April 22 in A.A. History

1957: Broadcasting Telecasting magazine, known as “The Business-weekly of Radio and Television” [right: masthead], published a brief item titled “‘Mr. Hope’ on WWJ-TV” [left], about a show airing in Detroit, Michigan. 
    The article described the program as follows:

… a public service program instituted by WWJ-TV, which describes the plight of the problem drinker. Designed to tell the public about the work of Alcoholics Anonymous, Mr. Hope frequently features a panel of physicians and businessmen to discuss drinking problems and to encourage individuals with such difficulties to turn to the [sic] AA.

1974: Time magazine [right: cover] published a cover story titled “Alcoholism: New Victims, New Treatments,” stating:

    Most of the methods owe a large debt to Alcoholics Anonymous, the oldest, the big­gest (650,000 to 750,000 members) and still the most successful organization by far for helping alcoholics.… And, write Sociologists Harrison Trite and Paul Roman: “Despite lay leadership, A.A. has apparently achieved a success rate that surpasses those of professional therapies.”

    The issue also featured two related articles: “Behavior: The Effects of Alcohol” and “Behavior: The Price of Alcoholism: Five Case Histories.”

2004: Robert Holbrook “Smitty” S., Jr. [left], 85, the son of Anne and Dr. Bob S. died. He was the last living witness to the first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous’ co-founders, his father and Bill W.

2012: Ruth O., 97, of Toms River, New Jersey, died with 68 years and 8 days of sobriety. At the time of her death, she may have had the longest period of continuous sobriety of any member to date. Well-known for her “Ruth’s Prayer” [right], she also knew and assisted Dr. William D. Silkworth, who authored the letters in “The Doctor's Opinion” in the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

2022: Нэргүй архичин үйлчилгээний гарын авлага (The Mongolian A.A. Service Manual), approved by the 13th Mongolian A.A. Conference, went into effect. Following this, the Mongolian General Service Board elected Tseegii to represent Mongolia at the World A.A. Service Meeting in October.

Today in A.A. History—April 22–24

1949: The Second Annual Tri-State (West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado) Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous took place in Amarillo, Texas. The Herring Hotel [left, 1940], 311 SE 3rd Ave., served as the conference headquarters, with additional events held at the Washington Club, located at 2024 [S.] Washington St. [right: front of program].

Today in A.A. History—April 22–27

1968: The 18th General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [left, 2008] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

• To conduct a survey among A.A. members in order to gather more meaningful information regarding the effectiveness of the A.A. program of recovery.
• The first World Service Meeting be held in New York City, in the fall of 1969.
• Approved a proposition to issue the World Directory in two editions—one for the United States and Canada, the second for other countries.
• Quebec be granted a third bilingual Delegate to be elected as a member of Panel 19. The… newly designated Conference area to be called the Northeast area of Quebec.
• Since the language of the General Service Conference is English, and since [it] is not equipped to provide translators,… it is desirable that Delegates elected to the Conference should have knowledge of English for their own benefit and for the benefit of their areas.
• Stressed the need for better communication between the Delegates, Committee Members, G.S.R.’s [sic] and groups, pointing out that better informed groups will support G.S.O. without the need of a “hard sell” from the Delegate.

1974: The 24th General Service Conference was held at the Hotel Roosevelt [above left] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

• That in memory of A.A.’s co-founders, the last talk of each be prepared in pamphlet form and distributed [left: original pamphlet].
• Part I (U.S. and Canada) of the World Directory be divided into three sections, each section subdivided by region…
• Work be scheduled so that Part II of the World Directory (all other countries) may be distributed before summer.
• [Citing Tradition 3,] affirmed that all A.A. groups… be listed in the World Directory [R]eview and return completed draft of Conference Report one week after its receipt.
• Committee members receive agendas for their committee only, but other committees’ agenda be sent upon request.
• The wording of the Eleventh Tradition remain as is, and that delegates explain that “TV” is implicit in the last phrase of the Tradition: “… at the level of press, radio, and films.”

