By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

“If someone is afflicted with the disease of alcoholism, sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous is the manual for remission,” said an AA old-timer with 25 years of sobriety with no slips. “Sobriety is not for wimps. It works for millions of people.”

Alcoholics Anonymous has come to Columbiana. Every Monday from 12-1 p.m. at Columbiana United Methodist Church, an open AA meeting is held, open to anyone: AA members; friends and relatives of people who may have a drinking problem; or anyone who would like to learn about alcoholism.

AA is an anonymous fellowship. There are no dues or fees but only an honest desire to quit drinking.

The program of recovery is found in the 12 steps of AA.

“I moved to Columbiana over six years ago and the nearest meeting was Alabaster, Calera or Valleydale Road,” said the founding AA member of the Columbiana group. “There was such a need in this community, and there was no meetings anywhere close. I had a personal need; I needed a meeting for me so I started one.”

The roots of AA go back to the early 20th century when a stockbroker named “Bill W.” found sobriety in December 1934 through a powerful spiritual awakening through teachings of the Oxford Group by “self-inventory, admitting wrongs, making amends, using prayer and meditation, and carrying the message to others,” see aa.org.

Bill quit drinking but during a business trip to Akron, Ohio, the urge to drink was strong.

He called a local church and asked if the pastor knew any alcoholics. Thus, Bill W. met Dr. Bob.

The founding of AA date is June 10, 1935, the last day Dr. Bob had a drink.

In April 1939, AA’s Word Press published “Alcoholic Anonymous,” known as the Big Book written by Bill W. It contains the 12 steps of AA and the stories of success of sobriety by the first 100 members.

Today, AA has grown to approximately 2,138,000 members in 115,000 groups in 170 countries throughout the world. “It works if you work it.”

“Alcoholism is a baffling, cunning, powerful disease,” says the Big Book. “Without help it is too much for us.” For more information, call 669-0399 or just come to CUMC any Monday at noon.