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members state, "Leave the steps alone! e are
nce 1957!" But, newer members are a
13 to 30 members, several n week,
ht to get more spiritual. Spwnorship Is a theo
rding is not consistant!

regoing is 4 apprasial of the Issue

we age doing
the steps do not a

istory is offered to er lighten the GA membersht
oregoing question. This history will be brie? and f
lers Anonymous and th introduction 2
The first GA meeting (9-13-57) is the forma
istory and final summary are compliec from letters by original
A founder, parties present during the lst w) eks of September,
umentation from the GA Big Book. Any references to outside
such as Alocholes Anpnymous are not hi light mpare our
ut offered to give true reflection.

is the founder Anon} Sir riginally entered the
(drinkt ‘ob 1 ¢ spiritual recovery
amiliar with recovery from
yet he persisted wi 1isiv mbling for many
g that gamblin €

problem

and di ss the matter on a regular

fellowship shouldn't
could not stop gambling alone.
Jim attempted to "start" a group of pro
He enlisted fellow AA members who were known to have a gambling problem.
{led anc felt that no one wanted to per anently stor
t station was bleak until Sam J (a poker playing insure
phone service in Los Al elos on 12/24/56 t 4 AA was not
blers, but that his telephone nur V Id offered to
nm) who might help
N believed that little would be accomplsihed
contact m in January, meet that same evening and ta
the summer of 1957 ahe wife of a problem gam bler ca
A phone service. Jim and Sam responded in per
ere not well recieved. Thankful for the visit an
that she would arrange publicity for Jim and Sam
short article soon appeared tn the loc al newspa@er and
eeing this interest, the news reporter invited Jim anc s

for problem

utline the problem of
ay, 1

mpulsive

his broadcast encouraged a response fron

eeting at a rented off
m and Sam paced the office floor. jim
also attend the metting (affect) bt
lem gamblers ht show up. The initial problem
he absence of a piece of literature to present to the new
Anyonymous litterature did not exist.
jecision and commissioned his wife and her frier
f the AA 12 Steps as pos . This proven prograr

im. The duty was pe! ed, At this point S

table t

steps are okay for you and me, Jim. But the new members may be scare

many references to the 'God business.'" Sam that the text
Jim initially ito changing a text w
ut upon Sam's insistance, asked his wife to once
ft. (Jim confesses to being a lover of people/lacking
jraft (with the exception of i "financial" tnsérted in
esente ginal £ 5) compulsive gamblers who joine:
is the draft which we use today.
afely stated that there was an early and in
text. During February, 19 Jim and one of t
ttempted to produce a new "ll step rpogram.". Tt text was presented
roup (original group) during that month. Reports conflict -- but one writing
ll step program was: "tried fora month or so" before it was fi reje
an be seen that the presentation of our steps to the original meeting hing
rushed judgement" and forced circumstance. The creation and preser tation
a plan...but an accident. Original GA members (1971) ha
the steps a tered down version." Recent complaints from our membe
t our steps should be returned to their original form. It is reported that
"hated" the changes and today, advocates that our GA Step ould

The following are the original steps typed and presented to Jim W prior
verless over gambling -~ that our 1

ve that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us
sion to turn our will and our es over to tha care of

fearless moral (and financial)* inventory

10-10-81

itted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exa
nature of our wrongs
Nere entirely ready to have

od remove all these defects ara
umbly alsked Him to rem

} e our shortcomings
ade a list of all persons we had harmed
amemnds to them all

ade direct amends to su people

© SO would injure them or others
Continued to take personal inventory
admitted it

ght through prayer and meditation to improve our
9d as we understood Him, praying only for knowle«
2 and the power to carry that out
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of the
to carry this message to compulsive lers and to
in all our afdairs.

These steps offer a clear path to recovery. Please note
a conclusion: An “awakening” shou felt as the result
We know that stopping gambling is required , but st
the answer to the compulsive gambling probdem.
seated obsessions and urges to gamble are overcome I

igher Power. This belief symbolizes the destructior
Maturity is change!

amblers Anonymous has been busy growing

for GA to prepare for maturity? We have proven that
problem will join together to solve their common problem.
identification, through therapy, is the "hook"...but what is
Gambling is the problem. Recovery is the solution. Is C
its’ probtem or its’ solution? Let's hope we will create
fellowship by re-adopting our recovery program. Let's
time we begin to mature as a fellowship and stop assu
born without change.

Brothers and sisters, if there is any init fal resentment to
the original steps, please remember that ormcssias} ou
recovery are the personal performance of deedswhi
Compulsive gaimbling demands littte -- place a bet. Recovery