Aa history Lovers 2004 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page
part of the United States (possibly Florida) was selling memberships. He
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| part of the United States (possibly Florida) was selling memberships. He
wasn't
keeping the money. He sent it to the Alcoholic Foundation or whatever it was at the time. His reasoning was that people were more inclined to value something that costs them money. Can anyone confirm this, possibly with a supporting reference? From what the speaker said, it sounded like there was documentation in the form of letters that were exchanged at the time. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1860. . . . . . . . . . . . Conference Approved Literature From: Roseanne Schofield . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/14/2004 9:20:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little information and thought maybe one of you may be able to help. The question arose in one of our groups recently as to whether or not the use of non-conference approved literature by those in the Program was acceptable, or if it constituted a violation of of AA principles. I seem to recall having read something about the use of conference approved literature by AA members--it may have been in a newsletter or at this site, but I searched previous postings and didn't find anything. Did Bill W. speak or write about this in his later years or do you know of any relevant articles? Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Roseanne S. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1861. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Conference Approved Literature From: Mel Barger . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/15/2004 7:20:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi Roseanne and Friends, As author of both conference-approved and non-approved literature, I have a special interest in this matter. As far as I know, it's never been stated that we shouldn't read "outside" material. After all, don't we live in a country that has a First Amendment permitting us to read what we want to read? As I understand it, conference-approved came into being to assure that all members would understand just what AA's position was on various issues, etc. Unfortunately, some members do take this to mean that we should read only conference-approved material. Here in Toledo, the groups are very rigid on this issue and don't even offer that marvelous gem, Twenty-Four Hours a Day. Our Central Office sells only conference-approved material, when they could actually raise more money (and pay our secretary a decent salary) if they sold other books. I am very grateful that I spent my first months in sobriety in Pontiac, Mich., where the group offered Emmet Fox's "The Sermon on the Mount" and other items that have been very helpful to me over the years. Incidentally, an early Akron Manual put together with the help of Dr. Bob listed about ten books that were considered helpful. None of them are on today's conference-approved list, but they are excellent for our uses. Dr. Bob was especially keen on recommending Henry Drummond's "The Greatest Thing in the World" and said it would change your life if you would read it for thirty days.
With the help of Glenn Chesnutt, I am publishing a book that includes both "As A Man Thinketh" and "The Greatest Thing in the World, " along with the St. Francis Prayer and commentary. Mel Barger ~~~~~~~~ Mel Barger melb@accesstoledo.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Roseanne Schofield To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 10:20 PM Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Conference Approved Literature Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little information and thought maybe one of you may be able to help. The question arose in one of our groups recently as to whether or not the use of non-conference approved literature by those in the Program was acceptable, or if it constituted a violation of of AA principles. I seem to recall having read something about the use of conference approved literature by AA members--it may have been in a newsletter or at this site, but I searched previous postings and didn't find anything. Did Bill W. speak or write about this in his later years or do you know of any relevant articles? Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Roseanne S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This message was scanned by GatewayDefender [4] 7:01:41 AM ET - 6/15/2004 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1862. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Conference Approved Literature From: Mary . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/15/2004 9:05:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Roseanne, There is an unconscious movement to make the term "Conference Approved" mean something that it does not mean. The simple summary of "Conference Approval" is that it is literature written for AA that has been voted on in General Service Conference meetings as representing the thinking of the majority of (US and Canadian) AA groups. It is not a representation that the literature is more right than other literature, only that it does not create substantial disagreement within AA and represents the thinking of AA as a whole. There is other literature, equally revered either locally or internationally, that cannot be "Conference Approved" because it was not written for AA and is either public domain or the copyright is owned by some private source. A general statement that applies is that there is no such thing as "Conference Dis-Approved" literature. All literature is fair grist for AA groups. Within AA history we have the use of the Bible (cf., Anne's