April 20 in A.A. History

1936: Frank Buchman, founder of the Oxford Group, appeared on the cover of Time magazine [right]. However, the accompanying article was unfavorable, stating near its conclusion:

    Until a religion grows up, it is a cult. Buchmanism is about 20 years old, a mere infant in the range of religious history. It still rallies around one man and its methods are still highly unorthodox.

1941: Lois W. embarked on a six-week cruise to South America with Fan Williamson.
    Fan, a descendant of Albert V. Moore, the founder of Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., had invited Lois as a thank you for helping her son, Chris. He had gotten sober while living with Bill and Lois at their home at 182 Clinton St. in Brooklyn. Lois described Fan as “kind and charming,” while Bill affectionately called her “Ironsides.” They had met Fan while staying at the Green Pond, New Jersey, cottage that Chris had lent them during their two years of homelessness, which began in April 1939 and was just ending. Fan and Lois were the only passengers on the ship, a freighter [left: the USS , a Moore-McCormack freighter that had sailed from New York City to South America and back around this time].
    Helen Griffith—who was not related to Bill—had just sold Bill and Lois a house in Bedford Hills, New York, on very generous terms, with the agreement effective May 1st. As this was also the departure date for Fan and Lois's cruise, Helen allowed them to move in early. They named the house “Bi-Lo’s Break.” Bill stayed there during Lois’s cruise, using only the fireplace for heat. He would catch a “bad cold,” which would lead to a near-disaster that Lois would only learn about when she returned.

1970: As he did every April, Bill W. [right] addressed the assembled General Service Conference delegates and many guests at the opening dinner held at the Hotel New Yorker in New York City. Bob H., the General Manager of the General Service Office at the time, later recalled what happened:

    He started to speak, and of a sudden he just stopped, right in the middle of the sentence. And he just stood there for a little bit, and then said, “I’m sorry. I can’t continue.” And he went and sat down. Everybody was really taken aback at this, because if there was one thing Bill could always do, it was speak—eloquently and articulately and persuasively.

Today in A.A. History—April 20–22

1951: The first experimental General Service Conference convened at the Hotel Commodore [left, c. 1940] in New York City, with 37 area delegates, 15 trus­tees, and 10 staff members from the Alcoholic Foundation Office and Grapevine. The Conference recognized that only half of the Areas were represented; as a result,

    Disposition of a number of problems was deferred until next year when representatives of the second panel will join the Conference.

Among the six advisory actions was this unanimously-approved one:

    [T]hat in future years A.A. textbook literature should have Conference approval.…

This was followed by a note:

    [T]his would not preclude the continued [printing of] documents by non-Foundation sources. No desire to review, edit or censor non-Foundation material is implied.

Today in A.A. History—April 20–24

1960: The 10th GSC convened at the Roosevelt Hotel [right, 2008] in New York City.
    The Board reported that A.A. Publishing, Inc. had been renamed A. A. World Services, Inc.
    “The Sense of the Meeting” report was titled “Need For Improved Internal and External Communications Was Dominant Theme.”
Advisory actions included:

• That A. A World Services undertake a thorough study of the immediate and long-range needs for A. A. literature in languages other than English.

Today in A.A. History—April 20–25

1970: The 20th General Service Conference convened at the Hotel New Yorker [left] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

• Passed a resolution of thanks to Lois for standing by Bill all these years.
• Asked the Chair of the G.S.B. to appoint a task force to look into conducing a Conference inventory [which he did before the Conference ended].
• Recommended that all Conference agenda subjects received during the year, where time permits, be referred to the AgendaIAdmissions Committee before presentation to the Policy and Board Committees for final approval.
• Asked delegates to determine if any obstacle exists in their areas which might create the idea that additional delegates are needed.
• Continued the moratorium on add new Delegate Areas until G.S.B.’s Long-Term Planning Committee presents a set of guideines for Conference approval.
• Reaffirms that the first names and last initials only be used in the Box 4-5-9 Digest and the Final Conference Report, except in the roster section.
• Rejected a request that Area Highlights only be presented by second-year Delegates.
• Recommended that a brief statement be prepared explaining why A.A. maintains anonymity at the media/film levels.
• Rejected recommendation that no delegate be eligible to be trustee until a full year after their delegate term ends.
• Recommended that the 75-mile (from New York City) limit on trustee-at-large candidates be rescinded.

    It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved that the 20th General Service Conference accept the [six] advisory actions of the first World Service Meeting.

Today in A.A. History—April 20–26

1980: The 30th General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [above right] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

1. [Floor Action] Since neither the Panel 29 delegate from Northeastern Quebec (Area 89) nor the alternate is able to ttend this Conference, the area chairperson be seated.
2. [Floor Action] The pictures of Bill W. and Dr. Bob remain in the film A.A.—An inside View.
3. [Floor Action] The World Service Meeting report be approved as read.
4. [Floor Action] The archives filmstrip, “Markings on the Journey,” be Conference-approved.
5. [Floor Action] The 1981 General Service Conference be held from April 26 through May 2,1981.
8. Any factual or statistical information may be updated when ever practical—e.g., inventory runs low, new survey completed—without having to obtain Conference approval.
9. A.A. Guidelines may be produced or revised, when new information or other contingencies arise, at the discretion of the G.S.O. staff without Conference approval.
16. Members asked to videotape talks or meetings ought to preserve anonymity at public levels. It is also recommended that member talks be given in person, not videotaped, due to the temptation to place personality before principle.
33. That simultaneous translations in French, Spanish, and German be provided at no charge for the at the 1980 International Convention’s Big Meeting on Friday night and the Spiritual Meeting on Sunday morning.
35. The unedited manuscript of Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers be accepted.
36. The pamphlet from Great Britain entitled “A Newcomer Asks” be adopted and adapted.
37. The Responsibility Declaration not be changed.
38. Definition of “the slogans” not be added to As Bill Sees It.
39. A brief history not be added to As Bill Sees It.
40. Excerpts from the Grapevine and “The Best of Bill” not be added to As Bill Sees It.
[Unnumbered] A.A. has no need for a daily spiritual guidebook.
[Unnumbered] Rejected proposal to redesign As Bill Sees It in a dated, pocket-sized format.
60. All A.A. groups should be listed in the W; decisions regarding verification of “a true A.A. group” be resolved locally.
71. Retired G.S.O. and Grapevine staff should not be excluded from service on any our three Boards solely because of their past staff service.

1986: The 36th GSC convened at the Hotel Roosevelt [above right] in New York City.
    Three new Class A Trustees were elected to the Board, each bringing a record of service and experience in their fields: Dr. John Smith (public health), Amos Reed (corrections), and John King (social work) [right, respectively].
    Among the 81 Advisory Actions were:

• the Grapevine produce a trial tape in Spanish and a trial tape in French…;
• a definitive book on A.A. history from 1955-1985 be prepared…;
• as the preface to the Big Book clearly states that the text was written in 1939 and that it has not been changed, no further explanation regarding out-of-date phrases and/or gender-oriented pronouns or chapter titles is necessary;
• a story of a gay alcoholic not be included in the Big Book.