AA International – Around the World presented by Drew H. – 6/2/2026

Interactive Transcript

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Drew Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2026

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Drew Listen to Workshop Recording

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Drew ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Drew Drew H. speaking on "AA International - Around the World" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (June 2, 2026). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Drew Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:03.160 – 00:00:07.120] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

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[00 00:07.120 – 00:00:09.320] Thank you all for joining us tonight.

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[00 00:09.320 – 00:00:14.300] My name is Tim, and tonight's presentation is led by Drew H.

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[00 00:14.300 – 00:00:21.699] in Georgia, and Drew will be presenting on AA International, or A- uh, Around the World.

0:28

[00 00:21.699 – 00:00:26.000] And we'll be looking at some growth around, uh, the world with AA.

0:33

[00 00:26.000 – 00:00:33.250] And we meet here every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:39

[00 00:33.250 – 00:00:38.359] And next week, what I was just sharing before I started the recording, is that Mike F.

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[00 00:38.359 – 00:00:48.520] will be doing a presentation on a look at the New Recovery Speakers platform, and that will be launched on June 10th with a preview

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[00 00:48.520 – 00:00:57.359] look at the platform on June 9th at 6:00 PM, uh, Pacific, 9:00 Eastern, next Tuesday.

0:58

[00 00:57.359 – 00:01:05.579] And, uh, we hope you all are, are able to make it and see, uh, the amazing platform that's being built as we speak.

1:06

[00 01:05.579 – 00:01:16.180] And recoveryspeakers.com is a 501[c]3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the audio

1:11

[00 01:16.180 – 00:01:20.040] history of AA and the 12-step movement.

1:14

[00 01:20.040 – 00:01:30.040] And, you know, we're doing this to make sure that it's preserved for today and available for people to listen to today, but also for future generations, and we wanna make

1:24

[00 01:30.040 – 00:01:33.620] sure that this is, uh, audio, that it survives.

1:27

[00 01:33.620 – 00:01:42.019] This was all original recordings from the '50s, '60s, '70s, and, uh, we don't wanna lose this for our next generation.

1:36

[00 01:42.019 – 00:01:46.140] So any contributions, um, are greatly appreciated.

1:38

[00 01:46.140 – 00:01:52.890] I'll be sharing some links in the chat to where, um, support can be given to Recovery Speakers.

1:44

[00 01:52.890 – 00:01:56.060] Um, let's see.

1:46

[00 01:56.060 – 00:01:56.700] What's next?

1:47

[00 01:56.700 – 00:02:03.579] We share a daily email through our, uh, email chain, and it is, uh, a speaker of the day.

1:53

[00 02:03.579 – 00:02:13.639] And right now, um, they're currently going to, uh, YouTube to listen to, but in a week from now, we will be

2:01

[00 02:13.639 – 00:02:17.240] sharing the recordings directly to the Recovery Speakers website.

2:04

[00 02:17.240 – 00:02:22.800] And I believe that is it for me.

2:07

[00 02:22.800 – 00:02:29.759] I am going to go ahead and turn it right over to Drew for a presentation on AA International.

2:13

[00 02:29.759 – 00:02:35.759] Thanks, Tim.

2:14

[00 02:35.759 – 00:02:35.930] Thank you.

2:15

[00 02:35.930 – 00:02:36.539] Hey, everybody.

2:16

[00 02:36.539 – 00:02:39.400] My name is, uh, Drew, and I am an alcoholic.

2:20

[00 02:39.400 – 00:02:44.080] I'll set screen share up, and, uh, I will, uh...

2:23

[00 02:44.080 – 00:02:49.719] Th- th- this slide doesn't count, but, uh, yeah, uh, th- I love that slide.

2:29

[00 02:49.719 – 00:02:59.879] Anyway, um, you know, one of, one of the things that, uh, this particular s- series of, of, of, uh, slides in this presentation, um,

2:37

[00 02:59.879 – 00:03:09.879] it's kind of pulled from, um, w- and our, uh, at, at our state assemblies, our archives committee, um, has pretty much

2:45

[00 03:09.879 – 00:03:17.020] taken photographs and put them on a slideshow that per- you know, plays about, you know, 20 seconds per slide.

2:51

[00 03:17.020 – 00:03:22.860] And we plug that up on our, our booth, uh, when, when we have a convention or stuff, uh, just, just sequence.

2:59

[00 03:22.860 – 00:03:28.780] So what you're about to see tonight is, uh, basically, you know, uh, pulled from that.

3:04

[00 03:28.780 – 00:03:32.960] And, uh, you know, it's, it's the, the international, uh, you know...

3:08

[00 03:32.960 – 00:03:38.240] Uh, it's, it's not all of the international 'cause we'd be here into next week, I think.

3:14

[00 03:38.240 – 00:03:41.439] Um, and, and good stuff's happening next week.

3:17

[00 03:41.439 – 00:03:47.979] But, uh, you know, what we're gonna do is we're pretty much gonna hit the highlights, and some of these stories are, are absolutely incredible.

3:26

[00 03:47.979 – 00:03:52.060] Um, a- especially, you know, some of the, some of the Canadian stories.

3:30

[00 03:52.060 – 00:03:56.419] Um, two in particular that just, you know, you just get choked up on.

3:35

[00 03:56.419 – 00:04:03.699] Um, but, uh, a- a- again, you know, this, this, this photograph kind of, you know, sets, uh, the, the stage.

3:42

[00 04:03.699 – 00:04:12.159] Now, from here, one of the, uh, interesting things is, you know, we kind of look at it from, uh, you know, AA across the pond.

3:51

[00 04:12.159 – 00:04:13.500] We've done this a couple of times.

3:54

[00 04:13.500 – 00:04:21.180] Uh, but some of the main, uh, players, uh, again, with, um, uh, founding, you know, kind of the Founding Fathers.

4:01

[00 04:21.180 – 00:04:22.088] Uh, we got...

4:02

[00 04:22.088 – 00:04:26.240] A- again, we're looking at Scotland and, uh, this, uh, gentleman.

4:06

[00 04:26.240 – 00:04:32.459] His name is, uh, Sir Philip Dundas, and, uh, he's, he's a, he's an interesting individual.

4:11

[00 04:32.459 – 00:04:36.519] He is a absolute Oxford Grouper, which is pretty cool.

4:15

[00 04:36.519 – 00:04:41.850] So he, he's, he was a European Oxford Grouper, uh, way before Bill, way before Bob.

4:21

[00 04:41.850 – 00:04:51.899] In fact, in 1936, he was at the America Awake campaign, um, doing, uh, doing his thing, speaking with, uh, Bill Pickle, and, and

4:28

[00 04:51.899 – 00:04:56.319] real heavy into, uh, uh, the, uh, that, uh, that, that aspect.

4:33

[00 04:56.319 – 00:05:06.660] But again, it, it looks as though, uh, you know, when, when, when we think of, you know, the Oxford Group and, and people trying to get sober in the Oxford Group, a lot of the real alcoholics

4:45

[00 05:06.660 – 00:05:07.139] didn't.

4:46

[00 05:07.139 – 00:05:09.790] And Philip, uh, was, was one of those guys.

4:49

[00 05:09.790 – 00:05:14.180] But, uh, I will also add that this is kind of like a Quentin Tarantino film.

4:55

[00 05:14.180 – 00:05:15.699] Uh, it's in no particular order.

4:57

[00 05:15.699 – 00:05:19.899] So, uh, we're just, we're just gonna bounce around kind of like a pinball.

5:02

[00 05:19.899 – 00:05:25.160] Uh, but you know, right here, again, we're looking at, uh, uh, Scotland with, uh, uh, Sir Philip Dundas.

5:08

[00 05:25.160 – 00:05:35.829] Uh, another one that's pretty important is, uh, with England, and of course, uh, uh, Grace Forzler, you know, one of the, the main message carriers that, that takes it over, uh,

5:19

[00 05:35.829 – 00:05:38.230] uh, uh, uh, pretty much to, uh, the United Kingdom.

5:23

[00 05:38.230 – 00:05:40.240] And of course, you know, Conor Flynn.

5:25

[00 05:40.240 – 00:05:50.339] And Conor Flynn is one of my heroes, uh, especially with, with, uh, Ireland, uh, 'cause, you know, they, they, they, they did, uh, some of the, some of the most amazing things.

5:36

[00 05:50.339 – 00:06:00.399] Now, long story short, when we look at AA Ireland, since we're on Ireland, uh, Conor Flynn was actually a, uh, a, a, lived in, uh,

5:45

[00 06:00.399 – 00:06:02.439] uh, uh, Philadelphia.

5:46

[00 06:02.439 – 00:06:06.360] And, uh, he said he joined AA in 1943 in Philadelphia.

5:50

[00 06:06.360 – 00:06:12.399] He was born in Ireland, immigrated to the US in 1929, then he went back to Ireland.

5:56

[00 06:12.399 – 00:06:17.459] And of course, uh, Conor took what he learned in the Philadelphia AA, kind of carrying the message.

6:02

[00 06:17.459 – 00:06:20.699] And when we look at Philadelphia AA, they had some pioneers.

6:06

[00 06:20.699 – 00:06:22.939] Uh, you had Jimmy Burwell.

6:08

[00 06:22.939 – 00:06:24.980] You had George, uh, Sullivan.

6:10

[00 06:24.980 – 00:06:31.439] You had the, the, the roots from, um, the, uh, uh, um, Jack Alexander article.

6:15

[00 06:31.439 – 00:06:36.759] You know, it all kind of centered around, uh, that core, you know, core group of individuals.

6:21

[00 06:36.759 – 00:06:37.759] Pretty strong stuff.

6:22

[00 06:37.759 – 00:06:44.899] Now, but Conor Flynn, again, went to, um, um, um, Ireland and, and brought AA with him.

6:28

[00 06:44.899 – 00:06:51.199] Now, again, through a psychiatric nurse by the name of Ellen, uh, Jennings.

6:32

[00 06:51.199 – 00:06:52.240] They called her Eva.

6:34

[00 06:52.240 – 00:06:57.500] So Ellen Jennings of Castlebar, which is, uh, pretty interesting, uh, where, where that is located.

6:40

[00 06:57.500 – 00:07:03.379] Uh, it was one of the, uh, towns that, um, uh, Sister Ignacia was-

6:44

[00 07:04.014 – 00:07:09.014] At least the Dunn family, which is an extension of, of, uh, the, the Gavins.

6:50

[00 07:09.014 – 00:07:12.194] Uh, they're, they're, they came from Castlebar.

6:52

[00 07:12.194 – 00:07:22.104] Um, but, but from, uh, Miss, uh, Jennings here, uh, staying at the same Dublin hotel that Connor was, again directed, uh, to, uh, Dublin's Dr.

7:01

[00 07:22.104 – 00:07:23.564] Norman Moore.

7:02

[00 07:23.564 – 00:07:29.913] So these two, you know, folks kind of started, you know, talking with, with, uh, this, uh, solution of alcoholism.

7:09

[00 07:29.913 – 00:07:33.444] And of course, uh, with the help of, uh, uh, this, uh, Dr.

7:13

[00 07:33.444 – 00:07:41.654] Norman Moore, uh, Irish, uh, uh, psychiatrist, uh, Flynn was put in contact with a Richard P.

7:19

[00 07:41.654 – 00:07:42.804] or Richard Parseval.

7:21

[00 07:42.804 – 00:07:52.974] And, uh, again, Richard, uh, uh, uh, showed interest, uh, in this, uh, this, this solution that, uh, uh, was, uh, you know, Connor was, uh, bringing

7:30

[00 07:52.974 – 00:08:02.914] with him and what's ironic is he was actually sent under escort, uh, to, uh, Connor Flynn's hotel where he was staying, and the two men just kind of clicked automatically.

7:40

[00 08:02.914 – 00:08:03.344] Richard P.

7:41

[00 08:03.344 – 00:08:06.274] was released from the hospital literally a free man.

7:44

[00 08:06.274 – 00:08:10.894] So again, you know, the, the, the base element is, uh, underway.

7:49

[00 08:10.894 – 00:08:21.034] Now from there, um, March, uh, I mean, uh, November 30th of '46, they held a small little meeting here, and it was, uh, The Country Shop, and it was on number 23

7:59

[00 08:21.034 – 00:08:21.164] St.

8:00

[00 08:21.164 – 00:08:31.884] Stephen's Green, which is kind of like a, a, you know, it's, it's like a city park, but that little country shop is a, a, a neat little, uh, uh, store that, uh,

8:11

[00 08:31.884 – 00:08:33.644] it, uh, on kind of the north end.

8:14

[00 08:33.644 – 00:08:43.674] But soon, uh, after that, a retired major in the British Army made his way, uh, to the meeting after reading a, uh, a newspaper ad, and,

8:23

[00 08:43.674 – 00:08:45.474] uh, uh, it, it grew.

8:25

[00 08:45.474 – 00:08:52.254] Uh, and this guy actually was, uh, he, he, he's, he's a, he's an excellent specimen of, of AA.

8:32

[00 08:52.254 – 00:08:57.114] His name is Sackville Mullins, and he is, he is everything you would think he is.

8:37

[00 08:57.114 – 00:09:07.154] Uh, especially, you know, how he, how he acts and how he, how he talks and, um, uh, it's, it's, it's, it's quite, quite inspirational what, what, uh, you know,

8:47

[00 09:07.154 – 00:09:11.614] um, uh, again, um, Sackville, uh, had, had done.

8:50

[00 09:11.614 – 00:09:14.714] In fact, his, uh, story actually made it into the second edition.

8:55

[00 09:14.714 – 00:09:16.874] It was known as the career officer.

8:57

[00 09:16.874 – 00:09:25.874] Um, but these three, uh, individuals are pretty much, you know, one of the, the core, uh, you know, ground level of, you know, AA starting now.

9:06

[00 09:25.874 – 00:09:35.914] Uh, from there, um, ag- again, uh, just a, just a couple of photographs of, uh, uh, Bill, Connor Flynn, and, um, uh, I

9:14

[00 09:35.914 – 00:09:45.174] mean, uh, Connor Flynn with, uh, Johnny Sackville and, um, of course, Bill and Lois with, uh, uh, Sackville Mullins, uh, as, um, you can see back there.

9:24

[00 09:45.174 – 00:09:48.694] But what's really cool is again, you know, the, the description.

9:28

[00 09:48.694 – 00:09:52.814] So just, you know, a kind of a, a chain of events.

9:32

[00 09:52.814 – 00:10:04.054] In '93, they actually wrote a group history of the Dublin group and kind of gave a second, you know, minute-by-minute, uh, uh, uh, pretty much, you know, uh,

9:42

[00 10:04.054 – 00:10:07.074] history of, of the first group there.