morning readings with Bill and Bob), The Upper Room - a periodical meditation pamphlet that I believe was put out by the Episcopal or some other church, "24 Hours A Day" privately written and now owned by the Hazelton Foundation. There is a pamphlet reputed to have been written in Akron and published under the title "A Guide To the 12 Steps" that is not copyrighted and is published by various sources that has seen much use in discussion meetings but is not "Conference Approved" and probably will never be due to its parochial nature. All of these, and more, have at some time been part of various AA groups format for meetings and/or been used by individuals to augment their recovery from alcoholism. There is no point in using the term "Conference Approved" to imply that some literature is acceptable and other literature is not. The stamp just means that in gatherings and votes of our delegates, substantial agreement has been reached about the content and that no minority viewpoint has been trampled upon. The most valuable part of "Conference Approved" on literature is in using it as a source when expressing a viewpoint about AA to non-AAs. If the viewpoint is not in the stamped literature, it is probably a personal opinion and does not represent AA as a whole. That doesn't make personal opinion wrong, only that it is not held in common and it would not be fair to say that "AA says....." Mary, In Michigan ----- Original Message ----- From: Roseanne Schofield To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 10:20 PM Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Conference Approved Literature Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little information and thought maybe one of you may be able to help. The question arose in one of our groups recently as to whether or not the use of non-conference approved literature by those in the Program was acceptable, or if it constituted a violation of of AA principles. I seem to recall having read something about the use of conference approved literature by AA members--it may have been in a newsletter or at this site, but I searched previous postings and didn't find anything. Did Bill W. speak or write about this in his later years or do you know of any relevant articles? Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Roseanne S. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1863. . . . . . . . . . . . AA''s Anonymity Keeps Focus On Cause From: JKNIGHTBIRD@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/15/2004 6:10:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Posted on Fri, Jun. 11, 2004 A.A.'s anonymity keeps focus on cause Tradition more about protecting movement than those who fear exposure By Paula Schleis Beacon Journal staff writer Rob, Gail, Bob, Jay and Harmon make no secret they are alcoholics, and the fact that you won't find their last names or photos with this story has nothing to do with shyness or shame. As volunteers with this weekend's Founders Day activities -- the annual celebration of the forming of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935 -- their faces and phone numbers will circulate widely. But A.A. takes the ``anonymous'' part of its name very seriously -- and not just for the reasons you might think. While a promise of confidentiality is critical in reaching people who fear exposure, A.A.'s strict tradition of anonymity is more about protecting the reputation of a movement that millions depend on. ``You sacrifice your last name for the good of the whole,'' Gail said. By keeping names and images out of the media, A.A. can't be exploited for personal power or gain, said Rob, as he sat around a table discussing the subject with his peers. Within reach was a stack of black ``Lone Ranger'' masks, just in case a photographer showed up wanting a picture. As a matter of fact, only a non-alcoholic can be elected as the national chairman because of the exposure that job requires. Elaine McDowell, elected to the post in 2001, can face the cameras head-on and use her name in legal and public venues. As A.A. co-founder Bill W. once explained: ``A.A. had to become known somehow, so we resorted to the idea that it would be far better to let our (non-alcoholic) friends do it for us.'' The tradition of anonymity also has helped A.A. avoid being stereotyped. It is not the image of a male or female, a Democrat or Republican, factory worker or business owner, Protestant or Jew, gay or straight. ``People need to feel that A.A. is for people just like them,'' said Jay. From beginning The tradition of not using last names goes back to the very beginning, when Akron physician Dr. Robert Smith and New York businessman William Wilson began working out the details of their 12-step program. The co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous called themselves Dr. Bob and Bill W. Gail, archivist for the Akron Intergroup Council of Alcoholics Anonymous, said there is some evidence Dr. Bob and Bill W. gave up their last names partly
out of concern their phones would never stop ringing as word of their efforts spread.
``There were too few of them to handle all the requests,'' Gail said. Bill W. might also have been influenced by the Oxford Group to which he belonged. In that religious movement, anonymity was a way of showing humility. And that reason still melds perfectly with the 12-step program, Harmon said. ``Until the alcoholic surrenders his ego, he can't get better,'' he said. The concept of stressing anonymity as a way to protect the work of the organization can be traced to 1939, when a well-known Cleveland Indians catcher
went public with his ties to an A.A. group in Akron. The catcher was making a spectacular comeback, and the media lavished attention on his successful struggle with alcoholism. At first, Dr. Bob and Bill W.
