Greetings and Happy New Year to all.
AHCAB continues to focus our work on the alcoholics who are going to be helped by the 6,000 books now waiting for distribution at former delegate Ralph’s storage. In the last month we have had two sub-committee meetings and one full committee meeting. We are getting close to a recommendation that the Districts receive a proportional distribution of the books, and this has led to the question, do all Districts want large numbers of them?
So our first subcommittee meeting grappled with that question. We also have considered what to do about the 500 or so Second Edition Spanish Big Books. The Spanish translations have handled the first 164 pages in a different manner than what happens with the English language books. Second Edition Spanish BBs are well loved, but not an accurate translation of Bill’s writing. Third Edition Spanish books are basically a verbatim translation. We have really grappled with First Tradition Unity considerations on this one. GSO does not continue to publish or distribute older editions of the AA Big Book when a new one comes available. And the English version doesn’t ever change the first 164 pages. Are we saying to those who might receive a Second Edition Big Book in Spanish that there are better and different ways to understand the literature but you don’t get one? Are we saying there are different ways to read the first 164 pages? What does this do to Unity? Right now we are looking at the Second Edition Spanish Big Books as having archival importance (they were published in 1990) but a hindrance to carrying the message in a clear and concise way to our current Spanish reading newcomers. Here is a link to the GSO press release on Spanish translation: https://www.aa.org/press-releases/en_US/press-re-leases/new-edition-of-aas-spanish-big-book-alcohlicos-annimos
Thank you as always for the privilege of chairing this committee. We are still very eager to meet with your Districts to inform your groups con-science on how to best deliver these books back out to the world.
Kristina F.