HANGE BULLETIN WS AND NOTES ON ALCOHOLICS

ANONYMOUS WORLDWIDE

Vol. 7 No. 3Published by General Service Office of A.A., P. 0. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York INDIVIDUAL SUBSCRIPTION

“THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART” The Road Back, American edition of Joseph Kessel s book, Avec les AlcooliquesAnonymes, was published Based on his last month by Random HouseKnopf. series of twenty articles on A.A. which had appeared in 1960 in “France Soir,” a leading French daily newspaper, M. Kessel’s book was published in France the following year. It was an immediate best seller and was translated into English, Spanish and German, The Eng lish translation has also been published in Great Britain. M. Kessel first became interested in A. A. when one of his friends loined and stayed sober. During a trip to New York in 1959, he visited G.S.O. to find out about A.A. at first hand, Bill W. and several Staff members and Trustees talked to him at length. The Staff at the New York Intergroup Office and local A,A,’s also cooperated to help him see what went on “inside A.A.” M. Kessel then went home to France to write the series for” France Soir,” He thus became the courier of the A.A. message to Frenchmen as Jack Alexander had been to Americans back in 1941 with his historic “Saturday Evening Post” article, G,S,O. is now in touch with five FrenchA,A. groups in France, The Paris Group has more than a hundred members, From the German Group in Karlsruhe, too, we understand the Kessel book’s German edition is bring ing in new members there. And in Spain and South Amer ica the Spanish edition is bringing us inquiries, As this Bulletin goes to press we hear that Joseph Kessel will shortly pay us another visit at G,S, 0, It will be good to see him and say “Thanks,” §

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TRADE COUNCIL ELECTS A.A.

TRUSTEE

L, Ivan Underwood of Republic Steel Corporation, and a nonalcoholic Trustee of the General Service Board, has been elected a Director of the National Foreign Trade Council, Set up in 1914 as a nonprofit, nonpolitical association, the Council is composed of executives of com-

l7.March 1962

$1 A YEAR

Exchange Bulletin , This issue introduces the new type style. Besides being easier to read, the “Bulletin” will now have considerably more news space. We hope you like it,

ponies that are engaged in international trade. With its experience of nearly half a century, National Foreign Trade Council now speaks with a voice of authority on such matters as the overall policy and techniques of American business in its conduct of world trade, There are few areas in the world where Mr. Under wood’s travels do not take him, Speaking French and Spanish fluently, he makes a practice of visiting A.A. in those countries where these languages are spoken. He has done much to establish communications between overseas A.A. and G,S.O., and we are fortunate to have his devotion to the Fellowship, §

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REPORT ON THE BIRTHDAY PLAN

After reading about the Birthday Plan in the “Ex change Bulletin” last June, Al, the G.S.R.of the Beth lehem, Pa. Group, suggested that they try it, The Group agreed and letters were sent out to 100 members, in active as well as active. Enclosed with the letter was the G.S.O. leaflet, “What Happens When You Put $3 in the Hat for G,S.O,” Seventy-four of the hundred replied, The Group’s 1961 contribution was $686, an increase of $232 over that of 1960. Al writes: “Maybe other groups might use such a letter to boost their regular contributions,” The Birth day Plan gives the individual A.A. member his chance to help foot the bill forA,A, world services by contri buting $1.00 a year to G.S.O. for each year of hisA,A, life, up to a limit of $10.00. It supplements the group contribution of $3.00 per member, G.S.O. has special envelopes for Birthday Plan contributions, They are available, without cost, to groups and to individual members who ask for them, §

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A REMINDER

G.S.O. SERVICE MATERIAL G.S.O. has mimeographed suggestions and displays

Dennis Manders,

non-A,A, head of our Accounting

for organizing area conventions. This material will be,

Department, has asked us to run a reminder that checks

sent, gratis,to any local conference, convention or area

and money orders are the only safe ways to send contribu-

committee that requests it.

tions and payments for literature by mail,

The following letter from Bill R. in Phoenix, Arizona, expresses his group’s appreciation: ’’Thanks for your guidance on how to put on our 1961 Convention. I have

“Grapevine’s” Present to Non-Subscribers

had absolutely no experience at this kind of thing. Neither had anyone on my committee. Hero is how we did it. “We used the material sent by G.S.O. to the letter. We observed the Twelve Traditions and followed Third Legacy procedure. And finally we asked God each day to please help us through that day only. Well, we had ’the usual amount of criticism, crises, etc., but came through with flying colors. Results: over 750 people at our big Saturday night meeting. This is almost double any attendance in the past. We had wonderful speakers, good food and lots of coffee. We were solvent from the first day we met and paid as we progressed. Advance ticket sales took care of this, “Thanks once more for G.S.O. guidance and assistance. If there is anything I can do to help anyone else through my experience, please don’t hesitate to ask,”

A.A. IN BANGKOK From Bangkok, Thailand, came this letter from Dick, a Loner: ’’,,,last July, I began to run A.A. notices in the ’Bangkok World’ (English edition) to try and get a group started. A.A. is badly needed here, Mr. Berrigan, the ’World’s’ owner and publisher, is now running the A.A. notices five days a week, gratis, and has also

QUERY TO OVERSEAS GROUPS Some A,A,’s in the U.S. have asked G.S.O. to send them the addresses of overseas groups who want to share

given us a P.O. Box number at no charge. He would like

taped meetings. Will those overseas groups that are in –

to do a Sunday magazine story on A.A. so any material

terested please send G.S.O. the answers to the follow-

G.S.O. could send him to use would be greatly appreci-

ing questions:

ated. He will pass along the Sunday magazine story to the Thai papers which will give A.A. a tremendous start here in Bangkok, “I have been making 12th Step calls on all the

7. Are you now using tape recordings to share A.A. experience? 2. If so, what speed and reel size do you use?

people who have written to the A.A. P.O. Box and several of them are making real progress. The lost two letters

3. In what language are your tapes?

have been from Thai’s and were headed ’Dear Doctor.’ A.A. is evidently entirely new to them here,

4. Would you like to swap tapes with groups in other countries?

’-’All three missionary pastors are cooperating and we have been invited to hold our meetings at the Inter-

Most of the ’’tape swappers” are English-speaking,

national Church. God willing, we will soon have a group

but we know a few who make Spanish, French and Ger-

registered in Bangkok. Thank you for all your help.”

man tapes.

