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News and Notes from the General Service Office of A.A.® www.aa.org Vol. 55, No. 2 / April – May 2009

■ Come and Celebrate A.A.’s 75th Birthday in San Antonio, Texas Deep in the heart of Texas, the city of San Antonio is simple solution for their alcohol problem. Varied meeting preparing to receive thousands of A.A.s, Al-Anons, and topics will excite many A.A.s who look forward to hearing other good friends from around the world to celebrate the the experience of other members from other locales. As 13th International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous Convention-goers partake in the many meetings and during the weekend of July 1-4, 2010. Many already know workshops scheduled for the weekend, more than a few San Antonio as home to the Alamo and cradle of the will find their imagination fired and their enthusiasm to famous Tex-Mex cuisine—a place rich in Latin American carry A.A.’s message renewed. culture—but not as many are In between meetings, workfamiliar with the other treasures shops, and other events at the contained in the rolling terrain of International Convention, scores the Hill Country around San of A.A.s will be on the lookout for Antonio. Fortunately, during the unique settings to enjoy the felfirst weekend of July, the celelowship of like-minded friends. brants at the International Some will head for the quiet Convention will have an opportushade of San Antonio’s grand nity to revel in the culture and cypress trees, while others will bask in the warmth of the seventh look for opportunities to experilargest city in the United States. ence the rich culture of an unfaAmong other reasons for mermiliar city. Still others will crave riment, A.A. members at the adventure and excitement. But International Convention will be whichever group you find yourself happily noting that Alcoholics in, San Antonio offers something Anonymous is 75 years old, and in for everyone. that lifetime it has sparked the For many, San Antonio is the way to sober living for countless Paseo del Rio, an urban masteralcoholics across the globe. But piece better known as the “River although it is a significant occaWalk.” Cobble and flagstone sion—turning 75 is often marked paths border two miles of the San with (at least) a few balloons and Antonio River, 20 feet below cake—A.A.s will be celebrating street level, as it winds through more than just the sequence of culture-rich downtown. The River years and the long life of the A.A. Walk has multiple personalities— The Torch of Friendship was presented to San Antonio movement. Many will celebrate quiet and park-like in some by the Mexican Consulate to commemorate the not only their own sobriety and stretches, while other areas are relationship between the United States and Mexico. newfound life, but also their abilifull of activity with Europeanty to pass on this miracle—the message of recovery—to style sidewalk cafes, specialty boutiques, art galleries, another suffering drunk. nightclubs and gleaming high-rise hotels. Along the Held every five years since 1950, International meandering pathways of the River Walk, cafes greet Conventions have been hosted in several United States and mornings with the aromas of pan dulce (sweet bread) Canadian cities with cultures and personalities as varied and cinnamon-infused hot chocolate. Rio San Antonio as the alcoholics who travel to them for the celebration. Cruises, the river’s floating transportation system, proThe theme of the 2010 International Convention, “A Vision vides a novel method of sightseeing and people-watching for You,” takes its cue from the well-known and muchin downtown San Antonio. River taxis deliver visitors to loved chapter in the Big Book, the same section that has restaurants, hotels, the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention given light and hope to scores of weary drunks, tired of Center, and Rivercenter Mall—a dazzling three-level being sick and tired. Those present at the 2010 shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. International Convention in San Antonio will greet one For those looking for adventure (and some history) another in gratitude as carriers of hope, good news, and a outside the River Walk, San Antonio’s five eighteenth cen-

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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., 2009 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. To have issues delivered by e-mail, register on the A.A. Digital Subscription Service on G.S.O.’s Web site.

tury missions are excellent examples of Spanish colonial architecture. Among them is the famous Alamo. Four other Spanish colonial missions founded in the early 1700s form San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, an excellent place to explore the city’s roots and Spain’s influence on the southwestern part of the United States. A.A.s touring downtown San Antonio will discover centuries of history. Developed in the mid to late 18th century, La Villita (“the little village”) was one of San Antonio’s original settlements. It became a hub of Texas revolutionary activities in 1835 and 1836. Today, La Villita is a National Historic District and a haven for artists and craftsmen. Blown glass, jewelry and other handicrafts, as well as fashions from Mexico and Guatemala, are among a few of the items Convention attendees can browse. For A.A.s with a bent toward excitement, Texas-sized fun can be had at SeaWorld San Antonio, the world’s largest marine life park, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the town built just for fun. SeaWorld’s “The Steel Eel” is an exciting roller coaster—the only hypercoaster anywhere in

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the American Southwest. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a nonstop celebration of San Antonio and South Texas. It’s designed around four themed areas: The Mexican town of Los Festivales; the German village of Spassburg; the 1920s cowboy boomtown of Crackaxle Canyon; and the small Texas town of Rockville (which includes a ’50s-’60s seaside boardwalk). For those Convention attendees with pint-sized visitors in tow, a break from the San Antonio Convention Center may include a stop at the San Antonio Children’s Museum, where kids are encouraged to explore a miniature version of the city with exhibits like “City Streets,” “Hill Country Bubble Ranch” and “Mission Courtyard.” Kids of all ages can experience the excitement of The Magik Children’s Theatre, a professional theatre in the heart of downtown, and the nearby Downtown AllAround Playground at HemisFair Park. Brackenridge Park, a 443-acre refuge in the heart of the city, also provides a full day of family fun and an excellent opportunity to enjoy the sunny San Antonio climate. Here you’ll find the San Antonio Zoo, the third largest in the nation with a collection of more than 3,500 animals representing 750 different species from around the world. It is also the only zoo in the country to exhibit endangered whooping cranes. Finally, if a visit to a new city means an excellent opportunity to attend area sporting events (not to mention a great chance for some fellowship in between meetings), then Convention attendees can choose from the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs or the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars—hometown favorites who play at the AT&T Center. A better International Convention theme can hardly be found than “A Vision for You.” If previous Conventions are any indicator, the cheer and laughter of A.A.s descending upon San Antonio in July 2010 will embody A.A.’s substitute (and it is vastly more than that) for drinking—the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Although Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book) was first printed more than 70 years ago, its description of the hope and joy of a jittery drunk meeting other alcoholics as they gathered in a home is a perfect depiction of an International Convention: “Many a man, yet dazed from his hospital experience, has stepped over the threshold of that home into freedom. Many an alcoholic who entered there came away with an answer. He succumbed to that gay crowd inside, who laughed at their own misfortunes and understood his. …The very practical approach to his problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality, the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding which these people had were irresistible. He and his wife would leave elated by the thought of what they could now do for some stricken acquaintance and his family. They knew they had a host of new friends; it seemed they had known these strangers always. They had seen miracles, and one was to come to them.” Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

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We look forward to meeting a host of new lifelong friends in San Antonio, Texas, in July 2010. Watch Box 4-5-9 for general and preregistration information. Or go to the A.A. Web site: www.aa.org, and click on “2010 International Convention.” Until then, as “A Vision for You” affirms, “Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.”

