BOX 4-5-9 NEWS AND NOTES FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A. A. Vol. 14 No.5

Fall 1969

October Is a Big A.A. Month A.A.’s very first World Service Meetingthe first mailing of registration and housing forms for the 19 70 Miami Beach Convention Bill W. ‘s 35th Anniversary Dinner- all these events make this October a big month for A.A. ‘s everywhere.

Fl RST WORLD SERVICE MEETING EVER HELD

From the United KingdomW.D.W. and Allan B.; and from the U.S. and Canada (chosen by the 1969 General Service Conference) – Warren S., Laguna Beach, Calif., and Charles D., Flint, Mich. In the next issue of Box 4-5-9 (Nov. 15) we’ll bring you news of their meetings.

REGISTRATION STARTS FOR 1970 CONVENTION

A.A.’s first World Service Meeting will be held October 9-11 , with delegates from fifteen countries: From Australia-Mrs. Doreen H. and Ernest L.; Belgium – Adolph Y. and Andries Van Staen, nonalcoholic chairman of their G.S. Board;Guatemala-Gustavo C. ;Costa Rica-Roberto G.; ColombiaArturo E. From Finland-Johan Y.T . and Veikko Kuosmanen; FranceJacques A. and Roger P.; Germany ·-G u enter B. and Dr. Walter H. Lechler, nonalcoholic member of their G.S. Board. From Holland- Piet J. deW ., and Hans K.; Mexico Antonio B. and Jorge V.; New Zealand-Irvan T. and Ian MacE.; Norway-Haakon C. and Erling N.; South AfricaGlen B. and Andries K .

Miami Beach housing accommodations will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. So- when the first registration and housing forms reach you by October 15, return them quickly!

Fontainebleau Hotel

Our 35th Anniversary Year International Convention, July 3-5, 1970, in Miami Beach, Fla., already looks like the biggest in A.A. history. (Previous ones have been in

DINNER AND A.A. MEETING

Bill’s anniversary will be celebrated at a dinner sponsored by the New York Intergroup Association Saturday, October 11, at the New York Hilton Hotel. We are sure Bill’s “What hath God wrought!” will be truly in the air as the World Service Meeting delegates from fifteen countries join in this glorious and heartwarming event. The dinner follows the closing session of the World Service Meeting.

Cleveland, 1950; St. Louis, 1955; Long Beach, 1960, and Toronto, 1965.) Members in Dublin, Frankfort and many U.S. cities have already chartered planes. Festivities will begin with a dance at the Fontainebleau (the A.A. headquarters hotel), Thursday evening, July 2, and close with a big star-studded variety show Sunday evening, July 5, in Convention Hall. Bill W. and Lois will be there, and many world-famous non-A.A. friends in the alcoholism field-not to mention thousands of A.A.’s from everywhere, with meetings practically around the clock. The Eden Roc Hotel will be AlAnon and Alateen headquarters, and all Big meetings will be in the giant air-conditioned Convention Auditorium. So bring the family they’ll enjoy the beach!

Why Are A.A. Elections Different? Unlike most political and club elections, hundreds have successfully been held in A.A., free of politicking, railroading, or any residue of bad feeling. The secret is the Third Legacy procedure for choosing our “trusted servants.” It has. made possible hapPY, democratic elections of group officers, intergroup committee members and general service trustees. Thisfall the Third Legacy procedure will guide U.S . and Canadian general service assemblies in choosing Panel 20 delegates to the 20th General Service Conference ,meeting of North America. Unique to A.A., this special election procedure for choosing delegates is clearly described in the new “A.A. Service Manual” ()ilictured here), formerly the “Third Legacy Manual.” In brief, it is: All members of the area general service committee are considered candidates for the delegate’s job

unless they withdraw when the chairman asks if any are unable to serve. Remaining names are all written on a blackboard. All G.S.R.’s and committee members cast written ballots, one choice to a ballot, and the tally for each candidate is posted on the blackboard. The first candidate to receive twothirds of the total is elected. After the second ballot, any candidate with less than one-fifth of the total is withdrawn automatically; after the third, candidates with less than one-third are withdrawn. If no one is elected by the fourth ballot, the assembly can hold a fifth or “go to the hat,” which is always used if no one is elected on the fifth. Many A.A. elections prove how well this procedure works, eliminating the influences of “factions,” etc. For further details, see the “A.A. Service Manual.”

A.A.’s FIRST TRUSTEE AT LARGE

recommendation of the General Service Conference. At present, the Board consists of eight distinguished nonalcoholics, eight A.A. members, chosen regionally, and four A.A. general service trustees. The A.A.’s serving as “general service” (rather than “regional”) trustees were chosen for their professional or business skills and have traditionally all been from the New York area because of heavy demands on their time. Your group-through itsG.S.R.is now being formally notified about the election, final phases of which will occur at the 20th General Service Conference meeting in New York, April 20-25, 1970.

