Bill W presented by Jay s – 2025-12-23

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown Listen to Workshop Recording

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown Jay s speaking on "Bill W" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (December 23, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:03.279 – 00:00:10.320] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop, and m- thanks for joining us.

0:21

[00 00:10.320 – 00:00:20.879] My name is Tim, and tonight's presentation on Bill W., uh, the winner of 1934, will be led by JS.

0:29

[00 00:20.879 – 00:00:27.160] And we meet here every Tuesday night at the same time using the same Zoom ID number.

0:37

[00 00:27.160 – 00:00:37.259] And next week will be our last Tuesday of December, so it is our night for a conversation with a long-timer, so that will be

0:48

[00 00:37.259 – 00:00:40.079] Linda from Washington.

0:49

[00 00:40.079 – 00:00:44.490] And, uh, this meeting is being recorded.

0:53

[00 00:44.490 – 00:00:49.679] All past presentations are available at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:56

[00 00:49.679 – 00:00:59.740] And we are not affiliated with any 12-step organization, though our focus is the history of AA and

1:04

[00 00:59.740 – 00:01:01.399] other 12-step fellowships.

1:06

[00 01:01.399 – 00:01:11.819] Recoveryspeakers.com is a 501[c][3] nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the audio history of AA

1:13

[00 01:11.819 – 00:01:16.939] and the 12-step movement for today and future generations.

1:17

[00 01:16.939 – 00:01:27.180] We also send a daily email featuring a speaker talk from our archive, and recordings of these meetings, and information on upcoming presentations.

1:27

[00 01:27.180 – 00:01:38.519] To subscribe, you can use the link that I'll be sharing in the chat in a moment, or you can send me a message at info@recoveryspeakers.com

1:39

[00 01:38.519 – 00:01:40.719] and I'll get you added to our email list.

1:43

[00 01:40.719 – 00:01:50.739] And if you are able to support our work, contributions are appreciated, and I will be sharing our donation link and QR code in the chat

1:54

[00 01:50.739 – 00:01:51.359] in a moment.

1:56

[00 01:51.359 – 00:02:01.459] And tonight we should have some time for Q&A at the end of Jay's presentation, so please if you have any questions,

2:06

[00 02:01.459 – 00:02:05.599] please write them down and be ready to ask questions at the end of the meeting.

2:13

[00 02:05.599 – 00:02:11.860] I am closing the chat right now, and I will open that back up at the end of the meeting.

2:22

[00 02:11.860 – 00:02:15.439] And that is it for me.

2:25

[00 02:15.439 – 00:02:20.360] I am going to go ahead and ask Jay to unmute, and we will get started.

2:32

[00 02:20.360 – 00:02:24.680] And, uh, thank you all for being here, and a happy holidays.

2:37

[00 02:24.680 – 00:02:28.400] Thanks, Tim.

2:38

[00 02:28.400 – 00:02:28.810] Yep.

2:39

[00 02:28.810 – 00:02:29.460] Thanks, Mike.

2:40

[00 02:29.460 – 00:02:30.400] Thanks, everybody.

2:42

[00 02:30.400 – 00:02:40.659] Um, I wanted to just, uh, you know, say happy holidays to, to everyone, and to, uh, tell you that I've got a special treat

2:53

[00 02:40.659 – 00:02:43.159] for you, um, this evening.

2:55

[00 02:43.159 – 00:02:53.259] And I'm, I'm excited to, uh, be able to, to share some stuff with you that, um, I haven't, uh, I haven't yet, um...

3:05

[00 02:53.259 – 00:03:03.620] The, um, the great fun is that everything that I, uh, have

3:11

[00 03:03.620 – 00:03:13.680] as far as historical research comes from, you know, my work with- at the General Service Office, my, uh,

3:19

[00 03:13.680 – 00:03:23.259] work with the Stepping Stones Foundation, so my g- deep, deep gratitude to them, uh, to Recovery Speakers.

3:27

[00 03:23.259 – 00:03:33.310] And, uh, some of the stuff that you're gonna hear tonight e- especially is things that were cultivated, saved, uh, and, and

3:36

[00 03:33.310 – 00:03:37.539] the like by, uh, Mike and the, and the team.

3:41

[00 03:37.539 – 00:03:47.740] And our friend, uh, Tom from AA, uh, History Lovers did, um, did some of the, uh, sound,

3:49

[00 03:47.740 – 00:03:49.219] uh, restoration on this.

3:51

[00 03:49.219 – 00:03:56.419] Um, so what I'm gonna do is tell you a little bit about what's been going on personally the past few weeks.

4:01

[00 03:56.419 – 00:03:58.439] Um, we just came back.

4:03

[00 03:58.439 – 00:04:04.400] So as you all know, uh, we, uh, released this movie, Bill W.

4:09

[00 04:04.400 – 00:04:10.039] Conscious Contact, on the video c- platform, uh, uh, in May.

4:14

[00 04:10.039 – 00:04:21.360] And, um, we started getting some really incredible recognition from the film community, not

4:20

[00 04:21.360 – 00:04:22.660] the AA community.

4:22

[00 04:22.660 – 00:04:28.519] I thought, uh, it's, it's been quite, uh, quite remarkable what's, what's happened.

4:28

[00 04:28.519 – 00:04:38.839] My, my fondest dream is that this movie will be used by groups to

4:34

[00 04:38.839 – 00:04:41.939] build community around recovery.

4:36

[00 04:41.939 – 00:04:48.120] In other words, they have little fundraisers here or there and invite friends to come watch the movie.

4:44

[00 04:48.120 – 00:04:51.579] There's no screening fees or anything for that.

4:47

[00 04:51.579 – 00:04:59.259] We just want people to be able to come together and see it as a group because it's so much more powerful than watching it on your phone.

4:59

[00 04:59.259 – 00:05:02.379] Although, I want you to watch it on your phone, believe me.

5:05

[00 05:02.379 – 00:05:12.560] Um, and, uh, anyway, we have won best documentary at a, at a huge,

5:11

[00 05:12.560 – 00:05:22.879] uh, uh, film festival in San Diego, and we were invited to come to Europe, uh, for two different film festivals, one in Berlin

5:21

[00 05:22.879 – 00:05:27.180] and one in Graz, uh, uh, Austria.

5:25

[00 05:27.180 – 00:05:32.819] And when we were going to do that, a lot of you guys know David Kennedy.

5:32

[00 05:32.819 – 00:05:41.439] And, uh, and so we decided to stop in in London, and we went to the Camberwell meeting.

5:40

[00 05:41.439 – 00:05:44.779] So you guys that know David, I actually got to hug him.

5:45

[00 05:44.779 – 00:05:47.000] I got to look him in the eye.

5:49

[00 05:47.000 – 00:05:53.500] Janine, uh, who's here with us, uh, you know, we got to, we got to just love on him.

5:57

[00 05:53.500 – 00:05:58.220] And, and, uh, and there's a couple fun personal stories about him.

6:03

[00 05:58.220 – 00:06:08.220] But, but the main thing is that here's this guy that did so much for us in the history of movement, uh, spreading it internationally, and he's just a wonderful

6:15

[00 06:08.220 – 00:06:08.500] cat.

6:16

[00 06:08.500 – 00:06:16.180] So I, I wanted you to know that not only did I get to look him in the eye, but I smelled his breath, and he was sober.

6:28

[00 06:16.180 – 00:06:17.040] Amazing.

6:29

[00 06:17.040 – 00:06:18.279] Absolutely amazing.

6:30

[00 06:18.279 – 00:06:28.279] And then there was a, a group, uh, called The Steps to Recovery in, uh, in London, and they're not hooked in with

6:40

[00 06:28.279 – 00:06:38.459] the social services, but they, uh, provide rooming f- and food and some counseling for

6:47

[00 06:38.459 – 00:06:45.000] women and men that get out of, uh, prison that have drug and alcohol problems.

6:54

[00 06:45.000 – 00:06:55.050] And so we were able to, uh, do a f- a couple fundraisers for them at the Kensington Library in London, and, uh, we raised a couple thousand pounds,

7:06

[00 06:55.050 – 00:06:58.699] and so they were able to get their website up and stuff.

7:11

[00 06:58.699 – 00:07:01.740] So I mean, it's just, it's, it's so amazing.

7:16

[00 07:01.740 – 00:07:07.509] Then we were able to go to Berlin and do something for the English speaking community in Berlin and in, in-

7:25

[00 07:07.705 – 00:07:09.725] And in Austria and in, and Vienna.

7:28

[00 07:09.725 – 00:07:11.645] So it was incredible.

7:30

[00 07:11.645 – 00:07:21.925] In, in Berlin, we won a best documentary, uh, uh, uh...

7:35

[00 07:21.925 – 00:07:28.605] Or excuse me, we won a best director, uh, award for Kevin Hanlon.

7:41

[00 07:28.605 – 00:07:38.685] Now, I, I don't know if all of you have the pleasure of knowing Kevin, but he has an emotional intelligence that is, that

7:51

[00 07:38.685 – 00:07:39.825] is incredible.

7:52

[00 07:39.825 – 00:07:50.465] And because he's not a member of the Beverage Fellowship, his, um, his ability to tell and present

8:00

[00 07:50.465 – 00:07:57.025] information about Alcoholics Anonymous and Bill Wilson in, in particular is unparalleled.

8:06

[00 07:57.025 – 00:08:07.345] And, um, I'm just so glad that someone that has the experience, the family experience

8:12

[00 08:07.345 – 00:08:13.045] of alcoholism was able to tell this story so well.

