BOX 4#5#9

NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A.A. August-September 1981

Vol. 26, No. 4

Sponsorship Workshops Give a District New Vigor We hear a lot about the decline of sponsorship in A.A. today. But in our program, where there’s a problem, someone usually comes up with a solution. One such solution is a series of sponsorship workshops, developed by A.A.’s in Phoenix, Ariz., District 12. Dave W. sent us the suggested guidelines: “Our format has been extremely successful, with participants and panelists alike. Two important points have proved to be: (1) It is an exchange of information, with just as much input from the floor as from the panelists; and (2) bigger does not mean better! Workshops with a total of 15 to 20 attending have worked; one with nearly 30 was almost selfdefeating. “Our format has been a twohour meeting, with either three or four panelists, including the chairperson, each speaking on a given topic for 10-15 minutes. Open discussion from the floor follows each presentation, for 15-20 minutes, and then we move on to the next speaker with no break. (The coffee machines are right there, and people are encouraged to come and go as they please.) “Open discussion does not mean going around by turns this is a workshop, not a discussion group. ’Open’ means open. Problems are brought up; questions are asked; answers and suggestions are given freely, with a lot of back and forth. “Drunkalogs and experiences not related to the topic at hand are discouraged. Attendance can be kept realistic in several ways,

such as announcing that it is a two-hour workshop and announcing panelists and their topics. “The topics we have covered so far are: working with treatment centers; dealing with problems

other than alcohol; importance of a home group; dealing with problems during sobriety; the spirituality of the program; dealing with anger and passive-aggressive behav(continued on p. 2)

Small groups are more effective for workshops, an Arizona district Jziiid after experimenting.

Smoke at Meetings a Problem? Some Ideas

Why Are ’Special’ A.A. Groups Needed?

“I had to quit going to A.A. meetings because of the excessive tobacco smoke,” writes a longtime member (who suffers from emphysema). “We tried to organize a ’No Smoking for One Hour’ meeting, but it never got off the ground.” That same member goes on to write movingly of the A.A. program as “the most satisfying answer to a lifetime of searching for a spiritual guidance I could ac(continued on p. 3)

The old rhyme about “doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief” is an apt one for A.A. We all know people from a variety of professions, with a variety of preferences, who are sober in A.A. because they possess “the only requirement for membership … a desire to stop drinking.” Some A.A.’s, though, are alarmed by the upsurge of “special” groups – for doctors, women, (continued on p. 5)

Box 4-5-9 is published bimonthly by the General Service Office ofA Icoholics Anonymous, 468 Park Avenue South, New York, N. Y.

‘

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1981

Mail address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central

Station, New York, NY 10163. Subscriptions: Individual, $1.50 per )’car; group, $3.50 Jor each unit of 10 per yr. (’heck — made payable to A.A. W.S., Inc. — should accompany order. —

Sponsorship Workshops

(continued from p. 1) ior; responsibilities in sponsorship; dependence in both sponsor and sponsee; A.A.’s Third Legacy; dealing with self-destructive tendencies; getting into Steps Four and Five; and the sponsor as Superman! Wonderwoman. “Carefully matching up the topic with the panelist, either by asking the panelist to choose or by assigning a topic, has worked extremely well. The average unbroken sobriety of our panelists has been 14 years. We have usually had two panelists from the district and two from outside it. “We lay out ground rules for questions and discussion up front if we don’t, we soon start hearing drunkalogs. A good way to get the ball rolling in open discussion is for the chairperson to ask some pertinent question of the panelist, then call for questions from the floor. If someone on the floor answers a question from the floor, this is immediately encouraged, and information flows freely. If someone asks a question or raises a point that will be covered by a later panelist, he or she is informed of that and encouraged to ask again later (this also keeps panelists on their toes). “Feedback from those who attended is sought about three days to a week later. What did they like? Did they have the chance to participate fully? What was missed? What was covered too fully? “Of course, no one is discouraged from attending, but new-

comers are not encouraged, either. We asked two new people – less than 90 days – to attend one workshop and give us feedback, and both said they were interested but it was way over their heads. Another, with just one year’s sobriety, said she was so exhilarated by the amount of information that she had trouble sleeping! “Our workshops have indeed been exciting – but more important, they work. Sponsorship is way up in the district; people are talking about it in meetings and group membership is increasing in virtually all groups. And people are even asking to get involved in service.” That’s what is happening in Phoenix. If your group, district, or area has a new (or tried and true) way of approaching sponsorship, we at the General Service Office would like to hear from you, so we can share more ideas in Box 4-5-9. New Three-Month Listing of Events Answers Requests

