The History of Gratitude Month
by Judy F.
“The idea is in the air that A.A. might adopt Thanksgiving week as a time for meetings and meditation on the Traditions,” A.A. co-founder Bill W. wrote in the November 1949 issue of the Grapevine (Language of the Heart, p. 95).
The first official recognition of an A.A. Gratitude Week, specifically designed to coincide with Thanksgiving week in the U.S., occurred in 1956 when the Sixth General Service Conference approved the motion. The motion stipulated that “this action be noted in the annual pre- Thanksgiving appeals to the groups for funds to help support A.A.’s worldwide services.” Three years later, Bill urged in a letter, “Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward… if you carry the message to still others, you will be making the best possible repayment for the help given to you” (As Bill Sees It, p. 29).
Each fall, the General Service Board hosted small Gratitude Dinners, which were precursors to the larger, more elaborate Gratitude Luncheons held during the ’60s as an initiative of the trustees’ Public Information Committee. The Gratitude Luncheons were designed to express personal gratefulness for the gift of sobriety, to carry the message of A.A. to other alcoholics, and to express appreciation to our professional friends for their numerous articles, as well as radio and TV interviews relating to A.A.
The luncheons were discontinued in 1968, but the concept of gratitude persisted and expanded in scope. For decades now, A.A. members in the U.S. have set aside all of November as Gratitude Month.
With this bit of history, we hope that as November approaches, your meeting will consider passing the basket a second time each week for special contributions to Central Office. We can provide envelopes for these collections so the contributions can be kept separate from your Seventh Tradition. These will be available at Central Office, or you can call and let us know how we can get them to your meeting treasurer.
As a special note, this history was taken from an article in Box 459, October– November 2000, “Gratitude Month – Our Chance to Say ‘Thank You!’”