CHANGE BULLETIN NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A.A

Many, Many Groups have written

us that a “Group Inventory” perked up their A.A. activity and made sobriety more exciting and enjoyable besides getting the message to more and more alcoholics. Most popular form for taking a “Group Inventory” has been the set of questions which the Three Legacies Group, Spokane, Wash,, shared with the rest of us in an Exchange Bulletin in 1960, We’ve had many requests to re-

peat it by Groups who want to 10th Step themselves, So here is a recent version suggestions for a program which may revitalize Group health, 1. What is the basic purpose of the Group? 2. What more can the Group do to carry the message? 3. Considering the number of alcoholics in our community, are we reaching enough people? 4. What has the Group done lately to bring the A.A. message to the

Sept.-Oct. 1964

attention of physicians, judges, clergymen, and others who can be helpful in reaching those who need A.A.? 5, Is the Group attracting only a certain kind of alcoholic or are we getting a good cross-section of our community? 6. Do new members stick with us, or does turnover seem excessive? 7. How effective is our sponsorship? How can it be improved? MEETING PLACE O.K.?

ALCOHOUCOS ANONIMOS’

GROWS IN LATIN AMERICA More A.A. literature to carry the message in Spanish — at prices Latin American alcoholics can afford is the direct need reported by A,A,’s in Central and South America, Now, new Literature Distribution Centers there, set up with the possible help of our General Service Board in N. Y., may go a long way toward meeting that need. That is the report given by Allan B., co-chairman of the International Committee, after a 10-day visit with A. A. members and interested nonalcoholics of Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and El Salvador. In response to an invitation, Allan attended the 7th Colombian (and lst Pan-American) A. A. Congress at Bogota (1,000 people present, including Church and State dig-

nitaries) June 25-30, and spoke at two 5-hour meetings in El Salvador, July 4-6, The chief drink in both countries is “Aqua Ardiente,” distilled from sugar, powerful and cheap. In both Colombia and San Salvador, efforts are under way to establish literature distribution centers.

MUCHAS GRACIAS, SAY COLOMBIAN A.A. The Colombian Congress roared unanimous approval of a vote to “give all members of Alcoholics Anonymous around the world recognition and encouragement for the outstanding and irreplaceable help they have given us, , ’

8, Has everything practical been done to provide an attractive meeting place? 9. Has enough effort been made to explain to all members the need and value of kitchen and housekeeping work and other services to the Group? 10, Is adequate opportunity given to all members to speak and participate in other Group activities? 11, Are Group officers picked with care and consideration on the basis that officership is a great re sponsibility and opportunity for Twelfth Step work? 12. Does the Group carry its fair share of the job of helping Intergroup? The Grapevine? G.S.O.? Institutional Groups? 13, Do we give all members their fair chance of keeping informed about the whole of A.A. –Recovery, Unity and Service? You’ll probably want to add questions of your own. If your Group tries an inventory please let us know of the results.

1965 CONFERENCE DATES AN INVITATION to out-of-town members, families, and friends who may be in New York for Bill W. ’s 30th anniversary dinner, Sat,, Oct. 3, there is a reception at the Hotel Commodore from 3 to 5 P. M. G.S.O. will be open 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. Bill and Lois, G.S.O. Staff and Board Members will be looking forward to meeting you. Sony — there isn’t room for all — so this is limited to members from outside metropolitan New York only! After all, New Yorkers can drop in the office any time!

The 15th Annual meeting of the General Service Conference will be April 19-24, 1965, in New York.

This time, we need to collect all the information and experience you can send

us about Twelfth Step Houses, Sponsor Houses, or Halfway Houses. If you’ve ever run one, or helped; if you’ve lived or visited in one or if you’ve been on a committee for one, please write us all about it. How is it supported? Who runs it? How? What is the relationship to A. A.? What services are offered? How big is it? Please tell us, so we can share the experience with others who ask.

HELP YOURSELF TIC SALEM, Ind., Bill G. writes that one

GRAPEVINE PICKINGS NOT TO BE MISSED SEPTEMBER OUT NOW! NEW LARGE SIZE TYPE “PREAMBLE” for easy reacting to start your meetings, NEW TABLE OF CONTENTS on outside back cover. Let us know if you like these innovations, “Faith Regained”.._ by an alcoholic clergyman. “More on Vulgarity at Meeting,” “An A.A. Doctor’s Request” – how we can help doctors treat alcoholics. better. “In a Few Words” -_- if you knew

WE NEED ANSWERS, AGAIN

LTHE GRO(

of the most active new “babies” in Indiana (sober 22 months) joined A.A. at the age of 75. He wonders if this is the oldest known age for a newcomer? Anybody know?

