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.

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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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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.

Having searched through my alky mind for a quick-witted response to our neighborhood troll Micky/David/Patrick/Whatever and his insanity/stupidity, coming up with nothing more than immaturity on my part, I began looking around some of my “favorite” places and found Barefoots’ Place once again.

Thought about referring to The Akron Manual which was reprinted at Barefoot’s to give us an idea how the oldtimers did it in the beginning but I decided on this - “The Insanity Of Alcohol.” Ya’ see Micky, you have some worth - you motivated my mind to what could kill me and I used the tools. Now I’ll pass on what I can…

Read more

As usual, always worthy of consideration, any day, any time, imho.

From Silkworth.net;

Tradition Eleven: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

• Do I sometimes promote AA so fanatically that I make it seem unattractive?
• Am I always careful to keep the confidences reposed in me as an AA member?
• Am I careful about throwing AA names around – even within the Fellowship?
• Am I ashamed of being a recovered, or recovering, alcoholic?
• What would AA be like if we were not guided by the ideas in Tradition Eleven? Where would I be?
• Is my sobriety attractive enough that a sick drunk would want such a quality for himself?

Hmmmmm???

Significant November Dates In A.A. History

from AA History Lovers at Yahoo! Groups;

Nov 1934 - Ebby T. carries message to Bill.
Nov 1936 - Fitz M leaves Towns Hospital to become ‘AA #3 in NY’ with Bill W and Hank P.
Nov 1937 - Bill and Dr. Bob compare notes in Akron. Count forty cases staying sober. Meeting of the Akron Group to consider Bill’s ideas for how to expand the movement … a book, AA hospitals, paid missionaries. Passed by a majority of 2.
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.
Nov 1941 - “First Mass AA Meeting” in Oklahoma City, 8 present, 1 was drunk.
Nov 1945 - Bill’s article called ‘Those Goof Balls’ published in Grapevine.
Nov 1986 - Big Book published in paperback.
Nov 1, 1947 - 1st AA Group in Anchorage, Alaska.
Nov 1, 1963 - Reverend Sam Shoemaker dies.
Nov 3, 2001 - J P Miller who wrote screenplay for “The Days of Wine and Roses” died.
Nov 9, 1966 - President Johnson appoints Marty M to the 1st National Advisory Committee on Alcoholism.
Nov 10, 1940 - 1st AA group formed in Minneapolis.
Nov 10, 2001 - 1st of 400,000 4th Edition Big Books arrives in the mail.
Nov 11, 1934 - Armistice Day; Bill started drinking after dry spell, beginning of Bill’s last drunk.
Nov 12, 1940 - 1st AA meeting is held in Boston.
Nov 13, 1939 - Bill wants to go to work at Towns Hsp, NY drunks want him to stay on as head of the movement.
Nov 14, 1940 - Alcoholic Foundation publishes 1st AA Bulletin.
Nov 15, 1949 - Bill W suggests that groups devote Thanksgiving week to dicussions of the 12 Traditions.
Nov 16, 1950 - Dr. Bob died.
Nov 18, 1946 - 1st Dublin Ireland group met.
Nov 21, 1939 - AA’s in San Francisco hold 1st California AA meeting in the Clift Hotel.
Nov 21, 1952 - Willard Richardson, past Treasurer/Chairman of Alcoholic Foundation, dies.
Nov 26, 1895 - Bill W born in East Dorsett, VT.
Nov 26, 1939 - Dilworth Lupton gave sermon “Mr. X and Alcoholics Anonymous.” Became one of first pamphlets on AA.
Nov 28, 1939 - Hank P writes Bill advocating autonomy for all AA groups.
Nov 28, 1943 - Bill guest speaker San Quentin Penitentiary. (sometimes dated Dec 2, 1943)

[edited to be brought up to date 11/01/2008]

“We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness.”

We have a good friend who asks this question at meetings - “how do I know that AA is working?” The answer?

I’ve never had it so good!

There are times like right now that I must bring this to the forefront of my mind. I’m on the right track. God has me exactly where he wants me. How do I know? Because I’ve never had it so good!

I could spend hours picking out all the negatives and fears in my life each day. All I have to do to live a happy day is remember, see factually, know without doubt, that my life is truly a gift. Had God not walked my ugly butt into AA when He did, there are many alternatives to what my life might have been like. The simplest is dead. I’m alive and thankful.

I’ll live it from there…