From - THE
ALCOHOLIC FOUNDATION
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS - ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - Box
658, Church Street Annex, New York City
#1, AA BULLETIN,
11/14/40
We wish to thank
our many friends and correspondents all over the country for their cooperation
in keeping the national headquarters informed of developments in the various
groups. It is through such a central exchange that vital information and
contact points can be brought to the attention of those who seek the solution
to alcoholism which means so much to us.
This bulletin is an effort to
develop a mutual idea exchange sheet to establish a closer feeling of
friendship between A.A. groups from the east coast to the west, and we hope it
will prevent secession from the A.A. ranks of our San Francisco group who
threatened to call themselves "Dipsomaniacs Incognito" unless they heard from
us more frequently. A bulletin has been contemplated for some time but delayed
due to lack of sufficient personnel and office facilities. We now have at
least the equipment and hope to be able to make this bulletin a periodic spree
(not alcoholic).
This office has in the last year handled over 2000
inquiries answering each by personal letter. In addition, correspondence is
maintained with about 50 centers where A.A. work is in operation, varying
from the solitary efforts of single isolated A.A. members to groups of
150.
In view of the fact that in April 1939 there were only about 100
A.A. members, and the fact that there is now a total of approximately 1400,
your efforts and ours have been exceptionally worth while. Continued A.A.
activity will mean a great deal not only to each of us as individuals, but
also to the many who are still unaware of the fact that there is an answer to
the alcoholic problem which is practicable on a large scale.
Our
correspondence reaches not only the four corners of the U.S. but also touches
Alaska, Africa, England, France and Australia. Although nothing of consequence
has developed as yet in these distant places, nevertheless it is indicative of
the widespread interest in Alcoholics Anonymous, of the far reaching results
already obtained, and the possibilities for the future.
For the general
information of all A.A. members, we list below those cities where there are
isolated A.A. members who have recovered either through the book alone or
through brief contact with established centers.
Cohoes, New
York
Buffalo, New York
Denver, Colorado
Shelby, North
Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Aiken, South Carolina
Bellingham,
Washington
Bismarck, North Dakota
Burlington, Vermont
Bennington,
Vermont
Norfolk, Virginia
Kansas City, Missouri
St. Louis,
Missouri
Knoxville, Tennessee
Eau Clare, Wisconsin
Phoenix,
Arizona
There are several working A.A. members in each of the following
cities where meetings are in a get together stage.
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
Boston, Massachusetts
Wallingford, Vermont
San Diego,
California
Indianapolis, Indiana
And following is a list of
communities where A.A. is well established and weekly meetings are
held:
New York City, New York
South Orange, New
Jersey
Washington, D.C.
Richmond, Virginia
Detroit,
Michigan
Jackson, Michigan
Coldwater, Michigan
Chicago,
Illinois
Houston, Texas
Los Angeles, California
San Francisco,
California
Evansville, Indiana
Little Rock, Arkansas
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Baltimore, Maryland
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Greenwich,
Connecticutt
Cleveland, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Dayton,
Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
The secretary or correspondent of each group
has the name and address of at least one member in each of the established
groups for the use of traveling or visiting members. However, at the request
of many of these groups may we ask that the New York office be used as a
clearing house for all correspondence since but few local groups are equipped
to handle the correspondence now coming to them from so many different
directions. We shall gladly give full particulars about any of the listed
communities upon request.
We all know that the A.A. solution really
works if followed with patience, honesty and sincerity so we sympathize with
the new prospect who said he certainly DID want to stop drinking but after
listening a few minutes to our A.A. story said "Oh that!! I tried it for two
weeks and it doesn't work!
We shall appreciate receiving ideas,
suggestions, criticisms, etc., of general interest for the purpose of this
bulletin is to relate the many A.A. groups in a friendly spirit.
So
best regards to all and let us hear from you at any and all times.
Ruth
Hock (signed)
Secretary
P.S.
Since it is not possible at the
present time for us to furnish enough copies for distribution to every A.A.
member, perhaps you will feel it advisable to read this copy aloud at a
meeting.
