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where the feeling tones are modified through a new quality of relationships; where, in short, a new way of life is acquired - one which not only enables the person to interact with his environment (particularly with other persons) without the use of alcohol, but enables him to do so on a more mature, satisfying basis. No doubt a similar change occurred in many (though probably not in most) of the
alcoholic Washingtonians, but it was more by a coincidence, within and without
the societies, of circumstances that were rarely understood and never formulated into a definite, repeatable program. A.A. is infinitely better equipped in this
respect. 4. Anonymity.- A comparison with the Washingtonian experience underscores the sheer survival value of the principle of anonymity in Alcoholics Anonymous. At the height of his popularity, John B. Gough either "slipped" or was tricked by his enemies into a drunken relapse. At any rate, the opponents of the Washingtonian movement seized upon this lapse with glee and made the most of it to hurt Gough and the movement. This must have happened frequently to less widely known but nevertheless publicly known Washingtonians. Public confidence in the movement was impaired. Anonymity protects the reputation of A.A. from public criticism not only of "slips" but also of failures, internal tensions, and all deviant behaviour. Equally important, anonymity keeps the groups from exploiting prominent names
for the sake of group prestige; and it keeps individual members from exploiting their A.A. connection for personal prestige or fame. This encourages humility
and the placing of principles above personalities. Such behaviour not only generates outside admiration of A.A. but has therapeutic value for the individual members. There are further therapeutic values in anonymity: it makes
it easier for alcoholics to approach A.A., and it relaxes the new member. It encourages honest catharsis and utter frankness. It protects the new member from the critical eyes of certain acquaintances while he experiments with this new way of life, for fumbling and failure will be hidden. 5. Hazard-avoiding traditions.- Another decisive contrast to the Washingtonian movement is the development in Alcoholics Anonymous not only of a relatively uniform program of recovery but also of relatively uniform traditions for avoiding the usual hazards to which organizations are subject. In Alcoholics Anonymous there is actually no overhead authority. Wherever two or three alcoholics get together to attain sobriety on the general basis of the Twelve Step program they may call themselves an A.A. group. They are free to conduct their activities as they see fit. As would be expected in a fellowship of independent groups, all kinds of practices and policies have been tried. A careful reading of the A.A. publication, A.A. Tradition (25), will reveal how great the variety has been, here and there. Membership has been limited. Conduct of groups has been undemocratic. Leaders have exploited the groups for personal prestige. The principle of anonymity has been violated. Personal and jurisdictional rivalries have developed. Money, property and organizational difficulties have disrupted A.A. groups. Members and groups, yielding to their own enthusiasms and reflecting the patterns of other institutions around them, have endangered the immediate and ultimate welfare of the A.A. fellowship. These deviations could have been serious had there not existed a considerable uniformity in practice and principle. In the early days of A.A., the entire fellowship was bound together by a chain of personal relationships - all created on the basis of a common program, a common spirit and a common tradition. This spirit and this pragmatically achieved program and tradition were the only guiding principles, and relative uniformity was not difficult. Alcoholics Anonymous was just a fellowship - small, informal, poor and unpretentious. But with growth, prosperity and prestige, the difficulties of getting all groups and members to see the value of these guiding principles increased. A self-conscious statement and explanation was needed - and this finally emerged in 1947 and 1948 in the "Twelve Points of Tradition,"elaborated upon in editorials in The A.A. Grapevine (23) and subsequently published as a booklet (25). In formulating and stating the reasons for these traditions, Bill W., one of the founders, has continued the extremely valuable function which he, Dr. Bob and other national leaders have performed - that of keeping intact the experienced based program and principles of A.A. Perhaps as important as any other is the tradition of keeping authority in principles rather than letting it become vested in offices and personalities. This tradition is supported by the related principle of rotating leadership, and the concept that leaders are merely the trusted servants of the group or groups. The hazard-avoiding values of these traditions are obvious. The tradition that membership be open to any alcoholic has value in countering the tendency toward exclusiveness, class-consciousness, cliquishness - and it helps to keep the groups focussed on their main job of helping the "alcoholic who still suffers." The tradition of complete self-support of A.A. groups and activities by the voluntary contributions of A.A. members avoids the dangers inherent in fixed dues, assessments, public solicitations, and the like - and it is conducive to self-reliance and self-respect. Furthermore, in minimizing money it maximizes fellowship. The tradition that "any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separately incorporated and managed" is important in keeping the A.A. groups from becoming entangled in the problems of property beyond the minimum necessary for their own functioning. The tradition of "the least possible organization" has a similar value. These last three traditions might be summed up as precautions against the common tendency to forget that money, property and organization are only means - and that means find their rightful place only when
the end is kept clearly in view. For A.A., these traditions should help to keep
the groups concentrated on their prime purpose: helping alcoholics recover. The existence of these traditions - and their clear formulation - are assets which the Washingtonian movement never possessed. What prognosis for Alcoholics Anonymous is suggested by this comparison with the Washingtonian movement? The least that can be said is that the short life of the Washingtonian movement
simply has no parallel implications for A.A. Despite certain but limited similarities in origins, purpose and early activities, the differences are too great to draw the conclusion of a similar fate for A.A. Are the differences, then, of such a nature as to assure a long life for Alcoholics Anonymous? This much can be said with assurance of consensus: (A) In the light of our present-day knowledge, A.A. has a sounder program of recovery than the Washingtonians achieved. (B) A.A. has avoided many of the organizational hazards which plagued the Washingtonian societies. The success
and growth of A.A. during more than a decade of public life, its present vigour
and its present unity underscore these statements and augur well for the future.