9:44

[00 10:07.074 – 00:10:14.414] Um, it says, uh, again, this, uh, was filled out on, uh, uh, February, I mean, January 14th of 1993.

9:51

[00 10:14.414 – 00:10:19.874] The first Dublin group, uh, date founded was November of 1946 at The Country Shop.

9:56

[00 10:19.874 – 00:10:28.274] Uh, the current meetings were Thurs- um, uh, current meetings, meaning like current now, was Monday, Thursday, and Friday, all eight thirty.

10:03

[00 10:28.274 – 00:10:33.994] Uh, it's, uh, uh, present membership number nineteen, so pretty interesting.

10:07

[00 10:33.994 – 00:10:44.014] And it said, "Did the group move?" So again, it shows the, uh, the evolution and, and the, the, the, um, started off at The Country Shop, then it went to, uh,

10:18

[00 10:44.014 – 00:10:45.344] the Salvation Army.

10:19

[00 10:45.344 – 00:10:53.694] Uh, then it went to, uh, Merson Square, and, uh, uh, again, it just is a great, you know, little description.

10:26

[00 10:53.694 – 00:10:57.354] Uh, significant dates, uh, for AA history in Ireland.

10:30

[00 10:57.354 – 00:11:00.953] Obviously, the very first one, um, the public meeting.

10:33

[00 11:00.953 – 00:11:06.983] Um, there was a closed meeting that took place, uh, and then shortly thereafter was the public meeting.

10:39

[00 11:06.983 – 00:11:08.054] They kind of opened it up.

10:41

[00 11:08.054 – 00:11:13.834] And then of course, Connor Flynn, who brought AA returns to the US and it's Sackville, and of course, Richard Parseval.

10:49

[00 11:13.834 – 00:11:18.754] Uh, 1948, you know, second Irish group formed in, uh, Borden.

10:52

[00 11:18.754 – 00:11:22.803] And of course, uh, also it spread like wildfire.

10:55

[00 11:22.803 – 00:11:28.534] It went to Belfast, Limerick, um, and, uh, uh, just, just all over the place.

11:01

[00 11:28.534 – 00:11:37.314] Uh, uh, 1949 was the first issue of The Road Back, which is their, um, uh, pretty much their, the equivalent of their grapevine.

11:08

[00 11:37.314 – 00:11:41.454] And that whole thing was orchestrated, uh, uh, by, uh, Sackville Mullins.

11:13

[00 11:41.454 – 00:11:50.194] Uh, again, you know, the first edition of this, uh, Road Back was issued by the first Dublin group and, uh, has been faithfully issued since then.

11:22

[00 11:50.194 – 00:11:54.194] This is actually, uh, uh, issue number eight, but it gives you an idea.

11:27

[00 11:54.194 – 00:12:04.494] The description was, you know, it was about three pages originally, single-spaced stenciled typing, uh, intended as a vehicle for the AA group to communicate with larger,

11:36

[00 12:04.494 – 00:12:07.534] rapidly growing AA world everywhere.

11:38

[00 12:07.534 – 00:12:14.274] So, uh, and of course, there's a nice little, uh, uh, etching of what, uh, the country store, uh, on St.

11:45

[00 12:14.274 – 00:12:16.294] Stephen's Green, uh, looked like.

11:47

[00 12:16.294 – 00:12:23.974] But, uh, what's, what's really amazing is this particular one, this is June 1950, and of course, you know, something happened in, in 1950.

11:54

[00 12:23.974 – 00:12:26.594] That's when, uh, Bill and Lois did their European tour.

11:58

[00 12:26.594 – 00:12:35.074] So there's some interesting, uh, uh, in- information on this, but it was, it was, it was-- it, it, you know, they used all kinds of different things.

12:07

[00 12:35.074 – 00:12:41.934] They had quotes from, uh, uh, you know, AA members, uh, like, uh, uh, Bill Dotts and AA number three.

12:14

[00 12:41.934 – 00:12:44.454] Um, they, they, they just utilized everything.

12:17

[00 12:44.454 – 00:12:48.034] So again, The Road Back, that's issue number eight, June 1950.

12:20

[00 12:48.034 – 00:12:52.554] Uh, but the very first one was, uh, uh, April of 1949.

12:24

[00 12:52.554 – 00:12:58.044] Here's a-- Speaking of their European tour, uh, here's, uh, just some, uh...

12:29

[00 12:58.044 – 00:13:08.334] I wish I had, you know, better, better quality, uh, photographs, but, uh, this was kind of this, uh, uh, the left one, if you look at it, it kind of really gives, uh...

12:40

[00 13:08.334 – 00:13:18.154] Some- somebody said that Richard Parseval was a big guy, and, uh, that photograph confirms it because he's actually bigger than Bill, uh, which is hard to, hard to think about.

12:51

[00 13:18.154 – 00:13:25.054] Uh, Bill's kind of a telephone pole, but this guy is definitely, uh, uh, a little bit, you know, uh, stockier.

12:58

[00 13:25.054 – 00:13:35.134] But, uh, that's just a, a, a, an, an, an interesting, um, uh, photograph and, of course, Bill with other, uh, members of, uh, the, uh, uh, Dublin,

13:07

[00 13:35.134 – 00:13:40.274] uh, uh, group and, and of course, uh, just that whole, uh, process.

13:12

[00 13:40.274 – 00:13:46.444] Now, you know, the interesting thing is he actually stayed in, in, uh, uh, Ireland for, for some time.

13:18

[00 13:46.444 – 00:13:53.824] In fact, their, their European tour was the entire, pretty much the first half of, of, um, um, uh, 1950.

13:25

[00 13:53.824 – 00:14:03.774] Uh, when they returned back to the, the, the US, ten minutes later, they were at the, uh, the, the, uh, uh, the, the conference there.

13:34

[00 14:03.774 – 00:14:07.084] But this, again, this whole week, he was, he was-

13:37

[00 14:07.482 – 00:14:16.412] Around all over, uh, uh, you know, the, uh, Ireland and, and of course, you know, arri- arriving at Dublin, speaking at Dublin University.

13:45

[00 14:16.412 – 00:14:18.182] And then all over the place.

13:48

[00 14:18.182 – 00:14:23.162] Uh, and, uh, of course, you know, doing, doing all the stuff, uh, that, that he does.

13:53

[00 14:23.162 – 00:14:29.702] So I thought that was a, a pretty interesting kind of, uh, you know, the visit of, uh, Bill Wilson program and arrangements.

14:01

[00 14:29.702 – 00:14:32.922] So this is what they handed out to people if you wanted to see Bill when they came.

14:07

[00 14:32.922 – 00:14:34.142] This was, uh, the way.

14:09

[00 14:34.142 – 00:14:39.232] Uh, a- and, you know, this was, uh, again, they went everywhere.

14:14

[00 14:39.232 – 00:14:40.642] You know?

14:15

[00 14:40.642 – 00:14:44.322] And, uh, you know, uh, it's, it's just a, a interesting.

14:19

[00 14:44.322 – 00:14:46.432] You know, AA really kind of took, took seed.

14:22

[00 14:46.432 – 00:14:47.802] Now we're jumping again.

14:23

[00 14:47.802 – 00:14:53.702] Uh, this time we're in the, uh, uh, looking at England in, uh, 1947 with Grace Oarsler.

14:29

[00 14:53.702 – 00:14:57.782] And for this we're looking at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

14:33

[00 14:57.782 – 00:15:07.862] Now the story goes, on March 31st of '47 the first recorded meeting was held in room 202 of the Dorchester Hotel in London at the invitation

14:42

[00 15:07.862 – 00:15:17.862] of Grace Oarsler, who was a visiting American member who had previously met a guy named Canadian Bob, I love these names, Canadian Bob in a London Dean

14:51

[00 15:17.862 – 00:15:19.002] Street restaurant.

14:52

[00 15:19.002 – 00:15:20.462] So what are the odds of that meeting?

14:55

[00 15:20.462 – 00:15:23.422] Again, they, the, the two of them hit it off.

14:59

[00 15:23.422 – 00:15:33.582] Uh, the Dorchester meeting comprised of, uh, Grace Oarsler, uh, Canadian Bob, a guy by the name of Chris V., Vernon W., who was an American serviceman, uh,

15:08

[00 15:33.582 – 00:15:37.502] Norman Reese Watkins, um, uh, uh, S.

15:11

[00 15:37.502 – 00:15:39.162] Croyden, uh, Pat F.

15:12

[00 15:39.162 – 00:15:41.922] from London, and Ward Williams, who was another American.

15:15

[00 15:41.922 – 00:15:51.982] So again, you know, you look at the time, this is a post, you know, uh, uh, you know, W- World War II timeframe, so there was still, you know, a lot of, uh, uh, folks.

15:28

[00 15:51.982 – 00:15:58.782] But, you know, what's interesting is, uh, on, on another slide, I don't think I added it, but there's, uh, it was a small room, room 202.

15:36

[00 15:58.782 – 00:16:00.702] There's a couple of photographs of that room.

15:39

[00 16:00.702 – 00:16:06.162] So again, that's where the f- the first meeting, uh, was, uh, uh, took place, room 202.

15:45

[00 16:06.162 – 00:16:06.732] How cool is that?

15:46

[00 16:06.732 – 00:16:08.242] I wonder if they had a secret knock.

15:49

[00 16:08.242 – 00:16:09.302] Uh, I doubt it.

15:51

[00 16:09.302 – 00:16:19.322] But again, at, immediately from there they, they, they started growing, and, uh, and then they actually switched gears and they took it to, uh, the, uh, Dominion Theatre

16:01

[00 16:19.322 – 00:16:29.322] Cafe, which is, uh, right next to, again, uh, kind of a storefront, uh, uh, little coffee shop, and that was, uh, uh, Tottenham, uh, Road

16:10

[00 16:29.322 – 00:16:30.842] in, uh, uh, United Kingdom.

16:11

[00 16:30.842 – 00:16:40.882] What's interesting is, uh, one of the things they decided to do was again, you know, kind of follow the footsteps of the, the American ver- counterparts, and they put an ad in

16:23

[00 16:40.882 – 00:16:41.502] the paper.

16:24

[00 16:41.502 – 00:16:51.542] You know, basically, or the thought was, you know, put a, a, you know, "If you have a drinking problem and you want a way out, you know, please come and, you know, give us a, give us a,

16:37

[00 16:51.542 – 00:17:01.542] a, you know, a try and we may have a solution for you." But what's interesting is, uh, as it's described, when they decided to do this they went around to all the newspapers

16:48

[00 17:01.542 – 00:17:04.042] and nobody would print an advertisement.

16:50

[00 17:04.042 – 00:17:07.442] Uh, nobody would, you know, no- they just wouldn't do it.

16:54

[00 17:07.442 – 00:17:13.431] The only ones that did do it was the London Financial Times, and there's a, just a picture of, uh, the short little excerpt.

17:02

[00 17:13.431 – 00:17:15.522] Basically says, "Alcoholism.

17:04

[00 17:15.522 – 00:17:23.122] A small body of anonymous ex-sufferers place themselves at disposal of anyone who require help.

17:09

[00 17:23.122 – 00:17:25.422] The offer is quite gratuitous.

17:11

[00 17:25.422 – 00:17:31.362] Write Box N434, Financial Times." And of course, the ad, that's the, the, the thing.

17:16

[00 17:31.362 – 00:17:36.362] So again, imagine not many people saw that, but they did slowly grow.

17:20

[00 17:36.362 – 00:17:38.462] Word spread that there is a solution now.

17:23

[00 17:38.462 – 00:17:47.362] And of course, they outgrow the little cafe there, and, uh, they decide to come to Canadian Bob's house on Mortlake Road in Duke Gardens.

17:32

[00 17:47.362 – 00:17:53.482] And, uh, uh, kind of the same way that, uh, you know, um, you know, people started meeting at the home.

17:39

[00 17:53.482 – 00:18:00.702] So it's like George Sullivan, you know, he opened his home, uh, to, to, uh, uh, in Philadelphia.

17:45

[00 18:00.702 – 00:18:04.342] And, you know, they slow, slowly grew and grew and grew.

17:49

[00 18:04.342 – 00:18:06.062] Uh, but same thing here.

17:51

[00 18:06.062 – 00:18:08.122] So there's a great little photograph.

17:53

[00 18:08.122 – 00:18:11.542] That's the clearest photograph I can find of Canadian Bob's house.

17:57

[00 18:11.542 – 00:18:19.482] Uh, but I'd love to find a picture of Canadian Bob, 'cause that just, that, that just sounds like an awesome, awesome guy to, to, to, to get to know.

18:07

[00 18:19.482 – 00:18:24.002] Uh, from there, again, Canadian Bob searched out alcoholics to work with.

18:12

[00 18:24.002 – 00:18:32.982] Uh, then there was a one person particular who had a shop here, basically kind of a little corner at the London Fruit Exchange, Bill H.

18:20

[00 18:32.982 – 00:18:43.042] Uh, he again described that he had this office, and of course Bill H., and sometimes, you know, when your sponsor is, uh, you know, uh, volun-told what to

18:30

[00 18:43.042 – 00:18:51.902] do, you know, this guy obviously, uh, offered up his, uh, address, uh, which is, uh, BM/ALL to the fellowship.

18:37

[00 18:51.902 – 00:18:54.702] And of course, they started putting that on all their literature.

18:41

[00 18:54.702 – 00:19:04.902] So when you see the address on some of the, uh, British, uh, first British group, like the introduction to AA pamphlets, and then there's the address on the bottom, that's actually his office

18:53

[00 19:04.902 – 00:19:06.662] at the London Fruit Exchange.

18:55

[00 19:06.662 – 00:19:08.902] So I thought that was, uh, uh, pretty, pretty cool.

18:58

[00 19:08.902 – 00:19:19.982] And then not only that, but he also offered up, uh, the, the phone number, uh, pretty much opened all his resources, and London's first hotline was, of course, Bishopsgate

19:08

[00 19:19.982 – 00:19:21.542] 9637.

19:09

[00 19:21.542 – 00:19:24.362] So I thought that was a, a, a pretty interesting thing.

19:12

[00 19:24.362 – 00:19:34.442] Now, at some point, um, you know, they, they pretty much opened the door for, um, uh, you know, overseas individuals, you know, to

19:21

[00 19:34.442 – 00:19:35.762] print their own literature.

19:22

[00 19:35.762 – 00:19:42.482] Uh, definitely London is one of them, and, uh, you know, Australia will, will, will be one of them too.

19:29

[00 19:42.482 – 00:19:51.762] In fact, there's one of the first, uh, uh, uh, England, uh, uh, pretty much, you know, books, Alcoholics Anonymous printed in there.

19:37

[00 19:51.762 – 00:19:55.322] Uh, uh, it was, uh, from the World Works Publishing.

