About + History

About + History

MISSION

The International Women’s Conference is the bridge to a better understanding of the Alcoholics Anonymous philosophy and way of life because of our special needs in sobriety as women. We as women members of Alcoholic Anonymous are survivors. We have found a way to obtain meaning, depth and responsibility in our lives. This came about out of desire, decision, determination and spiritual guidance. An elevated sense of belonging that is brought about by the special services and a special need provided by our Women’s Conference is our goal.

HISTORY

In 1965, Bernadette O’K and other AA women in Kansas City held a conference just for women in AA.

The conference became known as the National AA Women’s Conference.

This forum aimed to provide:

  • Sharing of experiences common to women alcoholics
  • Discussion of problems of particular interest to all women AA members.
  • Opportunities to hear AA women speakers from many areas.

Forty-five members attended our first conference in Kansas City. The reception was so enthusiastic that plans were laid to create an annual women’s AA conference. February was chosen as conference month to commemorate Bernadette’s AA anniversary, and because it is traditionally the month of love. It also seemed like a welcome break from the winter doldrums. Kansas City held five more conferences. Other cities then began asking to host one. After Bernadette’s death, the International AA Women’s Conference traveled around the country.

IWC Self-Supporting Statement

This conference is self-supporting through the money paid for by registration fees, banquet tickets, and donations. No 7th Tradition AA funds are used to pay for the event. Conferences and conventions are special events and require money, as well as months of planning and preparation. Expenses include contracted costs for the use of meeting rooms, preparation of food and beverages (especially coffee,) printing of registration forms, audio/visual service, flyers, program schedules, postage, supplies and many other costs. Our financial goal is to break even. Our contractual commitments to the hotel & convention center require a guaranteed number of hotel rooms and banquet sales. To achieve this, we must meet our banquet and room night commitments.

Past IWC Locations

1965-1969 – Kansas City, MO
1970 – St. Louis, MO
1971 – Wichita, KS
1972 – Oklahoma City, OK
1973 – Little Rock, AR
1974 – Des Moines, IA
1975 – Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
1976 – San Antonio, TX
1977 – Chicago, IL
1978 – Cleveland, OH
1979 – Denver, CO
1980 – New York, NY
1981 – CostaMesa, CA
1982 – Oklahoma, OK
1983 – Phoenix, AZ
1984 – Atlanta, GA
1985 – Denver, CO
1986 – Philadelphia, PA

1987 – Albuquerque, NM
1988 – Dallas, TX
1989 – Kansas City, MO
1990 – Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
1991 – Orlando, FL
1992 – Reno, NV
1993 – Vancouver, BC
1994 – New York, NY
1995 – Omaha, NE
1996 – Salt Lake City, UT
1997 – Chicago, IL
1998 – Cleveland, OH
1999 – San Jose, CA
2000 – Atlanta, GA
2001 – Honolulu, HI
2002 – Denver, CO
2003 – Seattle, WA
2004 – Buffalo, NY

2005 – Las Vegas, NV
2006 – Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
2007 – Detroit, MI
2008 – Portland, OR
2009 – Salt Lake City, UT
2010 – Orlando, FL
2011 – Anchorage, AK
2012 – Washington, DC
2013 – Reno, NV
2014 – Oahu, HI
2015 – Palm Springs, CA
2016 – Norfolk, VA
2017 – Cleveland, Ohio
2018 – Phoenix, Arizona
2019 – Los Angeles, CA
2020 – Indianapolis, IN
2021 – Charlotte, NC, 1st Virtual