But when other members began coming out, the pair began to wonder what it would mean for A.A. if those celebrities started falling off the wagon. Would there be a public perception that A.A. had failed them? Would that make others reluctant to try it? In 1950, an A.A. convention in Cleveland unanimously accepted a list known as the 12 traditions. The 12th tradition is this: ``Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.'' Avoid controversy Anonymity extends to the organization itself. A.A. will not take an official stance on any outside issue, Rob said. That way, it can avoid public controversy and avoid alienating someone who needs help but disagrees with an opinion. For the same reason, local A.A. groups have to be self-supporting. A.A.'s adherence to anonymity can lead to some complicated situations. In 1951, Bill W. agonized over whether A.A. should accept a prestigious national award. He finally agreed to, though he admitted that merely being on hand to accept it forced him to be a celebrity for the day. A decade later, however, he cited anonymity in declining a request by Time magazine to put a picture of the back of his head on the cover. More recently, the Akron group struggled with the issue when Good Morning America expressed interest in doing a story on A.A.'s roots. After speaking to members throughout the country, it was clear such publicity would lend a celebrity image to Akron. ``We told them no,'' Gail said. ``We can only have one purpose in A.A. -- to maintain sobriety and help others.'' No reprimands Privately, A.A. members do not have to maintain anonymity, and indeed, it would be impossible to operate that way, Rob explained. ``How would anybody reach me? You can't look in the phone book under `Rob,' '' he said. But the organization is mindful when last names and images show up in the paper, on TV or film, or on the Internet. ``There is no punishment or reprimand,'' Rob said, ``but a delegate will usually approach the member and remind them politely of the tradition.'' The head office in New York usually will swing into action, too, contacting the media outlet that revealed an identity to ask for cooperation in the future.
And even though the identities and images of A.A.'s co-founders were revealed long ago, members still commonly call them simply Dr. Bob and Bill W. ``They would tell you that they were just instruments,'' Gail said. ``We're all just instruments.'' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Submitted by Jocie in Chicago IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1864. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Conference Approved Literature From: David Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/15/2004 1:17:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Dear Roseanne: G.S.O. has responded in the past by mentioning a few concerns on staying "on topic" re: alcoholism but there are no rules "written in stone." Dr. Bill recommends quite a list of non-conference approved books in his Homegroup Manual, written in 1940: "SUGGESTED READING The following literature has helped many members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous. (Works Publishing Company.) The Holy Bible. The Greatest Thing in the World. Henry Drummond. The Unchanging Friend. (A Series) (Bruce Publishing Co., Milwaukee.) As a Man Thinketh. James Allen. The Sermon on the Mount. Emmet Fox (Harper Bros.) The Self You Have to Live With. Winfred Rhoades. (Lippincott.) Psychology of Christian Personality. Ernest M. Ligon. (Macmillan Co.) Abundant Living. E. Stanley Jones The Man Nobody Knows. Bruce Barron." Once again, this is from A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous, From AA Group No. 1, Akron, Ohio, 1940.Dr. Bob's Home Group Hope this helps! crescentdave@yahoo.com Roseanne Schofield Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little information and thought maybe one of you may be able to help. The question arose in one of our groups recently as to whether or not the use of non-conference approved literature by those in the Program was acceptable, or if it constituted a violation of of AA principles. I seem to recall having read something about the use of conference approved literature by AA members--it may have been in a newsletter or at this site, but I searched previous postings and didn't find anything. Did Bill W. speak or write about this in his later years or do you know of any relevant articles? Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Roseanne S. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail [83] - 100MB free storage! IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1865. . . . . . . . . . . . Use of "The Promises" at Meetings From: aceyahut . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/15/2004 3:04:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi, all.