8:17

[00 08:13.045 – 00:08:23.345] Um, and, uh, so anyway, uh, the other thing that I wanted, I wanna tell you about is, uh,

8:25

[00 08:23.345 – 00:08:26.885] here on the screen is this amazing, uh, artist.

8:29

[00 08:26.885 – 00:08:28.905] Her name's Janine Jay.

8:32

[00 08:28.905 – 00:08:31.845] Um, I'm a really lucky...

8:34

[00 08:31.845 – 00:08:42.285] I, I keep telling you guys I'm the most fortunate guy on the whole planet, but, uh, she was actually at my first meeting on the 2nd day of May in 1979.

8:47

[00 08:42.285 – 00:08:44.705] She's got three weeks sober on me.

8:51

[00 08:44.705 – 00:08:55.045] And, uh, Kevin and I had already been making the film when, um, she, uh, let

8:58

[00 08:55.045 – 00:08:58.115] us know that she had some, some special talents.

9:02

[00 08:58.115 – 00:09:08.225] And so, uh, I'm gonna ask Janine if you would be kind enough to unmute and tell everyone, you're gonna get to see tonight Bill Wilson

9:13

[00 09:08.225 – 00:09:18.245] tell his story in about six and a half minutes in a way that you've never heard, and a big reason for that is Janine's artistry and

9:25

[00 09:18.245 – 00:09:18.685] talent.

9:25

[00 09:18.685 – 00:09:20.585] So Janine, would you be so kind?

9:29

[00 09:20.585 – 00:09:23.185] Oh, thank you so much, Jay.

9:32

[00 09:23.185 – 00:09:26.565] Um, yes, I, I really appreciate that.

9:35

[00 09:26.565 – 00:09:36.614] Um, as I was, um, seeing the first rough cuts of the film with the archival photos that were from the Stepping Stones Foundation or from,

9:46

[00 09:36.614 – 00:09:46.825] uh, Kevin Hanlon's own personal collection, I noticed that I was distracted by, uh, rips and tears, and there was a fold across Wilson's

9:57

[00 09:46.825 – 00:09:57.265] face on one of them, and I just, I thought, "Wow, that's kind of all I was seeing." You know, I thought, "Ah, maybe I could retouch these photos and make,

10:10

[00 09:57.265 – 00:10:07.545] uh, the, them look more, um, contemporary." I mean, I know it's history and all of that, but the message is timeless and I didn't want...

10:21

[00 10:07.545 – 00:10:17.545] I, I thought, "Let's not get distracted by, by, uh, looking at, you know, um, things that I wanted to fix." So I,

10:31

[00 10:17.545 – 00:10:22.545] uh, started fixing, uh, I started retouching, uh, the photos and then he kept sending me more.

10:38

[00 10:22.545 – 00:10:29.145] And I ended up retouching almost all of the images in the film, not all, but almost.

10:46

[00 10:29.145 – 00:10:39.285] And, um, the experience of doing that and looking up close on my computer at Wilson and Lois and all of these, I, I, I started

10:57

[00 10:39.285 – 00:10:43.905] to feel like I really, you know, I f- like I was related to them, you know?

11:05

[00 10:43.905 – 00:10:44.565] And that we're...

11:06

[00 10:44.565 – 00:10:46.105] And I am in a way, you know?

11:10

[00 10:46.105 – 00:10:48.365] We're, it's this family, this fellowship.

11:13

[00 10:48.365 – 00:10:54.285] And, um, it was just a wonderful experience on that level, you know?

11:19

[00 10:54.285 – 00:11:04.345] And I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to do that and to be involved in this project, and it's just been an incredible experience

11:30

[00 11:04.345 – 00:11:06.285] and I'm just, I'm just really grateful.

11:33

[00 11:06.285 – 00:11:15.225] And I hope that you, um, also have that sense of more immediacy or, you know, with the images too.

11:42

[00 11:15.225 – 00:11:25.325] And, um, I like to say that, you know, words make you think, but pictures make you feel.

11:50

[00 11:25.325 – 00:11:32.005] And so, you know, the, uh, I just hope that you enjoy the film when and if you see it.

11:59

[00 11:32.005 – 00:11:33.485] Thank you.

12:00

[00 11:33.485 – 00:11:35.845] Thanks, Janine.

12:01

[00 11:35.845 – 00:11:36.275] Mm-hmm.

12:02

[00 11:36.275 – 00:11:46.665] So we have over 150 images that most folks have not been able to see just because the foundation hasn't been able to get these assets,

12:13

[00 11:46.665 – 00:11:51.825] uh, out in a way that, that, uh, that worked, uh, for them.

12:18

[00 11:51.825 – 00:11:53.405] So, um...

12:20

[00 11:53.405 – 00:12:03.405] But I wanted to try and convey to you, uh, the way that this film has

12:27

[00 12:03.405 – 00:12:07.305] been, uh, received by the film community.

12:30

[00 12:07.305 – 00:12:18.465] So we end up at the European Film Festival, independent film festival, in Graz, Austria, in a, uh, 200-year-old,

12:38

[00 12:18.465 – 00:12:22.345] um, uh, opera house.

12:40

[00 12:22.345 – 00:12:31.285] And, uh, Tim, would you be kind enough to show the gang the, the little clip of the, just so they see the scope of the thing?

12:52

[00 12:31.285 – 00:13:23.725] So

12:53

[00 13:23.725 – 00:13:25.145] anyway, this is the real deal.

12:56

[00 13:25.145 – 00:13:25.425] You know?

12:57

[00 13:25.425 – 00:13:29.445] They're, they're pulling the envelopes, they're doing all that stuff, they're calling folks up.

13:03

[00 13:29.445 – 00:13:34.945] And we get there and we're, we're invited to be part of the best documentaries.

13:10

[00 13:34.945 – 00:13:38.385] Now, there are 170 films.

13:12

[00 13:38.385 – 00:13:42.125] There are people from 19 nations.

13:14

[00 13:42.125 – 00:13:47.665] There are films that have to do with like the resilience of children in Gaza.

13:21

[00 13:47.665 – 00:13:58.065] Um, really inspiring and, uh, wonderful films that are part of this festival that, that this,

13:28

[00 13:58.065 – 00:14:01.105] uh, celebration that we went to was part of.

13:32

[00 14:01.105 – 00:14:11.205] So we get to the documentaries and just like at the Oscars, they do a little clip, everything, and they don't have

13:42

[00 14:11.205 – 00:14:11.945] our film.

13:43

[00 14:11.945 – 00:14:15.155] Now, I'm sitting there with my beloved Janine, I got-

13:48

[00 14:15.318 – 00:14:24.338] my fantastic daughter and, uh, and her, uh, her beloved with her, and we've gone all the way to Austria.

13:56

[00 14:24.338 – 00:14:35.318] And, and I'm going, "Wow, this is interesting," but because you guys have modeled a certain behavior to me, I just...

14:06

[00 14:35.318 – 00:14:38.058] So okay, this is, this is gonna be interesting.

14:10

[00 14:38.058 – 00:14:42.458] And there was a break, and at the break I didn't run around asking about me.

14:17

[00 14:42.458 – 00:14:48.758] I went up and spoke to a couple of the, the jurors about them and their works and what it was that they were doing.

14:27

[00 14:48.758 – 00:15:03.618] And then the break was over and we sat down, and, um, uh, Tim, would you be kind enough to The Ardelian

14:37

[00 15:03.618 – 00:15:07.038] Award for Best Director and Best First-Time Director.

14:41

[00 15:07.038 – 00:15:11.218] Here is filmmaker and director Michaela Wesch.

14:44

[00 15:11.218 – 00:15:21.218] Good evening,

14:45

[00 15:21.218 – 00:15:21.778] everyone.

14:46

[00 15:21.778 – 00:15:26.818] It's a great pleasure to be here with all of you tonight and to celebrate the art of filmmaking.

14:54

[00 15:26.818 – 00:15:37.278] What I love about film is that it holds space for nuance and for the complexity of people, for their contradictions, as well as

15:05

[00 15:37.278 – 00:15:41.598] the way how we can make meaning of things with more than words.

15:11

[00 15:41.598 – 00:15:52.018] The wonderful Agnès Varda once said, I don't want to butcher this, so I'm gonna read it, "I don't want to show things, but to give people the desire

15:24

[00 15:52.018 – 00:16:02.038] to see." As directors, we invite the audiences to look a little deeper and to feel a bit more,

15:32

[00 16:02.038 – 00:16:04.738] as well as to make meaning.

15:35

[00 16:04.738 – 00:16:14.858] The beauty of our job is that we never stop learning, and each film offers something new, something that we can use

15:44

[00 16:14.858 – 00:16:16.718] to grow with the next project.

15:47

[00 16:16.718 – 00:16:26.798] I think the awards of this matter because they celebrate the great talent at each stage of their career, and

15:56

[00 16:26.798 – 00:16:33.298] they remind us that growth in filmmaking, as well as in life, is not a solitary act.

16:03

[00 16:33.298 – 00:16:43.378] It happens in community like this and through collaboration, as well as in the belief of the next story waiting to be told.

16:13

[00 16:43.378 – 00:16:50.558] So now it is my great honor to present the award of Best Director and Best First-Time Director.

16:21

[00 16:50.558 – 00:16:58.417] The winner of the 25th Ardelian Award for Best Director is Bill W Conscious Contact.

16:28

[00 16:58.417 – 00:16:58.878] Yeah.

16:29

[00 16:58.878 – 00:17:09.018] And the winner of the Best First-Time Director

16:32

[00 17:09.018 – 00:17:10.668] is The Cage, Mitch Weiss.

16:35

[00 17:10.668 – 00:17:25.238] My

16:36

[00 17:25.238 – 00:17:26.618] name is Jay Stebbing.

