BOX 4.49 NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A.A. Vol. 23, No.2

April-May 1978

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Milestone in Grapevine History Celebrated With the March 1978 issue, the A.A. Grapevine reached a notable point in its upward climb. Only 1,200 copies of the first issue, June 1944, went out to 165 subscribers and other A.A.’s. By 1945, subscribers alone numbered 2,000. This year, as the cover shown here indicates, 100,000 copies of the March Grapevine carried the A.A. message in print. To celebrate the occasion, the Grapevine held a dinner party at the Hotel Roosevelt, New York, on Jan. 28. Chuck H., Fairfield, Conn., chairman of the GV Corporate Board, made the happy announcement.

Conference Plans Nearly Complete With assignment (by lot) of Panel 28 delegates to committees of the 1978 General Service Conference of A.A. (U.S. and Canada), plans for the annual meeting are virtually set. At the Jan. 28 meeting of the trustees’ Committee on the General Service Conference, the chairman drew new committee members’ names from the hat. The vital part committees play in Conference actions is shown in the sketch on p. 6. Conference members received the preliminary agenda in January. Most topics on it were reported in the Feb.-Mar. issue of Box 4-5-9. Workshop questions were mailed to delegates Feb. 8. A discussion subject recently (continued on p. 6)

Honored in absentia were the 1,607 Grapevine representatives (GvRs) in the U.S. and Canada, who perhaps deserve the largest credit for the magazine’s increased readership, Chuck said. Also honored, of course, were the “six ink-stained wretches” who started the publication (see p. 201 in “A.A. Comes of Age”) and their volunteer assistants. None of these pioneers could be present. Chuck recalled highlights of the magazine’s history before introducing Lois W., widow of A.A. co-founder Bill. Lois reminisced (continued on p. 4)

TRANSLATORS NEEDED Do you speak Japanese? Dutch? German? Any other language or some dialect not widely known? If so, A.A. World Services can use your help in going over translations of A.A. literature into various languages. In recent years, the volume of A.A. material translated into nonEnglish tongues has increased enor mously. The translations have to be approved by G.S.O. in New York before A.A. offices in other lands publish the material. We need to make sure, not only that the translation is absolutely correct, but also that it retains the A.A. flavor and spirit. As A.A.’s know, our choice of terms can either help or drive away alcoholic prospects. Great care is taken to select exactly the right (continued on p. 2

With this issue. Grapevine circulation reaches 100, 000

AAGrapevjnelnc. MARCH 978

500 us.

HOW DOES YOUR GROUP GREET GUESTS? We often get letters from traveling A.A.’s about the marvelous friendliness and hospitality they found in an A.A. group miles, or even oceans, away from home. But not always. We also get an occasional note about how “cold” some group was to a visiting A.A. At our home-group meetings, understandably, we want to visit with friends. Sometimes, we forget to speak to arrivals we do not know. They could be scared prospects, arrogantly pretending to be “just visiting”; or members from another city wanting to drink but seeking A.A. companionship instead; or alcoholics’ relatives or friends seeking information about A.A. In many groups, hospitality (continued on p. 5)

Box 4-5-9 is published bimonthly by the General Service Office ofAlcoholics Anonymous, 468 .Park Avenue South, New York, NY. 10016.

‘

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1978.

Mall address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, N Y. 10017. Subscriptions: Individual, $1.50 per year,’ group, $3.50 for each unit of 10 per yr. made payable to A.A.W.S., Inc. Check should accompany order.

