459 News and N otes From the General Service Office of A.A.®

Louisiana A.A. Shares ‘Secrets’ From the Big Book The presentation was a joint labor of love. Louisiana past delegate Danie B. wrote it, and alternate delegate Clyde B. articulated it at the Southeast Regional Forum in Daytona Beach, Florida, last :()ecember 4-6. “Within the past months,” Darue wrote, “I’ve heard over and over about one or another of our fellow A.A.s who have drunk again-some with as little as eight months of sobriety and others with eight years or more. Some ran, some ran back, others ran out of time. From those who have made it back, the question is usually the same: ‘Why did I drink again?’ “When I first came to A.A., I was surprised that so m a ny would ‘slip .’ This was before I k new that self-knowledge alone was not the solution to alcoholism. I have learned b1D.c:e that for an alcoholic to drink is normal; for an alcoholic to not drmk is awesome. I am no longer surprised at the question. I’m now surprised at the answers. just a few I hear are, ‘I stopped going to meetings’ . . . ‘stopped calling my sponsor’ .. . ‘quit reading the Big Book.’ The best was, ‘I wanted a relationship, so I started gomg to batTC:Joms to find someone.’ Most frightening is that I know some who did none ofthe:.e things, yet they too drank again.” Continued Danie: ”Alcoholism is truly a subtle foe, a lways waiting to get me during an unguarded moment. I’ve heard much about the principles, the prayers and the promises in the Big Boo~ bu t what about the warnings?” Here are some of the examples offered by Danie, who notes that “all I know about staying sober comes from the Big Book, and I believe the answers are there.” -“Men and women drink essentially because they like the effect produced by alcohol.” Cp. .xxvi) -“We learned we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics. This is the first step in recovery.” (p. 30) – “In some circumstances we have gone out deliberately to get drunk, feeling ourselves justified by nervousness, anger, wony, depression, jealousy or the like.” (p. 37) – ‘The alcoholic at certain times has no effective

VOL. 45, No.2/ APRIL-MAY 1 999

mental defense against the first drink… . His defense must come from a Higher Power.”(p. 43) – “So our troubles, we thmk, are basically of our own makmg. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will nm riot. , . . Above everytlung, we alcoholics must be rid of this sel£shness.” (p. 6.2) – “Though our deciSion [in Step Three, ‘to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we Wlderstood Him’) was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of; the thmgs in ourselves whrch had been blockmg us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.” (p. 64) – “Suppose we fall short of the chosen ideal and stumble? Does this mean we are gorng to get drunk?… If we are not sorry, and our conduct continues to harm others, we are quite sure to dnnk.” (p. 70) – “Practical experience shows that notlung will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.” (p. 89)

Conference Unifies A.A.’s Many Voices, Views and Hopes Mincing no words about the fate of A.A., co-founder , Bill W. declared that “unified we live; disunited we shall perish” (As Bill Sees It, p . 229). Now, at the end of the century that saw the birth and phenomenal growth of the Fellow1.1hip across the world, it may seem that the them e of the 1999 General Service Conference”Moving Forward: Unity Through Humility”-is an obvious choice. But think again: Selecting the theme and con ten t of the Conference, which will be held at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan the week of April 18-24, is not a s imple matter for the Conference Agenda Conunitiee. As with almost eveiything that affects A.A. as a whole, the decision-making process is lengthy, pamstaking and democratic. Says Delawar e delegate Dave M., who chairs the comm.ittee that will consider a Conference theme for the

Box 4-S-9 is pubhshed bimonthly by the General Sen-ice Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115, ©Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1999 Mall address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station New York, NY 1016.’3

G.S.O.’s A.A. Web Site: www.alcoholics-anonyrnous.org Subscriptions: Individual, $3.50 per year; group, $6.00 for each unit of10 per year. Check-made payable toA.A.W.S., Inc.-should accompany order.

year 2000: “We are very aware that even as the 130-odd Conference participants are united by their kinship as members of A.A., they come from different backgrounds, cbfferent points of view. The d1versity is enor. mous, and it’s our job to choose a theme that reflects the spirit of the entire Conference-an wnbrella, ifyou will, under which everyone is comfortable.” Southern California past delegate Joe V. is the immediate past chairperson of the committee, which is made up of eight delegate members servmg two-year terms. «The bulk of our work for the 1999 Conference took place a year ago,” Joe reports. «During our committee meetings at the ’98 Conference, we looked at all the themes sug_15ested by areas around the U.S. and Canada, eliminatmg any that had been used during the decade past. We further considered the feedback, both positive and negative, fi·om previous Conference attendees. Then we engaged in a kind of spiritual thmk-tankmg to come up with a theme, a tunely one if possible. For example, the choice oflast year’s theme, ‘Our Twelfth Step Work,’ was influenced by the fact that a lot of treatment facilities had been closing down, making A.A. Twelfth Stepping more urgent than ever.” Additionally, Joe continues, “we looked for presentation/d1scussion topics spinning off the main theme, making sure their appeal would be broad-based and inclusive. Trying to learn from past Conferences, we asked ourselves, ‘Were there too many presentations?’ ‘Was quality maintained throughout?’ ‘What about the tuning?’ and much more. Our job was made easter because, the previous September, we’d sent off what is becoming an annual letter to all area delegates, trustees, &rectors and General Service Office staff. It stated, among other thmgs, that ‘we hope you will assist us by asklng members in your area to offer suggestions for the theme and presentation and workshop topics’ for the upcoming Conference. During our sessions we tossed numerous suggestions around. When we agreed to disagree, or reached an impasse, God showed up and we got the job done.” Among the presentation/discussion topics slated for tllis year’s Conference are “Our Responsibility to A.A. 2

Unity,” “Many Faces-One Fellowship” and “Our Future Together.” Workshop subjects will include “Harmony in the A.A. Community,” “The Principle ofRotation” and “The Spiritual Significance of Anonymity.” Notes joe: “The selection process was a neat spiritual experience that I for one got more out of than I put in. At the end of the week our recommendations came before the Conference for discussion and approval. Our final act was to elect a new chatrperson-Dave M.-to head the ’99 Conference Agenda Committee.” Contemplating this year’s theme, Northwest Texas delegate Linda H., who serves as alternate committee chair, feels it emphasizes the importance of harmony in the A.A. community. ”What it says to me,” she explains, “is that unity comes through humility-putting aside our personal, group and area agendas in order to do what is best for A.A. everywhere. For instance, after time in recovery I became able to give some of the strength I’d been given to help another drunk. Then, after a while in service, I realized that this same concept applies t o groups joining together to share what they have with the Fellowship worldwide. Bill W. put it well: ‘All A.A. progress can be reckoned in terms of just two words: humility and responsibility.'” (ibid., p. 271) With A.A.’s future much on their minds during this last Conference of the century, the :133 voting members-delegates, trustees a nd directors, along with members of the G.S.O. and Grapevine staffs-will go about the business of achieving consensus on matters vital to AA. “Each person, each committee and element of the Conference structure,” Dave points out, “is closely lmked through our Primary Purpose-what we really are is A.A. in microcosm. Many viewpoints will be expressed, and they are welcome. When put together like the synchronized workings of a giant clock, t he sharings will form a grea t group conscience-once again assuring A.A. the bulwark of unity essential to our survival and growth in the years to come.”

