Aa history Lovers 2010 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page
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story required some mention of the Oxford Group, but he minimized it.
project. The editors wanted photos to illustrate the article and this, Bill thought, would violate the Society's anonymity. But when the editors said the article wouldn't be published without photos, Bill agonized for a moment and then quickly decided the opportunity was too important to pass up. Thus one photo in Alexander's article showed Bill and seven others grouped in the old 24th Street Clubhouse in Manhattan, though the cutline carries no names. The lead photo, also unidentified, depicted a drunk using a towel to study his hand while taking a drink, and a second photo showed a man on a hospital bed being visited by three A.A. members. Another photo showed a person being carried into the hospital on a stretcher. Published on March 1, 1941, the Alexander piece brought a response that almost overwhelmed the resources at the small Vesey Street office. The Post for- forwarded to A.A. thousands of letters pouring in from across North America. Volunteers had to be called in to answer the letters, while some were sent to A.A. members and groups in their places of origin. And since A.A. still had very little literature of its own, the article served as an information piece for prospective A.A. members. In Toledo, Ohio, for example, the members gave a newcomer named Garth M. several dollars and sent him out to buy up copies around the city (the price was then five cents per copy). These then became part of the group's literature for other newcomers. Nine years later Alexander penned another Post article about A.A. titled "The Drunkard's Best Friend." Though lacking the dramatic impact of the earlier story, it effectively detailed what A.A. had become and promised for the future--a promise that has been fulfilled many times over. By this time, A.A. had 96,000 members and was rapidly spreading to countries around the world.
his life, and even served as a nonalcoholic (Class A) trustee on the A.A. General Service Board from 1951 until 1956. He was also said to have added "the final editorial touch" to Bill's manuscript for Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, first published in 1952. Alexander became a senior editor at the Post, and in a special tribute to him at his retirement in 1961, the Post cited the 1941 Alcoholics Anonymous piece as his most famous article for the magazine.
retired to Florida, where he died on September 17, 1975. Bill W. had passed away almost five years earlier, so there was no special tribute for Jack of the kind Bill had written for other early friends of A.A. But from the Big Meeting in the Sky, Bill might have praised Jack as a man who gave us a "ten strike" and with his words virtually saved the lives of thousands. Even without Jack's wonderful article, A.A. would have survived and achieved further growth. But Jack was there at the right time with the right message for his times. Without Jack's persistence and strong belief in A.A., many could have gone to their graves without knowing that a new way of recovery had been discovered and was working. Bill W. and the other A.A. pioneers knew that, and they never lost their gratitude for the star reporter who at first thought his leg was being pulled. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6791. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: The Jack Alexander Story From: Charles Knapp . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/8/2010 3:50:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII A.A. GRAPEVINE DEATH NOTICE ************************************************ December 1975 AA Grapevine Passing of Jack Alexander Recalls Early AA Growth Our Fellowship has reason to be forever grateful to Jack Alexander, who died on September 17 in St. Petersburg, Fla., at 73. AA was less than six years old, with a membership around 2,000, when the reporter and magazine writer was assigned to do a Saturday Evening Post article on the obscure group of recovering alcoholics.
convert in spirit," in the words of co-founder Bill W. The article (now re-printed as an AA pamphlet, "The Jack Alexander Article") was published in the
March 1, 1941, issue - and by the end of that year, AA membership had reached
8,000! In the May 1945 Grapevine, Jack told the story-behind-the-story, "Were
the AAs Pulling My Leg?' During Jack's 1951-56 service as a non-alcoholic trustee on the AA General Service Board, he "added the final editorial touch" to the manuscript of the "Twelve and Twelve." He was a senior editor on the Post at his retirement, in 1964. After he and his wife (who survives him) moved to Florida, he kept in touch with AA until his health began to fail. ************************************************ According to this Grapevine article Jack Alexander passed away September 17, 1975 in St. Petersburg, FL. I found a Social Security Death record in Ancestory.com for a John H Alexander. The place of death is listed as Saint Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida. It gives his birth date as Feb 8, 1903 and death as only Sept 1975. The same website also gave a transcription of a Florida Death Record for a John H Alexander same birth date and September 17, 1975 as his death date. Jack is a nickname for John and a search for both a John and Jack Alexander might be beneficial. As a personal note, several years ago I wrote a couple letters to the newspaper in St. Petersburg and requested a copy of the obituary for Jack Alexander. I offered to pay for a copy and pay the cost for what ever research had to be done in order to get a copy. The newspaper never answered any of my letters. The Saturday Evening Post did have an archive in Philadelphia at one time. I found their address on line and wrote them letters requesting any information on Jack. The only thing I received was a list of the articles he wrote while working at the Post. I believe this list is in one of the post in AAHISTORYLOVERS. Good luck on your research Charles from Wisconsin IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6792. . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Alexander died 17 Sept 1975 in St. Petersburg, Florida From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/9/2010 7:38:00 PM
notices,
for Jack Alexander, the library's list gives the following death notice (the notice was posted on 18 September 1975): ______________________________________________
> Wed Sept 17, 1975 in St Petersburg, Fla., > Husband of Anita Mueller Alexander, brother of Roy Alexander > and Rev. Calvert Alexander S. J., > Mass of the resurrection will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier > (College) Upper church Mon., Sept. 22, 2:30 P.M., > Interment Bellefonte Cemetery. etc. ______________________________________________ It looks like some of the AA time lines should be updated and the Saturday Evening Post should have this information in its archives. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6793. . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Forrest L. Richeson and Minnesota AA From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/9/2010 9:49:00 PM
(John6528 at comcast.net) WHO SAYS: In Minnesota it is still very common to have a 5th step heard by an "expert" rather than a sponsor. I attribute this to the influence of the Rev. Forrest L. Richeson on Minnesota AA in general. He was one of the first graduates of the Yale School of Alcohol Studies in 1940 or so and then came to Minnesota. FORREST L. RICHESON Many AA members took their Fifth Step with the retired pastor of the First Christian Church (across the street from 2218) during his lifetime, much of which was spent working with alcoholics. I had the opportunity to meet him once
at the club and to listen to him speak on several occasions. His publication of the book "Courage To Change" in 1978 chronicled much to fill
the need for information on the history of A.A. since it came to Minnesota. From
the forward to his book we learn "Forrest became a 'friend' of A.A. in the mid-1940s. For over 30 years, he (had) been deeply involved with the afflicted and affected people of alcoholism. He has heard many thousands of Fifth Steps as 'another human being.' As a pastor, he became involved in the field of alcoholism when it was anything but popular to do so and has been an inspiration to many other clergy to become involved.