*

*

*

*

LAS VEGAS, Nev,, Kathy A. writes about the Reno Conference and their use of Traditions 1 and 2. Thanks for the stimulating thoughts, Kathy. We can all do better than we do at these two probably. Keep up the good work,

*

*

*

*

you were at your last meeting, what would

TACOMA, Wash, Ted K. says wouldn’t

you say to a newcomer? “The Girl Who

it be thrilling if every Group held a special gratitude meeting on Bill’s 30th anniversary? “The glow of 350,000 candles on birthday cakes would light the way for alcoholics seeking recovery around the world,”

Couldn’t Say No.” “Help for the RevolvingDoor Drunk” –by a city judge, “The Good Old Daze” — or were they?

OCTOBER ISSUE “Alcoholics and Suicide.” “Am I A

*

*

*

*

Bleeding Deacon?” “About Poker Chips

VANCOUVER, Wash. Thanks, Ed, B.,

and Other Gimmicks.” “The Big Hump”

for the report on the second “Gratitude Banquet.” The competition to see which Group can put on the funniest A.A. skit sounds great. Wish we could see them,

— reprint of a famous article by Dr. Charlie Shedd, “In the Grip of the Grog.” and ’touch, much more.

“PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES . My dear friends at C. 5.0..’ / asked to be returned to America, This is to let you know what hapand I came to the U. S. Army hospital pened to the Group I was organizing here. in ___________ I had distributed much of the litOn the night of………, 1964, the erature you had sent me — some to guerillas of , raided my home, religious institutions ands o me to shot and killed my little girl of 7 and private organizations and I felt I took my girl of 12 captive. As I was would soon be getting some results trying to escape and lead them away as my home address had been given from my children I was hit in the left as a place to call, I sincerely doubt I hip with a poison dart. Then as I will ever again be physically able to dived into the back of an automobile ________ return to ., but let’s hope someone threw a bomb into my face. I God will direct some other A. A. memdid not have time to throw it back out ber to pick up where I was forced to so smothered it with my body. It went leave off. off into my abdomen, Please accept my apologies for 1 was hid out in_ …_, for two not accomplishing more than I did, days then spirited out to _______ where and accept my sincere thanks for your I collapsed and was taken to the wonderful cooperation in my fruitless hospital. I had been bleeding internalefforts. ly and did not know it. I was in a Yours in eternalA.A. Fellowship coma/or6 weeks and it was weeks before I could tolerate food of any kind. Capt. C.

ONE GOODBYE, TWO HELLO’S Anita R,, a G.S.O. Staff Member since 1956, resigned as of Sept. 1 to go into other work, and theA,A,W.S. Board voted a resolution of appreciation of her contributions saying “We’ll miss you, and hope your future will he full of challenges as interesting as those you have met so well here,” June C,, Toledo, 0., is the new Staff Member. A member of the Crosstown Group for 7 years, June has four sons — one of them a Marine overseas, “If I had the time,” she says, -“I’d enjoy dancing, bowling, painting, and learning to fly a plane.” A part-time addition to the Staff is Mary E. (“Liz”) D,, Manhattan Group member since 1960. Also a native of Ohio, Liz is a former teacher

~E= TERIA THESE NEWS NOTES NORFOLK, VA,, Ernest A., reports that in his community, too, the question comes up of whether we should be members of a Group, or just members of A.A. Answers to this “Home Group” question keep coming in. At last count, 99% of answers recommend picking one Home Group and getting to know people there as one of the best ways to stay sober,

*

*

*

*

ANYWHERE IN A.A. If you go to any Fall Conference, keep an eye peeled for the new Porte-Display for G.S.O. Let us know how you like it.

*

*

*

*

EDMONTON, Alta, Martin E. sent us a story of the breakfast at the Dawson Creek, B.C. Roundup, that makes our mouths water. And just think how we used to feel about breakfast!

* TRINIDAD:

*

*

*

Jack 0,, San Fernando,

writes us a very amusing letter about their A.A. Convention where “several speakers got enthused and went beyond their time limit.” Guess we’re alike everywhere!

“A Report to the Public” is a 6page folder with up-to-date information about A,A. worldwide. Copies have been mailed to news media requesting it, to Delegates, and to local Public Information Committees.