Today in A.A. History—April 22–28

1979: The 29th General Service Conference was held at the Hotel Roosevelt [above left] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

• That the names of “alcohol and pills” groups not be listed in the A.A. directories.
• [That] “Problems Other Than Alcohol” be Conference-approved.
• The Twelve Steps of A.A. be [added] in the pamphlet “Too Young?”…
• The pamphlet for the older alcoholic be approved… “Now It’s Time to Start Living”.…
• The biographies of Dr. Bob and Bill W. be… separate books [vs] a joint biography.
• [That] no… ceiling be set on the number of G.S.O./GV staff eligible to vote, but that the delegates never have less than 66⅔% of the total Conference votes.

2001: The 51st General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [above left] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

4. If the Reserve Fund exceeds the 12-month upper limit we allow a one year to review the Reserve Fund level, and a second year to formulate actions to reduce the Reserve Fund below its maximum.
5. La Viña continue to be published by the A.A. Grapevine, Inc. as a service to the Fellowship.
6. La Viña continue to be published utilizing A.A. Grapevine, Inc. resources to achieve efficiencies in production and distribution.
9. The Fourth Edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, be approved, while the Publications Dept. follow specific editorial responsibilities:
• Editorial 'fine tuning' such as footnotes, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, updating, jacket materials, page numbers, etc.
• G.S.O. editors prepare or coordinate new material and changes such as: 
New Material: cover and jacket design, jacket copy, Preface, Foreword to the Fouth Edition.
Changes: title page, contents page, factual material in footnotes, introductions to personal stories.
12. The Twelve Concepts (short form), with a brief introduction, be added to the Appendices Section in future printings of the Big Book.
13. G.S.O.’s A.A. Web site address be added to the Appendix “How to Get in Touch With A.A.” in future printings of the Big Book.
14. The pamphlet “Can A.A. Help Me Too?—Black/African Americans Share Their Stories” be approved.
15. A pamphlet titled “A.A. for the Older Alcoholic—It’s Never Too Late” replace the pamphlet “Time to Start Living” be approved.
16. The pamphlet “A.A. for the Older Alcoholic—It’s Never Too Late” be  in 14 point type, large-print format only, to fit current literature racks.
23. Under “Third Legacy Procedure” in Chapter One, p. S21 of The A.A. Service Manual, the sentence
“At this point, balloting usually involves only the top two or three candidates”
be replaced with:
“At this point, the top two candidates remain. In case there are ties for first place, all tied first place candidates remain. In case there are no ties for first place, the top candidate and any tied second-place candidates remain.”
24. “Telephone A.A. meetings” that ask to be listed in A.A. Directories be added to the section “International Correspondence Meetings” on Page V under a section to be titled “Telephone Meetings.”

2007: The 57th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [right] Times Square in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

7. On page 7, paragraph 3 of “Self-Support. Where Money and Spirituality Mix" (F-3), add “G.S.R. travel expenses to attend service functions” be added within the parentheses of “Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (rent, refreshments, A. A. literature, local meeting lists)…”.
9. The following text from The A.A. Service Manual be added to “The A.A. Group” and the “G.S.R.” pamphlets: “Financial Support: Current experience indicates that many groups provide financial support for their general service representativesto attend service functions.”
10. The title of the pamphlet “Black/African Americans Share Their Stories” be changed to “A.A. for the Black and African American Alcoholic.”
12. The Spanish-language Third Edition Big Book, Alcohólicos Anónimos, be produced, keeping in mind the 2004 Conference Advisory Action on contents, story selection, and process, as follows:
a) similar in page count to the English Fourth Edition Big Book.
b) undertake a complete review of the first 164 pages, Preface, Forewards, “The Doctor’s Opinion,” “Dr. Bob’s Nightmare," and Appendices for accuracy of translation and consistency of style and tone.
c) Personal stories should retain selected stories from the 2nd edition, from La Viña, and from Spanish-speaking members, and grouped into three sections similar to the English 4th edition.
23. On p. S29 of The A.A. Service Manual, replace
“ln the majority of areas, a district includes six to 20 groups. In metropolitan districts, the number is generally 15 to 20 groups, while in rural or suburban districts the number can be as small as five.”
with:
“The number of groups per district varies widely, from as few as five in a rural district to 90 or more in a metropolitan district. Population density and the geographic size of the district, which will affect the ability of the D.C.M. to communicate with the groups, would be key factors determining the number of groups a district will have.”
25. The Publications Dept. insert into The A.A. Service Manual the inverted triangle graphic that appears in the General Service Conference manual.
29. Election of trustees and officers left the General Service Board short one Class B regional trustee.
32. ln accord with the G.S.B. Bylaws, the Board consider all eligible Class A (nonalcoholic) and Class B (alcoholic) trustees when selecting their Chair.
33. Amend the April 2006 Bylaws of the G.S.B. to read:
“In the case of a Class B trustee, the maximum term of service of such successor member trustee shall be limited to that number of one-year terms which would result in the term of service of the successor member trustee ending at the same time as the term of the replaced member trustee would have ended, if no vacancy had occurred and the replaced member trustee had served four successive one-year terms.”

2012: The 62nd General Service Conference was held at the Hilton Rye Town [left] in Rye Brook, New York. Advisory Actions included:

1. The Conference supports the G.S.B.’s developmentof a plan to restructure A.A. World Services, lnc. and A.A. Grapevine, Inc., corporate and governance structures. The plan may, among other things, address the separate corporate existenceof both entities, as well as issues of governance and operations.The plan will be designed to increase unity, better reach and connect the G.S.O. and Grapevine to the broader Fellowship while addressing financial stability. The plan will be submitted to the 63rd General Service Conference for approval prior to implementation.
5. Designated which inventory questions listed in the “INVENTORY PLAN” (approved by the 61st G.S.C.) be discussed in the 63rd, 64th, and 65th G.S.C.s.
14. The revised pamphlet “A.A. and the Armed Services” be approved.
15. The short form of the Twelve Concepts for World Service be added to the book As Bill Sees It.
16. The final revision of Living Sober, with changes to outdated language or practices, be approved with minor editorial changes.
26. All changes to The A.A. Service Manual be noted by changebars in the edition in which the change appears for the first time.
27. The following term and definition be added to The A.A. Service Manual in Chapter One, “Introduction to General Service,” in
the section titled “Glossary of General Service Terms”    :
"Rotation—the spiritual principle of sharing the responsibility for A.A. through changing leadership.”

2018: The 68th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [above right] Manhattan in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

11. The 61st [sic] General Service Conference be held May 1-7, 2011 [sic].
22. The Online Intergroup of A.A. (OIAA) be listed in a new [sub-]section titled “Online Intergroups” under the section “lnternational Correspondence Meetings” in the A.A. Directories [above] the “Online Meetings” [sub-section].
25. Elections of trustees and officers of the General Service Board will leave the Board short one Class B (alcoholic) regional trustee.
28. Elections of directors of the A.A. Grapevine Corporate Board will leave the Board short one Class A (non-alcoholic) trustee.

April 21 in A.A. History

1939: Hank P. sent a letter to Janet Blair, the non-alcoholic editor of Alcoholics Anonymous in Peekskill, New York, to apologize for a long-overdue invoice for her services. The letter began:

    I know that excuses, etc [sic] do not pay bills. However, I do want you to know that we are all so ashamed of the way your bill is lagging behind.

    He also sent a separate package containing a copy of the book, its front flyleaf inscribed in his handwriting [right: product of author’s artistic license].

1946: In “The Sick Person We Call an Alcoholic,” an article [left] published in The New York Times Magazine, Mrs.^* Marty M., a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, “tells what we can do to help those who would quit but can’t.”

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^*The title “Mrs.” protected Marty, a lesbian, from the prevalent prejudice against homosexuality in the 1940s. Revealing her sexual orientation would have damaged both her and the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism, which she helped establish.

Today in A.A. History—April 21–25

1954: The 4th Annual General Service Conference was held at the Hotel Commodore [right, c. 1940] in New York City City. Advisory Actions included:

