D46 Archives Report September
Archives
Bella, D46 Archives Chair
Morning District 46!,
My information from the previous month is still relevant for September. BUT with an adjustment, Area 72 Archives has a very full calendar coming up and suggested we switch the Archives Workshop in December to the summer months. Which I agreed. We wouldn’t able to give a full commitment to the district. Dates aren’t lining up. And materials list will be needed. It’s too much on our calendar in this moment.
But please answer the questions so we can get this moving and in the works in the coming months. We like to be prepared and ready. No half measures over here!
I’d also like input for D46 Archives bookmarks. The photo pictured would just be for bookmarks. Bookmarks saying “Don’t throw me away, I belong to District 46 Archives!” I will send the original I found in storage. The picture is an inspiration to “Bridging the Gap”. A representation of how far and hard we have worked to keep this wonderful fellowship going, by boat and by bridge.
Thank you for all you do!
Bella, [email protected]
Bella, D46 Archives Chair
Morning District 46!,
My information from the previous month is still relevant for September. BUT with an adjustment, Area 72 Archives has a very full calendar coming up and suggested we switch the Archives Workshop in December to the summer months. Which I agreed. We wouldn’t able to give a full commitment to the district. Dates aren’t lining up. And materials list will be needed. It’s too much on our calendar in this moment.
But please answer the questions so we can get this moving and in the works in the coming months. We like to be prepared and ready. No half measures over here!
I’d also like input for D46 Archives bookmarks. The photo pictured would just be for bookmarks. Bookmarks saying “Don’t throw me away, I belong to District 46 Archives!” I will send the original I found in storage. The picture is an inspiration to “Bridging the Gap”. A representation of how far and hard we have worked to keep this wonderful fellowship going, by boat and by bridge.
Thank you for all you do!
Bella, [email protected]
D46 Archives Report August
Bella N.
D46 Archives
Morning Everyone!,
I'd like to begin by saying, photos shared in this email should remain off the internet until further notice. It is only to be shared via our fellowship. Thank you!
I have begun making our new bookmarks! A tech savvy LA friend is helping curate these pieces. It's been a fun and educationally rewarding process! The verbiage isn't complete but I'll share our general idea. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send correspondence to my email.
I have also added our past logo curated by Harry V. and Bill S, from the 90s. Our previous Archivists and DCM in D46. This logo was curated during AA's time of the circle and triangle copyright dispute. So I don't believe it was ever used? I have the original correspondence between Harry, disputer and GSO to confirm that conclusion, but nothing confirming usage. I'm mostly adding it for verbiage, as a reference and nostalgia. If it comes up, if the original logo is something we are interested in using in the future. That's possible, let me know. I can have a digital copy made.
ARCHIVE WORKSHOP IS IN THE WORKS FOR DECEMBER! Woo-Hoo! I brought some ideas to Area. They have a meeting tomorrow. Will send out information when I get it. In the meantime, please send out any ideas to my email you would like to see at an Archives Workshop.
Suggestions were: A two hour workshop. Suggestion was the first weekend or second weekend in December. At either Anacortes location or Langley Hall on Whidbey Island (Where Harry V. used to do them).
Subject suggestions: Bit about our own District history. A little known history about AA history. Bringing awareness to our District about what Archives actually does. Education on preservation and collection of Archival materials.
Would LOVE to hear your suggestions and your groups suggestions! This is about bringing Archives to life in our District! What curiosities do you have? Oral history or slideshow? Tape to audio recording examples? How do we conduct old-timer history interviews? Preservation stations (hands on learning)? Reading material? What bits of history do you want to know more about?
The more exact you are, the better the experience we can generate for you.
In storage. I have gotten a hold of District Business meeting minutes, 2000-2024. In the future I will be sorting them out by service position. That way anyone who takes over a position can come look at past minutes in any service position.
I am heading back to storage tomorrow Aug 16, 2025, to move the storage around. I have emptied both sides of the wall of bins. There Is now room for more than one person to be there! Woohoo! Haha! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...
I am in search of a used metal bookshelf, (maybe two), as well as another steel filing cabinet to sort even further. If you see anything please send an email or call. I also saw an option for a safe, to keep our older books in. (Area Archives does have one for that reason). Food for thought?