A bit of a "difference of opinon" has developed at a group I serve regarding reading of the so-called "12 Promises" at the close of the meeting. Some folks seem to believe this is an important part of AA tradition while others insist it is a relatively recent development and a "twisting of meaning" of the Big Book passage on pages 83-84. The nay-sayers point to the fact that, unlike the 12 Traditions or "How It Works", New York has steadfastly declined to make available a single page broadside of "The Promises", suitable for passing out to designated "readers". Can anyone shed light on: 1. When and by who this passage was first dubbed "The 12 Promises", 2. Where, when and why the custom of reading it aloud at meetings began, and 3. Why, indeed, there is no "conference approved" sheet, suitable for lamination. Thanks for your help on this. Ace, alcoholic Santa Cruz, California IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1867. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Conference Approved Literature From: Lash, William (Bill) . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/16/2004 12:55:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Most homegroups in my area also put out some non-conference approved literature. What is the general practice here in New Jersey is to separate them by NOT putting approved & non-approved literature on the same table. Just Love, Barefoot Bill P.S. - This is what GSO officially has to say about it: WHAT DOES 'CONFERENCE-APPROVED LITERATURE'' MEAN? Service Material From G.S.O. 'Conference-approved'' - What It Means to You The term 'Conference-approved'' describes written or audiovisual material approved by the Conference for publication by G.S.O. This process assures that everything in such literature is in accord with A.A. principles. Conference-approved material always deals with the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous or with information about the A.A. Fellowship. The term has no relation to material not published by G.S.O. It does not imply Conference disapproval of other material about A.A. A great deal of literature helpful to alcoholics is published by others, and A.A. does not try to tell any individual member what he or she may or may not read. Conference approval assures us that a piece of literature represents solid A.A. experience. Any Conference-approved booklet or pamphlet goes through a lengthy and painstaking process, during which a variety of A.A.'s from all over the United States and Canada read and express opinions at every stage of production. How To Tell What Is and What Is Not Conference-approved Look for the statement on books, pamphlets and films: 'This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature'' All 'A.A. Literature'' Is Not Conference-approved Central offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces meet the needs of the local membership, they may be legitimately classified as 'A.A. literature.'' There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S. - publishers of Conference-approved literature), and central offices or intergroups - rather they complement each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such material. G.S.O. does develop some literature that does not have to be approved by the Conference, such as service material, Guidelines and bulletins. Available at Most A.A. Groups Most local A.A. groups purchase and display a representative sampling of Conference-approval pamphlets, and usually carry a supply of hardcover books. Conference-approved literature may be available at central offices and intergroups, or it may be ordered directly from G.S.O. Groups normally offer pamphlets free of charge, and the books at cost. Copyright Conference-approved literature is copyrighted with the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. To insure the continued integrity of A.A. literature, and to make sure the A.A. recovery programs will not be distorted or diluted, permission to reprint must be obtained from A.A.W.S. in writing. However, A.A. newsletters, bulletins, or meeting lists have blanket permission to use the material, providing proper credit to insure that the copyrights of A.A. literature are protected. The A.A. Preamble is copyrighted by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. (not by A.A. World Services). Beneath it, these words should appear: Reprinted with permission of the A.A. Grapevine, Inc. The Steps and Traditions should be followed by these words: Reprinted with Permission of A.A. World Services, Inc. -----Original Message----- From: Roseanne Schofield [mailto:roseanne120100@tbc.net] Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 10:20 PM To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Conference Approved Literature Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little information and thought maybe one of you may be able to help. The question arose in one of our groups recently as to whether or not the use of non-conference approved literature by those in the Program was acceptable, or if it constituted a violation of of AA principles. I seem to recall having read something about the use of conference approved literature by AA members--it may have been in a newsletter or at this site, but I searched previous postings and didn't find anything. Did Bill W. speak or write about this in his later years or do you know of any relevant articles? Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Roseanne S. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1868. . . . . . . . . . . . Painting that is signed "Helen Griffith" From: silkworthdotnet . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/16/2004 9:41:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The following was sent to me @ silkworth.net: Name: Ann Email: ag......