When you turn to the Bulletin Board in this issue and in the future, you’ll find that something new appears – an additional month’s listing of events. Readers tell us that the issue of Box 4-5-9 containing information on a function for A.A.’s sometimes arrives too late for them to make plans to attend. Thus, starting right now, we list the events for not two but three months – the two months listed on p. 1 as the date of the issue, plus one month ahead. (In this August-September issue, you’ll find conferences, conventions, etc. for August, September, and October; next time, we’ll list October, November, and December functions.) Always be sure to check the Bulletin Board page for the publication deadline. If you don’t let us know about your event in time, we can’t let others know in time!

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Ordering a Directory? Please Say You’re in A.A.

There’s a time and a place for revealing A. A. membership. Tradition reminds us not to do it at the media level, and we all make our own decisions among friends and business associates. But there’s one time we should clearly state that we’re in A.A., and that is when ordering one of the A.A. directories. Some A.A.’s especially friends who correspond with us regularly have been somewhat offended by receiving letters from G.S.O. asking whether they are members. Literature orders, though, are generally handled by non-A.A. personnel, and because directories are confidential publications, it’s part of the routine to write and ask whether the would-be purchaser is in the program. Each directory is clearly marked “Confidential” on the cover, and the second page says (in part): “The A.A. directories are considered confidential publications and ought to be used for A.A. purposes only. . . . Directory requests from non-A.A. sources are referred to the . . . delegate in the area from which the request comes for approval, before issuing the directory.” Thus, when we receive an order, we do need to know whether it comes from a member or a nonalcoholic. So – when you order a directory, please identify yourself as a member. And if we have to ask, please forgive us! It will help us at G.S.O. serve you better, faster. Thanks! Districts Relay Experience to Produce Livelier Area Meetings

The Southern Florida Area has come up with a simple, practical idea to ensure that vital experience won’t slip through the cracks from one quarterly meeting to another. They’ve developed a

questionnaire listing essential information. The district that hosts one quarterly meeting fills it out, then sends a copy to the district that’s having the next. Starting from the top, the form gives the date and location of the meeting and then the chairperson’s name, stating that the chairperson can be contacted to give the benefit of district experience. Questions put first things first: Coffeehow many gallons? Cost per gallon? Pastry/cookies, if any? Hotel rooms used? How many complimentary rooms? Did you furnish a free room to the delegate? How many meeting rooms? Speaker meetings? Committee meetings? Workshop(s)? Showing of A.A. films?

Call for Added Material on Ebby T., Bill W.’s ’Sponsor’ Nell Wing, G.S.O.’s nonalcoholic archivist, tells us she has received a request for more information about Ebby T., the man who first helped Bill W. get sober. If you have recollections, written material anything at all to share, you’re asked to get in touch with Nell c/o Archives Department, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. Smoke at Meetings (continued from p. 1) cept.” His letter is typical of many that arrive at G.S.O., expressing regret and sometimes anger because of the necessity to cut down on, or even cut out, attendance at meetings. Increasingly, though, A.A.’s in the U.S. and Canada are finding solutions. Whether it’s victims of emphysema or smoke allergy, or

Banquet facilities? Nonsmoking section? Public address system? Microphones on the floor? How many registered? Starting hour for Sunday meeting? Lunch break? Two collections? (Saturday for host district, Sunday for area) An additional column leaves room for “Comments that may be helpful to next host.” A sample response included several suggestions: “Organize your committee structure several months in advance. We had a monthly committee meeting; everyone had a job and knew exactly what it was. “Give new people an opportunity to get involved in the meeting program. “Grapevine and literature displays were successful. “Get to know your hotel coordinator in advance – it helps!”

