The 'chit' system

The Winner’s Group

(a saga)

We quote:

“Here's a real life story. A great meeting was held every week for 20 years. The courts sent first one court slip person, he stayed for 6 months and left. Nobody really noticed but he never participated and he left. Then came 2 and 3 at a time. Same thing but everyone thought we were supposed to welcome people "no matter how they got there" the Oldtimers said it wasn't right but we all shouted them down just like we did when those Oldtimers talked about singleness of purpose. Then the court mandated people came in 5's and 6's. One stayed sober! He didn't really live the program but by golly he was sober and we could really shut those Oldtimers up. Then the meeting reached critical mass of 50% people who were on court paper. Things were getting crazy but we told the Oldtimer to be quiet after all didn't we get the court people to stop texting during the meeting and almost all of them were saying "I have desire to not drink" when they identified themselves (tip of the hat to the probation department that taught them to say that). Many members now had no experience with what AA could be like if everyone there had made a decision to go to any length to stay sober. But the group told anyone that said anything that this is the "new" AA and they had better get with the times. We were reminded that one or two of the now over one hundred court slips had stayed sober. Members that sought to create the fellowship they craved left and tried to form new meetings. Now the percentage of court mandated reached 70%. More people left. Some formed underground meetings because they were tired of the flak they got when the asked that AA as a whole take a look at the problem. What happen next? That great meeting folded! This is a real life story. The group was called the "Winners Group and it met every Thursday night at 8 PM. It saved lives for 20 years and is gone.”

Comment: A success for the 'chit' system spells a disaster for AA. If we allow the courts (ie. government) to treat AA as a 'dumping ground' for anyone they think might have a drinking problem this is the probable outcome. All it requires is that the government neglect its duties, AA its traditions

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent