CLARENCE SNYDER Very Early AA Member ~ Pioneer of AA in Cleveland, OH Sponsee of Dr Bob ~ Spread Early AA to Cleveland At Wilson Social Club, Alexandria, Virginia ~ June 20,1982
14 Tracks 71 Minutes

 Clarence's Sobriety Date is February 11,1938 Opens with congratulations for starting new club. Jokes about AA unity; how "riots" spread AA by starting new groups. Talks about his age compared to other early AAs. He got sober at 35 years of age. All the others were 45 plus. He tells his age as 79 at that time which would make the others pretty old.
A very spirited and fast moving talk he tells his own story, talks about all twelve of the steps and how he shares them with others, and tells a good bit of the history of AA. Over an hour long but very interesting. Holds the listeners attention easily. Talks about the Oxford group, and how the break from them was precipitated in response to newly sober Catholics from Cleveland whom he was working with being forbidden from attending a protestant religious meeting. How he caused an uproar by declaring in an Oxford group meeting that the alcoholic contingent would no longer be coming to Akron, and that they would be meeting as Alcoholics Anonymous at a home in Cleveland. Tells "RUMMY STORIES FROM THE BIBLE". Noah definitely was an alcoholic. He talks about his methods of helping people often telling how Dr.Bob (his Sponsor) worked with him. He talks about his experiences in the hospital under Dr. Bobs care. How the 14 Alcoholics who came before him visited him. How he took step three with Dr. Bob. He goes through each of the steps sharing experiences, dispelling errors, and talking about how the steps are properly taken. He talks about "Alcoholics area breed of cats apart from all others". The characteristics of alcoholics and the special abilities of alcoholics. Ends the talk by telling the audience to enjoy life as he does. Very upbeat and spirited even his criticisms are enjoyable.

 Tells His Recovery Story and Talks About the Writing and Publishing of the Big Book
JIM BURWELL ~ Early NY AA
Jim was the agnostic who insisted that as we understood him be included following the word God in the steps.
He is also the person we shall call Ed in the 12 and 12s section on the Third Tradition(p.143-145 Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions).
Jim was present at the Rockefeller Dinner and many other events in the earliest history of AA.His sobriety date is June 15,1938.
Jim talks about the earliest days of A A, the writing of the Big Book the Gabriel Heater radio broadcast and the Rockefeller dinner.

This Cd is a Great Value and a Fantastic Source of Information on the History and Working of the Alcoholics Anonymous Program. Big Book Story Authors, Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon, AA, AFG, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Recovery from Alcoholism, 12 Steps of AA, 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

 CLARENCE SNYDER Very Early AA Member

1963 BLACKSTONE RETREAT TALK
Sponsee of Dr Bob ~ Spread Early AA to Cleveland
April 1963 at Blackstone Virginia
19 Tracks 77 Minutes

CLARENCE SNYDER formed first AA group in Cleveland, OHIO 1939.
He was sponsored by Dr. Bob, and he tells how Dr. Bob Twelfth stepped him in Akron city Hospital.
This is a very early (1/1/1963) example of a CLARANCE SNYDER talk.
He tells his story and then talks about the steps.
He opens with a very funny drunk joke that I was surprised that I hadn't heard.
Clarence tells his own story. His drinking and how he came in contact with his sponsor Dr. Bob.
He talks about his early sobriety some of which qualifies as AA history. How the Cleveland contingent of the Akron OXFORD GROUP broke away because of it's many Catholic members and the need for a group made up solely of Alcoholics and their families.
He talks about the steps expounding his straightforward and practical approach. This is purely inference but this can be supposed to be the interpretation Dr. Bob shared with him.
Clarence has a confident sureness and direct approach to things. DO IT AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING. DON"T EVADE THE HEART OF THE MATTER. THERE ARE THINGS BEST NOT WATERED DOWN. these are not quotes but they summarize what I gather from Clearances direct approach and unflinching style. I like his style.
Informative, enjoyable and capable of holding a listeners keen interest.
He has an honest and straightforward way of clearing up and expressing his opinion of misconceptions that have crept into the fellowship. ~ A GREAT TALK BY CLARENCE VERY HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT

 ONE OF THE FIRST 100 AA Members
DEWEY SPIES of Cleveland, Ohio (Moved to California in retirement)
at Cleveland, Ohio ~ October, 29, 1959
12 Tracks 60 Minutes
Though not a talk specifically about AA history Dr Bob and Bill Wilson play a role in his story. He talks about the early members, meetings and pivotal events like Saturday Evening Post article. How AA helped him find the living God which was not the God he was brought up with. He ends his talk with a word about the 12 Traditions and the Bright Future of AA. He was there right after AA started, stayed sober and active in working the program with others, but his message is timeless. It doesn't really seem like he gave this talk over 40 years ago because the AA message of hope is fresh and vibrant.
His last name is not pronouned as it looks; rather it is said SPEES A VERY HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT RECORDING
History of Alcoholics Anonymous, Oxford Group, Clarence Snyder, Bill W, Dr Bob, Bill Dotson