Faithful Fivers Rate a High Five And what are Faithful Fivers? They are A.A. members who pledge at least $5 each month toward the support of their local intergroup or central office. The idea is catchmg on. In Arizona, for instance, just for Today, a publication of the Tucson Area Intergroup, lis ted 46 High f ivers in its january issue, including “Anonymous x 2.” The stmy noted that “the plan is used in several other cities and came about when we remembered that many of us had spent more than $5 every week on alcohol dming our drinking days.”

The Glories of Conventions Past Color the One to Come If past is but prelude, then A.A.’s Eleventh International Convention in the year 2000 will be the most glorious yet. Beginning with the first one in 1950, these conventions have served as touchstones in the Fellowship’s growth, scope and commitment to carrying the A.A. message to alcoholics. They have been held every five years, as follows, to celebrate the anniversary of A.A.’s founding in 1935 and are now among the largest gatherings of their kind in the world. Originally termed “international” because Canadian A.A.s were present, the conventions today attract members from all over the world. Cleveland, Ohio, 1950. A.A. held its first birthday party at age 15. The crowd of thousands (no accurate figure exists) voted to accept from the founders A.A.’s Legacy of Unity and the Twelve Traditions. Remarkably similar to today’s, the program included workshops ort A.A. for women, young people and those in correctional facilities. There was a spiritual meeting Sunday morning. At a Big Book meeting Saturday night, co-founder Dr. Bob gave his fmal talk, just four months before his death on Nov. 16, 1950. Spealdng with difficulty and holding his side in pain, he said, “There are two or three things that flash into my mind …. One is the simplicity of our program. Let’s not louse it all up with Freudian complexes and things that are interesting to the scientific mind but have very little to do with our actual A.A. work. Our Twelve Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve themselves into the words ‘love’ and ‘service.’ We understand what love is, and we understand what service is. So let’s bear those two things in mind …. ” St. Louis, Missouri, 1955. The atmosphere was electric. At 20, A.A. “came of age” as the assemblage accepted the Third Legacy of Service (i.e., the service

Long Beach, 1960

structure and the General Service Conference). Declared co-founder Bill W.: “Above us floats a banner on which is inscribed the new symbol for A.A., a circle enclosing a triangle. The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle stands for A.A.’s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service.” He emphasized that “A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of recovered alcoholics in action. We must carry A.A.’s message; otherwise we ourselves may fall into decay and those who have not yet been given the truth may die.” Long Beach, California, 1960. Notable at the 25th anniversary Convention was the number of historic figures present, from Bill and Lois W. to Marty M., one of the first women to achieve lasting sobriety in A.A. Bill gave a notable talk-notable especially because it seemed to go on forever. The meetings overflowed, thanks to a total of 8,700 registrants. No wonder Long Beach ran out of coffee.

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1965. Who can forget the acceptance of the Responsibility Declaration by 10,000 A.A.s and their fiiends massed in the Maple Lea f Gardens! The film Bill’s Own Story was introduced a t this 30th anniversary celebration. Miami, Florida, 1970. Mortally ill, Bill W. made a fmal, surprise appearance at the Sunday morning big meeting before a weeping, chee~ing audience of nearly 11,000 people (he would die five months later, on Jan. 24, 1971, in Miami). At the 35th, the coffee supply held. This time the ice cream ran out. Denver, Colorado, 1975. A crowd of19,800 sur passed wildest expectations. Workshops and panel discussions were so jammed that the fire department repeatedly closed down a ttendance. At thio; 40th birthday party, the stirring flag ceremony, now a beloved tradition, was held for the first time, with 29 cow1tries represented, and there wa!m’t a dry eye in the house. The theme “I.et It Begin with Me” was articulated by all the flag bearers in their own language. The world’s largest coffeemaker prod uced a half-million cups ofbrew daily sans mishap. New Orleans, Louis iana, 1980. An elaborate Mardi Gras parade la unched festivities marking A.A.’s 45th. More than 22,500 registrants, their families and fiiends filled the Superdome for the big m eetings, which w ere translated simultaneously into French, Spanish, German and English. Celebrating the theme “The Joy of Living,” 33 countries joined in the flag ceremony. At the first true marathon meeting, a nameless drunk oft’ the street sobered up and then appeared at the Sunday spiritual meeting. An unforgettable moment came when a stranger told the assemblage, “I am p robably the only person here who was presen t when Bill met Dr. Bob.” He then introduced himself as Dr. Bob’s only son, Robert “Smitty.” Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1985. Hotels in the beautiful French-Canadian metropolis were so packed that some participants at the 50th roomed 75-90 miles out of town. Fifty-four countries marched in the flag ceremony, and Ruth Hock, Bill W.’s (nonalcoholic) secretary who had typed the original Alcoholics Anonymous manuscript, received the 5-millionth copy of the Big Book. The theme “Fi.fly Years with Gratitude” threaded through the m eetings a nd workshops, which wer e enriched by the colorful anecdotes of oldtimers sharing their memories. Attendance: over 45,000. Seattle, Washington, 1990. A.A.s came from 75 countries, some of them representing nations that ha d once been part of a closed-off U.S.S.R. Approximately 48,000 people participated in A.A.’s 55th Birthday par ty. A m arathon candle, symbolically lighting the w ay to sobriety for the still-suffering a lcoholic, burned from Thursday midnigh t to Sunday m orning. Nell Wing, A.A.’s first (nonalcoholic) archivist, headed home with the 10-millionth copy of the Big Book. 4

San Diego, California, 1995. The theme “A.A. Everywhere-Anywhere” translated into A.A. sharing in a multitude of ways at the 60th anniversary, celebrated by 56,000 AA.s with their fanulies and mends. There were 87 cow1tries represented in the flag ceremony, and the closmg meeting concluded with the release of10,000 balloons and dancing in the isles. A.A.’s 65th Birthday-the ftrst of the new century- will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 29-July 2, 2000. Information regarding registration, hotels, tourist attractions and more will be pubhshed in Box 4-5-9 as the date draws closer. As with past International Conventions, registration information will be mailed to groups and to intergroupslcentral offices in September 1999. In the meantime-don’t drink, go to meetings and save your money.

