britain.
They do publish much of their own literature now
and in addition to creating some helpful products,
have sought permission and "anglicized" much AA
literature ordinarily published and Conference
Approved by the USA/Canada conference.

The card as a piece of literature has an interesting
history.  It seems to have been in use in Great
Britain since at least 1971.  The Digest is broken
down into subject areas.  I earliest reference in
the section titled AA Members.  It appears to be
a report from a workshop on how to treat newcomers.

1971 Conference Report
AA Members (among other suggestions, this one
appears):

"Before he leaves the meeting, "Who Me?" – "Just
For Today" – "Introduction to AA" and so on,
along with a list of the groups available in the
area, and possibly at the foot of this an emergency
telephone number to ring in case of urgent need.
A copy of the "Newsletter" and "The Roundabout"
may well help."

Under the subject called "Groups" what seems to
be a collective response to a question posed to
conference, this quote appears.

1974 Conference Report
Groups
"The response to the question contained in this
Committee's title, "What Message?" was immediate
and positive:  "The message of the programme of
recovery as presented in the Twelve Steps, The
Twelve Traditions, the Big Book, and the Preamble."
Mention was made of the Just For Today Card as
being one means of preparing the soil in which
the seed of the message will be planted to help
the still suffering alcoholic."

From 1978 to 1981 reference to this literature
appears in the Trustees Literature Committee
report.  Interestingly they appear to have
questioned and determined the copyright had
either expired or did not exist and moved to
accept the piece as Conference-approved
literature.

1978 Conference Report
CONFERENCE APPROVED LITERATURE

"The committee does not feel able to recommend
that the seven leaflets:
15 Points to Consider
Introduction to AA
Who Me?
Just For Today
What is AA?
Should become Conference Approved literature,
although it is accepted that they will continue
to be used widely in the Fellowship as aids,
particularly to new members, in achieving and
maintaining sobriety."

1979 Conference Report
LITERATURE
"iv) Copyright.  It was reported to the committee
that the leaflet "Just For Today" was no longer
covered by the copyright laws and that it could
be freely printed by A.A."

1981 Conference Report
"Item 5
The Committee considered the Twelfth Step Wallet,
and agreed its usefulness as holder for Literature.
Four items were considered for inclusion in
the Wallet as a Twelfth Step Pack.  These were
"A Newcomer Asks", "Preamble Card", "Is AA For
You?", and the Just For Today Card.

It was felt however, that only Conference-approved
literature be provided and the question of
copyright for the Just For Today Card was raised.
This had been fully investigated and reported on
by the Fourteenth General Service Conference in
1979 and found to be free of restriction.  This
being no known impediment, the Committee therefore
recommends that the Just For Today Card be given
Conference-approval and included in the Twelfth
Step Pack."

The card was later referred to in a 1984 Prison
Committee report:

1984 Conference Report
Prisons (AA Aftercare)
"There was general agreement on helping released
prisoners.  The important factors were the meeting
of prisoners on release and ensuring at their
destination.  One area arranged for a "Just For
Today" card to be given to the prisoner on release
with a contact telephone number written on it –
an idea that was warmly received by the Committee."

I am looking for original research or reports
about the first  AA Southern Regional meeting
and the first meeting of the Commission on
Education with Respect to Alcoholism as created
by Act 115 of the Alabama Legislature June 16,
1945.

They were held one day apart in September or
October  of that year.

Tim B



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello all and best wishes!  I am doing some
research on the Traditions and found a series of
articles in the Grapevine Archives written by a
B. L., Manhattan, NY.  Each article seems to be
a "checklist" for each one the traditions.

I visited our archives and searched on B.L. to
no avail.  Can someone help me out, please?

Gratefully yours,

rm

Just thinking ahead... the National Archives
Workshop is less than 9 months away.

All AAHL's, if you can, Mark your calendars for
Sept. 6-9 2007 in Bright Sunny WARM Phoenix,
Arizona.

Shakey Mike and Anne Marie will be there and are
looking forward to re- acquainting with Vicki
there and everyone who was in Baton Rouge as
well as the other cities who previously hosted
this fine event.

They'll have to go to some length to beat the
hospitality shown to us by Bobby and his
Louisiana chefs.

