different purpose, and a different agenda for this conference. But we can start with what it is:

We’ve had lots of conventions, conferences, roundups, bashes, forums, flings, assemblies, archivist panels, and plenty of meetings, meetings, meetings. Of course, at St. Louis, many years back, we had a convention - historical in nature - and fashioned by Bill Wilson to show that A.A. had come of age. But for the most part, we have been focused on sharing experience, strength, and hope; telling stories; and adopting resolutions. As a result, until about 1990, most of us knew little if anything about the spiritual roots, history, and principles of this society.

We will be exploring each in relation to the other - from the standpoint of our own great history.

I believe the greatest positive event of the twentieth century occurred in Akron, Ohio. . . when Bill W. and Dr. Bob convened the first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. It was not only the beginning of the self-help movement and the beginning of the integration of science and spirituality at a grass-roots level, but also the beginning of the community movement. . . . which is going to be the salvation not only of alcoholics and addicts but of us all.

The answer will depend on several factors: What is alcoholism? What is the meaning of recovery and cure? What were the ingredients of our original program? Was it dependent upon God? What God are we talking about? What answers were given by our founders and pioneers? What was the real success rate? How important is that history? Can we apply the answers to the cure of alcoholism in today’s A.A.

When Bill left Akron in late August 1935, there were four members–possibly five counting Phil, who might have been in the process of drying out. From that fall to spring, Bill helped Hank P. and Fitz M., among others, get sober in New York. He made a short visit to Akron in April, 1936, writing Lois that he had spent the weekend and was so happy about everything there. Bob and Anne and Henrietta Seiberling have been working so hard with those men and with really wonderful success. There were very joyous get-togethers at Bob’s, Henrietta’s, and the Williams’s by turns. In September 1936, there was another visit, with Bill’s arrival a signal for a house party, which was very touching, he wrote. Anne and Bob and Henrietta have done a great job. There were several new faces since spring. In February 1937, another count was taken, and there were seven additional members in Akron, for a total of 12. Half of these had or would have some sort of slip, and at least one would never be really successful in the A.A. program thereafter. For most, however, the slip was a convincer. There were dozens of others who were exposed to the program up to February 1937. Some were successful for a time, then drifted away. Some came back. Others died. Some, like Lil, may have found another way [DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers. NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1980, pp. 108-09]. Word of Akron’s not-drinking-liquor club had already spread to nearby towns, such as Kent and Canton, and it was probably early 1937 when a few prospects started drifting down from Cleveland. In the beginning, it was in twos and threes (By 1939, there were two carloads) [DR. BOB, supra, p. 122]

A beacon had been lighted. God had shown alcoholics how it might be passed from hand to hand. Never shall I forget that great and humbling hour of realization, shared with Dr. Bob, said Bill [RHS, p. 8].

The successes were confirmed by the careful investigation of Frank Amos and reported to John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1938. It was that glowing report of Dr. Bob and Akron’s Group Number One that had caught Mr. Rockefeller’s interest and had further encouraged the formation of the Alcoholic Foundation. And Frank Amos has left us with a detailed description of the program as it stood before the writing of the Big Book began. Bill began writing the Big Book in 1938. According to his secretary, Nell Wing, there were slightly more than 70 alcoholics that had achieved sobriety. There never were the 100 men and women that Bill mentioned when the Big Book was published in the Spring of 1939. Of those who were sober, fifty percent had maintained continuous sobriety; twenty-five percent had achieved sobriety after relapse; and the remainder showed improvement. By the early 1940's, records in Cleveland showed that 93 percent of those who came to A.A. never had a drink again [DR. BOB, supra, p. 261].

I will gladly inscribe my own books that are on sale. They are offered at half price for this conference. And you may simply leave cash or a check in the receptacle or see me for a form to use if you want to use your credit card or order other books.