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News and Notes from the General Service Office of A.A.® www.aa.org Vol. 54, No. 2 / April – May 2008

■ Has Your Group Looked in the Mirror Lately? The idea of taking personal inventory is as old as A.A. itself. In the Big Book (p. 64), published in 1939, A.A. cofounder Bill W. and a handful of earlytimers likened the process to the vital task of maintaining a small business, noting that the one that “takes no regular inventory usually goes broke. … This fact-finding process is an effort to discover the truth about the stock-in-trade…to disclose damaged or unsalable goods, to get rid of them promptly and without regret. … We [in A.A.] did exactly the same thing with our lives.” This process of individual inventory-taking, familiarly known as Step Four, had its group counterpoint in Tradition Two, which states, “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority— a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.” It is through the lens of inventory meetings, as well as sharing sessions and business meetings, that group members become familiar with the concept of the “group conscience” as the deciding factor in any situation that arises, and with the need at all times to place “principles above personalities,” as detailed in the Twelfth Step. Additionally, many A.A.s say that the process of arriving at a group conscience offers a view of the world in microcosm. Learning to function as part of a group—to cope with its ongoing challenges, joys and interrelationships—often gives them the first crucial tools for learning to function sober at home, at work, everywhere. In the April 1956 issue of the A.A. Grapevine, Pennsylvanian M.J.G. suggested that “even in the most circumspect groups all is not always well. Just as it occasionally happens in the country club, the church choir and the college faculty, a lone wolf will howl and a Red Ridinghood will simper invitingly.” Among other instances of disharmony that she felt could be resolved by taking a group conscience, M.J.G. said, “These days we see some of the founders of groups ‘retiring’ sulkily from A.A. after many useful productive years. Often this ‘retirement’ is precipitated by disagreements with new members over group affairs. Sometimes there have been shattering battles for power. If we all remember, as Tradition Two reminds us, that ‘our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern,’ we may not mount our high horses and go riding off into Never-Never Land when our own turn comes.” And in its Sept.-Oct. 1964 issue, Box 4-5-9’s forerunner, the A.A. Exchange Bulletin, ran a lead story asking,

“How Healthy Is Your Group?” It informed the reader that “the most popular form for taking a group inventory has been the set of questions shared by the Three Legacies Group of Spokane, Washington, in a 1960 issue of the Exchange Bulletin.” Because of the volume of requests, the Bulletin noted, it was running a recent version with the hope that it “may revitalize group health.” That venerable Washington State inventory model greatly resembles the suggested guidelines for inventorytaking that are set forth in “The A.A. Group” pamphlet. Also, many groups and districts across the U.S./Canada have developed similar formats that work well for them. Any thorough inventory of course bears the distinct mark of the group involved. For shared experience you may contact the General Service Office. Says Georgia P., past chair of the Committee on Cooperation With the Professional Community for the Tacoma, Lakewood and Puyallup districts: “In my experience, so many group problems, from refreshment hassles to anonymity breaks, can be resolved through the mechanisms of the group conscience. Several years ago, when I was the general service representative (G.S.R.) for Tacoma’s Fern Hill Group, we decided to inventory ourselves to see if we were working within the Traditions of A.A., just as we do with the Steps in taking our personal inventories. We asked two of our Area officers, Andy A. and Debbie C., to act as facilitators. They took their questions right from ‘The A.A. Group’ pamphlet and another G.S.O. service piece.” Georgia recalls that the facilitators “questioned us as a group, we responded as a group, and it worked. The other districts I’ve been connected with have handled inventory meetings pretty much the same way. In fact, the greater Tacoma district right now is putting together an inventory night. Our District Committee Member Scott G. has asked Western Washington past delegate Dick D. (Panel 55) to facilitate the meeting, with the date and time as yet to be set.” Also, Georgia says, “I know of groups in Tacoma that hold an inventory every year to make sure they are meeting the needs of the group and attracting the newcomer. These group conscience meetings don’t just clear the air. They teach home group members and the district how to be of service not only as sponsors, one-on-one, but to A.A. as a whole—to be available to work on service committees in treatment, corrections, public information and more, so

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Box 4-5-9 is published bimonthly by the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115, © Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 2008 Mail address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 G.S.O.’s A.A. Web Site: www.aa.org Subscriptions: Individual, $3.50 per year; group, $6.00 for each unit of 10 per year. Check—made payable to A.A.W.S., Inc.—should accompany order.

that the A.A. message is carried to as many alcoholics as possible.” In 1990 Michael Alexander, then Class A (nonalcoholic) chairman of the General Service Board, saw inventorytaking as a must for all of A.A. In the Holiday issue of Box 4-5-9, he said that “in order to fulfill our expanding service role abroad, we must lead from a position of unity and support at home. From each individual member on through our groups, intergroups, districts, area assemblies and the General Service Conference, our Fellowship is only as strong as its weakest link.” Accordingly, he urged, “let us take inventory of our weaknesses and strengths in some vital areas”—including self-support, newcomers, minorities and other groups of people underrepresented in A.A., and international services. Mike saw inventory-taking as a bulwark of A.A. unity. “I am confident,” he said, “that our collective conscience will lead us in the right direction.”

■ ICYPAA — Nearing 50, But Not Growing Old The International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA) organizes an annual convention at a different city each year to celebrate sobriety among young people in A.A. “The Conference usually attracts about 2,000, but this year in Los Angeles, attendance was closer to 4,000,” says Megan B., who chairs the advisory council of ICYPAA. “The average age of attendees is under 25, and there are those attending who are as young as 14, 15 or 16 and who come with guardians,” says Megan, who is 31 years old and sober nine years. “I feel I am heading toward the older end of ICYPAA.” 2

