The first week of July I was in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous. This was my fifth time attending an International AA Convention, and each time--at different stages of my recovery—I came home with gifts and inspirations.

What is most impressive is how hard the group of mostly volunteers work to make these conventions so thoroughly wonderful.  It takes 15 years to plan an international convention so we know that in 2030 it will be in St Louis, Missouri, and in 2035 Indianapolis, Indiana, will be the location. It takes that long to plan because each city must commit all of its hotels, police, fire as well as all college dorms—housing of every kind. The Chambers of Commerce and local government must be committed and fully participating. Imagine the Chamber meeting where they hear, “we have an opportunity to host 50,000 alcoholics.” I can just imagine the organizers explaining over and over: “No, they are sober; No, they do not drink.”

Between 35,000 and 50,000 AA members from all over the world attend these International Conventions. They are truly international, and most inspiring at the opening night big stadium that includes an Olympic-like flag ceremony as each country enters with a representative carrying their nation’s flag.

It’s not easy to summarize the gifts of this convention but I can truly say being surrounded by recovering people practicing recovery principles for several days I come away infused with recovery. Even at 40+ years, I am challenged to grow and learn, and to do more recovery service. At The “Old Timers” meeting on the last night—also in a full stadium—there were 250 people with more than 50 years of recovery. Those were the men and women I wanted to listen to very carefully. It’s not that those folks have a lot of years in recovery—they do—but what we know is that in 50 years a lot happens to a person—a lot of hard things.  What many of us want to know is how to stay sober or abstinent when hard things happen. And these old timers are the folks who know. They have been through multiple illnesses, serious diagnoses—their own and of their loved ones, deaths, grief, job losses, financial troubles and every kind of family crisis. And they stayed sober—and committed.

What I heard from the 12 members with more than 50 years is that they—to a person—did a lot of service in the program. In their home group, in their region, their state and beyond. And, they all --through their recovery—and still—worked directly with folks in need. They helped folks struggling to come into recovery (12 step calls), newcomers, and peers on regular basis and very directly. I came home from Vancouver wanting to do a lot more service.

I also heard from this group of 50+ recovering folks that they had active spiritual lives. They still did the basics of the steps and prayer and meditation, and they studied new spiritual practices and were part of some spiritual group—whether a faith community or a weekly meditation group, or spiritual book club, or something spiritual that involved working with others. What stood out was that their spiritual life was not in the past but here and now and very regular.

Conferences are another tool of recovery and a gift. I am grateful.

Diane C.
Albany, New York