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Source: Southeastern Conference Business Meeting – Charlotte (1968).mp3 File: southeastern-conference-business-meeting-charlotte-1968.mp3 Duration: 00:38:34
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I'd like to call on Walter T. He has something that will be of interest to all of you in the Southeast region. Walter? My name is Walter T., and I'm a recovering alcoholic. A lot of people have asked questions about what is going on and what we're doing regarding the 1970 International Convention to be held in Miami Beach. I would like to take the next few minutes and bring you up to date. And in doing this, I would like to read a little item that a friend of ours in South Florida, who was a newspaper reporter, wrote in his column. And he said, I am looking forward already to the next convention I expect to cover in Miami Beach.
The next one for me will be in July 1970. Compared to the one I have just finished, the GOP, it will be refreshing, restful, and dignified. There will be no bans and trumped-up parades, no unending nominations and seconding speeches, no silly hats and placers, no backroom politics, no protests, no strong security, no garish window dressing, no hypocritical hospitality rooms, no sectionalism, no racial bickering, no power plays, no promoted personalities.
Only principles, dedication, and fellowship will be in the platform of the next convention, even attending it as a reporter. I will not regret the dearth of page one headline news. The event will be the World Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous. About 20,000 ex-drunks, restored to sobriety through AA, and their families from nearly 20 nations around the globe are expected to attend. It will be very different from the political conventions. Thanks to Dick.
At this time, I am happy to report that the contracts have been signed with all the participating hotels, and the rates that we have obtained at these hotels for this convention will be in effect for three days prior and three days after the convention, so that any of you who care to make a little vacation out of this and bring your family along, you will be able to participate at these guaranteed rates.
Some of you perhaps have seen the GOP convention, have seen the hall where our large meetings will be held. We will have the use of the same hall which was just finished in time for this GOP convention. The hall is fully air-conditioned and is equipped with all modern facilities. A contract has been signed for that hall. The Miami bus services are going to cooperate with us and furnish shuttle bus service.
Maurice says they will do that too. Between the hotels and the convention hall, so that you will not have to bother with getting your own cars from the parking lots and driving them back and forth. The headquarters hotel will be the Fontainebleau for the AAs, and the Eden Roc will be the headquarters for the Al-Anons. And so that the continuity of the Southeastern, which we consider the granddaddy of all AA conventions, will not be interrupted, the kickoff of the International will be a Southeastern meeting, which will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock to open the International Convention.
And of course, as always at these conventions, the final closing will be on Sunday evening at the gigantic show, which we will put on at the auditorium. And I fully expect the committee in charge of this to come up with a wonderful program,
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because in the Miami area there certainly is a large amount of talent. So we hope that all of you will start filling those piggy banks to be with us in July 3rd, 4th, and 5th of 1970. Because the people from the Southeastern area are cooperating so fully with the committees who are planning the 1970 International. Although the registration for this convention will not open officially nationwide, worldwide, until January 1st of 1970.
As a concession to us, the New York office will have a representative here next year at Chattanooga where the registration will officially open for the 1970 International Convention in Miami Beach. And now just a personal note. Many people have asked me in the last several months why the men and women serving on these different committees for this convention are willing to become so involved and spend so much of their time and talents in putting on a convention of this kind.
I remember standing in the convention hall in Cleveland in 1950 at the first International Convention. It was the first time that I had ever seen our beloved Bill and the last time we were to see Dr. Bob. As I stood there in that great hall, engulfed and filled with this great fellowship and overflowing with the love, understanding, and compassion of this fellowship, unashamed tears on my cheeks, I thought to myself, what indeed hath God wrought?
And it is a desire to extend this same opportunity, this same privilege to the thousands of AAs in the southeastern area who have never had the opportunity to participate in an international that we are striving for. God willing, Bill and Lois will be with us in Miami. And perhaps the full impact of the miracle of AA in our lives will once again be with us. And you and I can stand together in that great convention hall in Miami and say again what indeed hath God wrought.
Thank you. Applause Thank you, Walter. The southeast region, I suspect if there would be any envy in AA, it would be envied by many of the other regions. It didn't become active as it is, and this conference did not become what it is just like that. It took the work of a few people through many years of labor to bring it to what it is. And it has grown to such a capacity now that we are faced with the problem of what to do.
