The Capital of Texas Conference (CTC) began with a simple question in 2011: how could the Hill Country Intergroup best serve a rapidly growing fellowship in Austin?
At the time, increased Seventh Tradition contributions had placed Intergroup above its prudent reserve. Rather than let those funds sit, leaders explored ways to reinvest in the community. One idea stood out - hosting an AA conference in Austin.
An exploratory committee was formed to bring the idea to life. After researching costs, venues, and attendance projections, they presented a proposal in 2012. It was approved unanimously, with Solis R. stepping in as the first Conference Chair and assembling a team to launch the inaugural event.
From the beginning, CTC aimed to offer something unique. Live music became a defining feature, alongside powerful speakers, a “Family Meeting” that paired AA and Al-Anon voices, and a strong sense of fellowship. The first conference, held in August 2014, exceeded expectations with over 800 attendees.
CTC was launched with a $10,000 loan from Intergroup, with the goal of becoming self-supporting - and it quickly did just that. Today, it operates as an autonomous AA conference, continuing to grow year after year.
Collaboration has always been core to CTC’s spirit. Early partnerships, like working alongside City Wide to avoid scheduling conflicts, helped unify the broader recovery community and reinforced the conference as a shared effort across the Hill Country.
Beyond the conference weekend, CTC also hosts fundraisers and events throughout the year - Our annual Chili Cookoff, the Bowling Extravaganza, and Trudgefest - for building connection and excitement leading up to the conference.
More than just an event, the Capital of Texas Conference is a celebration of recovery, unity, and joy. It reflects a simple truth: we don’t just stay sober. We learn how to live, together.