The Conferences run about three days and offer a variety of workshops and meetings, including a recent, typical one on “School in Sobriety.” There has also been a panel of younger A.A. members who had published stories in the Grapevine. “We had another panel with A.A. members from Russia, Mexico, Japan, and other foreign countries discussing how it was getting sober early in those countries,” says Megan. “Basically, we address the issue of how can A.A. fit into your life when you are in your twenties or younger,” she says. “We aim to show people how they can have fun and fit in and be sober at the same time.” It was in 1958 that A.A. members in Buffalo and Toronto organized the first conference, at Niagara Falls, New York. It has met annually ever since, except for 2005, when Katrina hit, forcing cancellation of the Conference scheduled for New Orleans. A press release issued by the organizers of the first Conference said that it would “provide a thorough rundown of the application of our A.A. program to…young people.” ICYPAA regularly contributes to the General Service Office, as well as to the area service structure where the Conference is held. Much of the activity in ICYPAA during the months between the annual Conferences centers on the bid committees organized in cities around the country. Members of the bid committees work to prepare a proposal they present at the Conference to host the following annual meeting. Megan, who was involved in the bid committee in Portland, Oregon, says: “We bid every year for five years before we were chosen for 2003. Each year you go to the Conference and hope you are going to be the one. Then you go back home and reform the committee and start preparing for next year,” she says. According to Tom H., who lives in Georgia and is in his third year as archivist of ICYPAA, “there are 12 to 15 bid committees organized at any one time. The A.A. members involved in these committees will usually be organizing dances and other events throughout the year. Young people’s activities expand out from these committees.” Tom, who is 43 years old, got sober “briefly” at 17 years old and after some in and out of the program got sober to stay at 24. “I went to a Conference in Miami back then and it blew me away, as they seem to do,” says Tom. “Usually about half the attendees at any Conference are there for the first time, and I know people who say flat out that showing up at one saved their lives.” ICYPAA’s annual meeting, he says, is the model for every one of the many young people’s meetings in the states around the country. “ICYPAA does it well, to put it that way, and most look to us for how to run a big meeting for young people,” says Tom. This year’s Conference—the 50th—will meet in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on the July 4th weekend. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

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■ The Rocky Road to the First General Service Conference A.A. members representing the 93 service areas in the United States and Canada convene again this April in New York City for the weeklong 58th General Service Conference. These delegates will work along with trustees, directors, and General Service Office and Grapevine staff members to conduct the business of Alcoholics Anonymous. Among the work at this year’s annual Conference— which has the theme “Communication and ParticipationThe Key to Unity and Self-Support”—the Public Information Committee will review the results of the 2007 A.A. Membership Survey, which is produced every three years. Also, the Treatment Facilities Committee will assess sample footage of the revised video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous,” and many other agenda items. (The words “Conference-approved” that appear on the pamphlets and books published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services signify that the material has gone through the Conference process.) Today the Conference is accepted as the medium through which A.A.’s membership makes its voice heard. Some suggest it is the closest thing to a Fellowship-wide group conscience in the U.S. and Canada. However, the path to the first General Service Conference in 1951, was far from smooth. A.A. co-founder Bill W. had years earlier become convinced that the Fellowship needed an annual meeting to allow input from A.A. groups into G.S.O. (then called Headquarters). His plan, though, stirred furious opposition by many who thought the venture dangerously ill-conceived. A.A. had grown tremendously in the years since the Alcoholic Foundation was created in 1938, when there were barely 100 members. (Later renamed the General Service Board, 14 of the 21 trustees that now make up the board are A.A. members and are know as Class Bs. The other seven—nonalcoholic, Class As—are chosen for their professional qualifications.) In 1946, when membership reached about 30,000, Bill began formulating a plan for a conference with elected delegates from among A.A. around the country. A conference, Bill wrote at the time, “would bring our Trustees into friendly contact with a representative crosssection of A.A…. and it would permanently close that gap of remoteness in which Dr. Bob, I, and others, are still standing.” There was little enthusiasm for the project at Headquarters. As almost all the trustees saw it, A.A. was flourishing and there was no reason to endorse what seemed a radical change. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

Bill’s frustration at his lack of progress in convincing the board of the value of his proposal is revealed in a letter, in which he says of the trustees: “The idea of sharing their prerogatives with a conference… has not been very palatable…. They insist on putting me into an ivory tower, meanwhile keeping a firm grip on authority, titles and money.” Some, though, objected to what they saw as Bill’s abrasiveness. In a letter to Bill in August 1948, a nonalcoholic trustee writes: “you were certainly not diplomatic in your manner of presentation and this has led to the injection of personalities, rumors, accusations, etc., which have no place in this discussion.” One nonalcoholic trustee resigned over the issue, saying in a February 1948 letter to Bill: “The somewhat intricate relationships envisaged in your plans…will invite more troubles than solutions, I believe.” Bill admitted that his headstrong approach was creating ill-will, but felt he had no choice. He feared that after he and Dr. Bob passed on, the Alcoholic Foundation would eventually suffer a loss of legitimacy. As he saw it, such a development would hurt A.A. in various ways, including diminished financial support from A.A. groups for the New York office. As he wrote at the time: “A selfperpetuating Board of Trustees unknown to most A.A. members could never stand up over the long future.” Bill knew that he needed the blessing of A.A.’s other co-founder, but Dr. Bob initially failed to see the need for a conference. Shortly before Dr. Bob died in November 1950, Bill traveled to Akron to meet with him and make his case once again. Finally, Dr. Bob gave his blessing to the venture. Soon thereafter, the trustees gave their grudging consent. As one participant wrote in his account of the period: “the trustees voted reluctantly to ‘give the Conference a try.’ It was agreed that Conferences would be held on an experimental basis from 1951 through 1954, and that in 1955 the whole concept would be evaluated and a final decision made.” There were many details to be worked out, including how the Conference was to be funded, how representation from around the U.S. and Canada would be apportioned, how the delegates were to be elected, and how much authority the Conference would have. Bill put all his ideas for how these issues should be handled in a booklet called “The Third Legacy” (later to be expanded into The A.A. Service Manual). On April 20, 1951, 37 delegates from the U.S. and 3

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Canada came to New York and spent three days meeting with the 15 trustees, Bill, and staff members from G.S.O. and the Grapevine. That Conference and the three that followed during this trial period were a vindication of Bill’s original vision that an annual meeting of delegates from A.A. groups could work for the good of Alcoholics Anonymous. His comments at the closing session of the 1954

Conference, the last of the four trial ones, indicate his great relief and happiness at the success of his plan: “As recently as six or eight years ago… there still remained this terrific question of how to guarantee our overall function. Today…I share with you the promise of its certain success and am more moved than at almost any time in my A.A. life. The moment of the transfer of authority to serve, from us old timers to the movement, is at hand.”

