BOX 4-5-0 NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A. A.

Vol. 16 No. 5

Aug.-Sept. 1971

Literature — Help for Every A.A. Member A.A. travelers stop by or write to us about trips they have taken across the country. Too often they tell us that no A.A. books or pamphlets are available at the meeting place.

We hope that those who have service jobs in your group are working to see to it that printed help is always there whenever anyone who needs it reaches out for it. The A.A. Grapevine, too, can be a big help in carrying the message and sharing experience, strength and hope; you can subscribe by writing to P.O. Box 1980, Grand Central Station, N.Y., N.Y. 10017.

You Have Asked For It And, when chatting with members at Conventions and Conferences, it is often brought out that some of them are unaware of the fact that there is such a great amount of help available through literature for so many kinds of needs. These books and pamphlets are all produced with the aim of helping alcoholics to recovery and it is good for all of us to know about them and to make use of them, whether we’re new or old. There are five A.A. books and 38 separate pamphlets, a sharing of all that we A.A.’s know about our fellowship. For descriptions of these books and pamphlets, discount packages, and their prices, do write in for an order form. There is a separate one for literature available in other languages.

All of our literature has come into being because there is an expressed need. This literature, as approved by the General Service Conference, * is not tied up with any religious viewpoint. * does not endorse (or oppose) any particular scientific, medical or expert professional theory. * is not just local or one man’s changeable opinion. It represents (cont’dp. 3)

A NOTE OF THANKS “The messages of love, sympathy, and understanding which have come to me in remembrance of Bea from A.A.’s all over the world have been of great help. I am very grateful.

Dr. Jack”

G.S.O. NO CENSOR There are times when some of us get pretty annoyed with some newspaper story, magazine article, radio or TV program which we feel fails to present A.A. the way we think it should. Sometimes the Anonymity Tradition is broken or statements made about A.A. which we feel are not true. At such times, some members tend to hold G.S.O. responsible. We’d just like to remind all hands that G.S.O. does not support, sponsor, endorse or approve any stories, articles, programs or films. Like A.A. itself, G.S.O. neither “endorses” or “opposes” anything outside A.A. Experience teaches us that it is much better for us to cooperate with those interested in showing our Fellowship in action at the public level. Better we should give them accurate information than for them to go out and get what they can (frequently inaccurate) on their own. When our opinion is requested, we give it. Sometimes we give it anyway but always politely. Sometimes, our suggestions are followed; sometimes they are not. But we do want to emphasize that it is not G.S.O.’s function to tell anybody in or out of A.A. what they can or cannot do (and a very good thing, too! Put a bunch of alkies into a position where they can start dictating to other people and they would all be drunk within six months).

FINNISH A.A.’s HOST TO U.S. STAFF MEMBER

A.A.’s in Imatra, a small Finnish town six miles from the Russian border, this year entertained 600 A.A.’s and their families, and Beth K., G.S.O. staff member from New York, at the annual Finland A.A. convention held the Easter weekend. It was the first time a North American staff member was ever “imported” for an A.A. convention overseas. (Host committees customarily pay expenses of invited G.S.O. visitors.) Beth had just “rotated” into the overseas service when the invitation came from Veikko, G.S. office manager in Helsinki and world service delegate. Travelling by both boat and car, accompanied by two Finnish A.A.’s, Beth also visited A.A. in Sweden and Norway, including the Oslo G.S. office and toured both Swedish and Norwegian clinics for alcoholics. She was interviewed extensively at a Helsinki press conference, where 17 press and TV representatives were present. When A.A. families arrived by busloads for the Imatra convention, there was not sleeping room for all until mattresses were spread out on the floor of the local school house, Beth reported. She said everyone was extremely friendly, enthusiastic, and hospit-

able. She was asked to talk at the convention about how A.A. cooperates with other alcoholism agencies, and about Public Information work. Finnish A.A.’s wanted most to hear about Bill W. ’s work in setting up the General Service Conference structure! The newly elected World Service delegate from Finland, Kalervo S., translated for Beth. “I now know from first hand that no matter where we go, we certainly have a warm home and family in A.A.,” Beth said. However, she insists she declined an invitation to the Finnish ritual from ancient times a sauna bath.

