NE Woman to Woman Conference History
The question may be asked, “Just what is this seminar?” The Woman to Woman Seminar is a workshop weekend, a special event by and for sober alcoholic women. Participation sessions are held on topics of particular concern to AA women, subjects and experiences that are rarely shared although closely related to growth in sobriety. A heightened sense of kinship, unity and cooperative endeavor among women members have been happily perceived “fallouts.”
The workshop weekend had its beginnings in California. Members present generously shared information and ideas. The first Midwest Woman to Woman Seminar was held in Chicago, Illinois in 1984. The enthusiastic reception led to making it an annual event with rotation locations in the Midwest section of the country. (The above is the history as passed to New York from the Midwest)
The History of the Northeast Regional Woman to Woman Conference
In October 1988 a group of women from Harlem, New York chartered a bus to attend the 4th Midwest Woman to Woman Seminar in Columbus, Ohio. There was the desire to bring the seminar to the East Coast was expressed. Hence, the first planning meeting was held at the Child Health Station at 93rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, in New York City, in December 1988.
The first Northeastern Woman to Woman Seminar was successfully held on October 20th, 21st and 22nd in 1989 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York. The theme was “SECRETS WOMEN DON’T SHARE”.
Subsequent seminar themes were:
2nd 1990 – “BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS FOR RECOVERING WOMEN” WILMINGTON, DE
3rd 1991 – “LIFE…. THIS IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL” PARK RIDGE, NJ
4th 1992 – “EXPECT A MIRACLE” HUNTINGTON, LI, NY
5th 1993 – “TOGETHER WE CAN” SCRANTON, PA
6th 1994 – “TRUST THE JOURNEY” EATONTOWN, NJ
*In 1994 the word “Seminar” was changed to ‘” CONFERENCE”. The change made it possible to have our conference printed in AA publications. (Grapevine, Box 459, Link, Area newsletters, etc.).
7th 1995 – “SISTERS IN SPIRIT” PHILADELPHIA, PA
8th 1996 – “SHARING THE SUNLIGHT OF GOD’S SPIRIT” ABSECON, NJ
9th 1997 – “SPIRITUALITY, AN INSIDE JOB” UNIONDALE, NY
10th 1998 – “CHANGE – THE TURNING POINT” PORTSMOUTH, NH
*In 1998 Doris H., Linda G., Mildred C., and Jeannette D., original members of the Founding Committee, dedicated the banner to commemorate Woman To Woman’s 10th Anniversary.
11th 1999 – “LETTING GO ABSOLUTELY” SOUTH PORTLAND, ME
12th 2000 – “REWARDS OF RECOVERY” WAKEFIELD, MA
13th 2001 – “HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE” NORTH CONWAY, NH
14th 2002 – “COURAGE TO BE ME” JFK – JAMAICA, NY
15th 2003 – “ROOTS OF CHANGE” FARMINGTON, CT
*In 2003 for our 15th Anniversary, plaques were presented to the Host Chairwomen who made it possible for Woman to Woman to continue. The poem “Woman to Woman” was composed and read by Barbara B. and presented to the Conference for the first time.
16th 2004 – “STEPS TO HONOR AND DIGNITY” BURLINGTON, MA
17th 2005 – “JOURNEY TO THE PROMISES” NASHUA, NH
*In 2005 – Eugertha Curry-McLeon, our devoted Founding Chairwoman, departed this life on March 5, 2005, her sober date was September 21, 1957.
18th 2006 – “BALANCE – ONE DAY AT A TIME” WARWICK, RI
19th 2007 – “BREATHE IN THE SPIRIT” BRETTON WOODS, NH
20th 2008 – “WE HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE” WHITE PLAINS, NY
*In 2008 for our 20th Anniversary, all past chairwomen were honored as well as several ladies that have supported this conference over the last twenty years. The conference boundaries were redrawn as of 2009. New England hosted its first Woman to Woman conference and the Northeast region appointed an Advisory Committee in the spirit of “PASS IT ON”.
21st 2009 – “POWERLESS TO POWERFUL” BRAINTREE, MA
22nd 2010 – “NEW BEGINNINGS” NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
23rd 2011 – “ARCHWAY TO FREEDOM, WOMEN WALKING WITH WOMEN” ALLENTOWN, PA
24th 2012 – “HOPE FOR THE FUTURE” ELIZABETH, NJ
25th 2013 – “JOURNEY TO A JOYFUL HEART” MELVILLE, NY
26th 2014 – “SERENITY AFTER THE STORM” PHILADELPHIA, PA
27th 2015 – “THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS NOT A THEORY” ARLINGTON, VA
28th 2016 – “EMOTIONAL BALANCE THROUGH GRACE” LINTHICUM, MD
29th 2017 – “A GATEWAY TO SERENITY” NEWARK, DE
30th 2018 Anniversary Gala “BACK TO BASICS” WHITE PLAINS, NY
31st. 2019 – “OUR JOURNEY TO A NEW FREEDOM AND A NEW HAPPINESS” PARSIPPANY, NJ
32nd, 2020 – 1st Virtual, 1 Day (hosted by the Advisory Board)
33rd, 2021 – 2nd Virtual, Weekend Conference, “SPIRITUALITY, THE TRANSFORMATION OF HEART AND SOUL” BALTIMORE, MD)
34th, 2022 – “WOMEN OF GRACE & DIGNITY” King of Prussia, PA
35th, 2023 – 35th Anniversary – WOMAN TO WOMAN “STILL WE RISE” White Plains, NY
We have faith that a spirit of enthusiasm will persist, and the idea of rotation will continue in these Northeastern States. (THE TRADITIONS OF AA ARE ADHERED TO IN ALL CONFERENCE AFFAIRS)
