INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTION $1 A YEAR

AA EXCHANGE BULLETIN NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF

Vol. 11 No.2

A.A.

AprilMay 1966

305 East 45th Street, New York 10017 Mail address: Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York 10017 .

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MELTING THE ICY WALLS

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PLEASE BRING ANSWERS! CONFERENCE TIME IS QUESTION TIME FOR US AT G.S.O. Although we’ll make our regular reports at the 16th annual G.S. Conference in April, we look forward even more to the “Workshop and Sharing Sessions” and “Interview Time” on the agenda this year. That’s when we of the staff here at G.S.O. will be asking the questions and hoping to hear the answers from you, through your Delegates (see list on P. 4). “Interview Time” Last year was our first trial at this, and we hope to improve this year. Delegates, Trustees, and Directors will meet in six rooms, and in each a Staff Member will throw tough questions – hoping to get factual, useful answers (not just emotional opinions and discussion) to help us improve General Services in A.A. We need facts from every Area abouthow Group problems get solved how Public Information is handled how the “Exchange Bulletin” gets “shared” (should we change its name?) A.A. in hospitals and jails in your Area A. A. literaturetoo much? too little? need changes? clubhouses and rest farms and halfway houses money. ..anonymity…..Grapevine”

I am responsible.

how do you get along with other alcoholism workers in your community? and lots, lots more.

Workshop and Sharing” We want to learn what your local G. S.C. Area Committee does at its meetings. What’s a typical agenda like? What services are considered appropriate for your Committee? What’s “out of bounds”? Does it follow the procedures suggested in the “Third Legacy Manual” for elections? If not, why not? Haven’t some Areas come up with improvements on the plans first suggested back in 1955? We hope to get enough new and better ideas to write a new, updated chapter for the Manual, so all Areas can share in the improvements which have proved successful in other Areas. Or, are A.A. ’s flexible and mature enough to change old ways of doing things? Please, make sure your Delegate is well informed about your Group. What we learn from you through him may be more important to A.A.’s eventual benefit than what the Delegates learn here.

once more, with feeling: please send answers! So,

G.S.R.’S PLEASE NOTE Since all mail from G.S.O. will be going to you, please inform us promptly if you or your Group changes address.

Most of us remember well the icy walls of fear, guilt, remorse, puzzlement, and shame we had around our hearts when active alcoholics. A.A. melted them. Here at G.S.O. we write to A.A.’s behind real stone walls, in hospitals and correctional institutions. And it seems A.A. melts them, too, in all parts of the world. Here is what we mean: “It is surprising and at times humiliating in a very nice way when you

suddenly hear someone whom you have forgotten all about and do not even recognize (we look so different

DID YOU GET IT? By this time you should have received a statement showing what your Group sent in to G.S.O. in 1965. If not received, please let Dennis know. Count that mailing(with Bill’s message enclosed) as the SPRING APPEAL, reminding your Group that world services need its support.

out of prison clothes) say, ’Oh, I met George when I was in Barlinnie at an A.A. meeting.’ This brings home to me over and over what we said at Toronto, ’I am responsible.’ “In some ways it is frightening… and glorious. . .Yet to try to follow all that is implied in the 12th Step keeps us down to size. After all, we are only message boys and girls!” George G., Glasgow, Scotland

When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand /of A.A. always to he there. And for that: I AM RESPONSIBLE. Declaration of the 30th Anniversary International Convention

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for 35th Anniversary Year Convention. Clubs, Rehabs and A.A. Traditions. Principles Before Personalities. Bill’s Own Story (film). Sat., Apr. 23: Closing Brunch. Trip to “Stepping Stones,”Bill’s and Lois’ Home.

tributions. Workshop and Sharing on Conference Structure, Conference Reporting and Area Activities. Thurs., Apr. 21: “Grapevine.” Institutions. World Directory. Literature. Interview Time. Committee Meetings. Anonymity Within A.A. Fri., Apr. 22: Conference Committee Reports and Discussion. Report on Toronto Convention. Discussion of Ideas

* * * * “Area Highlights” by Panel 16 Delegates and “Ask-It-Basket” sessions every day.