19:40

[00 19:55.322 – 00:19:59.462] Ironically, we had Works Publishing, but this was World Work, so it's WW.

19:45

[00 19:59.462 – 00:20:09.502] And, uh, again, you know, the, the, the lore is, you know, they, they, they didn't want the original circus dust jacket that we had because all of those were German

19:55

[00 20:09.502 – 00:20:16.822] colors, and they wanted a little bit separation, so they just went with red and yellow, and of course black lettering.

20:03

[00 20:16.822 – 00:20:25.822] So there's a, a British, you know, uh, Alcoholics Anonymous book, and I think maybe this might be a photograph from Recovery Collectibles.

20:10

[00 20:25.822 – 00:20:30.782] Uh, but I'm, I'm, I'm not 100% sure on that, but, uh, pretty interesting.

20:15

[00 20:30.782 – 00:20:41.022] Now from here, again, you know, they really start to get or- organized and, and, you know, when we f- when we think of, you know, the general service structure, they formed their own thing.

20:27

[00 20:41.022 – 00:20:44.722] In fact, this was the john of their general service board.

20:31

[00 20:44.722 – 00:20:47.402] This was an interesting little, uh, uh, thing.

20:34

[00 20:47.402 – 00:20:48.592] Again, the first gathering.

20:35

[00 20:48.592 – 00:20:50.412] I like, uh, the picture of that bottle.

20:38

[00 20:50.412 – 00:20:59.402] It says, "From little acorns, great oaks grow." And of course, you know, the, the it's, it's interesting that the roots are going into the, the poison.

20:47

[00 20:59.402 – 00:21:07.142] But this was, uh, presented to mark the first AA Group Delegates Convention held in England, which is pretty cool.

20:54

[00 21:07.142 – 00:21:10.952] Uh, from there, again, there was, um, they, they, they incorpor-

20:58

[00 21:11.050 – 00:21:16.190] -rated, uh, General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Great Britain and Ireland Limited.

21:02

[00 21:16.190 – 00:21:26.250] And of course, the inaugural meeting, which was held June 29th, this was in their, their, their own little magazine, uh, description, and it, it gave a great,

21:12

[00 21:26.250 – 00:21:30.670] uh, uh, you know, kind of minute by minute of, of what took place there.

21:17

21:21

[00 21:33.370 – 00:21:41.010] Now, by the end of the 1950s, there were over 100 AA groups meeting in England and Wales and around 30 in Scotland.

21:28

[00 21:41.010 – 00:21:51.170] During this time, the group representative committee was expanded to become the area and group representative committee, and then started meeting

21:35

[00 21:51.170 – 00:21:54.330] three times a year from 1958 onwards.

21:38

[00 21:54.330 – 00:21:56.250] So I thought that was also pretty interesting.

21:41

[00 21:56.250 – 00:22:06.350] What also is interesting, and I don't have a slide of this, but when Bill and, uh, Lois came over in their trip in 1950, they actually had the original

21:50

[00 22:06.350 – 00:22:10.610] charter of, uh, the General Service conference in their possession.

21:54

[00 22:10.610 – 00:22:14.090] And one of those, uh, copies is actually at the Dr.

21:58

[00 22:14.090 – 00:22:18.110] Bob, uh, uh, s- you know, collection at Brown University.

22:01

[00 22:18.110 – 00:22:28.110] Uh, but it's, uh, you know, the, it's the 12, you know, original charter points, and then underneath, uh, the second page it says, "England, 1950." So I

22:10

[00 22:28.110 – 00:22:29.210] thought that was pretty interesting.

22:12

[00 22:29.210 – 00:22:30.950] Again, laying the groundwork.

22:14

[00 22:30.950 – 00:22:41.020] And, uh, from there, just some, some other random, uh, uh, photographs with, uh, uh, you know, again, '56, you got the first annual convention from England and

22:23

[00 22:41.020 – 00:22:43.450] Wales held at the Bellevue Hotel in film.

22:26

[00 22:43.450 – 00:22:51.750] And of course, you know, how the, uh, some of the, uh, uh, land mass was, was of course broken up into kind of what we would consider areas.

22:36

[00 22:51.750 – 00:22:54.270] So, uh, again, pretty, pretty interesting.

22:38

[00 22:54.270 – 00:22:56.900] Just a whole chain of events of, of, of all of that.

22:42

[00 22:56.900 – 00:23:02.670] And these are just some of the photographs of Bill and, and, and Lois on their, their trip.

22:49

[00 23:02.670 – 00:23:12.170] Uh, there's a interesting, one of the, uh, uh, gentlemen from, from London tried to find out a lot of information on, uh, the two ladies, Pat and Gladys.

22:58

[00 23:12.170 – 00:23:16.550] And, um, and there's, obviously they were, you know, hosting Bill and Lois.

23:03

[00 23:16.550 – 00:23:19.730] Uh, uh, here they are, a couple of photographs at Hampton Court.

23:07

[00 23:19.730 – 00:23:22.870] There's s- several photographs of, of them at Hampton Court.

23:11

[00 23:22.870 – 00:23:28.330] That doesn't, that shouldn't say 1914, but, uh, for some reason it does.

23:15

[00 23:28.330 – 00:23:29.569] Uh, I'll get on that.

23:17

[00 23:29.569 – 00:23:37.350] But, uh, again, this was, uh, the, the 1950, uh, uh, pretty much, uh, uh, they, when they came through.

23:23

[00 23:37.350 – 00:23:43.130] Now this is a pretty, you know, well-circulated photograph, but this is actually on that particular trip.

23:29

[00 23:43.130 – 00:23:48.550] And, uh, you can kind of see, uh, uh, uh, Pat on the, uh, the far, uh, uh, left.

23:36

[00 23:48.550 – 00:23:56.010] But, uh, again, this was, uh, them just kind of walking down this, um, um, this, this area in, in, uh, England.

23:43

[00 23:56.010 – 00:24:01.710] And of course, while you're in England, you know, you gotta go back to where it all began.

23:49

[00 24:01.710 – 00:24:05.690] And, uh, yes, we're talking about the dog roll on an old tombstone.

23:54

[00 24:05.690 – 00:24:12.180] Now, this was one of the earliest, uh, uh, photographs of, uh, Winchester Cathedral.

23:59

[00 24:12.180 – 00:24:14.530] You know, he mentions it on page one.

24:02

[00 24:14.530 – 00:24:17.710] Uh, there was a dog roll on a tombstone of Bill's story.

24:06

[00 24:17.710 – 00:24:23.730] Then he mentions it two more times in, uh, Bill's story, and something major happened here.

24:12

[00 24:23.730 – 00:24:31.340] Now, originally, when, when you look at it, that dog roll, the old tombstone was not in front of the cathedral like it's kind of portrayed now.

24:21

[00 24:31.340 – 00:24:32.890] It was actually way off to the side.

24:24

[00 24:32.890 – 00:24:35.390] So again, that's the original location.

24:26

[00 24:35.390 – 00:24:37.270] All those trees are gone.

24:28

[00 24:37.270 – 00:24:44.790] Uh, uh, but, uh, when, when Bill actually went there, when his, uh, regiment was, uh, you know, uh, what do you call?

24:36

[00 24:44.790 – 00:24:48.830] You know, I wouldn't say, uh, held back.

24:39

[00 24:48.830 – 00:24:51.850] Uh, they actually were battling their own, uh, things.

24:42

[00 24:51.850 – 00:24:55.950] In fact, there was, uh, it was described as meningitis, but Spanish flu, whatever.

24:47

[00 24:55.950 – 00:25:05.050] There was one fatality, but that's giving you an idea of what soldiers at Winchester Cathedral, you know, kinda, kinda looked.

24:54

[00 25:05.050 – 00:25:10.430] So it was, it was definitely, that whole entire town was a major crossroad for, for everything.

25:00

[00 25:10.430 – 00:25:12.670] Um, a lot of stuff went through there.

25:03

[00 25:12.670 – 00:25:19.210] And, uh, so it kind of makes sense that th- uh, uh, the, uh, the, the regiment battery C was held back.

25:10

[00 25:19.210 – 00:25:23.510] They were held back, you know, a couple of days, and then they, uh, made their way over.

25:16

[00 25:23.510 – 00:25:28.770] Uh, so from August 10th to 19th, that's where they were, you know, Bill wandered around.

25:22

[00 25:28.770 – 00:25:33.210] And of course, what's awesome is when we looked at this, this was their 1950 trip.

25:27

[00 25:33.210 – 00:25:35.810] So you gotta, you know, have another photograph.

25:30

[00 25:35.810 – 00:25:39.310] Uh, again, you know, the quality is a little, you know, off.

25:34

[00 25:39.310 – 00:25:42.230] I think, uh, Lois was just trying to get the great cathedral.

25:39

[00 25:42.230 – 00:25:47.010] Uh, the left side is Bill obviously standing, uh, there.

25:42

[00 25:47.010 – 00:25:55.430] And, uh, the, the right side was described that Bill is actually leaning on the dog roll on the tombstone after it was moved.

25:50

[00 25:55.430 – 00:26:00.990] Um, and of course, you know, it was taken from some distance away, so it's hard to see, you know, Bill.

25:57

[00 26:00.990 – 00:26:04.650] But I, I know somewhere, you know, talk about a unicorn photograph.

26:02

[00 26:04.650 – 00:26:13.430] There is a picture of Bill just standing right behind the, the, the, the dog roll of the old tombstone with a thumbs high, just, you know, kind of smiling.

26:12

[00 26:13.430 – 00:26:17.290] "Here lies a Hampshire granite dear." But I thought that was, uh, again, pretty interesting.

26:17

[00 26:17.290 – 00:26:21.870] Bill's back at Winchester Cathedral and, uh, kind of a coming back home.

26:21

[00 26:21.870 – 00:26:23.710] Now, what happened at Winchester Cathedral?

26:24

[00 26:23.710 – 00:26:25.790] Passing On describes it the best.

26:26

[00 26:25.790 – 00:26:28.390] This was Bill's first spiritual experience.

26:28

[00 26:28.390 – 00:26:38.410] This was the one that allowed the hook to basically sink in on him having his own spiritual experience at

26:35

[00 26:38.410 – 00:26:39.210] Town's Hospital.

26:36

[00 26:39.210 – 00:26:45.490] He had this talk with Ebby Thatcher, and he kind of played a spiritual tennis match with God is, God isn't.

26:43

[00 26:45.490 – 00:26:49.930] And then all of a sudden, it's the third time mentioned in his story, something happened at Winchester Cathedral.

26:50

[00 26:49.930 – 00:26:57.810] In Passing On described that it was an epidemic that kept him, uh, Bill and his regiment detained at a camp near Winchester.

26:58

[00 26:57.810 – 00:27:04.490] Depressed, lonely, and apprehensive about what lay ahead, Bill went into the visit Winchester Cathedral.

27:03

[00 27:04.490 – 00:27:14.950] Inside the great cathedral, the atmosphere impressed itself so deeply upon him that he was taken by a sort of ecstasy, moved and stirred by a tremendous sense of presence.

27:13

[00 27:14.950 – 00:27:25.570] He said, "I have been in many cathedrals since and have never experienced anything like it." He said, "For a brief moment, I had needed and wanted God.

27:22

[00 27:25.570 – 00:27:30.170] There had been a humble willingness to have him with me, and he came.

27:27

[00 27:30.170 – 00:27:40.330] And in that moment, I knew that everything was all right as it should be." And he's talking about going back to, again, you know, seeing all the soldiers there at, at, uh, Winchester Cathedral,

27:39

[00 27:40.330 – 00:27:43.250] and of course, you know, the, the idea of World War I.

27:43

[00 27:43.250 – 00:27:48.010] This was also one of the hubs where they brought the injured back from the front front.

27:49

[00 27:48.010 – 00:27:50.130] So you can imagine some of the stuff that he saw.

27:53

[00 27:50.130 – 00:27:55.270] Uh, but again, he, he, you know, he, he basically, you know, kind of had to surrender.

27:59

[00 27:55.270 – 00:27:56.910] Whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen.

28:01

[00 27:56.910 – 00:28:00.590] And, uh, so Winchester Cathedral, I thought that was pretty cool.

28:05

[00 28:00.590 – 00:28:04.230] More photographs of him with, uh, you know, the, the, the, the folks.

28:10

[00 28:04.230 – 00:28:12.970] Uh, again, wish I had better, you know, quality photographs with, with these, but he's still in that, that area with, uh, kind of the, the, the, the tourist, uh, area.

28:20

[00 28:12.970 – 00:28:14.620] And, uh, uh-

28:21

[00 28:14.778 – 00:28:15.778] Pretty, pretty interesting.

28:23

[00 28:15.778 – 00:28:23.037] Again, you know, one photograph of them m- definitely, you know, enjoying the gardens, and then obviously, you know, kind of nap time.

28:30

[00 28:23.037 – 00:28:25.438] Uh, I thought that was also, uh, uh, pretty interesting.

28:34

[00 28:25.438 – 00:28:32.198] Uh, but this was also, you know, this was all part of the 1950, uh, London, England trip.

28:40

[00 28:32.198 – 00:28:34.278] And then all of a sudden it's time, time to go.

28:44

[00 28:34.278 – 00:28:36.858] This is an interesting, you know, photograph.

28:46

[00 28:36.858 – 00:28:38.758] Now I've seen that several different times.

28:49

[00 28:38.758 – 00:28:44.778] It was Bill at the train station, but I had no idea that that was in 1950 at Waterloo Station.

28:55

[00 28:44.778 – 00:28:50.168] And it makes sense, 'cause when you s- look at Waterloo Station, especially the roof trusses, it all adds up.

29:02

[00 28:50.168 – 00:28:53.878] And then there's that grainy, grainy, uh, photograph.

29:05

[00 28:53.878 – 00:28:55.508] Wish we had a better quality.

29:08

[00 28:55.508 – 00:28:58.938] Kind of looks like it was taken at the bottom of a pond.

29:12

[00 28:58.938 – 00:29:06.838] Uh, but that also was, uh, uh, um, two, two, uh, uh, individuals that were, you know, hosting, uh, uh, Bill and Lois.

29:20

[00 29:06.838 – 00:29:10.698] Uh, and that also was at, uh, Waterloo train station.

29:23

[00 29:10.698 – 00:29:11.978] So pretty interesting.

29:25

[00 29:11.978 – 00:29:15.158] And again, his trek went and, uh, continued.

29:28

[00 29:15.158 – 00:29:21.837] And this was a note that he, uh, uh, said to, uh, his, uh, uh, f- the, the folks over there at, uh, uh, England.

29:36

[00 29:21.837 – 00:29:28.118] He says, "I shall never forget my 1950 visit to your good part of our AA world.

29:42

[00 29:28.118 – 00:29:33.988] Your hospitality, your spirit, and your progress, even up to then, is a memory that will always be cherished.

