The Big Town Group of Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in June, 2006 in the beautiful mountain town of Etowah, North Carolina by three AA members who wanted to start a Big Book Study. The three discussed together what they loved about their old home groups and they decided to integrate these elements into a new group: THE BIG TOWN GROUP. The first meeting was attended by five people and in a year there were about ten members. Today we are more than thirty and we are a friendly group whose focus is on carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the alcoholic who still suffers. Whether you are local to the mountains of Western North Carolina or are visiting our scenic area, we welcome you and look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.
What Is AA?
Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Copyright © by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc
Is AA For You?
Click here for 12 questions about alcohol that only you can answer.
Click here to find out the differences between "open" and "closed" AA meetings.
Click here to read our basic text "Alcoholics Anonymous".
AA History Corner (From G.S.O. Archives)
Q. Who wrote AA’s Preamble? And when was the word “honest” dropped from it (i.e. “honest desire to stop drinking”), and why?
A. The Preamble first appeared in the Grapevine in June 1947, and was written by Tom Y., the Grapevine Editor serving at that time. Its intent was to inform the public as to what A.A. is and what it is not. Shortly thereafter, the Preamble began appearing in each monthly issue of the Grapevine, and later on in much of our A.A. Conference-approved literature. In 1992 the Grapevine published a short history of the Preamble.
In the 1947 version of the Preamble, it contained the wording, “…an honest desire to stop drinking…” as printed in the foreword to the first edition of the Big Book. However, since the adoption of the short form of the Traditions in 1950, the Third Tradition has always read, “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking” and this form was used by Bill in writing the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
In 1958 the expression “honest desire” was discussed at great length at the General Service Conference. It was felt that it was impossible to determine what constitutes an “honest” desire to stop drinking, thus the word was dropped. The “new” version of the Preamble, without the word “honest,” first appeared in the September 1958 issue of the Grapevine.
There have been other versions of the Preamble, written by AA members for their local groups’ use, which were then circulated around AA; for example: the “Texas Preamble,” the “Wilmington Preamble,” etc. Many AA members find these interesting, but they have never been adopted by the Fellowship as a whole.
Overheard in a meeting: "AA is a wrench that will work on
any nut."
