The phrase "early AA" refers to the early associations and meetings held in Akron, Ohio. These meetings took place between 1935 and 1939, when Alcoholics Anonymous was an integral part of “A First Century Christian Fellowship” (Pitman 56). AA was the result of a meeting between Bill W., a stockbroker from New York, and Dr. Bob S., a surgeon from Akron. Both were hopeless alcoholics (Fingarette 14). Before that, Bill and Dr. Bob had both been in contact with the Oxford Group, a mostly non-alcoholic association that emphasized universal spiritual values ​​in everyday life (Fingarette 15). During this time, the well-known Episcopal priest, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker, headed the group. Under this spiritual influence, and with the help of an old friend, Ebby T., Bill had gotten sober and then maintained his recovery by working with other alcoholics, although none of them actually recovered (Wekesser 23). Meanwhile, Dr. Bob's membership in the Oxford Group of Akron had not helped him enough to achieve sobriety. When the doctor met Bill, he found himself face to face with a fellow sufferer who had managed to heal (Pitman 62). Bill emphasized that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, emotions and body. Although he was a doctor, Dr. Bob did not know that alcoholism was a disease. Thanks to Bill's convincing ideas, he soon became sober and never drank again. The founding spark of AA had been struck (Wekesser 26). Both men immediately went to work with alcoholics at the Akron City Hospital, where one patient quickly achieved complete sobriety (Pitman 69). In the fall of 1935, a second group of alcoholics slowly took shape in New York. A third appeared in Cleveland in 1939. It had taken more than four years to produce 100 sober alcoholics in the three founding groups. That same year, the Fellowship published its basic textbook, Alcoholics Anonymous. The text, written by Bill, explained the philosophy and methods of AA, the core of which were the now famous Twelve Steps to Recovery (Pitman 75 and 76). The book was enriched by the stories of around thirty recovered members. From this point on, the development of AA grew rapidly (Wekesser 36). A milestone in AA's history was in 1939. The Cleveland Plain Dealer published a series of articles about AA supported by warm editorials. The Cleveland Group,...... center of paper... without its legion of supporters who have since dedicated their time and efforts, AA would never have been able to grow and prosper. The Fellowship records his ongoing gratitude (Fingarette 72). It was on January 24, 1971 that Bill, a victim of pneumonia, died in Miami Beach, Florida, where he had spoken at the 35th Anniversary International Convention what turned out to be his last words to the other AAs: "God bless you and the Alcoholics Anonymous forever" (Pitman 120). Since then, AA has become truly global. This revealed that the AA lifestyle can now transcend most barriers of race, creed, and language (Wekesser 87). A world service meeting, begun in 1969, has been held every two years since 1972. Its locations alternate between New York and overseas. Gathered in London, England; Helsinki, Finland; San Juan del Rio, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Munich, Germany and Cartagena, Colombia. These meetings and their locations demonstrated the global impact achieved by AA. The Akron AA team of Dr. Bob, Bill and Anne has never been equaled in the field of personal and spiritual recovery. It was truly the heart of AA's spiritual beginnings (Pitman 124).