Traditions part 2 presented by mike f – 2025-11-18

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown mike f speaking on "Traditions part 2" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (November 18, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:03.560 – 00:00:07.799] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:17

[00 00:07.799 – 00:00:09.119] Thanks for joining us.

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[00 00:09.119 – 00:00:19.219] My name is Tim, and tonight's presentation is part two of a two-part presentation led by Mike F, and this is on

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[00 00:19.219 – 00:00:21.019] Living the 12 Traditions.

0:30

[00 00:21.019 – 00:00:27.839] And we meet here every Tuesday at the same time using the same Zoom ID.

0:36

[00 00:27.839 – 00:00:38.340] And next week will be, um, uh, the last Tuesday of November, so it will be Pat Y for our Conversation

0:44

[00 00:38.340 – 00:00:39.359] with a Longtimer.

0:46

[00 00:39.359 – 00:00:50.340] And this meeting is being recorded, and all past audio presentations are available at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:52

[00 00:50.340 – 00:01:00.140] And if anyone missed us last week, I did just a minute ago post the video link to part one of Mike's presentation.

1:02

[00 01:00.140 – 00:01:00.899] It's in the chat.

1:04

[00 01:00.899 – 00:01:04.439] I'll share it again for anyone joining us late.

1:08

[00 01:04.439 – 00:01:10.000] And I also shared the links to the audio in the chat as well.

1:13

[00 01:10.000 – 00:01:20.060] And Recovery Speakers is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, though our focus is the history of AA

1:21

[00 01:20.060 – 00:01:22.019] and other 12-step fellowships.

1:23

[00 01:22.019 – 00:01:32.159] Recoveryspeakers.com is a 501[c][3] nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the audio history of

1:29

[00 01:32.159 – 00:01:38.260] AA and the 12-step movement today and for future generations.

1:33

[00 01:38.260 – 00:01:48.260] We send a daily email featuring a speaker talk from our archives, um, recordings of these, of these workshops, and information on

1:42

[00 01:48.260 – 00:01:49.799] upcoming presentations.

1:43

[00 01:49.799 – 00:02:00.519] To subscribe, you can use the link in the chat or send me an email at info@recoveryspeakers.com and,

1:51

[00 02:00.519 – 00:02:02.519] uh, I will get you added to our list.

1:55

[00 02:02.519 – 00:02:08.180] If you are able to support our work, contributions are appreciated.

2:00

[00 02:08.180 – 00:02:13.060] The donation link is in the chat, or you can use the QR code that is up on the screen.

2:08

[00 02:13.060 – 00:02:21.060] And I want to go through a couple of our flyers here for our upcoming presentations.

2:14

[00 02:21.060 – 00:02:25.699] In the first couple weeks of December, we'll have Miley T.

2:19

[00 02:25.699 – 00:02:27.340] presenting Mrs.

2:20

[00 02:27.340 – 00:02:32.020] Marty Mann, Early AA Woman, and on the ninth will be Chris J.

2:26

[00 02:32.020 – 00:02:36.240] presenting on Hank P., The Big Book and Beyond.

2:30

[00 02:36.240 – 00:02:46.590] And tonight, we should have some time for Q&A with Mike at the end of his presentation, so if you have any

2:39

[00 02:46.590 – 00:02:52.319] questions for Mike, please jot them down and be ready to ask questions at the end of the meeting.

2:47

[00 02:52.319 – 00:02:57.169] And I am going to close the chat right now.

2:51

[00 02:57.169 – 00:02:59.699] I will open that back up at the end of the meeting.

2:56

[00 02:59.699 – 00:03:02.000] And that is it for me.

2:59

[00 03:02.000 – 00:03:04.639] I am going to go ahead and turn it over to Mike.

3:04

[00 03:04.639 – 00:03:11.819] Thank you, Tim.

3:05

[00 03:11.819 – 00:03:12.840] Can you hear me?

3:07

[00 03:12.840 – 00:03:14.180] Just give me a thumbs up.

3:10

[00 03:14.180 – 00:03:19.599] Yes, and I just made you a co-host too, so you can- Let people in.

3:16

[00 03:19.599 – 00:03:20.439] Yeah.

3:17

[00 03:20.439 – 00:03:21.780] Hi, everybody.

3:18

[00 03:21.780 – 00:03:24.000] So glad you're here.

3:20

[00 03:24.000 – 00:03:34.500] We, uh, we're moved by the amount of feedback that we received from last week,

3:26

[00 03:34.500 – 00:03:43.599] and I just want you to know that it humbles me to have so many people reach out and, uh, express gratitude for the work that we're doing.

3:37

[00 03:43.599 – 00:03:53.599] And I hope you see that the work that Recovery Speakers is doing, we're trying to take it to a higher level, a more professional level, and provide things that,

3:49

[00 03:53.599 – 00:03:59.199] that people can identify with and also can be educated with.

3:54

[00 03:59.199 – 00:04:03.479] So we, uh, we wanna thank you for being here.

3:58

[00 04:03.479 – 00:04:11.979] I'm going to do the second part tonight, and this presentation is not one that I've done before, so, you know, we're just, uh...

4:08

[00 04:11.979 – 00:04:15.199] You're getting a first shot at it.

4:11

[00 04:15.199 – 00:04:17.879] So I am gonna share my screen.

4:14

[00 04:17.879 – 00:04:20.680] Hang on one sec.

4:16

[00 04:20.680 – 00:04:27.860] All right, let me go here.

4:19

[00 04:27.860 – 00:04:29.839] There we go.

4:20

[00 04:29.839 – 00:04:31.779] Share.

4:21

[00 04:31.779 – 00:04:35.980] All right, there we go.

4:23

[00 04:35.980 – 00:04:38.660] That was how we closed last week.

4:26

[00 04:38.660 – 00:04:42.959] Was just kind of a little thing.

4:29

[00 04:42.959 – 00:04:47.000] Please don't steal all of our information and put it all over the internet.

4:35

[00 04:47.000 – 00:04:55.800] If somebody does want any of the information that we're sharing tonight, any of the slides or materials, please request and we'll be happy to provide them for you.

4:47

[00 04:55.800 – 00:04:58.579] Tradition Seven.

4:48

[00 04:58.579 – 00:05:08.620] You know, last week we went through, uh, the first six traditions, and, you know, Tradition Seven is every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting,

4:58

[00 05:08.620 – 00:05:11.600] declining outside contributions.

5:00

[00 05:11.600 – 00:05:15.899] There's a lot of reasons why we have that tradition.

5:04

[00 05:15.899 – 00:05:23.899] One is so that AA can stay free and stay independent of any affiliation with any place.

5:11

[00 05:23.899 – 00:05:35.000] And I had, uh, in my home group years ago, there was a situation where a, uh, where a gentleman came into the meeting, and

5:21

[00 05:35.000 – 00:05:37.519] along with him was his wife.

5:24

[00 05:37.519 – 00:05:45.899] And he was an alcoholic, and she was a non-alcoholic, and it was a closed meeting.

5:30

[00 05:45.899 – 00:05:56.220] And I'm not gonna go through exactly what transpired, but very politely she was informed that this was a closed meeting for alcoholics only and that,

5:41

[00 05:56.220 – 00:06:00.540] uh, she, she wasn't welcome at that meeting.

5:44

[00 06:00.540 – 00:06:08.480] But her husband certainly was, and, uh, there are open meetings, and someone gave her a meeting schedule.

5:52

[00 06:08.480 – 00:06:10.879] Anyway, the two did get up and leave.

5:55

[00 06:10.879 – 00:06:12.540] Neither stayed for the meeting.

5:58

[00 06:12.540 – 00:06:22.540] A couple of days later, the minister of the church contacted the person who was leading the group and said,

6:06

[00 06:22.540 – 00:06:32.560] "The people that you didn't let come into the AA meetings are the biggest supporters of our church, and we want you to make an

6:16

[00 06:32.560 – 00:06:42.600] exception." And because we pay rent, we could just say to them, "No," you know, "I'm, I'm sorry, we're a tenant

6:24

[00 06:42.600 – 00:06:47.980] of yours, and we can't do something against our traditions to satisfy you.

6:30

[00 06:47.980 – 00:06:50.480] If that's not acceptable, we'll move."

6:32

[00 06:51.091 – 00:07:01.371] But, you know, that's just one example when having a, the seventh tradition and paying our own way and being self-supporting really does work

6:42

[00 07:01.371 – 00:07:03.631] for Alcoholics Anonymous.

6:44

[00 07:03.631 – 00:07:08.631] And throughout, uh, you know, what we do in AA is we pass the basket.

6:50

[00 07:08.631 – 00:07:16.191] You know, at the meetings we pass the basket, and we ask people if you're able to kick a dollar or two or five or 10 in.

7:00

[00 07:16.191 – 00:07:18.771] Whatever's appropriate and whatever you can do.

7:03

[00 07:18.771 – 00:07:29.421] I know when I was first getting sober, I didn't have any money to put in the basket, and it was one of those things that I was often embarrassed of that I wasn't able to,

7:18

[00 07:29.421 – 00:07:30.331] to do that.

7:19

[00 07:30.331 – 00:07:35.831] And then, uh, one of the guys said to me, "No, someday you'll do this for someone else.

7:26

[00 07:35.831 – 00:07:37.151] Don't worry about it.

7:28

[00 07:37.151 – 00:07:39.011] It's not a requirement.

7:30

[00 07:39.011 – 00:07:49.041] It's something if you're in a position to do it, we need the help." And, and you know, if you're in a position to, to pitch in a dollar or two or five or 10 at your home group or at

7:46

[00 07:49.041 – 00:07:57.351] some of the meetings that you attend and you choose not to, um, that meeting might not be there for someone else the next time.

7:56

[00 07:57.351 – 00:07:59.291] And it really does come down to that.

8:00

[00 07:59.291 – 00:08:04.231] I- if, if the meetings don't have the finances to be self-supporting, they have to close.

8:06

[00 08:04.231 – 00:08:11.671] AA must never lend its name, money or influence to outside causes.

8:11

[00 08:11.671 – 00:08:17.581] Our strength comes from the spiritual principles, not from prestige or power.

8:16

[00 08:17.581 – 00:08:28.031] And you know, sometimes some people want to make it popular to be AA member, and to break anonymity

8:24

[00 08:28.031 – 00:08:38.211] and say, "Oh, guess who I saw in AA," and, "Who's going to AA?" And, you know, we're gonna talk a little bit about anonymity tonight, but the reality is, is Alcoholics Anonymous

8:37

[00 08:38.211 – 00:08:41.771] has to be a safe place for alcoholics.

8:41

[00 08:41.771 – 00:08:51.891] It has to be a place where we can come and we can express ourselves and the fact that we're alcoholic without fear that that information's gonna be taken

8:52

[00 08:51.891 – 00:09:02.471] out or somebody is gonna solicit us for something or any other reason outside of AA other than our primary purpose, and that is to carry the message to

9:04

[00 09:02.471 – 00:09:04.211] the next suffering alcoholic.

9:06

[00 09:04.211 – 00:09:09.211] Tradition seven gives us that ability.

9:09

[00 09:09.211 – 00:09:18.431] It gives us the opportunity to be in control because we decline outside contributions.

