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News and Notes from the General Service Office of A.A.® Vol. 60, No. 4 / Winter Issue 2014 www.aa.org

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Box 4-5-9 is published quarterly by the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115, © Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 2014 Mail address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station New York, NY 10163 G.S.O.’s A.A. website: www.aa.org Subscriptions: Individual, $3.50 per year; group, $6.00 for each unit of 10 per year. Check—made payable to A.A.W.S., Inc.—should accompany order. To have issues delivered directly to your inbox, register your e-mail on the A.A. Digital Subscription Service on G.S.O.’s website.

■ 2015 Regional Forums Regional Forums strengthen the Fellowship’s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service by providing an opportunity for A.A. groups and area trusted servants, as well as any interested A.A. members in a particular region, to share experience, strength and hope with representatives of the General Service Board and G.S.O. and Grapevine staff members. There is no registration fee for Regional Forums, they are hosted by the General Service Board and coordinated by G.S.O. These weekend sharing sessions enhance and widen communication, and help spark new ideas in better carrying the message through service work. First-time attendees are specially welcomed. Mailings regarding each Regional Forum are sent to area committee members, delegates, DCM’s, and central offices and intergroups approximately six months ahead of time. Online registration is also available at www.aa.org. • Northeast—May 29-31, Albany Marriott, Albany, New York • West Central—August 21-23, Parkway Plaza Hotel, Casper, Wyoming • Western Canada “Additional”—September 11-13, Westmark Hotel Whitehorse, Whitehorse, Yukon • Southwest—October 9-11, Sheraton Westport Chalet Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri • East Central—November 13-15, Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Please post Twelve Tips on Keeping Your Holiday Season Sober and Joyous (page 10) on your group bulletin board.

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■ The Seventh Tradition in Action “I recently had the privilege of attending an A.A. Conference in another country, where I was also able to attend a few local A.A. meetings. While at one meeting, I had the opportunity to talk with an oldtimer about A.A. in his country over the last 25 years. “Stressing to me how vital the availability of A.A. literature in their language was to the growth of A.A., he described the tears members had in their eyes after receiving the first shipment of Big Books in their native language. He shared with me that while it might not seem that important to others, for those dying of alcoholism, it was like the hungry getting a supply of food and water. “This conversation, which occurred thousands of miles from where I live, reaffirmed for me the sacred obligation we have to carry the message and to help the next sick and suffering alcoholic. Translating A.A. literature is one of the life-saving actions — an action made possible by your contribution to the General Service Office.” An anonymous A.A. member

■ World Service Meeting Convenes in Warsaw Delegates representing A.A. the world over, from Japan to South Africa, from Australia to Finland, gathered October 12-16, 2014 in Warsaw, Poland for the 23rd World Service Meeting (WSM). The WSM was established in 1969 as a forum for the worldwide sharing of experience on ways to carry the A.A. message of recovery from alcoholism. It alternates biennially between New York City and other locations around the globe, and has been held in such diverse cities as Auckland, New Zealand; Cartagena, Colombia; Malahide, Ireland; Helsinki, Finland; and Mexico City, Mexico. The success of the WSM over the past four decades in bringing together worldwide A.A. service centers reflects a final vision of A.A. cofounder Bill W., who believed there could be “one world of A.A.” to assure that help would always be available for sick alcoholics wherever they are or whatever language they speak. Comprised of some 61 delegates from 41 different countries or language zones around the world, much of the discussion at the 2014 WSM was centered on the theme “The Three Legacies: Vital for All Generations.” In workshops, committee meetings, and presentation sessions, members discussed topics of Recovery, Unity and Service from the experience in their countries. Having made new friends and strengthened A.A.’s worldwide connections, delegates returned home. Now they start the process of passing along the breadth and variety of sharing they gathered in Warsaw, to enrich A.A in their own countries and further extend the hand of our worldwide Fellowship. Box 4-5-9, Winter 2014

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■ Atlanta Volunteer Host Committee Prepares for A.A.’s 80th Birthday language. They will be answering such questions as: “Where can I eat cheaply?” “Where is the nearest MARTA station?” or “Where is the nearest restroom?” But even more so, as members of A.A., they will be reaching out the hand of welcome and fulfilling one of A.A.’s three Legacies left to the Fellowship by its founders—that of Service. Finding enough volunteers to meet the needs of the volume of guests expected in Atlanta, however, is quite a project, and Patty aims to enlist help from the states surrounding Georgia. “So far, the largest concentration of interest is in our area. I expect that as we get closer we will hear from many more throughout the state and beyond.” In addition, says Patty, “We are developing an outreach program, which began at our most recent area assembly. We have our area convention in the fall and will have a table there along with registration forms and information on volunteering. That same table will be available for all events in our area in the coming months, and we will expand this outreach beyond Georgia early next year.” A volunteer kickoff event is set to take place in January 2015 to generate excitement, provide information and enlist volunteers from the immediate area. For more information, interested A.A.s can visit the Volunteer Host Committee’s website at www.aageorgia.org/international. At past Conventions, hats, ribbons, and name badges have identified hosts. How will conventioneers spot the Host Committee volunteers in Atlanta? “We’re gathering ideas for a ‘stand-out’ t-shirt,” says Patty. “We haven’t come to a final decision yet, but don’t worry, you’ll be able to spot us.” A.A.s will find an exciting variety of activities to choose from at the 2015 International Convention: Thursday night will get things started with a “Party in the Park”

