called a booklet rather than a book. It is only 88
pages. It concentrates on subjects such as staying
sobriety. A lot of the common sense advice and
else in the conference approved AA literature.
about God or a Higher Power in it. Stools and Bottle
AA dislike the book Living Sober because Barry L.
its author was a homosexual.
Sincerely, Billy-Bob
(sawyer7952 at yahoo.com)
I, too, have benefited from reading so-called
Non-Conference-Approved Literature. Try "The
Spirituality of Imperfection"--it, too, is a
good read.
And don't forget that Alanon has alot of good
literature, too. (Yes, we CAN talk about Alanon,
it's mentioned in the Big Book!)
Lynn from Sacramento, CA
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++++Message 3366. . . . . . . . . . . . Are there AA literature reviews?
From: Arkie Koehl . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 10:40:00 AM
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Suggestion from Arkie for the creation of a list
of helpful AA literature, along with comments from
Robert Stonebraker and James Bliss about possible
books to include on that list.
______________________________
Arkie Koehl
(arkie at arkoehl.com)
This is a fascinating, useful and helpful thread.
Thanks to all.
Is there by any chance someplace where such
literature is reviewed by peers, or just AA
historians, so that relative novices like myself
can get a feel for what books are generally
better thought of than others?
Arkie Koehl
Honolulu
- - - - - - - - - - - -
On Apr 18, 2006, at 14:42, Robert Stonebraker
wrote:
Our Big Book Step Study Group in Richmond, IN,
spends the first two Tuesdays studying AA history -
we show a short movie, "DAWN OF HOPE" and
sometimes A HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES" from Dr. Bob's
Home. We make great effort to make these 90 minute
sessions interesting. I have learned lots of
interesting little stories about Ebby Thacher,
Rowland Hazard, Carl Jung, Rev. Shoemaker, Clarence
Snyder and all the rest of those early historical
participants from non-conference approved materials.
Here are listed a few of our current book collection:
> * EBBY, the man who sponsored Bill W., by Mel B.
> * CHILDREN OF THE HEALER, by Bob Smith and Sue Windows
> * DIARY OF TWO MOTORCYCLE HOBOS, by Lois Wilson,
edited by Ellie Van V.
> * GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN THERE, by Nell Wing
> * HOW IT WORKED, the story of Clarence Snyder,
by Mitchell K.
> * SISTER IGNATIA, Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous,
by Mary C. Darrah
> * NOT GOD, a history of Alcoholics Anonymous,
by Ernest Kurtz
> * BILL W, by Robert Thomsen
Here are a few other non-AA history books we use
for reference because they were often read by early
AA members:
> * SERMON ON THE MOUNT, BY Emmet Fox
> * AS A MAN THINKETH, by James Allen
> * THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, by Henry Drummond
But naturally our main source of historical information
comes from the Conference approved books from GSO .
Bob S.
______________________________
From: james.bliss@comcast.net
(james.bliss at comcast.net)
I have been literature chair for both District
and Area and have only seen verbal indications
that we are to encourage Conference Approved
literature. I will attempt to review any
documentation which I have received which may
include this in a written form but I do not
remember having read any. I was asked to talk
during a presentation about 'Carrying the Message'
and was instructed the content was to be about
carrying the message using conference approved
literature.
Personally, I believe that any material which
is spiritual in nature is acceptable and the Big
Book enforces this idea regarding spiritual
material. I do encourage various conference
approved literature for various reasons:
Big Book - it is the AA program
12 and 12 - obvious
Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers - historical perspective
Pass It On - historical perspective
Various guidelines and handbooks depending upon what
service work is being performed
Open/Closed meeting card - good to read at the
respective meeting
Anonymity - both the pamphlet and the brief card -
good to clear up the confusion about exactly what
anonymity is for etc.
I also recommend many external reading depending
upon the individual and where they are at:
Sermon on the Mount - Emmet Fox
Fenelon Letters
24 Hours a Day
The Little Red Book
The Bible - for those member who believe in that
religion
And many other items which I read from recommendations
from friends, religious leaders, browsing in stores.
My impression from the Big Book is that we should
listen to our spiritual leaders and seek their advice
on what materials we might want to read. To me,
this is about getting and staying sober, not limiting
my reading to a specific publisher.
Jim
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++++Message 3367. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Conference approved
literature...
