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NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A. A.

Vol. 18 No. 2

April-May 1973

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June R., an 11-year-sober member of the St. Nicholas group, joins the G.S.O. staff March 1. To come to work with us, she resigned from an executive position in an international aid organization where she had worked for 22 years. June has been very active as secretary and treasurer of her group, in institutions work, and volunteering on the phones at N.Y. Intergroup. We found it difficult to choose June from among many wellqualified applicants, but feel very fortunate in finding her. Unmarried, June lives in Manhattan. Asked about hobbies, she said: “It used to be drinking. Let’ssay swimming; even though I can’t do it very well, I surely love it.” Welcome aboard, June!

I-t’,11 A 15-year-sober member of the Manhattan Group, Niles P. joined the G.S.O. staff early in February as assistant general manager, and we are as delighted as all of Nile’s other friends must be. Besides doing lots of volunteer work around the N.Y. Intergroup, Niles, over the years, has helped out at G.S.O. in many ways. He resigned as a trustee of the General Service Board in order to join us at G.S.O. He was chairman of the trustees (now disbanded) International Committee, and has (cont ’d. p. 3)

The dimensions of the good looking new gold-tone, tabletop rack are 17″ x 17″ x 12″ with 16 spaces to display A.A. pamphlets at meetings. Legend and symbol at front are in blue and white. It’s strong and sturdy, but easily folds flat for storage between meetings.

’73 Conference.- Which Will be Hottest Topic, Should an A.A. group have perman en t (non-rotating) officers? Are we losing our valued one-toone relationship as A.A. groups get larger. Are our Traditions being violated in institutions? Will one of those topics generate the most interest at the 1973 meeting of A.A.’s (U.S. & Canada) General Service Conference? Or one of the following! Is your life worth a penny a day? To whom is a delegate responsible for his performance in that office? I.i1iLIR1UUi1ti(N1SJ 4’d PART I (U.S. and Canada) of the World Directory for 1973 will be available midsummer. Each group in the U.S. and Canada will receive a complimentary copy.

What is the most appropriate use of the Bill W. Memorial Fund (now about $40,000)? When is a newcomer in A.A. long enough to learn about A.A. s service structure? When the 90 delegates representing U.S. and Canadian A.A. groups (see list, page 2) gather in New York April 24-29, these are among the major items to be dealt with in workshops, committee meetings, presentation/discussions, and four Ask-It-Basket (anonymous written questions) sessions. Election of a new general service trustee, U.S.A. (filling the spot left vacant by the late Jim H., Huntsville, Ala.) is also scheduled. The Conference takes place behind closed doors at the Hotel Roosevelt, mostly in the Terrace Suite under a big banner proclaiming the 1973 Conference theme: (cont’d. p. 2)

Box 4-5-9 is published by-monthly by the General Service Office ofAlcoholics Anonymous, 468 Park Av. So., New York, N. Y 10016. ‘ Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Mail address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, N. Y. 10017. Subscriptions: Individual, $1 per yr., group, $2.50 for each unit of 10 per yr. Check – payable to A.A.W.S., Inc. must accompany order.

CONFERENCE (contd.)

RESPONSIBILITY – OUR EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE. For five days, from 9 am. to 10 p.m. (and then perhaps long into the night over coffee), the 82 men and 8 women delegates, seeking to determine the voice of A.A. will talk, eat, and share experience with trustees, A.A.W.S., and Grapevine board members, G.S.O. and Grapevine staffs. This, the twenty-third annual meeting, will be chaired by Dr. John L. Norris (nonalcoholic) chairman of the G.S. Board. Non-voting trustee committee members and G.S.O. department heads will also be called in for some sessions. A dinner and regular A.A. meeting climax the opening day, Tues., April 24. The last half-day ends with brunch and an A.A. meeting Sunday, April 29.