@c...... Subject: Painting signed "Helen Griffith" Hello, I am an Art Researcher in Seattle, WA. I have a painting which is signed "Helen Griffith". The painting dates, by my estimate from late 1920's. It is titled, "Gig Harbor - Fishing Village". I believe it may have been painted by the Helen Griffith who helped Bill and Lois, get their 1st house. I have read the most recent biography about Bill Wilson and the background for Helen Griffith could be a match. Do you have any other details about Helen? Was there possibly an obituary, when and where she died? Any help, references, or additional resources would be greatly appreciated. Of course, it would be an amazing coincidence that I would be so lucky to find this painting if it is by YOUR Helen Griffith. I am the mother of a son who is the 1st in 3 generations (of alcoholics I have known and loved ) to find recovery (after being on death's doorstep at age 17). He now has 7+ years of sobriety and is an amazing person. Best regards !and thanks for the help on retracing Helen Griffith's background. -Ann G. ======================================= I will direct Ann to AAHistoryLovers to see if anyone has responded and posted information about the above information. Kind regards, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1869. . . . . . . . . . . . I need help encouraging more Closed meetings From: Lance . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/16/2004 10:09:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Anyone who can cite where out literature or other sources may say that closed meetings are one way to help us stick to our Primary Purpose...I'd be grateful for those references! Thanks so much! HUGS!!! Lance from colorful Colorado! Lance_1954@yahoo.com IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1870. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: I need help encouraging more Closed meetings From: Gilbert Gamboa . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/17/2004 10:34:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII First of all read Tradition 5-it states our primary purpose, also tradition 3 talks about membership(not attendance of meetings) being for alcoholics..step 12 also states our primary purpose, and page 159 (third edition)it reads - "IN ADDITION TO THESE CASUAL GET TOGETHERS,ITS BECOME CUSTOMARY TO SET APART ONE NIGHT A WEEK FOR A MEETING TO BE ATTENDED BY ANYONE OR EVERYONE INTERESTED IN A SPIRITUAL WAY OF LIFE.ASIDE FROM FELLOWSHIP AND SOCIABILITY,THE PRIME OBJECT WAS TO PROVIDE A TIME AND PLACE WHERE NEW PEOPLE MIGHT BRING THEIR PROBLEMS".(problems in this sentence refers to alcoholism !!!!!) again we are here for the newcomer,its important to understand that most reasons for making a meeting a closed one is because of sharing of personal problems we are having that day.see somthing wrong with that?these things arent for the meeting where is the solution in sharing personal problems in a meeting,that should be left to your higher power and your sponsor.A meeting is to hook up the new-comer to a solution and remind each other (50 years sober or 30 days sober) where we found that solution. Trust God,Clean house,Carry hope Gilbert G. Lance Anyone who can cite where out literature or other sources may say that closed meetings are one way to help us stick to our Primary Purpose...I'd be grateful for those references! Thanks so much! HUGS!!! Lance from colorful Colorado! Lance_1954@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1871. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Conference Approved Literature From: Danny S . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/18/2004 4:35:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII The term "Conference Approved" did not even exist in our Fellowship prior to the First Annual General Service Conference held in April 20- 22, 1951. Not even the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous could be "Conference Approved" before that year. Today not all AA material distributed through AA has gone through the rather tedious conference approval processed, nor does it require approval of the General Service Conference in order to be considered by members as AA literature. All references to use of the term "Conference Approved" in the Report of the First Annual General Service Conference appears to point heavily toward the creation of a process by which we could officially distinguish which literature we hold publishing rights and therefor control over the proceeds that such literature generates. This also would establish a firm precedence in order to prevent non-AA entities from profiting out the sale of AA literature. No small issue. There is no written record, to which I am aware that would indicate that "Conference Approved" should construed by AA members as a "stamp of approval" for content. Peace,
Danny S IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1872. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Painting that is signed "Helen Griffith" From: Mel Barger . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/17/2004 8:12:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi Ann and History Lover friends: I stayed two weekends at Stepping Stones while working on "Pass It On." The story I got from Lois was that a Griffith had lived there in the 1920s and had a drinking problem. The coincidence is that Griffith was Bill's middle name and also the family name of his maternal grandparents. But perhaps the real estate agent was named Griffith too. In any case, she pushed hard to persuade the Wilsons to visit the house which they were reluctant to do because they were flat broke and didn't even have money for a down payment. After getting them to see the house, the agent worked out a deal so they could get it for $6500 with no down payment and $40 a month payments. Since they were already paying $20 a month to store their furniture, all they had to do was come up with another $20 and they were home free, which they did. The bedrooms were very tiny and it wouldn't have been a good family home. But it was fine for a couple and would have been great for a person with an artistic bent. The Wilsons were happy there and Lois wouldn't have moved even when her income had soared to half a million a year and she could have moved into the swankiest Manhattan apartment. She was a great gardener and knew where everything on the eight or ten acre place was planted. Mel Barger ~~~~~~~~ Mel Barger melb@accesst ~~~~~~~~ Mel Barger melb@accesstoledo.