From: James Blair . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 3:40:00 PM
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Steve wrote
Is there any reference within conference approved
literature or AA World Services literature about
the common group conscience guideline of restricting literature in
meetings to only "conference approved literature"?
Conference Advisory Actions on Literature.
1977-
It was suggested that AA groups be discouraged from selling literature
not distributed by the General Service Office and the Grapevine.
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++++Message 3368. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Re: 93% recovery rate in
Cleveland
From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 4:49:00 PM
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References
DBGO - Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimers
SD - Slaying the Dragon
When Cleveland members separated from the Oxford Group (and the Akron,
OH meetings) they adopted a very rigorous prescreening procedure for
prospects. Today, such prescreening would be considered in direct
opposition to the spirit and letter of Tradition Three and morally
abhorrent. The following are excerpts from "Dr Bob and the Good
Oldtimers that qualify a claimed "93%" success rate. It would
likely
be better qualified as Cleveland achieving a 93% success among those
prospects who were already successful.
(DBGO pg 261) "Meetings in Cleveland evolved somewhat differently from
those in Akron. "We opened with an audible prayer," said
Clarence S.
"The speaker, who was chosen four weeks in advance, spoke for 45
minutes, and we closed with the Lord's Prayer. Then, we would reopen
for informal comments, questions, and so forth. The total meeting
might go on anywhere from one and a half to two hours. No smoking was
allowed in the first part of the meeting, only in the informal part."
"That's the trouble," Clarence said. "They take it
so casually today,
I think a little discipline is necessary. I think AA was more
effective in those days. Records in Cleveland show that 93 percent of
those who came to us never had a drink again. When I discovered that
people had slips in AA, it really shook me up. Today it's all watered
down so much. Anyone can wander in now."
(DBGO pg 263) The active or even recently active alcoholic was
definitely not welcome at early meetings in Cleveland. In September
1940, Clarence wrote Bill that "several groups do not permit a rummy
to attend unless he has been hospitalized or talked to by ten men."
Clarence noted that they then had a "definite setup" with three
hospitals and two sanitariums, and that there were ten to 15
hospitalized at all times. By January 1941, requirements had eased up
- slightly. Clarence wrote that "most groups" required either
hospitalization, being talked by a least five members, or being passed
by a committee before a new person could attend meetings.
In Youngstown, it was usual for two couples to visit the prospective
member before he attended his first meeting. The husband would tell
the man about AA., and the woman would talk to the wife. "That way,
they would know what it was all about when they finally got to AA,"
said Norman V.
Various groups have various distinctions," Clarence wrote. "But
the
general idea is to try and prepare a fellow and give him a pretty good
understanding of the aims and principles of A.A. before he comes to
meetings. This eliminates much of the nuisance of entertaining boys
under the influence at out meetings."
(DBGO pg Earlier in the book, a Cleveland member verifies the
prescreening procedure:
(DBGO pg 169) "After Clarence talked to me at my home, others would
come over and talk to me. They wouldn't let you in a meeting Just by
one guy talking to you, as they do now. They felt you should know
something about what you were going to hear and the purpose of the
program. "Then Clarence made me go to the home of one of the newer
members every night for 3 months, and they had nine or ten people
taking to me. Then I had to read the Big Book before I went to my
first meeting. As a result, I think I had a better understanding of
what they were trying to do".
A similar reference can be found in "Slaying the Dragon" by
William L
White, an excerpt summarizes
(SD pg 133) As AA completed its developmental separation from the
Oxford Group and moved toward publication of the Big Book, other
significant but less observable milestones occurred. Rules evolved
(rules that were later relaxed) governing when a potential member,
known variably as a "prospect," "baby," "pigeon,
" "fish," or
"suspect," could first attend a meeting. Several Cleveland groups,
for
example, would not allow any prospective member to attend a meeting
until he had either been detoxified in a hospital or talked to by ten
members. A Denver Group would not allow prospects to attend meetings
until they had taken the Steps. (41)
Endnote (41): P., Wally (1995) "But, For the Grace of God...How
Intergroups and Central Offices Carried the Message of Alcoholics
Anonymous in the 1940s" Wheeling, WV: The Bishop of Books.
The Cleveland area groups essentially "cherry picked" those
prospects
who had already previously achieved recovery, and demonstrated the
ability to stay sober. This was a requirement before being allowed to
enter the Cleveland AA Fellowship and attend meetings. Classifying
this practice as achieving a "93%" success rate, is tantamount
to
classifying a surgical procedure as successful by only including those
who had survived and ignoring or omitting those who didn't.
