Special Composition Groups
MANUSCRIPT Of A.A. WORLD HISTORY 1985
This document is the first draft of the indepth history of Alcoholics Anonymous as prepared by Bob P.
The manuscript was rejected by the Trustees’ Literature Committee and was not published.
Chapter 19
Special Composition Groups in A.A.
One of the great strengths of Alcoholics Anonymous has always been that everyone is equal
and everyone is welcome. A.A.’s traditions of anonymity and selfsupport and singleness of
purpose all contribute to this true equality of Fellowship found in A.A. meetings. So it is small
wonder that “special” groups have been viewed with suspicion, alarm and sometimes
outright hostility within A.A. Nevertheless, “special” groups based on a commonality of
interest beyond their common alcoholism gender, age, race, occupation, sexual
preference, etc. have existed within A.A. since the earliest days. A number of these kinds
of groups have found it helpful to organize on an international level, often holding their own
conventions, with steering committees or central contacts where interested A.A.’s can write
for further information. Their addresses are listed in the front of the A.A. Directories for the
US. and Canada.
In the mid 1970’s, when feelings against “special purpose” groups were at their height (see
Chap. XX on Conference), the point was made that these should not be called “special
purpose” groups since all A.A. groups have the same purpose: sobriety. Rather, they are
“special composition” groups. In 1977, after tempers had cooled down a bit, Dr. Jack Norris,
then Chairman of the General Service Board, made a presentation on the subject to the
Conference. He said, in part: “When other requirements are added that might seem to
exclude ot some alcoholics, these should be considered A.A. meetings and n A.A. groups.
We have never discouraged A.A.’s from forming specialpurpose meetings of any or all kinds
roups to meet the needs of interested individuals, but we have been hesitant to consider as g
xclude those that might seem to e any alcoholic, for whatever reason.
“Many members feel that no A.A. group is special and, therefore, that no group should be
labeled as such or even give the impression that it is ‘special.’ However, the fact is that such
groups do exist…These groups feel that ‘labels’ serve the purpose of attraction (providing
double i ot dentification) and are n intended to imply exclusion of other alcoholics.”
rapevine In a G article in October of the same year, K.S. said, “When I discussed the purpose
of such groups with people who attend them, they expressed a definite belief that they could
not be entirely open about themselves in most regular A.A. groups.. . Homosexuals believe
that the specifics of their emotional relationships would not be understood or accepted in
regular A.A. meetings. Young people are convinced that their lifestyles. . . are not
understandable to older members. And professionals feel they get more understanding from
those they consider their peers, particularly in matters relating to their conduct in their
professions when they were active alcoholics.
“Furthermore, there seems to be genuine concern about anonymity” especially, K.S. noted,
among people whose professional status calls for licensing, homosexuals who are in groups
made up mostly of heterosexuals, and young people who were once involved illegally with
drugs. “Members of special groups are certain that many of their kind would never be able to
get themselves to A.A. if they had to enter through a regular group. Whether or not we agree
with this thinking, the point is that many alcoholics do believe in it. And they believe in it
seriously enough to form these special groups and make them work.”
Women
Women’s groups were probably the first special groups to form. The first Women’s group in
the world is believed to be one started in Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1941. The following year,
Ruth B. wrote G.S.O. from Minneapolis, “There has been some discussion here of having
the women alcoholics meet in a separate group. We have heard that women do meet in
separate groups in Chicago and Cleveland…we have less than a dozen women alcoholics in
Minneapolis, only four of whom are very active…” Bobbie B. replied, “I suggest you write
directly to Marion R., 12214 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. Marion is the secretary of a
women’s group out there who recently celebrated their f irst anniversary . New York, who has
about 40 women alcoholics on their lists, 25 of whom have been dry since contacting A.A.,
holds a meeting once every two weeks for women only…” At about the same time, Bobbie
received a similar query from Harrisburg, Pa., and replied in part, “There are over 60 in the
New York (women’s] group. This is remarkable, because when I first met the group a little
over two years ago, there were only 2, and some thought that perhaps this program just
wouldn’t work for women.” In a letter which Grace 0. of New York wrote Bill W. in 1945, she
said, “Our gal’s group now has 19 newcomers all in seven weeks!”
