UNSELFISHNESS
- HONESTY - TRUTH - LOVE
VOL. I-No. 2;
BOX 1638,
STATION C, CLEVELAND,
OHIO; November, 1942
Editorial
The Founder called it “a
Miracle of Transformation.”
So it was. There were
doctors, lawyers and mechanics, business executives and clerks:
men of many stations of life and of many creeds.
Not so long ago they
were chained almost inescapably to an obsession that defied
determination and willpower, that progressively destroyed their
usefulness to themselves, their families and to society. They
and their wives, numbering nearly l000 persons, filled the great
Rainbom Room of Hotel Carter. They were there to pay tribute to
the Founder. Yet the Founder’s inspiring message was
overshadowed by the audience itself. There were many hundred
personal triumphs, and many hundred triumphs of missionary zeal.
The Founder himself saw
this great audience as a miracle. He paid tribute to the work of
the members of Greater Cleveland, who had shown how ordinary
men, with Divine inspiration, could succeed in an effort that
would be accounted too great for professionals.
The Founder led a
meeting. He told us about his personal problem. He told us how,
after he had received the inspiration that led to the
development of the method, his problem still remained. It
remained as long as resentment, intolerance and self pity
remained. He put strong emphasis on the destroying effect of
resentment.
He met his crisis as
most of the rest of us have learned to meet our crises: by
acceptance of the guiding hand of the Creator, and by working
with others.
He spoke of humility
and patience and love and honesty and unselfishness. But
particularly, he spoke of the destructive effects of resentment,
intolerance and self pity.
There were two other
speakers. The guest of honor of last year’s dinner meeting
spoke of the necessity of passing the work on to others, of
correcting our thinking, of finding a new plan for living, and
of making use of the opportunity to gain happiness.
The other speaker was a
Clevelander, a member for five years. He spoke on the individual
nature of the problem and the individual’s own responsibility
for its solution.
Members from 20 other
cities were present: Lorain, Akron, Uhrichsville, Ashtabula,
Youngstown, Dayton, Columbus, Geneva, Mountainview, Kent,
Canton, Cuyahoga Falls, Mount Vernon, Belleview, Mansfield,
Berea and Toledo in Ohio; Erie, Pa., Pittsburgh, Pa., and
Jackson, Mich.
ABSOLUTE HONESTY - One
of the four absolutes of A. A. means that we MUST be honest with
ourselves first, last and always if we are to succeed in this
New Way Of Life.
Responsibility of
Sponsors
The greatest
responsibility any man or woman assumes as a member of A. A. is
the treatment or sponsorship of the new prospect.
Upon how thoroughly and
conscientiously this job is done by us depends the future
happiness and security of the individual concerned.
It is, therefore,
important that we assume this responsibility in its entirety,
not only for the benefit of the prospect, but for our own
protection as well. Our own safety and security depends upon how
unselfishly we give of ourselves to others.
It is our duty to be
certain beyond the shadow of a doubt that the prospect once left
on his own has such a complete understanding of the principles
and practices of this movement that he
will know what to do
under any and all conditions.
This is accomplished only
by painstaking effort on our part to the extent that we must be
sure that the prospect has received the proper instructions from
a great number of contacts, thru the reading of the book,
Alcoholics Anonymous, and by our showing the way properly to
make a contact with others. All this having been done, it is
important that we impress upon the prospect the fact that he
must then do this job himself for his own security.
All these things are
vitally necessary and it is the sponsor’s responsibility to
follow thru on this to the point where the prospect is able
honestly to recognize the fact that regardless of what the
condition or circumstance with which he is confronted a drink is
never the solution to his problem.
GOD'S LOVE
Let the thought of Love
be with you;
Pass it not one single
day;
It will ever be your
sunshine,
Health and joy in every
way.
Use it when dark clouds
may gather,
And all trouble soon
will cease;
Just know God's great
Love forever -
It will bring you
lasting peace.
SUNDAY EVENING
MEETINGS
At a round table
discussion meeting it was suggested that a Sunday evening group
be started and that it preferably meet regularly downtown or
within easy reach of all districts of Cleveland. We suggest that
the secretaries bring this up for discussion at regular
meetings, and if sufficient interest is aroused, steps will be
taken to create a new group.