■ The Annual Conference Captured in Pen and Ink During the many years when New York courtrooms barred cameras, A.A. member and artist Al H. sat in on trials, sketching the notable and the notorious for the evening television news programs. That period ended some years ago when cameras made their way onto the scene. At that point, Al says, he was ready to move on. “It was exciting, challenging and it paid well—but sketching serial killers and corrupt politicians had lost its charm for me,” he says. Al, who is 38 years sober in A.A. and who studied art at the Art Students League in New York and the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, has worked for years as a freelancer for Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. His work can also be seen in the A.A. pamphlets “The Twelve Steps Illustrated” and “Is A.A. for Me?” Al’s most regular work for A.A.W.S. is his sketches for the Final Report of the annual A.A. General Service Conference, which he has done every year for 30 years. His freelance work at the Conference got its start through a connection at his home group. A staff member for G.S.O. was a member of the same group, where people generally knew of Al’s profession. At G.S.O. at the time there was a discussion about including illustrations for the Final Report. Photos were out, of course. When it was suggested that drawings would fit the bill, this G.S.O. staff member thought of Al. “I know someone who does this for a living,” she said. When Al thinks back to those early Conferences, one difference he notes is the attire. “I remember people dressing very casually, in sweatshirts and others wearing big

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cowboy hats,” says Al, who notes that today the attendees dress much more formally. Al works most of the year on oil paintings, which is a different form altogether from the line drawings required at the Conference. “About two months before Conference I start going to sketch classes,” he says. “Drawing is like playing the piano, you have to practice. I work in pen and ink, which I prefer because it’s more expressive than pencil or charcoal. But it is unforgiving—you make a line in ink, that’s it, there is no going back. The classes are for sharpening up my skills.” Al does do a little drawing during the year, but it’s not the perfect preparation for the kind of work required at the Conference. “I might go up to Central Park and sketch the trees, but they don’t move,” he says. “Capturing someone in a sketch is very different. People at the Conference are not just sitting still while you try to draw them.” Al was a commercial artist before he got into courtroom work, which happened only after he got sober. “The big difference between working as an artist sober and as an active drunk was I was reliable after I got sober,” says Al. “I would get a call from a television station at 6 p.m. to say ‘we want you down in Washington in the Senate chamber tomorrow morning.’ I was constantly amazed that they would count on me to be there, but of course they only knew me after I’d gotten sober. I could be relied on at that point. When I was drinking I could not keep an appointment to save my life,” says Al. During his very early time in A.A., Al would sometimes see A.A. co-founder Bill W. at meetings in Manhattan. Bill, though, had died before Al started work at the Conferences. Al did, though, sketch Lois, who regularly attended the Conference dinner. “Looking through some of the old Final Reports, I noticed in the 1984 report a portrait sketch I did of Lois. I remember she didn’t like it.” What else has changed over the time he has been working for G.S.O.? “I’ve gotten better, I hope,” says Al. “The older sketches seem tight and overworked. Today I try to keep them simple and uncluttered. I like to think of the sketches as breathing space among all the copy.”

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■ Conference-Approved Literature: A Powerful Expression of A.A. Unity Imagine today, as A.A. co-founder Bill W. did in 1964, what the Fellowship would be without its literature. “Suppose,” he said then, “that A.A. had never published any standard literature—no books, no pamphlets. We need little imagination to see that by now our message would be hopelessly garbled. Our relations with medicine and religion would have become a shambles. To alcoholics generally we would today be a joke and the public would have thought us a riddle. Without its literature, A.A. would certainly have bogged down in a welter of controversy and disunity.” (The Language of the Heart, p. 348) Throughout A.A. history, whenever the membership has developed a particular concern, a book or newsletter or pamphlet has invariably appeared to give it voice, which is what happened when the landmark book Alcoholics Anonymous was published in 1939. Up to 1951, however, there was no standardization of A.A. literature until the first General Service Conference recommended that “A.A. textbook literature should have Conference approval”—thus ensuring that the literature has been subjected to the rigors and scrutiny of the committee system, which ever since has protected the integrity of the A.A. message. The subtext of the recommendation, or Advisory Action, as it is now called, emphasizes that no desire to review, edit or censor non-A.A. material is implied: “The objective is to provide, in the future, a means of distinguishing [A.A.] literature from that issued locally or by non-A.A. interests.” Since 1951 most A.A. literature has been clearly marked “This is A.A. General Service Conferenceapproved literature.” For many years this authentication was accompanied by a logo: a triangle, marked A.A., within a circle carrying the words General Service Conference. Then, in 1994, the Conference recommended that the logo be deleted from the designation, which is how it appears today. Not to be confused with A.A. Conference-approved literature, which is always produced as the result of Conference Advisory Actions, service material—consisting mainly of information pieces, newsletters, bulletins and A.A. Guidelines—is created in response to members’ expressed need for information on subjects ranging from “Suggested Topics for Discussion Meetings” to a map of A.A. regions in the U.S./Canada. In the interest of timeliness, service material is updated often to reflect current A.A. experience as well as the latest Conference recommendations. A.A. service pieces do not go through the Conferenceapproval process because it would be impractical to put regularly updated literature, not to mention monthly and bimonthly publications such as the Grapevine and Box 4Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

5-9, through the lengthy Conference-approval procedure. Nonetheless, much of the content in service pieces is excerpted from Conference-approved publications and similarly synthesizes the shared experience of the Fellowship. Like Conference-approved literature and audiovisual material, service pieces may be obtained directly from the General Service Office. (Most of them are free of charge; many are available at various intergroups and central offices, and are also available on G.S.O.’s Web site.) A.A. Conference-approved material—including the bulk of our books, booklets, pamphlets and audiovisuals—is copyrighted. Local A.A. publications are permitted to reprint the Steps, Traditions, and/or the Concepts, and to quote a phrase, sentence or brief paragraph excerpted from A.A. literature such as the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Conference-approved pamphlets without a prior, written request to do so. When this occurs, the proper credit line should be included to ensure that the copyrights of A.A. literature are protected. After a quotation from a book or pamphlet, the credit line should read: Reprinted from (name of publication, page number), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc. Many groups have found that where and how literature is displayed in the meeting room makes a difference. Is it clearly visible? Can sensitive newcomers pick up some of it readily, without feeling conspicuous? Also, it’s a good idea to separate A.A. Conference-approved material from other publications. Otherwise newcomers and other visitors may pick up a book, pamphlet or newsletter published by an outside source and be wrongly informed about what A.A. is and isn’t. The statement in the Preamble that “A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution… neither endorses nor opposes any causes” may fall on confused ears when people see church, health and A.A. publications all stacked together willynilly. In 1986 a Conference Advisory Action reaffirmed: “The spirit of the 1977 Conference Action regarding group literature displays be reaffirmed and recommended that A.A. groups be encouraged to display or sell only literature published and distributed by the General Service Office, the A.A. Grapevine and other A.A. entities.” Today all A.A. literature and material may be found in the catalog “Conference-Approved Literature and Other Service Material,” available from G.S.O.—both online (www.aa.org) and off. A.A. service committees working with professionals will find appropriate literature online by clicking on “Information for Professionals” on the A.A. Web site. In 2001, at an area assembly meeting in Saskatchewan, Canada, G.S.O. staff member Valerie O. spoke about the role of literature in “living the A.A. principles in all our affairs.” “All our literature,” she suggested, “is based on the First Tradition—‘Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on A.A. unity.’ To me, all literature that is the result of group conscience decisions 5