I've got some idea of the history of this event
and know that Akron Intergroup archives was
probably responsible. Does anyone have a more
detailed history of this workshop?

Freezing in the Philadelphia fog,
Shakey Mike Gwirtz

- - -

From the moderator:

I have tried to get Gail LaC. in Akron to write
up an account of how she and some of her fellow
AA people started the workshops in Akron, because
that (and Nancy Olson's forming of the
AAHistoryLovers in March 2000) were two signs
of a major grassroots awareness beginning to
arise all over the AA world, that maintaining
contact with our historical roots was vitally
important to the continued health of AA.

My understanding is that the first National
Archives Workshop in Akron in 1996 was fairly
sparsely attended, but that it went so well,
that everyone there insisted that it be
continued, and started spreading the word.

The Northern Indiana Area 22 Archives Committee
tossed me in a van and brought me to the second
one, also in Akron, in 1997, and it was
absolutely awesome. I got to have dinner with
Ernie Kurtz (that is when he and I first met)
and meet Mary Darrah, and hear Henrietta
Seiberling's son speak.

But Gail LaC. is the one who could write this
story down with all the details.

Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana)

From: Robyn Mitchell <dollyleggs1@...>
(dollyleggs1 at bigpond.com)

Hey Guys,

A while ago someone asked about where 'Just for
Today' came from.

In 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living',
Dale Carnegie says that Sybil F. Partridge wrote
it in 1912.

Regards,
Robyn



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hey Guys,

Has anyone ever read Leslie D Weatherhead? I have
three of his books -- 'Discipleship', 'Prescription
for Anxiety' and 'A Private House of Prayer.'

In 'Discipleship' he mentions the Oxford Group
in the introduction, where the 'chapter headings
are words which are being very much emphasized
at present (1934) by the Oxford Group Movement to
which I, personally owe a great debt..'

Later in the book he relates how a change in his
attitudes came about as the result of having been
'challenged by the Oxford Groups ...'

Each chapter is a transcript of addresses he
made at a Methodist Summer School, the prose is
very accessible and open and there are several
phrases which echo the future text that Bill
wrote.

Does anyone know if Bill read Weatherhead?

Regards,
Robyn

Hello,

Bill W. wrote (Concept XII): "In another
instance in an overseas area there was some
rather bad publicity when a considerable section
of the groups there became convinced they ought
to accept money subsidies from their country’s
government to promote A.A. work, the A.A.
Tradition notwithstanding. This internal
difficulty should not have surfaced before the
public because there was certainly nothing about
it that mutual understanding and good temper
could not have readily handled."

Where can I find some document that shows this
"overseas area" was Finland?

At the beginning of the sixties there was a
litigation in Finland (between those who
accepted money subsidies and those who did not).

Have a great day.

Teemu
Jyvaskyla, Finland

On page 135 in the 12 & 12, as cited in "As Bill
Sees It," page 138, the term is "Bleeding Deacons."
This would seem to predate a 1962 "Grapevine"
column.

Jim S.

- - -

From the moderator. The reference is to the
chapter on the Second Tradition, where the
section reads as follows:

This brings us straight to the question "Does
A.A. have a real leadership?" Most emphatically
the answer is "Yes, notwithstanding the apparent
lack of it."  Let's turn again to the deposed
founder and his friends.  What becomes of them?
As their grief and anxiety wear away, a subtle
change begins.  Ultimately, they divide into two
classes known in A.A. slang as "elder statesmen"
and "bleeding deacons."  The elder statesman is
the one who sees the wisdom of the group's
decision, who holds no resentment over his
reduced status, whose judgment, fortified by
considerable experience, is sound, and who is
willing to sit quietly on the sidelines patiently
awaiting developments.  The bleeding deacon is
one who is just as surely convinced that the
group cannot get along without him, who constantly
connives for reelection to office, and who
continues to be consumed with self-pity.  A few
hemorrhage so badly that - drained of all A.A.
spirit and principal - they get drunk.  At times
the A.A. landscape seems to be littered with
bleeding forms.  Nearly every oldtimer in our
Society has gone through this process in some
degree.  Happily, most of them survive and live
to become elder statesmen.  They become the real
and permanent leadership of A.A. Theirs is the
quiet opinion, the sure knowledge and humble
example that resolve a crisis.  When sorely
perplexed, the group inevitably turns to them
for advice.  They become the voice of the
group conscience; in fact, these are the true
voice of Alcoholics Anonymous.  They do not
drive by mandate; they lead by example.  This
is the experience which has led us to the
conclusion that our group conscience, well-
advised by its elders, will be in the long run
wiser than any single leader.

