BOX 4-5-9 NEWS AND NOTES· FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE OF A. A.

Vol. 14 No . 4

Summer 1969

Midsummer Night Miseries Can Turn to Joy in A.A. A.A. can make your vacation this summer (winter?) the best ever, In the A.A. world it is now midsummer, or midwinter if your home group lies below the Equator. Isn’t it glorious to have scheduled vacations or holidays, for which we get paid, rather than being so sick from alcohol we never had vacation time with pay coming to us?

NEW LIVELY EDITION OF ‘YOUNG PEOPLE’ With a colorful “now” cover, the new 38-page pamphlet begins with a “true or false” lineup of familiar rationalizations (“But I’m too young to be an alcoholic!”). Then ten members, whose ages range from 16 to 26, tell their own stories, so A.A.’s newest generation can identify. It helps the rest of us, too, in understanding this latest, welcome crop of sick alcoholics who met A. A.’s only requirement for membership much sooner than some others of us did. Most A. A.’s feel there is no difference in alcoholics, young or old. (As one young delegate said this year, “Why call us ‘young A.A.’s’? We don’t say ‘old A. A.’s.’ Why ‘young?'”) But perhaps this pamphlet will help the new and younger alcoholics identify and then they can move on to other A. A. literature. We are grateful to all the good A. A.’s of whatever age who shared their experience with us for this new version of the message in print. Order from G.S.O. Price: 15 cents.

Toting the Message Along

Essential in the luggage of most traveling A. A.’s who want a sober and happy trip is, of course, some A. A. literature. Many of you tell us about planning a jaunt by first looking up in the World Directory A.A. groups to contact. Groups such as Mexico City, Cuernavaca and others request visitors , too. A. A.’s are always sure of welcome at small, isolated groups-often at vacation spots where the few year-round members tire of their own words of A.A. wisdom and welcome yours! Loners, too, tell us how delightful it is to have visiting A.A.’s drop in and provide an unexpected “meeting,” often starting on-the-spot lifetime friendships cemented by shared experience between A.A.’s. Big A.A. Weekends

Using the calendar in this issue (P. 4) or the Grapevine, many A.A.’s plan trips to include regional or state A. A. conferences or conventions.

Not only because these often provide reduced hotel rates, but also because they furnish such beautiful and memorable A.A. weekends. New faces, new thoughts, new friends and new awakenings ofour inner A. A. life are only a few of the rew::trds that can be carried from such get-togethers. Such joyous memories help replace the memories of drunken midsummer madness or midwinter blues so many of us brought into A. A. with us. As of today, many A.A.’s will start making one-day-at-a-time preparations for the crowning A. A. experience of a lifetime in Miami Beach, Fla., next July. Please post the enclosed flyer about A. A.’s 35th Anniversary year International Convention, July 3-5, 1970, on your group bulletin board.

CONFERENCE REPORT DISTRI BUTEO Inspirational A.A. thoughts fill the pages of the Final Report of the 19th General Service Conference. We believe every A.A. and every group will be interested in sharing its contents and being brought up to date on A. A. around the world. Copies are available to all A. A.’s for $1. 75.

Historic World Service Meeting Set for October Ever wonder how A.A. literature gets translated into South African dialects? How Finnish groups publish literature? How 12th-Step calls are handled in Latin America-with telephones so rare? No doubt A.A.’s in those areas wonder how A. A. services operate in North America, too. And come this October, we’ll all find out. The first A.A. World Service Meeting, with delegates from 13 overseas areas, convenes in New York October 8-11, and the agenda is already set. The North American G.S.O., as the senior (oldest, most experienced) A. A. service center, will be host to A.A.’s from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Mexico, Norway, South America, and Finland.

• ATTRACT! VE ASSEMBLIES Good state assemblies(ofG.S.R.’s) are fast becoming among the most popular A. A. gatherings. For example, the North Carolina delegate tells how careful planning led to a weekend assembly of 64 G.S. R. ‘s at a motel, with discussions, business, and speaker meetings, Special hospitality was provided for wives. A G. S. 0. film was shown and a staff member spoke. At the second such session, 89 G.S.R. ‘s, plus all committee members and past delegates, attended! “The purpose was to share and inform,” the delegate said, “The response was terrific, “G.S.R. ‘s go back to home base and inform members there. Participation and understanding are gaining. It is our goal to serve instead of represent. This is beginning to happen.”

