Conference questions that didn't quite make it!

We quote:

“3. Would Conference discuss whether, as a Fellowship, A.A Great Britain is getting too involved in organising its own organisation and have forgotten both our primary purpose and Dr. Bobs last message to lets not louse this thing up, Keep It Simple!

The Reason for the Question
The world has changed since our two Founder Members got together and agreed to help each other to stop drinking and lead a better life, and that is still the only aim that we have today.
Over the years other people have tried, and failed, to solve the problems of the alcoholic, and, I, personally, would like there to be an easier, softer, way, but it has not materialised yet, although it still might.
The only solution that has worked for me is going to meetings, clearing my alcoholic head, following the guidance of the Steps as they were originally written, and then becoming a part of the Fellowship.
To the newcomer now it must seem more important that they follow a procedure first and contemplate putting down the drink, second.
With all the various readings, now deemed essential, and the talk of formalities, suggestions, guidelines, mini, (and maxi), conferences, workshops, groups, intergroups, regions, service positions, sponsors, vacancies, websites, etc., etc., etc., a lot of them must think I only came here to stop drinking, this is all too complicated for me, not what I was looking for at all, and anyway I don’t want to get that involved! The message keep coming back does not seem very inviting!
And this is a pity because that is the only way, in my opinion, that recovery is possible.
Is there any way that we can get back to the basics and, remember, for the sake of Bill W. and Dr Bob, that our primary purpose is to stay sober and offer help to the alcoholic who still suffers.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Personal opinion and therefore not eligible”

Comment: We have to say we've a certain amount of a sympathy for this obviously rather exasperated member. The growing complexity of the service structure (whilst the actual membership levels are static or even falling) together with the proliferation of guidelines (not to mention all the cult dictats masquerading as “suggestions” ie. anti-prescribed medication, anti-therapy, dress 'becomingly', ring your sponsor at precisely 07.03 hours every day (not a second earlier, not a second later), pester newcomers, pray on your knees (even if you're an 'infidel'), make sure you're clean shaven (if you're a bloke), no 'naughty business' until you've done (?) Step Nine, (didn't know we'd joined a monastery/nunnery), don't go to saunas (full of predatory homosexuals apparently!), stop smoking (you're 'smoking' your drink!), convert to Catholicism (it's the one true path!), jump for joy (literally – if you live in Ealing, west London), slag off the 'sick' meetings ie. AA meetings, study the Big Book 'bible' until you can quote it chapter and verse (and bore the rest of us to death!), chant 'happy, joyous and free' at every opportunity (to similar effect), mention your sponsor at least once a minute when sharing (it saves having to think for yourself) blah di blah di blah … ad infinitum) …. Anyway! Where were we? Ah yes! As we were saying ...... the growing complexity of the service structure plus the seemingly endless list of guidelines (most of which are completely ignored by the cult) tend to induce within the mind of the observer a kind of paralysis, and a deep-seated aversion, moreover, to any kind of involvement in AA other than perhaps making the tea at a meeting (probably the most important position you'll ever hold in the fellowship by the way ! Have you ever seen an AA member deprived of their cuppa? Not a pretty sight!). But do you really want to sit through yet another workshop listening to some know-it-all ramble on about their version of the Concepts? We'd rather do the ironing or even better, watch a nice patch of paint dry! And have you ever felt your hard won sanity beginning to slip away while the local AA guru/expert/bore makes yet another speech at intergroup (we have in mind here particularly - though not exclusively - Harry the Handbag (don't ask!) from East Kent who is adept at rendering his 'victims' all but comatose within a matter of seconds of opening his mouth. Indeed so complex have we become that we now need whole battalions of AA bureaucrats to keep the service structure running but whose sole effect is to confuse the issue even further. (see Apathy - or something else?). So here's a few ideas off the top of our heads to simplify things a bit. Get rid of region – nobody needs them and quite frankly nobody will notice when they've gone. They serve no useful purpose and in many respects their functions are already carried out by the intergroups. Get rid of GSO – or rather get rid of York. There really is no necessity for us to have a head office any more. Modern communications mean that most of the business carried out there can be done on a decentralised basis. With regard to the AA conference questions these can be posted online for the fellowship to consider. Feedback can be given to GSRs to pass on to intergroups who can then filter and consolidate the information before forwarding it to the various committees (together with recommendations). Again there's really no need for the latter to meet physically or even confine their formal discussions to a weekend (albeit with deadlines set). Skype, email and telephone conference calls should be used instead. If they really do feel an overwhelming need to see each other they can meet at one of the national conventions. This should save the fellowship a bit of cash (which by the way we are NOT short of) and will have the added benefit that any member of AA can put their head round the corner and find out what the delegates are up to (rather than them being closeted away, out of sight, in York). The same principles, of course, can be applied to intergroup meetings which might save some wear and tear on the nerves (although in East Kent you run the risk of receiving an almost constant stream of texts and emails from the aforementioned Harry. But then you can 'block' him quite easily!). 

There! That's enough to be going on with. See how easy it is! Have a go yourself! It's not rocket science!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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