simply an ever-larger “silent minority” coming to the fore, members are modifying group practices or forming new groups to deal with the problem. A Connecticut member writes about one solution: “It happens that my home group is a ’smokeless’ group. We have always tried to make it clear to anyone who attends that we are not being judgmental about smoking and are not trying to get anybody to stop but simply that the members of the group have agreed by their own group conscience not to smoke in the meeting room itself. “We even provide a five-minute ’nicotine break’ for the smokers, right after the leader’s qualification and before the discussion. It’s a smaller group than the others in town, but it has a loyal following.” How does a “smokeless” meeting get started? Essentially, the way any new group gets started: A bunch of people get together and decide to do it. (Occasionally, one or more members will try to “en-

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force” no-smoking customs in a group – and that works as well as trying to enforce anything else in A.A.!) Like everything in the program, it works best when all or most members agree on the ground rules, whether these in-

If a group decides to keep its meeting room free of smoke, one solution may be asking smokers to light up only in certain areas.

volve no smoking at any time, smoking breaks, or any other custonis. All right, say the smokers, but what about the nervous beginner, who has barely managed to stay away from alcohol for a few days? Can we ask that person not to smoke? Oldtimers offer various solutions, the easiest being to take the newcomer to another meeting. Most towns and cities have several on any given night. If no alternative is available, it’s up to the group conscience. Sometimes, regular members will change the ground rules for one night, or get together and take the beginner out for coffee and an informal “meeting.” Even apart from the smokeless groups, there is a growing tendency to show consideration for nonsmoking A.A.’s. In some communities, the majority of groups now have no-smoking sections. Several report success with the practice of suggesting that people smoke every other time they want a cigarette, or ration themselves to fewer than usual in the course of a meeting. What’s your experience? We get many requests for suggestions here at G.S.O., and we can answer only by sharing your experience. Write and let us know what that is. Thanks. Drawing copyright ‘by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.; reprinted with permission

Delegate Corner

Trustee Corner Welcome Three New Regional Trustees

Alternate: It’s a Real Job!

Six trustees were elected to the General Service Board following the 31st General Service Conference in April, and you’ll meet them – three by three – in this and the next issue of Box 4-5-9. In the Southeast Region, Joe K. succeeds Sam S.; for the East Central Region, Buck B. replaces Virginia H.; and from Western Canada, Al H. will complete the unexpired term of Aime D. (who was elected in 1980 and died shortly afterward, on a Twelfth Step call). Joe and Buck will each serve the usual fouryear term. All three new trustees have solid backgrounds in service, each starting as G.S.R. and working in var ious capacities from D.C.M. on. All were Conference delegates and remained active after their two-year terms. Joe became his district’s treasurer; Buck, state chairperson; Al, a tireless speaker for public information and cooperation with the professional community. Just as important, each of the new regional trustees brings business expertise to the board, along with enthusiasm and dedication. So, to all of youwelcome!

Think an alternate for a service job has a useless or thankless task? The three alternates who stepped into the delegate’s job for the 31st General Service Conference this April discovered that’s far from true! Betty S. from South Carolina knew for a year before the Conference that she was the new delegate. Frank G. (Eastern Massachusetts) found out only two weeks ahead of time. Tom L. (Northern Minnesota) got a call from the hospitalized delegate and had to leave for New York only two days later. But the service structure works! All three had been actively involved in their service jobs, and with some last-minute cram sessions, a few hurried calls to G.S.O., and the support of friends (and meetings!), all three arrived at the Roosevelt Hotel well prepared for their week’s work. As Tom L. put it: “Thanks to all the mailings to alternates, attendance at all assembly functions, and the cooperation and friendship of friends near and far, it’s possible to come to this Conference on very short notice and function effectively.”

