Attending an international convention of AA enables people to reunite with others in AA, especially if they have moved away from their AA "roots".

But this is only one of the many benefits from making the trip. These conventions are  huge events. This article presents facts from the 2005 International AA Convention (Toronto, Canada).

In 2005 over the course of 3.5 days, there were no less that 216 day-time AA and Al Anon meetings to choose from, with rooms holding from 170 up to 6240 people. 37 additional meetings ran back to back, throughout the convention -- providing round the clock meetings. 

The meetings were presented in many different languages, and often employed sign language interpretation.  Chairpersons and keynote speakers were carefully selected, presenting inspiring ‘shares’ on a wide variety of topics.

Each night had a Big Meeting which filled the stadium in Toronto: with roughly 60,000 attendees. One night honoured the Old-Timers, with a massive Sobriety Countdown: the ‘oldest’ person there was celebrating 64 years of unbroken sobriety. The Old-Timers presented brief ‘shares’ that typically credited love, honesty, hope and service as the foundations of their long-term sobriety.

The Flag Ceremony took place on the opening night. Every country in the world that is now blessed with AA meetings was represented. A delegate from each country was honoured to present their flag, welcomed by thundering applause. 159 countries now, including the once-secluded China: when the Chinese flag was brought out, it felt like the applause was going to lift off the stadium’s retractable roof.

One member ‘shared’ about AA in his native India He described the deadly stigma against alcoholic women there: because of this stigma, women have been too ashamed to go to AA. Only now are a handful of Indian women doing so, but their shame and fear of being ‘found out’ is profound. This speaker urged us – women in particular – to carry AA’s message to the women in India.

But live music and good humour characterized the Big meetings, too. One night, following the Serenity Prayer, a female vocalist came onto the stage and reminded us that we had all been spared by our Higher Power’s “Amazing Grace”. This undeniable truth: imagine tens of thousands of people, spared by Grace, and singing this powerful song in unison. An experience not to be missed.

So why not attend in 2010?

 Registration begins this month (Aug. 2009) for the convention next year -- for details, click here