Aa history Lovers 2006 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page
Download 13.83 Mb.
|
(hartsell at etex.net) No CONFERENCE decision that I am aware of, just as there was little conferring prior to instigation of the suit.
From: ricktompkins . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/3/2006 10:15:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII In April 1993 the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous decided, from the "sense" of the General Service Conference (the sense of the Conference without an approval/disapproval vote), that all AA trademarks and logos would be discontinued. Copyrights would remain in effect for the text phrases "A.A., Alcoholics Anonymous, the AA Grapevine, Inc., and Box 4-5-9."
litigation threats brought to the conclusion that the Circle and Triangle logo could not be effectively protected and trademarked for A.A. or the second "General Service Conference" logo. There was also discussion and trepidation that the coin minting companies that refrained from using the logo, in those two years leading up to the 1993 Conference, could counter-sue AAWS, Inc. for loss-of-trade settlements when AA's litigation (and threat of action) was dropped. The counter-suits never happened. The GSB released its decision immediately after the 1993 Conference in a one-page announcement that was communicated to all of AA. And of course, to the public. The 1993 Conference did approve an Advisory Action for all 'future' AAWS literature since 4/93, adding the phrase : "This is AA General Service Conference-approved literature." An Ad Hoc committee, with Delegates and AA Trustees, met on the pending litigation and AA's use of the Circle and Triangle around November 1992 and it released its findings in January '93 before the Conference.
have since lost the April 1993 piece, but I made copies of the announcement for the AA groups I participated in at the time. To me, what the Conference decided holds true to the forward-looking perspective of almost all its Advisory Actions. Then, and even today, AA continues to be a self-correcting fellowship when it appears necessary. Advisory Actions are undertaken for the present and immediate future of our Fellowship as solutions, rather than reactions. The voted solution to the logo trademark dilemma added the 'Conference-approved' text. Uncomplicated! Hope this answer helps dispel any gathering myth that GSO (an AAWS, Inc. entity) made the decision.
_________________________ On a side note about circles and triangles, I read in the NY Times today that the U.S. Government's 67-year-old Civil Defense logo (used on survival rations and bomb shelter entrances), showing the letters "CD" enclosed in a circle and triangle, will be discontinued as of January 1, 2007. The new logo has an "E" for "Emergency" and no circle and triangle...
From: secondles . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/3/2006 4:31:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Hi Tommy: As you know, I'm a Vermonter too. In my small town of Arlington (southern part of the state) folks just referred to the State Hospital in Brattleboro as "He went to Brattleboro", etc. There was nothing else in Brattleboro of note, so people knew what was meant. It was a hospital for all types of "committed" ailments... not just alcoholism. It is on the other side of the Green Mountains from Arlington.
the Annual meeting of History Lovers in Baton Rouge. I think we all here on the web would appreciate that. Best regards, Les Cole Colorado Springs IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3918. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: The Traditions and Religion From: Mitchell K. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/3/2006 11:12:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I would venture to say that people are not making specific reference to a religion by saying they are Catholic or Protestant or Pentacostal or Hasidic or Conservative or Reform Jews. If you talk to a practicing member of the Roman Catholic faith (who swear that they are the one true church) they will tell you that the Protestants are not doing it right. The fundamentalists will tell you that theirs is the true way and that if anyone who does not profess their savior as Lord will go to hell. Descendents of the Tribes of Israel are the same. An Hasidic Jew will look at things differently than a Reform Jew or Reconstructionist Jew. Even within the Hasidic sects there are vast differences. Not all Jews follow the 613 Laws and some will call G-d or God or HaShem or whatever. Alex, do you also wear a "skull cap and fringes" at all times or do you do that only at meetings which what you wrote suggests? While AA itself is not supposed to be allied with any sect or denomination, individual members are not prohibited from expressing their faith. Faith or a belief in God is what made AA work for so many years. Reliance on a Higher Power used to be a good thing in AA.
