NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Alcoholics Anonymous Marks 75th Anniversary with International Convention in San Antonio

It started with two men meeting in 1935 to over 2 million members estimated worldwide. For the first time in the history of AA's conventions, members from the island Republic of Palau, will participate in the opening flag ceremonies. More than 75 countries will be represented at the four day event, including Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Spain.

AA holds an International Convention every five years, beginning with the first one in Cleveland, in 1950, through the 12^th one in Toronto, in 2005. This is the first time the Convention will be in Texas. The theme of this year's International Convention - "A Vision for You" - comes from the last chapter of the first 164 pages of the volume Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as the Big Book. The Big Book is the basic text of the AA program of recovery worldwide and has also been adopted by countless Twelve-Step Fellowships.

International Conventions are occasions for celebration of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous and seeing the wide-spread results of "carrying the message" from one alcoholic to another. However, early conventions marked significant events in AA history. At the 15^th Anniversary in Cleveland, in 1950, the Fellowship adopted its Twelve Traditions and heard one if its co-founders, Dr. Bob, speak for the last time in public. Five years later, in St. Louis, the future of AA was turned over to the Fellowship through the service structure and AA's annual General Service Conference.

Three large meetings are scheduled where AA members are expected to fill the Alamodome. Festivities begin Thursday July 1, with a "Party in the Park" at HemisFair Park. The opening meeting July 2 features the flag ceremony, when members from each participating country will carry their national flags past a cheering crowd. In San Diego in 1995, attendance at this event was estimated at 54,000, giving it claim to the "biggest AA meeting ever."

Saturday night convention-goers can attend the Old-Timers Meeting, featuring members with 40 years or more of sober living. Sunday morning, July 4, they will gather once more in the Alamodome for the Closing Meeting where they will say farewell until the 2015 meeting in Atlanta. The meetings will be simultaneously translated into French, Spanish and American Sign Language. The Friday and Saturday night meetings will be followed by dancing at the Convention Center.

Over the course of the weekend, dozens of smaller meetings will be held, some in a variety of languages including French, German, Italian, Farsi, Japanese and Korean. Al-Anon Family Groups, a fellowship for friends and relatives of alcoholics, and Alateen have scheduled daytime activities, including meetings and workshops at the Marriott Rivercenter. Regardless of language or venue, much will be heard over the weekend about holding out the hand of AA - from one alcoholic to another.

For general information on the International Convention "A Vision for You," check out AA's Web site at www.aa.org or call 212-870-2990.

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc.
Mary Clare Lynch, 212-870-3119
publicinfo@aa.org
or
KGBTexas Public Relations/Advertising
Will Ellis, 210-826-8899 or (cell) 210-473-3858
wille@kgbtexas.com