August, 197

AA EXCHANGE BULLETIN

_

NEWS AND NOTES ON ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLDWIDE

VOLUME 2

Published by General Service Headquarters of A.A., P. 0. Box 459, Grand Central Annex, New York. 17

NUMBER 8

BILL’S NEW BOOK BEING PRINTED Ohio Conference, 1st In History, Attracts 1,000 With a history-making first statewide conference a Stimulating memory, A.A.s in Ohio are already looking forward to a second meeting in Toledo next Summer. More than 1,000 members and friends of A.A. gathered in Columbus July 19th for an exciting three-day session in the state where the first local group (Akron) came into being 22 years ago. In addition to hearing more than a score of alcoholic speakers, they were greeted by Governor C. William O’Neil who paid a warm tribute to the work of the Fellowship in Ohio and pledged his continuing understanding and support of the program. A featured sidelight to the conference was the staging of a special Sunday midday meeting at the Ohio State Pentitentiarv. Hazel R. of the General Service Headquarters staff was the principal speaker at a session attended by approximately 300 inmates and guests. The application of A.A. therapy to the rehabilitation of prisoners

(Continued on Page 3)

INDIVIDUAL “BULLETIN” SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE $1.00 A YEAR

Headquarters Briefs BILL’S NEW BOOK ON PRESS! “A. A. Comes of Age,” Bill’s new book on the birth, growth and development of A.A., is just about ready to be released. (See details in adjoining column.)

PRINT OF LORETTA YOUNG SHOW AVAILABLE If your group is interested in screening the Loretta Young television program dealing with A.A., please write to G.S.H., suggesting at least three dates on which the group would be able to use a 16-millimeter print.

KEEPING GROUP RECORDS STRAIGHT When your group elects new officers, please be sure G. S.H. is advised if a new group mailing address is involved. This will help keep our records up-to-date and assure delivery of G.S.H. mail to the proper person in your group.

Member Spurs A. A. In India

Dutch Study Prison Program

A.A. is taking firm root in India, judging from a letter from Charley M. of New Delhi, who is doing his best to “carry the message.” On a recent business trip to Calcutta, Charley inserted an “announcement” advertisement in one of the leading dailies. Twenty-seven mail inquiries were received and four persons met with Charley at his hotel. One alcoholic wrote to Charley for literature, decided that the program “worked,” met with Charley and is now in the process of establishing a Calcutta group.

Penal officials in The Netherlands have approached local A. A. members for guidance in applying principles of the recovery program in Dutch prisons. That’s the latest report from John E. Van Der W. of Ijmuiden who says that the Dutch government wishes to use the prison at Haarlem as a testing ground for the A.A. program. If the experiment at Haarlem is successful, the program would be made available in other Dutch institutions. Preliminary conferences with government officials have already been held.

INVITATION

The New Dawn Group at Manitoba Penitentiary, Stony Mountain, Manitoba, Canada, celebrated its seventh anniversary July 7th. The Alano Society of Winnipeg is the “outside” sponsor of the Penitentiary group.

ANNIVERSARY Traveling alcoholics have been extended a special invitation to visit the office and clubroom of the Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Group, 14 Cuyler Street, Port Elizabeth. Hours are 9 a, m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Pre-Publication Order Blanks Go To Groups “A.A. Comes of Age,” the long-awaited story of A.A.’s birth, growth and service by Bill W., surviving co-founder of the Fellowship, is now on the presses and will be available for advance distribution to the groups early in September. The most comprehensive and authoritative summary of A. A. ’s history to date, this is the book on which Bill has been working for the past two years, following the 20th Anniversary Convention of A. A. in St. Louis in 1955. It has been described as the most significant A.A. document since publication of the “Big Book” in 1939. Special pre-publication order blanks for “A.A. Comes of Age” will be mailed to all groups during the first week in August. Copies of the book will he shipped early in September to all groups ordering them. Staff members at A.A. Publishing, Inc., the movement’s publishing affiliate, have emphasized that orders will be shipped in the same sequence in which they are received. To avoid unneces-

(Continued on- Page 3)

NEW GROUPS Fifty nine new groups, nine Loners and one Club were registered at G.S.H. during the period from June 14 to July 17. In addition, four new Hospital Groups and five new Prison Groups were registered.