9:14

[00 09:18.431 – 00:09:21.171] We don't accept outside contributions.

9:17

[00 09:21.171 – 00:09:27.611] Now, I was also in a meeting, and it was a mixed meeting.

9:22

[00 09:27.611 – 00:09:37.691] It was a AA meeting with Al-Anon participation, and then after a certain period of time into the meeting, they would stop and

9:31

[00 09:37.691 – 00:09:43.571] the Al-Anon, uh, meeting would leave, and they would go to another room, and they would meet.

9:38

[00 09:43.571 – 00:09:53.291] And they read at this meeting, "If you're not a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, please don't contribute.

9:45

[00 09:53.291 – 00:10:03.491] We cannot accept your contributions." And, uh, that bothered me because I had to then go back into our history and see,

9:54

[00 10:03.491 – 00:10:05.271] is that really true?

9:56

[00 10:05.271 – 00:10:06.831] Uh, are they not allowed?

9:58

[00 10:06.831 – 00:10:09.211] Should they not, uh, donate?

10:01

[00 10:09.211 – 00:10:10.611] They're drinking the coffee.

10:03

[00 10:10.611 – 00:10:12.431] They're breathing the air.

10:05

[00 10:12.431 – 00:10:14.051] They're enjoying the air conditioning.

10:07

[00 10:14.051 – 00:10:24.051] And Bill Wilson said, "Absolutely they should kick in a few bucks to help pay for the coffee." There's no, there, there is no,

10:17

[00 10:24.051 – 00:10:27.311] uh, problem with that within the group.

10:20

[00 10:27.311 – 00:10:31.771] It's when we go outside and accept contributions.

10:23

[00 10:31.771 – 00:10:42.060] If someone is attending our meeting and it's a mixed or an open meeting and they, and the basket go, goes around, they certainly are entitled

10:34

[00 10:42.060 – 00:10:45.531] to put a dollar or two or five or 10 just like anyone else.

10:39

[00 10:45.531 – 00:10:51.331] And every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting.

10:43

[00 10:51.331 – 00:10:57.971] Now I d- I, I threw some quarters in there just 'cause I could make this line, you see, in the picture.

10:52

[00 10:57.971 – 00:11:08.090] My dad used to say when he was, uh, passing the basket if he was chairing the meeting, he would say, "And tonight we're gonna have a silent

11:03

[00 11:08.090 – 00:11:11.051] collection," and he would pass the basket.

11:06

[00 11:11.051 – 00:11:18.851] And I always thought he meant verbally, and then I figured out he was talking about he wanted paper money thrown in and not change.

11:16

[00 11:18.851 – 00:11:23.980] Tradition seven, self-supporting is gratitude in action.

11:19

[00 11:23.980 – 00:11:34.051] And you know, November being traditions month and November being gratitude month, there's reasons why we wanted to do this presentation

11:28

[00 11:34.051 – 00:11:34.411] now.

11:28

[00 11:34.411 – 00:11:44.411] One is our gratitude that we have here at Recovery Speakers for the ability to do the work that we do, the people who contact w- us and stay in

11:40

[00 11:44.411 – 00:11:48.891] contact with us, and the people who, who enjoy the services that we provide.

11:46

[00 11:48.891 – 00:11:52.171] So our gratitude is we want, we wanna do better.

11:51

[00 11:52.171 – 00:12:02.191] We wanna keep doing better and keep providing material for, for everybody that's interested, and we wanna make it good quality, and we wanna make it interesting,

12:01

[00 12:02.191 – 00:12:04.391] and I hope that we're accomplishing that.

12:04

[00 12:04.391 – 00:12:08.071] But this is really about gratitude for us.

12:08

[00 12:08.071 – 00:12:15.611] Tradition eight, Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional.

12:11

[00 12:15.611 – 00:12:19.551] We have a special skill.

12:14

[00 12:19.551 – 00:12:22.271] We were saved from a deadly malady.

12:17

[00 12:22.271 – 00:12:29.791] We carry the message because it's our privilege to help others, not because we expect money for doing it.

12:25

[00 12:29.791 – 00:12:33.111] No one should be paid for 12-step work.

12:28

[00 12:33.111 – 00:12:35.511] That's, that's not AA.

12:30

[00 12:35.511 – 00:12:41.531] AA is for fun and for free, and when it comes to our 12-step work, we don't do it professionally.

12:38

[00 12:41.531 – 00:12:44.471] Now, some of us have skills.

12:41

[00 12:44.471 – 00:12:51.191] Some people have educations that help them, uh, maybe be more effective in dealing with some of this.

12:48

[00 12:51.191 – 00:12:59.931] But you know, the deal here with Alcoholics Anonymous is that one AA member talking to another AA member.

12:56

[00 12:59.931 – 00:13:04.351] One AA member carrying the message, bringing somebody to a meeting.

13:00

[00 13:04.351 – 00:13:10.001] And here this group, tradition eight, non-professional but not unorganized.

13:05

[00 13:10.001 – 00:13:11.721] Should we hire a secretary?

13:07

[00 13:11.721 – 00:13:15.911] Early members debated paid workers because they didn't...

13:11

[00 13:15.911 – 00:13:17.851] They thought people should do this for free.

13:14

[00 13:17.851 – 00:13:25.211] Even Bill Wilson was guilty of it, talking about, uh, I think it was the janitor was Tom at the old clubhouse.

13:23

[00 13:25.211 – 00:13:35.351] And you know, they wanted Tom to work full time and then to sleep there at night to be the security and, and they, they didn't wanna pay him for all

13:35

[00 13:35.351 – 00:13:36.131] that they were doing.

13:37

[00 13:36.131 – 00:13:41.511] And finally they realized, wait a minute, if we brought somebody else in here to do this job

13:45

[00 13:42.236 – 00:13:44.896] That wasn't an alcoholic, we'd have to pay him.

13:48

[00 13:44.896 – 00:13:48.096] Why are we taking advantages of poor old Tom?

13:52

[00 13:48.096 – 00:13:52.756] So we started, the AA began to learn some of the things it needed to do.

13:59

[00 13:52.756 – 00:14:02.936] And, and the fact that it has to stay non-professional, but our service boards and committees can, can bring on special workers and pay those

14:09

[00 14:02.936 – 00:14:03.436] workers.

14:10

[00 14:03.436 – 00:14:11.576] If we would have to pay a non-alcoholic for those same services, then the alcoholic needs and should be paid.

14:18

[00 14:11.576 – 00:14:21.976] Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

14:24

[00 14:21.976 – 00:14:30.476] This has been given a lot of room for thought, questions, and in some cases, arguments.

14:30

[00 14:30.476 – 00:14:36.366] Like a great many other things, we have been able to iron out the wrinkles.

14:36

[00 14:36.366 – 00:14:46.915] And along with being more or less schooled in the development of understanding,

14:42

[00 14:46.915 – 00:14:56.736] we arrived at certain things whereby today I don't believe we have too much trouble from time to time.

14:50

[00 14:56.736 – 00:15:00.056] Uh, and we're never going to please them all.

14:53

[00 15:00.056 – 00:15:08.836] We do hear a few grunts and groans and gripes about the man or the woman who has a job in AA.

15:02

[00 15:08.836 – 00:15:19.136] If we will all but remember this, that there is a job to be filled, a job that will take time

15:11

[00 15:19.136 – 00:15:26.476] and effort, and a job that you would have to pay someone for.

15:16

[00 15:26.476 – 00:15:36.556] If, and this is another consensus of opinion over a period of years, the alcoholic

15:22

[00 15:36.556 – 00:15:45.536] or the member of AA who is qualified, we feel is justified to take that job, and we feel justified in paying them.

15:32

[00 15:45.536 – 00:15:51.335] It's a whole lot different than some things that might turn up from time to time.

15:38

[00 15:51.335 – 00:16:01.476] In my early days in AA, uh, as a young secretary being exposed to, uh,

15:44

[00 16:01.476 – 00:16:11.816] something a little bit new and different every once in a while, I had the novel experience, you might call it, of being offered two

15:54

[00 16:11.816 – 00:16:18.416] thousand dollars for saving a member of a family.

15:58

[00 16:18.416 – 00:16:29.196] Two uncles and a brother pleaded

16:01

[00 16:29.196 – 00:16:35.196] with me to take this money and take over this boy so that we could straighten him out.

16:08

[00 16:35.196 – 00:16:46.596] Now, you know, there was just a little element of temptation there, but I

16:14

[00 16:46.596 – 00:16:47.476] had to say no.

16:16

[00 16:47.476 – 00:16:51.936] The good thing for me is like this.

16:20

[00 16:51.936 – 00:17:00.956] It's a good thing for anybody who might be exposed to temptations at that time to just take time out to think.

16:28

[00 17:00.956 – 00:17:10.996] A thought doesn't take more than a few seconds, and if you understand as I did at that time,

16:36

[00 17:10.996 – 00:17:12.616] your answer, too, would be no.

16:39

[00 17:12.616 – 00:17:22.506] I think, uh, that that was Dick S from Cleveland speaking at the- Alcoholics ...

16:45

[00 17:22.506 – 00:17:25.816] First International in nineteen fifty.

16:47

[00 17:25.816 – 00:17:31.996] Those recordings are available on Recovery Speakers as well.

16:51

[00 17:31.996 – 00:17:42.056] And we, uh, discussed this last week, just the

16:55

[00 17:42.056 – 00:17:43.696] use of the AA name.

16:57

[00 17:43.696 – 00:17:54.036] What, uh, what Alcoholics Anonymous tradition teaches us to do at, uh, at their request

17:03

[00 17:54.036 – 00:17:59.076] is to not use AA name for any of the related facilities.

17:08

[00 17:59.076 – 00:18:05.796] Um, whether they are directly related or not, we don't use AA name.

17:14

[00 18:05.796 – 00:18:12.836] The clubhouses, uh, often take on the names of Alano clubs or, or different things like that.

17:21

[00 18:12.836 – 00:18:19.756] Um, and then when we get into Tradition Nine, the heart of service is at the group level.

17:28

[00 18:19.756 – 00:18:21.696] We serve so the message can be heard.

17:32

[00 18:21.696 – 00:18:27.456] One of the nice things about Alcoholics Anonymous is everyone gets to participate.

17:37

[00 18:27.456 – 00:18:38.196] Not only everyone who says they have a desire to stop drinking wants to join a home group and participate and become part of the

17:47

[00 18:38.196 – 00:18:40.656] experience of Alcoholics Anonymous.

17:49

[00 18:40.656 – 00:18:45.036] And you know that, the home group is the heartbeat of AA.

17:54

[00 18:45.036 – 00:18:55.316] Having a home group in a place where you can have others get to know you, and you can begin to volunteer to do

18:04

[00 18:55.316 – 00:18:59.716] some of the services that need to be done to keep those doors open.

18:09

[00 18:59.716 – 00:19:09.796] And those are everything from making coffee, to, uh, finding the facility, to, uh, finding speakers, or creating topics, or being a door greeter,

18:19

[00 19:09.796 – 00:19:11.316] or cleaning up after the meeting.

18:22

[00 19:11.316 – 00:19:15.036] There's always something that we can volunteer for.

18:25

[00 19:15.036 – 00:19:23.496] I know for myself, I was reluctant to do that, and my sponsor in the early days was giving me assignments.

18:34

[00 19:23.496 – 00:19:33.716] Said, "Tonight, you're gonna clean up the ashtrays after the meeting." And then, uh, another night, "You're gonna be the door greeter." And that was a type of, uh,

18:45

[00 19:33.716 – 00:19:37.536] sponsorship and, and leadership that I saw.

18:48

[00 19:37.536 – 00:19:40.136] And you know, our message stays pure.

18:52

[00 19:40.136 – 00:19:50.436] And if you look at the scale here, money, property, and prestige, you can see that it's got some weight on that scale, but our primary

19:02

[00 19:50.436 – 00:19:53.936] purpose outweighs all of that.

19:04

[00 19:53.936 – 00:20:05.306] We keep AA free from outside influences, so our message stays pure to the alcoholic and our purpose is spiritual and

19:13

[00 20:05.306 – 00:20:06.226] not material.

19:14

[00 20:06.226 – 00:20:11.316] Tradition Nine: Organize to serve, not to govern.

19:17

[00 20:11.316 – 00:20:19.616] AA as such ought never be organized, but we create service boards and committees directly responsible to those they serve.

19:26

[00 20:19.616 – 00:20:29.796] And, and then what we have are we have members who have become trusted servants in a program of rotating leadership so that each

19:35

[00 20:29.796 – 00:20:32.976] person gets to participate at diff-

19:38

[00 20:33.121 – 00:20:37.821] different levels within the service structure if they stand for those positions.

19:43

[00 20:37.821 – 00:20:42.001] But they're trusted servants, not governors.

19:46

[00 20:42.001 – 00:20:52.021] And we need to, you know, sometimes w- members can misinterpret the traditions, and I think that, you know, Tim's putting the guide

19:55

[00 20:52.021 – 00:20:54.941] in the chat for anybody to, to download.

19:58

[00 20:54.941 – 00:20:57.421] Um, we can send it out to you.

20:02

[00 20:57.421 – 00:21:07.561] The idea of putting this traditions, uh, workshop together was a follow-up from a guide that I had put together just so that I could give it to people who

20:14

[00 21:07.561 – 00:21:16.961] ask me, "How do you take someone through the traditions?" It's not a step-by-step practical guide to take somebody through the traditions, although it can be used for that.

20:25

[00 21:16.961 – 00:21:27.321] It was really set up to give some insight and some curiosity and, and try to maybe light a spark and get someone interested

20:35

[00 21:27.321 – 00:21:30.081] in studying the traditions.

20:37

[00 21:30.081 – 00:21:32.561] We carry this message one day at a time.

20:41

[00 21:32.561 – 00:21:34.921] What's the message?

20:43

[00 21:34.921 – 00:21:37.861] What's the message of Alcoholics Anonymous?

20:45

[00 21:37.861 – 00:21:43.431] It's a spiritual program of recovery for an alcoholic with a desire to stop drinking.

20:51

[00 21:43.431 – 00:21:47.001] And it's one alcoholic carry it to another alcoholic.

20:55

[00 21:47.001 – 00:21:52.801] And we honor AA's traditions by following them.

20:59

[00 21:52.801 – 00:21:56.541] We do what we can to not circumvent the traditions.

21:03

[00 21:56.541 – 00:22:06.641] This is at the, the traditions were written for the group, but, uh, many individuals choose to utilize those traditions in all

21:12

[00 22:06.641 – 00:22:12.581] aspects of their life because they're spiritual principles just like we have in the 12 steps.

21:18

[00 22:12.581 – 00:22:15.841] Tradition 10 tells us who we don't have.

21:21

[00 22:15.841 – 00:22:26.141] Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues, hence the na- AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

21:29

[00 22:26.141 – 00:22:35.261] The AA name shouldn't be drawn into any controversy, and we have no issues, uh, outside of Alcoholics Anonymous.

21:37

[00 22:35.261 – 00:22:36.441] We have no opinions.

21:39

[00 22:36.441 – 00:22:42.861] I was at a meeting the other day sitting with some people, and we were talking about conference-approved literature.

21:47

[00 22:42.861 – 00:22:53.121] And they said, "Well, how does something get conference approved?" And then I asked the question, "Do you think because there's conference-approved literature that there's

21:57

[00 22:53.181 – 00:22:59.301] conference unapproved literature, literature that's not approved?" There is no such thing.

22:02

[00 22:59.301 – 00:23:08.451] There is no committee within Alcoholics Anonymous to reject any of the literature that gets presented to them.

22:09

[00 23:08.451 – 00:23:14.901] The only books and literature that Alcoholics Anonymous publish are those that come up through the conference.

22:16

[00 23:14.901 – 00:23:21.121] They used to have the circle and triangle identifying them as a AA published book.

22:22

[00 23:21.121 – 00:23:26.741] That had been removed and replaced with conference-approved literature.

22:26

[00 23:26.741 – 00:23:31.061] Tradition 10: We keep our focus on recovery.

22:29

[00 23:31.061 – 00:23:35.321] Our opinions end where our unity begins.

22:32

[00 23:35.321 – 00:23:42.101] You know, that first tradition, our common welfare, personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

22:38

[00 23:42.101 – 00:23:45.981] That's where we have to start to check our ego.

22:42

[00 23:45.981 – 00:23:48.661] We have to start to just be one of many.

22:47

[00 23:48.661 – 00:23:58.721] We have to be just okay to sacrifice our desire to have our way and to be able to do Tradition 1 and participate in this fellowship.

22:57

[00 23:58.721 – 00:24:05.071] AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution.

23:02

[00 24:05.071 – 00:24:10.841] Our sole and only focus is on helping alcoholics to recovery.

23:07

[00 24:10.841 – 00:24:14.101] There's a, a interesting piece I wanted to share with you.

23:11

[00 24:14.101 – 00:24:24.221] Excommunicate or try to excommunicate, in quotes, a young man who would go to a sanitarium and sober up and come back

23:20

[00 24:24.221 – 00:24:27.221] to the door and pass out the cards to the members as they came in.

23:26

[00 24:27.221 – 00:24:31.421] Johnny Miller Sanitarium, $35 a week, all the medication you want.

23:31

[00 24:31.421 – 00:24:32.201] You don't hurt a bit.

23:33

[00 24:32.201 – 00:24:33.441] You don't even have to miss a meeting.

23:36

[00 24:33.441 – 00:24:43.441] And we knew s- now, without any traditions, we knew that, uh, we were scared

23:43

[00 24:43.441 – 00:24:43.781] witless.

23:43

[00 24:43.781 – 00:24:49.101] We knew that our program was gonna go down the drain with this guy promoting that sanitarium.

23:50

[00 24:49.101 – 00:24:53.080] Everybody get drunk during the week and coming, come back on Friday, and he said, "Look at me.

23:58

[00 24:53.080 – 00:25:03.181] I look pretty good." Well, we put up with that till he had two slips, and when he came back and looking pretty good again and started the card routine, we went

24:11

[00 25:03.181 – 00:25:08.621] up to him and we said, "Listen, Lee, now you had two slips, and we put up with that.

24:18

[00 25:08.621 – 00:25:18.751] But now we just wanna tell you right now, three slips and you're out." That was Sybil from Los Angeles, and I wanted to put her in because

24:29

[00 25:18.751 – 00:25:29.201] she did an awful lot to help educate people about the traditions, but she also did an awful lot prior to the traditions being,

24:39

[00 25:29.201 – 00:25:34.081] um, authored in 1946, 'cause Sybil came in when there weren't traditions.

24:44

[00 25:34.081 – 00:25:40.781] In that illustration, she was, you know, talking about one of the group guys and, and she went on, and that's a beautiful talk.

24:53

[00 25:40.781 – 00:25:46.481] So if you have an opportunity to check out Sybil on the traditions on Recovery Speakers, check it out.

25:01

[00 25:46.481 – 00:25:48.541] She gives a beautiful talk.

25:03

[00 25:48.541 – 00:25:53.981] But AA, again, we just have no opinion on outside issues.

25:08

[00 25:53.981 – 00:25:58.941] In Tradition 10, unity is our light amid the storm.

25:12

[00 25:58.941 – 00:26:05.161] AA has no opinion on outside, so we don't get caught up in politics.

25:18

[00 26:05.161 – 00:26:07.521] We don't get caught up in controversy.

25:21

[00 26:07.521 – 00:26:13.841] We don't get caught up in religion or, or different theories or even other programs.

25:27

[00 26:13.841 – 00:26:14.921] We keep it simple.

25:29

[00 26:14.921 – 00:26:26.191] We stay to the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and to the 12 concepts, which are often referred to as the 36 spiritual

25:38

[00 26:26.191 – 00:26:27.121] principles.

25:39

[00 26:27.121 – 00:26:31.981] Service is the heartbeat of unity.

25:41

[00 26:31.981 – 00:26:37.281] We are organized to serve, never to govern Alcoholics Anonymous.

25:46

[00 26:37.281 – 00:26:43.681] And you can see the, the guys in the back and, you know, the candles being lit.

25:53

[00 26:43.681 – 00:26:53.801] And we can be so grateful today that somebody was there to make it possible

25:59

[00 26:53.861 – 00:26:55.901] for us to have a meeting to go to.

26:03

[00 26:55.901 – 00:26:59.361] 12-step work is never paid for.

26:05

[00 26:59.361 – 00:27:01.341] It's a labor of love.

26:08

[00 27:01.341 – 00:27:07.001] It's a way for us to stay sober by working and helping other alcoholics.

26:13

[00 27:07.001 – 00:27:17.401] When Bill put the, the, the principles of the program together and they hammered these things out, they knew certain things had to be a certain way with the alcoholic.

26:25

[00 27:17.401 – 00:27:23.261] And one of the things they absolutely knew, and that was that 12-step work couldn't be paid for

26:33

[00 27:26.085 – 00:27:35.745] Tradition 11: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.

26:38

[00 27:35.745 – 00:27:39.485] Anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

26:42

[00 27:39.485 – 00:27:41.844] Attraction, not promotion.

26:43

[00 27:41.844 – 00:27:51.165] And I often think that this is also within AA so much for us with so many new people coming in.

26:52

[00 27:51.165 – 00:27:53.605] I can give you experience of my own.

26:55

[00 27:53.605 – 00:28:00.845] I'd been coming to AA for 11 years and wasn't able to get 30 days sober, continuous sobriety.

27:02

[00 28:00.845 – 00:28:10.885] And then after I got into the program and I was starting to do the work, you know, the steps, and going to the meeting and reading the literature and studying it, I was,

27:15

[00 28:10.885 – 00:28:11.865] I was getting better.

27:17

[00 28:11.865 – 00:28:21.925] But my sponsor, a guy that I was staying with, would do things like, "Hey, could you cook me some eggs today?" And I would, and he would brag about me and how good

27:31

[00 28:21.925 – 00:28:23.185] I could cook the whole day.

27:33

[00 28:23.185 – 00:28:33.305] And, "Hey, will you drive me into town?" And I'd give him a drive, and he'd say, "This is the best driver I've ever had." And many of you have heard me talk about when he asked me to make meatballs.

