This will be a tape recording of a talk given by Cora Louise Belford of New York City, New York. This talk was given at the assembly of the California Northern Interior Area of General Service held in Stockton, California on November the 15th, 1975. At the time of this talk, Cora Louise Belford was an employee of the general service office in New York City, New York. The original recording of this talk was made by Bart Daniel of Sacramento, California, and this cassette was produced from an eight-track copy of that original by Bill and Diana Cross of Ash Tree Fellowship Tapes, located at 4588 North Meridian, Fresno, California 93726. Phone number, 209-229-8244. This tape was produced in the spirit of AH’s 12th step to carry this message, and members of the fellowship should bear in mind AH’s tradition number 11 regarding anonymity at the level of press, radio, TV, and films in their use of this tape. The total playing time of this recording will be approximately 67 minutes.

I am especially pleased to be asked to chair this meeting tonight and to have the opportunity of introducing our speaker. Uh, Cora Louise B. has served as secretary to the General Service Conference during the two years of my service as a delegate. And, uh, she spent this last full week in Northern California, about half of that time in the California Northern Coastal Area, has been with us in the Interior Area for the past several days. She’s had a tremendously full schedule. Uh, I marvel, uh, that she’s able to hold up in the spirit that she has. We’re so delighted to have her out here, I suppose, that we just, uh, couldn’t get enough, and, uh, we wanted, uh, everyone here to have an opportunity to hear her. Uh, thinking back over this last year, Cora Louise, uh, probably has the unique distinction of visiting all five of our California service areas since last October, October of last year.

And, uh, although I don’t have the authority to do so, uh, I think it would be fitting to bestow the, uh, degree of honorary Californian on Cora Louise. I don’t feel at all as though she’s a, a visitor. Uh, in New York, incidentally, during the meetings of the General Service Conference, she was l- lovingly referred to as our den mother. I’ll never, never forget that. So it is with a great deal of pleasure that I call on and introduce Cora Louise B. of New York City. Hi, everybody. I am Cora Louise Belford, and I am a very grateful alcoholic. Hi, Cora. In listening to Kathryn read the long form of the 12 traditions tonight, when she got to the last one, I said to myself that I hope that I will not be spoiled by all my blessings, but will remain in grateful contemplation of the one who is responsible for it all. Because this past week has really been a remarkable week for me.