1 Mike F presented by 1 Mike F – 2025-08-05

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown Listen to Workshop Recording

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown 1 Mike F speaking on "1 Mike F" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (August 05, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:03.180 – 00:00:07.440] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:18

[00 00:07.440 – 00:00:09.880] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

0:21

[00 00:09.880 – 00:00:19.219] And, uh, tonight is a presentation led by Mike F.

0:26

[00 00:19.219 – 00:00:21.300] on 855 Ardmore.

0:27

[00 00:21.300 – 00:00:26.440] We meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:34

[00 00:26.440 – 00:00:31.500] And next week will be, uh, to be announced.

0:38

[00 00:31.500 – 00:00:33.259] We're, uh, we're not sure yet.

0:40

[00 00:33.259 – 00:00:44.280] So this meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation as well as all of our past presentations can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:51

[00 00:44.280 – 00:00:54.299] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and

1:00

[00 00:54.299 – 00:00:55.740] other 12-step fellowships.

1:02

[00 00:55.740 – 00:01:05.859] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and, and making the audio history of AA

1:08

[00 01:05.859 – 00:01:10.099] and the 12-step movement available for everyone today and in the future.

1:13

[00 01:10.099 – 00:01:17.569] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:20

[00 01:17.569 – 00:01:26.200] Included in the daily emails are links to the recordings of this meeting, as well as information about our upcoming history presentations.

1:29

[00 01:26.200 – 00:01:36.280] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I shared in the chat a minute ago, or you can send me an email at

1:42

[00 01:36.280 – 00:01:42.400] info@recoveryspeakers.com, and I will get you added to our daily email list.

1:48

[00 01:42.400 – 00:01:48.799] And Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c][3] public charity.

1:52

[00 01:48.799 – 00:01:59.299] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and you can make contributions through the QR code on the screen now

2:04

[00 01:59.299 – 00:02:01.180] or the link that I shared in the chat.

2:08

[00 02:01.180 – 00:02:11.219] And also in the chat, I shared it a few minutes ago, I will share again, but we have sent out a, a letter, um,

2:18

[00 02:11.219 – 00:02:18.879] about a fundraiser that we are hosting right now, and Mike can tell you more about that, as well as you can read the letter that is in the chat.

2:30

[00 02:18.879 – 00:02:22.919] I will share it again now for anyone joining us late.

2:35

[00 02:22.919 – 00:02:32.960] And tonight we should have some time for Q&A at the end of the meeting, so if you have any questions for Mike, please write them down and be

2:48

[00 02:32.960 – 00:02:43.099] prepared to ask them, m- uh, I was just about to say next week because he just texted me saying this might be part one and part two might have to be next week.

3:02

[00 02:43.099 – 00:02:46.319] So, um, that is it for me.

3:05

[00 02:46.319 – 00:02:48.639] I am going to go ahead and turn it over to Mike.

3:10

[00 02:48.639 – 00:02:53.259] I have to unmute.

3:12

[00 02:53.259 – 00:02:54.560] Thank you, Tim.

3:14

[00 02:54.560 – 00:02:57.620] And thank you everyone for joining us.

3:17

[00 02:57.620 – 00:03:02.159] It, uh, it's an exciting day for us for many reasons.

3:22

[00 03:02.159 – 00:03:06.080] Um, one, I was able to revise this presentation.

3:26

[00 03:06.080 – 00:03:08.019] Some of you have seen it before.

3:29

[00 03:08.019 – 00:03:10.699] We've done it a couple of times on the road.

3:33

[00 03:10.699 – 00:03:17.280] Um, but I wanted to, I wanted to spice it up a little bit and add some things, and I was able to do that.

3:44

[00 03:17.280 – 00:03:27.960] But part of the challenge that I have with it is, uh, I have 41 minutes of audio in this presentation, and that's the,

3:53

[00 03:27.960 – 00:03:31.120] the most audio I've ever used in a presentation.

3:57

[00 03:31.120 – 00:03:36.520] And I, I spent most of the afternoon trying to figure out w-what I should remove.

4:04

[00 03:36.520 – 00:03:45.979] And, uh, the person who was doing, uh, a presentation for us next week, um, is unable to do it.

4:12

[00 03:45.979 – 00:03:55.219] So I'm going to go ahead and see how this goes, how smoothly it goes and where we're at, at about an hour.

4:22

[00 03:55.219 – 00:03:58.860] And if I feel like I can wrap it up, I will.

4:27

[00 03:58.860 – 00:04:02.080] But if not, I'll stop it at a good place.

4:32

[00 04:02.080 – 00:04:10.500] Next week we'll do s- part two, and I'll just do a little bit of a review and then into it if that's what we need to do.

4:43

[00 04:10.500 – 00:04:12.439] So I'm gonna relax.

4:45

[00 04:12.439 – 00:04:14.620] I'd love for you guys all to relax.

4:49

[00 04:14.620 – 00:04:24.689] Uh, the excitement today, we kicked off a fundraiser, and the fundraiser is for phase one of a project that we're doing and, uh, it's

4:59

[00 04:24.689 – 00:04:25.600] going to involve...

5:01

[00 04:25.600 – 00:04:35.319] We recently picked up a, a, a library of reel-to-reel tapes that came out of Akron, Cleveland, and then we have some of ours that aren't done yet.

5:12

[00 04:35.319 – 00:04:45.360] So we don't even know what's on the, on the, uh, agenda or on the tapes for the Cleveland, Akron, but there's over

5:22

[00 04:45.360 – 00:04:46.319] 2,000 of them.

5:23

[00 04:46.319 – 00:04:50.899] So we've got a pretty hefty goal financially.

5:27

[00 04:50.899 – 00:04:52.439] We sent the letter out.

5:29

[00 04:52.439 – 00:05:02.439] Um, we're gonna, we're gonna ask people to dig a little deeper right now because if we can, if, if we can hit our goal of $100,000

5:40

[00 05:02.439 – 00:05:12.079] in August, we will be able to have the complete library digitized this year, and that's huge, folks.

5:48

[00 05:12.079 – 00:05:14.480] If we could do that, it would be incredible.

5:52

[00 05:14.480 – 00:05:24.699] And then phase two is going to be a new platform to provide for you, and everything will be searchable by keyword and,

6:01

[00 05:24.699 – 00:05:27.439] uh, there's gonna be just some incredible features.

6:05

[00 05:27.439 – 00:05:37.279] So we're really excited about that, and I only wanted to take a minute and, and say, you know, if you're able to help, this is a time where we really need the help.

6:19

[00 05:37.279 – 00:05:38.920] We've got a solid plan.

6:21

[00 05:38.920 – 00:05:40.800] We've got everything in place.

6:24

[00 05:40.800 – 00:05:51.160] Um, a little personal note, a lot of you know that I have been, uh, in the, uh, collectibles business and selling books

6:33

[00 05:51.160 – 00:05:53.000] for years, many years.

6:35

[00 05:53.000 – 00:06:03.060] And I'm taking that hat off and I'm putting on the Recovery Speakers hat because, uh, my goal before I'm done on this earth

6:45

[00 06:03.060 – 00:06:10.360] is to see Recovery Speakers completely digitized and have some great products for people to enjoy.

6:52

[00 06:10.360 – 00:06:15.519] So that's where I'm spending my time, and that's why I'm asking for your commitment.

6:58

[00 06:15.519 – 00:06:18.180] If you're able to, we really would appreciate it.

7:02

[00 06:18.180 – 00:06:25.779] I'm gonna now share my screen and open it up.

7:07

[00 06:25.779 – 00:06:34.910] Now participants can now see your output.

7:10

[00 06:34.910 – 00:06:35.740] Isn't that beautiful?

7:12

[00 06:35.740 – 00:06:36.259] Beautiful.

7:12

[00 06:36.259 – 00:06:43.459] Give me one minute, folks, till I figure out what I'm doing.

7:18

[00 06:43.459 – 00:06:47.120] There we go.

7:19

[00 06:47.120 – 00:06:54.100] And, uh, I can't see you, so I don't know if everybody can s- hear this.

7:26

[00 06:54.100 – 00:06:57.360] Yeah, it looks good.

7:28

[00 06:57.360 – 00:06:58.740] That's what I needed.

7:30

[00 06:58.740 – 00:06:59.420] Thank you.

7:31

[00 06:59.420 – 00:07:00.620] All right.

7:32

[00 07:00.620 – 00:07:04.579] This presentation is 855 Ardmore Avenue.

7:35

[00 07:04.579 – 00:07:11.680] And you know, I, I should give you a subtotal.

7:39

[00 07:11.680 – 00:07:14.550] 855 Ardmore A-

7:40

[00 07:14.682 – 00:07:15.033] Avenue.

7:41

[00 07:15.033 – 00:07:16.552] The work of Dr.

7:43

[00 07:16.552 – 00:07:18.173] Bob and Anne Smith.

7:45

[00 07:18.173 – 00:07:21.052] And here's AA co-founders, Dr.

7:48

[00 07:21.052 – 00:07:23.872] Robert Smith and Bill Wilson.

7:50

[00 07:23.872 – 00:07:25.913] Two sides of a dollar bill.

7:53

[00 07:25.913 – 00:07:30.133] I wanna share this before I even get going, because this has been so important to me.

8:00

[00 07:30.133 – 00:07:40.233] And that is, if I were to take a dollar bill and I put it between you and I right now and asked you to describe what you see, and I describe what I see, we'd both describe

8:16

[00 07:40.233 – 00:07:45.213] two entirely, entirely different versions of the exact same dollar bill.

8:20

[00 07:45.213 – 00:07:51.552] And the reason that that would be is because we'd be looking at it from a different angle.

8:28

[00 07:51.552 – 00:07:55.222] Alcoholics Anonymous history is very much that way.

8:32

[00 07:55.222 – 00:07:59.473] It depends on where we're getting the history and the information from.

8:37

[00 07:59.473 – 00:08:09.233] So our job, or our challenge is, is to disseminate this and figure out, you know, w- w- what path do I feel comfortable with?

8:47

[00 08:09.233 – 00:08:11.693] It's not a matter of right and wrong.

8:51

[00 08:11.693 – 00:08:17.213] It's a matter of, of information and learning to go to the source material.

8:57

[00 08:17.213 – 00:08:26.013] So a lot of what we're gonna do, uh, in this presentation is share source material from the people who did it.

9:06

[00 08:26.013 – 00:08:36.072] Now, in May of 1956, Bill Wilson and Eve Marsh were

9:10

[00 08:36.072 – 00:08:41.493] interviewed on the Martha Dean Radio Program in New York.

9:15

[00 08:41.493 – 00:08:46.013] And this clip you're gonna hear is a little clip from that.

9:20

[00 08:46.013 – 00:08:48.393] We have the actual original record.

9:23

[00 08:48.393 – 00:08:53.773] There was only one record made, and that record was given to Bill W.

9:29

[00 08:53.773 – 00:08:56.353] So the record that we have is from Bill.

9:33

[00 08:56.353 – 00:09:06.853] We have had it professionally, um, digitized and archived from Tom R., from AA History Lovers,

9:40

[00 09:06.853 – 00:09:09.572] and he has done a incredible job.

9:43

[00 09:09.572 – 00:09:19.293] What you're about to hear is not the job that he did, and that's why I'm sharing that, because we did not have time to, uh, redo all of the audio on this.

9:56

[00 09:19.293 – 00:09:21.993] But for the next time, it will be there.

10:00

[00 09:21.993 – 00:09:24.932] And I do want you to hear, uh, what we're dealing with.

10:06

[00 09:24.932 – 00:09:27.773] So here is, uh, Bill being interviewed.

10:09

[00 09:27.773 – 00:09:33.533] What alcoholics really need is more deflation.

10:12

[00 09:33.533 – 00:09:43.732] Perhaps one alcoholic talking to another over this, the bridge of common understanding, across this kinship of a common suffering.

10:20

[00 09:43.732 – 00:09:47.773] Maybe that's how it happened to me.

10:24

[00 09:47.773 – 00:09:50.093] My friend Ebby was an alcoholic.

10:26

[00 09:50.093 – 00:09:56.692] The man who had talked to him, who had been pronounced hopeless by Carl Jung, was one alcoholic talking to another.

10:35

[00 09:56.692 – 00:09:59.552] So I began frantically working with alcoholics.

10:38

[00 09:59.552 – 00:10:08.793] Briefly, I joined the Oxford groups, but those good people were more interested in saving the world than alcoholics, and they'd had rather bad luck with us.

10:50

[00 10:08.793 – 00:10:12.013] And the work kept on.

10:52

[00 10:12.013 – 00:10:16.572] We filled our house in Brooklyn with them, but nothing happened for six months.

10:58

[00 10:16.572 – 00:10:18.493] We had no success whatever.

11:00

[00 10:18.493 – 00:10:22.293] About that time, it was thought I'd better get back into business.

11:06

[00 10:22.293 – 00:10:26.232] I went to Akron, Ohio on a business deal.

11:10

[00 10:26.232 – 00:10:28.273] It fell through.

11:11

[00 10:28.273 – 00:10:32.972] When I was left, there was not enough carfare home in the Mayflower Hotel there.

11:18

[00 10:32.972 – 00:10:43.293] And then I had one of the few temptations to drink, and suddenly I remembered how much it had meant to me to help another

11:28

[00 10:43.293 – 00:10:44.093] alcoholic.

11:29

[00 10:44.093 – 00:10:49.972] Even those I had tried to help who hadn't made any recovery had nevertheless helped me.

11:36

[00 10:49.972 – 00:11:00.173] So I got off my high horse of preaching and of talking so much about this strange experience of mine, and remembered the advice

11:46

[00 11:00.173 – 00:11:00.653] of Dr.

11:47

[00 11:00.653 – 00:11:10.972] Silkworth, who said to me, "Bill, you can soften these people up if you will pour it into them how hopeless this really is, an obsession of the mind that condemns

12:00

[00 11:10.972 – 00:11:15.812] one to drink and an allergy that condemns one to go mad or die.

12:06

[00 11:15.812 – 00:11:24.873] Why don't you throw that dose into them first, and then maybe they will buy this moral psychology of yours?" Oh, I love it.

12:16

[00 11:24.873 – 00:11:31.093] And, uh, thank God that Bill listened to Dr.

12:20

[00 11:31.093 – 00:11:32.052] Silkworth.

