open letter March 20, 2000
George E. Vaillant, M.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Division of Psychiatry
75 Francis Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Dear Dr. Vaillant:
This letter is in response to your request dated March 8, 2000, for "The Fourth Edition" BBSG publication. We regret that we cannot honor your request for this publication.
As a Nonalcoholic (Class A) member of the AAWS, Inc. Board of Trustees and the Trustees' Literature Committee you are well aware of the ongoing litigation initiated by AAWS, Inc. against BBSG. This personally punitive and publicly controversial litigation is in direct violation of AA's Tenth Tradition and Concept XII, Warranty Five of the Concepts for World Service.
We consider your request as another attempt on behalf of the Board of Trustees to further AAWS, Inc.'s continuing violation of Tradition 10 and Concept XII, Warranty Five to instigate further litigation and character assassination.
If you would like to receive a copy of this publication, you may contact Delegates of the General Service Conference who have, or soon will receive copies of the aforementioned publication. The publication is a reprint of the First Edition of the AA book, which is in the public domain.
If we are in error by assuming that you, as a member of the Board, are in favor of the flagrant violations of Tradition 10 and Concept XII, Warranty Five and place the Board of Trustees above the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in a governmental and punitive role in this public controversy, we apologize. If you want to engage in a dialogue with us rather than just take the word of those only interested in money, property and prestige we would be more than happy to do so.
Sincerely,
BBSG