■ —And, In the Year 2020 It’s Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan, has been selected by the General Service Board as the site for the International Convention celebrating A.A.’s 85th Anniversary, July 1-4, 2020. Because of continued growth in attendance, it is necessary to reserve major meeting facilities and hotels this far in advance. The board made its decision following site inspection trips to New Orleans, Los Angeles and Vancouver, the three cities chosen for equal consideration by the 2008 General Service Conference.

■ Seeds of Service In A.A., a good idea can come from “anybody, anywhere,” as Bill W. noted in “Leadership in A.A.: Ever a Vital Need,” an article reprinted in The A.A. Service Manual. And, good ideas, like seeds, take time to germinate and grow; once taken hold, however, their roots can grow strong in A.A.’s fertile soil. One such idea started nearly 20 years ago, in the Jonquiere district of predominantly French-speaking Area 89 (Northeast Quebec), an idea that has been improving the quality of A.A. service throughout the area ever since. Seeking to increase service awareness among A.A. members in the district, a committee chair took the initiative in 1989 to establish a small workshop with the purpose of educating local A.A. members about service and helping them to better understand their respective roles and the Fellowship’s service structure. With the ultimate aim that all G.S.R.s might actively participate in district-wide decision-making, a committee got together and developed a workshop based on A.A. literature, explaining A.A. structure and the role of the G.S.R. The workshop, in French, caught on and was well-accepted throughout the district, providing interested A.A.s with a firm foundation in service. Over the next eight years, the idea grew stronger, with additional workshops added on the topics of Sponsorship, the Twelve Traditions, and the Twelfth Step. As a measure of its evolution, in 1997, Area 89 asked if Jonquiere’s district-wide workshops could be expanded to take place on an area-wide basis. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

Spreading out over the broad expanse of Northeast Quebec, the workshops continued to develop, with another on the topic of the Seventh Tradition being added in 2000 and one on the Twelve Concepts of World Service taking its final form in 2006. No longer dependent on one particular district and overseen by an area committee, the workshops have had a profound effect on participants throughout the area and have facilitated the area’s ability to relay pertinent information on the services it offers, as well as those offered by G.S.O., directly to the districts, supplying members with the necessary tools to help them find solutions to a range of problems that may affect their groups. Between eight and ten workshops are held each year in districts throughout the area, with anywhere from 20 to 70 people attending, depending on the location and the population density. One of the more recent workshops, held in Cap-de-la-Madeleine in Mauricie, attracted 70 people (22 women and 48 men), many of whom were involved in group, district, or area service. Workshops are open to all A.A. members and the G.S.R.s within a particular district consult amongst themselves to choose the most appropriate workshop topic in terms of the district’s overall needs. Workshops are conducted in French and costs are borne by the area committee for the travel expenses of the workshop presenters and the printing costs of participant’s workbooks. In addition, a collection is taken up by members at the workshop to cover the cost of the hall rental and whatever refreshments or other expenses there might be. At the end of each workshop, participants are asked to give their impressions and comments and, while there are occasional criticisms, the majority response is extremely positive. The workshops pass on an enormous amount of information taken from A.A. literature and relate directly to the needs of the people who attend. Presenters stimulate thought and questions and provide participants with the necessary tools to find solutions for themselves and to progress in their personal recovery. On a larger scale, the Fellowship as a whole benefits from members who are better informed and more aware of the responsibilities that come with their roles. Says Vallier R., the current area workshop chairperson, “I remember the first workshop I attended as if it were yesterday. It was a workshop on the role of the G.S.R. and Fellowship structure. I had just begun my term as G.S.R. and along with three other members traveled some 50 kilometers in the middle of a snow storm to get there. “That day, I learned that the role of G.S.R. is one of the most important in A.A. and that there were resources available to help me, and that the quality of the group is a matter of life and death for our Fellowship; that this is a well-structured movement, and that I had a very specific role in all of this. “I left that workshop with more questions than I 3

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arrived with, and the presenters explained to me, in good humor, that that was exactly the intended outcome. “Thanks to these seminars, I have become a better sponsor,” says Vallier. “I have learned what to do and what not to do on a Twelfth Step call, and have learned especially that unity and service are of the utmost importance for our Fellowship, and that it all must begin with recovery.”

■ Opening for A.A.W.S. Nontrustee Director A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S.) has started its search to fill a vacancy for one nontrustee director, which will open following the 2010 General Service Conference. Interested A.A. members are encouraged to submit a resumé. 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. Resumés should be sent to Joe Dennan, secretary, A.A.W.S., Inc., at the General Service Office, no later than July 15, 2009.

■ Résumés for Trustees Election Due January 1, 2010 Two new Class B (alcoholic) trustees, from the Eastern Canada and Pacific Regions, will be nominated at the General Service Conference in April 2010. Résumés must be received at G.S.O. no later than January 1, 2010, and must be submitted by area delegates U.S./Canada, only. In seeking applications for vacancies in Alcoholics Anonymous, the Fellowship is committed to creating a large file of qualified applicants that reflects the inclusiveness and diversity of A.A. itself. Please submit your candidates’ résumés to the secretary, trustees’ Committee on Nominating, G.S.O. The new Eastern Canada regional trustee will fill the vacancy left by the death of Denis V., Brossard, Quebec. The next trustee from the Pacific Region will follow Madeleine P., of Pocatello, Idaho. 4

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. Since much is asked of the trustees with respect to their time, it is important that trustee candidates understand the commitment of time required. Trustees are expected to attend: three quarterly board weekends, with meetings running from Saturday morning through Monday noon; a quarterly meeting combined with the General Service Conference (seven days) in April; and any special meetings of the board. Regional trustees also serve in rotation for attendance at Regional Forums other than in their own regions. In addition, regional trustees are usually asked to serve two years on either the A.A.W.S. or Grapevine Corporate Boards, which meet more frequently than the General Service Board. Trustees serve on committees of the General Service Board and may also serve on trustees’ subcommittees or corporate board subcommittees, whose work often involves conference calls. They are often invited to participate in regional or area activities, such as service conferences, area assemblies, etc. Trusteeship is for four years. Applicants are encouraged to discuss this time commitment with their family and employer. Trustees are reimbursed for travel, hotel and meal expenses.

■ Opening for Class A (nonalcoholic) Trustee The trustees’ Committee on Nominating asks that trustees, delegates and directors submit any names they deem appropriate as candidates for Class A (nonalcoholic) trustee of the General Service Board. Class A trustees are chosen from a variety of professional backgrounds, including doctors, lawyers, clergy, social workers, educators and business and finance professionals. 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 2010 General Service Conference is William (Bill) D. Clark, M.D., who was medical director of the Addiction Resource Center, and attending physician, lecturer, and teacher. Because boards function differently, and service on other boards may involve a limited time commitment, the A.A. General Service Board would like to emphasize that Class A trustees are expected to attend all the following board activities: three quarterly board weekends, with meetings running from Saturday morning through Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

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Monday noon; a quarterly meeting combined with the General Service Conference (seven days) in April; a Regional Forum weekend approximately once every eighteen months; and any special meetings of the board. It is possible that a Class A trustee may be invited to serve two years on either the A.A. World Services Board or A.A. Grapevine Corporate Board, which meet more frequently than the General Service Board. Trustees serve on committees of the General Service Board and may also serve on trustees’ subcommittees or corporate board subcom-

mittees, whose work often involves conference calls. Trustees may be invited to attend regional, area or local A.A. events. Class A trustees serve two consecutive threeyear terms. Applicants are encouraged to discuss this time commitment with their family and employer. Trustees are reimbursed for travel, hotel and meal expenses. Please submit your candidate’s business or professional résumé to the Secretary, trustees’ Committee on Nominating, General Service Office, by July 15, 2009.

■ What It Was Like: Reaching Into G.S.O.’s ‘Corporate Memory Bank’ In August of 1950, a young nonalcoholic employee named Dennis Manders showed up for work at A.A.’s General Service Office, familiarly known at the time as “A.A. Headquarters.” Hired first as a bookkeeper, Dennis would go on to work for the Fellowship for 35 years, ultimately becoming G.S.O.’s Controller/Business Administrator and watching as a full-fledged service office grew up around him and the hand of A.A. extended its reach literally around the world. For many, Dennis is the focal point of G.S.O.’s “corporate memory bank,” a link to the Fellowship’s early years and one of the few who remember working side-by-side with Bill W. Describing what it was like when he first came to the General Service Office, Dennis recollects, “There were either 16 or 17 of us altogether in the office, including Bill. We had four or five staff members at that time, though they were called senior secretaries back then. “I was hired in as the bookkeeper. The bookkeeping department had myself and two clerks. And that was the beginning of the whole accounting operation that’s there now.” Along with some of the more routine matters of maintaining the Fellowship’s fiscal ledgers, overseeing accounts received and accounts paid, Dennis also had a front-row seat to the development and maturation of many of A.A.’s important fiscal policies. Recalling actions taken in the early 1950s by the Alcoholic Foundation (the forerunner of today’s General Service Board) that established limits on the amount any individual member could contribute to the Fellowship on an annual basis, Dennis notes that an original formula delineated contributions at “no more than one tenth of one percent of the annual budget.” And the annual budget in 1950? $100,000. “So, one tenth of one percent was $100 dollars. That was the maximum that one individual could contribute. That amount was locked in for maybe six or seven years, though eventually they lost track of the particular formula Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

and the amount was raised as the operation grew.” Regarding the office’s growth, Dennis recalls, “We had a records department that consisted of one gal who worked with a card catalog system of metal trays that could be pulled out containing a card for each group where we would record pertinent inforDennis Manders at his mation. And the retirement party in 1985. steno department—I think it was three or four gals—would get information together from these cards to send to the printer to have a directory printed up that would include contributions received from contributing groups. “Then there was the shipping department, where you had one manager, a former postal office employee, and three or four other people working with him. “The Big Book was the only book we had at that time and we were shipping out maybe 25,000 a year. Compare that to nearly a million a year today. And the only foreign edition was a softcover Spanish edition of the text portion only. And that was it; we had no other translations. “We had a couple of pamphlets—‘This Is A.A.’ and ‘Is A.A. for You?’—and two others that were reprints from the Big Book: ‘The Alcoholic Wife’ and ‘The Alcoholic Husband.’ That was about it.” Small as the office was, Dennis notes the esprit de 5

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corps so characteristic of the early years, and describes how Bill would gather everyone together at the end of the year, “acting as Santa Claus and telling us what he called the A.A. Christmas story, the story of how A.A. got started—how the Rockefellers were involved and so on and so forth. “This was before Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age was written, and the history ultimately became a part of that book.” So how did a young, eager, nonalcoholic get hooked up with an outfit like A.A. in the first place? “I was working for a department store down on 34th Street. I had a title there—I was a junior assistant controller. That’s what they did in the retail business in those days to avoid having to pay you overtime. They gave you a title.” At that time, Dennis was planning on getting married, and the girl he was planning to marry also worked in the store, a situation the store frowned upon. “So, one of us had to go,” says Dennis. They agreed that Dennis’ fiancé would be the one to start looking for another job, so Dennis accompanied her one afternoon at lunchtime to a little employment agency in the Herald Square area. “Just to keep her company,” he says, though the agency ended up asking him if he was interested in a job. “Depends on what it is,” he said, and they presented a description of the bookkeeper position at a small publishing company, with no mention of A.A. Dennis thought he might as well look into it. As it turned out, the man who owned the agency was a very good friend of Hank G., who was the volunteer general manager of the General Service Office. “They didn’t have a paid general manager at the time,” says Dennis. “So, they sent me over to be interviewed by a C.P.A. on Park Avenue South. And that was Wilbur Smith, the accountant of record for the Alcoholic Foundation. “Three or four of us interviewed for the position, and I guess Wilbur took a liking to me.” There was still no mention of A.A. and Dennis was sent on for an interview with Hank G. “I guess Hank thought I’d be pretty good for the job and eventually I went to the A.A. office. “I’d never really heard much about Alcoholics Anonymous and Hank toured me around. After a while, he said, ‘So, what do you think?’ I said, well, it seems interesting, and he said ‘Do you want the job?’ and I said yes. “It was another week or so before I got to meet Bill. He was off stomping around trying to sell the Concepts and the A.A. Conference. But eventually he sat down with me. He told me some things about A.A., about the history of A.A. He asked me, ‘Do you drink, Denny?’—he always called me Denny, right from the beginning. And being an honest guy, I said well, yeah, I like a beer once in a while. And he laughed. He thought it was the funniest thing in the world. ‘I’m so happy that you drink,’ he said. ‘We wouldn’t want to hire a teetotaler we’d be afraid was looking down his nose at us drunks.’ 6

“And that’s how I got my start.” Retired now for over 23 years, Dennis still looks fondly on his time with Alcoholics Anonymous. With characteristic “bean-counter” humor, as he refers to it, Dennis shares his thoughts on why A.A.’s financial managers customarily have been nonalcoholics. “There’s nothing in the bylaws, but the feeling was that an alcoholic might abscond overnight with the funds, so to speak. It happens, and it probably still happens today. “As a matter of fact, there used to be a joke going around about how the tradition of holding hands at the end of a meeting got started. The joke says it came about because at this one little group, while they were saying the prayer, somebody swiped the funds right out of the hat. So thereafter, whenever they said the prayer and closed the meeting, they all held hands.”