In the writer's judgment, based on a systematic study (26) of A.A., there is no inherent reason why A.A. should not enjoy an indefinitely continued existence. How long an existence will depend upon how well the leaders and members continue to follow the present program and principles - that is, how actively A.A. members will continue to reach out to other alcoholics; how thoroughly the remainder of the A.A. program will continue to be practiced, particularly the steps dealing with catharsis and the spiritual aspects; and, how closely all groups will be guided by the present traditions. Finally, the writer would suggest that the value in the traditions lies chiefly in the avoidance of factors that can easily interfere with keeping the ideal therapeutic atmosphere found in the small A.A. groups at their best. Most of the
personality change necessary for recovery from alcoholism occurs in these small
groups - and that work is at its very best when there is a genuinely warm, nonegocentric fellowship. How well this quality of fellowship is maintained in the small, local groups is offered, therefore, as another condition determining how bright the future of A.A. will be. Whatever the worth of these judgments, they point up the potential value to A.A.
of careful, objective research on these and related conditions. This would give
Alcoholics Anonymous another asset that the Washingtonians never had. REFERENCES 1. Krout,J.A. The Origins of Prohibition. New York; Knopf, 1925. 2. Rush,Benjamin. An Inquiry Into the Effects of Ardent Spirits on the Human Body and Mind. [1785] 3. Beecher, Lyman. Six Sermons On the Nature, Occasion, Signs, Evils, and Remedy of Intemper- ance. New York. American Tract Society, 1827. 4. Fehlandt, A.F. A Century of Drink Reform in the United States. Cincinnati; Jennings and Graham; and New York, Eaton & Mains, 1904. 5. Permanent Temperance Documents of the American Temperance Society; Vol.1 Boston; Seth Bliss, 1835. 6. One Hundred Years of Temperance. A Memorial Volume of the Centennial Temperance Confer ence Held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September, 1885. New
York; National Temperance Society & Publication House, 1886. 7. Annual Reports of the Executive Committee of the American Temperance Union, 1840-1849. 8. Harrison, D. A Voice from the Washingtonian Home. Boston; Redding & Co., 1860.
9. Hawkins, W.G. Life of John W. Hawkins. Boston, Dutton, 1863. 10. Banks, L.A. The Lincoln Legion. New York; Mershon Co., 1903. 11. Gough, J.B. Autobiography and Personal Recollections. Springfield, Mass.;
Bill, Nichols & Co.,1869. 12. Wooley, J. G. and Johnson, W.E. Temperance Progress in the Century. London; Linscott Publish ing Co., 1903. 13. Marsh,J. Temperance Recollections. New York; Scribner, 1866. 14. Eddy,R. Alcohol and History. New York; National Temperance Society & Publication House, 1887. 15. Cherrington, E.H. The Evolution of Prohibition in the United States of America. Westerville, Ohio; American Issue Press, 1920. 16. Cyclopedia of Temperance and Prohibition. New York; Funk & Wagnalls, 1891. 17. Crothers, T.D. Inebriety. Cincinati; Harvey, 1911. 18. Sellers,J.B. The Prohibition Movement in Alabama, 1702-1943. Chapel Hill,
Univ. North Carolina Press, 1943. 19. Grosh, A.B. ed. Washingtonian Pocket Companion. Utica, N.Y., S.S. Merrell; Bennett, Backus & Hawley; & G. Tracy, 1842. 20. Daniels, W.H. The Temperance Reform and Its Great Reformers. New York; Nelson & Phillips, 1878. 21. Dacus, J.A. Battling with the Demon. St. Louis; Scammel & Co., 1878. 22. Blair, H.W. The Temperance Movement. Boston; William E. Smythe Co., 1888. 23. The A.A. Grapevine. New York; A.A. Grapevine, Inc. 24. Alcoholics Anonymous. New York; Works Publishing Co., 1939. 25. A.A. Tradition. New York; Works Publishing Co., 1947. 26. Maxwell, M.A. Social Factors in the Alcoholics Anonymous Program. Doctoral
Dissertation, U. of Texas, 1949. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 5543. . . . . . . . . . . . History of Royalties - Part 1 From: Arthur S . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/23/2009 10:51:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Source references for the postings are: .. [AACOA-AA Comes of Age] -- [BW-FH-Bill W by Francis Hartigan] -- [DBGO-Dr Bob and the Good Old-timers] -- [GB-Getting Better Inside Alcoholics Anonymous by Nan R] -- [GTBT-Grateful to Have Been There by Nell Wing] -- [GSC-FR-General Service Conference-Final Report (identified by year)] -- [GSO-General Service Office-service pieces] -- [GSO-AC-General Service Office Archives Collection] -- [Gv-Grapevine-identified by month and year] -- [HIW-How It Worked by Mitchell K] -- [LOH-The Language of the Heart] -- [LR-Lois Remembers, by Lois W] -- [PIO-Pass It On, AAWS] -- SM-AA Service Manual and Twelve Concepts for World Service] -- [www-Internet]
and Eugene Exman (Religious Editor of Harper Brothers publishers). Exman offered Bill a $1,500 advance ($23,000) on the rights to the book. The Alcoholic Foundation Board urged acceptance of the offer. Instead, Hank P and Bill formed Works Publishing Co. and sold stock at $25 par value ($380 today). 600 shares were issued: Hank and Bill received 200 shares each, 200 shares were sold to others. Later, 30 shares of preferred stock, at $100 par value ($1,500 today) were sold as well. To mollify the board, it was decided that the author's royalty (which would ordinarily be Bill's) could go to the Alcoholic Foundation. The newly formed Works Publishing Co would later come to be known as AA World Services or AAWS. (LR 197, BW-FH 116-119, SM S6, PIO 193-195, AACOA 157, 188, HIW 99-104) .. 1940 - May 22, Works Publishing Co. was legally incorporated as a publishing arm of the Alcoholic Foundation. Bill W and Hank P gave up their stock with a stipulation that Dr Bob and Anne receive 10% royalties on the Big Book for life. Hank was persuaded to relinquish his shares in exchange for a $200 payment ($3,000 today) for office furniture he claimed belonged to him. (AACOA 189-190, LR 199, BW-FH 119, SM 11, PIO 235-236, GTBT 92, GSO-AC) .. 1941 - With the possibility of being recalled to active duty in the Army, Bill W requested that he be granted a royalty on book sales to provide financial support for his wife Lois. The board approved a 10% royalty. Prior to this, Dr Bob was voluntarily giving Bill half the 10% royalty that he and Anne were receiving. Bill W's 10% royalty became his sole source of income. One exception to this occurred sometime in the mid-1940s when Bill's income averaged $1,700 ($24,600 today) over seven years. The board made a grant to Bill of $1,500 ($21,700 today) for each of the seven years for a total of $10,500 ($152,000 today) out of which Bill purchased his Bedford Hills house. (1951 GSC-FR 13) .. 1942 - October, Clarence S stirred up a controversy in Cleveland after discovering that Dr Bob and Bill W were receiving royalties from Big Book sales. (DBGO 267-269, BW-FH 153-154, AACOA 193-194) Bill and Dr Bob re-examined the problem of their financial status and concluded that royalties from the Big Book seemed to be the only answer to the problem. Bill sought counsel from his spiritual sponsor, Father Edward Dowling, who suggested that Bill and Bob could not accept money for 12th Step work, but should accept royalties as compensation for special services. This later formed the basis for Tradition 8 and Concept 11. Due to the amount of time both co-founders dedicated to the Fellowship, it was impossible for either of them to earn a living through their normal professions. (AACOA 194-195, PIO 322-324) .. 1945 - The Alcoholic Foundation wrote to John D Rockefeller Jr and the 1940 dinner guests that AA no longer needed their financial help. Big Book royalties could look after Dr Bob and Bill and group contributions could pay the office expenses. If these were insufficient, the reserve accumulated out of literature sales could meet the deficit. In total, Rockefeller and the dinner guest donated $30,700 ($365,000 today) to AA. The donations were viewed as loans and paid back out of Big Book income. This led to the principle of being fully self-supporting declining all further outside contributions and later formed the basis of Tradition 7. (AACOA 203-204)
Have Made AA Self-Supporting" Bill W wrote "Two years ago the trustees set aside, out of AA book funds, a sum which enabled my wife and me to pay off the mortgage on our home and make some needed improvements. The Foundation also granted Dr Bob and me each a royalty of 10% on the book Alcoholics Anonymous, our only income from AA sources. We are both very comfortable and deeply grateful." (LOH 62-66)
From: Arthur S . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/23/2009 10:52:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1951 - April 20-22, (NY City) 37 United States and Canadian delegates (half the planned number) convened at the Commodore Hotel as the first Panel of the General Service Conference.
