How Medallions started SITE LINKSAkron was first A.A. group. It was led by Dr. Bob and 75% effective, while the New York group was led by Bill Wilson. Unknown by many of us, the 3rd group was in Cleveland, OH. It was started by Clarence Snyder, and sported the highest recovery rate at 93%. That was more than Bill and Bob. 1-2-3 and the program was getting better and better!
The first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous hardback was printed in N.Y. by Bill and friends, and contained 29 personal stories from pioneers. Clarence's story was entitled “Home Brewmeister”. The second edition, printed in 1955, only had 5 original stories and Clarence's story was a valuable piece of that foundation!
That said, let's go back to the medallions: Clarence made himself a medallion from a silver dollar and a pocket watch bezel. Every year, he drilled a new hole in it to keep count of his lifetime 46 years of sobriety. (Photo courtesy of bigbooksponsorship.org) He made the very first one, but that's just the first step in the story.
Over in Akron, Dr. Bob ran a hospitalization program for us with the help of Sister Mary Ignatia at St. Thomas Hospital. She didn't dole out silver dollars. Nuns have none! LOL She gave Sacred Heart of Jesus Medallions to the dried out alcoholics as they were discharged. The good Sister told them that the medallion meant they were committed to God and the A.A. fellowship. Further, she made them promise that before they ever took another first drink, they had to bring the medallion back to her! More about "The Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous"
The 3rd thing was Doherty S. in Indianapolis. He started handing out poker chips and wrote to Bill W. in 1942 about giving tokens or chips annually as a way of celebrating milestones. The idea took off!
In 1973, Bill Westman decided something had to change. He ran a group in Indianapolis. The chip he carried was plain, just a flat token. He often mistook it for coins when he reached in his pocket for money. He got a hold of Bill Wilson and then Bill Westman went to a minting company and had medallions made with 2 big "A"s raised the front and the Serenity Prayer embossed on the back. This way he could feel it in his pocket when he reached for money. Later that year, he and Bill Wilson worked with the metal smith at Wendell's and modified the front to the raised circle and triangle we see today representing Unity, Service, and Recovery, and that's when they added years. They also added, "To thine own self be true." These are the medallions we still use now.
Wendell's was founded in 1882, and today they are our RecoveryChip.Com Made in USA.
A.A. gave up the trademark rights to the circle and triangle in the 1990s and many companies all over the world print it and make items using it. Sobriety is free, too! Make sure you give it away, and go get a sponsee as soon as your sponsor says you're ready!
See you THIS FRIDAY!