■ Rotation in the Age of E-Mail There’s a familiar scenario many of A.A.’s trusted servants have experienced: you’ve held a service position for its full term and have been replaced by a new trusted servant elected by the group or the district or the area, but you keep getting mail for your old position that’s actually meant for the incumbent. While the A.A. world won’t necessarily grind to a halt while you get this situation straightened out, it can lead to added stress and an interruption of the flow of information among vital A.A. service entities. In the age of e-mail, however, some G.S.R.s and D.C.M.s are creating their own generic e-mail addresses, such as dcmdistrict24@xxx.com, that can function like electronic post office boxes and do not need to be updated every time rotation takes place. This way, mail can be sent with the knowledge that it will always get to the current trusted servant. As noted in G.S.O.’s Guidelines on the Internet, it is not necessary to own a personal computer or laptop to utilize e-mail and many trusted servants use free e-mail services like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail and others, to get an e-mail account which they can specifically designate as their A.A. e-mail service. They can then check the account from anywhere Internet service is available—public libraries, Internet cafes, etc.—and once a generic address has been established, the incoming trusted servant can inherit it at rotation. All that needs to be passed along is the password. One additional benefit of this e-mail approach beyond its impact on rotation is that such generic addresses are anonymous and do not reflect full names, which often are a part of people’s personal e-mail addresses, helping to maintain an important Fellowship Tradition in this evergrowing form of electronic communication. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

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■ Box 4-5-9 Through the Decades There isn’t much to talk about in A.A. that doesn’t touch on one of A.A.’s Three Legacies in one way or another. Recovery, Unity and Service so deeply reflect the A.A. experience and guide the editorial content of Box 4-5-9, A.A.’s “news and notes from the General Service Office of A.A.,” that we decided to review the April/May issues from 1969, 1979, 1989, and 1999 to get a sense of what’s changed in the Fellowship and, more importantly, perhaps, what’s stayed the same. The phrase, “I remember when you came in…” is a phrase nearly every sober alcoholic in A.A. has heard at one point or another, as a friend gently takes them to the side to offer encouragement, support, or advice. It is usually an occasion to remember the difficulties of early sobriety and to dwell for a moment on progress made. In that spirit, here’s a brief look back, through the lens of G.S.O.’s Box 4-5-9, at just a few of the issues facing A.A., then and now. 1969: In a report to the 19 th General Service Conference, General Service Board chairperson, Dr. John L. Norris, spoke about our past, present, and future as a Fellowship: “Noting that it is unity which ‘assures our future,’ Dr. Jack said that it sometimes seems that we concentrate too much on the ‘now,’ thinking too often of A.A. as ‘ours’ when perhaps we should remember more frequently that it is ‘theirs’ too, ‘For they are the legions of alcoholics yet to come.’ “‘We must all remember that A.A. is ours to give away — to pass on — and that unless we do, we lose it. Other generations will need A.A. as we need it now. Other people, other kinds of people whom we are not reaching, need it now. So, with the help of God, we must pass our Fellowship along, unimpaired and indivisible. A.A. unity today becomes, in a very real sense, our sober pledge to the future.’” 1979: A.A. has a long tradition of reaching out to underserved populations and carrying the message to those who may need it. Says Box 4-5-9, “We know now much more about the need for, and availability of, A.A. groups for deaf alcoholics, thanks to all who responded to our survey last autumn…. “Please let us know if alcoholics who cannot hear ask for A.A. help in your community. We need a sharing of all the experience we can get on this. “Meanwhile, let us hope that a smile, a handshake, and a cup of coffee help carry A.A.’s ‘language of the heart’ even to those minus the sense of hearing.” And, speaking on the topic of welcoming newcomers, is this report: “Most of us who went to beginners meetings early in our A.A. lives agree that these small sessions help the newcomer identify and begin to feel comfortable at larger, regular A.A. gatherings. “Since the 1940s, there have also been men’s groups Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

and meetings for women only. As long as these were used just as starters, they seemed to help many people get going in A.A. “That is also true of International Doctors (including dentists) in A.A. (I.D.A.A.), which began in 1947. Every summer, this group has a weekend session, and it has grown steadily over the years. “Its senior and still-faithful members, however, are very positive about one thing: Going to just this one ‘special interest’ meeting is not enough. Getting to know other physicians in A.A. may be very helpful to some newcomer doctors; but if they want the best possible recovery, they need to get into the mainstream as soon as possible and go to ‘regular’ meetings just as other A.A.s do…. “Once embarked on a course of sober living, most of these people, as we have noted, do enter the A.A. mainstream, learn to rely on the whole wonderful range of the membership for help — and can then carry the message effectively to other alcoholics of their own calling or age group.” 1989: When it comes to carrying the message, there are, seemingly, no limits to A.A.’s willingness to reach out a helping hand. “When G.S.O. general manager John B. returned from the U.S.S.R. in October 1987, after participating in the first phase of a ground-breaking American Soviet Dialogue on Common Problems, he noted that A.A. in an organized form did not yet exist in the U.S.S.R., although there had been scattered meetings in the past. Two years and several exchanges later, a newly returned A.A. contingent reports the existence of at least four fledgling groups — one in Moscow, two in Leningrad, and yet another in Tallinn…. “The U.S. contingent met a number of professional people who felt that the use of the word ‘God’ in A.A.’s Steps and Traditions represents a great stumbling block to the Soviets because of the antireligious sentiment that has prevailed for so many years. A psychiatrist said that some people have a similar problem with the appellation, ‘Higher Power,’ which could be confused with ‘Stalin.’ Interestingly, adds Sarah P., ‘a scientific researcher questioned the whole of our Fifth Step – Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs . He said that although many changes are currently taking place, his countrymen simply have not communicated openly in this fashion for many years. Because of this he felt it was premature to include this Step. Thus, the Soviets are coming to grips with the emotional and spiritual aspects of alcoholism.’” 1999: The theme of the 1999 General Service Conference was “Moving Forward: Unity Through Humility,” and the delegate from Northwest Texas, Linda 7

