The term "early AA" refers to the first fellowships and meetings held in Akron, Ohio. These meetings took place between 1935 and 1939, when Alcoholics Anonymous was an integral part of “A First Century Christian Fellowship” (Pitman 56). AA was the result of a meeting between Bill W., a stockbroker from New York, and Dr. Bob S., a surgeon from Akron. Both were hopeless alcoholics (Fingarette 14). Prior to this time, Bill and Dr. Bob had each been in contact with the Oxford Group, a primarily nonalcoholic association that emphasized universal spiritual values ​​in daily life (Fingarette 15). During this period, the famous Episcopal minister, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker, led the group. Under this spiritual influence, and with the help of a longtime friend, Ebby T., Bill became sober and later maintained his recovery by working with other alcoholics, although none of them recovered. was truly restored (Wekesser 23). Meanwhile, Dr. Bob's membership in the Oxford Group in Akron had not helped him sufficiently to get clean. When the doctor met Bill, he came face to face with a fellow sufferer who had healed (Pitman 62). Bill emphasized that alcoholism was a disease of the mind, emotions and body. Although a doctor, Dr. Bob did not know that alcoholism was a disease. Thanks to Bill's compelling ideas, he quickly became sober, never to drink again. The founding spark of AA had been ignited (Wekesser 26). The two men immediately went to work with alcoholics at Akron City Hospital, where one patient quickly achieved total sobriety (Pitman 69). In the fall of 1935, a second group of alcoholics slowly took shape in New York. A third appeared in Cleveland in 1939. It had taken more than four years to produce 100 sober alcoholics in the three founding groups. That same year, the Fellowship published its core manual, Alcoholics Anonymous. The text, written by Bill, explained the philosophy and methods of AA, the heart of which was the now well-known Twelve Steps to Recovery (Pitman 75 and 76). The book was strengthened by the case histories of around thirty recovered limbs. From this point on, the development of AA grew rapidly (Wekesser 36). A milestone in AA history occurred in 1939. The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a series of articles about AA supported by warm editorials. The Cleveland Group,...... middle of paper ...... without its multitude of supporters who have since given of their time and efforts, AA could never have grown and prospered. The Fraternity demonstrates its constant gratitude (Fingarette 72). It was on January 24, 1971, that Bill died of pneumonia in Miami Beach, Florida, where he had delivered what proved to be his last words to others at the 35th Anniversary International Convention. AA members: “God bless you and Alcoholics Anonymous forever” (Pitman 120). Since then, AA has become truly global. This revealed that the AA way of life today can transcend most barriers of race, creed, and language (Wekesser 87). A World Service Meeting, launched in 1969, has been held every two years since 1972. Its locations alternate between New York and overseas. It met in London, England; Helsinki, Finland; San Juan del Rio, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Munich, Germany and Cartagena, Colombia. These meetings and their locations demonstrated the global impact achieved by AA. The Akron AA team of Dr. Bob, Bill and Anne has never been equaled in the work of personal and spiritual recovery. 124).