The life of each A.A. and of each group is built around our Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. We know that the penalty for extensive disobedience to these principles is death for the individual and dissolution for the group. But an even greater force for A.A.’s unity is our compelling love for our fellow membersContinue reading “Compelling Love – As Bill Sees It #273”
Category Archives: Group Conscience
A Suggestion for Thanksgiving – Grapevine Article November 1949 By Bill W.
I found this article timely and compelling as we read and study Tradition 11 today in our Thursday Twelve & Twelve meeting. I’ve added bold highlights to a few paragraphs that resonate for me from this article Bill W published in the November 1949 Grapevine over 75 years ago. We should note that this articleContinue reading “A Suggestion for Thanksgiving – Grapevine Article November 1949 By Bill W.”
Unlikely Teachers – Grapevine Article April 1990 By Kit K.
“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” How I hated to hear those words at meetings. They implied humility and a willingness to listen to whatever stranger happened to sit next to me or approach me on the street. Yet during five years of sobriety, many teachers have appeared in my life. Some wereContinue reading “Unlikely Teachers – Grapevine Article April 1990 By Kit K.”
Tradition Five: What A Group Ought To Be Grapevine Article May 2006 by Anonymous
An AA says we can’t transmit what we don’t have The first thing Tradition Five tells us is what a group is, or at least “ought to be.” We are not a sociological entity, although sociologists find us fascinating. We are not a therapy group, although remarkable healing takes place among us. And we areContinue reading “Tradition Five: What A Group Ought To Be Grapevine Article May 2006 by Anonymous”
A Stronger Group – Grapevine Article May 2022 by Bob P.
Substantial unanimity helps the majority slow down and hear the voice of the minority opinion. Sometimes the voice of a loving God is trying to speak through others. A judge may require people with an alcohol-related court conviction to attend AA meetings. These people come with court papers for us at AA to sign. TheContinue reading “A Stronger Group – Grapevine Article May 2022 by Bob P.”
How 14 groups grew to 22 – Grapevine Article January 1945 by Frank S.
This article was reprinted in the the November 2018 Grapevine that focused on AA History. In 1944, AA’s cofounder, Bill W., swings through California to lend a helping hand to the new groups Just over one year ago, Bill made a two-month visit to the West Coast, one month of which was spent in LosContinue reading “How 14 groups grew to 22 – Grapevine Article January 1945 by Frank S.”
The Key to Belonging – Grapevine Article September 2000 by Karen S.
Growing up, I was an angry, lonely, frightened kid. I didn’t know how to make friends, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Recess was the most painful part of my day–I’d sit on the outskirts of the playground, sensing that I wasn’t welcome to play tag or kickball. I watched the other children, takingContinue reading “The Key to Belonging – Grapevine Article September 2000 by Karen S.”
A Spoke In The Wheel – Grapevine Article March 1989 by G.H.
One Tuesday night a lonely confused woman named “Sara” walks through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous. Sara feels alienated and depressed, feelings she has had most of her life. She is completely demoralized and knows she will never be accepted or feel loved by anyone again. But through all this despair she doesn’t want toContinue reading “A Spoke In The Wheel – Grapevine Article March 1989 by G.H.”
It Might Have Been the Time – Grapevine Article February 1950 by Lois (Bill W.‘s Wife and Al-Anon Founder )
I too needed spiritual development IT is hard to say just when Alcoholics Anonymous began. It may have been at the time a friend came to see my husband, Bill. Or it may have been at the moment of Bill’s spiritual experience. Most AAs feel it is the time six months later when he metContinue reading “It Might Have Been the Time – Grapevine Article February 1950 by Lois (Bill W.‘s Wife and Al-Anon Founder )”
Big Book Is Born – Grapevine Article May 2019; 80 Years After It’s Original Publication
TIMELINE WRITTEN BY BILL S. | FAIRFIELD, CONN. Middle of Oct., 1937Our cofounder Bill W. travels to Akron where the group meets and approves raising funds for paid missionaries, a chain of national hospitals and the writing of a book. The Ohio members do not, however, intend to contribute any money themselves, and they sendContinue reading “Big Book Is Born – Grapevine Article May 2019; 80 Years After It’s Original Publication”