16:38

[00 17:26.618 – 00:17:30.097] I'm the producer of Bill W Conscious Contact.

16:42

[00 17:30.097 – 00:17:36.398] This is Janine Johnson, my co-producer, and Sally Stebbing, our, our, my co-producer.

16:47

[00 17:36.398 – 00:17:46.458] We have the opportunity today to celebrate Kevin Hanlon and his emotional intelligence, and how he's

16:54

[00 17:46.458 – 00:17:56.498] been able to convey the fact that there is something within each of us that contact can be made with, that

17:03

[00 17:56.498 – 00:18:06.858] can lift any individual from the desperation of alcoholism

17:08

[00 18:06.858 – 00:18:07.758] and drug addiction.

17:09

[00 18:07.758 – 00:18:12.698] Everyone in here knows somebody, and it is not with...

17:14

[00 18:12.698 – 00:18:14.578] It doesn't come from religion.

17:16

[00 18:14.578 – 00:18:16.178] It doesn't come from hierarchy.

17:19

[00 18:16.178 – 00:18:19.698] It doesn't come from social services or anything else.

17:23

[00 18:19.698 – 00:18:24.938] It's for fun and for free, and it's available to any person.

17:28

[00 18:24.938 – 00:18:25.438] Thank you.

17:30

[00 18:25.438 – 00:18:43.158] Whoa.

17:30

[00 18:43.158 – 00:18:48.878] Ah, this is incredible.

17:33

[00 18:48.878 – 00:19:00.298] Um, I just wanna thank, uh, everybody that was- So

17:37

[00 19:00.298 – 00:19:08.758] this is not about me, although I get to take the ride.

17:43

[00 19:08.758 – 00:19:18.798] This is about our ability to tell a story of one of the great healers of the 20th century that our

17:52

[00 19:18.798 – 00:19:29.038] fellowship isn't aware of, that our, uh, and the people that, uh, um, all over the planet

17:59

[00 19:29.038 – 00:19:39.648] don't have any consciousness of the fact that there's been this movement a very s- short period of time, only 90 years, that

18:09

[00 19:39.648 – 00:19:45.368] has, uh, changed millions of lives.

18:12

[00 19:45.368 – 00:19:53.988] And, uh, so, uh, this community is, uh, is a big part of how we got this thing rolling and all that.

18:21

[00 19:53.988 – 00:20:01.998] And so, uh, Tim, would you be kind enough, our gift to you, uh, today is to show you Bill Wilson.

18:30

[00 20:01.998 – 00:20:09.758] This is the first six and a half minutes of the film telling his story in a way that you've never heard it before.

18:41

[00 20:09.758 – 00:20:19.838] It's 10:15 in New York, and

18:43

[00 20:19.838 – 00:20:22.938] this is Martha Dean, and good morning, everybody.

18:47

[00 20:22.938 – 00:20:26.558] No formal introductions today.

18:49

[00 20:26.558 – 00:20:30.658] I agreed to abide by the rules of Alcoholics Anonymous.

18:53

[00 20:30.658 – 00:20:31.698] Good morning, Bill.

18:55

[00 20:31.698 – 00:20:33.038] Good morning to you.

18:57

[00 20:33.038 – 00:20:35.538] Thanks very much for having us on the air with you.

19:02

[00 20:35.538 – 00:20:41.098] Uh, uh, Bill, do you wanna just start right out by telling us how and when you founded AA?

19:10

[00 20:41.098 – 00:20:42.758] Yes.

19:11

[00 20:42.758 – 00:20:50.098] In the, um, summer of 1934, I lay in a drying out hospital on Central Park West.

19:18

[00 20:50.098 – 00:20:56.158] I had been there before, and it was the end of a long road.

19:25

[00 20:56.158 – 00:20:57.978] Charles B.

19:26

[00 20:57.978 – 00:20:59.358] Towns Hospital.

19:27

[00 20:59.358 – 00:21:09.238] My wife was downstairs talking to the doctor, and she was asking the doctor why I couldn't stop drinking.

19:35

[00 21:09.238 – 00:21:19.438] And the good man was obliged to tell her that I had an obsession of the mind that condemned me to drink against my will,

19:46

[00 21:19.438 – 00:21:22.028] so that if the drinking was continued, uh-

19:50

[00 21:23.490 – 00:21:26.350] I would be destined to go mad or to die.

19:54

[00 21:26.350 – 00:21:33.810] In fact, he told her frankly that she would soon have to lock me up, uh, if my life was to be saved.

20:04

[00 21:33.810 – 00:21:43.850] My thoughts turned in on myself in a way they had never quite done before, and these words of the

20:13

[00 21:43.850 – 00:21:46.050] doctors began to ring in my ear.

20:16

[00 21:46.050 – 00:21:58.230] And then the scene went back to my childhood in

20:21

[00 21:58.230 – 00:22:06.390] a small Vermont town where my grandfather was bringing me up.

20:26

[00 22:06.390 – 00:22:16.390] When, as a kid of 10 in that little town, I heard the neighbors talking about the divorce of

20:34

[00 22:16.390 – 00:22:22.550] my father and mother, and my first reaction was a terrible sense of shame.

20:40

[00 22:22.550 – 00:22:32.040] Well, the First World War burst upon us.

20:44

[00 22:32.040 – 00:22:33.390] Lois and I are married.

20:46

[00 22:33.390 – 00:22:41.930] We face the overseas ordeal.

20:49

[00 22:41.930 – 00:22:44.830] I'm a young officer at New Bedford.

20:52

[00 22:44.830 – 00:22:48.970] We young officers were in demand with society folk in town.

20:57

[00 22:48.970 – 00:22:59.029] And again came that terrible feeling of awkwardness, that inability to say two or three words, for here were sophisticated people such as I had only

21:08

[00 22:59.030 – 00:23:05.200] read of in books, and here were butlers and knives and forks to drop, and rugs to stumble on.

21:17

[00 23:05.200 – 00:23:11.810] Oh, I felt very much out of place, until somebody hands me a drink.

21:23

[00 23:11.810 – 00:23:15.050] It was a Bronx cocktail, and boy, it was a good one.

21:28

[00 23:15.050 – 00:23:26.290] That strange barrier that had stood between me and even those closest seemed

21:34

[00 23:26.290 – 00:23:27.370] to go right down.

21:36

[00 23:27.370 – 00:23:32.630] I was a part of life at last, and that was the beginning.

21:42

[00 23:32.630 – 00:23:40.950] Well, it was a wonderful beginning.

21:45

[00 23:40.950 – 00:23:44.990] The war comes and goes, and I find myself back in New York.

21:51

[00 23:44.990 – 00:23:50.690] So I had set out to get rich, and that led me into Wall Street.

21:57

[00 23:50.690 – 00:23:55.029] And soon, I had much too much money for a kid of my age.

22:03

[00 23:55.029 – 00:23:58.310] The money aspect didn't mean much.

22:06

[00 23:58.310 – 00:24:01.630] Chips in a game, a game for power.

22:10

[00 24:01.630 – 00:24:09.690] And during this period, I drank more than ever, 'cause when you drank, you could dream.

22:17

[00 24:09.690 – 00:24:16.470] Well, then comes the crash.

22:20

[00 24:16.470 – 00:24:21.070] The house of cards falls down, and it's all swept away.

22:25

[00 24:21.070 – 00:24:26.750] But now the drinking caught up with me inexorably.

22:29

[00 24:26.750 – 00:24:36.990] It gets much worse, much worse, and then the decline into the abyss would start, for it was at that point that I fell over the last

22:40

[00 24:36.990 – 00:24:39.390] precipice, almost to my death.

22:43

[00 24:39.390 – 00:24:46.910] I went on drinking steadily, quarter bathtub a day, sometimes two or three.

22:49

[00 24:46.910 – 00:24:51.670] Bathtub, my friend, means a species of gin made in prohibition time.

22:54

[00 24:51.670 – 00:25:02.510] Finally, I slide down into a state where I was not drinking to dream dreams of power,

23:02

[00 25:02.510 – 00:25:04.750] I was drinking to forget.

23:04

[00 25:04.750 – 00:25:12.890] Shortly afterward, I went back to the hospital.

23:08

[00 25:12.890 – 00:25:15.630] I fell into a terrific depression.

23:11

[00 25:15.630 – 00:25:20.920] For the first time, I knew absolute and utter hopelessness.

23:15

[00 25:20.920 – 00:25:24.290] I knew that I had no personal power to go on.

23:20

[00 25:24.290 – 00:25:36.610] And then with no particular hope or faith, I cried out as a child in the dark, "If there is a God, will

23:30

[00 25:36.610 – 00:25:51.170] He show Himself?" And

23:32

[00 25:51.170 – 00:25:54.670] then it seemed that that room lit up in a great glare.

23:38

[00 25:54.670 – 00:26:01.210] I was transported into an ecstasy completely indescribable.

23:41

[00 26:01.210 – 00:26:12.330] It seemed that I stood on the top of a mountain and a great clean wind was blowing, not of air but of spirit, and

23:52

[00 26:12.330 – 00:26:15.470] I was free and in a different world.

23:56

[00 26:15.470 – 00:26:22.990] A great peace had settled down.

23:59

[00 26:22.990 – 00:26:30.710] Well, for me, that was the beginning, a feeling that everything was completely all right.

24:05

[00 26:30.710 – 00:26:39.110] That indeed now I was a part of life at last, that I had touched the ultimate reality of a loving God.

24:15

[00 26:39.110 – 00:27:02.710] Well,

24:16

[00 27:02.710 – 00:27:04.010] I hope you enjoyed that.

