• AA Literature
    • A.A. Big Book
      • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
      • Big Book Stories Edition 1
      • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • A.A. Preamble
    • Singleness of Purpose
    • A.A. 12 Steps
    • A.A. 12 Traditions
    • A.A. 12 Concepts
    • 12 Traditions Checklist
    • 9th Step Promises (Pg 83/84)
    • The Serenity Prayer
    • Principles Of The Program
    • I Am Responsible
    • The Page Of Prayers
  • A.A. History
    • The Emmanuel Movement
    • The Washingtonians
    • Magazine & Newspaper Articles
    • Narrative Of A.A. Timeline
    • Timelines In A.A. History
    • Manuscript Of A.A. World History – Bob P.
    • Place And Things In AA History
    • Who’s Who In A.A. History
    • Big Book Story Authors
    • Writings Of A.A. Members
  • Influential Books
    • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
    • Big Book Stories Edition 1
    • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • Mel B’s Library
    • Dick B.’s Library
    • The Greatest Thing In The World
    • The Varieties Of Religious Experiences
    • In His Steps
    • As A Man Thinketh
    • When Man Listens
    • John Barleycorn
    • The Confessions Of Saint Augustine (13 Books)
    • Religion, Clergy & A.A.
  • Free Stuff
    • Free Audiobooks & Speaker Tapes
    • Videos Of Bill Wilson
    • The PDF Project (1000+ PDF’s)
    • Free AA Apps For iPhone
    • Free AA Apps For Android
    • Free 12 Step Toolkit App
  • 10-Days To Sobriety
  • AA Literature
    • A.A. Big Book
      • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
      • Big Book Stories Edition 1
      • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • A.A. Preamble
    • Singleness of Purpose
    • A.A. 12 Steps
    • A.A. 12 Traditions
    • A.A. 12 Concepts
    • 12 Traditions Checklist
    • 9th Step Promises (Pg 83/84)
    • The Serenity Prayer
    • Principles Of The Program
    • I Am Responsible
    • The Page Of Prayers
  • A.A. History
    • The Emmanuel Movement
    • The Washingtonians
    • Magazine & Newspaper Articles
    • Narrative Of A.A. Timeline
    • Timelines In A.A. History
    • Manuscript Of A.A. World History – Bob P.
    • Place And Things In AA History
    • Who’s Who In A.A. History
    • Big Book Story Authors
    • Writings Of A.A. Members
  • Influential Books
    • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
    • Big Book Stories Edition 1
    • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • Mel B’s Library
    • Dick B.’s Library
    • The Greatest Thing In The World
    • The Varieties Of Religious Experiences
    • In His Steps
    • As A Man Thinketh
    • When Man Listens
    • John Barleycorn
    • The Confessions Of Saint Augustine (13 Books)
    • Religion, Clergy & A.A.
  • Free Stuff
    • Free Audiobooks & Speaker Tapes
    • Videos Of Bill Wilson
    • The PDF Project (1000+ PDF’s)
    • Free AA Apps For iPhone
    • Free AA Apps For Android
    • Free 12 Step Toolkit App
  • 10-Days To Sobriety
home/Alcoholics Anonymous/The Global Map/General

History Of International AA Women’s Conference – History Of The IAAWC (Formerly Known As The NAAWC)

198 views 1 aa

Alcoholics Anonymous History In Your Area
History of International AA Women’s Conference
http://iaawc.org/herstory.htm

After 25 years, we have endeavored to piece together, how the women’s conference was started, where the first conference was held and thoughts and feelings from the surviving women who were a part of AA at that time. We dedicate this history of the NAAWC to you, our sisters in sobriety.

Our efforts have not been without struggle. As I am sure you will all agree, 25 years ago – what we were doing and how we felt are extremely hard to remember. The same has been true for those early days about the women’s conference. We have tried to piece together as best we could, what it was like and what happened. In other words, those factors that contributed to making the women’s conference what it is today.

I believe the story begins with Bernadette O’K. She was 5’1″, weighed 155 lbs., had piercing black eyes that could see right through you and was always there when anyone, anywhere needed help. She was ahead of her time having graduated from the University of Michigan in Engineering. At the time one of our sisters met her in 1963, she had at that time, 14 years of sobriety, having sobered up in the late 1940s.

Starting the women’s conference was only one of many things that Bernadette did to promote AA and recovery in the area. Her typical day consisted of work, then she would stop by Group #1, at 6125 Troost, to see if there was anyone needing help or a 12-step call to be made. Then she would have dinner with one of the many women in the program she was sponsoring, then off to another meeting. She was always helping someone.

She used to say that she was a traveling drunk so when she sobered up she also traveled quite a bit to various Round Robins or other AA functions throughout the Midwest. It was not uncommon for her on three-day holidays to travel as far as Michigan or Texas. On other 3-day holidays, she organized functions (All day affairs) that brought families together. Women were in the kitchen skinning chickens for dinner while meetings or other recreational activities were going on. She was a great delegator. Marie B. was one of the main women behind the scenes who were there to implement the work that was inspired by Bernadette.

In the early 1960’s, Bernadette helped to organize the first women’s group at Group #1 on Troost in Kansas City, Missouri. It met once a week. That meeting continues today.

The first women’s conference was held at 6125 Troost (Group #1) on February 14, 1964. This was Bernadette’s birthday and the conference has continued to be the closest week-end to February 14th in her honor. At first the conference was mainly local Kansas City women. The second conference was held at the Holiday Inn in Kansas City, Kansas, followed by one at the now demolished Executive Inn at 14th and Washington Streets.

Bernadette’s last conference, prior to her death was held at the Muehlebach Hotel in downtown Kansas City, Missouri in 1968. About two weeks after the conference, Bernadette traveled to California to make an amend to her former husband, whom she had not seen for over 20 years. Although he was not anxious to see her, she was able to tell him a little about what she had been trying to do with her life, so he finally agreed to see her. After she made her amend, her former husband invited her to dinner to meet his wife and family, as she was crossing the lobby to meet him, she suffered a massive stroke and died a few hours later. It’s one of those many stories, we often hear around AA, which once again reaffirms how spiritually guided our program truly is.

Bernadette was a good friend with Marty Mann, the first woman in AA. They worked together to get the National Council here in Kansas City. The spread of the women’s conference occurred by word of mouth. It started out as local in nature, then in 1970, became a regional conference first moving to St. Louis, then Wichita, Ks., Oklahoma City, Little Rock and then to Des Moines. Marty Mann also helped to promote it from her position in New York. After the Des Moines conference, it started moving around to various parts of the country finally returning to it’s roots in its 25th year.

Bertha C. informed me how she was the only black woman in AA for a time until Vernetta W. came into the program. They were sponsored by one of the first speakers of the conference, Madge F. Although it was hard for these women, at first, being the only black women, both of these women are alive and sober today and both plan to be at this year’s conference.

Bernadette was a legend in her own time. Besides pioneering the conference, she was one to get things done in the halls of AA. The one big thing that Bernadette stood for was honesty. She didn’t soft pedal things. She was a firm believer in the basics of the program. She felt that women should only sponsor women and vice versa.

From what I have heard, I am sorry I didn’t know her. She sounds like such a wonderful, down-to-earth, caring person who would show though love whenever it was needed. She wasn’t a person to sit on the sidelines. She was one of those rare people that intuitively could see what they wanted to go about to accomplish it. Bernadette was that way in helping AA in Kansas City to grow. Since there were no halfway houses for women in the fifties and sixties, she started one in her home, known as the Winona Simmons Home. She helped to promote the first treatment center in the area at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Maybe the women’s conference would have gotten started without Bernadette. But I’m grateful she was the promoter and instigator for what has become one of the truly beautiful experiences within our sobriety.

Thank you all for being here at our 25th Anniversary, to contribute your part to the history of the National AA Women’s Conference. We are all needed to make the conference special for each and every one of us.

We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to those women who have contributed their thoughts and time in NAAWC History.

A Truly Special Sister in Sobriety who wishes to remain Anonymous

Bertha C., Vernetta W., Jane J., Fawn H., Sally T.

And all others who have contributed their time and effort in gathering names and making phone calls…

Copyright © IAAWC

Tags:aabig bookalcoholics anonymousresearch and studyaa growthglobal map

Was this helpful?

1 Yes  No
Related Articles
  • International Lawyers In Alcoholics Anonymous – History – Philosophy.
  • The Washington Group : Foundations, 1936-1941
  • Early A.A. History In Virginia & Washington DC – The Boys Of ’39
  • A History Of The Clear Creek Club – At The Creek, Clear Creek Club, Seabrook TX.
  • Twin City Group – 1971 – Present, District # 80
  • Plyler Cabin – 1950’s – Present, Lancaster County Group – District # 51
Popular Articles
  • Chapter VII
  • Chapter XVII
  • Father Martin Malevski, At Oshawa, Canada 1997
  • David Aronofsky – 3 : 29th February 1992
  • Chapter VII – By His Co-Eternal Word He Speaks, And All Things Are Done.
KB Categories
  • Research & Study 14
    • Magazine And Newspaper Articles 149
    • People In A.A.'s History 26
    • A.A. History – News Articles 8
      • Cleveland Plain Dealer 8
    • Place And Things In AA History 13
    • Dr. William Duncan Silkworth M.D. 12
      • Grapevine Articles Of Dr. William Silkworth 5
    • The Washingtonians 31
      • Grapevine Articles Of The Washingtonians 15
    • Gresham's Law And Alcoholics Anonymous 5
    • A Narrative Of Timeline Of A.A. History 30
    • The Emmanuel Movement 12
    • Tiebout Papers 6
    • Timelines In A.A. History 14
    • Big Book Story Author's 78
    • AA Growth 135
    • Stepping Stone News 1
    • Timelines Of Historic A.A. Events 1
    • Charlie Bishop Jr. 3
    • Manuscript Of A.A. World History, 1985 – By Bob P. 23
    • Whos's Who In A.A.'s History 23
    • Big Book Changes 1
  • Audio Books 0
    • Videos 15
    • International Conventions – 2015 184
    • AA Speaker Chuck C. 111
    • AA Big Book Audiobook 14
    • AA Speakers Clergy 220
    • AA Speakers Doctor's 129
    • Sandy B. – Saturday Morning Live 12
    • AA Speaker Sandy B. 74
    • AA Assorted Speakers 195
    • AA Speaker Bill W. 100
    • Joe & Charlie 34
  • A.A. History – General 27
  • Literature 12
    • The First A.A. Pamphlet 8
    • Big Book 18
    • A.A. Prayers 10
    • Big Book Stories Edition 1 29
    • Big Book Stories Edition 2 40
    • The Big Book Concordance 27
    • The Original Manuscript Of AA. 16
  • Al-Anon 14
  • The PDF Project (1000+ PDF's 1
    • Grapevine (51 Articles 5
    • History (437 Articles 52
    • The Big Book (179 Articles 6
    • Bill W. (172 Articles 4
    • Dr. Bob (24 Articles 1
    • General Service Conference (157 Articles 6
  • Grapevine Articles 4
    • Big Book Updates 13
    • Other Grapevine Articles 33
    • Grapevine Articles – Interviews 6
    • Grapevine Reproduction 8
    • Additional A.A. Grapevine Articles 20
  • The History Of Alcoholics Anonymous 6
  • Other Articles 41
    • Printed Book Reviews 26
    • Religion, Clergy & A.A. 108
  • The Global Map 3
    • Middle East 0
      • Oman 1
      • Qatar 1
      • Syria 1
      • Arabia 1
      • Saudi Arabia 1
      • Azerbaijan 1
      • Tajikistan 1
      • Armenia 1
      • Turkmenistan 1
      • Afghanistan 1
      • Turkey 1
      • Bahrain 1
      • United Arab Emirates 1
      • Cyprus 1
      • Yemen 1
      • Iran 1
      • Iraq 1
      • Israel 1
      • Jordan 1
      • Kuwait 1
      • Kyrgyzstan 1
      • Lebanon 1
    • Canada 0
      • Alberta 1
      • British Columbia 2
      • Manitoba 1
      • New Brunswick 1
      • Newfoundland 1
      • Northwest Territories 1
      • Nova Scotia 1
      • Ontario 18
      • Quebec 1
      • Saskatchewan 1
      • Yukon 1
    • South America 0
      • Suriname 1
      • South Georgia (UK 1
      • Uruguay 1
      • Venezuela 1
      • Aruba (NL 1
      • Argentina 1
      • Bolivia 1
      • Brazil 1
      • Chile 1
      • Ecuador 1
      • French Guiana (France 1
      • Falkland Islands (UK 1
      • Guyana 1
      • Netherland Antilles (NL 1
      • Peru 1
      • Paraguay 1
    • United States 0
      • Idaho 1
      • Nevada 1
      • Utah 1
      • Illinois 3
      • New Hampshire 1
      • Vermont 1
      • Indiana 1
      • New Jersey 3
      • Virginia/DC 3
      • Iowa 1
      • New Mexico 1
      • Washington 3
      • Kansas 1
      • New York 1
      • West Virginia 1
      • Alabama 1
      • Kentucky 1
      • North Carolina 2
      • Wisconsin 1
      • Alaska 1
      • Louisiana 1
      • North Dakota 1
      • Wyoming 1
      • Arizona 1
      • Maine 1
      • Ohio 5
      • Arkansas 1
      • Maryland 3
      • Oklahoma 1
      • California 4
      • Massachusetts 1
      • Oregon 1
      • Colorado 1
      • Michigan 4
      • Pennsylvania 6
      • Connecticut 1
      • Minnesota 2
      • Rhode Island 1
      • Delaware 1
      • Mississippi 1
      • South Carolina 5
      • Florida 28
      • Missouri 1
      • South Dakota 1
      • Georgia 1
      • Montana 1
      • Tennessee 1
      • Hawaii 1
      • Nebraska 1
      • Texas 6
    • Europe 0
      • England 2
      • Macedonia 1
      • Wales 1
      • Finland 1
      • Monaco 1
      • Yugoslavia 1
      • France 1
      • Netherlands 1
      • Germany 1
      • Norway 1
      • Greece 1
      • Poland 1
      • Gibraltar 1
      • Portugal 1
      • Hungary 1
      • Romania 1
      • Austria 1
      • Herzegovina 1
      • Russia 2
      • Andorra 1
      • Iceland 1
      • Scotland 2
      • Belgium 1
      • Ireland 1
      • Slovakia 1
      • Bulgaria 1
      • Italy 1
      • Slovenia 1
      • Croatia.html 1
      • Latvia 1
      • Spain 1
      • Cyprus 1
      • Liechtenstein 1
      • Sweden 1
      • Czech Republic 1
      • Lithuania 1
      • Switzerland 1
      • Denmark 1
      • Luxembourg 1
      • Turkey 1
      • Estonia 1
      • Malta 1
      • Ukraine 1
    • General 3
    • Australia (Oceania 0
      • French Polynesia 1
      • Vanuatu 1
      • Guam 1
      • Western Samoa 1
      • Kiribati 1
      • Wallis And Futuna Islands 1
      • Marshall Islands 1
      • Northern Mariana Islands 1
      • New Zealand 1
      • Nauru 1
      • New Caledonia 1
      • Niue 1
      • Palau 1
      • Australia 3
      • Papua New Guinea 1
      • American Samoa 1
      • Pitcairn Islands 1
      • Cook Islands 1
      • Solomon Islands 1
      • Coral Sea Islands 1
      • Tongi 1
      • Federated States Of Micronesia 1
      • Tokelau 1
      • Fiji 1
      • Tuvalu 1
    • Asia 0
      • Hong Kong 1
      • Thailand 1
      • India 1
      • Taiwan 1
      • Indonesia 1
      • Vietnam 1
      • Japan 1
      • Kazakhstan 1
      • Laos 1
      • Malaysia 1
      • Maldives 1
      • Mongolia 1
      • North Korea 1
      • Nepal 1
      • Pakistan 1
      • Bangladesh 1
      • Philippines 1
      • Burma 1
      • Russia 2
      • Bhutan 1
      • South Korea 1
      • China 1
      • Sri Lanka 1
    • Africa 0
      • Cameroon 1
      • Reunion & Mauritius 1
      • Central African Republic & Ethiopia 1
      • Rwanda & Burundi 1
      • Comoro Island & Seychelles 1
      • Saint Helena & Equatorial Guinea 1
      • Congo & Gabon 1
      • Sao Tome & Principe 1
      • Cote d'Ivoire & Guinea 1
