That Others May Find the Freedom of Recovery We Have Found: The 45th anniversary of the 5th World Literature Conference

The World Service Conference Literature Committee (WSC-LC) maintained an intense pace in 1981 and there was no rest following the 4^th World Literature Conference (WLC) in Santa Monica.  The conference concluded on Friday, May 1^st.  At 7:30 pm that same night, the 6^th World Service Conference (WSC) opened at Los Angeles Valley College.  Many trusted servants simply shifted gears from the writing of Narcotics Anonymous’ first book to attending to the business of the fellowship.  Notable WSC elections of those involved with the writing of the book included Bo S. as Vice Chair of the WSC, Joseph P. as Treasurer of the WSC, and Roger T. as Chair of the WSC-LC.¹

Roger was an unusual choice for this role.  Though he had years of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous, Roger only became involved with NA shortly before the 3^rd WLC in Memphis.  Bob Stone writes that Roger “didn’t have long relationships with people involved in the committee” and had “no roots in a home group or local fellowship.”² Further, some members of the literature movement “felt betrayed” that Roger accepted the nomination for Chair of the WSC Literature Committee when many wanted Jim M. to be elected.³  Years later, Bo would write that in “retrospect this seems to have been a mistake.”⁴

Warren, Ohio

Jim M. played an important role during and after the 3^rd World Literature Conference in Memphis.  After the conclusion of the Conference, he remained to help with the printing, reviewing, correcting/pasting up, packaging, and shipping of the Memphis Review Form.⁵  In March and April of 1981, Jim M. hosted two mini-conferences on his farm in Lisbon, OH to provide input on this draft.  This was done by the Northeast Ohio Area Service Committee of NA Literature Committee (N.E.O.A.S.C.N.A.).⁶ Now he set his efforts in preparing to host the 5^th WLC in Warren, OH. 

Jim served as Chair of the host committee and was supported by fellow Ohioans Pam K. and Roy D. as his Co-Chairs.⁷  Prior to the 5^th WLC, they were the only members from Ohio to attend a WLC.  Early on, Jim secured Willard Hall, a renovated elementary school that came with classrooms, an auditorium, cafeteria, and a hundred cots upstairs.⁸  This afforded a free lodging option for those attending and created an ideal setting for the high intensity that the conferences had become known for.  In one other act of service, Jim invited Roger to live with him on his family farm to allow Roger time to fulfill the responsibilities of Chair of the WSC Literature Committee.⁹

Work Between Conferences

Substantial writing continued in the local communities between the 4th and 5th WLCs, specifically targeting Chapters 4 through 6 and 8 through 10:

• Chapter 4 (“How It Works”): After Santa Monica, this chapter was sent to an unspecified city in California, where local members completed the introduction along with Steps One and Two.
• Chapter 6 (“The Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous”): Sent to Southern California, where work on the first five Traditions was completed.
• Chapter 8 (“We Do Recover”): Entrusted to members in British Columbia.
• Chapter 9 (“Just for Today – Living the Program”): St. Louis members completed two pages on this chapter.
• Chapter 10 (“More Will Be Revealed”): A rough outline was drafted by members in Lincoln, Nebraska.¹⁰

East Coast Convention of NA

The East Coast Convention of NA (E.C.C.N.A.) would once again serve as fertile soil for attracting new volunteers to the writing of the book.  Held at Trenton State University in New Jersey, the 2^nd E.C.C.N.A. concluded on Sunday, June 28^th, one day before the start of the 5^th WLC.  Some members involved with the writing of the Basic Text attended the 2^nd E.C.C.N.A. before heading to Warren, OH.  

Among them was Bill Z., a member living with a form of muscular dystrophy.  He found recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous in Maryland on August 26, 1979. 

On June 4, 1980, an NA member named Gregg R. from Atlanta arrived at the Riverside Club (an AA clubhouse) and announced he was starting Maryland’s very first NA meeting on June 11th at St. Andrew’s Church. Bill missed that inaugural meeting, but after hearing his housemate rave about it, he attended the following week on June 18th and found his home.¹¹

Now, just a little over a year after being introduced to NA, Bill and four other NA members were driving to Trenton for their first NA convention.  While at the 2^nd E.C.C.N.A., Bill says someone “came up from behind me, placed their hands my eyes and announced, ‘Hi Bill, it’s Hank!’” 

Hank F. was a member from Atlanta who had attended all of the first 4 WLCs.  This was their first time meeting in person.  Bill had spoken with Hank who would supply him with NA literature.  Hank was heading to the 5^th WLC after the convention and invited Bill to join him.  It only took him a minute to agree to join Hank, but he would not be going alone.  Kathy W., who rode up to Trenton from Maryland, would also join him. As the 2^nd E.C.C.N.A. came to a conclusion, Bill and Kathy loaded into Hank’s Volkswagen microbus and began the 400-mile drive to Warren. They would be the first and only members from Maryland to attend a WLC.

Other Travelers

In another example of self-support during an unfunded project, Jim N. of Lincoln, NE recalls selling his wife Donna’s motorcycle to Jim M. for $1,500.  Donna used this money to take “a couple vans full of people to the conference in Ohio.”¹² In addition to Donna, 7 other members from Lincoln, NE attended the 5^th WLC (Doug W., Glenn S., Greg L., Gregg L., Linda B., Mary C., and Ron N.).¹³

Charles K. and Tom McT. hitchhiked from the 4^th WLC in Santa Monica to the 5^th WLC in Warren.  At the conclusion of the 5^th WLC, they would continue hitchhiking to Miami.¹⁴

Continued California Involvement

While the 4^th WLC did not end with a final draft ready for WSC approval, it did result in more World Service level trusted servants becoming actively involved in the writing of the NA book. Two members of the Board of Trustees, Chuck S. and Sally E., became involved in Santa Monica and would continue onto Warren.  Greg P., originally from California, was also a member of the Board of Trustees. He had missed the 3^rd WLC but attended in Santa Monica and would attend in Warren.¹⁵ Sydney R., a future member of the Board of Trustees (1983), first attended in Santa Monica and then continued to Warren.¹⁶ Bob Stone wrote that her “participation in subsequent literature conferences and in literature matters was to last long after the book was approved.”¹⁷

Overall, 7 members from California attended the 5^th WLC.  Six of these members attended their first WLC in Santa Monica.  Dean G. was the only member who had attended prior WLCs. Nickie, who had a transformational experience in Santa Monica, was one of these Californians to journey to Ohio.  Much like her experience in Santa Monica, Nickie would gain further exposure to addicts from communities with little to no Narcotics Anonymous.

A couple in Cincinnati, OH had gotten a White Book from a priest.  The back of the White Book had Jimmy K.’s number.  Jimmy suggested that the couple get in touch with some of the members traveling from California to the 5^th WLC.  Nickie and some other members traveled to Cincinnati to help them hold their first real NA meeting.  Similar to her experience in Santa Monica, meeting these addicts in Cincinnati profoundly impacted her understanding of the experience of those in communities with little to no Narcotics Anonymous. Nickie recalled:

They had six months clean that they’d been hanging on to the recovery with that White Book that they had and that priest.

“The best part of the story for me was standing on the balcony of this young couple’s apartment before the meeting. And it still brings tears to my eyes…Chuck asked me, ‘Well, how long have you been clean?’ And I said, ‘Five years.’ And he burst into tears, and I thought, ‘I didn’t mean to hurt his feelings.’ And he said, ‘I didn’t know an addict could stay clean that long.’ That was the best part to me, the hope. Because like I said, I was kinda spoiled. I already had the hope, and I didn’t know that other people didn’t.”¹⁸

Nickie recalled that newcomers who attended this meeting followed them to Warren to contribute the writing of the book.  Addicts who appear in the minutes of the 5^th WLC who live in, or near, Cincinnati include Chuck S. and Donna S. from Fort Wright, KY,¹⁹ Pat T. from Fort Mitchell, and Rick W. and Robyn S. from Cincinnati.²⁰  Consistent with the values of the literature movement, all addicts were welcome to contribute and participate, regardless of clean time or experience.