some off but it doesn't violate any Tradition. It also doesn't mean they are talking about any specific religion. I would hate to censor anyone's faith or belief just because someone might not like to hear it. AA membership is not based upon conformity unless they's changed that edict for the sake of clarity. > From: "Alex H" > > From an historical perspective, I think most AA > members would collapse into a religious coma if > I began reading from "The Upper Room," "The Akron > Guide to the Twelve Steps" or made suggestions > for further reading from the "The Akron Manual." > > Regarding those with no religion, again > historically speaking, the AA Big Book is rife > with references to G-d and to the Bible. Hiding > from it does nothing to assuage the suspicion > of atheists that something religious might be > going on. > > And again, historically speaking, AA meetings > have usually been made up of folks with different > religions, so when a Baptist, a Catholic and a > Jew call out their respective religion, we know > that all religions are welcome. On the other > hand, throughout AA history we have had the > stories of nominally religious alcoholics who > had tried to solve their problem through their > religion prior to AA and it failed them in some > way. So mentioning a religion is misleading to > the newcomer. > > So... I agree with you Natasha, that folks > should not be calling out their religion, but > if someone insists calling out that they are > a Catholic or a Baptist, you can bet your bottom > dollar that I will shout out good and loud that > I am an Orthodox Jew. Why? Because if I let > their statement stand, some Jewish newcomer > might be sitting in the back and think this was > a congregation of Christians. I shout out to > make sure he will understand that all is well. > I am the "bird in the coal mine." > > BTW, when I attend meetings, I wear a skull cap > and fringes. I look like the guy from Fiddler on > the Roof. If that's not shouting out my religion, > I don't know what is. The same is true with > Catholic priests who attend meetings in their > clerical collars [as was done by Ralph Pfau, > who wrote the fourteen Golden Books under the > name of Father John Doe in the early AA period, > during the years 1947 to 1964]. I would never > deny them the opportunity to wear their collar > and I would call them by their title certainly. > > Alex H. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3919. . . . . . . . . . . . Photo of Dr. Silkworth''s grave From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/6/2006 2:09:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Photo taken by Russ Stewart from New Jersey, of Dr. Silkworth's grave, see http://hindsfoot.org/silky.html Russ tells us how visited the cemetery in a note dated December 6, 2006: I was in Eatontown visiting one of my accounts yesterday afternoon. The meeting went to about 4:00. Afterward, I headed over to the Glenwood Cemetery in West Long Branch, New Jersey, to say thanks to this guy. Although it looks like I took the picture in the dark of night, there was actually a glorious sunset happening during my short visit. What impresses me the most is the humility demonstrated by this simple marker. His wife Antoinette is buried right next to him. She had passed the year earlier, 1950. The other thing was trying to imagine how Bill must have felt standing at this spot in 1951. A year earlier, Dr. Bob had passed. Two of Bill's greatest gifts where gone. "Russ Stewart" (rstewart at ndindustries.com) IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3920. . . . . . . . . . . . Ceremony at Town''s Hospital, Noon , December 10th... (update) From: Robt Woodson . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/4/2006 10:31:00 AM
the first posting)... The Charles B. Towns Hospital 293 Central Park West New York, NY
December 10th. The Event... A Candle will be lit in the window of the former Town's Hospital, outside two lights will be lit symbolizing Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob...from these two lights, those of us who have gathered will light our own, and hopefully return to our lives, to our homes, and to our groups, with some part of this light remaining in each of us that we might each share a bit of what we have recieved. Town's Hospital is where Bill had his profound Spiritual experience...that's where his sobriety began, and, that's where we'll be. I Hope, once more, that we might see some of you there, or that you might steer someone our way...the idea, begun by my friends from Mexico City, is simply to initiate some kind of annual remembrance of this moment in our history. Again with thanks, Woody in Akron A vision of a fellowship yet to come (BB p. 14)... "While I lay in the hospital the thought came that there were thousands of hopeless alcoholics who might be glad to have what had been so freely given me. Perhaps I could help some of them. They in turn might work with others."
room
From: Jeff Clymer . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/5/2006 6:34:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I have looked for copies of "The Upper Room" for a long time. Does any one have an idea where I might find copies from that time period?
Tennessee. AA members find the Upper Room Chapel there a deeply moving place to visit, almost as moving as Dr. Bob's house. See photo at http://hindsfoot.org/uprm1.html
half of the 1930's, when it was a major influence on many of the ideas found in the Big Book.
responsibility, the emphasis on the religion of the heart, the insistence that "faith without works is dead," the atmosphere of tolerance for all other religions, the belief that conversion is only the first step in a life which must be devoted methodically to continual spiritual growth in a carefully organized spiritual program, and so on. See http://hindsfoot.org/protlib.html )
("at" vs. "for") From: Mitchell K. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/3/2006 10:43:00 PM
"PRECISELY HOW WE HAVE RECOVERED" in bold capitalized letters in the Foreword to the First edition it is very different than the lower case italics of the same phrase found in the Foreword to the First Edition in later editions. [This is found on page xiii in the fourth edition.] Clarification in the vernacular of the Big Book revisers means that what is written doesn't conform to being all things to all people. It means that it doesn't conform to not wanting to offend anyone or scare anyone away. It means that watering down to "clarify" will continue. _______________________________ > From: Tom Hickcox > (cometkazie1 at cox.net) > > There are a number of changes, but the editors > tell us some changes are made "in the interest of > clarity." They changed victory in the 3rd Step > Prayer to transcendence, but that doesn't seem to > me to add clarity. > > Tommy
++++Message 3923. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: "Qualification" From: edgarc@aol.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/6/2006 4:36:00 AM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII From John K. (Charlotte), Edgar C. (Sarasota, Florida), and Jon N. (southern California). - - - From: "johnpublico" (keller at ociofcharlotte.com) Thank you all for your great feedback! What a wonderful quilt of many colors is this thing we call AA!
