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and 1949 printings of the Little Red Book, or, more precisely, "The Twelve Steps" and "The Little Red Book."
the early printings of the Little Red Book. All the versions were taken from volumes in my collection.
Twelve-step Discussion meetings for new A.A. members. It proved to be very effective and helpful. Many groups adopted it, using mimeographed copies. The demand for this interpretation in book form from both individuals and groups made printing advisable." This is eight lines long in the book. The next Author's Note is from what must be the first 1947 printing: "The Interpretation of the 12 steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous program was prepared from a series of notes originally used in Twelve Step discussion meetings for new A.A. members. It proved to be very effective and helpful. Many groups adopted it, using mimeographed copies. The demand for the Interpretation in book form from both individuals and groups made printing advisable." This version is ten lines long in the book.
instruction of new A.A. members and as a source of ideas for Twelve-step Discussion meetings. It proved helpful to both new and old members, seeming to create great interest in the simple A.A. fundamentals they too often missed in first reading the Big Book 'ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.' It sent them back to the Big Book and kept them reading it thus establishing a solidarity of understanding of the A.A. Program that was good for the group as a whole. Many groups adopted it using mimeographed copies. The demand for this interpretation in book form from both individuals and groups made printing advisable." Again a single paragraph but seventeen lines long.
notes originally prepared for '12-Steps' instruction to A.A. beginners and as a source of ideas for A.A. discussion meetings. Its distribution is founded on a desire to 'Carry the Message' in recognition of our return to sane living after alcoholism has made life all but impossible. "Many groups, in meeting the A.A. need for instruction of new members, have adopted this brief summarization of the A.A. Recovery Program expounded in the Big Book, 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' as an outline for study of that book. Worthwhile results have followed the inauguration of weekly classes devoted to guidance of new members in their quest for a better understanding of the '12 Steps' as a way of life. "These classes, directed by qualified members, have created a solidarity of understanding within our Fellowship that has been good for the groups as a whole. Consequently, there has been a closer adherence to the Big Book, better understanding and application of its philosophy, more effective sponsorship and a noticeable reduction in slips among our members." Note that this is three paragraphs long and very expanded.
the same as the unstated Third Printing. The title on the half-title pages for the preceding books is "The Twelve Steps." The Author's Note for the unstated Fifth Printing, 1949, is the same for the first two paragraphs. However, the third paragraph is different: "These classes, directed by qualified members, have created a solidarity of understanding within our Fellowship. They have brought a closer adherence to the Big Book, better understanding and application of its philosophy, more effective sponsorship and a noticeable reduction in slips among our members."
Anniversary Edition has a typo in the third paragraph. It has "with" rather than "within" in the first sentence of that paragraph.
prepared for 'Twelve Step' suggestions to A.A. beginners. It lends supplementary aid to the study of the book, 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' and contains many helpful topics for discussion meetings. Its distribution is prompted by a desire to 'Carry the Message to Alcoholics' in appreciation of our reprieve from alcoholic death. "Many groups, in meeting the A.A. need for instruction of new members, have adopted this brief summarization of the A.A. Recovery Program expounded in the Big Book, 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' as an outline for study of that book. Worthwhile results have followed the inauguration of weekly classes devoted to guidance of new members in their quest for a better understanding of the '12 Steps' as a way of life. "These classes, directed by qualified members, have created a solidarity of understanding within our Fellowship. They have brought a closer adherence to the Big Book, better understanding and application of its philosophy, more effective sponsorship and a much higher ratio of sobriety among our members."
half of the first paragraph, leaving the second paragraph unchanged. The last phrase of the third paragraph is changed from "a noticeable reduction in slips among our members" to "a much higher ratio of sobriety among our members." I will leave it to the experts to rationalize the change. The Author's Note to the Seventh Printing, 1951, is identical to the Author's Note for the Sixth Printing. The Author's Note to the Eighth Printing, 1952, is slightly changed from the Author's Note for the Sixth and Seventh: "The Little Red Book evolved from a series of notes originally prepared for 'Twelve Step' suggestions to A.A. beginners. It aids in the study of the book, 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' and contains many helpful topics for discussion meetings. Its distribution is prompted by a desire to 'Carry the Message to Alcoholics' in appreciation of our daily reprieve from alcoholic death. "Many groups, in meeting the A.A. need for instruction of new members, have adopted this brief summarization of the A.A. Recovery Program expounded in the Big Book, 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' as an outline for study of that book. Worthwhile results have followed the inauguration of weekly classes devoted to guidance of new members in their quest for a better understanding of the '12 Steps' As a Way of Life for recovery from alcoholism.
solidarity of understanding within our Fellowship. They have brought a closer adherence to the Big Book, better understanding and application of its philosophy, more effective sponsorship and a much higher ratio of sobriety among our members.
thought and be helpful to the individual A.A. member in arriving at his own successful interpretation of the program." "Little" is capitalized in the first sentence, the second sentence is changed, ". . .recovery from alcoholism" is added to the last sentence of the second paragraph, and a fourth paragraph is added. The Author's Note to the Ninth Printing, 1953 is exactly the same as that for the Eighth. This is a good stopping point. There wasn't an unstated Tenth Printing and printing numbers were assigned starting with the Eleventh Printing. I would note, though, that we have ten different printings here, all different in some respect. Maybe Coll-Webb knew how to count after all!
