BOX 4-5-0 NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A. A.

Vol. 17 No. 2

April-May 1972

Dr. Jack Goes To Germany At Request of U. S. Army February 14-21, Dr. John Norris, chairman of the Board of Trustees, conducted a series of workshops on alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous at U.S. Army installations in five major West German cities. Dr. Norris was invited by Col. Thomas H. Scott of the Staff Chaplain’s Office, USAREUR and Seventh Army. The workshops were intended primarily for Army and Air Force chaplains, but were open to others, as well. Many Armed Forces A.A. members attended and one member from each base was asked to help Dr. Norris in conducting these sessions. A call from Heidelberg, reported enthusiastically on Dr. Jack’s participation in the workshops; that news of them was to be carried in Stars and Stripes and that he had been requested to conduct similar workshops in England. Before Dr. Jack moves on to England, however, he will visit

FOR LOISA ’ROUND-THE-WORLD JOURNEY Lois W. arrives back in New York Fri., Mar. 31, after a roundthe-world trip which took her to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, Hong Kong and Hawaii. Accompanied by Evelyn C., a longtime Al-Anon friend, Lois left

DR. JOHN NORRIS

Rome where appointments have been arranged with members of the hierarchy at the Vatican. The meetings with these distinguished leaders of the Roman Catholic Church were made possible by two A.A. members, one from Ireland and the other from England, who had been received by officials at the Vatican last January. We will have more details of this very important trip to share with you after Dr. Norris returns and provides a full account. on the voyage almost exactly one year after the death on Jan. 24, 1971, of her husband Bill, A.A. co-founder. The trip was one Lois and Bill had long planned to take together some day. Like thousands of other friends, we extend a loving “Welcome” to our dear and remarkable Lois as she returns home to resume her many other labors in behalf of alcoholics and their families everywhere.

GROUP PROBLEMS TO BE AIRED AT 1972 CONFERENCE Any A.A. topic you want discussed? New solution for an old group problem to be shared? At the 22nd annual meeting of A.A.’s North American General Service Conference (April 17-22, Hotel Roosevelt, New York) this year, the delegate representing your area will have a chance to talk it over with 90 delegates from all Canadian provinces and 50 states, plus G.S.O. and Grapevine staffs, A.A.W.S. and Grapevine directors and G.S. Board members. .. .if you get it to your delegate in time! The 1972 agenda includes wideopen workshop discussion time early in the week, so delegates can air any question raised at home and get a full “sharing of experience.” Other highlights of the April agenda are a visit with Lois W. at Stepping Stones; election of three regional trustees for the General Service Board; tour of G.S.O. and Grapevine offices; the usual opening-night dinner and A.A. meeting; the private “delegates only “session; the Ask-It-Basket where questions can be raised anonymously; and many coffee breaks. Under the banner of “Our Primary Purpose,” Conference theme, all new (Panel 22) delegates will report on their personal service experience. Each delegate is on one of the ten Conference committees which will meet privately and in joint session with G.S. Board Committees. “Narcotics, Drugs, and A.A.” is an optional subject (if there’s time). GratitudeDinners, which are spring(cont’dp. 5)

PROFESSIONAL EXHIBIT ATTRACTS INTEREST AND INQUIRIES

“TIGER” PAMPHLET “It’s a tiger in our group’s (think) tank!” writes Francis C. of Texas about the new “Twelve Traditions Illustrated” pamphlet (shown). “We’ll have to order 50 more, it is causing such excitement at our discussions! “Even beginners dig it. Why didn’t somebody dream up this double-spread-with-pictures format before?” They did, F.C. Did you miss the 1964-67 series of Grapevine cartoons on Traditions? They inspired this new double-size pamphlet (28 pages; price, 30.)

REMINDER TO PROGRAM CHAIRMEN Want a topnotch speaker at your next convention? Someone familiar with A.A. Worldwide, with broad service experience behind him? To make it easier for A.A.’s to meet with their regional trustee, the General Service Board will underwrite half the expenses of bringing your trustee to your regional, area, or state conventions and conferences. Contact your trustee as far in advance as possible, or write G.S .0.