BULLETIN RETAINS
NAME
In the first Bulletin it
was suggested that everyone put his thinking cap on and submit a
name for the subsequent Bulletins. Only one other name was
suggested and the delegates to Central Committee expressed a
preference for the original name, so the name stands. A new
masthead is being drawn by one of our artist members, so for the
Christmas issue you may see us with a different “dress” on.
GOSSIP
Gossip is one of the
cardinal sins. It is not a single act like murder, that stops
one’s life and falls back to punish the offender. It is the
breath of the Devil, soiling every ear it touches. It is the
most deadly of poisons. It blights many lives, it smites the
innocent with the guilty.
An old Italian legend
tells the following:
In the old days, a peasant
confessed to a priest that he had slandered an innocent man. The
priest said to him, “For your penance do this now: Take a bag
of chicken down. Go to every yard in the town and drop one bit
of down into each garden. Do not miss one yard. When you have
finished, return to me.” The sinner believed his punishment
was light. Kith his bag of dolrn he made the circuit of the
village and carefully dropped one soft feather into each garden.
Then he reported to the priest, saying: “I have done my
penance.”
“No, my son,”
replied the old abbe. “You will not have done your penance
until you take this bag, go again on your rounds, collect every
feather you have dropped, and bring it here to me."
The gossip protested
that it would be impossible: he could not find the bits of down
in a lifetime; many of them had blown far away.
“So it is with
gossip,” replied the priest. “It is easily dropped. But
never again, no matter how hard you try, can you rather back the
words you hare so thoughtlessly scattared.”
"Create in me a
clean heart, O Lord."
A. A. MALE CHORUS
The Male Chorus has
finally been launched. and rehearsals are held every Sunday
afternoon at 4 P.M. in the Old Arcade (Superior entrance). There
is still an insistent demand for first tenors and low basses,
and a plea is now made for an early response to further this
worthy endeavor.
This chorus is
considering a suitable name for itself - a name which will not
in any way denote A. A. connection. It will be available for
Cleveland’s community activities and only the members
themselves will know its origin.
Francis Sadlier, a
teacher of voice and a well-known figure in Cleveland’s
musical circles, will direct and train the group. His personal
acquaintance with several of the members prompted him to
practically donate his services and facilities to the cause. (He
is not a member of A.A.)
LAKEWOOD GROUP
The Lakewood Group, parent
of the West Side groups, will celebrate its third anniversary at
the semi-monthly party Saturday, November 21. This group was
founded November 20, 1939. The second annual dinner and reunion
of the founders of the Lakewood Group, first West Side group,
will be held at Cousin's Restaurant, 15001 Detroit Ave.,
Lakewood on Saturday, November 28th.
The Group has
reinstituted its “every other Saturday” evening
get-togethers. Cards and games provide entertainment and the
membership feels it engenders a greater social activity than is
possible on meeting nights.
GORDON SQUARE GROWTH
On July 21, 1932, the
Gordon Square Group started with two members. The Group now
numbers forty-one. This shows that the location selected was
wise and also that some splendid work has been done by the
members. Fine cooperation was given by the West 25th-Erin Group
and the Lorain Avenue Group. The fine response from the
Women’s Group also was a great factor in its success.
- B . H .
A farewell party and
dance was held in honor of Clarence Snyder on Saturday evening,
October 3rd, C.I.0. Hall, 6221 Detroit Ave., with the Gordon
Square Group as hosts. He was presented with a beautiful service
wrist watch as a gift from all West Side groups who acclaimed
him for his pioneer work in Cleveland and particularly the West
Side. The large crowd wished him Godspeed and his parting speech
was well received.
CRAWFORD MEN'S
TRAINING
The Crawford Men's
Training System has been highly acclaimed by many. Older A.A’s
are asked to come to these meeting’s with or without new
prospects where new prospects will be given individual attention
just as though they were in a hospital. Visiting a prospect in
his home has always been handicapped by interruptions; by the
prospect not daring to unburden himself completely for fear of
being overheard by his relatives, and by the A.A.'s reticence
for the same reason. Hospitalization without question is the
ideal answer to where the message will be most effective, but
the Crawford Training Plan strikes us being the next best.
This group has even had
regular visitors from Pittsburgh and surrounding small towns.
