AA EXCHANGE BULLETIN NEWS AND NOTES ON ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLDWIDE

Volume

5

Published by General Service Headquarters of AA., P. 0. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York 17

Number 1

February, 1960

10TH GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE. . In the excitement about our 25th Anniversary Celebration, let’s not forget our General Service Conference talking place in April. It will be our Tenth Service Conference. We are all looking forward to it and to meeting all the Delegates, old and new . . The DATES: April 20-24, 1960, Hotel Roosevelt, New York City. SPECIAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR MEETINGS. . Material is now available for those groups planning special public meeting or anniversary meetings in connection with AA’s 25th Anniversary Year. This information was compiled after many groups had requested it. If you’d like to have a copy, just let us know (General Service Office, P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York 17, N. Y.) and we’ll mail yours promptly.

PROFESSIONAL AA EXHIBIT. . The large professional AA Exhibit will be shown at the American Orthopsych[ric Annual Meeting at the Hotel Sherman in Chicago; February 25, 26 and 27, 1960.

ATTENTION CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND AAS! . . On Saturday, February 27th, your General Service Office ff1 be open from 10 A. M. to 2 P.M. for GSRS (and all who are interested in the Third Legacy of Service) from Connecticut and Rhode Island. Our address . . . (Second floor) 141 East 44th Street, New York City.

GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE ROTATION. . Last year, 31 of the 44 areas due for rotation held their Assemblies before January first, the date the new Delegates and Committees take office. The others will hold their elections before March 1st, the latest date suggested in the Third Legacy Manual. THREE LEGACIES GROUP . In Spokane, Washington, this new group was formed last November in gratitude for the sobriety members have received from AA’s Three Legacies. It does not replace group meetings, but provides additional opportunity for members to study and discuss the 12 Steps, the 12 Traditions and the Third Legacy of Service. All AAs in Spokane are invited to attend.

THANKS FROM. . Our clipping service continues to keep us supplied with information about AA round the world. Recently, we shared with Waterbury the feeling of gratitude expressed in the following “LETTER TO THE EDITOR”: “Thankfulness Is Linked With Love . . It is with a ’deep and abiding pride’ yet humble gratitude to read the glowing accolade attributed to activities of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, which appeared recently in your newspaper.

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“There is a great joy and quiet satisfaction in being thankful and giving thanks. Thankfulness is linked with love and appreciation, and faith . . . thankfulness inspires charity, it never moves empty handed. “To the local newspaper, radio stations, members of the clergy and medical profession, we wish to express our gratitude for the many kindnesses shown to us during the past year.”

OTHER BITS OF INTEREST FROM THE CLIPPING SERVICE. . There have been no newspaper clippings on AA’s soliciting of funds from non-AA sources in the last two months of 1959, and there have been only two anonymity breaks as reported in the press. In both these breaks, letters were written to the offending publication, as has been suggested by the General Service Conference. TRAVEL MONEY . . A number of AA groups and members have written to inquire about the expenses of speakers they invited to local Conventions. Some AAs seem to think that any reimbursement is out-of-the-question and others are giving out honorariums . . . so it does seem that a little clarification is in order.

After some trials and errors, a custom has now been established for the Host Convention Committee to pay the travel expenses of a speaker. This does not mean that he is paid a “fee”. We have some good material here at GSO on Conventions and Conferences. It includes more details about speakers, expenses etc., so if you’d like it, give a holler and we’ll send it along to you. MADRID AND ASCOM. . The groups in Spain and Korea want visitors. We have a letter from Bob B. (full name on request to us here). He says call Ascom 2180 when you hit Korea and he will be available. He’s with the 43rd Transportation Company, APO 20, San Francisco, California. The phone numbers in Madrid are: CIvil 34-12-74 or Torrijon Air Base, Madrid, CIvil 228290, 228390 Ext. 3078 or Base Chaplain’s Office, Ext. 2111. TRANSFER TO A NEW GROUP . . Many members write and tell us how hard it is to have to move away from their old group to a new one in a different location. A recent letter from an AA who has done just this, shares his experience and gives out with some good suggestions, we think: “After a year in this area, attending many different meetings, I have figured out what is lacking . . from my own point of view . . it is real participation by the members . . . the meetings of each group are conducted by a small coterie of persons who actively manage group affairs. More noticeably there is a relatively small “panel” of speakers in each group, who speak again and again at area meetings . . the great majority of members merely attend and listen, never speaking or being noticed in any way, or otherwise being encouraged to participate, except of course, at closed discussion meetings.” The writer went on to say that several excellent customs that had been adopted at his old group had proven helpful in making the newcomer feel a part of the group; namely the observance of birthdays, and the program chairman making it a point to ask new members to speak at meetings after a reasonable period of sobriety. Speakers from outside were seldom asked so that each group member had a chance to have his say; this also had the effect of getting the members to know one another better. Some such effort by the secretary or chairman seems especially needed. In other words each and every person in your group deserves special attention. The sink or swim method, is often not a success.