Coming up: the first election of a General Service Board trustee at large. Under the new Board plan, this first trustee at large is to be chosen from the U.S. and later, one will be chosen from Canada. Your General Service Conference Committee will be in touch with you concerning the election of a candidate from your area. The election, to choose an A.A. general service trustee with professional or business skills for serving the Fellowship, is part of the reorganization of the General Service Board begun in 1966, at the

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CONFUSED BY A.A. TERMINOLOGY?

What’s the difference between area and district in A.A.? Between a G.S.R. and a delegate? A convention and a conference? The glossary in the new “A.A . Service Manual” can help you understand these distinctions. One of the big blocks to understanding in A.A. is the confusing terminology used in various communities, especially in regard to Service activities. As Eric B., G .S. Board member from Seattle, put it, “A.A. sharing would be truly improved if we all tried to use the same terminology in all areas.” For example, if assembly always meant, all over A.A., a meeting of the G.S.R.’s, G.S. committee members and officers in one Conference area, and if the term were used in A.A. in no other sense, clear communications would be much easier. We suggest you study the glossary.

• BOOKMARK

The bookmark enclosed with this copy of Box 4-5-9 calls your attention to Bill W.’s latest book, THE A.A. WAY OF LIFE, a reader full of thoughts for meditation and inspiration day after day. The pocket-size book also includes many never-before-published gems from Bill’s personal correspondence.

OVERSEAS 1969 DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE

Part II of A.A. World Directory 1969 is now available. It lists all groups outside the U.S. and Canada, and may be purchased from G.S.O. at 50¢ a copy.

SPECIAL GIFTS TO G.S.O. ARKANSAS Founder’s Day Banquet . . . . . $200.00 CALIFORNIA Palm Springs: 9th Annu. Desert Round-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . 750.00 San Francisco: Northern Calif. Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 FLORIDA West Palm Beach: Sun. Morn. Breakfast Meeting . . . . . . . . 5.00 MINNESOTA Fergus Falls: Lake Region Area Groups Banquet . . . .. . . . 68.00 MISSISSIPPI Miss. Convention. .. . .. … . 100.00 NEW YORK West Seneca: Western N.Y. Gen. Ser. Assembly . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 PENNSYLVANIA Lemoyne: Harrisburg Area Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.94 SOUTH CAROLINA 22nd S.C. Conf . . . . . . . .. . 197.11 TEXAS 7th S.E. Texas Area G.S. Conf . . 354.12 VIRGINIA Winchester: 4 State & D.C. GetTogether. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 CANADA Alberta: Calgary- Intergroup & G.S.R.’s . . . . . . . . • . . . .• 28.50 B.C. : Nanaimo – !st Nanaimo A.A. Round-Up . . . . . .. .. . 100.00 B.C.: Parksville-9th Annu. Parksville A.A. Rally . . . . . . 78.75 B.C.: Pacific N. W. Conf. . .. . . 145.42 Ontario: Toronto-Sun. Mom. Toronto Men’s Meeting . . . .. 184.00 Sask.: Rosetown-Area No.413 Step Meeting . . . . . . . . . 64.00 Sask.: Saskatoon-Saskatoon Intergr. Roundup . . . . . .. . 23.57

Why Let Clubs Make Trouble When They Can Be of A.A. Benefit? Recently many members have written about the same club difficulties in different towns and cities. On the other hand, clubs have often been an aid in maintaining sobriety and presented no problems at all-as long as members clearly understood and adhered closely to the Twelve Traditions. Who really owns the property? Runs it? Finances it? Do newcomers truly appreciate the difference between club and group? Do needless resentments arise over membership rules, banning members, gambling, etc. All of this has really nothing to do with A.A. recovery. Where and how to draw that delicate line eliminating the problems but including the benefits of clubs is clearly outlined in the pamphlet, “A.A. Tradition-How It Developed” by Bill W. For further guidance in this area, we’ll send you free of charge the “A.A. Guidelines on Clubs.” Just ask.

LAST CALL FOR GRAPEVINE CALENDARS

If you want the beautiful A.A. Grapevine Calendar, 1970 One Day at a Time, the deadline for orders is October IS! For each month there is a beautiful photo (like those in the GV center spreads) with words of wisdom and inspiration, and no A.A. identification. For wall or desk, the calendars

A.A. and Al-Anon Cooperation The 1969 General Service Conference discussed and attempted to clarify problems growing out of the special relationship between A.A. and Al-Anon. Results of this discussion have been added to guidelines on the subject. From the beginning, A.A . and Al-Anon have functioned separately. They have separate General Service Boards, General Service Conferences, World Directories and all other services. The Twelve Traditions of both A.A. and Al-Anon suggest each Fellowship functions more effectively in accomplishing its primary purpose if they remain separate from each other.