27:50

[00 28:33.305 – 00:28:43.625] The point I'm getting at here is these guys gave me things to do, then they paid attention to what I was doing, and then they acknowledged

28:01

[00 28:43.625 – 00:28:53.985] it, and they said, you know, "Good job," and, "Thank you," and, "Wow, you really did that well." And I have to tell you that that was attraction rather than promotion.

28:13

[00 28:53.985 – 00:28:56.745] I wanted to be around these men.

28:16

[00 28:56.745 – 00:29:01.145] I wanted what they had because of the examples that they were.

28:21

[00 29:01.145 – 00:29:05.605] And I hope I become, and I hope I am that kind of example today.

28:27

[00 29:05.605 – 00:29:10.665] But the light shines through the eyes of the sober.

28:31

[00 29:10.665 – 00:29:19.645] Reminds us how we may best relate ourselves to each other and to the world in which we live.

28:39

[00 29:19.645 – 00:29:28.105] They indicate how we can best function in harmony as a great whole, and for the sake of the welfare of the entire society of Alcoholics Anonymous.

28:50

[00 29:28.105 – 00:29:38.145] The traditions are simply requests that every member, every group, every district, every area, every region, every country in Alcoholics Anonymous

28:59

[00 29:38.145 – 00:29:48.145] shall lay aside all desires, ambitions, and unwanted actions that could bring serious division among us and lose for us the thing that we need so

29:09

[00 29:48.145 – 00:29:48.645] much.

29:10

[00 29:48.645 – 00:29:57.265] And that is the confidence that the world at large, because it is from the outside world that we get our referrals and we get our members.

29:21

[00 29:57.265 – 00:30:07.145] And there are hundreds of thousands of members of Alcoholics Anonymous to date, and there are hundreds of thousands that have been before us, and there are God knows how many hundreds of thousands that'll come.

29:35

[00 30:07.145 – 00:30:17.265] Do not realize the confidence that the world at large has for Alcoholics Anonymous, for the principles of AA, not

29:43

[00 30:17.265 – 00:30:19.705] necessarily for some of us individual members.

29:46

[00 30:19.705 – 00:30:29.845] Because they, they realize what the heads of state, educators, religion, in the business world, no matter what facet of life that we have,

29:56

[00 30:29.845 – 00:30:34.785] that they admire the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

29:59

[00 30:34.785 – 00:30:36.185] And because then...

30:01

[00 30:36.185 – 00:30:42.365] And you know, and when I'm beginning to talk about traditions, I like to talk about our actual experiences that brought all this about.

30:10

[00 30:42.365 – 00:30:46.665] And you know, they, they don't realize what the heads of state think about us.

30:17

[00 30:46.665 – 00:30:47.705] They certainly don't.

30:18

[00 30:47.705 – 00:30:51.405] You know, Russia, Russia's always had a tremendous problem with alcohol.

30:23

[00 30:51.405 – 00:31:02.535] And when Gorbachev became premier, a very liberal-minded human being, and

30:27

[00 31:02.535 – 00:31:05.865] he realized the seriousness of the problem of alcohol in Russia.

30:32

[00 31:05.865 – 00:31:16.105] And meanwhile, uh, r- uh, uh, AA got starting over there behind the Iron Curtain, and there was serious concern

30:40

[00 31:16.105 – 00:31:22.605] because when they began to read the steps, they saw that word God, and they began to run up the wall backwards on each other.

30:50

[00 31:22.605 – 00:31:27.925] And so they didn't know what this deal was, whether it's subversive against communism or what.

30:57

[00 31:27.925 – 00:31:33.905] Well, Russia's always had diplomatic relations with the Baltic countries, and it's real simple.

31:03

[00 31:33.905 – 00:31:38.925] Because in order to get to the North Sea, they have to go through the waters of those countries.

31:10

[00 31:38.925 – 00:31:41.245] In other words, get their ships and their submarines out.

31:15

[00 31:41.245 – 00:31:45.515] So they've always had diplomatic relations with the Baltic countries.

31:19

[00 31:45.515 – 00:31:52.365] And they found out that they're gonna have a, an AA convention there, a national convention in Finland in Helsinki.

31:27

[00 31:52.365 – 00:32:01.465] And so they contacted the government of Finland and wanted to know if some members of the Russian Politburo could come and come to the convention.

31:37

[00 32:01.465 – 00:32:03.105] And they said, yes, they could come.

31:41

[00 32:03.105 – 00:32:03.885] It was open.

31:42

[00 32:03.885 – 00:32:08.625] However, they could not participate because they were not members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

31:48

[00 32:08.625 – 00:32:12.645] So they went, and they stayed for the entire convention.

31:52

[00 32:12.645 – 00:32:22.765] They got back to Moscow, and they were asked, "What is this thing called Alcoholics Anonymous?" And they said, "It's the darndest thing in the world that we ever witnessed or heard."

32:05

[00 32:22.765 – 00:32:33.025] "Well, what's that?" He said, "You know, those people say that if you don't take the first drink of alcohol one day at a time, there's no way you can get drunk."

32:17

[00 32:33.935 – 00:32:41.105] They said, "Unbelievable." Then they said, "Well, who pays for it?" They said, "You won't believe this either.

32:25

[00 32:41.105 – 00:32:51.165] That bunch is self-supporting through their own contribution." They said, "You mean the government doesn't have to pay for it?" "No." "They don't have fundraising drives and out and s-" "No."

32:37

[00 32:51.165 – 00:33:01.175] Then they said, "Can it work here in Russia?" They said, "We believe very well." Said, "How would it work?" He said,

32:46

[00 33:01.175 – 00:33:02.985] "Well," he said, uh, "it's simple.

32:49

[00 33:02.985 – 00:33:08.045] You want to be a sober communist?" You know, that was David A, a former trustee and a former friend of mine.

32:57

[00 33:08.045 – 00:33:09.965] David passed away a few years ago.

33:01

[00 33:09.965 – 00:33:13.505] He was from Dallas, and he gave an incredible talk.

33:05

[00 33:13.505 – 00:33:23.505] Um, I really liked what he was talking about there with bringing AA to Russia because when I was getting sober, there was a contingency going over to Russia

33:16

[00 33:23.505 – 00:33:24.565] to carry the message.

33:18

[00 33:24.565 – 00:33:34.925] And then we've also had some people on here over the last five and a half years that had talked about, um, their journey to carry the message to Russia.

33:30

[00 33:34.925 – 00:33:42.625] And here we are, tradition 11, the public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.

33:37

[00 33:42.625 – 00:33:52.665] You know, that was exactly what David was talking about with the relationship in Russia with Gorbachev, recognizing there was a problem and then seeing

33:47

[00 33:52.665 – 00:33:56.225] that there were people getting well and wanting more for their people.

33:52

[00 33:56.225 – 00:33:59.905] It was obviously, um, an attraction to them.

33:55

[00 33:59.905 – 00:34:05.785] And we need to always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films.

34:02

[00 34:05.785 – 00:34:12.665] And you see all of the handkerchiefs held up over the faces with all the pictures being taken here.

34:09

[00 34:12.665 – 00:34:15.075] Tradition 12

34:10

[00 34:15.190 – 00:34:15.570] 12.

34:11

[00 34:15.570 – 00:34:26.250] Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

34:18

[00 34:26.250 – 00:34:36.350] You know, we, we share this at meetings, and we often chant it at the end of the 12 traditions when they've read Tradition 12.

34:27

[00 34:36.350 – 00:34:45.490] But I wonder how often we really do stop and think that the anonymity equals a playing field.

34:34

[00 34:45.490 – 00:34:53.510] The picture we have there painted, there's no faces on it, and it's done because anonymity is a spiritual foundation.

34:42

[00 34:53.510 – 00:34:55.930] It's not about an individual.

34:45

[00 34:55.930 – 00:35:03.690] It's about a collective group, the power that we have as a group to stay, uh, anonymous.

34:52

[00 35:03.690 – 00:35:06.690] And here is Bill W.

34:54

[00 35:06.690 – 00:35:16.110] Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.

34:58

[00 35:16.110 – 00:35:22.490] We need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and film.

35:04

[00 35:22.490 – 00:35:27.630] Or the last one, again emph- emphasizing the spiritual value of anonymity.

35:09

[00 35:27.630 – 00:35:37.730] Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above

35:16

[00 35:37.730 – 00:35:38.570] personality.

35:17

[00 35:38.570 – 00:35:46.890] Oh, let me tell you one more story of a great temptation I had.

35:22

[00 35:46.890 – 00:35:51.290] The book was under preparation.

35:25

[00 35:51.290 – 00:35:52.970] We had no title for it.

35:27

[00 35:52.970 – 00:35:57.550] Somebody suggested the name Alcoholics Anonymous.

35:30

[00 35:57.550 – 00:36:02.270] In each meeting for months, we voted on titles.

35:34

[00 36:02.270 – 00:36:05.510] Nobody cared too much for that title.

35:37

[00 36:05.510 – 00:36:14.480] But at long last, when the day approached we had to name the book, that title got to be very, very popular.

35:46

[00 36:14.480 – 00:36:18.710] At first, I had liked the idea.

35:49

[00 36:18.710 – 00:36:30.420] And then something, which certainly was not of God, began speaking to me and saying, "Bill,

35:56

[00 36:30.420 – 00:36:35.030] uh, why shouldn't you sign that book?

35:59

[00 36:35.030 – 00:36:39.450] After all, authors sign books.

36:01

[00 36:39.450 – 00:36:42.210] You've written the text.

36:03

[00 36:42.210 – 00:36:46.130] Sure, the other fellows wrote the stories, but, you know, the text is the important thing.

36:10

[00 36:46.130 – 00:36:56.210] Why don't you sign that book?" At that time, the most popular title in the voting was a title called The Way Out, and

36:19

[00 36:56.210 – 00:36:59.560] I thought to myself, "Well, why not The Way Out by Bill W.?

36:25

[00 36:59.560 – 00:37:08.190] Now, wouldn't that be..." Then I had even another thought.

36:29

[00 37:08.190 – 00:37:18.570] Forgetting dear old Smithy, the rock on whom this movement is founded, I

36:34

[00 37:18.570 – 00:37:29.430] said to myself, "Why shouldn't this be called the Wilson movement?" When

36:39

[00 37:29.430 – 00:37:39.730] I came into our little meeting where we were talking about these titles and tactfully insinuated

36:46

[00 37:39.730 – 00:37:49.150] these ideas of signing the book and the Wilson movement, I got that very stony stare.

36:53

[00 37:49.150 – 00:37:59.190] And the group conscience again spoke, and it said, "No, you can't do this

36:58

[00 37:59.190 – 00:37:59.990] thing to us.

37:00

[00 37:59.990 – 00:38:10.490] Aren't you the guy who has so often said the good is the enemy of the best?" So it became Alcoholics

37:08

[00 38:10.490 – 00:38:10.980] Anonymous.

37:09

[00 38:10.980 – 00:38:18.730] And years later, the Market Time did a newsreel about us.

37:14

[00 38:18.730 – 00:38:21.370] I was in the projection room.