The 5^th WLC

As discussed in the last blog (45^th Anniversary of the 4^th WLC), material was either lost or stolen at some point during or after the 4^th WLC.²¹  As the 5^th WLC began on June 29, 1981, new procedures were established for safeguarding the materials.  Files were stored in a separate room and someone was assigned to always be with them.  Files could be signed out of the makeshift “library.”²² 

After establishing these new procedures, Roger shared that the first priority was to address the lost material.  In Santa Monica, the first five chapters had been through a second edit and the last five chapters had been through input and partial second edits.  Attending members were tasked with retyping the first five chapters and beginning work on the last five chapters. A second priority was to update the mailing list.²³

It was also decided on day one that work on pamphlets should begin.  This was a sign that the World Literature Conference had developed both organizational and human resources to begin envisioning new literature beyond the book.  These included Hospitals and Institutions, Inventory Guide, Teenage Recovery, and Sponsorship.²⁴  In addition, Bill Z. attending his first WLC, stated on day 2 that “he’d like to see a pamphlet on addicts with disabilities.”²⁵

However, by the second evening, “it was stated to cease all pamphlet workshops, so that we may work on our main priority – the book.”²⁶ July 1^st began with similar sentiments.  Charles K. commented on the “need for each of us to work on our book NOW. Lets (sic) get it together. Our brothers and sisters are dying.”²⁷  Shortly after noon, during the group conscience meeting, Jim M. read Chapter 1 (“Who Is An Addict”) which drew a standing ovation at the conclusion of the chapter.  Motions were then made for changes to this draft. For instance, one change was proposed that read “Addiction is a disease which involves more than simple drug use.”  This change is voted on and passed.²⁸

On day 4, it was determined that the Chapter Four (“How It Works”) workshop was too large to be efficient.  A motion was made to separate into three person workshops comprised of one experienced member and two inexperienced members.  Greg P. reminded the group of a three-point outline for each step.  This provides a peek into the thought process behind the first piece of literature that would guide members through the 12-Steps of Narcotics Anonymous.  The three-point outline was:

1. “Why we work this step,
2. How do we work this step,
3. The result of working this step”²⁹

Progress continued on Steps Two, Three, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve.  In a testament to the efforts of the WLC to include from addicts all over,

During the Literature Committee Report at the 1981 WSC, Roger read input submitted to the WSC-LC.  One piece of input was a request for “more participation with the greater N.A.”  At least one literature conference should be held in Canada “for international world input.”³⁰ It is not clear when this input was received, nor from whom, but it appears that Roger took it to heart.  During Regional Reports he indicated that he had spoken with NA members in Germany, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia.³¹  And by the time of the 5^th WLC, Australia had submitted input on Step Eleven.  The input was lost; however, Mary Kaye contacted Australia typed their input, and Roger read it to the group.³²

By the evening of the fourth day (July 2^nd), Steps 1 – 3 and 6 – 9 were “done & typed.”  Step 10 was “pasted up and full outline.” Step 11 was “typed and ready for second edit,” and Step 12 was “half way (sic) to rough draft.”³³

A banquet was held Friday, July 3^rd.  It was suggested that members pitch in $5.00 per person and a discussion was held about inviting the local fellowship.  Attendees dined on a full spread prepared by Jamie S. (Pennsylvania) and Lesa (Virginia).  The meal consisted of a tossed salad, fruit cocktail, roast beef au jus, baked turkey, mashed potatoes with cream gravy, green beans, chocolate layer cake, vanilla ice cream, iced tea, and coffee.³⁴

Attending his first WLC, Bob G. (Florida), was the master of ceremonies.  Also attending his first WLC, Bill Z. wrote the invocation “Your Will, Not Mine, Be Done,” that was read prior to dinner.