(© 2014, James Duckworth, AtlantaPhotos.com)

The countdown has begun in Atlanta for a giant celebration in honor of A.A.’s 80th birthday, and as each passing month brings the date closer, it’s expected that as many as 4,000 A.A. volunteer hosts will be preparing to welcome the tens of thousands of A.A. visitors from over 90 countries heading to Atlanta, Georgia for A.A.’s 14th International Convention, July 2-5, 2015. Working nonstop to roll out the welcome mat, throw open the city gates, and extend the hand of A.A., Atlanta’s Volunteer Host Committee is gearing up for the task. Reflecting on the theme of the 2015 International Convention, “80 Years—Happy, Joyous and Free,” Volunteer Host Committee chairperson Patty L. says, “When I came to A.A. 28 years ago, I was a prisoner in my own despair. The first gift I received was hope. From that I was willing to take the action that resulted in a life that is happy and rewarding. When I practice the principles of A.A., it brings me back. I was a young newcomer in 1986 at 23 years old. A.A. Conventions were a significant part of my social life early on and allowed me to experience happiness and fun in sobriety.” The Host Committee countdown began last year with the creation of the “core group,” headed by Patty L. as chairperson. Patty, a former Panel 60 delegate, is no stranger to service work. When asked about past service positions, she says, “My A.A. service work has spanned all of my 28 years of sobriety. I have been involved in general service from G.S.R. to delegate and served my district, Intergroup and area as P.I./C.P.C. chair. All the while staying active in my home group, which I believe to be the foundation of my recovery.” In addition to Patty, the Host Committee core group includes Tom H. and Jim T. as co-chairs, with Bill F. as treasurer and Lori G. as secretary. This group oversees the functioning of a number of subcommittees, whose specific roles “will continue to evolve” according to Patty, as the Convention gets closer. Many of the 4,000 volunteers will be assisting attendees on site with inquiries about transportation, hotels, and directions around town. They will greet visitors at the airport and in all Big Meetings, help set up chairs in different meeting venues, lead marathon meetings, provide information for physically challenged guests and for those visitors for whom English is not a native Ferris wheel outside the entry of Centennial Olympic Park, downtown Atlanta. Box 4-5-9, Winter 2014

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(© 2014, Kevin C. Rose, AtlantaPhotos.com)

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outside the Georgia World Congress Center, with other nearby events scheduled for dancing and fellowship. Friday night will bring everyone together in the Georgia Dome stadium for the awe-inspiring Flag Ceremony and Opening A.A. Meeting. Saturday night brings the everpopular Oldtimers A.A. Meeting, and there will be more opportunities for dancing and sober fun after the Friday and Saturday night A.A. meetings. The Convention will conclude on Sunday morning with the Closing A.A. Meeting. In between, of course, there will be all sorts of meetings, panels, including those in other languages, such as Spanish, French, Japanese, and ASL (American Sign Language). When not in meetings A.A.s and their AlAnon guests will want to sample a little of what Atlanta has to offer––and whether it’s simply hanging out with friends and family around the Fountain of Rings, visiting the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site or Atlanta’s Botanical Gardens, you’ll find a cheerful member of the Volunteer Host Committee to guide you in the right direction. Of course, A.A.’s International Conventions are far more than just birthday parties. They are a chance for A.A. members from everywhere on the planet to expand their view of the Fellowship and to reinvigorate their own sobriety. They are opportunities to let the world know that A.A. is alive and flourishing as a community resource, locally and internationally. This is achieved in part by the preparation and dissemination of clear and accessible information about A.A. through the local media and the press, but more importantly by offering thousands of individual examples of how A.A. works. As a nonalcoholic radio reporter noted of a previous Convention, the city had been “invaded by thousands of benevolent aliens. Wearing blue badges, they were wandering throughout the city, happy, smiling, and greeting passersby. The citizens of the city,” he went on, “had been touched by this strange new spirit and were smiling back and returning the greetings.” In July 2015, no doubt, Atlanta too will experience that “strange new spirit”—an exuberance and a deep humility born of suffering and nurtured by sobriety. Fittingly, for more than a century, the official symbol of Atlanta has been the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes—a symbol many A.A.s can easily identify with, having risen themselves out of the ashes of active alcoholism. Last August, registration forms were mailed by the General Service Office to A.A. groups, local and international A.A. offices. If you wish to attend the 2015 International Convention in Atlanta, but have not yet registered, you may register online or download a registration form from G.S.O.’s A.A. website. You may also request a 4

registration brochure by writing to the 2015 International Convention Coordinator, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. For information about the Convention and Atlanta, visit G.S.O.’s A.A. website: www.aa.org.

