And now over to East Sussex Intergroup.....

We received the following information from a correspondent in the area:

"I live in Eastbourne and have been dismayed by the emergence of three new groups within the last 10 months or so. They all appeared to be running along the lines described on AACultwatch. Recently, at least one of these groups has closed due to lack of participants, but at least one has made its way into the East Sussex Intergroup list of meetings. There may still be another one operating - these two run under the name "There is a solution".

These groups have been a frequent topic for discussion at group consciences during the last six months (I regularly go to most meetings in Eastbourne) and have sparked off lively debate at Intergroup meetings. Indeed, this coming Tuesday (Sept. 15) there will be an extraordinary Intergroup meeting to air the matter after the renewed decision to include the Friday "There is a solution" meeting to the meeting list.

I hope that you will update the "Cult: Where to find" and "Area news" sections to include the "There is a solution" meeting in Eastbourne on Fridays at 20.00. The meeting was held at the Oasis Centre, Christ Church, Seaside Road, Eastbourne, but will more next Friday to Elim Church, Hartfield Road, Eastbourne."

Subsequently we learnt that the Intergroup had an:

"......Extraordinary meeting of East Sussex Intergroup last Tuesday (15/09) ........, but what I have heard so far is that the Hastings meeting is now off the Intergroup meeting list with a 2/3 majority and no abstentions, whereas the Eastbourne meetings still stay on (both votes failed to reach the 2/3 majority by a vote or two - with one or two abstentions)."

It is not clear yet whether this removal of the Hastings group from the Intergroup meeting list also means that they have been effectively removed both from the Where to Find and the withdrawal of the right to have GSR participation etc.

However this action clearly indicates that IT IS POSSIBLE to remove a group from an Intergroup (kindly take note other Intergroups - especially West Kent - which is riddled with cult members!!). We trust this action sends out a message LOUD and CLEAR that a group cannot behave any way it likes and expect to continue in this fashion indefinitely. Frequently the (usually misquoted) defence of Tradition Four (group autonomy) has been used as a justification for all kinds of irresponsible and downright dangerous behaviour. What the cult groups have failed to realise up until now is that other groups too have the right of group autonomy, and they too can make decisions guided solely by their ultimate authority - and that one of those decisions may now include the right to remove a rogue element from the Fellowship, one which does NOT act for the welfare of the AA member nor for the Fellowship as a whole. Of course such a decision cannot stop a group from operating but at least they can no longer claim the support of AA. We fully expect that they will continue to "trade" off the AA name and reputation for as long as possible but finally they have no future.
　
Cheers

The Fellas

News from down Bournemouth way

Well! It seems that the recovery "business" is thriving - following our article on the goings-on in South East London Intergroup (West) a member sent in some more info - the franchise "Emotional Sobriety" appears to have opened up shop elsewhere in the UK - Bournemouth and Croydon amongst others (see quote below). Apart from Wayne B (not to be confused with Little Wayne from the Road to Recovery Cult group Plymouth) and Tina, Bob D (who has also done a turn at the Plymouth R2R roadshow) also features behind this. Indeed it would appear that the R2R gang are busily strengthening links both with the Pacific Group (about which there is already considerable controversy but we'll leave that for another day) as well as the Primary Purpose outfit (French branch). Apart from Bob (Specific Group?? Las Vegas) the R2R cult group has hosted no lesser a personage than the venerable Clancy I (Pacific Group LA US). Indeed so amicable are relations in this respect that the R2R website now carries a link to AA Los Angeles Central Office (which is handy if you're at a bit of a loss on a Monday night and need a meeting in LA). But to get back to the Emotional Sobriety scam - at first sight there seems to be little in common between the fliers advertising the SELIG event and the one in Bournemouth. However our eagle eyed correspondent noted that in both instances cheques for registration are payable to Friends of Bill W. As far as we are aware this is not an AA account, nor one run by the local intergroup - in fact it has no connection with AA at all. No attempt was made by the organiser of this event to inform the local intergroup of what was going on (even as a matter of courtesy). When he was challenged on the matter a number of fairly feeble rationalisations were offered (far too nauseating to post here). The organiser himself hails from the Poole Sunday night group and claims no connection with the Road to Recovery group (that is apart from having an predilection for ignoring inconvenient Traditions and a similar taste in speakers). Additionally a correspondent from the US sent us further information on the Emotional Sobriety racket:

