Question
2:
Would
Conference consider what response can be given to Groups who refuse
to accept the group conscience of Intergroup/Region?
[See
also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]
“With
reference to the 2002 Conference recommendation on Registering Group
Details (Committee 1 Question 2) in particular, taking note of the
minority opinion, I suggest Groups/ meetings are only registered by
GSO on the national meetings directory and GSO website if they are
registered through the intergroup. I also suggest that in keeping
with Tradition Nine and Tradition Four that GSO is made directly
responsible to the ultimate authority in the AA group conscience
within intergroups on this matter of registering group details. If it
is the conscience of a two thirds majority of the AA groups within an
intergroup that a group’s purpose is beyond that at which the
intergroup can call it an AA group as defined in Traditions Four,
Five, Concept XII, warranties Five and Six, then GSO ought to trust
the ultimate authority of the intergroup conscience and remove such
groups from the national directory if requested. The local intergroup
public information, health and probation liaison would then be freed
to inform the general public of misuses of the AA name as outlined in
Concept XII Warranty Five by notifying agencies in the area which
might refer newcomers to any group in question; suggesting they not
make referrals to the group in question. I do not think these local
public information liaison services can uphold this warranty if GSO
registers such groups independently of the intergroup. Besides
protecting the AA name, this action would also protect AA from
possible future legal action by newcomers who might claim abuse in
groups which may be using coercive sponsorship techniques prescribed
in outside published literature. I think our responsibility is
reminded to us in Guideline 17:
“In terms of AA Tradition, it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the carrying of the message, whether to prospective or new or vulnerable or established members, is done honestly and decently. We also understand that our Twelve Traditions including that of Group autonomy does not place Groups or members above the law, and that when individuals act injuriously to others they are legally accountable. This will, of course, be generally understood in that our First Tradition reminds us that all members and Groups have a responsibility in respect to the common welfare and protection of the individual member.” (Extract, Guideline 17)
“Failure to challenge and stop inappropriate behaviour gives the offender permission to repeat the offensive behaviour and encourages others to follow suit.” (Extract, Guideline 17)
“that care will be observed to protect all minorities” (Extract, Concept XII, Warranty Six)
2002 Committee 1, Question 2 Conference recommendation:
“This committee recommends that new groups should register with GSO through intergroups and that all groups should confirm their details annually through their intergroups in order that up to date information may be maintained in the Where to Find directories. Groups can of course, send this information directly to GSO, but this may mean that local intergroup information is not kept up to date. This recommendation was passed by the Committee with a two-thirds plus majority.
“In terms of AA Tradition, it is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that the carrying of the message, whether to prospective or new or vulnerable or established members, is done honestly and decently. We also understand that our Twelve Traditions including that of Group autonomy does not place Groups or members above the law, and that when individuals act injuriously to others they are legally accountable. This will, of course, be generally understood in that our First Tradition reminds us that all members and Groups have a responsibility in respect to the common welfare and protection of the individual member.” (Extract, Guideline 17)
“Failure to challenge and stop inappropriate behaviour gives the offender permission to repeat the offensive behaviour and encourages others to follow suit.” (Extract, Guideline 17)
“that care will be observed to protect all minorities” (Extract, Concept XII, Warranty Six)
2002 Committee 1, Question 2 Conference recommendation:
“This committee recommends that new groups should register with GSO through intergroups and that all groups should confirm their details annually through their intergroups in order that up to date information may be maintained in the Where to Find directories. Groups can of course, send this information directly to GSO, but this may mean that local intergroup information is not kept up to date. This recommendation was passed by the Committee with a two-thirds plus majority.
There is a minority opinion that in order to be included in the Where to Find directories new groups should register through their intergroups and that all groups should confirm their details annually through their intergroup.”
There is a vitally important qualification for AA membership which applies to an AA group. Groups that do not meet this qualification cannot insist they be called AA groups. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other purpose or affiliation. If they do have another purpose or affiliation then an intergroup may not call them an AA group if it deems this to be appropriate. There is no obligation for an intergroup to accept any group of alcoholics as an AA group. There is however, a duty in Concept XII, Warranty Five to inform the general public of misuses of the AA name: “Whenever and however we can, we shall need to inform the general public also; especially upon misuses of the name Alcoholics Anonymous.” (Concept XII, Warranty Five)
The following gives the qualification for group membership. I think it is also the point at where there is the exception in Tradition four “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.”
"Our membership Tradition does contain, however, one vitally important qualification. That qualification relates to the use of our name Alcoholics Anonymous. We believe that any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an AA group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation. Here our purpose is clear and unequivocal. For obvious reasons we wish the name Alcoholics Anonymous to be used only in connection with straight AA activities. One can think of no AA member who would like, for example, to see the formation of “dry” AA groups, “wet” AA groups, Republican AA groups, communist AA groups. Few, if any, would wish our groups to be designated by religious denominations. We cannot lend the AA name, even indirectly, to other activities, however worthy. If we do so we shall become hopelessly compromised and divided. We think that AA should offer its experience to the whole world for whatever use can be made of it. But not its name. Nothing could be more certain." (Bill W., extract, “Tradition Three”, AA Grapevine, February 1948, The Language of the Heart pp 79-80)
“Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation” (Tradition Three)
“Finally, any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other purpose or affiliation”. (Concept XII, Warranty Six)
"And also, if various hippie addicts want to form their own sort of fellowship along AA lines, by all means let us encourage them. We need deny them only the AA name, and assure them that the rest of our program is theirs for the taking and using--any part or all of it.” – Bill W. (Extract of a Letter to an AA member; “The Traditions in Action” AA Grapevine March 1971)
“But obviously, such a dual purpose group should not insist that it be called an AA group nor should it use the AA name in its title.” (Bill W. “Problems Other than Alcohol” AA Grapevine February 1958; The Language of the Heart pages 222-225).
“Some years ago, numbers of AAs formed themselves into ‘retreat groups’ having a religious purpose. At first they wanted to call themselves AA groups of various descriptions. But they soon realized this could not be done because their groups had a dual purpose: both AA and religion”. (Bill W. ‘Problems other than Alcohol,’ AA Grapevine February 1958; The Language of the Heart page 222). ”
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
See
also AA Minority Report 2013
