Significant March Dates in A.A. History

from AA History Lovers at Yahoo! Groups;

March 1936 - AA had 10 members staying sober. At end of 1936 A.A. had 15 members.
March-May 1938 - Bill begins writing the book Alcoholics Anonymous. Works Publishing Inc established to support writing and printing of the book.
March 1940 - Mort J. came to LA from Denver; started custom of reading Chapter 5 Big Book at Cecil group.
March 1941 - Second printing of Big Book.
March 1941 - 1st Prison AA Group formed at San Quentin.
March 1946 - The March of Time film is produced by NY AA office.
March 1949 - Dr. Bob considers idea of AA conference premature.
March 1951 - American Weekly publishes memorial article for Dr. Bob.
March 1, 1939 - Readers Digest fails to write article on AA.
March 1, 1941 - Jack Alexander’s Saturday Evening Post article published and membership jumped from 2,000 to 8,000 by years end.
March 3 1947 - Nell Wing started work at Alcoholic Foundation 415 Lexington Avenue.
March 4, 1891 - Lois W is born.
March 5, 1945 - Time Magazine reports Detroit radio broadcasts of AA members.
March 7, 1940 — Bill and Lois visited the Philadelphia AA group.
March 7, 1941 — Boston newspaper reported that any drunk who wanted to get well was more than welcome at the AA meeting at 115 Newbury St., at 8 PM Wednesdays.
March 9, 1941 - Wichita Beacon reports AA member from NY who wants to form a group in Wichita.
March 10, 1944 - New York Intergroup was established.
March 11, 1949 - The Calix Society, an association of Roman Catholic alcoholics who are maintaining their sobriety through participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, was formed in Minneapolis by five Catholic AA members.
March 14, - South Orange, NJ, AA group held an anniversary dinner with Bill W as guest speaker
March 15, 1941 - 1st AA group formed in New Haven, Connecticut. Not reported in paper until Oct 1, 1941.
March 16, 1940 - Alcoholic Foundation & Works Publishing move from Newark to 30 Vesey St in lower Manhattan. First headquarters of our own.
March 21, 1881 - Anne R, Dr Bobs wife, is born.
March 21 1966 - Ebby dies.
March 22, 1951 - Dr William Duncan Silkworth dies at Towns Hospital.
March 22, 1984 - Clarence S, “Home Brewmeister” , dies.
March 23, 1936 - Bill & Lois visit Fitz M, “Our Southern Friend”, in Maryland.
March 25, 1898 — Jim B (”The Vicious Cycle”) was born.
March 29, 1943 — The Charleston Mail, WV, reported on Bill W’s talk at St. John’s Parish House.
March 31, 1947 - 1st AA group formed in London, England.

Most of us don’t realize to what extent we are defiant.

I first published this two years ago and I’d like to refer to it again. It feels very appropriate considering some of the folks who’ve displayed their own recently…

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It surprised me when I discovered how defiant I had been toward God in my drinking days and for quite some time after He helped me sober up.

Small, simple things like, “no, I’ll do it my way, thank you.” Do you have any idea how often and to what degree we do this?

There’s an old “story” I wish I could relate about someone demanding a sign from God while they’re standing in the middle of a field. They dismiss a soft breeze, a butterfly and a couple of other signs because they misperceive them and leave discouraged.

Read more

From Silkworth.net ;

Tradition Two: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving GOD as HE may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

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• Do I criticize or do I trust and support my group officers, AA committees, and office workers? Newcomers? Old-timers?
• Am I absolutely trustworthy, even in secret, with AA Twelfth Step jobs or other AA responsibility?
• Do I look for credit in my AA jobs? Praise for my AA ideas?
• Do I have to save face in group discussion, or can I yield in good spirit to the group conscience and work cheerfully along with it?
• Although I have been sober a few years, am I willing to serve my turn at AA chores?
• In group discussions, do I sound off about matters on which I have no experience and little knowledge?