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "silkworthdotnet" To: Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2004 10:41 PM Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Painting that is signed "Helen Griffith" > The following was sent to me @ silkworth.net: > > Name: Ann > Email: ag......@c...... > Subject: Painting signed "Helen Griffith" > > Hello, I am an Art Researcher in Seattle, WA. I have a painting > which is signed "Helen Griffith". The painting dates, by my estimate > from late 1920's. It is titled, "Gig Harbor - Fishing Village". I > believe it may have been painted by the Helen Griffith who helped > Bill and Lois, get their 1st house. I have read the most recent > biography about Bill Wilson and the background for Helen Griffith > could be a match. Do you have any other details about Helen? Was > there possibly an obituary, when and where she died? Any help, > references, or additional resources would be greatly appreciated. Of > course, it would be an amazing coincidence that I would be so lucky > to find this painting if it is by YOUR Helen Griffith. I am the > mother of a son who is the 1st in 3 generations (of alcoholics I have > known and loved ) to find recovery (after being on death's doorstep > at age 17). He now has 7+ years of sobriety and is an amazing person. > Best regards !and thanks for the help on retracing Helen Griffith's > background. -Ann G. > ======================================= > > I will direct Ann to AAHistoryLovers to see if anyone has > responded and posted information about the above information. > > Kind regards, > / Jim Myers > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > This message was scanned by GatewayDefender > 8:18:46 AM ET - 6/17/2004 > IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1873. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Re: Conference Approved Literature From: Susan Krieger . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/18/2004 2:13:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII In the 1977 conference actions report: It was suggested tha A.A.groups be discouraged from selling literature not distributed by the General Service Office and the Grapevine. p44 A Summery: Advisory Actions of the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous 1951 - 1986 susan
baltimore ----- Original Message ----- From: "Danny S" To: Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 2:35 AM Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Re: Conference Approved Literature > The term "Conference Approved" did not even exist in our Fellowship > prior to the First Annual General Service Conference held in April 20- > 22, 1951. Not even the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous could > be "Conference Approved" before that year. > > Today not all AA material distributed through AA has gone through the > rather tedious conference approval processed, nor does it require > approval of the General Service Conference in order to be considered > by members as AA literature. > > All references to use of the term "Conference Approved" in the Report > of the First Annual General Service Conference appears to point > heavily toward the creation of a process by which we could officially > distinguish which literature we hold publishing rights and therefor > control over the proceeds that such literature generates. This also > would establish a firm precedence in order to prevent non-AA entities > from profiting out the sale of AA literature. No small issue. > > There is no written record, to which I am aware that would indicate > that "Conference Approved" should construed by AA members as a "stamp > of approval" for content. > > Peace,
> > Danny S > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 1874. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Re: Conference Approved Literature From: Arthur . . . . . . . . . . . . 6/19/2004 7:43:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi I don't believe it's a stretch to suggest that when groups stress that they will allow only
Conference-approved literature, they are likely trying to achieve three things:
1. Keep out the proliferation of 'recovery'' writings that are emanating from more and more varied sources (e.g. Barnes and Noble has a 'Recovery'' section in their book stores). 2. Ensure that there is no blurring of the distinction between AA and the proliferation of other '12 Step Fellowships.'' 3. Stay with literature that has been reviewed by a Conference standing committee to ensure that it conforms to AA principles. It would likely be better to use the term 'AA literature'' instead of 'Conference-approved literature'' since a fairly substantial body of AA literature is not required to go through the Conference-approval process. Some examples: 1. Grapevine (and its non-English counterparts). 2. Box 459
3. Guidelines (the "yellow sheets") 4. Workbooks (e.g. Archives, PI, CPC, TF and CF service committees) 5. Markings (the GSO Archives newsletter) 9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;"> 6. About AA (PI releases) 7. Directories 8. Advisory Actions of the General Service Conference of AA (M-39) 9. Final reports of the General Service Conference 10.
Literature published by GSOs other than the US/Canada and AAWS 11. Final reports of the World Service Conference 9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;"> 12. Memento booklets from International Conventions 9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;"> 13. Literature catalogs and flyers (AAWS and Grapevine) 14. Non-English interpretations of books/pamphlets 15. Various and sundry GSO publications called 'service pieces.'' (And I've probably missed others) There is literature, published outside of AA, that is not Conference-approved but which is certainly valuable and beneficial. There are some wonderful historic and spiritual works. If you visit GSO in NY and go the Archives exhibit, you'll see an entire wall of books that are not Conference-approved - which is fine for anyone engaging in serious research. On the other hand there is an awful lot of nonsense, 'recovery psycho-babble'' and revisionist history that gets published as well. So how do you deal with all of this? I believe most groups draw a line by adopting a guideline to only allow Conference-approved literature. What does GSO have to say on the matter? The information below is a transcription of a service piece (re 15 above) that is included in a packet that is sent to a new group when it registers with GSO. It also appears in a number of service committee kits. Cheers
Arthur *CONFERENCE-APPROVED LITERATURE* *Service Material From G.S.O.* *'Conference-approved''--What It Means to You* The term 'Conference-approved'' describes written or audiovisual material approved by the Conference for publication by G.S.O. This process assures that everything in such literature is in accord with A.A. principles. Conference-approved material always deals with the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous or with information about the A.A. Fellowship. The term has no relation to material not published by G.S.O. It does not* bold;"> *imply Conference disapproval of other material about A.A. A great deal of literature helpful to alcoholics is published by others, and A.A. does not try to tell any individual member what he or she may or may not read. Conference approval assures us that a piece of literature represents solid A.A. experience. Any Conference-approved booklet or pamphlet goes through a lengthy and painstaking process, during which a variety of A.A.s from all over the United States and Canada read and express opinions at every stage of production. *How To Tell What Is and What Is Not Conference-approved* Look for the statement on books, pamphlets and films: *'This is A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature''* *All 'A.A. Literature'' Is Not Conference-approved* Central offices and intergroups do write and distribute pamphlets or booklets that are not Conference-approved. If such pieces meet the needs of the local membership, they may be legitimately classified as 'A.A*. *literature.'' There is no conflict between A.A. World Services, Inc. (A.A.W.S. - publishers of Conference-approved literature), and central offices or intergroups - rather
they complement each other. The Conference does not disapprove of such material. G.S.O. does develop some literature that does not have to be approved by the Conference, such as service material, Guidelines and bulletins. *Available at Most A.A. Groups* Most local A.A. groups purchase anddisplay a representative sampling of Conference-approved pamphlets, and usually carry a supply of hardcover books. Conference-approved literature may be available at central offices and intergroups, or it may be ordered directly from G.S.O. Groups normally offer pamphlets free of charge, and the books at cost. *Copyright* Conference-approved literature is copyrighted with the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. To insure the continued integrity of A.A. literature, and to make sure the A.A. recovery programs will not be distorted or diluted, permission to reprint must be obtained from A.A.W.S. in writing. However, A.A. newsletters, bulletins, or meeting lists have blanket permission to use the material, providing proper credit is given to insure that the copyrights of A.A. literature are protected. The A.A. Preamble is copyrighted by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. (not by A.A. World Services). Beneath it, these words should appear: Reprinted with permission of the A.A. Grapevine, Inc. The Steps and Traditions should be followed by these words: Reprinted with Permission of A.A. World Services, Inc. *10/93*
F-29 (handwritten) -----
*From:* Susan Krieger [mailto:susank@qis.net] *Sent:* Friday, June 18, 2004 2:14 PM *To:* AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com *Subject:* Re: [AAHistoryLovers] Re: Conference Approved Literature 12.0pt;"> 10.0pt;">In the 1977 conference actions report: It was suggested tha A.A.groups be 10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";"> discouraged from selling literature not distributed by the General Service Office and the Grapevine. p44 A Summery: Advisory Actions of the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous 1951 - 1986 susan baltimore ----- Original Message ----- From: "Danny S" To: Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 2:35 AM Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Re: Conference Approved Literature Directory: downloads -> doc doc -> The Georgia Dugout Club September 2009 Newsletter doc -> United nations ep doc -> Casualty List american airlines flight 11 doc -> The National Child Labour Action Programme for South Africa doc -> On pro-poor slum upgrading framework for mumbai, india final report doc -> Community of love doc -> To Judge or Not to Judge doc -> Ipbes/3/inf/18 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services doc -> 10. 1 Declaration of an Array : To declare an array in C, it is necessary to specify the type of the element and the number of elements required by an array as follows: Type array name [ array size ] doc -> Mih missing in history Download 5.19 Mb. Share with your friends:
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