Without an indication of the number of prescreened
"unsuccessful"
alcoholics who were not allowed to attend Cleveland meetings, the
reputed "93%" is so dominantly biased to a demonstrated
favorable
subset of the prospect population as to be a dubious claim at best.
Cheers
Arthur
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++++Message 3369. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Conference approved
literature...
From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 5:07:00 PM
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Hi Steve
The info below was a previous posting to AAHistoryLovers:
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)
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
12. Memento booklets from International Conventions
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.
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 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-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)
Cheers
Arthur
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++++Message 3370. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Non-Conference approved
literature
From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 5:20:00 PM
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The list of source reference below were used to compile a timeline of
AA history that I periodically distribute in AAHistoryLovers. I've
read them all more than once and love them.
Research and Reference Sources
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, AAWS
Alcoholics Anonymous, the Big Book, AAWS
AA Comes of Age, AAWS
As Bill Sees It, AAWS
The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Dick B
Bill W by Robert Thompson
Bill W by Francis Hartigan
Bill W My First 40 Years, autobiography
Children of the Healer, Bob Smith and Sue Smith Windows by Christine
Brewer
Dr Bob and the Good Old-timers, AAWS
Ebby the Man Who Sponsored Bill W by Me
Getting Better Inside Alcoholics Anonymous by Nan Robertson
Grateful to Have Been There by Nell Wing
General Service Conference - Final Reports, AAWS
Grapevine
Harry Tiebout - the Collected Writings, Hazelden Pittman Press
The Language of the Heart, AA Grapevine Inc
Lois Remembers, by Lois Wilson
Mrs Marty Mann, by Sally and David R Brown
My Search for Bill W, by Mel B
Not God, by Ernest Kurtz (expanded edition)
New Wine, by Mel B
Pass It On, AAWS
The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Bill Pittman, nee AA the Way It
Began
Sister Ignatia, by Mary C Darrah
Slaying the Dragon, by William L White
AA Service Manual and Twelve Concepts for World Service, AAWS
Silkworth - the Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks, by Dale Mitchell
Women Pioneers in 12 Step Recovery, by Charlotte Hunter, Billye Jones
and Joan Ziegler
Cheers
Arthur
-----Original Message-----
From: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert
Stonebraker
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:42 PM
To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Non-Conference approved literature
Our Big Book Step Study Group in Richmond, IN, spends the first two
Tuesdays
studying AA history - we show a short movie, "DAWN OF HOPE" and
sometimes A
HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES" from Dr. Bob's Home. We make great effort
to
make these 90 minute sessions interesting. I have learned lot's of
interesting little stories about Ebby Thacher, Rowland Hazard, Carl
Jung,
Rev Shoemaker, Clarence Snyder and all the rest of those early
historical
participants from non-conference approved materials. Here are listed
a few
of our current book collection:
* EBBY, the man who sponsored Bill W., by Mel B.
* CHILDREN OF THE HEALER, by Bob Smith and Sue Windows
* DIARY OF TWO MOTORCYCLE HOBOS, by Lois Wilson, edited by Ellie Van
V.
* GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN THERE, by Nell Wing
* HOW IT WORKED, the story of Clarence Snyder, By Mitchell K.
* SISTER IGNATIA, Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Mary C. Darrah
* NOT GOD, a history of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Ernest Kurtz
* BILLW, by Robert Thomsen
Here are a few other non-AA history books we use for reference because
they
were often read by early AA members:
* SERMON ON THE MOUNT, BY Emmet Fox
* AS A MAN THINKETH, by James Allen
* THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, by Henry Drummond
But naturally our main source of historical information come from the
Conference approved books from GSO .
Bob S.
????????????????????????????
-----Original Message-----
From: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Lee Nickerson
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 4:28 AM
To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Re: Emmet Fox
I surely agree. I was fortunate to be Maine's Archivist for eight
years and by what seemed necessity, I began to do the unthinkable -
read non-conference approved literature. It enhanced my sobriety and
allowed me to do my service job in a much more informative and
interesting way. I picked up the habit and have been at it ever
since. I just finished a book called Drinking: A Love Story by
Caroline Knapp - one of the best personal stories I have read in a
long time. As far as AA history goes; Not God, Sister Ignatia:The
Angel Of AA, Grateful to Have Been There and so many others have
made my journey much more enlightened and joyful. Many of the books
I have read were recommended by Frank M. the late alcoholic
archivist of GSO. He was a truly sweet gentleman and I miss him to
this day.
lee
--- In AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com, "Mel Barger"
wrote:
>
> Hi Matt,
> I asked Bill Wilson about Emmet Fox and he said
> they even attended his lectures in New York in the
> 1930s. He also said they read The Sermon on the
> Mount.