How do we swing with this trend toward growth and to prepare for the future years as to what we will do in the southeast region? And you who are here are part of the policy of this region. You are also the voice and the conscience of this region. And this will be what we might call a business meeting, and I therefore call it to order. And I will call upon Dave R. to offer a resolution. Mr. Chairman, I wish to offer the following resolution.
Whereas the southeastern region of Alcoholics Anonymous has made continuing progress
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in carrying the message of our society, and whereas the necessity for a better coordination of our activities is recognized, and whereas a considerable amount of planning is necessary to finalize conventions, conferences, retreats, and so forth, particularly with regard to setting dates so that conflicts will be held to a minimum, and whereas the election of a secretary would be a major step in that direction, therefore be it resolved that a secretary be elected to serve for a period of four years.
Be it further resolved that the secretary be consulted with regard to scheduling of conferences, retreats, anniversaries, and similar meetings so as to prevent conflicts as far as possible. And be it further resolved that each area committee provide financial support for the office of the secretary based upon AA population or arrived at in some other manner agreeable to the conference. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of that resolution.
You heard the resolution and the move to adopt. Do I hear any questions? Is there a second? Second by Jim. Jim L. seconds. Any questions? You would like to hear the resolution? We read it. I'll tell you what it is in essence. That a secretary be appointed to handle the business of the southeast region having to do with conventions, retreats, or any activities including the southeast conference in order not to have conflicts of dates and in order to have an operation which would not confine the southeast region to a section that would not be capable of participating in full strength or not capable of handling the immense crowds that are anticipated.
This committee would then review the conditions that exist and make its recommendations. But this resolution here is to employ a secretary at the expense to be borne by the different groups throughout the region according to their size. Does that clarify it for you? We have a second and we are asking questions. Jim, can you hand up for a question? Yes, we have a second. Mr. Chairman, I move the question.
It's been moved. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Nays. Resolution carried. I will now call on Jim H. for the purpose of offering a resolution. Mr. Chairman, my name is Jim H., a recovering alcoholic and a member of AA from Huntsville, Alabama. This resolution is not being presented because of any specific instance or occasion that has risen in the past or present in the southeastern region, but is merely an effort to avoid any future event that might arise which calls to be a break in continuity or the effectiveness of the Southeastern Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Resolution. Whereas the southeastern region of Alcoholics Anonymous has grown during the past few years, to be such a large event, certain locations are no longer capable of hosting the conference due to inadequate conference facilities. And whereas the growing necessity of adequate facilities has become a major factor in determining acceptable locations to host the conference and to better assure registrants that cities will have adequate and desirable facilities, whereas the establishment of a Southeastern Conference Site Committee would be a major step in that direction.
Therefore, be it resolved that a site committee be established to serve in that capacity, and that the membership of said committee be one representative from each of the eleven states in the Southeastern Conference region, and that the regional secretary that was just voted on, with each state being responsible for the selection of their representative.
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Be it further resolved that the established committee take whatever action deemed necessary to determine the adequacy of facilities of the locations under consideration as a possible site, and that each location designed to host the conference extend their invitation through the committee. Chairman, who will be selected by the committee at least two years in advance, and sufficient time to allow the committee adequate time for consideration and investigation, before reporting to this annual business meeting of the Southeastern Conference.
This morning I don't think the important thing is not whether we accept or reject or table this resolution. I think the primary thing to consider this morning is the need, growing need, for adequate facilities, and to be made aware of it. However, I do recommend the adoption of this resolution. Thank you, Jim. Chairman, I second that resolution. I don't believe, I may be wrong, but I don't believe I need a second on a resolution where the motion has been made to adopt. We do have the privilege to question a resolution, and we also have the responsibility to understand a resolution.
Chairman, who will make the selection of the next site to the committee, or the business meeting? The business meeting here. It is not clear in that resolution, and we can't offer an addendum to the resolution. Did I hear someone at the table? There was no motion to table. It's open for discussion at this moment. Anyone would like to come up and discuss, will you please come here and take approximately one minute, stating your name and where you're from.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the Southeastern Conference, I heard a little question from Tom back there a little while ago, and I don't know, I'd like to see a show of hands, how many were at Biloxi, Mississippi at the Southeastern Convention several years ago? Do you recall this convention going begging? Do you recall that a trembling little fellow stood up and said, if you would give him permission to ask for a standby, he would go back to North Carolina and seek the group conscience of his fellow A.A.s as to whether we could invite you for the wonderful conference that you had in Asheville.
In 1958, I came to this very building, the state convention, and offered this resolution. It was adopted, and we had a good conference in 1958. And everybody in the Southeast jumped on the bandwagon, and this thing has been rolling ever since. I have the utmost love and regard for these men who have made these resolutions, and I came up here to explain why I voted nay out there. I do not believe that A.A.s such should never be organized. I believe that it should be served by people who want to serve.
And I hesitate that too much power would be put in any permanent committee. And that makes us more anxious and makes it more important of who we select to serve. I am proud of all that have served us in A.A., but I want you to know that everybody sitting out there can serve. And I want you always to keep in mind that it is you that pays the freight for this conference, who buy these tickets and buy this banquet ticket, and participate in it.
So boys, let's not louse it up. Let's give it grave thought. And if this committee has voted on here, you keep one hand in the hand of God, and you keep the other hand in your group. Sylvia, you had your hand up? All right. Any others? Come up. Come on, Ray. Not yet. We're still in question period.
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Jim, while I think a motion has been made to have a secretary could easily be misinterpreted, and the resolution offered could be misunderstood, I remember in Columbia so clearly that we brought up the subject of a secretary. We brought up the subject of an A.A. calendar of events. And I remember so well a guy jumping up from Kentucky and says, we don't need these things. But I got home at midnight that night very tired after being your chairman at that convention.
And having him call me up and asking me to prepare a list in alphabetical order, and to ask for this information that's so badly needed to be communicated between the person who has just performed and the next to perform. I think that we need to do this in a simple sort of way. I do not think it should be a place for power or for people to gain prestige or to be seen. We want to remain just simply members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
But I do think it would be wonderful to have a corresponding secretary at a reasonable [unclear] to keep us informed. I do think that we've grown enough in the southeast to have a calendar of events. Many of our events have definite dates, the first week in this month or that month. And when we go to planning events, we oftentimes overlap and compete. And there are many people in A.A. who survive by action.
So I think if both of these things are considered prayerfully, I can't quite go along with the representative from each state. We've gone to kind of getting complicated here. But I think if we had a representative appointed from each state each year, not for four years, and to represent us, we could get things done. But this secretary is a vital thing. We need somebody to keep a clear, concise list of events. And we need a clear mailing list of people who want to be informed. By their registration here, they've expressed interest.
If these lists are handed down properly and carefully, it would be a great asset to the next man who has a convention. But like Smiley, we are all dear friends in this thing. We depend on each other. I think we should have some means of communicating the wonderful information that's at hand from one convention to another. I thank you for listening to me. A.A. is my heart. These conventions mean a lot to me. And I would like to see a way to put them on better and better each and every year. But I'd like to tell you something.
A.A., unorganized as it is, I've had the pleasure of seeing a town of 2,500 people entertain as many people as has been at this convention on a Sunday afternoon and move three times and still have a glorious affair. So think before you act. Thank you, Jim. Any further questions? There was a request for an amendment. We'll now entertain Ray. All right, tape record is good enough. Is that legal? I'm Ray D., and I'm an alcoholic. My home group is in Kingsport, Tennessee. As I understood the resolution, Jim, the site committee would select the site of the Southeastern Conference.
It reads that way. What I wanted to amend was that the site committee report back through the conference, and the conference has the final approval upon the site of the succeeding Southeastern Conference. I don't think it was read quite that way. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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And it is suggested that an amendment be made to the resolution that this conference be the final say on the site of the convention, or at least give its approval or disapproval, if any, as we say in A.A., to the selection of the site. I might add, in clarification, I don't think this is intended for the site committee to sit down and say, we're going to take this place, or let's take that place, and next time we'll take this place. The choice of the sites will be made at the conference.
The site committee then would review the request and then present their decision of the request to the following conference. These will be done two years in advance. Is this not right, Jim? So if you understand the resolution, and I will ask first if you would wish to adopt the amendment as somewhat put, I think we would have to come back after this is taken with some form of format that would say what the procedures are, and again be presented in a more clarifying form.
If there are no, yes, you're seconding the amendment? The amendment is seconded. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Nays? Carried. I will now ask that the resolution be adopted. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Nays? The resolution is so adopted with the amendment. We have never officially voted on the convention, the conference, next year to be held in Chattanooga, and I wish we would do so, and I therefore suggest that the convention be held in Chattanooga. Anyone who has a bid to make, we will accept it. Yes?