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Why Should We Pay To Go to A.A. Events? Why, some members have a~oked, do A.A.s have to pay a fee to attend an A.A. conference, convention or other spectal event? As one Califorruan wrote to the General Service Office, “Some ofus have dlincultywhen it comes to having the A.A. name attached to any gathering that requires payment to participate. What’s more, some of the prices at many of these functions are not cheap.” And, he adds, what about the payment of travel expenc;es and lodgings for certain ‘select’ speakers?” It’s true that A.A. membership is free, and meetmgs and most A.A. events are self-supporting in the spirit of the Seventh Tradition. But conferences and conventions are A.A. get-togethers beyond the group-meeting level, generally ranging from special one- or two-hour meetings to banquets and weekend events-area, statewide, regional and international. These events require months of planning, preparation and money presented up-front to the hotel and other commercial facilities involved. Arrangements may also be made for A.A.s with special needs: providing wheelchair accessability, Slgn-language interpreters for the de<‘lf and, in some instances, programs in Braille for the blind. Additional expenses include the printing of flyers, schedules, postage and supplies, not to mention renting meetmg space, insurance coverage, travel and accommodations for the invited speal,ers, many of whom live a thousand miles or more from the convention site. A’! the A.A. Guidelmes on Conferences and Conventions, available from G.S.O., state, “rt should be made clear, when the speakers are booked, what terms are bemg made for expenses. Unless it’s otherwise specified, speakers have a right to assume that all their travel, meal and hotel

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expenses will be paid. Speakers will also expect hotel or motel accommodations as a matter of course; if they’re to be guests in private homes, this should be explained well before their arrival.” How are the costs of a convention covered, and what can be done to ensure that the venture won’t go deep in the red? According to the aforementioned Guidelines, “there’s no substitute for common sense here; the committee must take a businesslike approach to fmances and keep expenditures somewhere within a conservative estimate of anticipated revenues.” Among the sound methods that seem to be in general use: (1) underwriting of the event by area groups. Since the registration fees can be established at a level :,ufficient to cover the total costs, this should result in no actual out-of-pocket costs to the groups; and (2) building a convention fund to which the area groups contl’ibute year-round. This method obviates the need to charge a registration fee except for visitors from out-of-state. The criterion for usmg the A.A. name generally specifies that the event be put on by A.A.s for A.A.s about A.A.s. Although a golf tournament or a dance are beyond the purvtew of A.A.’s primary purpose, such events are often scheduled as social adjuncts to the maJ.n meetings and workshops scheduled. When Al-Anon participates in an A.A. convention, the relationslup and fmancial arrangements usually follow one of two patterns: When an A.A. convention conun.ittee invites Al-Anon to parhcipate with its own program, A.A. may pay all expenses (for meeting rooms, coffee, etc.) and keep all income from registrations and such in a single fund earmarked to cover the convention bills, after which any excess income reverts back to A.A. Alternatively, Al-Anon may have a separate registration and cover its own expenses dlrectly, besides assuming its share of common expenses. In this case, Al-Anon receives its own share of the regtstrafion income and also shares in any losses incurred.

G.S.o. and Y2K As many are aware, a phenomenon exists in the Information industry because computer programs historically used dates whereby the year was represented by only two digits (for example 95 rather than 1995). Therefore, arithmetic operations, computations, compari<;ons, sorting, etc. will yield incorrect results when worklng with years outside the range of1900-1999. The scope of the problem spans all indusnies and ts the first problem to be truly global.

Since G.S.O. deals mostly in legacy applications our problem extends across all applications except for Records and Grapevine Subscriptions which have been rewritten more recently. Legacy applications were written when frugality was the rule and every byte of saved storage was important in order to minnnize expensive storage space and lessen data entry time. Moreover, programs written in the ’70s were never expected to still be in use 30 years later. 111e planning and methodology nece:.l>ai’J to effect the change from two to four digit years can be overwhelming and the magnitude of the project enormous. First our entire portfolio of software must be assessed and since all of our systems interact with one another it is not possible to change one system at a time. They must all be changed before major testing can begin. To date our entire portfolio of hardware has been assessed; G.S.O.’s PC application software and hardware has been surveyed, tested and addressed; an impact assessment has been performed; and date alternatives have been evaluated and a solution selected. We expect to be completely ready for comprehensive testing in April 1999.

New Audio Cassettes -~, ~ ~~~~-::;;..~ :.~,–

Living Sober (MB-7) fow· tapes in book-like binder. $18.00; 2096 di.scOU11t applies.

Pioneers in A.A. (MB-4) Storiesfrom the Pioneer section ofAlcoholics Anonymous. Three tapes in book-like binder, be,gin with story #2, “He Had to Be Shown,” through story 12, “The Keys ofthe Kingdom.” $18.00; 2096 discount applies.

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Does Your Group Have a Tax ID Number?*

mine if your group took in enough money to require filing. Ta Daa-you are there! What about State Taxes? Sorry, we really can’t help you there. You need to talk to people in your area. •This infomwtion applies to the U.S. on/)’.

“What is my group’s ID number?”… “I was told we could use the AA. ID nwnber. What is it?”… “The bank told me to call and get your tax number to use! … “”Are my group contributions deductible?” These are a few of the cow1tlcss questions fielded by the controller and assistant controller at G.S.O. on an almost datly basis. The fact is, today you must have a number to be in the game. Unfortunately, each A.A. entity, a group, intergroup, central office, area, district, etc. will at some po1nt realize that it needs to comply with Federal and/or local laws. The first step usually is to obtain a “Federal ID Number.” This is like your personal Social Security nwnber, it’s your group’s link with the world- not A.A. Each group must obtain its own number by filing form SS-4, “Application for Employer Identification Number.” To obtain the form, call your local Social Security or IRS office listed in the phone book.. For those Internet types you can access the IRS Web site and download the form. One question on the form asks if there is one group exemption number that applies to all. However, because of the autonomous nature of A.A., each group must get its own individual number. G.S.O. does not direct the groups; the controller does not audit group activities. AA. works in reverse; the Fellowship asks the office to do thmgs via the General Service Conference. Now you are in the system-but you are still not “Tax Exempt.” To be Tax Exempt, there are a few more steps. Again, call or go onhne to the IRS and ask for various publications. Publication 557, “Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization,” (perhaps 44 pages) discusses the rules and procedure for organizations that seek to obtain recognition of exemption from federal income tax. For t:xample, your G.S.O. is e..xempt under section 501 (C) C:~) of the code. After you have decided if it is necessary to become “Tax Exempt,” then go back to the IRS or the Web site and get Package 1023, “Application for Recognition of Exemption,” under section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. You will also need Form 8718 “User Fee for Exempt Organization Letter Request.” If there are any accountants, lawyers, or others in your group who have had experience with these forms, etc. perhaps you can use their experience and guidance. You are almost there! Soon the conuibutions to your group will be tax deductible. But each year you will receive forms in the mail for someone to revtew to deter6