English Convention Stresses Safeguarding Of A. A. Traditions SPONSORSHIP PAMPHLET The Central Group of Tacoma, Washington, reports that it has just completed preparation of a “small pamphlet of greeting” for newcomers. It’s part of the Group’s intensified sponsorship program. How much do doctors in your area know (or understand) of A.A.? The A.A. Central Office in Indianapolis is not leaving this important public relations activity to chance. It recently ordered 725 copies of the Conference-approved pamphlet, “A.A. and the Medical Profession,” for distribution to local doctors with the formal approval of the Council of the Indianapolis Medical Society. Dr. A. Ketel of Rotterdam, Holland, a psychiatrist and early non-A.A. friend of the Fellowship sailed last month as ship’s doctor on the S. S. Sibajah. Before returning to home port late in October, Dr. Ketel hopes to visit A.A.s in Wellington, New Zealand; Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; Willemstad, Curacao and the Panama Canal Zone. Other Intergroup or Central Offices might be interested in adopting a plan used effectively by an Intergroup Steering Committee in a large Eastern city. The Committee sponsors a “Get Acquainted With Each Other Meeting” for new officers of participating local groups. Intergroup services are explained, questions from the floor are encouraged and plenty of opportunity is provided for old-fashioned A.A. fraternizing.

Note from a member in the State of Washington: “We have heard another wonderful Conference report from our State Delegate. We have been blessed with the men who have gone to represent us. Something happens to those fellows when they get back there. They come back, too, a little less important in their demeanor but so very much greater in stature.” Here’s a typical reaction to the recent announcement of the price increase for the A.A. Grapevine. it’s from Joel H,, Poplar Bluff, Missouri: “Why should I object to an additional buck for something that helps me to increase the quality of my sobriety? I consider it a privilege to renew at the increased price!”

The importance of safeguarding A. A. Traditions as the Fellowship continues to grow in the British isles was the theme of the Second Annual A.A. Convention forEngland and Wales, according to reports received last month at G.S.H. The Convention, held at Cheltenham this Spring, marked the tenth anniversary of A.A. in England. During 1956 the London Central Service Office handled 1,013 inquiries from alcoholics, delegates were told. During the first four months of 1957, inquiries have increased approximately 20 percent over those in the comparable period a year earlier. This increase can be attributed in part, it was suggested, to more than 60 magazine and newspapers articles on A.A. during 1956 and to a program on the Fellowship produced for sound and television transmission by the British Broadcasting Company. The Convention agreed unanimously to organize a series of public meetings throughout the British Isles as a tenth anniversary project.

VIRGINIA Two workshops highlighting the interest of clergymen, businessmen and doctors in the A.A. recovery program will feature the three-day 1957 Virgina A.A. Convention opening at the Hotel John Marshall, Richmond, Friday, August 30. The Convention program recalls the fact that A.A., which had its Virginia beginnings in Richmond in 1941, now has 81 groups and approximately 2,000 members in the State.

MICHIGAN The Fifth Michigan A.A. Conference, sponsored by groups in Northern Michigan, will be held the weekend of Friday, September 20, at Ludington. Detailed information is available by writing to P. 0. Box 330, Ludington (Tel: 7033-R).

WISCONSIN

CONFERENCE FOLLOW-UP General Service Conference activity goes on throughout the year. Here are a fete items suggesting the scope of this impor tant grass roots work, in various A.A. areas.

NEW YORK AREA Central New York Area holds tightlyprogrammed two-hour monthly Conference Meetings, second Sunday of each month, rotating sessions from city to city within the Area. All members are invited. Area Committeemen Sit at front of room, for easy identification. First hour is devoted to “business” and “structural” matters. July meeting, for example, featured report by Delegate on “Public Information Service” at G. S. H. (Assisted by G. S. H. staff member, in this case.) Ten minute break following first hour is followed by a one-hour A.A. meeting. This begins with the reading of excerpts from “The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Meetings open and close strictly on schedule. General feeling is that they contribute substantially to greater understanding of full scope of A.A. world service. Eastern Pennsylvania Committee is following a plan similar to the one above, except that meetings are held bi-monthly. Discussion topic for August was “Institutions.”