WHY DELEGATES BEHAVE SERIOUSLY If General Service Conference delegates seem to take their jobs (not themselves, let’s hope!) seriously, it could be because they have studied pp. 23-24 of “The A.A. Service Manual.” Article 4 of the Conference Charter places a heavy responsibility on every A.A. who attends the General Service Conference. It reads: “The Conference will replace the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous . . . The Conference will be expected to afford a reliable cross section of A.A. opinion for this purpose.” The charter points out that the founders were, naturally, the first to function as guides and advisers to the board and to its service cor porations (A.A.W.S. and Grapevine). The founders were, originally, the only links between the whole A.A. membership and the board, which was responsible for A.A. publishing, for our public relations nationally, for the Grapevine, and for maintaining a central clearinghouse of A.A. information where people could get help (originally called the Foundation Office, then Headquarters, and finally and most appropriately, the General Service Office). Almost never have we seen delegates treat lightly their duty to stand in for the founders. A two-thirds vote of a Conference quorum (two-thirds of all Conference members) is binding on the board or G.S.O. or the Grapevine. And there is a way in which the

Conference could bring about a complete reorganization of the board, if such were ever deemed essential. It’s on p. 24 of your manual.

ARE YOU PLANNING AN A.A. GET-TOGETHER? Many big gatherings are continually being planned all over the A.A. world. Often, program committees invite a G.S.O. staff member or a G.S. Board trustee to attend. (Staff members are guests of the host committee, of course; but up to one-half of your regional trustee’s expense can be handled by the board. However, many areas pick up the total expense.) The planners may then be disappointed to find their local gettogether conflicts with one of the quarterly working weekends when trustees gather in New York for two and a half days of A.A. business. To help you plan: It might be easy to remember that the last weekends in January, July, and October are usually the board’s working weekends. And of course, all trustees and G.S.O. and Grapevine staff members attend the General Service Conference the third week (including two weekends) of each April. In brief: The board and all G.S.O. and Grapevine staff persons have already committed these dates on their calendars: Apr. 16-23 (G.S. Conference), July 28-31, Oct. 27-30, 1978; and Jan. 26-29, 1979.

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! HELP WANTED! Plans for A.A.’s Seventh International Convention, in New Orleans, La., the weekend of July 4, 1980, have already begun, of course. (We try to live one day at a timebut sometimes we do have to get ready!)

What would you like as a theme for the 1980 International Convention? Please send G.S.O. your suggestions. To refresh your memory: At the sixth, in Denver (1975), the theme was “Let It Begin With Me”; in Miami Beach (1970), it was “Unity”; in Toronto (1965), it was “I Am Responsible.” Get the idea?

HOME-GROUP HISTORY INSPIRES MISSOURI A.A.’S A brief history of the North Kansas City (Mo.) Group came to us from Everett R. It is a one-page narrative covering 27 years. The group formed in 1949. Of the 14 original members, 11 stayed sober from the beginning; of the three who had trouble, one returned to remain sober. Four founding members are still active in A.A., and the groupstill in its original homenow has 12 meetings per week, six at noon. Six other groups are offspring of this one, and their growth pleases N.K.C. members. Have any other groups compiled such a record? We’d love to hear about it.

TRANSLATORS NEEDED (continued from p. 1) words in English, and we have to be equally careful in other tongues. As our backlog of translated material needing review has grown, we have talked to professional translation services about this. Two problems arise: (1) Services can be enormously expensive, and (2) they do not always understand the nuances of A.A.’s “language of the heart” the way other alkies can. So, if you know some good A.A.’s fluent in a language other than English, sober a few years, and with a good background of reading A.A. material, please have them get in touch with G.S.O.

Trustee Corner

Delegate Corner HOW SECOND-YEAR SERVANTS FEEL

LAWYER SALUTES A.A. ’CONSISTENCY’

Is your second General Service Conference different from your first? Have your feelings about being a delegate changed? Are your preparations for the 1978 Conference different from those for 1977? Three Panel 27 delegates chosen at random were asked these questions. They are Ken D. (N.E. Ont.), Harriet R. (S. Fla.), and Jack W. (Utah). They said they feel less trepidation, awe, and apprehension this year, and believe they can be more productive. Having been through his “freshman” term, Jack said, he now has “a little better under standing of the Conference” than before. All feel much surer they will be able to make a genuine contribution this year. “It’s so gratifying!” Harriet exclaimed. “Now I feel I really am a part of sober!” the service structureat last I feel I really am Ken had been told his first year would be “a drag,” (continued on next page)