>
> I found my own copy of it in Pontiac, Michigan, in
> February, 1951, and have read it ever since.
>
> Mike E., the second member of AA in Detroit, even
> told of reading it while he was still getting well
> from his last drunk; he had to rest it on pillow
> to hold it steady!
>
> I regret that the unfortunate prejudice against
> literature that isn't conference-approved has
> eliminated this any several other good books from
> most meetings. I recommend it whenever I can and
> sometimes mention it in talks.
>
> Mel Barger
>
> ___________________________
>
> Note from the moderator:
>
> See Mel's little article on Emmet Fox at
> http://hindsfoot.org/Fox1.html
>
Yahoo! Groups Links
Yahoo! Groups Links
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++++Message 3371. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Re: 93% recovery rate in
Cleveland
From: Mitchell K. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 6:05:00 PM
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There were several documents, records and oral
histories involved. Some of the documents involved a
commitee which helped pay for hospital stays for those
who couldn't afford it. They kept some records as to
who the person was, which hospital they were at and
how much was paid and/or owed and if it was more than
one attempt. There was also records from the hospital
committee and a survey of all the early groups
compiled by the central committee recording
statistician Norm E. with the help of Clarence. Norm
compiled a running history of the early groups, who
started them the founding members, where they moved to
if they did etc. There were also hundreds of group
meeting rosters naming members, their addresses,
spouses, phone numbers etc. The oral histories came
from Clarence, Warren C. (Sr. and Jr) and several
old-time Cleveland members. There were a few other
documents including the quote from Bill in AACA which
stated that Clevlend's results were of the very best.
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++++Message 3372. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: 93% recovery rate in Cleveland
From: Mitchell K. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 6:10:00 PM
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Let me set the record straight.
It wasn't called cherry picking and it wasn't just
related to Cleveland. In the Big Book, it was written
that if the prospect wasn't interested in your
solution, waste no more time and move on to the next
person. People weren't allowed at first to just attend
an AA meeting, they were prospective members. They
were visited and given an indoctrination into what AA
was. The term sponsor came from the fact that one had
to be sponsored into AA just like some unions and
country clubs.
--- Billy-Bob wrote:
> Dick B. claims to have those records in his
> archives. This was in Cleveland before the 3rd
> tradition was established. Back then AA groups could
> screen and cherry pick their members rather than
> having to accept anyone how walked through the door
> seeking help.
>
> Billy-Bob
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++++Message 3373. . . . . . . . . . . . Reading lists for AA study groups
From: Joe Adams . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/19/2006 11:47:00 PM
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Can you tell us where these films are available for
local sharing?
Joe Adams
(sober_in_nc at yahoo.com)
__________________________________________
Robert Stonebraker
(rstonebraker212 at insightbb.com) wrote:
Our Big Book Step Study Group in Richmond, IN,
spends the first two Tuesdays studying AA history -
we show a short movie, "DAWN OF HOPE"
and sometimes "A HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES"
from Dr. Bob's Home.
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++++Message 3374. . . . . . . . . . . . 95% First Year Dropout Myth
From: ny-aa@att.net . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/20/2006 12:21:00 AM
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One hand-drawn graph in a paper summarizing the 1977 through 1989 Trennial
Surveys has been misread by many people. The myth of a 95% drop-out in the
first year comes because it reported the membership length of people who
were in their first ever year of Alcoholics Anonymous. The x-axis scale
of the graph was the percentage who had been coming for any given number
of months, it was not the retention percentage.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/2379
My AAHistoryLovers Post 2379 (with added comments by moderator Glenn C)
presents the proper reading of the graph. The retention from any month to
any
other is the ratio of the number of members found. For every 100 people who
were in their first year, 19 were in their first month and 5 were in their
twelfth.
5 / 19 = 0.26 So 26% remain at the end of their first year. Newcomers often
are told, "Try A.A. for three months and decide if you are an
alcoholic." About
half leave during that "test drive." The Survey found 9 in their
fourth month.
5 / 9 = 0.56 So 56% of those staying beyond three months finish the year
of their first ever A.A. experience.
"If anyone who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the
right-about-face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him."
(BB p.31)
I want to avoid starting the "real alcoholic" debate again but
that is true.
Alcoholism is a self-diagnosed malady. A.A.'s shared experience can help
a visitor decide for himself if he is an alcoholic. As they say,
"Yet." :-)
Although some in A.A. want to "save" everyone who walks in the
door, there
really are drinkers who don't need Alcoholics Anonymous at their first
visit.
[Sponsors are free to tell their sponsees, "This doesn't apply to
you."] :-)
There are many reasons someone might not stay for their first full year.
It isn't up to us to decide if their reason is or is not valid.
* Not alcoholic
* Not "alcoholic enough"
* "Not ready"
* Denial
* More an addict than an alcoholic
* Discouraged by false claims like 95% Dropout Myth
* Life's other pressures
* Travel distance
* Don't "want what we have" by their perception
* Never sober enough to hear the message
* Wrong group for them
* Other psychological problems
* Try recovery by some other means
* Move
* Die (cause is irrelevant)
[Sponsors are free to tell their sponsees, "These don't apply to you
either."]
:-)
_____________________
Tom E
Wappingers Falls, NY
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Billy-Bob
> ... According to some of AA's own triennnial surveys a good 95 percent
> seem to drop out during the first year. That means that about 5 percent
> "really try". Which means that if 50% get it right away
figure and 75%
> get it eventually figures hold true, it means that after all is said
and
> done that 75% of 5% achieve a lasting sobriety.
>
> Sincerely, Billy-Bob
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++++Message 3375. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Are there AA literature reviews?
From: billyk . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/20/2006 3:48:00 AM
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I did a list of aa movies with professional reviews.
I, unfortunately, do not have the time to volunteer to
head up this project. I would, however,
make the time to support it. If someone would volunteer
to head up a project like this, I think it would be a
very very valuable service.
billyk
From the moderator: This movie list is an excellent
example of good research work. If you have never
looked at it, you ought to, because there are some
very interesting movies about alcoholism that would
be interesting for Alano clubs and fellowship houses
to show on Saturday night get-togethers.
Go to the AAHistoryLovers message board
at:http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/messages
and then go to Messages 2926 to 2931 for Billy K.'s
six-part AA Movie List.
______________________________
--- Arkie Koehl wrote:
> Suggestion from Arkie for the creation of a list
> of helpful AA literature, along with comments from
> Robert Stonebraker and James Bliss about possible
> books to include on that list.
> ______________________________
>
> Arkie Koehl
> (arkie at arkoehl.com)
>
> This is a fascinating, useful and helpful thread.
>
> Thanks to all.
>
> Is there by any chance someplace where such
> literature is reviewed by peers, or just AA
> historians, so that relative novices like myself
> can get a feel for what books are generally
> better thought of than others?
>
> Arkie Koehl
> Honolulu
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
> On Apr 18, 2006, at 14:42, Robert Stonebraker
> wrote:
>
> Our Big Book Step Study Group in Richmond, IN,
> spends the first two Tuesdays studying AA history -
> we show a short movie, "DAWN OF HOPE" and
> sometimes A HOUSE FULL OF MIRACLES" from Dr. Bob's
> Home. We make great effort to make these 90 minute
> sessions interesting. I have learned lots of
> interesting little stories about Ebby Thacher,
> Rowland Hazard, Carl Jung, Rev. Shoemaker, Clarence
> Snyder and all the rest of those early historical
> participants from non-conference approved materials.
>
> Here are listed a few of our current book collection:
>
> > * EBBY, the man who sponsored Bill W., by Mel B.
> > * CHILDREN OF THE HEALER, by Bob Smith and Sue Windows
> > * DIARY OF TWO MOTORCYCLE HOBOS, by Lois Wilson,
> edited by Ellie Van V.
> > * GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN THERE, by Nell Wing
> > * HOW IT WORKED, the story of Clarence Snyder,
> by Mitchell K.
