{"product_id":"the-envoy-vol-1-no-2-january-1966-newark-new-jersey-aa","title":"The Envoy — Vol. I, No. 2 — January 1966 | Newark, New Jersey Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup Newsletter","description":"\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is an early issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, a locally produced Alcoholics Anonymous publication from Newark, New Jersey. This is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVolume I, Number 2, dated January 1966\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, placing it at the very beginning of the newsletter’s publication history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eLocal A.A. newsletters such as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e provide a particularly interesting window into the Fellowship at the community level. Unlike nationally published A.A. literature, these small-circulation publications documented the actual work being carried out by groups, Intergroups, committees, institutional representatives, and individual members within a particular region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis issue captures A.A. activity in New Jersey during the mid-1960s with a mixture of recovery writing, service news, institutional outreach, humor, cartoons, and announcements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eInside This Issue\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAmong the more interesting pieces is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Bars Lead to Bars,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e which discusses efforts by the Institutions Committee to strengthen relationships between A.A. groups and hospitals, correctional institutions, and other facilities. The article describes the development of Group Institutional Representatives and the effort to carry the A.A. message to alcoholics preparing to return to their communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThat theme continues with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“A Letter from Inside,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e reproducing correspondence received from a woman incarcerated at the Essex County Penitentiary in Caldwell. The letter expresses gratitude for A.A. members who were bringing meetings and sponsorship into the institution and speaks directly to the importance of carrying the message behind prison walls.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAnother feature, \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Adventures of a Sober Drunk,”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e presents a humorous but pointed look at the familiar alcoholic argument that perhaps the problem can be solved simply by controlling the first drink. The piece ultimately returns to one of A.A.’s foundational ideas: for the alcoholic, sobriety begins by not taking that first drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003eThe issue also includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“New Year — New Outlook”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, discussing public relations and A.A.’s efforts to present the Fellowship accurately to outside groups\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInformation regarding planning for the upcoming \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew Jersey State A.A. Convention\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIntergroup and institutional-service news\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnniversary notices and group information\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecovery-oriented quotations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal cartoons and humorous illustrations throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe publication closes with a darkly humorous drawing of a gravestone reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“THE END — FOR THOSE ALCOHOLICS WHO CONTINUE TO DRINK.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Piece of Grassroots A.A. History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous history, publications such as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e are valuable because they preserve the everyday workings of the Fellowship during a period of tremendous growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBy 1966, A.A. was well established nationally, but much of its work still happened through precisely the activities documented here: local Intergroups, hospital and prison committees, public-information efforts, sponsorship, group anniversaries, and members quietly carrying the message from one alcoholic to another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBecause this is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVolume I, Number 2\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, it is also an especially early example of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Envoy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e itself and an appealing piece of New Jersey A.A. ephemera.\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\u003eIssue:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Volume I, Number 2\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDate:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e January 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\u003eSubject:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous, New Jersey Intergroup, institutional service and recovery\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Staple-bound newsletter with illustrated covers and interior cartoons\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 issue remains in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003every good condition for its age\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe covers and interior pages show light age toning and minor handling wear, with modest wear along the edges and corners. The original binding remains intact, and the interior pages appear clean and highly readable. The illustrations and printed text remain strong throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the complete condition and appearance of this uncommon piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eA wonderful example of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003egrassroots Alcoholics Anonymous history from the 1960s\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, documenting the service work, humor, outreach, and everyday recovery culture of New Jersey A.A. during the Fellowship’s early decades.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sean McShane","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49876266123506,"sku":null,"price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/85606A0E-53EB-4B34-9C64-2F89D24F59C0.jpg?v=1785778842","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/the-envoy-vol-1-no-2-january-1966-newark-new-jersey-aa","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}