1962
Yale U discontinued the School of Alcohol Studies. The school relocated to Rutgers, State U of NJ, in New Brunswick. (GB 172)
Jan, Mary B joined the GSB as the first alcoholic woman Trustee. (GSO)
Apr 25-29, Roosevelt Hotel in NYC. Theme: One Primary Purpose. The 12th GSC recommended that:
- Voted unanimously to accept Bill’s manuscript on Twelve Concepts for World Service and recommended that it be distributed initially as a supplement to, and eventually as an integral part of, the Third Legacy Manual. (Fl Act)
- The Grapevine board, at the request of the delegate from Puerto Rico, will investigate the possibility of printing the Grapevine in Spanish. (Gv)
- Bill’s proposal to change the ratio of the GSB was voted down. (GTBT 79)
Jul, the cartoon strip Victor E, drawn by Editor Jack M, first appeared in the Grapevine. (1989 GSC-FR 24)
The Warner Brothers film Days of Wine and Roses premiered. (BW-FH 229) AA cooperated in its production. (AACOA ix) It starred Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. The TV version portrayed the story as occurring in NY. The film version was set in San Francisco. Nominated for several Academy Awards, it won Best Song. (www)
Publication of Twelve Concepts for World Service. (AACOA x)
1963
The US and Canada General Service structure was organized into six Regions. Regional Trustees were elected to the GSB. The procedure replaced Area Trustees elected from single states. (AACOA x)
Apr 24-28, Hotel Roosevelt in NYC. Theme: Function Rather Than Structure. The 13th GSC recommended that:
- There is no such thing as an AA retreat. (PI)
- The GSC approved the GSB Trustees’ action in making a special monthly grant ($200 per PIO 393 – $1,200 today) to Ebby T, the man who helped co-founder Bill W achieve sobriety and who was indirectly responsible for creation of the AA Fellowship. (Fl Act, PIO 393 says 1961)
- A proposed edition of the 12&12, smaller in size and generally more compact than the existing edition be approved. The proposed edition would presumably be used for gifts and would be particularly useful to members who travel. (Fl Act)
- The preparation of a small edition of the 12&12 be introduced at the 30th Anniversary Convention in 1965, to be sold at $3 ($18 today) or more be approved. (Policy)
Bill modified his royalty agreement with AAWS so that 10% of his royalties went to his mistress, Grapevine Editor, Helen W. The agreement provided Bill and Lois with a comfortable living on annual incomes between $30,000 to $40,000 during the 1960’s ($175,000 to $230,000 today).[7] At the time of Bill’s death (1971) it was around $56,000 ($250,000 today). In the 1970’s, royalties surged significantly and it made Lois W quite rich. (PIO 393, BW-FH 192-193, GB 69-70, WPR 72)
Oct 22 (?), E. M. Jellinek died.
Oct 31, Dr Sam Shoemaker died. In a Feb 1967 memorial Grapevine article, Bill W wrote, “Dr Sam Shoemaker was one of AA’s indispensable. Had it not been for his ministry to us in our early times, our Fellowship would not be in existence today.” (NW 56, GTBT 97)
1964
GSB membership was increased to 19 Trustees. (GSO)
Apr 21-26, Hotel Roosevelt in NYC. Theme: Practicing These Principles. The 14th GSC recommended that:
- An agreement between Bill W, co-founder and AAWS, Inc. covering royalties derived from Bill’s writings be approved. Under the terms of the contract, a royalty of 15% is paid to Bill, except that no royalties are paid on “overseas editions.” Royalties are to be paid to Bill and Lois, his wife, during their lifetimes; following the deaths of Bill and Lois, royalties revert in shares of royalties to living heirs. These shares revert to AAWS upon the death of beneficiaries. Not more than 20% may be bequeathed to any heir under the age of 40 years as of the date of the agreement between Bill and AAWS (Apr 29, 1963). The contract provides protection of royalties against “cheap books” and protection of AAWS and Bill against fluctuations in general economic conditions. AAWS retains the right of “first refusal” on any future literary works of Bill’s. (Fin)
1965
Apr 19-24, Hotel Roosevelt in NYC. Theme: Responsibility To Those We Serve. The 15th GSC recommended that:
- A small edition of the 12&12 be introduced at the 30th Anniversary Convention be approved.
Jul 2-4, AA’s 30th anniversary and fourth Int’l Convention at Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Theme: Responsibility. Est. attendance 10,500. Keynote The Declaration. AA’s responsibility pledge: I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. and for that I am responsible. The film Bill’s Own Story was shown for the first time. (AACOA x, NG 142)
Dec, Bill W enthusiastically embraced a campaign to promote vitamin B3 (niacin – nicotinic acid) therapy and created Traditions issues within the Fellowship. (PIO 388-390)