I make a motion that Chattanooga, Tennessee be held in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Any second? There's a lot of seconds. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Nays? We will be in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1969, and I'm sure the program committee is happy to hear that. I remember when we made the bid for New Orleans, we started a long time before we finally got it. In 1963, I went to Arlington and then to Birmingham, and then we finally had it in New Orleans, and we had a great deal of activity. There was much commotion going on. They had steps, you know, little feet planted all around, come to so and so and such and such a date, and there seemed to have been a lot of enthusiasm.
I would like to see us return to that enthusiasm and let this convention site committee know that it exists and not have them sit on their hands and saying, where do we go next? Next we have to be concerned with now is 1971, and I haven't seen any little feet around, nor have I seen any flyers. And Seth, you're recognized. Maurice, here's some little feet because I've been walking a pretty good while now. I'm Seth M., an alcoholic from South Carolina, Charleston.
Last year when Tennessee offered, and we did too, we were already in conformity with the two-year invitation for South Carolina, namely Charleston, and we conceded to Tennessee with the stipulation that Walt so ably put forward today that 1970 would be the year for the international, and we were all needed there. Now, I am again extending an invitation for Charleston, South Carolina for 1971. You heard a bid. Charleston, South Carolina. Is there a second? Will you state your name on the second so we can get it on tape?
Bill P., North Carolina. Seconds. South Carolina? Okay. I'm in North Carolina right now. Any other
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bids for 71? Then may you now not worry the site committee with too many selections. I'd like to offer a resolution. It won't be written, it'll just be a whereas. All of us have had a marvelous time at this conference, and whereas the conference committee worked very hard, and whereas we all had a good time, I would like to give them a big applause. We need another bid for 72. No, we can take that next year. We take that next year. My name is Pat B.. I'm an alcoholic from Louisville, Kentucky. Several of us have been talking here from Louisville about the possibility of making another bid for the Southeastern Conference. I don't want to put this in as a bid, but I would like to put it in as a possibility, and we'll go back and talk to our groups in Louisville and see what they say for 19 and 72. Things are looking up. Days of indecision seem to be fleeting. If there's no further business, Dave, encore. He said he was going to talk at this convention. Chairman, we've provided for the election of a secretary, and I would think this would be the time to elect him. He should be centrally located and well-acquainted with the operation of the Southeastern Conferences. I think Atlanta would be the proper location, and Clarence R. would be a good man for secretary, and I therefore nominate Clarence as our secretary. Nomination for Clarence as secretary. I heard a second. Name and where?
Right here. From where? George M., Atlanta. Seconds. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Yeah. This wasn't a railroad. I thought I didn't hear any other commotion. Would like who? The name of Virgil W. of Atlanta was put in nomination. I see a second from where? Mac F., North Carolina. Seconds. Virgil W. is recognized. Yes. Yes. Mr. Chairman? Yes. I'd like to nominate Bish M., Pass Christian, Mississippi. The name of Bish M., Pass Christian, Mississippi, is put in the nomination. I heard a second. Did I hear a second? Yes. Name? I can't hear very well from here. Ed S. from Greenville, Mississippi.
Seconds. Recognize Bish. Yes. Back here. And who is nominating? I can't see you with this light, Grady, just an outline. I heard a second. Second from whom? Troy H.. Seconds. Wait, we've got
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a nomination on the floor. Yes, it has been seconded. All in favor of Jim H. being nominated as secretary signify by saying aye. Nays. He's in nomination now. Yes. Smiley nominates Jim L., Spartansburg, South Carolina. Do I hear a second? I hear a second. From where? As the presenter of the resolution, this is at a pittance. The money is for the expenses of the office. The service of the secretary is voluntary. Yes. I have a nomination on the floor. That's you, Manuel. Manuel seconded. Is that Bud way back there? Motion to close and a whole lot of seconds.
All in favor of the closing of the nomination signify by saying aye. Nays. The ayes have it. We have two in nomination. Three, three, three. Jim L., Jim H., and Clarence R.. We don't have a way to take a vote. You heard Jim L. withdraw in favor of. Jim H. withdraws in favor of Clarence. I don't know whether the pause was for Jim withdrawing or whether it was for Clarence. I'll ask for a yay and a nay. All in favor of Clarence signify by saying aye. Nays.
Clarence has got it. I think this takes care of the business of the Southeast Conference of the 24th Southeastern Conference. I will therefore call it to a close. We will adjourn by reciting the Lord's Prayer. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.