      • Senegal & Cape Verde 1
      • Egypt 1
      • Somalia 1
      • Eritrea & Djibouti 1
      • South Africa & Lesotho 1
      • Ghana, Togo & Benin 1
      • Sudan & Chad 1
      • Guinea-Bissau & The Gambia 1
      • Swaziland & Mozambique 1
      • Liberia & Sierra Leone 1
      • Tanzania & D. R. Congo 1
      • Libya & Tunisia 1
      • Uganda & Kenya 1
      • Madagascar 1
      • Malawi & Zimbabwe 1
      • Algeria & Morocco 1
      • Mauritania & Western Sahara 1
      • Angola & Zambia 1
      • Namibia & Botswana 1
      • Burkina Faso & Mali 1
      • Nigeria & Niger 1
    • Central America 0
      • El Salvador 1
      • Guatemala 1
      • Honduras 1
      • Mexico 1
      • Nicaragua 1
      • Panama 1
      • Belize 1
      • Costa Rica 1
    • Caribbean 0
      • Anguilla 1
      • Jamaica 1
      • Antiqua 1
      • Margarita 1
      • Aruba 1
      • Martinique 1
      • Bonaire 1
      • Puerto Rico 1
      • Barbados 1
      • Saint Maarten/Saint Martin 1
      • Barbuda 1
      • Saint Barts 1
      • Bahamas 1
      • Saint Lucia 1
      • Bermuda 1
      • Saint Vincent And The Grenadines 1
      • Cuba 1
      • Saba/Saint Eustatius 1
      • Cayman Island 1
      • Saint Kitts And Nevis 1
      • Curacao 1
      • Trinidad And Tobago 1
      • Dominican Republic 1
      • Turks And Caicos 1
      • Dominica 1
      • Virgin Islands 1
      • Grenada 1
      • Guadeloupe 1
      • Haiti 1
  • The Detroit Pamphlet 4
  • Writings Of A.A. Members 0
    • Ebby Thacher 2
    • Others 13
      • Letters – To Jim Burwell From Bill Wilson 18
      • Letters – To Bill Wilson From Jim Burwell 3
    • Lois W. 7
    • Doctor Bob 10
    • Henry G. (Hank P. 2
    • Clarence S. 6
    • Bill D. 2
    • Bill W. 19
      • Let's Ask Bill W. 41
      • Bill W. On The 12 Traditions 16
      • Letters – To Jim Burwell From Bill Wilson 18
      • Letters – To Bill Wilson From Jim Burwell 3
      • Talks At General Service Conferences 31
        • Alcoholic Foundation 4
      • Grapevine Articles Of Bill W. 34
        • Grapevine – 12 Traditions Of A.A. 16
        • Grapevine – 12 Steps Of AA 2
  • Influential Books 0
    • Personal Stories – Edition 1 29
    • Personal Stories – Edition 2 40
    • Mel B.'s Library 56
      • The Four Absolutes 17
    • Dick B.'s Library 128
    • The Greatest Thing In The world 5
    • In His Steps 32
    • The Varieties Of Religious Experiences 17
    • As A Man Thinketh 8
    • When Man Listens 6
    • The Confessions Of Saint Augustine 5
      • Book Six 18
      • Book Seven 23
      • Book Eight 14
      • Book Nine 15
      • Book Ten 45
      • Book Eleven 33
      • Book Twelve 34
      • Book Thirteen 40
      • Book One 20
      • Book Two 12
      • Book Three 14
      • Book Four 18
      • Book Five 16
    • Other Books 9
    • John Barleycorn 39
    • Big Book Of AA 21
AA Anonymity Statement

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions.

Please respect this and treat in confidence who you see and what you hear.

About Silkworth.net
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
External Links
  • Free 12 Step Toolkit App
  • Free AA Apple Apps
  • Free AA Android Apps
  • Silkworth’s YouTube Channel
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AAWS Inc.)
  • AA Grapevine, International Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Al-Anon Family (Includes Alateen)
Newsletter Subscription





  • © 2020 silkworth.net. All Rights Reserved