With a great deal of pleasure did I give you Dave C. from Raleigh, North Carolina. Give it to them. You know, uh, and this is no reflection on Mary Ellen or Maury. But years ago, some of the old-timers back in my part of the country tell a story, and it, and I think it’s true. I have to think it’s true. They had a convention back in North Carolina many years ago, and they had one of these long-winded speakers, and there are some of them around. And, uh, this guy gave a talk. He began to talk on the 12 traditions and then the 12 steps. And after about two hours, they began to leave, and they will leave. And then he got into the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous. And after two hours and a half, everybody had gone except one fellow sitting on the front row. And he just kept sitting there with his arms folded. And the speaker was dying to get down from the podium.

And after about three hours, he wound up his talk, ran down and grabbed him by the arm and says, “Now let me ask you one question.” He says, “Everybody’s left except you. And why didn’t you leave? Why didn’t you leave with the rest of them like they did? Why did you stay?” And he said, “Hell, I’m the next speaker.” So- Tell them who you are. I’m an alcoholic, and my name’s Dave Cook. Hi, everybody. Hi, Dave. I’m a member of the Big Book group from Raleigh, North Carolina, which I think is the best group in the whole wide world. And if you don’t think that about your home group, I suggest that you find another one. By God’s grace, and because this program works for me, through the help of an understanding sponsor who led me with a kind but firm hand, and through the love of a loving wife that I found as a result of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, I haven’t found it necessary to take a drink or to chew any whiskey since the day I came to AA. And that was September the 12th, 1957.

And I don’t give my sobriety date the impression when I come into AA, we gave our sobriety. As a matter of fact, the first discussion meeting I ever attended, it was one of these meetings where there were about 13 or 14 wicker chairs. And I was no different from the early member that comes into his first meeting. I wondered what I was going to say when it got to me. And the man who was to become my sponsor told me what to say. He says, “Give your name and your sobriety date. That’s all you’re qualified to do.” And that’s all I was qualified to do for a long time in AA, is give my name and my sobriety date. I’m very grateful to be here tonight. I’m very grateful to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. And this is no reflection on the older member that comes to AA. I thank God for the fact that I found AA when I did, and I was 29 years of age. And I was a geek when I came in, really. Damn, the elders are There weren’t many young ones around. Mm-hmm.