Quote:

"More on Wayne 'n' Tina

Tina seems to be a recent addition, replacing the aging 'TJ M.' of Chicago.
A quick and dirty search finds multiple versions of the same flyer, with various 'sponsoring' entities identified, e.g.:

Friends of the Big Book (Washington DC)
Pinellas Beginners Group (Clearwater Florida)
Essex Beginners Group (Leigh on Sea, Essex)
Oxford area AA's (Summertown, Oxford)
Friends of Step'n Ahead (Dundee, Scotland)
Akron Beginners Group (Akron, Ohio)

How many of these are real AA groups is not clear.

The W 'n' T organization have two websites:
http://www.stepnahead.com/
and the more recent,
http://www.emotionalsobriety101.com/

"The Big Book Lives On" is their most common head line, but they also refer to the following (note trademarks): Step'n Ahead at The Last Mile® (98% Success!) and Step'n Ahead into Emotional Sobriety®.

They sell workbooks and promote like mad.

Warn everyone, thanks"


It is worth nothing that the distinction between a speaker sharing at a meeting as an AA member or addressing an event to promote their "brand", is becoming increasingly blurred. Circuit speakers have been a feature for some time in the US (in breach of the Tradition relating to principles before personalities) and that unsavoury aspect of AA is now creeping into the UK (with CDs being offered for sale at some group venues). Generally AA workshops are open to all and there is no charge for admission. AA conventions may charge but this is done to cover the costs of accommodation and other accessory facilities, but should not charge AA members for access to any AA meeting held on the premises. Where charges are necessarily incurred for the use of facilities by AA members who are engaged in service activity it is generally the case that the service structure reimburses those members for any costs (this is done to ensure that no AA member is excluded from the possibility of participating in that structure due to financial constraints). In our view, and apart from those instances cited above, any event which charges admission is de facto NOT an AA gathering and should not be advertised at AA meetings, nor should their literature be displayed at AA meetings (contrary to the perverse guideline issued on this matter by the General Service Conference (What were they thinking! Or rather - Were they thinking at all!). We expect this trend to continue (for the foreseeable future) and would propose that the default position which might be adopted by the AA service structure is to treat any such events (ie. those that are not sponsored by an Intergroup, or where the group has not consulted with other groups as per Tradition Four) as non AA events and therefore not to be advertised within AA, and moreover that newer members should be notified of this. Furthermore we would propose that any new group set up should approach the relevant Intergroup or other groups in the locality prior to its formation and give a full account of its purposes, financing, affiliations etc - in other words establish its credentials as a genuine AA group. If it does so to the satisfaction of AA members then it may be admitted as an AA group together with inclusion in the local and national Where to Finds. If it fails to satisfy the membership of its credentials then the local groups may choose to exclude it. Additionally it may be the case that a group's continued participation in an Intergroup (and inclusion in the Where to Find) may be reviewed if it can be demonstrated to the local membership that its conduct is consistently and repeatedly in breach of AA traditions (not only in letter but in spirit) and that its conduct brings AA into serious disrepute (we would propose that such infractions include criminal activity, serious negligence - both of which may be actionable in law, together with that conduct which is in breach of human rights - freedom of association, freedom of religious (or not) worship, freedom of speech etc)These may be considered radical measures by some elements in the Fellowship but then doing nothing, as we have said before, is no longer an option.

Finally we display the Bournemouth flier with personal details blanked out (as usual) but in the light of the above we are reconsidering this policy. Given that these are non AA functions there seems to be no good reason why we should not include those details (and in full in future); it would seem to us that if a member has chosen to break their own anonymity in support of a non AA event then we are no longer under any moral obligation to do otherwise.

