August 4 in A.A. History

1947: The 80th U.S. Congress enacted H.R. 2659, (“an act to establish program [sic] for rehabilitation of alcoholics, promote temperance, and provide for medical and scientific treatment of persons found to be alcoholics by courts of District of Columbia, and for other purposes”) into law. Julius S., a member of Washington, D.C.’s Alcoholics Anonymous Cosmopolitan Group, had testified at the bill’s hearings.

Today in A.A. History—August 4–5

2001: An ad hoc Roundtable convened in Manhattan to discuss issues and plan future directions for Area access to group records maintained by the General Service Office (GSO). The Roundtable members included a mix of computer-savvy and less experienced A.A. members, including an Area Delegate, a regional Class B Trustee, at least four area registrars, and three representatives from GSO.

Participants agreed to utilize the Microsoft Access database platform, which was favored by delegate areas in a GSO-conducted survey. Discussions also covered the original purpose and future direction of the ‘DelArea’ program, a joint development between GSO and the Areas concerning group data management, update timing, and record-editing rights.

One attendee remarked, “We were fortunate in having a cross-section of service experience and computer capabilities.” They added that the new DelArea program “will encourage the frequent exchange of information and, consequently, the timely receipt of GSR (general service representatives) Kits for incoming GSRs.”

August in A.A. History—day unknown

1937: Bill and Lois W. [left], along with other members of their small group of recovering alcoholics, ceased attending Oxford Group (OG) meetings in New York City. This decision followed criticism from OG members who faulted Bill for exclusively working with alcoholics, labeling both him and Lois as “not maximum”—an extreme OG insult. Furthermore, OG leaders had prohibited alcoholics residing at Calvary Rescue Mission from attending the “drunk squad” meetings held at 182 Clinton Street in Brooklyn. These events unfolded while Rev. Sam Shoemaker [right] was on vacation.

Concurrently, in Akron, Ohio, OG members outside the “alcoholic squadron” criticized the OG meetings led by T. Henry and Clarace Williams [left], arguing they overly emphasized assisting alcoholics. These developments initiated Alcoholics Anonymous’s separation from external affiliations and established the foundation for Tradition Six. Despite this, the Akron “alcoholic squadron” maintained its affiliation with the OG for more than two years.

1938: About a year after Earl T. [right] had gotten sober during his initial trip to Akron, Ohio, his boss, aware of Earl’s recovery, asked him to help a salesman, Dick R., who was drinking heavily. Earl visited Dick at the sanitarium where he was being treated. To Earl’s surprise, Dick was receptive to his support, having long wanted to address his drinking problem but not knowing how to begin. After a few days, Earl suggested Dick go to Akron and stay with a local family, which Dick did.

Upon returning to Chicago, Earl and Dick began holding informal daily meetings and seeking others to help.