24:18

[00 27:04.010 – 00:27:10.330] Um, and that is what we've been able to do.

24:23

[00 27:10.330 – 00:27:20.650] You know, one of the, one of the things that's interesting is, is that, um, we don't have anything

24:31

[00 27:20.650 – 00:27:26.050] in the fellowship for people who only learn from watching.

24:36

[00 27:26.050 – 00:27:33.510] We're very good for people that learn by l- by reading or by listening.

24:42

[00 27:33.510 – 00:27:40.930] But, uh, so it's really a tremendous honor to, um, be able to do that.

24:49

[00 27:40.930 – 00:27:51.390] And then, uh, one last thing on this project, and then I'll, I'll, I'll share you, with you, uh, one of my favorite little archival pieces,

25:00

[00 27:51.390 – 00:28:01.430] is that because of the work that Janine did and the, uh, foundation's, uh, desire to, um, make these things more, uh,

25:09

[00 28:01.430 – 00:28:12.430] available, we're going to be, uh, having in just, uh, a few, uh, months, we'll have a book of

25:18

[00 28:12.430 – 00:28:12.970] the film.

25:19

[00 28:12.970 – 00:28:20.210] It'll be an act- actual transcript of the movie with the images in it and everything, and we're calling it Bill W.

25:28

[00 28:20.210 – 00:28:23.410] Conscious Contact: A Film on Paper.

25:31

[00 28:23.410 – 00:28:26.330] So that'll be available.

25:33

[00 28:26.330 – 00:28:30.420] Uh, I don't know, we're gonna move to the Amazon platform

25:38

[00 28:30.609 – 00:28:31.809] And do some things that others...

25:41

[00 28:31.809 – 00:28:42.049] Um, that's very, very exciting, and that is because of Janine Johnston's artistry and her ability to,

25:49

[00 28:42.049 – 00:28:50.268] uh, to communicate, and, um, it's just wonderful to be able to, to share her personally with you.

25:57

[00 28:50.268 – 00:29:00.329] Um, one of the things that I enjoy about the Bill telling his story in that way, there are a few things

26:06

[00 29:00.329 – 00:29:04.429] that, um, that we rarely hear about in the fellowships.

26:11

[00 29:04.429 – 00:29:13.129] Um, number one, I'd never heard Bill talk about that deep sense of shame.

26:17

[00 29:13.129 – 00:29:23.149] And, uh, because of the work that Mike and Tim do, and the, the work that, uh, Tom and the recovery speakers did,

26:27

[00 29:23.149 – 00:29:30.749] did for us, we were able to get that so that people actually, um, could hear that.

26:34

[00 29:30.749 – 00:29:33.889] That he, he talked about the divorce.

26:38

[00 29:33.889 – 00:29:36.949] That's not mentioned in any of the...

26:41

[00 29:36.949 – 00:29:45.289] You, you gotta dive a little deeper, and yet how many of our, how many of our fellows, uh, that's their personal story?

26:51

[00 29:45.289 – 00:29:50.209] So again, to give ar- areas that people are, uh, able to identify with.

26:57

[00 29:50.209 – 00:29:56.129] And I love when he describes, you know, the Wall Street time is always, uh, uh...

27:04

[00 29:56.129 – 00:30:04.209] Because Bill always told his story self-deprecatingly, you know?

27:08

[00 30:04.209 – 00:30:08.369] And it's, uh, you don't hear the fun stuff, you know?

27:13

[00 30:08.369 – 00:30:10.509] And I love that, uh, "We had...

27:17

[00 30:10.509 – 00:30:20.789] I, I had far too much, uh, money for a kid my age." And so anyway, it's, it's, it's a real privilege throughout the movie to be able to weave

27:30

[00 30:20.789 – 00:30:29.869] different, uh, pieces from some letters and the like, and, and to make them available for folks, um, in this, in this special way.

27:40

[00 30:29.869 – 00:30:40.009] Um, and, uh, again, the fact that the international film community is, uh,

27:46

[00 30:40.009 – 00:30:47.629] is attuned to the importance of it is really humbling.

27:50

[00 30:47.629 – 00:30:52.769] So again, um, I wanna, uh...

27:53

[00 30:52.769 – 00:30:56.369] So to go off to the jumping off point, you know, the, we...

27:59

[00 30:56.369 – 00:31:06.749] The, the wonderful thing about recovery speakers presentations and the like is that we have this, this, this wonderful playground that we get to come and,

28:10

[00 31:06.749 – 00:31:15.049] and be in where w- on one hand we've got the mythos of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is so important, so vital.

28:19

[00 31:15.049 – 00:31:20.019] Because why, why, why is, why are myths important?

28:24

[00 31:20.019 – 00:31:29.089] Because you can transmit spiritual truth very, very quickly and simply in a way that can be told.

28:31

[00 31:29.089 – 00:31:35.329] And, uh, and then we have the, the, uh, the, the facts.

28:37

[00 31:35.329 – 00:31:45.409] Uh, one of the reasons that I got involved in, in AA history and, and helped put on the symposium on, uh, on AA history with William Shaver where we

28:50

[00 31:45.409 – 00:31:55.649] actually brought, and we got lots and lots of heat on this, academics from outside of the fellowship to come and talk about,

29:00

[00 31:55.649 – 00:32:00.689] uh, different aspects of the fellowship and its, and its import to society.

29:05

[00 32:00.689 – 00:32:10.849] And, uh, the reason I got, I, I got involved was there were people that were, that had a very, uh, clear agenda that they were trying

29:17

[00 32:10.849 – 00:32:17.459] to bring forward regarding Bill, and Bob, and, a- and the like.

29:22

[00 32:17.459 – 00:32:26.009] And there wasn't any, uh, way of, uh, communicating clearly.

29:27

[00 32:26.009 – 00:32:29.689] And so we've, we've been able to do that.

29:31

[00 32:29.689 – 00:32:39.849] And one of the great things that, that this particular history meeting has done for half a decade now is to allow people to follow their own

29:43

[00 32:39.849 – 00:32:50.388] research and enjoy, uh, enjoy, um, diving

29:46

[00 32:50.388 – 00:32:55.019] deeply into, into what inspires them, and then having a forum to share it with others.

29:53

[00 32:55.019 – 00:33:00.029] So this is a, this is a letter that I just love.

29:59

[00 33:00.029 – 00:33:08.709] Um, and I'll do a little commentary on it, and it's my, my kind of Christmas gift to you.

30:07

[00 33:08.709 – 00:33:13.689] So we know about, um, Bill and Ebby.

30:11

[00 33:13.689 – 00:33:18.439] And what happened is, is that Ebby didn't call Bill, he called...

30:16

[00 33:18.439 – 00:33:27.049] He, he called Lois, and, and Lois, uh, uh, invited him over to di- over to dinner because he was sober.

30:25

[00 33:27.049 – 00:33:33.829] And, uh, there was a woman that was upstairs, so she fi- uh, she used him as bait to get Ebby over.

30:35

[00 33:33.829 – 00:33:41.969] And, uh, and, and so they were gonna have dinner, and Ebby showed up a little early 'cause he didn't have much of any place to be hanging out.

30:47

[00 33:41.969 – 00:33:42.809] And Mr.

30:48

[00 33:42.809 – 00:33:52.929] Green, who was the, the caretaker of the, uh, of the home there that, uh, uh, of Lois's home, the old family caretaker

30:58

[00 33:52.929 – 00:33:53.989] was there and let him in.

31:01

[00 33:53.989 – 00:34:04.299] And, uh, so they go upstairs and they have dinner, and, uh, Lois finally says after the meal's been cleared away, "What

31:11

[00 34:04.299 – 00:34:05.889] is it about this, uh...

31:13

[00 34:05.889 – 00:34:15.909] What have you been doing with yourself lately?" And Ebby launches into this thing that, that he'd gotten this, this religion, and starts to tell

31:24

[00 34:15.909 – 00:34:19.649] the, the, the four of them about the Oxford Group and all that.

31:30

[00 34:19.649 – 00:34:30.309] And, uh, and, and then after he's finished, Bill needs a drink, and so he offers

31:37

[00 34:30.309 – 00:34:35.309] to drive him or walk him to the, uh, to the, to the subway station.

31:44

[00 34:35.309 – 00:34:43.749] And along the way, Ebby said that what Bill said to him was, um, uh, "I don't know what you got, kid, but I want it." And, um...

31:56

[00 34:43.749 – 00:34:53.909] And so Wilson goes, I, I, I love this description, and he said, "I spent the next two weeks

32:04

[00 34:53.909 – 00:35:01.989] punishing the bottle." Punishing the bottle.

32:07

[00 35:01.989 – 00:35:07.009] I can, uh, I can identify with the, with that.

32:11

[00 35:07.009 – 00:35:11.609] And, um, anyway, he decides that he's gonna figure it out.

32:16

[00 35:11.609 – 00:35:14.309] And so he's drinking and thinking, and drinking and thinking.

32:21

[00 35:14.309 – 00:35:22.869] And finally it's gotten to the point that it's, his pr- the, his thinking's getting more serious and, and he's able to get a few dollars out of Lois.

32:33

[00 35:22.869 – 00:35:32.889] And he's gonna go down to the Calvary Mission where Ebby is, and get a load of what these

32:42

[00 35:32.889 – 00:35:35.889] people are doing so that he can take it home and do it himself.

32:48

[00 35:35.889 – 00:35:37.979] And so if you don't-

32:50

[00 35:38.221 – 00:35:45.281] No, this, uh, this wonderful, um, uh, letter.

32:54

[00 35:45.281 – 00:35:50.041] It's from Billy Duval and, uh, and I'm gonna...