Cheers

The Fellas

Cult activity in South East London Intergroup Area (West)

An AA member has kindly sent us photos of a flier which was recently being distributed in AA meetings in this part of London. This advertising material would seem to emanate from a group recently established (July 2009) in the Kennington/Oval area on a Thursday evening (London Beginners Group). The event was not sponsored by the local AA groups nor by SELIG. Local members have challenged their attempts to advertise this non-AA event in AA meetings. In one instance a cult member was asked if the event was "AA approved". The fellow did not seem to understand the concept so it was explained to him: "Is this event put on by AA, approved by Intergroup [according to AA guidelines], with monies collected going back through Intergroup and into the service structure of AA?" Apparently the chap in question was unable to furnish an adequate reply and beat a hasty retreat. There have also been attempts by cult members to intervene in local groups by asking for group consciences to be held (a tactic by which they seek to incorporate their agenda into that of AA) - so far these have proven to be unsuccessful. SELIG contacted the organiser of this event and invited him to attend the next Intergroup business meeting (July 09) to offer an explanation, an invitation which was initially accepted but then subsequently declined. SELIG minutes indicate that these events 'should not be announced in AA meetings' since they have nothing to do with AA.

It will be observed from the flier that if it were sponsored by AA or an AA group it would be in breach of the following Traditions:

Trad 1: Acting without consultation with AA groups and thereby causing disunity
Trad 3: Charging for admission to event - financial status is not a requirement for membership (or attendance at any AA event)
Trad 4: Their conduct is adversely affecting other groups and AA as a whole
Trad 6: This group is endorsing an outside organisation viz. Emotional Sobriety
Trad 7: Event open to non AA members and accepting payments from these
Trad 8: It is unclear how the revenue collected from this event is disbursed - it is indicated that some of the speakers come from the US (Are they here in a professional capacity? Are they being paid expenses and/or fees? Is this a justifiable cost? For the last we think not - no one's that sober!)
Trad 11: Flier is promotional
Trad 12: Part of the promotional content includes reference to specific personalities

The flier carries misinformation relating to the financing of this workshop - an AA meeting is ANY occasion where two or more members of AA (that is someone who has a desire to stop drinking and declares themselves to be such) meet to share their experience, strength and hope so that they may help each other to get and stay sober - the ENTIRE business of AA is precisely that. If a meeting is being run for any other purpose it is NOT an AA meeting. Workshops, conferences, business meetings, however they may be labelled, are ALL AA meetings and ANY member of AA is entitled to attend them, and without financial charge. Any costs incurred should be borne by the Fellowship (either locally or as a whole) from VOLUNTARY contributions received.

Some research into one of the speakers indicates a connection with a non-AA website. (The site carries the usual disclaimer of non-affiliation. It is clear however from the circulated flier that the speaker is using this event to promote his own agenda (which we repeat, and according to the site's own disclaimer, has no association with Alcoholics Anonymous).

Clearly how an individual earns his living, or occupies his time, is entirely his own affair, but AA is not the place to tout for business.

Our thanks to the member who drew our attention to this.

Cheers

The Fellas

The cult in London - a bit more history

As mentioned elsewhere on this site the cult have been active in London for some considerable time, initially under the "guidance" of David B (now deceased) and subsequently David C. Various attempts have been made to subvert the service structure of AA in the metropolis, to replace it with one more amenable to the cult agenda. Opposition to their activities may account for the demise of the Eaton Square axis - they found that they could get nowhere and opted to send out "missionaries" to weaker and more unaware areas - viz. Kent - which is currently suffering from a serious infestation of their members and groups (see Cult: Where to Find). On the death of David B David C assumed the vacated position and attempted to secure the two London regions to the cult. He failed in this instance due to effective opposition but it should not be assumed that if that battle was lost the war is over. Indeed this campaign was preceded by one in the 90s where David C similarly sought to gain dominance in the (at that time) monolithic London region. Finally they failed simply because the cult groups' 30-40 GSRs were insufficient to justify their control over a part of the service structure that some 500 AA groups were simply ignoring - this is what is called "group power". But their ambitions remain consistent - to gain control of AA in London and effectively separate it from the rest of the UK - "divide and rule" is the strategy.