■ Convention Housing in Atlanta We are thrilled with the response of the Fellowship to the 2015 International Convention. Registration and requests for hotel rooms have come faster than we anticipated from previous A.A. International Conventions. While Atlanta offered substantially more hotel rooms downtown for Convention attendees than in past Convention cities, these rooms have sold out. Please note that there is no waiting list for downtown hotels that have already filled up, but the housing process and site is dynamic and live so any cancellations are put back into the inventory on the website. Rooms are still available! We continue to expand the selection of rooms in outlying areas. Where there is no MARTA station nearby, a shuttle bus service will be provided at no charge to outlying properties booked through the Convention Housing Bureau. Shuttle service for these properties will begin on Thursday and will run until the conclusion of the closing Big Meeting Sunday. The shuttle schedule will be provided on the Convention app and onsite at the Convention. Dorm accommodations are now available at two convenient facilities. To book these accommodations, you will not need to go through the housing process, but directly through the dorm provider. Georgia State University http://myhousing.gsu.edu/conference-services/ is located in downtown Atlanta, and in Midtown Atlanta you will find Georgia Tech www.conference.gatech.edu/AA2015. Both facilities are accessible by MARTA and shuttle service for special needs attendees will be available.

■ Reminder: Résumés for Trustees Election due Jan. 1, 2015 Two new Class B (alcoholic) trustees, from the Northeast and Southwest regions, as well as the trustee-atlarge/Canada, will be elected at the General Service Conference in April 2015. Résumés must be received at G.S.O. no later than January 1, 2015, and must be submitted by delegates only. The new Northeast regional trustee will fill the position currently held by J. Gary L. of Bethlehem, PA. The next trustee from the Southwest region will follow Clayton V. of Sikeston, MO. The new trustee-at-large/Canada will replace Barb K. of Oakwood, Ontario. Please submit your candidate’s résumé to the Secretary, trustees’ Nominating Committee, General Service Office. Box 4-5-9, Winter 2014

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■ A.A. Copyrights and Literature Licensing: ‘A Profound Spiritual Task’ With A.A. activity in approximately 170 countries around the world, the Big Book and other A.A. literature has been translated into a multitude of languages — from Afrikaans to Vietnamese, with materials as varied as the Big Book in Urdu, Living Sober in Bulgarian and “A Newcomer Asks” in Swahili. As the guardian of this diverse and lifesaving collection of A.A. literature, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., the publishing arm of A.A.’s General Service Board, holds numerous copyrights and licenses in trust for A.A. as a whole, protecting the integrity of the writings and preserving the continuity of A.A.’s message of recovery and hope. Keeping track of the 1,300-plus copyrights and licensing agreements held by A.A.W.S. for various A.A. writings, videos, cassettes, CDs, and other material can be a daunting task, and currently at the General Service Office (G.S.O.) this job falls to the Publishing Department, and within that department, more particularly to David R., G.S.O.’s licensing manager. Aided in this task by Rosa Rodriguez, the nonalcoholic copyright/translations coordinator who has worked in the Publishing Department since August 2012, David reports directly to Greg T., G.S.O.’s publishing director, and is responsible for the management and oversight of all licensing and translations covering the intellectual property of A.A.W.S. and AA Grapevine. This includes electronic, audiovisual and A.A. material on G.S.O.’s A.A. website. David joined the Publishing Department in March 2014 and has been immersed in the detailed and sometimes lengthy processes involved in moving forward the many translations submitted to A.A.W.S. for approval, overseeing A.A.’s many copyrights, and working closely with international General Service Offices, boards and literature committee representatives regarding their requests for A.A. material in their own languages. It is a shared undertaking, to be sure, and the G.S.O. staff member on the International assignment, along with the archives director, have been “utterly invaluable,” says David, “assisting us with research and history on specific