INTERNATIONAL DEAF GROUP Many people don’t realize that we have a correspondence group for the deaf. It is listed in the first part of the World Directory, Part I. Write G.S.O. for contacts.

CONGRATULATIONS The following letter sent from a trustee-candidate who was not elected to the candidate in his area who was, reflects, we think, the A.A. spirit of service in the nicest kind of way, and we want to share this with you: “Dear Congratulations and best wishes on your election to the Board of Trustees of A.A. World Services. If at anytime I can be of assistance to you, in any manner, please do not hesitate to call upon me. Should you have occasion to be in soon, it would be my pleasure to have you to luncheon or dinner to suit your convenience. I would then wish you well in person. Warmest regards, Sincerely yours in A.A

When Anonymity Becomes Secrecy, It Creates Real Problems At least one letter a day brings us a literature order a donation or a call for help signed simply, “John D.” or “J.D.” Frequently no address, even. Just initials and a city. Don’t you think that’s carrying anonymity too far? Often we cannot reply at all. If we write to “Jane D.,” Chicago, it comes back, Of course. Envelopes in the mail are not, are they, the same as newspapers, magazines, radio, films or TV. Don’t you imagine that no last name just an initial) in an address arouses curiosity if not suspicion? Don’t you think we can trust each other with our full first and last names, and addresses, at least

within A.A., for A.A. purposes? The General Service Conference this year agreed that the use of full names and addresses within A.A. could improve communications within our fellowship. After all, as one departed oldtimer used to say, if we aren’t careful we’ll get so secret we can’t even keep in touch with each other and that’s the end for all of us.

ANONYMITY WALLET CARDS A statement about anonymity in A.A. which has been approved by the General Service Conference is now available in walletcard form. 100 for $6.00

FIND MOST DOCTORS SUPPORT A.A. The following is an excerpt from an article appearing in a recent issue of WOMAN’S DAY: “…No matter what treatment they use, most doctors who deal with alcoholics still insist on one thing: Alcoholics Anonymous. Many won’t even take a patient

LITERATURE (from p.])

a broad concensus of 35 years of A.A. experience from all over the world. * does bring into any one member’s life richer insights and a broader range of A.A. opinion than any one member or group could produce.

What Literature Does Time after time the sense and encouragement in A.A. literature has helped a slipper sober up, revived a dying group, or brought a new group into being. It provides many specialized kinds of help for particular members, on specific problems, such as – special help for younger or newcomer A.A.’s; – special help for women alcoholics; – special help on such problems as pills, anonymity, slips, doctors, group problems, money, the family, sponsorship, etc. – special help for prisons and hospital inmates; – special help for people who are not big readers, who are blind or deaf, or whose English is limited; – special help on certain A.A. jobs such as treasurer, G.S.R., refreshment and program chairman, etc.;

unless he also joins A.A. To kick the habit, the ex-drinker needs the constant reinforcement and support that A.A. provides. Many have to go to seven meetings a week during their first difficult months. A.A. is the most successful alcoholism program in this country, and the psychiatrists who specialize in treating alcoholics are some of its strongest supporters.”

STUDENT’S GUIDE The new “Student’s Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous” is now available and is priced at .05. Every year we receive many hundreds of letters from students who want to know more about the program of A.A. This Guide is designed to answer their questions in a simple and easily digested manner. – special help for employees, clergymen; – special information for newspapers, radio and TV; – and many, many more. It is our job to make all this A.A. help as widely available as possible, at the lowest possible cost. There are color films, wallet cards, the group handbook, bulletins, plaques, parchments, comic booklets, TV and radio announcements, tapes, display racks and A.A. directories. Not to mention the free Guidelines: 1) Alcoholic Rehabilitation Centers 2) Central Offices and Committees 3) Clubs 4) Conventions, Conferences, and Area or Regional A.A. Gettogethers 5) Courts 6) Institutional Committees 7) Public Information Committees 8) Relationship between A.A. and Al-Anon. 3

SPECIAL GIFTS TO G.S.O.