Who Needs Those G.S.R. Reports? Intergroup-Area Cooperation Benefits A. A.’s

Every G.S.R. can identify with the experience of giving a report to the group – with nobody listening. But that doesn’t always happen. Recently, a member from Westlock, Alta., sent us a copy of a letter she received a few years ago while she was a G.S.R.: “I moved here a while back,” the letter said, “from another area where I joined A.A. You almost floored me when the chairman said the last five minutes of the meeting were for you. I felt kind of cheated, as I was enjoying people’s A.A. talks. I got a bit resentful as this happened meeting after meeting. “Then one night, you said, ’Are there any questions?’ And I questioned your right to take up the last five minutes of every meeting. You explained in detail, as did several other members after the meeting. After that, I started listening. “Thanks for enlightening me on where the Big Book, the Grapevine, and A.A. literature come from. And that was not all. You told us about the chain of servants for A.A., and told us briefly what each link in the chain did to keep A.A. alive and thriving. (continued on next page)

An “Information A.A. Day” geared to members of the Fellowship generated enthusiasm among Toronto A.A.’s in May. Joint planning and participation by the Toronto Intergroup and the Eastern Ontario General Service Committee made for an effective and well-attended event. Workshops were the heart of both morning and afternoon sessions, with participation by representatives of both general service and intergroup committees. There were two workshops each on public information, cooperation with the professional community, institutions (correctional and medical), and intergroup and general service history and structure. The morning’s program concluded with the delegate’s report and talks by the regional trustee and a staff member from G.S.O. In the afternoon, there was an Ask-It Basket session, with questions from the floor answered appropriately by A.A.’s from either the intergroup or the area committee, depending on the subject. A crowd of 375 members went away better informed and more eager to serve than ever.

G.S.R. Corner

Central Office Corner Ell

G.S.O. Expansion and Refurbishingan Update Early this year (Feb.-Mar. 1981 issue), Box 4-5-9 reported to you optimistically on the expansion and refurbishing of your General Service Office, expecting it would be completed by now. Not so! We ran into two unexpected delays. First, one of the tenants occupying our expansion space would not vacate because his new offices were not ready. Second, when the various subcontractors’ actual bids came in, they were far over the estimates that were the basis for the appropriation from the General Service Board. So we had to change designs and specifications to reduce costs. However, it finally became possible to begin demolition in May, and progress has been rapid since then. The logistics are complicated, because the office must keep operating. A series of phased moves involves the staff, the supporting departments, the A.A. archives, and the A.A. Grapevinekeeping ahead of construction crews and workmen as they also move from one area to another. Our revised best estimate of the completion of the entire project is the end of 1981. Until then, help us have patience. We’ll keep you informed. G.S.R. Corner (continued) “I wonder what would have happened to me had not A.A. been kept alive. Now, I hope that someday I can become a link in that service chain. I really wish that my first group had included G.S.R. reports at each meeting. I realize your job is not an easy one, but please believe me when I say that you have made A.A. much more than just a place to sober up in. You made it a rewarding life for me – to know that I’m one of this marvelous Fellowship and may be able to share this with others.”

T1:4 In a cleared space, a design is becoming reality: new offices for G.S. 0. staff and stenographers.

’Special’ Groups (continued froin p. 1) men, young people, gays, lawyers, members of the clergy – that seem to indicate a trend toward exclusiveness. This letter, from a group secretary, is typical of many that come in to G.S.O.: “At a recent meeting, I announced the anniversary of a member of a local ’women only’ group. At the business meeting following, someone raised the question of the status of a group that restricts its membership. He went on to cite the Third Tradition. There was discussion pro and con, but no resolution of the question. Can you help us out?” That one simple question brings up a variety of issues. Can a group that excludes any alcoholic be listed as an A.A. group? The General Service Conference says no to that, and thus G.S.O. makes a distinction between a “group” (listed in the A.A. directories) and a “meeting” (not listed). Dr. John L. Norris, then chair person of the General Service Board, made that distinction in a 1977 presentation: “In general, we have inclined to this view: When other requirements are added that might seem to exclude some alcoholics, these should be considered AA meetings and not A.A. groups. We have never discouraged A.A.’s from forming special-purpose meetings of any or all kinds to meet the needs of interested individuals, but we have been hesitant to con-

