TO THE FELLOWSHIP OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 

The 21st NAI-AA Convention Committee would like to extend an invitation to all AA members around the world to come and celebrate with us our 21st Annual NAI-AA Convention. The NAI-AA Convention started 21 years ago at the Hacienda Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, and was held there for the 2nd and 3rd Conventions as well. The early Conventions had attendance in excess of 1,000 members. The 4th and 5th Conventions were held in Rapid City, South Dakota. The 6th was held in Seattle, Washington. The 7th, 8th and 9th were held in Reno, Nevada. The 10th, 11th and 12th were held in Mesquite, Nevada. The 13th was held in Burbank, California. The 14th was held at Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 15th was held at St. Paul, Minnesota. The 16th was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The 17th was held in Billings, Montana. The 18th was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 19th was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin and the 20th was held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Convention started in 1991 as the result of a vision experienced by a Paiute Indian man by the name of Earl L. The purpose of the NAI-AA Convention is to carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the Native Indian people by organizing an Annual Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous. With the realization that few natives would realistically make the trip to Las Vegas to hear the beautiful messages of hope and recovery; the 1993 NAI-AA Convention planning committee voted to make the Convention a travelling Convention. By 1993, the committee voted to take the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the people. The Convention has been travelling and reaching out to the Tribes of this country with a message of hope that life can be lived without the use of alcohol and that recovery from Alcoholism is possible using the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

A travelling Convention has been financially difficult to maintain but with all the help from volunteers, the travelling Convention has survived. The average attendance on the road has been around 300-400 members per Convention. The smallest was 179 two days after the 911 attack. The committee has four executive positions and numerous sub-committee volunteers to work the Conventions. Because of travel demands, the Executive Committee is responsible to make sure the Convention continues to prosper. The volunteers may change each year as the Convention moves to a different location, which we are very grateful for their service work in the past, present and future. The 21st Annual NAI-AA Convention would not be possible if it were not for the support of local AA communities both Native and Non-Native AA members, the support of our faithful followers that keep coming back and all newcomers who keep the program going. The NAI-AA Convention Planning Committee has tried to keep the Convention a Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous because of "(t)he tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action."* The intention of the committee is to stay in line with the traditions and principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.

For our 21st Convention, we all know that we can get a dinner cheaper than $40.00 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Convention fees and costs are set according to the total cost of the Convention which includes the meeting room rentals, round trip airline fees and lodging for AA speakers, printing and flyer costs, postage for all mailings, maintenance of our website, etc. The actual total cost of the banquet includes an automatic 24% gratuity charge and all Clark County taxes.

We need to sell roughly 400 banquet tickets to help pay for the 21st Convention, if we are below this number we will be struggling to make ends meet. If you want to know how we are doing, feel free to ask any Committee Member how many tickets have been sold to date. If we clear 400 banquet tickets, we are doing well. The good news is that this year we have been able to lower the cost to you by $5.00.

Remember this is YOUR event, attendance is the key. Any event that does not have support dies. The Convention lives because YOU support it and keep it going. You may also buy a meal ticket for the Al- Anon brunch to help them with their costs; remember they have been there for us, as well. If you really want to help the Convention please pre-register, buy banquet/brunch tickets and stay at the host hotel and you may choose to sponsor another alcoholic’s registration and meal tickets.

There have been many changes in Native communities since 1991. There are currently more AA meetings on Native American and First Nations Reservations then any other time in AA history. Many areas have their own major AA activities, conventions, conferences, campouts, roundups, etc. There have been several AA Forums on Native Reservations with the entire New York General Services Office Staff participation, a first in AA history. There have been updates to AA Literature targeted for Native use. The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous Fourth Edition has changed the Native stories to reflect a more modern accurate snapshot of Native American culture. More Native groups are registering with the General Services Office in New York. At the 2000 Minneapolis, Minnesota World AA Convention, Natives were included in the World Family of Alcoholics Anonymous. For the first time in AA history, a Native American Indian, Harold Y. (dec.), a Lakota from Pine Ridge, South Dakota led the 2000 Parade of Flags. He carried an Eagle Staff representing all the Native Peoples of the world. In 2005, at the World Convention in Toronto, Canada, a 6 Nations Reserve First Nations Native by the name of Roger L. (dec.) led the Parade of Flags with an Eagle Staff and posted it along with the other Flags of the World. Also, for the first time in AA history, a Native American, Rod B., a Navajo from Salt Lake City Utah, currently serves as the Pacific Regional Trustee, which means he is one of the 21 Trustees of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous. The General Service Board is entrusted to manage the two corporations of Alcoholics Anonymous, AAWS (Alcoholics Anonymous World Services), Inc. and the Grapevine, Inc. There are two Native panels at the AA World Convention, 6 to 8 selected individuals carrying the messages of Alcoholics Anonymous to the world. There is a Native hospitality suite at the world Convention. The International Native American and First Nations communities have been accepted by the world fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Gratitude goes out to all AA members Non-Native and Native who have extended a helping hand; YOU have made all these changes possible by carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank You.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR 21 st NAI-AA CONVENTION

 

(*Reprinted from the Big Book, page 17 with permission of AAWS, Inc.)

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