West Kent Intergroup – and yet another misrepresentation of Tradition Four!

Wandering around the internet we came across the official AA website for West Kent Intergroup (mostly famous for its hosting of the cult groups based in the Medway area: Strood, Rochester, Gravesend etc. See here and here). At one time this intergroup was effectively taken over by the cult (and for all we know still is). Certainly if the above website is anything to go by then ignorance still reigns supreme in this AA backwater.


 

According to West Kent IG (with respect to Tradition Four – or in their case with absolutely NO respect for Tradition Four) in their aide-memoire (there's posh for you!) to GSRs our West Kent experts on the traditions remind these group representatives that: 

“We wish to emphasize that the Traditions clearly state that ‘Every AA group is autonomous’ and can do as their group conscience decides., so there is absolutely no pressure being put on to any group to do anything – these are purely suggestions.”

Now you'll note that West Kent goes to great lengths to ensure that the GSRs in question are in “absolutely” no doubt about what the Traditions (or rather Tradition) states. We'll repeat it just in case YOU'RE in “absolutely” no doubt yourselves (but this time with emphases just in case you miss the good bits):

“We wish to emphasize that the Traditions clearly state that ‘Every AA group is autonomous’ and can do as their group conscience decides., so there is absolutely no pressure being put on to any group to do anything – these are purely suggestions.”

Fantastic! Couldn't be clearer could it. And it comes from the intergroup so IT MUST BE RIGHT!!

Only one problem though...... they're “ABSOLUTELY” WRONG!! “ABSOLUTELY”. We hope you didn't miss this bit so we'll say it again in …

REALLY REALLY BIG LETTERS!

THEY'VE GOT IT “ABSOLUTELY” WRONG!

What Tradition Four ACTUALLY says is as follows:

“Four – Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole” (short form)

and

“4. - With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.” (long form)

(our emphases)

From these it is quite clear that each group is NOT autonomous in every respect. There is a significant qualification to their latitude of action. Perhaps West Kent IG might like to consult the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous from time to time just to make sure they're quite up to speed on this one. Or maybe as a cult intergroup (?) it suits them to misrepresent this particular tradition?

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous … and its ACTUAL traditions ….. “ABSOLUTELY”!)