12:20

[00 11:32.052 – 00:11:38.472] Here are some of Bill's accomplishments, if you will, from 1934 to '43.

12:26

[00 11:38.472 – 00:11:44.333] Sobriety first, December of 1934.

12:28

[00 11:44.333 – 00:11:46.742] Started immediately working with alcoholics.

12:30

[00 11:46.742 – 00:11:49.543] Fostered relationships with the Rockefellers.

12:32

[00 11:49.543 – 00:11:50.552] Wrote the Big Book.

12:34

[00 11:50.552 – 00:11:52.712] Spent two years homeless.

12:36

[00 11:52.712 – 00:11:55.492] Founded the Alcoholic Foundation.

12:38

[00 11:55.492 – 00:11:58.253] Traveled and spoke over 40 times.

12:41

[00 11:58.253 – 00:12:00.932] This is '43 through '55.

12:43

[00 12:00.932 – 00:12:03.513] Wrote over 60 Grapevine articles.

12:45

[00 12:03.513 – 00:12:10.673] Drafted the 12 Steps, or, or authored the 12 and 12 book.

12:49

[00 12:10.673 – 00:12:13.192] Created the general service structure.

12:52

[00 12:13.192 – 00:12:17.103] Held the first general service conference in 1951.

12:55

[00 12:17.103 – 00:12:26.793] Created the service manual and helped organize and participated extensively in both the 1950 and '55 internationals.

13:02

[00 12:26.793 – 00:12:28.393] Bill W.

13:03

[00 12:28.393 – 00:12:31.333] was a busy man doing a lot of work.

13:07

[00 12:31.333 – 00:12:32.472] Dr.

13:08

[00 12:32.472 – 00:12:40.023] Bob from Akron, Ohio, co-founder, passed away in 1950.

13:11

[00 12:40.023 – 00:12:40.373] Dr.

13:12

[00 12:40.373 – 00:12:46.533] Bob got sober in June of 1935.

13:15

[00 12:46.533 – 00:12:49.393] He passed away with 15 years.

13:17

[00 12:49.393 – 00:12:52.773] Here's Bill talking about Dr.

13:20

[00 12:52.773 – 00:12:53.653] Bob.

13:20

[00 12:53.653 – 00:13:03.653] Now, this particular recording was taken off an old reel, and on the reel was a meeting at the 24th Street

13:29

[00 13:03.653 – 00:13:10.613] Clubhouse in 1952, and we were able to extract this piece from that reel.

13:35

[00 13:10.613 – 00:13:14.212] Now, I have often heard Dr.

13:38

[00 13:14.212 – 00:13:24.212] Bob say, and I thought he said it on that recording, this, in effect: That it was not

13:45

[00 13:24.212 – 00:13:28.253] so much my spirituality that affected him.

13:48

[00 13:28.253 – 00:13:38.393] He was a student of those things, and I certainly know that he was never affected by any superior morality on my part.

13:58

[00 13:38.393 – 00:13:41.773] But what did affect him?

14:00

[00 13:41.773 – 00:13:50.212] Well, it was this ammunition that dear old Doc Silkworth had given me, the allergy plus the obsession.

14:08

[00 13:50.212 – 00:13:59.313] The God of science declaring that this malady for most of us is hopeless, so far as our own personal power is concerned.

14:18

[00 13:59.313 – 00:14:01.972] And as Doc Bob, Dr.

14:20

[00 14:01.972 – 00:14:12.413] Bob puts it in his story in the book, "Here came the first man into my life who seemed to know what this thing alcoholism

14:31

[00 14:12.413 – 00:14:20.492] was all about." Well, it wasn't the spirituality that I poured into Dr.

14:36

[00 14:20.492 – 00:14:21.212] Bob.

14:37

[00 14:21.212 – 00:14:29.123] It was that dose of indispensable medicine to this movement, the dose-

14:42

[00 14:29.254 – 00:14:33.213] Of hopelessness, so far as one's doing this alone is concerned.

14:47

[00 14:33.213 – 00:14:37.264] The bottle of medicine that Dr.

14:50

[00 14:37.264 – 00:14:42.713] Silkworth had given me, that I poured down the old grizzly bear's throat.

14:55

[00 14:42.713 – 00:14:44.134] That's what I used to call him.

14:59

[00 14:44.134 – 00:14:53.634] Well, he gagged on it a little, got drunk once more, and that was the end.

15:05

[00 14:53.634 – 00:15:03.754] I've listened to an awful lot of talks from Bill W., and this is the only time I've ever heard him

15:14

[00 15:03.754 – 00:15:04.693] nickname Dr.

15:15

[00 15:04.693 – 00:15:09.713] Bob "The Grizzly Bear." Here's Dr.

15:18

[00 15:09.713 – 00:15:15.894] Bob and Anne, Anne Robinson Ripley, the mother of Alcoholics Anonymous.

15:23

[00 15:15.894 – 00:15:26.693] Henrietta Siberling, from the famous Siberling family, played a very, very important role

15:29

[00 15:26.693 – 00:15:28.673] in the early meeting of Dr.

15:31

[00 15:28.673 – 00:15:30.514] Bob and Bill.

15:33

[00 15:30.514 – 00:15:39.833] And here she talks about the Oxford Group and the meetings they were having, and how she extended herself to Anne Smith.

15:42

[00 15:39.833 – 00:15:48.514] So I decided to gather together some Oxford Group people for a meeting, and that was in T.

15:50

[00 15:48.514 – 00:15:50.514] Henry Williams' house.

15:51

[00 15:50.514 – 00:15:58.173] And we met afterwards for about, oh, I don't know how many years, five or six years after that, every Wednesday night.

16:01

[00 15:58.173 – 00:16:01.394] But that's mere incident, uh, incidental.

16:03

[00 16:01.394 – 00:16:11.553] But I warned Anne that I was gonna have this meeting, and I didn't

16:09

[00 16:11.553 – 00:16:13.634] tell her why, for Bob.

16:12

[00 16:13.634 – 00:16:17.533] But I said, "Come prepared to mean business.

16:15

[00 16:17.533 – 00:16:27.573] There's gonna be no pussyfooting around." And so we, we did all share very deeply our shortcomings and what we had

16:24

[00 16:27.573 – 00:16:28.473] victory over.

16:25

[00 16:28.473 – 00:16:38.533] And then there was silence, and we wait- I waited, and I thought, "Will Bob say anything?" And sure enough, he said,

16:35

[00 16:38.533 – 00:16:48.624] "Well," in this deep, serious tone of his, "you good people have shared things that I'm

16:41

[00 16:48.624 – 00:16:57.073] sure very costly to you, and I'm gonna tell you something that may cost me," uh ...

16:48

[00 16:57.073 – 00:16:57.553] Let's see.

16:49

[00 16:57.553 – 00:16:58.463] What was it?

16:51

[00 16:58.463 – 00:16:59.073] What did he say?

16:53

[00 16:59.073 – 00:17:02.254] "May cost me my profession," that's what he said.

16:57

[00 17:02.254 – 00:17:04.693] And they sit.

16:59

[00 17:04.693 – 00:17:07.894] Alcoholics always laughing, don't they?

17:01

[00 17:07.894 – 00:17:16.693] And he said, "I'm a silent drinker, and I can't stop." The first we ever knew about it.

17:09

[00 17:16.693 – 00:17:17.854] Bill was not there.

17:11

[00 17:17.854 – 00:17:20.013] Weeks before Bill ever came.

17:13

[00 17:20.013 – 00:17:30.653] And so we said, "Well, do you want us to pray for you?" And he said, "Yes." We said- Suddenly somebody said, "Do you want to go down on your knees and pray for you?" And he said, "Yes."

17:29

[00 17:30.653 – 00:17:31.394] So we did.

17:31

[00 17:31.394 – 00:17:32.114] As well as Bill.

17:33

[00 17:32.114 – 00:17:39.933] And the next morning, I who knew nothing about alcoholism, thought a person should drink like a gentleman, and that's all.

17:41

[00 17:39.933 – 00:17:50.114] I was saying prayer for Bob because I said, "Oh, God, I don't know anything about drinking, and I told this man

17:51

[00 17:50.114 – 00:17:53.433] that I'm sure if he lives this way, he could quit drinking.

17:56

[00 17:53.433 – 00:17:59.753] Now you have to help me." And something said to me, and I call it guidance.

18:03

[00 17:59.753 – 00:18:10.733] It was like a voice on top of my head, and said, "Bob mustn't not touch one drop of alcohol." That

18:11

[00 18:10.733 – 00:18:14.614] from a non-alcoholic before Bill Wilson and Dr.

18:15

[00 18:14.614 – 00:18:24.653] Bob met, thinking that Bob's answer is, "Don't pick up the first drink." Here's where Henrietta was

18:22

[00 18:24.653 – 00:18:28.933] referring to, the living room, uh, down in the lower right, of T.

18:28

[00 18:28.933 – 00:18:32.953] Henry and Clarice Williams in, uh, in Akron.

18:31

[00 18:32.953 – 00:18:43.413] This couple made their home available, and all of the early, uh, sober Akron folks

18:38

[00 18:43.413 – 00:18:45.054] got to know T.

18:40

[00 18:45.054 – 00:18:51.673] Henry and Clarice Williams' house very well, because they had opened their home up to us for meetings.

18:47

[00 18:51.673 – 00:19:01.713] This recording was made at the Midwest Tape Library by Bill O'Neill, and

18:53

[00 19:01.713 – 00:19:05.894] he was interviewing Bob Smith Jr., Smitty.

18:56

[00 19:05.894 – 00:19:14.094] And here's that interview, and Bob talks about his mom and dad and, and because this presentation is to honor Dr.

19:05

[00 19:14.094 – 00:19:24.534] Bob and Anne and the work that they did at 855 Ardmore Avenue, we wanna make sure that we share the voices

19:14

[00 19:24.534 – 00:19:27.854] of their kids.

19:15

[00 19:27.854 – 00:19:39.534] Oh,

19:16

[00 19:39.534 – 00:19:40.973] well, what's going on here?

19:19

[00 19:40.973 – 00:19:45.594] I'm having a technical problem.

19:21

[00 19:45.594 – 00:19:55.594] Well, I'm gonna skip that slide and, uh, it was Smitty talking

19:26

[00 19:55.594 – 00:19:58.554] about the work of his mom and, and, and Dr.

19:31

[00 19:58.554 – 00:20:05.173] Bob, and how much was happening in Akron at that time, and how his mother would do things.

19:38

[00 20:05.173 – 00:20:11.334] But these letters are gonna, gonna explain it better than, better than Smitty even did.

19:45

[00 20:11.334 – 00:20:19.193] This letter's from Henrietta Dotson, and, uh, Henrietta Dotson was the wife of Bill Dotson, AA number three.

19:52

[00 20:19.193 – 00:20:29.253] And here, Bill Wilson had asked after Anne Smith died, he had written a letter to the folks in Akron asking those early members if they

20:03

[00 20:29.253 – 00:20:36.894] could give their recollection of Anne Smith, the woman who he called the mother of Alcoholics Anonymous.

20:10

[00 20:36.894 – 00:20:41.634] And here's a letter from Henrietta Dotson about Anne Smith.

20:15

[00 20:41.634 – 00:20:49.173] "On Friday night, when I went to the house on Ardmore Avenue, I met the most thoughtful, understanding person I had ever known.

20:24

[00 20:49.173 – 00:20:53.092] After talking with her a while, I addressed her as Mrs.

20:29

[00 20:53.092 – 00:21:03.374] Smith, and she said, 'Anne to you, my dear.' Anne taught me to have a quiet time in the morning that might f- where I might feel near to God and receive strength

20:43

[00 21:03.374 – 00:21:03.963] for the day.

20:45

[00 21:03.963 – 00:21:13.134] She taught me to surrender my husband to God and not try to tell him how to stay sober, as I tried that and failed.

20:55

[00 21:13.134 – 00:21:15.554] Anne taught me to love everyone.

20:58

[00 21:15.554 – 00:21:25.003] She said, 'Ask yourself, what is wrong with me today if I don't love you?' She said, 'The love of God is triangular.

21:08

[00 21:25.003 – 00:21:35.293] It must flow from God through me, through you, and back to God.' In the early part of 1936, Anne

21:16

[00 21:35.293 – 00:21:43.433] organized a woman's group for the wives of alcoholics, whereby in her loving way, she tried to teach us-"

21:24

[00 21:43.835 – 00:21:47.295] Patience, love, and unselfishness.

21:26

[00 21:47.295 – 00:21:55.535] When I met and talked with this intelligent, deeply spiritual woman, I was completely sold on AA.

21:33

[00 21:55.535 – 00:21:58.615] Here's another letter.

21:35

[00 21:58.615 – 00:22:09.035] In the days when no one could afford a hospital, in the days when her own kitchen was a battlefield where prayer and hot coffee and good fellowship

21:47

[00 22:09.035 – 00:22:19.115] and still more hot coffee, a soul was encouraged to go forth and make a fresh start, a fresh stand against liquor, because this time you're

21:57

[00 22:19.115 – 00:22:19.835] not alone.

21:59

[00 22:19.835 – 00:22:24.395] Anne was a chief against despondency and despair.

22:02

[00 22:24.395 – 00:22:28.075] Think back now to the struggling days in 1935.

22:06

[00 22:28.075 – 00:22:29.155] Bill and Dr.

22:07

[00 22:29.155 – 00:22:36.175] Bob and some others would probably tell you for a time Anne literally was Alcoholics Anonymous.

22:14

[00 22:36.175 – 00:22:45.035] The transition from family group to national organization was in vast degree her accomplishment.

22:20

[00 22:45.035 – 00:22:50.735] Now, Anne did not live to see Al-Anon formally named Al-Anon.

22:25

[00 22:50.735 – 00:22:52.855] She did work closely with Lois.

22:28

[00 22:52.855 – 00:23:02.855] She developed a, a, a wives group in, in a s- in a group there in Akron where they were beginning to use the 12 steps to

22:39

[00 23:02.855 – 00:23:03.815] help themselves.

22:40

[00 23:03.815 – 00:23:08.115] And today you can find the original...

22:43

[00 23:08.115 – 00:23:10.155] This is a wire recording that is in Dr.

22:47

[00 23:10.155 – 00:23:13.255] Bob's home at 855 Ardmore.

22:49

[00 23:13.255 – 00:23:20.075] This recording was done by George Hood in their bedroom in June of 1947.

22:55

[00 23:20.075 – 00:23:30.075] Uh, the really, to be honest, the story about it is simply this, that, uh, um, I, I had this, uh, recording in my possession

23:05

[00 23:30.075 – 00:23:34.095] after we had, uh, gotten the library from Bill and Arbutus O'Neill.

23:10

[00 23:34.095 – 00:23:43.455] And rather than keep this, we felt that, uh, more people would experience this and, uh, more people would benefit if it was given to Dr.

23:21

[00 23:43.455 – 00:23:44.355] Bob's house.

23:22

[00 23:44.355 – 00:23:47.195] And now, uh, this is a permanent part of Dr.

23:27

[00 23:47.195 – 00:23:48.105] Bob's house.

23:28

[00 23:48.105 – 00:23:52.535] At the top of the stairs, you can press and listen to the recording.

23:34

[00 23:52.535 – 00:23:53.695] Here's what you're gonna hear.

23:36

[00 23:53.695 – 00:23:57.915] Wants me to start first.

23:39

[00 23:57.915 – 00:23:58.715] He's afraid.

23:40

[00 23:58.715 – 00:24:04.715] So we've got Betty and Smitty here with us and, and George Hood.

23:45

[00 24:04.715 – 00:24:09.655] We're all up in my bedroom where we entertain now.

23:50

[00 24:09.655 – 00:24:12.635] Very formal entertaining, as you can imagine.

23:53

[00 24:12.635 – 00:24:19.894] It's very nice of you to invite both Bob and myself down to Bedford Hills, and we'd love to come.

24:01

[00 24:19.894 – 00:24:26.155] But at present, we-- I imagine we're, we'll have to stay put at 855 Ardmore.

24:07

[00 24:26.155 – 00:24:28.035] This is a new experience for me.

24:11

[00 24:28.035 – 00:24:31.955] I had a moving picture taken of myself, and now I'm recording.

24:16

[00 24:31.955 – 00:24:36.595] So you see, even with a bum eye, I'm still alive and kicking.

24:21

[00 24:36.595 – 00:24:37.615] Here's to Robert.

24:23

[00 24:37.615 – 00:24:45.105] According to, uh, Trowbridge, the ubiquitous Mr.

24:26

[00 24:45.105 – 00:24:52.075] Hood is, has descended on us for a short time, which is really an unexpected pleasure.

24:33

[00 24:52.075 – 00:24:59.715] We're both confined to the house yet, but, uh, have hopes of getting out in circulation before too long.

24:41

[00 24:59.715 – 00:25:09.635] I, uh, regret, and Anne also, that we can't come to Bedford Hills for a little recuperative period right now.

24:49

[00 25:09.635 – 00:25:14.075] But, uh, if you'll give us a rain check, maybe we'll show up next fall or winter.

24:57

[00 25:14.075 – 00:25:24.195] They tell us that we're doing very nicely, although I have discovered that, uh, surgery varies a good deal as

25:05

[00 25:24.195 – 00:25:27.515] to what is done on you or you do it on the other fellow.

25:11

[00 25:27.515 – 00:25:30.175] That changes pr- quite a bit.

25:14

[00 25:30.175 – 00:25:40.575] I think, uh, possibly my recent experience will make me a little kinder, more thoughtful to those who are recipients of my handicraft.

25:23

[00 25:40.575 – 00:25:50.635] Well, uh, we at least can look forward to a nice chat with you, I hope

25:30

[00 25:50.635 – 00:25:52.195] in the early fall.

25:32

[00 25:52.195 – 00:25:58.675] Um, we appreciate the fact that you are willing to, uh, send us the rain check.

25:39

[00 25:58.675 – 00:26:06.035] All right.

25:40

[00 26:06.035 – 00:26:07.875] Thank you, Tim.

25:42

[00 26:07.875 – 00:26:13.615] I'm at a point where I'm trying to make a decision that makes sense.

25:48

[00 26:13.615 – 00:26:21.015] Tim has most of the slides on his computer, but not in the order that I'd like to do them in.

25:57

[00 26:21.015 – 00:26:31.035] What I'm gonna ask him to do is to continue with the slide presentation, and that way we'll be able to at least hear the audio, and I can talk through each

26:10

[00 26:31.035 – 00:26:32.394] of them without a problem.

26:12

[00 26:32.394 – 00:26:40.975] Um, we did have some additional slides that you may or may not have on your, um, uh, uh, PowerPoint, Tim.

26:21

[00 26:40.975 – 00:26:46.075] But, uh, you d- you did add the Archie ones and Sarah Klein, right?

26:27

[00 26:46.075 – 00:26:47.595] Yes.

26:28

[00 26:47.595 – 00:26:53.375] All that is at the very end of the- That's fine, because what I'll do is I'll go through this quick, and then I wanna show them the new stuff.

26:40

[00 26:53.375 – 00:26:53.755] Okay?

26:41

[00 26:53.755 – 00:26:55.335] All right.

26:42

[00 26:55.335 – 00:26:55.465] That's fine.

26:43

[00 26:55.465 – 00:26:55.735] Thank you.

26:45

[00 26:55.735 – 00:26:56.075] All right.

26:46

[00 26:56.075 – 00:26:56.474] Play.

26:47

[00 26:56.474 – 00:27:04.775] But very shortly after that, there was a medical meeting in, uh, Atlantic City.

26:53

[00 27:04.775 – 00:27:10.695] And I d- uh, developed a terrific thirst for knowledge.

26:57

[00 27:10.695 – 00:27:12.735] I had to have knowledge.

26:59

[00 27:12.735 – 00:27:15.355] So we would go to...

27:02

[00 27:15.355 – 00:27:18.835] I would go to Atlantic City and absorb lots of knowledge.

27:07

[00 27:18.835 – 00:27:29.015] I usually mention the fact that I incidentally had acquired a thirst for, for scotch, w- but I didn't mention

27:15

[00 27:29.015 – 00:27:29.394] that.

27:16

[00 27:29.394 – 00:27:34.595] But anyway, I went to Atlantic City and really hung one on.

27:21

[00 27:34.595 – 00:27:38.035] And, uh, when I was...

27:23

[00 27:38.035 – 00:27:43.735] came to, I was in the home of a friend of ours in Cuyahoga Falls, one of our suburbs.

27:31

[00 27:43.735 – 00:27:53.735] And Bill came over and got me and, uh, got me home, uh, gave me a hooker or two of scotch that night and a bottle of beer

27:43

[00 27:53.735 – 00:27:54.875] the next morning.

27:45

[00 27:54.875 – 00:28:04.135] And, uh, that was on the 10th of June of '35, and I have had no alcohol in any form that I know of since.

27:55

[00 28:04.135 – 00:28:08.875] Next.

27:56

[00 28:08.875 – 00:28:14.015] So talking about, uh, Dr.

27:58

[00 28:14.015 – 00:28:24.075] Bob, you know, he went to the medical conference in Atlantic City, and this article is from, uh, June 24th

28:07

[00 28:24.075 – 00:28:26.035] in 1935 talking about it.

28:09

[00 28:26.035 – 00:28:33.835] And of course, we all know who have studied AA history that that happened over the weekend of, uh, June 10th.

28:17

[00 28:33.835 – 00:28:42.515] So, uh, you know, there's been a lot of questions whether or not June 10th could have actually been, uh, Bob's sobriety date.

28:27

[00 28:42.515 – 00:28:44.815] Uh, I don't think that it's any...

28:30

[00 28:44.815 – 00:28:51.275] Again, I think it's the dollar bill of where are you getting your information and what do you care about.

28:39

[00 28:51.275 – 00:28:56.175] Um, I personally think that the June 10th date worked really well.

28:44

[00 28:56.175 – 00:28:58.195] I also believe that that's what Dr.

28:47

[00 28:58.195 – 00:28:58.245] Bob

28:48

[00 28:58.436 – 00:29:00.516] Bob believed, so I'm gonna go with what Dr.

28:52

[00 29:00.516 – 00:29:04.496] Bob believed was his sobriety date.

28:55

[00 29:04.496 – 00:29:14.636] And there may have been pre-conference meetings that, uh, he attended, got drunk,

29:00

[00 29:14.636 – 00:29:16.396] and ended up on a train home.

29:04

[00 29:16.396 – 00:29:18.136] Frank Amos.

29:05

[00 29:18.136 – 00:29:25.296] Now, AA was getting going, and Bill's writing a book, and things are happening in New York, and things are happening in Akron.

29:14

[00 29:25.296 – 00:29:29.136] And the program in Akron under the leadership of Dr.

29:19

[00 29:29.136 – 00:29:34.196] Bob worked so well that Bill managed to persuade John D.

29:24

[00 29:34.196 – 00:29:35.136] Rockefeller Jr.

29:25

[00 29:35.136 – 00:29:37.535] to take a careful look at it.

29:28

[00 29:37.535 – 00:29:44.616] Rockefeller dispatched Frank Amos to Akron to investigate in February of '38.

29:33

[00 29:44.616 – 00:29:47.216] Amos did just that.

29:35

[00 29:47.216 – 00:29:51.216] He interviewed doctors, judges, AA members, family members, Dr.

29:39

[00 29:51.216 – 00:29:52.016] Bob.

29:40

[00 29:52.016 – 00:30:02.516] He stuck with him like glue and came back and put together a report to give to Rockefeller, and basically the report said,

29:50

[00 30:02.516 – 00:30:04.636] "This doctor can use your help.

29:52

[00 30:04.636 – 00:30:14.796] This doctor can use some money." And Rockefeller's attention was, was then on what was to become Alcoholics Anonymous.

30:00

[00 30:14.796 – 00:30:18.736] And I say what was to become, um...

30:04

[00 30:18.736 – 00:30:28.836] In Akron, the Oxford Group and, and the teachings and the philosophy of the Oxford Group stuck with the original members there for

30:14

[00 30:28.836 – 00:30:33.656] a number of years beyond the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.

30:18

[00 30:33.656 – 00:30:43.676] The book was written and came out in April 1939, and by that time the majority of the sober members were either in Akron or had

30:28

[00 30:43.676 – 00:30:47.416] come through Akron and went on to their other locations.

30:33

[00 30:47.416 – 00:30:48.256] Tim.

30:34

[00 30:48.256 – 00:30:52.056] I keep forgetting I have to cha- you have to change it.

30:39

[00 30:52.056 – 00:30:53.716] Here's an article about Dr.

30:41

[00 30:53.716 – 00:31:01.076] Bob, uh, speaking at a dinner in, uh, in Cleveland and on October 7th.

30:47

[00 31:01.076 – 00:31:07.635] And, uh, perhaps the strangest testimony dinner ever held in this city took place Sunday evening.

30:54

[00 31:07.635 – 00:31:17.716] 900 persons, all of them formerly addicted to drink, paid tribute to a former New York broker and an

31:02

[00 31:17.716 – 00:31:25.176] Akron physician who together started the movement known as Alcoholics Anonymous.

31:06

[00 31:25.176 – 00:31:30.656] Again, the date of this is, uh, October 22nd, 1941.

31:10

[00 31:30.656 – 00:31:31.056] Tim.

31:11

[00 31:31.056 – 00:31:35.616] Here is a flyer, Dr.

31:14

[00 31:35.616 – 00:31:40.696] Bob speaking in Iowa City on April 14th, 1946.

31:17

[00 31:40.696 – 00:31:44.216] When we found this flyer we were just blown away by it.

31:22

[00 31:44.216 – 00:31:45.836] It is so pristine.

31:24

[00 31:45.836 – 00:31:46.496] And to have Dr.

31:26

[00 31:46.496 – 00:31:55.836] Bob of Akron, Ohio, he teamed up with Bill Wilson in starting the greatest fellowship men ever knew.

31:34

[00 31:55.836 – 00:32:01.316] Meet the man who started it all, one of the original co-founders.

31:39

[00 32:01.316 – 00:32:02.276] Thank you, Tim.

31:41

[00 32:02.276 – 00:32:05.796] This is from a dinner in 1942 that Dr.

31:44

[00 32:05.796 – 00:32:11.496] Bob was at, and here they, uh, they ca- they called him, they titled Dr.

31:51

[00 32:11.496 – 00:32:12.716] Bob, Dr.

31:52

[00 32:12.716 – 00:32:14.936] Bob, National Co-founder.

31:54

[00 32:14.936 – 00:32:16.756] Next slide, please.

31:55

[00 32:16.756 – 00:32:20.516] Here's a 10th anniversary dinner.

31:58

[00 32:20.516 – 00:32:22.276] And again, you know, Dr.

32:00

[00 32:22.276 – 00:32:31.816] Bob, during his lifetime, even though he wasn't, he didn't write a lot, he was very involved, and very involved in his relationship with Bill W.

32:11

[00 32:31.816 – 00:32:32.476] You know, Dr.

32:12

[00 32:32.476 – 00:32:35.456] Bob was older than Bill, and Bill leaned on Dr.

32:17

[00 32:35.456 – 00:32:40.626] Bob for his steady approach, his wisdom, and his encouragement.

32:21

[00 32:40.626 – 00:32:41.396] Next.

32:22

[00 32:41.396 – 00:32:47.696] The American Weekly, March 11th, 1951.

32:24

[00 32:47.696 – 00:32:47.896] Dr.

32:25

[00 32:47.896 – 00:32:50.376] Bob has passed away by this time.

32:28

[00 32:50.376 – 00:32:53.696] His only mo- no, go back, please.

32:32

[00 32:53.696 – 00:33:03.776] His only monument is a plaque, but the thousands he helped rescue from

32:37

[00 33:03.776 – 00:33:06.126] alcoholism will never forget him.

32:40

[00 33:06.126 – 00:33:08.236] Next.

32:40

[00 33:08.236 – 00:33:16.536] Now, this is their adopted daughter, Sue, and Sue and Smitty grew up together in the home with Dr.

32:48

[00 33:16.536 – 00:33:17.386] Bob and Anne.

32:50

[00 33:17.386 – 00:33:20.235] They were both present when AA was getting started.

32:54

[00 33:20.235 – 00:33:23.236] Smitty was actually the one who drove Dr.

32:58

[00 33:23.236 – 00:33:29.256] Bob and his wife over to the Cyberlene Estate on May 12th, 1935, so Dr.