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represents the highest form of unity in A.A. … There might be other literature that we have found helpful in recovery, but for the most part A.A. members voluntarily refer only to Conference-approved literature at A.A. meetings. We do this so as not to confuse the newcomer and to pass along A.A.’s message of recovery as we ourselves received it.”

■ Opening for General Manager of G.S.O. The General Service Board is beginning the search for a general manager of the General Service Office to replace Greg M., who will retire at the end of 2008. The qualifications for the position are: • Ten years minimum sobriety. • Demonstrated leadership ability in A.A. and in a business/professional career. • Proven general management experience, preferably as general manager of a multifunctional organization: understanding of organizational issues, planning and controls, financial reporting, human resources practices, and information technology applications and trends. • A.A. service experience: knowledge of General Service structure and A.A. history. • Effective communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to report clearly and concisely on G.S.O. operations to the appropriate boards, the General Service Conference and the Fellowship at large. • Demonstrated understanding of the unique nature of A.A., the structural limitations and balances of authority in A.A. services, and the ability to work with and resolve conflicting viewpoints. In seeking applications for all vacancies in Alcoholics Anonymous, the Fellowship is committed to creating a large applicant file of qualified persons, which reflects the inclusiveness and diversity of A.A. itself. To apply, both business/professional and A.A. résumés are required. To request an A.A. résumé, please e-mail Joe Dennan, dennanj@aa.org. Both résumés should be sent to the attention of Ward B. Ewing at the General Service Office, 475 Riverside Drive, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10115, no later than May 30, 2008.

■ Résumés for Trustees Election due January 1, 2009 Two new Class B (alcoholic) trustees from the Southeast and East Central regions and a trustee-at6

large/U.S. will be nominated at the General Service Conference in April 2009. Résumés must be received at G.S.O. no later than January 1, 2009, and must be submitted by delegates only. The new Southeast regional trustee will succeed Howard L., of Columbia, Mississippi; the next trustee from the East Central Region will follow Robert M., of Oak Creek, Wisconsin. A new trustee-at-large/U.S. will take the position currently held by Dorothy W., of Indianapolis. A sound A.A. background is a basic qualification for Class B trustees. Ten years of continuous sobriety is desirable but not mandatory. Candidates should be active in both local and area A.A. affairs; and, because trustees serve the entire Fellowship, they require the background and the willingness to make decisions on matters of broad policy that affect A.A. as a whole. It is also important that trustee candidates understand the commitment of time required. Trustees are expected to attend three quarterly board weekends, with meetings often scheduled from Thursday afternoon through Monday morning, and the General Service Conference, which lasts for one week in April. Often trustees are asked to attend a Regional Forum weekend. In addition, regional trustees are usually asked to serve two years on either the A.A.W.S. or Grapevine Corporate Board, which would envolve eight to ten additional meetings a year. Trustees-at-large are usually asked to attend Regional Forums in both the U.S. and Canada and to participate in the five-day World Service Meeting, every other year, and the Western Hemisphere zonal meeting, the Meeting of the Americas, in the years between World Service Meetings. Please submit your candidates résumés to the Secretary, trustees’ Nominating Committee, General Service Office.

■ Opening for Class A (nonalcoholic) Trustee The trustees’ Nominating Committee asks that trustees, delegates and directors submit any names they deem appropriate as candidates for Class A trustee. Class A trustees are chosen from a variety of professional backgrounds, including doctors, lawyers, clergy, social workers and educators. In seeking applications for all vacancies in Alcoholics Anonymous, the Fellowship is committed to creating a large applicant file of qualified persons, which reflects the inclusiveness and diversity of A.A. itself. The Class A trustee who will rotate after the 2009 General Service Conference is Herbert I. Goodman, who is CEO of an international corporation involved with petroleum products and energy conservation. Please submit your candidate’s business or professional résumé to the Secretary, trustees’ Nominating Committee, General Service Office, by July 31, 2008. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

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■ Openings for A.A.W.S. Nontrustee Directors A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.) has started its search to fill vacancies for two nontrustee directors, which will open following the 2009 General Service Conference. Interested A.A. members are encouraged to submit a résumé. In seeking applications for all vacancies in Alcoholics Anonymous, the Fellowship is committed to creating a large applicant file of qualified persons, which reflects the inclusiveness and diversity of A.A. itself. Basic qualifications for this position are: a minimum of seven years of continuous sobriety; a sound business or professional background is preferable, but not limited to the following areas—finance, management, publishing, legal, or information technology; the ability to work with others; availability to attend all regular meetings of the A.A.W.S. Board (currently, up to eight per year), three weekend meetings of trustees’ committees (to which corporate board directors are appointed), and the Conference, for one week in April. In addition, directors may be called upon to attend subcommittee or other meetings and to represent A.A.W.S. at Regional Forums or other A.A. functions. Résumés should be sent to Joe Dennan, secretary, A.A.W.S., Inc., at the General Service Office, no later than July 1, 2008.