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H., felt it emphasized the importance of harmony in the A.A. community. “What it says to me 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 to 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.’” Over the years, many groups have gained valuable experience in working with deaf alcoholics and other newcomers with special needs, making the Fellowship ever more accessible and inclusive. And in the time that has passed since the first delegation traveled to the U.S.S.R., the Big Book and other A.A. literature has been published in Russian and a Russian A.A. Service Office has come into being in Moscow, carrying the A.A. program across the newly configured Soviet Union, helping alcoholics overcome their struggles and seeding the evolution of A.A. meetings in towns, villages, and cities across Russia’s huge expanse. So, while A.A. has grown over the four decades since 1969, with different areas of concern expressed and experienced throughout the Fellowship, the powerful principles of the Three Legacies have remained unchanged. As each generation of A.A.s faces difficult issues, whether how better to carry the message to underserved populations or to countries overseas, or how best to stay united and to serve all A.A.s without losing sight of our common welfare, the “three-legged stool” of A.A., based on Recovery, Unity, and Service, keeps the Fellowship upright.

■ Book Prices to Increase As of July 1, 2009, the price for the Big Book will increase $2.00, other books will increase $1.00, and booklets will increase $.50. The same increases apply to French, Spanish and foreign literature. A new catalog, which will contain the specific new prices, will be released in June. At G.S.O. we have seen increases in costs for operations, warehousing and shipping. Therefore, the A.A. World Services Board asked management to come up with solutions to help keep our Prudent Reserve at an acceptable level. After much discussion, the board approved increasing book prices, while keeping our shipping and handling charge practices the same. The current discount structure will also remain unchanged. In keeping with prudent financial planning, and recognizing that A.A. is not immune to current economic conditions, G.S.O. is initiating wide-ranging cost saving measures. 8

■ Traditions Meetings: They Don’t Get No ‘Respect’ Traditions meetings don’t always get the reception they deserve. Less popular, perhaps, than Step meetings or discussion meetings, and probably not as common as open meetings or topic meetings, Traditions meetings are sometimes met with a less than enthusiastic response in the Fellowship. “Welcome to the monthly Traditions meeting of the XY-Z Group,” the chairperson announces as the meeting begins. A groan may be heard, some muttering, perhaps, as people stir rather than settle as things get underway. “I really needed a meeting tonight,” a member might grumble, “and now I find out it’s a Traditions meeting…” There don’t seem to be any groans or grumbles, however, on Saturday nights at the Rochester Group in Rochester, New York, where the group takes up its oncea-month study of the Traditions. “I absolutely love the Traditions,” says Pat W., the group’s current G.S.R. “Seeing how the common welfare of others can be applied to my family and professional life gives the Traditions a whole new level of depth, and practicing these principles in all my affairs gets easier and a lot more interesting.” Thinking that he would “absorb them by osmosis” when he first came to A.A., Pat describes how he came to appreciate the Traditions even more through reading about them. “I began to read a variety of A.A. literature and the Traditions came alive in a way I’d never seen before… I also made contacting oldtimers a regular part of my research”—a process, he says, that helped him to understand “how we apply the Traditions nowadays to A.A. service, our groups, and in our individual lives.” Each month at the Rochester Group, a different member researches a Tradition and does a write-up of what they find. Copies are handed out and the proceedings are opened up for discussion. “Our most recent Traditions meeting brought in like 50 people,” says Pat. “We’ve found if this approach sparks interest in one person to pursue more information, we’ve done our part.” The Rochester Group is one of many groups throughout the A.A. universe to provide information about the Traditions and to offer its members regular opportunities to discuss the Traditions and how they work at all levels throughout the Fellowship. While other groups may utilize different formats for their Traditions meetings, underneath, the purpose is always the same: to render information about the critical principles that keep our Fellowship united and strong. “A.A. unity cannot automatically preserve itself,” notes Bill W. in the pamphlet “A.A. Tradition—How It Developed” [P-17]. “Like personal recovery, we shall always have to work to maintain it. Here, too, we surely need honesty, humility, open-mindedness, unselfishness, Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

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and, above all—vigilance. So we who are older in A.A. beg you who are newer to ponder carefully the experience we have already had of trying to work and live together. We would like each A.A. to become just as much aware of those disturbing tendencies which endanger us as a whole as he is conscious of those personal defects which threaten his own sobriety and peace of mind. For whole movements have, before now, gone on benders, too! “…Many A.A.s already feel that these Twelve Traditions are sound enough to become the basic guide and protection for A.A. as a whole; that we ought to apply them as seriously to our group life as we do the Twelve Recovery Steps to ourselves individually…. “May we never forget that without permanent unity we can offer little lasting relief to those scores of thousands yet to join us in their quest for freedom.” Unlike the response they may get from time to time throughout the Fellowship, the Traditions—and Traditions meetings—are in no way tangential to A.A.’s primary purpose or to its rich diversity of meetings. As Pat from Rochester notes, “while it may be difficult to get people interested in the Traditions, it’s also difficult to stand on the firing lines when groups don’t follow them.” Going to Traditions meetings, says Pat, “adds more depth to my sobriety and appreciation for the movement that saved my life. If it weren’t for these Traditions,” he notes, “we wouldn’t be here.”

■ Birthdays, Gratitude, and Twelfth Step Work It is not uncommon in A.A. to hear about oldtimers who patiently fed orange juice and honey to shaking drunks or combed surrounding areas for those ready to hear A.A.’s message. Stories like these color the landscape of A.A. and create a model that many of us attempt to follow. But it’s not as often, however, that we hear glowing tales of A.A.s who traveled faithfully and fearlessly in search of… money. Indeed, although the touch of human kindness is of inestimable value in the annals of A.A. lore, other qualities have also proved valuable in enabling A.A.s to reach alcoholics. When individual A.A.s take hold of the Third Legacy—Service—their actions can transform the lives of future members and the way present members practice the principles of A.A. In 1954, one principle in particular—self-support—was given new life when a passionate but practical A.A. member—Ab A. from Tulsa, Oklahoma—was inspired by an idea given to him by another A.A., and thus helped to form the Birthday Plan, one method of financial support for the General Service Office that is still in effect today. In 1953 and 1954, Ab A. served as Oklahoma’s delegate to the fledgling General Service Conference in New York Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