My goal by January is to have the storage in a place where people can come visit and enjoy history the way I get to.
Can't wait to hear from you!
With love and gratitude,
Bella
[email protected]
D46 Archives
Morning Everyone!,
I'd like to begin by saying, photos shared in this email should remain off the internet until further notice. It is only to be shared via our fellowship. Thank you!
I have begun making our new bookmarks! A tech savvy LA friend is helping curate these pieces. It's been a fun and educationally rewarding process! The verbiage isn't complete but I'll share our general idea. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send correspondence to my email.
I have also added our past logo curated by Harry V. and Bill S, from the 90s. Our previous Archivists and DCM in D46. This logo was curated during AA's time of the circle and triangle copyright dispute. So I don't believe it was ever used? I have the original correspondence between Harry, disputer and GSO to confirm that conclusion, but nothing confirming usage. I'm mostly adding it for verbiage, as a reference and nostalgia. If it comes up, if the original logo is something we are interested in using in the future. That's possible, let me know. I can have a digital copy made.
ARCHIVE WORKSHOP IS IN THE WORKS FOR DECEMBER! Woo-Hoo! I brought some ideas to Area. They have a meeting tomorrow. Will send out information when I get it. In the meantime, please send out any ideas to my email you would like to see at an Archives Workshop.
Suggestions were: A two hour workshop. Suggestion was the first weekend or second weekend in December. At either Anacortes location or Langley Hall on Whidbey Island (Where Harry V. used to do them).
Subject suggestions: Bit about our own District history. A little known history about AA history. Bringing awareness to our District about what Archives actually does. Education on preservation and collection of Archival materials.
Would LOVE to hear your suggestions and your groups suggestions! This is about bringing Archives to life in our District! What curiosities do you have? Oral history or slideshow? Tape to audio recording examples? How do we conduct old-timer history interviews? Preservation stations (hands on learning)? Reading material? What bits of history do you want to know more about?
The more exact you are, the better the experience we can generate for you.
In storage. I have gotten a hold of District Business meeting minutes, 2000-2024. In the future I will be sorting them out by service position. That way anyone who takes over a position can come look at past minutes in any service position.
I am heading back to storage tomorrow Aug 16, 2025, to move the storage around. I have emptied both sides of the wall of bins. There Is now room for more than one person to be there! Woohoo! Haha! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...
I am in search of a used metal bookshelf, (maybe two), as well as another steel filing cabinet to sort even further. If you see anything please send an email or call. I also saw an option for a safe, to keep our older books in. (Area Archives does have one for that reason). Food for thought?
My goal by January is to have the storage in a place where people can come visit and enjoy history the way I get to.
Can't wait to hear from you!
With love and gratitude,
Bella
[email protected]
July D46 Archives
Bella N.
Happy summer D46!,
*12 individual binders and files have made homes on my shelf! Starting with:
-District 46 the beginning 1986-1995 intersecting with area 72 minutes from 1985-1995
-Flyers from 1980-1999
-Flyers from 2000-current
-Pamphlets 1980-current
-Past conventions (Seattle 1990, San Diego 1995, Minneapolis 2000, Vancouver BC 2025)
-Beginning of CPC in D46
-Starting of Treatment in D46
-Starting of treasury D46
-Starting of accessibilities
-Correspondence between Harry V. and others. Harry V. letters, reports and archival material.
-Bill S. Correspondence and reports material.
-Files: Random findings of past newsletters, pieces of notes, photos, newspaper clippings, letters from travelers, old speaker tapes, emails and mementos.
*I did find paperwork in accessibilities about sign language in AA and proper hand-gestures which really struck my fancy. If enough interest I will make copies and send out. It is all still a work in progress, needing to label and get new clear sheets, more binders are needed, more paper to make copies, shelving and need of a dolly. The list goes on, but in time it will all come together. When I start buying ill send receipts in. I have to clear some choices through archives before buying.
*I have also started collecting things from our fellows, from our fellows who have passed. Which I will add to archives, so people can come take a visit. If you have anything send it along, ill file it and shelf it. I’m making bookmarks to hand out at meetings saying, “Don’t throw me away I belong to Archives!” I’m in need of a digital copy of D46 logo, map of D46 and an AA symbol. If you have one, I’d love it! Would make my bookmark making go MUCH faster! Thank you in advance!