29:48

[00 29:33.988 – 00:29:44.078] That you have since gone so fast and so far is something for my deepest thanks, and may your conference at Cheltenham we s- just saw be a

29:58

[00 29:44.078 – 00:29:49.038] vast success, a landmark on your march to destiny." And of course, Bill Wilson.

30:03

[00 29:49.038 – 00:29:50.438] I thought that was, uh, pretty cool.

30:05

[00 29:50.438 – 00:29:56.278] Now jumping, uh, again, you know, we're looking at AA in Scotland.

30:09

[00 29:56.278 – 00:30:04.018] And of course, when we talked about, uh, Sir Philip Dundas, especially, you know, being a member of the Oxford Group, there he is in, in an earlier time.

30:19

[00 30:04.018 – 00:30:14.478] But he also swung through there, and that was a little, uh, commemorative note of Bill's, you know, on July 4th, uh, being in s- uh, Scotland

30:28

[00 30:14.478 – 00:30:17.148] and basically says, says a couple of things.

30:31

[00 30:17.148 – 00:30:27.198] "But s- to commemorate the occasion of your visit to our city this fourth day of July 1950, the Glasgow group of Alcoholics Anonymous in

30:39

[00 30:27.198 – 00:30:33.178] thanksgiving of our fellowship um- humble this humble expression of thanks," or I mean gratitude.

30:45

30:48

[00 30:35.858 – 00:30:36.918] So Bill is in there.

30:50

[00 30:36.918 – 00:30:46.918] Now when it actually started, they put a, again, put another huge ad in the paper and, uh, the left side is the actual, uh, newspaper and, but that's kind of

31:01

[00 30:46.918 – 00:30:50.178] a, a blown up, uh, photograph of the actual article.

31:04

[00 30:50.178 – 00:31:00.618] This took place in The Sunday Mail, August 22nd, 1948, and basically described that, "Six men who met in a church vestry

31:12

[00 31:00.618 – 00:31:10.818] in Perth this weekend made Scottish history when they formed the first Scots branch of Alcoholics Anonymous." And what's really cool is, uh, just about, uh,

31:20

[00 31:10.818 – 00:31:16.998] two paragraphs down, it's the exact description of what we do in Alcoholics Anonymous.

31:25

[00 31:16.998 – 00:31:27.278] It says, "They set out as drunkards to help cure one another to the extent of being prepared at a moment's notice to go out at any time

31:35

[00 31:27.278 – 00:31:33.638] of the day or night to help a brother in distress." They- that's what they did back then.

31:41

[00 31:33.638 – 00:31:35.278] Uh, pretty interesting.

31:42

[00 31:35.278 – 00:31:41.598] Uh, again, the whole description of, of, uh, what, what AA is and, and how it, uh, uh, started.

31:49

[00 31:41.598 – 00:31:44.618] It's also, you know, happy birthday Prin- Princess Margaret.

31:52

[00 31:44.618 – 00:31:47.038] Uh, but, uh, the, the whole thing.

31:54

[00 31:47.038 – 00:31:52.918] Now when Phillis-- Sir Philip Dundas, you know, he actually wanted to see firsthand, and this is a great description.

32:01

[00 31:52.918 – 00:31:54.318] This is one of the first letters.

32:04

[00 31:54.318 – 00:31:58.098] Uh, he is actually writing London asking for advice.

32:07

[00 31:58.098 – 00:32:08.418] He says, "Dear Sir, allow me to introduce myself as what the Americans call an arrested alcoholic." Kind of interesting new way, you know, instead of recovered alcoholic

32:17

[00 32:08.418 – 00:32:09.458] or a cured alcoholic.

32:18

[00 32:09.458 – 00:32:12.298] He used an arrested alcoholic, pure Scottish.

32:21

[00 32:12.298 – 00:32:22.378] It says, "I have recently been on a visit to the USA and stayed a weekend with a fellow alcoholic in Philadelphia," guess who that is, "who put me in

32:31

[00 32:22.378 – 00:32:30.938] an AA meeting in his home so that I could see the technique they were using." And of course, that person was George Sullivan's house.

32:39

[00 32:30.938 – 00:32:32.918] So I thought that was, uh, pretty interesting.

32:42

[00 32:32.918 – 00:32:41.258] In one of the first groups there, he said, "I also dropped by to see the secretary." He called her Marge, uh, but we know her as Margaret Bobby Burger.

32:52

[00 32:41.258 – 00:32:46.698] So Marg Burger on the AA Foundation on my way through New York.

32:57

[00 32:46.698 – 00:32:56.778] He says, "I have to be in London this Friday the 19th, and would very much like to see you to find out how you started in London as I am most anxious

33:08

[00 32:56.778 – 00:33:03.058] to get a club going in Scotland." There's one more page on that letter, uh, but I, I don't think I ha- had it on here.

33:17

[00 33:03.058 – 00:33:08.978] But again, just an interesting little chain of events and, uh, the date was March 17, 1948.

33:22

[00 33:08.978 – 00:33:14.778] So, uh, again, how, how this, you know, you all, one alcoholic getting with another alcoholic.

33:28

[00 33:14.778 – 00:33:24.828] Now, long story short, uh, eventually, uh, and yes, this is the, uh, photograph that was used in the Saturday Evening Post 1941, but there's one person on

33:37

[00 33:24.828 – 00:33:30.638] this kind of, uh, group photograph, uh, whose name is Gordon McDougall.

33:41

[00 33:30.638 – 00:33:40.998] And, uh, Gordon actually gets credit for going over to Scotland and pretty much, you know, persuading them to register as a group

33:49

[00 33:40.998 – 00:33:42.278] in the New York office.

33:51

[00 33:42.278 – 00:33:52.378] And of course, May 1949, both Edinburgh was first and Glasgow Central became part of the official record registered in New York.

33:58

[00 33:52.378 – 00:34:01.918] So I thought that was, uh, a- again, just an interesting kind of unfold that as early as 1941, you know, this Gordon McDougall, uh, is, is, is pretty cool.

34:08

[00 34:01.918 – 00:34:11.618] Another interesting fact about Gordon McDougall with, with Georgia history is some, some of the folks, actually their great grand sponsor was this Gordon McDougall.

34:16

[00 34:11.618 – 00:34:19.778] Uh, so again, interesting just kind of chain of events to see how that all unfolds and to see the, the, the, the spiderwebs.

34:24

[00 34:19.778 – 00:34:26.658] So, you know, pretty much from there, again, this whole, uh, uh, chain of events, the story is told.

34:31

[00 34:26.658 – 00:34:32.418] Uh, that actually is, uh, uh, an article about his, uh, uh, granddaughter.

34:35

[00 34:32.418 – 00:34:38.998] Uh, his daughter is Methanways, and, uh, again, saw probably the, the, the best and the worst.

34:41

[00 34:38.998 – 00:34:49.118] Uh, but, uh, his, uh, grand- Methanways' daughter, uh, Henrietta, actually helped start or, or, uh, make this little, uh, uh, exhibit in the,

34:49

[00 34:49.118 – 00:34:51.058] the, the, uh, museum there.

34:51

[00 34:51.058 – 00:34:56.858] And it's, uh, pretty much has a lot of, you know, the, the first stuff, and it was an interesting, uh, article.

34:59

[00 34:56.858 – 00:34:58.838] I think you could still access it online.

35:02

[00 34:58.838 – 00:35:08.838] Um, but some of these, uh, again, you know, that's the, uh, uh, uh, uh, the curator of, of this, uh, little, uh, exhibit and of course, you know, the, the,

35:12

[00 35:08.838 – 00:35:10.478] the, the display in the back.

35:14

[00 35:10.478 – 00:35:12.758] So there's that letter we were showing.

35:17

[00 35:12.758 – 00:35:14.518] Uh, I didn't show the third page.

35:20

[00 35:14.518 – 00:35:16.638] That was just kind of, you know, the same.

35:23

[00 35:16.638 – 00:35:18.188] Uh, but it's-

35:24

[00 35:18.446 – 00:35:22.406] Again, it's, uh, really interesting, you know, uh, some of the, uh, uh, exhibits there.

35:29

[00 35:22.406 – 00:35:30.766] As, as you see, this European tour, right, it, it, it, it talks, you know, again, with, with Ireland, Scotland, and, and, uh, England.

35:37

[00 35:30.766 – 00:35:41.306] Uh, but, you know, the- this was an- another thing, this was, uh, uh, a, a description of, of his events from June through July 14th.

35:46

[00 35:41.306 – 00:35:47.745] So again, his movements, he went and, and, and talked to just so many people.

35:51

[00 35:47.745 – 00:35:50.466] You know, there was not a restful day.

35:54

[00 35:50.466 – 00:35:52.526] No wonder they were napping in those chairs.

35:57

[00 35:52.526 – 00:36:02.896] Uh, again, he said, you know, in- at the Kent room on one day, he's greeting, uh, several at the York, uh, uh, Hall at, um, uh, National

36:07

[00 36:02.896 – 00:36:04.686] Group, uh, at, uh, St.

36:09

[00 36:04.686 – 00:36:06.106] Bride's Institute.

36:10

[00 36:06.106 – 00:36:08.106] First London Group, he's there.

36:12

[00 36:08.106 – 00:36:10.746] The First London Group, again, Caxton Hall.

36:14

[00 36:10.746 – 00:36:12.066] He's, he's all over the place.

36:17

[00 36:12.066 – 00:36:14.006] Fly from Belfast to Glasgow.

36:18

[00 36:14.006 – 00:36:18.666] Um, and it's just, it's just one right after another, so pretty interesting.

36:23

[00 36:18.666 – 00:36:21.026] And, uh, again, whoops, I forgot about that.

36:26

[00 36:21.026 – 00:36:23.046] Just zooming in, you can clearly see.

36:29

[00 36:23.046 – 00:36:26.346] Uh, but you know, he was in, all over the place.

36:32

[00 36:26.346 – 00:36:30.806] Kent, uh, uh, Caxton Hall, again, all, all the interesting things.

36:36

[00 36:30.806 – 00:36:41.166] And, uh, again, the, the, the chain of events, uh, especially the, the, the description afterward, the committee of the First London Group and the matinee

36:45

[00 36:41.166 – 00:36:49.186] group, uh, with it to be known, all the, uh, uh, Melbourne will host and welcome the above-mentioned closed meeting.

36:52

[00 36:49.186 – 00:36:50.766] So Bill actually did this thing.

36:54

[00 36:50.766 – 00:37:00.445] And again, you know, to, to kind of round out this, this, this Scottish, uh, uh, trip, a, a, a really nice photograph of, of Bill and Sir Dundas from that visit.

37:05

[00 37:00.445 – 00:37:05.446] And then there's another one with, uh, uh, Bill, Sir Dundas, and another couple, Sarah and Robert T.

37:11

[00 37:05.446 – 00:37:06.726] We're trying to find that.

37:13

[00 37:06.726 – 00:37:14.106] But the reason why I, I like that particular one, somebody pointed it out, is they're actually standing in front of the Hotel Burnham.

37:21

[00 37:14.106 – 00:37:15.726] And, uh, you can't...

37:23

[00 37:15.726 – 00:37:17.526] You know, again, it's ironic more than that.

37:26

[00 37:17.526 – 00:37:21.486] Lois's maiden name is Burnham, so you, you gotta do that.

37:30

[00 37:21.486 – 00:37:26.466] But, uh, again, that's, uh, just, uh, you know, the, the, the whole, you know, trip when they went through there.

37:37

[00 37:26.466 – 00:37:28.346] And now we're looking at AA in Paris.

37:40

[00 37:28.346 – 00:37:33.566] Uh, there really isn't that much information that I was able to find, uh, on this Paris trip.

37:46

[00 37:33.566 – 00:37:37.746] Uh, the first center photograph is, is something that's, uh, you know, accessible.

37:51

[00 37:37.746 – 00:37:43.826] The, the one on the right and the left are, uh, ones that, um, I have, you know, were, were, was sent.

37:58

[00 37:43.826 – 00:37:48.666] And, and, uh, it's a, a, a, again, you know, interesting little chain of events.

38:03

[00 37:48.666 – 00:37:51.366] I wish there was more information on this, uh, Paris trip.

38:07

[00 37:51.366 – 00:37:55.326] Uh, but again, English-speaking AA meetings in '49.

38:10

[00 37:55.326 – 00:38:01.106] All French literature was translated in French Can- from French, uh, Canada.

38:14

[00 38:01.106 – 00:38:03.066] And we'll get to that when we get into Canada.

38:18

[00 38:03.066 – 00:38:05.166] Uh, but it's, uh, pretty interesting.

38:20

[00 38:05.166 – 00:38:07.086] And of course, here is one of the...

38:23

[00 38:07.086 – 00:38:14.486] I wish I had, you know, a higher resolution photograph, but this was, you know, the gathering of, of, of, of the, the fellows there.

38:32

[00 38:14.486 – 00:38:23.206] Uh, and, uh, uh, again, you can barely see it, but Lois, uh, Burnham Wilson and Bill were kind of in the center of the photograph.

38:40

[00 38:23.206 – 00:38:33.246] Uh, but this was, uh, uh, again, uh, the, uh, the, the, the, the kind of the, the, the core, uh, groups there in, in France as Bill

38:50

[00 38:33.246 – 00:38:34.206] came to town.

38:51

[00 38:34.206 – 00:38:43.006] Now, again, this is also, uh, how they, you know, traveled to and fro, but this was, uh, uh, aboard the, uh, uh, uh, Queen Elizabeth.

39:00

[00 38:43.006 – 00:38:47.206] And, uh, this was, of course, a photo snapshot of, uh, the dinner.

39:04

[00 38:47.206 – 00:38:49.886] Uh, so I thought that was, uh, pretty interesting.

39:08

[00 38:49.886 – 00:38:53.966] Now, from here, again, it, it, it went all over the, uh, place.

39:12

[00 38:53.966 – 00:39:03.336] In fact, when I heard that it was, uh, the European tour from 1950, I thought it was just, you know, pretty much England, you know, Ireland, Scotland, and Ma- and France.

39:23

[00 39:03.336 – 00:39:05.506] But, uh, clearly was, was everywhere else.

39:25

[00 39:05.506 – 00:39:08.726] Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, they went all over the place.

39:29

[00 39:08.726 – 00:39:18.856] And, you know, that June 1950, you know, the, the, the road back that we looked at much earlier that Johnny Sackville first wrote, uh, it was basically

39:38

[00 39:18.856 – 00:39:23.206] a description of, of, of Bill coming to, uh, Ireland, and same thing here.

39:43

[00 39:23.206 – 00:39:24.866] This was, uh, the Norway.

39:45

[00 39:24.866 – 00:39:28.066] You know, their la- their magazine was called AA.

