Living the Twelve Traditions presented by Mike F – 2025-11-11

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown Mike F speaking on "Living the Twelve Traditions" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (November 11, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.419 – 00:00:06.240] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:19

[00 00:06.240 – 00:00:09.519] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

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[00 00:09.519 – 00:00:19.559] My name is Tim, and tonight we have a special two-week, the part one of a special two-week presentation on Living the

0:31

[00 00:19.559 – 00:00:22.320] 12 Traditions, put together by Mike F.

0:34

[00 00:22.320 – 00:00:28.379] And we meet here every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID.

0:42

[00 00:28.379 – 00:00:32.000] And next week will be part two.

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[00 00:32.000 – 00:00:41.600] This meeting is recorded, and all past audio presentations are available at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:51

[00 00:41.600 – 00:00:50.679] We are not affiliated with any 12-step organization, though our focus is the history of AA and other 12-step fellowships.

0:59

[00 00:50.679 – 00:01:00.679] Recoveryspeakers.com is a 501[c][3] nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the audio history of

1:06

[00 01:00.679 – 00:01:06.180] AA and the 12-step movement today and for future generations.

1:10

[00 01:06.180 – 00:01:16.299] We also send a daily email featuring a speaker talk from our archive, recordings from these meetings, and information on u-

1:19

[00 01:16.299 – 00:01:17.840] upcoming presentations.

1:20

[00 01:17.840 – 00:01:28.579] To subscribe, use the link that I will be sharing in the chat in a moment, or you can email me at info@recoveryspeakers.com

1:31

[00 01:28.579 – 00:01:32.819] and I will get you added to our email list.

1:35

[00 01:32.819 – 00:01:37.260] And if you are able to support our work, contributions are appreciated.

1:41

[00 01:37.260 – 00:01:43.900] The donation link will be in the chat in a moment, or you can use the QR code that is up on the screen.

1:51

[00 01:43.900 – 00:01:53.680] And I just wanna go through a couple of our upcoming presentations here so you can see what's coming up in the next month.

2:01

[00 01:53.680 – 00:02:03.719] And next week is part two of this presentation tonight, and then the last Tuesday is our conversation with a long-timer, and the first

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[00 02:03.719 – 00:02:06.439] week of December is Miley T.

2:14

[00 02:06.439 – 00:02:07.859] presenting Mrs.

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[00 02:07.859 – 00:02:08.900] Marty Mann.

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[00 02:08.900 – 00:02:13.560] And now that is it for me.

2:20

[00 02:13.560 – 00:02:18.439] I am going to turn it over to Mike for Living the 12 Traditions.

2:25

[00 02:18.439 – 00:02:19.780] Enjoy.

2:26

[00 02:19.780 – 00:02:27.819] Thank you, Tim, and as always, we appreciate all you do to make this meeting possible and to facilitate it for us.

2:35

[00 02:27.819 – 00:02:36.900] I wanted to ask, um, is there a d- a downloadable link in the chat that people can download the workbook?

2:44

[00 02:36.900 – 00:02:43.000] Tim?

2:45

[00 02:43.000 – 00:02:45.860] All right.

2:46

[00 02:45.860 – 00:02:47.759] Well, don't worry about that.

2:49

[00 02:47.759 – 00:02:51.319] You can go on the website and download the...

2:53

[00 02:51.319 – 00:02:53.599] Uh, Tim?

2:54

[00 02:53.599 – 00:02:54.840] I di- I didn't hear you.

2:57

[00 02:54.840 – 00:03:00.639] So there is a link in the chat that they can download to get the workbook.

3:04

[00 03:00.639 – 00:03:02.539] Thank you.

3:05

[00 03:02.539 – 00:03:12.819] All right, I think Tim must be muted, but at least now if you haven't received a workbook yet, I've been sending some out via text, and we've got them available

3:18

[00 03:12.819 – 00:03:14.379] to download on the website.

3:20

[00 03:14.379 – 00:03:24.400] And tonight, so what happened to me was a few months ago we were, we were doing a meeting, and while we were doing a meeting I received a

3:32

[00 03:24.400 – 00:03:34.419] text message from a friend of mine, and, uh, she asked me, "How do you take someone through the traditions?" And I thought, "I'll bet you I've been

3:44

[00 03:34.419 – 00:03:42.500] asked that 25 times in the last 10 years," since we came out with the book Living the 12 Traditions that Mel B.

3:53

[00 03:42.500 – 00:03:43.340] and I did.

3:54

[00 03:43.340 – 00:03:53.719] So I thought, "Well, maybe it'd be good to write a, a little guide or a workbook." So I started that, and then I decided that it probably

4:06

[00 03:53.719 – 00:03:57.500] would be really good to do a presentation on here.

4:10

[00 03:57.500 – 00:04:07.939] And as I was mentioning a little bit earlier, the last couple of months I've been getting a real education on some new technology and how to create some things,

4:23

[00 04:07.939 – 00:04:09.199] and I'm having a lot of fun.

4:26

[00 04:09.199 – 00:04:19.180] But we're, we're creating some products out of Recovery Speakers, and I share that because we have a, a fundraising campaign going on.

4:36

[00 04:19.180 – 00:04:27.399] Recovery Speakers is a 501[c][3] nonprofit, and we've been getting a library digitized out of...

4:42

[00 04:27.399 – 00:04:31.879] that we got from Cleveland, along with some of the stuff that we got from Texas.

4:49

[00 04:31.879 – 00:04:33.959] We have 5,000 reel-to-reels.

4:51

[00 04:33.959 – 00:04:43.959] So we've been getting those digitized, and what we're doing now is we're in the process of creating a brand-new platform where people

5:01

[00 04:43.959 – 00:04:44.160] will...

5:01

[00 04:44.160 – 00:04:53.220] And, and some of the things that you're gonna see this evening are the type of quality of what we're working on with the new platform.

5:12

[00 04:53.220 – 00:05:01.699] It's going to take several more months before we can, uh, release that platform, but, uh, we're excited.

5:20

[00 05:01.699 – 00:05:12.740] And our, our campaign, to keep you up to date, uh, we set a goal in August of $100,000, and to date we've received 78,000.

5:30

[00 05:12.740 – 00:05:22.740] So we're not far off our goal, but we are asking if you're in a position to help out, we'd really like to be able to get this platform created and the rest of these

5:44

[00 05:22.740 – 00:05:25.439] reel-to-reels digitized.

5:45

[00 05:25.439 – 00:05:32.459] So tonight, without spending a whole lot more time, I'll tell you that we're gonna go into this presentation.

5:54

[00 05:32.459 – 00:05:34.759] I'm gonna do the best job that I can.

5:58

[00 05:34.759 – 00:05:36.500] I hope you all like it.

6:00

[00 05:36.500 – 00:05:40.060] We will have time for questions and answers afterwards.

6:05

[00 05:40.060 – 00:05:44.079] Tonight I'm going to cover the first six traditions.

6:09

[00 05:44.079 – 00:05:48.339] I'm not following the guide word by word or anything like that.

6:14

[00 05:48.339 – 00:05:56.019] The guide is really my gift to you, uh, to use i- if, if you have somebody or you're going through the traditions.

6:24

[00 05:56.019 – 00:06:03.860] I always recommend the 12 and 12 and the essays in the back of it, or AA Comes of Age.

6:31

[00 06:03.860 – 00:06:08.360] Um, those two books give you some great information on the traditions.

6:36

[00 06:08.360 – 00:06:10.060] But, but don't stop there.

6:39

[00 06:10.060 – 00:06:13.699] There's other tools out there that are available, uh, for all of us.

6:45

[00 06:13.699 – 00:06:23.860] So tonight I'm gonna just share with you some of the work that we've been, uh, up against and, and really hope you, hope you, hope you love

6:56

[00 06:23.860 – 00:06:24.158] it.

6:57

[00 06:24.158 – 00:06:33.860] Now, Tim, just give me a thumbs up and let me know if you...

7:03

[00 06:33.860 – 00:06:34.720] Okay.

7:04

[00 06:34.720 – 00:06:39.060] So everybody can see that, Living the 12 Traditions in Today's World.

7:09

[00 06:39.060 – 00:06:49.100] And, uh, you know, it was 1950 at the International Convention, July 28th through 30th, that the traditions were

7:17

[00 06:49.100 – 00:06:54.860] formally introduced to the fellowship and adopted as they were at that point in time.

7:23

[00 06:54.860 – 00:07:01.250] And this just kind of lets us know that what we had was we had two sides of the triangle-

7:32

[00 07:01.782 – 00:07:04.222] uh, unity and recovery.

7:34

[00 07:04.222 – 00:07:14.242] Now, the 12 points of tradition to ensure our future was how Bill originally put out the 12 traditions, and that was in the

7:43

[00 07:14.242 – 00:07:16.742] Grapevine in 1946.

7:44

[00 07:16.742 – 00:07:27.022] And here's Bill just kind of talking about, this was him speaking at the 1950 International, and it's just toward the end of one of his talks.

7:55

[00 07:27.022 – 00:07:37.402] 12 years ago, this fellowship commenced to prepare

7:58

[00 07:37.402 – 00:07:37.412] a book.

7:59

[00 07:37.412 – 00:07:41.552] The book we know today as Alcoholics Anonymous.

8:03

[00 07:41.552 – 00:07:50.442] And in the last pages of its text, the book expressed a hope.

8:09

[00 07:50.442 – 00:07:55.342] Yes, it was more than a hope.

8:12

[00 07:55.342 – 00:08:02.942] It told of a dream that we then in this fellowship had.

8:17

[00 08:02.942 – 00:08:13.142] And we expressed our hope and our dream in these words: "Someday, we hope

8:23

[00 08:13.142 – 00:08:23.182] that every alcoholic who journeys will find a fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his destination."

8:30

[00 08:23.182 – 00:08:33.222] 12 years- In Tradition

8:31

[00 08:33.222 – 00:08:36.922] One, our common welfare should come first.

8:35

[00 08:36.922 – 00:08:40.722] Personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

8:37

[00 08:40.722 – 00:08:43.862] I'll let you hear this.

8:40

[00 08:43.862 – 00:08:50.472] Unity and equality, our common welfare comes first.

8:44

[00 08:50.472 – 00:08:51.302] Good evening, everybody.

8:45

[00 08:51.302 – 00:08:53.822] First, I'll read the first tradition.

8:48

[00 08:53.822 – 00:08:57.982] Our common welfare should come first.

8:51

[00 08:57.982 – 00:09:03.642] Personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

8:54

[00 09:03.642 – 00:09:13.682] I couldn't help but think just a second ago when I was going through a little moment of silent meditation how different it was maybe

9:04

[00 09:13.682 – 00:09:20.942] four and a half years ago when I first came into AA, how different my little meditation was just that second ago.

9:13

[00 09:20.942 – 00:09:30.961] How I offered up a little quickie that this convention would be good for everybody, that everybody would take home with them the message

9:24

[00 09:30.962 – 00:09:32.621] that is intended for them to get.

9:27

[00 09:32.621 – 00:09:42.722] In other words, I was thinking of everybody and how different that was of my moment of meditation of maybe four and a half years

9:37

[00 09:42.722 – 00:09:45.782] ago when I first came into AA.

9:41

[00 09:45.782 – 00:09:50.862] And believe me, I can't help but feel like that might be a weakness of maybe all of us.

9:49

[00 09:50.862 – 00:10:01.302] We did send up prayers of all descriptions, most of them rather hollow, but maybe we asked for

9:56

[00 10:01.302 – 00:10:05.422] a little bit more just for ourselves.

10:00

[00 10:05.422 – 00:10:13.742] The AA tradition, as I understand, number one, is that Alcoholics Anonymous be all on...

10:06

[00 10:13.742 – 00:10:23.922] all question of a doubt must be number one, because without it, you and I certainly wouldn't be here, and certainly

10:15

[00 10:23.922 – 00:10:26.942] not in attendance at this fine convention.

10:18

[00 10:26.942 – 00:10:28.942] We are only a part.

10:21

[00 10:28.942 – 00:10:33.022] We must forget our big I.