From the 1998 Mailbag

When did Dr. Bob and Bill meet? An article on the General Service Conference Uune-July 1998] mentions that Bill W. and Dr. Bob met on a “Sunday morning in Akron, Ohio.” Actually they met on Sunday afternoon, May 1.2, 1935-Mother’s Day-at 5 p.m. (See “Pass It On,” page 143.) Dr. Bob was still too hungover on Sunday morning, since he’d been passed out since Saturday afiemoon. He probably needed to get fortified prior to his historic meeting with Bill. Paul H., Southeast Region

Since when are we medical experts? I have read your lead article-a Q~A enti tled “Sponsorship Goes Two Ways” [April-May 1998]-and support your answer to the person whose sponsor suggested he change his sobriety date for having taking prescribed medication. [The shared experience of A.A.] to “not depend on my sponsor for legal or medical advice” was perfect. Our area recently had a Conference-topic workshop specifically about the booklet Living Sober, and I was personally appalled at the number of”rnedical experts” ready to overtw·n previous recommendations. In our discussion of Twelftl1 Step work, one person felt strongly that we should be prepared to offer alcohol to the suffering recoverer. A newcomer, God bless her, said she had been present at such a call, and the prospect wound up dying. As a surgeon, I have little experience with alcoholism and refer patients to physicians with expertise in this area. God gave us accoun_

tants, medical specialists and attorneys for a reason, and it behooves us to lower our egos and tum these problems over to people who are better able to handle them.

Richard M., Pacific Region

Responses to ‘”6″0pen and Closed Meetings-There Is a Dijference” (Feb.=March 1998, page 3) Regarding the question “What do you think about A.A.s who talk at meetings about their experience with drugs as well as alcohol?” I have a problem when others say we can’t mention drugs in a meeting because it’s not A.A. Most of us know by now that if taking drugs can lead us back to alcohol, we must tall-. about it. Shelly

M., Southeast Region In our area, we have a lot of drug addicts who like to argue the point of discussing not only their drug addiction but the how and where of shooting up, etc. Coming into A.A. as a “pure” alcoholic and being brought up, so to speal-., on A.A. language, I feel lost while listening at most meetings to things that are foreign to me and certainly will not keep this alcoholic sober. Diane H.,

Pacific Region We held a group conscience meeting last spring to discuss the problem of people who share problems that may not relate to alcoholism, such as gambling, sex and relationship difficulties. And some of them, instead of identifYing themselves as alcoholics, say they’re “crossaddicted” or “an alcoholic addict” and so forth. One suggested remedy for this was to announce at the beginning of the meeting that if you don’t identity yourself as an alcoholic, you cannot share at our closed meetings. My concern: The Big Book, on page 68, starts a paragraph with, “Now about sex”; and there’s a chapter on “The Family Afterward” [page 122]. If the Big Book and the Twelve & Twelve discuss certain issues other than alcoholism, is it right for us to stop an A.A. from similar sharing in our meetings? At the same time, I came to A.A. to stop drinloog and stay stopped. I believe that when people are troubled by overeating or drug addiction, they can join fellowships for their specific problems. But what can we do? Also, what if overeating or gambling are causing some to drinl-. over their actions? I know an A.A. group should stick to its Primary Purpose. Tradition Three states, “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinloog.” It further says that” … we must never compel anyone to pay anything, believe anything, or conform to anything.” [Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 141]. So if people are confused about whether or not they are alcoholics but do have a desire to stop drinloog, how can we refuse to let them share?Jimmy D., Northeast Region

Because of our headlong rush to help someone recover, people are being told to ignore A.A.’s singleness of purpose, and that it’s okay to tall-. about drugs. It seems that the words “singleness of purpose” have become something to be used only when it’s convenient to do so. Drugs were around when the Big Book was being written-there’s nothing new or fashionable about them. There is not a thing in the first 181 pages of the Big Book, or the spiritual experience in the back ofit, that has gone out·-of-date in today’s world of high-paced technology. A.A.’s message needs protection, for if we forget the past experience of the Washingtonians, we could become just another movement that has vanished because we tried to become a solution to all the problems of the world-only to fmd that we are totally unable to help even ourselves. Carl V., Southeast Region My group really appreciated the article on “Open and Closed Meetings.” Over the years, we have attracted more and more young people from treatment centers who are either dually addicted or solely drug addicts. We have struggled with our format. After reading the article, we reproduced the 1987 General Service Conference statement describing a closed meeting as. . . “limited to persons who have a desire to stop drinloog. . .” which we now read every week. This has made a big difference in explaining to all the difference between an open and closed meeting.

Ff’an P., Pacific Region

“‘How Do You Make an Old=l-ashioned Twelfth=Step Call?” (Oct.=Nov. 1998, page 6) The article is right-on except for Item 5: “Suggest detox/rehab if needed. If such is indicated, arrange with family or significant others, with prospect’s permission if possible. Should violence seem imminent, leave. If necessary, make the appropriate phone call.” For years we have been insisting that we A.A.s not play the role of doctor. Our recent workshops at the General Service Conference and our literature, including the Big Book and especially the booklet Living Sober, suggest we tum to a doctor if the prospect seems “very sick.” The doctor’s the one to prescribe treatment. Here in North Carolina, most of our detox and rehab centers are run by the state. The names and Social Security numbers of patients become part of their permanent records and are lil-.ely to become open knowledge in this computer age. And once sober, they usually face medical exams and a lot of paperwork before being allowed to renew their driver’s license. Many patients want to know, when arriving at a detox unit, “How did I get here?” They are frequently told, “An A.A. member placed you here,” and we have had lawsuits flied against A.A.s for doing this on their own. It is 7

so much better when the prospects are told, “A doctor suggested detoxing.” Art D., Southeast Region

The “Minority Vrew’ In the article “For Unity’s Sake, Let’s Not Skew Our ‘Minority View”‘ (Oct.-Nov. 1998, page 3), Tanya E. of Hawaii was quoted as saying that, “A real problem ru;ses when a minority h as had ample opportunity to state their case but, still unable to sway the majority, refuses to accept the group conscie.1ce and continues to lobby for their way. …”This response to the minority voice-“Sit down, you’re rockmg the boat,” as Nicely Nicely put it in Guys and Dolls-is one I have trouble with. No one likes to be a pain in the neck, but our Concepts guarantee us that we will be heard and heard and heard. I have not run across anything in A.A. that limits the number of times a subject may be broached for discussion. So, editors, I hope that in the interest of fairness and balance, you are planning a piece on “sticktoitiveness.” I hope to see an article suggesting that we not throw up our hands, walk away and shrug, saying, ” Oh, well. .. .” It’s too important.John K., Southeast Region