Topics to be covered include Service structures, financing, publishing, group services, and General Service Boards. The whole purpose of the gathering is to be a giant sharing session, so all of us can learn from the experience of others. In addition to Dr. John Norris, chairman of our own G.S. Board, Bob H., G.S.O. manager, and Bill W., A.A.’s co-founder, North America will be represented by two delegates chosen by the 19th Conference: Warren S., California and Charles D., Michigan.

A.A. ON TV IN COLOR The brand new one-minute “public service announcement” about A. A. is now ready for local TV stations, and they are ready for it, if your P .I. Committee, central office or group will furnish it. All in color, it begins with a foreman, a friend, a wife, and a big boss each saying the kind of thing we all remember hearing about our drinking. Then it points out that A.A ..can help. There is space at the finish for you to show your local A.A. telephone number and address. With the film you also get instructions on how to approach local TV. One copy costs $18; two, $14 each; and three or more, $10 each.

Budapest Hosts First A.A. Open Meeting The first open A. A. meeting in Hungary was held on June 12, 1969, at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest during the meeting of the 15th International Institute on Prevention and Treatment of Alcoholism. A G.S.O. staff member, Midge M., attended and participated in the weeklong meetings of the Institute during her vacation. Midge reports: “The whole experience of Budapest was the most exciting of my A.A. life, but the highlight was arranging and leading an open A. A. meeting. The four speakers carried out the international theme and had wide appeal for the audience. They were Peter B. from the Netherlands, lnge L., West Germany, Richard P., Ireland, and Cecily C., U.S. A. “Cecily and I were delighted to see a group ofHungarian alcoholics in attendance, and Archer Tongue, Director of the Institute, graciously provided a translator for them , They seemed to absorb every word. “We were also pleased to see at the A. A. meeting some of the 350

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professionals in the field of alcoholism who were attending the Institute meetings. “We spent one afternoon at the Pomaz-Dolina Therapia which is the state-operated facility for alcoholics. They have beautiful quarters amid acres of cherry and apricot orchards and the 180 patients receive medical, psychiatric and occupational therapy -but no A.A. An A.A.. member from Finland was given permission to tell his story to them through a translator. They laughed and enjoyed the story and we expect the message of hope reached them. “They have clubs for alcoholics in Hungary and we visited one in Budapest. All alcoholics are encouraged to go there and participate in the activities which are primarily along social and cultural lines, Nonalcoholics play a large part in club affairs. They have very little group therapy as we know it and, of course, no A.A. Once again, we realized how very fortunate we are and were filled with gratitude for our A. A. program.”

ARE TRADITIONS IMPORTANT? From minutes of an excellent shar~ ing session held by the Manitoba General Service Committee comes this quote: “Need for more discussion of Traditions. Without Traditions, no A.A. Without A.A., no group. Without group, no recovery.” What do you think?

INSTITUTIONAL MEETINGS Three new developments concerning A.A. groups that meet in hospitals, rehab centers, penal and correctional institutions, came out of the 1969 General Service Conference:

1. Institutional Directories of A.A. groups will be issued by G.S.O. only every two years, Supplements, listing new groups, will be published in the year there is no directory. 2. Guidelines on institutional work will point out that one way to make sure A. A.’s relationships with institutional staffs remain good is to be careful about A. A.’s invited to attend A.A. meetings inside the walls. 3. Although no one can give A. A.. membership to nonalcoholic narcotic addicts, the Conference suggests that groups in institutions can welcome anyone to attend inside open meetings. However, in accordance with Tradition Three, it is suggested that speaking, membership, and other participation in A. A. group affairs be reserved for alcoholics only.

BOX 4-5-9 is published 6 times a year by the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, 305 B. 45th Street, N.Y. C., N.Y. 10017. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Individual, $1.00 per yr.; Group, $2. 50 for each unit of 10 per yr. (Checks should accompany order.) Checks payable to A.A. World Se rvices, Inc., Box 459, Grand Central Post Office, N. Y.C., N.Y. 10017.