families, Forrest has participated in the governmental and private sectors concern for alcoholism: the Minnesota Council on Alcoholism, Minnesota Governor's Coordinating Council on alcoholism, and National Council of Church's Task Force
on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse are only examples." (Phil Hansen, former Director
of CD Rehabilitation at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital). IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6795. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: The Jack Alexander Story From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/10/2010 3:35:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII AA historian Mel B. (Toledo, Ohio) was the author of the Jack Alexander article
in Box 459, the article which was recently posted in AAHL Message #6790 http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/6790 He is best known as the principal author of "Pass It On," the official AA biography of Bill Wilson. He is an astonishing gold mine of information about AA history, and one of the greatest of the AA authors from the second generation of AA history. Mel B. is an A.A. old-timer, a recovering alcoholic who got sober in Alcoholics Anonymous during the early days of the fellowship, when he became a patient on April 15, 1950 in the state hospital in his hometown, Norfolk, Nebraska. He has been an active member of A.A. for sixty years. He is regarded as one of the top historians writing about A.A.; in addition to "Pass It On," he has published seven other widely read books on the Alcoholics Anonymous program. ================================================ > New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Miracle, 1991 > Walk in Dry Places, 1996 > Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W., 1998 > The 7 Key Principles of Successful Recovery (with Bill P.), 1999 > My Search for Bill W., 2000 > Three Recovery Classics: As a Man Thinketh (by James Allen), The Greatest Thing in the World (by Henry Drummond), An Instrument of Peace (the St. Francis Prayer), 2004 > 101 Meeting Starters: A Guide to Better Twelve Step Discussions, 2007 ================================================ He has also contributed more than fifty articles to the Grapevine, the international journal of A.A., as well as authoring several Hazelden Foundation pamphlets. See http://walkindryplaces.com/ and http://hindsfoot.org/kml3rc1.html IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6796. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: 90 in 90 days in Bright Star Press pre-1970 pamphlet From: hdmozart . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/10/2010 8:09:00 PM
--- In AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com, ricktompkins@... wrote: "The Bright Star Press record leads me to believe it's an original AA phrase,
too, but as to the date of its origin perhaps there's a reference in an early AA
Grapevine (via their online archives search program). One of us can find it..." rick, illinois ============================================ From a search of the AA Grapevine digital archives, I found the following: A series of "Beginners' Meetings" published from August 1958 to April 1960 presumably by E. S., Hartsdale, New York [E.S. was credited in the first article only]
"I'd like to suggest that for a period of three months you decide to stay away
from a drink twenty-four hours at a time, and also decide to attend many meetings--every night if possible. Surely you can spare ninety days from your life. They might prove to be the most useful ninety days in your entire lifetime. You may learn whether or not you are an alcoholic, and that's a good
thing to know." The first reference to 90 meetings in 90 days I could find was in an April 1976
Grapevine article "About Alcoholism", which contained information from sources
outside A.A.: "While some critics find the methods harsh, counselors claim they are often the
only hope of reaching the alcoholic. Once the counselors decide an employee is probably alcoholic, they usually send him to a physician for a double check. On a doctor's advice, many companies send their more serious problem drinkers to residential rehabilitation centers, commonly for about four weeks. Practically all the aggressive company programs insist on participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, preferably attending "90 meetings in 90 days" to start." - Roger Ricklefs
Grapevine:
does
not mean that the Grapevine endorses or approves them; they are offered solely
for your information." In a February 1986 book review by W.P. of "90 Meetings in 90 Days" by Ernie K.,
with the same disclaimer from the Grapevine In June 1985, A PO Box 1980 Article "The 'gospel' of 90 meetings. . . ?" fostered several follow up comments (particularly March 1988) complaining about the concept - The complaint from the chap in England that got sober in 1963 and never heard of
90 meetings in 90 days gives rise to the idea that it's perhaps a regional concept?
Grapevine copyright - Larry ---------------------------- August 1958 Vol. 15 No. 3 Alcoholism Is a Disease The first of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. E. S. (author of the series?) Hartsdale, New York September 1958 Vol. 15 No. 4 Taking Inventory The second of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. November 1958 Vol. 15 No. 6 Using the Slogans The third of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. January 1959 Vol. 15 No. 8 90-day Trial The fourth of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. MUCH of what you will hear in AA is quite different from what most of us expected. Some of the suggestions given are directly opposed to your habits of the past. Even our AA language is strange; it may often seem to be contradictory yet some of our phrases, while unique, have a meaning useful to us which perhaps only we as alcoholics can understand and appreciate. Already you have heard about "hitting bottom," surrender and compliance. You've
been told perhaps "ya gotta hit bottom" and "ya gotta surrender in order to win." This "hitting bottom" and surrendering can and do happen at the same time, but perhaps it is worthwhile thinking about them separately. Someone has said that our "bottom" is that point we reach "beyond which we do not want to go." But how are we to know when we hit bottom? Perhaps you have already hit many bottoms and you didn't want to go down further--but you did.