10:23

[00 10:33.022 – 00:10:43.062] We must forget everything but that AA must be given a green light and AA must be

10:31

[00 10:43.062 – 00:10:43.862] assisted.

10:32

[00 10:43.862 – 00:10:54.022] And we must be as, as I see it, a little bit jealous of what Alcoholics Anonymous and what Alcoholics Anonymous as a group,

10:42

[00 10:54.022 – 00:10:56.902] each of our groups mean to us as a whole.

10:46

[00 10:56.902 – 00:10:58.922] We must forever simple.

10:48

[00 10:58.922 – 00:11:05.782] We must keep it clean and unorganized and fair to every member.

10:53

[00 11:05.782 – 00:11:08.362] That was Ole L.

10:55

[00 11:08.362 – 00:11:16.462] from Dallas, and he was speaking at the first International Convention in Cleveland.

11:01

[00 11:16.462 – 00:11:23.642] The committee had selected six people to each speak on two traditions.

11:06

[00 11:23.642 – 00:11:29.942] Um, in a little bit I'm gonna share, uh, one of the other speakers and, and what he had to say.

11:15

[00 11:29.942 – 00:11:39.962] But I felt that Ole's information on, uh, anonymity or, I'm sorry, on unity and on the first tradition was very appropriate.

11:25

[00 11:39.962 – 00:11:48.962] And you know, we have to remember that when these guys were, were sharing this information about these traditions, the traditions hadn't yet been adopted.

11:35

[00 11:48.962 – 00:11:50.242] They were just beginning.

11:37

[00 11:50.242 – 00:11:50.822] They've only...

11:38

[00 11:50.822 – 00:11:54.842] They were only written and, and made available for four years.

11:43

[00 11:54.842 – 00:11:56.462] There was no book yet.

11:46

[00 11:56.462 – 00:12:00.162] There was a traditions pamphlet that they had made available.

11:50

[00 12:00.162 – 00:12:03.222] But these guys were, they were figuring it out.

11:54

[00 12:03.222 – 00:12:07.942] And you know, without unity, there's no Alcoholics Anonymous.

11:58

[00 12:07.942 – 00:12:11.262] And without AA, there's no recovery.

12:01

[00 12:11.262 – 00:12:13.862] I think that's really what Bill was trying to say.

12:05

[00 12:13.862 – 00:12:21.182] The tradition mi- reminds us that individual recovery depends on AA survival.

12:11

[00 12:21.182 – 00:12:27.262] Unity does not meet, does not mean uniformity.

12:14

[00 12:27.262 – 00:12:30.642] It means working together in love and service.

12:18

[00 12:30.642 – 00:12:35.602] Even when we disagree, we put principles before personalities.

12:22

[00 12:35.602 – 00:12:38.902] And remember that the group must come first.

12:26

[00 12:38.902 – 00:12:49.442] You know, we a- ask ourselves the question, "Am I willing to set aside my ego for the benefit of the group?" You

12:35

[00 12:49.442 – 00:12:59.442] know, when, when a business meeting is taking place and members are coming in and, and there's things, agenda to follow

12:44

[00 12:59.442 – 00:13:09.462] and votes being taken, our job as members are to sacrifice our personal desire to have our way

12:52

[00 13:09.462 – 00:13:13.282] so that unity can be created within the group.

12:56

[00 13:13.282 – 00:13:16.662] Because truly, without unity, there's no AA.

12:59

[00 13:16.662 – 00:13:23.262] Without AA, there's no recovery, and our common welfare must come first.

13:05

[00 13:23.262 – 00:13:33.282] So the question, "Am I willing to set my ego aside for the group?" The tradition reminds us unity

13:13

[00 13:33.282 – 00:13:43.642] depends not just on our willingness to sacrifice personal desires and preference, but also on our willingness to see others

13:21

[00 13:43.642 – 00:13:51.402] and to see ourselves as no more important and no less important than any other member.

13:28

[00 13:51.402 – 00:13:58.362] And again, our leaders are but trusted servants.

13:32

[00 13:58.362 – 00:14:02.702] Unity, each-

13:33

[00 14:02.831 – 00:14:10.731] Member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole.

13:39

[00 14:10.731 – 00:14:17.951] If we look at the little quilt here, we can see some of AA's powerful messages.

13:45

[00 14:17.951 – 00:14:28.351] Tradition two: For our group purpose, there's but one ultimate authority, a loving God as He may express

13:53

[00 14:28.351 – 00:14:31.611] Himself in our group conscience.

13:56

[00 14:31.611 – 00:14:36.490] We seek direction through prayer and sharing.

13:59

[00 14:36.490 – 00:14:46.611] And these are, even though each group is autonomous, when we look at tradition two, we clearly see that the collective

14:08

[00 14:46.611 – 00:14:51.581] consciousness of the group and the unity of the group is what's important to hold it together.

14:15

[00 14:51.581 – 00:14:55.791] Because our leaders are trusted servants, they don't govern.

14:19

[00 14:55.791 – 00:15:03.751] Tradition two is about leadership without power, humility without ego, and service without status.

14:25

[00 15:03.751 – 00:15:08.771] And this is what the tradition asks us to do.

14:30

[00 15:08.771 – 00:15:16.551] Trusted servants, not governors.

14:32

[00 15:16.551 – 00:15:25.011] Our collective welfare is guided by a loving higher power and expressed through the group conscience.

14:38

[00 15:25.011 – 00:15:34.471] For our group purpose, there's but one ultimate authority, a loving God as He expresses Himself in that group conscience.

14:47

[00 15:34.471 – 00:15:36.751] And our leaders are but trusted servants.

14:50

[00 15:36.751 – 00:15:38.591] They do not govern.

14:52

[00 15:38.591 – 00:15:44.891] Humility and action.

14:54

[00 15:44.891 – 00:15:47.951] Service, not power.

14:55

[00 15:47.951 – 00:15:58.051] A little slogan on a wall, when we transfer the obsession from self to that of service to others is when we get up, stand

15:06

[00 15:58.051 – 00:15:59.871] up, and stay up.

15:08

[00 15:59.871 – 00:16:09.871] The only requirement for AA membership is a desire

15:12

[00 16:09.871 – 00:16:11.091] to stop drinking.

15:14

[00 16:11.091 – 00:16:17.671] Newcomers arrive, especially those who are unsure if the fellowship is right for them.

15:20

[00 16:17.671 – 00:16:21.731] At open meetings, they can listen and learn about AA.

15:24

[00 16:21.731 – 00:16:27.231] Inside AA, no one stands higher than another.

15:28

[00 16:27.231 – 00:16:33.191] There are no ranks, only members, equal in dignity and responsibility.

15:33

[00 16:33.191 – 00:16:34.811] Unity meets.

15:34

[00 16:34.811 – 00:16:39.671] Unity begins where ego ends.

15:36

[00 16:39.671 – 00:16:45.110] And there came in, sent by a policeman on the corner, a Black man.

15:42

[00 16:45.110 – 00:16:49.991] We had at that time in New York no Black AA members.

15:48

[00 16:49.991 – 00:16:59.491] We had seen a few Black people come into the meetings and had tried very hard to befriend them and talk to them, but they left us.

15:59

[00 16:59.491 – 00:17:00.631] They did not stay with us.

16:02

[00 17:00.631 – 00:17:05.831] They s- I think they found it was, as they put it so beautifully, it was too damn white, you know.

16:11

[00 17:05.831 – 00:17:09.551] Um, it wasn't for them, and, uh, they left.

16:15

[00 17:09.551 – 00:17:12.711] Uh, well, this man walked in who was Black.

16:19

[00 17:12.711 – 00:17:13.791] He was sent by a cop.

16:22

[00 17:13.791 – 00:17:23.051] He said, "The policeman on the corner told me that maybe you could help me." He was not only Black, but he had long blonde hair like Veronica Lake.

16:34

[00 17:23.051 – 00:17:29.571] And, um- He was a real artist with makeup.

16:38

[00 17:29.571 – 00:17:30.711] He was beautifully made up.

16:40

[00 17:30.711 – 00:17:36.151] And he had on his back, strapped to his back, his entire worldly belongings.

16:46

[00 17:36.151 – 00:17:46.151] And he said, "I just came out of prison, and I am a dope fiend," which is a phrase in, then in use, "and, um, I am also an alcoholic, and I

17:00

[00 17:46.151 – 00:17:50.691] need help desperately." Well, I was the last person in the world to know what to do.

17:07

[00 17:50.691 – 00:17:57.911] And I ran around trying to get people to come in and help me in the office, and a great number of them found they had to play poker that afternoon.

17:20

[00 17:57.911 – 00:18:00.411] Um, uh, they didn't wanna come in and have...

17:24

[00 18:00.411 – 00:18:02.031] They wouldn't touch this with a 12-foot pole.

17:28

[00 18:02.031 – 00:18:06.151] One marvelous old woman, uh, came and sat there for a long time and talked to him.

17:35

[00 18:06.151 – 00:18:08.571] And, and, um, but we didn't know where to start.

17:39

[00 18:08.571 – 00:18:11.311] How do you start helping somebody like this who had so many problems?

17:45

[00 18:11.311 – 00:18:14.330] And none of, none of those people could give me the, the answer.

17:51

[00 18:14.330 – 00:18:24.391] So I said, "I'm gonna call the person I know who's been sober longest," and I called Bill and said, "Bill, here's the problem." I got somebody to take the poor guy out and g-get him a cup of coffee

18:07

[00 18:24.391 – 00:18:24.970] to start with.

18:09

[00 18:24.970 – 00:18:26.731] And I said, "Here's the problem.

18:12

[00 18:26.731 – 00:18:30.271] This man is here." And I told him exactly what the man looked like and what the man told us.

18:20

[00 18:30.271 – 00:18:31.551] And I said, "What do we do?

18:23

[00 18:31.551 – 00:18:41.611] He needs all kinds of help." And Bill was quiet a minute, and then he said, "Well, now, did you say he is a drunk?" I said,

18:35

[00 18:41.611 – 00:18:51.631] "Oh, yes, we can all tell that." "That's, right off the bat, we can tell that." And Bill said, "I think that's the only, that's the only question

18:46

[00 18:51.631 – 00:18:59.911] we dare ask." That was Barry L., longtime AA member, speaking in Michigan.

18:52

[00 18:59.911 – 00:19:09.951] And you know, a very similar story to what Barry shared, Bill talks about in the Twelve and Twelve, and he talks

19:01

[00 19:09.951 – 00:19:11.591] about somebody coming into the meeting.

19:04

[00 19:11.591 – 00:19:14.251] And this would've been in Akron at Dr.

19:08

[00 19:14.251 – 00:19:15.171] Bob's.

19:09

[00 19:15.171 – 00:19:22.301] And, uh, the group had a, a, a lot of conversation about whether or not they should let this person in.

19:18

[00 19:22.301 – 00:19:24.561] And finally they went to Dr.

19:20

[00 19:24.561 – 00:19:32.831] Bob and asked, and, and his answer was probably divine.

19:25

[00 19:32.831 – 00:19:35.491] What would the master do?

19:27

[00 19:35.491 – 00:19:37.591] And they had their answer.

19:30

[00 19:37.591 – 00:19:47.631] Bill's answer was always, "Did you say he had a drinking problem?" Open AA meetings,

19:36

[00 19:47.631 – 00:19:51.931] all are welcome who seek recovery.

19:39

[00 19:51.931 – 00:19:57.571] The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

19:44

[00 19:57.571 – 00:20:08.071] Open AA members, open AA meetings, groups can help newcomers to feel welcome, listen and learn about AA,

19:52

[00 20:08.071 – 00:20:17.031] and any member, including young me-members, are willing or, or s- free to share and to help carry our message.

20:01

[00 20:17.031 – 00:20:27.331] Do I make it easy for a newcomer to feel welcome and included?

20:06

[00 20:27.331 – 00:20:30.971] Maybe that's something we should think about.

20:09

[00 20:30.971 – 00:20:36.251] Of course, the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking.

20:14

[00 20:36.251 – 00:20:38.161] In, in AA, we include all.

20:17

[00 20:38.161 – 00:20:44.771] Welcome all who seek help with their drinking problem.