SPECIAL GIFTS TO G.S.O.

OUR NEWEST PAMPHLET

December, January, February Although our newest pamphlet, shown above, is NOT written primarily for A.A. members, it may be that A. A. members will appreciate it more than anybody else. It clarifies much of A.A. experience over the decades by listing clearly the services A.A. does NOT perform in the field of alcoholism. “Alcoholics Anonymous in Your Community” has been in preparation for two yearsfirst by our Literature Committees, then by our Public Information Committee. It is written to explain primarily to professionals and non-A.A. laymen just how the Fellowship can work with other community groups to help sick alcoholics and yet not get bogged down in affiliations and activities which, as our Traditions warn us, would destroy the unique nature of A. A. This folder will be the principal literature used when A.A.’s speak to nonA.A. gatherings or try to explain A.A. to professionals. It answers nine questions about the Fellowship and defines “A.A.’s Position in the Field of Alcoholism.” It should make a good subject for discussion meetings, and certainly every institutional worker in the field of alcoholism should have one. Price: 5.

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CALIFORNIA: Long Beach So. Coastal Area Panel 2 District 3……… $ 6.00 14th Annual So. California Convention…………….2,960.34 FLORIDA: Miami – Gratitude Dinner District 8…………….. 168.23 KENTUCKY: Paducah Tri State Convention……………. 486.46 MASSACHUSETTS: New England Conference. 100.00 MONTANA: Lewistown – Montana 46.60 Pig Special …………… OHIO: Hamilton – Southwestern Ohio

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1966 DIGEST OF CONFERENCE AGENDA Mon., Apr. 18: Registration. Tour of G.S.O. Welcome Session. Staff Reports. Agenda Review. Opening Dinner, with Bill and Lois. A.A. Meeting. Tues., Apr. 19: Committee Meetings. G. S. B. Report. Reports of Trustees Committees: Policy, Finance, Public Information, Literature, Nominating, International, A.A.W.S., Area Delegates Only Dinner and Meeting. Wed., Apr. 20: Discussion and Action on Trustees’ Plan for Restructuring the G. S. Board. A Good Look at A.A. Attraction. Our Tradition of Self-Support (possible Preamble change). Help for A.A. in Small Communities (and Loners). “Exchange Bulletin.” Central Offices and G.S.O. Financing G.S.O. and Monthly Con-

Area G.S.0 ……………. 12.72 WASHINGTON: Spokane – Special Contribution of 5 Groups in memory of Delegate Ed M…………. 31.00 WISCONSIN: Kenosha – So. Wisconsin Conference……………. 241.72 CANADA: Alberta – 15th Alta Conference & So. Alta. Roundup…….. 400.00 B.C. – Kamloops Roundup. 139.24 P.Q. – Montreal – Quebec Provincial Bilingual Conference……………. 277.50 Ont. – Sudbury District Committee ……………. 55.50

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“My name is Murray; I’m an alcoholic. . “My name is Judy; I’m an alcoholic. . “My name is Marjorie: I’m an alcoholic. . “My name is Bud; I’m an alcoholic… Spoken by four real A. A. members, those words open the new 60-second TV spot announcement which any A.A. Public Information Committee, Group, or Central Office can now buy to make available to

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local television as public service (no charge) time. You don’t see the faces, of course, but you see what kind of people these are a truck driver, an attractive housewife, a switchboard operator, and a business executive. Then suddenly you see the nonalcoholic chairman of our General Service Board, Dr. John L. Norris. “Dr. Jack” says that A.A. does not solicit members, but is willing to help anyone who may be having trouble with his drinking. One copy of the print costs $20.00. Order from G.S.O.

Who Keeps A.A.