San Diego, California has had a women’s group that has met continuously, every week,
since September 1945. It met first at the office of the husband of one of the members, but
soon rotated among the homes of the various women. By February 1946, a strong nucleus
of 15 members made it possible to rent a meeting place of their own. The first Women’s
group in Salt Lake City listed itself with G.S.O. in the spring of 1952. Significantly, a special
session for Women members was included in the program of the First International
Convention of A.A. in 1950 in Cleveland. No attempt has been made to keep a count of
women’s groups over the years, but it is safe to say they exist in almost any sizeable
community where there is A.A.
The reason was touched upon in a letter from the Archivist, Nell Wing, replying in 1979 to an
inquiry from a woman writer. She explained, “It was difficult for a woman to approach A.A. in
the late ‘30’s or early ‘40’s, and more difficult still to be accepted in an A.A. group. It was
generally felt by male members that women had no place in an A.A. meeting where their
presence was considered by many to be a disturbing factor. . Since much of the success of
the A.A. program centered around a onetoone relationship (especially in the beginning
years of the Fellowship), there was a perhaps justifiable concern that a side effect of sharing
and practicing the program together might result in some hankypanky.” When an occasional
woman alcoholic showed up, men felt it best not to sponsor her and often turned her over to
the wives of A.A. members to befriend and offer support. As more women came in, they
were actively encouraged to form their own groups.
“Duke” P., who came into A.A. in 1940, explains (with his wife Katie’s corroboration) that
there was sometimes resistance to women attending regular meetings by the spouses
from both sides! That is, the wives of the men were suspicious of the motives and the
behavior of the women alcoholics. And if the woman newcomer was married, her husband
would forbid her to spend evening after evening with a bunch of men. So the answer was to
form women’s groups.
Women in A.A. decided to meet in a national conference of their own in February 1964. The
purpose was “to provide a forum to share experiences common to women alcoholics; to
discuss problems of particular interest; to provide opportunities to share with women from
other areas; and to learn how to be of greater service to those who still suffer.” At the first
National A.A. Women’s Conference, held in Kansas City, Missouri, 45 women were present.
It has been held annually ever since, and attendance has grown to several hundred. The
permanent motto of the event is, “The Language of the Heart Will Be Spoken Here.”
Black Alcoholics
Alcoholics Anonymous always welcomed any alcoholic, in principle regardless of race,
color, religion or any other characteristic that might otherwise set him apart. However, A.A. is
inescapably a part of the society in which it exists. And when the Fellowship was founded
e facto and for three decades thereafter d discrimination against Blacks was accepted in
many places. Later, and indeed even now, when a Black alcoholic comes into a white A.A.
meeting, even though he may be warmly welcomed with every effort made to make him feel
at home, he often feels “different” and is likely to drift away.
Although alcoholism is rampant in the Black community, A.A. has never enjoyed a
percentage of Black membership equivalent to the percentage of Blacks in the general
population. Joe McQ., himself the first Black member of A.A. in Little Rock, Arkansas,
believes cultural differences mitigate against Blacks seeking helpin A.A. or elsewhere. In his
day, he says, from the viewpoint of the young Black male, his world was divided rather
sharply between the pious, spiritualsinging churchgoers who were teetotalers; and the
bottledrinking, hip group who hung out in the pool halls and on the street corners. And the
drinkers identified any nondrinker as a part of the pious group, of which they wanted no part.
This stereotype has faded in the last two decades with the rapid assimilation of Blacks into
the general society, but the fact that A.A. is not reaching Black alcoholics as it should has
been a continuing concern of the General Service Board and G.S.O.
The problem was to be the topic of a General Sharing Session on a Board weekend in
January 1986. Garrett T., the first Black Trustee (198387), shared that when he came to
A.A., Blacks were not welcomed at white meetings in Washington, D.C., so his home group
has always been a Black group, the Mideast. It was brought out that in keeping with its
Traditions, A.A. has not taken an aggressive or advocative role with regard to racial causes,
but has “let it happen.” The result, in A.A., has been that in many parts of the country,
integration came earlier and easier than segregation (i.e., formation of Black groups.)!
The first inquiry received at G.S.O. from a “colored” alcoholic came from Pittsburgh in 1943.