From Hope and Carl S., New Orleans, La., and from Betty V. and Diane, Milwaukie, Ore., we received heart-felt thanks from them for the hard work they did in manning A.A.’s Professional Exhibit booth at two National conventions (The Exhibit is available only for National Professional Meetings); The American Vocational Association Annual Meeting (Oregon) and The American Medical Association Clinical Convention (Louisiana). Betty wrote, “I asked if he would be interested in knowing something about A.A. as a community resource. Then the ACTION began! Among orders for literature you’ll

notice a large list from the Dept. of Justice in Washington, D.C.they had a long sheet of names to be notified about A.A. . . .Many educators were extremely delighted. What a terrific experience! “We even had a few stop to tell us of their rotten hangovers! Here’s a case I believe where the outstretched hand of A.A. had better be there. . Hope and Carl sent in 230 requests for further information about A.A. from doctors and medical students! “Many doctors stopped to praise A.A. and say they always refer patients to us,” Hope wrote. “This has certainly been some week, a most rewarding one! More fun than work. How can we ever thank you?”

’Help!’ Cries Shrinking Group -Any Ideas? From what used to be one of the biggest, liveliest groups in a city in New York state, a sad note says, “I guess we’re going to have to fold up.” Seems they can’t get anybody to make the coffee, set up chairs,

be secretary, do 12th step work or other little jobs necessary to keep an A.A. group going. “It’s not that we don’t have people,” writes our forlorn correspondent. “Big crowds still arrive for our meetings, enjoy what is provided for them, then go home as if they had been free-loading guests at a party, or just attending some kind of free entertainment. “The present ’group servants’ have had the jobs several terms, but no one will take over for us. What can we do?” 2

We’ve already written how other groups in similar trouble found Beginners’ Meetings one answer, and we recommend the pamphlet, “The A.A. Group.” Discussions of the “I Am Responsible” declaration have also been used in these situations as have group inventories. Careful sponsorship helps too, including clarification of how group service

itself is a form of 12th step work that helps us stay sober. The new leaflet, “A.A.’s Legacy of Service” (now available as a separate reprint from “The A.A. Service Manual”), might also stir things upespecially if everybody arriving found one on his chair some night, one member has suggested. Have you, dear readers, any suggestions for these discouraged fellow A.A.’s? Please send them in.

Betty L. Joins G. S. 0. Office Staff Betty L., until recently an active member of the Northport, Long Island A.A. Group, now living in Manhattan joined G.S.O. Feb. 28, bringing the staff up to nine full-time members. Born in the Bronx and reared in Floral Park, N.Y., Betty is now the only New York City-born staff member. Like other staff members, Betty, who had her last drink in 1963, has had a variety of A.A. and business experience. She served her original A.A. group as chairman for open, beginners’, closed and anniversary meetings at various times, and worked frequently as a volunteer at the local Intergroup Office, besides speaking frequently at hospital and other meetings. Betty’s job career has included a lot of executive secretarial and personnel experience in optical and aircraft companies, as well as in TV and at a news magazine. For consideration when openings occur, G.S.O. welcomes applications for staff positions from any A.A., preferably sober at least four years, who resides or can relocate in New York or within commuting distance. Broad A.A. as well as business experience are useful qualifications.

REWARDS OF LONER SPONSOR “Even to admit this new strange emotion to myself is way out. I would have been ashamed before,” writes H.A.V. (“Harry The Wino”) from California. “For a guy who loved nobody before coming into this program, for me to really love all these people, including the guy or gal still suffering, is truly a miracle.” Sober since 1959, Harry has been taping meetings and writing to friends in the fellowship for a long time, as a Loner Sponsor. He says, “Now that Bill has gone on, I feel truly that I am responsible and will extend the hand of A.A. in writing to others more frequently from here on.” Joanne B., from Ohio, writes, “Anything you ever do for A.A., no matter how small it is, you get back ten times more, so you see I am really a selfish person. “How thrilling it is to get answers from the letters to Loners. I don’t expect to hear from all, but keep writing anyway. “One man said he hadn’t been able to attend a meeting for seven months and he was toying with the idea of getting drunk, until my let-

ter arrived. Another mana priest had lost faith that anyone would write, and he was so delighted I had taken the time. “I wanted to tell you how necessary this Loner Sponsor business is and I hope you always continue to have it. “Benefits come to both the Loner and sponsor. . .thank you for letting me get one more reward from the greatest outfit in the world.” If you want to join Harry, Joanne and the other letter-writing Loner Sponsors, just let us know.

FOUR WAYS TO CARRY THE MESSAGE Have a tough time getting to a meeting lately, or carrying the message across town? Try these four cures for self-pity:

NEW CASSETTE! Our very first cassette is now ready. It is priced at $3.50 and is called “A.A.’s Three Legacies.” It’s a talk by our co-founder, Bill, and is an hour in length; a half an hour on each side. Let us know if you’d like one.

Each Saturday a tiny band of Mexican A.A.’s embarks on an allnight trip up a jungle river in a small boat to take a Sunday meeting to alcoholics in Carmen, Yucatan. An A.A. in Chiapas, Mexico, rides 48 hours on a muleeach wayto take a regular meeting to Indian descendants of the Mayans. He speaks their dialect. The Curupaiti group in Brazil, organized by an army sergeant, is composed of leprosy victims who also have alcoholism. Another Yucatan A.A., who owns a sugar mill, arranged a public A.A. meeting especially aimed at his drinking employees. Almost none came. Undaunted,he then applied what industrial alcoholism specialists call “constructive coercion.” He went door-to-door, suggesting that if drinkers did not attend A.A. they need not attend work. Guess what? Right; a flourishing new group! .

FATHER MEETS DAUGHTER “What was to have been a onehour meeting stretched into threeand a halfmy greatest A.A. experience, if not the greatest in my 61 years. Every one of the group came up and embraced me, and some kissed me on the cheek,” writes Ray N. of Michigan about a Spanish-language meeting he attended in Lima, Peruthanks to the World Directory. But his translator was something specialhis daughter, a missionary nun. And a new group is now struggling high in the Peruvian mountains, nourished by literature Ray had us send the good Sister of Mercy. Ray continues, “I was only lukewarm on the Third Legacy idea until this trip to Lima converted me. The sincerity of these people in their struggle for sobriety overwhelmed me. My daughter and I have learned to know each other, too.”

DRUG ADDICTS AND A.A (The following are excerpts from “Problems Other Than Alcohol, ” Grapevine piece by Bill W. now separate leaflet published by G.S.O. Whole piece costs 5q each.) “The problem of drug addiction in its several forms lies close to us all. It stirs our deepest interest and sympathy. Many A.A.’s, especially those who have suffered these particular addictions, are now asking, ’What can we do about drugswithin our Fellowship, and without?… “Specifically, here is a list of questions we are often asked: 1. Can a nonalcoholic pill or drug addict become an A.A. member? No. 2. Can such a person be brought, asavisitor, to an open A.A. meeting for help and inspiration? Yes. 3. If so, should these nonalcoholic users be led to believe that they have become

A.A. members? No. 4. Can a pill or drug taker, who also has a genuine alcoholic history, become a memYes. ber of A.A.? “Now there are certain things A.A. cannot do for anybody, regardless of what our desires or sympathies may be. Our first duty, as a fellowship, is to insure our own survival. Therefore, we have to avoid distraction and multipurpose activity. “Sobriety-freedom from alcohol-through the teaching and practice of the 12 Steps, is the sole purpose of an A.A. group. Groups have repeatedly tried other activities and they have always failed. “It has also been learned that there is no possible way to make nonalcoholics into A.A. members. We have to confine our A.A. groups to a single purpose. If we don’t stick to these principles, we shall almost surely collapse. And if we collapse, we cannot help anyone.”

’If You Take the First Step Inside…’ “I left prison 90 days ago,” writes Paul B. from Florida, “filled with all sorts of dreams concerning the good life ahead. “Just to be able to eat where I wanted, what I wanted; sleep in a bed and not a bunk; a choice of wearing clothes of my own selection. “And within a moment, reality sets in and happy excitement becomes fear. “The long-awaited steak becomes suddenly insignificant. Was it a good meal I wanted first? Even a poor meal outside has to be paid for. Could I eat, find lodging, clothe myself on the $25 I had? “Next-the void of companionship. Yes, with freedom we’re faced with decisions never expected, coming from an environment that made every decision for us. It’s the turning point of our lives.