New features on the agenda this year as suggested by former delegates include: three workshop sessions (in nine groups), two of which are unstructured, and one of these will be on the very first day; a first-day sharing session on nine topics, one from each one of the workshop topics; @ three meetings of each Conference Committee (each delegate is in one); and free discussion after every presentation. Topics for these include 1) why we have a G.S. Conference, 2) election procedure for regional trustees, 3) building an area service

1973 Conference Delegates 101019,114 URI Kly 9,01

Ala. /N.W. Fla.: (23) Gerald H,, Jacksonvilla, Ala. Alaska: (22) Guy K., Anchorage. Arizona: (22) *Bill S., Phoenix. Arkansas (23) Anna K., Little Rock. California: Southern (23) David H., Los Angeles; No. Coastal (23) Merle G., Millbrae; No. Interior (22) Bob B., Redding; San Diego (22) Charles B., San Diego; Mid-Southern (22) John A., Fountain Valley. Colorado: (23) Don P., Denver. (’onnecticut: (23) John C., Westport. Delaware: (22) Carl K., Wilmington. District of Columbia: (23) John W., Washington. Florida: Northern (23) Bill P., Altamonte Springs; Southern (23) Brick B., Tampa. Georgia: (22) John D., Statesboro. Hawaii: (23) “Pete” P., Honolulu. Idaho: (22) Ted B., Malad. Illinois: Chicago (23) Norm A., Evanston; Northern (22) Louis D., Glen Ellyn; Southern (23) Chuck L., Creve Couer. Indiana: Northern (23) Jim S., Fort Wayne; Southern (22) Don 0., Terre Haute. Iowa: (23) Laurence V.N., Marion. Kansas: (22) Ben P., Pratt. Kentucky: (22) Criss R., Florence. Louisiana: (23) Travis H., West Monroe. Maine: Ronald R., Rumford. Maryland: (22) William C., Hagerstown. Massachusetts: Eastern (23) Donald S., Brockton; Western (22) Richard D., Springfield.

Ruth H., Hollis; Western (22) Ralph Z., Niagara Falls, Out. North Carolina: (23) Zeb M., Newport. North Dakota: (22) *F re d B., Grand Forks.

Ohio: Central/Southeast (23) Lowell B., Worthington; Northeast (23) John B., No. Olmsted; N.W. Ohio/SE. Mich. (22) Chuck W., Toldeo; 5./SW. Ohio/No. Ky. (22) Ken W., Hamilton, Ohio, Oklahoma: (23) Wilson P., Okla. City. Oregon: (22) Chester C., Oregon City. Pennsylvania: Eastern (23) Joseph Dc B., Croyden; Western (23) Francis F., Sharpsville, Rhode Island: (22) Swan J., Warwick. South Carolina: (22) Lloyd G., Spartanburg. South Dakota: (22) Marvin B., Watertown. Tennessee: (22) Earl L., Cleveland. Texas: Northeast (23) Patrick M., Dallas, Northwest (22) LaVelle C., El Paso; Southeast (23) Don A., Houston; Southwest (22) Elves S., San Antonio. Utah: (23) Jack C., Salt Lake City. Vermont: (22) Howard S., Rutland. Virginia: (23) Fred C., Virginia Beach, Washington: (23) Ted K., Tacoma, West Virginia: (23) George E., Charleston, Wisconsin: No. Wise/Upper Mich. (22) Wilbert L., Republic; Southern (23) Virginia H., Shorewood, Wyoming: (22) Stan M., Sinclair. Puerto Rico: (22) Zandos R., Santurce.

Michigan: Central (23) William H., Flint; Southeast (23) William J., Warren; Western (22) *Peter S., Montague. Minnesota: Northern (22) Frank J., Cloquet; Southern (23) Earl L., New Ulm. Mississippi: (22) Henry W., Aberdeen. Missouri: Eastern (23) Paul C., St. Charles; Western (23) Lucille T., Urich. Montana: (22) Robert S., Pablo.