37:17

[00 38:21.370 – 00:38:31.450] An official of the company said, "Do you realize, Bill W., that this film is going to be shown to

37:25

[00 38:31.450 – 00:38:32.590] 12 million people?

37:26

[00 38:32.590 – 00:38:43.290] That 12 million people who knew little or nothing of Alcoholics Anonymous were now to find out?" And then that film unrolled,

37:34

[00 38:43.290 – 00:38:52.470] and as it rolled on, the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, was held up to view two or three times.

37:42

[00 38:52.470 – 00:39:03.270] And I looked at it, and I must confess that I cried like a baby, thinking

37:48

[00 39:03.270 – 00:39:06.050] how much wiser my fellows had been than me.

37:52

[00 39:06.050 – 00:39:16.110] Asking myself, had this been called The Way Out by Bill W., would the Market Time been showing this society to

38:01

[00 39:16.110 – 00:39:17.630] 12 million people?

38:02

[00 39:17.630 – 00:39:18.430] Of course not.

38:03

[00 39:18.430 – 00:39:21.590] Thank God it's Alcoholics Anonymous.

38:06

[00 39:21.590 – 00:39:26.110] Thank God for the conscience of this movement which corrected me.

38:10

[00 39:26.110 – 00:39:30.050] Thank God it's Alcoholics Anonymous.

38:13

[00 39:30.050 – 00:39:30.220] Wow.

38:13

[00 39:30.220 – 00:39:40.680] For the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous to talk that way at that time, so strong about Alcoholics

38:20

[00 39:40.680 – 00:39:50.750] Anonymous and what we have to be, throwing himself under the bus and being very humble and saying, "These are things that I thought about doing." And he certainly could have

38:33

[00 39:50.750 – 00:39:52.290] done any number of those things.

38:35

[00 39:52.290 – 00:40:02.310] But as he said, that often the good is the enemy of the best, and I certainly think that Bill pulled it off and created

38:45

[00 40:02.310 – 00:40:02.970] the best.

38:47

[00 40:02.970 – 00:40:10.310] Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all of our traditions.

38:51

[00 40:10.310 – 00:40:14.110] Unity, service, recovery.

38:52

[00 40:14.110 – 00:40:18.490] We must place principles before personalities.

38:55

[00 40:18.490 – 00:40:22.490] Alcoholics Anonymous is love and service, as Dr.

38:59

[00 40:22.490 – 00:40:32.370] Bob so eloquently told us in his final speech to AA in July of 1950.

39:04

[00 40:32.370 – 00:40:34.410] The anniversary of Dr.

39:06

[00 40:34.410 – 00:40:37.610] Bob's death was November the 16th.

39:09

[00 40:37.610 – 00:40:39.410] That was yesterday.

39:11

[00 40:39.410 – 00:40:44.050] Demonstrated by personal sacrifice and humility.

39:13

[00 40:44.050 – 00:40:47.890] Well, we've come of age.

39:16

[00 40:47.890 – 00:40:53.290] Alcoholics Anonymous International Convention, Cleveland 1950.

39:18

[00 40:53.290 – 00:41:03.290] This is when the traditions were adopted and introduced in the form that we have today, and the spirit of AA lives in the 12

39:28

[00 41:03.290 – 00:41:04.010] traditions.

39:28

[00 41:04.010 – 00:41:06.050] I wanna thank you for

39:31

[00 41:06.315 – 00:41:15.935] Participating and joining us tonight, being part of this presentation and part of what we do at Recovery Speakers.

39:38

[00 41:15.935 – 00:41:19.595] Come back next week for a conversation with a long timer.

39:43

[00 41:19.595 – 00:41:22.595] And I just wanna thank you all for being here tonight.

39:48

[00 41:22.595 – 00:41:26.635] Thank you so much, Mike.

39:50

[00 41:26.635 – 00:41:27.595] Great job.

39:51

[00 41:27.595 – 00:41:31.095] And thank you everyone for being here.

39:54

[00 41:31.095 – 00:41:38.355] If you have any questions, please use the raise hand function and I will call on you, and you can ask your questions.

40:04

[00 41:38.355 – 00:41:42.154] And first up, well, Steve was there.

40:07

[00 41:42.154 – 00:41:45.095] You put your hand down, Steve.

40:09

[00 41:45.095 – 00:41:50.515] You can put it back up, and you can unmute and ask Mike your question.

40:16

[00 41:50.515 – 00:41:55.215] Yeah, that's the u- using a keypad instead of a mouse.

40:20

[00 41:55.215 – 00:41:56.635] Hey, thanks very much, Mike.

40:22

[00 41:56.635 – 00:42:02.075] Um, just a real quick question, uh, and, uh, Tim for putting this together.

40:28

[00 42:02.075 – 00:42:12.095] Um, you mentioned about conference-approved literature and I, I didn't ki- kind of catch it all about not being able

40:36

[00 42:12.095 – 00:42:13.615] to be rejected, et cetera.

40:39

[00 42:13.615 – 00:42:16.195] Do you mind reiterating some of that, please?

40:42

[00 42:16.195 – 00:42:26.315] So basically, the way that AA works, if you wanted to submit a book to Alcoholics Anonymous, I suppose you could submit it to them and they're gonna be

40:54

[00 42:26.315 – 00:42:28.215] happily reject it for you.

40:56

[00 42:28.215 – 00:42:38.255] But if the book goes up through the groups and through the conference and they get a committee and they evaluate whether that book should be something that goes up to the next committee,

41:10

[00 42:38.255 – 00:42:42.775] it will eventually meet with a vote to be approved.

41:14

[00 42:42.775 – 00:42:43.175] Okay?

41:15

[00 42:43.175 – 00:42:46.515] Once that book is approved, then it can be published.

41:19

[00 42:46.515 – 00:42:54.095] Now, these are books that are, uh, like, uh, all of the books that AA publishes right now were written by Bill W.

41:28

[00 42:54.095 – 00:42:54.655] Okay?

41:29

[00 42:54.655 – 00:42:55.775] The conference approved.

41:31

[00 42:55.775 – 00:43:03.415] We got Pass It On, AA Comes of Age, As Bill Sees It, the 12x12, and The Big Book.

41:38

[00 43:03.415 – 00:43:05.095] I hope I'm not forgetting any.

41:41

[00 43:05.095 – 00:43:11.165] There may be some other pieces of literature that are put out there anonymously.

41:47

[00 43:11.165 – 00:43:13.805] For example, the book Living Sober.

41:49

[00 43:13.805 – 00:43:21.335] We know who that was written by, because there was a lot of controversy around that, and that book was written by Barry L.

41:59

[00 43:21.335 – 00:43:21.935] Okay?

42:00

[00 43:21.935 – 00:43:24.395] Now, he did...

42:01

[00 43:24.395 – 00:43:27.015] Uh, that book wasn't pre-written.

42:04

[00 43:27.015 – 00:43:37.075] He was given the opportunity and, and he was paid by AA to write the book under contract, so it was an AA publication.

42:13

[00 43:37.075 – 00:43:46.875] There was another book, a history of AA written by Bob P., and that book got all the way done, and then it was rejected.

42:24

[00 43:46.875 – 00:43:54.555] And, uh, so some copies of that have gotten out that have been the unapproved version of AA history.

42:31

[00 43:54.555 – 00:43:59.464] Now, in keeping, uh, that in mind, so we've got that.

42:36

[00 43:59.464 – 00:44:04.575] Now, if you take the, the, uh, the non-approved books.

42:40

[00 44:04.575 – 00:44:06.395] So Bill W.

42:42

[00 44:06.395 – 00:44:06.835] and Dr.

42:43

[00 44:06.835 – 00:44:16.985] Bob read a tremendous amount of books, and none of them had been approved by any conference, 'cause there was no conference to approve them, including

42:53

[00 44:16.985 – 00:44:18.415] the first edition Big Book.

42:56

[00 44:18.415 – 00:44:23.515] So there is no rejection process.

42:58

[00 44:23.515 – 00:44:26.385] There's no turn down process at AA.

43:01

[00 44:26.385 – 00:44:30.055] They're not gonna review literature and turn it down.

43:05

[00 44:30.055 – 00:44:31.095] They just don't.

43:07

[00 44:31.095 – 00:44:35.165] We don't have an opinion on outside issues.

43:10

[00 44:35.165 – 00:44:37.335] So now it goes to the group level.

43:14

[00 44:37.335 – 00:44:43.495] I've authored a couple of books, okay, and they're related to AA.

43:19

[00 44:43.495 – 00:44:45.255] They were published by Hazelden.

43:21

[00 44:45.255 – 00:44:45.675] Okay?

43:22

[00 44:45.675 – 00:44:52.015] There are some central offices and intergroup office that sell my books, okay?

43:27

[00 44:52.015 – 00:44:56.355] Because that's, that's okay for them to do that.

43:31

[00 44:56.355 – 00:45:04.955] But you could go to a group and the group could say, "No, we don't want any non-conference approved books here." Okay?

43:40

[00 45:04.955 – 00:45:08.675] And each group being autonomous can make those decisions.

43:44

[00 45:08.675 – 00:45:18.705] I have seen groups where they have one table, and on that table they may have all the conference-approved books, and on another table they have stuff that's not

43:56

[00 45:18.705 – 00:45:21.555] conference-approved, and they're comfortable with that.

43:58

[00 45:21.555 – 00:45:29.015] So it really does come down to each group gets to make the decision about what's gonna happen within that group.

44:07

[00 45:29.015 – 00:45:39.255] But AA World Service and AA has, as a whole, has no process to say,

44:13

[00 45:39.255 – 00:45:49.994] "This is not a approved book to read." If anything, they would encourage members to read whatever they could that might help them with their

44:23

[00 45:49.995 – 00:45:50.615] problems.

44:24

[00 45:50.615 – 00:45:52.794] I hope that answers your question.

44:26

[00 45:52.794 – 00:45:54.155] No, no, I appreciate it.

44:29

[00 45:54.155 – 00:45:56.095] And just a, a quick comment.

44:31

[00 45:56.095 – 00:46:02.055] I, you know, I, I like the, uh, tradition 12 that you hit on.

44:37

[00 46:02.055 – 00:46:12.415] And at our group, we actually read, uh, it's, uh, from Bill's last message, "If I were asked which of our blessings I felt was most responsible

44:48

[00 46:12.415 – 00:46:23.615] for growth as a fellowship, or growth as a fellowship, and most vital to our continuity, I would say the concept of anonymity." That's,

44:57

[00 46:23.615 – 00:46:28.255] that's the way we, uh, cover, uh, tradition 12 in our meeting.

45:02

[00 46:28.255 – 00:46:31.655] I, I think he hits the nail on the head there, the concept.

45:07

[00 46:31.655 – 00:46:32.695] I do too.

45:09

[00 46:32.695 – 00:46:32.995] Thanks.

45:10

[00 46:32.995 – 00:46:36.435] Thanks very much for the workshop.

45:12

[00 46:36.435 – 00:46:39.275] Thank you, Steve, and thanks for jumping on.

45:16

[00 46:39.275 – 00:46:42.255] Thank you, Steve.

45:17

[00 46:42.255 – 00:46:44.135] Our next question is from Victor.