“Dangerous thinking for an alcoholic without A.A. I thank God today for finding A.A. and for taking that first step inside. That’s inside without reservations. It had to be first things, first, and that was before anything, a meeting. “From the first day out, my new life began .meetings, and more meetings. Every 24 hours I am being me as I always wanted to be. . .rebirth, all because of sobriety. For this! give thanks to God,A.A. and all of you. We in A.A. are never alone.” Now living in Brooklyn, Paul is active with institutions groups. “I hope and pray I can carry at least part of my message to those still waiting freedom,” he ays. You’re an inspiring example of gratitude and responsibility to all of us, Paul. Thank you!

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SPECIAL GIFTS

ARIZONA Area and Conf. funds ……..$ 747.98 100.00 State 1971 Alkathon …….. ARKANSAS 250.00 State Cony ……………. CALIFORNIA Chico area New Year’s Eve 37.00 Party ……………… 30.00 Riverside “71” Alkathon San Diego: So. Cal. Cony ….. 2,700.00 CONNECTICUT 25.00 Guilford: Sat. Nite Couples FLORIDA 1,156.16 Broward Co. Gratitude Dinner Melbourne: Brevard Intergroup’s New Year’s Eve 44.83 Gala ……………… Miami: Dist. #8 Gratitude Dinner …………….. 2,050.00 ILLINOIS Chicago: Intergroup’s 17th 230.00 Annu. Banquet ………. Northern and Southern 600.00 Assemblies …………. 80.85 Area 7 Get-Together ……… INDIANA Indianapolis: Intergroup, 100.00 New Year’s Eve ………. KANSAS 250.00 State Assembly …………. MAINE 75.00 Portland: Dist. #1 ………. 10.00 Dist. #2 ……………… MARYLAND 400.00 State Cony ……………. MICHIGAN 19th State Conf ………… 1,795.69 NEVADA 200.00 Las Vegas Roundup ……… NEW JERSEY 135.00 No. Jersey G.S. Cony …….. NEW MEXICO 25.00 Dist. 4 Intergroup Meeting NEW YORK 142.00 8th Annu. N.Y.S. Cony ……. PENNSYLVANIA Eastern Pa. Conf ………… 2, 52 2.74 RHODE ISLAND 50.00 Assembly …………….. 100.00 Central Service Comm ……. WASHINGTON Bremerton: 10th Dist. G.S.R. 18.56 Meeting ……………. WEST VIRGINIA Winchester: 4-state get-together 100.00 (June ’71) Memorial Cont. Winchester: 4-state Comm. mtg. Memorial Cont ………… 100.00 CANADA B.C.: B.C. Yukon Area Assembly 248.75 B.C.: Maple Ridge, No. Fraser 40.00 Breakfast meeting ……… 230.83 Ont.: Dunville Go-Forth Conf 49.75 Ont.: Brant-Erie Conf …….. 65.66 Ont.: Central East Conf. …… Ont.: Brantford Groups 30.00 Gratitude Club Fund Ont.: Barrie, Georgian Bay Conf. 261.02 Ont.: Toronto, West Toronto’s 300.45 Men’s Meeting ……….. 3.95 Que.: Duvernay, Dist. #1 Que.: Congres des Groupes A.A. 65.99 de Chicoutimi ……….. SCOTLAND Glasgow: Blue Bonnetts Annu. 30.00 Gathering ………….. . . .

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TWO MORE NATIONS MAY JOIN WORLD SERVICE MEETING Ireland and Sweden may join the other regions expected to send delegates to the second A.A. World Service Meeting in New York, October 5-7, 1972, they report. They, like Brazil, have developed national A.A. service structures since the first world session, in 1969. Brazilian A.A. says it is not quite ready to participate in this meeting. Other responses to the meeting call indicate two delegates each will come from England, Finland, Germany, Mexico and Norway and all increased financial support for this year’s session. Other participating countries will probably be: Australia, Belgium, Central America, France, Holland, New Zealand, South Africa, South and North America. Theme and agenda for the meeting are being formulated now.

GROUP PROBLEMS (from P. 1) ing up all over, have been added to the Tradition Seven presentation. Other subjects to be covered some previously announcedinclude A.A.’s World Directories (over 600 questionnaires returned so far! Thank you!) Also to be discussed are: Family groups, tape making at A.A. get-togethers, clubs for A.A. ’s, naming groups after people, group response to G.S.O. inquiries and the Grapevine. Under “Responsibilities of Area G.S. Committees,” topics to be looked into include local misunderstandings, past delegates’ responsibilities, delegate response to questionnaires, and suggestions for “The A.A. Service Manual.” If your delegate has not yet heard from your group on any of these, do let him know right away.