City. In a talk given at the Kansas State Meeting in 1955, Ab recalled that the biggest job he had when returning from the Conference was to “tell something about my impressions of the importance of the General Service Headquarters, which is our Service. I traveled and visited every group in Oklahoma. I told them why I thought the General Service Headquarters was important to the future of A.A. and a little something about what the General Service Headquarters does.” In 1954, the General Service Headquarters (known today as the General Service Office, or G.S.O.) had the same basic function as it does today: It “serves all A.A. groups in the United States and Canada, and also offers services to A.A. overseas… . It serves as a clearinghouse and exchange point for the wealth of A.A. experience accumulated over the years, coordinates a wide array of activities and services, and oversees the publication, all translations of, and distribution of A.A. Conference-approved literature and service materials.” (The A.A. Service Manual, p. S74) To those assembled at the Kansas State meeting in 1955, Ab shared that he had dropped in at the New York office during times other than the Conference. He said, “I was there at Bill’s birthday last year. Did you know they were $40,000 in the hole? We came up with $39,000 of it, and do you know where this money is coming from that we are short? It is coming from the sale of the old Big Book.” He asked those assembled to take into consideration the millions who have not yet found Alcoholics Anonymous, and said “this A.A. has turned out to be big business, and we are trying to run it on a shoestring.” He continued, “I think Bill and the founders in giving us the Third Legacy gave us everything we need to work A.A. and to perpetuate it, except a permanent way to finance ourselves.” Ab, however, had hit upon a solution. He told those assembled how, at a meeting in February 1954, “a fellow who knew I was interested in finances said to me, ‘Ab, what do you think of starting a voluntary birthday contribution and send in a dollar a year from the first contact with A.A.?’” Ab was inspired by the idea. He realized that reaching out to A.A.s who were no longer active and offering them a chance to do Twelfth Step work—or to finance it—would help the individual member as much as it would the General Service Office: “…I called about a dozen of the oldtimers and this is about what most of them said, ‘Ab, this has brought back life to me; it has turned me back to something which saved my life and it was the best donation that I have ever made in my life; further, I’m going to do something about my A.A.’” He also recounted how he approached older members who had passed through A.A. and were no longer active: “[I] ask them how they would like to do a little Twelfth Step work with money… . I have come to the conclusion it is just as important to reach old Bill and Mary as it is to save the last boy or girl who comes through the door.” 9

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Of course, even the best ideas are carefully considered by A.A.s. At the 1955 General Service Conference, it was suggested that “those Delegates who care to, might also put into circulation in their areas the Birthday Plan which has been successful in Oklahoma.” In 1970, the Conference Committee on Finance recommended the extension of the Birthday Plan to include the birthdays of individual groups as well as of individual members. Today, members still express gratitude for their sobriety with a Birthday Contribution. Some members contribute a dollar for each year of their sobriety, while others give a penny for each day of their sobriety—some give more, but the amount to G.S.O. cannot exceed $3,000 for any year. Many A.A.s like to contribute to their local intergroups as well. Birthday contribution envelopes are available (no charge) from G.S.O. (FR-2 for group contributions, and FR-5 for groups to give to their members). All contributions are valuable—the still-suffering alcoholic ultimately benefits from the donors’ generous spirit. The hope is that a future A.A. can one day say, as Ab did: “I have outlived my real birthday and I am living from my first contact in A.A.”

■ Box 4-5-9 To Be Published Four Times Per Year The A.A. General Service Office will now publish Box 4-5-9 (News and Notes from the General Service Office) four times a year. Starting with this year’s Conference issue, you can expect the newsletter in June, September, December and March.

P.I./C.P.C. ■ Las Cruces, New Mexico— Informing Their Community About A.A. It comes as no surprise to most members that when alcoholics arrive at A.A.’s doorstep, they don’t often arrive willingly or voluntarily. Many are ordered to go—by a spouse, a parent, an employer, a counselor, or perhaps a doctor. When Marty C., of Las Cruces, New Mexico, arrived at A.A. about ten years ago, he was ordered by a judge. Wryly, Marty tells how he decided to do A.A. his way, until he realized, in nine months time, his way didn’t work. He was finally able to stay sober when he began listening to the shared experience of sober drunks in the 10

rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. And, like countless A.A.s before him, Marty turned around and used his experience to help other alcoholics. Marty now does Public Information (P.I.) service for District 4 in Area 46 (New Mexico). “Like all of A.A., the primary purpose of members involved with P.I. service is to carry the A.A. message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” (A.A. Guidelines: Public Information) District 4, however, is taking a fresh approach on informing the people in their community about A.A.—they are offering details and specifics about Alcoholics Anonymous in a “public information class.” Aware that A.A. does not teach classes, is nonprofit and does not engage in alcohol education, District 4 opted to use wording familiar to nonA.A.s (and thus attract their desired audience), but is careful to inform attendees what A.A. does and does not do. Attendees are told that there are five one-hour presentations. One is held each week on a different topic, and each topic is “led by a different member of A.A. to help you understand what A.A. is about. On the sixth week we will hold a speaker meeting. On the seventh week we will hold an actual A.A. meeting, hosted by one of the Las Cruces A.A. groups.” The P.I. trusted servants are also careful to explain that they are not paid nor are they associated with any counseling or legal program: “The individuals that come each week are members of A.A. in Las Cruces and come voluntarily.” Topics that A.A. members share about include: What A.A. Does and Does Not Do; The Doctor’s Opinion; The Solution; the Twelve Steps; and the Twelve Traditions. When the endeavor was initially started in January 1995, A.A.s in Las Cruces found that judges were ordering people with alcohol problems to attend area A.A. meetings. A.A.s began to see more and more people show up at their meetings “confused, angry, not knowing what to expect, and sometimes causing disruptions in meetings. It wasn’t working very well.” So Las Cruces A.A.s set out to find a solution to the problem, while making sure they continued to carry A.A.’s message of recovery to the still-suffering drunk. Marty relates, “We in A.A. went to the judges and suggested setting up a series of presentations… for people to attend to help them better understand what A.A. is all about and what to expect from a meeting.” Today, the A.A.s in Las Cruces find that many who are not A.A. members will attend these presentations, although they may not attend an A.A. meeting. It is available to professionals, civicminded citizens, concerned family, and those courtordered to attend. In the Twelve Concepts for World Service, Bill W. wrote that “To reach more alcoholics, understanding of A.A. and public good will towards A.A. must go on growing everywhere.” (p. 51) With A.A.s like these doing P.I. work in their communities, our Fellowship can look forward to continued growth and life so that the message of A.A. may reach all who suffer from alcoholism. Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

Cut along dotted line, and post this page on your group’s bulletin board

– – – – -✁ ———————————————————————————–

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

April-May 2009

Calendar of Events

17-19—Concan, Texas. 8th Spiritual Unity on Frio. Write: Ch., Box 528, Utopia, TX 78884

May

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.