Nebraska: (22) Doug M., Ansley. Nevada: (23) Bob H., Sparks. New Hampshire: (22) Gordon B., Bedford. New Jersey: Northern (23) Merge R., Hackensack; Southern (22) *Noe l L., Woodlynne. New Mexico: (22) Jim O’N., Farmington. New York: Central (23) Lawrence J., Binghamton; H/M/B (22) Mary T., Monroe Bridge, Ma.; Southeastern (23)

structure, 4) the Grapevine, and 5) A.A. in institutions. Delegates will also see the new G.S.O. filmstrip, “Welcome to G.S.O.” (see page 3), and the new public service TV announcements for TV showing. They will also consider Utah’s request for a change of region, and discuss plans for A.A.’s 40th-year International Convention (our 6th) in Denver, Cob., July 4th weekend, 1975. –2–

Alberta: (22) Bill L., Innisfail. B.C’./ Yukon: (23) A.G.B., Sidney. Manitoba: (22) Bill H., Winnipeg. N.B./P.E.I. (22) Bob G., Moncton, N.B. N.S./Nfld./Labrador (23) Alister M., Sidney, N.S. Ontario: Eastern (23) Charles P., Ogdensburg, N.Y.; Northeastern: (23) Bob F., Sudbury; Northwestern: (23) Murray S., Thunder Bay; Western: (22) Al B., Burlington. Quebec: Southwestern-English: (22) Sheila M., Point Claire; SouthwesternFrench: (22) Elmer S., Montreal; Northeastern: (23) Marcel L., Arthabaska. Saskatchewan: (22) George D., Estevan. * Alternate Delegate

The structured workshop subject will talk about “The A.A. Group sponsorship, newcomers/ oldtimers, special purpose meetings, etc.” Also to be discussed are inactive members and the future of the World Directory. The 45 Panel 23 delegates (those serving the first year of their 2-year terms) will tell about highlights of recent A.A. service action in the areas they represent.

NEW FILMSTRIP ON G.S.O. READY “Welcome to G.S.O.,” says the voice of Bob H., our general manager. And that introduction is the name of our brand-new sound-and-color filmstrip. Any A.A. group or committee can have one (as of May I) for S6.00. The recorded “tour” lasts about 40 minutes and is an entertaining way to acquaint A.A. members with worldwide A.A. service operations. You see and hear every one of us G.S.O. and Grapevine staff members as we tell some of the things that happen every day here on the 5th and 6th floors at 468 Park Avenue South, New York City. You need a screen (30-40″ for small audiences, 70″ for 100 or more viewers), a projector for the strip of still photos, and a turntable for the 33 rmp record. The Dukane Microma tic Sound Filmstrip Projector, with turntable is ideal. You can rent necessary equipment locally if you don’t already have it. (Sorry G.S.O. is not able to provide the viewing equipment.)

ABOUT A.A. AND RESEARCH From Taiwan, Republic of China

“You asked our opinion (in the Aug-Sep. ’72 issue of Box 4-5-9) on research. I owe so much to A.A. as it is that I do not want to endorse anything. “That does not say that I oppose research,” the letter goes on. “I think we should cooperate with researchers within the limits A .A. outlines for us.” E.I.Q.

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NILES P. (from p. 1)

O:,A W

U RNS 0153 I’ M

Amateur radio operators in A.A. now meet with each other via the airwaves every Monday through Friday. Those wishing to join in can get international frequencies or call letters from G.S.O. Hours of the sessions are 11:45 and 18:15 G.M.T. in summer, 12:45 and 19:15 G.M.T. in winter. On another frequency, summer meetings are at 17:00 G.M.T., and 18:00 in winter.

also been a director of A.A. World Services, Inc., and a member of the Public Information Committee. More recently, he has served as chairman of the Trustee’s Nominating Committee. A former newspaperman, Niles has written the annual Conference Report for several years. Along the way, in addition to his job as a business and financial writer on the old New York Herald Tribune, Niles has authored several books. He is a very popular A.A. speaker, and his hilarious tales of drunken Navy service may be the funniest you ever heard. We know you will join us in joyfully welcoming Niles to the staff.