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O NVENTION NEWS . . Approximately 4, 000 are registered now – – Will YOU be there? July 1, 2 and 3 – AA’s 25th Anniversary Convention, Long Beach, California. Lots of Al-Anon activities are being planned, too! Forms are available through your Group – Central Office – General Service Office. All forms to be mailed to: AA Convention Long Beach Convention Bureau Municipal Auditorium Long Beach 2, California Transportation Hints . GSO has heard from the following that they are interested in arranging Charter Trips: 1. United States Overseas Airlines, Inc., Chrysler Building, New York, N. Y. – do Frank Sherman. Z. Trans World Airlines – Contact their local office. 3.

Sante Fe Railroad – Contact their local office.

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Rock Island Railroad – Contact local office.

We believe that you will be amazed at the reasonable charter fares available. Some groups are chartering buses, too. Come anyway you wish -but do come!

There are a limited number of Hospitality Suites available. If you wish one for your group or area – let GSO know.

The Lafayette Hotel will be GSO Headquarters and The Wilton Hotel will be Al-Anon. But both Staffs will have offices in the Convention Hall. Housing is being handled on a First Come – First Served basis.

All Hotels and Motels are within 12 minutes of Downtown Long Beach! Good local transportation available. (See Map on back of Housing Form.)

Program details later – but – there will be Workshops – Continuous AA Meetings Non-AA Friends – and Bill and Lois.

In planning your arrival and departure keep in mind that the California Host Committee is arranging – 1.

Kick-off Dance – night of June 30.

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Mammoth Entertainment Show – Memorial Stadium Sunday Night – July 3.

DIRECTORY MAILING 1960 . . We want to thank all of you for the fine response to the Directory mailing. There has been a practically 100% return on both cards, and at present count, close to 40% of the groups are finding it advantageous to be able to list a different address in the Directory. There are only a few days left before the deadline, so if any of you have not yet returned these cards, please see to it that it is done immediately. We are so anxious that the 1960 Directory will be as accurate as possible – to provide a better tool of service and to give a more factual picture of AA in 1960.

Perhaps some of you in visiting other groups this corning week, could remind them too, of the importance of the return of these cards. Any group not heard from in 1959, either by contribution, order, correspondence or inclusion on a Committee or Central Office list, will not appear in the 1960 Directory, unless these cards are returned. This, as per Conference instruction in 1957.

AA TODAY – A Special Grapevine Publication . . You will receive with this Exchange Bulletin, the first advance reproduction of a 4-page color insert which will appear in the March Grapevine. Both AAs and Non-AAs in many fields of endeavor have contributed their talents and experiences to make AA TODAY a truly memorable achievement. There are many fine things in it for every member and advance indications point to a strong demand throughout our fellowship. You are invited to share in this stimulating publication by ordering as soon as possible, thus assuring you and your group of publication date delivery. The enclosed reproduction tells the whole story and groups will also find it helpful in acquainting their members with this unique publishing event. Please read it carefully and note the individual and group order forms on its back page. The Grapevine hopes you will respond quickly. WE ARE MEETING OUR BUDGET! . . End of the year figures show that for the first time in many years we have been able to meet our budget, thanks to each and every one of you. We are deeply grateful to all of you. Special Contributions 11719759 – 12731/59 Michigan – – Oakland County Inter-Groups 11/20/59 – -$50.00 Nevada

Indiana

Canada

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Round Robin Meeting 11/27/59 — $101.24

Washington – – Spokane – All Spokane Groups Tha nk sg i v ing r 12/15/59 – -$90.00 Minnesota – – – Northwest Area 12/21/59 — $511.71

Indiana State Committee 11/30/59 — $200.00 New Westminster, British Columbia Pacific Northwest $100.00 Conference 1959 – 12/3/59

Michigan – – – 1959 Michigan State Conference 12/29/59 — $29.56

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Minnesota

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Southern Minnesota Conference 12/10/59 — $42.64

Louisiana – – Wednesday Night Open Meeting 12/31/59 — $40.00 Alabama – – – Birmingham, Area #3 11/30/59 — $75.00

CORRECTION Maine – – – Bill W. Anniversary Meeting – instead of District One 11/18/59 — $385.52