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Clinton News-Record, 1985-07-10, Page 3• • rand bask • from page 2 - Ten: Continue to -take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly, admit- ted it, - Eleven Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying on- ly for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. - Twelve: Having had a spiritual awakening as the, result of the steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. "At first it all seems simple, highly sen- timental, even a kind ofgenteel fascim where no one thinks very far beyond the `program,' " wrote one new Alcholics Anonymous member in The Toronto Star. "But it works. It seems to me I have been waiting all my life for something that works. I am slapped across the face by this rude epiphany - that my destiny will rise or fall with these people, alcoholics, people with messier pasts than my own. I know now. There is no other way," he concluded. The fact that the program works in this world of quick and easy solutions for any problem that ails you is the group's best advertising. One AA member said 50 per cent of those going to an AA meeting stay in the program and 35 per cent of those attem- ping the program for the second time stay with the group for about five years. "Of the 15 per cent who are in and out, we know that eventually the attraction the 'pro- gram has will draw them to us." It's hard to argue with a success rate ofethose propor- tions. Celebrating50 years of helping Members of Alcoholics Anonymous con- verged on Montreal at the beginning of July to attend AA's 50th anniversary celebration. Alcoholics Anonymous started after Dr. Bob, one of the co-founders, turned away from a drink to make a phone call which led ,to the other co-founder; Bill W. That was Dr. Bob's last drink, on June 10,1935. Bill W. had been pronounced a hopeless alcoholic in 1934 by Dr. William Silkworth, later one of Alcoholics Anonymous' medical • friends and the man who gave alcoholics their first indication of the nature of their il- lness. Dr. Silkworth said that'alcoholism is a combination of. a physical allergy (it has recently been discovered. that alcoholics seem to metabolize alcohol in a different manner than non -alcoholics) .and a mental obsession. Upholias know it to be a three fold illness•_:..,anding s_encompassing the physical, Mental and spiritual spheres of an individual. • Later that same year, one of Bill's friends, •Ebby • T., told Bill of the Oxford Groups, which had sobered up Ebby. In December of the same year, 1934, Bill had a spiritual experience, the one now so important to the sobering alcoholic. He tried to help alcoholics but failed to sober any of them. Then came the phone call. ` Two years later, AA separated from the original Oxford Groups because of basic philitophical differences - the Oxford Groups only helped white angio saxon types whereas AA recognized the need of all peo- ple, regardless of race or colour or. religion - and counted 40 sober people, the first indica- tion of real success. In April 1939, after membership had reached 100, the book. Alcoholics Anonymous, known as the Big Book, was • published. An article in the Saturday Evening Post in 1941 caused tremendous expansion for the group. Within a year, the group member- ship had jumped from 2,000 to 8,000. By 1957 AA membership had reached over 200,000 in 7,000 groups in 70 countries and U.S possessions. And as of 1984, AA has 2,000,000 registered members in 114 countries and the group believes that another 30 to 35 per cent are unregistered practitioners of the AA philosophy. Also, the first AA group in the Soviet blvd has been established in Poland. The Big Book recently passed the 4,000,000 volumes sold mark in September 1984, a good indication that more people are becom- ing aware of their illness and are making the effort to sober up. About `200,000 people are expected in Monteal for the golden anniversary, the big- gest AA gathering ever. And the 'coffee bill is expected to be over $7,000,000. The "Big Book" treated as bible by AA organization "Alcoholics Anonymous," the bible of the organization Alcoholics Anonymous, also simply called the Big Book by AA members, • passed the 4,000,000 copy mark in September 1983 after 45 years of publishing. According to the General Service Board of the organization, "little notice was taken of the event" because the publisher. "was too busy filling orders from the more that) 36,000 AA groups in the U.S.. and Canada for other literaure: over 1,000,000 books and 7,01)0,000 pamphlets in 1983." The organization later realized the significance of the number of books sold. "As we are anonymous," said Bob P., general manager of the AA General Serviee Office, "and keep no records of individual members, we make no attempt to keep track of the size of our organization." "Ho'weveir, since the Big Book is purchas- ed mainly for new members, its sales in- dicate that membership is growing sharp - Sales of `Alcoholics Anonymous" have been steadily increasing and at an ever - faster rate. It took 34 years to sell the first - The 4,000,000 figure represents only sales million copies; only five years to sell the se- of English-language editions. in the U.S. and.. cond million; three -plus years for the third Canada. Countless copies are published by • million; and just two years for the fourth AA offices overseas in 13 other languages— million. One member estimates the fifth including Afrikaans, Dutch, Finnish, million will be sold in 1985 alone. Flemish, French; German, Icelandic, The first printing in 1945 was for 5,000 Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portugese, copies and that number is now sold every Spanish, and Swedish." two days. The Big Book was originally priced at • According to AA information, "This is $3.50 and still retails for only $5.65 ($4.65 for especially remarkable in view of the follow AA members). Copies may be obtained by ing facts: writing AA World Services, Inc.,. Box 459; - The book is obtainable only by ordering , Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. from AA service offices. It is generally not available in.bookstores. - It has never been advertised or promoted. - No author or editor is identified. It is truly "anonymous:" - The basic text, contained in the first 11 chapters, has remained unchanged and is exactly as written 45 years ago; the second portion of the book, consisting of personal recovery stories, has ,been changed in suc- cessive editions to reflect the mix of people coming into AA over the years. READY -MIX CONCRETE •Guaranteed High Strength •We use only approved, graded and washed aggregates *Radio Equipped trucks to serve you better •Modern MTC Approved Ready -Mix Plant *Experienced, Professional, Courteous Drivers �G% READY MIX LTD. BAYFIELD RD. CLINTON 482-3431 ti • from page 1 With the aid of the federal proovincial COED rogram, an amalgamation of the federal otEmployment and Immigration and Ontario's Minister of Labour. The COED program. supplied $300,000 and because the Works Department was incor- porated into the complex, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC) allotted $200,000 for labour as their share. kAY'a dl 1 d'10.,1 -Page !