Mail Call for All A. A.s at Home Or Abroad

At a recent meeting of our group we welcomed a visitor who joined in our discussion with some fine ideas and news of other groups. However, one expression which he constantly used bothered me a little bit. That was his much used reference to alcoholics or A.A.s as "alkys" (or is it spelled "alkies"?). I am wondering what A.A.s think of this designation.