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Mr. James Willis 8/15/81
c/0 Pleasant Valley Convalescent Hospital

5225 So. J Street

Oxnard, California 93030

Dear Jim W:

Hello, from a brother member in the East. My name is Al C and lama
compulsive gambler.

By way of introduction...I gambled for twenty-five years and gambled my way
into Gamblers Anonymbus. Ihave been involved with recovery from compulsive
gambling since my first GA Meeting on June 12th 1979 and have learned to accept
my slow, steady growth and peace of gambling abstinance. I belive that the
only chance for my continued survival depends on the Gamblers Anonymous fellow-

ship.

The purpose of this letter is to extract information concerning the beginning of
the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship -- information that you (and you alone) possess.

To bring you up to date: There is an effort being made within the fellowship to
return the 12 Steps of Recovery to their original state. The feeling of the members
who want this change is:

A. The current steps do not satiffy the need of the GA fellowship; hence we
have a "low-keyed" spiritual program bed on limited sponsorship

B. The 12 Step text should be re-adopted to include the exact text of the original
steps known to you in 1956 with the addition of the word "financial" in Step

Four

Dueing 1979,80,81 several statements written to the NSO Bulletin have highlighted
that a need for change of the steps is required. One particular group id Mass. has
been expelled from the fellowship for using outside literature (AA). This fact and
other rumblings indicate that a SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP which does not high-
light spiritual essences is misleading its' membership.

On March 15th 1981 a meeting of GA trustees and GA members assembled to
discuss the matter of "change". This meeting took place in NYC and thirteen members
attended. The results of this meeting were reported to the Trustees at the July 81'
conference. Presently, a motion to create a "committee for review of the Steps" will
be introduced to the Oct 81' conference. This committee will be responsible for
polling the GA fellowship and providing information concerning GA feeling about the
existing Steps of Recovery. If change is desired by the fellowship...it is anticipated
that modification ‘of the $tepscould take place during: 1985/86.

I feel it would greatly serve the fellowship if you would provide the following

information:
A. What were the circumstances which surrounded the decision to alter the

original AA text known to you in 1956?
B. The reason for altering the text?

page two...

C. Your thoughts concerning the text alteration

D. Do you feel that the steps you provided at the first GA meeting have
served the best interest of the GA Fellowship?

E. Would you recommend that the steps be changed?

F. Would you recommend that the Steps be returned to the original form?

G. Any helpful comments.....

At present, these questions are un-answered and fruitless speculation is the
result. Please provide this information so that it can be documented for the fellow-
ship. Iassure you that no information will he misused or given to the membershbp
without first seeking advice and council from your brother Ray M and the chairman
of the BOT.

It is understandible that existimce of a GA program was required in 1957. GA i
did not exist and growth of GA and spread of GA was a major consideration. I was
a little boy shooting crap in basements when you started this fellowship. GROWTH '
has been the primary concern of the fellowship. Having attempted to start a new
group...I realize how all other considerations like words, and literature are
secondary to simply keeping the new man in the room.
Today, GA is growing up. The questions I offer will be asked again in the
mind(s) of the fellowship until they are answered. The new GA member is younger
and smarter than in the past. The program has to grow to the most simple view of
what the Steps are all about. There cannot be lack of continuity and holes in our
recovery program. Powerlessness and surrender! This is what is required. We cannot
open the door to a member getting back on the EGO train. Todays,GA member needs
a straight path to "humility" and this can only be achieved with a more pointed
road to a Higherpower-belief.

Thope your health is well and so to your day. Hope to hear from you soon,

Lo

your brother.

Alfred C. Collins
58 Yale Street
Nutley, N.J. 07110