ALASKAN DELEGATE Alaskan A.A.s will be represented at the 1958 Conference for the first time. Just

elected their Delegate, following “Third Legacy Manual” procedures all the way. One of the most effective 1957 Delegate’s Reports we’ve seen is the printed pamphlet prepared and distributed by Harve 0. of North Dakota.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Jim P., Arkansas Delegate, has covered every section of the State to give his Conference report to date. “Every A.A. in the State has had an opportunity to learn something about the functions of G.S.H.,” he writes.

Ideas expressed and actions taken at State and Regional A.A. meetings are likely to he of interest and help to many “Bulletin” readers. It would be most helpful if Convention and Conference Committees would designate someone to “cover” such meetings and send reports promptly to General Service Headquarters.

Paul G., Delegate from San Francisco, doesn’t merely talk. about A.A. service materials; he displays them during his Conference reports to local meetings. He even has the 19 G.S.H. pamphlets rigged up on tapes that can be unfurled at an appropriate point in his talk.

The annual meeting of A.A.s at Green Bay, Wisconsin, will be held the weekend of Friday, September 7.

HOSPITAL VISITORS’ GUIDE LISTS HELPFUL DO’S & DONT’S Prison Officials Aid In Growth, Canadian Says NEW GROUPS Garrett Group Cuniiiiins Farms State Penitentiary Varner, Arkaiisas Dormitory Group Branch Prison Marquette, Michigan Guardhouse Group Mitchell Air Force Base New York, N. Y. “P’ Farm Group Shelby County Penal Farm Memphis, Tennessee Liberty Group Joyceville Institution Kingston, Ontario Can ada

Institutional A.A. in Canada is definitely growing, Bert T., secretary of the Nor-Kel Group in the Saskatchewan Penitentiary, (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan), writes in an informative report to G.S.H. Bert credits responsibility for much of this growth to the understanding and support of the Commissioner of Penitentiaries, Major General R. B. Gibson of the Justice Department in Ottawa. The Nor-Kel group’s semiannual open meeting in May was the best of its kind ever held in the Penitentiary, Bert declares. Authorities at the institution not only made it possible for a larger number of visitors to attend but also permitted the group to double the time allowed for the meeting and provided food for a buffet lunch. Sixteen A.A. centers were represented at the meeting. Group membership now totals about 50, of which 40 men are classified as regular attenders at meetings. The Nor-Kel group, in cooperation with the Prince Al.bert City groups and t h e Saskatchewan Provincial Jail Group, played an important part in sponsoring the recent Gateway Roundup which attracted about 200 A.A.s to Prince Albert for what, it is hoped, may become an annual A.A. event.

Members of Hospital and Institution Committees may be interested in the following capsule “Suggestions to A.A. Visitors” and “Suggestions to Sponsors” distributed at Towns Hospital in New York. City (where co-founder Bill W. was hospitalized for the last time in 1934).

TO A. A. VISITORS 1. Visting hours are 2 and 6-10 p.m. for any A.A. member. 2. Men visit men. Women visit women. 3. If visitors are numerous or patients very sick, it’s a good idea to make visit short. On the other hand, if visitors are few and patients receptive, stay a little longer. 4. A.A. in small doses is better than overwhelming the patient. Sometimes your mere presence is sufficient. 5. It is advisable that new members with less than three months sobriety be accompanied by an “older” member.

Ohio Meeting Attracts 1,000

TO SPONSORS 1. Stay with your patient until he or she is in bed. 2. Visit your patient as often as possible. Sponsors may Visit patients at any time. 3. Let the patient know what time, you’ll pick him up and be on time or ahead of time. 4. Take patient to many meetings and introduce him to the different members. For further information call Your Intergroup Office

(Ed. note: If you know of other similar “suggestions,” why not send them to G.S.H.?)

Order Blanks Go To Groups

(Continued from Page 1)

(Continued from Page 1)

in the Ohio penal system is considered by many as a model in its field. The program for the Ohio conference covered virtually every phase of A.A. principles and structure. The meeting opened Friday evening with five short talks on A.A. history. Saturday morning’s session featured talks on The Twelve Steps, Spiritual Principles, Making A m e n d s, Moral Inventory and Admission, Acceptance and Action. Saturday afternoon was devoted to analysis of the Twelve Traditions of A.A. and to a report on the 1957 General Service Conference by Hank G., chair-man of the General Service Committee at G.S.H. The full day was concluded with a typical A.A. banquet, followed by dancing. Sunday’s activities included a morning “spiritual” meeting, a special session for A.A. women, an Al-Anon Family Group meeting and a final afternoon session concluding the three-day gathering.

sary delay in receiving copies, groups are urged to return the special pre-publication order blank to G.S.H. as soon as possible. The retail price of the new book is $4.00. The price to the groups is $3.50, of which 50 cents is allocated to A.A’s Reserve Fund for World Services. To minimize bookkeeping details, it will be appreciated if all orders are accompanied by checks. “A.A. Comes of Age” will also be published by the distinguished firm of Harper & Brothers for bookstore distribution at the $4.00 retail price. Formal publication date of both editions is October 7.

ARKANSAS The first Tradition, “Our common welfare should come first,” was scheduled to be the theme of the 17th Annual Arkansas Convention of A.A. at Little Rock the weekend of August 3rd.

Yale School Talks, Meeting Feature A. A. NEW GROUPS V. A. Hospital Tucson, Arizona, State Hospital Concord, New Hampshire V A. Hospital hluifalo, N. V. Alan Group McKnight State Hospital (Tuberculosis) Sanatorium, Texas

While the vast majority of A.A. members have little or no “professional” interest in the problem of alcoholism, a growing number of recovered alcoholics are studying the problem “in depth.” This trend was highlighted again this year when 32 A.A. members attended the Annual Yale Summer School of Alcohol Studies at New Haven, Conn. The A.A. program customarily occupies an important place on the School’s agenda. Anita R. of the G.S.H. staff who attended two days’ sessions reported that this year was no exception. One evening the entire School was invited to attend a typical A.A. open meeting. Another session featured talks by three experts: “A Sociologist Looks at A.A.,” “The Community Agency and A.A.” and “Factors in Affiliation with A.A.,” the latter by Prof. Harrison M. Trice of Cornell University, a non-alcoholic Trustee of the General Service Board of A.A.

Q.&A. The following question is typical of many directed to G. S.H. by local groups who seekan expression of general A.A. experience. Q. Should a member be permitted to take part in the business affairs of more than one group? A. This subject was covered in the “Exchange Bulletin” for December, 1956. (Limited number of copies still available.)

DUPONT FILM NOWAVAILABLE FOR 1ST SHOWINGS OVERSEAS A. A. Reunites Two Drunks,’ Both Sober Six years ago, in Japan, before he joined A.A., Roy and another heavy-drinking sergeant became close friends. The two became separated until, about a year ago, the sergeant was assigned to Roy’s base but the men did not meet. Several months ago, the sergeant, now in A.A., wrote to G.S.H. for an A.A. contact on the base. “So here we are,” Roy writes, “Old friends who met again through A.A. I think that’s one for the books.” And so do we.

From Leighton D., whose plight should enlist the sympathy of at least a few readers: I am a Loner up here on the North Arctic Coast of Alaska, an I. T.& T. Corporation employee on the Dew (Distant Early Warning) Line. I was at Point Barrow, Alaska for a few weeks where I met several times with the small group there but, I was transferred a few short weeks after arriving, and am now on the barren coast of Alaska. I have a 2,200 mile line in which I work back and forth, never being in one place more than three months. I have been here three months now and have been stationed at three stations. At the present time I am at a place called Icy Cape and plan on being here until early in September. There are no other A.A.s on the the line. In fact I think I am the only one out of 750 employees. I suppose I need not tell you there’s plenty of temptation and opportunity to imibe here but I’ve been safe so far. I believe if I had a few active A.A.s to write to I would be more at ease. I will appeciate any help you may give me on this matter. I was (and still am, I hope) a Chicago member of Avalon 2 Group, on the South side of Chicago. Easy Does It