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sider as groups those that might seem to exclude any alcoholic, for whatever reason. “Many members feel that no A.A. group is special and, therefore, that no group should be labeled as such or even give the impression that it is ’special.’ However, the fact is that such groups do exist. . . . These groups feel that the ’labels’ serve the purpose of attraction (double identification) and are not intended to imply exclusion of other alcoholics.” In reality, while special groups are formed to meet the needs of a certain group within A.A., they are generally not exclusive. They are open to any A.A. who wishes to attend; their purpose is sobriety. (One man, who got sober at the age of 70, attended his first meeting at a young people’s group – and identified!) Is there a real need for special groups? In an October 1977 Grapevine article, K. S. said: “When I discussed the purpose of such groups with people who attend [them], they expressed a definite belief that they could not be entirely open about themselves in most regular A.A. groups. . Homosexuals believe that their sexual orientation and the specifics of their emotional relationships would not be understood or accepted in regular A.A. meetings. Young people are convinced that their life-styles . . . are not understandable to older members. And professionals feel they get more understanding from those they (continued on p. 6)

’Special’ Groups (continued from p. 5) consider their peers, particularly in matters relating to their conduct in their professions when they were active alcoholics. “Furthermore, there seems to be genuine concern about anonymity”especially, K. S. noted, among people whose professional status calls for licensing, homosexuals who are in groups made up mostly of heterosexuals, and young people who were once involved illegally with drugs. “Members of special-purpose groups are certain that many of their kind would never be able to get themselves to A.A. if they had to enter through a regular group. “Whether or not we agree with all this thinking, the point is that many alcoholics do believe in it. And they believe in it seriously enough to form these special groups and make them work.” It has been suggested that a helpful phrase is “special-composition groups” since all A.A. groups have the same purpose: sobriety. (For more about what constitutes an A.A. group, see page 32 of the pamphlet “The A.A. Group,” which lists six points that describe a group. Or look at the fourth page of a U.S. or Canada A.A. directory for this statement: “Traditionally, two or more alcoholics meeting together for purposes of sobriety may consider themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they are self-supporting and have no outside affiliation.” A number of special groups have found it helpful to organize on the international level, with a steering committee or central contact, and an address where interested A.A.’s can write for information on how to get in touch with them. On p. 8 in the 1981 U.S. and Canada directories and p. iii in the International, you will find: Birds of a Feather International (for “airmen and other licensed or

directly affiliated people in the field of aviation”) International Advisory Council for Gay Men/Lesbian Women International Advisory Council of Young People in A.A. International Deaf Group by Mail International Group Doctors in A.A. International Lawyers in A.A. World Hello (International Cor respondence Group) Some of these groups (for example, International Doctors, Lawyers, and Young People) not only share information and experience, but also hold annual conferences. Others, such as World Hello and Deaf Groups by Mail, are for correspondence only. But whatever the secondary purpose, any group within A.A. organized or not – has but one primary purpose: recovery from alcoholism. Letters Sent to G.S.O. Tell How A.A. Beats the Odds in Far Places Where the phone is a lifeline From Saudi Arabia, Godfrey D. of the Desert Group sent us the most up-to-date phone numbers, since there is no way of informing people publicly about A.A. in this Muslim country (where alcohol is illegal). Godfrey writes: “For the time being, the names I’m sending are the best contacts, though they are liable to change. I myself am about to change jobs, so it’s no use listing me. For obvious reasons, we keep everything pretty quiet. If members would contact general service offices in either New York or London before coming out, they might save themselves the frustration and disappointment of thinking there is no group here. We hope you will

emphasize that the phone numbers I’m sending are the absolute lifeline, and that it is no good coming here thinking that there is any way of getting information otherwise. “We have about eight members at present, and a week without a meeting is a rare occurrence, though time and place are subject to change just about any time. “We feel sure there must be a number of newcomers as well as visiting firemen who would welcome a meeting.” Hope in the midst of poverty And now, we move to the West Indies; Judy K. from Oceanport, N.J., tells us: “I have just spent a vacation in the hills of Jamaica. While there, I met five active alcoholics. As I shared my experience, strength, and hope, four of them expressed interest in getting sober. I decided through God’s guidance to provide them with an A.A. meeting. “The woman I was traveling with was also recovering. We had a meeting, and 21 people attended. These people are poverty-stricken–no shoes, few clothes, no electricity, no bathrooms, etc. I have never been so deeply touched in my life as I was by the warmth in that meeting. The Higher Power was so real, it was mind-boggling. “They would like some help on how to proceed, and I told them I would contact you to get a beginners packet. (They were so poor, buying a stamp was a hardship; they will receive mail, though.) There is an A.A. meeting in Kingston, 50 miles away. These people travel by foot – they have no transportation. Maybe there is a way to get some people in Kingston to help. “When I left, the chairman had two days of sobriety. Maintenance is a severe problem there, but he was totally straight. It was great to be part of it. Can you help them? Is there more I can do? I am sending a Big Book and a ’Twelve and Twelve.’ Thank you.”