32:58

[00 35:50.041 – 00:35:52.820] I'm, I'm gonna read it just because it's such great fun.

33:03

[00 35:52.820 – 00:36:02.821] He's, he's writing to, uh, uh, Larry and, um, uh, he says, "Dear Larry, on, on that day that Bill Wilson called

33:13

[00 36:02.821 – 00:36:11.441] the Calvary Mission, Spoons Costello was in the kitchen and more or less in charge as I was out all afternoon.

33:22

[00 36:11.441 – 00:36:13.121] I don't remember the date.

33:24

[00 36:13.121 – 00:36:16.181] It was early in 1935." You know, it's...

33:28

[00 36:16.181 – 00:36:19.701] He doesn't remember the date of course, but it w- late in '34.

33:33

[00 36:19.701 – 00:36:24.261] But, uh, but Wilson pr- but Bill h- probably has the date.

33:39

[00 36:24.261 – 00:36:30.081] "He came in two or three times that afternoon asking for Ebby Thatcher.

33:45

[00 36:30.081 – 00:36:38.401] Spoons told me about him when I arrived about supper time, which was at 5:00 e- uh, each weekday.

33:53

[00 36:38.401 – 00:36:48.801] Spoons told me a tall fellow wearing an expensive suit of clothes, very drunk, accompanied by a down-and-out came in

34:01

[00 36:48.801 – 00:36:54.581] and, uh, each time made too much noise for Spoons to permit him to stay.

34:08

[00 36:54.581 – 00:36:57.721] Spoons at the time was our cook.

34:11

[00 36:57.721 – 00:37:04.581] I asked Spoons if he had the fel- uh, if he told the fellow about the meeting each evening.

34:20

[00 37:04.581 – 00:37:05.441] He said he had.

34:22

[00 37:05.441 – 00:37:15.481] And when the meeting started, Bill was downstairs in the chapel, uh, accompanied by Johnson, a Swede who, uh, judging by his clothes, had been on the bum for

34:34

[00 37:15.481 – 00:37:16.221] some time.

34:35

[00 37:16.221 – 00:37:25.780] John Gerdestake, one of the brothers who lived outside the mission, was on the platform and in charge of the meeting.

34:44

[00 37:25.780 – 00:37:34.961] If you remember, the brotherhood took tu- turns at the meetings selecting the Bible lesson, the hymns, and then leading off with their own personal testimony.

34:56

[00 37:34.961 – 00:37:45.001] John had just finished the Bible and started to witness when Bill got up from the audience or congregation and started down the

35:06

[00 37:45.001 – 00:37:53.221] aisle towards the platform." Have you ever been at a meeting where somebody drunk comes down the, the aisle towards the podium?

35:15

[00 37:53.221 – 00:37:55.680] It's really fun.

35:17

[00 37:55.680 – 00:37:57.401] AA used to be a lot more entertaining.

35:21

[00 37:57.401 – 00:38:04.301] Uh, "Tex was superintendent at the time, uh, and Ebby Thatcher was not present.

35:27

[00 38:04.301 – 00:38:09.461] If you remember, we insisted that the brotherhood attend a minimum of four meetings each week.

35:34

[00 38:09.461 – 00:38:11.681] The meetings were held every night in the year.

35:38

[00 38:11.681 – 00:38:17.321] When Bill started down the aisle, I was sitting in the rear with the brotherhood men who were present.

35:46

[00 38:17.321 – 00:38:20.771] You remember we seated the new men on the right side of the hall.

35:52

[00 38:20.771 – 00:38:23.681] By new men I mean those that had not been cleaned up.

35:58

[00 38:23.681 – 00:38:28.441] Since Bill was accompanied by Johnson, his pal, he was seated with the group on the right.

36:05

[00 38:28.441 – 00:38:32.461] I asked two of the brotherhood to, to go down and ask him to sit down.

36:12

[00 38:32.461 – 00:38:36.401] He shrugged them off and walked to the front of the room near the platform.

36:19

[00 38:36.401 – 00:38:39.701] John was getting mad at the interruption.

36:22

[00 38:39.701 – 00:38:46.001] John was a heavy-set man and by trade a house painter.

36:27

[00 38:46.001 – 00:38:56.261] I've heard Wilson tell the story and he said, 'I was about to be administered my usual beating.' Um, uh,

36:36

[00 38:56.321 – 00:39:00.321] I asked, uh, Gerdestake to, to sit down and let Wilson talk first.

36:42

[00 39:00.321 – 00:39:06.201] I told Bill we usually had witnessing from the platform first, then open the meeting so that anyone could witness from the floor.

36:52

[00 39:06.201 – 00:39:12.581] But seeing he was determined, we would open the meeting right away and he could say what he wanted to say.

37:01

[00 39:12.581 – 00:39:22.641] Bill told us that he'd been up at Calvary Church the previous Sunday night and saw Ebby Thatcher get up in the pulpit and give a witness

37:13

[00 39:22.641 – 00:39:26.641] to the fact that with the help of God, he had been sober for a number of months.

37:21

[00 39:26.641 – 00:39:36.581] Thatcher's surrender date was November 1st, 1934, so I assume he had been with us three or four months.

37:29

[00 39:36.581 – 00:39:43.621] Bill said that if Ebby, uh, could get help here, he was sure he needed help and could get it at the mission also.

37:39

[00 39:43.621 – 00:39:49.621] When the invitation was given at the close, Bill and Johnson went forward and knelt down.

37:46

[00 39:49.621 – 00:39:53.561] When they got up, I suggested that Johnson go upstairs.

37:51

[00 39:53.561 – 00:40:03.981] But since Bill looked prosperous in contrast to our usual mission customer, it was agreed that he would go to towns where Thatcher and the others

38:02

[00 40:03.981 – 00:40:09.681] from the group could go and talk to him." Uh, and so that's the story, Larry.

38:09

[00 40:09.681 – 00:40:19.741] Um, um, and there's another three or four paragraphs to this, but it's, uh, it's available in the, uh, Stepping

38:18

[00 40:19.741 – 00:40:20.681] Stones archive.

38:19

[00 40:20.681 – 00:40:23.121] Uh, it's in the public archive.

38:22

[00 40:23.121 – 00:40:29.841] And so if you ever wanna look at, uh, Bill Wilson going to Calvary, um, it's, it's there and available for you.

38:31

[00 40:29.841 – 00:40:38.821] And the search that I always use is m- one of my favorite AA supers- uh, heroes, Spoons Costello.

38:40

[00 40:38.821 – 00:40:47.801] So, um, I think that's more than enough to, to set you up and off on, on the jumping off spot.

38:49

[00 40:47.801 – 00:40:50.261] So I'll, uh, I'll leave it at that.

38:53

[00 40:50.261 – 00:40:55.521] And, um, just again, um, tell you how thrilled it is...

38:58

[00 40:55.521 – 00:41:02.241] I am to be with like-minded people and, uh, and, um, I can tell some other stories along the line.

39:06

[00 41:02.241 – 00:41:12.441] If there's any questions you might have about, about that particular time, I've got a, a few more, but this was the, uh, the documentation that I thought, uh, might

39:19

[00 41:12.441 – 00:41:13.501] entertain you the most.

39:21

[00 41:13.501 – 00:41:14.511] So again, thank you.

39:23

[00 41:14.511 – 00:41:15.241] Thanks, Jay.

39:24

[00 41:15.241 – 00:41:16.281] Great stuff.

39:26

[00 41:16.281 – 00:41:24.521] We loved it, and congratulations on the film and all the success, all your travel, and what you're doing to carry the message.

39:36

[00 41:24.521 – 00:41:25.701] Thank you.

39:37

[00 41:25.701 – 00:41:30.581] And thanks for being here tonight, and happy holidays, everyone.

39:42

[00 41:30.581 – 00:41:32.921] Now I'm gonna step back.

39:44

[00 41:32.921 – 00:41:36.361] Thank you, Mike.

39:46

[00 41:36.361 – 00:41:42.801] And I also wanna add thank you, Janine, for all of your work and making this thing what it is today.

39:55

[00 41:42.801 – 00:41:48.741] It is a, a beautiful film and, um, congrats to Kevin as well.

40:01

[00 41:48.741 – 00:41:53.901] And, uh, now, uh, we have some time for questions.

40:05

[00 41:53.901 – 00:41:59.981] If anyone has a question for Jay or Janine, please raise your hand and I will call on you to unmute.

40:14

[00 41:59.981 – 00:42:02.961] And first up is Bob.

40:17

[00 42:02.961 – 00:42:03.621] You can unmute.

40:18

[00 42:03.621 – 00:42:13.661] Well, first of all, I'd like to thank Jay and Janine, and I also wanna thank Tim and

40:26

[00 42:13.661 – 00:42:17.221] Mike, um, for all that they do.

40:30

[00 42:17.221 – 00:42:18.001] For all that...

40:31

[00 42:18.001 – 00:42:21.581] All you do for us is just unbelievable.

40:35

[00 42:21.581 – 00:42:24.841] And I love the film.

40:38

[00 42:24.841 – 00:42:27.981] I've watched it two or three times now.

40:41

[00 42:27.981 – 00:42:38.001] But my, my question is, how many different audio clips did you have to go through to get that to go

40:50

[00 42:38.001 – 00:42:38.981] together like that?

40:52

[00 42:38.981 – 00:42:39.421] I have...

40:53

[00 42:39.421 – 00:42:41.701] That was just amazing.

40:55

[00 42:41.701 – 00:42:42.761] Amazing.

40:56

[00 42:42.761 – 00:42:45.611] Thank you

40:57

[00 42:45.974 – 00:42:47.734] Uh, thank, thanks a bunch, Bob.