Special Gifts to G S. 0, CALIFORNIA Eureka: Dist. 80-89 ………. .5 34.50 Pacific Beach: No. Shores Breakfast Mtg . ………… 25.00 Calif. Northern Costal Area…. 255.00 CONNECTICUT District 7…………….. 11.50 FLORIDA Coral Gables: Gratitude Dinner, Dist. 8 ………… 2,900.00 It. Lauderdale: Dist. 7 So. Fla. Conf………….. 1,400.00 Naples: 16th Fla. State Cony ……………….. 324.08 Palm Beach County Gratitude Dinner……….. 2,667.18 Pensacola: Ala/NW. Fla. Cony. Fund 1972 ………. 269.69 ILLINOIS North and South Area Assembly…………….. 280.00 INDIANA Marion: Gratitude Dinner ….. 474.86 KANSAS Lamed: Kansas State Assembly…………….. 250.00 LOUISIANA Shreveport: Tr i -State Cony, 100.00 MARYLAND Maryland General Service Cony ……………….. 354.42 MICHIGAN Flint: Mich State Conf……. 1,870.00 Grand Rapids: Kent Co. Ccii. Comm…………… 30.00 South Haven: West. Mich, Area ……………….. 200.00 Pontiac: 14 Combined A.A. Mtgs . …………… 36.97 MISSISSIPPI Miss, A.A. Assembly ……… 100.00 .

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MISSOURI St. Louis: E. Missouri Conf. St. Louis: Dist. 1 & 2 …….. MONTANA Fall State A.A. Conf……… NEVADA Las Vegas: Roundup Comm. OHIO N. Madison, Ohio State Gen. Serv. Conf……………. OREGON Portland: Oregon State Gen. Serv. Comm…………… RHODE ISLAND Pawtucket: 2nd Annu. Roundup…………….. Providence: R.I. Assembly ….. WASHINGTON Everett: Dist. #12……….. Pasco: Pacific Region A.A. Assembly ……………. Seattle: Wash. Assembly Seattle: Union Club Luncheon .

202.00 22.00 40.00 410.00

806.63 79.76 80.00 200.00 31.18 610.20 20.00 48.00

CANADA Alberta: Edmonton: Alberta Provincial Conf………… 800.00 B.C . -Yukon Conf. Comm. . . . . 1,492.50 Manitoba: Manitoba Gratitude [)inner ……………… 150.00 Ontario: Brant Erie One-Day Cony …………. 40.40 Ontario: St. Lawrence International Cony. ………… 298.96 Ontario: E. Toronto Men’s Mtg……………. 50.00 Ontario: Sun. A . M. Men’s Mtg……………. 50.00 Ontario: N . W. Ont. Gen. Serv. Cte. Roundup……… 450.00

Many Responsibilities Every day, some A.A. newcomers somewhere begin to wonder: How can an outfit as determinedly un-organized as A.A. ever get anything done? Our 9th Tradition (special committees) tells how. One of the oldest examples which affects every one of us is Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.) A.A.W.S. is the legal corporation responsible for the business end of our General Service Board’s worldwide service operation. When our Fellowship was only three years old, its members already felt sure that A.A. could not be a commercial business, a club or an organization in any usual sense. Instead, it must be a “way of life.”

The A.A.W.S. Board of Directors meets every month (not quarterly, as we erroneously reported in a previous issue) to deal with such matters as granting for mal permission to reprint confer ence-approved material in English and in other languages (including Lithuanian!); withholding reprint permission if necessary; approval of day-to-day operations as reported by our general manager; choosing new directors when needed; setting the price on new pamphlets and changing the name of an old one; and reviewing reports on finance, the conference, staff activities, Public Information, Professional Relations and the A.A. Grapevine.

Necessary Business But business decisions and actions were urgently needed in A.A., even then, in 1938. The book “Alcoholics Anonymous” was about to be published. Who was to own, sell and distribute it? Contract for the printing? Account for the money taken in? Rent and staff an office? Pay bills? Answer the anguished letters begging for help? If the still-shaky alcoholics of the young Fellowship tried collectively to do these things, who could stay sober?

Directors are in and out of the office frequently and are responsible for the overall supervision of the office and all its activities. Obviously the seven directors of the corporation now have to be experienced A.A. men and women who can get to G.S.O. frequently and use their professional or business skills in budget and finance control, publishing, public relations and personnel matters, as well as a broad knowledge of specialized A.A. problems. Directors are volunteers who serve a four-year term on a rotating basis.

Works Publishing

Legal Apparatus

In desperation then, thirty-four years ago, the Works Publishing company was set up later to become A.A.W.S., Inc. Today, as A.A. grows and becomes better known, the importance of the business decisions which the directors must make also grows. So does the frequency with which decisions must be made.

Like the other corporation responsible to the General Service Board – A.A. Grapevine, Inc. A.A.W.S. is equipped with a proper set of legal bylaws, a corporate seal, and everything else necessary for doing business in the modern world. It is governed, also, of course, by the applicable laws of N.Y. State and federal government.

Directors Work

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COME TO SEE US! Over 1,500 A.A. members a year, from all over the world, visit your General Service Office (G.S.O.). If your autograph isn’t in our guest book yet, can we count on your dropping in soon? We hope so. Visitors are not only delights for us; they also help us keep informed about A.A. around the globe. We are at 468 Park Avenue SOUTH, only one subway stop downtown from Grand Central Station. When you get off the elevator at the 6th floor, you will be greeted by Muriel Elias, our nonalcoholic receptionist. Then you will be taken on a tour, so you can meet all the staff and see our exhibit of historical A.A. momentoes the manuscript of the first Big Book, the Lasker Award, the International Franciscan Award, and our many foreign language publications. You will also visit the Grapevine office, then see our busy shipping department where the “A.A. message” is packaged daily for worldwide distribution. Recently Ted S., manager of the Chicago Metropolitan Office, visited us for several days. He came East in order to learn more about G.S.O.; also to observe some of the Central Offices here in the East. Ronald L., chairman of the General Service Board in Britain, was also here recently. We hope you come in soon.

LUt1aiUtiLI(I]1II4i “A member of A.A. in Cape Town, South Africa, died recently, and in the newspaper notice, his widow requested donations to A.A. instead of flowers. What should we do in a case like this?” writes Patricia C., Intergroup Secretary in South Africa. In reply, we pointed out this happens at G.S.O., too. In line with our Seventh Tradition of self support, our policy is

“What’s the difference,” a visitor asked us the other day, “between the Birthday Plan and the Anniversary Fund Plan?” Not much. Both are ways of contributing to the support of the worldwide A.A. services provided by G.S.O.

to return such gifts because they come from people who are not A.A. members. The G.S. Board recently examined this matter again, and reaffirmed previous guidance: it is better if A.A. does not accept “outside” funds, as our Sixth Traditionbased on long experiencestates. We are grateful for kind intentions, but experience shows us we must pay our own way. Ever since 1940 – when the first A.A. “directory” (a two-page mimeographed job) appeared members everywhere have wanted to participate in the services necessary to keep A.A. alive and growing.

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In the Birthday Plan, a member on his A.A. “birthday” contributes to G.S.O. $1.00 for each year of sobriety. A suggested ceiling is $10.00. Some give more, but $300.00 per person per year is the maximum acceptable. (This can also be credited to a group, in addition to the group’s regular gifts listed in the World Directory.) Birthday reminders are not sent. The Anniversary Fund Plan is primarily a way in which members no longer so active in group affairs can contribute to G.S.O. With this plan, no $10.00 ceiling is suggested, although the $300.00 limit, does apply. Being a limited list, anniversary reminders are sent.