In reply to the next inquiry in October 1944, Bobbie B. wrote, “We do not have a colored
group anywhere and the problem is popping up more and more every day. In Pittsburgh they
ne have o colored member, and I suggest you write and find out how the situation is handled
there.” In 1945, however, there were Black groups in both Washington, D.C., and St. Louis,
Missouri. In January of the following year, a group started in Los Angeles and within a year
had 20 members. In June, the Outhwaite group in Cleveland, Ohio, registered at G.S.O. with
eight members. And a month later there was news of a colored group in Charleston, South
Carolina. In the same period, colored groups began in Kansas City, Missouri, and Toledo,
Ohio.
By 1947, the pace picked up. A colored group began in New York’s Harlem, and two were
reported in New Jersey. Philadelphia’s first negro group met for the first time at the end of
June, and a group was formed in, Cincinnati. The first negro group in Crowley, Louisiana,
was started in May 1949. By 1952, there were about 25 known negro groups, according to
Ann M., who was especially dedicated to helping A.A. reach Black alcoholics. As no effort
has been made at G.S.O. to distinguish Black groups from others in the A.A. Directories, it is
next to impossible to trace their growth in the intervening decades, nor to estimate the
present number. They are obviously very strong in Northern Ohio; Detroit, Michigan;
Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia; and probably in most major cities with concentrations of
Black population.
Young People
When A.A. was young, most of the members were not. The majority of those whose
alcoholism had brought them to their knees were middle aged. On the other hand, there
has always been a sprinkling of younger alcoholics, who were regarded almost as
curiosities; in fact, many of today’s longtime members came in at a relatively youthful age
or they wouldn’t still be around! There were enough Young People in A.A. by 1950 that the
f First International Convention that year in Cleveland included a sessionor them! Then, as
A.A. grew older in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, more alcoholics began showing up in their early
thirties, their twenties and even their teens.
There were several reasons for this trend. Awareness of alcoholism was much higher, so
those with a problem sought help earlier. The stigma was steadily reduced. Drugs, as they
became more available and more commonly used by young people, hastened their
progression and ultimate desperation. Later on, treatment centers turned out large numbers
of younger graduates. And here, as always in A.A., the principle that “like attracts like”
applied. When a youthful alcoholic hesitantly approached a group for the first time and saw
another youth, he or she was more likely to stay. And when a kid rejecting his family (or
rejected by them) and running with a street crowd found acceptance, a new way of life and
evident joy in A.A., his young alcoholic peers were sometimes attracted to see what had
happened to him.
In 1985, one of the better known examples of A.A.’s ability to turn a young person’s life
around was the story of June C., who came to Alcoholics Anonymous in Venice, California,
in 1972 at the age of 13. The product of delinquent, violent, alcoholic parents, June was
pathologically suicidal as a child, and had been turned out onto the street before she had
reached her teens because she had physically abused her mother as a result of her own
drinking and drugging. Beaten up in a gang fight, the waif attempted suicide once more, and
ended up in the hospital. From there, she was induced to go to an A.A. meeting. And she
kept showing up, as she had nowhere else to go. “I hated the people there, and they avoided
me,” she says. Her appearance and dress, her language and her attitude were
unacceptable. “It was a year before I put on shoes,” June admits. But she kept coming, and
gradually some of the adult members and particularly a caring sponsor took her under
their wing. They virtually adopted her gave her a place to sleep, slowly changed the way
she dressed, persuaded her to attend school, made her get some kind of work. June G. went
on to high school, then the university, then law school and today practices as a public
defender in the court system of the City of Los Angeles. A charming, lovely looking, smartly
attired young lady of 26 (in 1985), June has 13 years of solid sobriety thanks to her only
“family”: Alcoholics Anonymous.
Typically, the path of most young people coming to. A.A. was not without obstacles. Many in
the ‘60’s told how they were ignored or scorned by older members at regular A.A. groups.
“You’re too young to be an alcoholic,” they were told. “Go out and do some more drinking.”
One speaker at a young people’s A.A. convention said, “As I was leaving one of my first
meetings, I overheard an older member remark, ‘I’ve spilled more booze than that young
punk has drunk.’ He probably had, but it was the alcohol I had drunk not what he spilled
that made my life unmanageable.”
And even when a regular group made them feel welcome, the young people
sometimes felt different for the same reasons that nonalcoholic youngsters feel different from
adults; they dressed differently, talked differently, and had different fears and hangups.
ere gained from a. strictly unofficial study Some helpful insights into young people in A.A. w
done in 1976 by Darlene L., a college student and A.A. member in Southern California,
assisted by Jerry F., the then Delegate. The project consisted of distributing questionnaires
addressed to “under 30” A.A.’s in that area. Darlene got 79 replies from which she drew her
conclusions. The first discovery was that three out of four had a parent or other close relative
who was an alcoholic (a much more startling fact in 1976 than today!). Many respondents
had attended their first A.A. meeting as a child; in the company of a parent, so they knew
where tocome when they got into trouble themselves. The second discovery was that the
young persons’ progression into serious alcoholism was very fast; within three years of
beginning to drink regularly, they knew they had a problem. Similarly the study revealed
owerlessness they realized their p over alcoholism very early, enabling them to overcome
their denial syndrome. Most of the young alcoholics had also been drug users, greatly
speeding up their reaching a bottom. And finally, when they came to A. A., most identified
with the alcoholism of the older members but had problems arising out of their identity as
young people.
So the younger members in various parts of the country began banding together in their own
groups. The first known group “for men and women under 35” was formed in January 1946
in Philadelphia. Within a year, it had about 30 members and an admirable record of sobriety.
The same year, in October, a similar group was started in San Diego, California, but for
“35 young men only. It was followed within months by a young women’s group. In 1947 a
and under” group began in New York City “with a mere handful.” But three years later, it had
75 to 100 alcoholics.
rapevine A September 1961 G article on these “Youth Groups” states, “In some places,
naturally enough, (they) were started with high hopes and floodtide energy, but little stable
or wise leadership.
Groups turned into social clubs, or other Traditions were broken, and groups died. “ But in
the long run, most of the groups survived and became viable, because they filled a need.
roups. And here, I “One girl admitted, ‘I guess we just rebel more at our age, even in A.A. g
don’t have to try to compare my drinking with that of fellows who reminisce about bathtub gin
or speakeasies.’ And another fellow said, ‘My young people’s group helps me with current
problems. Because I’m young, I have lots of domestic, professional and other personal
problems. Getting started in a career or starting a family are not problems most older
members are now facing, so we younger ones can face them together and help one another.
. That’s in addition to helping each other stay sober which always comes first.’”
Young people’s groups were often regarded with suspicion by older groups. Not
uncommonly, they were not included in the local service structure because they were “not
A.A.” But the youngsters continued doing their thing and gradually came to be not only
accepted but admired. In the 1961 article, the Milwaukee A.A. Central Office secretary is
quoted as saying, “These young people’s groups are the lifesavers of A.A. in our area. The
service workers under 35 are where we get most of our best volunteers who keep our
n Twelfth Step Central Office functioning. They’re the ones we can count on most to take o
jobs, institutional work and public information tasks.”
The young people’s groups along with young people from regular A.A. groups banded
together in 1958 to form the International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics
Anonymous, or ICYPAA (pronounced “IckyPa”) for short. They held their first convention at
Niagara Falls, New York, April 2627, 1958. Less than a hundred people attended. The
event has been held annually ever since in different cities from coast to coast, and the
attendance now runs 3,000 or more, and are eagerly bid. for by young A.A. ‘s in the host
regions and eagerly sought by the convention bureaus of host cities.
Predictably, the large conventions and the existence of ICYPAA caused more controversy
within conventional A.A. than the individual young people’s groups. It was immediately
accused of beingsome kind of nonaffiliated splinter group. Older A.A.’s felt vaguely
threatened. ICYPAA leaders kept insisting, “We’re not a separate movement or a
breakingaway from Alcoholics Anonymous. The Ninth Tradition says ‘we may create service
committees directly responsible to those they serve. Our primary purpose is to carry the
message to younger alcoholics.”
The resistance from regular A.A. groups has now generally disappeared. Trustees from the
General Service Board (including its Chairman) now routinely and delightedly attend the
annual ICYPAA conventions and sometimes the regional ones, too. Past members of
young people’s groups have become trusted servants, Delegates and even Trustees.
(George D.)., past Pacific Regional Trustee, was a former member of the first young
people’s group in Los Angeles. ) The Conventions are very large supporters of G. S. 0. At
the invitation of the General Service Board, ICYPAA leaders have attended a Board sharing
session and they gave extremely valuable assistance in arranging subjects to be interviewed
ocumentary, film targeting young people. These a and filmed for A.A.’s d re the future of A.A.
Seniors
Ironically, this influx of young people into the Fellowship has led older members of A.A. to
form a number of groups and meetings for senior citizen alcoholics. The first of these is
believed to be the Golden Years group started in North Hollywood, California, in 1978. “Teet”
C., one of the founders, says they had seen older alcoholics “fall by the wayside because
they felt they did not belong in large wideopen A.A. meetings.” He adds, however, that all
newly sober elders are cautioned against making the Golden Years group their sole
participation.” Many of the members are longtimers with 25 to 40 years sobriety, who try to
help the newcomer break through his or her denial. In the last decade, many other “over40”,
“sober seniors” or “golden years” groups have formed throughout the country. A.A. has
recognized the special needs of the older alcoholic with the publication of the pamphlet,
“Time To Start Living”, including a largetype edition. (See Chap. 12). A.A. has exhibited at
conventions of the American Association of Retired People, and the staff member on the
CPC assignment has also attended.
Homosexual Alcoholics
Homosexual i.e., gay and lesbian alcoholics have found help and recovery in Alcoholics
welve Steps and Twelve Anonymous from its very early days. Bill W. refers to them in T
Traditions and in a 1958 letter expresses deep sympathy and concern. The dedication and
talents of gay and lesbian A.A. members have often led them into service, where they have
contributed enormously in all capacities including Delegate and Trustee. Almost never overt
in their lifestyle, they have been completely accepted.
In 1975, Lillen Fifield published a study of alcohol abuse in the Los Angeles gay community
entitled, “On My Way to Nowhere: Alienated, Isolated, Drunk.” Its title suggested the author’s
theory to account for the high incidence of alcoholism among homosexuals which is
reflected in the number of homosexual A.A.’s in that city. The point was made that A.A.
serves unique needs for gay and lesbian alcoholics over and above those of straight
alcoholics. The former are frequently estranged from their families at an early age, and
hence feel rejected, lonely and “different” which makes them especially vulnerable to
alcoholism. Add to this that their social life usually revolves around gay bars, partying and
drinking. When they reach their bottom and come to A.A., they find in recovery not only a
cceptance new way of life and new values, but also an a and, indeed, a new “family” they
have never had before.
Therefore, in large cities with a significant homosexual population New York, Los Angeles,
San Francisco, Washington, Boston gays and lesbians came to A.A as early as the 1940’s
and in increasing numbers ever since. Going back to the late ‘40’s and more noticeably in
the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, there were groups in certain neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village
and the East Side of Manhattan in New York, and downtown San Francisco, which were
primarily composed of gay people, though they were not listed or designated as gay groups.
“We were getting along fine,” recalls a gay A.A. member in San Francisco, “with plenty of
gay people getting sober in groups downtown or Mann or East Bay which were
predominantly gay but also had a rich diversity of people.”
However, although the gays identified with the drinking and the feelings of straight A.A.’s,
they sometimes had difficulty being comfortable or openly sharing their experiences and
problems. And so, in San Francisco in about 1967, some people felt they wanted a group
which was exclusively gay. It is recalled that there was considerable debate and controversy
within the gay A.A. community whether or not to do it, but it was finally decided to give it a try
downtown at the Episcopal Church on Fell Street. At first, the members identified themselves
with names and “I’m a gay alcoholic.” Shortly, however, most of them dropped saying “gay”
and said simply, “I’m an alcoholic.” “We regarded this just as a place where homosexual
alcoholics could come who were intimidated in coming to a straight A.A. group,” a founder
says. “We had no idea of creating something in which people would come in and get sober
and spend their entire A.A. life. But that’s what’s happened, and if we hadn’t done it,
someone else would.”