“We lawyers tend to become hardened, almost shockproof,” nonalcoholic trustee Mike Alexander recently told a caller. “We have ajob to do and do it. Practically nothing surprises us.” But when he began to V reminisce about his first acquaintance with A.A.. Mike’s tone of voice belied h his professional calm. “1 first heard of A.A. when I was a boy, probably through a Reader’s Digest article in the 1940’s,” he said. “I thought at the time A.A. seemed to be a fine organization for doing good in an area where good is badly needed.” “Has your impression changed? What is it now?” he was asked. (continued on next page) V

OFFICES GET NEWS ON A.A. LITERATURE All A.A. central offices (intergroups) and literature distribution centers received the following information in a recent G.S.O. letter. 1977 International New pieces now available: A.A. Directory (confidential, sent only to members, 75); Guidelines on A.A. Answering Services (free for ten or fewer, 10 each for more than ten); “Information on Alcoholics Anonymous” (for use by committees on cooperation with the professional community, at no charge); “A.A. at a Glance” (see P. 5). Changes made when reprinting: long form of Traditions added to “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”; consequent correction of page references in “As Bill Sees It”; new cover on “Came to Believe.” Other work in progress will be completed later this year. A committee is updating “The A.A. Service Manual.” (Tenth Step! In that G.S.O. letter, the retail price of the manual was incorrectly given as $1.75. It is $1.50.) “The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (biographical sketches and their last major talks)” will combine two older pamphlets. Also in preparation: multicolored leaflet based on the filmstrip “Circles of Love and Service”; illustrated pamphlet for use in correctional facilities; combined literature order form/catalog.

THE DIFFERENCE A G.S.R. CAN MAKE Does a tiny, relatively isolated A.A. group really need a G.S.R.? What can he or she do? From the fairly new, five-member Niton Group (Niton Junction, Alta., Canada), Hazel S. writes: “You can’t be involved in service without love growing, and with love is the only way one can truly serve.” The group has a “sharing time” with its G.S.R. at most meetings. This includes Box 4-5-9 news and reports on assembly and district meetings. When the group announced it would show the G.S.O. filmstrip, “Box 459,” 15 visitors turned up. As each assembly meeting nears, one Niton member asks what his share of the expense is. The group simply arrives at a total and divides by five. It’s clear that, despite its small size, such a serviceminded A.A. group has quite an impact. When Hazel’s group had its first anniversary, 70 members and friends showed up, although the whole hamlet of Niton has only 63 inhabitants! People came from ten communities, as far as 100 miles away. One nonalcoholic visitor said, “You folks have something the rest of us don’t have. I’ll never forget that night as long as I live.”

G.S.R. Corner

Central Office Corner 3

DELEGATE CORNER (continued) he said. But it wasn’t. He has visited every district of his area and looks forward very much to the New York trip this April. “I’m so much less nervous, I’m bringing my wife!” he said with a chuckle. As they did last year, the three are seeking out the group conscience in their areas on Conference agenda items, so they can come to the Conference informed. Ken, however, feels he can be more selective in his pre-Conference reading this year than last. “In 1977, I was afraid not to read every single word,” he explained. “But with more confidence, this year I’m trying to zero in on the most important materials.” Jack agreed. He had just spent three hours on a Sunday morning conferring on the Conference agenda with past delegates and his area chairman, getting their ideas. “There will be a difference in what I present to my pre-Conference assembly this year, because I now have a better idea of what information I need to take to New York,” he reported. Harriet said there will be little difference in her preparations this year, except that she feels different. “Last year,” she explained, “I wanted to be sure we in our area were absolutely ’right’ on everything. This year I feel more loose I mean, relaxed,” she hastily corrected, with a laugh.