33:04

[00 33:29.256 – 00:33:32.056] Bob and Bill could meet for the first time.

33:08

[00 33:32.056 – 00:33:36.606] But here's Sue talking about her experience and what she saw her mom and dad doing.

33:14

[00 33:36.606 – 00:33:46.656] But in the mornings, real early, uh, the early, uh, young men, uh, and some of the older ones, would come to

33:24

[00 33:46.656 – 00:33:50.796] the house, and they would knock maybe before we were even out of bed.

33:30

[00 33:50.796 – 00:33:59.876] And so we'd get up, put the coffee pot on, get dressed, and my mother would have a quiet time, which was, uh, holdover from the Oxford Group.

33:41

[00 33:59.876 – 00:34:05.736] And they would, uh, read from the Bible, and then they would be quiet and try to get guidance.

33:49

[00 34:05.736 – 00:34:08.096] Then they would have coffee and, and cookies.

33:53

[00 34:08.096 – 00:34:13.236] We had one of the early men who was a cookie salesman, and he would bring the stale cookies.

34:01

[00 34:13.236 – 00:34:16.356] And we took up a collection for coffee, which was...

34:05

[00 34:16.356 – 00:34:20.256] Oh, it was kind of expensive then, three pounds for twenty-nine cents, I think.

34:11

[00 34:20.256 – 00:34:21.996] And we had to take up a collection for that.

34:16

[00 34:21.996 – 00:34:24.676] And that's how, how poor we were.

34:19

[00 34:24.676 – 00:34:28.636] But anyhow, uh, we met at T.

34:22

[00 34:28.636 – 00:34:33.436] Henry's home for, oh, I'd say almost four years.

34:26

[00 34:33.436 – 00:34:43.036] And, uh, so anyhow they, after that we met at our home, and at one time we had 75 people in that house, and that old house just bulged.

34:38

[00 34:43.036 – 00:34:46.476] Can you imagine 75 people on that, that first front corner room?

34:42

[00 34:46.476 – 00:34:47.266] No.

34:43

[00 34:47.266 – 00:34:48.995] They weren't just in that front corner room.

34:47

[00 34:48.995 – 00:34:50.176] They were in the two front rooms.

34:50

[00 34:50.176 – 00:34:53.636] They were up the stairway, and even on the hall landing.

34:55

[00 34:53.636 – 00:34:58.736] So anyhow, pretty soon we got a, a meeting place at what they call King School.

35:02

[00 34:58.736 – 00:35:04.436] Isn't it great to be able to hear the voices of, of these people?

35:08

[00 35:04.436 – 00:35:06.136] What's up, Tim?

35:09

[00 35:06.136 – 00:35:07.816] It's crapping out.

35:11

[00 35:07.816 – 00:35:18.176] So one of the stories that Smitty liked to tell,

35:15

[00 35:18.176 – 00:35:20.115] because you can see all the activity at Dr.

35:19

[00 35:20.115 – 00:35:22.896] Bob's house, and she's talking about 75 people.

35:22

[00 35:22.896 – 00:35:24.716] Victor, you were just there.

35:25

[00 35:24.716 – 00:35:34.936] Can you imagine 75 people crowded in the, in the living room there by the fireplace and around the, the dining table and that area, and up the stairs

35:36

[00 35:34.936 – 00:35:40.636] just to participate, just to be part of?

35:40

[00 35:40.636 – 00:35:42.536] Smitty told me a story.

35:42

[00 35:42.536 – 00:35:47.276] He said, you know, the AAs drink a lot of coffee, and the bathroom at Dr.

35:49

[00 35:47.276 – 00:35:49.196] Bob's house is right off the kitchen.

35:52

[00 35:49.196 – 00:35:56.516] Well, they didn't have a place to put, uh, the vacuum cleaner, and Anne had a stand-up Hoover vacuum cleaner.

36:01

[00 35:56.516 – 00:36:06.615] And, uh, so she put it in the, in the bathroom, and unfortunately the AAs had a bad aim, so she had to cover her, uh,

36:12

[00 36:06.615 – 00:36:08.696] vacuum cleaner with a shower curtain.

36:14

[00 36:08.696 – 00:36:12.886] And, you know, to hear stories like that and to make it so real and to-

36:21

[00 36:13.017 – 00:36:22.537] Know that these were just people like you and me that were being of service and finding ways to help others with the little that they had.

36:32

[00 36:22.537 – 00:36:24.557] Tim, next.

36:34

[00 36:24.557 – 00:36:35.117] That in my mind, the spirit of service is of prime importance, although it has to be backed up with some,

36:42

[00 36:35.117 – 00:36:37.237] uh, knowledge of, uh, the subject.

36:45

[00 36:37.237 – 00:36:43.817] I know I used to go to the hospital, and I'd stand there and, and talk.

36:52

[00 36:43.817 – 00:36:49.756] I talked many a time to a chap in a bed for five or six hours.

36:59

[00 36:49.756 – 00:36:56.837] I don't know how he, he ever stood me for five or six hours, but he did.

37:06

[00 36:56.837 – 00:36:59.957] Probably we'd hidden his clothes or something.

37:09

[00 36:59.957 – 00:37:03.597] But anyway, uh, the...

37:11

[00 37:03.597 – 00:37:10.797] it came to my mind that, uh, I probably didn't know too much about what I was talking.

37:19

[00 37:10.797 – 00:37:20.877] Therefore, we being stewards of

37:21

[00 37:20.877 – 00:37:30.017] what we have, and that includes our time, I was not giving a good account of my stewardship of time.

37:30

[00 37:30.017 – 00:37:40.207] If it took me six hours to say something to this man that I could have said in an hour, we'll say, if I'd known

37:40

[00 37:40.207 – 00:37:47.157] what I was talking about, I certainly was not a very efficient individual.

37:46

[00 37:47.157 – 00:37:53.557] And incidentally, I'm somewhat allergic to work anyway.

37:49

[00 37:53.557 – 00:38:03.577] So, uh, I felt that I should, uh, continue to increase my

37:54

[00 38:03.637 – 00:38:14.037] familiarity, not only with the good book, but, uh, read a good deal of good standard literature and possibly something of, uh, scientific interest

38:04

[00 38:14.037 – 00:38:14.817] along with it.

38:06

[00 38:14.817 – 00:38:24.937] One of our guests tonight on, on the meeting came on early, and he had just

38:13

[00 38:24.937 – 00:38:26.177] returned from Akron.

38:14

[00 38:26.177 – 00:38:30.607] And I asked him, "Was there anything that really impressed you?

38:19

[00 38:30.607 – 00:38:40.997] Was there anything that, that really struck you, that you really, really enjoyed, that stood out for you?" And he said, "The new learning center

38:30

[00 38:40.997 – 00:38:42.597] at...

38:30

[00 38:42.597 – 00:38:43.217] where Dr.

38:32

[00 38:43.217 – 00:38:47.777] Bob's house is on the campus there, and all of the books that Dr.

38:38

[00 38:47.777 – 00:38:58.127] Bob read." And I just thought, wow, you know, me being a book guy, I just think that is so cool to be able to see what our founders read, to be able to touch them,

38:52

[00 38:58.127 – 00:39:00.167] to be able to use them and learn from them.

38:57

[00 39:00.167 – 00:39:01.337] Tim?

38:58

[00 39:01.337 – 00:39:11.437] That in- Alcoholics Anonymous growth in the pioneering days resulted mainly

39:02

[00 39:11.437 – 00:39:12.637] from the people that Dr.

39:05

[00 39:12.637 – 00:39:15.627] Bob and Anne Smith helped to find sobriety.

39:08

[00 39:15.627 – 00:39:24.577] Several of the following people went on to found AA in new locations outside of Akron.

39:15

[00 39:24.577 – 00:39:28.797] We're gonna go through and share with you some of the pioneers in the Akron area.

39:22

[00 39:28.797 – 00:39:39.377] Tim, is it possible for you to skip down to the bottom slides and give me the slide, the first slide of,

39:31

[00 39:39.377 – 00:39:41.277] um, Earl?

39:32

[00 39:41.277 – 00:39:45.157] I mean, of Archie, please.

39:35

[00 39:45.157 – 00:39:51.337] Nope.

39:36

[00 39:51.337 – 00:39:52.137] First one.

39:37

[00 39:52.137 – 00:39:52.777] Clip one.

39:38

[00 39:52.777 – 00:39:53.297] There we go.

39:40

[00 39:53.297 – 00:39:53.997] Thank you.

39:41

[00 39:53.997 – 00:39:54.777] Play this, please.

39:42

[00 39:54.777 – 00:40:04.857] Now, I, I think Archie's gonna be really revealing about what was happening in Akron, um, and we've never shared his,

39:51

[00 40:04.857 – 00:40:06.207] uh, voice with anyone.

39:53

[00 40:06.207 – 00:40:07.117] So here you go.

39:55

[00 40:07.117 – 00:40:11.157] This is Archie Trowbridge, who founded AA in Detroit.

39:59

[00 40:11.157 – 00:40:21.397] After eighteen days of continuous drinking, I went home, went to bed, and sweated it out all night.

40:07

[00 40:21.397 – 00:40:25.277] I don't need to describe that part of it to you.

40:12

[00 40:25.277 – 00:40:30.717] It makes me shudder to think of it, and it would make all you just shudder.

40:18

[00 40:30.717 – 00:40:38.437] But I was on deck the next day, pretty much of a wreck, but I was there to start to Akron.

40:27

[00 40:38.437 – 00:40:43.627] In Akron, I was turned over to Dr.

40:31

[00 40:43.627 – 00:40:50.117] Bob and his wife and put in the hospital.

40:35

[00 40:50.117 – 00:41:00.637] At that time, the City Hospital of Akron was where we put the occasional prospect

40:41

[00 41:00.637 – 00:41:03.337] who was interested in AA.

40:44

[00 41:03.337 – 00:41:12.977] And I say occasional because in those days, we only had a prospect once in a while.

40:51

[00 41:12.977 – 00:41:23.017] I spent Labor Day in the hospital reading Emmett

40:55

[00 41:23.017 – 00:41:27.207] Fox's Sermon on the Mount.

40:57

[00 41:27.207 – 00:41:35.277] It changed my entire outlook on life.

41:00

[00 41:35.277 – 00:41:38.977] It changed my direction.

41:02

[00 41:38.977 – 00:41:49.097] I was visited both in the hospital and in one of the homes of the members

41:09

[00 41:49.097 – 00:42:00.137] of AA by fifteen or twenty men who came to me with their

41:15

[00 42:00.137 – 00:42:05.217] stories, each one as different as could be from the next.

41:20

[00 42:05.217 – 00:42:15.237] Every one of those men were clear-eyed, neat,

41:23

[00 42:15.237 – 00:42:25.287] purposeful-looking, full of confidence, not cocky, and they

41:27

[00 42:25.287 – 00:42:28.837] impressed me because they had all the things that I lacked.

41:32

[00 42:28.837 – 00:42:36.037] And I knew that whatever it was that they had, I wanted some of it.

41:38

[00 42:36.037 – 00:42:46.037] And whatever they could tell me that would help me gain the same sort of look that they had,

41:46

[00 42:46.037 – 00:42:52.337] I was going to try those things that they told me.

41:51

[00 42:52.337 – 00:43:02.117] My health was found to be practically...

41:54

[00 43:02.117 – 00:43:08.737] Well, I don't know how to tell you about my health.

41:59

[00 43:08.737 – 00:43:08.927] Dr.

42:00

[00 43:08.927 – 00:43:12.217] Bob says that there wasn't much left of it.

42:04

[00 43:12.217 – 00:43:20.317] At any rate, it was ten and a half months later before I could go to work.

42:11

[00 43:20.317 – 00:43:24.067] And I lived with Dr.

42:13

[00 43:24.067 – 00:43:27.347] Bob and his wife during those ten and a half months

42:18

[00 43:32.518 – 00:43:42.538] Many times during those months, I felt that it was very wrong for me to

42:24

[00 43:42.538 – 00:43:43.717] impose on them.

42:26

[00 43:43.717 – 00:43:46.898] They were poor.

42:28

[00 43:46.898 – 00:43:51.018] All members of AA in those days were poor, by the way.

42:33

[00 43:51.018 – 00:44:01.078] I, uh, I wanted that clip

42:36

[00 44:01.078 – 00:44:06.318] on there to end with, you know, with him talking about how poor everybody was.

42:42

[00 44:06.318 – 00:44:17.138] You know, it's funny, my s- first sponsor, Big John, said, "Kid, you might be broke many times in your life, but you'll never be poor

42:53

[00 44:17.138 – 00:44:25.538] as long as you have something to give away." And I think that, uh, that has held true for me through all these years.

43:03

[00 44:25.538 – 00:44:34.958] And, uh, I'm grateful that we were able to uncover, uh, this talk of Archie and to be able to share it with you.

43:13

[00 44:34.958 – 00:44:39.218] He went on, and later in the talk, this is what he shared, Tim.

43:19

[00 44:39.218 – 00:44:49.278] In March 1939, Bill Wilson was in

43:22

[00 44:49.278 – 00:44:49.858] Akron.

43:22

[00 44:49.858 – 00:44:56.018] He frequently stopped there whenever he could get some business excuse to come west.

43:28

[00 44:56.018 – 00:45:07.358] And he was sitting in the Smith kitchen with me drinking coffee, and he was on his way to Detroit.

43:37

[00 45:07.358 – 00:45:18.148] And I said, "I certainly would like to go up there and see what the lay of the land is and

43:46

[00 45:18.148 – 00:45:28.468] look around and see what, whether I can take hold yet or not." And he said, "Why don't you?" I said,

43:55

[00 45:28.468 – 00:45:36.438] "Well, why don't I?" Bill said, "Let's go now." This was Sunday morning.

44:00

[00 45:36.438 – 00:45:40.198] We were gonna start right away.

44:03

[00 45:40.198 – 00:45:43.858] Well, we decided to wait until Monday morning.

44:07

[00 45:43.858 – 00:45:48.978] We came up from...

44:09

[00 45:48.978 – 00:45:58.498] We went up to Cleveland and came up Detroit on the Mercury.

44:14

[00 45:58.498 – 00:46:03.958] Bill spent Monday and Tuesday here with me.

44:17

[00 46:03.958 – 00:46:07.018] We stayed at a hotel.

44:20

[00 46:07.018 – 00:46:13.498] We visited some of my old friends and told them my story.

44:25

[00 46:13.498 – 00:46:16.858] Bill tended to his business.

44:27

[00 46:16.858 – 00:46:22.038] Some friends of mine asked me to stay on here for a while.

44:33

[00 46:22.038 – 00:46:32.558] Bill went back to New York, and I stayed here and worked entirely on trying to

44:40

[00 46:32.558 – 00:46:42.878] make some AA contacts that would later on produce prospects.

44:44

[00 46:42.878 – 00:46:54.038] He was gonna work to try to create opportunities to

44:49

[00 46:54.038 – 00:46:55.338] get new prospects.

44:50

[00 46:55.338 – 00:46:57.238] Tim, next slide.

44:52

[00 46:57.238 – 00:47:06.638] Now, I happen to be somebody who likes to pay attention to dates, and I want you to listen to Sarah Klein.

45:01

[00 47:06.638 – 00:47:07.818] Don't start it yet.

45:03

[00 47:07.818 – 00:47:13.878] But Sarah Klein contacted AA, and she was from Detroit.

45:07

[00 47:13.878 – 00:47:19.598] And now her dates are a little bit different than Archie's.

45:12

[00 47:19.598 – 00:47:21.838] But go ahead and start this, Tim.

45:15

[00 47:21.838 – 00:47:31.858] I had the good fortune to have one of the first copies of what we lovingly call

45:23

[00 47:31.858 – 00:47:34.638] our big book, The Story of AA.

45:26

[00 47:34.638 – 00:47:39.578] That was in April 1939.

45:28

[00 47:39.578 – 00:47:49.857] I read the book and was so impressed by what I read that I wrote to New York

45:35

[00 47:49.858 – 00:47:57.618] asking them how they intended to put into practice that which they wrote in the book.

45:42

[00 47:57.618 – 00:48:00.098] I had a reply.

45:44

[00 48:00.098 – 00:48:10.188] Arch was then in Akron, and they wrote telling him that they had had a letter

45:51

[00 48:10.188 – 00:48:20.298] from Detroit, and of course, they concluded that I was an alcoholic, and they told Arch that he had his first prospect awaiting him

46:01

[00 48:20.298 – 00:48:20.898] in Detroit.

46:02

[00 48:20.898 – 00:48:30.778] Arch returned to Detroit in July 1939 and immediately came to call on me.

46:08

[00 48:30.778 – 00:48:35.698] Afterwards, he laughingly called me his first man.

46:11

[00 48:35.698 – 00:48:46.388] He was in ill health, had lost his home, was without means

46:17

[00 48:46.388 – 00:48:47.038] or work.

46:18

[00 48:47.038 – 00:48:57.058] But he gallantly went ahead, first looking for a job, but always on the lookout for people

46:25

[00 48:57.058 – 00:49:00.198] who were sick as he was.

46:28

[00 49:00.198 – 00:49:07.378] He wanted to give them the message and the hope that he had brought back from Akron.

46:35

[00 49:07.378 – 00:49:16.358] Now, Arch had no telephone, and I did, and that is where I first was of help to him.

46:43

[00 49:16.358 – 00:49:23.818] He would contact somebody, and so eager was he to help them that he wanted to make an immediate date.

46:51

[00 49:23.818 – 00:49:28.118] If he could not, he left my telephone number for them to call.

46:57

[00 49:28.118 – 00:49:38.238] Then later, having made some contacts, he decided to have meetings in his room on Merrick

47:04

[00 49:38.238 – 00:49:38.778] Avenue.

47:05

[00 49:38.778 – 00:49:49.838] Those meetings, the first ones, were held in midwinter of 1930, 1939.

47:09

[00 49:49.838 – 00:49:56.618] The first several meetings, no one came.

47:12

[00 49:56.618 – 00:50:03.598] So Arch and I sat there talking, of course, about the 12 steps in the AA program.

47:19

[00 50:03.598 – 00:50:14.178] Then one night came three men: Roy, who

47:23

[00 50:14.178 – 00:50:24.678] had been sent by his firm to Akron the previous summer, and his brother-in-law, and a young

47:30

[00 50:24.678 – 00:50:32.938] chap, about 30 years old, Steve, who afterwards became our first secretary.

47:35

[00 50:32.938 – 00:50:36.818] Wow.

47:35

[00 50:36.818 – 00:50:40.958] Uh, so Cl- Sarah Klein was not an alcoholic.

47:39

[00 50:40.958 – 00:50:42.048] She was a non-

47:41

[00 50:42.179 – 00:50:50.359] Non-alcoholic support system for Archie and helped get AA off the ground in, in, uh, in Detroit.

47:49

[00 50:50.359 – 00:50:54.039] Now Archie, uh, he was afraid of his own shadow.

47:53

[00 50:54.039 – 00:50:57.359] Ann Smith used to have to walk him down the street.

47:58

[00 50:57.359 – 00:50:59.979] That's why he lived with them for so many months.

48:02

[00 50:59.979 – 00:51:10.039] His dates of talking about Bill picking him up in March and then Sarah saying July, I, I, I wanna check that, but I have a feeling that Sarah

48:14

[00 51:10.039 – 00:51:20.459] may be more, uh, realistic with it, because my understanding was that that referral that she talked about that came into the AA was a, a result

48:25

[00 51:20.459 – 00:51:23.399] of the Big Book, which didn't come out until April.

48:30

[00 51:23.399 – 00:51:26.959] So it wouldn't have made sense for Bill to bring Archie there in March.

48:36

[00 51:26.959 – 00:51:34.579] But that's why we study this, is so we can learn these little things and, and get to the source material and see, you know, who's right, who's wrong.

48:48

[00 51:34.579 – 00:51:35.979] Tim, what's next?

48:49

[00 51:35.979 – 00:51:43.299] Ah, Sister Ignatia.

48:51

[00 51:43.299 – 00:51:44.098] Let's do her.

48:53

[00 51:44.098 – 00:51:46.958] Come on.

48:54

[00 51:46.958 – 00:51:55.079] There we are.

48:55

[00 51:55.079 – 00:51:56.999] All right, so Dr.

48:57

[00 51:56.999 – 00:52:09.799] Bob was considered the prince of all 12-Steppers by

49:01

[00 52:09.799 – 00:52:10.759] Bill Wilson.

49:03

[00 52:10.759 – 00:52:17.619] And Bill was introducing Sister Ignatia, who was Dr.

49:07

[00 52:17.619 – 00:52:18.729] Bob's partner.

49:08

[00 52:18.729 – 00:52:25.759] Sister Ignatia really, really did so much for the clinical service that alcoholic...

49:13

[00 52:25.759 – 00:52:34.459] When they were starting these AA wards, they had a model to go after, and that model was created by Sister Ignatia and Dr.

49:23

[00 52:34.459 – 00:52:35.159] Bob.

49:24

[00 52:35.159 – 00:52:46.639] And, uh, anyway, Bill Wilson introduced Sister Ignatia at the International in Long Beach, California in 1960,

49:31

[00 52:46.639 – 00:52:48.759] and he said, "Dr.

49:33

[00 52:48.759 – 00:52:51.979] Bob is the prince of all 12-Steppers.

49:36

[00 52:51.979 – 00:52:56.659] I now give you Princess Ignatia." Tim?

49:39

[00 52:56.659 – 00:53:00.939] They decided to...

49:41

[00 53:00.939 – 00:53:02.739] We had a small accident ward.

49:44

[00 53:02.739 – 00:53:07.599] It was sort of off from the rest of the, um, hospital.

49:49

[00 53:07.599 – 00:53:12.079] And there we put in a coffee bar, and Dr.

49:53

[00 53:12.079 – 00:53:13.759] Bob set up the program.

49:56

[00 53:13.759 – 00:53:19.739] I, uh, wanna tell you that the first opportunity he had, he brought Bill over.

50:02

[00 53:19.739 – 00:53:25.119] And, uh, of course, I couldn't imagine who this wonderful Bill was.

50:07

[00 53:25.119 – 00:53:32.679] But I soon learned that, uh, God had chosen two great men.

50:13

[00 53:32.679 – 00:53:38.619] What one didn't have, the other supplemented, and together they were perfect.

50:18

[00 53:38.619 – 00:53:49.239] I could just see, I often say to our boys, had God picked out two great religious leaders, no one would have come near them, because the alcoholic

50:29

[00 53:49.239 – 00:53:55.499] doesn't want anything about religion or God, nor do we try to preach religion to them.

50:36

[00 53:55.499 – 00:54:04.399] But they aren't in there very long until they're asking or telling you what experience they've had and what they'd like to do.

50:46

[00 54:04.399 – 00:54:06.739] They know they haven't been living right.

50:49

[00 54:06.739 – 00:54:14.159] And I feel that, as many of our nurses have said, the best sedative is peace of mind.

50:57

[00 54:14.159 – 00:54:22.139] If once they can be relieved of their anxieties and worries and treated properly, there should be no trouble.

51:05

[00 54:22.139 – 00:54:25.319] First, when they first come in and, uh, Dr.

51:09

[00 54:25.319 – 00:54:35.319] Bob set up the program, no televisions, no radios, no newspapers, only literature pertaining to AA or something

51:16

[00 54:35.319 – 00:54:41.439] that would have a, a moral, I mean, a building of their morals and things of that kind.

51:24

[00 54:41.439 – 00:54:42.679] 'Cause they don't...

51:25

[00 54:42.679 – 00:54:46.499] They have all the reading they can take care of, and then their visitors too.

51:32

[00 54:46.499 – 00:54:49.159] Well, we went on with that.

51:35

[00 54:49.159 – 00:54:54.159] There's, there are many details I could bring in, but I don't wanna make it too long because I...

51:43

[00 54:54.159 – 00:55:01.719] But anyway, during doctor's time, I think we treated before between four and five thousand.

51:49

[00 55:01.719 – 00:55:03.858] And he treated them.

51:51

[00 55:03.858 – 00:55:08.599] He came in every day unless he was out of town or something like that.

51:57

[00 55:08.599 – 00:55:18.459] And, uh, without any charge, he said, "That's my contribution to AA." Thank you, sister.

52:04

[00 55:18.459 – 00:55:22.379] Four to five thousand alcoholics in his time.

52:07

[00 55:22.379 – 00:55:24.039] That was fifteen years.

52:09

[00 55:24.039 – 00:55:25.629] Incredible.

52:10

[00 55:25.629 – 00:55:27.339] Next.

52:11

[00 55:27.339 – 00:55:38.939] All

52:12

[00 55:38.939 – 00:55:39.139] right.

52:13

[00 55:39.139 – 00:55:41.899] Are we back in pretty much the order, Tim?

52:17

[00 55:41.899 – 00:55:48.099] All right, so we're gonna be here at AA number three, Bill Dotson.

52:22

[00 55:48.099 – 00:55:55.439] Bill was the f- was the, not the first guy, but Bill was the first guy to find and get and stay sober that Dr.

52:33

[00 55:55.439 – 00:55:57.479] Bob and Bill W.

52:35

[00 55:57.479 – 00:55:58.139] worked with.

52:36

[00 55:58.139 – 00:56:04.479] Bill Dotson's story is in the Big Book, but it wasn't in the Big Book until after he passed away.

52:44

[00 56:04.479 – 00:56:08.059] He gave Bill Wilson permission to write his story.

52:48

[00 56:08.059 – 00:56:13.859] Bill interviewed him, took notes, talked with him, and put together Bill Dotson's story.

52:54

[00 56:13.859 – 00:56:17.999] Here's Bill speaking about the introduction to Dr.

52:58

[00 56:17.999 – 00:56:21.799] Bob and Bill while he was still in Akron City Hospital.

53:03

[00 56:21.799 – 00:56:23.699] This is AA number three.

53:05

[00 56:23.699 – 00:56:33.739] So I said, "Uh, what are they gonna charge me?" She said, "You know, that's the strange thing about it." She said, "Not only are they...

53:16

[00 56:33.739 – 00:56:44.069] They said not only were they gonna, uh, they weren't gonna charge anything, but they said you couldn't pay them a cent if you had a million dollars." And

53:28

[00 56:44.069 – 00:56:47.199] I think that's a damn poor act, 'cause they ain't gonna get no place that way.

53:35

[00 56:47.199 – 00:56:54.939] But there's another thing in AA there, and I, and I'm not gonna preach to you.

53:41

[00 56:54.939 – 00:56:56.859] You go out and handle AA your way, see?

53:45

[00 56:56.859 – 00:56:57.899] I'm not gonna tell you.

53:48

[00 56:57.899 – 00:57:03.539] 'Cause if you don't get it right, and you get drunk, it's gonna be s- you that's gonna be shaking, not me.

53:57

[00 57:03.539 – 00:57:07.899] I'll sympathize with you, but I'd rather it be you, see, 'cause I don't wanna try it anymore.

54:05

[00 57:07.899 – 00:57:08.699] I had enough.

54:06

[00 57:08.699 – 00:57:15.179] They wouldn't take a cent for that work if you had a million dollars.

54:12

[00 57:15.179 – 00:57:16.259] You couldn't pay them for it.

54:15

[00 57:16.259 – 00:57:19.379] Now, that's the way AA started out.

54:18

[00 57:19.379 – 00:57:23.419] That they ain't gonna pay for it.

54:21

[00 57:23.419 – 00:57:32.179] I'm not trying to talk from anybody else, but that's the thing, that that was one of the main things that helped me to believe that these fellas had something.

54:34

[00 57:32.179 – 00:57:42.219] There was two fellas I'd never seen or heard tell of that was four weeks in it just like I was, and they were willing to come over there and take their time and talk to me to show me a program whereby

54:51

[00 57:42.219 – 00:57:47.879] I could stay sober, and not only would they not charge me anything, but I couldn't pay them if I wanted to.

55:01

[00 57:47.879 – 00:57:51.799] And that was really the first thing that interested me in AA.

55:06

[00 57:51.799 – 00:57:56.399] Thank you, Bill

55:07

[00 57:56.760 – 00:58:07.400] First thing that introduced him or, you know, really got him interested was here these guys were calling on him so they could stay sober.

55:18

[00 58:07.400 – 00:58:08.660] They didn't need to be paid.

