One specific event I will share with you is my experience of the Blending of Time Conference and how our message of recovery was carried. At this event held in Tacoma, WA on the weekend of 2/28/25 I had an eye opening experience. Our Archivist, Maryland, hosted a historian named Gary N. who has dedicated a significant amount of research regarding Bobbie B’s role in our fellowship. According to Gary, Bobbie B. was Bill W’s second secretary after Ruth H. Both Ruth and Bobbie worked together after the Jack Alexander article was published in 1941. The article is credited with causing our fellowship to quadruple in a significantly short amount of time. The attraction to our program produced numerous letters to the Foundation which is now referred to as GSO seeking help from alcoholism. Ruth H. resigned in 1942 and for many years after she left, Bill W, Bobbie B., and her assistant Charlotte dedicated 11-12 hours a day answering inquiries. Taking on the sole responsibility of answering each letter for a long-term period of time caused these 3 individuals to have health issues physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the case of Bobbie B she had multiple “slips” and eventually took her own life.
From my perspective, the message carried by Gary is that unmanageability can continue through sobriety. Either we ask for help and/or rotate out of our service position. Exhausting ourselves for any cause is not a badge of honor. It is our job to maintain our spiritual fitness through whatever challenges life presents. In Bobbie B’s case if others were brought in to help answer inquiries her chances of passing sober would have greatly increased rather than having a tragic end. Bobbie could even be someone we talk about more; however, it seems her unfortunate decline has caused her contributions to be a hidden part of our history.
Yours in Service, Jennifer R
