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Source: Margaret W – Chair Remarks – 24th Southeastern Convention – Charlotte (August 15, 1968) – 1968-08-15.mp3 File: margaret-w-chair-remarks-24th-southeastern-convention-charlotte-august-15-1968-1968-08-15.mp3 Duration: 00:03:59
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. My name is Manuel B., and as some of you heard last night, I'm something, and I'm the VOP, I don't know what it is, VOP, that's what it is, Voice of the Convention, and I surely welcome all of you here again today, and I know that we're going to have a good time.
If it's anything we can do, let us know, we will try. Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. We are self-supporting through our own contributions.
AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution, does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Our anonymity, like our sobriety, is a treasured possession. We ask the help of our guests, especially those representing the press or broadcasting media, in protecting the anonymity of all alcoholics present or mentioned here today.
We hope you hear something at this meeting which you can take away with you and use. We respectively request, however, that you eliminate any mention of names in reference to members of Alcoholics Anonymous. I am not going to take too much of your time, and that will make everyone happy, I am sure. This is called a must. We don't have any in AA, but sometimes in our duties we have to have the word used, I guess.
For badges, all members or anyone attending these meetings, starting tonight, must have on a badge or else they will not be admitted. So those of you that may forget yours in your room, try not to, because you will need this badge to get into the meeting. And here we have a few announcements. And on this Al-Anon breakfast, most of you know that the tickets are $2.75. They're at the registration desk.
And after this meeting, of course, the registration desk will be open. And please try and get yours as soon as possible so we can begin to get an idea about how many people is going to attend this breakfast. And presenting to you, the chairman for the evening, Margaret W. from Decatur, Georgia. Let's give her a big hand. Thank you, Manny. Hello there, you beautiful people. Even though we can't see you so well up here except on the front rows, I see you.
I see you from an inner feeling and an inner sight. My name is Margaret. I am powerless over alcohol. I am an alcoholic. Will you share with me the reading of the 12 steps? Goonie guff. I guess we're all here because we weren't all there.