17-19—Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. Dauphin Roundup. Write: Ch., 21 – 4th Ave. NW, Dauphin, MB R7N 1H9

1-3—Cottonwood, Arizona. 5th Verde Valley Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 781, Cottonwood, AZ 86326; www.verdevalleyroundup.com

23-26—Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Big Island Bash. Write: Ch., Box 390727, Kailua Kona, HI 96740; www.bigislandbash.com

1-3—Oxnard, California. Ventura County Roundup. Write: Ch., 3220 Peninsula Rd., #369, Oxnard, CA 93035; www.venturacountyaaroundup.org

April 2-5—Lafayette, Louisiana. Fellowship of the Spirit South. Write: Ch., Box 53312, Lafayette, LA 70505; www.fotssouth.com 3-5—Loveland, Colorado. 22 nd Area 10 Corrections Conf. Write: Ch., Box 7111, Loveland, CO 80537; www.coloradoaa.org 3-5—Hooksett, New Hampshire. NH State Conv. Write: Ch., 1330 Hooksett Rd., Hooksett, NH 03106; www.nhaa.net 3-5—Beachwood, Ohio. 34th Area 54 MiniConf. Write: Ch., Box 22156, Beachwood, OH 44122-2156; www.area54.org 3-5—Columbia, South Carolina. 62nd SC State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 50002, Columbia, SC 29250 3-5—San Antonio, Texas. Wknd in S.A. Write: Ch., 8919 Wickfield St., San Antonio, TX 78217-4141; www.aainsa.org 4-5—Brainerd, Minnesota. Area 35 Spring Assembly. Write: Ch., 808 E. 7 th St., Superior, WI 54880; www.area35.org 9-12—San Diego, California. San Diego Spring Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 4357, Carlsbad, CA 92018-4357; www.sandiegospringroundup.com 9-13—Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Nat’l Conv. Gold Coast. Write: Ch., Box 1179, Milton, Queensland, 4064 Australia; www.2009conventiongoldcoast.com 10-12—Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 38th North Shore Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 91086, West Vancouver, BC V7V 3N3; www.northshoreroundup.com 16-19—Eureka Springs, Arkansas. 33 rd Springtime In The Ozarks. Write: Ch., Box 1686, Rogers, AR 72757; www.nwarkaa.org 17-19—San Jose, California. Sober and Free Conf. Write: Ch., Box 4707, San Jose, CA 95150-4707; www.soberandfree.org 17-19—Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lake Area Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 52, Lake Charles, LA 70602 17-19—Erie, Pennsylvania. 34 th Erie Area Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 1357, Erie, PA 16512-1357; www.erierecovery.com

Box 4-5-9, April/May 2009

24-26—Chipley, Florida. Chipley Country Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 677, Chipley, FL 32428; Chipley_countryroundup@Hotmail.com

1-3—Lincoln, New Hampshire. Loon Mtn 12 Step Spring Fest. Write: Ch., Box 1058, Lincoln, NH 03251; `stepfestival@yahoo.com

24-26—Waterloo, Iowa. Metro Spring Anniv. Write: Ch., 1030 Belle St., Waterloo, IA 50702

1-3—Albuquerque, New Mexico. Red Road Conv. Write: Ch., Box 20292, Albuquerque, NM 87154-0292

24-26—Missoula, Montana. Area 40 Spring Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 3466, Missoula, MT 59806

1-3—Waco, Texas. 25th Heart of Texas Conf. Write: Ch., 1133 Taylor Ave., Waco, TX 76704; www.hot2009.synthasite.com

24-26—Oliver, British Columbia, Canada. South Okanagan Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 392, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0

1-3—Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Blossom Time Conv. Write: Ch., Box 831, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6V6; www.blossomtimeconvention.com 1-3— Longueuil, Québec, Canada. 27 e Congrès Longueuil Rive-Sud. Ecrire: Prés., B.P. 21061 Stn Jacques-Cartier R-S, Longueuil, QC J4J 5J4 1-3—Victoriaville, Québec, Canada. 25ieme Congres du Dist. 88-03. Ecrire: Prés., 59 Monfette, Local 235, Victoriaville, QC, Canada G6P 6S8; www.aa-quebec.org

24-26—Mont Tremblant, Québec, Canada. 36e Congrès des Laurentides. Écrire: Prés., 652 rue Guy, Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, QC J8C 2Y9 24-26—Quiedersbach, Germany. 31 st Rheinland Pfalz English Speaking Roundup. Write: Ch., CMR 402, Box 1547, APO, AE 09180 24-26—Salthill, Galway, Ireland. 52 nd All Ireland Conv. Write: Ch., Unit 2, Block C, Santry Business Park, Swards, Dublin 9, Ireland; gso@alcoholicsanonymous.ie 30-3—Cocoa Beach, Florida. 19 th Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 951903, Lake Mary, FL 32795; www.woodstockofaa.com

8-9—Des Moines, Iowa. Capital City Conf. Write: Ch., Box 30135, Des Moines, IA 50310; www.capitalcityconference.org 8-10—Newbury, Ohio. Punderson Park Conf. Write: Ch., Box 570, Newbury, OH 44065

30-3—Split, Croatia. Ninth Internat’l EnglishSpeaking Conv. Write: Ch., Vrbnicka 28, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; aacroatia.split@yahoo.com

8-10—Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Area 63 Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 1872, Sioux Falls, SD 57101

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_______________ Name of event: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Location: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY

STATE OR PROVINCE

Planning Committee address: ____________________________________________________________________________ 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

