By Bob S. In 1985, while living in the Palm Beach area of Florida, I discovered an amazing Big Book A.A. group that took newcomers through the essential 12 Step process at a single sitting (approx 12 hours!). They called themselves the Fourth Dimension Group. This no nonsense group was founded by an ex Los Angeles Ram football player, Del H. Outside groups would send their hard cases to this group because it was working so well. Within a few months I had absorbed more Big Book knowledge from this exciting group than in the previous 10 years of sobriety. This hard core group was working miracles one after the other! In 1987 I moved to Santa Monica, California where two of us started using practically the same direct "Florida style" process as outlined in the Big Book. This worked so well that we soon had more people coming to our homes every Tuesday than was feasible--so we started a 12-Step meeting in a park building at 14th & Olympic. Later that year we presented our first short 12-Step seminar--it lasted only four hours but began a practice which we have continued through the years, helping us to start many new meetings.. During the summer of 1989 my new wife, Deanna, and I brought these Fourth Dimension style meetings to Richmond, Indiana. Continuing seminars helped spread our group to the Dayton and Indianapolis areas. As the result literally hundreds of newcomers and returnees have found lasting and happy sobriety. The Big Book tells us "It works--it really does." We think, "it" means the clear cut Big Book directions, consequently: The purpose of all our meetings is to bring out the precise directions of the Big book and turn them into active living. After all, Bill W. thought that the sole purpose of an A.A. group was the teaching and practice of the 12 Steps. About a dozen 4D style meetings have been spawned in this area in the last 14 years. They have taken different names and styles but the Big Book basics have affected hundreds of sobriety seeking newcomers toward happy recovery. If you would like for us to do a big book seminar in your area, simply email us at:
PS. In February, 2007, our group celebrated 20 years as a Big Book Step Study group. We Study the 12 Steps - in this sense we are different than a BB discussion meeting. We rely, instead, on page numbers and the clear-cut-directions precisely from the Big Book. Please check our our meetings schedule in this website.
"What Page Was That On?," by Bob S., is a 70-minute romp into the essential elements of the 12 Steps from the Big Book. Recorded in 1987, thousands of these recordings have circulated around the world and are often played at BB Study Meetings. Great for sponsors and newcomers alike.
There is no charge but small donations to cover expenses are accepted.
To order email: or phone (765) 935-0130.
UPCOMING EVENTS by 4D groups:
Subscribe to our online BB Step Study:
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 21 June 2008 )
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Written by Web Master
Saturday, 12 June 2004
New 16-page Pamphlet available: “Alcoholics in Action,” from a group of the same name in NYC is now available. This writing provides a brief handy synopsis of BB chapters, page locations for the steps, a great Q&A portion and a “Beginner’s Guide” page. Plus an article titled, “WHADYA MEAN RECOVERED?” free! – contact Visit their website: www.alcoholicsinaction.org On the above site you can listen to Clarence S., Wesley P., Joe and Charlie, plus others! Also parts of the above pamphlet are published and a 4th Step chart.