55:21

[00 58:08.660 – 00:58:13.940] They were receiving their payment, and that's how AA continued to grow.

55:26

[00 58:13.940 – 00:58:19.280] One alcoholic sharing with another a message with depth and weight.

55:31

[00 58:19.280 – 00:58:20.300] Tim?

55:31

[00 58:20.300 – 00:58:30.400] In Bill's story, he

55:33

[00 58:30.400 – 00:58:40.500] writes, "Bill looked across the table at my wife and said to her, 'Henrietta, the Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease

55:45

[00 58:40.500 – 00:58:46.180] that I just wanna keep talking about it and telling people.'" You could see how excited.

55:52

[00 58:46.180 – 00:58:49.160] He's talking about Bill Wilson here, okay?

55:55

[00 58:49.160 – 00:58:50.920] He says, "I'm so...

55:57

[00 58:50.920 – 00:58:53.740] The Lord has been so wonderful to me.

56:01

[00 58:53.740 – 00:59:04.020] I just wanna keep telling people about this." That sentence, "The Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible

56:11

[00 59:04.020 – 00:59:13.600] disease that I just wanna keep telling about it," has been sort of a golden text for the AA program and for me.

56:20

[00 59:13.600 – 00:59:14.060] Next.

56:21

[00 59:14.060 – 00:59:17.090] Next.

56:22

[00 59:17.090 – 00:59:19.580] Skip through, RT.

56:23

[00 59:19.580 – 00:59:22.880] This was Earl Treat.

56:25

[00 59:22.880 – 00:59:27.160] He went on to found AA in Chicago.

56:29

[00 59:27.160 – 00:59:37.220] I will let you know that we are praying that with the recordings that we have from Akron and Cleveland that are

56:38

[00 59:37.220 – 00:59:41.680] on reel-to-reel, that we find a recording of Earl Treat.

56:43

[00 59:41.680 – 00:59:43.240] Next.

56:43

[00 59:43.240 – 00:59:45.820] Next.

56:44

[00 59:45.820 – 00:59:48.470] Clarence Snyder.

56:45

[00 59:48.470 – 00:59:58.699] I, I'm not doing Clarence Snyder tonight because I added a few other things, and Clarence goes on and talks for about six minutes and, uh, I'm gonna

56:57

[00 59:58.699 – 01:00:01.000] share more about that in a, in a minute.

57:01

[01 00:01.000 – 01:00:06.540] Larry Jewell was one of the first prospects in Cleveland after Clarence Snyder.

57:07

[01 00:06.540 – 01:00:10.880] Larry Jewell was actually found in a barn, and he had a lung condition.

57:13

[01 00:10.880 – 01:00:14.960] They put him in the hospital for an extended period of time.

57:18

[01 00:14.960 – 01:00:24.980] One of the local people there in, in, uh, Cleveland who was affluent had, uh, had known the progress of, of Larry

57:27

[01 00:24.980 – 01:00:35.020] and had made the opportunity for Larry to leave Cleveland at the direction of his doctors so that he could be in an environment that would be more conducive to

57:39

[01 00:35.020 – 01:00:36.760] his lung condition.

57:41

[01 00:36.760 – 01:00:39.580] They, uh, he chose to go to Houston, Texas.

57:45

[01 00:39.580 – 01:00:43.000] He had never been to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

57:49

[01 00:43.000 – 01:00:46.380] He had a book called Alcoholics Anonymous.

57:52

[01 00:46.380 – 01:00:48.900] While on the train, he read the book.

57:56

[01 00:48.900 – 01:00:57.040] He was so excited about the book and what he had read and what it was already doing for him that he began to write some articles.

58:07

[01 00:57.040 – 01:01:00.780] He wrote these articles, and when he got to Houston, he went to the Houston Press.

58:14

[01 01:00.780 – 01:01:10.920] There, he was met by a man who loved his work and not only brought Larry on to continue to do some writing there in Houston,

58:25

[01 01:10.920 – 01:01:14.500] but he printed those articles that Larry had brought him.

58:29

[01 01:14.500 – 01:01:25.060] Larry started AA in Houston, and his six articles or his series of articles that ran January, February of nineteen

58:38

[01 01:25.060 – 01:01:34.100] forty, um, Bill Wilson was so impressed with that he asked permission from Larry if AA could use those.

58:46

[01 01:34.100 – 01:01:42.320] And as a result, AA created their very first pamphlet, and it came out in April of nineteen forty.

58:54

[01 01:42.320 – 01:01:43.800] Next.

58:54

[01 01:43.800 – 01:01:49.400] Ah, Ethel Macy.

58:56

[01 01:49.400 – 01:01:54.760] You know, women, there weren't a lot of women coming into AA in the early days.

59:03

[01 01:54.760 – 01:01:57.640] There was a heck of a stigma about it.

59:07

[01 01:57.640 – 01:02:04.500] And here this, this farm lady from Ohio finds her way to Alcoholics Anonymous.

59:13

[01 02:04.500 – 01:02:05.540] And I just...

59:14

[01 02:05.540 – 01:02:13.940] You know, I have to keep this in here because I just think her story is phenomenal, her voice is phenomenal, and she has such a sense of humor.

59:26

[01 02:13.940 – 01:02:15.660] She's gonna tell a little story.

59:29

[01 02:15.660 – 01:02:21.300] If you haven't heard this before, listen carefully 'cause she's gonna talk about Henrietta Seiberling.

59:36

[01 02:21.300 – 01:02:24.960] And remember, Henrietta was a non-alcoholic.

59:38

[01 02:24.960 – 01:02:25.900] Tim?

59:39

[01 02:25.900 – 01:02:29.759] I'd like to tell you a little story.

59:43

[01 02:29.759 – 01:02:34.260] Most of you know that Henrietta Seiberling was the woman that introduced Dr.

59:48

[01 02:34.260 – 01:02:35.840] Bob and Bill.

59:50

[01 02:35.840 – 01:02:41.340] And she wasn't an alcoholic, you know, but she came to King School regularly.

59:56

[01 02:41.340 – 01:02:46.280] And, uh, uh, she would, uh, wait until all the other, um...

60:01

[01 02:46.280 – 01:02:50.319] I think probably they could hear me without any of those contraptions.

60:06

[01 02:50.319 – 01:02:52.220] They're having trouble over there.

60:09

[01 02:52.220 – 01:02:53.340] Oh, they are?

60:10

[01 02:53.340 – 01:02:55.310] Fixing it.

60:12

[01 02:55.310 – 01:02:55.330] Oh.

60:12

[01 02:55.330 – 01:02:57.480] And, uh, I speak pretty loud.

60:15

[01 02:57.480 – 01:02:59.720] I still got that foghorn voice.

60:18

[01 02:59.720 – 01:03:03.680] But, uh, uh, she used to come to King School regularly.

60:23

[01 03:03.680 – 01:03:11.960] And though she wasn't an alcoholic, she'd wait till everybody was through commenting, and then she'd get up, and she'd get going strong on the spiritual things.

60:34

[01 03:11.960 – 01:03:18.380] And sometimes they begin to get a little uneasy and wiggly and so forth 'cause she'd really get wound up.

60:42

[01 03:18.380 – 01:03:20.280] I've t-- Henrietta's a good friend of mine.

60:46

[01 03:20.280 – 01:03:22.720] I've told her this, and she'd get a bit...

60:50

[01 03:22.720 – 01:03:23.520] She said, "I don't care.

60:52

[01 03:23.520 – 01:03:27.640] I have as good a right to talk over there as long as I want to," and which she did have.

61:01

[01 03:27.640 – 01:03:30.480] But, uh, so she plays such an important part.

61:05

[01 03:30.480 – 01:03:40.600] But right in the midst of a long, drawn-out talk she was giving, my husband leaned over and whispered to me so you could hear him all over the room, "If it keeps your sober, let

61:20

[01 03:40.600 – 01:03:50.840] her talk." And I like to tell you that because I feel like you'll bear with me and feel that way toward me whether I say anything

61:31

[01 03:50.900 – 01:03:53.340] that's helpful to somebody else or not.

61:34

[01 03:53.340 – 01:04:03.340] You just think, "Well, if it keeps the old lady sober, let her talk." Our dear beloved, uh, Bill Dawson used to sit by me upstage,

61:45

[01 04:03.340 – 01:04:11.140] and I can hear him yet with that drawl of his, and I'd say, "Bill, I am scared to death." And he'd say, "Ah, don't be scared.

61:56

[01 04:11.140 – 01:04:13.180] After all, it ain't a paying job.

62:00

[01 04:13.180 – 01:04:19.060] If they don't want us back, they don't need to ask us again." I am Ethel Macy.

62:07

[01 04:19.060 – 01:04:20.380] I'm an alcoholic.

62:08

[01 04:20.380 – 01:04:24.740] I'm seventy-one years old, and I never tell you how much I weigh.

62:14

[01 04:24.740 – 01:04:29.120] I had my last drink, they say, in May twenty years ago.

62:19

[01 04:29.120 – 01:04:34.420] And, uh, I'm going into a bit of my story.

62:24

[01 04:34.420 – 01:04:41.360] Uh, since my story's in the big book, I hesitate a little bit, but I feel like I should qualify a little.

62:33

[01 04:41.360 – 01:04:45.480] I just always feel that maybe you've read it, and it'll be a bore.

62:39

[01 04:45.480 – 01:04:48.360] But at least it helps me.

62:42

[01 04:48.360 – 01:04:55.100] My father was an alcoholic, I'm sure, and I had a very unhappy childhood, uh, through his drinking.

62:49

[01 04:55.100 – 01:05:06.060] I sometimes feel that that's the reason I still have such a terrific inferiority complex that it does things to me so trying to even talk to you, my good friends.

63:02

[01 05:06.060 – 01:05:11.080] I was always- Tim

63:04

[01 05:11.341 – 01:05:15.341] Um, that was the end?

63:06

[01 05:15.341 – 01:05:17.381] All right.

63:08

[01 05:17.381 – 01:05:27.381] So folks, what we're gonna do, because I just looked at the clock, and with our interruptions and our challenges and everything, um, it's

63:18

[01 05:27.381 – 01:05:34.981] now 8:10, and we've gone through about 60% of the presentation.

63:22

[01 05:34.981 – 01:05:36.381] I was able to give you some...

63:25

[01 05:36.381 – 01:05:38.441] Tim, please stop sharing the screen.

63:28

[01 05:38.441 – 01:05:44.681] I was able to give you, uh, some great recordings tonight.

63:32

[01 05:44.681 – 01:05:52.800] I really apologize that it w- it didn't flow better and that it screwed up on my end technically.

63:40

[01 05:52.800 – 01:06:00.361] And, uh, that's the first time that's happened to me, so I'm gonna give myself a mulligan, and I hope you'll all do the same.

63:51

[01 06:00.361 – 01:06:06.241] But we would love to open it up for Q&A now if anybody has any que- Oh, and I will finish.

64:00

[01 06:06.241 – 01:06:07.921] So here's the deal, okay?

64:02

[01 06:07.921 – 01:06:18.121] I'm going to Akron Sunday, and I'm leaving Akron

64:06

[01 06:18.121 – 01:06:19.041] Tuesday night.

64:08

[01 06:19.041 – 01:06:25.661] But now I'm committed to doing the second part of this.

64:12

[01 06:25.661 – 01:06:29.061] I have a sponsee in Cleveland.

64:15

[01 06:29.061 – 01:06:39.261] He and I are gonna hang out Wednesday, and he'll take me to the airport and I'll just change my flight so I can do this next

64:26

[01 06:39.261 – 01:06:40.141] Tuesday night.

64:28

[01 06:40.141 – 01:06:47.201] And I, I just felt like it's more important for me to do a good job than to be quick and just make light of it.

64:38

[01 06:47.201 – 01:06:50.161] Because honestly, folks, if it wasn't for Dr.

64:42

[01 06:50.161 – 01:06:52.821] Bob and Anne Smith, there would be no AA.

64:46

[01 06:52.821 – 01:06:55.821] Tim, open it up, man.

64:48

[01 06:55.821 – 01:06:58.021] All right.

64:50

[01 06:58.021 – 01:06:59.221] Thank you, Mike.

64:51

[01 06:59.221 – 01:07:01.661] And now we have some time for questions.

64:55

[01 07:01.661 – 01:07:05.721] If anyone has a question, please raise your hand and I will call on you.

65:01

[01 07:05.721 – 01:07:07.901] And first up is Penny.

65:04

[01 07:07.901 – 01:07:08.961] You can unmute.

65:05

[01 07:08.961 – 01:07:13.521] Thanks, Tim.

65:06

[01 07:13.521 – 01:07:15.081] Thanks, Mike, so much.

65:08

[01 07:15.081 – 01:07:20.980] And, uh, thank you for just soldiering through and getting us the information that you got us tonight.

65:16

[01 07:20.980 – 01:07:22.041] We look forward to...

65:18

[01 07:22.041 – 01:07:30.841] We appreciate you, um, adapting your travel plans next week so that you can present the rest of it next week.

65:27

[01 07:30.841 – 01:07:34.181] I just had a couple of questions, uh, maybe just one.

65:32

[01 07:34.181 – 01:07:40.521] So you were ta- And it has to do, really, you were talking about Larry Jewell there at the end just before- Yeah ...

65:41

[01 07:40.521 – 01:07:42.341] uh, Ethel Macy's share.

65:43

[01 07:42.341 – 01:07:42.671] Mm-hmm.

65:44

[01 07:42.671 – 01:07:47.341] And is- you talked about him hiding out in a barn.

65:49

[01 07:47.341 – 01:07:50.701] So is he the guy in Bill Wilson...?

65:52

[01 07:50.701 – 01:07:51.781] He's not.

65:54

[01 07:51.781 – 01:07:54.271] He's ...

65:54

[01 07:54.271 – 01:07:54.510] Nope.

65:55

[01 07:54.510 – 01:07:59.181] I was so hoping that he was the guy in Bill Wilson's story that then started AA.

66:02

[01 07:59.181 – 01:08:01.281] Nope.

66:03

[01 08:01.281 – 01:08:12.441] And that is probably how some of the anecdotes and some of the misinformation gets started, is somebody hears a little bit

66:12

[01 08:12.441 – 01:08:15.821] of somebody's story and they say, "Oh, that's the guy." Right.