TRUSTEE CORNER (continued) He paused, then replied warmly, “Remarkable consistency! My feeling about A.A. today is almost precisely what it was some 30 years ago! But now my knowledge is firsthand, of course.” His first professional contact with us came in 1951, when he joined the law firm headed by the late Bernard Smith, a towering figure in A.A. history (see p. 274,

etc., in “A.A. Comes of Age”). At first, Mike worked largely on copyright and corporate law matters. Fortunately for us, he can now contribute even more of his talent, since he is on the Finance Committee. He was asked to speculate about the future of A.A., and said at once, “It’s remarkably sound and, thanks to G.S.O. and the active publishing program, likely to expand. With our publications more effective, we are going to be better able to reach more and more people.” Who says only alcoholics can really grasp the importance of the Twelfth Step?

’BENEFITS COME BACK TO ME TENFOLD’ “Each time I do some small thing in A.A., the benefits come back to me tenfold,” John G., Milwaukee, Wis., writes us. John and seven other members manned the A.A. information booth at the 107th Congress of Corrections held by the American Correctional Association in Milwaukee a few months ago. The booth is the professionally designed exhibit on A.A. shown at national meetings of professional and scientific societies. (This exhibit cannot be shipped to Canada at present, because of problems with customs on both sides of the border. But G.S.O. is working on a solution and will advise P.I. and C.P.C. committees of any favorable developments.) With rotating shifts, no one had to overwork. Besides John, the booth personnel were Erwin B., Ginny H., Rob M., Susie N., Katie S., Mary J0 S., and Virginia V. On the closing day, John and Ginny were pleasantly surprised when Austin MacCormick, A.A.’s nonalcoholic trustee emeritus, walked up with Jim Estelle, his successor on the board, and Don A., former trustee from Chappell Hill, Tex. They had a warm reunion, sharing happy memories.

John made sure lots of Grapevines were on hand in addition to other material for distribution. Inquirers who wanted special A.A. information completed a simple form, and requested pieces were later mailed to corrections officials by G.S.O.

MILESTONE IN GV HISTORY (continued from p. 1) about early GV days, including her own first writing for the magazine (December 1944 issue), in which she told how the idea that was to result in the Al-Anon Family Groups first occurred to her. Jack M., editor, did a humorous “chalk talk” about some Grapevine letters, and trustee Ed S. offered “A Vision for You”ideas for the Grapevine’s future that can be found in the Big Book. Then GV staff members Retha G., Jack, and Ann W. spoke at an A.A. meeting following the banquet.

CLOSED MEETING TOPICS FROM THE GRAPEVINE April: “Search for Spiritual Experience” (a section of sharing by six A.A.’s) suggests discussions on tolerance of difference in beliefs, changes in our concept of a Higher Power, and the distinction between spiritual matters and religion; “Unfinished Business” deals with Steps Eight and Nine; “Coping With Unemployment” can start a session on ways of using the program to turn adversity into opportunity for growth. May: Use “Beware the Sound of Blaring Trumpets” to spark a meeting on the practical and spiritual aspects of anonymity; for meetings on Steps Four and Five, read “Don’t Wait Until You’re Comfortable” and “Reap the Rewards of the Fifth Step”; find in “Is the Disease Concept a Cop-Out?” basis for discussing character defects, and dryness vs. sobriety.

FROM THE G.S.O. MAILBAG Teenager asks: myth or fact? Referring to a true-or-false quiz in Senior Scholastic, a young woman in Wisconsin wrote, “Do you really believe this?” The first item in the quiz was: “A beer can be less intoxicating than an average drink of liquor,” and the answer labeled the statement as a myth untrue. “I think it is a fact,” the letter said. “You tell me 100 proof brandy has more or less the same effect as the same amount of beer. Come on! I can’t believe that. I may be 16, but that does not make sense. If it is myth, prove it.” In answer, a G.S.O. staff member wrote: “I really don’t think it matters too much whether beer is more or less or just as intoxicating as 100 proof brandy. What matters is whether beer or brandy is giving you or someone else you know a problem with drinking.” The pamphlets “Too Young?” and “Young People and A.A.” were enclosed with the reply. In the ’world of silence’ “Doctors tell me my hearing is worsening and will probably progress to total deafness,” writes Ann S., who has been sober in A.A. almost seven years in Phoenix, Ariz. In preparation, she began learning sign language, and recently