Thus, the 1969 Conference suggests groups, intergroup committees, and central offices for each Fellowship be separate and not combined- also, that a convention be either A.A. or AI-Anon, but not both. If AI-Anon is invited to participate in an A.A. convention, any expense should be paid from the A.A. convention fund. Also, it is suggested financial contributions not be made to Al-Anon nor should A.A. accept money from Al-Anon. Both Fellowships have a selfsupport tradition. For more information, guidelines are available from G.S.O. 3

cost $1.25 ea.-or $1.10 ea. if a group orders 25 or more. OCT.-Newest issue takes you round the world with great A.A. stories from Mexico, Spain, England, Finland, and Bombay, India. Plus a report on A.A. in 1980! ARE YOU AN A.A. TAPER?

Just say the word, and you can hear the actual voice of many A.A. members all over the world. By means of tapes. We can give you a list of other members (sometimes called Tapeworms) who have spent hours and hours taping good A.A. talks on three continents, and who are willing to rent or sell them. We’ll send you this Tape Exchange list free, if you want. In addition, you can hear Bill W., Dr. Bob, Sister Ignatia, a psychiatrist, a priest, an author, a business executive, a housewife and many other A.A.’s on tapes we have at G.S.0.-314 speed. 7 inch, 2 track, $3 each. Just ask for the Tape Order Blank.

A. A. Calendar of Events SEPTEMBER Eastover, Lenox, Ma., 7th Ma.Conv. Write: G.S. Comm., Box 444, Kenmore Sta., Boston. 26-28 – Moline, Ill., Northern Ill. State Conf. Write: Conf. Chm. 48ll-48th Ave., Moline. 26-28 – Wichita, Ks., State Conf. Write: Ks. State Conf., Box 18093, Wichita. 26-28- Buffalo, N.Y., Western N.Y. Annu. Fall Conv. Write: Conv. Chm., c/o Central Office, 721 Genesee Bldg., Buffalo. 27-28 – Winchester, Va., 4 State & D.C. Gettogether. Write: Box 7302, Alexandria, Va. 26-28 –

OCTOBER 3- 5 –· Anaheim, Ca., 18th Southern Ca. Conv. Write: Conv. Chm., Box 606, Lakewood, Ca. 4- 5 – Fargo, N.D., A.A. Roundup. Write: Fargo A.A., Box 1991, Fargo. 9-12 – Amarillo, Tx., 22nd Annu. Top 0′ Texas Roundup. Write: Top 0′ Tx. Roundup, Box 1963, Amarillo. 10-12- Kingston, New York, 19th Annu. Conf. of the Hudson/Mohawk-Berkshire Area. Write: Chm. Box 156, Woodstock, N.Y. 10-12 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 11th Provincial Bilingual Conf. Write : P.O. Box 1777, Sta. B., Montreal 2, Quebec. I 0-12 – Prince George, B.C., Canada, Northem Lights Round-Up. Write : Chm., 198 George St., Prince George, B.C. 10-1 2- Regina, Sask., Canada, Prov. Roundup. Write: Chm. of Roundup Comm. Box 11, Regina. 10-12 – Fresno, Ca., Annu. Fall Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., 5563 Inyo St., Fresno. 10-12 – Glasgow, Montano, State Fall Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., Box 894, Glasgow. 10-12- Sudbury,Ont.,Canada, Northeastern Regional Conf. Write: N.E. Conf., Box 203, Sudbury. 10-12- Salt Lake City, Utah, lOth Bi-Annu. Skyline Conf. Write: Conf. Secy., 1072 Kensington Ave., Salt Lake City. 11 New York, N.Y., Bill’s 35th Annv. Dinner. Write: Dinner Comm., N.Y. Intergroup Assn., 337 E. 33 St., N.Y. 11 Milwaukee, Wise., 18th Annu. S. Wise. Area Fall Conf. Write: Conf. Secy ., 8344 No. Santa Monica Blvd., Milwaukee. 11-12 – Corner Brook, Njld., Canada, N.S., Nfld/Labrador A.A. Assm. Conf. Write: Box 596, Comer Brook. 11 -13- ]apan,Fa/IFarEastRoundup, Tama Recrea tion Center, near Fuchu Air Sta., Japan. Write: Program Chm., DowntownTokyoGp.,c/o St. Albans Church, 10 Sakae-cho, Shih a, MinatoKu, Tokyo. 11-13- Victoria, B.C., Canada, 19th Thanksgiving Rally. Write : Rally Comm., Box l, Victoria.

