An Intensive and Critical Examination of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS with Lee L

Workshop Schedule

This workshop schedule is subject to change by Group Conscience and discussion requirements.


(Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and U.S. Holidays listed.)


Monday August 19, 2024 (The 15th of Av, Rashka Bandhan)

Session One

Before the Big Book (1900-1939) 
This session reviews the Four Absolutes, the evolution of the Oxford Groups, the development of groups that lead to AA's appearance in Akron and New York and the Rev. Sam Shoemaker's speech at the 1955 AA Convention in St. Louis.


Sources: 

Mel B. New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Movement. Hazelden. Minneapolis. Copyright © 1991

​Tom Enger. Incarnations of the Oxford Group. E-group Correspondence. AA-History-Lovers@yahoogroups.com. 2004.

Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. p. 67, 572.
Bill W. As Bill Sees It. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 1967. p. 8.
​Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: a brief history of A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. New York. Copyright © 1957, pp 1-2, 38-40, 74-75, 261-270.

​

Monday, August 26, 2024 (Krishna Janmashtani)

​Session Two

Preface and Forewords

This session reviews the history of AA, key players in the evolution of AA, the development of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and the growth of AA from 1939 to the present.


​Sources:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp i-xxiv.

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Fifth Ed. Copyright © 1936. pp 685, 781, 832,

Alexandre B. Laudet, PhD. The Impact of Alcoholics Anonymous on other substance abuse related Twelve Step programs.​ bit.ly/2Xynm4d. (See introduction referring to: Kurtz LF. Self help and Support Groups: A Handbook for Practitioners. edn. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 1997.)

Pass it On. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 64-66, 11-126,134, 153-154.

Dr Bob and the Good Oldtimers. AAWS. Copyright © 1980, pp 28, 53-62, 74-75, 336-344.

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: a brief history of A.A. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 1957, pp viii, 17, 76.

​Encyclopedia Britannica. Brittanica.com.

Wally Payton. Back to Basics: The Alcoholic Anonymous Beginners' Meetings. Faith With Works Publishing. Copyright © 1997. p. 5.

Bill W. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. AAWS. New York, NY. Copyright © 1952, pp. 178-9.

A.A. Grapevine. Minneapolis Record Indicates that 75% Are Successful in AA. August 1946. 

​Arthur S, Tom E, Glenn C. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Recovery Outcome Rates Contemporary Myth and Misinterpretation. 2008. https://binged.it/2Ub1xt3


Monday, September 2, 2024 (Labor Day)

Session Three

The Doctors' Opinions

This session reviews the contributions of Dr. William D. Silkworth, the two-fold nature of the disease: and obsession of the mind, manifested in the urge to drink or use, and the compulsion of the body, marked by the phenomenon of craving, the symptoms and definition of the "hopeless" alcoholic, the addiction cycle, the medical views of AA, and Dr. Harry Tiebout's speech at the 1955 AA Convention in St. Louis. The First Step Assignment will be given in this session.


Sources:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp xxv-xxxii, 569-571.

www.silkworth.net.

Pass it On. AAWS. New York. Copyright ©1984. p 55

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Fifth Ed. Copyright © 1936. p 28.

Lee L. Chart: The Disease Concept of Addiction and Recovery through a Psychic Change. Adapted from Joe & Charlie Workshop.

Wilson. Bill. “In Memory of Harry” Language of the Heart. AAWS. New York. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 1988. pp 369-370. (Originally from: AA Grapevine I, No. 2 (July 1966): 2-4. Copyright © AA Grapevine, Inc.)
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: a brief history of A.A. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 1957, pp 245-251.

​Language of the Heart. The AA Grapevine, Inc. New York. © Copyright 1988. pp. 276, 280-281.

​​
Monday, September 9, 2024

Session Four

Chapter 1: Bill's Story

This session reviews the personal story of Bill Wilson, his powerlessness over alcohol and the unmanageability of his life, his three attempts to stop drinking on his own, his relapses, hospitalizations, and the three stages of alcoholism. 