started an A.A. meeting for deaf alcoholics. Five people (including one young man, not deaf, who is an interpreter) are regulars, and they hold meetings on the Steps, using the book “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.” “Words such as ’autonomous,’ ’constitutionally,’ ’moral inventory,’ etc. are difficult to ’sign,’ and even spelled out are not comprehended by some,” according to Ann. “We are trying to rephrase the wording so the sick man or woman who cannot hear can grasp our beautiful program and maybe help other deaf alcoholics do the same. “I stress to the deaf,” she continues, “that their alcoholism and their world of silence are two separate things. Many have felt acute loneliness and attributed it to deafness and thought their dependence on alcohol was due to this loneliness, instead of recognizing it as a disease.” Ann’s group wants to hear from other such groups. And this reminds us: In every city where there is a deaf group, sign-language interpreters are badly needed. Is this a kind of Twelfth Step work you can do? ’Bleating’ or ’bleeding’? In a recent Box 4-5-9, we used the expression “bleeding deacon.” Jack K. writes us, “I have questioned many oldtirners over the years after I used the expression and they corrected me by telling me it was ’bleating deacon.’ Here at G.S.O., we neither endorse nor oppose either version. But maybe both some “bleeders” and some “bleaters” would like to tell us what they were like, what happened, and what they are like now. Cold, maybe, but sober! In Ranger Lake, Ont., 14 A.A.’s have built a hunting and fishing wilderness camp. To reach it, they must travel by snowmobile for 18 miles! “It’s a fine place to take a new-

5

corner to sober up, as he is unable to leave until we transport him via snowmobile back to civilization,” writes Bud G. D.O.’s, too? “It has been my experience that some of our best friends are osteopathic physicians. I wonder if we should refer to physicians only as M.D.’s,” writes Bill C., Pomona, N.Y. Bill is referring to an item in the Aug.-Sept.’77 issue about “Carrying the Message to M.D.’s.” Seems to us he may have a good point. All kinds of doctorspeople with many different kinds of doctoral degreescan probably help carry the A.A. message. Any suggestions? AT A GLANCE The blue and white slip enclosed with this issue, entitled “A.A. at a Glance,” is now ready for all A.A. public information (P.1.) committees and workers. Intended for distribution at nonA.A. meetings, it briefly answers ten of the most common questions asked by nonalcoholics about our Fellowship. This is available at no charge.

GREET GUESTS (continued from p. 1) committee members wear name badges and make sure everyone who comes in is greeted. They introduce folks around, get coffee for strangers, and make sure no one leaves without literature and some telephone numbers. But when a group has no arrangements to make strangers feel welcome, doesn’t the responsibility fall squarely on the shoulders of each of us already sober? During the next month, if every one of us spoke to just one stranger at every A.A. meeting, wonder how many alcoholics this would help….

MEMBER’S-EYE VIEW OF A REGIONAL FORUM Thanks to El Farolito, New Mexico Area newsletter, we have a clear picture of an A.A. regional forum as it looked to one member. These excerpts may give some idea of the spirit enlivening the report to the newsletter from Dave L., Alamogordo, N.M. Before Dave attended the Southwest Regional Forum in Amarillo, Tex., it “meant very little to me,” he admits, “except that I looked forward to the trip. I drove from Alamogordo to Amarillo with our delegate-electmy sponsor. Needless to say, I got some good A.A.

on the road,” Dave recalls. “An A.A. forum provides opportunity to discuss nearly any A.A. concern with representatives from our board of trustees and G.S.O. staff and area delegates past, present, and elect. What most impressed me,” Dave writes, “is that these folks are just plain A.A. people. Right off the bat, they made it clear that the Traditions are uppermost in their minds. ’Each group should be autonomous’ came through loud and clear. Our trustees and staff believe that the voice of A.A. must be from the groups. “I’ve been to AA roundups, conventions, and service-type get-to-

gethers, and this was the best service meeting I have ever attended. We had a choice of six workshops. I chose ’Group Problems’ and sat in on the most exciting workshop of my life. New people and oldtimers, tiny, remote groups and large, metropolitan groupsall were represented in that session. “I came home renewed in my faith in A.A.’s future,” Dave says. He concludes by quoting past delegate Larry K. (N.M.). When members of a group in New Mexico said they weren’t too much concerned with A.A. outside their own group, Larry asked them, “Where would we be today if Dr. Bob and Bill had felt that way?”