• That the Trustees be instructed to execute an appropriate instrument transferring the interest acquired by A.A. under this will [a bequest to The Foundation of Texas property with an estimated value of approximately $17,000 (~$209,000 in 2026)] proportionately to the other beneficiaries named by the deceased person.
• That the name The Alcoholic Foundation be changed to The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc.
• That discounts on literature sales be discontinued, and equivalent amounts be added to the Prudent Reserve until it reaches $300,000 [~$3.7 million in 2026].
• That past delegates not participate in an enlarged Conference to decide the future of our Third Legacy in 1955.
• Approved a 20th anniversary meeting for all members (similar to the 1950 Cleveland meeting) to begin the day following the close of the ’55 Conference.
• That the offer of publication rights to Twenty-Four Hours a Day not be accepted.
• That A.A. Publishing not produce a pamphlet on the subject of “Religion and A.A.”
• Adopted two parts of a three-part proposal, “General Service Representative” plan:
  A. That the group representative described in the Third Legacy Pamphlet be designated “General Service Representative.”
  B. That in addition to electing an Area Committe (including Delegate), the GSR should
  (1) represent the group in General Service activities and
  (2) represent A.A’s General Services in the group.
• Consideration of the third part of the “General Service Representative” plan—consolidating items of G.S.C. material into a “General Service Handbook”—was tabled until 1955.
• That Delegates come to the Conference being only tentatively instructed because:
  (1) each Delegate brings to the Conference the thinking of his area, and
  (2) the wisdom of the Conference is best achieved and voted on through the exchange of these ideas.
• Suggested minimum group contributions to the G.S.B. be $2 [~$25.50 in 2026] per member per year, ideally sent quarterly.
• That during the five year period, all ex-Delegates remain on General Conference mailing list.
• No policy should be declared or action taken on matters liable to gravely affect A.A. as a whole unless by consent of at least three-quarters of the members present. 

Today in A.A. History—April 21–26

1964: The 14th Annual General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [left, 2008] in New York City. Advsory Actions included:

• Approved an agreement between Bill W. and A.A. World Services, Inc., covering royalties from Bill’s writings.
• Granted the request from the Assembly of the Atlantic Provinces that a second Delegate be admitted to the Conference.^*
• That Agenda committee members receive copies of all correspondence on agenda matters in which G.S.O. Staff Members and committee members are involved.
• That Agenda committee members be informed of the action taken on their recommendations to the Policy Committee.
• That Agenda committee members review background material on previous Conferences’ actions, as a guide in preparing recommendations for the 1965 Conference agenda.
• [That] the Board of Directors of the Grapevine and the General Service Board explore the possibilities of using Grapevine material in a French edition of the magazine.
• That Grapevine committee members be kept informed of all Grapevine matters of Conference importance.
• From the experience of the past International Conventions a realistic figure had to be developed in the Guarantee Fund—this was $13,000: The Board of Trustees guaranteed half of this—[a] $6,500 advance was needed. G.S.O. would accept 50% of any deficit that might occur. A letter was sent to the groups in Canada asking if they would contribute $100 to the Guarantee Fund; the Canadian share exceeded $8,000. The Convention, if financially successful, will return money from Guarantee Fund to donators [sic].

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^*The Atlantic Provinces were split into (1) New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island, and (2) Nova Scotia/Newfoundland.

1969: The 19th Annual General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [above left] in New York City. Advisory actions included:

• That the story of a young A.A. be added to the next reprint of the book Alcoholics Anonymous, and that the present stories be edited, when necessary, in order that current readers will be able to identify.
• That the General Service Conference approve the following resolution of the… General Service Board of Trustees:
  “We will endeavor to avoid participation on radio and TV programs, unless
  ◦     We are given adequate time for preparation.
  ◦     Our presence will serve an A.A. objective.
  ◦     The primary discussion is appropriate for A.A.—not concerned with crime, sex, controversy or any other sensationalism.
  ◦     We are satisfied our anonymity is guaranteed.”
• Approved the final draft of The A.A. Service Manual (a new revision of the Third Legacy Manual).
• [Added] to the Conference Charter:… Article 1… “…The Twelve Steps,” the sentence now to read: “…The [GSC] is the guardian of the world services, and of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.” 
• Disapproved the proposal for a suggested change in electoral procedures for regional trustees which would increase the voting body to all delegates and eliminate the trustees from voting.

1975: The 25th Annual General Service Conference was held at the Hotel Roosevelt [above left] in New York City. Advisory actions included:

• A two-year moratorium (until 1977) be placed on discussion of special-purpose groups.
• A paragraph dealing with the problems of the use of mood-changing pills by A.A. members who hold group office should not be added to an appropriate A.A. pamphlet, because it was felt that this decision is up to local autonomy.
• Each delegate receive only the agenda pertinent to his or her committee, but may receive any others on request.

Today in A.A. History—April 21–27

1966: The 46th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [right] in New York City. Advisory actions included:

• Approved “Washington State East Area 92” and “Western Washington State Area 72” as the new names for these areas.
• The [parts of the] title of the chart[s] on page[s] S23 [and S46] of The A.A. Service Manual be changed from “Struture of the Fellowship” to “The General Service Conference Structure (U.S. and Canada)” to more accurately describe what is depicted.

2002: The 52nd General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [above right] Manhattan in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

4. Approved the video Markings on the Journey.
7. Approved publication of an anthology titled Experience, Strength and Hope of the last-published versions of the 56 stories dropped from prior editions of the Big Book.
18. The sentence “Fundamentally, though, the difference between an electronic meeting and the home group around the corner is only one of format” be deleted in the last paragraph of the Foreword to the Fourth Edition of the Big Book.

2013: The 63rd General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [above right] Times Square in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

4. A commemorative 75th Anniversary Edition of the first edition, first printing of Alcoholics Anonymous be published.
17. Affirmed that the Internet, social media and all forms of public communications are implicit in the last phrase of the Short Form of Tradition Eleven, which reads: “… at the level of press, radio, and films.”
19. The error in “Leadership in A.A.: Ever a Vital Need” within the essay on Concept IX on p. 37, 5th paragraph, 3rd line reading “… badly disturbed or uniformed…” be corrected to “… badly disturbed or uninformed…” (Typo indicated by italics; this typo has existed since the first printing of Twelve Concepts for World Service).
22. The following text be added to Article 4 in the Current Conference Charter:

    “The Conference recognizes the principles contained within the Twelve Concepts, particularly the Right of Participation, and the Rights of Petition and Appeal reflected in Concepts IV and V. In keeping with these principles, the Conference may agree to hear Concept V Appeals brought by members of the Conference structure below the Conference level on the inverted triangle.”

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.

April 19 in A.A. History

1939:  John Fitzhugh “Fitz” M. [right] received a copyright affidavit for the book Alcoholics Anonymous. Despite being informed of the urgency and that he should have received the necessary instructions, book copies, and funds needed for filing by 12 April, he didnot complete the filing until a week later. Furthermore, the instructions specified that the book should be registered to Works Publishing Co. Instead, Fitz listed the owner as “Wm. G. W――, trading as Works Publishing Co.” and the author as “Wm. G. W――.”

1941:  Dave W., Bob E., and Cal S. held the first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Seattle, Washington, at the New Washington Hotel [left, c. 1908] .

1943:  Florence R. K., 47, died of pneumococcal meningitis^* [right: her gravestone].
      Florence R., she got sober in New York City around March 1938 and remained so until at least April 1939, when the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, was published. She contributed “A Feminine Victory” to the book’s first edition, praying as she wrote for inspiration to present her story in a way that would encourage other women to seek the help she had received. Later that year, Florence moved to Washington, D.C., to assist Fitz M. (“Our Southern Friend”) in starting an A.A. group.
    In 1939, Fitz wrote to Bill Wilson, “She is in love with a hellion 15 years younger than she who feeds her beer—so says her landlady.”^† Florence eventually married him, but then disappeared. Later, Fitz was called to a morgue to identify her body. Florence had likely relapsed before dying.

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^*Her death certificate cites this as the cause of death. Nonetheless, rumors of suicide persist.

^†This letter is in the Washington [D.C.] Area Intergroup Association (WAIA) archives.

Today in A.A. History—April 19–23

1961:  The 11th General Service Conference was held at the Hotel Roosevelt [left, 2008] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

• Jerry M., Delegate from Puerto Rico, offered to provide Spanish translators for A.A. material. The Board of Trustees was urged to avail itself of this offer.
• Recommended stories of a more personal nature be included when “A. A. for the Woman” is next revised.
• That Area Highlights be reported half by first year and half by second year Delegates.
• Following a memo titled “Memorandum on New Delegates” from Bill Wilson, approved a request from the two Ontario delegates for a third delegate to serve the North and Northwest portions of that province.
• Confirmed an action of the  G.S.B. in not approving a request for permanent representation on the Board of two Trustees from West of the Rocky Mountains and asked the Board to further study this request. (A resolution presented to the 1960 Conference by the Delegate from the Southern California—Los Angeles Area).
• Approved a recommendation made during the International presentation that $5,000 [~$55,200 in 2026] be earmarked to assist overseas groups in preparing/translating Conference-approved literature for one year only.
• Disapproved a request from South Florida that “There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership” be deleted from the Preamble.