THE BIRTHDAY

Going in South Africa? For more than nine years the A.A. General Service Office in Johannesburg, South Africa, has maintained a Literature Distribution Center for Groups in that area. And it thrills us that they have assumed the responsibility of furnishing complimentary literature to all new Groups and Loners there, relieving New York’s G.S.O. of that financial burden, Glen B. writes us that they have to stock substantial quantities of A.A. material in 5 languages: English, Afrikaans, Sesutu, Xhosa, and Zulu, and the number of calls for German literature is growing. The Johannesburg Center prints on its own 7 pamphlets and the Big Book in Afrikaans, and buys other items from London. They send any Group literature on creditwhich means they lose about $200.00 a year, but “this is a service which we feel privileged to provide,” Glen says. Twice a year they publish their Group Directory, and had to add 20 new Groups to the latest edition. It’s this wonderful A. A. spirit which makes us feel ashamed of ourselves when we grumble. Those South African A.A.’s really act out the “I am Responsible” declaration better than many of us here in the continent where A.A. started. They inspire us here at G.S.O. to try harder. How about you?

TRAVELING PIGS Three happily loaded piggy banks, gaily decorated like the above one, have traveled to us from Judy M., Panel 14 Delegate from Montana. Judy takes them with her when she

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PLAN Plastic boxes to hold A.A. Birthday envelopes (as pictured) are available from G.S.O. for $1.50. Many Groups and members have found the “Birthday Plan” an effective way of proving they mean it when

A. A.

CALENDAR

APRIL 2-3

– Eastern Iowa Conference & 12th Anniversary of Blandirie, Davth%port, Iowa. Write: Conference Committee, Blandine Group, 117 1/2 Perry St., Davenport, Iowa. 8-10 1966 Convention, Windhoek, S.W. Africa. Write: 1966 Convention Committee, Windhoek Group, P.O. Box 1750. Windhoek, S.W. Africa. 8-11 Australia A.A. Convention, Hobart, Tasmania. Write: Chairman, Convention Committee, G.P.O. Box 706G, Hobart, Tasmania. 16-17 9th All Ireland A.A. Convention, Galway City, Ireland. Write: A. A., Great Northern Hotel, Eyre Square, Galway, Ireland. 21-24 – 19th South Carolina Conference, Ocean Forest Hotel, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 30May 1 6th Chicago Intergroup Conference, McCormick Place, East 23 Street & The Lake Front, Chicago, Illinois. Write: Conference Comm., 427 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, Illinois 60148. –

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MAY 13-15 – Blossom Time Conference, General Brock Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. 14-15 – Wyoming State Convention. Write: Rawlins Fellowship Group of A.A., P.O. Box 463, Rawlins, Wyoming. 20-22 Tennessee State Convention, Hermitage Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee. Write: P.O. Box 1114, Nashville, Tenn. So. Wisconsin Area A.A. Spring 21 Conference. Racine, Wisconsin. 21-22 Upper Ottawa Valley Area Conference, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. Write: Conference Chairman, P. 0. Box 1, Camp Petawawa, Ontario, Canada. 21-22 Interior A.A. Roundup, Odd-

they say “I am responsible. . Your G.S.R., Committee Member, or Delegate can explain how it works.

fellow’s Hall, Kamloops, B. C., Canada. Write: Chairman, P.O. Box 353, Kamloops, B.C., Canada. 27-29 – Spring Downstate Illinois A.A. Conference, Orlando Hotel Decatur, Illinois. Write: Decatur Group, P. 0. Box 903, Decatur, Illinois. 28-29 – A.A. Gateway Roundup, Prince Albert Civic Centre, P. 0. Box 1131, Prince Albert, Sask., Canada.

JUNE Oklahoma State Conference, Mayo Hotel, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Write: Chairman, A.A. State Conference, Box 1593, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 6th Annual Desert Roundup, Hol3-5 iday Inn/Riviera Hotel, Palm Springs, Calif. Write: Desert Roundup, 454 North Indian Ave., Palm Springs, Calif. 10-12 – Missouri Roundup, Missouri Motor Hotel, Jefferson City, Mo. Write: Conference Chairman, P.O. Box 814, Jefferson City, Mo. 65101. 17-19 1st Annual North Florida Conference, Voyager Motel, Daytona Beach, Florida. 17-19 – Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi. Write: Cony. Chairman, P.O. Box 313, Jackson, Mississippi. 18-19 Annual A.A. Founders Day Commemoration, Akron University, Memorial Hall, Akron, Ohio. Write: Chairman, Breakfast Committee, c/o Sheraton Hotel, Akron, Ohio.

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makes A. A. talks, and writes on them the name of each Group visited, and the number of miles each pig travels. When the porkers are stuffed she sends them as special contributions to G.S.O. So far, they’ve totalled $46.06.

JULY

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10th Ohio State Conference, Commodore Perry Hotel, Toledo, Ohio.. Write: Ohio G. S.C. Headquarters, Commodore Perry Hotel, Toledo, Ohio.

GRAPEVINE NEWS April Issue Remember that marvelous Christmas piece in the “Grapevine” about A.A. in Finland? There’s more this month – a letter from Usko called, “Rebirth”. Also: “Murder in a Blackout” by ’an A.A. reporter who had to cover the trial of an alcoholic; a Brooklyn teenager’s story, “My Name is Mary”; “Once Over Lightly” for chuckles; ’’Vin du pays – Phooey” by

an A.A. traveler in Europe; “Our Mutual Sins,” by guest author, Dr. Harry K. Elkins, and “Sunrise Service in Athens.”

S.D.: Marty C., (16), Flandreau. Tenn.: Ray D., (16), Kingsport. Tex.: Morris McF., (15), Tyler; Joe C., (16), Midland; Jerry W., (15), Houston; Phillip S., (16), Corpus Christi. Utah: Ralph S., ( IS), Ogden. Vt.: Lee B., (16), Winooski.

May Issue “Why A. A. Is Anonymous,” a vintage GV piece by Bill; “I Was a Perpetual Private” (from Vietnam); “Twelve Steps to Slimness” and a Conference piece, “Voice of A.A. or Rubber Stamp?”

DELEGATES FOR 1966

Va.: Earl Felton, (15), Portsmouth. Wash.: Eric B., (15), Seattle. W.V.: Jack McC., (15), Parkersburg. Wis.: Bert C., (16), Medford: Clarence T., (15), Kenosha. Wyo.: Ben B., (16), Rock Springs. P.R.: Guillermo C., (16), Bayamon.

CANADA

Why are there 42 Panel 15 Delegates to the Conference this year, and 46 Panel 16? What does this “Panel” business mean, anyhow? (We’ve been asked to write a short answer to this; but instead, we refer you to Page 55 of the “Third Legacy Manual.” The original design was to provide rotation, with half the Conference Delegates being elected each year. Can you figure out what has happened since?) Ala. & N. W. Fla.: Jim H., (15), Bessemer. Alaska: Pay P., (16), Clear. Arizona: Paul R., (16), Sedona. Arkansas: Hollis A., (15), Dumas, Calif.: Jack 0., (15), Hollywood; Ed H., (15), Pittsburg; Patrick S., (16), Paradise; Rosa B., (16), San Diego; Joe K. (16), Cathedral City. Cob.: Jack M., (15), Denver.

N. Y.: Sheldon B.,(15), Homer; Joe C., (16), Amsterdam; Frank C.,(15), Brooklyn; Johnny H., (16), Niagara Falls. N. C.: Harry a, (15), Charlotte. N.D.: Milly I., (16), Bismarck. Ohio: Harold H., (15), Columbus; Charles G., (15), Canton; Elmer L., (16), Bryan; Bill J., (16), Terrace Park. Okla.: Mike R., (15), Cordell. Ore.: Edward D., (16), Portland. Pa.: Gail J., (15), Rosemont; Ray M., (15), Meadville. R. I.: Hiram L., (16), Barrington. S.C.: Squire J., (16), Taylors.

YES, CERTAINLY

NO, NOT AT ALL

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(What do you think? Write us and join the “debate”!)

At the critical moment of truth for every alcoholic who wants A.A. help, we’re still exactly what Bill and Dr. Bob were-one “drunk” talking to another. As in the beginning, we still have no profit motive, no gimmicky “cure” to sell. We still keep the individual approach, and keep it simple-basing our work on Love and Service. We’re still not tied up with any medical, psychological, or theological doctrines.

Conn.: Tommy D., (15), Cheshire. Del.: Grover S., (16), Newark. D.C.: Hal P., (15), Silver Springs. Fla.: Bert L., (15), Ocala; Walter T., (15), Fort Lauderdale. Ga.: Virgil W., (16), D e cat u r. Hawaii: Butch C., (15), Kaneohe. Idaho: Wilford W., (16), Idaho Falls. Illinois: James G., (15), Lake Forest; Bud W., (16), Rock Island; Wes J., (15), Springfield. S Ind.: Ross S., (15), Gary; Robert W., (16), Indianapolis. Iowa: Thomas P., (15), Des Moines. Kan.: Hank E.,(16), Emporia. Ky.: Bernie 5., (16), Louisville. La.: Maurice R., ( 15), New Orleans. Me.: Gordon P., (16), Gardiner. Md.: Ginny D., (16), Baltimore. Mass.: Bill C., (15), Boston; Roger LaC., (16), Chicopee Falls. Mich.: Scotty 5., (15), Waterford; Ralph McP., (15), Whitmore Lake; Clarence K. (16), South Haven. S Minn.: Arno A., (16), Waite Park; Robert D., (15), Rochester. Miss.: Tyson L., (16), Corinth. Mo.: Jim B., (15), St. Louis; Keet R., (15), Branson. Mont.: Earl P., (16), Shelby. Neb.: Kerry L., (16), Ord. Nev.: Ray F., (15), Carson City. N. H.: George J., (16), Durham. N. J.: George D., (15), Manasquan; Paul H., (16), Haddonfield. N.M.: Robert F., (16), Deming.

Alberta: Ted K., (16), Calgary. B.C.: Jan A., (15), Vancouver. Man.: Jim P., (16), Boissevain. N.B. & P.E.I.: Russell S., (16), Sackville. N.S. – Nfld. & Labrador: Bob P., (15), SL John’s. S Ont.: Alf McG., (15), Ottawa; Clare G., (16), Chatham; Garfield K., (15), Sudbury. Que.: Belle H., (16), Co. Terrebonne; Telesphore B., (16), Montreal. Sask.: Ed L., (16), Yorktown.

In Our 31st, Has A.A. Changed Much?

And thank God it has! If we had not learned and improved some in 30 years, something would be sadly wrong! Look at some of the wonderful changes we have seen. Now, instead of just two men alone trying to stay sober, we’re a fellowship 350,000 strong to help each othed Now you don’t have to live in Akron or New York City to find A.A. as you did the first four years. It’s all over the world. Now we have much of the A.A. message in print, in many languages, so we can send it quickly to anyone who needs it, anywhere. Now we know that simply staying sober isn’t enough (although the 12 Steps of Recovery are still the first Legacy in importance). We also have to go on living in the world, and thank God the A.A. experience summed up in the Traditions, our Second Legacy, helps us with that. We’re no longer considered j us t a bunch of kookie cultists. A.A. ideas have proved so successful that A. A. is now important enough to be respected-and criticized!

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We still take no stands on “causes” of alcoholism, but concentrate on staying away from one drink one day at a time, and helping other alcoholics. We still maintain public anonymity, and most of us avoid personal publicity or riches just for staying sober. The Twelve Steps are today just as accurate a description of our first members? experience as they were when originally published. We still manage, as a fellowship, to stay out of public controversies and outside enterprises that might destroy A.A. We still acknowledge one ultimate Authority in A.A. . .