■ Opening for a Grapevine Nontrustee Director The A.A. Grapevine Corporate Board has started its search to fill a vacancy for a nontrustee director, which will open following the 2009 General Service Conference. Interested A.A. members are encouraged to submit a résumé. Basic qualifications for this position are: a minimum of seven years of continuous sobriety; a sound business or professional background in, but not limited to, the following areas—finance, management, publishing, or communications; leadership qualities and the ability to work with others in a group conscience setting; availability to attend four planning committee meetings of the Grapevine Board, plus three General Service Board weekends, which include quarterly Grapevine Board meetings and meetings of trustees’ committees (to which corporate board directors are appointed). In addition, directors attend the General Service Conference for one week in April and may be called upon to represent the Grapevine at Regional Forums or other A.A. functions. In seeking applications for all vacancies in A.A., the Fellowship is committed to creating a large applicant file of qualified persons, which reflects the inclusiveness and diversity of A.A. Résumés should be sent to Janet Bryan, Office Manager, A.A. Grapevine, by July 1, 2008. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

■ Two A.A. Groups Subject of Some Unwelcome Publicity On any given day, A.A.s are meeting in schools, churches, community centers and other venues across the U.S. and Canada—and the message of sobriety we carry is only as strong and attractive as we are. If our friends in the community perceive us positively, they are more likely to recommend us to the sick alcoholics in their midst. Conversely, if we project an unpleasant impression, the same alcoholics may fall through the cracks of public distaste, distrust and even unfriendliness. California delegate Gail N. (Panel 58) reports that word of such difficulties, concerning two groups in her San Diego-Imperial Area, erupted recently on, of all places, the local TV evening newscast. The groups in question meet at the same church—one on Tuesday nights; the other, six days a week at 6:45 a.m. A resident whose property abuts the church parking lot was complaining of noise and other difficulties outside the church and in the parking lot before and after meetings—and had actually taken a video. “The church where the groups meet fully support the A.A. groups,” Gail says, “and the morning group has gone out of its way to avoid further conflict with the neighbor. They have discontinued use of one parking lot and are implementing other measures to ensure that members won’t disturb the neighbors. The A.A. members are only concerned that we make every effort to not be disruptive in the neighborhood.” She reports that “the Tuesday night group also is discontinuing use of the parking lot and will avoid gathering at the back door of the church after meetings.” Both groups “continue to communicate closely with the church,” Gail says. “Their response, and their concern for the neighbor and the church, were immediate. They certainly did not want the name of Alcoholics Anonymous to be discredited by this kind of publicity—and they took action that would address the problem and avoid public controversy.” As these and other groups have found out, A.A.s are not the only ones who share experience—non-A.A.s talk to each other too. One resident’s unhappiness with A.A.s can cancel out a lot of good will. There also can be a ripple effect: Other facilities may hear rumblings of trouble and become increasingly resistant to having A.A. meetings on their premises. They may become concerned about rising maintenance costs and even the possibility of liability claims. The challenge is one that affects us all, and many groups are rising to the occasion. One group in particular has found that good manners have a far-reaching effect. Relates another Californian, Terry L.: “Just a year or so ago my A.A. friend Mark V. and I, aware of the need for a centrally located meeting on Saturday nights in San Diego, began doing the footwork toward the possible creation of one. Soon there were 30 people eager to be of service. 7

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“After being turned down by about 10 churches for one reason or another, we found a church that was receptive—for a reason. It seems that a group of 60 to 70 men called Water Walkers Too had been meeting there regularly for 17 years, and for both the church and the group the relationship had been a positive experience.” Terry says that initially “the pastor hesitated because the church would be holding services Sunday mornings, with no custodian to check on the premises used by a sizable group the night before. But then he figured that since there had never been a problem with Water Walkers Too, we could probably be trusted as well.” Before the first meeting of the new Southern Cal Speakers Group on a Saturday night last June, Terry recalls, “we set up 200 chairs, thinking we were being overly optimistic. But 230 people came, and numbers close to that figure have been joining us ever since. We are careful to clean up after ourselves—and as for the pastor, he seems to think that having A.A. meetings in his church is a very good thing.” There have been some spin-offs for the fledgling group, Terry says. “One came out of meetings that some of us take to a quadriplegic A.A. named John. Thanks to another member, Harry, an electronic wiz who has built us a Web site, John can use his one workable hand to turn on his TV and listen to our Saturday night talks the following day. We remind the speakers not to use their last names, nor the name of anyone else, living or dead, in the interest of anonymity; but when they forget, Harry goes in and scrubs them out. “It’s very important to us that emphasis be placed not only on the speaker’s anonymity, but on that of others as well. Harry puts in hours and hours of work on this because he wants to be sure that people like John receive the A.A. message as fully as possible. Just in the last few months, the word has spread. We are hearing from other quadriplegics and housebound alcoholics as far away as Norway—the word is growing around the world.” None of these developments would be occurring, Terry points out, were it not for the strong rapport that the Water Walkers Too Group has so long enjoyed with the church. “Like them,” he says, “we are very careful to leave the premises as we find them. We keep our voices down to reasonable decibels and make sure to clean up every last cigarette butt and piece of paper.” As A.A. co-founder Bill W. wrote in the Third Legacy Manual, (p. 136), “To reach more alcoholics, understanding of A.A. and public good will towards A.A. must go on growing everywhere….” Toward this end—and as Babs G. of Manhattan has put it, “When action is called for, let’s pull up our socks and mend our manners”—here are some suggested ways born of A.A.’s collective experience: Communicate often and openly with the landlord and pay the rent on time. Many groups find it helpful to have a group member act as a liaison with the landlord in the interests of clear communication and harmony. As 8

renters, let’s make sure we leave the premises in at least as good a condition after the meeting as it was in before and generally observe the house rules with the same courtesy and respect we’d want for ourselves. Many groups find that taking a group inventory on the subject clears the air and reminds members to pull together and act responsibly. Finally, it helps to remember that whenever we function as A.A.s at the public level, we are A.A. As Bill W. wrote in the April 1946 issue of the Grapevine (The Language of the Heart, p. 23), for us A.A.s “there is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.” Let’s make sure they have ample reason to do so.

■ A.A. ‘At Sea’

Service takes to the sea: Eight times a year in British Columbia, before and after each of the B.C./Yukon Area’s four general assemblies, about a dozen general service representatives and the district committee member of District 9—a necklace of South Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia—board the B.C. Ferry’s Queen of Nanaimo. “There,” says district committee member (D.C.M.) Michael B., of Salt Spring Island, “the regular business of the district is reviewed and discussed as the ship completes its 7-hour round-trip passage of the islands. “We meet in a conference room on the upper deck that we have rented from the ferry company for the past four years.” Michael notes that “this arrangement may sound like a complex solution to a simple logistical problem. But because of the geography of this 300-square-mile area— most of it water—it’s the most practical way for us islanders to share our experience, strength and hope and the conscience of our groups.”

