AA Conference Questions 2014 (contd)

AA Conference 2014 Committee No. 1 Q 2

Extract: aacultwatch forum (section 4)

“Before discussing this question I suggest AA members in Great Britain and English Speaking Continental Europe Region read the Guardian article mentioned in the question’s background and then research other background relating to the “man with a mission” Mark Gilman and ‘Recovery Champions’. I think NA’s positive response to this controversial, and external initiative quoted in The Guardian is about right according to Traditions. I think AA needs to come up with a similar positive response, confining this statement to AA and alcoholics only, according to Tradition Five.

“A spokesman for NA says: "We are delighted that Mark is encouraging recovery as our meetings are open to any addict, however they find us." But he warns that NA will not change its way of working simply to garner more attendees at its meetings. "We go to great lengths to impress upon Public Health England (PHE) that our relationship with them will always be guided by our traditions and principles," he says.” (From The Guardian, Tuesday 11 June, “Mark Gilman: 12-step recovery programmes are best for addicts” by James Legge,) http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jun/11/mark-gilman-12-step-best-addicts

The following are a few articles and BBC News documentaries which came up during a Google search relating to ‘Recovery Champions’

BBC News: “Recovery champions’ to Help Addicts” 8^th December 2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11945914

BBC News: “Addicts in UK Offered £200 to be sterilised” 18 October 2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11545519

BBC News: “Actor Matthew Perry says drug courts work” 16 December 2013  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25411098

Working to Recovery Ltd http://www.workingtorecovery.co.uk/ron-coleman

The Ron Coleman story  http://www.roncolemanvoices.co.uk/the-ron-coleman-story

Recovery Champions One Week Course, (Trainers Ron Coleman,  Karen Taylor) http://www.workingtorecovery.co.uk/in-house-training/recovery-champions 

‘Inclusion’: Recovery Champions/ volunteers recruitment, Cambridgeshire http://www.inclusion-cambridgeshire.org.uk/get-involved/recovery-champions/

Rehab Grads, Recovery Champions (Endorsed by Home Office and Inter Ministerial Group for Substance Misuse)  http://rehabgrads.org/recovery-champions/

‘Addaction’: Recovery Champions/ volunteers recruitment, Linconshire http://www.addaction.org.uk/page.asp?section=553&sectionTitle=Volunteers+and+Recovery+Champions”

Note: Conference Questions  can be downloaded in pdf from the GSO (GB) website. They are on pages  5-11, AA Service News, Issue 157, Winter 2013 http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/download/1/Library/Documents/AA%20Service%20News/157%20Winter%202013.pdf

Conference 2014 background material can be found on the GSO (GB) website. Follow the “Background Material for Conference 2014” link in the Document Library.  http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/Document-Library

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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