histoire aa

Interview au "Vancouver Daily Province"

Date de la poste : 8 Mars 1951

This is a very fascinating letter with historical significance. It was written to Clarence Snyder in early March 1951 just prior to the first General Service Conference in April of that year. The text of the letter reveals a serious level of opposition to the General Service Conference proposal by the members of Ohio, Missouri and the midwest Alcoholics Anonymous groups. Henrietta discusses this issue with Clarence S. and references those members and groups which are against sending delegates

Proposal for the General Service Conference and Opposition

The Third Legacy proposal was not unversally well received initially. Midwest groups were particularly in opposition, many of which had direct roots in the Oxford Groups. The thought was AA should be a movement and not an organization with structure. Some of those opposed feared more power would be centered in New York, and hadn't fully comprehended that the Conference would exist to serve the groups, and not the other way around. This letter highlights the differences of opinion which existed at the time. Bill tried to assuage such concerns in the November 1950 pamphlet by including Dr. Bob's name on the cover page as an equal in the proposal. Dr. Bob had come to agree with the need for the Conference, and passed away the month the proposal pamphlet was released.

C'est une lettre fascinante avec une signification historique. Elle a été écrite à Clarence Snyder au début de mars 1951, juste avant la première Conférence des Services Généraux en avril de cette année-là. Le texte de la lettre révèle un niveau sérieux d'opposition à la proposition de la Conférence des Services Généraux par les membres de l'Ohio, du Missouri et des groupes des Alcooliques Anonymes du Midwest. Henrietta discute de cette question avec Clarence S. et fait référence aux membres et groupes qui sont contre l'envoi de délégués

Proposition pour la Conférence des Services généraux et l'opposition

La proposition du Troisième Héritage n'a pas été exceptionnellement bien accueillie au départ. Les groupes du Midwest étaient particulièrement opposés, dont beaucoup avaient des racines directes dans les groupes d'Oxford. L'idée était que les AA devraient être un mouvement et non une organisation structurée. Certains de ceux qui s'y opposaient craignaient que plus de pouvoir ne soit concentré à New York, et n'avaient pas pleinement compris que la Conférence existerait pour servir les groupes, et non l'inverse. Cette lettre met en évidence les divergences d'opinion qui existaient à l'époque. Bill a tenté d'apaiser ces inquiétudes dans la brochure de novembre 1950 en incluant le nom du Dr Bob sur la page de couverture comme un égal dans la proposition. Le Dr Bob en était venu à convenir de la nécessité de la conférence et est décédé le mois où la brochure de proposition a été publiée.

Plus sur Clarence SNYDER :http://www.kreizker.net/article-clarence-snyder-69311275.html

http://0z.fr/mOuY0    http://0z.fr/qfQUc     http://0z.fr/B3rQf

A propos de Henrietta Seiberling : http://www.kreizker.net/article-henrietta-seiberling-115518519.html

This ORIGINAL unbound 10 page typed page booklet is one of earliest and quite possibly a manuscript from 1940 or 41. As the September 1947 Grapevine article states below, this plan is believed to be the first of its kind and the most successful. It describes "conditions" for membership, requirements such as leaving work for 2 weeks to work solely on the recovery plan of AA, slip squads and how to approach new prospects with interviews #1 and #2. Strict adherence to the plan is required.

From the September 1947 Grapevine

(Following is another of the reports published from time to time by The A.A. Grapevine on group methods and techniques. The reports, in addition to correlating information on group activities, show how varied are the methods and techniques followed by different groups in different parts of the country and how policies which might not work in one area do work in another.)

Greater Little Rock A.A. was seven years old last March and has helped establish most of the groups within the state. More than five hundred men and women have been initiated into A.A. through the Little Rock Approach Plan since its creation seven years ago when five men got together and began to use the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, which had just been published.

It is interesting to note that of these men, the founders of the movement here, all are alive and only one ever had a relapse. They are living, walking proof of the statement that "it works."

Records Carefully Kept

The Little Rock Plan was, we believe, the first of its kind in the country. By adhering strictly to the "Plan" hundreds have been brought into A.A. and because this group has kept accurate records and statistics, we can report that our success is better than the national average of 75%--or to put it another way, our "slip" record is lower than the 25% expected and reported from other groups over the country.

It is not easy to become a member of this group. When a person has expressed a desire to achieve sobriety and has had a sponsor appointed for him, he must leave his work or position for at least two weeks. Usually the prospect is required to spend that entire time within the confines of the club rooms, studying, preparing a case history, meeting and filling assignments laid out by the sponsor.

If, after two weeks, he has discharged his assignments to the satisfaction of his sponsor, he is brought before the executive committee and there his request for membership is presented by his sponsor in his presence. In some instances, because of the peculiarity of the case, he may not be admitted for varying periods as high as six months in some cases. However, if he is deemed eligible by the committee, he is brought before the next meeting, receives a warm welcome, is handed a copy of the "Approach Program" and the 12 Steps.

This is not all, however. We do not simply say, "Now here you are, you have had it all, go your way, and may God bless you." No, we do not cut him off in mid-air, so to speak. We give him a small diary and ask that each day thereafter for 28 days, he record his impressions of the day, any event, whether a happy one or a sad one, and enter therein, "I have not taken a drink this day," and sign his name.

At the end of this period he returns the diary to the club, is again welcomed and is admitted to full membership, the privilege of the ballot and an unrestricted part in the activities of the fellowship. He is then assigned to a squad, given some definite task, and encouraged to work, guided by some older member, with new prospects.

In dealing with the new man, there are other procedures. First of all, in addition to being required to adhere strictly to the assignments required by his sponsor, he serves his apprenticeship in what is known as "The Prospect Squad." Here he learns from a squad leader various phases of the work of A.A., mingles with other neophytes, hears their experiences and contributes his own. If he needs guidance or advice this is where he gets it, along with other new men, seeking the way out.

There is the "slip squad," where the man who has suffered a setback, no matter how severe or how light, must serve from two weeks to six months before he is again recognized as a full-fledged member. Often the slippee is assigned tougher, more strenuous assignments than when he first was admitted. Here he discusses the slip freely with those men, who like himself, have "missed the boat" somewhere down the line. He tries to find out why he made the mistake and learns again that "to err is only human" and that a slip in the beginning is not uncommon, certainly not fatal.

The executive committee is comprised of representatives from each squad. The squads meet once a week on nights other than the regular meeting and transact the actual business of the Fellowship.

We spend much time in planning and executing the new man's graduation from the freshman stage. We carry him slowly and carefully through the "Prospect Squad"; admit him to membership; keep our contacts with him through that critical period, the first month or so, through his daily diary; put him in a squad after he becomes a full member and then if he slips, put him through again (and again if necessary) by way of the "Slip Squad."

Credit is due the State Hospital and Fort Roots, one of the Southwest's largest veterans' hospitals, where we have complete cooperation from the entire staff of doctors and psychiatrists. From Fort Roots especially, come more and more men, having been told by the psychiatrists, "We can do nothing more for you, your best bet is A.A. It works." The courts of law in Arkansas in general and Little Rock in particular without exception lend a willing ear and helping hand to unfortunates who stand before the court and even so much as intimate that they would like to quit drinking. While we have gone far and progressed much, no small amount of credit is due to all these factors plus the attitude of all business men of this city.

Bill estime à 400 000 ou plus les membres AA, avec une croissance rapide à l'étranger, sauf derrière le rideau de fer

Il indique que lui et Loïs se sont mis en retrait, pour "protéger" leur famille

Il envoie à Jack Alexander un exemplaire du "12 & 12"

A propos de Jack Alexander : http://www.kreizker.net/article-jack-alexander-81839179.html

4 Août 1955 : Bill lui avait envoyé un exemplaire du Big Book (2° édition, 1° tirage)