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Corrections ■ Juvenile Offenders Hear Stories of A.A.s in Prison Thanks to the commitment of a handful of A.A.s in California’s Northern Coastal Area, alcoholic inmates at the maximum-security Salinas Valley State Prison have learned how to facilitate their own A.A. meetings—so well, in fact, that they are sharing their own experience with troubled teenagers at risk for alcoholism. Says Diane O., past delegate (Panel 35, 1985-86) and Public Information chair of the area’s Hospital and Institution (H&I) committee: “The miracle of Alcoholics Anonymous is so evident in this amazing group of young men, most of them relatively new to crime, yet down for life. They have accepted responsibility for what they’ve done and are making amends by living lives of dignity, value and worth behind the walls. The war is over for them. There are no gangs.” The transformation began nearly four years ago, Diane relates, after Jeanne S. Woodford—a Class A (nonalcoholic) trustee since 2005—became director of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. “Jeanne told all the wardens of the state prisons that they must open their doors to A.A. Until then, Salinas Valley would not even talk to us.” In May 2004, Diane says, “members of our H&I committee held our first A.A. meeting with the inmates. But first we met with the group chairman, Dan S., and taught him how to facilitate the meeting, which was a great help. We also had lots of our A.A. literature, in both English and Spanish, on hand.” Diane’s husband, Perry O., who also serves on the H&I committee, remembers that first meeting well. “The inmates, who all were classified Level 4, or highest security, at the time, arrived silently, not interacting at all with each other. As we A.A.s greeted them, we said something like, ‘Hi, welcome to Alcoholics Anonymous. I’m Perry, and I’m an alcoholic. What is your first name? I’d love to hear it followed by the word alcoholic.’ There were about 35 men, most of them with problems in addition to alcohol. Once seated, we went around the room, reintroducing ourselves. They all gave their first names, followed by ‘and I’m an alcoholic.’ The sharing was some of the best I’ve known, and it was wonderful to see the fellows’ eyes light up after expressing their feelings, probably for the first time in a long while.” The men, who voted to name the group Down but Not Out, have been meeting just about every Wednesday ever since, Diane says: “Little has changed since that first meeting. You hear their first names, followed by ‘I am an alcoholic’; there is no swearing or crosstalk, and there is total respect for the inmate who is sharing. The topic, usually Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

taken from our Big Book, and discussions are always centered on recovery from alcoholism.” For some time now, Diane notes, members of the Down but Not Out Group have used their personal recoveries as a springboard for there own type of service— mentoring youths, aged 12-18, who have been remanded by the courts to the juvenile division of CODE 4 (Convicts and Officers for Diversion and Education). Considered to be at risk for lives of alcoholism and crime, perhaps a dozen of these teenagers, clutching their sack lunches, are bussed to the prison the third Saturday of every month for all-day sharing with inmate-members of the group, which takes the responsibility very seriously and with pride. Recently, Diane reports, Down but Not Out has registered with the General Service Office. “When the New Group Form arrived Thanksgiving Eve,” she says, “it brought tears to my eyes. These sobriety brothers of ours have come such a long way in such a short time. Some of us H&I’s drive 200 miles round-trip every Wednesday in order to experience their message of hope. And, believe me, we feel very blessed.”

P.I./C.P.C. ■ Texas Workshop Aims to Make A.A. ‘Anonymous But Not Invisible’ “On a perfect summer day,” relates Stephen S. of Austin, Texas, “136 professionals and A.A.s put their heads and hearts together at the first annual Anonymous But Not Invisible Workshop held by Southwest Texas Area 68.” The purpose, he explains, “was to learn from Area professionals how we A.A.s can work more effectively with them to carry the A.A. message. In turn, we shared with the professionals, as well as students who were present, just what our local P.I./C.P.C. (Public Information/ Cooperation With the Professional Community) committees can and can’t do.” This first time around, the workshop was held in centrally located Victoria, says Stephen, who is immediate past chair of the P.I./C.P.C. committee for Austin’s Districts 3B and 3C. There were three discussion panels, each composed of three A.A.s and three professionals representing different specialties—one, medical; a second, legal and judicial; and a third that included a clergyman and two counselors. “It was very powerful and moving,” Stephen says, “to see ourselves through the eyes of the professionals. One panel participant, a counselor, said how awed she was to see us—recovering alcoholics—in action at the workshop. Like most of our professional friends, she is familiar with 9

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‘what we were like’ and ‘what happened.’ But rarely do the professionals get a glimpse of ‘what we are like now.’ Those at the workshop were able to see the love, tolerance and respect we recovering alcoholics now practice. They were able to see a group of people—who once would not mix, who were rebellious, helpless or hopeless—patiently take turns at the microphone to share their experience, strength and hope.” Just before the dinner break, Stephen says, “a group of counseling students raised their hands to ask questions about sponsorship and types of meetings, among other things. They were flooded with phone numbers, e-mail addresses for follow-up questions and invitations to open meetings. Later a group of us even took the students to a local diner to show them the magic of the sharing that happens at coffee after a meeting.” The morning after the workshop, he reports, “about 38 interested A.A. members gathered to review and evaluate what we liked and what we could do better next time. For instance, we felt that while some of the professionals on workshop panels were recovering alcoholics as well, it would be better not to overlap in the future. We further realized that if a workshop is for professionals, we should not use A.A. jargon; and if it is for A.A. members, we need not explain the basics of A.A. We decided that in workshop sessions for A.A.s only, we ought to leave more time for committees to present reports and ideas about the P.I./C.P.C. efforts they are making in their districts.” The professionals were very helpful, Stephen says. “For one thing, the doctors pointed out that to give an A.A. member’s phone number to an alcoholic patient would constitute a violation of HIPPA—the Health Insurance and Accountability Act that mandates health-care providers and health plans to protect the privacy of patient records. They agreed that the local hotline, where patients themselves could initiate contact, would be the best solution; and all made clear that they would welcome any and all

A.A. literature they could give to their patients.” After hearing from the professionals, Stephen adds, “we came up with a few things we could do to further communication: Conduct information workshops on what the P.I./C.P.C. committees can do for professionals and provide them with Conference-approved literature. We also decided that committee representatives from surrounding districts need to interact more—one way might be to develop a Web site.” The next, greatly expanded “Anonymous But Not Invisible” workshop will be held in Austin the weekend of September 5, 6 and 7. It will be hosted by the Austin P.I./C.P.C. Committee.

