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] Download 4.17 Mb. Share with your friends:
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