1972 Conference Delegates Ala/NW. Fla.: (2 1) Jack C., Montgomery, Ala. Alaska: (22) Guy K., Anchorage. Arizona: (22) Red D., Chandler. Arkansas: (21) C.W.G., Dewitt. California: (2 1) Carl B., Santa Maria; (21) Jim A., San Francisco; (22) Bob B., Redding; (22) Charles B., San Diego; (22) John McA., Costa Mesa. Colorado: (21) John N., Sterling. Connecticut: (21) William R., North Haven. Delaware: (22) Carl K., West Grove, Pa. Dist. of Columbia: (21) Hal M., Arlington, Va. Florida: (21) Sam I., Jacksonville; (21) Pat G. Bradenton.

Georgia: (22) John D., Statesboro. Hawaii: (21) Bob A., Honolulu. Idaho: (22) Ted B., Malad. Illinois: (21) Joe C., River Forest; (22) Louis D., Glen Ellyn; (21) Adam H., Rantoul. Indiana: (21) Richard H., New Castle; (22) Don 0., Terre Haute. Iowa: (21) Henry B., Waterloo. Kansas: (22) Ben P., Pratt. Kentucky: (22) Criss R., Florence. Louisiana: (2 1) Gloria C., Lafayette. Maine: (22) Ernest T., Portland. Maryland: (22) William C., Hagerstown.

What Do Panel Numbers Mean? Delegates to each Conference are made up of two “panels. “One is even-numbered and includes those elected to start serving in an even year. The other is odd-numbered and includes those elected to start serving in an odd year. This 22nd Conference is make up of Panel 21the old delego tesand Panel 22the new delegates. Zanesville; (21) Shirley S., North Madison; (22) Jim W., Sylvania; (22) Ken W., Hamilton. Oklahoma: (21) Jim D., Lawton.

Oregon: (22) Chet C., Portland. Pennsylvania: (2 1) Lenore M., Aston Township; (2 1) Bob B., Erie. Rhode Island: (22) Swan J., Warwick. South Carolina: (22) Lloyd G., Spartenburg. South Dakota: (22) Marvin B., Watertown. Tennessee: (22) Earl L., Cleveland. Texas: (21) William A., Gainesville; (22) Lavelle C., El Paso; (21) Neil M., Galveston; (22) Elves S., San Antonio. Utah: (21) George S., Salt Lake City.

. Massachusetts: (21) A. Stuart N., West Bridgewater; (22) Richard D., Springfield. Michigan: (21) George McM., Saginaw; (21) Ken C., East Detroit; (22) Archie MacK., Grand Rapids. Minnesota: (22) Frank J., Cloquet; (21) Warren McG., St. Paul. Mississippi: (22) Henry W., Aberdeen. Missouri: (2 1) Don B., Rolla; (21) Gus W., Kansas City. Montana: (22) Robert S., Pablo. Nebraska: (22) Doug M., Ansley. Nevada: (21) Dick T., Las Vegas. New Hampshire: (22) Gordon B., Bedford.

New Jersey: (21) William B., Hackensack; (22) Thomas W., Lumberton. New Mexico: (22) James ON., Farmington. New York: (2 1) Jack B., Rochester; (22) Mary T., Monroe Bridge, Ma.; (21) John R., Carle Place; (22) Ralph Z., Niagara Falls, Ont. North Carolina: (21) Zeb M., Newport. North Dakota: (22) Dennett H., Rugby. Ohio: (21) Howard R.,

THREE REGIONAL TRUSTEES TO BE ELECTED

Vermont: (22) Howard S., Rutland. Virginia: (21) Joe B., Saluda. Washington: (21) Harold H., Kennewick. West Virginia: (21) Robert McA., St. Albans. Wisconsin: (22) Wilbert L., Republic, Minn.; (21) Joseph B., Milwaukee. Wyoming: (22) Stan M., Sinclair. Puerto Rico: (22) Zandos R., Santurce.