■ Young People’s Video Project Deadline Extended The deadline for submitting a video for the “A.A. Videos for Young People” project has been extended to September 1. Submissions should be no longer than seven minutes and cannot show the face of any A.A. member or divulge full names. Those submitting videos should focus on what it was like when they were drinking, what happened, and what it is like now. All submitters must be at least 18 years old. The aim of the project is to produce a compilation of videos from A.A. members that can be used to carry the message of recovery to young people who reside in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit G.S.O.’s Web site at www.aa.org. Submissions can be uploaded at www.aa.org/recoveryinaa/videoupload. Questions can be directed to the Public Information coordinator at G.S.O. by phone at 212-870-3119; or by e-mail at publicinfo@aa.org

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BULLETIN BOARD Items and Ideas on Area Gatherings for A.A.s — Via G.S.O.

Calendar of Events Events listed here are presented solely as a service to readers, not as an endorsement by the General Service Office. For any additional information, please use the addresses provided.

April 3-6—Lafayette, Louisiana. Fellowship of the Spirit: South. Write: Ch., Box 595, 139 James Comeaux Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508; chair@fotssouth.com 4-6—Cañon City, Colorado. 21 st Area 10 Corrections Conf. Write: Ch., Box 1704, Cañon City, CO 81215-1704; www.coloradoaa.org 4-6—Lakewood, Colorado. II Conv. Hispana. Inf: Com. Org., Box 19637, Denver, CO 80219 4-6—Greenville, South Carolina. 61st SC State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 24196, Greenville, SC 29616; sc61stateconv@yahoo.com 4-6—San Antonio, Texas. Weekend in SA. Write: Ch., 8919 Wickfield St., San Antonio, TX 78217; www.aainsa.org 11-13—Port Jefferson, New York. 20th LI Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 308, Old Westbury, NY 11568; www.longislandroundup.org 11-13—Westlake, Ohio. 33rd NE Ohio MiniConf. Write: Ch., 1076 Woodview Rd., Cleveland, OH; www.area54.org 17-20—Eureka Springs, Arkansas. 32 nd Springtime in the Ozarks. Write: Ch., Box 586, Rogers, AR 72757-0586 18-20—St. Perris, California. 5o Congreso del Inland Empire. Inf: Com. Org., 910 Ivy St., Hemet, CA 92545

18-20—Erie, Pennsylvania. Erie Swing Into Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 1357, Erie, PA 16512-1357; erieconf@aol.com

16-18—Daytona Beach, Florida. 18 th Daytona Spring Conf. Write: Ch., 34 Glen Falls Dr., Ormond Beach, FL 32174; www.jekyllislandaa.com

25-27—Burlingame, California. 37th Hospital & Institution Conf. Write: Ch., Box 25542, San Mateo, CA 94402-9998 25-27—Chipley, Florida. Chipley Country Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 677, Chipley, FL 32428; chipley_countryroundup@hotmail.com

16-18—Woodworth, Louisiana. Cenla SoberMania. Write: Ch., Box 13513, Alexandria, LA 71315 16-18—Laughlin, Nevada. Tri-State Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 2850, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405 16-18—Dayton, Ohio. 30th Dayton Women’s Workshop. Write: Ch., Box 1527, Dayton, OH 45401-1527

25-25—Orangeburg, South Carolina. Orangeburg Spring Round-up XIII. Write: Ch., 423 Lawton Rd., Orangeburg, SC 29115 25-27—Mt. Tremblant, Québec, Canada. Congres Des Laurentides. Ecrire: Prés., 1191 ch. de la Plage Vanier, Mont-Tremblant, QC J8E 2Z1

16-18—Tulsa, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State Conf. Write: Ch., Box 2547, Tulsa, OK 74101-2547; conference@aaoklahoma.org

May

16-18—Ontario, Oregon. 2008 Area 18 Spring Assembly & Conv. Write: Ch., Box 2777, McCall, ID 83638; www.idahoarea18aa.org

1-4—Cocoa Beach, Florida. 18th Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 951903, Lake Mary, FL 32795

16-18—Aberdeen, South Dakota. Area 63 Spring Conf. Write: Ch., 735 E. 9 th St., Redfield, SD 57469 16-18—Port Angels, Washington. 9th Olympic Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 1081, Pt. Angels, WA 98362-0204; www.olympicroundup.com

2-4—Yuba City, California. Sutter Buttes Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 564, Yuba City, CA 95992 2-4—Lincoln, New Hampshire. Loon Mtn 12 Step Spring Fest. Write: Ch., Box 1058, Lincoln, NH 03251; stepfestival@yahoo.com

16-18—Neenah, Wisconsin. Area 74 Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 7112, Appleton, WI 54912; www.district02aa.org

3-4—Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada. Yorkton Round-up. Write: Ch., 20-0 Allanbrooke Dr., Yorkton, SK S3N 2J7 4-8—Waco, Texas. 24th Heart of Texas Conf. Write: Ch., 1133 Taylor Ave., Waco, TX 76704; hotconference@texas.usa.com 9-11—Newbury, Ohio. 81st Punderson Park Conf. Write: Ch., Box 570, Newbury, OH 44065 9-11—Quiedersbach, Germany. 30th Rheinland Pfalz English Speaking Round-up. Write: Ch., CMR402 Box 2079, APO, AE 09180

18-20—Fort Wayne, Indiana. 28 th NE Indiana Conv. Write: Ch., 2118 Inwood Dr., Ste 112, Ft. Wayne, IN 46815 18-20—Fairmont, Minnesota. Sunlight of the Spirit Weekend. Write: Ch., Box 285, Armstrong, IA 50514

April – May 2008

16-18—Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. 57th Comox Valley Rally. Write: Ch., Box 1337, Comox, BC V9M 7Z8 16-18—Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Kamloops Round-up. Write: Ch., 171 Puett Ranch Rd, Kamloops, BC V2H 1M9; kamloopsroundup@yahoo.com 16-18—Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada. 2008 Pacific Northwest Round-up. Write: Ch., 132 Bittern, Kitimat, BC V8C 1R2; kitimat08roundup@hotmail.com