15-17—Skokie, Illinois. Second City Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 111, Chicago, IL 60690 15-17—Concan, Texas. TX Quarterly Conf. of YPAA. Write: Ch., 1318 Chamboard Ln, Houston, TX 77018 15-17—Middlebury, Vermont. 46th Area 70 Conv. Write: Ch., 2467 Lakeview Dr., North Hero, VT 05475; www.aavt.org 15-17—Port Angeles, Washington. Olympic Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 1081, Port Angeles, WA 98362; www.olympicroundup.com 15-17—Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada. 58 th Comox Valley Rally. Write: Ch., Box 1337, Comox, BC V9M 7Z8 15-17—Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. 62 nd Kamloops Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 353, Kamloops, BC V2C 5K9; kamloopsroundup@yahoo.com 15-17—Little Current, Ontario, Canada. 38th Rainbow Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 921, Little Current, ON P0P 1K0; rainbowroundup09@yahoo.ca 21-24—Atlanta, Georgia. 51st ICYPAA. Write: Ch., Box 950002, Atlanta, GA 30377; www.icypaahost.org 21-24—Dallas, Texas. 23 rd Gathering of Eagles. Write: Ch., Box 35865, Dallas, TX 75235; www.dallasgatheringofeagles.org 21-24—Ermioni, Peloponnese, Greece. 15th Internat’l Conv. – Greece. Write: Ch., 4A Zinonos St., Athens, Greece 22-24—Atlanta, Georgia. IV Conv. Estatal Hispana. Inf.: Com. Org., 3146 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd., Ste 215, Chamblee, GA 30341 22-24—Chicago, Illinois. Conv. Hispana de IL. Inf.: Com. Org., 3921 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 22-24—Clarksville, Indiana. 18th Falls City Conv. Write: Ch., 4910 S. 3rd St., Louisville, KY 40214; 18fallscity@Gmail.com 22-24—Eddington, Maine. Dist. 3 Memorial Day Roundup. Write: Ch., 855 Dover Road, Charleston, ME 04422; www.aamainedistrict3.org

29-31—Reading, Pennsylvania. Circle of Hope Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 12957, Reading, PA 19612; www.circleofhoperoundup.com 29-31—Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada. 36th Dist. 11 Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 1742; Lloydminster, SK S9V 1K7

June 2-5—Vancouver, Washington. Fourth Internat’l Seniors In Sobriety Conf. Write: Ch., 2700 SE Bella Vista Loop, Vancouver, WA 98683; www.seniorsinsobriety.org 5-7—Cheyenne, Wyoming. Area 76 Spring Conv. Write: Ch., Box 3074, Cheyenne, WY 82003; www.area76wyaa.org 5-7—Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. Prince Albert Gateway Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 145, Prince Albert, SK S6V 5R4; www.princealbertroundup.ca 12-14—Mobile, Alabama. 28th Azalea City Jamboree. Write: Ch., Box 9005, Mobile, AL 36691 12-14—Clear Lake, Iowa. Area 24 Spring Conf. Write: Ch., Box 472, Clear Lake, IA 50428; area24springconference2009@hotmail.com 12-14—Springfield, Missouri. 19th Heart of the Ozarks Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 1607, Springfield, MO 65801 12-14— Akron, Ohio. 74 th Founder’s Day. Write: Ch., Box 12, Akron, OH 44309-1200; www.shop.aafoundersday.org 12-14—Scituate, Rhode Island. 33rd Ocean State Young People’s Conf. Write: Ch., Box 135, Harrisville, RI 02830; osypc2009@aol.com 12-14— Austin, Texas. 64th TX State Conv. Write: Ch., 92633, Austin, TX 78709-2633; www.txaaconvention.org 12-14—Sanur, Bali, Indonesia. 8th Bali Roundup. Info: www.aa-bali.org 13-14—Nashville, Tennessee. V Foro de Servicios Generales. Inf.: Com. Org. P.O. Box 111-222, Nashville, TN 37222

26-28—Spokane, Washington. Pacific NW Conf. Write: Ch., 4428 S. Sunny Creek Dr., Spokane, WA 99224; pnc2009@gmail.com

July 16-19—Raleigh, North Carolina. NC State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 71144, Durham, NC 27722-1144 17-19—Aurora, Colorado. Area 10 Assembly. Write: Ch., 17804 E. Oregon Pl., Aurora, CO 80017; www.coloradoaa.org 17-19—Rimouski, Québec, Canada. 30e Congrès du Bas Saint-Laurent. Écrire: Prés., Dist. 88-06, C.P. 651, Rimouski, QC G5L 7C7 24-26—Troy, Michigan. 57th MI State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 400, Walled Lake, MI 48390; mistateconv09@gmail.com 24-26—Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Chippewa Valley Round-up. Write: Ch., Box 1033, Eau Claire, WI 54702; www.chippewavalleyroundup.com 24-26—Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. 34 th Dist. 6 Mid-Summer Round-up. Write: Ch., 85 Queen St., Unit 5, Truro, NS B2N 2B2; www.area82aa.org 31-2—Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 16th PA State Conv. Write: Ch., 1622 Crawford Ave., Altoona, PA 16602 31-2—Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. Campbell River Rally. Write: Ch., 462 S. McLean St., Campbell River, BC V9W 5W1

18-21—Indian Wells, California. Desert Pow Wow. Write: Ch., Box 10128, Palm Desert, CA 92255; www.desertpowwow.com 18-21—Hagerstown, Maryland. 39th Area 29 State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 3713, Hagerstown, MD 21742; www.marylandaa.org

22-24—Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gopher State Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 65295, St. Paul, MN 55165-0295; www.gophewrstateroundup.org

19-21—Kenner, Louisiana. 41st Big Deep South Conf. Write: Ch., 638 Papworth, Ste 101, Metairie, LA 70005

29-31—Ithaca, New York. CNY Area 47 Conv. Write: Ch., Box 642, Dryden, NY 13053; cnyconv@gmail.com

26-28—Pearl, Mississippi. Area 37 Conv. Write: Ch., 3755 Northview Dr., Jackson, MS 39206; www.area37convention.org 26-28—Somerset, New Jersey. NE Regional Forum. Write: Forum Coord., Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163; Regionalforums@aa.org

22-24—Grayling, Michigan. Northern MI InterArea Spring Roundup. Write: Ch., 7661 Anthony St., Fife Lake, MI 49633; www.district11-aa.org

22-24—Saint Louis, Missouri. Spring Fling Conv. Write: Ch., Box 22454, St. Louis, MO 63126; www.springflingstl.com 29-31—Galt, California. 38 th Northern CA H&I Conf. Write: Ch., Box 214, Galt, CA 95632

26-28—Lancaster, California. 36th Antelope Valley Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 8574, Lancaster, CA 93510

19-21—Green Bay, Wisconsin. NE WI Tristate Roundup. Write: Ch., 2221 S. Webster Ave., Ste A #144, Green Bay, WI 54301; www.newtristateroundup.com 19-21—Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. N.S. Provincial Roundup. Write: Ch., 11A Aberdeen St., Truro, NS B2N 4V1 19-22—Bucaramanga, Santander, Columbia. IX Conv. Columbia. Inf.: aaixconvencion.nacional2009@gmail.com

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Box459_April-May_’09.qxd:Box 4-5-9

14-17—Laughlin, Nevada. Tri-State Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 2850, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405; www.tristate-roundup.com

4/1/09

4:17 PM

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