41:00

[00 42:47.734 – 00:42:57.634] Well, I don't know the amount, but, you know, the, the wonderful thing is that Kevin Hanlon not only directed the film, but he edited it.

41:12

[00 42:57.634 – 00:42:59.734] And from all of his...

41:14

[00 42:59.734 – 00:43:05.774] Kevin is, I believe, the most knowledgeable person about AA history there is.

41:20

[00 43:05.774 – 00:43:15.854] Uh, he's got a, uh, the, the, the, y- you know, I don't know if you're familiar with this, folks, but that Bill W documentary that, that, that they produced,

41:33

[00 43:15.854 – 00:43:18.294] that took them eight years to make.

41:36

[00 43:18.294 – 00:43:19.834] Wow.

41:37

[00 43:19.834 – 00:43:28.474] And so, and, and he's got, you know, he's, he's, he's got a really, he's sh- a sharp guy, and he, uh...

41:46

[00 43:28.474 – 00:43:38.834] So there are, there were two or three talks with, that, that we used that, that he kind of leaned on,

41:56

[00 43:38.834 – 00:43:48.974] and other things that, uh, Michael had and, and that, uh, uh, Tom was able to, uh, to use to, uh, clean the thing

42:06

[00 43:48.974 – 00:43:49.154] up.

42:07

[00 43:49.154 – 00:43:59.294] In fact, I, I believe that w- uh, one of the pieces that we used actually came from one of Bill Wilson's, you know,

42:17

[00 43:59.294 – 00:44:06.394] uh, 78s, old 78s that, uh, that Michael had and, and, uh, passed along to Tom.

42:24

[00 44:06.394 – 00:44:08.614] I, uh, do I have that right, Mike?

42:28

[00 44:08.614 – 00:44:12.034] Well, he stepped back.

42:30

[00 44:12.034 – 00:44:12.224] Yeah.

42:31

[00 44:12.224 – 00:44:15.014] But, uh, Tim, maybe you know the story a, a bit.

42:36

[00 44:15.014 – 00:44:16.654] No?

42:37

[00 44:16.654 – 00:44:17.154] Okay.

42:37

[00 44:17.154 – 00:44:17.594] Yeah.

42:38

[00 44:17.594 – 00:44:27.854] Well, this is the story that I know, is that, uh, that, uh, Michael was able to obtain

42:46

[00 44:27.854 – 00:44:33.554] some of Bill Wilson's personal recordings, uh, the albums that he actually owned.

42:52

[00 44:33.554 – 00:44:42.854] And, um, and of course he had them to look at, but they'd never been actually used.

42:59

[00 44:42.854 – 00:44:52.774] And so Tom was kind enough from, uh, from AA History Speakers to go and get them and to, uh, to, um, to work with them.

43:11

[00 44:52.774 – 00:45:02.954] And apparently the first one that he touched just kind of turned to dust because, uh, you know, but he, he figured out a way to, to, to at least get a,

43:24

[00 45:02.954 – 00:45:10.104] a recording off of them, um, before they, uh, before they completely, uh, were destroyed.

43:31

[00 45:10.104 – 00:45:20.134] So, um, again, I don't know, I don't know the number of them, but, but, uh, you know, it's, it's, it's fun because if you listen to

43:43

[00 45:20.134 – 00:45:27.894] a lot of Wilson's talks, there'll be little nuggets that you've never heard before, and, and it's, it, it, it's great.

43:52

[00 45:27.894 – 00:45:32.534] Um, yeah, it's great to, great to be able to do that.

43:57

[00 45:32.534 – 00:45:42.234] Thank you for the question, Bob, and thanks for sharing that story, Jay.

44:03

[00 45:42.234 – 00:45:49.594] And I have a couple messages asking, "Is there a hard copy of the Conscious Contact available?

44:10

[00 45:49.594 – 00:45:59.674] Is there any plans for that, or just a digital download?" Um, well, it's kind of like, uh, only this group

44:19

[00 45:59.674 – 00:46:10.294] would be asking, "Do we have any of Mike Fitzpatrick's eight tracks available for us to listen to while we, while we drive around in our Pontiacs?"

44:31

[00 46:10.294 – 00:46:20.594] Um, I'm sure that at some point we'll have some, uh, uh, DVDs, but, uh,

44:38

[00 46:20.594 – 00:46:21.954] at, at present, no.

44:40

[00 46:21.954 – 00:46:31.594] Um, it's just, it's one of those things that, uh, it's, it's for a very, uh, interesting group, shall we say.

44:49

[00 46:31.594 – 00:46:34.494] All right, thank you.

44:51

[00 46:34.494 – 00:46:37.114] And our next question is from Jennifer.

44:54

[00 46:37.114 – 00:46:37.854] You can unmute.

44:56

[00 46:37.854 – 00:46:41.814] Hey, everybody.

44:57

[00 46:41.814 – 00:46:42.134] Hi.

44:58

[00 46:42.134 – 00:46:43.634] Jennifer, alcoholic.

44:59

[00 46:43.634 – 00:46:44.774] Happy holidays.

45:01

[00 46:44.774 – 00:46:47.954] Grateful to be here, Jay, thank you.

45:04

[00 46:47.954 – 00:46:48.904] Uh, two things.

45:06

[00 46:48.904 – 00:46:50.584] Yeah, I'm the one that asked.

45:08

[00 46:50.584 – 00:46:52.314] I, I'm first hearing it.

45:11

[00 46:52.314 – 00:46:54.134] I'm so excited.

45:13

[00 46:54.134 – 00:46:58.174] Um, just when you think you've seen or, or everything.

45:17

[00 46:58.174 – 00:47:00.694] So how do I get to...

45:20

[00 47:00.694 – 00:47:02.254] And then I have another question.

45:23

[00 47:02.254 – 00:47:09.274] So how does, uh, someone as myself get to see this great production, Jay?

45:29

[00 47:09.274 – 00:47:13.874] Billwconsciouscontact.com.

45:30

[00 47:13.874 – 00:47:15.774] Oh, excellent.

45:32

[00 47:15.774 – 00:47:20.794] It'll, it'll take you to the Vil- V- Vimeo platform, and it's $10.

45:37

[00 47:20.794 – 00:47:25.254] And, uh, that's, uh, that's it.

45:40

[00 47:25.254 – 00:47:30.714] And the, the fun thing is, is that, uh, this entire thing has been self-financed.

45:47

[00 47:30.714 – 00:47:32.414] Stepping Stones didn't give me any money.

45:50

[00 47:32.414 – 00:47:33.054] Nope.

45:51

[00 47:33.054 – 00:47:42.094] And, um, at some point, um, when we're, when we're, uh, we pay back, I, I, I bet the house on this.

46:00

[00 47:42.094 – 00:47:45.974] And, uh, so for me- Other question.

46:04

[00 47:45.974 – 00:47:46.974] Thanks, Jay.

46:05

[00 47:46.974 – 00:47:47.774] I will look.

46:07

[00 47:47.774 – 00:47:52.274] And Tim, I know you'll put that link for us in the chat.

46:12

[00 47:52.274 – 00:48:02.294] I, I learned tonight, you know, you guys, I, I'm coming from Bennington, Vermont here, not far from the courthouse where, where Ebby was, and right,

46:24

[00 48:02.294 – 00:48:05.054] looking at Glatsenberry is right out my window there.

46:28

[00 48:05.054 – 00:48:09.494] And you mentioned November 1st, 1934.

46:30

[00 48:09.494 – 00:48:15.264] I spent a lot of work trying to figure out that date because, you know, it was one of the arrest records.

46:40

[00 48:15.264 – 00:48:20.034] I did a talk here, because right behind me I look over the mountain there.

46:46

[00 48:20.034 – 00:48:30.234] And, um, I love that you found out that date because I've been trying to find that out in my little research I did here, and I, I'm so happy that you've, that one date

47:01

[00 48:30.234 – 00:48:31.374] opens up a whole new world.

47:04

[00 48:31.374 – 00:48:33.354] I'll have to update my PowerPoint.

47:07

[00 48:33.354 – 00:48:34.694] So thank you, Jay.

47:09

[00 48:34.694 – 00:48:35.954] I can't wait to watch it.

47:12

[00 48:35.954 – 00:48:36.854] Thank you very much.

47:14

[00 48:36.854 – 00:48:48.234] Well, the, the fun thing about, um, that date, see, you know, uh, I mean, um, Billy was actually looking at a log that

47:25

[00 48:48.234 – 00:48:50.154] had the surrender date of the men.

47:28

[00 48:50.154 – 00:48:57.654] Or, uh, that, uh, when he, when he wrote that, that, that to Larry.

47:34

[00 48:57.654 – 00:49:07.734] So, so if, if Ebby gets out November 1st, or say he, uh, his surrender's November 1st, let's

47:42

[00 49:07.734 – 00:49:14.454] say that that's after he's been with Rowland and made it down to New York, you know.

47:49

[00 49:14.454 – 00:49:23.874] Uh, I always like to say that it wasn't that, uh, the Oxford Group or anything else that, uh, that Judge Graves heard.

47:59

[00 49:23.874 – 00:49:27.834] It was, "Oh, you're going to take him to New York.

48:04

[00 49:27.834 – 00:49:32.874] Get him out of here." You know, and they, and they put him in the, in the mission.

48:12

[00 49:32.874 – 00:49:42.694] And so, um, so say he's in the mission a couple of days, and then Wilson falls off the wagon on the 11th.

48:22

[00 49:42.694 – 00:49:52.954] Um, and then he's, he's probably there, um, you know, somewhere-

48:27

[00 49:53.592 – 00:49:54.912] In that next couple of weeks.

48:30

[00 49:54.912 – 00:50:00.392] Thanksgiving never seems to come up, so it may or may not be after that.

48:37

[00 50:00.392 – 00:50:09.552] Um, and, uh, you know, and then the, the, the December 11th, uh, he gets, uh, checked into Towns.

48:45

[00 50:09.552 – 00:50:19.632] One of the fun things about the, uh, about doing the interview with Lincoln Norton, the man who taught Bill Wilson transcendental meditation,

48:55

[00 50:19.632 – 00:50:28.992] um, is that his recollection was that, that it was either December 10th or 11th that he instructed Wilson.

49:03

[00 50:28.992 – 00:50:35.301] So it would've been the 35th anniversary of him going into towns that he learned a mantra meditation.

49:11

[00 50:35.301 – 00:50:39.652] That's awesome.

49:12

[00 50:39.652 – 00:50:40.372] Thank you.

49:14

[00 50:40.372 – 00:50:42.072] And next is Rob.

49:16

[00 50:42.072 – 00:50:43.172] You can unmute.

49:17

[00 50:43.172 – 00:50:51.372] You there, Rob?

49:19

[00 50:51.372 – 00:50:52.852] There we go.

49:21

[00 50:52.852 – 00:50:53.252] Thank you.

49:22

[00 50:53.252 – 00:50:55.252] Yeah, Tim, I had to wait for you to let me unmute.

49:27

[00 50:55.252 – 00:50:55.282] Yes.

49:28

[00 50:55.282 – 00:50:58.731] Um, yeah, Jay, congratulations, and, uh, thank you for doing this.

49:33

[00 50:58.731 – 00:51:02.772] Thank you Mike and Tim and everybody that's, uh, that's participated in our history.

49:39

[00 51:02.772 – 00:51:09.032] I've listened to Sandy Beach, and I just wondered this week, uh, the Steps and Stories audio on YouTube.

49:48

[00 51:09.032 – 00:51:12.192] Um, and I'm so grateful we have all these platforms.

49:52

[00 51:12.192 – 00:51:19.652] I, I didn't, I wasn't sure after, you know, stumbling through Not God, um, a long time ago, how much more we could get out of the history.

50:04

[00 51:19.652 – 00:51:26.472] Um, you know, this is, you're obviously preaching to the choir here with this group, but, uh, I get blown away by this.

50:14

[00 51:26.472 – 00:51:36.492] Um, out of curiosity, 'cause, uh, um, these new ways of looking at our history, when did it occur to you to do the, the, um,

50:25

[00 51:36.492 – 00:51:37.632] that documentary?

50:27

[00 51:37.632 – 00:51:41.442] When did that idea, that concept come to you, and how long did it take to put together?

50:35

[00 51:41.442 – 00:51:42.972] And again, thank you so much.

50:37

[00 51:42.972 – 00:51:44.112] Yeah.

50:38

[00 51:44.112 – 00:51:48.452] So I'll, you know, just 'cause I, I love talking, so I'll, I'll tell you the long story.

50:46

[00 51:48.452 – 00:51:58.532] I was, I, Sandy and I were friends, and my, my, uh, my m- our relationship, aside from our love for AA and from, uh, spiritual

50:57

[00 51:58.532 – 00:52:09.932] practice was, uh, I was always poking him because he had some very interesting ideas about what

51:05

[00 52:09.932 – 00:52:13.792] happened that, that he was very fixed upon.

51:09

[00 52:13.792 – 00:52:24.232] Um, you know, and so if you get your history from Sandy or, uh, or our friend Clancy Emmesland or some of the other folks, what happens is, is that the stories,

51:22

[00 52:24.232 – 00:52:30.572] you know, just like Wilson, you know, it's the mythos that, that, that carries the message.

51:29

[00 52:30.572 – 00:52:40.612] And so, um, uh, Bill actually says in one place, uh, he never let a fact get in the way of a good

51:39

[00 52:40.612 – 00:52:41.172] story.

51:40

[00 52:41.172 – 00:52:51.352] And, uh, if you've been out on the, on the tiles as, as much as I have, you know , it's, uh, or,

51:50

[00 52:51.352 – 00:52:54.772] or Mike has, it's, it's, it's quite a, quite a thing.

51:55

[00 52:54.772 – 00:52:57.112] Um, the, um...

51:56

[00 52:57.112 – 00:53:04.652] One of the best days of my life was probably 15 years ago.

52:02

[00 53:04.652 – 00:53:10.892] I was sitting at the General Service Office archive with Kevin Hanlon, who was working on his Bill W.

52:10

[00 53:10.892 – 00:53:16.692] movie, and Bill Shayberg, who was, uh, doing his research on the writing the big book.

52:17

[00 53:16.692 – 00:53:21.092] Um, William Shayberg's my, aside from Cleveland's, my closest colleague.

52:22

[00 53:21.092 – 00:53:31.312] And the three of us are sitting there, each with our stacks of what we found interesting, reading through it and sharing it with others, and it was just,

52:34

[00 53:31.312 – 00:53:34.242] it was just a, it was an amazing, uh, amazing day.

52:39

[00 53:34.242 – 00:53:36.692] I'd like to have the recording of that c- that conversation.

52:44

[00 53:36.692 – 00:53:40.192] We've believe me, we've had a lot of them over the years.

52:49

[00 53:40.192 – 00:53:47.272] Um, and, uh, so I've been researching.

52:53

[00 53:47.272 – 00:53:54.712] I fell in love with Bill when I, when I came in to, uh, AA, I was already a history geek.

53:02

[00 53:54.712 – 00:53:58.132] And, uh, Dr.

53:04

[00 53:58.132 – 00:54:07.492] Bob and the Good Old Timers had just come out, um, and, uh, Not God was there, so I got them when I was about 90 days sober.

53:15

[00 54:07.492 – 00:54:17.352] And, um, and because Wilson had only been dead eight years, it seemed to me to be, uh, a real, uh...

53:24

[00 54:17.352 – 00:54:23.952] It would be arrogant for me to spend time researching Wilson.

53:29

[00 54:23.952 – 00:54:34.312] And so I went back further and spent 10 years doing Oxford Group stuff, and I've been a member of the OG for, since '93.

53:40

[00 54:34.312 – 00:54:44.472] But, um, uh, but I've been papered at Stepping Stones in the General

53:45

[00 54:44.472 – 00:54:52.332] Service Office because of a biography that I, I wanted to write about Bill, and it just kept expanding.

53:54

[00 54:52.332 – 00:55:00.152] It's kind of like writing a Roosevelt thing, and I got jobs and sponsees and children and, and all that stuff.

54:03

[00 55:00.152 – 00:55:02.452] So it just, it, I, I never could get it done.

54:08

[00 55:02.452 – 00:55:11.672] In fact, uh, uh, Adele told me that she didn't wanna die without the book being published, but it wasn't, it wasn't finished.

54:18

[00 55:11.672 – 00:55:21.892] And, and, and, and I have to tell you that, that probably 80% of the negative things that I said to myself between probably about 2000

54:28

[00 55:21.892 – 00:55:29.452] and, uh, and the release of this film had to do with me not getting that book out in the way that I wanted.

54:39

[00 55:29.452 – 00:55:39.572] And so I'm, I'm busy, you know, doing my research and going around and, and I'd found this

54:46

[00 55:39.572 – 00:55:46.412] stuff on, uh, from the TM people about Wilson learning transcendental meditation.

54:52

[00 55:46.412 – 00:55:52.612] But if you're a historian, you have to have two independent sources, and we didn't, we didn't have that.

55:00

[00 55:52.612 – 00:56:02.632] And, uh, I'm, but it was a good enough story that on my public PowerPoints, I started putting a picture of Wilson and one of

55:11

[00 56:02.632 – 00:56:12.492] the Maharishi, I didn't, uh, Photoshop them together, and said, "Bill Wilson TM 1969," question mark on it.

55:18

[00 56:12.492 – 00:56:18.192] And a guy walks up and he says, "My dad taught Wilson TM." Nice.

55:25

[00 56:18.192 – 00:56:28.932] And so I, you know, uh, and then he says, "Do you wanna meet my dad?" And that was in, uh, in

55:34

[00 56:28.932 – 00:56:32.332] May of '23.

55:36

[00 56:32.332 – 00:56:42.332] So I think what I'm gonna, I, so I fly up and meet the guy and do all this stuff and, and then in November, we had agreed, the Stepping Stones people

55:49

[00 56:42.332 – 00:56:44.672] had agreed to, to let me interview him.

55:53

[00 56:44.672 – 00:56:46.412] I was gonna do it with my iPad.

55:57

[00 56:46.412 – 00:56:57.232] But since I knew Hanlon, I said, "Let's do a three-camera shoot." And then it got to the point that, that literally

56:07

[00 56:57.232 – 00:57:00.882] we're sitting down to do a contract with Stepping Stones, and they made the mistake of sa-

56:14

[00 57:01.385 – 00:57:05.505] A 60-minute Hollywood-style documentary.

56:16

[00 57:05.505 – 00:57:09.645] What an order.

56:18

[00 57:09.645 – 00:57:11.365] I think I can go through with it.

56:21

[00 57:11.365 – 00:57:13.645] Great.

56:22

[00 57:13.645 – 00:57:14.065] Thank you.

56:24

[00 57:14.065 – 00:57:18.104] So, so it took about two years from s- from soup to nuts.

56:29

[00 57:18.104 – 00:57:19.345] Beautiful.

56:30

[00 57:19.345 – 00:57:19.965] Thank you.

56:31

[00 57:19.965 – 00:57:20.525] That's quick.

56:33

[00 57:20.525 – 00:57:20.705] You're welcome.

56:34

[00 57:20.705 – 00:57:24.685] Thank you for the question, Rob.

56:37

[00 57:24.685 – 00:57:26.465] And next is Bob.

56:39

[00 57:26.465 – 00:57:27.305] You can unmute.

56:41

[00 57:27.305 – 00:57:32.345] Hey.

56:41

[00 57:32.345 – 00:57:34.005] Bob Alcolic from Detroit.

56:43

[00 57:34.005 – 00:57:37.285] Uh, thank you so much for another great presentation.

56:48

[00 57:37.285 – 00:57:42.605] And Jay, uh, man, I, I just love, uh, what you're all about.

56:53

[00 57:42.605 – 00:57:52.855] And I, uh, you know, even at the beginning of the meeting when, when there was a, a newish person kind of struggling a little bit, uh, you came up with a suggestion that we don't

57:09

[00 57:52.855 – 00:57:54.565] normally hear in AA.

57:11

[00 57:54.565 – 00:57:56.105] "Can we pray about it?

57:13

[00 57:56.105 – 00:57:58.345] Can we sit in prayer?" And I love that.

57:17

[00 57:58.345 – 00:58:00.305] I think it was Tash at the beginning of the meeting.

57:22

[00 58:00.305 – 00:58:01.785] I just, uh, I ...

57:25

[00 58:01.785 – 00:58:03.345] That just tells me where you're coming from.

57:28

[00 58:03.345 – 00:58:10.355] So, but I, you know, initially I wanted to, uh, thank you for the, uh, you know, you were in Detroit for our convention- Yeah ...

57:39

[00 58:10.355 – 00:58:12.245] and you brought, had a movie premiere.

57:42

[00 58:12.245 – 00:58:15.585] It was absolutely incredible, and people still talk about it.

57:47

[00 58:15.585 – 00:58:19.745] You and, and Jeanne were there and did a, an incredible job.

57:52

[00 58:19.745 – 00:58:30.205] And, you know, the thing that struck me the most was how absolutely moving the film was and, and, and, and how many people were just

58:04

[00 58:30.205 – 00:58:31.315] pulled to tears.

58:05

[00 58:31.315 – 00:58:36.545] Now, I expected to see a lot of information, and I expected it to be a lot of history stuff.

58:14

[00 58:36.545 – 00:58:43.745] I didn't expect to feel that emotional pull and that spiritual tug at my heart that your film did.

58:22

[00 58:43.745 – 00:58:48.325] It was absolutely incredible, and I wanna thank you for all your time and energies.

58:29

[00 58:48.325 – 00:58:48.775] Mm.

58:30

[00 58:48.775 – 00:58:58.175] And my main question, even though you asked most, answered most of my questions, my main question right now that I still have is did you go into this expecting to make a ton of money?

58:45

[00 58:58.175 – 00:59:03.465] Did you go in this expecting for AA to help pay for it, or Stepping Stones?

58:52

[00 59:03.465 – 00:59:09.474] Or was this just a, um, f- financially backed by you from the very beginning?

58:59

[00 59:09.474 – 00:59:15.465] 'Cause it certainly wasn't done on the cheap, and I just don't know, man, what, what a, what, what a show and testament of faith.

59:09

[00 59:15.465 – 00:59:17.345] Thanks for the, thanks, thanks for the generous question.

59:14

[00 59:17.345 – 00:59:20.425] So, um, I'm a working guy.

59:17

[00 59:20.425 – 00:59:29.685] If you Google best way to lose the most amount of money the quickest way, it'll say film.

59:24

[00 59:29.685 – 00:59:39.715] Um, and what had happened is I, I started to try and raise some money in the beginning because I thought this thing was

59:35

[00 59:39.715 – 00:59:42.145] gonna cost 15 to $30,000.

59:36

[00 59:42.145 – 00:59:44.685] And, um ...

59:38

[00 59:44.685 – 00:59:49.585] And it was, it was difficult at best.

59:41

[00 59:49.585 – 01:00:00.445] And then, um, and then what Kevin told me was, "Let's let the story tell us." And

59:49

[01 00:00.445 – 01:00:03.325] so I'm very fortunate that I have this home in Sedona.

59:54

[01 00:03.325 – 01:00:05.725] And, um ...

59:55

[01 00:05.725 – 01:00:15.105] And I'm standing at the bank, and a guy comes up and says, "Have you ever considered a HELOC loan?" Just out of nowhere.

60:05

[01 00:15.105 – 01:00:25.395] And I go, "What's that?" He sits me down and tells me that I can get enough money to pay for the principal shooting

60:16

[01 00:25.395 – 01:00:28.245] and, and editing and everything of the movie.

60:20

[01 00:28.245 – 01:00:34.945] So what an or- you know, I mean, I, uh, so I, I, I ...

60:26

[01 00:34.945 – 01:00:36.445] I'm all in.

60:27

[01 00:36.445 – 01:00:43.565] Um, and you don't make money on movies.

60:31

[01 00:43.565 – 01:00:50.105] I mean, I mean, uh, y- well, you can, you can clap, dude.

60:37

[01 00:50.105 – 01:00:57.345] I'm, you know, I'm, I'm sweating to pay the, uh, the, um, the interest on the loan.

60:44

[01 00:57.345 – 01:01:07.585] Um, I, now I thought, I thought that people would respond to this, uh, y- within the fellowship.

60:52

[01 01:07.585 – 01:01:13.505] But, uh, they, they haven't, uh, in the way that I thought, and okay.

60:59

[01 01:13.505 – 01:01:16.025] So no big deal.

61:01

[01 01:16.025 – 01:01:18.805] Um, the, the ...

61:02

[01 01:18.805 – 01:01:22.005] And, and, you know, it's a marathon.

61:06

[01 01:22.005 – 01:01:22.955] It's not a sprint.

61:08

[01 01:22.955 – 01:01:30.335] But, uh, believe me, um, yeah, so I, uh, I, I bet the house on it.

61:15

[01 01:30.335 – 01:01:37.705] Now I've just about drained the, um, the 40- uh, the retirement fund on it.

61:21

[01 01:37.705 – 01:01:46.945] Um, because we're going around and, and showing this in, in places and trying to, trying to be helpful with it, and we'll see what, what comes of it.

61:34

[01 01:46.945 – 01:01:54.225] And, you know, on the back end, if, if there is money made, um ...

61:40

[01 01:54.225 – 01:02:02.345] And, and y- you can't believe the things that people say to me about making money off AA.

61:48

[01 02:02.345 – 01:02:09.165] I- it's just, it's, it's just incredible.

61:51

[01 02:09.165 – 01:02:19.165] But, um, but, uh, when all is said and done, um, for every dollar that I personally make, Stepping Stones will get one.

62:01

[01 02:19.165 – 01:02:23.205] And they didn't ask for that.

62:04

[01 02:23.205 – 01:02:33.525] Thank

62:05

[01 02:33.525 – 01:02:35.225] you for sharing all that, Jay.

62:08

[01 02:35.225 – 01:02:38.705] And, uh, it looks like we are done with questions.

62:12

[01 02:38.705 – 01:02:43.865] So thank you again so much, Jay and Jeannine, for all of your work.

62:19

[01 02:43.865 – 01:02:49.345] And I am going to send an email to Kevin congratulating him on his award.

62:25

[01 02:49.345 – 01:02:59.425] And, uh, and I think that's so cool what, what you've been able to do and, and get this film out there to communities that might not have

62:37

[01 02:59.425 – 01:03:02.345] ever heard of it or wanted to hear about it.

62:42

[01 03:02.345 – 01:03:04.225] And you're winning awards for it.

62:45

[01 03:04.225 – 01:03:05.145] It's incredible.

62:46

[01 03:05.145 – 01:03:15.185] And, um- Well, the other thing that w- I want everybody here to know, you know, that, that if you've got a group, if you've got an Al-Anon club, if you've got a, if you've got

63:01

[01 03:15.185 – 01:03:25.185] a woman's sober living house, if you've got, um, uh, you know, any kind of an organization that wants, that, that needs an

63:11

[01 03:25.185 – 01:03:30.485] event to raise money for, we'll make the film available to you for nothing.

63:18

[01 03:30.485 – 01:03:33.815] And if I can put it in my schedule, I'll come.

63:23

[01 03:33.815 – 01:03:36.385] And if it's a cool enough place, I'll bring Jeannine.

63:27

[01 03:36.385 – 01:03:38.485] I get to choose.

63:29

[01 03:38.485 – 01:03:48.565] Um, but, but, um, uh, but the, the, the thing is, is that we want this to encourage people and, um,

63:38

[01 03:48.565 – 01:03:51.045] especially for family members.

63:40

[01 03:51.045 – 01:03:52.595] Mm.

63:41

[01 03:52.595 – 01:03:54.365] So anyway.

63:42

[01 03:54.365 – 01:03:56.325] All right.

63:44

[01 03:56.325 – 01:03:57.125] Well, thank you.

63:45

[01 03:57.125 – 01:04:04.735] And now I will allow everyone to unmute and thank Jay and Jeannine, and hopefully we'll see, uh- Yeah ...

63:54

[01 04:04.735 – 01:04:06.445] you all next- See you all next ...

63:57

[01 04:06.445 – 01:04:06.675] week.

63:58

[01 04:06.675 – 01:04:07.055] Yeah.

63:59

[01 04:07.055 – 01:04:07.124] Yeah.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

Bill W presented by Jay s – 2025-12-23

Bill W presented by Jay s – 2025-12-23

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