JUN 12-14, 26.. FOUNDER'S DAY WEEKEND IN AKRON, OHIO

 91st AA ANNUAL FOUNDERS’ DAY

June 12-14, 2026

Registration opens on Friday June 12 at 8:00 am until 10:00 pm  and from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday, June 13.

Doctor's Bob home.

The first two photos below were NOT taken on any Founders' Day. 

The below photo was indeed taken on a Founders' Day!

Get it? 

Got it?

Good!

Once, just once, you will be happy that you have 'experienced' Founders' Day. 

It is a Hoot! It is a Holler! Because from Friday into Sunday,  there is so very much going on it borders on being beyond Exhausting! These mere words don't do it 'justice'. 

You know the local Akron, Ohio, business community (hotels, motels, restaurants etc et al) licks its chops and raises prices.

BUT do it once and decide for yourself!

We have been to Akron and visited the AA historical sites at least five separate times. 

Smiles..

MAY 29, 26 .. A.A. GRAPEVINE MAGAZINE.. STEP 5..

 I first began to read and eventually subscribe to the A.A. Grapevine in 1988. My wife and I have had a Grapevine subscription for more decades than we can recall.

My reading our Grapevine issues to my wife gives both of us great pleasure.

In the March 2026 issue, on page 47, was the below wisdom shared by John D., Big Lake, Minn.

"Membership in AA doesn't mean I will have a life free of trials and tribulations, but what it does give me is a new approach and a new faith to deal with life. What the program gives me is a Fellowship on which I can rely for help. What the program gives me is a faith in a Higher Power that sustains and comforts me. It lets me know that "God will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves."

What a great gift the AA Grapevine is for us.

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The month of May is the fifth month of the year. Many meetings discuss the Step of the Month as we go through the year.

The Fifth Step reads..

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

It does not say specifically with whom we share Fourth Step Inventories.

Yes indeed! A good many members share their Fourth Step Inventories with their sponsors. However, not all of us choose to do this.

Some of us opt to share our 4th Step Inventories with a member of the Clergy (Priest / Minister), a professional Therapist or Counselor. The list can go on and on! But IF you choose to share with someone who is not in AA or who is not familiar with AA (a Taxi Driver) you might want to explain what you are doing.

Some members go to another town where they are not known and ask for a Temporary Sponsor to share their 4th Step.

Now it gets interesting!

Some professionals are under a code-of-conduct that they must tell various authorities if they learn about a felonious act or actions. Some felonies do not have a specified Statute of Limitations.

More than one AA Member has been returned to prison, some for life, because of information they gave a professional in a Fifth Step!

So be careful. 

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Thanks for your support.

APR 30, 26.. LIFE HAPPENS .. WHAT TO DO?

LIFE HAPPENS !!

What to do? 

Get Angry? Get Resentful? No!

Work your AA Program of Recovery!! That's what to do!!

In How it Works, Chapter 5 of our AA Big Book, we read the below words.

If  you have decided you want what we have, and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps.

What is it we want? 

When we are new to AA we want to stop drinking. 

Then, as the years go by, what we really want is to be happy, joyous and free.

Recently, literally a week or so ago, a neighbor here in our Condo "really got under my skin big time" and continues daily to do so.

I told my wife, "I am not going to let this neighbor upset me!"

First a good friend has a saying .. "Get Over It!".

In the Doctor's Opinion, page xxviii, Dr. Silkworth wrote..

"Men and women drink essentially because they like the sensation produced by alcohol."

Translation.. "We drink to change how we feel!"

And I am not going to drink over this neighbor to change how I feel!

All of us have using the 12-Steps to assist us.

Also get into your AA Tool Kit.

Resentment is the number one offender. 

Resentment comes from Latin and French .. Re Sentir .. which translates into "To Feel Again". Repeatedly re-experiencing an insult or something that is upsetting us.

Expectations are resentments waiting to happen! Especially our own expectations of ourselves that we can't achieve!

Praying to God our Creator for assistance.

Bottom Line:

Daily I am extremely happy that using all the tools I have, I am rising above this irksome neighbor.

There you have it!

BUT when life gives you a challenge, you must want to get past it and be happy, joyous, and free. And you must be willing to go to any length to do so!

Your Ally .. S. W. in London, Ontario, Canada

APR 5, 26.. EASTER WISHES

 Matthew 28.6

He Is Risen!

Patti and I, wish you and yours, a happy, joyous and a sober Easter Sunday.

MAR 17, 26.. ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Ah yes! St. Patrick's Day 2026 is here!

Oh My.. Oh My.. Oh My..

If there is one thing about St. Patrick's Day that comes to my mind, it is a holiday where excess drinking is the rule and not the exception. 

Almost globally, St. Patrick's Day involves copious amounts of green beer and whisky shooters!

I hope and wish that all of you who may be reading along here have a safe and a sober St. Patrick's Day!

IF you don't pick up the first drink of alcohol, you will not get drunk

There you have it! 

Again, we wish all of you a fun and joyous St. Patrick's Day!

FEB 14, 26.. HAPPY SOBER VALENINE'S DAY..

HAPPY, SOBER, WONDERFUL, VALENTINE'S DAY TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU..

swc and pmb

JAN 1, 2026.. HAPPY NEW YEAR..

 

Our below Guest Contribution is from our great friend and Ally Frostbite Frank..

You are going to get a kick out of this.

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Twas the night before Christmas 

We were all in the club 

Enjoying the meeting instead of the pub. 

The ashtrays were clean and the coffee was made. 

The Big Books were out and the Intro was read. 

When out in the lot there arose such a clatter

We jumped from our chairs to see what was the matter! 

The lead with his big book and I with my smokes 

Headed outside, where we found these two blokes. 

They came on inside and sat down at the table 

And said that they’d share, just as soon as they’re able 

To start with, they said, it's more than not drinking. 

It's taking real action, to fix our own thinking. 

“Think think think!” those slogans we used 

To help keep the newcomer from getting confused.

“Live and let live!”  Easy does it!” they said:

The problem, we must say, is just in our head.

Step 1 is a start; they said we all know 

But after the step 2 we will all feel the glow!

We make a decision when we get to Step 3;

Step 4 is real tough- on this we agree.

Step five is the one where we let it all out 

From Steps 6 and 7, we’re left with no doubt. 

We get to step 8 and we use our “harms list,” 

And then, for Step 9, we have to persist.

After Step, 9 the promises ring true 

We didn't just get them out of the blue.

Step 10 keeps us level snd straight on the beam

And Step 11 contacts a Power Supreme.

Step 12 is the key when we learn what we’ve learned

As we share with a friend whose real trust we have earned.

These are the keys to a wonderful life!

Our misery is over!  We live free from strife!

And continuing on we proceed with our lives

One day at a time for serenity we strive.

And on, on, and on we must practice the rest:

This is what we must do, to remain at our best.

They put on their coats and got ready to leave 

A pretty good end for us, this Christmas Eve!

Their names we did not know: we only could guess 

But I'm pretty sure they were Bill W and Bob S.

The two men hopped into a 35 Ford 

And as they pulled out, one of them we all heard:

 “Carry the message!  We all are true brothers!

 Trust God! Clean house! Be of service to others!

“And to all of our family we just want to say 

Merry Christmas to all!  And DON’T DRINK today!

        -Shared by a friend 

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Thanks so very VERY MUCH Frank