Interpretations the Twelve Steps From: pamelafro88 . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/28/2010 11:30:00 PM
'1000
copies "Interpretations the Twelve Steps" received - 6d. each' Does anyone know
what this pamphlet/booklet is? Are there any copies still available? - - - - From the moderator: If the date is 1947, it can't be the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book that Bill Wilson published in 1953, also a price of five pence sounds much too low for that big a book. (This is assuming that five pence Australian would have been roughly equivalent to five pence in British pounds sterling, prior to the introduction of the modern Australian decimal currency in 1966.) The most commonly used pamphlet (by far) in AA around that time was one whose
formal title was "Alcoholics Anonymous: An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps."
It had been printed by local AA groups all over the United States starting from
around 1943. It was referred to in different parts of the United States by various names: the Tablemate, the Table Leader's Guide, the Washington DC Pamphlet, the Detroit Pamphlet, and so on. The pamphlets cost 40 cents each from
the Detroit intergroup office several years ago, but would have been much cheaper back in 1947. For an introduction to it, and a copy of it, see: http://hindsfoot.org/detr0.html http://hindsfoot.org/Detr1.html and so on.
entitled
"A Guide to the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous" which was written and printed in Akron, Ohio at some point during the 1940's. For a copy of it, see: http://hindsfoot.org/Akr12.html The Texas Pamphlet was written in Houston, Texas in 1940 but it would seem odd
to refer to it as "Interpretations the Twelve Steps." Nevertheless, see AAHistoryLovers messages 3758 and following for a copy of that, if you'd like to look at it: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/3758 Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana, US) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6360. . . . . . . . . . . . Draft Copies: books about drink From: Charlie C . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/25/2010 7:56:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Sorry, but just couldn't resist - abebooks.com, the major internet used book site, has in their current newlestter the theme of "Draft Copies: Books about Drink." So yes, a history of US beer cans 1930-1980 etc., lol., but also some titles related to sobriety, e.g. Peabody's "The Common Sense of Drinking." You can see the newsletter by going to abebooks.com and scrolling down on the left to "Recently Featured," or here is the direct link : http://www.abebooks.com/books/author-alcohol-drunk-kingsley-amis/cocktail-dr inki\
Charlie C. IM = route20guy IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6361. . . . . . . . . . . . The Little Red Books published now by BN Publishing? From: Dougbert . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/1/2010 6:53:00 PM
What I see different is that this copy is published by Hazelden. I also see you can buy new copies of The Little Red Bood published by BN Publishing, but I have not done a page by page audit of the two books to determine what changed.
Little Red Book themselves, under the sponsorship of the Nicollet Group in Minneapolis. They called themselves the "Coll-Webb Co., Publishers" from their
two last names. Roughly around the time of Ed Webster's death on June 3, 1971, the Hazelden Foundation took over publishing it -- see http://hindsfoot.org/ed02.html -- and then for many years Hazelden was given as the publisher. The current Amazon.com listing for The Little Red Book, however, now has on the
copyright page: Copyright 2007 BN Publishing www.bnpublishing.net This may be a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, but I cannot determine this for sure. See http://www.bn.com/ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6362. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Rockhill Recording: A Talk With Bill
From: aalogsdon@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/26/2010 12:06:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The three red 1947 recordings I have bear the same information plus Rockhill Radio. No speed is indicated in the space shown for speed. I have a later recording LAST MAJOR TALK OF "DR BOB" which shows Rockhill Recording made by Rockhill Radio, 18 East 50 Street, New York City, Plaza 9-7979. Speed shown as 33 RPM. It is black in color. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6363. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Pamphlet/booklet called Interpretations the Twelve Steps From: bevflk@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/1/2010 12:29:00 PM
Dougbert, and Glenn C.: - - - - The original message 6359 from (pamelafro at bigfoot.com) in Australia said: have just come across a reference in Australian AA archives that in 1947 '1000 copies "Interpretations the Twelve Steps" received - 6d. each' Does anyone know what this pamphlet/booklet is? Are there any copies still available?
it there, ok. I hope this helps you out. For an introduction to this pamphlet and a copy of it, see: http://hindsfoot.org/detr0.html http://hindsfoot.org/Detr1.html and so on. - - - - From: David Jones (jonesd926 at aol.com) Try these links: http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/history/tablemat.html http://aaitems.com/An_Interpretation_of_Alcoholics_Anonymous_Program_of_the_ The_\
God bless Dave
From the moderator: The first link is to one of the many online copies of the Detroit Pamphlet which
Beverly mentioned above, also called the Washington DC Pamphlet, the Tablemate, the Table Leader's Guide, etc.
message below. - - - - From john wikelius (justjohn1431946 at yahoo.com) and Dougbert (dougbert8 at yahoo.com) That is the original name for the Little Red Blook first published in 1946. They
are still around but purchase price is up there. Could this be a foreign export of The Little Red Book? - - - - From the moderator: See my comment in the previous message. In 1947 Australia was still using a currency based on and tied to the British system of pounds, shillings, and pence. Wikipedia says: "In 1940, an agreement with the U.S.A. pegged the pound to the U.S. dollar at a rate of 1 pound = 4.03 dollars. This rate was maintained through the Second World War and became part of the Bretton Woods system which governed post-war
exchange rates. Under continuing economic pressure, and despite months of denials that it would do so, on 19 September 1949 the government devalued the pound by 30.5% to $2.80. The move prompted several other currencies to be devalued against the dollar." At 240 pence to a pound, a penny would have been worth 1.68 cents in U.S. currency. If the booklet in question was being sold in Australia for five pence, that would have been 8.40 cents in U.S. currency. I do not know the price for which Ed Webster's Little Red Book was being sold in
1946 and 1947, but I can hardly imagine them being able to sell a book that big
for only eight and a half cents a copy. In terms of what the U.S. dollar was worth in the mid 1940's, eight and a half cents was a pamphlet, not book. Can Tommy Hickcox or anybody tell us what The Little Red Book was sold for in its 1946 and 1947 printings? Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana, U.S.) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6364. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Pamphlet/booklet called Interpretations the Twelve Steps From: Tom Hickcox . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2/2010 12:10:00 AM
to Ed Webster dated August 26th 1947 referencing a price for The Little Red Book of $1.50.
the 11th Printing 1955 or 12th 1957, the price on the jacket for both The Little Red Book and Stools and Bottles was $2.35. This appears to have been raised to $2.50 for the 13th Printing 1959. Tommy H in Baton Rouge - - - - The original message 6359 from (pamelafro at bigfoot.com) in Australia said: have just come across a reference in Australian AA archives that in 1947 '1000 copies "Interpretations the Twelve Steps" received - 6d. each' Does anyone know what this pamphlet/booklet is? Are there any copies still available?
penny
would have been worth 1.68 cents in U.S. currency. >If the booklet in question was being sold in Australia for six >pence, that would have been 10 cents in U.S. currency. > >I do not know the price for which Ed Webster's Little Red Book was >being sold in 1946 and 1947, but I can hardly imagine them being >able to sell a book that big for only ten cents a copy. >In terms of what the U.S. dollar was worth in the mid 1940's, ten cents was a pamphlet, not book. > >Can Tommy Hickcox or anybody tell us what The Little Red Book was >sold for in its 1946 and 1947 printings? > >Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana, U.S.) > IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6365. . . . . . . . . . . . Times and places of AA Meetings in April 1939 From: schaberg43 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2/2010 12:25:00 PM
there were only TWO meetings established - one in Akron and one in Brooklyn. Can anyone confirm this? And, if true, can anyone tell me on what nights those two meeting actually met?
Old Bill IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6366. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Times and places of AA Meetings in April 1939 From: Arthur S . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2/2010 5:51:00 PM
meetings. Akron meetings were on Wednesday night at T Henry and Clarace Williams' house on 676 Palisades Dr in Akron, Ohio. NY meetings were at Bill and Lois' home, 182 Clinton St, Brooklyn NY on Tuesday nights. Near the end of April 1939, Bill and Lois were evicted from their home. For a time NY meetings were held at Bert T's tailor shop (and possibly some other locations). In February 1940, the first clubhouse was rented at 334 ½ W 24th St in NY City and meetings were held there. In early May 1939, led by pioneer member Clarence S, the Cleveland members announced that they would meet separately from Akron and the Oxford Group at the home of Grace and Abby G at 2345 Stillman Rd, Cleveland Heights in Cleveland. In October 1939, Akron members severed their ties to the Oxford Group. Meetings then moved to Dr Bob's house. In January 1940, Akron meetings moved to King School on Wednesday night.
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 11:25 AM To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com Subject: Times and places of AA Meetings in April 1939 I have long been told that when the Big Book was published in April of 1939, there were only TWO meetings established - one in Akron and one in Brooklyn. Can anyone confirm this? And, if true, can anyone tell me on what nights those two meeting actually met?
Old Bill IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6367. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Times and places of AA Meetings in April 1939 From: J. Lobdell . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2/2010 6:07:00 PM
Wednesday evening, which is the evening on which the King School Group still meets in Akron. The First Big Book Sold was signed by Bill at Clinton St the night of publication (given by Library of Congress as April 10 1939, a Monday), but Ginny
M's notation suggests to me (though not strongly) that the meeting at which the
next signatures were added was not that night, and I have a dim recollection of hearing that the Clinton St. meetings were on Tuesday. But that's open to correction and it could have been Monday -- and it could have varied, or they
could have gotten together on publication night. Or Bill could have gotten the
copies the next day for a regular Tuesday meeting. Or ... The Akron Meeting was
evidently on Wednesday, though I don't know if that's held for all 75 years. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6368. . . . . . . . . . . . Let it begin with me From: Michael . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2/2010 9:09:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII In AA Comes of Age they talk about opening the meeting at Denver 1975 International Convention with "let it Begin with Me."
Denver, CO, 1975 by Nancy O.
of each country was called over the public address system, spotlights shown on the flag, and, with music from the country (perhaps its national anthem) being played, its flag was carried down the aisle and onto the stage."
each
flag bearer stepped up to the microphone and repeated the conference theme, "Let
It Begin With Me," in his or her native language." But also see the Al-Anon Declaration, where the phrase "Let it begin with me"
also occurs: http://www.ncwsa.org/Docs/FAQ/Al-Anon_Info_On_Declaration.pdf IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6369. . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Clinton Street Now For Sale From: Bill Lash . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2010 8:16:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 182 Clinton Street (where Bill & Lois W. lived when he got sober) is currently for sale: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/nyregion/14fyi.html IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6370. . . . . . . . . . . . Author of AA pamphlet -- A Member''s Eye View
From: dad_s0n . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2010 11:53:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII A MEMBER'S EYE VIEW I was asked about 20 minutes ago did I know who the author of that pamphlet was
(or the person whose talk it is of). I have no idea but some feel because I have
a little knowledge of AA's roots that I may have answers to a lot more. Hope you fellas and gals can help me with this one as well. David (27 years sober and loving it.) - - - - From the moderator G.C. For a read-only copy of the pamphlet see: http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-41_amemberseyeviewofaa.pdf This is AAWS conference pamphlet P-41 "A Member's Eye View of Alcoholics Anonymous." At the beginning it says: "The author of this paper delivered it first before a class on alcoholism counseling at one of our large universities. A.A. World Services, Inc. wishes to thank him for his generous permission to reprint and distribute this talk." In the talk, he says on page 10 that Bill W. and Dr. Bob met one another "33 years ago," so 33 + 1935 means that the talk was given in 1968. Dr. Bob was dead by that time, but as the pamphlet says on page 7, Bill W. was still living. The author of the pamphlet says that he first came to A.A. "more than 16 years ago" (see page 27, also page 26) which means c. 1952. This means he would have come into the program just a little after people like
Searcy W. (in Dallas), Sgt. Bill S. (The Psychology of Alcoholism), and Mel B. (who is such a valued member of the AAHistoryLovers). LET US BE MINDFUL AT ALL TIMES OF THE PRINCIPLE OF ANONYMITY. The AAHistoryLovers is a public forum. We must use the same guidelines that would be used for an article or (if the person is dead) for an obituary in your local newspaper.
Alexander [Lazaroff] From: jlobdell54 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/2/2010 11:01:00 AM
16 2010 in his 89th year. He was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh in 1943, a Captain in WW2, and a graduate of Harvard Law in 1949. More to our point, he was the Emeritus Class A Trustee of AA who was New York's institutional memory going back to his days as a young(er) attorney with Bern
Smith; he was the friend who brought Bill W the copy of Tocqueville's DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA that informed the Twelve Concepts (but he told me it wasn't his copy); he was a longtime Trustee and past Chairman of the Board; and he was an unfailingly courteous answerer of historical questions (and I sat next to him at dinners as often as I could). Michael Alexander -- Thanks! Requiescat in Pace.
in April 1939 From: Sober186@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/3/2010 2:45:00 PM
Kings School AA meetings or Oxford Group meetings attended by some drying out drunks?
now by BN Publishing? From: Tom Hickcox . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2010 7:43:00 PM
x 9", 88 pages long, with a bright red paperback cover with the title "The Little Red Book" in white letters. It is published and copyrighted by Wilder Publications. However, its text is very close to the Hazelden book.
The First Harper and Row Edition published in 1987. It is the same general size as the smaller version has been since Hazelden started publishing it in the middle 1960s. The first Hazelden sticker in a Coll-Webb series LRB was in a 21st Printing, 1967.
Dedication. Its Table of Contents is expanded compared with the Hazelden/Harper.
almost exactly the same. The Wilder book does not have most of the footnotes and those it has are incorporated into the text rather than being at the bottom of the page. Most of the footnotes suggest that the reader read portions of the Big Book. There was one footnote left out that I think is important, and that is found at the bottom of p. 125 in the Hazelden/Harper book. It doesn't reference the quote taken from Fritz Mayo's story, "Our Southern Friend." Many of the paragraphs thru the Hazelden/Harper book have been broken into two paragraphs in the Wilder book, but the text was not changed. The Wilder book lacks "Questions and Answers" and "We Don't Have To - But!" So, the Wilder book is an approximation of The Little Red Book that AFAIK Hazelden still publishes, lacking some important parts as well as most foot notes, which usually suggest a portion of the Big Book to be read before reading that part of The Little Red Book. I would have thought Hazelden's copyright would preclude books like this. Tommy H in Baton Rouge - - - - From: James Bliss (james.bliss at comcast.net) One additional item to note about this is that it is not a 1957 edition. Hazelden used 1957 date for many of the copies published since they acquired the rights in 1971.
> >I have just purchased a very nice copy of The Little Red Book, 1957 >edition. What I see different is that this copy is published by Hazelden. > >I also see you can buy new copies of The Little Red Bood published >by BN Publishing, but I have not done a page by page audit of the >two books to determine what changed. > >Why would Hazelden give up such a good historical document? > >Dougbert > >- - - -
> > >From the moderator: > >Minneapolis AA members Ed Webster and Barry Collins originally >published The Little Red Book themselves, under the sponsorship of >the Nicollet Group in Minneapolis. They called themselves the >"Coll-Webb Co., Publishers" from their two last names. > >Roughly around the time of Ed Webster's death on June 3, 1971, the >Hazelden Foundation took over publishing it -- see >http://hindsfoot.org/ed02.html -- and then for many years Hazelden >was given as the publisher. > >The current Amazon.com listing for The Little Red Book, however, now >has on the copyright page: > >Copyright 2007 BN Publishing >www.bnpublishing.net > >This may be a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble, but I cannot determine >this for sure. See http://www.bn.com/ >
++++Message 6374. . . . . . . . . . . . Beginners lessons: 4D Big Book studies
From: Robert Stonebraker . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/22/2010 11:40:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I first met members of the Fourth Dimension Group at a meeting in a small office at 350 Royal Palm Way, Palm Beach, Florida in 1985. On this occasion the chairperson, a tough looking ex-football player, Del H., told me to shut my mouth or get out the door! Actually, the language was a bit more basic than that, but I continue to thank God for the good sense that allowed me to remain in that room and begin listening. I had been reading the Big Book regularly throughout my nine years of sobriety, but had not properly studied it; therefore, was living in great ignorance. Del had been attending meetings Texas, but not staying sober; then he started STUDYING the Big Book on his own, thereby learning an effective AA program of action. Living in the spirit of said information kept him sober till his death in the 1990s. The not-so-big meeting (maybe 15 members) placed emphasis on Big Book solutions for the ones who kept getting drunk, as well as newcomers. The members were taught to read out loud at the meetings from the part of the basic text which was applicable to their current situation or problem. Del was adamant concerning not ever telling the seeker the answer - he was supposed to read it aloud at the meeting . This great method made the answer sink in: deep and clear!
shop near an unused nearby real estate office and work them through the 12-Step process in about twelve hours. UNHEARD OF! But yet it worked so well that the group grew by leaps and bounds, and other once-antagonistic groups began sending their hard cases. But after Del's demise, the group eventually folded. In 1987 the modus operandi changed when yours truly started a somewhat similar style meeting in Santa Monica, California. This new group became a systematic: "teaching-line-and-verse-directly-from-the-Big Book-style-meeting," but this was no longer a 'problem solving' meeting. We studied through page 103 in about thirteen weeks, then started over again.
In 1989, my new wife, Deanna and I started a near same format AA meeting in Richmond, Indiana. These meetings were no fun meetings, e.g., no experience, strength or hope, nor were [are] opinions allowed. No fun!! We teach and the audience listens! Yes, but members did come! About 20 of these meetings in now exist in NYC, California, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
early Florida meetings in the mid 1980s, Then, Yours Truly, started the current 'teaching style' Fourth Dimension Group Meetings in 1987. For further Fourth Dimension Group information, meeting handouts, AA recordings, 4D meeting schedule [incomplete], popular AA websites and much more, go to: http://www.4dgroups.org
Florida founder, Del H., available upon request. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6375. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Early AA beginners lessons From: jenny andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . 2/22/2010 5:40:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII From tcumming and jennylaurie: - - - - From: t The first two paragraphs .... does that make any sense? If the AA's in Cleveland were being stretched so thin answering those "many hundreds of pleas for help"
just how much time could they devote to "actively pursuing drunks" off barstools and street corners? Yeah, I know that a lot of those pleas were from family members rather than the drunks themselves [who might have been on stools or street corners], but my take on the history of that time is that as soon as that
was determined, the AAs moved on to other prospects that were at their bottom
and wanting to quit drinking ... not needing to be dragged to the meetings. I am sure it did happen some, but probably not that different than today. Newly
sober member gets enthusiastic about the program and goes out trying to 'save'
his old drinking buddies/family members .... AND IT WORKS!!!! either the buddy
starts coming to meeting too, or more often, they both go out and get drunk together again. ______________________________
Clarence
S. and the guys went out actively pursuing drunks and brought them off bar stools and street corners. We don't do that today, but we were doing it back then [late 1930's and 1940's]. And it worked!" "In early 1940, when there were about 1,000 members of AA, more than half were from Cleveland. The book 'AA Comes of Age' talks about it on pages 20 and 21: 'It was soon evident that a scheme of personal sponsorship would have to be devised for the new people. Each prospect was assigned an older AA, who visited
him at his home or in the hospital, instructed him on AA principles, and conducted him to his first meeting.' So even back in the early days the sponsor was taking the sponsee to meetings and getting together with him, rather than having the sponsee track the sponsor down. 'AA Comes of Age' continues by saying, 'But in the face of many hundreds of pleas for help, the supply of elders could not possibly match the demand. Brand-new AA's, sober only a month or even a week, had to sponsor alcoholics still drying up in hospitals.'" ______________________________ Probably just me, but this article comes off as a bad sales pitch that I've heard too many times -- Old AA was so much better than New AA ... New AA is just plain lazy, and lets treatment centers do all it's work, people in the New AA just won't help the poor suffering alcoholic. And come to think of it, didn't a certain series of articles in the Cleveland paper have 'just a little' bit to do with that flood of hundreds of pleas for help? The article goes on to say in the fourth paragraph: ______________________________ "During the winter of 1941 the Crawford Group (founded in February 1941) organized a separate group to help newcomers through the Steps. By the first issue of the Cleveland Central Bulletin, October 1942, the Crawford 'Beginners' Class' was listed as a separate meeting. And in the second issue, in November
1942, there was an article entitled 'Crawford Men's Training.' This refers to possibly the first 'Beginners' Class.' 'The Crawford Men's Training System has been highly acclaimed to many. Old AA's are asked to come to these meetings with or without new prospects, where new prospects will be given individual attention just as though they were in a hospital .... it was during that detox that sometimes ten and twenty AA members came to visit the new person. And each hour
the prospect was awake he would hear someone's story -- over and over again ....
'The Miles Group reports they have enjoyed unusual success with their training
meetings. The newcomer is not permitted to attend a regular AA meeting until he has been given a thorough knowledge of the work' .... You didn't just sit there -- you had already completed the steps when you went to your first AA meeting. 'From 15 to 20 participate at each training meeting and new members are thoroughly indoctrinated'" .... etc., etc. ______________________________ In these quotes, the author of this talk is saying that the participants in the
Beginner Classes "WORKED / COMPLETED" the Steps ... yet the quotes he gives from
each of those Beginner Classes use the terms: **given individual attention **hear someone's story **given a thorough knowledge of the work **thoroughly indoctrinated **more advantageously present the Twelve Steps **discussed **for the purpose of acquainting
from
the individual Beginner Meeting sources use terms more in line with introducing, presenting, discussing and studying the 12 Steps ... so the newcomer will be given a fair understanding of what will need to be done to learn how to live sober while practicing the AA program. I just don't see any of them presenting their Beginner Meetings as a way to WORK or COMPLETE the 12 Steps in their few
weeks together. The letter from Bobbie B., Bill W.'s secretary, says (about these pamphlets used
for beginners lessons) that "very few have caused any controversy." And "Ruth
recalled that the classes were discontinued in the mid-1950s as the result of the publication of the book 'Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions' by Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing Inc. In the Miami area the 'Twelve and Twelve' replaced both the 'Big Book' and the 'Little Red Book' and 'Step Studies' replaced the
'Beginners' Classes.' In the process, the period for taking the Steps was expanded and modified from 4 weeks to somewhere in between 12 and 16 weeks." My own perspective as to why the Beginner's classes died away is very different, and has to do with creating controversy, and the adoption of our 12 Traditions. The "controversy" part ... when the Grapevine started publishing those articles
on 4 areas where Beginner's Classes were held... well, some were followed up in the Letters to the Editor column ... and not always with glowing recommendations [check our group archives for back in 2005 I think, the original GV articles and the follow-up Letters were posted to this group]. The "12 Traditions" part ... in most places the Beginner Classes were being used as an introduction to the AA program and unfortunately, were REQUIRED to be completed before a new member could join AA by attending regular meetings. After the Traditions were adopted [and the 12&12 was published] it became really hard to reconcile required Beginner Classes with our Third Tradition... "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking." NOT attending 4-6 Beginner classes, with or without other requirements included in various parts of the country such as having a sponsor vouch for you, passing a qualifying interview with a supervising board, COMPLETING all 12 Steps, etc. I just can't imagine requiring someone to go to classes and complete all 12 steps before they could join AA. And I can only imagine how many may have rushed to complete the steps in only 4 weeks and then decided that they didn't need AA ... after all hadn't they finished the Steps and got sober? - what more did AA have to offer. To a 30-day-sober brain that might well have made some sort of sense.
jenny andrews (jennylaurie1 at hotmail.com) These "boot camps" seem much more structured and prescriptive than the account in the Big Book (A Vision for You), viz: "... though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves for others. They shared their homes, their slender resources, and gladly devoted
their spare hours to fellow-sufferers. They were willing, by day or night, to place a new man (sic) in hospital and visit him afterward... A year and six months later these three had succeeded with seven more. Seeing much of each other, scarce an evening passed that someone's home did not shelter a little gathering of men and women, happy in their release, and constantly thinking how
they might present their discovery to some newcomers. In addition to these casual get-togethers, it became customary to set apart one night of the week for a meeting to be attended by anyone or everyone interested in a spiritual way of life. Aside from the fellowship and sociability, the prime object was to provide time and place where new people might bring their problems ... Many a distracted wife has visited this house to find loving and understanding companionship among women who knew her problem, to hear from the lips of their husbands what had happened to them, to be advised how her own mate might be hospitalized and approached when next he stumbled. Many a man, yet dazed from the hospital experience, has stepped over the threshold into freedom. Many an alcoholic who
entered there came away with an answer. He succumbed to that gay crowd inside,
who laughed at their own misfortunes and understood his. Impressed by those who
visited him at the hospital, he capitulated entirely when, later, in an upper
room .... he heard the story of some man whose experience closely tallied with
his own ... The very practical approach to his problems, the absence of intolerance of any kind, the informality (emphasis added), the genuine democracy, the uncanny understanding which these people had were irresistible ... Under only slightly different conditions, the same thing is taking place in many eastern cities ..." - - - - Original message no. 6348: EARLY AA BEGINNERS LESSONS http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/6348 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6376. . . . . . . . . . . . Wytheville, Virginia -- Old Man Vaughn
From: Jason Clemons . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2010 3:35:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I am seeking any information on the origins of AA in and around Wytheville, Virginia. There was a recent celebration of the 59th anniversary of the Wytheville Group (Feb. 9th) and there were rumors that the group was founded by one of the Vaughn brothers who were responsible for a booming furniture business
Jason Clemons -- Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood with all men and women, of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating adventure. Jason Clemons 601 B Washington Street Blacksburg, VA 24060 (h) (540)552-3819 (c) (540)230-4329
Member''s Eye View From: Arthur S . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2010 7:53:00 AM
Allan McG of Southern California Info below is from Bob P's unpublished history of AA: "A Member's-Eye View of Alcoholics Anonymous," one of the most powerful and popular pamphlets in the AA library, almost never saw the light of day. Trustee Bayard P, an executive with a large advertising agency in New York, while on a business trip to California with his wife, Majorie (also active in the program), look up an old associate at the agency (and fellow AA member), Allan McG. (Parenthetically, past trustee George D remembers Allan McG as a leader in Southern California AA when he joined in 1961, and says of him, "He was the most interesting man I ever met, the most stimulating. He was brilliantly articulate and touched many, many people.") When Allan met Bayard and Marjorie P for dinner, he mentioned to them that he was making his annual speech about Alcoholics Anonymous to a class at UCLA which he had done for a number of years They asked him if he had a manuscript of the talk, which he later showed them; it was called "A Members Eye View of AA" "We were absolutely thrilled by it," recalls Bayard. "It was the best thing of the kind we'd ever read, and we asked Allan's permission to take it back to New York and see if it could be an AA publication. Which we did." Cheers Arthur IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6378. . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Elizabeth Beckman From: michellemirza@ymail.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2010 12:11:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hello! Anyone ever came across the name "Dr. Elizabeth Beckman?" She was a pioneer in the field of Psychology (1940s)and may have taught at a University in Peensylvania. I was told that one of her students was inspired by her work and went on to become one of our early pioneers in a particular city. Any clue? Your help is greatly appreciated. M IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6379. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: The Little Red Books published now by BN Publishing? From: James Bliss . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2010 6:42:00 PM
http://www.hazelden.org/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=3831&sitex=10020:2 2372\
match the date Tom lists for the first sticker. I would be interested in the copyright in the front of the BN version of the Little Red Book, the year and what it says. Jim IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6380. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Author of AA pamphlet -- A Member''s Eye View From: Charles Knapp . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/4/2010 7:21:00 PM
John Schram, and Gary Becktell. - - - - From: Charles Knapp (cpknapp at yahoo.com) Hello, Allen McG., from Southern California (Area 5) authored this pamphlet. He gave
an annual talk to some class at UCLA. Around 1968 or 1969 a trustee from New York was visiting California and met Allen McG. Allen mentioned to the trustee about his annual talk and showed him a copy of his speech entitled "A Member's View of AA." The Trustee was very impressed and asked if he could take it back to New York and show it to the Conference Literature Committee. It was very well received with one exception -- it was only one person's view.
Nevertheless it was submitted and approved by the 1970 General Service Conference. My information came from notes I made off of a tape of Allen. I do not have his sobriety date, but he did say on tape that he placed only one
condition on the use of his speech. He asked that nothing be changed from his
original talk. I do not know if his wish was granted, but there is a small disclaimer at the beginning of the pamphlet that makes me believe it was. I am no longer in So Cal, but maybe some one there can shed more light on this
member and his talk. Hope this helps. Charles in Wisconsin - - - - From Don B. According to Tex Brown in Chicago, the author was Alan McG. I knew Tex a long time. His sobriety date was February 1948 and he was 53 years
sober when he died. He had been to every International, including Cleveland. When he told you something you could take it to the bank. I spent a lot of time with him, he was a good friend of Tom Powers and many of the real old timers. Don B. Panel 53 Area 19 Chicago Past Delegate
(lasenby327 at surfree.com) and "Gary Becktell" (gk at kitcarson.net) Alan McGinnis wrote "A Member's Eye View Of Alcoholics Anonymous." IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6381. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: The Little Red Books published now by BN Publishing? From: Tom Hickcox . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2010 10:38:00 PM
>http://www.hazelden.org/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=3831&sitex=10020: 2237\
> >Interesting that they list the year published as 1967. But, this would >match the date Tom lists for the first sticker. > >I would be interested in the copyright in the >front of the BN version of the Little Red Book, the year and what it says. I think there is a bit of confusion starting with the original question. It looks as if the book was listed on the BN web site, which apparently has nothing to do with Barnes & Noble. The books listed are sold thru Amazon, which is how I bought the book.