Conference

“Were it not for committees, it is doubtful that any Conference could get over a fraction of the ground it now covers. As the Conference has grown in size and influence, the committees’ importance has grown even more. “(The A.A. Service Manual,” p. 72)

CONFERENCE PLANS (continued from p. 1) scheduled concerns the possibility and feasibility of relocating G.S.O. The subject of relocation is a continuation, since it was discussed at the 1976 and 1977 Conferences. Also added to the Conference program are a special presentation on how and why A.A. grows, and a showing of the old black and white film made during the 1960 Inter-

national Convention in Long Beach, Calif., but never released. A joint meeting of the Conference Public Information and Cooperation with the Professional Community Committees has been wedged inas a breakfast session. It has also been decided to play some radio tapes and tapes of Dr. Bob and Bill W. and to show the filmstrip “Circles of Love and Service,” early Friday evening, Apr. 21.

ARCHIVES OPEN EARLY FOR 1978 DELEGATES The A.A. archives at .G.S.O. will be open especially for Conference delegates Saturday, Apr. 15, the day before the 1978 Conference meeting begins. Nell Wing, our nonalcoholic archivist, will be hostess at a reception there from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., so delegates may see and enjoy mementos of A.A.’s early days.

) THE BULLETIN BOARD April-May 1978 ITEMS ON AREA A.A. GATHERINGS-VIA G.S.O.

MARCH 31-April 1 – Wimberley, Texas. Seventh Agape West Weekend. Write: Coordinators, 1716 Justin Lane, Austin, TX 78757 31-April 2 – New Orleans, Louisiana. 11th Annual Big Deep South Cony. Write: Cony. Corn., 535 Gravier St., Rm. 707, New Orleans, LA 70130 31-April 2 – Atlantic City, New Jersey. 14th Annual S. Jersey Gen. Serv. Cony. Write: Cony. Corn., P.O. Box 172, Oaklyn, NJ 08107 31-April 2 – Newport, Rhode Island. Second Annual R.I. Cony. Write: Cony. Corn., P.O. Box 9342, Providence, RI 02940 APRIL 2 – Hyannis, Massachusetts, Third Annual Cape Cod Roundup.Write: Roundup Chin., 500 #30 Ocean St., Hyannis, MA 02601 7-9 – Jackson’s Mill, West Virginia. Sixth Annual Spring Roundup. Write: Chin., P.O. Box 825, Clarksburg, WV 26301 7-9 – St. George, Utah, Area Spring Rally. Write: Co-Chrn., P.O. Box 305, St. George, UT 84770 7-9 – Camp Tama, Japan. Far East Roundup. Write: Chin., Social Science Center,USNAF Box 20, FPO Seattle, WA 98767 7-9 – Longview, Texas, Ninth Annual E. Tex. Roundup. Write: Secy., P.O. Box 2082, Longview, TX 75601 7-9 – Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Third Annual Roundup, Write: Central Off., P.O. Box 11, Regina, Sask. S4P 2Z5, Canada 7-9 – Ashland, Wisconsin. Area Conf. Write: Tkt. Chin., 619 9th Ave. \V., Ashland, WI 54806 7-9 – Limerick City, Ireland. 21st Annual Irish Cony. Write: Limerick Group, Social Services Centre, Henry St., Limerick, Ireland 7-9 – Vero Beach, Florida S. Fla. Gen. Serv. Assembly. Write: Chin., 2800 Indian River Blvd., Vero Beach, FL 32960 13-16 – Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Second Annual Cony. Write: Cony. Chin., P.O. Box 952, Rogers, AR 72756 14-16 – San Diego, California. First Annual Spring Roundup. Write: Chin., P.O. Box A2529, San Diego, CA 92112 14-16 – Hartland, Michigan. Fifth Great Lakes Agape Weekend. Write: Co-Chrn., P.O. Box 1314A, Detroit, MI 48232 14-16 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Lower Mainland Young People’s Roundup. Write: Chin., P.O. Box 1086, Sta. A, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 2T1, Canada 14.16 – Banff, Alberta, Canada. Fifth Annual Spring Roundup. Write: Chin,, P.O. Box 6744, Sta. D, Calgary, Alta. T2P 1H7, Canada