Maybe you too can remember when you looked at others critically and said "I never drink alone"--"I only drink what I can afford"--"It's awful to drink sherry out of a half-gallon crock"--"I'll never drive when drinking"--"If I looked as awful as she does I'd quit"--"I never lost a job through booze"--"I've never been in a hospital because of alcohol"--etc., etc. . . . yet many of us, later, passed these bottoms and went on to other--seemingly bottomless--bottoms. Even today we hear the stories of other alcoholics and in fearful trepidation we say "If I ever was as bad as he I'd surely quit," but I wonder if we would or could. Too often suffering and degradation leads only to more suffering and deeper degradation. Hostilities within lead to hostilities without. A defense
appears for every failure. Catastrophes are minimized. Defiance sets in and we almost dare the world to do its worst to us: Yes, even up to the grave. Any and all of these things can happen to us. We can break our back and our bones. We can lose our jobs, our family and our friends. We can wreck our cars,
our health and our self-respect. All of these can happen, and keep on happening, unless something special happens to us when these things occur. That "something special" might have many names. Right now I'd like to call it ego deflation, the kind of deflation that brings us to the point where we realize that we just do not "know it all." That could be the point of surrender. The disaster, embarrassment, shame, and suffering are not enough; the surrender is the vital force. Fortunately for some of us the surrender resulting from ego deflation comes to us before the disasters are too many or too great, Why it should come early for some and later for others would be difficult to explain. The fortunate ones can only be grateful for this special grace and live a disciplined life so that the doggone ego will not re-inflate. Its power for revival is truly terrific and we must be ever vigilant. We'll talk more about that at another time. But for now--to whom or to what do we surrender? Perhaps the first important part of the surrender comes with the knowledge that alcoholism is a disease--and acceptance of the fact that you are a victim of it . . . meaning, of course, that our great ego finally realizes that we can no longer safely take even one
drink. That's a very good beginning. Other surrenders will follow, for I believe
you will see the need to practice at least in part the Twelve Suggested Steps.
Truly accepting the fact that we are the victim of a serious insidious, progressive, and fatal disease (unless it is arrested) is also an admission that without help we are completely unable to help ourselves. It was Dr. Timeout who said that surrender rather than compliance, paves the way
for the spiritual awakening which he and many of us believe is the "act of giving up one's reliance on one's omnipotence." Quite likely some of you here tonight have not totally surrendered, or experienced this particular spiritual awakening. If so, you wouldn't be the first to enter AA's door just because others thought he was an alcoholic. Many
come, we know, just to keep peace at home or on the job or because they have had
recent troubles which they may still feel are of an accidental or temporary nature.
That's quite all right. I was one of those, too. I first came here just wanting
to stay sober until I got a new job. That was over eight years ago and I'm still
here, and in the new job for eight years too. So regardless of why you come, even if it was only to get in out of the rain, or to escape the whip of someone's scorn or the lash of critical voices--make the most of it. Be a good sport--give yourself a break. Right now, you are physically sober and no doubt intend to stay sober. The only
big mistake would be to adopt an attitude of bitterness because circumstances have forced you into AA. A few rare ones decide they will comply only because
they must. They will stay sober if it kills them, but they are not going to like
it. Someday they will show those other people how wrong they were, etc. etc. That is a form of bitter compliance that can be very miserable and of course totally unhelpful. Why not be a good sport? Give yourself a break. You're here, you're sober, your agreement with yourself and with AA is only for twenty-four hours. Why not use those twenty-four hours to your own benefit? You have only recently hit a new bottom, probably--or you would not be here. Nothing can be gained by waiting to hit the next bottom. It's a good time to remember: you were not too wise or all-powerful in your latest bout with alcohol. Attend lots of meetings, listen
hard and apply at least part of what you hear to yourself. Keep an open mind. Relax. Don't fight it. You will hear a great deal about the ravages of this disease of alcoholism on others. You will meet with some nice people, with experiences like yours, who have found that alcohol is unnecessary. You will agree that those who deny a master outside themselves are never masters of themselves. Give a bit of thought to the Twelve Suggested Steps, the slogans and the literature, and a bit of practice. You can help others and your group, too. Pray a bit, too--if you can. If you can't, don't worry about it. Relax--give yourself a break. I'd like to suggest that for a period of three months you decide to stay away from a drink twenty-four hours at a time, and also decide to attend many meetings--every night if possible. Surely you can spare ninety days from your
life. They might prove to be the most useful ninety days in your entire lifetime. You may learn whether or not you are an alcoholic, and that's a good thing to know. You will meet with some who have surrendered, who have accepted the fact that by
themselves they could not live without alcohol. They will tell you that surrender feels good. They do not have to fight anymore. They are no longer constantly on the defensive. They feel free and pretty good. So why not give yourself a break and use these ninety days to your good advantage. You may find you don't have to be a poor loser, that somewhere along
the way you win by surrendering. March 1959 Vol. 15 No. 10 Day-tight Compartments The fifth of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. [Couldn't find the sixth of a series]
Vol. 16 No. 2 What Is an Open Mind? The seventh of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. November 1959 Vol. 16 No. 6 Hints On Avoiding the First Drink The eighth of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. April 1960 Vol. 16 No. 11 Sobriety 1-2-3 One of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. (The End) August 1960 Vol. 17 No. 3 Hour Serenity One of a series of "Beginners' Meetings"--to run from time to time--for newcomers to AA sobriety. E. S.
