A.A.'s Country-wide News Circuit

More than 400 persons attended the third anniversary of A.A. in Memphis, Tenn., at the Hotel Chisca recently. From three members in April, 1944, Memphis now has three groups, Downtown, 152 Madison, closed meeting Friday; Crosstown, Character Builders Hall, closed meeting Tuesday, and Overton Park, at the clubhouse, Monday, all sessions being at 8 o'clock. In addition there is an A.A. breakfast at Britling's on Madison Avenue, open, 9:30 A.M. Sunday; 12th Step discussion at 152 Madison, closed, 3:30 Sunday afternoons; open house, open at 8 Tuesday nights; and Questions and Answers, closed session for new members at 8 Wednesday nights. Since many of these sessions are closed, the Overton Park Group has been holding "Family Open Meetings" about once a month with local people in charge. The open meeting at the anniversary party was addressed by a well-known Des Moines, Ia., attorney, who told how he came into A.A. through a man whom he had prosecuted for drunkenness. In Memphis there is also considerable interest in neighboring groups throughout the region in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee and even in Southern Kentucky. The Central Club room at 152 Madison is open every day from 9 A.M. until midnight for visitors, with a member in charge. With the cooperation of a physician in a nearby veterans' hospital, weekly visits are being made by Memphis A.A.s to the hospital. The San Antonio, Tex., Group held its second birthday party recently with the singing of "Thank God, We Have A.A." to the tune "The Eyes of Texas" as one of the features. It has been printed on small cards for distribution by the group.