E. I. duPont de Nemours, sponsors of the now famous 1955 television program, “One Day at a Time,” have made a 16-millimeter print of the show available to G.S.H. for distribution to groups outside the U. S. Permission to use the print is contingent on its not being telecast or shown before a “pay-

ing” audience and G.S.H. has agreed to this arrangement. First overseas A.A. showing of the print will be at the Fifth European A. A. Roundup at Weisbaden, Germany early in September. Bookings are also being made with groups in the United Kingdom, Eire, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

English Loner Helps Visitor

Air Base Group Firmly Rooted

From lone member in Plymouth, England:

The Mountain Home Group at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is “on the map to stay,” according to Roy U., who helped to establish the group a little more than a year ago. Representatives from several Boise groups helped mark the base group’s first anniversary in April. Seven active members are listed currently and a number of men who found sobriety in the group have been assigned to other installations. Roy says the group is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to let the base and the nearby community know of the availability of the A.A. program. Announcement advertising has been placed in the base daily bulletin, the base newspaper and in the local town paper. In addition, four chaplains and two doctors have agreed to refer alcoholics who need help.

“I had a visit the other day from a young Canadian sailor boy who came over in HMCS Magnificent, an aircraft carrier. He is Peter V., and in the course of our conversation he told me that he had visited New York and your office some time ago. I thought he was a good lad and needed contacts during his time on shore leave so I gave him the names and addresses of four or five different people in Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. He called again three weeks later and had Visited them all. What a grand little effort, wasn’t it? He’s a good little ambassador for A.A., is Peter.”

(Editor’s note: Peter visited Headquarters office recently and gave its good news from A.A. friends in England and Ireland.) Jimmy W., after visiting Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, writes: “I have renewed old acquaintances and made many more new and dear friends. I never come into a port as a stranger since I saw the light of day in A.A.”

DIRECTORY CORRECTIONS P&YSO1’f, UTAHSpanish Fork Gioiip shiaeld be credited with 12 otigiliahly credited to Fellowshiip Group of Pang’uitch, Utah. ROCKFORD. ILLINOIS Central Group should be credited with $100. instead of $50. 110 CK1CORD. I lIIN 015Home Groups should be credited with $51 instead of $101.

Rotation? It’s A Whirl! The practice of “rotating” G.S.H. staff members in various service assignments each year apparently leaves some correspondents in a whirl. Milton and Pilar of the Philippine-American Group in Manila have decided to play safe in writing to G.S.H. and simply address their letters to “Dear Friends.” “We decided on this form because it has become confusing to write a letter beginning ’Dear Ann,’ then have it answered by ’Eve’ and, when you have written to ’Eve,’ then get an answer from ’Anita.’

Shore Leaves Non-Existent On 60-Mile Run From Ron C., Bolmain, Sydmicy, Australia: I am still sailing on the “Sixty Miles” from Sydney to Newcastle sixty miles apart, hence the name. It is far enough for me too. I never get ashore in either of these places as I only work in port. I relieve on three ships. I do a week on each of them, have a week off. I get part of the weekends at home. So I get home pretty regularly. I can only attend meetings on my week off and I look forward to them. I am pretty happy and contented on the program but still have my ups and downs which we all do and will do for the rest of our lives. Like so many other or most A. A.s, am most grateful for my sobriety and what goes with it. Without A.A. I wouldn’t have many material things and if I did have them I wouldn’t be able to enjoy them without A. A.

From Bob H., Port Elizabeth, South Africa: Again had a very nice time in Capetown. Telephoned Pat. He called Jack. jack picked me up at the ship, went out to his home. Met the family and then to a meeting. The following night had supper at jack’s home, and then another meeting. jack has been sober nine months and doing fine. Pat and Jess have a wonderful understanding of A. A. The work they do with A. A. and the Alcoholic Information Center is enormous. They have just completed a month’s tour of the Union, speaking on alcoholism. I am now looking forward to meetings in Durban md Port Elizabeth.

BULLETIN EDITORS .little ……… Group Relations. internationalists Ann …….. Hospitals. Prisons Rye ……. Public Jiifomniatioii Hazel …….. G. S. Conference A iii a Gioiip Relations Lib ….. roups. Loners outside U. S. and Canada

……..