Hazelden Literature: A note for the newbies

lukin · Veteran Member

Hazelden Literature: A note for the newbies

AGO · MIP Old Timer

agreed

not a fan of hazeldon here either

it's not AA, it's treatment industry literature, although they use AA literature, they are two separate entities

/shrug

-- Edited by AGO on Tuesday 27th of April 2010 07:34:04 AM

Larry_H · MIP Old Timer

The classic case of the use of Non Conference Approved material within A.A. is the A.A. Grapevine. This Non Conference Approved monthly magazine is used as a source for topics at many A.A. meetings. A number of A.A. Groups have a Grapevine Representative whose is responsible for selling this Non-Conference Approved magazine at A.A. meetings.

AA Intergroup or Central Office newsletters are not Conference Approved .

The 1st edition of the AA Big Book (whose first 164 pages are identical to the current edition is not Conference Approved .

Anything that helps my sobriety is good for me. In the early days of sobriety The Little Black Book, The Little Red Book and The Little Blue Book from Hazelden got me through some very rough times on a daily basis as did the AA Grapevine.

What does Conference Approved mean anyway?

The Conference Approved designation was first adopted for future A.A. material at the 1951 General Service Conference. It was during this same conference that Bills royalties for the Big Book were increased from 10% to 15%.

Conference Advisory Actions - General Service Conference, 1951.

"This conference feels that in future years A.A. textbook literature should have Conference Approval."

"The conference voted affirmatively, with complete unanimity."

"Prior to the vote on this subject, it was pointed out that adoption of the suggestion would not preclude the continued issuance of various printed documents by non-Foundation (GSO) sources. No desire to review, edit or censor non-Foundation (GSO) material is implied. The objective is to provide, in the future, a means of distinguishing Foundation (GSO) literature from that issued locally or by non A.A. interests."
"In addition, the Conference approved unanimously a motion recommending to the Trustees of the Foundation(GSO) that steps be taken to insure that Bill and Lois receive book royalties so long as either one shall live. This motion was adopted after is was disclosed that under the existing arrangement Bill would have no legal basis for claiming royalties upon the expiration of the Big Book copyright and that no provision exists for Lois in the event of Bills prior death." (The copyright for the First Edition, as well as the Second Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, was not renewed. As a result, the first 164 pages of the "Big Book" have become part of the Public Domain.)
"Inflation and the decline in book sales have combined to cut Bills income practically in half in the past year. The five percent increase in royalty means that his earnings will once more approximate those of three years ago." (With this conference action, Bills percentage of the retail price of all "Big Book" sales was increased from 10% to 15%.)

(Report of the First Annual General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, April 20-22-22, 1951)

Because the Conference voted to establish Conference Approved literature during the same session that they voted to increase Bills royalties, some early A.A. members concluded that "Conference Approved" meant that "Bill gets a piece of the action." In later years, his proved not to be the case as the Conference started approving literature produced by "writers for hire" other than Bill.

Even today, "Conference Approved" has more to do with who gets the money rather than what is actually written. All proceeds from Conference Approved literature sales go to A.A.W.S. in New York City.

Larry,
---------------
You can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself. ~Gene Mauch

-- Edited by Larry_H on Tuesday 27th of April 2010 08:45:18 AM

Avril G · Senior Member

lukin wrote:

. Yeah... some AA meetings do use some of the literature, but certainly not all, and it's not a requirement.

No meeting I have ever attended has ever used anything other than AA approved lityerature, and I wouldn't stay long in any meeting which did this. We need to unite to try and get this AA message back to what it should be 'a message of depth and weight' it has become far too diluted over the years.

bikerbill · MIP Old Timer

I've been in the odd meeting where there has been non conference approved literature on display and used in meetings. Sometimes it has shag all to do with recovery. Doesn't seem right to me. if this goes unchallenged then I might as well read extracts from the Financial Times in a meeting.

slugcat · Senior Member

i dont think ive seen non approved literature for sale or for use at a meeting. Ive seen plenty of other things that break the traditions though. Hazelden i like some of their stuff but i never thought about them being a money making thing etc. If something is free and helps then i will use it.

Larry_H · MIP Old Timer

Most of the meetings in Hernado County, Florida read from Hazelden's Twenty-Four Hours a Day little black book at the beginning of the meeting. Although this exact book played a vital role in my recovery I prefer the AA Daily Reflections when used in meetings. I have yet to be at a meeting in Florida that uses it though.

Not my job to decide. It is up to each group's group conscience. In my home group I have a chance to input one vote. No more no less majority rules as right it should be.

Larry,
---------------------
Being physically dry and mentally drunk is dangerous territory for alcoholics.

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