T HE GENER AL SERVICE OF FICE OF A. A.

Vol, 8 ·No, 2

February 1963

• 305 E ast 45th Str ee t, N ew York 17 • Mail addre s s : Box 45 9, Grand Central Sta ti on, New York 17 •

IHOIVIElUAL SUBSCRIPTION $1 A YEAR

PRINCIPLE OF ANONYMITY EXPLORED WHY IS ANONYMITY IMPORTANT? We’re asking this because we’ve had quite a bit of correspondence lately about one aspect of anonymity. There has been an increasing emphasis on “name speakers” at special A.A. meetings and even at regular A.A. meetings. Even though anonymity is often protected technically in that no last names are used at the public level, the speakers can easily be identified by their reported occupation, first name, network or studio affiliation, etc. Often at the group leve l, no attempt at all is made to protect the anonymity of the s peekers. Fu II names are used in notices going out to groups. Even though it could be said that this is not a violation of anonymity at the public level, it could also be said to be in violation of the spirit of anonymity that has come to mean so much to ou r entire Fellowship. What do you all think? We’d like so mucb to know, so please write us.

* * * * Here are some reminders about our Anonymity Tradition: Anonymity was important to A.A.’s in 1935. Little or nothing was known about the illness of alcoholism. In the

THIRD PERSON TWELFTH STEP WORK A good suggestion has reached us which is worth sharing, we think. It is that every member of A.A. who has notalready done so, inform his doctor about the A.A. program and its availability for any alcoholic patient that the doctor may wish to refer. Many A.A.’s have had their first glimmer of hope by hearing about the possibility of recovery in A.A. through a “Third Person,” who serves as the link between the alcoholic and A.A. To help to spread the message through this “Third Person,” in this case, your doctor, the pamphlet “A.A. and The Medical Profession” is available at G. S. 0. Designed especially to acquaint members of tile medical profession with our program, it might be the tool which could mean that an alcoholic be directed to A.A. without delay.

public eye, drunks were synonymous with bums. Few A. A.’s were willing to identify themselves as alcoholics. Our co-founder, Bill, says in ihe book, “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,” that, at first, anonymity was a child born of fears. But then as A.A. grew, and with it an understanding of alcoholism as an illness, A.A.’s feeling about anonymity changed. It grew to signify humility, the placing of principles about personalities and sacrifice (its spiritual substance). Then when the Traditions were accepted by the A.A. Fellowship as our Legacy of Unity, the Twelfth Tradition stated: “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.”

* * * * (A full discussion on anonymity is to be found in the book, “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,” and the pamphlet, “A.A. Tradition and How it Developed,” all available at G.S.O.)

GROUP PROBLEMS ANYBODY? Yes, groups do have problems. The daily flow of mail at G. S. 0. (over 50,000 pieces annually) usually includes at least one meaty problem. Can we – in the light of what we learn about other grollps and the Traditions- help with a clean-cut solution? Two such problems reoently received: (1) A drug addict with no alcoholic problem had approached a local group for help. (2) A group member was driving •ew people away with his bossy attitude. Who would like to take a crack at either #l or #2? What group has had experience with either problem? We’ll print the most helpful answers in an early Bulletin. Please give us a hand in sharing.

”Where~ your GSR??

..• or your secretary. I W811rl8 be pinneq

on the b£AIIetin board!”

EXPERT IN ACCOUNTING AND PEOPlE

TAlE FOR A NEW DElEGATE from

An Old One I remember how disinterested I once had been in the terms “General Service” and “World Service,” I knew they would have little meaning to newer people who think much more about their own sobriety and their interest in getting somebody else into A.A. So I have spent my time talking about “A. A. as a whole,” trying to create a feeling of closeness between our membership and you girls on the G.S.O. Staff and Herb and the Board, as persons, as partners in carrying the message of A.A. where we cannot do it as individuals or as groups. When I have heard the expression “That bunch in New York,” I have been quick to say “That bunch in New York is OUR BUNCH.”

Finances never have top popularity in A.A. But popular or not, they are with us to stay. As A.A.’s, we have pledged ourselves to self-support, a tradition which has made our Fellowship unique indeed. To set us straight in the financial department of G.S.O., we have a great guy called Dennis Manders who has headed up our Accounting Department since 1950. This hard· working soul with his hardworking team of assistants keeps track of all contributions and payments received, book and pamphlet orders, and all the workaday bits of our daily existence at G.S.O. Den has always been interested in all phases of A.A. and is much more to us than a figures man. He is a dear friend, to whom we often go for the facts and figures important to the business-like functioning of G.S.O. We thank you, Den, for all your patience and your continued enthusiasm for all that is A.A. LAUGH FOR TODAY Question: What is A.A.A. – A.A.? Answer : It’s a fellowship for those who have been driven to drink. ALCONAIRE GROUP CAN CORRESPOND Harry, the secretary of the AlconAire Group in the South Dakota State Prison at Sioux Falls, writes to let us know that the 1962 Directory of Groups in Correctional Facilities did not give the information about his group that it should have, The coding should have indicated that the Group can correspond with outside groups and with other Institutional groups and also that it has Tapes for exchange. The Group address is: P.O. Box 911, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

– – — – – – — – – — – — – — – — COMING IN THE GRAPEVINE

“The Grapevine” wants us to know that its February issue will expose the “Root of Evil.” In fact,_ they put it this way: “Read the February Grapevine .. Root of Evil laid bare.” and don’t miss “Let’s Level About Money.”

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The second of November I took two of our young pistols and their wives and Werta (the wife of your Delegate, Bob) was along too, to Oklahoma City for an inter-group meeting at the Kelly Clubhouse. I wasn’t up to much of a talk and I thought these boys, one 10 months, the other a year, would be a real inspiration and they were. I acted as their M. C. and made what was probably the shortest Genera I Service talk on record. I told them I had looked in the archives and read the the correspondence when the Oklahoma City Group might have been in the first 100 groups; that I knew when the first clubbouse trouble started in Oklahoma – it started the first day they had a clubhouse; that the more things changed the more they stayed the same. Those early day letter-writers each tried to leave the impression that he was the only giver of the”True Word”; the restwere all screwballs ordunces whose ideas weren’t worthy of any attention whatever. You needed them then, you need them now. They needed you then, they need you now because there is not only the business of Oklahoma groups and their problems to be attended to; there are perhaps 10,000 groups all around theworld and the same kind of letters are coming in from these far off places as you used to write, about the same problems. Everything is just the same as it always was except that by getting an earlier start you have been able to be an effective reason for this great growth through your consistent and earnest support.

A FIRST!

.J/1.. GERMAN EXCHANGE BULLETIN The German language groups, through the coordinated effort of Harry B., the former secretary of the group in Munich, but now located in Bad Reichenhall, are attempting to start a monthly “Exchange Bulletin” for Germanspeaking groups, hoping in this way to “share experience, strength, and hope” with one another. G.S.O. is happy to have the opportunity to make a small written contribution to the Bulletin each month,

COMMEMORATE 20 YEARS OF A.A. IN SAN QUENTIN PRISON (By Don Nivens, staff writer, San Quentin News) SAN QUENTIN (Calif,) – Twenty years of institutional Alcoholics Anonymous was observed within the walls of San Quentin Penitentiary on Saturday, December 8, as chapter representatives and members from all parts of California joined the regular inmate body in a stirringfourhourA.A,conference.More than 150 outside guests packed the ha II to commemorate the 20-year milestone and pay tribute to the founder of San Quentin’s A.A., Clinton T. Duffy. San Quentin’s organization is the largest in the United States penal system and was the first institution to introduce A.A. to its inmates. Mr. Duffy, former San Quentin warden, was presented a scroll earlier this year honoring him as the “Father of Institutional Alcoholics Anonymous.” Associate Warden W. D. Achuff addressed the gathering, briefly stating that the meeting” symbolized twenty years of accomplishment in the rehabilitation of those who cannot drink. The number of men A. A. has salvaged must run into thousands ••• and there wili be thousands more.” “Belonging to Alcoholics Anonymous is almost a mark of distinction,” Warden Achuff continued. “Anyone can fight one battle. But an A.A. member must fight a continuous, daily battle ••• it is the mark of a man.”

REPRINTED FROM: GOOD NEWS, JANUARY, 1963, a monthly publication of the Northem California Council of Alcoholics Anonymous.

IS THERE AN A. A. IN THE PEACE CORPS? A letter from an A.A., (female persuasion) tells us that she is thinking about a job with the Peace Corps and wonders if other A.A.’s can tell her how they go about combining the program with their overseas situation. She asks to be put in touch with an A.A. who may be in the Corps with whom to share experience. Any takers? Her name and address on request.

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THE FIRST BULLETIN

Let’s have a look at the first “Bulletin” that was mailed out to all A.A. groups in Nov. 1940. Nearly fifty groups received this very first communication from what was then called, “The Alcoholic Foundation.” Ruth Hock signed the “Bulletin.” She was the nonA.A. secretary who contributed so much to A.A. in those early days. The purpose of the “Bulletin” was stated as “an effort to develop a mutual idea exchange sheet toestablish a clos~r feeling of friendship between A.A. groups from fhe east coast to the west, and we hope it wi II prevent the secession from the A. A. ranks of our San Francisco Group who threatened to call themselves, ‘Di psomaniacs Incognito,’ unless they hear from us more frequently.” “In view of the fact that in April 1939 there were only about 100 A.A. members, and the fact that there is now a total of approximately 1,400, your efforts and ours have been exceptionally worthwhi Ie.” How’s that for the Department of Understatement!

KEEP IT SIMPLE! GOOD REPORTS ON G.S.O. FILM

A sound film strip, describing G.S.O. SERVICES, was first distributed to General Service Conference Delegates last September. Since then many Delegates have made good use of it in showing the movement how worldwide Twelfth Step work is carried on. One Delegate wrote, “I showed the G.S.O. film at our Assembly meeting. It was very well received by those present. It will certainly give our membership a better understanding of what General Services accomplish.” Another Delegate commented, “This visual trip through G.S.O. is the finest experience yet.” Letters report the film at work at conventions, conferences, Assembly Meetings, State Committee Meetings and regular group meetings. It has been shown so far in 25 states and five provinces (we have had reports from that many). Quebec has prepared a French tape translation of the commentary. If any of you have not yet seen the film and want a showing for your group, ask your G. S. R. or write G.S.O.

Lots of people ask us about Dr. Bob’s last talk, when the alleged famous words, “Keep it simple,” were spoken, These quotes have been used frequently to bolster familiar arguments concerning the fact that all A.A. needs is a kitchen table and a couple of drunks. So, just to keep the record straight, we’d like to quote Dr. Bob in full:

“But there ore two or three things that flashed into my mind on which it would be fitting to lay a little emphasis; one is the simplicity of our Program. Let’s not louse it all up with Freudian complexes and things that ore interesting to the scientific mind but have very Iittle to do with our actual A. A. work. Our Twelve Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve themselves into the words ‘love’ and ‘service.’ We understand what love is and we understand what service is. So let’s bear those two things in mind.”

TAPEWORMS ARE RAMPANT!

YOUR A.A. CALENDAR

1963 February 1·3._ South Texas Jamboree Hotel Robert Driscoll, Corpus Christi, Texas Write: Jamboree, P.O. Box 1294, Corpus Christi, Texas

February 9.

Fourth Annual Coon Feed. Hotel Eau Claire, Eou Claire, Wisconsin. 7 p.m.

February 15·17. Annual Greeley Mid-Winter Stampede, 2608 7th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado. Write: P .0. Box 209, Greeley, Colorado. Fe~suary 23.

Twenty-third Anniversary Dinner and Donee. The Four Chefs, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Write: Philadelphia Intergroup, 2202 St. James Place, Philadelphia 3, Pennsylvania

March 8-10. Twelfth Annual Alberto Provincial Conference. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Write: A.A. Central Office, 210A Mercantile Building, Edmonton, Alberto, Canada

March 9. Twenty-first Annual Washington D.C. Banquet. Sheraton Pork Hotel, Washington, D.C. Write: Banquet Committee, 1760 Columbia Rood N. W.