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THE BULLETIN BOARD August-September 1981

ITEMS AND IDEAS ON AREA GATHERINGS FOR A.A.’S – VIA G.S.O.

Calendar of Events

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AUGUST July 30-Aug. 2 – Fishlake; Utah. Second Annual Fest. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 913, Richfield, UT 84701 July 30-Aug. 2 – Beachwood, Ohio. Intl. Doctors in A.A. Annual Mtg. Write: Info. Secy. I.D.A.A., 1950 Volney Rd, Youngstown, OH 44511 July 31-Aug. 2 – Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Sixth Reg. Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 16276, Lansing, MI 48901 July 31-Aug. 2 Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada. Seventh Annual Rally. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 432, Campbell River, B.C. July 31-Aug. 2 – Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada. Fourth Annual Mini-Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1156, Truro, N.S. July 31-Aug. 2 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ninth Annual Lower Mainland Young People’s Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1057, Sta. A, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 2P1 6-9 Hot Springs. Arkansas. 41st Annual State Cony. Write: Ch., 2326 Louisiana, Little Rock, AR 72206 7-9 Camp Tama, Japan. Step Seminar. Write: Ch., S.S.I.C., Box 9, FPO Seattle, WA 98767 7-9 – Uranium City, Saskatchewan, Canada. Sixth Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 696, Uranium City, Sask. SOJ 2W0 7-9 – Lake Whitney, Texas. 29th Quarterly Young People’s Conf. Write: Ch., 7212 Stonewall Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76140 7-9 – Omaha, Nebraska. Cornhusker Roundup IV. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 425, Bellevue, NE 68005 7-9Casa Grande, Arizona. 12th Sahuaro Agape Weekend. Write: Secy., 813 W. San Miguel, Phoenix, AZ 85013 7-9 – Columbus, Ohio. State Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 2131, Columbus, OH 43216 7-9 – Sparks, Nevada. Fourth Annual Sierra Nevada Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 3529, Sparks, NV 89431 7-9 Odessa, Texas. 7th Annual W. Tex. Roundup. Write: Ch., 2700 Bagley, Odessa, TX 79763 8-10 – RiviŁre-du-Loup, Quebec, Canada. Seventh Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 951, Rivi’ere-du-Loup, Que. G5R 2N1 11-13 – Anchorage, Alaska. State Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 280, Wasilla, AK 99687 12-15 – Louisville, Kentucky. S.E. Conf. Write: Host Corn., P.O. Box 7203, Louisville, KY 40207 13-16 – Washington, District of Columbia. Second Annual Metro. Area Roundup for Gay A.A.’s. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1697, Washington, DC 20013

Planning an October, November, or December Event?

Please be sure to send your information on October, November, or December events for A.A.’s in time to reach G.S.O. byAugustl5. This is the calendar deadline for the October-November issue of Box 459 (to be mailed September 15). Naturally, G.S.O. cannot check on all the information submitted. We must rely on local A.A.’s to describe the events accurately. 14-16 – Barrhead, Alberta, Canada. Sixth Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1181, Barrhead, Alta. TOG OEO 14-16 – Guelph, Ontario, Canada. 12th Annual Cent. W. Ont. Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1201, Kitchener, Ont. N2G 4G8 14-16 – Chicago, Illinois. State Conf. Write: Conf. Corn., 205 W. Wacker, Suite 1923, Chicago, IL 60606 14-16 – Moorhead, Minnesota. Eighth Annual Red River Valley Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 558, Moorhead, MN 56560 21-23 – Kerrville, Texas. Third Annual Hill Country Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 2153, Kerrville, TX 78028 21-23 – Mammoth Lakes, California. Fifth Annual Hi-Sierra Camp-Out. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1331, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 21-23 St. Peter, Minnesota. 33rd S. Minn. Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 215, St. Peter, MN 56082 21-23 – Denver, Colorado. State Cony. Write: Ch., 6145 Powell Rd., Parker, CO 80134 21-23 – Dallas, Texas. Lone Star Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 5112, Richardson, TX 75080 21-23 – Oxley, Ontario, Canada. Midwest Roundup IV of Gay Persons in A.A. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1203, Northland Ct., Southfield, MI 48075 22-23 – Niagara Falls, New York. Day of Learning. Write: Ch., 6022 Baer Rd., Sanborn, NY 14132 27-30 – Atlanta, Georgia. S. Reg. Young People’s Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 13888, Sta. K, Atlanta, GA 30324 28-30 – Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada. Fifth Annual N. Vancouver I. Rally. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1770, Port Hardy, B.C. VON 2P0

