San Antonio, Texas, the seventh largest city in America, is about to get larger – for the weekend, at least. Upwards of 40,000 sober alcoholics, their families and friends, are poised to descend on this historic Southwestern city to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous, July 1-4.

Every five years since 1950 A.A. has held an International Convention to commemorate the Fellowship’s founding. International Conventions have always provided A.A. members with a unique opportunity to celebrate their sobriety and to witness the widespread growth of the Fellowship that has saved the lives of countless alcoholics around the world. Over the years, conventions have also marked events of great significance, such as the last public address of Dr. Bob, one of A.A.’s cofounders, at the first International Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950. The same convention saw the adoption of A.A.’s Twelve Traditions. Five years later, at the second International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, Bill W., A.A.’s remaining cofounder, declared that the Fellowship had “come of age,” and turned leadership of the organization over to A.A.’s annual General Service Conference.

The theme of this year’s International Convention – “A Vision for You” – comes from the last chapter of the “Big Book,” Alcoholics Anonymous. In that chapter, it says, “Some day we hope that every alcoholic who journeys will find a Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous at his destination.” With members from over 75 countries attending the four-day event, including, for the first time, members from the island Republic of Palau, that hope is another step closer to being fulfilled.

The city is braced for what amounts to a small invasion, with over 5,000 volunteers from Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico ready to welcome the hordes of visitors.

“We are very excited to have the celebration here in San Antonio,” Host Committee chairperson Jim B. said. “There has been a lot of interest in this convention, not only from our membership here in the states, but also from some our emerging fellowships in Mexico and South America. It’s going to be a good time.”

A.A. members are expected to fill the Alamodome Stadium, where three “big” meetings are scheduled. The meetings will be simultaneously translated into other languages including French, Spanish and American Sign Language. The opening meeting on Friday night will feature the flag ceremony, during which members chosen by lot from each participating country will carry their national flags past a cheering crowd. For those who cannot attend in person, there will be access to an encrypted, anonymity-protected Internet broadcast of the flag ceremony at www.aa.org.

Saturday night convention-goers can attend an Old-timers Meeting, featuring members with 40 or more years of sober living. On Sunday morning, July 4, there will be a Closing Meeting in the Alamodome. Attendees will say farewell until the next International Convention scheduled for 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Over the course of the weekend, dozens of other smaller meetings will be held, some in a variety of languages including French, German, Italian, Farsi, Japanese and Korean. Al-Anon and Alateen, the fellowship for friends and relatives of alcoholics, also have scheduled a variety of daytime activities, including meetings and workshops.

One of the highlights of the Convention will be the presentation on Sunday of the 30-millionth copy of the Big Book to the American Medical Association, the organization that in 1966 first defined alcoholism as a disease, a watershed moment in the perception and treatment of alcoholism.

Hazelden is sponsoring 13 performances of the play, Bill W. and Dr. Bob at the Cameo Theater. Call 210-212-5454 or visit www.cameocenter.com to reserve your tickets. Also, visit Hazelden’s table in Sober Ranch, at the corner of Pressa and Commerce streets, just off the River Walk, and receive a free gift!

For more information about the convention, check out A.A.’s website at www.aa.org.