A.A. CALENDAR OF EVENTS 15-16 – Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Canada. First Annual Roundup. Write: Chin., Box 1630, Rosetown, Sask. SOL 2V0, Canada 15-16 – Barrie, Ontario, Canada, Second Annual Spring Roundup. Write: Roundup Corn., Box 813, Barrie, Ont. L4M 4Y6, Canada 21-23 – Lake Charles, Louisiana. 25th Annual Lake Charles Cony. Write: Cony. Chin., 3237 B Kirkman St., Lake Charles, LA 70601 21-23 – New York, New York. S.E. N.Y. Cony, Write: Cony. Chin., Box 1850, G.P.O., New York, NY 10001 22-23 – Estevan, Saskatchewan, Canada. 12th Annual Conf. Write: Conf. Secy., 810 Eva St., Estevan, Sask. S4A 1P3, Canada 22-23 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Seventh Spring Roundup. Write: Chin., P.O. Box 5397, Sta. E, Edmonton, Alta., Canada 27-30 – Charleston, South Carolina. 31st S.C. Conf. Write: Conf. Chin., P.O. Box 915, Folly Beach, SC 29439 28-30 – Rockford, Illinois. N. Ill. Area Conf. Write: Chin., Box 4098, Rockford, IL 61110 28-30 – Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Portage Plains Group Annual Roundup. Write: Chin., Box 182, Portage la Prairie, Man., Canada 28-30 – Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. Revelstoke Roundup. Write: Coordinating Chin., P.O. Box 1894, Revelstoke, B.C. VOL 2S0, Canada 28-30 – Bournemouth, England. Annual Spring Weekend. Write: Cony. ’78 Registrar, East Anglia Hotel, Poole Rd., Bournemouth, England 28-30 – Erie, Pennsylvania. Third Annual Spring Conf. Write: Conf. Chin., P.O. Box 148, Erie, PA 16512 29-30 – Springfield, Massachusetts. Ninth Annual W. Mass. Roundup. Write: Chin., 19 Bellamy Rd., Springfield, MA 01119 29-30 – Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Annual Jamboree. Write: Jamboree Chin., P.O. Box 256, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 MAY 5-7 – Rehoboth, Delaware. Del. Area Conf. Write: Conf. Secy., P.O. Box 148, New Castle, DE 19720 5-7 – Fresno, California. Sixth Annual Statewide Hospital & Institution Conf. Write: State Chin., P.O. Box 4245, San Leandro, CA 94579 5-7 – Durban, South Africa. Triple A Get-Together. Write: Chin., 78 Hedge Row, Brighton Beach 4052, Republic of South Africa