CANADA Alberta: (22) Jim H., Calgary. British Columbia/Yukon: (21) Bill V., Kamloops, B.C. Manitoba: (22) Bill H., Winnipeg. NB.! P.E.I.: (22) Bob G., Moncton, N.B.N.S./NfId/ Labrador: (21) Ed MacD., St. Johns, NOd. Ontario: (21) Mel LeG., Weston; (21) Hector L., Sturgeon Falls; (21) Barry \V., Thunder Bay; (22) Dune McA., Burlington. Quebec: (22) Sheila M., Point Claire; (22) Elmer S., Montreal; (21) Earl P., Arvida. Saskatchewan: (22) George D., Estevan.

N.D., S.D., Wis., and Wyo.); Northeast U.S. (Conn., Del., Me., Md., Mass., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Pa., R.I., Three regional A.A. trustee- and Vt.); and Western Canada (Alta., nominees to the G.S. Board will be B.C., Man., N.W. Tern, and Sask.). chosen at this year’s Conference (see P.1), from among names subOne “general service trustee” mitted by states and provinces. (N.Y. area member with special business skill) will also be named. They are from West Central U.S Election method is detailed in (Iowa, Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr. “A.A. Service Manual,” pp. 87-102.

A. A. Calendar of Events MAY

MARCH

30-31, Apr. 1 – San Juan, P.R. 10th Cony, of Central America, Mexico, Panama & Caribbean. Write: Comite Cony., Apartado 13063, San Juan. 31-Apr. 1-2 Victoria, B.C., Can. Rally for 1972. Write: Chm., Victoria Rally, Box 1, Victoria. 31-Apr. 2 – Capetown, South Africa. 21st Cony. Write: Chm., Box 49, Rondebosch, Capetown. 31-Apr. 3 Queensland, Australia. 25th Annu. in Queensland-12th Annu. A.A. Cony. Write: Cony. Comm., Box 36, Broadway, Queensland, Aust.

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St. Paul, Minn. West Central States Reg. Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., Central Office, 589 Endicott Bldg., St. Paul. Longview, Tex. 3rd E. Texas Roundup. Write: Chm., Box 2082, Longview. Chatham,N.B., Can. New Brunswick and P.E.I. Roundup. Write: Comm. Chm., Box 92, Chatham. Tokyo, Japan. Far East Roundup. Write: Conf. Chm., Box 697, F.P.O., Seattle, Wash. Colton, Cal. Inland Empire General Service Conf. Write: Fiesta, Box 189, Colton. Regina, Sask., Can. Provincial A.A. Workshop. Write: Chm., 60 Haultam, Yorkton, Sask. Appleton, Wisc. Annu. Spring Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., 2107 N. Owaissa, Appleton. New York, N. Y. 13th SE-N.Y. Cony. Write: G.S.C. Comm., Box 1850, New York City. Ft. Davis, Tex. Semi-Annu. Davis Mountains A.A. Retreat. Write: Secy., Box 608, Alpine, Tex. South Kilkenny/ Waterford, Ireland. 15th All-Ireland Cony. Write: Cony. Hon. Secy., 41, The Quay, Waterford, Ireland. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 28th Anniv. Write: Chm., 1017-11th St., NW., Cedar Rapids. Bozeman, Montana. SpringConf. Write: Conf., Chm., Box 403, Bozeman. Atlantic Beach, N.C. 2nd Eastern N.C. Tr-Area Roundup. Write: Conf. Secy., Rte. 1, Box 17-B., Bath, N.C. Clearwater, Fla. 1st Annu. Suncoast Cony. Write: Cony. Chm., 11608 Seminole Blvd., Largo, Fla. Rochester, N. Y. Roch. Intergroup’s 30th Anniv. Banquet. Write: Intergroup Off., 823 Granite Bldg., Rochester.