death, had voted to increase Bill's royalty on the Big Book from 10 percent to 15 per cent. .This author's royalty would also apply to other Books the Trustees are anxious to have Bill prepare for their consideration in the future. The chairman reported that Bill insisted that this increase be approved by the General Service Conference. A motion approving the action of the Trustees was approved unanimously by the Delegates. The Conference also approved unanimously a motion recommending that steps be taken to insure that Bill and Lois receive book royalties so long as either one shall live. (1951 GSC-FR 12) .. 1952 - As he did in 1951, Bill reviewed with the delegates the financial arrangements under which he now works, reminding them that his living is derived from royalties on the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous." Should there be an increase in his royalties as a result of the writing project he has set for himself, Bill said, he would wish to take from them only "a good living, not necessarily the full royalties his writings may earn. As a matter of movement interest, Bill said, he hoped it would be agreeable if he had discretion over the disposition of his excess royalties - not for personal use, but for such matters as restitution to creditors and some provision for the future of General Service Office employees who now have no form of social security. Bill's presentation was approved in its entirety, upon recommendation of the Conference Committee on Literature. (1952 GSC-FR 21) .. 1954 - The Alcoholic Foundation Board reported that it decided not to accept, a royalty of $.25 per copy on sales of a book on The Twelve Steps, which had been offered by the publishers. (1954 GSC-FR 17)
held in St Louis' Kiel Auditorium. Bill W thanked the Convention attendees for purchasing the Big Book because the royalties from it had provided him and Lois with a home where they had seen more than 3,000 AA members over the years. (AACOA 220, PIO 354, 357)
addressed to Mr. Archibald B. Roosevelt, Treasurer of the General Service Board:
be an open book to our membership. Ever since 1951, when the General Service Conference first met, my book royalties and m y expense allowances have been shown in each year's audit. This practice will of course be continued. This year, however, I would like to make a full accounting for all monies received by me from 1938, when the Alcoholic Foundation was created, to 1955 when, at St. Louis, the Conference and its General Service Board assumed final responsibility for AA's world affairs. .. This seventeen-year audit has been prepared by Mr. Wilbur Smith, our CPA, and is here enclosed. Saving the small amounts 1 received as a result of Mr. Rockefeller's 1940 dinner, it can be seen that m y whole income over those years has derived only from AA Publishing activities. My other services to the Headquarters were all volunteer.
Conference Delegate on request; and further that a copy of this audit be placed on permanent file at the New York Headquarters where, on request, it can be read by any visiting AA member. .. Ever yours, .. Bill .. P. S. I hope that the Conference sees fit to publish this letter each year in its annual report. .. 1958 - April, (NY City) the 8th Conference. The status of Bill W, cofounder of AA, in relation to the Fellowship was clarified in two respects at the 1958 Conference.
to Delegates in which he pointed out that several future courses were open to him, ranging from complete disassociation from AA service matters to continuing participation in the number of unfinished projects which he feels are important to the welfare of the movement.
continuing leadership on all projects of movement wide concern in which he is currently interested.
Board in re-assigning to Bill royalty rights in his three books (Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and Alcoholics Anonymous Comes Yüklə 11,49 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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