Wow - this is one topic I feel like I could write a book about How about you? Recognize any of this? I sure do…

Significant February Dates in A.A. History

from AA History Lovers at Yahoo! Groups;

FEB 1:
1918 - Original date set for Bill Wilson’s marriage to Lois Burnham. The date was moved up because of the war.

FEB. 2:
1942 - Bill Wilson paid tribute to Ruth Hock, AA’s first paid secretary, who resigned to get married. She had written approximately 15,000 letters to people asking for help

FEB. 5:
1941 - Pittsburgh Telegram ran a story on the first AA group’s Friday night meeting of a dozen “former hopeless drunks.”

FEB. 8:
1940 - Bill W., Dr. Bob, and six other A.A.s asked 60 rich friends of John D. Rockefeller,Jr., for money at the Union Club, NY. They got $2,000.
1940 - Houston Press ran first of 6 anonymous articles on A.A. by Larry J.

FEB. 9:
2002 - Sue Smith Windows, Dr. Bob’s daughter died.

FEB. 10:
1922: Harold E. Hughes was born on a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa. After his recovery from alcoholism, he became Governor of Iowa, a United States Senator, and the leading dark horse for the Presidential Democratic nomination in 1972, until he announced he would not run. He authored the legislation which created the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and other legislation to help alcoholics and addicts.

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From the The Traditions Checklist ;

Traditions Checklist - Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.

1. Am I in my group a healing, mending, integrating person, or am I divisive? What about gossip and taking other members’ inventories?

2. Am I a peacemaker? Or do I, with pious preludes such as “just for the sake of discussion,” plunge into argument?

3. Am I gentle with those who rub me the wrong way, or am I abrasive?

4. Do I make competitive AA remarks, such as comparing one group with another or contrasting AA in one place with AA in another?

5. Do I put down some AA activities as if I were superior for not participating in this or that aspect of AA?

6. Am I informed about AA as a whole? Do I support, in every way I can, AA as a whole, or just the parts I understand and approve of?

7. Am I as considerate of AA members as I want them to be of me?

8. Do I spout platitudes about love while indulging in and secretly justifying behavior that bristles with hostility?

9. Do I go to enough AA meetings or read enough AA literature to really keep in touch?

10. Do I share with AA all of me, the bad and the good, accepting as well as giving the help of fellowship?

Comments accepted…

Thanks again to the folks at the AA History Lovers Group at Yahoo!

There are far more than Twelve Promises written in the Big Book “Alcoholics Anonymous.”

This is a listing of only those relating to the First Step (please, some may be a stretch - utilize, don’t analyze);

First Step Promises:

1. How many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. (Title page).

2. Who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. (foreword 1st edition xiii)

3. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. (foreword 1st edition xiii)

4. We are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all. (foreword 1st edition xiii)

5. Our earliest printing voiced the hope -that every alcoholic who journeys will find the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his destination (foreword 2nd edition xv)

6. It also indicated that strenuous work, one alcoholic with another, was vital to permanent recovery (xvii)

7. A.A.’s had to hang together or die separately. We had to unify our Fellowship or pass off the scene.(xix)

8. Today the remarkable unity of A.A. is one of the greatest assets that our Society has.(xix)

9. It is our great hope that all those who have as yet found no answer may begin to find one in the pages of this book and will presently join us on the highroad to a new freedom. (xxi)

10. …recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope. (xxii)

11. We who have suffered alcoholic torture must believe that the body of the alcoholic is quite as abnormal as his mind (xxiv)

12. We are sure that our bodies were sickened as well. (xxiv)

13. We work out our solution on the spiritual as well as an altruistic plane. (xxiv)

14. Once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for alcohol, the only effort necessary being that required to follow a few simple rules. (xxvii)

15. There are many situations which arise out of the phenomenon of craving which cause men to make the supreme sacrifice rather than continue to fight. (xxviii)

16. I was soon to be catapulted into what I like to call the fourth dimension of existence. I was to know happiness, peace, and usefulness, in a way of life that is incredibly more wonderful as time passes. (8:2)

17. I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems. Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements. (13:5)

18. For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it is just like that. (14:6)

19. It is a design for living that works in rough going. (15:1)

20. The joy of living we really have, even under pressure and difficulty. (15:2)

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Which can result in the Big Lie…

From “The Language of the Heart,” page 263;

“There are, nevertheless, certain occasions where reckless truth-telling may create widespread havoc and permanent damage to others. Whenever this seems possible, we are likely to find ourselves in a bad jam indeed. We shall be torn between two temptations. When conscience agonizes us enough, we may well cast all prudence and love to the winds. We may try to buy our freedom by telling the brutal truth, no matter who gets hurt or how much. But this is not the usual temptation. It is far more probable that we shall veer to the other extreme. We will paint for ourselves a most unrealistic picture of the awful damage we are about to inflict on others. By claiming great compassion and love for our supposed victims, we are getting set to tell the Big Lie - and be thoroughly comfortable about it, too.

When life presents us with a racking conflict like this, we cannot be altogether blamed if we are confused. In fact our very first responsibility is to admit that we are confused. We may have to confess that, for the time being, we have lost all ability to tell right from wrong. Most difficult, too, will be the admission that we cannot be certain of receiving God’s guidance because our prayers are so cluttered with wishful thinking. Surely this is the point at which we must seek the counsel of our finest friends. There is nowhere else to go.”

We don’t see the damage we are about to do because we are wrapped up in ourselves and delusional. That’s why we need the counsel of others before we act.

Notice the challenge of not distinguishing right from wrong?

Significant January Dates in A.A. History

from AA History Lovers at Yahoo! Groups;

Jan 1929 - Bill W. wrote third promise in Bible to quit drinking.
Jan 1940 - Akron group moves to new home at King School.
Jan 1944 - Dr. Harry Tiebout’s first paper on the subject of “Alcoholics Anonymous”.
Jan 1944 - Onset of Bill’s 11 years of depression.
Jan 1946 - Readers Digest does a story on AA.
Jan 1948 - 1st A.A. meeting in Japan
Jan 1951 - AA Grapevine publishes memorial issue for Dr Bob.
Jan 1958 - Bill writes article for Grapevine on “Emotional Sobriety”.
Jan 1, 1943 - Columbus Dispatch reports 1st Anniversary of Columbus, Ohio Central Group.
Jan 2, 1889 - Sister Ignatia born, Ballyhane Ireland.
Jan 3, 1939 - First sale of Works Publishing Co stock is recorded.
Jan 4, 1940 - 1st AA group formed in Detroit, Michigan.
Jan 5, 1939 - Dr Bob tells Ruth Hock in a letter that AA has “to get away from the Oxford Group atmosphere”.
Jan 5, 2001 - Chuck C. from Houston died sober in Texas at 38 years sober.
Jan 6, 2000 - Stephen Poe, compiler of the Concordance to Alcoholics Anonymous, died.
Jan 8, 1938 - New York AA splits from the Oxford Group.
Jan 10, 1940 - 1st AA meeting not in a home meets at King School, Akron, Ohio.
Jan 13, 1988 - Dr Jack Norris Chairman/Trustee of AA for 27 years dies.
Jan 13, 2003 - Dr Earle M sober for 49 years, author of “Physician Heal Thyself” died.
Jan 15, 1937 - Fitz M brings AA meetings to Washington DC.
Jan 15, 1945 - First AA meeting held in Springfield, Missouri.
Jan 19, 1943 - 1st discussion for starting AA group in Toronto.
Jan 19, 1944 - Wilson’s returned from 1st major A.A. tour started in Oct 24 1943.
Jan 19, 1999 - Frank M., AA Archivist since 1983, died peacefully in his sleep.
Jan 21, 1954 - Hank P who helped Bill start NY office dies in Pennington, New Jersey.
Jan 23, 1985 - Bob B. died sober November 11, 2001.
Jan 24, 1918 - Bill marries Lois Burnham in the Swedenborgen Church in Brookyn Heights.
Jan 24, 1945 - 1st black group St. Louis
Jan. 24, 1971 - Bill W dies at Miami Beach, FL.
Jan 25, 1915 - Dr. Bob marries Anne Ripley.
Jan 26, 1971 - New York Times publishes Bill’s obituary on page 1.
Jan 30, 1961 - Dr Carl Jung answers Bill’s letter with “Spiritus Contra Spiritum”.
End of Jan 1939 - 400 copies of manuscript of Big Book circulated for comment, evaluation and sale.