20:21

[00 20:44.771 – 00:20:49.311] Inside the meetings, we are all equal.

20:24

[00 20:49.311 – 00:21:00.471] I just love this kind of as a bridge into the fourth tradition

20:30

[00 21:00.471 – 00:21:04.001] and that of group autonomy.

20:32

[00 21:09.666 – 00:21:16.166] And before we go there, Bill shared this information.

20:37

[00 21:16.166 – 00:21:26.266] I believe this came from a talk he gave in 1960 at the Long Beach International Convention, which

20:44

[00 21:26.266 – 00:21:28.356] was AA's third international.

20:46

[00 21:28.356 – 00:21:34.466] Came in almost the same day from a Presbyterian minister out there on another pioneering front.

20:53

[00 21:34.466 – 00:21:44.485] And he said, you know, for a long time I've been trying to get an AA group started among the Thais

21:02

[00 21:44.485 – 00:21:45.066] out here.

21:03

[00 21:45.066 – 00:21:48.686] And we've had a wonderful break.

21:06

[00 21:48.686 – 00:21:54.766] A highly educated one, speaking fluent English, has come along.

21:10

[00 21:54.766 – 00:22:01.646] He's been a really desperate case and desperately wants to get well.

21:15

[00 22:01.646 – 00:22:07.326] He's very fluent in English.

21:18

[00 22:07.326 – 00:22:11.386] I'd like more of the AA literature.

21:21

[00 22:11.386 – 00:22:13.686] He's devoured it.

21:23

[00 22:13.686 – 00:22:16.806] He's been sober a good spell.

21:26

[00 22:16.806 – 00:22:23.566] And he wants to translate our entire literature into Siamese.

21:30

[00 22:23.566 – 00:22:26.646] And we're already at work starting groups.

21:33

[00 22:26.646 – 00:22:28.746] Can you give us a hand?

21:36

[00 22:28.746 – 00:22:33.246] Well, of course we're going to give him a hand.

21:40

[00 22:33.246 – 00:22:35.726] Those pioneers out there.

21:43

[00 22:35.726 – 00:22:38.706] And then he went on to add one thing more.

21:47

[00 22:38.706 – 00:22:43.846] A very thrilling thing, it really is.

21:50

[00 22:43.846 – 00:22:54.086] He said, you know, we took the 12 steps over to the largest Buddhist monastery

21:56

[00 22:54.086 – 00:22:55.126] in this province.

21:58

[00 22:55.126 – 00:22:59.866] And we got hold of the cadre at the head of it.

22:03

[00 22:59.866 – 00:23:03.226] And he looked over at the 12 steps.

22:06

[00 23:03.226 – 00:23:06.026] And he said, why, these are fine.

22:10

[00 23:06.026 – 00:23:09.146] These are fine.

22:11

[00 23:09.146 – 00:23:16.166] It so happens that our particular branch of Buddhism doesn't understand God just as you do.

22:18

[00 23:16.166 – 00:23:22.686] It might be a little more acceptable if you inserted the word good in the steps instead of God.

22:26

[00 23:22.686 – 00:23:30.066] But nevertheless, you'll find in those steps that it's God as you understand it.

22:32

[00 23:30.066 – 00:23:34.766] Yes, these steps will be accepted by Buddhists around here.

22:37

[00 23:34.766 – 00:23:45.066] I think that that little talk that Bill gave is so important, especially when we're looking

22:44

[00 23:45.066 – 00:23:54.366] at tradition number three and the only requirement for membership, that being a desire to stop drinking.

22:51

[00 23:54.366 – 00:23:58.806] I mean, Bill even talked here that they were changing the steps from God to good.

22:58

[00 23:58.806 – 00:24:01.206] And he was fine with that.

23:01

[00 24:01.206 – 00:24:11.326] And this group went on and other groups went on because of the all inclusiveness of Alcoholics Anonymous, that we were all inclusive.

23:10

[00 24:11.326 – 00:24:16.446] The only requirement was that of a desire to stop drinking.

23:15

[00 24:16.446 – 00:24:26.286] And now we know when we go into details, this makes some assumption that the person we're talking to has a history with drinking and we can go deeper into that.

23:28

[00 24:26.286 – 00:24:33.386] But for the for the understanding of the traditions and for the people that we're wanting to communicate with.

23:36

[00 24:33.386 – 00:24:43.386] The only the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking and the groups can begin to do

23:44

[00 24:43.386 – 00:24:47.426] the work once the individual comes to the program.

23:48

[00 24:47.426 – 00:24:57.426] Tradition for each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting other groups or AA as

23:55

[00 24:57.426 – 00:24:58.566] a whole.

23:56

[00 24:58.566 – 00:25:03.286] And you've got the halt group there and the keep it simple group there.

24:02

[00 25:03.286 – 00:25:05.146] And they're right next to each other.

24:05

[00 25:05.146 – 00:25:10.846] And I don't know what they're talking about, but I think the halt group wants to have a meeting on Friday nights at eight o'clock.

24:16

[00 25:10.846 – 00:25:17.626] And the keep it simple group already has a meeting on Friday nights, but their meeting is at nine.

24:24

[00 25:17.626 – 00:25:27.766] So these folks need to discuss how they can maybe work together, have a little break between the meetings so people can can get across the street

24:35

[00 25:27.766 – 00:25:38.106] and go to the second meeting if they so desire so that they're not competing with each other for the attendees and for the cost of the meeting halls, et cetera,

24:48

[00 25:38.106 – 00:25:42.386] that we look at these things and we take other groups into consideration.

24:54

[00 25:42.386 – 00:25:46.826] And when our group makes a decision, we should be talking about these things.

25:00

[00 25:46.826 – 00:25:56.066] Number four says each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting other groups of AA as a whole.

25:08

[00 25:56.066 – 00:26:01.506] Brother, in Cleveland we have autonomy.

25:11

[00 26:01.506 – 00:26:13.426] Some years ago some efforts were made here to propose the opening of a downtown central office, which

25:19

[00 26:13.426 – 00:26:21.406] meant bringing that idea before the entire membership for approval and incidentally a little money.

25:25

[00 26:21.406 – 00:26:31.506] And the gentleman who was trying his best to spread the cause was denied

25:31

[00 26:31.506 – 00:26:35.506] the privilege of talking to his fellow members in several of the Cleveland groups.

25:37

[00 26:35.506 – 00:26:39.446] Now there is autonomy.

25:39

[00 26:39.446 – 00:26:45.246] Printed material was prepared.

25:41

[00 26:45.246 – 00:26:51.206] Some of the groups would not allow it displayed or to be given to their followers.

25:48

[00 26:51.206 – 00:26:53.466] There is autonomy.

25:50

[00 26:53.466 – 00:27:04.646] Nevertheless, again, no major history was being born because

25:54

[00 27:04.646 – 00:27:12.486] we could very autonomy at the autonomic group could not prevent their members from interchanging.

26:00

[00 27:12.486 – 00:27:14.186] Another word got around anyhow.

26:03

[00 27:14.186 – 00:27:23.246] The office was open and it served seven successful years, performed a tremendous revival service in Cleveland.

26:10

[00 27:23.246 – 00:27:29.406] You see, the activity was for all of Cleveland.

26:14

[00 27:29.406 – 00:27:34.666] But a few members decided that it shouldn't be.

26:18

[00 27:34.666 – 00:27:42.986] But the will of the entire membership finally was felt and heard and resulted in a successful endeavor.

26:26

[00 27:42.986 – 00:27:53.246] Now everything that has gone before which has created everything we do, this meeting and every other meeting,

26:33

[00 27:53.246 – 00:28:00.446] everything we do is based on some precedent by now, 15 years worth.

26:39

[00 28:00.446 – 00:28:05.046] Hence, perhaps we are ready to

26:42

[00 28:05.596 – 00:28:16.336] Recognize that tradition has become habit That was Dick Stanley from Cleveland speaking at the Cleveland International in 1950.

26:49

[00 28:16.336 – 00:28:26.376] And, uh, he was talking about the experience there in Cleveland because we have to look at Dick being one of the original members in the Cleveland area, and

27:01

[00 28:26.376 – 00:28:36.516] he saw what had gone on when the Cleveland plane dealers ran their articles in October of 1939, and the

27:09

[00 28:36.516 – 00:28:43.376] phone started ringing and letters started pouring into the general service office, and they were sending them to Cleveland.

27:18

[00 28:43.376 – 00:28:54.116] And Cleveland started mass sponsorship through Clarence Snyder and carrying this message one alcoholic to another at the beds in the hospitals

27:27

[00 28:54.116 – 00:28:56.356] and pulling these guys out of hospitals.

27:30

[00 28:56.356 – 00:29:01.276] And they started groups there in Cleveland, and Cleveland was just on fire.

27:36

[00 29:01.276 – 00:29:11.736] And as a result, kind of what Dick was talking about there, they, they had to have more of a, a area group conscience

27:46

[00 29:11.736 – 00:29:22.256] to deal with things like a central office, uh, so they could process things like the meetings and the services that are provided by that office.

27:57

[00 29:22.256 – 00:29:32.336] And, uh, each group being autonomous gave each group the opportunity to have their own literature and do things the way that they wanted to do.

28:08

[00 29:32.336 – 00:29:42.496] And, uh, and that worked for a while, but Bill eventually saw that, uh, they needed to c- conform this and unify it

28:17

[00 29:42.496 – 00:29:52.116] and, and, and bring this together so that the alcoholic centers and meetings would be doing similar things in, in similar areas.

28:27

[00 29:52.116 – 00:29:57.816] So group autonomy, neighborhood meeting rooms, our group, our rules.

28:31

[00 29:57.816 – 00:30:00.056] That was the-- That was it.

28:34

[00 30:00.056 – 00:30:01.436] Our group, our rules.

28:36

[00 30:01.436 – 00:30:03.536] And it still is that way.

28:39

[00 30:03.536 – 00:30:05.866] Every group has a right to be wrong.

28:43

[00 30:05.866 – 00:30:12.326] And here we're talking about the Cleveland and, and anono- a- autonomy guided by experience.

28:49

[00 30:12.326 – 00:30:18.565] And that was really what was happening, is these guys were the ones who were getting this thing off the ground.

28:58

[00 30:18.565 – 00:30:26.716] They-- Cleveland was the place that the group started popping up because that's where the members were coming in and pouring in.

29:07

[00 30:26.716 – 00:30:31.156] So Cleveland became a real hub for Alcoholics Anonymous.

29:11

[00 30:31.156 – 00:30:35.076] And a lot of the stuff that became tradition...

29:15

[00 30:35.076 – 00:30:37.285] You know, that's what Dick closed his talk.

29:19

[00 30:37.285 – 00:30:47.436] He said, "Tradition has become habit." A lot of things that become tradition happened in Cleveland because of all of the problems and challenges and the rapid growth

29:31

[00 30:47.436 – 00:30:49.116] that we experienced there.

29:33

[00 30:49.116 – 00:31:01.916] Moving right into Tradition Five, each group has but one primary purpose: to

29:38

[00 31:01.916 – 00:31:05.356] carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

29:42

[00 31:05.356 – 00:31:10.436] We know we do that all kinds of ways through AA.

29:47

[00 31:10.436 – 00:31:18.816] You can see this is a one-on-one talk with somebody bringing a message to somebody who is clearly having a rough time.

29:57

[00 31:18.816 – 00:31:23.016] No outside interests control AA.

29:59

[00 31:23.016 – 00:31:25.836] We keep AA out of the money game.

30:03

[00 31:25.836 – 00:31:30.136] Our primary purpose must come first.

30:05

[00 31:30.136 – 00:31:34.796] Each group has but one primary purpose.

30:09

[00 31:34.796 – 00:31:35.336] That's it.

30:10

[00 31:35.336 – 00:31:43.356] We simplify, bring it down to just do one thing, and that's to carry this message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

30:19

[00 31:43.356 – 00:31:51.146] You know, we've been doing the history workshops on here for a little o- or, well, for coming up on six years in May.