Vzewpoint Are Rituals OftPutting

To Newcomers? “I’m an alcoholic. My sobriety date IS May 24, 1965. I believe we have a problem in our program-namely, that the ever-expanding rituals we’re substitutmg for the sharin g of our experience, strength and hope ru·e tunling newcomers away.” Writing from his home in Connersville, Indiana, Jack S. notes: “Like many old timers, I had dropped off m eeting attendance to one or two a month. Then, about two years ago, a man newly sober phoned me and said that in order to keep his professional license he was required to get an A.A. sponsor who would accompany him to three meetings a week for at least two years. Since I had been told, a long time ago, that if l wanted to keep what had been given to me for free, I must be willmg to pa ss it on, I agreed to sponsor him. The two years have passed, and I am glad to r eport that he is sober and practicing his profession.” However, Jack says, “it was disturbing to fmd that every one of the more than 300 meetings we attended consisted of the reading of the Twelve Steps, the 8

Promises and part of Chapter five from the Big Book, and on a nd on. We have listened to more than 50 hours of repetition-50 hours of ritual substituted for the sharing of experiences. “When we in A.A. recommend that new people attend 90 meetmgs in 90 days, we may be telling them that the 15 hours of ritualistic reading they’re going to be subjected to will h elp them learn how to live a sober life. That isn’t the program that saved my life! People who had ‘walked the walk’ told me what they had done. At least one of the men who shared vvith me had been Twelfth-Stepped by [A.A. co-founders] Dr. Bob and Bill W.” Several years ago, Jack adds, “my sponsor and a few other concerned oldtimers attempted to get the meeting format of their home group back to more shanng instead of the endless ritual, but were told they were ‘a btmch of has-been~.’ It certainly was fortunate for me that when I came to A .A. sick and drunk, those ‘has-beens’ were there for me.”

Archives Workshop Upholds Spirit of Service ” I originally looked at archives as antiqu es, like my

father’s Oldsmobile,” observed Northeast Ohio delegate Bob McK. “But then 1 came to see that some important A.A. principles were at play here, such as ‘back to basics’ and ‘shared experience.’ Speakmg at the Third Annual A.A. Archives Workshop in Akron last fall, he noted that the history of the Fellowship “keeps A.A.s close to our origins, makes the past relevant to the present and helps to safeguard the future for the sick alcoholics to come.” Northeastern Ohio a rchivist Sandra S. credits the Akron Intergroup past a rchivist Gail L. and the Area Archives Committee for making the September Workshop “a magnificent event that well-served its purpose: to share information and archival techniques as well as to uphold the spirit that is vital to all A.A. service. Archivists come together to pru”ticipate in the exchange ofideas and express their love of the history of A.A. in an atmosphere that is supportive of their endeavors and their hard work.” Highlights of the weekend Workshop included one p resentation on the early care and treatment of alcoholics and another on the life ofSister Ignatia, the nonalcoholic nun who worked tirelessly with A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob to care for 5,000 alcoholics a t Akron’s St. Thomas Hospital when the Fellowship was very young. (Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 67) An Oldtimers Panel offered what Sandy recalls as “some

!l ~ examples of long-time sobriety, including Searcy of Texas, who had sponsored Ebby T., the beloved friend and sponsor of AA. co-founder Bill W.” Saturday night’s program featured “Children of the Healers,” including Dr. Bob’s children “Smitty” and Sue Windows, among others. Remembers Jay M., archival assistant, the Akron Archives: “The atmosphere in that room was unllke anything I have heard or felt in the 16 years God has graced me With in our program. To listen to the children of the founders, to be reminded of the humility and simplicity of the early days and to feel the palpable spirituality permeating the room was overwhelming.” Dunng the break, jay relates, “I encountered a young man who showed me his St. Thomas Hospital patient bracelet. Sober just seven days, he said, ‘I have leamed who Dr. Bob was, but who was Bill W.?’ How do you answer that? You could tell him Bill W. was a cofotwder of A.A. and, with Dr. Bob, was mainly responsible for the Twelve Steps. You could tell him that, with some help, he wrote the Big Book. But those answers tell this young man what Bill W. was, not who he was. His question is the reason for there being A.A. archives. We preserve our history so those who follow us will know not just what the oldtirners were but who…. Arcluves are concemed with that and much more. Do you want to know what happened at a council meeting in 1966? Or when your home group s tarted up? Or how A.A. moved from Akron to the rest of the world? Or why we

say the Lord’s Prayer at meetings? The answers are in the arch1ves.” Illinois archivist Rick T. recalls that “the sharing of ethics, practical procedures and established access policies have been combined with our experience, strength and hope throughout each year’s sessions. The Arcluves Workshop is a genuine open forum of ideas relating to our archives effort.” And Rob S., altemate Northeast Ohio delegate and delegate-elect (Panel49) says that “as a non-archives person, I found that this Workshop exposed me to the necessity for maintainmg some form of archives to protect the history of our various areas, groups, intergroups and so on. I further learned how important the service structure is in providing guidance and communication for the archival community in its efforts to preserve A.A. history.” Speaking at the Workshop, Westem Washington archivist David C. descnbed the day-to-day responsibilities of the A.A. archivist. “When I was a district archlvist,” he said, “a good friend who was our Seattle Intergroup office manager told me, ‘Enjoy what you do today, for you are a collector. When you move to the area level, you will become a caretaker.’ I fmd that to be mostly true today, for I am 1he historian and caretaker of our area archives, a job I have loved. I still fmd tin1e to pursue the odd piece here and there and add to ow· collection- that fire still burns within me and always will. But my main endeavor is the upkeep and preservation of our past. I am asked almost daily for information about

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Gearing Up for the 49th General Service Conference

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Although the work of the Conference~ on all year-things at G.S.O. really begin to hum and pick up speedfrom january on- right up to April18. In the plwtos above (left t.o right) Miguel Rodriguez, who heads up the copy room, and Shawn Buckl.ey and Carlos Bauza-a.ll nonalcoholics-prepare committee background material f or mailing to the delegates who requested this information. Wo1·k on this project took approxtmately eight days-consisting ofcopying, sorting, assembling, and preparing mailing labels. Then it was on to the mail and shipping department wheT·e supervisor Aubrey Peretra (nonalcoholic) and his able staff began bat.ing and mailing these 5/bs. packets_

9

A.A. and am grateful to my predecessors on our Archives Committee for setting up our repository. Withou t this resource the job of historian would be far more difllcult, ifnot almost impossible.” The first t hree Archives Workshops were held in Akron. The conven tion voted to hold the fourth in Chlcago, Sept. 16-19, 1999.