Publications. Following this is the statements: "This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today. Parents might wish to discuss with their children how views on race have changed before allowing them to read this classic work.
States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations for review purposes only." Wilder Publications, Inc. PO Box 243 Blacksburg, VA 24060
ISBN 13: 978-60459-948-0 I am not competent to comment on the legalities here, but I assume Hazelden still holds the copyright to The Little Red Book. Wilder gives them no credit yet their book is a direct copy. Coll-Webb came up with a new copyright when they had to update The Little Red Book when the Second Edition Big Book came out with different pagination. That copyright was in 1957 and was used until another copyright was issued in 1975, this time to Hazelden. There are a lot of listings on eBay for the "1957 Edition."
came out in the middle '60s as the Hazelden address has a zip code and there isn't an ISBN number for the book. Zip codes came out in 1963 and ISBNs in 1968. Hazelden put their sticker in the 1967 Coll-Webb Little Red Book, the 21st Printing. I had not seen their claim that they started publishing it in 1967, but, as James says, that date fits. Tommy H in Baton Rouge IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6382. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Author of AA pamphlet -- A Member''s Eye View From: Bill Lash . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/7/2010 8:26:00 AM
like to hear him speak, he used to do this really great Beginners' Workshop. A copy of the 5-CD set of one of these Beginners' Workshops he did in Brentwood CA in July 1968 can be purchased by going to http://www.justloveaudio.com/audio_store.php?audio=aa & searching under his name. The topics he talks about on this CD set are: CD #1 - What is the point of my staying sober? CD #2 - Is it necessary to have a spiritual experience? CD #3 - What are the old ideas and how do you let go of them? CD #4 - After the old ideas, then what? CD #5 - Recap
From: Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/8/2010 11:58:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I remember seeing a schedule of royalties received, by person, by year, for all
the AA publications. I thought I saw it on this site, but I searched and just couldn't find it. Does
anybody know where I would find that? Thanks, Tomv IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6384. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: 182 Clinton Street Now For Sale From: Michael Oates . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2010 8:58:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Will there be a drive to buy it like Dr. Bob's 855 Ardmore home? It is one of the greatest gifts for me to know that I have purpose beyond myself. Michael S. Oates D.O.S. 09-23-1993 - - - - From: Bent Christensen (bent_christensen5 at yahoo.com) I'm in for $100 if someone will open this for the public :-) Bent Christensen Valmuevej 17 6000 Kolding Tlf. 50 12 17 43 Bemærk nyt nummer! http://www.pass-it-on.dk/ http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/StoreBog_studie/ (From GC the moderator: that Yahoo group is a Danish Big Book study group. "Store Bog" is Danish for Big Book.)
in April 1939 From: J. Lobdell . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/5/2010 9:46:00 AM
> Kings School AA meetings or Oxford Group meetings > attended by some drying out drunks? > > Asked by Jim L. from Columbus, Ohio. - - - - From: "J. Lobdell" (jlobdell54 at hotmail.com) As I understand it, the meetings at Henrietta's were OG meetings; those at Bob's
house may be considered AA meetings even when (if) they were officially OG meetings. - - - - From: "Arthur S" (arthur.s at live.com) They were both up to October 1939 when meetings moved to Dr Bob's house. Later
due to their size meetings moved to King School in January 1940. The meetings at T Henry and Clarace Williams home were Oxford Group meetings and
reputedly continued up to 1954. When the meetings were at the Williams' home, alcoholics and their spouses usually attended together. After a certain point the alcoholics ("the alcoholic squad") would go to a separate part of the house and meet together by themselves and with prospects - this was the origin of closed meetings. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 6386. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Author of AA pamphlet -- A Member s Eye View From: James Bliss . . . . . . . . . . . . 3/9/2010 5:47:00 PM
http://www.xa-speakers.org/ and search for Allen McG - - - - Bill Lash wrote: > > The author of the pamphlet "A Member's Eye View" is Allen McG. If you would > like to hear him speak, he used to do this really great Beginners' Workshop. > A copy of the 5-CD set of one of these Beginners' Workshops he did in > Brentwood CA in July 1968 can be purchased by going to > http://www.justloveaudio.com/audio_store.php?audio=aa > Yüklə 25,47 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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