Hartsdale, New York ======================= April 1976 Vol. 32 No. 11 About Alcoholism - Alcoholism Information, Research and Treatment Trends in Industry Many of these items are contrary to AA philosophy. Their publication here does
not mean that the Grapevine endorses or approves them; they are offered solely
for your information. Sandin-Murray-Sutherland, Inc., a New York firm, uses a hard-headed approach to alcoholism counseling. Its clients are Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.; New Jersey's Public Service Electric & Gas Co.; and Marsh & McLennan, Inc., the insurance concern. Companies like these are trying a bold and controversial strategy: They are putting teeth in their alcoholism programs. Most corporate programs for problem
drinkers still wait passively for a handful of obvious alcoholics to show up with jittery hands and bloodshot eyes. But a few dozen aggressive programs, mainly started in the last few years, try to ferret out the secret alcoholic as soon as his performance starts to slip, often ten years before jittery hands set in.
These programs offer every possible help in recovery--no gimmicks, just the standard methods such as residential rehabilitation centers and Alcoholics Anonymous--and usually threaten instant dismissal if the employee doesn't use
it. The more effective corporate programs are achieving remarkably good recovery rates of 65% to 85%, says William S. Dunkin, assistant director of labor-management services at the National Council on Alcoholism. U.S. companies currently operate over 600 alcoholism programs, Mr. Dunkin says, double the figure five years ago. However, Paul A. Sherman, who directs the counseling program at International Telephone & Telegraph Corp., estimates that because of a lack of management and union support, fewer than 50 of these programs are working well. The corporate programs show that the employee drinking problem is far greater than many executives believed possible. In Salt Lake City, the 7,300-employee Utah Copper division of Kennecott Copper Corp. says it has reached 660 alcoholic workers since it started an aggressive program five years ago. Similarly, the 38,000-worker New York City Transit Authority says its 19-year-old alcoholism program, one of the oldest aggressive programs in the country, has handled over 5,000 problem drinkers. The program regularly hospitalizes 175 to 200 workers a year, says Joseph M. Warren, its director. While some critics find the methods harsh, counselors claim they are often the
only hope of reaching the alcoholic. Once the counselors decide an employee is probably alcoholic, they usually send him to a physician for a double check. On a doctor's advice, many companies send their more serious problem drinkers to residential rehabilitation centers, commonly for about four weeks. Practically all the aggressive company programs insist on participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, preferably attending "90 meetings in 90 days" to start. Roger Ricklefs ======================= February 1986 Vol. 42 No. 9 About Alcoholism - Alcoholism Information, Research, and Treatment Book Review - 90 Meetings 90 Days Many of these items are contrary to AA philosophy. Their publication here does not mean that the Grapevine endorses or approves them; they are offered solely for your information. This book is the personal journal of an AA member's experience of attending the
traditional 90 AA meetings in 90 days. The anonymous author (Ernie K.) writes
about the AA way of life--as he understands it--and how he deals with the ordinary, troublesome, and sometimes difficult problems of living sober. The book examines various parts of the AA program including the Steps, the Big
Book, and important aspects of AA history. This book is written with intelligence, grace, and clarity which reflect the fundamental aspects of AA membership. 90 Meetings 90 Days is for people who are not looking for quick or easy answers; it is intended for those who take themselves, their recovery, and other people seriously. Available for $10.95 from: Johnson Institute, 510 1st Avenue N. Minneapolis, MN 55402 W. P. ======================= July 1985 Vol. 42 No. 2 PO Box 1980 The 'gospel' of 90 meetings. . . ? In recent years, at least in some areas, a seemingly innocuous statement has been repeated time and again, and appears about to become "AA gospel." This is the statement made to newcomers that they must attend ninety meeting in ninety days. It is, in my opinion, high time that this particular example of well-intentioned nonsense be laid to rest! Both here in Hawaii and at meetings in my home area in California, I hear newcomers being given the impression that if they don't attend ninety meetings
in ninety days, they don't have a ghost of a chance of "making the program." This is not only untrue, it is ill-advised and grossly unfair. To some, it throws a seemingly insurmountable roadblock in the path to sobriety. To the best
of my knowledge, the only requirement for AA membership is, as it has been all
along, a desire to stop drinking. When I came into the AA Fellowship in 1958, the good members of the old Aloha Group stressed the importance of things like honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness. And if anyone had told me I had to attend ninety meetings in ninety
days, or had to do anything, I doubt that I would have stayed around long enough
to realize I wanted what they had. Let's give today's newcomers a break and greet them with the love and understanding that I found twenty-six happy years ago, encouraging them to attend as many meetings as possible--without putting an arbitrary number on the necessary amount. A. W. Honoloulu, Hawaii April 1986 Vol. 42 No. 11 PO Box 1980 More about '90 meetings. . .' Just read A. W. of Honolulu's letter in July 1985 Grapevine, "The 'gospel' of 90
meetings. . .?" Like A. W., I'm sick of this, and it has got no connection at all with the program. I came in in 1963. Ninety days was never mentioned; no one had ever heard of it, everyone said get to as many meetings as possible. If 90 meetings in 90 days is necessary to making the program, then there are a number of older members around who are not in the program! In fact, presumably never have been in the program--amazing we're sober! E. L. London
Vol. 44 No. 5 90 Days--or Just for Today? The other day, at a social event, I bumped into a newcomer from my home group.
"Guess what!" he exclaimed. "I did my 90 days!" When he realized that the party
I was with were non-AAs, he changed the subject. Later, one of my non-AA friends
asked me, "Did that young man just get out of prison?" I sometimes wonder about the very heavy emphasis we place on that 90-day suggestion. In my area, group after group, meeting after meeting, the questions are put to us: "Is there anyone here working on 90 days?"; "Is there anyone here
celebrating 90 days?" How did it start and what does it mean? One of the things that first attracted me to Alcoholics Anonymous was the fact
that nobody put me on the spot by asking me questions. I never had satisfactory answers before AA and none when I arrived, so I was especially grateful. It used to be suggested that new-comers give AA a try for "about three months." Gradually, over the years, the "three months" became "90 days." The "90 days" became "90 meetings in 90 days." And now I hear us talking about "90 and 90"! Three months, or 90 days, is generally accepted as a reasonable period in which alcohol, alcohol fumes, and alcoholic fantasies can be cleared out of the human system; it is also considered a fair length of time in which to grasp a working knowledge of the AA recovery program. But why 90--why not 79 or 102? In my area, 90 days is the suggested requirement before a member may speak from the group podium or hold an office in the group.
I remember one business meeting where nominees were being considered for office
for the next term. A newcomer put his own name in nomination. "But," said the chairman, "you've been drinking all along." "So what," said the newcomer. "I've got my 90 days!'"' The 90 days we are talking about, of course, is a period of continuous sobriety. When I came on the scene, that probation seemed too long for someone as special as I thought I was. Others pointed out to me, however, that they once thought they were special, too, but they had found it a good idea to try to stop being different and start trying to fit in--to stop running the show and, instead, join the cast! I've had newcomers ask how we reconcile "90 days" with "just for today." It seems most AAs find it easier to come through that early period by taking it one
day at a time. Ninety days can seem a very long time indeed when we are new. Some of us never stayed sober for 90 days. I once stayed sober for several weeks but not because I wanted to. I was locked up. Toward the end of my drinking life I couldn't stay away from a drink for more than six hours. Thank goodness, the group I came into didn't "push" that early period of adjustment. They put the emphasis squarely on today. They made it so clear that even I could understand when they said that they had not given up drinking for three months or for the rest of their lives; nor had they given it up forever and ever, amen! What they were doing was trying to stay away from that first drink just for today. And the principal tool they used to help themselves was
meetings. They came to one meeting at a time, one day at a time. They asked me if I thought I could do that. Without realizing it, I answered in kind and said that I would try. Generally speaking, I would like to see us play down the "90 and 90" battlecry and play up the victory slogan "just for today!" What do you think? W. H.
New York, New York March 1988 Vol. 44 No. 10 PO Box 1980 90 and 90? I was later than usual reading the October issue, but when I got to "90 Days--or
Just for Today?" I couldn't believe it. Hopefully you got a flood of comments, but just in case I am including mine: 90 days for what? I agree with W. H. that far too much emphasis is being put on newcomers (primarily by rehabs) to make 90 meetings in 90 days, instead of the proven AA axiom of "One Day At a Time." Ten years ago, staying sober one hour, not to mention twenty-four, seemed a long time. Back then, 90 days would have been as impossible as the 20-30 years I vaguely heard some members had. Thankfully, everyone said, "Just don't drink today." What absolutely floored me was the statement: "In my area, 90 days is the suggested requirement before a member may speak from the group podium or hold an
office in the group." Speak? Hold office in three months? Are we talking AA here? If we are, this scares me! Don't misunderstand. After attending meetings from coast to coast, I'm well aware that "each group should be autonomous," that often terms or format change slightly from place to place, and this generally has worked very well. What concerns me is the second half of the Fourth Tradition: "--except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole." Around Pittsburgh, you normally don't "lead" before a year, and need at least
that much to hold office. I think it is safe to say that at three months, none
of us knew what end was up. The idea that an area of AA meetings requires so little sobriety to speak or hold office should make every member worry. Are these shaky newcomers the only ones left to carry the message, take responsibility for meetings--and worse, represent AA as a whole? J. P. Clairton, Pennsylvania PO Box 1980 90 and 90? I agree with W. H.'s view that "just for today" is more helpful to sobriety than
"90 meetings in 90 days." Although I have heard people who were helped by the
90-day concept, I've also seen those who made a start in AA, then were heard counting off their "90 & 90" like prisoners X-ing off days on the wall. When they reached the 90, they vanished. Some who did stick around later said they
had been under the impression they would be "cured" after 90 days. I think it can set up a false goal--racking up days and meetings instead of learning about alcoholism and sobriety. What helped me the most, in the way of sayings, were "Bring the body to and the mind will follow," and "If you don't drink today, you'll never drink, because it's always today." But as to W. H.'s suggestion about playing down the "90 and 90" saying, I don't believe there is any way to stop any particular phrase from going around in AA, and it does seem to be helpful to some. I think we'll all hear what we need if each of us helps each
other as we each sincerely think best. F. D.
Coral Gables, Florida PO Box 1980 90 and 90? Throughout my fifteen years of sobriety in AA, I have been subscribing to the
Grapevine and cannot express its contribution to my own personal program. I especially enjoyed the views expressed in the October 1987 edition, "90 Days--Or Just for Today?" When I began attending AA, there was no mention of ninety meetings in ninety days. The man who was later to become my sponsor told me that if I followed the AA program, I could expect an improvement in my life within thirty days. I suppose this was because I looked so desperate. If I had been required to do anything for longer than a twenty-four hour period, I probably would have walked out. In my first months of sobriety, I was able to hang on by using the idea that I only had to stay sober for today. Some of the older heads did estimate that it took one month of sobriety to clear the brain for each year of hard drinking. Much later, I began hearing people not only advocating but demanding newcomers to attend ninety meetings in ninety days. I occasionally approach people to find the source of this commandment, but
it has never been forthcoming. I have searched through the Big Book without success.
Because of my own experience, I feel that some well-intentioned but pedantic members of the Fellowship do a disservice to the program and shaky newcomers with the ninety meetings in ninety days requirement, when they cannot face more
than one day at a time of anything. K. B.
Galveston, Texas IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6797. . . . . . . . . . . . Where does this story of Bill W and newcomers come from? From: Jim . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/10/2010 9:24:00 PM
office
to go to a store front AA club and wait for a newcomer to come through the door.
One would and Bill would say, "You look like you need a cup of coffee" [pardon
my paraphrasing this, it's how I remember it] The newcomer would rant about his
problems and the problems of the world not realizing he was talking to the co founder of AA. Bill would quietly listen and say "..... I know." Can anybody tell me what piece of AA literature this story comes from? IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6798. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: One more thought about that triangle/circle design From: beachsufi . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/9/2010 3:49:00 AM
repeating earlier comments. The Order of the Sons of Temperance which has been around for 150 years have a triangle in a circle, with a star in the middle of the circle as their symbol. They have the words "purity, love, fidelity" around the triangle. Examples can easily be found on the internet. - - - - From G.C. the moderator To see the Sons of Temperance circle and triangle logo, go to: http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_PCV_M/0_post_card_views_ost_edinburgh_castle.h tm (on the back of the postcard at the upper left hand corner) http://www.sonsoftemperance.abelgratis.co.uk/ (the colorful modern version of their logo) http://www.vermonthistory.org/freedom_and_unity/1800s/rum.html# http://www.westporthistory.com/news/archives/000485.html - - - - In AA Comes of Age, on page 139, Bill W. said: "The priests and seers of antiquity regarded the circle enclosing the triangle
as a means of warding off spirits of evil, and A.A.'s circle and triangle of Recovery, Unity, and Service has certainly meant all of that to us and much more."
anything about the ancient rituals -- pagan Greek and Roman, Egyptian, druid, etc. -- for attempting to speak with spirits, angels, demons, the ghosts of the dead, and so forth, you will realize what Bill Wilson was talking about right away.
the ground to protect you from dangerous spirits, and you drew a triangle into which you attempted to lure the spirit whom you were invoking. The triangle, sometimes called the Triangle of Solomon, had the three words Tetragrammaton, Anaphaxeton, and Primeumaton written on its sides (there was a lot of overlap between ancient magic and ancient gnosticism, which used magic words formed in similar fashion to represent various spirits and divine powers). See for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_circle http://www.spellsandmagic.com/Triangle.html Bill Wilson said quite clearly and explicitly where the circle and triangle originally came from -- from "the priests and seers of antiquity" who used the circle for "warding off spirits of evil" -- and I think we just have to take him at his word. Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6799. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Where does this story of Bill W and newcomers come from? From: Bill Lash . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/11/2010 11:17:00 PM
(barefootbill at optonline.net) john wikelius (justjohn1431946 at yahoo.com) - - - - From: stalban2001 (stalban2001 at yahoo.com) It was my understanding that his later years Bill stopped going to meetings. Did
he ever take these newcomers to meetings or did he leave them at the door? - - - - -----Original Message----- From: "Jim" Subject: Where does this story of Bill W and newcomers come from?
office
to go to a store front AA club and wait for a newcomer to come through the door.
One would and Bill would say, "You look like you need a cup of coffee" [pardon
my paraphrasing this, it's how I remember it] The newcomer would rant about his
problems and the problems of the world not realizing he was talking to the co founder of AA. Bill would quietly listen and say "..... I know." Can anybody tell me what piece of AA literature this story comes from? IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6800. . . . . . . . . . . . Louisiana State Penitentiary newsletters From: ckbudnick . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/13/2010 9:02:00 PM
State
Penitentiary (also known as Angola and The Farm). I first want to thank the members of this group for all the help I've received
when I've posted questions. My next question for AA History Lovers is about a prison based newsletter. I saw referenced in the "Give and Take Page" of the AlconAire newsletter (South Dakota State Penitentiary) two newsletters from the prison in Angola, Louisiana. The titles of the newsletters are "New Hope" and "Saber." Has anyone seen or known of copies of any of these newsletters?
Raleigh, North Carolina IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6801. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Louisiana State Penitentiary newsletters From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/14/2010 2:56:00 PM
newspaper that has been published for a long time. I suggest you call our Central Office, which serves that area. I've been a member here for almost twenty years and I think some of the prison committee visit Angola. The people at our Central Office could put you in touch with the
appropriate people. Tell them I referred you. Good luck. Tommy H in Baton Rouge - - - - Original message from Question about the "New Hope" and "Saber" newsletters from the Louisiana State Penitentiary (also known as Angola and The Farm) .... I saw referenced in the "Give and Take Page" of the AlconAire newsletter (South Dakota State Penitentiary) two newsletters from the prison in Angola, Louisiana. The titles of the newsletters are "New Hope" and "Saber." Has anyone seen orknown of copies of any of these newsletters? Thanks, Chris B. Raleigh, North Carolina IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6802. . . . . . . . . . . . AA History Weekend From: Bill Lash . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/15/2010 11:13:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS HISTORY WEEKEND III "THE OXFORD GROUP ROOTS OF A.A." with Jay S. from Redondo Beach CA and
Barefoot Bill from West Milford NJ August 20 – 22, 2010 At The Wilson House (where Bill W. was born) 378 Village Street East Dorset, VT 05253
be doing three presentations: "The Early Roots of A.A.: The Akron Miracle" "Varieties of Spiritual Experience: James, Jung, Shoemaker & You" and "What Ever Happened to the Oxford Group?" Barefoot Bill has been studying and collecting AA history since 1994. He will be doing a presentation on:
and another one on "Oxford Group Meditation – How To Listen To God"
Akron
Miracle Saturday morning 8/21/10 10:40 to 11:55am – Bill W. & Dr. Bob’s Oxford Group
Experience Saturday afternoon 8/21/10 1:00 to 2:20pm – Varieties of Spiritual Experience: James, Jung, Shoemaker & You Saturday night 8/21/10 9:00 to 10:45pm – M.R.A./Oxford Group movie Sunday morning 8/22/10 9:00 to 10:20am – Oxford Group Meditation: How To Listen
To God Sunday morning 8/22/10 10:40 to 11:55am – What Ever Happened to the Oxford Group?
