Why the 24 Hour book was not published by A.A.

[Tommyh]

a interesting fact about the 24 hour a day book


Publishing the 24 Hour book
Why the 24 Hour book was not published by A.A.



We have heard various reasons why A.A. never
published the 24 Hour a Day Book, that is
currently published by Hazelden but, here is
the real story. This is from the Final Report:
Fourth General Service Conference of A.A. 1954,
page 20:

"The Conference was asked to consider the offer
of the publisher who wished to give to A.A.
Publishing, Inc. publication rights to the
booklet, 'Twenty-Four Hours a Day.'

A two-page letter from the publisher, favoring
this proposal and answering certain objections
to the proposal, was read to the Conference.
The letter noted that current net profit from
sales of the booklet is about $5,300 annually.**
Requests that A.A. Publishing, Inc. undertake
publication of the booklet have been received
from many areas, largely as a result of
suggestions by the present publisher, it was
reported.

Comment by the Delegates indicated they felt
it unwise to set a precedent in the case of
this booklet and expressed fear that A.A.
Publishing 'would be flooded with similar
requests' if it did so. The Delegate from the
State in which the booklet is published said
it was the consensus of his group and of his
area that the proposal not be approved.

Following full discussion of the proposal,
the Conference adopted a resolution that
publication rights to 'Twenty-Four Hours a Day'
not be accepted and further asked that the
publisher be thanked for his offer."

.................................................. ............


Richmond Walker's papers, which are in one of
the Florida AA archives, show that Rich
took this profit every year and gave it to the
Daytona Beach AA group, which in turn sent the
entire sum to the New York office.

As long as Rich and the Daytona Beach AA
group were publishing the 24 Hour book (1948
to 1954), they never kept a penny of the
profits from its sale for themselves.

[jimhere]

But now G$O/AAW$ is a for profit enterprise that sues people.

[Tommyh]

Jim,you`re 100 % right,and when they are not suing,they actually help a few alcoholics get sober,so I guess I have to take the bad with the good...

[CarolD]

Hmmm....
As far as I am aware ....
only twice has GSO/AAWS sued anyone.

It was over copyright issues in Germany and Mexico..

I'm certain that someone here will correct me
if I am mistaken.
And no, I don't visit the GSO Watch site.

[tomvlll]

the composition of the GSO chages constantly , does it not?
Therefore to attribute any qualities to 'the GSO" strikes me as illogical.

[jimhere]

Originally Posted by bballdad

Jim,you`re 100 % right,and when they are not suing,they actually help a few alcoholics get sober,so I guess I have to take the bad with the good...

True enough. Unfortunately that is how most of the fellowship feels too.

[Tommyh]

actually Jim,I liked your idea about the areas doing more themselves you made in another thread some weeks ago

[jimhere]

Originally Posted by bballdad

actually Jim,I liked your idea about the areas doing more themselves you made in another thread some weeks ago

Hey Tommy
If what I said came across as a personal dig, I didn't mean it that way.

Now you got me trying to remember what thread that was.