This roundup is served by an incredible group of dedicated volunteers!
Hot 'n Dry was started by a group of sober men who used to enjoy attending the annual gay and lesbian roundup in Palm Springs (now AALA held in Los Angeles Memorial Day weekend). In the Spring of 1988, Jim A. happened to discover the Ramada Inn in Indian Wells and booked it for the following September. After a few phone calls to his sober friends, an organizing committee was put together and Hot 'n Dry was born!
What started out as a small gathering has grown into a legendary fun and supportive weekend for sober gay men from all over the world. Hot 'n Dry has moved several times over the years – and this year we return to our favorite, the Hilton Palm Springs Hotel.
Our Traditions
- Keep it simple and have fun - at the roundup as well as organizing meetings.
- Keep the committee behind the scenes -- no special name badges or ribbons.
- Five-year sobriety minimum for committee service.
- No set minimum sobriety for volunteerism during roundup weekend.
- For continuity, the current co-chair becomes the following year's chair.
- The co-chair is selected by the executive board.
- Standing members serve no more than three years as to give others a chance to participate.
Over the year's a few other traditions have fallen into place:
- Keep the price reasonable and deliver what no other conference can.
- Registration is inclusive of all events -- no add-on fees.
- Five-year sobriety minimum for committee service.
- Deliver a sober experience that far exceeds its cost.
- Celebrate A.A. birthdays at the Sunday morning closing meeting.
- Feed 'em lunch so they can play by the pool!
- Select a new logo and theme each year.
- Sell 'em a mug and t-shirt--everything else loses money (BTW, so do mugs and t-shirts).
- Be self-supporting. No fundraisers throughout the year.
- Raffle! Bolster our prudent reserve to ensure the conference continues well into the future.
- All 7th Traditions funds are donated to the Los Angeles Central Office, General Services Office in New York and the Southern California Area Assembly--never to Hot 'n Dry.
- Have a great time & keep the focus of the conference on sobriety.
And our favorite of all our traditions:
- Rule 62: Don't take ourselves so damn seriously!!!