` 10 - Between the MTC and COED grants and the township contribution, the complex's cost of $1.1 million is accounted for• The township covered 100 per cent of the costs fir the.new administration centre, barring the MTC labour grant. Although township costs end with the $90 000 bill for 1987, Mr. Graham said it is 'newly, the mill rates will decrease. ln- tead, that money will go to rebuilding the °municipality's depleted reserves. September workshop planned The June meeting of the Huron County nout. Speakers will be Brian Gilchrist of Genealogical Society was opened by Gregg Toronto, Don Hasson of Goderich, Elizabeth Lobb of Clinton„with a reading of his own Willmot Kettlewell of Clinton and Ryan peom entitled "My House". In the poem the, Taylor of Kitchener. The date has been set house talked to Gregg and told him of its for Sept. 21 at the Canadian Legion in Goderich. Chairman Karen Harman advised that the tour of university libraries which had been scheduled for early June had been cancelled due to lack of response ,.and will be re -scheduled for some time in Septernber. Please speak to Karen. at a meeting if you are interested in taking this most in- teresting and informative tour. Mystery prize of the evening, a shopping reminder, was won by Karen Harman. Speakers for the evening were Evelyn Olde of Clinton and Myrtle Johnston of Goderich. Both ladies had attended the On- tario Genealogical Seminar held in Toronto in May of this year. Each presented a brief outline of the classes they had attended and events that were held. A full copy will be available for reading from our library. The Ontairo Genealogical Society has for sale letter openers and pens to com- memorate their 25th anniversary in 1986. These are available for purchase from our branch and will also be available at the September workshop. history -and many of the events that had oc- curred within its walls. A fascinating tale! Gregg was thanked by Carole Robinson and presented with a token of the Branch's ap- preciation. Queries were read from persons sear- ching for information on the following families: Lunn. (Lund?), Howick; Rogers, Fordwich area; Mongomery, Colbourne; Campbell, Brussels; Rich, Goderich; Wilson / Glenn / Stewart, Tuckersmith; Diamond Estate, Exeter; British Exchange Hotel, Goderich; Turner, Goderich Twp.; Burkholder, Zurich; Young / Dale, Hullett; Stewart / Walker, West Wawanosh; Richardson, Ashfield; Noble (Paisley), Wawanosh; Smaill / Oliver, Goderich. Anyone having any information is requested to, contact Research Co-ordinator Nancy Kale at 345-2908. September Workshop Co-ordinator Carole Robinson announced that this year will be the 6th Annual and requested that the word be spread as we are hoping for a record tur- OFA to rally at Queen's Park The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) will be holding a rally at Queen's Park on Wednesday, July 10. OFA presi- dent, Harry Pelissero, said the rally, which will include visits to federal government of- fices, constituency offices of federal cabinet ministers and the offices of members of the provincial . parliament (MPPs), has been called to show politicians that farmers are "fed up." "For the last few years, politicians and farm leaders have been saying that agriculture is at a crossroads. That state- ment is no longer true," Pelissero said. "We've passed the crossroads, and farmers don't like the direction we're headed." "Agriculture is a joint federal -provincial responsibility. The federal government wrote agriculture off in its budget. We're go- ig to encourage, the new provincial govern- ment not to mak the same mistake." He said politicans must ' recognize that Fresh Picked or Pick -Your -Own RASPBERRIES '/z mile north of Clinton on Base line Road. Watch for our sign; No Sunday Sales ° Phone 482-9095 failure to invest in farmers and farming has a negative impact on job creation. "The agri-food sector affects nearly three million jobs in Canada. That includes everyone from steel workers to grocery store clerks. These figures can't be ignored and neither can the primary producers. We've had enough rhetoric, we need action," Pelissero said. Farmers from all over Ontario will be in- vited to attend the rally, scheduled for 11:30 on July 10. County federations of agriculture are busy talking to farmers, and have been encouraged to— invite people whose businesses depend on agriculture to attend as well, Pelissero said. Three separate events will occur simultaneously on the 10th. Farmers will be visiting the federal government offices, con- stituency, offices and MPPs at the same. time.. Then they will .meet at Queen's Park at 11:30. DR.J.KIHAY FAMILY PHYSICIAN wishes to announce the opening of his family practice at 105 SHIPLEY ST. 2nd FLOOR 529 GYPSY LANE. CLINTON BLYTH 482-3000 523-4433 Office hours by appointment WE'RE ONE YEAR OLD!! Specials Starting... THURSDAY, JULY llth until closing SATURDAY, JULY 13th Come and celebrate our BIRTHDAY with outstanding SAVINGS. 0.1 MACARONI SALAD 99 • lb. 2.18/kg. Reg. 1.79 lb. 3.95 kg. NUTS and BOLTS • lb. 5.49 kg. Reg, 3.691b. 8.36 kg. CREAM CHEESE ALL VARIETIES 1D.78 kg. 0 09 lb, Reg. 4.89 lb. 6.81 Icg. To all our ustomers:� We thank you for your, patronage over the past year and hope that we can continue to serve you in the, future. 1" p,C.11t2 QUALITY FOODS & FRIENDLY SERVICE Proprietor - Janet Buchanan 4'' 2-34791.1 Albert St. Cli t ,n 4