Sources:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp xxv-xxxii, 569-571.1-16.

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Fifth Ed. Copyright © 1936. p 298.

Pass It On. AAWS. Copyright © 1984. pp 55-165, 397-403.

​Encyclopedia Britannica. Brittanica.com.

New York Presbyterian Hospital. nyp.org.

Mel B. Ebby: The Man who Sponsored Bill W. Hazelden Press. Center City, MN. Copyright © 1998. p 5, 57.

www.dickb.com


Monday, September 16, 2024 (Milad un Nabi, Vishwakarma Puja)

Session Five

Chapter 2: There Is A Solution

This session reviews the physical and mental components of the disease, the progression of the illness, and the components and promises of the program of recovery. The Second Step Assignment will be given in this session.


Sources:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 17-29, 567-568.

Pass It On. AAWS. Copyright © 1984. pp 113-115.

Language of the Heart. The A.A. Grapevine. New York. Copyright © 1988. pp 279-286.

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Fifth Ed. Copyright © 1936. pp 187, 285.


Monday, September 23, 2024

Session Six

Chapter 3: More About Alcoholism

This session reviews the mental state that precedes relapse, first attempts to stop drinking and the inability of such attempts, two tests for alcoholism, several case histories, examples of alcoholic insanity and the First Step.


Sources:

Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 30-43.

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Fifth Ed. Copyright © 1936. p 520.

e-AA. v. 1.74. www.anonpress.org.

Monday, September 30, 2024

Session Seven

Chapter 4: We Agnostics

This session reviews the necessity for a new experience with a "Power greater than ourselves" or "God, as we understood Him" and examines the Second Step.


Source:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 44-57.


Monday, October 7, 2024

Session Eight

Chapter 5: How It Works: Step 3 & Step 4

This session reviews the actions that must be taken when working the program of recovery, the Twelve Steps, a history of "How It Works," the 'We' of the program, an examination of the Third Step, and the need for a personal inventory of the Fourth Step, including resentments, fears and past sexual conduct with special emphasis on developing a new sober sexual ideal.


Sources:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 58-71, 262-264.

The Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous. Hazelden. Center City, MN. Copyright © 2010. pp 58-59.

Lee L. Worksheet: Step Four: Developing a Sexual Ideal.


Monday, October 14, 2024 (Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day)​

Session Nine

Chapter 6: Into Action: Steps 5-9

This session reviews the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Steps and Dr. Bob's sponsorship of Earl T, the founder of AA in Chicago.


Source:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 71-84.

​
Monday, October 21, 2024 (Sukkot)

​Session Ten

Chapter 6: Into Action: Steps 10-11

This session reviews the process of ongoing Tenth Step inventories as well as the Eleventh Step, with special emphasis on developing two-way prayer-the key to unlimited potential growth.


Sources:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 84-88.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. New York. Copyright © 1952, p. 89-91.



Monday, October 28, 2024

Session Eleven

Chapter 7: Working With Others: Step 12

This session reviews the Twelfth Step suggestion: "Carry this message to other alcoholics," tests for motives, and new tasks and challenges in sobriety.


Sources:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 89-103.

​Payton, Wally. How to Listen to God: A Guide for Successful Living Through the Practice of Two-way Prayer. Faith With Works Publishing. Tucson, AZ. Copyright © 2000.

Lee L. Eleventh Step Reading List.


Monday, November 4, 2024

Session Twelve

Chapters 8-11: Practicing These Principles in All Our Affairs: Step 12

This session examines how to live the program of recovery in intimate relationships (Chapter 8: To Wives), family relationships (Chapter 9: The Family Afterwards), work relationships (Chapter 10: To Employers), and the world at large (Chapter 11: A Vision For You).


Source:
Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Ed. AAWS. New York. Copyright © 2001. pp 125-164.


Monday, November 11, 2024 (Veterans Day)
Scheduled Make Up Session

Scheduled make up session only to be used if there is an unforeseen cancellation of another session.