45:20

[00 46:44.135 – 00:46:45.015] You can unmute.

45:22

[00 46:45.015 – 00:46:50.035] Wow, another beautiful evening.

45:24

[00 46:50.035 – 00:46:51.875] This is the place to be.

45:26

[00 46:51.875 – 00:46:59.255] Um, Mike F., I hope you understand that there's, um, all your work is, uh, loved all over the world.

45:34

[00 46:59.255 – 00:47:01.995] Um, Mildred Frank says hello.

45:37

[00 47:01.995 – 00:47:10.855] And, uh, I just wanna mention one thing, that I get so much out of these meetings that it's mind-boggling.

45:45

[00 47:10.855 – 00:47:13.655] I mean, life is just...

45:47

[00 47:13.655 – 00:47:16.655] Like, life is a funny thing, right?

45:50

[00 47:16.655 – 00:47:26.675] Like, you know, just because I'm sober today, by the grace of God and you people, good people, and the, you know, program and the fellowship,

46:01

[00 47:26.675 – 00:47:32.255] et cetera, et cetera, all in, in AA, doesn't mean that bad things aren't gonna happen.

46:07

[00 47:32.255 – 00:47:42.255] And, um, my comment today, besides the thank you, and great to see everyone here, and the service

46:15

[00 47:42.255 – 00:47:46.725] by those that keep this current is, is fantastic, again.

46:19

[00 47:46.725 – 00:47:57.125] And, um, but for Bill himself, I mean, speaking of a guy who was impossible to be anonymous, I mean, basically-

46:27

[00 47:57.240 – 00:48:00.020] Was he not like 6'6" or so?

46:31

[00 48:00.020 – 00:48:02.800] You know, like a towering man.

46:33

[00 48:02.800 – 00:48:11.140] All the pressure on him to answer all these questions and to keep s- his own sanity, right?

46:41

[00 48:11.140 – 00:48:15.460] Like, you know, like, uh, uh, the history is fantastic.

46:45

[00 48:15.460 – 00:48:18.420] God bless our, our, our founders.

46:48

[00 48:18.420 – 00:48:27.090] And, um, yeah, I'm gonna leave time for others, and I just wanna say once again, you know...

46:55

[00 48:27.090 – 00:48:35.140] Well, I'm gonna say this, uh, God is love, and thank you for loving us and keeping that love alive.

47:03

[00 48:35.140 – 00:48:35.999] I pass.

47:04

[00 48:35.999 – 00:48:40.820] Thank you so much, Victor, and my love to Mildred.

47:08

[00 48:40.820 – 00:48:42.360] Thank you for mentioning her.

47:11

[00 48:42.360 – 00:48:52.480] And, uh, you know, thi- this worldwide fellowship gives all of us an opportunity to have connections with people that we never would've connected

47:20

[00 48:52.480 – 00:48:52.820] with.

47:21

[00 48:52.820 – 00:48:59.800] And you know, it says our s- you know, we're people who normally would not mix, and that really is so true.

47:30

[00 48:59.800 – 00:49:10.000] But yet, here we are, five years after the pandemic, sitting here, talking to people that are in Canada and all over the place, sharing our history and,

47:41

[00 49:10.000 – 00:49:15.820] and bonding and, and, and, and, and hopefully coming closer and closer together.

47:47

[00 49:15.820 – 00:49:25.820] I, I just got to spend the weekend with people who have been following recovery speakers for a few years and, gosh, it's, it's like you go and they're all friends, you know?

48:00

[00 49:25.820 – 00:49:29.820] And it's not 'cause they're recovery speakers, it's 'cause we're all friends.

48:05

[00 49:29.820 – 00:49:31.200] So thank you.

48:06

[00 49:31.200 – 00:49:33.640] Thanks so much, Victor, for pointing that out.

48:10

[00 49:33.640 – 00:49:34.860] We appreciate it.

48:11

[00 49:34.860 – 00:49:38.060] Thank you, Victor.

48:13

[00 49:38.060 – 00:49:40.770] And, uh, next is Chilly Charlie.

48:16

[00 49:40.770 – 00:49:41.640] You can unmute.

48:17

[00 49:41.640 – 00:49:42.750] Chilly Charlie.

48:18

[00 49:42.750 – 00:49:44.220] Thank you, Tim.

48:20

[00 49:44.220 – 00:49:47.370] And thank you as alwa- always, Mike, great presentation.

48:24

[00 49:47.370 – 00:49:55.840] Um, I had a question about the, uh, seventh tradition and non-bevers contributing at the group level.

48:31

[00 49:55.840 – 00:50:00.600] Um, and you mentioned that Bill said that was okay.

48:35

[00 50:00.600 – 00:50:07.329] Do you, is there a place where you can find that where- Oh, now you're gonna make me work and find where it is.

48:45

[00 50:07.329 – 00:50:10.200] A- absolutely, okay?

48:46

[00 50:10.200 – 00:50:12.000] I, I'll tell you why.

48:49

[00 50:12.000 – 00:50:15.640] Um, my sponsor Howard, did you know Howard?

48:52

[00 50:15.640 – 00:50:17.100] I didn't know him, no.

48:54

[00 50:17.100 – 00:50:17.960] Howard P.

48:56

[00 50:17.960 – 00:50:18.640] from Gilbert.

48:57

[00 50:18.640 – 00:50:25.920] Howard's, Howard, it was, uh, w- his intellect was, you know, after you talked to him for an hour, I'd have to go take a nap.

49:07

[00 50:25.920 – 00:50:29.040] Um, uh, yeah, just keeping up with him would be tiring.

49:12

[00 50:29.040 – 00:50:35.780] But, uh, he, he called me out on it and he said, "No." He says, "I think they're right.

49:20

[00 50:35.780 – 00:50:37.280] I don't think that group's wrong.

49:22

[00 50:37.280 – 00:50:38.640] I think that group's right.

49:25

[00 50:38.640 – 00:50:48.160] They should not take money from people who are not AAs." And I said, "Okay." And I went into the literature, and then I found where Bill wrote it, and then I gave it to him.

49:39

[00 50:48.160 – 00:50:57.160] And he, and he called up the chairman of the group and he says, "I wanna point something out to you." So, uh, I'll find it for you, Charlie, but thank- Okay.

49:52

[00 50:57.160 – 00:51:03.540] Um- I, um, I, I, I don't have a clue where it is right now, but- Okay ...

49:59

[00 51:03.540 – 00:51:06.380] it's in one of the early tr- traditions pamphlets.

50:02

[00 51:06.380 – 00:51:07.040] All right.

50:04

[00 51:07.040 – 00:51:07.620] Fair enough.

50:05

[00 51:07.620 – 00:51:09.610] Um- Yeah ...

50:06

[00 51:09.610 – 00:51:19.640] I did, also wanted to ask about, um, the, not to harp on the conference-approved literature thing, but I mean, we have, um, people

50:16

[00 51:19.640 – 00:51:25.100] that'll say, you know, you start reading out of the 24 Hour A Day or something like, "Oh, that's an outside issue.

50:24

[00 51:25.100 – 00:51:30.140] You can't read that in an AA meeting." And, um, you know, along those lines.

50:30

[00 51:30.140 – 00:51:32.820] And, like, where did that start?

50:33

[00 51:32.820 – 00:51:35.540] You know, uh, I don't know.

50:36

[00 51:35.540 – 00:51:43.260] You know, we, uh, there are a lot of people who appoint themselves authorities within the meetings, okay?

50:43

[00 51:43.260 – 00:51:43.560] Right.

50:44

[00 51:43.560 – 00:51:53.620] And that's why it's so important for groups to have business meetings, so that they can truly discuss these things

50:52

[00 51:53.620 – 00:52:00.340] and have a collective group conscience on how the group wants to go forward with these issues.

50:59

[00 52:00.340 – 00:52:04.900] Because each group is autonomous, and they can make their own decisions.

51:04

[00 52:04.900 – 00:52:11.220] I have been in meetings where somebody was reading from the 24 Hour book and it almost became a fight, okay?

51:12

[00 52:11.220 – 00:52:15.520] I thought, I thought, "Are, are you kidding me?" You know?

51:17

[00 52:15.520 – 00:52:23.520] But I understand that, you know, that person was very sensitive about this book and that being conference approved.

51:24

[00 52:23.520 – 00:52:27.180] Like, that book couldn't possibly conference approved.

51:27

[00 52:27.180 – 00:52:32.940] It was written before the conference, and it wasn't published by AA, so it couldn't be.

51:34

[00 52:32.940 – 00:52:43.200] But that, but I, I can pull you out a talk from the 1960 Alcoholics Anonymous International, and one of the speaker's

51:43

[00 52:43.200 – 00:52:45.100] name was Richmond Walker.

51:45

[00 52:45.100 – 00:52:54.100] And before they introduced him they said, "Richmond Walker is, has written a book that is second to our big book." It was only, it was the second book.

51:56

[00 52:54.100 – 00:53:00.840] There was no 12 and 12, no, n- uh, only thing else that was out there was the little red book that had come out of Minnesota, okay?

52:07

[00 53:00.840 – 00:53:10.840] So they introduced Richmond Walker and they said, "Well, let's start this meeting by reading from Richmond Walker's 24 Hour A Day book," and

52:16

[00 53:10.840 – 00:53:14.640] they read it at AA's International Convention in 1960.

52:19

[00 53:14.640 – 00:53:14.860] Mm.

52:20

[00 53:14.860 – 00:53:16.940] That's good enough for me.

52:22

[00 53:16.940 – 00:53:17.600] Right.

52:23

[00 53:17.600 – 00:53:18.360] Right.

52:24

[00 53:18.360 – 00:53:21.900] That's about as approved as you're gonna get, okay?

52:28

[00 53:21.900 – 00:53:22.000] Yeah.

52:29

[00 53:22.000 – 00:53:28.200] So I do think that alcoholics occasionally have the tendency of pole vaulting over a mouse turd.

52:36

[00 53:28.200 – 00:53:31.140] You gotta be careful of that too.

52:39

[00 53:31.140 – 00:53:32.880] But thank you, Charlie.

52:41

[00 53:32.880 – 00:53:33.090] Yeah.

52:41

[00 53:33.090 – 00:53:33.640] Thanks, Mike.

52:42

[00 53:33.640 – 00:53:37.040] Thank you, Charlie.

52:44

[00 53:37.040 – 00:53:38.340] And next is Gary.

52:46

[00 53:38.340 – 00:53:39.259] You can unmute.

52:48

[00 53:39.259 – 00:53:45.780] Thanks again, uh, Mike, for all the work that you've done.

52:52

[00 53:45.780 – 00:53:55.860] Um, regarding, uh, the short form versus the long form, and specifically tradition nine, with Earl Treat and

53:00

[00 53:55.860 – 00:53:56.260] Bill.

53:00

[00 53:56.260 – 00:54:06.540] When I look at page 562 in the 12 traditions, I will note that the short form fits on one page.

53:08

[00 54:06.540 – 00:54:11.040] Now, I think that was very significant, all right?

