HISTORY OF A.A. IN THE VERDE VALLEY 

 

When did AA start in the Verde Valley?

January 1951 Cottonwood membership =8
at this time there was no regular meeting place.
They met at someone's home in Cottonwood.
A.C.H. was contact person. Mailing address was 
P.O. Box 486. 
This AA Group had no name.

by 1952 or 1953
They started calling themselves the "Verde Valley AA Group."
The meeting rotated between Clarkdale, Cottonwood & Sedona. 
Locations:
St. Thomas Episc. Church in Clarkdale on Mondays.
Library building in Cottonwood on Fridays.
County Building in Sedona on Wednesdays & Saturdays.

June 1954 Sedona Roundup Started 
Help get the AA message out in Verde Valley.

In late 1950's or early 1960's 
The Verde Valley  group split into two groups 

1) "Verde Valley AA Group"
This group meets 3 times a week.
Mondays 8PM- St. Thomas Episc. Church in Clarkdale 
Wed 8Pm & Sat 8pm -"Open" -County Building in Sedona 
GSR Don C. Rt. #1 P.O. Box 931 C. Sedona, AZ
Still this AA Group never registered with GSO.

2) "Cottonwood Group" Library Bldg 8Pm Fridays
GSR Jack P. of Sedona 

Sometime around middle 1960's
The "Verde Valley Group" split off from Clarkdale meeting. and started calling themselves 
The "Sedona Happy Hour Group." Still met Wed. & Sat. at the County Bldg.
1965 changed name to "Sedona Happy Group."
1967 Changed name to "Happy Group" Still met Wed. & Sat. at County Bldg.
March 13th 1967 registered with G.S.O.
Don C. was still G.S.R. listed above under # 1
Paul B. & Jean C. listed as additional contacts. 
Group membership was listed as 22

As of May 2008 the "Happy Group"
Still meets on Wed. & Sat. 

October 17th 1968 new group Registered with G.S.O.
"Serenity Acres Group" Thursday nights 
Paul R. contact person 

1969
"Serenity Acres Group" 
Helen G. was G.S.R. 
Joe B. & Earl B. additional contacts.
Membership 14
Still meeting on Thursday nights

1970 Changed meeting to Friday nights.

As of May 2008 the "Serenity Acres Group"
Still meets on Friday. 

What is the oldest group still going?
The "Happy Group" in Sedona or the "Verde Valley Group"

Ever here of the Sedona Roundup?
The roundup started in 1954-till 1984  30 years in Sedona then
in 1985 moved to Flagstaff for two reasons 

1) to accommodate the growing attendance and

2) There is only one road going up to the Sedona Airport and with the growing numbers. People were parking there cars on that narrow road. If there was a fire not only would the fire trucks not make it up the road but also the people would be trapped up top.

Does anyone have any speaker tapes or cds from the Sedona Roundup?
Please contact Brian 567-7310 


In 2004 the Camp Verde Roundup started.
First 3 day Roundup since 1984.


In 2007 the Camp Verde Roundup changed
their name to the Verde Valley Roundup.
The Roundup did this in honor of the first AA group in the Valley 
and also to help unify AA.


The Camp Verde A.A. Group will be celebrating their 30th anniversary on May 9th 2008.

This celebration date: Saturday May 17th '08  from 4:00PM -8:00PM 
Free Bar B Q 
We will have several AA Speakers. 30yrs, 20yrs, 10yrs and 1yr. 
Location: In front of the Camp Verde Group meeting place. Old high school.



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If you have some AA History you would like me to post or assist in researching.
Please e-mail Brian at RecoveredAA@AOL.COM

This is always a work in progress just like our spiritual growth.

Additional Information will be posted later as time permitted