66:17

[01 08:15.821 – 01:08:16.081] So.

66:18

[01 08:16.081 – 01:08:23.341] And, and there could be multiple people, you know, having very similar experiences in different parts of the country.

66:26

[01 08:23.341 – 01:08:26.021] So I- How many people hide in a barn?

66:30

[01 08:26.021 – 01:08:31.901] Well, I wasn't drinking in the '30s and '40s.

66:35

[01 08:31.901 – 01:08:34.651] Thanks, Mike.

66:36

[01 08:34.651 – 01:08:37.161] There's a few, there's a few times I should have hidden in a barn.

66:42

[01 08:37.161 – 01:08:41.100] Thank you, Penny, and thank you for all the service you do for us.

66:48

[01 08:41.100 – 01:08:42.321] We appreciate you.

66:50

[01 08:42.321 – 01:08:44.091] Um- Thank you ...

66:51

[01 08:44.091 – 01:08:54.261] uh, and you know, next is one of Recovery Speakers board members, and he has been a very, uh, capable

67:00

[01 08:54.321 – 01:08:57.321] and inspiring person for me.

67:02

[01 08:57.321 – 01:09:07.341] Carl and I meet together at least monthly for lunch, and he always has some great stories to tell, so I'm looking forward to

67:12

[01 09:07.341 – 01:09:08.761] hearing his question tonight.

67:14

[01 09:08.761 – 01:09:11.421] Thanks, Mike.

67:15

[01 09:11.421 – 01:09:13.501] My name's Carl, and I'm alco- an alcoholic.

67:19

[01 09:13.501 – 01:09:14.621] I really appreciate that.

67:21

[01 09:14.621 – 01:09:15.861] I value our friendship.

67:23

[01 09:15.861 – 01:09:17.181] Real quick question.

67:24

[01 09:17.181 – 01:09:21.781] One of the first names you mentioned, I did- I, I didn't, I don't know of.

67:31

[01 09:21.781 – 01:09:22.341] George Hood.

67:32

[01 09:22.341 – 01:09:23.141] Who was George Hood?

67:34

[01 09:23.141 – 01:09:24.341] Oh, great.

67:36

[01 09:24.341 – 01:09:26.151] Did I mention George Hood tonight?

67:38

[01 09:26.151 – 01:09:31.941] So George Hood was a sponsee of Archie Trowbridge.

67:42

[01 09:31.941 – 01:09:34.721] George Hood was in Detroit, okay?

67:45

[01 09:34.721 – 01:09:44.741] George Hood was one of the early pioneers, and he became friends with all of the early pioneers because George had a,

67:54

[01 09:44.741 – 01:09:54.841] a wire recording machine, and George would take this wire recorder everywhere that he went, and he would record meetings and he would record people and he

68:06

[01 09:54.841 – 01:09:57.821] would interview people and he'd record himself.

68:09

[01 09:57.821 – 01:10:05.261] Well, he turned Bill Wilson on to wire recordings, and Bill and he started exchanging the wires.

68:16

[01 10:05.261 – 01:10:08.801] So that wire that we have that was made in Dr.

68:21

[01 10:08.801 – 01:10:11.460] Bob's home that is now back in Dr.

68:24

[01 10:11.460 – 01:10:21.261] Bob's home, that was made by George Hood and then brought by George Hood to, uh, Bill and Lois in New York and given to them.

68:35

[01 10:21.261 – 01:10:26.581] Um, and George continued to stay very close with Bill through the years.

68:41

[01 10:26.581 – 01:10:36.641] And as he would travel, he would visit AAs on the West Coast or, uh, in the Northland and, and he would give reports back

68:51

[01 10:36.641 – 01:10:44.461] to Bill because, you know, some pockets were resisting the general service conference, some people were resisting the traditions.

68:59

[01 10:44.461 – 01:10:54.551] And George was just one of those guys kind of out in the field doing some of the surveillance work, if you will, for Bill, and letting him know the state of AA affairs around the country.

69:14

[01 10:54.551 – 01:10:56.281] So I hope that that helps.

69:17

[01 10:56.281 – 01:10:59.061] Thank you.

69:18

[01 10:59.061 – 01:11:02.421] Thank you, Carl.

69:20

[01 11:02.421 – 01:11:04.501] And next is Eddie G.

69:22

[01 11:04.501 – 01:11:09.521] Eddie.

69:23

[01 11:09.521 – 01:11:11.041] Hey, everybody.

69:24

[01 11:11.041 – 01:11:11.521] I'm Eddie.

69:26

[01 11:11.521 – 01:11:12.681] I'm an alcoholic.

69:27

[01 11:12.681 – 01:11:15.601] Um, so I got two things, Mike.

69:30

[01 11:15.601 – 01:11:24.721] Uh, the first one is when that Bill Dotson's talking, uh, you know, we've since found that, uh, the correspondence with Eddie R.

69:40

[01 11:24.721 – 01:11:34.781] and Bill Wilson, uh, later years he said that in the writing of the Big Book that, uh, that he was with

69:49

[01 11:34.781 – 01:11:41.091] Bill and Bob when they went to see Bill Dotson in the hospital.

69:55

[01 11:41.091 – 01:11:47.401] But I caught when Bill Dotson was speaking, he only spoke of two- Mm-hmm ...

70:01

[01 11:47.401 – 01:11:47.701] men.

70:02

[01 11:47.701 – 01:11:50.671] Was there a question?

70:04

[01 11:50.671 – 01:11:52.441] Yeah, yeah.

70:05

[01 11:52.441 – 01:11:57.601] Does that sort of show us that maybe Eddie was not quite right on that?

70:11

[01 11:57.601 – 01:11:58.521] I mean...

70:12

[01 11:58.521 – 01:12:01.641] Ah, you know, I have to listen to Dotson again.

70:17

[01 12:01.641 – 01:12:11.701] The, what, what, uh, what Eddie's speaking of here, guys, is, um, about 20 years ago I, I bought a letter online, and the letter was,

70:27

[01 12:11.701 – 01:12:17.281] um, advertised as Bill Wilson, uh, wrote this letter to Father Ed Dowling.

70:33

[01 12:17.281 – 01:12:19.551] Well, I bought the letter, received the letter.

70:36

[01 12:19.551 – 01:12:25.571] When I received the letter I realized it was not to Father Ed Dowling, it was to a guy named Ed Riley.

70:46

[01 12:25.571 – 01:12:25.791] And-

70:46

[01 12:25.902 – 01:12:30.002] Ed was from Youngstown, Ohio, and Ed was the first guy that Dr.

70:52

[01 12:30.002 – 01:12:31.362] Bob and Bill W.

70:54

[01 12:31.362 – 01:12:32.301] tried to help.

70:56

[01 12:32.301 – 01:12:38.582] And he was a bad drunk, so he would climb down the window and go get drunk and, and he ended up chasing Dr.

71:06

[01 12:38.582 – 01:12:42.682] Bob's wife, Anne, around the house with a butcher knife, and he had to be committed.

71:12

[01 12:42.682 – 01:12:49.022] So he got s- he showed up at Dr.

71:16

[01 12:49.022 – 01:12:59.062] Bob's funeral, and he extended his hand to Smitty, and he said, "Do you know who I am?" And Smitty said, "Why, you're Eddie." And he said, "And I've been sober for two

71:30

[01 12:59.062 – 01:13:05.942] and a half years." Now, you could imagine how proud Smitty was to hear that, but how proud Eddie was to be able to say it.

71:41

[01 13:05.942 – 01:13:07.982] Well, the story goes on.

71:43

[01 13:07.982 – 01:13:18.282] Eddie stayed in Alcoholics Anonymous for the rest of his life, and he became the chairman of the, uh, National Council on Alcoholism for Youngstown, Ohio,

71:54

[01 13:18.282 – 01:13:20.862] and he, he stayed very, very involved.

71:57

[01 13:20.862 – 01:13:30.941] This particular letter that Bill Wilson wrote to Eddie was asking Eddie to review the new book that he was putting out called AA Comes of

72:08

[01 13:30.942 – 01:13:41.022] Age, and he wanted Eddie to review the manuscript and see if Bill was accurate in his description of what had gone on in the early

72:19

[01 13:41.022 – 01:13:41.582] days.

72:20

[01 13:41.582 – 01:13:46.282] But all I had was a letter of Bill Wilson asking Eddie for this.

72:26

[01 13:46.282 – 01:13:56.322] So I called the archives in, in, in New York, um, and talked to them and said, "Uh, you know, I have a letter dated this date, and here's the content

72:39

[01 13:56.322 – 01:13:56.582] of it.

72:40

[01 13:56.582 – 01:14:06.952] Do you have a response from Eddie Reilly?" And their response back to me was, "Yes, we do," and

72:48

[01 14:06.952 – 01:14:08.202] I'll just summarize it.

72:50

[01 14:08.202 – 01:14:11.502] Eddie said, "There were a couple of things that are questionable.

72:55

[01 14:11.502 – 01:14:22.062] One is you overstated the kitchen knife story, and, uh, I was present when you

73:01

[01 14:22.062 – 01:14:22.342] and Dr.

73:02

[01 14:22.342 – 01:14:31.122] Bob called on Bill Dotson at the hospital." So those were the two feedbacks that we received.

73:09

[01 14:31.122 – 01:14:40.862] So now whether or not we need to, you know, paint a fourth person into the picture of the man on the bed, I don't think we really need to do that.

73:23

[01 14:40.862 – 01:14:51.262] But I do think that, uh, it's interesting that you pick that up, Eddie, and I, I, you know, I don't know, but I, I can't imagine that,

73:34

[01 14:51.262 – 01:14:54.412] uh, that he didn't remember.

73:37

[01 14:54.412 – 01:15:00.602] You know, and Bill Dotson, I'm not sure why he would've excluded the third.

73:43

[01 15:00.602 – 01:15:01.502] I don't know.

73:44

[01 15:01.502 – 01:15:04.442] Yeah, that's the reason it got my mind, you know.

73:49

[01 15:04.442 – 01:15:05.402] Uh- Mm-hmm ...

73:50

[01 15:05.402 – 01:15:10.102] and the second thing was, uh, I noticed on the programs when the- Dr.

73:56

[01 15:10.102 – 01:15:18.882] Bob, uh, was speaking at those, uh, where you let us hear those, at the bottom of each one of them it said Detroit, Michigan.

74:06

[01 15:18.882 – 01:15:19.572] Mm-hmm.

74:07

[01 15:19.572 – 01:15:28.262] So I was wondering if that was in connection with, uh, Archie, him going and speaking at those places in Detroit.

74:16

[01 15:28.262 – 01:15:29.222] And George Hood.

74:17

[01 15:29.222 – 01:15:30.762] And George Hood, right.

74:19

[01 15:30.762 – 01:15:32.182] So George could tape it.

74:22

[01 15:32.182 – 01:15:38.062] You know the talk that we have, it's now on a record disk and it- we've got it on the website, Dr.

74:31

[01 15:38.062 – 01:15:39.982] Bob's last major talk?

74:33

[01 15:39.982 – 01:15:42.181] Yeah, the red record.

74:35

[01 15:42.181 – 01:15:43.322] George Hood.

74:36

[01 15:43.322 – 01:15:44.742] Oh, okay.

74:37

[01 15:44.742 – 01:15:45.122] All right.

74:39

[01 15:45.122 – 01:15:46.742] He recorded it on a wire.

74:41

[01 15:46.742 – 01:15:49.242] All that was originally recorded on a wire.

74:45

[01 15:49.242 – 01:15:50.602] All right.

74:46

[01 15:50.602 – 01:15:54.542] Yeah, I've just seen at the bottom it said Detroit, Michigan on all of those.

74:53

[01 15:54.542 – 01:15:58.482] I was like, "Wait a minute here, there's a connection." Thank you, Mike.

74:58

[01 15:58.482 – 01:15:58.492] Thank you.

74:59

[01 15:58.492 – 01:15:59.192] I appreciate it.

75:01

[01 15:59.192 – 01:16:00.842] It was a great presentation, man.

75:04

[01 16:00.842 – 01:16:02.882] I'm glad I was here for it.

75:07

[01 16:02.882 – 01:16:04.622] Thank you.

75:08

[01 16:04.622 – 01:16:08.262] Can I add a couple comments there?

75:11

[01 16:08.262 – 01:16:09.042] You can.

75:13

[01 16:09.042 – 01:16:09.742] Sure.

75:13

[01 16:09.742 – 01:16:16.022] Two, two of those, uh, flyers that you talked about Eddie were for Dr.

75:19

[01 16:16.022 – 01:16:17.042] Bob in Detroit.

75:21

[01 16:17.042 – 01:16:22.222] Archie was listed on both of them, and he also spoke those nights.

75:27

[01 16:22.222 – 01:16:26.922] So if you read closely, Archie was listed there as a speaker.

75:32

[01 16:26.922 – 01:16:36.962] And the other thing is I noticed today, I was looking through Pass It On, and the very last one you, uh, the back cover of

75:43

[01 16:36.962 – 01:16:41.822] Pass It On, Bill, it's a picture of Bill sitting at his desk at Wit's End.

75:49

[01 16:41.822 – 01:16:45.882] He's holding the manuscript of AA Comes of Age.

75:53

[01 16:45.882 – 01:16:48.682] Oh, that's awesome.

75:55

[01 16:48.682 – 01:16:49.722] Thank you, Tim.

75:57

[01 16:49.722 – 01:16:55.142] I'm glad you- Oh, and by the way, Penny, I'm from Alabama, and I have drank in barns before.

76:05

[01 16:55.142 – 01:16:58.462] All right, man.

76:06

[01 16:58.462 – 01:16:59.402] Thank you, Eddie.

76:08

[01 16:59.402 – 01:17:01.342] Our next question is from John.

76:11

[01 17:01.342 – 01:17:02.322] You can unmute.

76:12

[01 17:02.322 – 01:17:07.282] Good evening, everybody.

76:14

[01 17:07.282 – 01:17:08.062] I'm an alcoholic.

76:15

[01 17:08.062 – 01:17:10.742] My name is John from San Diego, California.

76:19

[01 17:10.742 – 01:17:19.902] And thank you for your presentation, Mike, and, uh, thank you for sharing what you like to refer to as the golden thread of God.

76:29

[01 17:19.902 – 01:17:21.342] I love that.