LEE ROAD GROUP
A goodly number of the
Wednesday night Lee Road Group spent a very pleasant Sunday
afternoon and evening last month at the Hinckley Lake home of
our Group Secretary and enjoyed a delicious chicked dinner.
- B . E .
WOMEN’S GROUP
We of the Women’s Group
feel that we are not entitled to a great deal of space in our
“Central Bulletin,” being so much in the minority. However,
we proclaim far and wide the success we have attained, against
many odds. We were told over and over, that when it came to
organizing and trying to educate a “Bunch of Alcoholic
Women” that it would be hopeless. To our great satisfaction
and pride, our able organizer and first Secretary did not let
that discourage her. She believed in her idea of a Group for
women only. Our success and constant growth proved her point
better than anything we can say.
Of course, with all of
us, the Women’s Group comes first, but we are always glad to
cooperate in any way we can with the Men’s Groups, as many of
them have been very kind and helpful to us.
Here’s to the
immediate success of your paper - whether it is “Central
Bulletin” or “Good News From The Home Front.”
WADE PARK GROW
CHANGES LOCATION
The Wade Park Croup has
just changed its meeting place from East 82nd and Wade Park to
the Parish House of Emmanuel Church, 8614 Euclid Ave. An
enthusiastic group of about 100 persons welcomed the change on
the first meeting night.
No mention was made to
the editors as to whether the group changed its name, and our
efforts to certify the information were unsuccessful. However,
if there is a change, it will be announced in the next bulletin.
THE MAN IN THE MIRROR
When you get what you
want, in your struggle for self,
And the world makes you
king for a day -
Then go to the mirror and
look at yourself,
And see what THAT guy has
to say.
For it isn’t a man’s
father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon him
must pass;
The fellow whose verdict
counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back
from the glass.
He’s the fellow to
please - never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear
up to the end,
And you’ve passed your
most dangerous difficult test
If the guy in the glass is
your friend.
You may be like “Jack
Horner” and “chisel” a deal
And think you're a
wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass
thinks you’re only a heel
If you can’t look HIM
straight in the eye.
You can fool the whole
world down the pathway of years,
And get pats on the back
from your friends,
But your final reward will
be heartaches and tears
If you've cheated the guy
in the glass.
GROUP MEETINGS
Monday
Borton, 13931 Euclid Ave.,
8:45
Lee Road, 1637 Lee Road,
8:30
Lakewood, Townsend Hall,
15903 Detroit Ave., 8:30
Lake Shore, Lake Shore
Hotel, Dinner at 7:30, Meeting at 8:30
Lorain Ave., Banater Hall
Annex, W. 120th at Lorain, 8:30
Miles Ave., 12907 Union
Ave., 8:30
Shaker Heights, Shaker Jr.
High, S. Woodland and Woodbury, 8:30
South East Group, 10203
Miles Ave., 8:30
Tuesday
Wade Park, Emmanuel Church
(Rear), 8614 Euclid, 8:30
West Side Men’s, Pilgrim
Church, W. 14th and Starkweather, 8:30
Douglas, Mansfield O,
North Lake Park, Sec. Address, 1.17 W. First St., Mansfield, 0,
8:30
Wednesday
Crawford Men’s, 8920
Euclid Ave., 8:30
Brooklyn, K. of P. Hall,
Broadview and Pearl Rd., 8 :30
Lee Road, l637 Lee Road,
8:30
Collinwood, 14709 St.
Clair Ave., 8:30
Women’s, 12214 Detroit
Ave., 8:30
Lorain, Ohio, Antlers
Hotel, 8:30
Thursday
Lee Road, 1637 Lee Road,
8:30
West 25th St.,
Schmotzer’s Hall, W. 25th and Erin Ave., 8:30
Glenville, E. 105th and
Marlowe, 8:30
Friday
Lee Road, l637 Lee Road,
8:30
Avon Lake, 1112 W. Erie,
Lorain, 8:30
Berea, Bagley and
Seminary, 8:30
Gordon Square, CIO Hall,
6221 Detroit Ave., 8:30
Brooklyn-Parma, 4421 Pearl
Rd., 8:30
S u n d a y
Crawford Training, 8920
Euclid Ave., 2:00
Morning Meetings
Wednesday Mornings
Collinwood, 14709 St.
