{"product_id":"the-envoy-april-1966-new-jersey-aa-newsletter","title":"The Envoy Vol. I No. 5 — April 1966 — Newark, New Jersey A.A. Newsletter","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eApril 1966 issue of The Envoy, Volume I, Number 5\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, an early Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup newsletter published in Newark, New Jersey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThese locally produced newsletters offer a fascinating look at A.A. life beyond the major books and nationally distributed literature. Rather than presenting the polished history of the Fellowship in retrospect, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e documented A.A. as it was actually being practiced at the local level—group service, Intergroup activity, institutions work, conventions, humor, announcements, and the everyday experiences of members trying to carry the message.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis issue is particularly appealing for its combination of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew Jersey A.A. history, service material, institutional outreach, period artwork, and recovery humor\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInside the April 1966 Issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAmong the features is another installment of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Adventures of a Sober Drunk”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePresented as “12 Easy Lessons or One Terribly Hard One,” this installment follows the fictional Bill as his sponsor encourages him to become more involved in his home group. Bill is asked to serve as Group Chairman and learns that service means far more than simply holding a title—welcoming newcomers, visiting other groups, fulfilling commitments, and becoming an active participant in A.A.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe piece is humorous, but the message underneath is unmistakably A.A.: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003esobriety grows through participation, responsibility, fellowship, and service.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAnother section, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Inside Story,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e reports on the work of the Intergroup Institutions Committee. It discusses A.A. members carrying the message into hospitals, farms, and correctional institutions and includes a quotation from \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Pointer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, identified as the journal of the first English prison group:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e“We all know that alcohol is a scarce item in prison… our real days, the days over which we will exercise free control, will begin with one day — the release day.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe issue also records the expanding organization of institutional service in New Jersey, including Group Institutional Representatives and opportunities for members to participate in Twelfth Step work behind institutional walls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA.A. Events and New Jersey History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe newsletter provides a remarkably detailed snapshot of New Jersey A.A. activity during the spring of 1966.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA.A. Calendar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e lists General Service, Public Relations, Institutions Committee, Intergroup Delegates, and other meetings, along with anniversaries at Annandale and Clinton Farms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAnother section announces the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e10th Annual General Service Affair\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, held at the Alanon Club in Newark on May 15, 1966. Of particular historical interest, the program was scheduled to include several showings of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Bill W. Story” — a 16mm sound and color film\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe newsletter also discusses the activities of the New Jersey General Service Conference delegation, Intergroup committees, public relations efforts, and the growth of A.A. service throughout the state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e was published for members and groups connected with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA.A. Groups of New Jersey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, with this issue directing subscriptions to the organization’s Newark post office box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe back page includes an original subscription form offering the newsletter for \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e$1 per year\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, along with a cartoon encouraging groups to subscribe and help extend the message to alcoholics still seeking help.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe hand-drawn headings, typewritten articles, cartoons, announcements, and local reporting give \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e a distinctly homemade character. These were working pieces of Fellowship literature rather than commercially produced publications, and surviving examples provide an intimate record of how A.A. groups communicated with one another during the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVolume:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e I\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNumber:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 5\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDate:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e April 1966\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Newark, New Jersey\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrganization:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e A.A. Groups of New Jersey \/ New Jersey Intergroup\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Stapled newsletter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContents:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e A.A. service articles, Intergroup news, institutional outreach, group announcements, cartoons, calendar, recovery humor, and subscription information\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis original issue remains in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003egood vintage condition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThere is a prominent horizontal fold through the newsletter, likely from previous storage or mailing, along with expected light age toning, scattered small spots and stains, and minor handling and edge wear. The pages remain very presentable and the printed material and illustrations are clear and readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the complete condition and appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAn excellent piece of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1960s Alcoholics Anonymous ephemera\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, preserving the everyday workings of New Jersey A.A. during a period when Intergroup, General Service, public information, and institutional Twelfth Step work were becoming increasingly organized throughout the Fellowship.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sean McShane","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49876255637746,"sku":null,"price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/D5E15434-2153-4B22-A525-4E044624C0B9.jpg?v=1785778566","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/the-envoy-april-1966-new-jersey-aa-newsletter","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}