A.A.'s Country-wide News Circuit

Ex-GI members of the Omaha, Nebr., Group have organized a group within the group, open to all ex-servicemen, which meets each Wednesday evening to discuss servicemen's problems as well as servicemen's alcoholism, which are often mixed together. Local veterans' organizations have been contacted. World War I veterans are also attending. Since starting almost a year ago the Chapel Hill, N. C., Group has branched out with groups started in Burlington, Raleigh and Durham. Although losing some members to the new organizations, stimulating programs have kept the attendance between 20 and 40 and members report it has not been "to difficult to keep interest alive." About 15 attended the first meeting, an open one, in Atlantic, Ia., with visitors from Council Bluffs, Ia., and Omaha, Nebr., present to help get things started. The three Atlantic members have arranged to meet Wednesday nights at the Hotel Whitney in Atlantic. Two members of the Binghamton, N. Y., Group have joined a couple of others to start a Norwich, N. Y., Group and have reported to The A.A. Grapevine that an open meeting in conjunction with public spirited citizens, city officials, doctors, and others is planned soon. Visiting A.A.s may make contact at 83 Mitchell Street. With an attendance of 32 and an actual membership of eight, the Neosho, Mo., Group got launched with a strictly "town hall" meeting as the result of a request to the Joplin, Mo., Group. There were visitors from seven towns in response to invitations and an advertisement in a local paper, which also carried a favorable news article written by The A.A. Grapevine's correspondent. Organized in January, 1946, the Clinton, Okla., Group now numbers 18 active members and about three months ago was split into two groups, the other being at Cordell, with many members attending sessions of both each week.