CALIFORNIA Calistoga Spring Roundup ……. 5200.00 Costa Mesa 4th Step Workshop …………….. 5.00 Pacific Region Service Assembly ……….. 349.63 Palm Springs Desert Roundup ……………. 1,000.00 San Diego Central Mtg . …….. 65.00 KENTUCKY State Convention ………….. 350.00 MAINE District I ……………….. 25.00 MICHIGAN Southeast G.S. Assembly …….. 200.00 NEBRASKA Omaha Intergroup Dinner ……. 6.95 NEW YORK N.Y.C. Special ……………. 100.00 PENNSYLVANIA Area 11 Banquet ………….. 50.00 TEXAS Southwest Conference ……… 24.14 VIRGINIA Blackstone Retreat ………… 100.00 WISCONSIN Menomonee Falls Spring Conf. ………….. 200.00 CANADA Alberta: Calgary Oldtimers Banquet ……… 167.66 Alberta: Edmonton 10th Yr. Breakfast ………….. 30.00 B.C.: Kamloops Roundup Comm . ……………… 196.00 B.C.: North Fraser Breakfast Meeting (Maple Ridge) 50.00 B.C.: Pacific Northwest Conference ……………. 222.50 B.C.: Fraser Valley Rally ……. 275.80 Ont.: Hamilton, Dist. Roundup …………….. 24.62 Ont.: N.E. Area Comm . ……. 242.09 Ont.: N.W. G.S. Comm . ….. 123.75 Ont.: Regional Conf. …….. 2,400.00 WEST INDIES Barbados, Bajan Community For 1970 (Bridgetown) …… 50.00 –

CONFERENCE REPORT AVAILABLE The Final Report of the 1971 General Service Conference is out and can be purchased from G.S.O. The cost is $1.75. Ask your G.S.R. to get one for your group. And, get one for yourself, as well.

A. A. Calendar of Events JULY 23-25

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Ohio State G.S. Conf. Write: Chm. 3603 Blceker Drive, Kettering, oh. Hagerstou’ii. Md., 1st Maryland State Cony., Write: Maryland State A.A. Cony., Box 671, Hagerstown. Presque Isle, Me., 1st Roundup, Write: Seery., Box 144, Fort Fairfield, Mc. Lompoc, Ca.. 4th Annu. District 22 Cony., Write: Chrm.. 524 Dana St., Apt. B., San Luis Obispo, Ca. Edson, Alberta, Can., 10th Amin. Roundup, Write: Chrm., Alberta 10th Amin. Roundup, Box 181, Edson. New York, N. Y., 8th Annu. NYS Cony., Write: Chrm., Box 208, Bowling Green Sta., New York.

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Mirth’ Beach, S.C. 3rd Annu. Fellowship-by-the-Sea, Write: Chrm., Box 1051, North Myrtle Beach. Detroit, Mi., 19th Michigan State (’onf., Write: 19th Michigan State Conf., Box 2100, Dearborn, Mi. Bristol, England, European Cone, of A.A. Write: The Conventioner. European Cony.. P.O. Box 86, Small Street, Bristol 1, England. Miles cm, Mt.. A.A. Fall Conf,, Write: Conf. Chrni., Box 241, Miles

City. Glenwood, Mimi., Peters Resort AllGal Minn. Area 2nd Annu. “Renewal’’, Write: Chrm., Box 111, Morris, Minn. Grand Forks, ND., State Roundup, Write: Co-Chrm., 612 N. 7th, Grand Forks. Winchester. Va., Four State & D.C. Get-Together, Write: Chrm., Box 651, Winchester.