30:29

[00 31:51.146 – 00:32:01.156] And, uh, we've had different presenters and different people, but everything that has happened here and every service that we've provided has in some

30:39

[00 32:01.156 – 00:32:07.456] way been with the goal of carrying a message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

30:46

[00 32:07.456 – 00:32:17.936] Now, I know a lot of people don't like the newcomer is the lifeblood of AA and the newcomer, but let me share it this way.

30:57

[00 32:17.936 – 00:32:24.285] And I've got this from Barry L., and I put this, uh, slide in here for a reason.

31:05

[00 32:24.285 – 00:32:26.796] And that is newcomers are important.

31:07

[00 32:26.796 – 00:32:34.316] They're important because they help keep us sober and give us the opportunity to have some people to work with.

31:16

[00 32:34.316 – 00:32:37.376] But let's not forget the old-timer.

31:19

[00 32:37.376 – 00:32:38.346] And what Barry L.

31:21

[00 32:38.346 – 00:32:45.556] said was a newcomer is a lifeblood, but the old-timers are the backbone.

31:26

[00 32:45.556 – 00:32:53.896] And I had the privilege a few years ago of doing a book, A Thousand Years of Sobriety, and interviewing men and women with over fifty years.

31:38

[00 32:53.896 – 00:33:03.976] And I have to tell you, that was one of the greatest joys of my life, to share their sobriety and their love for recovery and the life that they got to live as a result of the

31:54

[00 33:03.976 – 00:33:04.856] Twelve Steps.

31:55

[00 33:04.856 – 00:33:11.356] Each group has one primary purpose, carry its message.

31:59

[00 33:11.356 – 00:33:12.936] It's like a lifeboat.

32:01

[00 33:12.936 – 00:33:15.796] And we're all there.

32:03

[00 33:15.796 – 00:33:20.566] And here, we're just-- we're there for the same reason.

32:07

[00 33:20.566 – 00:33:27.736] Everybody has the same purpose, to get sober and help someone else get sober.

32:13

[00 33:27.736 – 00:33:30.356] We don't affiliate with anyone.

32:16

[00 33:30.356 – 00:33:31.396] We cooperate.

32:17

[00 33:31.396 – 00:33:36.736] Cooperation is not affiliation, and that is Tradition Six.

32:21

[00 33:36.736 – 00:33:46.416] An AA group ought never finance or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise.

32:29

[00 33:46.416 – 00:33:52.956] We have one single purpose, carry the message.

32:32

[00 33:52.956 – 00:33:57.116] We're not gonna get it garbled up.

32:36

[00 33:57.116 – 00:34:04.136] Bill was so concerned that the message was going to be garbled that he wrote the Big Book.

32:43

[00 34:04.136 – 00:34:14.426] The Twelve and Twelve was written and the traditions were written to be the glue to hold Alcoholics Anonymous together.

32:52

[00 34:14.426 – 00:34:24.556] But it is, uh, as Dick has said,

32:55

[00 34:24.556 – 00:34:30.816] tradition is something that, uh, like everything else we've got in AA, it seems like we had to get it the hard way.

33:05

[00 34:30.816 – 00:34:33.116] We got it through trial and error.

33:08

[00 34:33.116 – 00:34:39.016] And the things that are suggested here today are things that are suggested for the greater good of all.

33:16

[00 34:39.016 – 00:34:49.436] And as a lawyer, I can assure you that the substance of our activity, the spiritual content of it, is in our Twelve Steps and in our carrying

33:28

[00 34:49.436 – 00:34:51.536] those Twelve Steps to other alcoholics.

33:31

[00 34:51.536 – 00:35:02.736] But in corporate activity, and I, I mean by that any form or ramification of business activity, anything that involves money, it

33:40

[00 35:02.736 – 00:35:06.856] does seem the better part of wisdom, not alone in the experience of alco-

33:46

[00 35:06.980 – 00:35:16.991] Alcoholics Anonymous, but I can assure you from the standpoint of a lawyer, to let those enterprises stand on their own feet, detached, segregated,

33:57

[00 35:16.991 – 00:35:18.391] separated from AA.

33:58

[00 35:18.391 – 00:35:28.331] There are a lot of good things that can be done in the field of alcoholism, and with many of them, and perhaps most of them, I believe we are in hearty accord.

34:12

[00 35:28.331 – 00:35:31.491] But most of them we shouldn't touch.

34:15

[00 35:31.491 – 00:35:41.711] We may cooperate, we may sustain by our cooperation, but it'd be much better if we didn't try to manage,

34:24

[00 35:41.711 – 00:35:43.071] in my humble opinion.

34:26

[00 35:43.071 – 00:35:53.251] Let us be devoted to the real purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous, the real purpose of our home groups, and my real

34:35

[00 35:53.251 – 00:35:55.371] purpose and yours in life.

34:37

[00 35:55.371 – 00:36:06.111] There has been entrusted to us a tremendous, a powerful message for human good, and let us be singly, unitedly

34:46

[00 36:06.111 – 00:36:16.451] devoted to carrying that message So that was Gene from Toledo speaking at the Cleveland International in July 1950.

34:53

[00 36:16.451 – 00:36:18.571] I thought he did a beautiful job.

34:56

[00 36:18.571 – 00:36:27.811] And you know, I want to mention to you all of the recordings that you've heard clips of this evening, you can find the full recordings on Recovery Speakers.

35:09

[00 36:27.811 – 00:36:38.111] Um, we have been working to try to make sure that we do what we can to make the older recordings, um, as, as clear and, and, and cleaned

35:21

[00 36:38.111 – 00:36:39.211] up as possible.

35:22

[00 36:39.211 – 00:36:46.771] And I think when you, when you visit our new platform, you're going to find some amazing, amazing things.

35:30

[00 36:46.771 – 00:36:50.691] And, uh, I'm excited that, that we're moving in that direction.

35:35

[00 36:50.691 – 00:37:00.631] I thank all of you who have been part of our journey and who have helped us out, you know, financially a- as well as in your attendance and your encouragement for what we do.

35:50

[00 37:00.631 – 00:37:10.811] You know, Tradition Six, you can see our primary purpose outweighs money, property, and prestige.

35:56

[00 37:10.811 – 00:37:17.110] We keep AA free from outside influence so that the message stays pure.

36:02

[00 37:17.110 – 00:37:19.251] We don't wanna have to owe anybody.

36:05

[00 37:19.251 – 00:37:21.351] We don't wanna have to have that debt.

36:09

[00 37:21.351 – 00:37:31.351] AA needs to be able to be free for the alcoholic to come in and express themselves without any influence from

36:18

[00 37:31.351 – 00:37:34.911] outside issues or outside agencies.

36:20

[00 37:34.911 – 00:37:43.930] An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise.

36:28

[00 37:43.930 – 00:37:53.971] You know, Alcoholics Anonymous over the years found this out, um, that Gene from Toledo who spoke there, ear- earlier in his talk, it would have been too long for

36:40

[00 37:53.971 – 00:38:04.351] me to include here, but he talked about when they wanted to, uh, there was a wealthy person in, in, uh, Toledo who wanted to, uh, turn a, uh,

36:53

[00 38:04.351 – 00:38:09.211] an office warehouse into a hospital, and he talked about that.

36:57

[00 38:09.211 – 00:38:15.991] And he talked about how managing that hospital and the funds that it would take, what that would have caused the group.

37:07

[00 38:15.991 – 00:38:21.791] And then the gentleman that had the money was a newcomer, and he ended up drinking.

37:14

[00 38:21.791 – 00:38:25.751] So we know that that would have turned into a, just a complete mess.

37:20

[00 38:25.751 – 00:38:30.471] So the suggestion was that we don't have AA hospitals.

37:24

[00 38:30.471 – 00:38:32.431] We don't have AA clubhouses.

37:27

[00 38:32.431 – 00:38:35.091] What they've done is they've changed the names.

37:30

[00 38:35.091 – 00:38:40.771] They, they use the club, the clubs are Alano clubs, and you may have all different kinds of meetings there.

37:39

[00 38:40.771 – 00:38:44.131] And same thing with medical facilities and whatever.

37:42

[00 38:44.131 – 00:38:50.571] Bill was always very comfortable with people taking and using what we have in Alcoholics Anonymous.

37:49

[00 38:50.571 – 00:38:53.211] He wanted groups to use what we have.

37:53

[00 38:53.211 – 00:38:56.711] He just didn't want them to take our name.

37:57

[00 38:56.711 – 00:39:02.211] Tradition Six, independence is our lifeline.

38:00

[00 39:02.211 – 00:39:05.071] Cooperation without affiliation.

38:01

[00 39:05.071 – 00:39:09.111] And, uh, that's what we do.

38:04

[00 39:09.111 – 00:39:12.331] We cooperate without affiliation.

38:06

[00 39:12.331 – 00:39:22.930] You know, when we're, when our group is paying rent at a church, because we're paying rent, the group

38:14

[00 39:22.930 – 00:39:24.831] can run and be autonomous.

38:17

[00 39:24.831 – 00:39:34.891] And if the church comes to the group and says, "Hey, we want you to let this person in to your meeting," we can say, "No, we're a tenant of yours, and if that

38:31

[00 39:34.891 – 00:39:45.011] person doesn't have a desire to stop drinking, they can't come here to this meeting." So there's a lot to these traditions, and I'm doing a

38:42

[00 39:45.011 – 00:39:51.691] quick brushstroke over them hoping that we can help to salt the oats.

38:48

[00 39:51.691 – 00:39:58.611] And what I mean by that is we all know if you lead a horse to water, they say you can't make them drink.

38:58

[00 39:58.611 – 00:40:03.051] But if you salt their oats, they seem to drink all day.

39:03

[00 40:03.051 – 00:40:13.191] And I think with the traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, part of what we need to do is to help encourage

39:11

[00 40:13.191 – 00:40:23.611] others to pick up the tools that are here and to learn about the spiritual principles that are contained in the 12 traditions.

39:21

[00 40:23.611 – 00:40:32.791] Join us for part two of the traditions next Tuesday evening, same time, same place.

39:27

[00 40:32.791 – 00:40:36.331] I appreciate you being with us tonight.

39:30

[00 40:36.331 – 00:40:40.531] We do have plenty of time for Q&A.

39:34

[00 40:40.531 – 00:40:45.711] I'm going to stop the screen share, and we can do the Q&A.

39:41

[00 40:45.711 – 00:40:48.091] Thank you.

39:42

[00 40:48.091 – 00:40:52.191] Thank you, Mike.

39:43

[00 40:52.191 – 00:40:53.151] Great job.

39:45

[00 40:53.151 – 00:40:55.631] And now we have some time for questions.

39:48

[00 40:55.631 – 00:41:03.431] Um, if anyone has a question for Mike, please use the raise hand function and I will unmute you.

39:56

[00 41:03.431 – 00:41:13.491] Um, for anyone that joined us late, I am going to share the complete, uh, PDF version of the workbook in the chat right

40:06

[00 41:13.491 – 00:41:20.711] now, and you guys can download that and save it and study and share with others.

40:13

[00 41:20.711 – 00:41:23.911] So any questions for Mike?

40:16

[00 41:23.911 – 00:41:27.831] Good night.

40:17

[00 41:27.831 – 00:41:32.951] Wow.

40:18

[00 41:32.951 – 00:41:35.271] All right.

40:19

[00 41:35.271 – 00:41:36.911] First up is Steve.

40:21

[00 41:36.911 – 00:41:37.931] You can unmute.

40:23

[00 41:37.931 – 00:41:42.571] Thanks.

40:23

[00 41:42.571 – 00:41:44.051] Thanks for the presentation.

40:25

[00 41:44.051 – 00:41:47.951] Um, would you mind just kind of reiterating the timeline?

40:30

[00 41:47.951 – 00:41:57.971] I, you know, I'm familiar with the, uh, traditions coming out in The Grapevine, but then, uh, you know, you'd mentioned a, a, a

40:40

[00 41:57.971 – 00:42:01.571] series of talks that happened and then they finally got adopted.

40:45

[00 42:01.571 – 00:42:03.431] Yeah.

40:46

[00 42:03.431 – 00:42:08.241] Uh, so the traditions started being published in April 19-

40:50

[00 42:08.360 – 00:42:10.240] 1946 in the grapevine.

40:51

[00 42:10.240 – 00:42:14.480] And Bill put these out over the next year, year and a half.

40:57

[00 42:14.480 – 00:42:17.420] He would, he would do an article on the tradition.

41:01

[00 42:17.420 – 00:42:22.919] He, and, and when he first started, it was, uh, 12 points of tradition to assure our future.

41:09

[00 42:22.919 – 00:42:33.400] So then in '47, they came out with a pamphlet called AA Tradition, and in that pamphlet he gave, uh, essays

41:18

[00 42:33.400 – 00:42:41.020] about the traditions, and they sent those out for a nickel per person, and they would send them to the groups to try to promote.

41:28

[00 42:41.020 – 00:42:43.880] They really wanted the people to get these traditions.

41:32

[00 42:43.880 – 00:42:52.340] And of course, that's what started some of the challenges that Bill had, because, uh, there were people who would say, "Oh, the traditions are too long.

41:44

[00 42:52.340 – 00:42:55.180] Oh, people aren't gonna sit through them," and there was, you know, this kind of thing.

41:50

[00 42:55.180 – 00:43:05.440] So Earl Treat from Chicago drove to New York, and he and Bill and a couple other people sat down and they talked about these, uh, traditions,

42:02

[00 43:05.440 – 00:43:15.460] and they were able to condense them without altering what the spiritual proposed meaning was

42:08

[00 43:15.460 – 00:43:16.640] for that tradition.

42:10

[00 43:16.640 – 00:43:17.020] Okay?

42:11

[00 43:17.020 – 00:43:20.430] Which generally is humility.

42:13

[00 43:20.430 – 00:43:21.220] Okay?

42:13

[00 43:21.220 – 00:43:26.660] Um, lessening one's ego, service to others.

42:17

[00 43:26.660 – 00:43:31.380] So AA, the Cleveland group sponsored the first international.

42:21

[00 43:31.380 – 00:43:35.390] That was not AA's first international, it was AA...

42:25

[00 43:35.390 – 00:43:41.500] It became AA's first international, but it was really done by the Cleveland area and the Cleveland groups.

42:32

[00 43:41.500 – 00:43:45.080] The next international was in St.

42:35

[00 43:45.080 – 00:43:47.080] Louis five years later.

42:37

[00 43:47.080 – 00:43:52.100] The theme of the convention that Cleveland had was We Have Come of Age.

42:43

[00 43:52.100 – 00:43:57.700] The theme of the 1955 international is AA Comes of Age.

42:48

[00 43:57.700 – 00:43:59.560] It's amazing, okay?

42:49

[00 43:59.560 – 00:44:09.260] So what happened between 1946 and 1950 was they ended up reducing the traditions.

42:55

[00 44:09.260 – 00:44:19.300] They tried to get more, uh, unity as a result of it, and then at the international, they introduced a short form of the traditions,

43:05

[00 44:19.300 – 00:44:25.480] and they had six guys each share two traditions and their experience with those.

43:11

[00 44:25.480 – 00:44:33.600] And those are, uh, th- those were the first time the short form of the traditions were ever made available.

43:20

[00 44:33.600 – 00:44:37.900] And then at the end of it, Bill had, had everybody adopt those traditions.

43:26

[00 44:37.900 – 00:44:44.280] And at the rest of this presentation next week, I'm gonna play Bill's, uh, asking for the vote.

43:34

[00 44:44.280 – 00:44:46.020] I think people will enjoy that.

43:36

[00 44:46.020 – 00:44:49.500] Thanks for being part of it.

43:39

[00 44:49.500 – 00:44:53.500] Gary.

43:40

[00 44:53.500 – 00:44:55.040] Thank you for the question.

43:43

[00 44:55.040 – 00:44:56.220] Next up is Gary.

43:45

[00 44:56.220 – 00:44:57.100] You can unmute.

43:46

[00 44:57.100 – 00:44:59.040] Thank you.

43:47

[00 44:59.040 – 00:45:06.380] Thank you, uh, for the, uh, very interesting presentation, and I, I do love the, uh, artwork.

43:55

[00 45:06.380 – 00:45:15.700] And, uh, and Atlanta AA got tired of being evicted, uh, from various addresses.

44:01

[00 45:15.700 – 00:45:16.520] All right?

44:02

[00 45:16.520 – 00:45:26.800] So in 1961, they wrote a prospectus, and it had to do with the formation of NABA, which is our Northeast Atlanta

44:11

[00 45:26.800 – 00:45:31.080] Benelwell Association, uh, which is a private corporation.

44:14

[00 45:31.080 – 00:45:37.460] They wrote a prospectus that mixed the name NABA with AA.

44:19

[00 45:37.460 – 00:45:47.520] This is 1961, and this was after a, th- supposedly modeling, uh, how things, funds were raised

44:26

[00 45:47.520 – 00:45:49.350] in various other cities.

44:28

[00 45:49.350 – 00:45:56.459] And of course, this is '61, and, and, and, and many cities had clubhouses by then, but Atlanta did not.

44:37

[00 45:56.459 – 00:46:03.920] It caused quite a stink with our delegate, and our delegate at that time tried to get Bill Wilson involved.

44:45

[00 46:03.920 – 00:46:07.510] And he backed off and would not take any position on it whatsoever.

44:51

[00 46:07.510 – 00:46:17.740] But the qu- the question becomes, with a group of drunks that form a corporation, they, here in Atlanta, they got so s-

45:01

[00 46:17.740 – 00:46:22.640] uh, upset basically by being accused of violating traditions.

45:05

[00 46:22.640 – 00:46:32.820] They actually formed a board of trustees over the top of the board of directors, and they modeled themselves after New York by making it a majority

45:16

[00 46:32.820 – 00:46:33.930] non-alcoholic.

45:17

[00 46:33.930 – 00:46:35.060] Okay?

45:18

[00 46:35.060 – 00:46:39.700] So it was the non-alcoholic people that were acquiring the property and not the drunks.

45:24

[00 46:39.700 – 00:46:43.260] But I, I, I'm going, uh, trying to go along...

45:29

[00 46:43.260 – 00:46:47.420] I'm not ex- you know, probably six and 10 are what are involved here.

45:34

[00 46:47.420 – 00:46:54.000] You said that there were no such thing as an AA clubhouse, but to your knowledge, is there...

45:42

[00 46:54.000 – 00:47:04.260] I'm finding myself, when I'm trying to update this history, that I'm real short of any kind of history of what kind of AA clubhouses, how they

45:53

[00 47:04.260 – 00:47:05.280] were financed.

45:54

[00 47:05.280 – 00:47:16.600] And, uh, in, in one sense, in the 1975, for the enlargement of the clubhouse here, 220,000 of the 265,000

46:02

[00 47:16.600 – 00:47:24.920] that it took was actually foundations and had nothing to do with, um, Alcoholics Anonymous at all.

46:09

[00 47:24.920 – 00:47:27.600] They, they, they were, um, you know.

46:12

[00 47:27.600 – 00:47:37.610] But then does a gro- where, where does it, uh, come that the, the qu- the question by and large is when is a separate corporation

46:23

[00 47:37.610 – 00:47:47.660] that wants to have AA meetings at their location, when do they have to follow traditions when in fact their corporation's not

46:32

[00 47:47.660 – 00:47:48.060] AA?

46:33

[00 47:48.060 – 00:47:50.880] Great question, Gary.

46:35

[00 47:50.880 – 00:47:55.999] And, you know, clubhouses, we'll use clubhouses as an example.

46:39

[00 47:55.999 – 00:47:56.580] Okay?

46:40

[00 47:56.580 – 00:47:59.820] Generally they have a board of directors, right?

46:44

[00 47:59.820 – 00:48:02.620] They're able to make a profit.

46:47

[00 48:02.620 – 00:48:04.960] They're able to own property.

46:49

[00 48:04.960 – 00:48:08.620] They can have their bylaws and their rules.

46:53

[00 48:08.620 – 00:48:14.220] The only thing they can't do is use the name Alcoholics Anonymous, period.

46:58

[00 48:14.220 – 00:48:22.100] They can have AA meetings there all day long, but they can't call it an Alcoholics Anonymous clubhouse.

47:06

[00 48:22.100 – 00:48:25.200] If they do, they're in violation of the traditions.

47:10

[00 48:25.200 – 00:48:35.220] AA groups had tried that in the past and failed, and even today, the conferences and roundups and

47:18

[00 48:35.220 – 00:48:42.180] conventions around the country, some 80-plus percent of those have, are not AA.

47:23

[00 48:42.180 – 00:48:44.040] They're outside of AA.

47:25

[00 48:44.040 – 00:48:50.020] Those are a group of people, sometimes they start a, an LLC.

47:31

[00 48:50.020 – 00:49:00.120] Sometimes they, they file, uh, paperwork to be a, uh, an organization so that they can, uh, get a checkbook and they

47:40

[00 49:00.120 – 00:49:04.180] can run the, uh, run the roundup, for example.

47:44

[00 49:04.180 – 00:49:09.630] I don't know if Atlanta's roundup, um, I don't think it's an Alcoholics An-

47:50

[00 49:09.766 – 00:49:12.336] none of them is sponsored, uh, roundup.

47:53

[00 49:12.336 – 00:49:15.155] And yet that's one of the biggest roundups in the country.

47:58

[00 49:15.155 – 00:49:18.176] But we don't call it an AA roundup.

48:02

[00 49:18.176 – 00:49:28.176] W- w- well, if I may, the ethical part towards the prospectus itself, which mixed NABA with AA, but I get a little confused with

48:12

[00 49:28.176 – 00:49:33.996] this prospectus because they had to be honest about what they were raising funds for, so it would seem.

48:21

[00 49:33.996 – 00:49:40.676] And that's why th- they, they, they, they, they intermixed the words NABA and AA.

48:27

[00 49:40.676 – 00:49:46.936] But would they have been honest if they maybe said recovery something or other instead of AA?

48:34

[00 49:46.936 – 00:49:49.796] Or would you think that might have been a tradition violation?

48:39

[00 49:49.796 – 00:49:51.376] Probably not.

48:40

[00 49:51.376 – 00:49:54.336] I think that a lot of places had gone to that.

48:45

[00 49:54.336 – 00:50:04.476] And, and, you know, when Bill was alive, Bill encouraged people to, uh, to create, um, situations which, which would

48:54

[00 50:04.476 – 00:50:11.356] collaborate with outside organizations, but with cooperation, not with affiliation.

48:58

[00 50:11.356 – 00:50:21.596] So I, I don't know the exact thing that was going on down there, uh, in '61, but I know throughout the country,

49:08

[00 50:21.596 – 00:50:31.476] um, as long as they kept the affiliation and it was cooperation without, without saying we are part of this or they are part of us.

49:19

[00 50:31.476 – 00:50:39.196] It was really, it, you know, Bill, Bill really guarded the name AA.

49:24

[00 50:39.196 – 00:50:44.436] That wa- you know, he wanted Alcoholics Anonymous name to be clean.

49:30

[00 50:44.436 – 00:50:47.796] And for that, I think we can all be grateful.

49:34

[00 50:47.796 – 00:50:50.696] And thanks for coming tonight, Gary and Sharon.

49:38

[00 50:50.696 – 00:50:54.476] And, uh, your, your history and your knowledge is, we love it.

49:43

[00 50:54.476 – 00:50:57.276] And I'm so grateful you're here every week to share with us.

49:48

[00 50:57.276 – 00:50:57.776] Thank you.

49:50

[00 50:57.776 – 00:51:00.876] Thank you, Gary.

49:51

[00 51:00.876 – 00:51:02.236] And next up is Greg.

49:54

[00 51:02.236 – 00:51:03.316] You can unmute.

49:55

[00 51:03.316 – 00:51:07.496] Hey, I'm Greg.

49:57

[00 51:07.496 – 00:51:08.336] I'm an alcoholic.

49:58

[00 51:08.336 – 00:51:10.855] Hey, Mike.

50:00

[00 51:10.855 – 00:51:12.896] I don't really have a question.

