April 15 in A.A. History

1950: Melvin D. “Mel” B. [near right] got sober in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) while hospitalized in his hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. He attended his first 12-step meeting in 1948. Mel was the principal author of Pass It On [far right], A.A.’s authorized biography of co-founder Bill W. In addition, he published over 50 articles in the A.A. Grapevine and wrote at least seven books related to A.A.

1961: The 4th Annual New York A.A. Convention, an “All-Day” event, was held at the Engineering Societies Building [left, on opening day, 1907], located at 29 W. 39th St., New York City. The convention was sponsored by the Southeastern District of the New York State General Service Committee, now known as Area 49, SouthEastern New York (SENY).

Today in A.A. History—April 15–21

1984: The 34th General Service Conference was held at the Roosevelt Hotel [right, 2008] in New York City. Advisory actions included:

4. Cooperation with the professional community news be regularly included in Box 4-5-9, eliminating the P.I.-C.P.C. Bulletin.
8. Correctional facilities news be included in Box 4-5-9, eliminating the need for a separate Correctional Facilities Bulletin.
19. The Bill W―― biography be approved with the title Pass It On.
20. A.A.—The First Fifty Years not be approved.
29. The text of the pamphlet “The A.A. Group” referring to “What’s the difference between a ‘meeting’ and a ‘group’?” (pp. 32-33) be retained, as the text reflects the spirit of local autonomy.
34. The area treasurer from Central and Southeast Ohio be seated as a Conference member, since neither the delegate nor the alternate delegate from that area was able to attend.
37. To encourage Spanish-speaking groups and committees to participate in the general service structure: (a) areas be encouraged to provide room within their structure for Hispanic districts with a bilingual liaison or D.C.M.; (b) assemblies be encouraged to provide G.S.R. schools, seminars, or workshops in Spanish; (c) successful experience with area structure participation by Hispanic groups be shared in Spanish Box 4-5-9; (d) Spanish-speaking A.A.s active in service be encouraged to sponsor new members into service; (e) G.S.O. increase its efforts to provide Spanish service literature; (f) the trustees’ Committee on International Convention/A.A. Regional Forums consider holding a Forum in Puerto Rico.