Reproduction of the First Grapevine, page 3

I am responsible . . . When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.

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You are on page 3 of the 1st AA Grapevine ever printed

Above is my version of the title "Alcoholics Anonymous" which you re- quested for publication. So far as using my name, I am very proud of the fact that I am a member of A.A. so you may use my name as the author of the enclosed if you wish. Wishing you all a lot of luck and a large cir- culation for "The Grapevine". "Yours for Victory", Stewart A.S.				It was then proposed that we elect a new president. This caused a few minutes of con- fusion and discussion which finally resolved itself into a motion, which was carried, that we do not eccept the present president's resig- nation, but carry on as we are until the Inter Group proposal is decided upon, at which time, another meeting will be held and the fate of the corporation will then be discussed. It was moved and seconded that a vote of thanks be sent to the president for the "mag- nificent job" he has done. The acting president suggested that, as we had been renting 24th Street on a month to month basis, which on May 1st , would be- come a day to day basis, it might be carry- ing out the twelth step if we released the Club House to the newly-formed Merchant Marine A.A.'s who are anxious to take a five year lease. A motion was made that we give up the Club House as of June 1st and look up new quarters, unless, of course, we decide to re-lease the club ourselves. CENTRAL COMMITTEE At the continuation of the semi-annual cor- poration meeting Wednesday night, May 10, the Acting President pro tem called the roll of groups represented and asked for a report of their decision in regard to the Inter Group proposal. It was established that 10 groups had approved the new Central Committee and had appointed representatives. As this seemed an adequate nucleus for proceeding, it was moved, seconded, and voted that a cen- tral Committee be formed. The officers of the present Corporation then tendered their resignations and it was moved that an ad- journment be called while the members of the Central Committee retired upstairs to select new Corporation officers and a tem- porary Central Committee Chairman. The Corporation meeting reconvened at 10:00 and the selections of the Central Committee were submitted to the Corporation members for their approval, which was promptly forth- coming. The new Corporation President took the chair and after a brief discussion a mo- tion was made to adjourn; the motion was seconded and carried. BUCOLIC NOTES . . . . "Sister Francis' " friends will be glad to know that High Watch Farm, Cornwall Bridge, Conn., near Kent, which many A.A.'s have vis- ited and where some found their first contact with us, is open again. Two of our Manhat- tan group members are going up the first of June to run it during the summer months.
A. A. GOES TO SEA Or rather the merchant seamen have discov- ered A.A.! Just over a year ago, Dr. Florence Powdermaker, a well-known psycho-analyst, sent us a patient—who promptly dried up, pleasing the good doctor no end. Then Dr. Powdermaker put on a Naval uniform and took up the problems of tired or shell-shocked seamen. Oddly enough she found that many of them had just the same problem we land- lubbers are cursed with . . . they were alco- holics and they wanted the worst way to get over it. She tried the A.A. literature on them — the book and the pamphlets — and it worked! When there got to be about 40 of them, those who were still ashore put their heads together. Like the rest of us, they wanted to help others recover—but they felt they had a special field in other seamen. They know seamen, and they know that most regular seamen look on landlubbers as almost a race apart. Their name for us is "shore people", and they don't easily feel at home with us. Add that to the alcoholic apartness–and you have something. So they figured they'd catch more seamen if they had their own group–for seamen only. But we're sure that will be only at the begin- ning—they'll find, as we did, that alcoholics are buddies under the skin, no matter what their profession or background, and as a mat- ter of fact the original delegation who came to tell us of their plans and ask our coopera- tion, were instantly absorbed, to their own, and our, intense pleasure. But if and when they form their own group and get their own clubhouse, we wish them all the luck in the world—as one drunk to another, fellows in A.A.		CORPORATION MEETS The semi-annual corporation meeting was held at the 24th Street Club House on April 18th, 1944 at 8:00 P.M. Fifty-two members attended (A.A.'s who have been dry a year or more). The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting (September 29, 1943) and these were voted to be accepted, as read. Due to illness of the president, the vice- president took the chair and suggested that we dispense with the current business, for the moment, in order to hear the new proposal of the Inter Group Committee. This was read and was followed by a discussion which brought to the light the following facts: (1)— Only a minority of those present had fore- knowledge of the proposed organizational change, (2)—the proposal was too lengthy and involved to be digested and voted on at the meeting, (3)—it was felt that it should be put up to the membership, at large, though the individual groups. It was, therefore, moved and voted that the following resolu- tion be put into effect: "Resolved—that, though the corporation approves the basic ideas expressed in the plan submitted by the Inter Group Committee, it, the plan, or a condensation thereof, be submitted to the various groups for their approval. If and when this approval is forthcoming, it is sug- gested that each group select its two repre- sentatives to the new Central Committee and send their decision to the corporation secre- tary." A motion was made to dissolve the corpora- tion, but was withdrawn when it was pointed out that this could not be done without many legal complications taking several months.

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