Treatment and Correctional Facllities Nuimeggers Set Guidelines for Literature Giving For some time the Connecticut Area Corrections and Treatment Committee was finding that efforts to dissemmate A.A. literature were creating more questions than solutions. Members wanted to know: Is it within the spirit of the Traditions to take free literature into for-profit treatment facilities? Does it make sense to distribute lengthy books to newcomers in short-term facilities? Should we concern oun.elves with institutions outside our own bailiwick? And, fmally, what about accountability and record-keeping? In December the C&>T committee approved guidelines set forth in a statement of intent that “has evolved from this committee’s experience and discussions over two years.” Some excerpts:

“Should we take free A.A. literatw-e into for-profit treatment facilities? Whenever possible, we distribute literature directly to alcoholics in mstitutions, not to the institutions themselves. Sometimes, however , that approach is impractical; and sometimes an institution requires that we distribute literature through its staff. We are guests of the institution and must comply with its rules. “Tradition Ten reminds us that A.A. [as such] has no opinion on outside issues. Stncc there are no A.A. rehabs, detoxes, hospitals or halfway houses, all such places are ‘ outside enterprises’ or, a t most, ‘related facilities.’ Therefore their fmancial status and corpora te structure, the fees they charge and their attitudes toward A.A. itselfare outside issues. We feel that we are in opposttion to Tradition Ten if we refuse to provide A.A. literature for alcoholics in an institution tha t some people feel ‘should buy its own A.A. books.’ “‘We also feel that such a policy punishes some newcomers because they happen to be in for-profit institu10

nons. further, such a policy implies that it is the institution’s job to cany the A.A. message; as far as we know, this idea is not supported by any Conference-approved literature. We do try, however, to keep C~T facilities informed about AA.litemture by providing them periodically with up-to-date catalogs and order f01ms. Some institutions choose to buy literature on their own; others don’t. As a committee we have no opinion on this matter.

”How should we distribute books to newcomers in institutions? Some districts have found 1t appropriate to distribute fewer books in short-term tre.:’ltment .:enters, focusing instead on providing meetings, meeting lists and introductory pamphlets. Others point out tha t Conference-approved literature is the closest thing we have to a voice of the Fellowship as a whole; no indivtdual can speak in that way for A.A. According to this view, providing newcomers with basic Conference-approved A.A. texts is an essential part of providing service. “When we do have to distribute literature through institutional staff members, we do not control ils destiny in their hands. Sometimes A.A. literature reaches a dead-end in someone’s office or in a storage room. We welcome information about such situations but may not always be able to remedy them to everyone’s satisfaction. “What about accountability and r·ecord-keepin.g? After a series of honest efforts over tl1e past two years, we have found that it is impractical-and in some ways unfair-to ask dlstrict C&>T chatrs to keep track of how they distribute the literature bought with their share of the area C&>T budget. Would such record-keeping help us carry the message? Our expelience has been that the effort created obstacles to our work. “We have, however, put together a database that lists the institutional meetings maintained by district C&>T committees in Area 11. At this time the list contains about 150 weekly meetmgs; it has proven useful to some people, on and off the committee. Periodically updated and circulated more widely, it might become even more useful to our area. ((Should we spend area money on books for mmates not within the area? We believe that C&>T committees in Area 11 should not neglect institutions in their own districts in order to make A.A. available in facilities outside the area. But if a C&>T committee can fulfill its district responsibilities and also work outside the area, isn’t it appropriate to use district or area funds to buy literature that the committee considers essential to canying A.A to tl1e newcomer?” ·In conclusion, the statement of intent emphasizes that “a committee should always be careful in its purchasing and distribution policies, should keep the fellowship wcll-infonned of what it is doing, and should be open to tdeas and criticisms that might improve its service to A.A.”

DOX~ 41519

BULLETIN BOARD

Items and Ideas on Area Gatherings for A .A.s-Via G.S.O.

Calendar ofEvents

APRIL • MAY 1999

16-18-Hillisland, OntOJio, Canada. Tools

Events listed here are presented solely as a service to readers, n ot as an endorsement by the General Service Office. For any additional information, please use the addresses provided.

ofRccovety. Write: Ch.,142 Mechanic St., #803, Watertown, NY 13601 16-:18-Kailua KDna, Hawaii. Big Island Bash. Wtite: Ch., Box 390727, Kailua Kona, HI 96739 16-18-Roswell, New Me:tico. Road Rllimer Roundup. Write: Ch., c/o Diy Harbour Club, 202 E. Van Buren, Rosewell,

April

NM88.201 16-18-St. Paul, Alberta, Canada. District Three Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 974, St.

Oi-04-San Die,go, California. san Diego Spring Rouncfup. Wtite: Ch., Box 922, Carlsbad, CA 92018 01-05-Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Paul, AB TOA 3AO 17-18-Norfolk, Nebr·aska. NE’ Nebraska Spring Classic. Write: Ch., 608 Blaine St.,

1999 Australian International Conv. Write: Reg. Officer, Box 5745, We:;t End, Queensland 4101 Australia 02-04-P,·etoTia, South Africa. 50th South Africa National Conv. Wtite: Ch., Box 284, Olfiantsfonteln, 1665, Republic of So. Africa 0~-N()!,V Orleans, Louisiana. 31st Big Deep Soutl1 Conv. Write: Ch., 3117 Independence St., Ste. D., Metairie, LA 70006 02-04-Tul.sa, Oklahe:mta. Trail of Hope Conf. Write Ch., 4308 S. Oswego, Tulsa, OK74135 02-04-Wa.shington~ D.C. Singleness of Purpose Colli.Wnte: Ch., Box 3074, McLean, VA 22103

23-24–Manhattan, Kansas. The Week That Was 22nd Annlv. Write: Ch., Box 1433, Manhattan, KS 66502 23-25-Atikokan, Ontarto, Canada. 35th

09-11-Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., # 17, 1601 23 St. North, Letl1bridge, AB T 1H 4M9 09-11-Council Bluffi;, Iowa. Bluffs Roundup. Write: Ch., 19271 245th St., Council Bluff.~, IA 51503

09-11-Fort Wayne, IndiLma. 19th Conv. /l» 56th Banquet. Write: Ch., 8306 Schlatter Rd., Leo, IN 46765 09-11-Tanytown, NM York. 34th Annual SENY Conv. Write: Ch., Box 1688, Madison Square Station, New York, NY 10159

09-ti—Orand Forks, Nm’th Dakota. Northem Spring Weekend. Write: Ch., Box 14121, Grand Forks, NO 58208-4121

Closed Meeting Topics From the Grapevine For more detailed suggestions, see the pages noted.