March 23·24. Saskatchewan Provine io I Round-Up. Write: Sky I ine Group, P ,0, Box 595, North Bottle ford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Yes, they are! The number of A.A.’s who collect and exchange tape recordings of meetings is growing rapidly. The number of groups and Loner members who can benefit from such an exchange is growing, too. Over the years G. S. 0. has slowly been collecting a library of taped talks. We are now at w<;>rk on listening to them all, with the help of some enthusiastic volunteers, so that the very best ones will be available for duplication and distribution. Another volunteer, Frank W. from Cincinnati, has kindly offered to do the duplicating job for us. As soon as we have ferreted out some good ones, he will start duplicating! You’ll hear more about this as thetape library grows. Meanwhile, one of our members at the Beale A. F. Base in California wants us to know that a member of the Grass Valley (California) Group is furnishing taped talks to a group in Scotland, The Scottish Group passes these along in turn to a group in Madrid, Spain, If any groups overseas would like to be added to the mailing list for these tapes, they can easily be sent along to you from Madrid, Just let us know.

March 30. Twenty-second Annual Banquet Greater Miami Area.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO G.S.O. from A.A. MEETINGS AND A.A. COMMITTEES December 72, 1962-January 3, 7963

Dupont P lazo Hate I, Sky Room.

April 5·7. Twelfth Kentucky State Conference. Phoenix Hotel, Lexington, Kentucky.

April13·14. Third Australian Convention. Write: A.A. Box 26, Nedlands, Western Australia.

April 20. Southeastern New York Convention, Ethical Culture Society. Write: Convention, 440 West 23rd Street, New York City.

April 27-28. Third Chicago Intergroup Conference. Write: Conf, Comm., 3304 N. Osceola Ave., Chicago 34, Ill.

April 27-28. Sixth All-Ireland Convention. Great Southern Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry. Write: Cork Group, Basement Flat, 11 Patrick’s Hill, Cork.

May 17, 18, 19. Central New York Area Conference Arlington Hotel, Binghamton, New York. Write: P.O. Box 5, East Side Station, Binghpmton, New York,

May 17-19. Twenty-fourth Cook Forest Conference. Cooksburg, Pennsylvania. Write: Cook Forest Conference, P.O. Box 265, Verona

May 31-June 2. Sixth International Conference- Young People in A.A. Write: Drawer X, Tryon, North Carolina.

COLORADO: Colorado State Committee •••. , , .$350.00 CONNECTICUT: Connecticut Intergroup Southwest ••••• $200.00 NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina General Service Committee •••••••••••• $200.00 RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island State Assembly •• $ 75,00 TEXAS: 17th Texas State 1962 Conference ••••• $323.59 MANITOBA: Manitoba Round Up •••••••••••• $200.00 ONTARIO: Central West Area •••••••••••••• $ 35.00 Toronto Sunday Morning Breakfast Club $ 12.00 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Queen Street Group •• $ 75.00 QUEBEC: Quebec Provincial Bilingual Conference $361.65 SASKATCHEWAN: Oklahoma Party, Area tt4 ••• •$145.25 Prince Albert Roundup •••••• $ 66.16 (Omitted from the December Bulletin) ONTARIO: Oshawa Breakfast Club •••••••••• $ 50.00 WASHINGTON, D.C.: Birthday Gift Cosmopolitan and MidEast Groups ••••••••••• $174.38

1965 July 2, 3, 4, 1965. 30th Anniversary international Conveno

The Paris Group is hoping to start on Intergroup soon. The American Church where they hove mel” for so long, has offered them additional space which may make a permanent office possible.

tion, Toronto, Ontario. JOHNS, of West Palm Beach, Florida, tells us that January, 1963, dotes the halfway mark between the last A.A. Convention held in 1960, celebrating A.A.’s 25th Birthday, and A.A.’s 30th Ann iversory dote, in 1965·

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