50:02

[00 51:12.896 – 00:51:16.196] I just wanted to, uh, thank you for the presentation.

50:07

[00 51:16.196 – 00:51:25.676] Uh, I've been in Alcoholics Anonymous for a long time, and I've never heard the traditions explained the way you explained them.

50:16

[00 51:25.676 – 00:51:32.316] And I'm so grateful that I was able to attend, and I'm so grateful to have you in my life too, buddy.

50:26

[00 51:32.316 – 00:51:38.896] So I will be here next week to hear the continuation of the rest of the traditions.

50:33

[00 51:38.896 – 00:51:46.836] And, uh, this is coming from a guy who the first 10 years of his sobriety didn't want anything to do with the traditions.

50:43

[00 51:46.836 – 00:51:49.445] Was like, "Nope, I got the steps.

50:46

[00 51:49.445 – 00:51:58.996] The steps are enough." And, uh, and today I want everything to do with the traditions, because that's the glue that holds us together.

50:56

[00 51:58.996 – 00:52:05.436] And I, I appreciate everything that you said, and the artwork and everything.

51:02

[00 52:05.436 – 00:52:06.116] Thanks, Mike.

51:03

[00 52:06.116 – 00:52:07.656] Thank you.

51:04

[00 52:07.656 – 00:52:09.776] Thanks for coming on, Greg.

51:06

[00 52:09.776 – 00:52:13.076] Thank you, Greg.

51:08

[00 52:13.076 – 00:52:19.116] And now I am going to ask a question that was sent in the chat for Mike.

51:15

[00 52:19.116 – 00:52:21.696] So Mike, here it is.

51:18

[00 52:21.696 – 00:52:26.836] Um, I recently joined a new group due to relocation.

51:22

[00 52:26.836 – 00:52:31.536] It's the only big book study group where I live on an island.

51:28

[00 52:31.536 – 00:52:39.096] The new preamble states, "We are a fellowship of people," but this group majority has voted to keep the original wording.

51:37

[00 52:39.096 – 00:52:48.916] What is your feedback regarding the lack of adoption of the new preamble or the change of the preamble?

51:45

[00 52:48.916 – 00:52:58.716] And, uh, their argument is that if we change the preamble, the big book will be next.

51:52

[00 52:58.716 – 00:53:00.776] Okay.

51:53

[00 53:00.776 – 00:53:02.416] Uh, that's great.

51:55

[00 53:02.416 – 00:53:09.936] I think that, that, you know, that's, that's maybe jumping a little bit, kind of a stretch there.

52:02

[00 53:09.936 – 00:53:19.956] But I, I would say this, that tradition four tells us that each group has a right to make

52:10

[00 53:19.956 – 00:53:21.736] the decisions for that group.

52:13

[00 53:21.736 – 00:53:31.336] That tradition out-trumps the other traditions.

52:16

[00 53:31.336 – 00:53:36.116] In other words, you could call yourself an AA group.

52:20

[00 53:36.116 – 00:53:42.636] Your primary purpose is to carry the message to the next suffering alcoholic.

52:26

[00 53:42.636 – 00:53:52.796] If you choose that your meeting is gonna be a shoeless meeting, and everyone who comes into that meeting has to take off

52:35

[00 53:52.796 – 00:54:02.856] their shoes, if your group conscience is that that's what this meeting's going to be, then that's what that meeting

52:44

[00 54:02.856 – 00:54:03.196] is.

52:45

[00 54:03.196 – 00:54:04.956] It's a shoeless meeting.

52:47

[00 54:04.956 – 00:54:05.496] Okay?

52:48

[00 54:05.496 – 00:54:11.596] So that might sound like an extreme example, but it's not really.

52:53

[00 54:11.596 – 00:54:18.056] You know, the preamble of Alcoholics Anonymous is 40, since the early 1940s.

52:58

[00 54:18.056 – 00:54:22.276] It's changed a little bit depending on where it came from and where you were.

53:05

[00 54:22.276 – 00:54:26.216] Some of that stuff was regional over the years.

53:09

[00 54:26.216 – 00:54:36.676] So when they offered that any time that somebody interrupts our comfort zone, we get challenged

53:16

[00 54:36.676 – 00:54:41.415] by it, and change is difficult for most of us.

53:20

[00 54:41.415 – 00:54:48.656] So when somebody wants to change men and women to people, some of us just can't handle that.

53:28

[00 54:48.656 – 00:54:51.996] I'm not saying it's right, I'm not saying it's wrong.

53:32

[00 54:51.996 – 00:54:55.056] All I'm saying is this is what it is.

53:36

[00 54:55.056 – 00:54:58.096] Each group has a right to be wrong.

53:40

[00 54:58.096 – 00:55:08.096] Each group has a right to have their own guidelines and to have their meetings the way, provided that as a group they're not

53:50

[00 55:08.096 – 00:55:12.576] affecting AA as a whole or a neighboring group.

53:54

[00 55:12.576 – 00:55:15.336] So we do have to take that into consideration.

53:58

[00 55:15.336 – 00:55:18.916] So if you have a no shoes group, okay?

54:02

[00 55:18.916 – 00:55:25.396] Uh, you wanna make sure that people understand that there's other groups in your area where they wear shoes.

54:10

[00 55:25.396 – 00:55:27.436] Thanks, Tim.

54:11

[00 55:27.436 – 00:55:29.526] Thank you, Mike.

54:13

[00 55:29.526 – 00:55:31.656] And our next question is from John.

54:16

[00 55:31.656 – 00:55:33.756] You can unmute.

54:18

[00 55:33.756 – 00:55:35.696] Yeah, John, recovered alcoholic.

54:20

[00 55:35.696 – 00:55:36.516] Good to be in a meeting.

54:23

[00 55:36.516 – 00:55:37.436] And thanks, Mike.

54:24

[00 55:37.436 – 00:55:40.356] Um, my gr- home group did the same thing.

54:28

[00 55:40.356 – 00:55:42.236] They rejected the people, but that was a

54:32

[00 56:11.105 – 00:56:15.825] The transcriptions from, from the audio and really kind of told the story.

54:38

[00 56:15.825 – 00:56:25.825] What I was trying to do here is, is create something that somebody could use as a guide, not necessarily to bring someone through the understanding of our

54:49

[00 56:25.825 – 00:56:33.005] traditions, but to whet their appetite so that they would continue to do some research and some digging on their own.

54:58

[00 56:33.005 – 00:56:43.185] Uh, you know, I, I wish AA, uh, would come up with a, uh, up-to-date, uh, 12 Traditions book.

55:06

[00 56:43.185 – 00:56:46.365] Um, but they haven't done that, you know?

55:10

[00 56:46.365 – 00:56:49.805] The, the 12 and 12 came out in 1953.

55:12

[00 56:49.805 – 00:57:00.625] So, uh, you know, a- and I'm just somebody who, who believes in our traditions, who has seen them work, who's spent his life trying

55:23

[00 57:00.625 – 00:57:09.385] to adhere to them and not circumvent them, and to be grateful that somebody took the time to help me to understand them.

55:33

[00 57:09.385 – 00:57:19.445] And that's probably a big part of what we're trying to do, is just take the time to help those who are interested in learning more to have a, a, a better

55:46

[00 57:19.445 – 00:57:20.325] understanding.

55:47

[00 57:20.325 – 00:57:27.825] And, uh, certainly for myself, um, I'm learning, you know, like everyone else.

55:53

[00 57:27.825 – 00:57:36.865] I don't, I don't claim to be an expert on AA or on AA's traditions or on anything really other than my story.

56:02

[00 57:36.865 – 00:57:40.085] Um, but these are things I'm interested in.

56:06

[00 57:40.085 – 00:57:50.205] And, uh, and, and when I'm able to create something to share with people that I hope might help in the future to educate and ignite somebody's interest, then I wanna

56:19

[00 57:50.205 – 00:57:50.765] do that.

56:20

[00 57:50.765 – 00:57:53.075] I hope I answered your question.

56:23

[00 57:53.075 – 00:58:00.545] Um, to be completely honest, I think Living the 12 Traditions book that Mel and I did is very good.

56:31

[00 58:00.545 – 00:58:09.805] Um, it just didn't give me something to just hand to somebody to get them interested, and that's what I was shooting at here.

56:41

[00 58:09.805 – 00:58:16.085] Thank you, John, for the question.

56:44

[00 58:16.085 – 00:58:17.585] And next is Mike.

56:46

[00 58:17.585 – 00:58:18.525] You can unmute.

56:48

[00 58:18.525 – 00:58:23.025] Hey, guys.

56:49

[00 58:23.025 – 00:58:23.825] Thank you.

56:50

[00 58:23.825 – 00:58:31.415] Um, I always, uh, enjoy being able to, uh, commit to these meetings.

56:56

[00 58:31.415 – 00:58:33.365] I, I, I definitely learn a lot.

56:59

[00 58:33.365 – 00:58:43.845] And tonight, tonight, um, I, I don't think I have a question as much as I just wanna say, you know, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, that

57:10

[00 58:43.845 – 00:58:48.205] as a result of your presentation, Mike, um, um, a few...

57:15

[00 58:48.205 – 00:58:51.185] Uh, it seems like I was able to connect a few dots.

57:20

[00 58:51.185 – 00:58:54.065] And I, I, I had gotten sober in Atlanta.

57:24

[00 58:54.065 – 00:58:55.925] I'm up in Rochester, New York now.

57:27

[00 58:55.925 – 00:59:06.205] But, but I used to hear guys down, down in Atlanta always say, "You know, we check our pocketbook, our pride, and our pedigree at the door." I, I don't know what's happened

57:41

[00 59:06.205 – 00:59:11.305] to that, that, um, that little phrase that the old-timers used to throw out there.

57:47

[00 59:11.305 – 00:59:13.705] But, uh, it, it...

57:49

[00 59:13.705 – 00:59:18.725] I finally was able to connect the dots with the pocketbook, the pedigree, and the pride, you know.

57:57

[00 59:18.725 – 00:59:27.025] They're, they seem to come right out of the traditions, um, you know, when we're not allied with, with any of this stuff.

58:07

[00 59:27.025 – 00:59:29.124] And that our leaders are but...

58:10

[00 59:29.124 – 00:59:32.805] I've been taught that our leaders are tr- are trusted servants, right?

58:15

[00 59:32.805 – 00:59:35.525] And as, as we read all the time.

58:19

[00 59:35.525 – 00:59:40.645] But, um, that we don't lead by dictate, we lead by example.

58:24

[00 59:40.645 – 00:59:45.245] And, uh, um, that's, that's, that's, uh...

58:27

[00 59:45.245 – 00:59:48.345] So it, th- these things, um...

58:30

[00 59:48.345 – 00:59:56.725] I find the traditions to be the real genius of Alcoholics Anonymous.

58:35

[00 59:56.725 – 01:00:06.365] Um, 'cause as most of us know, especially with a, a background in, uh, religion or whatever, um, there's nothing really new about the steps.

58:46

[01 00:06.365 – 01:00:11.385] It's just the way Bill was able to cobble them together for alcoholics to swallow.

58:52

[01 00:11.385 – 01:00:16.705] Um, but the traditions, without the traditions, you know, th- thanks to these...

58:58

[01 00:16.705 – 01:00:27.585] Thanks, it seems to me, thanks to these, uh, these history meetings, um, that's really what's enabled Alcoholics Anonymous to stay,

59:07

[01 00:27.585 – 01:00:37.665] uh, intact for the last 90 years, 'cause we've seen so many other, um, uh, fellowships fall apart and not

59:15

[01 00:37.665 – 01:00:38.325] last.

59:16

[01 00:38.325 – 01:00:40.465] So, um, I don't know.

59:18

[01 00:40.465 – 01:00:41.505] It's just always good.

59:20

[01 00:41.505 – 01:00:50.405] I just, I always get another little, a little, uh, uh, kernel of something to, to kind of put my puzzle together.

59:29

[01 00:50.405 – 01:00:55.465] Um, and I, I guess I'll ask this one other question though.

59:35

[01 00:55.465 – 01:00:59.045] Or, well, I haven't really asked a question, but I'll ask this, Mike.