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countries’ translations, and helping us to move projects forward. This work involves real collaboration,” he continues, “often across departments,” with many employees contributing helpful assistance in the daily process of publishing and distributing A.A. material. “Nothing gives me more pleasure than getting books into the hands of readers who most want and need to read them. Working at A.A.W.S. adds another layer to this joy. We are involved in a profound spiritual task,” says David, “working together, as we shepherd translations of A.A.’s life-saving and life-sustaining literature into print the world over.” With more than 25 years of hands-on publishing experience, David has extensive contract, licensing and editorial experience, having started his publishing career in the early 1980s while in graduate school, studying for his M.A. in English Literature. Over the years, David has worked with countless international packagers, agents, authors and publishers large and small to contract, edit, package and distribute thousands of titles. “These licensing and translation processes are painstaking, to be sure,” says David, “often lengthy, and rigorous. A new translation of the Big Book, for example, may take years from start to finish.” A.A.W.S. has a deep moral and legal responsibility, he notes, to insure the integrity of all A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature no matter who does the translation and no matter where in the world the material is printed or distributed. Generally, A.A.W.S. licenses for the translation, printing and distribution of A.A. literature to General Service Offices in other countries, and all translations submitted to A.A.W.S. are sent to independent translation review services for reporting on their accuracy and quality. When G.S.O. receives a request from someone wishing to translate A.A. literature on his/her own initiative, the Publishing Department will determine if there is an existing, authorized translation in the U.S. or overseas. If such

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a translation exists, the request will be denied. If a translation does not exist, the requesting party will be asked to translate some representative portions of the work, like Chapter 5 of the Big Book for example, so that the translation may be reviewed by a professional translation service for its consistency with the original text. Upon receipt of a translation that receives a favorable report, the general policies regarding licensing, publication and distribution of the translation will then apply. (A copy of A.A.W.S.’s policies on Intellectual Property can be found on G.S.O.s A.A. website.) “Particularly noteworthy and exciting,” says David of projects currently underway at G.S.O., is the first-ever audio/video translation of the Big Book into the Navajo spoken-language. “As an outpouring of expressions of need continue to come our way, this much-anticipated project is now in its very early stages. “Other translations of A.A. literature are ongoing,” David continues. “Some recent success stories include: the new Arabic translation of the Big Book; the Czech language translation of Daily Reflections; a new German translation of the pamphlets ‘Is A.A. for Me?’ and ‘A.A. at a Glance’; and just printed is a new Hungarian version of ‘A.A. for the Older Alcoholic.’ A new translation of the Twi language Big Book from Ghana is nearing its completion; and the Rarotongan translation of the Big Book (Cook Islands) is in

its final round of editing and formatting, as well.” The process of producing material in multiple languages is not always smooth, however. For example, as David reports: “Our efforts on the Haitian/Creole language have admittedly experienced many fits and starts in recent years. We are actively recouping and researching various threads of communication and contacts in that region to evaluate where our projects stand and to discern the next steps for making further progress.” Regardless of the inevitable ups and downs encountered in the often rigorous process of managing A.A.’s copyrights and translations, ultimately David affirms, “I find it nothing short of thrilling to be shepherding this process of working hand-in-hand with so many A.A. members the world over to share A.A.’s message through our literature.” In A.A. Comes of Age (p. 155), Bill W. wrote of the conviction developed early on in the Fellowship, in the days before the Big Book was even written, that “… a Society like ours ought to control and publish its own literature.” And so it is today that every piece of literature written and produced by A.A. is owned and controlled by the Fellowship itself. Only in this way can we preserve the integrity of our message and ensure that it is passed on ungarbled to future generations of suffering alcoholics. A profound spiritual task, indeed.

■ Biking to Atlanta By now, many of you have already registered for the International Convention in Atlanta, GA, (July 2-5, 2015), where A.A.’s 80th anniversary will be observed — “Happy, Joyous and Free.” Motel reservations have been made, airline ticket prices researched, travel plans are being formulated, buses are being chartered, travel by rail, car, RV, & motorcycle are all being contemplated. How about biking to Atlanta with me? Yes, you read it right. I’ll be riding my bicycle from Lawrence [Kansas] to Atlanta to attend the Convention. I love bicycle touring, and this will combine two things I love most — A.A. and bike touring. The route will include parts of the Katy Trail, the Mississippi River Trails, the Great Rivers South routes, and the Silver Comet Trail. One of the roads I’ll be pedaling on will be the Grapevine Trail Road in Illinois. Seems very appropriate for this trip! Of course, I’ll be hitting some meetings on the way down — got to check out how they do A.A. in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and, of course, Georgia! Well, if pedaling all the way to Atlanta is a bit much for you, I hope you are still considering going to the Convention. However you arrive — hot air balloon, steam boat, covered wagon, limo, whatever — see you in Atlanta! Dave R. “The Grape Free Press” (Kansas), reprinted with permission

