15 Oct 2003

In December 2001, Paul D. from Barcelona and Tim J. from Girona attended the annual Costa del Sol Convention in Fuengirola (Malaga), Spain. This annual event in the Region of Andalucia was attended by about 85 English-speaking AAs and a few hundred Spanish-speaking AA members. Rumor at the time had it that there would be no 2002 Costa del Sol Convention, because the Spanish National Convention was scheduled for early November of 2002 in Salou, on the Costa Dorada in the Region of Cataluña. Paul and Tim briefly discussed the possibility of organizing an English-speaking event in Salou, in parallel with the Spanish National Convention. After returning to Cataluña, they brought the subject up in the English meetings in Barcelona, but the idea of Barcelona groups sponsoring such an event died for lack of interest. Paul D. flew off to a job in Singapore and Tim J., along with Hugo P. of the Girona 82 group, made plans to meet friends in London over the holidays. In London they met up with Tim K. of Boston and attended the annual sober New Years Eve EC event in Surrey. Tim J. and Tim K., having previously organized a few conventions in the US, again began discussing the possibility of organizing a small English-speaking event in the Province of Tarragona on the Costa Dorada as an "international convention in Spain" with participation by members from many countries. Tim K. returned to the US and began lining up some well known speakers from the US. He received commitments to come to Spain to speak from Lyle P. of Conyers, Georgia, whose story is printed in the 4th Edition Big Book, and Boston Tom D. from Apache Junction, Arizona with 31 years of sobriety. In the meantime, Tim J. went to Salou to begin organizing hotel accommodations and a convention meetings venue near the Spanish National Convention hotel, which was already sold out. Paul D. returned from Singapore and also began lending a hand to the planning and organizing effort. Enthusiasm and momentum began to build, and other members from near and far joined the committee. Garrett O., MD, a professor at UCLA in California and a specialist in addiction medicine, agreed to come and speak at the convention, now named as the Costa Dorada Int'l Convention. Fionnula F., originally from Dublin, now living in California, also agreed to come and tell her story. By late summer and early fall of 2002, after a few stops, starts, and minor setbacks, the plans were finalized, and everything seemed to be coming together. Based on attendance at previous conventions here in Spain, the committee hoped to get 125-150 members to turn out. But due to the efforts of a few enthusiastic members, the word spread, members kept calling, E-mails were coming in, and the hotels were sold out by the convention dates in late October. 220 members from 15 different countries, including one member from Australia, attended the opening meeting on Thursday night to listen to Lauri M. from Dublin tell his story of what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now. Mother Nature blessed the event, the weather was excellent, and four days of fun and fellowship was had by all. This first endeavor went so well, and the feedback was so positive, that the organizing committee agreed to organize a second event in 2003. The 2003 convention, having moved to a beautiful location on the sea in Tossa de Mar in the province of Girona, and renamed the Costa Brava Int'l Convention, also sold out early. 235 rooms at the official convention hotels in Tossa de Mar were reserved, and 330 members from many countries throughout Europe and North America attended. The 2003 convention included Clancy I., Mickey B., and Sally F., as featured evening speakers. The Costa Brava Int'l Convention is organized under the auspices of AA Spain and the Spain Service Committee, with Mike D., former trustee of the General Service Conference in York, England as acting Chairman. The convention organizing committee has recently added a new 4 star hotel to the first-rate accommodations provided at the 4 star Gran Hotel Reymar on the sea in the picturesque village of Tossa de Mar in the Province of Girona. Complete 2004 Costa Brava Convention information, photos, and maps are presented in detail on the AA Spain website at www.aaspain.org, along with updated listings and contacts for all English-speaking meetings in Spain. Come and join us in October for fun and fellowship in sunny Spain.

   In fellowship,
   Costa Brava Int'l Convention
   Organizing Committee
   01 May 2004