Chuck S. (California), Bo S. (Georgia), and Jim O. (Ohio) were the banquet speakers.  Gina H. (Tennessee) provided the entertainment, Mary C. (Nebraska) provided special remarks, and Roger T. (Ohio for the moment) closed the banquet with a prayer.³⁶

In writing about the banquet, Charles K. (Louisiana), wrote “tonight marked a turning point in NA history and the World Literature Conference…Members with 5 days to 20 years clean were present…Just think about it! We had three members of the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman of the Board, two members from the administrative committee for WSC, eighteen states represented, by loving dedicated trusted servants, and live entertainment.  There has been a lot of firsts.  Let’s maintain the spirit and continue in the same direction. This is truly a world wide (sic) fellowship.  People from all walks of life committing themselves (sic) obtain one goal, THE COMPLETION OF A BOOK SO OTHERS MAY FIND WHAT THEY (sic) HAVE FOUND.”³⁷

Lastly, the banquet program included a note of appreciation for Bo’s two years of service as Chair of the WSC-LC. 

“Whose two-year tenure as Chairman of the WSC Literature. committee. has established consummate precedence and without whose resolute dedication, studied concern, and untiring effort the ‘work in progress’ could not have come so far so quickly. Thank you, Bo.; we love you.”³⁸

On the evening of July 5^th, the 7^th and last day of the 5^th WLC, updates were provided on the status of the book:

• Chapter 1 (“Who is An Addict?”): Closed.
• Chapter 2 (“What is the Narcotics Anonymous Program?”): Closed.
• Chapter 3 (“Why Are We Here?”): Closed.
• Chapter 4 (“How It Works”): Is the first chapter slated for group conscience at the 6^th WLC, which has been scheduled for Miami, Florida.
• Chapter 5 (“What Can I Do?”): Needs more work. Has been through cut and paste.
• Chapter 6 (“The Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous”): Going back to California for review by some members of the Board of Trustees.
• Chapter 7 (“Recovery and Relapse”): Needs more work. Has been through cut and paste.
• Chapter 8 (“We Do Recover”): Closed.
• Chapter 9 (“Just for Today – Living the Program”): Needs more work.  Has been through cut and paste.
• Chapter 10 (“More Will Be Revealed”): Awaiting a second edit.³⁹

An inventory of the 5^th WLC by those in attendance was very positive.  The attendees were described as dedicated. There were no personality conflicts, instead support, love, and consideration. It was concluded that “There is no way that this book will not be written, there is so much love in it!”⁴⁰

The 6^th WLC – Miami, FL

On the last day of the 4^th WLC in Santa Monica, Miami was suggested as a possible location for a WLC.  It could occur “in conjunction with the World Convention” that was scheduled for September 1981.⁴¹  While Warren ended up being selected for the next WLC, the idea for a WLC in Miami did not fade.  At the morning meeting on July 4^th in Warren, Charles K. made a motion that “the next conference be held there following the 11^th World Convention of Narcotics Anonymous in Miami.” The motion passed.  The 6^th WLC would be held September 14^th – 20^th in Miami.⁴²

For More Information

To commemorate the 45^th anniversary of the 5th WLC, Boyd, Francis, Mason, and I have recorded a more in-depth presentation examining the literature conference.  The presentation can be viewed here, on the Preserving The Message YouTube channel. 

As with previous topics, The Living Clean Podcast has recorded a very special episode to complement this presentation.  We hope that you will check them both out.

Artificial Intelligence Statement

The authors used Google’s Gemini 3.5 Flash for feedback on the first draft of this blog related to grammar/syntax/punctuation, structure, and clarity.