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■ G.S.O. Staff Sees a Changing of the Guard Two longtime members of the General Service Office staff — who between them chalk up nearly 30 years of service — have announced their retirement from G.S.O. They are Doug R., the director of staff services, and Mary D., who served most recently on the Literature assignment. For Doug R., who came to G.S.O. in 1996, “There have been many high points. With all my assignments, the highest of the high points always was and still is meeting extraordinary A.A. members and dedicated friends of A.A.” Born and raised in New Jersey, Doug has lived in New York since he showed up in Manhattan at age 20 to be an actor. Four years later he married an actress with whom he had two children, supporting himself and his family during this time by working in the restaurant business. “Given a choice between liquor and acting, I chose the liquor — not too surprising in view of the fact that alcoholism runs on both sides of my family.” But Doug found A.A. in July 1979 and has enjoyed continuous sobriety since. Now, as retirement approaches in December 2014, Doug feels ready. “Retirement seems so right for me at this time in my life. I have four grandchildren with whom I want to spend more time. I am going to take some art courses and seek out some A.A. service opportunities outside the group. My wife and I are also contemplating a trip to Italy next year. Retirement will be a new adventure,” he adds. “From the time I started work at G.S.O. until now, I have been filled with gratitude about working at the office.” In terms of highlights, Doug recounts being secretary to the 4th Edition Big Book Subcommittee when that project was just getting off the ground; coordinating the 2005 International Convention in Toronto; and traveling to 23 countries in two years while on the International assignment. “My jet-lag had jet-lag,” he says. Recognizing the many contributions of G.S.O.’s other employees, however, Doug notes, “G.S.O. staff members tend to be the ones who get the spotlight, but there are 80 or so equally hardworking G.S.O. employees laboring in a variety of capacities at the office. These folks are so important to the work of the office and are very much appreciated.” Of the state of the Fellowship as he leaves G.S.O.? “Based on my own experience in communicating with many members, traveling to areas and attending many Conferences over the years, I think A.A. is very healthy and doing what it is supposed to do. Is it perfect? Of course not; you can’t have two million or so human beings, recovering alcoholics no less, band together and have complete harmony. But the Traditions go a long way in keeping this diverse Fellowship of ours cohesive.” After 18 years, Doug feels he has been changed by his Box 4-5-9, Winter 2014

time at G.S.O., both as a person and as a recovering alcoholic. “The early years of my sobriety revolved entirely around service in my group and sponsorship, and I was content to have it so. Stepping into the position of a G.S.O. A.A. staff member exploded the boundaries of my limited concept of A.A. service. It sounds sappy, but it expanded my soul. “How can someone not be changed,” says Doug, “interacting with so many people from New York City to Chandigarh, India, involved day-by-day in trying to save lives?” For Mary D., there’s a certain symmetry to her time at G.S.O., starting out in 2004 as a new staff member on the Literature assignment and leaving a decade later from the very same desk. Having enjoyed a number of different assignments over the years at G.S.O. — Literature, C.P.C., Nominating, Treatment/Special Needs-Accessibilities, and Corrections — Mary confides, “While all assignments have their particular joys and challenges, the Corrections desk is the one I call the ‘feel good’ assignment.” Keeping it simple is something Mary appreciates, and carrying the message behind the walls is as fundamental as it gets. “A lot of gratitude comes from the inmates when they receive a letter or book from G.S.O.,” says Mary. “Being part of this exchange has great rewards.” With her retirement effective in August of 2014, Mary had plans to head out to Montana to begin this new phase of her sobriety. However, life, as it has a way of doing, intervened. “My plan when I decided to leave G.S.O. was to go back to Montana and begin a new career. Then my mom in the Seattle area had some pretty big challenges and I am going to try to make her days a bit better. So, currently, I give the same answer to pretty much all ‘when, where, and how’ questions beyond today: ‘I don’t know.’ What I do know is that I am in the palm of God’s hand — so it’s all good.” Without question, says Mary, the greatest joys of working at G.S.O. were the many opportunities for connecting with A.A.s, working side-by-side with delegates and other Conference members, traveling to A.A. events and greeting A.A. members who traveled to New York to see their G.S.O. She also enjoyed speaking with A.A. members from all over the U.S. and Canada when they called G.S.O. with questions, often about the Traditions. “That moment the light bulb comes on when a member thinks one way but opens their mind long enough to see another possibility,” she says. With the joys, of course, came challenges, and Mary acknowledges, “I’m an artist and entrepreneur at heart and inherently look for ways to improve processes. I look at day-to-day processes and automatically see how they could change.” Yet, as A.A. often moves slowly so do changes inside G.S.O. Mary recognized that the Fellowship and its principal service office have been doing things a certain way “long before I arrived and will continue long after I’m gone,” leading to a confirmation for Mary of just 7

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how important and beneficial the group conscience process is throughout A.A. Sober since May 1988, Mary’s vision of the future has changed considerably. “I was a cocktail waitress at 18 and a bartender at 21,” she says. “My fantasy was to have dangling earrings, a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other.” Today, with a decade of service to the Fellowship behind her, and a host of A.A. friends and connections literally around the world, the future stretches immeasurably ahead, Mary says, “I’m so very thankful.”

■ A New Look for an Old Title If some of your favorite A.A. stories were dropped from the first three editions of the Big Book, you will find them right here in Experience, Strength & Hope. First published in 2003, many A.A.s are still unaware of this interesting volume. So, you might want to consider this anthology when doing your Holiday shopping. (B-20); $5.50.