39:48

[00 39:28.066 – 00:39:30.486] So, uh, I thought that was pretty cool.

39:51

[00 39:30.486 – 00:39:33.946] And of course, uh, the same thing, uh, with, uh, the Sweden.

39:55

[00 39:33.946 – 00:39:37.686] Uh, but these are all just, you know, interesting little, little chain of events.

40:00

[00 39:37.686 – 00:39:44.526] And the Sweden pamphlet is, uh, or the Sweden AA is interesting, uh, 'cause again, you know, it all starts out very, very small.

40:08

[00 39:44.526 – 00:39:50.266] But within a year, you know, maybe a handful of people meet in a, in a quiet little something or other.

40:15

[00 39:50.266 – 00:40:00.306] Uh, but by, uh, a, a year's time, you got a room full of people looking for bigger space, and that's a, uh, a neat photograph of, uh, uh, the first

40:26

[00 40:00.306 – 00:40:02.606] anniversary of, uh, 1949.

40:27

[00 40:02.606 – 00:40:04.366] So I thought that was, uh, pretty interesting.

40:30

[00 40:04.366 – 00:40:08.786] And that was the second-largest Swedish, uh, city that, uh, uh, this took place.

40:35

[00 40:08.786 – 00:40:14.986] So again, one-year anniversary, Bill and Lois, uh, uh, visited, uh, them when they were two years old.

40:41

[00 40:14.986 – 00:40:19.086] So this is, uh, prior, uh, but they have definitely grown since then.

40:46

[00 40:19.086 – 00:40:27.146] Now from there, we're taking a giant leap, and this time we're going on the other side of the planet, and we're gonna be looking at AA in Australia.

40:55

[00 40:27.146 – 00:40:31.546] And of course, you know, some of the interesting things, uh, uh, with, uh, that chain of events.

41:02

[00 40:31.546 – 00:40:36.646] They, again, being able to print their own book, that is a, one of the coolest books I've seen, is the green one.

41:09

[00 40:36.646 – 00:40:45.306] And, uh, how, uh, uh, again, most of the stories, in fact, all the stories in the back, some of them are, you know, the, the, the, the founders.

41:19

[00 40:45.306 – 00:40:48.516] Uh, but they are mostly, uh, Australian stories.

41:22

[00 40:48.516 – 00:40:54.286] And below is, uh, the third Australian convention held in Perth in 1963.

41:26

[00 40:54.286 – 00:40:56.286] So I thought that was also, uh, pretty interesting.

41:30

[00 40:56.286 – 00:40:59.846] In fact, there's a picture of the Alcoholics Anonymous convention.

41:33

[00 40:59.846 – 00:41:02.996] Uh, they even had, uh, just, just interesting.

41:36

[00 41:02.996 – 00:41:05.266] But, you know, how did this all come about?

41:39

[00 41:05.266 – 00:41:06.466] Well, there's really two parts.

41:41

[00 41:06.466 – 00:41:13.926] The first part, obviously, actually are s- what would be considered three non-alcoholics.

41:46

[00 41:13.926 – 00:41:20.416] But a majority of them turned out to be alcoholics, so we're not sure about the math on that.

41:52

[00 41:20.416 – 00:41:29.746] But did you know, again, you know, this whole thing started with these three individuals at this time were non-alcoholic, but they definitely switched sides.

42:01

[00 41:29.746 – 00:41:32.446] Maybe they, they kicked it into overdrive.

42:04

[00 41:32.446 – 00:41:33.106] They were jealous.

42:05

[00 41:33.106 – 00:41:33.846] Uh, we're not sure.

42:06

[00 41:33.846 – 00:41:35.706] Uh, but of course, uh, Dr.

42:09

[00 41:35.706 – 00:41:45.766] S- uh, Sylvester, uh, Minogue, and then, um, uh, Irish, uh, uh, uh, Father Thomas Dunley, who was, uh, uh, in- just in interesting.

42:17

[00 41:45.766 – 00:41:49.666] So he's got ties not only in, in Ireland, but also down here in Australia.

42:22

[00 41:49.666 – 00:41:50.786] He had Boys Town.

42:24

[00 41:50.786 – 00:41:51.986] That's a wh- long story.

42:26

[00 41:51.986 – 00:41:54.406] That's a whole presentational to itself.

42:28

[00 41:54.406 – 00:41:58.066] Uh, but he was, uh, again, one of the, the, the pioneers.

42:32

[00 41:58.066 – 00:42:00.226] And then you got this Archibald MacKinnon.

42:35

[00 42:00.226 – 00:42:09.126] And Tim, Tim and I were talking about that there's a recording, and, uh, uh, the, the h- Archibald is, is on one of those, uh, recordings on the wires.

42:45

[00 42:09.126 – 00:42:12.726] And again, you know, I can't wait till that, that platform's up and running.

42:50

[00 42:12.726 – 00:42:21.446] But again, this was the 1942 to 1943, and they listed it took three non-alcoholics to finally-

42:55

[00 42:22.028 – 00:42:24.708] Start a successful AA meeting in Australia.

42:58

[00 42:24.708 – 00:42:28.848] But what's really ironic is it wasn't just these three.

43:01

[00 42:28.848 – 00:42:34.888] In fact, just so happens that same time, didn't even really know each other, didn't know what each other was doing.

43:08

[00 42:34.888 – 00:42:35.888] This guy steps in.

43:10

[00 42:35.888 – 00:42:41.608] His name is Frank Sturge-Harty, and of course, one of the radio stations with the 2GB broadcaster.

43:16

[00 42:41.608 – 00:42:43.828] He was also an Anglican priest.

43:18

[00 42:43.828 – 00:42:47.908] In fact, there's a little, you know, headline of his little radio station.

43:23

[00 42:47.908 – 00:42:56.528] But what's interesting is he had a radio station and had been talking about AA since 1943 on his, his show, Let's Talk It Over.

43:31

[00 42:56.528 – 00:43:03.168] So they kind of already had a show about Alcoholics Anonymous, and they didn't really even know that it was there.

43:38

[00 43:03.168 – 00:43:05.168] So when he met Archie McKinnon and Dr.

43:41

[00 43:05.168 – 00:43:11.128] Sylvester Minogue, uh, AA over Australian airways aided in rapid growth.

43:45

[00 43:11.128 – 00:43:13.728] And of course, uh, many groups have started.

43:48

[00 43:13.728 – 00:43:19.348] There's one more individual on this, uh, circuit, and of course, his name was, uh, uh, Father Richard Murphy.

43:54

[00 43:19.348 – 00:43:27.207] And, uh, he listened to one of these things and of course, uh, picked up on this AA s- in surrounding territories, took it and ran with it.

44:04

[00 43:27.207 – 00:43:36.368] So, you know, this was just a, a, a meant to be, and, uh, it, it, it, it pretty much, you know, s- the whole Sydney and, and, and so on.

44:14

[00 43:36.368 – 00:43:43.708] The other f- side of this coin was, uh, Melbourne, Queensland, uh, but Lillian Roth now enters the picture.

44:21

[00 43:43.708 – 00:43:45.608] She was a, uh, American actress.

44:23

[00 43:45.608 – 00:43:50.488] And as you can see, here's kind of a, you know, a, a young American.

44:28

[00 43:50.488 – 00:43:54.008] Now, she doesn't have a story, but she does have a book.

44:32

[00 43:54.008 – 00:43:58.688] Uh, her book is I'll Cry Tomorrow, and of course, they turned that into a movie.

44:38

[00 43:58.688 – 00:44:09.148] Now, the long story short is, you know, uh, uh, she, 1941 was, was, was hospitalized, starts, uh, uh, her, her, uh, uh, process

44:46

[00 44:09.148 – 00:44:11.528] in, in Alcoholics Anonymous.

44:47

[00 44:11.528 – 00:44:19.608] Uh, along with, it was her and Rollie Hemsley that kind of get, uh, uh, some, some tradition spotlight with anonymity.

44:54

[00 44:19.608 – 00:44:27.028] But, you know, when, when famous people, you know, got sober and actually, you know, started acting right, people wanted to know why.

45:02

[00 44:27.028 – 00:44:31.308] And so, you know, she was one of the ones that, that, that told as well.

45:08

[00 44:31.308 – 00:44:34.328] Uh, long story, interesting, uh, little, little perk.

45:11

[00 44:34.328 – 00:44:38.248] Uh, but, uh, uh, we mentioned, you know, Rollie Hemsley as being the other one.

45:16

[00 44:38.248 – 00:44:47.208] Uh, and, uh, he actually, you know, was, was the first ambassador to, uh, uh, uh, London on AA's behalf.

45:23

[00 44:47.208 – 00:44:51.628] In fact, he actually made the newspapers seven years before.

45:26

[00 44:51.628 – 00:45:02.148] So, and, you know, the, the first little breadcrumbs that, that, you know, kind of could have taken AA and ran with it was this Newton Castle Evening Chronicle describing,

45:36

[00 45:02.148 – 00:45:10.327] uh, the, uh, Rollie Hemsley actually, you know, doing, you know, uh, two men had appeared in, in court and...

45:43

[00 45:10.327 – 00:45:16.588] Or, or had a- appeared, not in court, I'm thinking of something different, but, uh, we're thinking of Ebby Thatcher.

45:50

[00 45:16.588 – 00:45:20.308] But two men basically, you know, brought him over and, and to Dr.

45:55

[00 45:20.308 – 00:45:25.468] Bob and got sober, but this was the, uh, the, the first trail.

45:59

[00 45:25.468 – 00:45:26.577] This was 1940.

46:00

[00 45:26.577 – 00:45:30.968] Uh, AA didn't go to England until '47, so this was about seven years old.

46:05

[00 45:30.968 – 00:45:35.348] Uh, it didn't stick, but this is just, um, you know, kind of like a little puff of smoke.

46:12

[00 45:35.348 – 00:45:40.508] Uh, but Lillian Roth, again, you know, she, she got sober also.

46:16

[00 45:40.508 – 00:45:50.528] And, uh, long story short, uh, she still was kind of, you know, hard to, to, you know, find, finding work, but she did end up getting a, a, a,

46:26

[00 45:50.528 – 00:45:53.388] a, a, a pretty, you know, amazing job, again, acting.

46:30

[00 45:53.388 – 00:45:58.868] And, uh, this was actually, uh, the Tivoli Theatre in Melbourne.

46:34

[00 45:58.868 – 00:46:04.368] And, uh, long story short, you know, she basically, uh, you know, jumps at the opportunity.

46:39

[00 46:04.368 – 00:46:08.308] Uh, she ends up doing about two shows, uh, almost daily.

46:43

[00 46:08.308 – 00:46:11.388] And she picks up and heads over there.

46:46

[00 46:11.388 – 00:46:13.588] Uh, on the way over there, you saw...

46:49

[00 46:13.588 – 00:46:14.008] Wait a minute.

46:50

[00 46:14.008 – 00:46:15.388] Just, whoops.

46:51

[00 46:15.388 – 00:46:22.388] Yeah, you saw where it said, uh, New Zealand, uh, on that particular slide.

46:56

[00 46:22.388 – 00:46:32.488] Uh, what's really amazing is on the boat ride over, they just so happened to be sitting with one of the, um, um, I think it was the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and they were sharing this

47:09

[00 46:32.488 – 00:46:36.468] new life with Alcoholics Anonymous, and the hopeless alcoholics are getting sober.

47:13

[00 46:36.468 – 00:46:42.448] And they stopped, and she gets credit also for starting, uh, uh, AA in New Zealand, which, uh, she did.

47:20

[00 46:42.448 – 00:46:47.608] Now, when she actually got to Queensland, she's doing two shows daily there at the Tivoli Theatre.

47:26

[00 46:47.608 – 00:46:54.528] She kept in contact with Bobby Burger in New York and was given letters of folks to visit in Australia.

47:33

[00 46:54.528 – 00:46:58.188] And she actually just married a fellow, uh, uh, alcoholic.

47:36

[00 46:58.188 – 00:46:59.728] His name was, uh, uh, Bert.

47:38

[00 46:59.728 – 00:47:08.848] And, uh, of course, she is described, you know, with 12-stepping people all over r- uh, uh, the rural Australia.

47:45

[00 47:08.848 – 00:47:12.708] She is quoted as saying, you know, "Now I have a purpose." And that's kind of interesting.

47:51

[00 47:12.708 – 00:47:15.508] That's exactly what the, you know, we do in AA.

47:55

[00 47:15.508 – 00:47:24.048] Uh, but one of the, uh, most important, uh, individuals that came and, uh, you know, kind of went to the show, but, you know, think of this.

48:04

[00 47:24.048 – 00:47:28.848] She's doing 12-step calls in between these shows, and one of the peoples was this guy, Dan C.

48:10

[00 47:28.848 – 00:47:37.828] And, uh, after a show, Dan resistantly met Lillian and her husband, Bert, uh, where she said she was just like him.

48:18

[00 47:37.828 – 00:47:47.908] A later trip, uh, to, uh, uh, Queensland on the off time, uh, this was, uh, again, Dan and AA soon, uh, took a,

48:26

[00 47:47.908 – 00:47:48.448] a root.

48:27

[00 47:48.448 – 00:47:58.528] And so it's, you know, again, another story of one, one person, and then, you know, maybe two, three, a handful, then an- a small little venue,

48:36

[00 47:58.528 – 00:47:59.608] and then a larger venue.

48:38

[00 47:59.608 – 00:48:03.108] And within a year, there was an entire room full of people.

48:42

[00 48:03.108 – 00:48:08.288] Uh, there's evidently a lot of alcoholics in, in Queensland, but this was, uh, the one-year anniversary.

48:48

[00 48:08.288 – 00:48:11.168] So from one to 60, I thought that was, uh, pretty interesting.

48:52

[00 48:11.168 – 00:48:18.848] And of course, that is the, uh, Queensland, you know, kind of, uh, uh, uh, just, you know, everybody's, everybody's well on their way.

49:00

[00 48:18.848 – 00:48:28.968] And, uh, you know, what's really interesting is, and I, I don't think I mentioned this, uh, but when you look at Australia, uh, they have something,

49:09

[00 48:28.968 – 00:48:34.428] a book that's the equivalent of AA Comes of Age, and it's called From One to Another.

49:15

[00 48:34.428 – 00:48:44.438] And the entire first, probably third of that book is all letters between not just regular members, but it's

49:22

[00 48:44.438 – 00:48:50.988] all letters from, from Australia to the New York office, and every single one of them has Bobby Burger's fingerprints on them.

49:29

[00 48:50.988 – 00:48:56.008] And I think Gary has put a, uh, an incredible light on, on, on that.

49:34

[00 48:56.008 – 00:48:58.908] Uh, so again, interesting thing.

49:36

[00 48:58.908 – 00:49:03.578] This just, uh, you know, he, he referred to her sponsoring countries.