59:40

[01 00:59.045 – 01:01:03.905] Um, each group has but one primary purpose.

59:44

[01 01:03.905 – 01:01:06.525] Um, y- and you may wanna respond.

59:47

[01 01:06.525 – 01:01:08.205] It seems to carry the message.

59:50

[01 01:08.205 – 01:01:11.005] It seems like there's a lot of groups that have...

59:54

[01 01:11.005 – 01:01:15.205] I mean, they're carrying a message, but their message is a variation.

60:00

[01 01:15.205 – 01:01:18.385] Um, and there can be a wide variation.

60:03

[01 01:18.385 – 01:01:21.965] Um, I mean, we have agnostic groups, we have atheist groups.

60:08

[01 01:21.965 – 01:01:24.305] Um, w- we got...

60:10

[01 01:24.305 – 01:01:28.945] There's a, there's a pretty, pretty big spectrum of perspectives.

60:15

[01 01:28.945 – 01:01:38.945] There's groups that just don't drink and go to meetings, and there's other groups that are very religious or spiritual or, or what- however, however you wanna phrase it.

60:27

[01 01:38.945 – 01:01:49.045] And, and so I've always w- wondered exactly, um, that, that phrase, uh, each group has but one

60:35

[01 01:49.045 – 01:01:50.245] primary purpose.

60:36

[01 01:50.245 – 01:01:56.865] It seems to me, h- as I've been taught, to carry its message, whatever that group's message is.

60:43

[01 01:56.865 – 01:01:59.285] And if you can resonate with it, great.

60:47

[01 01:59.285 – 01:02:01.505] If you don't, you move on to another group.

60:51

[01 02:01.505 – 01:02:02.005] I guess.

60:52

[01 02:02.005 – 01:02:02.605] I don't know.

60:54

[01 02:02.605 – 01:02:06.305] I don't think it's one size fits all, but it fits all sizes.

61:00

[01 02:06.305 – 01:02:07.025] Thank you.

61:01

[01 02:07.025 – 01:02:08.245] Thank you.

61:02

[01 02:08.245 – 01:02:08.985] Thank you.

61:03

[01 02:08.985 – 01:02:18.985] I'd have to say on, on that, that, um, each group has one primary purpose, and to carry its message to the

61:13

[01 02:18.985 – 01:02:20.905] alcoholic who still suffers.

61:15

[01 02:20.905 – 01:02:26.645] And hopefully those groups and hopefully their message is the 12 steps.

61:19

[01 02:26.645 – 01:02:38.195] Um, certainly the group and the activities of the group and the meetings of the group may be different, but we hope that the group's purpose is

61:31

[01 02:38.195 – 01:02:43.685] to carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous, which is the 12 steps, to the suffering alcoholic.

61:37

[01 02:43.685 – 01:02:45.245] So thanks, Mike.

61:39

[01 02:45.245 – 01:02:46.845] Appreciate you being here.

61:41

[01 02:46.845 – 01:02:51.905] Thank you, Mike.

61:43

[01 02:51.905 – 01:02:55.225] And next is Tracy in Buffalo.

61:45

[01 02:55.225 – 01:02:56.395] Buffalo.

61:46

[01 02:56.395 – 01:02:58.785] Hi, family.

61:47

[01 02:58.785 – 01:02:59.825] Alcoholic Tracy.

61:49

[01 02:59.825 – 01:03:01.145] Thank you so much, Mike.

61:51

[01 03:01.145 – 01:03:06.205] Um, this has been definitely like chicken noodle for the soul.

61:56

[01 03:06.205 – 01:03:08.085] I haven't been feeling well lately.

61:59

[01 03:08.085 – 01:03:12.315] And I love what you mentioned, that there was a series of, like, conventions-

62:05

[01 03:12.740 – 01:03:22.620] And the like that are not actually AA, but it gives like a false premise that it is AA.

62:13

[01 03:22.620 – 01:03:31.820] And there was, um, there was our Buffalo Fall Convention recently and there was a table for this, um, this convention that is not AA.

62:23

[01 03:31.820 – 01:03:34.180] And unfortunately, a lot of people think it is.

62:27

[01 03:34.180 – 01:03:38.460] It's recovery-centered, sure, but it's not AA.

62:31

[01 03:38.460 – 01:03:47.600] And, um, a lot of folks don't understand that it doesn't cooperate with the traditions, it doesn't align with the traditions.

62:40

[01 03:47.600 – 01:03:53.220] And I was able to take the opportunity and educate, um, a sponsee and say, "Wait.

62:46

[01 03:53.220 – 01:03:55.120] Um, you can do whatever you want.

62:50

[01 03:55.120 – 01:03:58.980] However, so you can have the most informed decision, this isn't AA.

62:55

[01 03:58.980 – 01:04:09.160] So before you sign your name going through this little train of, um, like, stuff after registry, I want you to understand what it means when you sign

63:07

[01 04:09.160 – 01:04:19.380] up for this type of service." And it sort of is interesting to me that there are people that are involved in general service that are also involved in service within

63:20

[01 04:19.380 – 01:04:29.720] this convention that promote it as if it's AA-centered when it's more so 12-step recovery-centered, organized for a certain demographic.

63:28

[01 04:29.720 – 01:04:37.530] So I'm very grateful that you brought that up, that there are many things that appear to be AA but are not AA.

63:38

[01 04:37.530 – 01:04:45.560] And I also wondered for those, um, historical recordings, are those on Recovery Speakers?

63:44

[01 04:45.560 – 01:04:46.990] Um, like- Yep ...

63:46

[01 04:46.990 – 01:04:48.920] is there archival data for that or no?

63:49

[01 04:48.920 – 01:04:54.420] Uh, yeah, recoveryspeakers.com and we have the recordings on there.

63:54

[01 04:54.420 – 01:04:57.300] Um, a lot of historical recordings.

63:57

[01 04:57.300 – 01:05:00.020] I do wanna mention though, I, I...

64:00

[01 05:00.020 – 01:05:04.360] this idea, like the Buffalo Area Convention, okay?

64:04

[01 05:04.360 – 01:05:09.160] That's, it, I don't think that's Alcoholics Anonymous.

64:07

[01 05:09.160 – 01:05:17.080] I think that's a group of Alcoholics Anonymous members who put that convention together each year.

64:14

[01 05:17.080 – 01:05:21.620] That is, that does not come down.

64:18

[01 05:21.620 – 01:05:29.580] So New York State's conference that would be held by the districts and the committees in the areas in the state, okay?

64:27

[01 05:29.580 – 01:05:34.360] That would be an Alcoholics Anonymous convention, okay?

64:30

[01 05:34.360 – 01:05:43.820] All of the other conventions out there, roundups, shindigs, retreats, no.

64:35

[01 05:43.820 – 01:05:53.940] So maybe the people, and I'm not defending anyone, maybe some of the people that you're looking at know that there's AA members involved, uh, setting this thing

64:47

[01 05:53.940 – 01:05:54.360] up.

64:48

[01 05:54.360 – 01:06:04.380] There's a convention coming in, uh, uh, the, the last weekend in March in Myrtle Beach, and it's a history conference, and we'd love to get as

64:59

[01 06:04.380 – 01:06:06.880] many people to come to that as we can.

65:03

[01 06:06.880 – 01:06:14.070] It'll be all about Alcoholics Anonymous history, but it will not be an AA conference.

65:10

[01 06:14.070 – 01:06:18.180] I hope I'm making that understandable.

65:13

[01 06:18.180 – 01:06:18.980] Thank you.

65:14

[01 06:18.980 – 01:06:21.320] And we love Buffalo, you know.

65:17

[01 06:21.320 – 01:06:27.980] I, I made it to the Erie County, Erie County Medical Center probably somewhere between 10 and 20 times, so.

65:24

[01 06:27.980 – 01:06:29.680] Tim?

65:25

[01 06:29.680 – 01:06:39.700] Um, just a follow-up on that question in the chat, and that is, can a roundup be a part of AA if they

65:35

[01 06:39.700 – 01:06:41.040] are registered as a group?

65:37

[01 06:41.040 – 01:06:47.880] They can't use the AA name.

65:40

[01 06:47.880 – 01:06:53.140] It cannot be an Alcoholics Anonymous roundup.

65:43

[01 06:53.140 – 01:06:53.660] Okay?

65:44

[01 06:53.660 – 01:07:02.260] It can be a Myrtle Beach roundup, it can be a Denver roundup, it can be a Cheektowaga roundup, but it can't be an Alcoholics Anonymous roundup.

65:55

[01 07:02.260 – 01:07:02.600] Okay?

65:56

[01 07:02.600 – 01:07:09.000] W- unless that group decides that they're gonna circumvent the traditions.

66:01

[01 07:09.000 – 01:07:14.299] Thank you.

66:02

[01 07:14.299 – 01:07:17.140] And next is Chilly Charlie.

66:05

[01 07:17.140 – 01:07:20.820] Hey, guys.

66:06

[01 07:20.820 – 01:07:22.140] Great job as always.

66:08

[01 07:22.140 – 01:07:23.140] Thank you so much.

66:10

[01 07:23.140 – 01:07:31.060] Um, I'm gonna go to, uh, your third tradition little, uh, blurb there in your presentation.

66:17

[01 07:31.060 – 01:07:35.280] And, um, the idea that...

66:19

[01 07:35.280 – 01:07:37.700] oh, man, I hated this back in Indiana.

66:23

[01 07:37.700 – 01:07:38.480] Uh, you...

66:24

[01 07:38.480 – 01:07:48.520] anytime there was a newcomer in the room you'd always hear, somebody would say, "You're the most important person in the room." And, uh, you know, a- and I understand the,

66:37

[01 07:48.520 – 01:07:55.560] the, the gist behind that, but, you know, I've always been taught, you know, we're all equal and that, you know, everybody's just as important.

66:48

[01 07:55.560 – 01:08:03.380] Um, but, uh, really my question goes to this idea, it's usually, um, older members.

66:54

[01 08:03.380 – 01:08:13.680] You know, the, the, the crusty old-timers in the corner that, um, you know, that don't wanna change anything to be more welcoming to new people.

67:05

[01 08:13.680 – 01:08:23.740] And they always say, "Well, alcohol will drive them back." You know, like this idea that, you know, we're not gonna do anything to help them until alcohol has driven them to the point where

67:20

[01 08:23.740 – 01:08:28.240] they're willing to conform to whatever we're doing.

67:23

[01 08:28.240 – 01:08:28.930] Mm-hmm.

67:24

[01 08:28.930 – 01:08:33.800] And, um, so that, that's one thing, um, that really bothers me a lot.

67:30

[01 08:33.800 – 01:08:39.620] I, I had a conversation with a couple of guys, uh, a week or so ago along these lines.

67:38

[01 08:39.620 – 01:08:49.640] And, and to me, you know, I think all the changes that, that are, have been made in Alcoholics Anonymous has, has been to be more accommodating

67:50

[01 08:49.640 – 01:08:51.620] to the new people that are coming in.

67:53

[01 08:51.620 – 01:08:56.740] And, uh, and so anyway, I wanted to get your thoughts on, on along those lines.

68:00

[01 08:56.740 – 01:08:58.700] Thank you, Charlie.

68:02

[01 08:58.700 – 01:09:02.040] I would have to say that...

68:05

[01 09:02.040 – 01:09:13.720] You know, I, I put this slide in there and I was very careful about things

68:11

[01 09:13.720 – 01:09:15.320] that I was trying to create there.

68:15

[01 09:15.320 – 01:09:18.500] And I put the newcomers are the lifeblood.

68:18

[01 09:18.500 – 01:09:19.180] Right?

68:19

[01 09:19.180 – 01:09:24.780] And I did that because that's not saying they're the most important person in the room.

68:26

[01 09:24.780 – 01:09:25.420] Okay?

68:27

[01 09:25.420 – 01:09:30.140] They're the lifeblood because they give you and I something to do.

68:32

[01 09:30.140 – 01:09:32.480] I'm serious.

68:33

[01 09:32.480 – 01:09:35.040] They give us a reason to go to that meeting.