Corrections ■ ‘Where Do I Go When I Get Out?’ “Preparation for leaving the penitentiary began with my arrival. I had a one and one-half to three-year state sentence. I was on federal parole when I was sentenced to that charge, so I also owed the federal government five more years. My concern was not how to live in prison. It was knowing that sometime in the next one to seven years, I was going to be released, and it was painfully clear that I did not know how to live on the street. I did not know what was wrong with me, although I had been labeled by different authorities as a sociopath, a psychopath, and a manic depressive drug addict. I had hidden my alcoholism behind some very high drama.” So begins a July 2003 Grapevine article titled “How to Make It On the Streets,” an article that is included in a packet of materials handed out by the Correctional Facilities Committee of Central/Southeast Ohio (Area 53) to inmates who, for whatever reason, are nearing release but are not attending meetings at the institutions where they are incarcerated. The committee has been doing this

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through participation in a series of Reentry Resource Fairs put on by Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The Reentry Fairs are held with the intention of allowing inmates to connect with organizations that can help them successfully transition back to life outside the facility, reducing the likelihood that they will return to prison. The events are scheduled once or twice a year at each facility and participating organizations include halfway houses, homeless shelters, counseling services, state motor vehicle departments, state employment agencies, adult parole authorities, and — through the area correctional facilities committee — Alcoholics Anonymous. From a general service perspective, these events are a hybrid of cooperation with the professional community, public information and correctional facilities work, and the committee engages collaboratively with reentry coordinators and recovery services staff from the institutions involved. “Our approach at these events,” says Chris J., Area 53 correctional facilities committee liaison, “is along the lines of public information, since we will be talking to persons who may or may not identify as alcoholics. We do not try to diagnose anyone, but we do pass out copies of pamphlets such as ‘Is A.A. For You?’ so individuals can consider the question for themselves. We also offer sign-up forms for the Corrections Correspondence Service and prerelease contact programs, and encourage attendance at A.A. meetings held within the facility. “Since inmates might be released to communities anywhere in the state,” continues Chris, “we use a list of Ohio Intergroup offices with phone numbers as a schedule source. We’ve retitled this list ‘Sources of Meeting Schedules for Alcoholics Anonymous’ to make the purpose of the document plainer.” Another favorite handout, says Chris, is the Grapevine article, written by Don P. “It’s a beautiful thing to see how Don’s experience, strength and hope is still helping alcoholics long after he’s gone.” A wealth of A.A. experience has shown that for alcoholics leaving prison, successful reentry hinges on maintaining sobriety. Through participation in the Reentry Fairs put on by the state, A.A. members in Area 53 hope to remain a valuable resource for inmates, offering a proven means of recovery — both inside and out. With just a slight shift in focus toward reaching the professional community with information about the Fellowship rather than approaching inmates directly, A.A.s in the St. Louis area are doing something similar. The Missouri Department of Corrections, along with the Missouri Department of Social Services and other collaborative organizations hold a yearly conference specifically to promote the cause of reentry throughout the state of Missouri, and local A.A.s have gotten involved. It is a sophisticated conference with hundreds of agencies in attendance and individuals who

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participate for educational service credits. “We participate at the invitation of the sponsors to the event,” says Mike W., Eastern Missouri (Area 38) C.P.C. chair. “Our activities there have been to present A.A. to a wide variety of folks who attempt to provide services to the inmate after release from adult custody. Most are social workers from agencies that provide services such as housing, health, education, employment and any number of the myriad groups that look to provide assistance.” Over the course of an hour and a half, a panel of A.A.s offer professionals an overview of the A.A. program and share their personal stories of recovery in A.A., with plenty of time built-in for questions and answers. With this combined exposure to A.A resources and the personalized contact with alcoholics in recovery, the workshops put on by Area 38 are bringing recovery closer to alcoholics who may need it. “We use A.A. literature to explain what A.A. does and doesn’t do. We stress how one might get in touch with A.A. locally, regionally and worldwide, and we get feedback from the participants via surveys — receiving high marks that result in ongoing invitations.”

n A.A. Archivists Visit G.S.O. With the theme of “Love and Service,” the 18th National A.A. Archives Workshop (NAAAW) met October 9-12 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. This location, approximately 90 miles from New York, gave the attendees the opportunity to visit the General Service Office Archives, many for the first time.