Planning a Future Event? To be included in the Box 4-5-9 Calendar, information must be received at G.S.O. three months prior to the event. We list events of two or more days. For your convenience and ours — please type or print the information to be listed on the Bulletin Board page, and mail to Editor: Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 or literature@aa.org Date of event: from ___________________________________ to _____________________________ , 20_______________

18-20—Superior, Wisconsin. Superior Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 996, Superior, WI 54880; superiorroundup@yahoo.com

Name of event: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

18-20—Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. Dauphin Round-up. Write: Ch., 31-1st Ave SW, Dauphin, MB R7N 2V3

Address to list: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

25-27—Camp Verde, Arizona. 4 th Verde Valley Round-up. Write: Ch., 4090 Clear Creek Dr., Camp Verde, AZ 86322; www.centralmountain.org

Box 4-5-9, April/May 2008

Location: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY

STATE OR PROVINCE

P.O. BOX (OR NUMBER AND STREET)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY

STATE OR PROVINCE

ZIP CODE

Web site or E-mail: _______________________________________________________________________________________ (NO PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES)

Contact person: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ NAME

PHONE # AND E-MAIL

11

20-23—Long Beach, California. 3rd Seniors in Sobriety Conf. Write: Ch., Box 160, 1835 Newport Blvd., A-109, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 23-25—Lisle, Illinois. XXVI Conv. del Estado Illinois. Inf: Com. Org., 725 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60612 23-25—Grayling, Michigan. Northern Michigan InterArea Spring Round-up. Write: Ch., 503 Bates St., Fife Lake, MI 49633 23-25—Bloomington, Minnesota. Gopher State Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 652950295, St. Paul, MN 55165-0295; www.gopherstateroundup.org 23-25—Dallas, Texas. 22 nd Gathering of Eagles. Write: Ch., Box 35865, Dallas, TX 75235; www.dallasgatheringofeagles.org 23-25—Richmond, Virginia. FOTSMA Conf. Write: Ch., Box 36061, Richmond, VA 23235; www.fotsmidatlantic.org 30-1—Mesa, Colorado. CCYPAA 2008. Write: Ch., Box 273, Grand Junction, CO 81502 30-1—Killington, Vermont. Area 70 45 th Conv. Write: Ch., 2467 Lakeview Dr., North Hero, VT 05474; www.aavt.org 30-1—Yakima, Washington. VI Conv. Hispana. Inf: Com. Org., Box 161, Yakima, WA 98907 30-1—Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada. Lloydminster Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 1742, Lloydminster, SK S9V 1M6

June

July

6-7—Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Tri-Cities Spring Rally. Write: Ch., 4005 Young Rd., Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8 6-8—Flagstaff, Arizona. 25 th Flagstaff Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 22148, Flagstaff, AZ 86002

4-6—San Francisco, California. Western Round-up 2008. Write: Ch., Box 420974, San Francisco, CA 94142; www.livingsober.org

6-8—Tallahassee, Florida. Founder’s Day Florida Style. Write: Ch., Box 38034, Tallahassee, FL; www.foundersdayflorida.org 6-8—Kansas City, Kansas. VII Encuentro Hispano de Kansas. Inf: Com. Org., 723 Osage Ave., Kansas City, KS 66105 6-8—Springfield, Missouri. Heart of the Ozarks Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 1607, Springfield, MO 65801 6-8—Ruidoso, New Mexico. 51st Area 46 NM State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 2538, Alamogordo, NM 88311; www.newmexicoaa.org 6-8—Liverpool, New York. CNY Area 47 Conv. Write: Ch., Box 271, Syracuse, NY 13211; www.aacny.org 12-15—Indian Wells, California. Desert Pow Wow. Write: Ch., Box 10128, Palm Desert, CA 92255; www.desertpowwow.com 13-14—Richmond, Québec, Canada. 26 ème Congrès 88-10. Écrire: Prés., C.P. 63, Windsor, QC J1S 2L7; webmestre88@aa-quebec.org 13-15—Mobile, Alabama. Azalea City Jamboree. Write: Ch., Box 9005, Mobile, AL 36691; www.mobileaa.org

11-13—Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. PENNSCYPAA XX. Write: Ch., Box 254, New Cumberland, PA 17070; www.pennscypaa20.com 17-20—Atlanta, Georgia. 33rd Atlanta Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 957136, Duluth, GA 30095; www.atlantaroundup.com 17-20—Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock Caprock Conv. Write: Ch., Box 6511, Lubbock, TX 79493 18-20—Deadwood, South Dakota. 4th Paha Sapa Mtn Conf. Write: Ch., Box 1212, Spearfish, SD 57783 18-20—Princeton, West Virginia. Area 73 2008 Conv. Write: Ch., Box 2103, Beaver, WV 25813; www.aawv.org 18-20—Rimouski, Québec, Canada. 29 ième Congrès du Bas St-Laurent. Écrire: Prés., CP 651, Rimouski, QC G5L 7C7 24-27—Copper Mountain, Colorado. Fellowship of the Spirit Conf. Write: Ch., Box 480642, Denver, CO 80248; www.fots.com 25-27—Jefferson City, Missouri. 57th Missouri State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 187, Reeds Spring, MO 65737 25-27—Tarrytown, New York. 40th NYS Conv. Write: Ch., Box 1, Malverne, NY 11565; www.aaseny.org

13-15—Sioux Center, Iowa. Area 24 ’08 Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 91, Lemars, IA 51031 13-15—Odessa, Texas. Texas State Conv. Write: Ch., 6201 E. Business Loop 20, P.O. Box 14755, Odessa, TX 79768; www.aadistrict13.org 13-15— Nanoose Bay, British Columbia, Canada. 48 th Parksville/Qualicum Rally. Write: Ch., Box 4618, Stn A, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6E8 13-15—Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada. Nova Scotia Provincial Round-up. Write: Ch., 1627 King St., Bridgewater, NS B4V 1C4 20-22—Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Eastern Canada Regional Forum. Write: Forum Coord., Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163; Regionalforums@aa.org 20-22—Sept-Iles, Québec, Canada. 20 ième Congrès 89-10. Ecrire: Prés., C.P. 1242, Sept-Iles, QC G4R 4X7 27-29—Pendleton, Oregon. 60th Pacific NW Conf. Write: Ch., Box 611, Hood River, OR 97031; www.pnc1948.org

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