*There was a suggestion brought up, more than once, by multiple people. To find a location people can visit archives. Is that possible? I feel it’s probably too costly, but maybe gods got a different plan? Any ideas?
*I was told I have a small space at the Woman’s lunch in September. I will be gathering things to display the woman in AA history and their stories. Hopefully also including Mily's power point presentation. Given copywrite laws that might not be possible. I’m waiting on a reply.
*I went to 90th Anniversary of AA!! It was a blast! A lot to do, SO little time! I swiftly made myself of service and started connecting with GSO and others within the service structure. I volunteered on the floor at BC place as an accessibilities volunteer, I also was of service to Archives. Every time I put myself in service and I am always quickly reminded how much dedication it takes to run AA. I become quickly overwhelmed with gratitude by the fellows who came before us and the fellows who continue to trudge the road to happy destiny. Scott our Canadian Trustee broke down his time in service and I was moved by the ideal that out of 8,766 hours in a year, if you spent 2 hours a day in service for a year, that’s 730 hours within the year. It’s only 12% of your year. That’s 14 hours a week. There are 168 hours a week. Where is the other 154 hours in the week going? How much time is there REALLY for service, now that we are sober functioning parts of society? Any whom, my conclusion was I’m going to find more time to be of service.
*There was a moment where at the closing Old Timers meeting they wanted the oldest time in the room to speak. He wasn’t able to sadly. He has 65 years sober. I did some digging and found his old speaker tape.
Here is the link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5p3jLseBZkoBqPUnzQN4e9?si=gWbaZqoGSpuVSR5TNucZIA
This is all the info I have for now! Thank you for your service!,
Bella N.
[email protected]
(360) 672-9813
May Archives
Morning!,
Trying to be more on top of it this month! Take pause and write!
Since my last email I have come across a bin of treasures! A bin that was buried under empty bins and boxes! I thought it was empty! I found the start of D46 history, the start of us! I’m ALL to excited! I’m in the process of sorting between minutes from 1985-2016 (1989-1995 was the beginning and end of the big split in our districts), start of meetings and end of meetings between 1980-1995, services positions between 1985-2016ish, area72 history 1970s-2016ish, start of area repository and D46 archives history material 1990-1995.
It has been SO fun to read about the triumph and rejection of how we came to be. It was a long hard battle! But amazing how they broke it all down to have what we have today. I am FILLED with gratitude for our fellows who trudge the road to happy destiny for our district, it was not easy. I am also grateful for amazing notes and writing! Keep up the writing and note taking! You are making history for our fellows! (I will do my best to do the same!) I’ve come to see how important it is!
I am sad to say I wont make it to our district meeting this weekend I am coaching soccer with my littles. But I am there is spirit!
Thank you for your service!
[email protected]
Bella
APRIL Archives
Good Morning,
Archives quarterly is coming up! We got the bid for PRAASA 2027! NAAAW is coming up! International is coming in July! Busy busy!
I’m doing my best to stay in contact, but my kids have needed me! I’m getting in what I can.
Mary has found some D46 (Southend) info out in her neck of the woods (Tacoma) Before we were D46 we were D19, connected to South Puget Sound, not the Northend. The Southend would connect to Everett District and Lynwood, travel back and forth together. While the Northend connected to Fidalgo, Anacortes, Bellingham and Mount Vernon.
More to be revealed!
Happy Spring,
Bella
[email protected]
Good Morning,
Archives quarterly is coming up! We got the bid for PRAASA 2027! NAAAW is coming up! International is coming in July! Busy busy!
I’m doing my best to stay in contact, but my kids have needed me! I’m getting in what I can.
Mary has found some D46 (Southend) info out in her neck of the woods (Tacoma) Before we were D46 we were D19, connected to South Puget Sound, not the Northend. The Southend would connect to Everett District and Lynwood, travel back and forth together. While the Northend connected to Fidalgo, Anacortes, Bellingham and Mount Vernon.
More to be revealed!
Happy Spring,
Bella
[email protected]