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INVITATION TO OVERSEAS A,A.s The A.A. Service Committees in five countries over.

Picked up by G,S.O’s press clipping bureau, this newspaper

seas have again been invited to send observers to parti-

story is reprinted here as an example of how one group’s pub-

cipate in the 1962 General Service Conference to be held

lic information activity made the front page.

April 25 – 29, in New York City. Their participation, without vote, in all Conference discussions will be very welcomed. Their expenses cannot be assumed by the General Service Conference and overseas A,A.’s will, therefore, have to pay their own wa y .

SIDNEY HERALD

MONT.

2, 3,750

In the eleven years since the Conference began, five A.A,’s from overseas have been on hand to take part in Conference activities, We hope this linkage with A.A. service centers throughout the world will continue to grow and strengthen A.A. unity as time goes on,

LOCAL AA GROUP flONATE BOOK TO COUNTY LIBRARY In the b’ok “Twelve Sit eras and r’._,.-l..,,.

NEW CONFERENCE DELEGATES We welcome three more new Delegates who have been elected to serve during 1962 – 63:

California (Northern Interior), , ,Cliff 1,, Sacramento Delaware ………………Loyal L., Wilmin g ton New Hampshire…….. ……

A.A.

S., Portsmouth

HOSPITAL COOPERATION

A letter from George G. reports:

“,.,we in the

Buffalo area are fortunate to have the cooperation of the staff at E.J. Meyer Memorial Hospital. This count y general hospital accepts over 1,000 alcoholics every year. Here, thank God, alcoholics are not arbitrarily thrown into a ’psycho ward’ but are assigned to an ’alcoholic ward’ and treated as sick people. “Dr. –

iennie rcv,-hir,friet – – – Kle …………………” ’ , in head

.10007 ,,,;,LA A

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..5,.-.A,

Yellowstone Group of Aloohelice Anonymous donated to the public library, a co-founder of AA tells how members recover aff’Thow the society functions. ’The Fellowship takes no poshhcn whatsoever on the so-called temperance question. Their nirin aim is to concentrate on staying sober themselves, and to help ethers who have a drinking problem which they wish to control. AA has no quarrel with those Who drink. The Fellowship does net actively recruit adherents to their program. Only when people seek help and admit to themselves that they have a problem, can they be helped. AA is nht a religious society or movement in the denominational sense, aLh-ough the recovery pmcram includes suggestions that reflect the insights of many spiritual leaders. Although most AA members do not mind if their friends learn Sleet they have achieved sobriety within the fellowship, traditionally all AA’s are careful to respect leilOW

memoers anou3ey.

It goes without saying, of course, that Seattle A.A.

SEATTLE WORLD’S FAIR

will be spreading the red carpet for visitors too, The Century 21 World’s Fair will run in Seattle, Washington, from April 21 to October 21, Visitors are cordially invited to join in the A.A. activities in Tacoma,

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some twenty miles to the south on Puget Sound,

ERROR IN JANUARY Ed M. writes, “We have meetings every day of the week. Some days several meetings. The Alano Club’s address is 1310 South LStreet and the phone number is MArket 79787. We welcome and need speakers.”

BULLETIN

Our apologies to the A.A,’s in MAINE’S DISTRICT 1. In the January A.A. “Exchange Bulletin”, your $59.31 contribution from your OPEN MEETING was credited to New Hampshire. Please excuse our bookkeeping error, It’s straightened out now.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO G.S.O. from SPECIAL A.A. MEETINGS and A.A. COMMITTEES

72118161 – 12/29/67 CALIFORNIA COLORADO FLORIDA ILLINOIS

San Diego – Area Assembly

$ 55.09

San Diego Central All State of Colorado Pensacola – 1961 Alabama Northwest Florida State Convention

100.00 45.00 638.50 30.00

Chicago – First Chicago Intergroup Conference

200.00 21.00

MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN

1961 Louisiana State Convention New Orleans – Open Meetings General Service Committee of Eastern Massachusetts 9th Michigan State Conference

MINNESOTA NEW JERSEY

St. Paul-Annual Gratitude Day Banquet 2nd Panel of New Jersey

79.03 10.00

OREGON WASHINGTON

North Bend, District 7 Seattle-Annual Gratitude Meeting

7.00 82.07 9.00

LOUISIANA

Yakima Intergroups BRITISH COLUMBIA ONTARIO

British Columbia Conference Committee 8th Western Ontario Conference

SASKATCHEWAN

Quinte Area Oklahoma Birthday Party

50.00 150.00

147.33 100.00 15.00 251.75

1/3/62 – 2174162 $327.37 15.00

ARIZONA CALIFORNIA

1961 Convention Phoenix Covina – 13th District 3rd Legacy Meeting Santa Barbara – 23rd District Central Office

FLORIDA

Miami

11th Step Meeting

41.10 10,00

GEORGIA NEW HAMPSHIRE

Georgia State Assembly Area New Year’s Party Proceeds Hudson-Mohawk-Berkshire Conference

53,11 20,00 280.00

Vancouver – New Year’s Party Proceeds

53.50

NEW YORK BRITISH COLUMBIA