April (pages 44-55): AA.’s Singleness of Purpose

May (pages 32<~9): Sex and Sobriety

NorfOlk, NE 68701

Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 391,

Atikokan, ON P<Yl’ 1CO 23-25-Niagara.Falls, Ontarw, Canada. 35th Almual Blossom Tune Conv. Box 851, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6V6

23-25-Coforada Springs, Colorado. Annual Corrections Conf. Write: Ch., 1509 Coronado Pkwy. North, Denver, co 80229-5594

23-25-Georgetown, Tems. Chisholm Trail Convention. Wl’ite: Ch., 16601 FM 1325 #823, Austin, TX 787.28-1126 23-25-Fairmont, Minnesota. Annual Sunlight oftheSpirit Weekend. Write: Ch., Box 748, Fairmont, MN 56031 23-25-]ackson, Mississippi. Emerald Jubilee. Write: Ch., Box 20664,Jackson, MS 39289-1664 23-25-Kansa.s City, Missouri. 58th Anniversary Celebration. Wnte: Ch., 311 W. 80th Terrace, Kansas City, Mo 64114 23-25-0maha, Nebraska. Heartland Roundup. Write: Ch., 2717 So. 116th Ave. Circle, Omaha, NE 68144 23-25-Canadaigua, NM York, 14th Annual Conference of the Lakes. Write: Ch., 1 Stonington Dr., Pittsford, NY 14534

23-25-0rangeburg, South Carolma. Orangcbur~ Spring Round- Up N . Write: Ch., Box 24.U, Orangeburg, SC 29116 23-25-Superior, l1!isconsin. 54th Annual Roundup. Wr ite: Ch., Box 996, Supetior, W1 54880 23-25-Chipley, Florida. Country RoundUp. Write: 746 4 th Street, Chipley, FL32428 23-25-Galesburg, Illinois. Spring :Fling. Write: Ch., Box 1 772, Galesburg, n.. 61402-1772 23-25-Waterloo, Iowa. Metro Spring Anniver. Write: Ch., Box 4221, Waterloo, IA 50704 30-May 2-Golden, British Columbia, Canada. 32nd Golden R.oundup. Write: Ch., Box 1405, Golden, BC VOA 1HO 30-May 2-0iiver, British Columbia, Canada. South Okanagan 15th Annual Round-up. Write: Ch., Box392, Oliver, BCVOH 1TO SO-May 2-Irvine, Calif~mfa. i2ili Gay&> Lesbian Conf. Write: Ch. , Box 5028, Laguna Beach, CA 92652 30-May 2-Pocatello, Idaho. Area 18 Spring Assembly. Write: Ch., Box 4573, Pocatello, ID 83205-4573

30-May 2-Marion, Illinois. Little Egypt Roundup. Wnte: Ch., 14555 Allen Rd., Herrin, n.. 62948

09-11-Sandusky, Ohio. 24th Mini Conference. Write: Ch., Box 3834, Akron, OH 44314-0834

09-1 1-LongView, Te:ras. East Texas Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 2002, Long View, TX 75606

15-18-Eureka Spri~, Arkan.sas. 23rd Springtime in the Ozarks Conv. Write: Conv. Trsr., Box 742, Eureka Springs, AR 72632

16-18-Ermioni, l’eloponn.ese, Greece. Fifth Int’l. Conv. Write: Ch., Box 52185, 14610 Nea Etythrea -Ailiens, Greece 16-18-Moscow, Russia . XI General Service Conf. in Russia. Write: Ch., .129128, Box 33, Moscow-128, Russia 16-18-Banjf, Alberta, Canada. 26th Annual BanffRound-Up. Write: Ch., Box 6744, Station D, Calgary, AB T2P 2E6 16-18-Victmia, Britisn Columbia, CaiUlda. 48th Annual Miracles Rally. Write: Ch., Victoria 0’0, #8-2020 Douglas St., Victoria, BC V8T 41.1

16-18-Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. Dauphin Roundup. Write: Ch., llox 453, Dauphin, MB R7N 2V3

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Planning a Future Event? Please send your mf01mation on j une,July or August events, two days or more, in time to reach G.S.O. by April 10, the calendar deadline for theJunei.July issue ofBox 4-5-9. for your convenience and ours _ please I}’Pe or print the information to be listed on tl1e Bulletin Board page, and mail to us:

Date ofevent: from _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ to – – – – – – – – – – ‘ 19 _ __

Name cif event· Place (city, state or prov.): –

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– – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – –

For iriformaticn, write:

(exact maiUng adlir’CSS.) – — – – – – – – – – – — – – – – — – – – –

Contact phone # (for qffice use only):

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Flip up thi.s end ofpage -for events on reverse side

30-May Z-Albuquerque, New Mt:r.ico. Annual Red Road Conv. Write: Ch., Box 9460, Albuquerque, MN 87119

30-Ma}’ Z-Greensburg, Pennsylvania. 51st Laurel Highlands Conf: Write: Ch., Box 6, Bovard, PA 15619 30-May 2–Siou.t: Falls, South Dakota. Area 63 1999 Sprlng Con~ Wnte: Ch., Box 1872, Sioux Falls, SD 57101 30-Ma}’ Z-Wi.sconsin Dells,Wisconsin. 48th Annual Spring 1999 Conf. Wr1te: Trsr., 159 Whitetail Blvd., Baraboo, WI 53913

May Ot-02-&ottsblu.ff. Nebrasl<a. Panhandle Jamboree. Write: Ch., Box 256, Scottsbluff; NE 69363

07-08–Petawawa, Ontario, Canada. Mother ‘s Day Conf. Write: Ch., 8 Norman

St., Petawawa, ON KSA 3C9 07-09-Craig, Colorado. Little Skyline Conf. Write: Ch., Box 123, Craig, CO 81626 07-09—Palm Springs, California. Sober in the Sun Conv. Write: Ch., Box 1935, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 07-09—WestbrookviUc, New York. Orange County Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 210, Middletown, NY 10940-0210 07-09-Raanoke, Vi~nia. Roanoke Men’s Workshop . Wr·tte: Box 21053, Roanoke, VA24018 07-09-Bratt’leboro, Vermont. Vermont Conv. Write: Ch., Box 1999, Wallingford, VT05733 07-09-Richland, Washirtgton. Inland Empire Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 5774, Kennewick, WA 99336-5774 13·1~Daytona Beach, Florida. Ninth Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 214911, South DaytOik’l, FL 32121

t 4-t~Lak.e Arrowhead, California. Mountain High Conf. Write: Ch., 2621 Centincla Ave., #7, Santa Monica, CA 90405 14-16–Santa Barbara, Califomia.. 10th A.rmual Santa Barbara Get Together. Write: Ch., 1220 Ba th St., #1, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 14-16-Lou~wille, Kentucky. Ninth Palls City Conv. Write: Ch., Box 37137, Louisville, KY 40233-7137 14-16-Dayton, Ohio. Women’s Workshop XXI. Write: Ch., 39 Redwood Ave., Dayton, OH 45405 14-t~Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 58th Annual Oklahoma State Conf Write: Ch., Box 60202, Oklahoma City, OK 731460202. 14-1~Applcton, Wisconsin. 50th Annual Spring Conf. Write: Secy., 247A W.15th Ave., Oshkosh, WI 54901