76:31

[01 17:21.342 – 01:17:22.922] I use your line often.

76:33

[01 17:22.922 – 01:17:30.642] And, uh, my question has to do with the picture of Sue Smith, Dr.

76:39

[01 17:30.642 – 01:17:33.422] Bob and Anne Smith's adopted daughter.

76:42

[01 17:33.422 – 01:17:36.902] The gentleman holding her hand was Ernie G.

76:46

[01 17:36.902 – 01:17:39.062] Ernie G was one of us.

76:49

[01 17:39.062 – 01:17:41.612] I know Dr.

76:50

[01 17:41.612 – 01:17:46.462] Bob and Anne Smith would never, didn't like gossip or talking about people.

76:56

[01 17:46.462 – 01:17:52.142] Do you know any history of their opinion on Sue dating one of us?

77:02

[01 17:52.142 – 01:17:54.742] Well.

77:03

[01 17:54.742 – 01:17:57.162] First, Dr.

77:04

[01 17:57.162 – 01:17:59.582] Bob sponsored Ernie, okay?

77:06

[01 17:59.582 – 01:18:03.562] I can't imagine what that was like listening to his fifth step.

77:11

[01 18:03.562 – 01:18:07.162] Um, Ernie was a young guy, okay?

77:14

[01 18:07.162 – 01:18:12.342] And, uh, and I understand, you know, and I think Gail, I don't know if Gail's on tonight.

77:22

[01 18:12.342 – 01:18:17.722] Gail would certainly be able to enlighten us a little bit more on, on Ernie Galbreath.

77:29

[01 18:17.722 – 01:18:26.482] Um, but I, I can just imagine, you know, this, this guy, you know, spending time with Dr.

77:36

[01 18:26.482 – 01:18:29.862] Bob's daughter while they're trying to keep him sober and everybody else.

77:41

[01 18:29.862 – 01:18:37.062] Um, I'm sure there's some stories around that that are probably pretty comical, and some that might even be a little sad.

77:51

[01 18:37.062 – 01:18:47.362] But, uh, but I'm grateful that later Sue, um, got some attention from AA.

77:57

[01 18:47.362 – 01:18:57.522] And when I say that, you know, there's a lot of people who have contributed to Alcoholics Anonymous, and their history's forgotten, you know?

78:07

[01 18:57.522 – 01:19:07.922] Our friend Gary, who's on tonight, uh, did a beautiful job of bringing Bobbi Berger to life for all of us, and telling her story

78:17

[01 19:07.922 – 01:19:08.862] and sharing with us.

78:19

[01 19:08.862 – 01:19:19.242] And, and I think that when we think about some of the, the people who have been contributors but yet lost, you know, we, uh,

78:29

[01 19:19.242 – 01:19:22.202] we wanna be grateful and not forget them, you know, John?

78:34

[01 19:22.202 – 01:19:22.272] Yeah.

78:35

[01 19:22.272 – 01:19:23.981] I think that, uh, we don't...

78:38

[01 19:23.981 – 01:19:31.982] It's hard to know everything there is to learn, because we'll go down one rabbit hole and next thing you know we're...

78:47

[01 19:31.982 – 01:19:39.222] I'll tell you what happened to me tonight, and I've listened to this recording tons of times.

78:54

[01 19:40.663 – 01:19:50.723] I've had a lot of difficulty with AA members saying that they were all reading the book The

79:02

[01 19:50.723 – 01:19:53.563] Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox, okay?

79:05

[01 19:53.563 – 01:19:55.963] Because I didn't believe that.

79:08

[01 19:55.963 – 01:19:57.323] See, Dr.

79:09

[01 19:57.323 – 01:20:04.583] Bob said the substance of Alcoholics Anonymous came from the 13th Corinthians in the Book of James in The Sermon on the Mount.

79:19

[01 20:04.583 – 01:20:05.123] Okay?

79:19

[01 20:05.123 – 01:20:08.943] He was referring to the Bible.

79:22

[01 20:08.943 – 01:20:18.323] When Archie talked tonight, he said that he read The Sermon on the Mount by Emmet Fox.

79:29

[01 20:18.323 – 01:20:27.463] So you see, sometimes we plant our flag, and later we gotta rip it out of the ground because the information that we had, more is revealed.

79:41

[01 20:27.463 – 01:20:37.483] And that, that, that hit me really hard tonight because I've, I've dismissed Emmet Fox having any

79:48

[01 20:37.483 – 01:20:42.483] contribution other than a few AA members reading some of his work.

79:53

[01 20:42.483 – 01:20:42.923] Okay?

79:54

[01 20:42.923 – 01:20:47.323] Now I have a little different attitude about it.

79:58

[01 20:47.323 – 01:20:48.903] I think that's kind of cool.

80:01

[01 20:48.903 – 01:20:49.883] Thank you.

80:02

[01 20:49.883 – 01:20:51.463] Thank you, John.

80:03

[01 20:51.463 – 01:20:53.163] All right.

80:05

[01 20:53.163 – 01:20:53.943] Thanks, John.

80:06

[01 20:53.943 – 01:20:55.163] And next is Randy.

80:08

[01 20:55.163 – 01:20:56.063] You can unmute.

80:09

[01 20:56.063 – 01:20:57.763] Thank you.

80:11

[01 20:57.763 – 01:21:00.083] Um, uh, my name's Randy.

80:13

[01 21:00.083 – 01:21:01.363] I am an alcoholic.

80:15

[01 21:01.363 – 01:21:09.263] Uh, wanna thank, uh, Mike for the presentation, Tim for your ever, ever service work.

80:21

[01 21:09.263 – 01:21:13.363] Uh, it was, it wa- uh, it's kind of a comment.

80:26

[01 21:13.363 – 01:21:18.423] Uh, it was lovely to hear the clip that you, uh, picked of Dr.

80:32

[01 21:18.423 – 01:21:23.863] Bob when he was coming back from, uh, the medical conference.

80:37

[01 21:23.863 – 01:21:34.043] Uh, and it solidifies, uh, a notation in the, the big book, uh, that, uh, he woke

80:44

[01 21:34.043 – 01:21:37.863] up in a town near his home, which was, and Dr.

80:49

[01 21:37.863 – 01:21:43.323] Bob said it in the clip you picked, uh, quite, I'm not gonna say it right.

80:56

[01 21:43.323 – 01:21:45.003] Tioga Fa- Tioga Falls.

80:58

[01 21:45.003 – 01:21:46.533] Tioga Falls.

80:59

[01 21:46.533 – 01:21:51.143] But I, uh, the question I have is it says at a friend's house.

81:05

[01 21:51.143 – 01:21:52.653] Do you know who the friend was?

81:08

[01 21:52.653 – 01:21:53.943] His nurse.

81:09

[01 21:53.943 – 01:21:55.123] His nurse?

81:11

[01 21:55.123 – 01:21:56.273] Thank you, Mike.

81:12

[01 21:56.273 – 01:22:01.723] And thank you for the, uh, lovely invitation to attend tonight.

81:17

[01 22:01.723 – 01:22:02.133] Thank you.

81:18

[01 22:02.133 – 01:22:09.963] And Bill went over and stayed there with him, I understand, until they could bring him back to his home at 855 Ardmore.

81:27

[01 22:09.963 – 01:22:20.283] So much happened at 855 Ardmore, and next week we are going to do it from 855 Ardmore Avenue.

81:35

[01 22:20.283 – 01:22:26.683] Even if I gotta sit on the stairs and do it, that's where I'm gonna do it, and I am looking forward to it.

81:45

[01 22:26.683 – 01:22:32.363] And I have a feeling that this thing screwed up tonight just so I could close this out at Dr.

81:53

[01 22:32.363 – 01:22:34.403] Bob's house next week while I'm there.

81:56

[01 22:34.403 – 01:22:39.723] Anybody have any more questions before we end tonight?

82:00

[01 22:39.723 – 01:22:41.163] Again, I wanna thank you all.

82:03

[01 22:41.163 – 01:22:44.243] Remind you, please dig deep in helping us right now.

82:07

[01 22:44.243 – 01:22:54.613] We, we have a, a strong mission to get these, these recordings all done and find out who's on all the ones from the Akron, Cleveland region,

82:19

[01 22:54.613 – 01:22:55.963] and what we really have.

82:21

[01 22:55.963 – 01:22:58.703] So, you know, I appreciate you guys coming on.

82:25

[01 22:58.703 – 01:23:00.603] We had over 100 people tonight.

82:27

[01 23:00.603 – 01:23:02.303] I'm so happy about that.

82:30

[01 23:02.303 – 01:23:04.463] Uh, we've got a hand up, Tim.

82:33

[01 23:04.463 – 01:23:06.643] Let's take Win and then we can be done.

82:37

[01 23:06.643 – 01:23:16.903] Just in the vein of how, you know, we plant our flag, I just wanna mention that, and it was said tonight,

82:46

[01 23:16.903 – 01:23:22.483] how really Anne was the one who got the family members together first.

82:52

[01 23:22.483 – 01:23:32.483] And it always irks me that in Al-Anon she's so neglected and just absolutely wiped out o- of the whole program.

83:01

[01 23:32.483 – 01:23:38.823] So I just, you know, thank you for bringing that up and, and making a point of that.

83:08

[01 23:38.823 – 01:23:48.883] Uh, I, I'm in Al-Anon, and I- it absolutely drives me crazy that, that Anne Smith, who absolutely set the whole scene,

83:17

[01 23:48.883 – 01:23:50.903] you know, is neglected.

83:19

[01 23:50.903 – 01:23:52.923] Thank you, and thanks for your service.

83:23

[01 23:52.923 – 01:23:54.583] It's wonderful to see you again.

83:25

[01 23:54.583 – 01:23:55.783] Thank you, Win.

83:27

[01 23:55.783 – 01:23:55.873] Bye-bye.

83:28

[01 23:55.873 – 01:23:57.023] And we're glad you're here.

83:30

[01 23:57.023 – 01:24:01.823] And I know you didn't have a question, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna piggyback that for one second.

83:38

[01 24:01.823 – 01:24:06.243] In 1988, I got married and I moved to Michigan.

83:42

[01 24:06.243 – 01:24:13.063] And, uh, in the early part of 1989, I was introduced to a lady in Michigan.

83:48

[01 24:13.063 – 01:24:20.963] Her and her husband, I didn't know this, they brought me to her house and I walked in the door, and her name was Ruth Gehrig.

83:59

[01 24:20.963 – 01:24:21.483] Okay?

84:00

[01 24:21.483 – 01:24:26.663] And, uh, and she said, "My husband and I came into AA in Dr.

84:06

[01 24:26.663 – 01:24:29.103] Bob's house." And I'm like, "What?

84:09

[01 24:29.103 – 01:24:30.443] Are you an alcoholic?

84:11

[01 24:30.443 – 01:24:40.563] Oh, my God, so nice to meet you." And she says, "Well, I wasn't an alcoholic, but when we came in, we were all accepted."

84:21

[01 24:40.563 – 01:24:43.643] It was really interesting.

84:23

[01 24:43.643 – 01:24:51.903] And, you know, Ruth had said to me after that meeting, she says, "You come back and see me anytime." And that was on a Friday afternoon.

84:34

[01 24:51.903 – 01:24:55.883] And every Friday afternoon I went back to visit this old lady.

84:39

[01 24:55.883 – 01:25:01.723] And I didn't know why I was visiting her other than respect for the people that saved my life.

84:47

[01 25:01.723 – 01:25:04.683] And I would go there and I would sit with her, Win.

84:53

[01 25:04.683 – 01:25:11.623] And she would, during the week, knowing I was coming on Friday, she would crochet crosses for me.

85:00

[01 25:11.623 – 01:25:14.883] She would write down affirmations.

85:03

[01 25:14.883 – 01:25:18.423] And I would go there and she would talk to me about visiting Dr.

85:09

[01 25:18.423 – 01:25:20.603] Bob and Anne and spending time with T.

85:12

[01 25:20.603 – 01:25:29.903] Henry and Clarice and, and the Oxford Group and the house parties, and how they would listen and how they would seek guidance and how they would pray.

85:24

[01 25:29.903 – 01:25:35.283] And then she would get me to read the affirmations with her and then take them home.

85:31

[01 25:35.283 – 01:25:45.323] And, you know, then years later I get a call from Hazelden and they say, you know, "Can you write a book to honor Al-Anon and their anniversary?"

85:43

[01 25:45.323 – 01:25:53.723] And I said, "Well, I could, but I don't..." Anyway, so I started back at Anne Smith and Henrietta D.

85:51

[01 25:53.723 – 01:25:55.163] and the things that were happening.

85:54

[01 25:55.163 – 01:26:05.203] And in all of the m- messages and words that came from this dear lady, Henry, or, uh, uh, Ruth Gehrig, um, I was able to

86:05

[01 26:05.203 – 01:26:07.923] remember and I was able to put in that book.

86:09

[01 26:07.923 – 01:26:17.943] And thank you for mentioning Al-Anon tonight because you see, Al-Anon, when it started, was Alcoholics Anonymous family groups, and I think sometimes we

86:19

[01 26:17.943 – 01:26:24.263] forget that this is a family disease, and our solution is a family solution.

86:25

[01 26:24.263 – 01:26:25.543] And you know what?

86:27

[01 26:25.543 – 01:26:26.433] I'm home.

86:28

[01 26:26.433 – 01:26:28.153] I'm 40 years sober.

86:30

[01 26:28.153 – 01:26:33.363] My daughter had surgery last Thursday, and I can care for her today.

86:35

[01 26:33.363 – 01:26:38.003] Thank you, Alcoholics Anonymous, and thanks, Win, for your question.

86:40

[01 26:38.003 – 01:26:42.283] I'm gonna leave it at that, 'cause I'm getting too emotional tonight.

86:45

[01 26:42.283 – 01:26:43.663] I love you guys.

86:47

[01 26:43.663 – 01:26:44.903] Tim, let's end it.

86:49

[01 26:44.903 – 01:26:45.903] All right.

86:50

[01 26:45.903 – 01:26:48.543] Thank you so much, everyone, for being here.

86:54

[01 26:48.543 – 01:26:52.843] And, uh, now I will allow you all to unmute and thank Mike.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

1 Mike F presented by 1 Mike F – 2025-08-05

1 Mike F presented by 1 Mike F – 2025-08-05

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