Hot 'n Dry was started by Jim A. and 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 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 a committee was put together and Hot 'n Dry was born!
What started out as small has grown into a legendary fun and supportive weekend for sober gay men from all over the world. To increase capacity so that all who wish to attend may do so, Hot 'n Dry has moved several times over the years - most recently to the Riviera Resort & Spa in 2010.
What has served this roundup is an incredible group of dedicated volunteers. Their goal has always been to keep it simple and have fun - at the roundup as well as organizing meetings. The Committee is very behind the scenes. There are no special name badges or ribbons. A five-year sobriety minimum is suggested for the committee service, but there is no set minimum for volunteerism during roundup weekend. For continuity, the current co-chair becomes the following year's chair and his co-chair is selected by the executive board. Standing members serve no more than three years in order to give others a chance to participate.
Over the year's a few traditions have fallen into place. The price is kept reasonable. A.A. birthdays in the month which Hot 'n Dry is held are celebrated at the Sunday morning general meeting. A new logo and theme are selected each year. A raffle, introduced in 1993, bolsters Hot 'n Dry's prudent reserve so that this convention continues well into the future. All funds exceeding a prudent reserve are donated to Los Angeles Central Office, the General Services Office in New York and the Southern California Area Assembly. All contributions collected at A.A. meetings go directly to these service offices and never to the roundup itself.
Participate in this year's Hot 'n Dry! Volunteer by contacting any committee member! Share Hot 'n Dry's history - a tradition of fun and fellowship that will surely enhance your sobriety!