49:41

[00 49:03.578 – 00:49:11.628] And, and to tell you the truth, you know, with, with Lillian Roth and, and Sylvester Minogue and McKinnon and all those guys, that was, that was, you know, the start.

49:51

[00 49:11.628 – 00:49:14.908] So y- you know, the pieces start falling into place.

49:55

[00 49:14.908 – 00:49:16.748] So that was, you know, the Australian thing.

49:57

[00 49:16.748 – 00:49:18.878] Now we're getting a little closer.

50:00

[00 49:18.878 – 00:49:20.738] Uh, this is one of my, uh, favorite guys.

50:03

[00 49:20.738 – 00:49:22.308] His name is Dave Bancroft.

50:05

[00 49:22.308 – 00:49:24.848] And of course, we're looking at Montreal.

50:08

[00 49:24.848 – 00:49:25.438] And his f-

50:09

[00 49:25.716 – 00:49:28.936] He is obviously, uh, gratitude in action.

50:11

[00 49:28.936 – 00:49:35.956] And, uh, this guy is just a, a, a powerhouse, uh, and, uh, just an excellent, uh, specimen.

50:18

[00 49:35.956 – 00:49:42.416] You know, one of the cool things is that they'd be, again, the first French-speaking group, uh, took place.

50:24

[00 49:42.416 – 00:49:52.676] In fact, they also translated, uh, the, uh, literature, uh, from English into French and then from, from, uh, uh, uh, this group with, uh, Montreal,

50:33

[00 49:52.676 – 00:49:56.075] uh, France actually was getting, you know, literature.

50:36

[00 49:56.075 – 00:49:57.856] Uh, but that's the fun fact.

50:38

[00 49:57.856 – 00:50:06.616] So first French, uh, speaking group that supplied all the French literature to, uh, Europe again, uh, that got started with, uh, Dave Bancroft.

50:46

[00 50:06.616 – 00:50:11.976] Now, what's unique about him is obviously everybody has to call him, you know, for, for help.

50:52

[00 50:11.976 – 00:50:21.976] He writes a letter to New York and is like, "Hey, I've heard of AA." And this was, uh, uh, the response and what's, what's absolutely in- incredible is this

51:02

[00 50:21.976 – 00:50:24.756] actual, you know, description of, of things.

51:05

[00 50:24.756 – 00:50:29.966] So he wrote New York headquarters asking, what does he have to do to get the book?

51:11

[00 50:29.966 – 00:50:39.276] Bobby sent this letter, uh, seen there, and additionally sent 400 letters of folks in Montreal asking for help.

51:17

[00 50:39.276 – 00:50:41.636] How-- What an order, you know?

51:19

[00 50:41.636 – 00:50:45.456] So he doesn't even have the book yet, and he's getting 400 people to visit.

51:24

[00 50:45.456 – 00:50:48.196] Uh, but this letter is, is, is very cool.

51:27

[00 50:48.196 – 00:50:51.436] It says, "For the past six months," and this is Bobby talking.

51:32

[00 50:51.436 – 00:51:01.436] "For the past six months, we have been unable to refer the many people asking for help in Montreal." There was one gentleman, a guy by the name of Matty, who

51:42

[00 51:01.436 – 00:51:02.376] just kind of disappeared.

51:44

[00 51:02.376 – 00:51:05.356] Kind of hard to have a meeting with one person.

51:47

[00 51:05.356 – 00:51:09.196] Uh, but he was, you know, had some of these requests.

51:51

[00 51:09.196 – 00:51:12.576] But now that Dave's here, it says, "You sound very sincere.

51:55

[00 51:12.576 – 00:51:18.756] We are going to count on you to get AA in action.

51:59

[00 51:18.756 – 00:51:23.536] Therefore, I am enclosing some of the inquiry mail that was returned to us.

52:04

[00 51:23.536 – 00:51:28.376] When you read it, I am sure you will feel the appeal behind each one.

52:09

[00 51:28.376 – 00:51:34.865] I am enclosing a list of people who recently have written in asking about AA information in Montreal.

52:15

[00 51:34.865 – 00:51:41.776] To the people on this list, we have had to write that there was no one there to help them.

52:22

[00 51:41.776 – 00:51:47.715] Now that you are temporarily not working, perhaps you can bring hope back to these people.

52:28

[00 51:47.715 – 00:51:53.256] Let's forget the money owed on the account and write that small amount off.

52:33

[00 51:53.256 – 00:52:02.256] We will start from scratch from now on, and just to help you with a large amount of work I am passing on to you.

52:41

[00 52:02.256 – 00:52:12.376] We will send you another small supply of pamphlets, and when you get a small group together, then we can start to sell them, uh, literature." So again,

52:51

[00 52:12.376 – 00:52:14.016] this was, uh, the interesting thing.

52:53

[00 52:14.016 – 00:52:19.116] And, uh, uh, what's also fascinating is that, you know, again, this, this whole thing.

52:58

[00 52:19.116 – 00:52:24.536] So thought you'd be but one man with this book in your hand, which is exactly what this turned out to be.

53:06

[00 52:24.536 – 00:52:27.116] Uh, you know, he started carrying the message.

53:09

[00 52:27.116 – 00:52:35.376] Now, the number of 400 is actually not found in, in, in, in this, but where it is found is his story, Gratitude in Action.

53:17

[00 52:35.376 – 00:52:40.506] It's also the only place in our Big Book that you will talk-- see a reference to Margaret Bobby Berger.

53:24

[00 52:40.506 – 00:52:50.556] But it says in, in his, uh, story, October 1944, Bobby wrote: "You sound very sincere, and from now on, we will be counting on you," just like in the

53:33

[00 52:50.556 – 00:52:50.736] letter.

53:34

[00 52:50.736 – 00:52:53.336] "You will find enclosed some queries from alcoholics.

53:37

[00 52:53.336 – 00:53:02.256] We think you are now ready to take on the responsibility." She had enclosed some 400 letters that I answered in the course of the following weeks.

53:46

[00 53:02.256 – 00:53:03.516] Talk about getting active.

53:47

[00 53:03.516 – 00:53:07.176] This guy basically doesn't even have a Big Book, and he's doing 12-step calls.

53:52

[00 53:07.176 – 00:53:13.176] But you know what's amazing, you know, practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity.

53:58

[00 53:13.176 – 00:53:22.965] Not only did this guy, you know, become a powerhouse in, in, in Montreal, but he also became, uh, one of the, the, the first delegate to the General Service conference.

54:08

[00 53:22.965 – 00:53:27.316] He became one of the, the, uh, a future, uh, Class B trustee.

54:13

[00 53:27.316 – 00:53:29.336] This guy just was all over the place.

54:16

[00 53:29.336 – 00:53:31.276] So, uh, pretty interesting there.

54:18

[00 53:31.276 – 00:53:32.936] Now we're jumping from Montreal.

54:20

[00 53:32.936 – 00:53:35.876] This time we're landing in Vancouver, British Columbia.

54:23

[00 53:35.876 – 00:53:39.016] And this guy is, is a g- he's, he's awesome.

54:26

[00 53:39.016 – 00:53:41.316] His name is Charlie Brown.

54:28

[00 53:41.316 – 00:53:46.576] And of course, he is, uh, considered the founder of AA in, in, uh, Vancouver, uh, BC.

54:34

[00 53:46.576 – 00:53:51.016] Uh, he actually also was, you know, took the ball and ran with it.

54:39

[00 53:51.016 – 00:53:59.836] He became their first delegate in 1951, uh, and, uh, went to, uh, the General Service conference, uh, the first, uh, panel.

54:46

[00 53:59.836 – 00:54:06.316] But what's, what's interesting, again, how it-- how this all took, uh, place and, and kind of unfolded.

54:52

[00 54:06.316 – 00:54:13.616] It all came from another non-alcoholic, just another non-alcoholic that, that, that, you know, did so much.

54:58

[00 54:13.616 – 00:54:16.336] Uh, and this, this is one of these stories.

55:01

[00 54:16.336 – 00:54:17.626] His name is Charlie Welch.

55:03

[00 54:17.626 – 00:54:19.276] He was known as the Candy Man.

55:06

[00 54:19.276 – 00:54:24.416] And, um, long story short, he actually owned a candy company with his wife.

55:11

[00 54:24.416 – 00:54:29.716] His wife was a gnarly, gnarly, real alcoholic and hopeless alcoholic.

55:15

[00 54:29.716 – 00:54:35.846] Uh, tried everything, uh, to stop drinking and eventually died from alcoholism.

55:19

[00 54:35.846 – 00:54:37.576] Again, talk about powerlessness.

55:21

[00 54:37.576 – 00:54:45.756] Just a few weeks after his wife's death, he actually heard about Alcoholics Anonymous from a magazine.

55:27

[00 54:45.756 – 00:54:55.896] So he read that there is now a solution, and had he had the opportunity just several weeks prior, maybe he could have done something about

55:35

[00 54:55.896 – 00:54:56.056] it.

55:36

[00 54:56.056 – 00:55:01.616] Wishing his wife had the chance to recover, but not knowing about it, uh, it, you know, it existed.

55:43

[00 55:01.616 – 00:55:08.776] He vowed to do everything in his power to make sure that from now on, anyone suffering from alcoholism would have a chance to recover.

55:51

[00 55:08.776 – 00:55:14.136] No one else would suffer the same fate that his wife did, and that's exactly what he did.

55:57

[00 55:14.136 – 00:55:16.896] And so he made sure that AA got up and running.

56:01

[00 55:16.896 – 00:55:18.176] His name's Charlie Welch.

56:03

[00 55:18.176 – 00:55:26.336] And what's really, really cool is he did so much for AA, not only opening his own home, but, but, uh, you know, total, total support.

56:11

[00 55:26.336 – 00:55:28.916] But they actually made him an honorary alcoholic.

56:14

[00 55:28.916 – 00:55:32.376] And, uh, so he's, he's a card-carrying alcoholic.

56:17

[00 55:32.376 – 00:55:34.306] Uh, how cool is that?

56:19

[00 55:34.306 – 00:55:36.956] Uh, but again, used his own resource.

56:22

[00 55:36.956 – 00:55:40.556] Charlie Brown's helped start this, uh, uh, AA in Vancouver.

56:25

[00 55:40.556 – 00:55:43.576] And of course, with Charlie Brown, they, they got busy.

56:29

[00 55:43.576 – 00:55:45.636] They too put an ad in the paper.

56:32

[00 55:45.636 – 00:55:46.816] This was it.

56:33

[00 55:46.816 – 00:55:50.016] And, uh, this was, uh, The Providence in 1944.

56:36

[00 55:50.016 – 00:55:52.556] And it's small, simple.

56:38

[00 55:52.556 – 00:55:53.596] "Alcoholics Anonymous.

56:39

[00 55:53.596 – 00:55:58.996] This is a positive and permanent release without cost, inconvenience, or obligation.

56:43

[00 55:58.996 – 00:56:08.996] It is a free service resi-- uh, rendered in secret by other alcoholics who have found freedom through Alcoholics Anonymous." And of course, the, the PO box and, and all

56:53

[00 56:08.996 – 00:56:11.316] that stuff is, is, uh, dedicated.

56:55

[00 56:11.316 – 00:56:13.966] And, uh, they started getting answers.

56:58

[00 56:13.966 – 00:56:17.596] One of the answers, uh, something as s- short as this.

57:02

[00 56:17.596 – 00:56:28.016] Uh, again, you know, uh, "I could be very glad to receive further particulars as early as possible." You know,

57:08

[00 56:28.016 – 00:56:28.996] total, total British

57:10

[00 56:29.464 – 00:56:39.604] I mean, uh, uh, you know, c- uh, Canadian just kindness, but, you know, people, you can see the, the, just the, the, the, the, you know, the, the desire, you know, the, the, the

57:21

[00 56:39.604 – 00:56:41.604] need, you know, that there is a solution.

57:24

[00 56:41.604 – 00:56:44.974] Here's another one that is also from, uh, uh, their archives.

57:28

[00 56:44.974 – 00:56:48.924] Uh, basically says pretty much the same thing, you know.

57:32

[00 56:48.924 – 00:56:56.964] A lot of loved ones, um, you know, asking for help and, uh, this was, again, just interesting to, to see the chain of events.

57:40

[00 56:56.964 – 00:57:01.024] This was actually Charlie Welch's, uh, house and of course, you know, the first meeting.

57:46

[00 57:01.024 – 00:57:08.184] So when we look at, you know, uh, Charlie Welch and Char- um, uh, Charlie Brown, um, Charles Brown is- was his name.

57:53

[00 57:08.184 – 00:57:11.734] But that is, uh, a pretty, just a, just a cool little story.

57:58

[00 57:11.734 – 00:57:18.524] You know, here's a, here's a guy, another non-alcoholic who helped, uh, you know, AA really, you know, take root.

58:05

[00 57:18.524 – 00:57:20.944] Uh, another one, non-alcoholic.

58:06

[00 57:20.944 – 00:57:26.784] This was, uh, um, Ontario and, uh, his name was, uh, uh, again, George Little.

58:12

[00 57:26.784 – 00:57:28.424] And pretty interesting.

58:13

[00 57:28.424 – 00:57:33.624] Uh, George Little read about AA from Harry Emerson Fosdick.

58:16

[00 57:33.624 – 00:57:43.424] So when we looked at the forward, uh, to the first edition, Harry Emerson Fosdick reviewed the book with approval in 1939, and this is where this guy kind of saw that.

58:27

[00 57:43.424 – 00:57:52.554] And of course, he ordered a copy of the Big Book and showed it with a couple of friends and, uh, uh, again, uh, reaching an alcoholic ward.

58:36

[00 57:52.554 – 00:58:02.384] Now, when they decided to open a meeting, they, they had thought long and hard, "Where is a excellent place to hold our first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous?" And so they decided to hold it in a bar.

58:49

[00 58:02.384 – 00:58:07.044] That's right, the Little Denmark Tavern, January 13th, 1943.

58:52

[00 58:07.044 – 00:58:10.804] So it took place in that tiny little bar.

58:55

[00 58:10.804 – 00:58:14.124] That's a, a pretty, pretty amazing little chain of events.

58:59

[00 58:14.124 – 00:58:17.864] And of course, here's a later photograph of Reverend George Little.

59:03

[00 58:17.864 – 00:58:23.144] But, you know, no better place but a bar to, to have the first, uh, uh, AA meeting.

59:09

[00 58:23.144 – 00:58:28.504] There were two other individuals that came, Canon Quintin Warner and of course, Reverend Percy Price.

59:14

[00 58:28.504 – 00:58:34.264] Uh, they also, uh, got involved and, um, pretty, pretty amazing from, from there.

59:19

[00 58:34.264 – 00:58:37.904] Uh, it, it slowly, uh, took a f- um, um, kind of mark.