New ‘A.A. Service Manual’ Replaces ‘Third Legacy Manual’ Now alive with today’s vast scope of A.A. service activities, the brand new, complete revision of the “Third Legacy Manual” is just off the press under its new title: “The A.A. Service Manual.” Thanks to hundreds of A. A.’s who have shared with the rest of us their expanding Conference and other service experience since the G.S. Conference first brought representatives of the North American groups together in 1951, the new publication gives a vision of A.A. as a whole. It still contains, of course, Bill’s original and beautiful history and inspired explanation of the Conference structure as first published in 1955. But many vital G.S.R., committee, delegate and area activities are here set forth for the first time, Other sections are completely re-arranged, re-edited, brought up to date and in large part rewritten, It is a “working manual” which will never be “completed,” of course, because A. A. service is neve r-ending, A ”Conference Glossary” explains such terms as Third Legacy, Assembly, Committ e e Members, Districts, etc. To join the ranks of the informed and understanding members who necessarily fill A. A.’s need for leadership, you’ll find reading the new ”A. A. Service Manual” an enjoyable way to begin a deeper, more spiritually rewarding A.A. experience.

TRUSTEES ROTATE Keeping us laughing the way so many good A.A.’s do, but sometimes nearly tearful with gratitude, four members of our G.S. Board said brief au revoirs at the 1969 Conference. Prof. Harrison M. Trice (Cornell sociologist), nonalcoholic trustee retiring from the Board, said, ”I have been an outsider, but I have been loved and even listened to. “Thank you for the opportunities, the joys, the experience, the chance to learn, to share and to make a contribution.” (We will miss Harry) Frank R., completing his 4-year term as regional trustee from the Northeast U.S. (Bill C., Mass., succeeds him), said “I could never find words to express my gratitude to A.A., but I found a way-action through our Third Legacy.” Tom B., Western Canada trustee being replaced by John R., Alberta, revealed he already has a new A.A. job

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“janitor of my home group.” “I have come to see that besides the miracle of recovery, there is the miracle of A. A.’s very existence and structure,” Tom declared. Ed L., general service trustee, stated: “It has been an immense pleasure to see at the Conference such evidences of unity, solidarity, continuance in spreading of the A. A. message.” Steve 0., Long Beach, N.Y. suo. ceeds Ed L.

WORLD DIRECTORY -PART II Part II of our 1969 World Directory (around the world, except U.S. and Canada) gets mailed out in August •.. free to all listed in it. It is available to other A.A.’s at SO¢. Part I of the Fellowship’s first twopart directory (covering U.S. and Canada) was mailed in May. If your group did not receive it, or if the listing is incorrect, let us know !

A. A. Calendar of Events

IN MEMORIAM GIFTS (from A.A.’s only)

JULY 25-27- Albany, N.Y ., State Conf. Write: Annu. Conv., Box 1666, Albany. 25-27- San Luis Obispo, Ca., 2nd Annu. Dist. 22 Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., 1158 Sunset Dr. Arroyo Grande, Ca. 25-27 – Philadelphia, Pa. , 12th International Conf. of Young People in A.A. Write: 2202 St. James St., Philadelphia. 31 – August 3 – Decatur, Al., 14th Alabama-N. W. Florida Conv. Write: Conv. Chm., Decatur Inn, Box 2063, Decatur.

AUGUST 1- 3 – Little Rock, Ar., 29th Annu. Con f. of A. A. Write: Con f. Chm., 306 E. 10 St. , Little Rock. 6- 9 – Chattanooga, Tn . , Southeastern Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., Rm. 623 Chattanooga Bank Bldg., Chattanooga. 8-10- Lake Whitney, Tx., Tx. Young People’s Quarterly Conf. Write: Secy’., c / o Redwood Lodge Box 57, Whitney . 8- 9- Morristown, N.J., International Doctors. in A.A. Write: Secy., IDAA, 1950 Volney Rd., Youngstown, Ohio. 15-17- Medellin, Colombia, S.A., lOth Annv. Conf. Write: Apartado Aereo 4887, Medellin. 22-24- Chautauqua , N.Y., 16th Annu. Tri-State Assm. Write: P.O. Box 96, Meadville, Pa. ;:2-24 – Denver, Co., State Con v. Write: State Conv. Office, 1641 So. Glencoe, Denver. $-29-30- Richmond, Va., State Assembly, Box 12011, Seminary Sta., Alexandria. 30-31 – Portland, Or., 19th Annu. State G.S. Conv. Write: Conf. Chm., 232 N. Weidler St., Portland.

30-Sept. 1 – Powell River, B. C. 22nd Annu. Rally. Write: Chm., Suite 3 , Kenmar Bldg., Powell River, B.C. Can.

SEPTEMBER 5- 7 – Moodus, Ct., lOth Annu. Get-together. Write: P.O. Box 1513, New Haven. 5- 7- Cook Forest, Pa., Cook Forest Conf., 600 No. Chestnut St., Scottsdale, Pa. 12-14- Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, 18th Annu. Eastern Ontario Conf. Write : Box 38, Postal Terminal “A”, Ottawa, Ontario. 19-21 -Painted Post, N.Y., Annu. Fall Roundup. Write : Roundup Chm. 113 Willys St. , Elmira, N.Y. 19-21- Lansing, Mi., 17th State Conf. Write: Mi. State Conf., Box 185, East Lansing. 19-21 – Scottsdale, Az., 19th Annu. State Conf. Write: Conf. Secy. 717 W. Palo Verde Dr., Scottsdale. 26-28- Eastover, Lenox, Ma., 7th Ma. Conv. Write: G. S. Comm., Box 444, Kenmore Sta., Boston. 26-28 – Moline, II., Northern !1. State Conf. Write: Conf. Chm., 481148th Ave., Moline. 26-28- Wichita, Ks ., State Conf. Write : State Con f., Box 18093 Wichita. 26-28- Buffalo, N.Y. , WesternN.Y. Annu. Fall Conv. Write: Conv, Chm., c j o Central Office, 721 Genesee Bldg., Buffalo.

OCTOBER 3- 5 -Anaheim, Ca., 18th Annu. Southem Ca. Conv. Write: Conv. Chm. , P . O. Box 606, Lakewood. 4- 5- Fargo, N.D., A.A. Roundup. Write: P.O. Box 1991, Fargo. 9-12- Amarillo, Tx., 22nd “Top 0′ Tx . ” Roundup, Write: Roundup, Box 1963, Amarillo.

HEARD OF A ‘TAG MEETING?’ GV CALENDAR No chairman presides at a ‘Tag Meeting,” the Oroville Osoyoos Border Group tells us. Each speaker selects the next. “We had a wonderful cross section, including members who never before had spoken to a crowd, since they have only discussion meetings,” our correspondent reports, telling about their 15th annual open spring meeting when 22 of the 60 members present spoke.

To order Grape vine’s “One Day at a Time” calendar for 1970 before they are all gone, set:· enclosed leaflet,

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Some members may not have heard yet about “In Memoriam” gifts, Mac B., Virginia delegate, reminds us, He says that in his group, when a member dies, many A.A.’s make “In Memoriam” gifts to G.S.O., and acknowledgment cards are sent to the family of the deceased, “When I lost my mother, I was deeply touched by the G.S.O. cards showing that my A.A. friends and the Group remembered me in this way,” Mac declares, In his state all groups are furnished with “In Memoriam” envelopes.

SPECIAL GIFTS TO G.S.O. ARIZONA Phoenix: Area 14 .$ 10. 00 Sedona: Roundup. 50.00 INDIANA French Lick: In. State Conf. . 700.00 MICHIGAN No. Wise. -Upper Mich. Spring Conf. . . . . . . 89.00 S.E. Mich. Area . . . . 300. 00 MISSOURI EastemArea De legate Memoriam C ontribution . 30.00 NEBRASKA Omaha: 26th Annv. Banquet .. 100.00 NORTH CAROLINA Area 4 . . . , . . . . . , , . . . , 20. 00 OHIO Akron: Gratitude Sun. Meeting, N.E. Ohio G.S. C . . . . . . 100. 00 S. W. Oh. Gen. Serv. Comm. 200. 00 PENNSYLVANIA Hazleton: Area 11 , .• . , . 30.00 SOUTH CAROLINA Marion: Waccama w Area . . 5.60 TEXAS Houston: Amusement Comm. 10.00 VIRGINIA Blackstone Retreat. . . . . . 100.00 Norfolk: 23rd Annu. Banquet of Tidewater A. A.. . . . . . 100.00 Winchester: 4-8tate Gettogether . . . . . . 100.00 CANADA Alberta: Edm onton, 10-year Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . 30. 00 B.C.: Kamloops-22nd Anni v . Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.00 B. C.: Osoyoos – 15th Open Spring Meeting. . . . . . . . . . 35.00