28-30 Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Rendezvous IV Annual Camp-Out. Write: Ch., 11750 Friar Dr., Hayden Lake, ID 83835 SEPTEMBER 3-6 – West Palm Beach, Florida. S. Fla. Roundup. Write: Ch., 1728 Latham Rd., West Palm Beach, FL 33409 4-6 – C’hapleau, Ontario, Canada.14th Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1303, Chapleau, Ont. POM.1KO 4-6 – Abilene, Texas. First Annual Big Country Conf. Write: Co-Ch., 2850 Southwest Dr., Abilene, TX 79605 4-6 – Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. 16th Annual S. Okanagan Labor Day Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 524, Penticton, B.C. 4-6 – Norman, Oklahoma. Fifth Annual Conf. Write: Secy., P.O. Box 137, Norman, OK 73070 4-6 – Houma, Louisiana. First Bayou Land Jamboree. Write: Ch., 401 Mike St., Houma, LA 70360 4-6 – Ste ttler, Alberta, Canada. Second Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1961, Stettler, Alta. 4-6 – Beaver, Utah. Sixth Annual Conv.,Great Outdoor Mtg. Write: Co-Ch., P.O. Box 5631, Beaver, UT 82713 4-6 – Portland, Oregon. 31st Area Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 40664, Portland, OR 97240 (continued)

Closed Meeting Topics From the Grapevine

August: To wind up a Step series, “Beyond Step Three” and “Like a Rose” remind us how important it is to work all the Steps – and to continue working them; two other articles underline the value of involvement in one group for personal growth; four articles about anonymity can help a Traditions discussion with their varying views on Eleven and Twelve. September: Use “Action Begins at Home” and “Basic to Freedom” to start a Fourth Step meeting; read “Governed by Love” and explore personal applications of the Second Tradition.

Flip up this end of page – many more events listed on reverse side

SEPTEMBER (continued) 4-6 -Dryden, Ontario, Canada. Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., 51 Wilson Trailer Pk., 155 Colonization Ave., Dryden, Ont. P8N 2M5 4-6 -Arlington, Virginia. Ninth Spanish-Speaking Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 4522, Falls Church, VA 22044 4-6 – Evansville, Indiana. Young People’s Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 4466, Evansville, IN 47711 4-7 – Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. 34th Annual Rally. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 141, Powell River, B.C. 5 – Lanigan, Saskatchewan, Canada. Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 885, Lanigan, Sask. SOK 2M0 7.]] – Los Angeles, California. Sober Sailors Cruise to Ensenada. Write: Ch., 5008 Mecca St., Tarzana, CA 91356 8-13 – Ocean City, Maryland. 24th Annual Session-by-the-Sea. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 23, Denton, MD 21629 10-13 – Jekyll Island, Georgia. Third Annual Serenity Weekend. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 98, Nahunta, GA 31553 11-13 – Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. 15th Annual Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 163, Dunnville, Ont. 11-13 – Rosemont, Illinois. Intl. Lawyers in A.A. Seventh Annual Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 591, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 11-13 – La Tuque, Quebec, Canada. 14th Annual Conf. Write: Corn., C.P. 165, La Tuque, Que. G9X 3P4 11-13 – Nashville, Indiana. Tenth S.E. Ind. Intergroup Conf. Write: Ch., Rte. 1, Box 151, Florence, IN 47020 11-13 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 30th Annual E. Ont. Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 3067, Sta. D, Ottawa, Ont. K1P 6H6 11-13 – Anchorage, Alaska. State Cony. Write: Ch., 4619 Spenard Rd., Anchorage, AK 99503 11-13 – Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. 14th Annual Roundup. Write: Secy., P.O. Box 3266, Revelstoke, B.C. 11-13 – Many, Louisiana. 13th Annual W. La. Conf. Write: Ch., 103 Miller Ave., Leesville, LA 71446