68:38

[01 09:35.040 – 01:09:37.340] See, we go to the meeting to give, not to get.

68:43

[01 09:37.340 – 01:09:47.440] And now the crusty old guy sitting in the corner that just wants to be a, the crusty old guy sitting in the corner bitching about stuff, you know, someday

68:55

[01 09:47.440 – 01:09:48.000] he'll die.

68:56

[01 09:48.000 – 01:09:56.980] I mean, my thing is if somebody's got years of sobriety and they can't...

69:02

[01 09:56.980 – 01:09:57.920] Like, here's what I'm doing.

69:05

[01 09:57.920 – 01:10:05.500] I just spent an enormous amount of time creating illustrations and stuff for the traditions.

69:11

[01 10:05.500 – 01:10:05.780] Okay?

69:12

[01 10:05.780 – 01:10:11.600] Some of this, i- I mean this is like teaching an old dog new tricks.

69:19

[01 10:11.600 – 01:10:13.750] Like, I'm into a whole new life-

69:22

[01 10:13.870 – 01:10:17.420] For myself here creating things.

69:24

[01 10:17.420 – 01:10:18.710] And I'm 40 years sober.

69:26

[01 10:18.710 – 01:10:20.330] I'm 65 years old.

69:28

[01 10:20.330 – 01:10:28.110] Now, when I go to a meeting and I see a grumpy old guy sitting in the corner, I, number one, wanna find out how old he is.

69:40

[01 10:28.110 – 01:10:33.130] 'Cause if he's, if he's older than me, I gotta make sure I'm continuing to do what I'm doing.

69:48

[01 10:33.130 – 01:10:36.130] Now, yeah, that, it- you're always gonna have that.

69:52

[01 10:36.130 – 01:10:36.810] We're always...

69:53

[01 10:36.810 – 01:10:38.830] You know, that, that's okay.

69:55

[01 10:38.830 – 01:10:47.310] Um, what we want to do is we wanna look for, look, look for the newcomer that the lights go on, you know?

70:05

[01 10:47.310 – 01:10:55.970] And get them to some history meetings, and get them with a 12 and 12, and take them to a, to a retreat and watch their life turn around.

70:16

[01 10:55.970 – 01:10:59.750] And as the- that's happening, your life gets better and better.

70:21

[01 10:59.750 – 01:11:02.590] That's been my experience, so...

70:24

[01 11:02.590 – 01:11:12.730] And, uh, and that's one of the reasons I keep doing all that I'm doing is because I get to live this absolutely amazing life as a result of it, and meet people

70:38

[01 11:12.730 – 01:11:17.420] like you, and go to, you know, places like Noblesville, Indiana, you know.

70:43

[01 11:17.420 – 01:11:20.709] So thank you, Charlie, and thanks for all that you do, man.

70:48

[01 11:20.709 – 01:11:26.210] Thank you for the question, Charlie.

70:51

[01 11:26.210 – 01:11:29.650] And next is Lyla from Buffalo.

70:54

[01 11:29.650 – 01:11:31.650] Oh, Lyla.

70:55

[01 11:31.650 – 01:11:33.190] Yeah.

70:56

[01 11:33.190 – 01:11:39.490] Are you there, Lyla?

70:58

[01 11:39.490 – 01:11:43.390] I'm going once.

71:00

[01 11:43.390 – 01:11:46.970] Well, I know what her question is, 'cause she messaged it to me.

71:05

[01 11:46.970 – 01:11:50.830] And she said her internet isn't great, so let me pull it up here.

71:11

[01 11:50.830 – 01:11:51.450] All right.

71:13

[01 11:51.450 – 01:11:58.620] And her question was, um, "Are you," um...

71:16

[01 11:58.620 – 01:11:59.550] Well, I know the answer.

71:19

[01 11:59.550 – 01:12:09.790] But, "Are you going to put together a presentation like this for the concepts?" And a follow-up to that is, "Do you know where the statement

71:30

[01 12:09.790 – 01:12:20.730] about, um, the steps prevent suicide, traditions prevent homicide, and the concepts prevent genocide, where that statement came from?" Nope.

71:38

[01 12:20.730 – 01:12:26.050] Some- somebody much more intellectual than me.

71:41

[01 12:26.050 – 01:12:31.169] And, uh, what, what was the answer to the first question?

71:46

[01 12:31.169 – 01:12:32.810] Well, it's have you...

71:48

[01 12:32.810 – 01:12:35.770] do we have a plan- Am I gonna do this for the concepts?

71:54

[01 12:35.770 – 01:12:36.139] About the concepts.

71:56

[01 12:36.139 – 01:12:36.430] Yeah.

71:56

[01 12:36.430 – 01:12:36.730] Yeah.

71:57

[01 12:36.730 – 01:12:44.150] Um, I'm gonna do it for the three legacies, and then we'll decide on the concepts after that.

72:05

[01 12:44.150 – 01:12:49.210] So we'll do recovery, unity, and service.

72:08

[01 12:49.210 – 01:12:50.630] All right.

72:09

[01 12:50.630 – 01:12:53.630] And I see that Lyla has got her camera on.

72:14

[01 12:53.630 – 01:12:58.750] I'll try to unmute you and see if it's working or if we answered your question.

72:21

[01 12:58.750 – 01:13:01.090] Well, she's shaking her head.

72:23

[01 13:01.090 – 01:13:01.570] Okay.

72:24

[01 13:01.570 – 01:13:02.610] Hi, Lyla.

72:25

[01 13:02.610 – 01:13:06.670] Well, next question is from Andrew.

72:28

[01 13:06.670 – 01:13:07.570] You can unmute.

72:30

[01 13:07.570 – 01:13:12.130] Good evening.

72:31

[01 13:12.130 – 01:13:13.070] Can you guys hear me?

72:33

[01 13:13.070 – 01:13:14.190] We can.

72:34

[01 13:14.190 – 01:13:18.950] Mike, thank you so much for your presentation.

72:38

[01 13:18.950 – 01:13:20.450] Thanks for the heads-up this morning.

72:41

[01 13:20.450 – 01:13:21.650] I really appreciate it.

72:43

[01 13:21.650 – 01:13:23.510] You did a great job.

72:45

[01 13:23.510 – 01:13:25.590] And I have a two-part question.

72:48

[01 13:25.590 – 01:13:31.930] First question is, you know I'm affiliated with the North Shore Solano Club here in Pacific Beach in San Diego.

72:57

[01 13:31.930 – 01:13:39.110] We were thinking of changing our name, and the name I came up with was AA Comes of Age.

73:05

[01 13:39.110 – 01:13:41.270] Can we use that name?

73:07

[01 13:41.270 – 01:13:48.050] And the second part to my question is, what happened to the Black cross-dresser that you mentioned earlier?

73:15

[01 13:48.050 – 01:13:49.270] Ah.

73:16

[01 13:49.270 – 01:13:53.610] The one Barry Leach mentioned, or the one that was Dr.

73:21

[01 13:53.610 – 01:13:54.290] Bubs?

73:21

[01 13:54.290 – 01:13:56.710] Oh, the, the first one.

73:24

[01 13:56.710 – 01:13:57.870] The one with the blonde hair.

73:27

[01 13:57.870 – 01:13:58.330] Yeah.

73:27

[01 13:58.330 – 01:14:04.990] He was, uh, uh, invited to come into Alcoholics Anonymous, but as Barry said, he did not know what happened with him.

73:37

[01 14:04.990 – 01:14:06.750] Wow.

73:38

[01 14:06.750 – 01:14:07.350] Yeah.

73:38

[01 14:07.350 – 01:14:17.350] And, uh, y- you know, you, you need to have a group conscience about changing the name of

73:46

[01 14:17.350 – 01:14:19.579] the, of the clubhouse.

73:48

[01 14:19.579 – 01:14:28.250] And you need to realize that if you call it, uh, AACOA Club, okay?

73:54

[01 14:28.250 – 01:14:34.650] Um, you, you might cause yourself a little confusion with people.

73:59

[01 14:34.650 – 01:14:39.230] So just think that one out and talk to your sponsor.

74:04

[01 14:39.230 – 01:14:41.230] I will.

74:05

[01 14:41.230 – 01:14:42.170] Thanks, sponsor.

74:06

[01 14:42.170 – 01:14:45.690] All right, man.

74:08

[01 14:45.690 – 01:14:47.270] Tim, I think I- All right.

74:11

[01 14:47.270 – 01:14:48.590] Thank you, Andrew.

74:12

[01 14:48.590 – 01:14:48.660] Okay.

74:13

[01 14:48.660 – 01:14:52.430] And I'm going to ask one more question, because I really wanna know this.

74:19

[01 14:52.430 – 01:15:01.150] And, uh, so is Young People in AA, YPA or the IKPA, is that an AA conference?

74:27

[01 15:01.150 – 01:15:04.090] All right.

74:28

[01 15:04.090 – 01:15:06.710] You guys are killing me, man.

74:31

[01 15:06.710 – 01:15:12.230] So Young People.

74:32

[01 15:12.230 – 01:15:13.950] So what do they call it?

74:35

[01 15:13.950 – 01:15:18.210] WACKY paw, SICKY paw, ICKY paw, NOCKY paw, LOCKY paw.

74:39

[01 15:18.210 – 01:15:19.270] Okay?

74:40

[01 15:19.270 – 01:15:23.220] They don't call it Alcoholics Anonymous Young People Convention, okay?

74:45

[01 15:23.220 – 01:15:25.230] They call it WACKY paw.

74:47

[01 15:25.230 – 01:15:33.230] So the reason that they do that is because it's technically not Alcoholics Anonymous.

74:53

[01 15:33.230 – 01:15:35.650] And we don't need to pull wool over mouse turds.

74:58

[01 15:35.650 – 01:15:39.550] The reality is, is we know that it's made up of AA members.

75:03

[01 15:39.550 – 01:15:48.030] They're doing their best job to follow along with the traditions and promote it and stay within the guidelines of AA and what they should do for conferences.

75:15

[01 15:48.030 – 01:15:53.909] And, uh, and AA does have suggested guidelines for these things too.

75:20

[01 15:53.909 – 01:16:02.710] So most people who start these should seek those guidelines out and find out what does AA suggest, okay?

75:28

[01 16:02.710 – 01:16:05.710] I don't wanna, to act like I have all the damn answers.

75:34

[01 16:05.710 – 01:16:12.530] I just have made enough of the mistakes that, that they've been reinforced with me though.

75:41

[01 16:12.530 – 01:16:20.070] But this was fun, and I really hope the people enjoyed the illustrations and the time I put into this.

75:49

[01 16:20.070 – 01:16:23.890] And, and I tried to make it funny and I tried to make it old school.

75:56

[01 16:23.890 – 01:16:30.030] I wanted to make it informative and, and I wanted each slide to say something.

76:02

[01 16:30.030 – 01:16:32.070] It did certainly to me.

76:05

[01 16:32.070 – 01:16:36.210] You know, it did to me, but, but I don't know if it did to the world.

76:12

[01 16:36.210 – 01:16:45.150] So I do appreciate any feedback anybody can give us in the next few days regarding the, the, uh, presentation and the guide.

76:22

[01 16:45.150 – 01:16:49.470] And, uh, thanks for putting up with us and sticking with us.

76:27

[01 16:49.470 – 01:16:56.470] And, and if you can, you know, throw through a few bucks in the basket, 'cause, uh, we could really use the support too.

76:37

[01 16:56.470 – 01:17:01.090] Any last questions, Tim, before you just open it up to everybody?

76:43

[01 17:01.090 – 01:17:02.650] I think that was it.

76:45

[01 17:02.650 – 01:17:02.720] Okay.

76:46

[01 17:02.720 – 01:17:07.210] I just wanna remind everyone to, uh, join us again next week for part two.

76:52

[01 17:07.210 – 01:17:12.050] And, uh, I will now allow everyone to unmute and thank Mike.

76:57

[01 17:12.050 – 01:17:14.810] If you want to.

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

Living the Twelve Traditions presented by Mike F – 2025-11-11

Living the Twelve Traditions presented by Mike F – 2025-11-11

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