We
quote:
“Fellas,
I
believe it is twofold, the narcissistic personality (power driven as
Bill W calls it) feeds off being the focal point and mainstream AA’s
crave a solution that they think will come from more structure. A
perfect storm occurs. I have seen first hand where the influx of
CMA’s started affecting the groups chemistry and long-term members
response was to try to control the CMA’s behavior by setting up
rules. We will not sign the slips until the end of the meeting is the
most common one. These members think (erroneously) that the
affiliation with courts is sanctioned by AA as whole. So they think
they need to do a “good job (i.e. control)”. They do not realize
that they aren’t supposed to be taking role call in the first
place, so to do a harder line version is a “double wrong” not
righting a wrong. This of course reinforces the CMA’s perception
that we are part of the punishment. I also believe that the
“chairperson” is subconsciously reacting to a loss of power or
control and so they exert power trying to regain the loss of power.
They do not realize it is themselves who have given up the power.
They did this when they did not educate themselves as to the true
meaning of the Traditions and the true service structure of AA. They
had all the power they needed through the Group’s autonomy.
Why
do I believe these theories? It was, and is, my path as well. I have
thought these thoughts, reacted by writing the exact time in and time
out on court slips, thought that cult groups might be the answer,
tried to convince my groups that we were not responding to the CMA’s
as we were responded to when we came in and then when things got way
out of control..............I started to educate myself and came to
conclusion that we don’t need to over react. We just need to
follow the Traditions that were in place prior to the influx of
parties that are connected to these outside issues.
Best wishes,”
We
would be interested to hear from other AA members with regard to
their own experience and/or observations of the CMA ('chit') system
(good or bad). We can be contacted at our email address here.
Confidentiality assured
Cheers
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS
Our thanks to this member (US) for their contribution to the debate
PPS
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