July 23 in A.A. History

In 1940, the Philadelphia Group of A.A. set a precedent for the 7^th Tradition by contributing 10% of their funds to the Alcoholic Foundation.

In 1943, Clarence S. and four other members of Alcoholics Anonymous 12^th-stepped Esther C. into sobriety while she was hospitalized in Cleveland, Ohio, just two months after her 34th birthday. She would become known for riding a “Little Indian Scout” motorcycle [right: Esther on her bike] from Cleveland to meetings in Akron, Ohio. Sixty-some years later, when told that someone from California was coming to ask her about A.A. history and the Big Book, Esther replied, “What's the matter with him, doesn't he have a Big Book?”

In 1946, Bill W. wrote a note to Ricardo “Dick” P. thanking him for translating the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, into Spanish. Dick, who had been an A.A. member since 1940, had worked on this translation with his wife, Helen, for three years. [Below: Text of Bill’s note and an unknown person’s translation into Spanish.]

To my friend of AA Ricardo P     In testimony and deep gratitude for his arduous labors of translation—that our Spanish-speaking brothers throughout the world may be led out of darkness into light—                                     Affectionately 7/23/46                       Bill W                                     + Lois 6/19/76

Para mi amigo de A.A. Ricardo P—–     En testimonio y profundo gratitud por sus arduas labores de traducción -las cuales posiblemente guiaron a nuestros hermanos de habla hispana alrededor del mundo, para salir de la obscuridad e introducirse en la luz.                                     Afectuosamente,                                     Bill W—– 7/23/46                                     6/19/46

 

	In 1985, Loran D. Archer [left], Senior Policy Advisor on Alcoholism and Other Health Issues at the Drug Abuse Policy Office during President Ronald Reagan’s administration, wrote [right: letter] to Mr. Hal Marley, an A.A. member in Arlington, Virginia.
The enclosed copies of President Reagan's letter of congratulation to what Archer referred to as “The Fiftieth International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous”—actually the 8th International Convention celebrating the Fellowship's 50th Anniversary—were dated 24 June; the International Convention was held 5–7 July in Montreal, Quebec.

Today in A.A. History—July 23–25

In 1976, the 19th International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA) took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [far left: letter from U.S. V.P. Nelson Rockefeller; near left: SWAG].