NEW PAMPHLET ON HOSPITALIZING ALCOHOLICS WITH A.A. HELP Seven actual examples of ways in which the A.A, program is used in hospitals are described in detail in the new 8-page pamphlet, “Patterns of A.A. Cooperation with Hospitals” — Based on A.A. experience in U.S. and Canada. Included are experiences with general hospitals, a Veterans’ Administration Neuropsychiatric Hospital, an alcoholic ward in a state mental hospital, a small nonprofit licensed hospital, a provincial alcoholism clini, a rest home, and a city hospital.

Institutions Committees should find it especially helpful. Price of the pamphlet is 25, aThat should I (P?

’h 1 on

do with the Aiz .the bu Xchan8e boa r d”’ –

uJIet3g?’

YOU ANSWERED and reporter-researcher for Life magazine, Her first G.S.O. assignment involves work on the 1965 Convention in Toronto, DIRECTORY TIME IS HERE! Well, almost. We’ll be mailing Group Information Cards beginning Oct. 15th. Be sure they are filled in and mailed back promptly so your Group will be correctly

listed.

SPECIAL GIFTS TO G.S.O. JUNE

–

JULY 1964

–

–

CANADA: Manitoba Minnesota Neepawa Beach, Roundup Committee ……….. $ 50.00 MISSOURI: St. Joseph-17th Annual Fourth of July Picnic. . . 77.30 TEXAS: Dallas 19th Texas Conference . . . . . . . . . . 5,034.19 WASHINGTON: Vancouver Banquet & Breakfast … 71.43

–

–

Thanks for the f 00 d of wellthought-out answers to questions we asked in the July-August Bulletin, Most of you shared your experience in a generous, deeply spiritual way. Wish we had space to share every beautiful word with you! But here’s a summary:

1. Should young A,A,’s join Young People’s Groups? 75% said yes, but most added, get with older members, too. Some young people felt they were not welcome _-_ that their alcoholic troubles were belittled in “regular” Groups, 25% said no, deploring any “exclusiveness” in A.A. Two oldsters wrote, “Please, young members, don’t deprive the rest of us of what you can offer,” 2. Non-A,A,’S permitted at Closed Meetings? 66% said no, pointing to fear of anonymity breaks and stigma, fear new members won’t speak up. But many said exceptions can be,

PLANNING NOW FOR TORONTO JULY 2’.4, 1965 One-fifth of the entire Canadian A.A. membership will be in Toronto next July 2 when that thrilling moment comes for the opening of our 30th Anniversary international Convention. That’s what one Canadian Delegate insists will be the count. His province exceeded its quota in advance registrations a whole year ahead of time! We’ll all be there, too, of course, and hope to see You. Advance registrations for Canadians is still going on. For the rest of us, Feb. 1, 1965, is the first date for registering, NO HOTEL RESERVATIONS ARE ACCEPTED FOR ANYBODY UNTIL NEXT YEAR,

DIRECTORY CORRECTIONS CALIFORNIA: In the Directory the North Highlands Family Group is in Sacramento should be in North Highlands with a credit of $25.00. The Round Table Discussion Group in North Highlands should not have any credit. CALIFORNIA: Credit was given to wrong Group: Sunday Night Group, Santa Paula $25.00; Santa Paula Group $25.00,

–

–

–

OUR QUESTIONS! made, suggested Al-Anon Family Groups and open A.A. meetings for nonaicoholics, and urged patience and politeness with all who turn up, 34% said yes, if it will help get the message to any alcoholic, 3. Do meetings on A.A. service carry the message? 90% of you said yes. Service is carrying the message, one wrote, 58% have found reg ular meetings best for those discussions, 327o said special meeting 4. Should calls for help he answered if not wade by the alcoholic himself? 77% said yes, our job is to plant the seed. One wrote, “Bill and Dr, Bob didn’t call in for help, and they went out and recruited other members to get A.A. started.” 31% said they are in A.A. today because someone called for them and A.A members came anyway. But nine mem bers said it never does any good unless the alcoholic himself asks for ’help –

.

–

25-27

A.A CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 56

8-13

11-13

11.13 12-13

18.20

25-27

25-27

25-27

New Bruns wick-_PET. Area Assembly, Bathurst, NB., Canada. Write: Chairman, P.O. Box 1112, Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada. Session-By-the-Sea, Plimhimmon Hotel, Ocean City, Maryland. Write: Secretary, Denton City Group, P. 0. Box 23, Denton, Maryland. 27th Cook Forest Conference Cooksburg, Pennsylvania, Write: Cook Forest Conference, Box 265, Verona, Pennsylvania Central New York State Roundup, Elmira, New York. 6th Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, Downingtown Motor Inn Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Write: Chairman, P. 0. Box 418, Robesonia, Pennsylvania 8th Annual Roundup of A.A. North Eastern Manitoba Chateau Theatre, Pine Falls, Manitoba, Canada. Write: Roundup Chairman, Box 13, Pine Falls, Manitoba, Canada. 12th Michigan State Conference, Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel, Detroit, Michigan. Write: 12th Michigan Conf., P. 0. Box 181, Pontiac, Michigan. Georgia 11th Convention, Augusta Town House, Augusta, Georgia, General Chairman, P. 0. Write: Box 3412, Augusta, Georgia. Southern Area Downstate Illinois Convention, Urbana-Lincoln Motor Inn. Write: Secretary, 209 South Broadway, Urbana, Illinois,