21.-23-Kamloops, British Columbia, Canatla. 1999 Karnloops Annual Roundup. Write: Secy., #209-240 Royal Ave., Karnloops, BC V2B 3P3 21-23-Boca Raton, Florida. Sponsorship Weekend 7. Write: Ch., P .O. Box 541001, Lake Worth, FL. 33454

21-23-Kftimat, B1·itish Columbia,

Canada. .Kitimat Roundup. Write: Ch., 46 Greyling, .Kitimat, BC V8C 2K6

2:1-23-Holyrood, Nev{oundland, Can(Uia. 41st NF!Lab. Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 149, Harbour Main, NF AOA 2PO Zt-23-Magog, Quebec, Canada. Sp=g Roundup. Write Ch., 731 Rte. 243, Mansonville, PQJOE l XO

2:1-23-Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. 48th Annual Comox Valley Rally. Write: Ch., Box 1337, Comox, BC V9N7Z8 27-31.-Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 22nd Great Smoky Mountain Recovery Campout. Write: Ch., Box 52385, Knoxville, TN 37950 28-30-Bakertificld, Califomia. Golde n E mpire Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 42894, Bakersfield , CA 93384-289428-30- St. Petersburg, Florida. Sobriety in Action Conference. Write: Ch., Box 2571, Pinellas Park, FL 33.780-2571 28-30-Waycross, Geor~. Okefenokee Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 403, Waycross, GA31502 28-30-Cadillal:, Midugan. 15th Spring Roundup. Write: Ch. , Box 1363, Gaylord, MI49735 28-30-Bozeman, Montana. Spring Roundup 1999. Write: Ch., Box 1538, Bozeman, MT 59771 28-30-Dallas, Texas. Gathering of the Eagles. Wnte: Ch., Box 35865, Dallas, TX 75235 28-30-WichttaFalls, Texas. Texoma Freedom Rally. W nte: Ch,, Box 42()0, Wichita falls, TX 76308 28-30-BloomiJ\ftton, Minnesota. Gopher State Roundup XXVI. Write: Ch., Box b5295, St. Paul, MN 55165-0295 28-31-Boston, Massachusetts. 23rd Boston Gay&> Lesbian Round Up. Write: Ch., Box 1009 GMF, Boston, MA 02205 28-31-Kauni, Ha.waii, The 19th Annual Kauai Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1301, Koloa, Kauai, HI 96756 28-31.-Bluc Ridge, Georgia. North Georgia Sobriety Run. Write: Ch., Box 865, Bfue Ridge, GA :~0513

l!!!!f!. 04-06-Fiagstuff, Anzona. Flagstaff Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 155, Flagstaff, AZ86002 04-06-0ak.land, Ga.lifomia. NCCAA 52nd Annual Sununer Conf. Write: Trsr., Box 508, Rocklin, CA 95677 04-0~Leunardtown, Maryland. Camp

Maria Round-Up. Write: CIL, Box 767, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622 04-0~Dallas, Texas. 54th Annual Texas Sate Convention. Write: ‘frsr., Box 595833, Dallas, TX 75359 08-i~Colorado Springs, Colorado. BOAF Int’l. Conv. Write: Ch ., Box 5874, Navarre, FL 32566 11-13-Azalea City, Alabama. 18th Al)nual Azalea City Jamboree. Write: Ch., Box 9005, Mobile, AL 36609

1.1.-13-North Comvay, New Hampshire. Nit A..<sembly Convention. Write: Ch., HH Area Service Off., 321 Lincoln St., Rm. 214, Manchester, NH 03103 11-13-Altoona, Pennsylvania. Northeast Regional l’orum. Write: Forum Coordinator, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 J.t-13-Memphis, Tennessee. Tenn. Area 64 State Conv. Write: Ch., 4024 Lehi Drive, Memphis, TN 38128 11-13-Medford Lakes, New}er’Sey. South jersey Young Peoples Conference. Write; Ch., P.O. Box 82, C.ape May, NJ. 08204 17-20-Indian WeUs, California. Desert Pow Wow. Write: Ch., Box 10128, Palm Desert, CA 92255-0128 18-20-GreenviUe, Mississippi. 53rd Conf. Write: Ch., 104 Lysbeth Or., Leland, MS 38756

25-27-Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada. Cache Creel</Ashcroft 24th Arutual Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 558, Cache Creek, BC VOK 1HO 25-27- Exctcr, Rhode Island. 23rd Annual Ocean State Young People’s Conf. Write: Ch., Box 41091, P rovidence, Rl 02940

02-04-Ru:lzmond, British Columbia, Canada. Pacific Northwest Conf. Write: Ch., Box 27150 Collrngwood PO, Vancouver, BC VSR 6A8 16-1.8–Showlow,Arizona. Lewis Canyon Campout. Write: Ch., Box 3284, Showlow, AZ 85902 16-18–Lafayctte, Louisiana. Loulskma State Conv. Wrlte: Ch., Box 5923, Alexandria, LA 71307 22-25–Silver Creek, Colorado. Fellowship of the Spirit Conf. Write: Ch., Box 19348, Boulder, CO 80308 23-25-Dothan, Alabama. ALCVPAA. Write: Ch., Box 51, Cottonwood, AJ, 363.20 23-25-Willow, Alaska. Second A.rumal Denali Com: Wtite: Ch., Box 875617, Wasilla, AK 99687-5617

23-25-Allentmvn, Pennsylvania. PENNSCYPAA 11. Write: Ch., Box 1881, Allentown, PA 18105 23-25-College Station, Texas. AA!{l{ieland Conv. ’99. Write: Ch., 2907 Jenn.Uer, College Station, TX 77845 ,. 23-ZS-Hutrtsville, Texas. Spirit of Recovery. Write: Ch., 320 Market #S, Galveston, T.X 77550 30-May t-Somerset, Pennsylvar1ia. Sixth Annual PA State Conv. Wdte: Ch., Box 701, Albrightsville, PA .t8Z10-0701