Today in A.A. History—April 19–24

1965: At the 15th General Service Conference held at the Hotel Roosevelt [above left] in New York City, the A.A. Grapevine gave a special presentation announcing that they would be publishing a collection of five essays by Bill W. in a 3½"×5¼" booklet titled “The Best of Bill.” This collection would be available for sale for the first time at the 30th Anniversary International Convention in Toronto, Ontario. The essays would cover the topics of Humility, Love, Fear, Honesty, and Faith.
    Advisory Actions included:

• That Delegates be advised in advance of their Committee assignments and given the opportunity to refuse them.
• That all G.S.R.’s [sic] receive Group mailings from G.S.O.
• That no pamphlet for the “slippee” be considered.
• No glossary of “A.A. terminology” be prepared; it would be difficult to have uniformity and perhaps not advisable.
• That beginning in 1965, a pension or retirement plan for regular employees of A.A.W.S., Inc. and A.A. Grapevine, Inc. be established.
• That communications between Conference committee members and members of the G.S.B. committee members be improved and facilitated through the Conference Committee Secretary and Conference Committee Chairman throughout the year.
• That Area Highlights be retained with a recommendation that diversified topics be given to incoming panel Delegates in order to avoid repetitious presentations.
• That the Policy Committee and the Board of Trustees inform Agenda Committee members of actions taken on proposed agenda subjects, including a brief reason for any rejections.
• That the request for an additional Delegate for Indiana be granted.

1971:  Advsiory Actions from the 21st General Service Conference, held at the Hotel New Yorker [right] in New York City, included:

• The 2-year Moratorium on applications for additional delegate areas be terminated.
• Where a delegate does not have his own [Area] assembly, he look forward to establishing one.
• The delegates obtain the thinking of their areas on how to use the Bill W. Memorial Fund^* and report findings to the trustees.
• It is not necessary to write to new delegates asking them if they are willing to serve on the committee to which they have been chosen, but they should be informed of their committee assignment.
• Agendas for all Conference Committees be mailed to all delegates before the Conference.
• Rejected the proposed change in election procedures of Regional Trustees, suggesting that the members of the Conference Committee on Trustees be omitted, as not in the best interest of A.A. at this time.

---

^*This fund was established by 4 April 1971, as evidenced by a motion on that date “to send a token amount to the Bill W. Memorial Fund” in Mid-Southern California Area 09 during Panel 20. Presumably it was established by the General Service Board when contributions in memory of Bill began to arrive spontaneously from members, groups, central offices/intergroups, and other parts of the service structure. By the end of 1971, $35,774 [~$291,700 in 2026] had been contributed.

1976:  The 26th General Service Conference was held at the Hotel Roosevelt [above left] in New York City. Advisory actions included:

• Trustees Literature Committee reported “Completed literature projects include… ‘The Last Talks of A.A.'s Co-Founders.’”
• the Trustees Policy Committee reported that

    The question of release of confidential A.A. information has come up because G.S.O. has received requests from outside and inside the Fellowship for certain information—such as the breakdown of the 1974 survey or a copy of a Conference Report. It was the sense of the meeting that there are no secrets in A.A., and that each request should be handled individually [italics added].

Today in A.A. History—April 19–25

1998: The 48th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [left] Manhattan in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

• A Conference Archives Committee start meeting as a secondary committee with the trustees’ Archives Committee.

2015: The 65th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza [above left] Times Square in New York City. Actions included:

• Phase I of the G.S.O. plan to translate pre-Conference and Conference material into Spanish and French be implemented beginning with the 66th General Service Conference.
• “A.A. and the Gay/Lesbian Alcoholic” and its title be updated to include a wider range experience from members who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming, especially as to being a newcomer and sponsorship.
• That literature for the alcoholic with mental health issues be developed.
• “A.A. for the Woman” be revised by gathering current sharing from women in A.A., including women in the military, single mothers, and of diverse backgrounds.
• In order to improve the relevance and usefulness of the aa.org website A.A.W.S. be authorized to produce and post audio/video service material there.
• In Chapter 10 (The Board’s Operating Corporations) under “Choosing Nontrustee Directors” of The A.A. Service Manual, the second paragraph that currently begins:
  “The nominating committee of the corporate board reviews all of the resumes received.”
  be revised to read:
  “Working in concert with the trustees’ Nominating Committee, the nominating committee of the corporate board reviews all of the resumes received.”
• Add a new subsection concerning “Reactivating district” to the section “Stimulating Interest in General Service” to Chapter 1 (Introduction to General Service) in The A.A Service Manual.
• The Twelve Concepts for World Service and the Twelve Concepts section of The A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service include the following pages in the same order as published in the 1990-1991 Edition:

  a. Title page;	e. The Twelve Concepts (Long Form);
  b. Copyright page;	f. Contents with short descriptions of each Concept and page number;
  c. Preface;	g. Introduction.
  d. The Twelve Concepts (Short Form);

• A limited run of the Regional Directories (Canadian, Eastern U.S. and Western U.S.) be printed annually for purchase.
• Elections to the G.S.B. left the number of Class B (alcoholic) regional trustees one short. 

April 18 in A.A. History

1941: Lowell Clucas’s article, “A.A.’s Go to Work in Jacksonville” [left], appeared on page 11 of the Jacksonville (Florida) Journal after Tom S. spoke with the city editor earlier that month about the national Alcoholics Anonymous movement and its local activities. Clucas then forwarded inquiries generated by the article to Tom. The first responses came from Charlie P., Bruce H., and Hugh C., and these four established the Central Group of A.A., which met at 2747 Riverside Ave. [right] in Jacksonville. All four founders died sober.

Today in A.A. History—April 18–22

1956: At the 6th General Service Conference, held at the Commodore Hotel [right, c. 1940] in New York City, the Conference…

… unanimously approved of Bill’s new book [A.A. Comes of Age].

The Conference also approved a motion…

… asking Headquarters to designate Thanksgiving Week “A.A. Gratitude Week” and that this be noted in pre-Thanksgiving appeals for funds to help support worldwide services.

    In the final session, Bill W. proposed four principles “that might someday permeate all of A.A.’s services,” namely “Petition, Appeal, Participation, and Decision”—foreshadowing Concepts III, IV, and V.

Today in A.A. History—April 18–23

 

1966: At the 16th General Service Conference, held at the Hotel Roosevelt [left, 2008] in New York City, the ratio of Class B [alcoholic] trustees to Class A [non-alcoholic] trustees was revised to give Class Bs a ⅔ majority, rather than the previous simple majority. For 11 years, Bill W. had pursued this change, debating it at ten consecutive General Service Conferences. In a 1958 letter, Bill outlined why he believed it should be so:

1. the increased press of work with which A.A. has no business saddling the nonalcoholic members;…
2. the increasing importance of proper determination of the A.A. policy and its administration, which the nonalcoholics have, wrongly, I think, disclaimed all ability to handle;…
3. the need for wider representation geographically of alcoholic trustees; and…
4. it is unsound psychologically for a movement of the present size and maturity to take a childish and fearful view that a majority of alcoholics cannot be trusted to sit on our most important board…

1977: At the 27th General Service Conference, at the Statler Hilton Hotel [right] in New York City, the Conference approved Floor Action #3, which recommended that publication of a facsimile of the first edition of the Big Book should not be undertaken, as it would destroy the sentimental value of the actual first edition.

Today in A.A. History—April 18–24

1982: The 32nd General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [above left] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

14. A draft of a pamphlet be developed for the homosexual alcoholic.

1993: The 43rd General Service Conference was held at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza [left] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

2. The use of sobriety chips/medallions is a local matter and not one for the Conference take a position on.
3. It inappropriate for AAWS or the Grapevine, Inc., to produce or license sobriety chips/medallion
10. Contributions from conferences, conventions, and round-ups not be limited to any amount; only funds from A.A. members 
attending such events should be contributed to support A.A. services.
13. Rejected a proposed quarterly Spanish newsletter due to staffing needs and other costs.
17. Rejected request to rewrite the first three chapters of the Big Book.
18. Rejected facsimile of 1st edition Big Book as it would destroy the sentimental value of the real ones.
19. A.A.W.S. produce a pocket-sized version of the Big Book with Preface, all forewords, The Doctor’s Opinion, basic text, Dr. Bob’s Story and Appendices.
20. The A.A. history book project be deferred two years so a new team can look at it with fresh ideas.
23. The area delegate term not be extended to three years.
32. Some areas have incorporated linguistic districts within their structure, whose boundaries may be independent of the conventional district boundaries.
39. The chairperson of the GeneralService Board serve for no more than four consecutive years.