59:24

[00 58:37.904 – 00:58:47.924] There's different, uh, photographs of it through the years, so, you know, just a, just a, a pretty, pretty of, uh, you know, just an interesting, uh,

59:33

[00 58:47.924 – 00:58:49.764] you know, little, little story behind that.

59:36

[00 58:49.764 – 00:58:59.844] Now, while we're talking about, you know, uh, you know, AA overseas, there's one person particular that, you know, should also get, get, like a, a, you know,

59:45

[00 58:59.844 – 00:59:01.364] a, a little mention.

59:47

[00 59:01.364 – 00:59:09.824] And, uh, this is basically, you know, the, the Loners International, uh, LIM for, for short, Loners International Meeting.

59:53

[00 59:09.824 – 00:59:13.824] And for this particular person, he is a ship captain.

59:57

[00 59:13.824 – 00:59:16.804] His name is Captain John Bolton Sloggett.

59:59

[00 59:16.804 – 00:59:17.824] He is from Maine.

60:01

[00 59:17.824 – 00:59:20.824] He's known as Captain Jack S.

60:03

[00 59:20.824 – 00:59:29.064] And of course, he was the guy that was the, uh, um, the Socony, uh, uh, vacuum tanker that traveled around.

60:10

[00 59:29.064 – 00:59:38.154] There is a great, uh, uh, article about Jack Sloggett and, uh, it's in, you know, French, uh, but it basically tells exactly what it is.

60:19

[00 59:38.154 – 00:59:45.864] It says, "Top this bi-monthly written meeting allows the isolated and the internationals to exchange with each other.

60:25

[00 59:45.864 – 00:59:53.384] Below, Captain aboard a Socony tanker, Jack carried the AA message to several remote areas during the years following World War II.

60:33

[00 59:53.384 – 01:00:03.464] He is a founder of the Internationalists." So everywhere he went to a port, he, he, you know, he, he brought a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, and he also

60:43

[01 00:03.464 – 01:00:10.404] brought the, pretty much, you know, you can, you know, the, the, the pen pal of, of writing to each other.

60:50

[01 00:10.404 – 01:00:13.034] Uh, so I thought that was, uh, uh, pretty interesting.

60:53

[01 00:13.034 – 01:00:19.364] And of course, Captain Jack carrying a message everywhere, um, uh, to all the ports of call.

60:59

[01 00:19.364 – 01:00:29.544] There's a great photograph of his, uh, tanker and of course when he got the name Captain Jack, you know, it didn't rhyme with, uh, uh, John Bolton Sloggett,

61:09

[01 00:29.544 – 01:00:32.244] uh, but he got, actually got Captain Jack.

61:12

[01 00:32.244 – 01:00:38.844] He was, uh, uh, in, in, uh, uh, college, they called him Jack Rabbit, which is, uh, again, just an interesting nickname.

61:19

[01 00:38.844 – 01:00:45.104] But, you know, the, the, the founder of Loners International, and this is actually still going on today.

61:26

[01 00:45.104 – 01:00:49.984] In fact, they have a newsletter of, of people that write in, um, and they send it out.

61:32

[01 00:49.984 – 01:00:54.804] So, you know, with, with that whole real, you know, chain of events with, with International.

61:37

[01 00:54.804 – 01:01:01.084] Um, now we are not covering South Africa, we are not covering, uh, uh, uh, Japan.

61:43

[01 01:01.084 – 01:01:11.124] We- there's a lot that we're, we're, we're not covering, um, just 'cause there's, you know, hopefully gonna be more information, uh, uh, that to, to come forward.

61:52

[01 01:11.124 – 01:01:21.164] But, you know, from this, uh, Captain Jack, again, he was actually present when, uh, the, the, uh, um, uh, kind of this, this 1982,

62:00

[01 01:21.164 – 01:01:24.944] you know, reunion, I would call it, of the original cast of AA.

62:05

[01 01:24.944 – 01:01:34.924] All the o- uh, uh, early, early members, you know, came back and to Stepping Stones with Lois, uh, and, uh, kind of had a, had a, had a, had a gathering.

62:16

[01 01:34.924 – 01:01:38.874] Uh, you know, people like Clarence Nyde or all, a lot of the early, early folks.

62:21

[01 01:38.874 – 01:01:40.654] Well, Captain Jack was there.

62:23

[01 01:40.654 – 01:01:43.384] Uh, I thought that was, uh, pretty interesting.

62:26

[01 01:43.384 – 01:01:46.144] I thought I had another picture, but I don't think I did.

62:30

[01 01:46.144 – 01:01:49.524] Uh, I may have, uh, deleted it, which is awesome.

62:34

[01 01:49.524 – 01:01:53.104] But it pointed out, uh, it was a color one of, and it pointed him out.

62:39

[01 01:53.104 – 01:01:54.244] He's kind of in the center there.

62:42

[01 01:54.244 – 01:02:04.264] But, um, also with, um, you know, uh, uh, i- International, uh, flair, we got the, uh, AA World Service Meeting and this was, uh,

62:51

[01 02:04.264 – 01:02:06.644] you know, something that th- th- this was the first one.

62:54

[01 02:06.644 – 01:02:15.784] It started in '69, um, and it was kind of the International, you know, kind of gathering met biannually since, uh, 1972.

63:02

[01 02:15.784 – 01:02:19.924] Its locations alternate between New York and overseas.

63:05

[01 02:19.924 – 01:02:30.044] Uh, it has met in New York, then London, uh, as well as, uh, Finland, Mexico, Guatemala, Munich, uh, Cartagena, Colombia, and it's,

63:12

[01 02:30.044 – 01:02:30.984] it's been everywhere.

63:14

[01 02:30.984 – 01:02:36.134] There's, they had their own, uh, uh, pamphlets, uh, or, or, or, uh, what do you call it?

63:20

[01 02:36.134 – 01:02:41.684] Uh, the, basically the, the, the report of the meeting conference report.

63:24

[01 02:41.684 – 01:02:46.144] Uh, several of those are, are, are available to, to read.

63:28

[01 02:46.144 – 01:02:49.964] Uh, but just, just interesting, you know, kind of a chain of events.

63:33

[01 02:49.964 – 01:03:00.024] And, uh, again, you know, there was a, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, part that came out in October 1969, Grapevine, and it was the first World

63:42

[01 03:00.024 – 01:03:02.144] Service Meeting, and it basically is a map.

63:45

[01 03:02.144 – 01:03:12.524] Now this is 1969, so AA's pretty much all over the place and, uh, just, uh, uh, an interesting, uh, uh, description and, uh,

63:52

[01 03:12.524 – 01:03:15.284] uh, this is again, taken out of context.

63:55

[01 03:15.284 – 01:03:18.544] This was, uh, put together in two- 2024.

63:58

[01 03:18.544 – 01:03:23.604] So b- in '24 they actually had the meeting in New York, so it's gonna happen again pretty soon.

64:04

[01 03:23.604 – 01:03:27.394] But that's a great photograph of the sixth World Service Meeting.

64:08

[01 03:27.394 – 01:03:29.964] And, uh, uh, pretty cool.

64:10

[01 03:29.964 – 01:03:32.564] But you can see, uh, uh, you know, along with, uh-

64:14

[01 03:33.132 – 01:03:35.632] Uh, some of the, uh, representatives overseas.

64:17

[01 03:35.632 – 01:03:39.452] You got Milton Maxwell who was a, um, um, trustee of, uh, New York.

64:22

[01 03:39.452 – 01:03:41.052] Anyway, that's kind of it.

64:24

[01 03:41.052 – 01:03:44.342] And, uh, you know, we, we, we, we bounced around.

64:27

[01 03:44.342 – 01:03:54.692] So this is just, uh, you know, this, this little chain of events and, and, um, you know, it's a descriptive narrative that we show, you know, at, at our assemblies.

64:38

[01 03:54.692 – 01:04:00.552] And it's kind of a, you know, meant to just, you know, spark conversation.

64:43

[01 04:00.552 – 01:04:05.912] Uh, and, uh, um, with- That's pretty much, uh, the, the, the, the thing.

64:47

[01 04:05.912 – 01:04:07.432] I think this is a record.

64:50

[01 04:07.432 – 01:04:09.232] I stopped on time.

64:51

[01 04:09.232 – 01:04:11.032] Uh, somebody should take a picture.

64:54

[01 04:11.032 – 01:04:14.352] And, uh, uh, Tim, I will hand it back to you.

64:58

[01 04:14.352 – 01:04:18.092] Thank you, Drew.

64:59

[01 04:18.092 – 01:04:25.132] That was incredible, and so cool to see some pictures and, uh, Bill's trips around the world and into Europe.

65:06

[01 04:25.132 – 01:04:26.392] And that was, uh...

65:07

[01 04:26.392 – 01:04:27.952] Thank you so much for doing this.

65:10

[01 04:27.952 – 01:04:31.692] Um, now we have some time for questions.

65:13

[01 04:31.692 – 01:04:39.392] If anyone has a question for Drew, um, please use the raise hand function and I can unmute you to ask your questions.

65:21

[01 04:39.392 – 01:04:47.852] Gotta say, I got a kick out of, uh, Charlie Brown.

65:25

[01 04:47.852 – 01:04:54.412] No questions tonight?

65:26

[01 04:54.412 – 01:04:56.472] There, there, there, there's a great photograph.

65:28

[01 04:56.472 – 01:04:58.032] We actually have them all.

65:30

[01 04:58.032 – 01:05:01.632] If I can find it, I'll, I'll show it real quick.

65:34

[01 05:01.632 – 01:05:04.752] First up, uh, we do have a question from Carl.

65:38

[01 05:04.752 – 01:05:07.912] I can unmute him and get, get him in.

65:41

[01 05:07.912 – 01:05:10.152] Thanks.

65:42

[01 05:10.152 – 01:05:11.612] My name's Carl and I'm an alcoholic.

65:44

[01 05:11.612 – 01:05:13.272] Drew, fantastic job as always.

65:46

[01 05:13.272 – 01:05:15.952] Um- Hey, Carl ...

65:48

[01 05:15.952 – 01:05:21.492] was the Oxford Group bigger in Europe than it was in the United States?

65:53

[01 05:21.492 – 01:05:22.162] I, I thought...

65:54

[01 05:22.162 – 01:05:24.812] I, I was under the impression that it was.

65:57

[01 05:24.812 – 01:05:28.532] And so when they had a house party in Europe, they would film...

66:02

[01 05:28.532 – 01:05:29.272] Excuse me.

66:03

[01 05:29.272 – 01:05:35.862] They would fill stadiums of 25,000 as opposed to, you know, uh, the starting- Yeah ...

66:07

[01 05:35.862 – 01:05:37.652] of Oxford Group in United States.

66:10

[01 05:37.652 – 01:05:44.011] It absolutely was, um, with, with- without a doubt.

66:13

[01 05:44.011 – 01:05:46.412] There was definitely more of a, a sway.

66:16

[01 05:46.412 – 01:05:53.832] You know, they started getting into when you, when you had, you know, the, the chain of events in, you know, the late '30s into the World War II.

66:26

[01 05:53.832 – 01:05:57.982] There was, there was a, a, a...

66:29

[01 05:57.982 – 01:06:03.132] There was definitely a, a, a, a, a marching with purpose literally.

66:33

[01 06:03.132 – 01:06:06.232] Um, so yeah.

66:34

[01 06:06.232 – 01:06:08.752] That, that's, that is a great question.

66:37

[01 06:08.752 – 01:06:16.952] And, and, uh, you know, even when they started, you know, this, this doctrinal shift in, in '36 when in America.

66:44

[01 06:16.952 – 01:06:20.472] You know, before it was kind of a, you know, personal change.

66:48

[01 06:20.472 – 01:06:28.072] And then by '36, they had the America awake, and, uh, that's when they totally switched gears.

66:54

[01 06:28.072 – 01:06:36.822] And it went from personal spiritual change to national and, and, um, uh, you know, the masses, uh, to be God-guided.

67:01

[01 06:36.822 – 01:06:38.382] And, uh, that's, I...

67:03

[01 06:38.382 – 01:06:44.592] And, you know, I got really nothing to absolutely prove it, but that's when they went sideways.

67:09

[01 06:44.592 – 01:06:54.612] And, uh, shortly thereafter, you know, the, the folks in AA really kind of noticed, and New York AA decided after, in '37, that they're like, "Okay,

67:18

[01 06:54.612 – 01:06:59.872] they're kind of going way off into left field." So yeah, that was, uh, that was it.

67:24

[01 06:59.872 – 01:07:04.132] But- In, in 1939, they changed their name to Moral Re-Arming.

67:27

[01 07:04.132 – 01:07:07.152] Ab- absolutely, yeah.

67:29

[01 07:07.152 – 01:07:09.352] I mean, they got so far off the reservation.

67:32

[01 07:09.352 – 01:07:16.632] Oxford and, and the, the England Oxford, you know, uh, University w- was like, "All right.

67:37

[01 07:16.632 – 01:07:23.012] Look, y- you can no longer use our name for, for this." Uh, you know.

67:43

[01 07:23.012 – 01:07:33.392] And, uh, even, even, you know, Sam Shoemaker in, in '41 kind of sent a, a, a, a letter to, uh, this Moral Re-Armament

67:51

[01 07:33.392 – 01:07:38.771] to get out of Calvary because, you know, he doesn't really even recognize it any- anymore.

67:56

[01 07:38.771 – 01:07:44.652] And he kicked, he kicked the Oxford Group out of Calvary Mission and Calvary Church and Calvary, uh, House.

68:03

[01 07:44.652 – 01:07:46.652] So pretty, pretty interesting.

68:04

[01 07:46.652 – 01:07:48.852] Uh, but yeah.

68:06

[01 07:48.852 – 01:07:49.272] That's...

68:06

[01 07:49.272 – 01:07:50.112] I- it's amazing.

68:08

[01 07:50.112 – 01:07:55.612] You know, uh, Sir Philip Dundas, you know, he was, he was one of the people in, in there.

68:14

[01 07:55.612 – 01:07:57.112] So you, you almost wonder if, you know...

68:17

[01 07:57.112 – 01:08:00.532] Again, that was a place where Sam Shoemaker was, Shep Cornell was.

68:21

[01 08:00.532 – 01:08:01.892] Roland Hazard was there.

68:23

[01 08:01.892 – 01:08:06.532] Uh, it was, it was, you know, just small, small world.

68:27

[01 08:06.532 – 01:08:09.372] One last thing.

68:28

[01 08:09.372 – 01:08:09.772] I'm sorry.

68:29

[01 08:09.772 – 01:08:20.032] Are they still active and based out of Switzerland but, but a much, much smaller version than the Oxford Group we know that Frank Buckman started in 1915?