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1. World Service Conference (1981). Minutes to the sixth World Service Conference, May 1981. ↩︎
2. Stone, B. (1997). My years with Narcotics Anonymous. Joplin, Missouri: Hulon Pendleton Publishing. ↩︎
3. Stone, B. (1997). My years with Narcotics Anonymous. Joplin, Missouri: Hulon Pendleton Publishing. ↩︎
4. S. Bo (1990). The Story of the Basic Text. ↩︎
5. S. Bo (1990). The Story of the Basic Text; The Atlanta Area Service Committees (1981). Notes on the Bus. The Rainbow Connection, April, Volume 3, Number 4. ↩︎
6. N.E.O.A.S.C.N.A. (1981). Northeast Ohio Area Service Committee of NA Literature Committee. Miracle Reminder, 3, March-April 1981. ↩︎
7. WSC-LC (1981).  5^th World Literature Conference Banquet Program. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
8. Atlanta Area Service Committee of NA (1981). World Literature Conference Five. The Rainbow Connection, 3(4), p. 9, April 1981. ↩︎
9. S. Bo (1990). The Story of the Basic Text. ↩︎
10. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. June 29, 1981. ↩︎
11. Billy Z. (2021). Written responses to Basic Text Interview Questions posed by Francis C. and Chris Budnick. ↩︎
12. Jim N. (2010).  Interview of Jim N. by Boyd Pickard and Chris Budnick, June 23, 2010. ↩︎
13. WSC-LC (1981).  5^th World Literature Conference Banquet Program. World Service Conference Literature Committee. ↩︎
14. Charles K. (2013). Audio from discussion after A History of the Basic Text at the Georgia Regional Convention. March 22, 2013. ↩︎
15. WSC Literature Committee (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Banquet Program. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
16. World Service Conference (1983). Minutes to the 8^th World Service Conference, Santa Monica, CA. May 4, 1983. ↩︎
17. Stone, B. (1997). My years with Narcotics Anonymous. Joplin, Missouri: Hulon Pendleton Publishing. ↩︎
18. Nickie J. (2021).  Interview of Nickie J. by Chris Budnick and Francis C., January 23, 2021. ↩︎
19. It is likely that Chuck was actually from Fort Wright, KY.  The minutes reflect that a Chuck S. and Denise S. from Fort Wright, KY attended the 5^th WLC.  Entering Fort Wright, KY to Cincinnati, OH into Google Maps shows a distance of 5 miles. Google Maps shows that Pat T. from Fort Mitchell, KY is 6.3 miles from Cincinnati. ↩︎
20. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. ↩︎
21. Stone, B. (1997). My years with Narcotics Anonymous. Joplin, Missouri: Hulon Pendleton Publishing; S. Bo (1990). The Story of the Basic Text; Anonymi (2004). A Matter of Principle: A Story of how Narcotics Anonymous came of age. ↩︎
22. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. June 29, 1981. ↩︎
23. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. June 29, 1981. ↩︎
24. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. June 29, 1981. ↩︎
25. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. June 30, 1981, Second Day, Morning Meeting. ↩︎
26. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. June 30, 1981, Second Day, Evening Meeting. ↩︎
27. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 1, 1981, Third Day, Morning Meeting. ↩︎
28. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 1, 1981, Third Day, Morning Meeting. ↩︎
29. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 2, 1981, Fourth Day, Morning Meeting. ↩︎
30. World Service Conference (1981). Minutes to the sixth World Service Conference, May 1981. ↩︎
31. World Service Conference (1981). Minutes to the sixth World Service Conference, May 1981. ↩︎
32. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 2, 1981, Fourth Day, Continuation of Morning Meeting. ↩︎
33. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 2, 1981, Fourth Day, Continuation of Morning Meeting. ↩︎
34. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Banquet Program. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
35. Bill Z. (1981). Your Will, Not Mine, Be Done. Contained in the 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
36. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Banquet Program. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
37. K., Charles (1981). Personal Input on the Banquet contained in the 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
38. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Banquet Program. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 3, 1981. ↩︎
39. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 5, 1981, Seventh Day, Evening Meeting. ↩︎
40. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 5, 1981, Seventh Day, Evening Meeting. ↩︎
41. WSC-LC (1981). 4^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. May 1, 1981, Group Conscience #10. ↩︎
42. WSC-LC (1981). 5^th World Literature Conference Minutes. World Service Conference Literature Committee. July 4, 1981, Sixth Day, Morning Meeting. ↩︎