OX

Some members and groups honor a deceased member with an in memoriam gift to G.S.O. A bequest in the will of an A.A. is now acceptable, but only in the year of the A.A.’s death and a single $300.00 legacy is the limit. Regular monthly contributions from group treasuries are still the chief means of keeping A.A. services going. An average of $3.00 per member per year is suggested. But special contributions from conventions, dinners, etc., are getting more and more popular. Special envelopes for all plans are available free from G.S.O. REGULAR CONTRIBUTION PLAN Pc .p Q a qp n&appr AA.UOad L1

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A 120-page collection of A.A. members’ stories of their spiritual experiences – “Game To Believe” – is scheduled to be published this spring. The new publication is an A.A. first, inaugurating what may well be a new class of A.A. literature “in between” our hard-cover books and pamphlets in size and price. Seventy-five contributors tell in their own words what the phrase “spiritual awakening” means to them. Their experiences range from orthodox religious conversions to atheistic or humanistic manifestations of a Higher Power. The new booklet will be 5-3/8″ x 8″ and have an unusual and attractive cover which photographically symbolizes its contents. The booklet has been in preparation since 1969 under the watchful eye of the Trustees Literature Committee and the Conference Literature Committee. It is priced at $1.25. (IAIIi[StIIJkUU

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“Remember that we deal with alcohol – cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us.” Where does this help come from? How do we make contact with it? In the section “The Search for Spiritual Experience” (pages 2-17), we find some answers and certainly a wealth of material for discussion. How many of us come to a God of our understanding through various stages of growth? Can we bring awareness to others or must they find God on their own? Read “That God Could and Would. . (page 2). Can we stay sober without God? Read “An Agnostic’s Higher Power” (page 12). What is meant by “The Grace of God” (page 16)? Does it fall at random or can we work with ourselves and God to achieve it?

Sec., Parforce St., Bonne Aventure P.O., Bonne Aventure, West Indies.

A. A. Calendar of ]Events MARCH

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French Lick, Ind. 20th Ind. A.A.

23-25

Cony. Write: Conf. Chm., RR8, Crawfordsville, 47933. Sterling county, cob. Cob. Regional Conf., 1436 Williams #204, Denver 80218. Jackson’s Mill, W. Va. 1st Annu. W. Va., Spring Roundup. Write: W. Va. Spring Roundup, Box 825, Clarksburg 26301.

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Greenville, S.C. 26th State Cony. Write: Chm,, 206 W. McBee Ave., Greenville 29601. Longview, Tex. 4th E. Tex. Roundup. Write: Conf. Chrn., Box 2082, Longview 75601. Clearwater, Fla. 2nd Anna. Suncoast Cony. Write: Cony. Chm., 11608 Seminole Blvd., Largo 33540. New Orleans, La. Big Deep So. Cony. Write: Cony, Comm., Suite 707, 535 Gravier St., New Orleans 70130. San Bernardino, calif. 2nd Annu. Island Empire A.A. Service Fiesta. Write: Fiesta, Box 189, Colton 92324. London, Eng, 8th G.S. Conf. Write: G.S.B. of A.A., 11 Redchffe Gar dens, London SW 10 9 BG. Galway, Ireland 16th All-Ireland Cony. Write: Cony. Hon. Sec., Tourist Office, Galway, Ireland. Tokyo, Japan Fax East Spring Roundup. Write: Chm., Far East Roundup, CMR Box 591, APO S.F., Calif. 96594. Victoria, B. C Annu. Rally of Greater Victoria and District. Write: Chm., Rally Comm., Box 1, Victoria, British Columbia. Turku, Finland 25th Ann. of A.A. in Finland. Write: A.A. Office, P. Hannikaisentie 1P, SF-00400 Helsinki 40, Finland. Munich, Germany All German Roundup, Leopoldsti. 82. Write: Chm., 6451 Hain Studt, Martinstr, 21, W. Germany.

MAY Bradford, Penn. Annu. Spring Conf.