68:38

[01 08:20.032 – 01:08:22.372] They are.

68:39

[01 08:22.372 – 01:08:22.792] They are.

68:40

[01 08:22.792 – 01:08:27.752] They're, they're called Initiatives of Change, and they, they, they still, uh, you know, have a presence.

68:46

[01 08:27.752 – 01:08:36.032] Uh, they, they're not, definitely not, you know, talking about and, and showing things that they, uh, uh, you know, once were.

68:54

[01 08:36.032 – 01:08:36.992] But, uh, yeah.

68:55

[01 08:36.992 – 01:08:38.492] They're, they're, they're still around.

68:57

[01 08:38.492 – 01:08:41.192] Thank you.

68:58

[01 08:41.192 – 01:08:43.912] Thank you, Drew.

68:59

[01 08:43.912 – 01:08:46.052] And thank you, Carl, for the question.

69:02

[01 08:46.052 – 01:08:51.032] And, uh, Jonathan, I'll ask you to unmute and ask your question.

69:06

[01 08:51.032 – 01:08:56.432] Yeah.

69:07

[01 08:56.432 – 01:08:56.992] Thanks.

69:07

[01 08:56.992 – 01:08:57.852] Thanks so much.

69:08

[01 08:57.852 – 01:09:01.432] Thanks for the, uh, presentation.

69:10

[01 09:01.432 – 01:09:05.112] My question, uh, is to do with Australia and when it...

69:14

[01 09:05.112 – 01:09:14.012] Uh, sounds like they came to Perth first and then, uh, and then Lillian Roth, uh, came to Sydney a, a couple of years after that.

69:23

[01 09:14.012 – 01:09:21.552] But, uh, and, uh, but my question is did ac- Bill Wilson actually make it to Australia, or did I miss that bit?

69:31

[01 09:21.552 – 01:09:28.812] He- But- He did not go on the, uh, 1950, uh, uh, trip.

69:35

[01 09:28.812 – 01:09:31.512] But I do know that he, uh, did make it down there.

69:39

[01 09:31.512 – 01:09:32.631] Uh, I've, uh...

69:41

[01 09:32.631 – 01:09:36.192] The particulars, I am not sure, but there is a guy down there.

69:45

[01 09:36.192 – 01:09:40.072] Um, he's got a story in the book.

69:48

[01 09:40.072 – 01:09:40.232] His...

69:49

[01 09:40.232 – 01:09:41.522] I'm drawing a blank on him.

69:51

[01 09:41.522 – 01:09:44.382] But, uh, oh, goodness.

69:53

[01 09:44.382 – 01:09:45.912] Uh, it's...

69:54

[01 09:45.912 – 01:09:53.092] He, he has, he, he has a good, uh, uh, presentation on, on, uh, when, when, uh, Bill, uh, uh, came down.

70:01

[01 09:53.092 – 01:09:56.312] And I think also Marty Mann came down a- as, uh...

70:05

[01 09:56.312 – 01:10:01.452] And, and did some of the, the, the national commit- I, I totally forgot.

70:10

[01 10:01.452 – 01:10:06.092] Actually, Marty Mann beat Bill Wilson through Europe.

70:13

[01 10:06.092 – 01:10:14.172] She came in '49 to do, uh, you know, her, uh, public awareness, uh, National Committee on Alcoholism.

70:19

[01 10:14.172 – 01:10:20.032] But, uh, so she, she also was, uh, uh, t- did it, did it down in, uh, Australia as well.

70:26

[01 10:20.032 – 01:10:23.592] And I'll, I'll, I'll remember this guy in a, in about an hour and a half.

70:31

[01 10:23.592 – 01:10:25.631] It'll just pop into my head.

70:34

[01 10:25.631 – 01:10:29.272] Um, maybe, maybe somebody else knows who he is.

70:37

[01 10:29.272 – 01:10:30.892] Uh, but, uh, yeah.

70:39

[01 10:30.892 – 01:10:31.392] That's, uh...

70:40

[01 10:31.392 – 01:10:32.992] Oh, goodness.

70:41

[01 10:32.992 – 01:10:35.732] Uh, drawing a blank.

70:42

[01 10:38.220 – 01:10:39.100] Thanks very much.

70:44

[01 10:39.100 – 01:10:39.720] Appreciate it.

70:45

[01 10:39.720 – 01:10:41.840] You're, you're, you're welcome.

70:46

[01 10:41.840 – 01:10:50.940] And, and just really quickly, this is also just an- another thing, but there's, there's a photograph of, uh, you know, everybody that's everybody.

70:54

[01 10:50.940 – 01:10:56.240] And, and, uh, uh, this- I call this the Pacific Northwest, uh, table.

70:59

[01 10:56.240 – 01:11:06.660] Um, but you've got, uh, um, obviously there's, uh, this was a 1951 general service conference, and on the far, far left is Charlie Brown.

71:07

[01 11:06.660 – 01:11:13.920] Um, and, uh, then you've got Dale Anderson from Seattle sitting next to, uh, Bill Dotson, AA number three sitting there.

71:14

[01 11:13.920 – 01:11:19.900] And of course, uh, the, the f- the, the, the consensus is that's Helen Brown.

71:19

[01 11:19.900 – 01:11:27.080] And, uh, um, it's, it's just an interesting who's who of, uh, folks, uh, at this, uh, particular, uh, uh, table.

71:27

[01 11:27.080 – 01:11:31.020] And, uh, anyway, so thought I'd just share that.

71:30

[01 11:31.020 – 01:11:33.620] I sh- I sh- yeah, pretty nerd stuff.

71:33

[01 11:33.620 – 01:11:36.680] Thank you.

71:34

[01 11:36.680 – 01:11:39.680] And, uh, next question is from Thomas.

71:36

[01 11:39.680 – 01:11:40.460] You can unmute.

71:38

[01 11:40.460 – 01:11:44.320] Yeah.

71:38

[01 11:44.320 – 01:11:54.020] Drew, you may not know this, but do you have any idea how many j- uh, recognized general service offices there are currently?

71:46

[01 11:54.020 – 01:11:58.650] That I do not.

71:48

[01 11:58.650 – 01:11:59.200] I...

71:48

[01 11:59.200 – 01:12:00.190] That I don't know.

71:50

[01 12:00.190 – 01:12:01.250] That's a good question.

71:52

[01 12:01.250 – 01:12:03.740] That is a, that is an excellent question.

71:54

[01 12:03.740 – 01:12:13.880] Um, I, I know that France, Germany, and, and, you know, that is not attached to the, the, the German or the,

72:02

[01 12:13.880 – 01:12:17.679] the, the, the, uh, general Service board of, of Great Britain.

72:06

[01 12:17.679 – 01:12:26.620] I mean, even the German description, there's a, a, a man who wrote several, several books, and of course, I'm, I'm forgetting his name too.

72:14

[01 12:26.620 – 01:12:27.520] Um, has...

72:15

[01 12:27.520 – 01:12:28.260] It's not...

72:16

[01 12:28.260 – 01:12:31.000] Goodness sakes.

72:17

[01 12:31.000 – 01:12:35.040] Um, Ka- it starts with a K I think anyway.

72:21

[01 12:35.040 – 01:12:44.020] Um, but, but, uh, yeah, there's, uh, the, I- it seems as though they just kind of, you know, have, have these little clusters, uh, here and there.

72:30

[01 12:44.020 – 01:12:50.880] I'm, um, but, uh, how many there actually are, I, I am not sure.

72:35

[01 12:50.880 – 01:12:55.960] I know like India and, and, and they, they have a, a, a something.

72:40

[01 12:55.960 – 01:13:03.540] We, we talked to a couple of, uh, folks from, from India and that, that area, and they, they have their own stuff.

72:48

[01 13:03.540 – 01:13:04.540] Pretty, pretty interesting.

72:49

[01 13:04.540 – 01:13:14.360] And we also, uh, know of, uh, we have a friend in, in, in Poland, and, you know, they, she, she, uh, had, had said something interesting.

72:58

[01 13:14.360 – 01:13:22.150] She was part of the, uh, um, uh, committee that rewrote or retranslated the Polish big book.

73:04

[01 13:22.150 – 01:13:26.980] Uh, 'cause evidently the first translation was, was, was horrible.

73:08

[01 13:26.980 – 01:13:33.660] Um, it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't, didn't correlate with, with what the book said in English.

73:14

[01 13:33.660 – 01:13:43.700] And, uh, uh, so she, she did it, but she also had mentioned that, you know, with, uh, um, you know, when, when the, the, the AA world

73:23

[01 13:43.700 – 01:13:53.680] service conference gets together and kind of has some, some, some craziness, you know, it sets a, it sets, it sets a precedent, uh, in, in other places.

73:32

[01 13:53.680 – 01:13:55.480] And, uh, that was one of them.

73:35

[01 13:55.480 – 01:13:57.159] So she, she, she was...

73:37

[01 13:57.159 – 01:13:59.700] That's, that's a whole different subject.

73:39

[01 13:59.700 – 01:14:04.140] But, but yeah, there's, there's, there's a lot of, uh, these, these, uh...

73:44

[01 14:04.140 – 01:14:06.940] It's a great question.

73:45

[01 14:06.940 – 01:14:11.240] I'm, I'll get back with you on that one.

73:49

[01 14:11.240 – 01:14:12.580] I think that's a whole nother- That's fine.

73:52

[01 14:12.580 – 01:14:22.820] Uh, Tim, I think we may have just opened up an opportunity for another, another, uh, history meeting on, on the development of translation services

74:00

[01 14:22.820 – 01:14:30.200] and the integrity of our message, and also the licensing of, uh, the different entities in the different countries.

74:07

[01 14:30.200 – 01:14:34.380] Uh, why don't you give that assignment to Drew and he'll get back to us.

74:12

[01 14:34.380 – 01:14:34.939] Thank you.

74:13

[01 14:34.939 – 01:14:40.180] Well, we got, we got all the German write up.

74:16

[01 14:40.180 – 01:14:43.840] We, we, we know there was a, a, a barrel roll with that big book.

74:22

[01 14:43.840 – 01:14:46.520] Uh, Poland is, is, is on point now.

74:25

[01 14:46.520 – 01:14:51.940] She sent me a, the new copy of the book with a couple of, uh, references.

74:30

[01 14:51.940 – 01:15:00.880] One of, one of the references was, you know, when Bill, in Bill's story, when, uh, you know, he's going around writing fat checks and an unpickable coat of tan.

74:40

[01 15:00.880 – 01:15:10.920] You know, the translation was Bill was wearing a tan coat, and people were reading that, just scratching their heads like, what, what does that have to do

74:50

[01 15:10.920 – 01:15:11.240] anyway?

74:50

[01 15:11.240 – 01:15:16.680] And so they, they took some time to kind of explain that.

74:55

[01 15:16.680 – 01:15:18.260] So pretty, pretty interesting.

74:56

[01 15:18.260 – 01:15:23.260] Thomas, I'm gonna require you, uh, uh, for, for some help on that one.

75:01

[01 15:23.260 – 01:15:33.260] I, I was gonna say, Thomas, I've heard Penny when she comes on several times where, uh, she would say the first one with a

75:09

[01 15:33.260 – 01:15:35.520] suggestion is the first volunteer.

75:11

[01 15:35.520 – 01:15:43.720] So I, I don't know what, what you got going on, Thomas, but if you wanna start putting some research together.

75:19

[01 15:43.720 – 01:15:50.080] Oh, and that German guy's name was Kessel.

75:22

[01 15:50.080 – 01:15:50.940] Kessel.

75:22

[01 15:50.940 – 01:15:51.500] I forgot.

75:23

[01 15:51.500 – 01:15:54.640] Uh, anyway, I'll, I'll still remember the Australian guy.

75:26

[01 15:54.640 – 01:15:55.180] It's okay.

75:27

[01 15:55.180 – 01:15:58.800] It's the, the, the, the brain cells are still firing.

75:31

[01 15:58.800 – 01:15:59.500] We're okay.

75:32

[01 15:59.500 – 01:16:01.620] Did, did Kessel write The Road Back?

75:35

[01 16:01.620 – 01:16:02.200] Yeah.

75:35

[01 16:02.200 – 01:16:02.920] Yeah.

75:36

[01 16:02.920 – 01:16:04.560] Yeah.

75:36

[01 16:04.560 – 01:16:07.740] He was, he was, he was a powerhouse, uh, in, in Germany.

75:41

[01 16:07.740 – 01:16:16.060] Um, and, and, you know, with, with France, you know, we, we, we did a more in-depth one in our AA Comes of Age one.

75:49

[01 16:16.060 – 01:16:22.700] Uh, but when you think of France, you know, and, and you look at some of the, the photographs, we have a great photograph.

75:57

[01 16:22.700 – 01:16:23.460] It'll take...

75:58

[01 16:23.460 – 01:16:30.240] I, I'll never find it, but there's a great photograph of literally it's an ice cream truck.

76:04

[01 16:30.240 – 01:16:38.420] And the only difference is, is again, you know, there's, there's kids lined up to it, but instead of ice cream, they're serving wine.

76:12

[01 16:38.420 – 01:16:42.040] Yep.

76:13

[01 16:42.040 – 01:16:49.680] Hey, Tim, I just wanted to add that, uh, I've been around long enough to, to know not to go to the bathroom during an AA election.

76:22

[01 16:49.680 – 01:16:58.640] All right.

76:23

[01 16:58.640 – 01:17:02.120] Drew, any other comments, any other questions tonight?

76:26

[01 17:02.120 – 01:17:04.950] Nope.

76:27

[01 17:04.950 – 01:17:06.299] No.

76:27

[01 17:06.299 – 01:17:06.820] All right.

76:28

[01 17:06.820 – 01:17:07.690] Well, thank you.

76:30

[01 17:07.690 – 01:17:09.260] I'm just surprised we, we ended on time.

76:32

[01 17:09.260 – 01:17:10.800] That's, that's good stuff, man.

76:34

[01 17:10.800 – 01:17:12.280] It's impressive.

76:35

[01 17:12.280 – 01:17:22.320] Um, all right, and just a reminder, join us all, uh, next week for a presentation, uh, from Mike F., uh, doing a look at the new recovery

76:45

[01 17:22.320 – 01:17:23.460] speakers platform.

76:46

[01 17:23.460 – 01:17:30.180] And now I will allow everyone to unmute and thank Drew for this great presentation tonight.

76:51

[01 17:30.180 – 01:17:33.160] And, uh, thank you again everyone for being here.

76:55

[01 17:33.160 – 01:17:37.220] And everyone should be allowed to unmute themselves now.

76:58

[01 17:37.220 – 01:17:39.950] Thank you so much.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

AA International – Around the World presented by Drew H. – 6/2/2026

AA International – Around the World presented by Drew H. – 6/2/2026

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