And someone else was indeed doing it in other cities. In Washington, D.C., for example, four
alcoholics — two gay and two lesbian — gathered for a meeting in a private home on
December 8, 1971. All of them found an exclusively homosexual group extremely helpful.
They continued meeting on Sundays at two homes in nearby Virginia until the summer of
1972, when Cade W. and Bob W approached Fr. Goodrich of St.James Episcopal Church
and requested meeting space. He gave his permission. A later pastor said, “If it had gone to
the Vestry Council, it would have been turned down.” Soon a Wednesday Step meeting was
added to the Sunday meeting at St.James. Besides Cade and Bob, early members included
Blanche H., Gerry Kay T., Tom H., Ray C., Vern W., Barbara G., Nancy T. and Dennis L.
In early 1974, Ray C. started the St.Margaret’s open speaker meeting on Friday evenings.
The Lambda group in Virginia followed on Saturday nights. A Big Book meeting began at St.
Thomas in late ‘75, and the Montrose group began a month later. A.A. groups for gays
continued to grow and in 1985 Washington, Maryland and Virginia had 15 groups with about
40 meetings a week.
As similar patterns of growth occurred in other cities, and A.A. groups for gays began to
appear in other locations, the need was felt for a directory of gay/lesbian groups. (Since
1974, they were listed, without special designation, in A.A.’s Directories for U.S. /Canada, by
Conference action. See pp. XXXX). For this purpose as well as to provide a contact point
for homosexual As similar patterns of growth occurred in other cities, and A.A. groups for
gays began to appear in other locations, the need was felt for a directory of gay/lesbian
groups. (Since 1974, they were listed, without special designation, in A.A.’s Directories for
U.S. /Canada, by Conference action. See pp. XXXX). For this purpose as well as to provide
a contact point for homosexual alcoholics, the International Advisory council for Homosexual
Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous was organized. They also publish a helpful
pamphlet. The Council is listed in the front of the A.A. Directories, along with contacts for
other special composition groups, and the Council has worked with G.S.O. to help provide
workshops and social events for gay/lesbian A.A.’s at International Conventions since 1980.
However, gay members in other cities are quick to point out that the Council does not speak
or is it responsible to them. “Some of us out here,” says a member in San for all gay A.A.’s n
Francisco, “area little nervous and a little resentful at the recognition given to this particular
bunch.”
The question of listing groups for homosexuals raged in Los Angeles (and some other
localities) long after the Conference had decided it at the national level. The problem in
Southern California was due not only to the large number of such groups, but it was further
complicated by the existence of a whole coterie of groups for gays who called themselves
“Alcoholics Together.” They pressured the Los Angeles central Office to list them in the local
meeting directory. Actually, however, “Alcoholics Together” were religious in origin and,
ot though they patterned themselves after all aspects of the A.A. program, they were n A.A.
which finally settled the issue.
d hoc In 1975, an a group of gay A.A.’s in Northern California decided they would put on an
AA. roundup. A gay member who tried to help them says the trouble was, none of the
sponsoring group had more than two years sobriety. “They made a lot of mistakes, including
putting out a flyer that was carefully designed to offend almost everybody, without their
realizing they were offending anybody.” Howls of protest were heard as far as the G.S.O. in
New York, and the local Delegate was asked to meet with them and try to straighten them
out. Subsequently, a second flyer was produced, and when it was shown to staff member
Cora Louise B. during the Conference, she remarked, “My, this is as proper and decorous as
an invitation to a comingout party in Greenville, Mississippi !”
That first roundup in 1976 was a great success, with about 200 in attendance from as far
away as Vancouver, British Columbia, and Los Angeles. They immediately wanted to go
home and have a similar event of their own — and so the idea spread. The format of the
ICYPAA conferences was followed in many cases. Criticism has been heard that the largest
of these roundups in New York and San Francisco, drawing around 2,000 people, have
gotten far afield from A.A. in their workshops. But other recent local gatherings of gay A.A. ‘s
have been “pure, basic A.A. absolutely marvelous!” according to one discriminating
member.
Doctors in A.A.