Perhaps it was no coincidence that this year the Workshop fell in October, National Archives Month. Approximately three quarters of the 250 A.A.s attending were area archivists or archive committee members, some were new to service, but others were very experienced, and a few others were A.A. history buffs. They came from far and wide: California, Maine, Canada, Australia and the Philippine Islands. Another highlight for the group was a visit to Stepping Stones, the home of Bill W. and his wife Lois, in Bedford Hills, New York. Here workshop members were greeted by Sally C., Stepping Stones’s director, and shown items rarely on display. Ron C., visiting from Australia, told the group about his tour of Stepping Stones, shortly after Lois’s death, by Nell Wing, A.A.’s first archivist. He also recounted personal stories of A.A. friends and pioneers whom he had known over 50 years of sobriety. Throughout the four days tools and techniques used to preserve A.A.’s history were shared through workshops and presentations. Other activities included a Red Ball Meeting, Sobriety Countdown and Longtimers Panel 50+. During the Workshop G.S.O. archivist Michelle Mirza (nonalcoholic) gave a PowerPoint presentation on G.S.O.’s archives. Mary R., wife of the first black Conference delegate, gave personal reflections on Lou R. Tony L., of Dublin, showed a video starring Conor F., who got sober in 1943 in Philadelphia, speaking of A.A.’s roots in Ireland and England. There were other presentations on A.A.’s early history in Philadelphia by Area 59’s “Shaky Mike,” Don H. and Chuck G. Philadelphia Intergroup’s Brian Q. shared on Jack Alexander’s Saturday Evening Post article on Alcoholics Anonymous. The 19th National A.A. Archives Workshop will be held in Cleveland in 2015.

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Box 4-5-9, Winter 2014

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Box459_Holiday_Winter_15.qxp_Box459 11/13/14 10:10 AM Page 10

Twelve Tips on Keeping Your Holiday Season Sober and Joyous Holiday parties without liquid spirits may still seem a dreary prospect to new A.A.s. But many of us have enjoyed the happiest holidays of our lives sober—an idea we would never have dreamed of, wanted, or believed possible when drinking. Here are some tips for having an all-round ball without a drop of alcohol. given by groups in your area, and go. If you’re timid, take someone newer than you are. Line up extra A.A. activities for the holiday season. Arrange to take newcomers to meetings, answer the phones at a clubhouse or central office, speak, help with dishes, or visit the alcoholic ward at a hospital.

Be host to A.A. friends, especially newcomers. If you don’t have a place where you can throw a formal party, take one person to a diner and spring for the coffee.

Keep your A.A. telephone list with you all the time. If a drinking urge or panic comes—postpone everything else until you’ve called an A.A.

Find out about the special holiday parties, meetings, or other celebrations

10

Don’t sit around brooding. Catch up on those books, museums, walks, and letters.

Skip any drinking occasion you are nervous about. Remember how clever you were at excuses when drinking? Now put the talent to good use. No office party is as important as saving your life. Don’t start now getting worked up about all those holiday temptations. Remember— “one day at a time.”

If you have to go to a drinking party and can’t take an A.A. with you, keep some candy handy. Enjoy the true beauty of holiday love and joy. Maybe you cannot give material gifts—but this year, you can give love. Don’t think you have to stay late. Plan in advance an “important date” you have to keep.

Worship in your own way.

“Having had a . . .” No need to spell out the Twelfth Step here, since you already know it.

Box 4-5-9, Winter 2014

Cut along dotted line, and post this page on your group’s bulletin board

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Box459_Holiday_Winter_15.qxp_Box459 11/13/14 10:10 AM Page 11

BULLETIN BOARD Items and Ideas on Area Gatherings for A.A.s — Via G.S.O.

Calendar of Events Events listed here are presented solely as a service to readers, not as an endorsement by the General Service Office. For any additional information, please use the addresses provided. Please note that we cannot attest to the accuracy, relevancy, timeliness, or completeness of information provided by any linked site.

December 12-14—Birmingham, Alabama. Magic City Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 550058, Birmingham, AL 35255; www.magiccityroundup.com

January 2-4—Cromwell, Connecticut. XXV NECYPAA. Write: Ch., Box 366, Manchester, CT 06045; www.necypaaxxv.org 2-4—Owatonna, Minnesota. 33rd Recovery, Unity, & Service Conf. Info: www.area36.org 9-11—Dodge City, Kansas. 45th SW KS Conf. Write: Ch., Box 276, Satanta, KS 67870; swksconf@yahoo.com 9-11—Mahnomen, Minnesota. 13th Wild Rice Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 13, Mahnomen, MN 56557; www.wildriceroundup.com 15-18—Raleigh, North Carolina. Tar Heel Mid-Winter Conf. Write: Ch., Box 18412, Raleigh, NC 27619; www.tarheelmidwinter.org 15-18—Laughlin, Nevada. 25 th River Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 20326, Bullhead City, AZ 86439-0326; www.rcco-aa.org 16-18—Annapolis, Maryland. 4th Annapolis Area Intergroup Conv. Write: Ch., Box 2267, Annapolis, MD 21404; www.annapolisareaintergroup.org 16-18—Bismarck, North Dakota. Rule 62 Rendezvous. Write: Ch., Box 1497, Bismarck, ND 58502; www.rule62rendezvous.org 16-18—Galveston, Texas. 53rd SETA Conv. Write: Ch., Box 8189, Galveston, TX 77553; www.aa-seta.org 23-25—Springfield, Illinois. 10 th Journey Continues BB Study. Write: Ch., Box 10244, Springfield, IL 62791; www.journeycontinues.org 30-1—Brawley, California. Imperial Valley Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 393, El Centro, CA 92244 30-1—Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. 35th Hilton Head Mid-Winter Conf. Write: Ch., Box 6256, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938; www.hiltonheadmidwinterconference.com 30-1—Fulton, Texas. SW TX Area 68 Winter Workshop. Info: www.aa-swta.org

