July 4 in A.A. History

1939: The first A.A. meeting in Flatbush, Brooklyn [right], was held at the home of Harold and Emily S. This meeting complemented the only other A.A. gathering in New York City at the time, which had been started in a Manhattan apartment, possibly the Chatsworth, at 72nd Street and Riverside Drive. That location had had been lent to A.A. by Leonard and Helga Harrison after Bill and Lois W. lost their home at 182 Clinton Street in April. Harold sobered up in June 1938, and his story, “Smile at Me, With Me,” appeared in the first edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Leonard [left] would go on to become a Class A (non-alcoholic) Trustee of the Alcoholic Foundation in 1941.

1970: At the 5th International Convention in Miami, Florida, participants in the main Sunday evening meeting in the Convention Hall [right] concluded by reciting the Declaration of Unity in unison:

    This we owe to A.A.’s future: to place our common welfare first; to keep our fellowship united. For on A.A. unity depend our lives, and the lives of those to come.

    The hope had been to recreate an experience similar to that of adopting of the Responsibility Statement five years earlier at the 4th International Convention in Toronto, Ontario. While an emotional and moving moment, this pledge lacked the impact and lasting quality of the “I Am Responsible” Statement. This was likely due, at least in part, to Bill W. not being present to lead the ceremony; he was in a nearby hospital being treated for his emphysema. Like the earlier Statement, this Declaration was written by Al S. [left].

Today in A.A. History—July 4–6

1975: The 6th International Convention celebrating A.A.’s 40th anniversary took place at Currigan Exhibition Hall in Denver, Colorado [right].
    After the original organizing chairman suffered a heart attack, Jack D. stepped in to lead the planning. By January 1975, Bob H., general manager of GSO and Convention Chair, recognized the immense scale of the event. Realizing it was impractical for A.A. to manage one of the world’s largest conventions without professional assistance, he sought and received Board approval to hire an outside consultant. Ted Driscoll’s expertise proved invaluable, streamlining 
negotiations for venues, transportation, and services crucial for such a massive international undertaking.
    On-site, 800 volunteers staffed airports, hotels, and registration, processing up to 10,000 daily arrivals. Many worked extended shifts due to their dedication. Despite these efforts, the large crowds presented significant challenges: sessions were often overcrowded, shuttle services overwhelmed, and hotel lobbies packed, necessitating continuous adjustments throughout the event.
    The convention successfully balanced intense activity with deep emotional connection. Days were filled with workshops, panels, and alkathons, while evenings featured reunions, dances, and spontaneous fellowship. A.A.'s international character was highlighted through multilingual workshops, cultural presentations such as a Native American war dance, and an “A.A. Around the World” meeting that showcased the organization's global reach.
    A defining moment was the opening flag ceremony, where representatives from 29 countries carried their national flags into the auditorium to the applause of thousands. Each participant then voiced “Let It Begin With Me” in their native language, a powerful symbol of unity that became a lasting tradition.
The event also featured prominent medical and public figures. Memorable details included an oversized “Big Book” display and a much-discussed industrial coffee operation.^*
    The weekend culminated in moving spiritual and personal testimonies, including a reception for Lois W.. The Denver convention was recognized as both a logistical triumph and a profound communal experience, reinforcing A.A.'s core message of mutual support and personal responsibility internationally.

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^*An entrepreneur, aware of the prodigious amount of coffee consumed at A.A. Conventions, rigged the world's largest coffee maker on a balcony at the convention hall. With a capacity of half a million cups a day, coffee was brewed in huge tanks and piped to dozens of spigots. Customers paid a quarter a cup to enter the area and serve themselves. While the operation was a major talking point and worked efficiently, the coffee itself was generally deemed to be of poor quality, with better coffee available for free in numerous hospitality rooms. Nonetheless, 1.2 million cups of coffee were served by this operation.