"We must have
respect and understanding for women and all female life on this Earth which
bears the sacred gift of life."
Traditional
Circle of Elders Ononodaga
"
Alcoholics have a gift of picking out the world's finest
women."
Dr. Bob Big Book pg. 178
"My
wife and I abandoned ourselves with enthusiasm to the idea of helping other
alcoholics to a solution of their problems."
Bill
W. Big Book pg. 15
Note:
Throughout
AA history, women have played a major role in the development of AA. Bill
speaks over and over about Lois's role in his struggles with alcoholism. Dr.
Bob says he would have been dead long before if not for Ann. It was
a woman, Henrietta Sieberling, who introduced Bill W. and Dr. Bob.
Sister
Ignatia helped Dr. Bob carry the message of recovery to 5000 alcoholics. Nurse
Teddy worked with Bill W. and Dr. Silkworth in New York. Ruth Hock worked, with little or
no payment in the first New York AA office for many years. She took the
dictation for the Big Book and answered thousands of letters for
alcoholics. Bill and Dr. Bob are known as the cofounders of AA. I wonder
where AA would be if it had not been for the women who protected and
nurtured these men?
Great Spirit, today, I will show
respect.