call the Wilson House at 802-362-5524. For more information please call Barefoot Bill at 201-232-8749 (cell). Audio CD’s of this event provided by Just Love Audio.
From: ckbudnick . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/18/2010 2:56:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Greetings! My request is, unfortunately, a bit vague. My research partner, Boyd, is trying
to identify a pamphlet he saw in a personal archives. The information he has given me about the pamphlet over the phone is that it is probably from the 1950's. It was printed by the Greater Los Angeles District (paraphrasing). It is 4 to 6 pages in length and approximately 3" x 6". On the cover is "AA" with a thin border. He described it as probably being some sort of introductory pamphlet. On the inside is a symbol that looks similar to an infinity symbol. It is similiar to a symbol that appears on the first Narcotics Anonymous publication that was written by three members of AA (Jack P., Cy M. and Jimmy K.). Jimmy K. of course went on to be recognized as one of the founders of NA. We are trying to determine if this pamphlet influenced the writing of the NA pamphlet as they are from the same location (LA) and has the similiar symbol. I can email a picture if it will help. I know this is a fairly vague request and unfortunately Boyd is pulling from his
memory. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Chris B. Raleigh, NC IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6804. . . . . . . . . . . . Akron Pamphlets From: Juan . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/16/2010 4:40:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII When were the suggested readings form the Akron pamphlets taken out of the actual pamphlets sold today in Akron. It read:
for A.A. beginners (A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous: THE AKRON MANUAL, published by the Akron group in late 1939 or early 1940, with Dr. Bob's approval we must assume, gives a list at the end of recommended readings for newcomers to A.A., so that they might better understand the spiritual aspects of the program. "The following literature," the pamphlet says, "has helped many members of Alcoholics Anonymous.") Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book). The Holy Bible. (The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, the letter of James, 1 Corinthians 13, Psalms 23, 91 The Greatest Thing in the World, Henry Drummond. The Unchanging Friend, a series (Bruce Publishing Co., Milwaukee). As a Man Thinketh, James Allen. The Sermon on the Mount, Emmet Fox (Harper Bros.). The Self You Have to Live With, Winfred Rhoades. Psychology of Christian Personality, Ernest M. Ligon (Macmillan Co.). Abundant Living, E. Stanley Jones. The Man Nobody Knows, Bruce Barton. ============================================= For copies of the original Akron Manual see any of the following online sources:
http://hindsfoot.org/AkrMan2.html http://silkworth.net/aahistory/akron_manual.html http://www.midlandaa.org/history/akron_manual_for_aa.pdf ============================================= IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6805. . . . . . . . . . . . New York Times article on Bill W. and the Edison test From: christopherfinan . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/5/2010 6:19:00 PM
a job by Thomas Edison after passing a test devised by that inventor. See for example "Pass It On" page 65.
assailed American education after almost no one to whom he gave it was able to pass it. "Pass It On" page 66 says that a New York Times reporter called Bill W. to interview him, as one of the people who passed the Edison test.
in the New York Times that says that anyone at all passed it.
date that it appeared? Chris Finan Brooklyn, NY IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6806. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Jack Alexander From: Charles Knapp . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/12/2010 9:45:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sept 17, 1975 Jack Alexander Dies; Once Reporter Here Jack Alexander, a former St. Louis reporter and one of three brothers who attained top editorial positions on national publications, died today in a hospital at St. Petersburg, Fla. He was 73 years old. Mr. Alexander retired in 1964 as senior editor of the Saturday Evening Post. For more than two years before that he had been working on a reduced schedule, traveling in Europe and
writing occasional stories for the magazine. His retirement was the result of increasing effects of Parkinson's disease. He had been in ill health for many years. His death was attributed to a massive stroke. Mr. Alexander was from Missouri and spent his childhood in Wheaton and Vinita
Park. After graduating from St. Louis University High School and St. Louis University, he entered newspaper work, breaking in on the old St. Louis Star. He joined the Post-Dispatch staff in 1923, remaining for seven years before moving to New York. He covered municipal baseball and wrestling and traveled with the old St. Louis Browns of the American League. He served also as a reporter and, years later, recalled that he had worked under five editors and had worked in nearly every branch of the news department of the paper. After moving to New York, Mr. Alexander worked first for the City News Bureau
and then as a rewrite man for the New York News. His work at that paper caught
the eye of magazine editors and brought a job offer from the New Yorker. He accepted, and a few years later moved to the Saturday Evening Post. Mr. Alexander's specialty was the gathering of material for and the writing of detailed, sparkling personality sketches of national and international figures.