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Rehoboth Beach, Del. G.S. Conf. Write: Secty, G.S. Assembly, 515 W. 22nd St., Wilmington, Del. Niagara Falls, N.Y. Western, N.Y. Area Gen. Serv. Cony. Write: Cony. Chm., Rm. 534, 295 Main St., Buffalo, N.Y. Este van, Sask., Can. 6th Annu. Roundup. Write: Chm., 820 Hastings P1., Estevan, Sask. Surrey,B.C., Can. 2nd Annu. Fraser Valley Rally. Write: Chm., 13425 81st Avenue, Surrey. Nampa, Idaho. State Area Assembly. Write: Chm., 327 West Washington, Nampa. Atlantic City,N.J. Philadelphia’s 5th Intergroup Roundup. Write: Roungup Secy., 2202 St. James St., Philadelphia. Pembroke, Ont., Can. 10th Annu. Upper Ottawa Valley Dist. Conf. Write: Chm., 152 Laurier Ave., Pembroke. Thunder Bay, Ont., Can. 6th Annu. N.W. Reg. Roundup. Write: Chm., Box 73, Thunder Bay. Niagara Falls, Ont., Can. 8th Annu. Blossom Time Cony. Write: Ticket Chm., do Blossom Time Cony., Box 294, St. Catharines, Ont. Washington,D.C. 30th Amin. Wash. Area Intergroup Banquet. Write: Banquet Chm., 2627 Connecticut Ave. N.\V., Washington. Lake Bloomington, Ill. Illinois Annu, Spring Roundup. Write: Box 312, Normal, Ill. Tulsa, Okla. 31st Annu. Okla. State Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., Box 7611, Tulsa. Sedona,Arizona. 18th Annu.Roundup. Write: Gen. Chm., Box 692, Sedona. Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore Area Intergroup’s 27th Annu. Banquet. Write: Banquet, Chm., Box 2735, Baltimore. Cody, Wy. Wy. State Conf. Write: Conf. Secy., Box 1092, Cody.

Box 4-5-9 is published 6 times a year by the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, 468 Park Avenue, South, N.Y.C.,N.Y. 10016. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Individual, $1.00 per yr.: Group $2.50 for each unit of 10 per yr. (Check should accompany order.) Single copies: IOl each. Checks payable to A.A. World Services, Inc., Box 459, Grand Central Post Office, NEC, N.Y. 10017.

26-28 – Roswell, N.M. 15th Annu. N.M. State A.A. Conf. Write: Regist. Comm., Box 1218, Alamogordo, N.M. 26-28 – Gander, Newfoundland. Newfoundland Roundup. Write: Chm., Box 7131, St. Johns, Newfoundland. 26-28 – Ely, Minn. Upper Minn. Area Gettogether. Write: Banquet Comm., 32 E. Sheridan St., Ely.

JUNE 2- 4 – Effingham, Ill. Southern Area Spring Conf. Write: Chm., Box 41, Effingham. 2- 4 – Palm Springs, Cal. Desert A. A. Roundup. Write: DesertA.A. Roundup, Box 539, Palm Springs. 2- 4 – Cleveland, Ohio. 15th International Conf. of Young People in A.A. Write: Conf. Chm., Box 3069, Cleveland. 3- 4 – Parksville, B.C., Can. 12th Annu. Rally. Write: 12th Amin. Parksville Rally, Box 15, Nanaimo, B.C., Can. 3- 4 – San Francisco, Cal. Northern Coastal Area. Write: Assembly Host, Asilomar Assembly, Box 31192, San Francisco. 15-17 – St. Simons Island, Ga. 8th Annu. Golden Isles Family Weekend. Write: Chm., Box 508, Statesboro, Ga. 23-25 – Akron, Ohio. Founders’ Day. Write: Cony. Chm., Intergroup Office, 41 So. High St., Akron. 30-July 2 Rochester, N.Y. 9th N.Y. State Cony. Write: Cony. Secy., 26 Dickinson St., Rochester. 30-July 2 -Portland, Ore. 25th Amin. Pacific N.W. Conf. Write: Cony. Secy., 15605 S.E.Roethe Place, Milwaukie, Ore. –

A.A.’s ’ON THE BEACH’ (Excerpts from Internationalists “Round Robin,” compilation of A.A. seamen’s letters mailed bimonthly from G.S.O. to more than 400 seafaring members.) “Like others, I’m stuck on the beach by the longshoremen’s strike,” wrote Charlie M. “But there the similarity ends. As an A.A. I’m way ahead. . .taking life’s problems one day at a time. . . “A few years ago, a major strike would have frightened me, but with the A.A. way of life, I have been able to take it in stride with no thought of that first drink,” wrote John C. “Men keep asking me what you do in port if you don’t have a drink,” wrote Dick M. “I do what I used to, sit in bars and talk about doing!”