Question
2:
“Would
the Fellowship ask itself the question: “Are there too many
meetings and not enough groups?”
Background
Pamphlet
‘The AA Group’
The
Home Group: Heartbeat of AA
Consider
the contribution to the carrying of the message, financial and
practical implications when deliberating each question.”
Extracts
“In
reply to …...., some useful information can be found in the
minority report which has been mentioned in a number of posts
elsewhere on this forum and on the website on which it has been
posted. The report can be found by placing “AA minority report
2012” into a search engine. Other sites which also come up in the
search, aagrapevine.org and
the site that is helping people leave AA, may also provide some
information.
The
lack of information is a problem. AA is dealing with what are
apparent local situations when in fact they are being induced by a
number of globally organized outside organizations. For example, the
“Emotional Sobriety” workshop flyer that was picked up at one of the AA
meetings in my area is identical to ones which were distributed in
London,(GB) and in Perth, Australia; The only difference are the
dates, times and venues. The organization is based in the USA.
(Examples of these flyers can be found displayed on the website which
provides a link to the minority report)
The
“Emotional Sobriety” organization is not mentioned in the
minority report but it can be found by placing the terms “stepping
ahead into emotional sobriety” into a search engine. The 12 step
guide that it produces is a workbook. Whenever I look at the
workbook’s content I think of the plight of June W’s flatmate:
“I
am concerned that we are not reaching people who cannot read well or
cannot read at all. I am new to the program and making my way through
the Steps. I struggle to understand the "Twelve and Twelve,"
even with a college degree and help from my sponsor and other AAs.
Meanwhile, my roommate, also newly sober and with a grade school
education, can't make any sense of her Step workbook and is about to
give up. How many people do we lose this way?....... (June W.
Gaithersburg, Md. “Dear Grapevine, Shut Out” (Extract) A.A.
Grapevine November 2010) http://www.aagrapevine.org/
When
I read things in the workbook such as “G.O.D. × 3 = The
“Conversion” Process” or “1° (G.O.D × 3) × 2.5× 8 × 30 =
42.5”, I can’t make sense of it either.
I
think initially there needs to be a greater awareness within the
fellowship and then it is a matter for an active individual and group
conscience at all levels. A silent majority is no majority at all.
Contributions
to the AA Grapevine “I Say” forums from these guardians of AA Tradition among others,
give me hope that AA still does have a good future, but it is now
time for the reservists to come up and fortify the front line. In
their groups, intergroups and at all levels.
TWELVE
STEP WORK: “SPONSORS”
“Beware
of the institutionalized outside sponsorship system that pry on you
instead of pray for you. When all else fails try A.A.” (Anonymous
on Tue, 2011-11-29 00:23.)
“Beware
of "pigeon hunters";those very eager to latch on to a
newcomer. Tho usually well intentioned are often far off the AA
beam.” (Anonymous on Tue, 2011-10-11 09:07.)
MAGAZINE
DISCUSSION TOPIC: “THANK YOU”
“There
is no place for labels in A.A.
The
outside sponsorship system around A.A. lacks humility and there
victims are keep away from A.A friends of the whole a true fellowship
not a followsit.” (Anonymous on Wed, 2011-11-16 11:34.)
SUGGEST
A TOPIC: “IS THE OUTSIDE SPONSORSHIP SYSTEM KILLING AA?”
“Is
the outside sponsorship system killing A.A through there
personalities - Personality is simply another persons reality not
always Gods. Does the outside system undermined the 3 pertinent ideas
of A.A. itself? LOUD YES Does the outside system undermined the
promises of A.A. to intuitively handle situations? LOUD YES Is the
outside system miss used inside A.A - Take a closer look victims.”
(Anonymous on Sun, 2012-02-05 09:05.)
SUGGEST
A TOPIC: “RE: MEMBERSHIP DECLINE - BIG BOOK SALES”
Quote
"I wonder if the "requirements" thrown at newcomers
turns them off?" The Outside sponsorship system in A.A.
UNDERMINES A.A's ideas!!!
How?
Read A.A's 3 "PERTINENT" ideas. The Outside sponsorship
system in A.A. UNDERMINES Gods promises to A.A's
How?
You will intuitively be able to handle situations. The outside
sponsorship system has been around a long time and so has evil”
(Anonymous on Thu, 2012-02-02 17:53) http://www.aagrapevine.org/”
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