Bill W. courted the favor of doctors toward Alcoholics Anonymous. He considered medical
recognition of alcoholism as a disease to be critical to A.A.’s future, and he valued doctors
as a resource to reach the stillsuffering alcoholic and refer him to A.A. However, though the
cofounder was a doctor and another doctor’s personal story was included in the first edition
of the Big Book, it was not fully recognized that doctors had a more direct relationship with
A.A. as recovered drunks. Doctors are statistically more prone to alcoholism than any
other profession; yet they are l ess prone to recognize their problem or accept help from
anyone other than another doctor.
It was the late Dr. C.P., of Cape Vincent, New York, who, after joining Alcoholics Anonymous
in 1946, realized that doctors in A.A. needed to band together to help other doctors. The first
meeting of ten doctors was held in the garage of Dr. Clarence P. in Clayton, New York, in
1947. As three of them were Canadians, they were “International” from the beginning.
rapevine Clarence then issued an invitation through the G , which resulted in a gathering of 25
doctors from all over, in late summer 1949. Those present agreed that an annual gathering,
held in different parts of the U.S./Canada, would be a desirable addition to their attendance
at local A.A. meetings the rest of the year.
The annual meetings have been held the first weekend in August every year since, at
various locations including Chicago, Denver, San Antonio, San Diego, Toronto, New York,
etc., etc. Guest speakers, in and out of A.A., representing fields connected with alcoholism,
are featured, with plenty of time for regular A.A. sharing. There are no dues, but a modest
registration fee at the annual meeting covers expenses of the meeting, postage for the year,
and a contribution to G.S.O.
The International Doctors in A.A., as they call themselves, have upwards of 2,000 on their
confidential mailing list including names in Australia, New Zealand, South America, South
Africa, Japan, etc. All are assumed to be active in their local A.A. groups as well. The IDAA
roup, with a SecretaryTreasurer who maintains the itself is organized loosely like an A.A. g
mailing list, corresponds with newcomers, and circulates newsletters periodically. Dr. Lewis
“Luke” R., of Youngstown, Ohio, has had the position through most of IDAA’s existence.
Regional meetings and groups, organized by local A.A. doctors, have also been successful
and well attended.
The majority of IDAA members are medical doctors physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists,
etc. The membership also includes dentists, psychologists, veterinarians and medical
scientists such as biochemists and microbiologists. “Through our association with this
group,” states Dr. “Luke” R, “we hope to better cope with and understand our own problems,
the problems of other doctors, and most certainly the problems of our patients.”
Lawyers in A.A.
Admittedly indebted to the International Doctors in A.A. for advice and inspiration, a number
of lawyers in A.A., led by Igor S. of Hartford, Connecticut, founded the International Lawyers
in A.A. at a meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in September 1975. Twenty lawyers were
present, 16 from Canada and four from the U.S. They met in September of the next year in
Buffalo, New York, at what they called their second annual convention. Again, about 20 were
present. The conventions have continued ever since.
They shared their drinking experiences and identified strongly with their common difficulties
in the practice of law when drinking alcoholically. They widened their focus to discuss when
and under what circumstances they should divulge their A.A. membership, and how best to
extend a hand to colleagues or clients in trouble with booze. They concluded they were in a
position to carry the A.A. message effectively without risking their professional reputations or
practices. Like IDAA, the ILAA viewed themselves not as a specialpurpose group, but rather
as a supplement to attendance at regular A.A. meetings and a “vestibule” for lawyers with a
drinking problem to meet with other lawyers before entering mainstream A.A.
Igor S. says, “ILAA emphatically does not seek to form a separatist or elitist group. Instead, it
serves as a sharing community, demonstrating to the frightened, guiltladen lawyer that he is
not alone.”
Concurrently with the founding of International Lawyers in A.A., state bar associations began
to set up procedures to identify alcoholism or drug abuse in the profession and to provide
help. Local lawyer’s groups were able to assist be offering their experience, strength and
hope to those in trouble.
Airline Pilots in A.A.: “Birds of a Feather ”
With airline pilots, an alcohol problem had large and terrifying dimensions. If they were
ven in recovery,they would lose their jobs, under FAA regulations. They had discovered, e
no secure place to go to attend A.A. meetings. “We had a constant, gutwrenching, sweat
producing fear of being found out even after treatment,” says one pilot in A.A.
The first discussion of the special needs of alcoholic airline personnel for treatment and
subsequent recovery in A.A. was held in the early summer of 1975 between Mike M., an
airline dispatcher at the SeattleTacoma (SEATAC) airport, and Larry Haynie, then director
of the Alcoholism Treatment Center at Puget Sound Hospital in Tacoma. Mike had also been
discussing with Ward B., a pilot, the need for an airmenonly A.A. meeting, so he was drawn
into a second appointment with Haynie. These three are considered the cofounders of what
came to be called “Birds of a Feather” (BOAF). The first organized group meeting was held
Friday, December 5, 1975, in a conference room at Puget Sound Hospital.
It soon included Rudy D., who vigorously championed the need for a secret, protective
meeting. His airline had just announced that they had no alcoholic pilots, because if they
found one, they would fire him. Al J. also became an active organizer and contact for the
“Birds.”
From that modest beginning, BOAF grew to about 90 names throughout the world. Their
meetings, which they call “nests,” are held usually at or near airports in Atlanta, Washington,
Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, La Jolla, Seattle, Burlingame and
Morristown, N.J. In June 1981, the formation of a “nest” at Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada, made the “Birds” truly international, in addition to “solo” members in Ireland,
Germany, Iceland and India. Membership has broadened to include other licensed cockpit
crew besides pilots. Birds of a Feather meetings are simply closed A.A. meetings at which
the strictest anonymity is observed. They are registered at G. S. 0., but are not listed in any
A.A. Directories except for the address of the national contact) or local Intergroup meeting
lists.
In 1978 the need was recognized for a national BOAF body to coordinate the meetings and
serve as a communications link. John R. was appointed its first secretary, followed by Chuck
C., Al J., Pat W., Grant B. and Ron D. A newsletter, the “Bird Word,” is circulated
periodically. In December 1982, Renton, Washington, hosted the first international
convention of the Birds, followed by Atlanta and Chicago. In addition, every December 7, the
Washington, D.C., “nest” hosts a “Pearl Harbor Day” meeting attended by several hundred
exairmen from the military as well as current pilots. The Pearl Harbor day meeting predates
BOAF by many years and has none if its secrecy.
Other Special Composition Groups
The hearing impaired may be more susceptible to alcoholism than hearing people because
of their isolation and sense of being “different.” And their recovery in A.A. is hampered by the
difficulty of communicating. Long recognizing this need, A.A. has attempted to serve the
hearing impaired through the group services assignment at C.S.O. The first Deaf group,
apparently, was started in Los Angeles in March 1962, with as many as 18 in attendance
but attendance dwindled and the group was inactivated in 1981. Meanwhile, the Eye Opener
group for the hearing impaired was formed in Washington, D.C., in 1970, and the Sign of
Hope group in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1981. In 1985, G.S.0. listed about 100 groups
and contacts throughout the country.
The exclusively Deaf groups have tended to lose members to regular A.A. groups which
have increasingly tried to provide an interpreter who can “sign” for hearing impaired
members when needed. Signing for the deaf is now provided at all International Conventions
and many other A.A. gatherings as well.
Indian (or Native American, in the modern terminology) groups have existed. They are
e facto essentially d Indian because they meet on or near reservations, but they also provide
powerful identification for the Native American newcomer and recognize cultural differences.
ll The first a Indian group in the U.S. is believed to be the Oneida, Wisconsin, group started in
1953; it is now known as the Hobart group. A letter from Hazel R. at C.S.O. in 1966 says
there are 20 Indian groups in the U.S. and 11 in Canada. The number was probably nearer
100 by 1985.
Still other groups are composed of A.A.’s who speak languages other than English. There
were (NUMBER) of Spanishspeaking groups in the U.S./Canada in 1985. They have formed
their own Intergroups in cities with large Hispanic population, and they held their first
“Convention Nacional A.A. de Habla Hispana” in 1972. It has been held annually ever since,
rotating among various locales, and draws about 1,000 attendees.
Similarly, there are (NUMBER) of Frenchspeaking groups, centered mainly in Quebec,
Canada. A huge annual convention held in Montreal is billed as the BiLingual, but its
attendance is probably 80 percent from Frenchspeaking groups.
Still other groups organized on the basis of language include Polish, Finnish, Italian, Korean
and Vietnamese speaking.
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