Clair Ave., 10:00 A.M.
Thursday Mornings
Schmotzer's Hall, West
25th St., W. 25th and Erin Ave., 10:00 A.M.
1st Tuesday every
month
Central Committee, 8920
Euclid Ave., 8:30
TELEPHONE LISTING
At the last regular
meeting of the Central Committee it was decided to list
Alcoholics Anonymous in the telephone directory. A twenty-four
hour service will be maintained. Since the deadline for listing
was near, it was decided to act immediately rather than approach
each individual group for support, which the delegates present
felt could be assured.
That the listing is
important and necessary goes without saying, as many groups in
other cities will attest, where listing has been in effect for
some time.
A six-point dispatching
service is being worked out by a committee and will be presented
to the delegates to Central Committee to be taken to their
groups for explanation and approval. The tentative plan provides
for three east side and three west side outlets.
ACCREDITED A.A.
HOSPITALS
Approved by Hospital
Committee of Central Committee
*Charity Hospital, Central
at East 22nd, Main 9400 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine ($10.),
Room Rate (Reg. Rate), Cash Dep. ($5. per day)
*Deaconess Hospital,
4233 Pearl Road, Florida 0070 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine
($10.), Room Rate (Reg. Rate), Cash Dep. ($5. per day)
*East Cleveland Clinic,
13240 Euclid Ave., Glenville 3244 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine
($10. & $5.), Room Rate ($6.), Cash Dep. ($45.)
Farquharson’s Home,
6037 Pearl Road, Shadyside 8374 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine
($5. & $5.), Room Rate ($7.), Cash Dep. ($45.)
Harmony Home, 9711
Lamont Ave., Randolph 2703 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine ($10.),
Room Rate ($6.), Cash Dep. ($40.)
Nottingham Hospital, 18920
Nottingham Road, Ivanhoe 0133 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine
($10. & $5.), Room Rate ($6.), Cash Dep. ($45.)
Al Webster’s Inc.,
3730 Euclid Ave., Express 0180 - Doctor's Fee & Medicine
(included), Room Rate ($5. per day over 5 days), Cash Dep. ($45.
for 5 days)
Women’s A.A.
Hospital, 12214 Detroit Ave., Academy 4688 - Doctor's Fee &
Medicine ($5.), Room Rate ($7.), Cash Dep. ($40.)
Wright Nursing Home,
15315 Detroit Ave., Academy 4879 - Call for information.
*Hospitalization
recognition.
NEWS FROM CAMPS
Letters and news of A.A.'s
aree greatly appreciated. Every effort will be made to pass on
information as space will allow. No address will be given
without consent, and excerpts from letters will be published
whenever possible. - EDITOR.
Word was sent to all
secretaries that Glen R. Wadick was ill in the infirmary, and a
letter brought this reply,
"Thanks for your
letter and am back in the pink again. Had a touch of the flu I
guess. You may use my name and address in the Bulletin if you
wish. Give my best regards to the old bunch. Hope to get away
from here soon, as I really want to get in this war and see some
action. Am awaiting orders to go to Ft. Benning for
officers training - hope it comes soon.
Best regards to all my
AA friends,
Sgt. Glen R.
Wadick,
Co. D, 29th Eng.
Tr. Bn.,
Fort Leonard
Wood, MO."
Clarence Snyder writes us
that
“The going is
tough but I don’t hear anyone hollering UNCLE. My only regret
is that I am not 15 or 20 years younger but
I feel that I can offset that by application of other advantages
I may have.
I received a
copy of the first edition of the newspaper and enjoyed it
much. Here’s
hoping the best for its
success. I
will appreciate receiving
it each month.
If any of my
friends wish to write me, address me as follows -
Pvt. Clarence H.
Snyder, Co. B. 8th Bn. A.F.R.T.C., Fort Knox, Ky.”
"...but I
miss the
association of
the groups. I haven’t run across any other AA’s although
I’m inquiring around. I’m still keeping my chin
up and I pray God
I won’t have any trouble, I don’t think I will. My
best to you and the whole Glenville Group.
Pvt. F. M.
Orpse,
Flight A-565
T.S.S. (SP)
Atlantic City, N.
J.”
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