6 – Frankfurt, West Germany, Anniv. Roundup (English-speaking) of Intl. Groups. Write: A.A. Corn., Church of Christ the King, Miquel allee/Sebastian, Rinz Str. 22, 6000 Frankfurt/M1, West Germany 6-7 – Grants Pass, Oregon. Third Annual Rogue Roundup. Write: Chin., 2790 Foothill Blvd., Grants Pass, OR 97526 7-9 – Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Fraser Valley Rally. Write: Rally Chin., Surrey Inn Travel Lodge, 9850 King George Hwy., Surrey, B.C. V3T 4Y3, Canada 12-14 – Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. Upper Ottawa Valley Dist. Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., P.O. Box 274, Pembroke, Ont. K8A 6X3, Canada 12-14 – Louisville, Kentucky. SE, Regional Forum. Write: Regional Forum Secy., P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10017 12-14 – Sparks, Nevada. Seventh Annual Reno Spring Festival. Write: Festival Chin., P.O. Box 72, Reno, NV 89504 12-14 – Burlington, Vermont. State Cony. Write: Cony. Chin., Box 77, Wallingford, VT 05773 12-14 – Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. 14th Annual Blossom Time Cony. Write: Cony. Chin., P.O. Box 294, St. Catharines, Ont. L2R 6T7, Canada 12-14 – Boise, Idaho. Annual Spring Assembly. Write: Assembly Chin., 6728 Pomona Rd., Boise, ID 83704 12-14 – Atlantic City, New Jersey. 11th Philadelphia Intergroup Roundup. Write: Roundup Secy., 2202 St. James St., Philadelphia, PA 19103 19-21 – Tulsa, Oklahoma. Annual State Conf, Write: Conf. Chin., P.O. Box 4654, Tulsa, OK 74104 19-21 – Rochester, New York. 28th Annual Cent, N.Y. Area Cony. Write: Cony. Chin., 239 Alphonse St., Rochester, NY 14621 19-21 – Helena, Montana. State Spring Roundup. Write: Intergroup Secy., Stewart Homes. Apt. 111, Helena, MT 59601 19-22 – Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. 31st Annual Roundup. Write: Chin., 2570 Glenview, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5N2, Canada 25-28 – Nashville, Tennessee. 27th State Cony, Write: Cony. Chin., P.O. Box 2763, Nashville, TN 37219 26-28 – Rockford, Illinois. Fourth Big Book Conf. Write: Conf. Chin., P.O. Box 498938, Davis Junction, IL 61020 26-28 – Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. 12th Annual N.W. Ont. Regional Roundup. Write: Reg. Chin., P.O. Box 73, Sta, F, Thunder Bay, Ont. P7C 4V5, Canada

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MAY (continued) 26-28 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. Prince Albert Gateway Roundup. Write: Secy., 12 -. 12th St. E., Prince Albert, Sask. S6V 1132, Canada 26-29 – Boston, Massachusetts. Second Annual Roundup of Gay People in A.A. Write: G.P.A.A. Roundup, 77 Canal St., Boston, MA 02114

JUNE

3-4 – Winchester, Virginia. Four-State & D.C. Get-Together. Write: Chm., P.O. Box 651, Winchester, VA 22601 8-11 Lubbock, Texas. Hub of the Plains Cony. Write: Hub of the Plains Cony., P.O. Box 6511, Lubbock, TX 79413 9.11 – Jackson, Mississippi. 32nd State Cony. Write: Cony. Chrn., P.O. Box 542, Meridian, MS 39301 9-11 – Sedona, Arizona. 24th Annual Roundup. Write: Chm., P.O. Box 3070, West Scdona, AZ 86340 9-11 – Grand Rapids, Minnesota, Eighth Annual Upper Minn. Get-Together. Write: Get-Together, P.O. Box 661, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

9-11 – Atlanta, Georgia. 21st Intl. Conf. of Young People in A.A. Write: Conf., P.O. Box 49551, Atlanta, GA 30359 16-18 – Madison, New Jersey. 22nd Annual N. Jersey Cony. Write: Cony., 13 Riverdale Ave., Monmouth Beach, NJ 07750 16-18 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. 30th Annual W. Man. Conf. Write: Co-Chrn., P.O. Box 382, Brandon, Man. R7A OPO, Canada 23-25 – North Conway, New Hampshire. 13th Annual Conf. Write: Function Corn., P.O. Box 500, Derry, NH 03038

30-July 2 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Pacific N.W. Conf. Write: Conf., P.O. Box 48291,Bental Centre, Vancouver, B.C., Canada