1999: The 48th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan [right] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

9. A.A. should accept discounts or subsidies which would be offered to any organization of similar size, i.e., hotel convention rates. When offered in partly or in total because we are A.A., it must be declined.
12. Publications Dept. has editorial responsibilities for the 4th edition Big Book: editorial “fine tuning” such as footnotes, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, updating, jacket materials, page numbers, etc.
14. A draft of a pamphlet directed to the Black/African American alcoholic be developed.

2004: The 54th General Service Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan [above right] in New York City. Advisory Actions included:

1. Punctuation in “Doctor Bob’s Nightmare” in the 4th edition of the Big Book be restored to that of the 3rd.
14. A draft Spanish-language third edition Big Book, Alcohólicos Anónimos be developed, with pp. i–181 and Appendices undergo a total review to assure accuracy and consistency of style and tone.
18. Approved use of personal computers at Conferences (up to 24 spaces with power outlets available).
19. Denied request for a 2nd delegate area for Area 15 (S. Florida, Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua).
21. Add “aa.org” to tagline on all radio PSAs: “Look us up. Check your phone book, newspaper or aa.org.”
22. Produce quarterly reports on web site: changes to, activity on, and summaries of requests/actions taken.

2010: The 60th General Service Conference was held at the Hilton Rye Town [left] in Rye Brook, New York.  Advisory Actions included:

1. The request to develop procedures for making Concept V appeals to the Conference be recommitted to the GSB, so they can addresses considerations raised by Conference delegates.
4. Replace the Advisory Action #33 below with: Publication Dept. work with Report and Charter Committee on the Final Report to ensure all Advisory Actions and Additional Committee Considerations are consistent in format, grammatically correct, and accurately reflect the actions of the Conference.
14. La Viña move toward parity with Grapevine, as perfect-bound, black-and-white, 68-page bimonthly.
17. Develop literature focusing on spirituality, including stories from atheists/agnostics who got sober in A.A.
18. In “Frequently Asked Questions about A.A.,” change the paragraph on closed meetings from “A closed meeting is limited to members of the local AA group or visiting members from other groups” to “A closed meeting is for A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and have a desire to stop drinking.”
24. Develop a plan for a G.S.C. inventory to be brought forward to the 2011 Conference.
30. The trustees’ P.I. Committee bring to the 2011 Conference P.I. Committee a draft policy on whether or not to show faces of actors portraying A.A. members or potential members in visual media.
33. Advisory Actions and Additional Committee Considerations be published exactly as approved by the Conference in the General Service Conference Final Report [rescinded by Floor Action #4 above].

2021: The 71st General Service Conference was held online [right: Class A Trustee and A.A. Grapevine chair Michele Grinberg speaking from “the floor”]. With the COVID-19 pan­demic continuing into its second year, the Conference coordinators had time to prepare for the likelihood of an online format. Among the recommendations made during the Conference were:

• Changing “men and women” in the Preamble to “people.”
• “A Fifth Edition of… Alcoholics Anonymous, be developed;…” “A Fourth Edition of… Alcohólicos Anónimos, be developed…”
• Revise Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions: on p. 117, replace “opposite sex” with “partner;”on p. 66, replace, “No one wants to be angry enough to murder, lustful enough to rape, gluttonous enough to ruin his health” with “No one wants to commit the deadly sins of anger, lust or gluttony.”
• On p. 12 of “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship,” change “… be of the same sex” to “… be avoided whenever a romantic entanglement might arise between sponsor and sponsee.”
• A draft version of the Big Book be translated into plain and simple language.
• Develop a process for polling the General Service Conference between annual meetings, enabling online discussion and debate, broader participation, and greater efficiency.
• Implement a 3-year trial of an Equitable Distribution of Workload Process for the 72nd Conference.
• U.S./Canada recognize online groups and encourage their participation, superseding a 1997 Advisory Action designating online groups as “International Correspondence Meetings.” Form a GSB committee to explore possibilities for participation of online groups in the U.S./Canada dervice structure.”
• Add guardianship of the Twelve Concepts to the Purpose statement of the Current Conference Charter, which already names the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions.