SA, POB 300
Simi Valley, CA 93062
20 May 1984

Dear Friends in SA,

This newsletter is going out to all groups on file at the General Service Office here in Simi Valley. It is also being sent to individual members who represent groups or potential groups for information as well as to individual SA members. This is an “action requested” newsletter; that is, it would be very helpful if you and/or your group respond to what I’m calling our first SA inventory.

Those persons receiving this letter for the whole group are asked to make it available to all members in the group. Also, active remote members handled as leads should be sent copies where appropriate.

As you know, the Fourth Step is a “searching and fearless moral inventory” made by the individual working the Steps to expose and work on the wrongs in his life. Sometimes groups make group inventories based on how they measure up to the Twelve Traditions. This is what I’m suggesting we do now, only at the level of the whole Fellowship.

I want us to know the truth about ourselves. At this time of new and rapid growth I think it important that we “stop, look, and listen” to the reality of what we are—both the good and the not-so-good, the successes and failures. If we all participate honestly in this thing it can also be a way of binding us closer together. Thus, I’ll list several items I’d like you to respond to in writing. Groups can figure out how they want to do this to get a true representation of how members respond to these items. Individual members should be allowed to respond privately. Perhaps one business meeting can be set aside to pass out pieces of paper to all members for them to comment on each of the items, uninfluenced by the opinions of others.