Aa history Lovers 2010 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page
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heard, not only Dr. Bob, but Bill Wilson, Bill D., and Sister Ignatia. Then he went out and got drunk. "In 1950, when I finally sobered up." Henry said, ".... I told him, 'After hearing you, Bill Wilson, Bill D-----, and Sister Ignatia, I went out and got drunk.'
and got drunk after he talked to me.'">> Greg Harris IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6733. . . . . . . . . . . . re: AA internet presence From: edmac333 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/15/2010 5:30:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I have participated in a number of AA "meetings" on-line, and since I have been
home-bound a great deal of the time, find them a satisfactory substitute for the
face to face meetings I would prefer to attend. I believe a careful adherence to the Traditions is possible in this medium, and as with the mass use of radio
and the advent of television, those Traditions are still effective in the Twitter Age. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6734. . . . . . . . . . . . International convention attendance From: Cherie'' H. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/16/2010 7:27:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII From Cherie' H., John Pine, Cheryl F., Jann BB, Keven Short, and aalogsdon - - - - From "Cherie' H." (odaat5 at gmail.com) www.aa.org has a timeline on the main page. If you click on past International Conventions they tell the number of attendees at the Internationals. For example in 2000 in Minneapolis is shows that 47,000 people
attended, in 2005 in Toronto it shows that 44,000 people attended. However, for
2010 the site has not yet been updated. I keep checking to find out as I heard from the Texas committee when they thanked all the volunteers that the final numbers were 53,000 for San Antonio.
convention was the largest one that San Antonio has ever hosted. Everyone I spoke to, cab drivers, policemen, restaurant workers, had nothing but good things to say about us and would welcome us back again with open arms. I suggest keep checking www.aa.org I am sure they will update the site soon. The timeline gives a lot of important AA history as well and is worth checking
into Cherie' H. Warren, MI USA - - - - From: John Pine, Richmond, VA (johncpine at gmail.com) The number of registrants was 53,000. I served as a hotel greeter for the San
Antonio Host Committee and the head of that committee, Jim B----, sent out this
message on July 10 to the committee chairs, one of whom forwarded it on to her
volunteers. > > Hi Guys, > >
> > Thank you for everything. You did an amazing > > job and I could not have asked for better, > > more dedicated people to work with. > >
> > We will be getting together shortly to see > > if there is a way we can thank everybody. > > It was an amazing convention. > >
> > Our final number was 53,000 which was a lot > > more than NY expected, so everybody is well > > pleased. > >
> > Just a reminder. Please get your expenses in > > as soon as possible so we can clear the books > >and send me your final report sometime in next > > couple of weeks. > > > > Again Thank you from the bottom of my heart. > > > > *Love in the Fellowship* > > > > Jim B---- - - - - From: "Cheryl F" (learning3legacies at suddenlink.net) Our Volunteer Chair told us 53,000 - - - - From: "Jan" (jan2bb at yahoo.com) I was told the final number was 53,000 which was a lot more than expected and
that there were 9,000 more than Toronto and 13,000 more than Minneapolis. ~Jan BB - - - - From: "Kevin Short" (kshort at oxmicro.com) The number reported by Phyllis H., GSO General Manager, at the Delegates and Trustees luncheon on Saturday, was: 52,000. - - - - From: aalogsdon@aol.com (aalogsdon at aol.com) On Saturday at the convention, a former delegate told me they had anticipated 48,000 registered but at that time had 52,000 registered.
"Donald Mansell" (donaldl.mansell at yahoo.com)
people
at the convention in San Antonio? Don Mansell Mission Viejo,CA IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6735. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Forward to 2nd Edition Question - Oxford Tenets From: Roy Levin . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/16/2010 11:55:00 AM
Book Bill writes his impression of Ebby's message during a "pre-AA Twelve Step Call" from an Oxford Grouper: "Like myself he had admitted complete defeat."
complete deflation as a sound spiritual principle .... Because a phrase is left out in listing some of the tenets he accepted from the O.G. , they conclude Bill rejected "Complete Deflation."
had the "five Cs" and the "4 absolutes." Bill did indeed accept "Complete Deflation" but it was one of the "six original steps" used by the "Alcoholic Squadron" within the Oxford Groups. It was the alkies who made deflation one of our "six step program" as it existed at that time, see page 263 of the 4th edit. of the Big Book [3rd edit. page 292].
of what we brought to the O.G. Bill parted ways with the O.G. over their take on what today we would call "The Traditions" i.e. anonymity and singleness of purpose, and also on their "four absolutes" which he didn't carry over into the Big Book ....
of an excellent talk Bill W. gave to some Catholic organization on why he pulled out of the O.G. From this talk it was clear that not accepting the principle of "complete deflation" was not one of the reasons we left the O.G. http://hindsfoot.org/steps6.html contains five different lists of the steps as given in Early Six- Step Versions of the AA program. In one of these -- a reproduction of a list in Bill W.'s own handwriting dated 1953 -- the Six Steps were: 1. Admitted hopeless 2. Got honest with self 3. Got honest with another 4. Made amends 5. Helped others without demand 6. Prayed to God as you understand Him.
hopeless" [in this list of the Six Steps] and noted [on p. 11 of the Big Book] that Ebby "like myself had admitted complete defeat" if deflation as a spiritual principle was something he rejected from the O.G. - - - - Original question from: "jillanfinson" (Radiant761 at aol.com) The Foreword to the Second Edition of the Big Book, p. xvi, says: "Though [Bill W., the New York stock broker] could not accept all the tenets of the Oxford Groups, he was convinced of the need for moral inventory, confession of personality defects, restitution to those harmed, helpfulness to others, and the necessity of belief in and dependance upon God." Big Book p. 263 (from the story "He Sold Himself Short," the story of Earl Treat, who founded AA in Chicago) says:
hours going through the Six-Step program as it was at that time. The six steps were: 1. Complete deflation 2. Dependence and guidance from a Higher Power 3. Moral inventory 4. Confession 5. Restitution 6. Continued work with other alcoholics."
not listed is the first Tenet, which is complete deflation .... Is this the tenet Bill ... couldn't accept - complete deflation? If not, why is it left out and the others from p. 263 remain? THANK YOU! Jill
Servicemen in AA on the European Continent From: Jim . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/18/2010 5:42:00 PM
European
Continent. A short while back I sent in a post about gathering Global Localized AA Histories, which will be a tremendous undertaken. In that post I mentioned I was working on a current project - adding all the original 2nd edition Big Book
stories to silkworth.net and that I would be ready to receive any Global Localized AA Histories once that project was finished. The original 2nd edition stories are now on silkworth.net (http://www.silkworth.net/bbstories/2nd/stories.html). I am ready to receive your full version, Dolores, of US Servicemen in AA on the
European Continent as well as any other Global Localized AA Histories you may
have in your possession, to add them to "The Global Map Listing" on silkworth.net (where will the AA histories be located?: http://www.silkworth.net/image_map/world.html).
pages
set up for about 180 Countries, maybe more, and you, the members of AA History
Lovers, and any AA member just visiting AA History Lovers, are encouraged to send in as much Global AA History information you can come up with. This will be a very big, ongoing project - on a Global scale - to index as much Global Alcoholics Anonymous History on the site of silkworth.net. The hosting plan for
silkworth.net is now unlimited in every aspect, so, there is no such thing as sending me to much AA history related information, whether it be via email, file attachments or other arrangements made between you and I. I would be most grateful to any and all who participate in this rejuvenated project of indexing the Worlds Localized AA Histories! Contact me directly: "Jim M." information and/or to make arrangements to get your AA history information indexed.
Jim M.,
http://www.silkworth.net/ --- In AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com, "Dolores" > > > -I have written a history of the US Servicemen and AA on the Continent since
1948. This is a short version. > > American Servicemen stationed in West Germany after WW:II brought AA with them. Those early english-speaking meetings were held on various Army and Air
Force Bases in cities like Munich, Wiesbaden, Heidelburg, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and more. The first and formal recorded invitation to an open meeting in West
Germany was on November 1, 1953 in Munich at the Hotel Leopold in Schwabing. Master Sargeant Bob S., who is remembered today for having been very active in carrying the AA message, led the meeting and the Germans were heartily invited to attend. Max had attended the meeting and got sober and was involved in the German AA in carrying the message. > Traveling and working Americans and Britains were also instrumental in helping
start groups in such cities as Frankfurt (1948), Paris (1947), Naples (1976),
Hamburg (1962, witbillh the help of a Mr. Abels from England) and Düsseldorf (1962, with the assistance of Robert from Chicago). (Archives German AA). > A member remembers that the RAmstein Air Base held its first meetings there in 1962 at the South Side Chapel. In the early days there were about 20 active english-speaking AA groups in West Germany. Besides Ramstein, the Wiesbaden group had the strongest sobriety and its members would carry the message to the ARmy and Air Force Bases. The 1961 World Directory lists 20 AA groups (Loners) and about 170 members. > In 1962, Wiesbaden held its 10th annual Roundup in the High school auditorium. At the 11 th Roundup, An invitation was extended to Bill W. to attend the meeting andto share his story.. Bill gracefully declined and sent them his best wishes for a successful Roundup. > In AA TODAY, published on Grapevines 25th anniversary,Wiesbaden and its Roundups are mentioned. "Much of AAs spread around the world, of course, has been accomplishedby US servicemen and seamen who-needing to stay sober in strange surroundings- started their oun groups. There are several now in (continental) Europe and 1952 there has been an annual Roundup on Wiesbaden, Germany for any AA member in Europe who can get there. Hundreds do- by bus, car, train,plane and even helicopter. During the meetings, all military members remove their blouses and caps so the anonymity of AA erases all ranks." > As the membership in the groups grew, it was found necessary to form an Intergroup in the Greater Frankfurt Area. (1962). American and German groups were represented. This led to forming an Intergroup for West Germany. In 1971, A letter was sent out from an AA member to all the english speaking groups to attend an Intergroup meeting at the Sembach Air Base. There the Intergroup was geographically divided into 6 areas with each area to elect its own secretary and so the areas represented at the Intergroup meeting. > By 1973, there were 9 areas in the Intergroup, It was decided that Intergroup sponser a Round up each year. first Round up was held in Wiebaden, Rhein Main Bill was the first Committee chairman. > The Intergroup grew fast. It became an International Intergroup Continenal Europe (1980) and included Finnland, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Iceland, Switzerland. The Intergroup felt that is was time that the extra-territoral service structure in Continental Europe had a say in the shope of AA by becoming part of a Conterence structure. Intergroup sent a letter to GSO New York about their situation in Europe requesting an opinion. GSO New York wrote to Intergroup stating, "the purpose of becoming part of the service
structure is mainly communications and it seems to us that your day to day dealings are mainly with the European AA community for which the London office functions as a communications coordinator." > At the Intergroup meeting in February 1981, the motion as made to join the Conference structure in GB, but there was no second. the motion was withdrawn. Intergroup continued to send 2 delegates to Conference in GSO Great Britain in Manchester. > The International Intergroup continued to grow. In 1982 there were 13 registered Areas and by 1985 there were 15 areas in the International Intergroup. including most of the countries on the western part of the Continent. This too has changed now. > In 1985, a restructure meeting was held in Nurnberg, inviting Jack from London
to speak and share about GSO Great BRitain, inviting Intergroup to become a Region within their structure. (Bill W. had had this idea already when he visited Europe in 1950). This time the motion was seconded and passed. The 15 areas were divided into 3 Intergroups covering all of Western Continental Europe. 6 delegates are sent to Conference each year. We are the largest region within all service structures. There was and is always the problem of distances and communication. > This brought on the idea to form more intergroups. There about 11 Intergroups, active and inactive, now on the Continent. > The military drawdown in 1992, decreased the membership. The military had always been active in AA. This drawdown closed alot of meetings. This has not hindered the REgion at all. The goal has always been to carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic. This meant that we needed a central telephone number which was has been fulfilled in Germany. By 1998, we had a Webmaster and he was advised to use the guidelines from York (GSO Great Britain).(www.aa-europe.net). We are in contact with the Host Nations. > REgion 15 is called Continental European REgion (CER). We have been holding the REgion meetings in various cities on the Continent, giving as many
members as possible an Idea of what is going on in our Service structure. (Distances and Communication.) > We are geographically widespread and encourage all english-speaking members to participate and carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic. > > This is a very condensed history of CER-Continental European Region 2010 Dolores > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6737. . . . . . . . . . . . The role of favorable publicity in early A.A. growth From: Jenny or Laurie Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . 7/16/2010 4:49:00 AM
professionals told how the general service board had commissioned them to make a PI video. They filmed an AA meeting but said it caused problems because, unlike in projects for other clients, they were unable to show faces. So they made great play of e.g. filming exotic footwear (inlaid cowboy boots were mentioned) and cigarette smoke spiralling to the ceiling!
A.A. NEEDS MEMBERS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (newspapers, magazines, cinema, and book publishing) ================================================ The 12 Concepts were adopted by the 1962 Conference. In the section on the public information committee in his essay on Concept XI Bill W wrote, in part: "Most of its members should be experts in the field of public relations. But emphasis should also be laid on the fact that sheer commercial expertness will
not be enough ... it is evident that the professional members of the committee should be capable of adapting their business experience to AA's needs. ... At the same time let us not overlook the need for high professional skill. Dealing with the huge complex of public communications as it exists today is not a job wholly for amateurs. Skill in this area implies much technical experience, diplomacy, a sense of what is dangerous and what is not, the courage to take calculated risks, and a readiness to make wise but tradition-abiding compromises." (Emphases added). As George says, that applies even more in 2010.
BUT WE MUST PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THOSE APPALLING URGES OF OURS -- OUR EGO DEMANDS FOR PERSONAL PUBLIC ACCLAIM (which we must do by only using our public relations talents unselfishly and well) ================================================ In an article headed "Freedom under God: the choice is ours" (Grapevine, November 1960) Bill wrote, of "that vital Tradition Eleven": "The danger is the possibility that we may one day recklessly abandon the principle of personal anonymity at the top personal level ... Our chief hope for the future is that
these appalling urges of ours (for public acclaim etc) will be held in restraint by self-discipline, by love of AA, and by firm group and public opinion... Let's
look once more at how immense this temptation really is. A vast communications net now covers the earth even to its remotest reaches. (1960 - pre internet!) Granting all its huge benefits, this limitless world forum is nevertheless a hunting ground for all those who would seek, money acclaim and power ... Here the forces of good and evil are locked in struggle. All that is shoddy and destructive contests all that is best. Therefore nothing can matter more to the
future welfare of AA than the manner in which we use this colossus of communication. Used unselfishly and well, the results can surpass our present imagination. Should we handle this instrument badly, we shall be shattered by the ego demands of our own people - often with the best of intention on their part. Against all this, the sacrificial spirit of AA's anonymity at the top public level is literally our shield and our buckler. Here again we must be confident that love of AA, and of God, will always carry the day." ================================================ THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT A CONTINUED TORRENT OF FAVORABLE PUBLICITY HAS BROUGHT TO A.A. ONE HALF OF ITS PRESENT MEMBERSHIP (if A.A. members quit working to publicize the program, A.A. growth will begin to plateau and then to shrink) ================================================ In "A Message from Bill" (Grapevine, May 1964) he wrote: "Our Fellowship enjoys
a vast goodwill everywhere. In large measure this is directly due to ... the service of public information. For many years wonderful accounts of AA have poured from the press and other media of communication. The astounding success
has required of your general service people great labor, top skills and unstinted dedication. There is no question that this continued torrent of Yüklə 25,47 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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