Bill W.'s 1960 response to a Chicago Group for
taking his inventory

Good Day AA History Lovers,

In listening to track 8, Disk 7, of "Big Book
Workshop" facilitated by Scott L. and Bob D.;
read was a response letter which was written
by Bill W. to the Chicago group who had sent
Bill W. a seething letter taking his inventory.

Any of you Buffs know where it may be found in
a literature piece for further documentation?

The letter reads (as transcribed from the CD):

(A letter from a group in Chicago was mailed to
Bill W. in 1960, taking his inventory and this
was Bill W's response. Bill was 26 years sober
at the time.)

"That you seemed disillusioned with me personally
may be a new and painful experience for you but
many members have had that experience with me.
Most of their pain has been caused not only by
my several shortcomings but by their own insistence
on placing me, a drunk, trying to get along with
other folks, upon a completely illusionary
pedestal; a station which no fallible person
could possible occupy."

"I'm sure that you will understand that I have
never held myself out to anybody as either a
saint or a superman.  I have repeatedly and
truthfully said that A.A. is full of people who
have made more spiritual progress than I ever,
or can make.  That in some areas of living I
have made some decided gains but in others I
seem to have stood still.  And in others, still
other ways I may have gone backwards.  I am
sorry that you are disillusioned with me but I
am happy that even I have found a life here."

Bill Wilson
1960

Any info would be an AA vitamin for me.

Thx. and AA Hugs -0- -0- -0-
Dave G.
Illinois

I would like to second the sentiment it would be
great if we had access to the original author's
last revision of The Little Red Book.

In addition, I'd like to comment on the line of
historical thought which claims meetings aren't
vital to recovery.

In order to do this, I'll just list some quotes
from "A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous," From
AA Group No. 1, Akron, Ohio, 1940, from Dr. Bob's
home group  referenced from:

http://www.barefootsworld.net/aamanual.html

Of course, this has been referenced many times
before in this group (see the Search function),
so I'm not breaking any new ground here.  I just
thought I'd cull the statements which mention
meetings.  Inference is risky, I know, but I
"infer" that Dr. Bob's influence on his own
group was strong enough to ensure this manual
did not go out to the newcomer containing views
which he himself did not subscribe to.

>>>When your patient is out of the hospital your
work has not ended.  It is now your duty not only
to him but to yourself to see that he starts out
on the right foot.  Accompany him to his first
meeting. <<<

>>>There may be a meeting of an A.A. group. Attend
it without question. You have no valid excuse
except sickness or being out of town, for not
attending.<<<

>>>Your sponsor will take you to your first
meeting. You will find it new, but inspirational.
You will find an atmosphere of peace and
contentment that you didn't know existed ....
After you have attended several meetings it will
be your duty to get up on your feet and say
something.<<<

>>>AT MEETINGS don't criticize the leader.<<<

>>>IT HAS BEEN found advisable to hold meetings
at least once a week at a specified time and place.
Meetings provide a means for an exchange of ideas,
the renewing of friendships, opportunity to
review the work being carried on, a sense of
security, and an additional reminder that we
are alcoholics and must be continuously on the
alert against the temptation to slip backward into
the old drunken way of living.

In larger communities where there are several
groups it is recommended that the new member
attend as many meetings as possible. He will
find that the more he is exposed to A.A. the
sooner he will absorb its principles, the
easier it will become to remain sober, and
the sooner problems will shrink and tend to
disappear. <<<

>>>So attend your first meeting with an open
mind. Even if you aren't impressed try it again.
Before long you will genuinely enjoy attending
and a little later you will feel that the week
has been incomplete if you have not attended at
least one A.A. meeting.<<<

>>>Remember that attendance at meetings is one
of the most important requisites of remaining
sober.<<< [note: this was bold print in the
original document]