11-13 – Santa Maria, California. 14th Annual 22nd Dist. Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1631, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 11-13 – Moodus, Connecticut. 23rd Annual Get-Together. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 254, Greenwich, CT 06830 12-19 -New York, New York. Bermuda Cruise Without Booze. Write: Ch., 11 Briarwood Dr., Windsor, CT 06095 13 – El Paso, Texas. 36th Anniv. El Paso A.A. Write: Ch., 3330 Douglas St., El Paso, TX 79903 17-20 – Montgomery, Alabama. 26th Annual Ala-/NW. Fla. Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 601, Montgomery, AL 36101 18-20 – Oxnard, California. Third Annual Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 5212, Ventura, CA 93003 18-20 – Wichita, Kansas. 25th Annual State Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1979, Wichita, KS 67201 18-20 – Newbury, Ohio. 29th Punderson Pk. Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 4000, Newbury, OH 44065 18-20 – Duluth, Minnesota. 36th Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 6771, Duluth, MN 55806 18-20 – Lenox, Massachusetts. 18th Annual State Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 145, Tewksbury, MA 01876 18-20 – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Autumn Leaf Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 522, Hamilton, Ont. 18-20 – Salt Lake City, Utah. Skyline Conf. Write: Ch., 1086 Barberry, Salt Lake City, UT 84107 25-27 – Big Sky, Montana. Serenity Celebration. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 4, Big Sky, MT 59716 2.5-27 – Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Autumn in the Ozarks Conf. Write: Ch., Rte. 1, Box 183, Lakeview, AR 72642 25-27 – Vancouver, Washington. Columbia River Young People’s Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1594, Portland, OR 97207 25-27 – Winnipeg, Manitoba. 37th Annual Conf. Write: Ch., 355 Lockwood St., Winnipeg, Man. R3N 1S3 25-27- Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada.22nd Annual Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 85, Grande Prairie, Alta. T8V 3A1

25-27 – Akron, Ohio. E. Cent. Reg. Forum. Write: Reg. Forum Secy., P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Sta., New York, NY 10163 25-27 – Arlington, Texas. 18th Annual Area Fall Assy. and Conf. Write: Ch., 1329 W. Redbud Dr., Hurst, TX 76053 OCTOBER 2-4 – Bellingham, Washington. Area Assy. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 2268, Bellingham, WA 98227 2-4 – Jacksons Mill, West Virginia. Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 825, Clarksburg, WV 26301 9-11 – Lake Yale, Florida. 14th Annual Autumn Mtgs. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 996, Merritt Island, FL 32952 9-11 – Brighton, London, England. Annual Southern Cony. Write: Conv., P.O. Box 514, 11 Reddllffe Gardens, London, England SW10 9BQ 9.11 – Somerset, New Jersey. 11th Annual N.E. Reg. Cony. Write: Ch., 29 Rose St., South River, NJ 08882 9-11 – Orilla, Ontario, Canada. 16th Annual Georgian Bay Dist. Conf. Write: Host Corn., P.O. Box 969, Southampton, Ont. NOH 2L0 10-11 – Brooks, Alberta, Canada. Roundup. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 592, Brooks, Alta. TOJ OJO 16-18 – London, Ontario, Canada. 28th Annual W. Ont. Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 725, London, Ont. N6A 4Y8 16-18 -Albany, New York. 30th Annual Area Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 6042, Albany, NY 12206 16-18 – Camp Tama, Japan. Fall Far East Roundup. Write: Ch., S.S.I.C., Box 9, FPO Seattle, WA 98767 29-Nov. 1 – Memphis, Tennessee. Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 41274, Memphis, TN 38104 29-Nov. 1 – Augusta, Georgia. 28th State Cony. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 610, Augusta, GA 30903 30-Nov. 1 – Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Young People’s Fourth Annual Conf. Write: Ch., P.O. Box 1112, Downingtown, PA 19355