53:12

[00 54:11.040 – 00:54:21.220] Because when we get to tradition nine and it says, "Create service boards or committees," but you look at the long form, and the long

53:22

[00 54:21.220 – 00:54:31.300] form says, "Rotating leadership is best." That didn't come forward at, at all, which, and r- it's,

53:29

[00 54:31.300 – 00:54:36.720] to me, it's, uh, the most important thing about the long form is, and of course in AA, is rotation.

53:37

[00 54:36.720 – 00:54:46.890] And then we have, uh, at the end of it, it says, "Universal respect is key to their usefulness."

53:45

[00 54:46.890 – 00:54:48.140] T- talking about how we sh-

53:47

[00 54:48.684 – 00:54:51.184] Respect each other as well.

53:50

[00 54:51.184 – 00:54:59.304] And all we get out of Tr- Tradition Nine short form is the, uh, service boards and so forth.

53:57

[00 54:59.304 – 00:55:04.254] And as far as I'm concerned, they omit two of the most important things we could say.

54:04

[00 55:04.254 – 00:55:10.584] Treating with each other with respect, and then also behaving with rotation.

54:09

[00 55:10.584 – 00:55:20.064] Now, is there anything that is ever documented how Earl Treat and Bill decided what were gonna be in the short form?

54:18

[00 55:20.064 – 00:55:23.414] Is there any documentation of how they came up with that?

54:23

[00 55:23.414 – 00:55:33.464] 'Cause I'm just curious of how they could have missed, or, or, or was it this requirement to have only on one page that they shortened it and left some of the best stuff out of

54:37

[00 55:33.464 – 00:55:33.624] it.

54:38

[00 55:33.624 – 00:55:34.884] Do you have any thoughts on that?

54:41

[00 55:34.884 – 00:55:36.464] No, I don't.

54:43

[00 55:36.464 – 00:55:44.864] And I don't know of any documentation, and I'm wondering how much documentation we even have of Earl being there working with Bill.

54:52

[00 55:44.864 – 00:55:45.764] Okay.

54:53

[00 55:45.764 – 00:55:47.984] Very limited.

54:54

[00 55:47.984 – 00:55:52.783] We know, you know, that he, he went to New York, he sat with Bill.

55:00

[00 55:52.783 – 00:55:54.744] He was concerned about the traditions.

55:03

[00 55:54.744 – 00:55:58.124] He felt that the AA members, uh, uh...

55:06

[00 55:58.124 – 00:56:07.284] that it was just too much for the AA members to, to swallow, and they wanted to, to make it a little bit easier.

55:16

[00 56:07.284 – 00:56:14.244] And, and I don't know that the goal necessarily was to condense it, but I think that that's what happened with most of the traditions.

55:26

[00 56:14.244 – 00:56:18.744] I think it was to streamline it and make it, uh, more digestible.

55:31

[00 56:18.744 – 00:56:28.794] Uh, and I'm not sure why, uh, Tradition Nine, short form and long form,

55:37

[00 56:28.794 – 00:56:32.464] and, uh, that they would take that out on the short form, 'cause I do...

55:43

[00 56:32.464 – 00:56:35.024] You know, I mentioned spirit of rotation tonight.

55:47

[00 56:35.024 – 00:56:45.024] I think, uh, I think that the rotating, uh, services, whether that's at the group level or at the district, any level, we need to have the spirit of

55:59

[00 56:45.024 – 00:56:45.704] rotation.

55:59

[00 56:45.704 – 00:56:48.344] Because, uh, we get stale.

56:02

[00 56:48.344 – 00:56:54.004] We get, uh, we get opinionated, and we start to get our egos involved.

56:07

[00 56:54.004 – 00:57:04.324] And, uh, spirit of rotation helps all of those things, and helps continue to drive unity for AA because everybody gets to participate.

56:17

[00 57:04.324 – 00:57:08.564] Why don't we look into that and see if we can find anything more out about it, Gary?

56:24

[00 57:08.564 – 00:57:11.444] I like it.

56:26

[00 57:11.444 – 00:57:13.784] I like it.

56:27

[00 57:13.784 – 00:57:16.124] Thank you, Gary.

56:29

[00 57:16.124 – 00:57:17.524] And next is Chris.

56:31

[00 57:17.524 – 00:57:18.284] You can unmute.

56:32

[00 57:18.284 – 00:57:21.964] Thank you, Tim.

56:34

[00 57:21.964 – 00:57:23.884] Listen, I'm Chris, I'm an alcoholic.

56:36

[00 57:23.884 – 00:57:25.984] And, uh, thank you very much, Mike.

56:39

[00 57:25.984 – 00:57:28.324] The last two weeks, I, I really appreciate this.

56:43

[00 57:28.324 – 00:57:31.144] I've gotten a lot out of it about the traditions.

56:48

[00 57:31.144 – 00:57:35.804] Uh, and I know Nancy has also recently been very informative on that.

56:53

[00 57:35.804 – 00:57:45.884] Um, sorry to say, in my neck of the woods, we don't have as many 12-step and 12 tradition meetings as we did some years back, and it's a shame because, uh, we, we

57:06

[00 57:45.884 – 00:57:50.344] all know that we need to keep to the traditions if we wanna keep our fellowship alive.

57:13

[00 57:50.344 – 00:57:55.624] Now, my question to you is a little bit, uh, on Tradition Seven.

57:19

[00 57:55.624 – 00:58:05.764] I, I was very intrigued by what you had to say about it, uh, about how if someone was a non-alcoholic and attending an open meeting, w- essentially that it would be

57:31

[00 58:05.764 – 00:58:07.194] okay for them to contribute.

57:34

[00 58:07.194 – 00:58:12.404] They were partaking of the space, of the, the chair, and the coffee, and so on and so forth.

57:41

[00 58:12.404 – 00:58:13.004] That makes sense.

57:43

[00 58:13.004 – 00:58:17.964] However, uh, there's the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

57:49

[00 58:17.964 – 00:58:28.104] Uh, that same non-alcoholic would not be allowed to, say, for example, uh, leave a bequeathal to Alcoholics Anonymous in their will, as I understand it.

57:59

[00 58:28.104 – 00:58:28.824] Is that correct?

58:01

[00 58:28.824 – 00:58:29.864] That is correct.

58:02

[00 58:29.864 – 00:58:40.424] So, uh, is it, is that because giving at a meeting is transactional, and yet, uh, bequeathing,

58:09

[00 58:40.424 – 00:58:46.104] uh, a, a, a distribution of wealth is, uh, relational perhaps?

58:14

[00 58:46.104 – 00:58:47.474] Is that how it seems?

58:16

[00 58:47.474 – 00:58:48.964] Is that how you would s- Probably.

58:19

[00 58:48.964 – 00:58:59.124] And, and, you know, I think at the time, you know, that, that this was coming about, a- and even today, um, you

58:29

[00 58:59.124 – 00:59:01.744] could pass the basket in a meeting, okay?

58:32

[00 59:01.744 – 00:59:10.044] And you can have 50 people in that meeting, and that basket go around and end up with $17 total, okay?

58:40

[00 59:10.044 – 00:59:11.144] Mm-hmm.

58:41

[00 59:11.144 – 00:59:17.184] Um, now either people aren't participating or not giving, they're not giving enough, whatever the case is.

58:47

[00 59:17.184 – 00:59:27.304] And when we have these meetings where, where they're supplying the coffee and maybe some cookies, and the rent, and the lights, and the air, and all of it, we're not

59:00

[00 59:27.304 – 00:59:31.223] talking about someone coming in and writing a $2,500 check.

59:04

[00 59:31.223 – 00:59:40.484] We're talking about somebody taking a buck or two or five out of their pocket and dropping it in the basket to take care of those expenses.

59:15

[00 59:40.484 – 00:59:45.184] So completely different issue at a group level.

59:18

[00 59:45.184 – 00:59:55.464] And for Alcoholics Anonymous WS to take a, uh, a, an honorarium or something that would be given to them, or something af-

59:27

[00 59:55.464 – 00:59:57.164] after someone had died.

59:29

[00 59:57.164 – 01:00:03.124] Now, they do allow AA members, okay, to do that up to a certain amount.

59:35

[01 00:03.124 – 01:00:05.264] I think it's 5,000.

59:37

[01 00:05.264 – 01:00:06.864] I could be wrong.

59:39

[01 00:06.864 – 01:00:08.964] They may have raised it a little bit.

59:42

[01 00:08.964 – 01:00:10.984] It was 3,500.

59:44

[01 00:10.984 – 01:00:17.904] Um, and I think the next guy that has his hand up might have an answer for that.

59:51

[01 00:17.904 – 01:00:19.544] Okay.

59:52

[01 00:19.544 – 01:00:21.724] So I hope I've been helpful.

59:54

[01 00:21.724 – 01:00:22.244] Yes.

59:55

[01 00:22.244 – 01:00:23.044] But, it, it...

59:57

[01 00:23.044 – 01:00:28.984] You know, really, I think Bill was just trying to say, "You know, it costs you a five bucks for a pack of cigarettes.

60:06

[01 00:28.984 – 01:00:31.584] Throw it in the, in the basket, you know?

60:10

[01 00:31.584 – 01:00:32.544] Help the group out.

60:12

[01 00:32.544 – 01:00:34.604] It pays for the coffee." Yeah.

60:15

[01 00:34.604 – 01:00:35.304] I get you, Mike.

60:17

[01 00:35.304 – 01:00:36.504] Thank you.

60:18

[01 00:36.504 – 01:00:36.714] Great.

60:19

[01 00:36.714 – 01:00:38.044] Thank you.

60:20

[01 00:38.044 – 01:00:40.984] Jay, I think you're last.

60:22

[01 00:40.984 – 01:00:42.844] Thank you, Chris.

60:24

[01 00:42.844 – 01:00:43.784] It's good to see you.

60:26

[01 00:43.784 – 01:00:45.304] And Jay, you're up next.

60:28

[01 00:45.304 – 01:00:48.174] I'll make it quick.

60:30

[01 00:48.174 – 01:00:54.844] I don't want to, uh, uh, uh, you know, I don't, I don't wanna s- string out too long here, Fitz.

60:39

[01 00:54.844 – 01:00:57.444] Uh, y- you're not a renewable resource.

60:42

[01 00:57.444 – 01:01:03.324] Um, but I just wanted to, I wanted to talk a little bit about, uh...

60:48

[01 01:03.324 – 01:01:13.364] Because I think Tradition Seven is that, that we're, that we really need to get the bleep away from

60:56

[01 01:13.364 – 01:01:17.723] this idea that passing the basket is w- the way to go.

61:01

[01 01:17.723 – 01:01:27.844] And that, that, you know, if we're talking about this being re- One of the fun things about your workshop and the workbook is that it can be a

61:12

[01 01:27.844 – 01:01:31.404] renewable resource that grows, you know?

61:15

[01 01:31.404 – 01:01:39.154] And if it's a workbook or it's a workshop, you know, question number one, are you, is there-

61:23

[01 01:39.309 – 01:01:40.929] QR code in that basket.

61:25

[01 01:40.929 – 01:01:47.049] Because if people aren't using paper money anymore, number one.

61:29

[01 01:47.049 – 01:01:57.069] Number two is when we talk about the responsibility of, uh, you know, carrying forward this movement, it's all

61:37

[01 01:57.069 – 01:01:59.909] based on publishing ultimately.