Winter 2014

30-1—Midland, Texas. XXXI Reunión Zona Norte de TX. Para Inf.: Com. Org., Box 5885, Midland, TX 79704 30-1—Oostende, Belgium. 26 th North Sea Conv. Info: nsc@aa-europe.net

Parrot St., San Diego, CA 92105; www.gmsr.org/llllr 27-1—Calgary, Alberta, Canada. WRAASA. Write: Ch., #2, 4015 – 1 St. SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4X7; www.wraasa2015.com 28-1—Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 2ème Congrès Francophone en Floride. Écrire: congresaafloride@yahoo.ca

February 5-8—Palm Springs, California. 51st Internat’l Women’s Conf. Write: Ch., Box 2535, Palm Desert, CA 92261; www.internationalwomensconference.org

March 6-8— Layton, Utah. PRAASA. Write: Ch., Box 14, Springville, UT 84663; www.praasa.org 13-15—Columbus, Indiana. 62 nd IN State Conv. Write: Ch., Box 950, La Porte, IN 46352; 2015stateconvention@area22indiana.org

6-8—St. George, Utah. Dixie Winterfest. Write: Ch., Box 1715, St. George, UT 84771; www.dixiewinterfest.org 6-8—Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. Mid-Winter Roundup. Info: www.area81aa.ca

20-21—Québec, Québec, Canada. Congrès de Québec. Écrire: congresbcsq@hotmail.ca

13-14—Creston, Montana. Into Action Wknd. Info: serenitygroup@live.com

20-22—Somerset, New Jersey. NE Reg. Svc. Assembly. Write: Ch., Box 315, South Bound Brook, NJ 08880; www.neraasa2015.org

20-22—Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Area 45 Gen. Svc. Conv. Write: Ch., Box 6, Hammonton, NJ 08037; www.snjaaconvention.org 20-22—Niagara Falls, New York. 7 th Cataract City Conv. Write: Ch., Box 2006, Niagara Falls, NY 14301; cataractcityconv@gmail.com 20-22—Tarrytown, New York. 47 th SENY Conv. Write: Ch., Box 5505, Miller Place, NY 11764; convention2015@aaseny.org

20-22—Marble Fall, Texas. Area 68 CFC Conf. Info: cfc@aa-swta.org

20-22—Williamsburg, Virginia. Serenity Wknd. Write: Ch., Box 832, Midlothian, VA 23113; www.serenityweekend.net

20-22—Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. CERAASA. Write: Ch., 2297 Devon Rd., Oakville, ON L6J 5R2; www.ceraasa.org

27-29—Ames, Iowa. Aim for Ames. Write: Ch., Box 2522, Ames, IA 50010; www.aimforames.org 27-29—Independence, Ohio. 40 th Area 54 Mini-Conf. Write: Ch., Box 23388, Euclid, OH 44123; miniconference@area54.org 27-29—Austin, Texas. 2 do Foro Estatal Hispano de TX de Oficinas Intergrupales. Para Inf.: Com. Org., 8906 Wall St., Ste. 306, Austin, TX 78754; www.foro2015.intergrupalestx.org

13-15—Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. XI Conv. Mexicana. Para Inf.: www.aamexico.org.mx 20-22—Yuma, Arizona. Yuma Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 6722, Yuma, AZ 85366; www.yumaroundup.org

20-22—Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. 40th Conv. Info: www.aajapan-40th.org/english/ 26-1—San Jose, California. ACYPAA XLIII Roundup. Write: Ch., Box 320806, Los Gatos, CA 95032; www.2015.acypaa.org 27-1—Julian, California. 29th Live and Let Live Lesbian Roundup. Write: Ch., 1711

Planning a Future Event? To be included in the Box 4-5-9 Calendar, information must be received at G.S.O. four months prior to the event. We list events of two or more days. For your convenience and ours — please type or print the information to be listed on the Bulletin Board page, and mail to Editor: Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 or literature@aa.org Date of event: from ___________________________________ to _____________________________ , 20_______________ Name of event: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Location: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY

STATE OR PROVINCE

Planning Committee address: ____________________________________________________________________________ P.O. BOX (OR NUMBER AND STREET)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY

STATE OR PROVINCE

ZIP CODE

Web site or E-mail: _______________________________________________________________________________________ (NO PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES)

Contact person: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ NAME

PHONE # AND OR E-MAIL

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