Oxfords/ire, England. South Midland Intergroup Mini-Cony. Write: Chrm., South Midland Intergroup Mini-Cony., 32 Victoria Ave., Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, \VR9. 7DF, England. Hot Springs, Am’,, 31st Annu. State A.A. Cony., Write: Chrm., 8101 McDaniel Dr., Little Rock, At. Alexandria Bat’. N. Y., International Doctors A.A. Annu. Mtg. Write: Info. Secry., International Doctors A.A. Annual Meeting, 1950 Volney Rd., Youngstown, Ohio. Charleston, S.C. Southeast Conf., Write: Cony. Comm., Box 2021, Charleston. Hampton, Va., Annu. Va. State Assembly, Write: Chrm., 408 Tory Road, Virginia Beach, Va. Guelph, Omit., Can., 2nd Annu. Ccntral West Ont. Conf., Write: Chrrn.. West Ont. Conf., 392 Kitchener, Ont., Canada. Chautauqua Lake, N. Y,, 18th Annu. Chautauqua Tri-State Assembly, Write: Chrm., Box 96, Meadville, Pa.

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Dunifrics, Scotland, 18th Anni. Blue Bonnet Gathering, King Arms Hotel, Write: Chrm.. 184 Wythenshawe Rd., Northenden, Manchester M230PF, England. Amarillo, Tx., Top O’Tcxas Roundup Write: Chrns., Box 1015, AmanIb. Tx. Scottsdale, Az., 21st Arizona State Conf., Write: Chrm., State Conf. 6120 W. Pinchot Avenue, Phoenix, Az. Marci’, N. Y.. Fall Roundup, Write: Chrm., 425 Winton St., Syracuse, N. Y. Hi’an,us, Ma., Northeastern Regional Conf., Write: Chrm., Box 444, Kenmore Sta., Boston, Ma. Sault Ste, Marie, Ont.. Can., North! Northeast Conf., Write: Chrm., Box 805, Sault Ste. Marie. Atlantic Oty, N.J., South Jersey 7th Annu. A.A. Cony., Write: AlAnon Club, 761 Cass Street, Trenton, N.J.

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Bend, Or., 21st Annu. Oregon State Gen, Srvc. Conf., Write: Chrm., Rt. 3, Box 473, Bend, Or. Penticton, B.C. Can., B.C.-Yukon Area Assembly Conf., Write: Chrm., Box 38, Station A, Vancouver, B.C. Ottawa, Ont., Can., 20th Annu. Eastern Ont. Conf., (Bi-Lingual) Write: Conf. Chrm., Box 38, Terminal A, Ottawa. Fresno, Ca., Annu. Fall Conf., Write: Chrm., 5563 E. Inyo, Fresno. Denver, Co., State Cony., Write: Cony. Seery., 3236 S. Fairfax, Denver.

Box 4-5-9 is published 6 tunes a year be the General Service Office of Alcoliolics Anonymous, 468 Park Avenue, South. N. Y. C., N. Y 10016. SUBSCRIPTIONS. – Individual, 51.00 per vr.: Grout, $2.50 for each unit of 10 per yr. (Check s Single copies. 10 each. Checks payable to A.A. World Serm’ices, Inc.. Box 459, Grand Central Post Office, N. Y. C, N. Y. 10017.

INSTITUTIONS CORRESPONDENCE SERVICE We are now setting up this new service which we hope many of you will become interested in. it will consist of A.A. members on the outside who are interested in corresponding with A.A. members or groups in institutions. Please bear in mind that it would only be “letter writing” between A.A.’s and not helping members to look for jobs, obtain paroles or anything other than A.A. sharing. Here at G.S.O., we will have a list of the outside A.A. members who are willing to be in correspondence. Whenever an A.A. member or a group in an institution wishes to correspond, all you have to do is write to G.S.O. and we will give your name to the members on the list. For those of you who wish to join the Institutions Correspondence Service, it will be most rewarding, as many of you know by serving on the Institutions assignment. You will receive the institutions Bulletin three times a year and the Directories forA.A. Groups Rehabilitation Cenin Hospitals ters and Correctional Facilities.

INSTITUTIONS DISCOUNT PACKAGE We have changed the contents of the Institutions Discount Packages. Pamphlets now included in addition to the others are: “Problems Other Than Alcohol,” “Why Alcoholics Anonymous in Anonymous,” and “A Member’s-Eye View of A.A.” The price of the packages remain the same, men’s, women’s, hospital at $3.00, jail at $2.00. We also have a new Institutions Discount Package in Spanish; the price is $3.50. If you are interested in a breakdown of these packages, please get in touch with G.S.O.