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on N.W. N.Y. Write: Lit. Chm., do Kelison R. Helms, 422 W. Main Street, Smethport 16749. Chattanooga, Tenn. 22nd Annu. Tenn. A.A. Cony. Write: Cony. Host Comm., Box 1505, Chattanooga 37401. Brookings, So. Dakota So. Dakota State Conf, Write: So. Dakota State Conf., Box 162, Brookings 57006. Atlantic city , N.J. Philadelphia’s 6th Intergroup Roundup. Write: Roundup Sec., 2202 St. James St., Philadelphia 19103.

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Pembroke, Ont. 11th Annu. Upper Ottawa Valley District Cony. Write: Cony. Comm., Box 1, K8A 6X, Pembroke. Thunder Bay “F”, Ont. N.W. Ont. 7th Ann. Regional Roundup. Write: N.W. Ont. Roundup Comm., Box 73, Thunder Bay F. Grand Rapids, Minn. 3rd Annu. Upper Minn. A.A. and Al-Anon Get Together. Write: Banquet Comm., 512 8th Ave., SW., Grand Oklahoma City, Okla. 32nd Ann. Okla. A.A. Conf. Write: Conf., Box 60826, Oklahoma City 73106. 6th State Woodstock, Vermont Cony. Write: Conf. Chm., Box 157, E. Arlington 05252. Menomonie Falls, Wis. 22nd Annu. Southern Wis. Spring Conf. Write: Southern Wis. Conf., 6845 No. Range Line Road, Glendale 53209. Sedona, Arizona 19th Annu. Roundup. Write: Gen. Chm., Box 692, Sedona 86336. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Gateway Roundup. Write: Roundup Sec., 12 12th St. E., Prince Albert, Canada. Ely, Minn. Upper Minn. Area A.A. and Al-Anon Get Together. Write: Banquet Comm., 32 E. Sheridan St. Ely 55731.

Marion, Ill. Down State Spring Conf. Meeting. Write: Chm., Box 217, Benton 62812. Jackson, Miss. 27th Miss. Cony. Write: 27th Miss, A.A. Cony., Box 429, Meridian 39301. Trinidad, West Indies Trinidad & Tobago 14th Annu. Cony. Write:

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We enjoy listing your conferences and conventions. But please help us provide this information by sending your dates to us in plenty of time for inclusion in the Calendar. The mailing dates for Box 4-5-9 are: Jan. 15, Mar. 15, May 15, July 15, Sept. 15 and Nov. 15. We need your dates, at the latest, two months in advance of the mailing date. Re mailing addresses: please keep in mind we cannot use full names in this bulletin; Box numbers are preferable.

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the Canadian Foundation. Write: Chm., Cony. Comm., Box 37, University Ave., Charlottetown, Canada. 28-July] Dallas, Tex. 28th Tex., State Cony., Write: Tex. State A.A. Comm., Box 2081, Dallas 75201.

From: Jackson, Mich. – Two members from here attended the state conference in Flint first time in this state inmates were permitted to attend A.A. “outside,” and thus a day to be remembered, Jim S. writes us. An inmate panel had Pete S., Tom I., Joe B., and Jim on it. In recent years many reluctant inmates were “sent” to A.A. meetings against their will, Jim says, and their resentment created a negative atmosphere in the group. To solve the problem, an “Alcohol Information Program” was planned, to which fellows with drinking problems could be referred first. There they could get enough information to decide for themselves if they had a problem, and could join A.A. if they wished. Many of us interested in A.A. behind bars wait anxiously to hear the results of this plan. Meanwhile, does anyone have another suggested solution? **** Inmates From: Raiford, Fla. from Union Correctional Institution here were allowed to cross the state line to attend the anniversary meeting of the Tattnall Group at Georgia State Prison, Ralph G. writes. Another first, he believes. The HOPE Group in Raiford Communicate every publishes month, Ralph says, except “no issue came out of this month due to lack of printing ink at the chapel where the mimeograph is located.” Next month’s edition, Ralph promised, “will be a WHOPPER!”