> > * SISTER IGNATIA, Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous,
> by Mary C. Darrah
> > * NOT GOD, a history of Alcoholics Anonymous,
> by Ernest Kurtz
> > * BILL W, by Robert Thomsen
>
> Here are a few other non-AA history books we use
> for reference because they were often read by early
> AA members:
>
> > * SERMON ON THE MOUNT, BY Emmet Fox
> > * AS A MAN THINKETH, by James Allen
> > * THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, by Henry Drummond
>
> But naturally our main source of historical information
> comes from the Conference approved books from GSO .
>
> Bob S.
>
> ______________________________
>
> From: james.bliss@comcast.net
> (james.bliss at comcast.net)
>
> I have been literature chair for both District
> and Area and have only seen verbal indications
> that we are to encourage Conference Approved
> literature. I will attempt to review any
> documentation which I have received which may
> include this in a written form but I do not
> remember having read any. I was asked to talk
> during a presentation about 'Carrying the Message'
> and was instructed the content was to be about
> carrying the message using conference approved
> literature.
>
> Personally, I believe that any material which
> is spiritual in nature is acceptable and the Big
> Book enforces this idea regarding spiritual
> material. I do encourage various conference
> approved literature for various reasons:
>
> Big Book - it is the AA program
> 12 and 12 - obvious
> Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers - historical perspective
> Pass It On - historical perspective
> Various guidelines and handbooks depending upon what
> service work is being performed
> Open/Closed meeting card - good to read at the
> respective meeting
> Anonymity - both the pamphlet and the brief card -
> good to clear up the confusion about exactly what
> anonymity is for etc.
>
> I also recommend many external reading depending
> upon the individual and where they are at:
>
> Sermon on the Mount - Emmet Fox
> Fenelon Letters
> 24 Hours a Day
> The Little Red Book
> The Bible - for those member who believe in that
> religion
> And many other items which I read from recommendations
> from friends, religious leaders, browsing in stores.
>
> My impression from the Big Book is that we should
> listen to our spiritual leaders and seek their advice
> on what materials we might want to read. To me,
> this is about getting and staying sober, not limiting
> my reading to a specific publisher.
>
> Jim
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++++Message 3376. . . . . . . . . . . . (1) Bill Shoemaker''s Falling Out?
(2) Cloth banners.
From: hesofine2day . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/21/2006 3:44:00 PM
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(1) A friend told me today that Bill W. and Sam
Shoemaker had a falling out at the end of Bill's
life...Any information on this?
__________________________
(2) We have started a new group in Boynton Beach,
Florida, and are trying to find the old cloth
banners with the slogans and one that says "But
For The Grace Of God."
My memory is that they were blue and gold.
The "But for.." one was on a dowel with fringe,
I think.
Are they still around? Any help with this would
be greatly appreciated.
Yours in love and service
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++++Message 3377. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: The Exact Quote From Dr. Bob''s
Memorial Service, Nov. 15th, 1952
From: ArtSheehan . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/20/2006 1:54:00 PM
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There is a popular saying in AA of being wary of "paralysis through
analysis." No matter how hard, or innovatively, one attempts to
micro-parse a figurative (broad) statement, a literal interpretation
of it is typically one of creative invention rather than precise
computation. Precision cannot be derived from vagaries.
The other factor is if one already has a predetermined answer in mind
and only seeks that which supports that answer, it is bias and far
more likely to propagate myth rather than uncover or confirm fact.
What is the quantitative number "of alcoholics who came to AA" at
any
particular period of time? Nobody knows, but it was likely substantial
and likely remains substantial. In an address to the 1960 General
Service Conference, Bill W commented:
"I took note", the co-founder pointed out, "that in this
generation
which has seen AA come alive, this period of 25 years, a vast
procession of the world's drunks has passed in front of us and over
the precipice. Worldwide, there would appear to have been something
like 25 million of them. And out of this stream of despair, illness,
misery and death, we have fished out just one in a hundred in the last
25 years."
Now does this mean that over 25 years from 1935 to 1960 exactly 25
million drunks "passed in front of" AA just because Bill stated it
and
it is written in a document? It could have been 15 million or 35
million or whatever. Bill was simply offering a best estimate in his
own judgment. There were, and never have been, any records from which
to derive the figure - Bill was simply making an estimate not stating
a precise fact.
If something is written in a foreword to the Big Book, does that endow
it with precision and make it a fact? No. It is still simply an
estimate.
Depending on whose statistics (sadistics) one uses, there is an
estimated 14 to 18 million alcoholics in just the United States alone.