Charlotte - - - WEST COAST OF FLORIDA: From: edgarc@aol.com (edgarc at aol.com) Jim Blair said "in the province of Ontario, Canada, the chairman at each meeting will 'qualify' himself as an alcoholic by telling a bit of his story." That's the way it's done on the West Coast of Florida. Edgar C., Sarasota, Florida - - - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: From: Jon Nagle (jfanagle at yahoo.com) Here in Southern California the term qualifying as I have always known it comes into play in a formal setting, e.g. a "speaker meeting" when the speaker tells his/her story encompassing what it was like (qualifying one's alcoholic behavior), how it was, and then what it is like now (sober life).
have a tendency for some of the newer members to lapse into drunkalogues and "over-qualify" if you will. As an earlier member wrote this form of sharing can, if not guided by the leader of a meeting, allow a newcomer to think that he/she is in a group therapy meeting, rather than having the emphasis put on recovery through the steps and reliance on a higher power as the path to recovery. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ++++Message 3924. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Tommy H. on "victory" vs. "transcendence" From: Chris H. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/5/2006 6:33:00 PM
that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life." (As Bill Sees It p. 210) "Take away my difficulties, that my transcendence over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life." (I'm quoting this from the 23rd printing of As Bill Sees It, which came out in 1989, but haven't compared it with a 1st printing.)
(cometkazie1 at cox.net) We had the "at" vs "for" discussion and I have found where As Bill Sees It changed the wording of "Deep down . . . . is a fundamental idea of God" from p. 66. As Bill Sees It has "idea of a God," which is a lot different. It's like that in the first printing. There are a number of changes, but the editors tell us some changes are made "in the interest of clarity." They changed victory in the 3rd Step Prayer to transcendence, but that doesn't seem to me to add clarity.
From: john . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/8/2006 5:32:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Need date of the 17th printing of The Little Red Book. john wikelkius nov85@graceba.net (nov85 at graceba.net)
From: Glenn Chesnut . . . . . . . . . . . . 12/8/2006 8:15:00 PM IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I have collected some passages talking about the use of "The Upper Room" for morning prayer and meditation in early AA, which I give below.
headquarters in Nashville about making either a printed version or a searchable electronic version of the 1935-1938 issues available for AA historians.
documentation that this AA tradition (about early AA people reading The Upper Room) could be thoroughly corroborated Are there members of the group who could give us some other citations from written sources from the period between 1935 and 1948 of AA people using "The Upper Room"? (I am using 1948 as the cut-off date, because that is when AA member Richmond Walker published Twenty-Four Hours a Day.)
A.A. biography of the cofounder of A.A., pages 71-72, 137-139. and 310-311:
time in the mornings -- how they sat around reading the Bible. Later, they also used The Upper Room, a Methodist publication that provided a daily inspirational message, interdenominational in its approach. 'Then somebody said a prayer,' she recalled. 'After that, we were supposed to say one ourselves. Then we'd be quiet. Finally, everyone would share what they got, or didn't get. This lasted for at least a half hour and sometimes went as long as an hour."'
1938-39 went like this .... 'Usually, the person who led the Wednesday meeting took something from The Upper Room [the Methodist periodical mentioned earlier] or some other literature as a subject. Sometimes, they selected a theme such as "My Utmost Effort" or "My Highest Goal." There would be a quiet time. then different people would tell something out of their own experience.'"
about the way Dr. Bob worked with newcomers, mentioned that he would sometimes recommend that they read Drummond's The Greatest Thing in the World. "Those were the three main books at that time: that, The Upper Room, and [Emmet Fox's] Sermon on the Mount."
No. 1, Akron, Ohio, 1940, Part VI): "Now you are out of the hospital .... First off, your day will have a new pattern. You will open the day with a quiet period. This will be explained by your sponsor. You will read the Upper Room, or whatever you think best for yourself." Mitchell K., How It Worked: The Story of Clarence H. Snyder and the Early Days of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio, chapters 3.8 and 5.5.
were told they had to read the Bible .... They were instructed to do this on a daily basis. Clarence said that newcomers were also told to read The Upper Room daily and to read The Sermon on the Mount by Emmett Fox." "Clarence believed that in order for a prospective member to get well, his entire family had to get well also .... Family members were invited to attend meetings, were given a copy of the book Alcoholics Anonymous, and were told to read the Upper Room." From A.A. historian Dick B., whose books on A.A. history include "The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous," "The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works," and "New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A." In an article at http://www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml, Dick says:
produced such a high success rate in the 1930's and early 1940's .... the growth part of the program had a great deal to do with Quiet Time -- a Quiet Time that included Bible study, prayer, receiving revelation from God, and the use of devotional books and periodicals such as The Upper Room as ancillary study materials and as a spur to spending substantial time with God each morning." From Glenn C. (South Bend, Indiana), The St. Louis Gambler and the Railroad Man: Lives and Download 13.83 Mb. Share with your friends:
|