Thirty years ago he wrote a Saturday Evening Post article on Alcoholics Anonymous, which has been credited with assisting the then small organization in developing into a major force in combating alcoholism. In addition to his wife, the former Anita Mueller of St. Louis, he is survived
by two brothers. The eldest, E. Roy Alexander, is a former Post-Dispatch reporter and assistant city editor, who left in 1939 to become managing editor of Times Magazine. He retired as executive editor. The other is Rev Cal Alexander, a Jesuit priest who formerly was editor of Jesuit Missions, a monthly
magazine. Father Alexander was a reporter for the Star and Globe-Democrat before
he became a priest. Funeral services will be in St. Louis at a time to be in arranged. Burial will
be in Bellefontaine Cemetery. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6807. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Pamphlet from LA From: Jeff Bruce . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/18/2010 10:35:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The greater Los Angeles area has split into A.A. Area 5 and A.A. Area 93. Here's a link to the archivist in area 93:
> > Greetings! > > My request is, unfortunately, a bit vague. My research partner, Boyd, is > trying to identify a pamphlet he saw in a personal archives. > > The information he has given me about the pamphlet over the phone is that > it is probably from the 1950's. It was printed by the Greater Los Angeles > District (paraphrasing). > > It is 4 to 6 pages in length and approximately 3" x 6". > > On the cover is "AA" with a thin border. > > He described it as probably being some sort of introductory pamphlet. > > On the inside is a symbol that looks similar to an infinity symbol. It is > similiar to a symbol that appears on the first Narcotics Anonymous > publication that was written by three members of AA (Jack P., Cy M. and > Jimmy K.). Jimmy K. of course went on to be recognized as one of the > founders of NA. We are trying to determine if this pamphlet influenced the > writing of the NA pamphlet as they are from the same location (LA) and has > the similiar symbol. I can email a picture if it will help. > > I know this is a fairly vague request and unfortunately Boyd is pulling > from his memory. Any help would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Chris B. > Raleigh, NC
W. and the Edison test From: corafinch . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/19/2010 7:59:00 AM
the
same lines. My grandfather dropped out of high school, was admitted to Syracuse
as a chemistry major on the strength of an admission test, but left there after
a semester or two. He was hired by Edison in 1904. As my mother explained it,
Edison judged intelligence and energy by his own criteria and did not care about
education. I don't remember any mention of a written test used by Edison. Unlike Bill, my grandfather accepted the job. However, the work and hours were
extremely demanding and he stayed less than two years. With the experience in Edison's lab, he had no trouble getting a good job with another chemical company in spite of his lack of education. It seems to me that if Edison was using a test to make hiring decisions, people
must have been passing it. He would have had to hire quite a few people if his
demanding work conditions caused him to lose them quickly. The "test" that became the subject of controversy was apparently a mock on impractical, overrated college graduates.
From: Charlie C . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/19/2010 1:00:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The library I work at subscribes to the NY Times Historical archive, which is the text of the Times 1851-2006. I looked up the Edison test and do not see any article describing Bill and the Edison test. It may that he was interviewed about this but the article not actually published...
educational things often are, many criticizing it's focus on knowledge of facts vs knowing how to look for information etc. Apparently at first the test was given to adults, job applicants for Edison's facility in NJ, but then it was run
for a few years with high schoolers, a sort of early SAT. The tests were last
give ca1930. Apparently Einstein took part of the test once, and failed, not knowing for example what the speed of sound was. He dismissed the test, saying he could always look such facts up if he needed them!
just the result of a little searching the database from a quiet summer reference desk :-)
IM = route20guy
(Tolkein, Lord of the Rings) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6810. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Where does this story of Bill W and newcomers come from? From: planternva2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/12/2010 10:10:00 AM
Thomsen's "Bill W." The final chapter goes into fair detail describing Bill's usual activities up until his death without mentioning his going to the storefront club.
the
last minute to skip the services at St John the Divine and instead, "....unlocked the door of the tiny storefront they used for their regular Sunday Meetings." The story ends with a newcomer hesitating at the door, shaking. "Come in." Joe said, but the man did not move. "Yeah..." Joe smiled. "This is the right place." Then he held out his cup and the man took a slow, tentative step into the room.
"You look like you could use some coffee...." Jim S. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6811. . . . . . . . . . . . Are there references to how Bill W. made amends? From: jrobbins1123 . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/12/2010 2:37:00 PM
of his sobriety. Are there any references to Bill W. making amends when he first got sober?
published as of 2010? From: Mike Saullé . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/20/2010 7:05:00 AM
Alcoholic from PA (USA) 04/13/78
published as of 2010? From: Laurence Holbrook . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/21/2010 12:46:00 AM
the 30-millionth copy of the Big Book to the American Medical Association, the organization that in 1966 first defined alcoholism as a disease, a watershed moment in the perception and treatment of alcoholism. This was at the International Convention in San Antonio celebrating 75 years of Alcoholics Anonymous on July 4, 2010. This was quite a change from the original review by the AMA in October, 1939.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6814. . . . . . . . . . . . Most alcoholics ... have lost the power of choice From: Charlie Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/10/2010 7:50:00 AM
for
reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink." I wonder why it says "most alcoholics." There are a lot of places where they used absolutes (even in the paragraph that
precedes this one it says that "at a certain point in the drinking career of every alcoholic, he passes into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking is of absolutely no avail") but here they tempered the statement with "most."
Any thoughts or references? Best regards, Charlie P., Austin IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6815. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Most alcoholics ... have lost the power of choice From: Tom Hickcox . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/21/2010 11:08:00 AM
fail who has thoroughly followed our path." The December 1978 issue of The Grapevine, Vol. 35, No. 7, has an article "Rarely - or Never" < Yüklə 25,47 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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