World-wide AA membership is estimated at a little over 2 million
members. Does this disparity in numbers mean that AA is doing
something wrong? Absolutely not. It simply illustrates that the
magnitude of the problem is the same today as it was in 1935 (perhaps
even larger). If most alcoholics responded to offers of help all that
easily there would be no need for AA. The nasty problem (and the fatal
one) is that most alcoholics do not respond to offers of help.
How many of these estimated 14 to 18 million alcoholics in the US
alone will be helped by AA? I'd suggest it depends on:
1. Whether they think they are alcoholic or not ("We learned that we
had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics.
This is the first step in recovery").
2. Whether they want to be helped and try AA's program of recovery.
This does not mean attending meetings (the dessert of AA). It means
learning and trying to practice the Steps in their lives (the main
course of AA).
How many fallen into the "just visiting" or success or failure
categories over the years or just this year? There is no way to
determine this with precision (or probably anything even approaching
reasonableness). AA does not keep these kinds of records and hasn't,
except on a very limited basis, since its first few years. Remember
that AA's 3rd group didn't start until shortly after the Big Book was
published in April 1939 when it was estimated that there were around
100 members (Bill made a comment that twice that number had likely
showed up by then).
As an experiment, try to determine what the success rate for your home
group has been for the past 1 year or 6 months or 3 months. How many
prospects showed up? How many gave AA a try (not just observed AA at
meetings)? How many succeeded or failed?
I'll make a friendly bet of 2 banana splits that you will not be able
to come up with an accurate answer (just a "best guess"). Now try
to
think of determining this for the 100,000+ estimated groups in AA
today or the estimated 2,000 groups at the beginning of 1941. It will
still just be a "best guess" that no one will be able to prove or
disprove.
That's the way it was in AA's early years. That's the way it is today.
That's the way it's going to be. AA does not keep membership records
much less a visitors log.
Cheers
Arthur
-----Original Message-----
From: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Billy-Bob
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 3:50 PM
To: AAHistoryLovers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [AAHistoryLovers] The Exact Quote From Dr. Bob's Memorial
Service, Nov. 15th, 1952
The claim that 75 percent achieved a lasting sobriety itself seems
strangely and ambiguously worded. "Of alcoholics who came to A.A. and
really tried (an ambiguous qualifier used to eliminate an unknown
percentage of people), 50% got sober at once and remained that way;
25% sobered up after some relapses, (this is the category I personally
fall into) and among the remainder, (presumably the remaining 25%)
those who stayed on with us showed some improvement. (What the heck
does this mean? Does this mean the ultimate success rate is higher
than 75%? Does this mean they stayed sober for a while but died drunk
and consequently were not counted as successes? It's very unclear.)
Other thousands (What other thousands? How many other thousands? Does
this refer to the ones who didn't really try?) came to a few A.A.
meetings and at first decided they didn't really want the program. But
great numbers of these---(Uh excuse me how many?) about two out of
three---(Pardon me? two out of
three of how many?) began to return as time passed." Really? How do
we know they returned as time passed, who was keeping track of their
comings and goings? What does Bill mean by "showed improvement?"
This
statement is simply to vague to be meaningful. BTW, this statement was
found in the forward to the Second Edition which reads "Figures given
in this foreword describe the Fellowship as it was in 1955." So claims
of a 50 to 75 percent success rate seem to be being claimed for this
particular time period and not for the time prior to and shortly after
the Big Book was published, the so called "flying blind" period as
you
describe it. If you read the statement very carefully you will find
that it makes very little sense and leaves all kinds of questions
unanswered. One is left with the very general idea that if you come to
A.A. and really try you have a pretty good chance of making it. While
this impression might be pretty accurate, and in my experience it is.
We still
don't know what percentage of people "really try" i.e. make
sufficent
effort to make it. According to some of AA's own triennnial surveys a
good 95 percent seem to drop out during the first year. That means
that about 5 percent "really try". Which means that if 50% get it
right away figure and 75% get it eventually figures hold true, it
means that after all is said and done that 75% of 5% achieve a lasting
sobriety.
Sincerely, Billy-Bob
Yahoo! Groups Links
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++++Message 3378. . . . . . . . . . . . FW: Non-Conference approved
literature
From: Robert Stonebraker . . . . . . . . . . . . 4/21/2006 4:56:00 AM
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"HOW IT WORKED, the story of Clarence Snyder," By Mitchell K.
can be
downloaded or read at www.4dgroups.org
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