25.27

3 3-4

3-4

3-4

9-11

10-11

10-11

State Assembly .._Lewiston, Idaho. Write: Chairman, 1006 8th Ave., Lewiston, Idaho New York Annual A.A. Dinner in honor of Bill’s 30th Anniversary, Hotel Commodore, N.Y. 17th Annual Fall Conference, Northern California Council Civic Auditorium, Fresno, Calif. Write: Secretary, 166 Geary St., San Francisco, California. 13th Eastern Ontario Conference, Chateau Lauier, Ottawa, Ont. Canada. Write: Chairman, P. 0. Box 38, Postal Terminal “A”, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Missouri Eastern Conference, Hotel Edwin Long, Rolls, Mo. Write: Chairman, 502 Main Street, Rolla, Missouri. Hudson-Mohawk-Berkshire Conf., DeWitt Clinton Hotel, Albany, New York, Write: Original Albany Group, Box 7161, Albany, New York. Iowa State Committee, Waterloo, Iowa. Write: Secretary/Treasurer, 411 Waln9t Court, Waterloo, Iowa. 14th Annual Arizona State Conference, Safari Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona.

–

–

–

–

-.–

MIDGE Coordinator. Director of A. A. W. S., Inc., HAZEL General Service

Conference. Sec.,

A. A. W. S., Inc., G. S. C. Trustees and Agenda Committees. Sen., G.S.B. Nominating Committee, Sec., 1965 Convention. Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Manitoba, Ontario.

NOVEMBER 13-15

–

–

–

Northeast Texas Area Conference, Carlton Hotel, Tyler, Texas. Write: Secretary, P. 0. Box 1124, Tyler Texas.

-.

-.

Starting September lst

El’

Overseas Services: Europe, Mexico, Central and South America Group and Loner Correspondence, Spanish Bulletin, Sec. International Committee, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, Quebec.

– EVE

BETH

Overseas Services:

Information Service: Sec. Public Information Committee and committee on Relations with Outside Agencies. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Northwest Territories, Saskatch-

Atlantic Assembly, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Can. Write: Public Relations, P.O. Box 348, Trenton, Nova Scotia, Canada. 15-18 17th Annual Top 0-Texas Roundup. Write: Chairman, P. 0. Box 1963, Amarillo, Texas. 16-18 Alabama & N. W. Florida State Convention, Stafford Hotel, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Write: Convention Committee, P.O. Box 304, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 16-18 Northern Area Downstate Illinois Nachusa Inn, 33, ix on, Illinois. Write: Secretary, P. 0. Box 59, Dixon, Illinois. 16-18 Southern California Convention, San Bernardino, Calif. Write: Chairman, P. 0. Box 42264 Highland Park Station, Los Angeles, California. 16-18 6th Quebec Provincial Bilingual Conference, Queen Eli z abeth Hotel, Montreal. Write: C. P. /P. 0. Box 1777, Station B, Montreal 2, Quebec, Canada. 17-18 11th Western Ontario Conference, Hotel London, London, Ontario, Canada, Write: Chairman, P. 0. Box 725, Terminal “B”, London, Ontario , Canada. Nov. 1 III Central American, Pan31 ama, Mexico & Caribbean Cony. Write: Oficina de la Junta, Apartado Postal 7398, Mexico, D.F., Mexico.

OCTOBER 2-4

.44e9.ece4

Sec. of Policy Committee, Exchange Bulletin, Loners and Loner Sponsors (U.S. and Canada) Loner’s Meeting. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon.

10-11

New England Conference, Eastern Slope Inn, North Conway, New Hampshire. Write: Conference Chairman, Eastern Slope Inn, North Conway, New Hampshire. 15th Annual Fall Conference, Write: Brookings Group, P.O. Box 162, Brookings, South Dakota.

JUNE Institutional Services: Sec. Finance Coinmittees, California, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma. Vircrinia.

Australasia and Africa. Group and Loner correspondence. Sec., Literature Committee, Internationalists and Internationalists Round Robin, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Atlantic Provinces.