Dr. Bob made many profound statements about recovery during a time when technology wasn’t really up to the task of recording him.

This is but one paragraph of his written words from the A.A. Grapevine printed in September, 1948 which clearly demonstrates his devotion and commitment to A.A.’s”original,” God-based “design for living.” [Back To Basics - The Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners Meetings, pgs. 163-164]

“As finally expressed and offered, they [the Twelve Steps] are simple in language, plain in meaning. They are workable by any person having a sincere desire to obtain and keep sobriety. The results are the proof. Their simplicity and workability are such that no special interpretations, and certainly no reservations, have ever been necessary. And it has become increasingly clear that the degree of harmonious living which we achieve is in direct ratio to our earnest attempt to follow them under divine guidance to the best of our ability.”

“It works - it really does.”

Significant December Dates in A.A. History

from AA History Lovers at Yahoo! Groups;

Dec 1934 - Bill & Lois start attending Oxford Group meetings.
Dec 1934 to May 1935 - Bill works with alcoholics, but fails to sober any of them. Lois reminds him HE is sober.
Dec 1938 - Twelve Steps written.
Nov/Dec 1939 - Akron group withdrawals from association with Oxford Group. Meetings moved from T Henry & Clarence Williams to Dr Bob and other members homes.
Dec 1939 - First AA group in mental institution, Rockland State Hospital, NY.
Dec 1939 - 1st home meeting in Los Angeles at Kaye M.’s house.
Dec 1939 - Matt Talbot Club has 88 members, uses wagons to collect old furniture to recondition & sell, not A.A., used A.A. program, material, marked 1st effort reach alcoholics outside married middle- class category.
Dec 1940 - 1st AA group formed in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dec 1940 - group started Ashtabula, Ohio due to Plain Dealer articles. A.A. Cleveland has about 30 groups.
Dec 1948 - Dr. Bob’s last major talk, in Detroit.
Dec 1950 - Grapevine article signed by both Bill and Dr Bob recommend establishing AA General Service Conference.
Dec 1955 - ‘Man on the Bed’ painting by Robert M. first appeared in Grapevine. Painting originally called ‘Came to Believe’
Dec 1982 - Nell Wing retires from GSO after 35 years of service.
Dec 1, 1940 - Chicago Daily Tribune begins a series of articles on AA by Nall Hamilton.
Dec 5, 1985 - Dave B, founder of Montreal Group dies weeks before 50th anniversary. His story added to the 4th Edition Big Book.
Dec 6, 1939 - Bert the Tailor lends Works Publishing $1000.
Dec 6, 1979 - Akron Beacon reports death of Henrietta Sieberling.
Dec 7, 1949 - Sister Ignatia received Poverello Medal on behalf of A.A.
Dec 10, 1975 - Birds of a Feather AA group for pilots is formed.
Dec 11, 1934 - Bill admitted to Towns Hosp 4th/last time (fall ‘33, ‘34 in summer, midsummer and final admittance).
Dec 11, 1941 - Dallas Morning News reports 1st AA group formed in Dallas.
Dec 12, 1934 - Bill has Spiritual Experience at Towns Hospital.
Dec 12, 1937 - Bill meets with Rockefeller Foundation and tries to get money.
Dec 13, 1937 - Rockland State Mental Hospital takes patients to meeting in New Jersey.
Dec 13 or 14, 1934 - Ebby visited Bill at hospital, brought William James’s book, “Varieties of Religious Experience”.
Dec 19, 1939 - Los Angeles holds their 1st AA meeting.
Dec 20, 1945 - Rowland H dies (he carried the Oxford Group message to Ebby).
Dec 27, 1893 - Rev Samuel Shoemaker is born.