Lancashire, England, 14th Annu . Conv. Write: Governor, Co nv. ’69, l4B The Temple, Dale St., Liverpool, L2 5 RU, Lanes. 17-19- London, Ont., Canada, 16th Annu . Western Ont. Conf. Write: Conf. Chm. Box 725, London. 17-19- Nacogdoches, Texas, 6th N.E. Tx. Area Conv. Write: Conv . Chm., 705 S. Fredonia St., Nacogdoches. 19 A tlantic City, N.J., 23rd Annu. Dinner & Conv. Write: Secy., Atlanl!ic City Gp. , Box 806, Atlantic City. 19 Toledo, Ohio, 29 Annv. Toledo Area Intergroup. Write : Toledo Area Central Office, 1812 Cherry St., Toledo. 23-26 – Columbus, Ga., State Conv. Write: Chm., Program Comm., P.O. Box 117, Columbus. 24-26 – Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 19th Alta. Provincial Conf. Write: Conf. Comm., Box 6450 Postal Sta. “D”, Calgary. 24-26 – Champaign, Ill. , Southern Ill. State Conf. Write: Co nf. Chm., 1106 Centennial Drive, Champaign. 24-26- Hinton, W. Va., 3rd W. Va. Bluestone Retrea t. Write: Bluestone Com. Box 500, Beckley, W. Va. 25 Anaheim, Cal., Symposium of Service. Write: P.O. Box 6222, Long Beach. 3 1-Nov. 2 – Las Vegas, Nu., 3rd Southern Nv. Roundup. Write: Chm., Box 4322, Las Vegas. 31-Nov. 2- !Yfarsha/1, Mo., Fall Conf. Western Area of Mo. Write: Saline County Gp., Box 522, Marshall. 17-19 —

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11-linneapolis, Mn., 29th An nu. A.A. Founder’s Day Banq. Write: Banq. Chm., 2218 lst Ave. So., Minn. Sh reveport, Louisiana, 24th Annu. Tri-State Conv. Write : Conv. Chm., Box 495, Shreveport. Pocono Manor, Pa., 11th Annu. EasternPa. Conf. Write: Conf. Secy., Box 277, Wernersville, Pa. San Antonio, Tx., 19th Annu. Southwest Tx. Conf. Write: Chm., 919, Travis Bldg., San Antonio. Barrie, Ont., Canada, Georgian Bay Area A.A. Harvest Time Conf. Write: Conf. Chm. , Box 52, Barrie. Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, 8th Annu. Hawaii State Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., Box 2384, Honolulu, Oahu, Ha. Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Annu. B. C./Yukon Area Assm. Write: Conf. Comm., Box 38 Sta. A, Vancouver. Prench Lick, Ind., 9th Annu. TriState Conf. Write: Host Comm., Box 172, Bedford. Loveland, Co., Winter Regional Conf. Write: Conf. Secy., Rt. 2, Box 109-H Berthoud , Co. Baltimore, Md., 12th Annu. “Sobrieties” Show. Write: Intergroup Office, 3111 St. Paul St., Baltimore.

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DEADLINE DEC. 1 FOR 1970 WORLD DIRECTORY PART I

Group Information Cards go out October 1 to all U.S. and Canadian groups. To be correctly listed in the A .A. World Directory 1970 Part I (U.S. and Canada), please return your card with complete information by December 1, 196 9. The data on your card is used to make up the G.S.O. mailing list, so the prompt return of your Directory card completely filled out will be very much appreciated.

• A.A. ALIVE, WELL AND BEAUTIFUL IN CYPRUS

Thanks to Jacques B., a Canadian sergeant stationed on the Isle of Cyprus, we learn there is a bilingual A.A. group there. Five members (two new) attended a recent meeting, but two could not because of guard duty. Guess what! The group decided that each week members would go up into the mountains to visit A.A. buddies alone there on duty. They also invited a nearby Loner to join them. They need French literature and “the Traditions on cardboard.” Seems to us they have a magnificent grasp of the 5th one, don’t you agree?

BOX 4-5-9 is published 6 times a year by the General Service Office of A lcoholics Anonymous, 305 E. 45tll Street, N. Y.C., N . Y. 10017. SUBSCRIPTIONS : In dividual, $1.00 per y r.; Group, $2.50 for each unit of 10 per yr. (Check should accompany order.) Checks payable to A .A . World Services, Inc., Box 459, Grand Central Post Office, N. Y.C., N . Y. 10017.