61:39

[01 01:59.909 – 01:02:04.929] And you know better than most, people don't buy books.

61:43

[01 02:04.929 – 01:02:15.798] And our, our way of taking care of ourselves has gotta change and, and, and also taking responsibility

61:50

[01 02:15.798 – 01:02:19.749] about the fact that we have not repaid our prudent reserve.

61:55

[01 02:19.749 – 01:02:23.529] This has nothing to do with New York.

61:58

[01 02:23.529 – 01:02:26.629] It has everything to do with us.

62:02

[01 02:26.629 – 01:02:31.399] And, um, you know, I'll just, I'll just throw this in.

62:06

[01 02:31.399 – 01:02:31.549] It's...

62:07

[01 02:31.549 – 01:02:34.049] Oh, by the way, it's $7,500 a gap.

62:10

[01 02:34.049 – 01:02:35.478] Oh, thank you, Jim.

62:12

[01 02:35.478 – 01:02:35.849] But yeah.

62:13

[01 02:35.849 – 01:02:37.649] I appreciate it.

62:15

[01 02:37.649 – 01:02:39.009] Yeah, 7,500.

62:15

[01 02:39.009 – 01:02:49.029] And, um, and the, but the other fun thing is, is that, um, you know, I'd like everybody here to take

62:24

[01 02:49.029 – 01:02:49.229] a look.

62:25

[01 02:49.229 – 01:02:51.009] You were talking about when you were new.

62:29

[01 02:51.009 – 01:02:51.919] Mm-hmm.

62:29

[01 02:51.919 – 01:02:52.649] Right?

62:30

[01 02:52.649 – 01:02:53.979] And how you were embarrassed.

62:32

[01 02:53.979 – 01:02:56.749] Remember when you got a job and you were able to put money in?

62:38

[01 02:56.749 – 01:02:57.849] Oh, yeah.

62:39

[01 02:57.849 – 01:03:00.089] Now, how many meetings were you going to?

62:43

[01 03:00.089 – 01:03:02.469] You know, when I came in, they s- did the same thing.

62:48

[01 03:02.469 – 01:03:07.139] "Kid, don't worry about it, but get a job, God damn it." Mm.

62:53

[01 03:07.139 – 01:03:11.389] I didn't, I, I wasn't running around in Big John's car.

62:58

[01 03:11.389 – 01:03:13.869] I had to, I had to go bag leaves.

63:02

[01 03:13.869 – 01:03:14.419] Yeah.

63:03

[01 03:14.419 – 01:03:15.789] I couldn't make him eggs.

63:05

[01 03:15.789 – 01:03:18.509] I had to, I had to ba- I couldn't be a personal chef.

63:10

[01 03:18.509 – 01:03:19.549] I had to bag leaves.

63:13

[01 03:19.549 – 01:03:28.489] But anyway, what I wanted to say was is I was going to 10 meetings a week, and I was putting a buck in in every meeting that I went to.

63:25

[01 03:28.489 – 01:03:34.769] You know how much 1979 dollar is today?

63:28

[01 03:34.769 – 01:03:38.209] $4.10.

63:28

[01 03:38.209 – 01:03:48.349] So if I'm not putting $40 in the basket a week, I am completely full of feathers because I'm not helping AA

63:37

[01 03:48.349 – 01:03:50.188] as much as I did when I was brand new.

63:41

[01 03:50.188 – 01:03:56.809] And if I'm only going, as I, when I, when I did the math on this, I, I don't want you to...

63:50

[01 03:56.809 – 01:03:59.109] I was, I was asked to give, uh- Mm ...

63:54

[01 03:59.109 – 01:04:04.749] I was only going to two meetings a week and putting, you know, $5 in each time, thought I was doing a good job.

64:03

[01 04:04.749 – 01:04:09.069] Au contraire.

64:04

[01 04:09.069 – 01:04:12.429] Anyway, I love you.

64:06

[01 04:12.429 – 01:04:22.949] I'm really excited about you creating a f- a document and a forum and a way to introduce

64:13

[01 04:22.949 – 01:04:28.109] intelligent conversation as opposed to parody.

64:16

[01 04:28.109 – 01:04:31.529] So thank you, my friend.

64:18

[01 04:31.529 – 01:04:32.529] I really appreciate it.

64:20

[01 04:32.529 – 01:04:34.069] Thank you, Jay.

64:22

[01 04:34.069 – 01:04:36.929] I appreciate you, and I appreciate your comments.

64:25

[01 04:36.929 – 01:04:36.959] Yes.

64:26

[01 04:36.959 – 01:04:41.059] And I appreciate your support over the years.

64:30

[01 04:41.059 – 01:04:45.809] And I, you know, I, I, I agree with you.

64:34

[01 04:45.809 – 01:04:48.649] We have to find a way to do our part.

64:38

[01 04:48.649 – 01:04:58.349] And, you know, I, last week, and this is no reflection on any of my friends, so please don't get offended, we had 150 people on.

64:48

[01 04:58.349 – 01:05:01.889] Tim put the QR code up.

64:51

[01 05:01.889 – 01:05:11.669] He mentioned that we were a nonprofit, a 501[c]3, and we would be able to appreciate any contributions, and I mentioned it.

65:00

[01 05:11.669 – 01:05:13.149] And we didn't get any...

65:02

[01 05:13.149 – 01:05:14.659] Not- nothing.

65:03

[01 05:14.659 – 01:05:16.209] Not even a dollar.

65:05

[01 05:16.209 – 01:05:16.809] Mm-hmm.

65:06

[01 05:16.809 – 01:05:23.409] Now, I will tell you since then, we've got a few hundred bucks come in, so I appreciate that.

65:14

[01 05:23.409 – 01:05:33.579] And what I wanted to, to ask, and I'm gonna try to figure out a way to do this, I'd like to ask the people who come on to the Recovery Speakers Tuesday night meeting,

65:28

[01 05:33.579 – 01:05:37.689] if you haven't given to us, sign up and just give a dollar a week.

65:34

[01 05:37.689 – 01:05:39.589] Just $1 a week.

65:35

[01 05:39.589 – 01:05:44.449] If we could get 100 people to do that, that's gonna pay for the cost of Zoom.

65:42

[01 05:44.449 – 01:05:47.289] You know, so it's at least it's a start.

65:46

[01 05:47.289 – 01:05:54.509] So all I'm saying is I would love to get, if you've never donated, I'd love to see you get engaged and do something.

65:55

[01 05:54.509 – 01:05:59.069] And I don't wanna scare anybody away who can't afford to throw a dollar in the basket.

66:02

[01 05:59.069 – 01:06:00.788] That is not what this is about.

66:06

[01 06:00.788 – 01:06:01.709] This isn't- Right ...

66:07

[01 06:01.709 – 01:06:02.369] about money.

66:08

[01 06:02.369 – 01:06:04.829] This is about just trying to help.

66:11

[01 06:04.829 – 01:06:09.269] You know, if you enjoy what we're doing, it, it helps offset some of the costs.

66:18

[01 06:09.269 – 01:06:11.809] But Jay, I appreciate what you're doing.

66:21

[01 06:11.809 – 01:06:13.029] I appreciate the film.

66:23

[01 06:13.029 – 01:06:16.389] And, uh, tell everybody, what's the name of the film that's out?

66:28

[01 06:16.389 – 01:06:17.729] The new film came out in May.

66:31

[01 06:17.729 – 01:06:23.009] By the way, uh, because I'm gonna be leaning on you, uh, Bill W., Conscious Contact.

66:38

[01 06:23.009 – 01:06:29.669] And we are going to, uh, you know, as I, I mentioned, uh, earlier, but we're gonna be...

66:45

[01 06:29.669 – 01:06:31.069] The, there are two...

66:47

[01 06:31.069 – 01:06:38.629] The, the film community has responded to this thing with such in- it's incredible.

66:53

[01 06:38.629 – 01:06:48.669] We're, we're going to two red t- uh, red carpet black tie galas where we're gonna be s- I'm gonna be sitting there while they pull the envelope

67:04

[01 06:48.669 – 01:06:55.029] for best dir- uh, for best documentary in Berlin.

67:08

[01 06:55.029 – 01:06:57.829] Well, I hope that they spell your name right.

67:12

[01 06:57.829 – 01:07:00.049] Well, you know, it doesn't matter.

67:14

[01 07:00.049 – 01:07:02.269] It's, it's, I got in the meeting.

67:17

[01 07:02.269 – 01:07:03.949] You know?

67:19

[01 07:03.949 – 01:07:08.209] I mean, I mean, I am just, I am, I'm thrilled to be able to...

67:25

[01 07:08.209 – 01:07:18.229] The, but more importantly that, like, like yesterday, we're doing a screening in, in Flagstaff tomorrow, and we've got this press kit,

67:34

[01 07:18.229 – 01:07:29.029] and they had in their newspaper a three by five picture of Bill Wilson and a description

67:41

[01 07:29.029 – 01:07:31.269] of his spiritual search.

67:43

[01 07:31.269 – 01:07:32.749] Wow.

67:43

[01 07:32.749 – 01:07:42.749] Now, maybe two or three people that have a drinking problem that they might, they m- what an incredible privilege to have something like that

67:53

[01 07:42.749 – 01:07:43.129] happen.

67:54

[01 07:43.129 – 01:07:46.249] Well, thank you for your service, Jay.

67:57

[01 07:46.249 – 01:07:46.649] Yeah.

67:58

[01 07:46.649 – 01:07:49.349] I know people are benefiting from it.

68:01

[01 07:49.349 – 01:07:54.879] And, you know, you and I and Tim and others that are doing this work, and I- Yeah ...

68:08

[01 07:54.879 – 01:07:57.329] I don't wanna cut Tim out because he's not as- No.

68:13

[01 07:57.329 – 01:07:58.689] No, we need Tim ...

68:15

[01 07:58.689 – 01:07:59.069] as much as you're not here.

68:18

[01 07:59.069 – 01:08:01.469] We need people that got skills, man.

68:21

[01 08:01.469 – 01:08:01.869] Come on.

68:22

[01 08:01.869 – 01:08:11.269] But, uh, but I, I can tell everybody, man, I, I, if Tim wasn't helping me and behind the scenes with most of what I do, it w- it wouldn't get done.

68:35

[01 08:11.269 – 01:08:13.269] So Tim, thank you.

68:37

[01 08:13.269 – 01:08:15.769] Everybody, thank you for being part of this tonight.

68:41

[01 08:15.769 – 01:08:16.989] I appreciate it.

68:42

[01 08:16.989 – 01:08:18.589] I'm gonna go home and have some dinner.

68:46

[01 08:18.589 – 01:08:19.949] So, uh- Good ...

68:47

[01 08:19.949 – 01:08:25.109] I'm jumping off, and I'm gonna tell you, we'll see you next week and, uh, love you all.

68:54

[01 08:25.109 – 01:08:25.489] Bye-bye.

68:55

[01 08:25.489 – 01:08:27.349] Thanks for being here, everyone.

68:58

[01 08:27.349 – 01:08:28.229] Have a great week.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

Traditions part 2 presented by mike f – 2025-11-18

Traditions part 2 presented by mike f – 2025-11-18

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