Be aware!

Regards

The Fellas

From the South-West

And so the Road to Recovery Plymouth cult group saga rolls on... and on ... and on......

The word is (well - considerably more than one word to be honest but we'll spare you every inconsequential detail) that the cult group (together with its participating members) has withdrawn not only from Plymouth Intergroup but from South-West region, and is proposing to set up its own Intergroup. This would comprise four Plymouth groups (? - meetings surely!), two in Bournemouth and one in Penzance (we're aware of one Bournemouth group so we'd be interested to know which one is other - and some more details on the Penzance group?). This matter is being discussed by everybody and his dog as far as we can make out - GSO, various Intergroups in the area etc - and the emerging consensus (outside of the Road to Recovery cult group) is that it's an unnecessary duplication of the service structure. However this move on the part of the R2R group is simply an extension of a well established cult strategy - if you can't gain control of an AA group then you set you up a competitor in the same area; the last concern of the cult is AA unity, despite their protestations to the contrary. It is also debatable whether the new Intergroup would be an AA Intergroup at all. Certainly it would be set up in breach of AA Traditions (nothing new there then!) and would simply be using the AA name in order to continue to feed parasitically upon the Fellowship (Note: It's interesting to observe in this connection that when members of the aacultwatch team started to conduct research on the activities of the cult a fair proportion of this was done via the internet. We rapidly encountered a whole mass of websites (forums etc) on the WWW which were extremely hostile to AA, with contributors citing examples of poor treatment (religious dogmatism, anti medication policies, intrusive conduct ie. control freaks, segregation etc - all characteristics of cults) they had received on coming into contact with the fellowship. These accounts were largely quite unrecognisable to us as members of AA, and we were initially inclined to write these complaints off as mere "resentments" on the part of those who were disenchanted with the AA approach ("disease concept", religion, powerlessness, etc). But when we examined the conduct of the cult groups we saw a clear match between their methods and the complaints being voiced on the anti AA websites. We're not going to pretend that every ill can be blamed upon the cult but there is an extraordinary correlation between the cult's dogmatic and intrusive stance and the accusations levelled at AA as a whole, certainly as evidenced by this particular medium. It is clear that the cult groups and their methods are contributing significantly towards presenting AA in an extremely poor light - to this audience at least).

Anyway to get back to Plymouth R2R cult group.... As you may recall we thought it more likely that Little Wayne et al would continue to infest AA for as long as they could get away with it, play the victim role for all it was worth but finally pull back from the brink... going it alone. But contrary to our prediction, and as can be seen from the above, Little Wayne and gang are still set upon their course - to establish their own "brand" - but remain content for the time being to purloin the AA name for as long as it serves their purpose. However in one detail we were spot on - Little Wayne has managed to reprise his favourite role and complains that nobody in Region loves them any more (our irony) but expresses the view that Plymouth Intergroup "had now managed to get rid of Road to Recovery Group" an opinion that was repudiated by the Intergroup in their response, viz: this "was not accurate. Roads members had elected to leave, and it was never the intention of Plymouth to force them out".

Finally, and whichever way it happens, the exit or removal of the R2R cult group from Plymouth Intergroup can only be good for AA. The greater the distance put between these cult groups and the Fellowship, the more this will reduce the damage that is being done to the Fellowship and its programme by these extremists.

Cult meetings - Devon, Dorset, Hampshire

DEVON

Exeter: Road to Recovery
Tuesday 19.30 Cornerstone, Kimberley Rd
　
DORSET
　
Bournemouth: Road to Recovery
Wednesday 19.30 St Stephen's Church Hall, St Stephen's Way

HAMPSHIRE

Southampton: Road to Recovery
Saturday 19.30 United Reformed Church, St Johns Rd

More cult meetings - England and Scotland

BEDFORDSHIRE

Toddington: Primary Purpose
Saturday 19.00 Methodist Church Hall, High St
(Note: appears in both AA WTF and Primary Purpose directories. Until quite recently ran its own website but the account has now been suspended whilst being investigated for "phishing" activities)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Cambridge: Primary Purpose
Monday 19.45 St Paul's Church, Hills Rd

ESSEX

Goodmayes: Altered Attitudes
Tuesday 20.00 All Saints Church Hall, Goodmayes Lane

Barking: Big Book Study (The Way Out)
Saturday 20.00 Salvation Army, Ripple Rd

YORKSHIRE

Sheffield: Big Book Study
Monday 19.00 Pitsmoor Rd
(Note: this group appears in both AA WTF and in Primary Purpose directories)

SCOTLAND

ABERDEEN

Aberdeen: Big Book Workshop
Thursday 19.30 St Peter's Church, Chapel Close, Castlegate
(Note: appears in both AA WTF and Primary Purpose directories)

GLASGOW

Priesthill: Big Book Study
Wednesday 20.00 Priesthill Community Centre, Priesthill Rd
(Note: this group appears in both AA WTF and Primary Purpose directories)

LANARKSHIRE

Motherwell: Primary Purpose Big Book
Monday 20.00 Motherwell Baptist Church, Windmill St
(Note: this group appears in both AA WTF and in Primary Purpose directories)
　
This section contains reference to other groups that have been drawn to our attention but about which we have relatively little information as yet:

EAST SUSSEX

Eastbourne: There is a Solution
Friday 19.30 Oasis Centre, Christ Church, Seaside Rd - but moving to Elim Church, Hartfield Rd
　
　
Finally, groups which carry the titles: "Road to Recovery", "Primary Purpose", "Beginners", "Newcomers", "Vision for You" should be viewed with some circumspection (though it should be emphasised here that the use of these epithets does not necessarily imply a cult connection). However, cult members are very keen on getting to newcomers quickly, and focus a considerable amount of their energy on targeting the most vulnerable within the Fellowship. They are therefore very enthusiastic about setting up meetings specifically focussed on this "target market". It is our view that ALL AA meetings exist to assist the newcomer and that there should be no necessity for these so-called "specialist" meetings - this same principle applies to so-called "non-restrictive" meetings, which similarly break the most fundamental AA Tradition - that of the sole membership requirement.

Cult meetings - Greater London

This list is far from comprehensive and we will be adding to it (and amending where necessary) as we receive the relevant information.

Greater London
　
SW19
Wimbledon: Design for Living Group
Sunday 10.30 William Morris Meeting Rooms, The Broadway
　
W8
Kensington: Road to Recovery/As Bill Sees It
Monday 19.30 Kensington United Reformed Church, Allen St
　
Kensington: Road to Recovery
Wednesday 19.30 Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church, Kensington Church St
　
W11
Notting Hill: Road to Recovery/ A Vision for You
Friday 19.30 St Johns Church, Lansdowne Crescent
　
N21
Winchmore Hill: There is a Solution
Monday 20.00 Winchmore Hill Methodist Church, Green Lanes
　
Winchmore Hill: Primary Purpose Beginners
Friday 20.00 Winchmore Hill Methodist Church, Green Lanes
　
SE10
Greenwich: Road to Recovery
Tuesday 19.30 Devonshire Drive Baptist Church, Devonshire Drive
　
SW4
Battersea: Beginners
Tuesday 19.30 St Barnabas Church, Lavender Gdns

Cult meetings - Surrey

Guildford: Beginners
Monday 20.00 St Mary's Church Community Hall, Aldershot Rd

Purley: There is a Solution
Monday 20.00 United Reformed Church, Brighton Rd

Purley
Wednesday 20.00 United Reformed Church, Brighton Rd

Purley: There is a Solution Big Book Study
Saturday 09.30 United Reformed Church, Brighton Rd

(The Purley group is involved in running non-AA conventions (in breach of AA guidelines) with the usual imported US Primary Purpose speakers. Fliers of these events have been circulated at AA meetings (again in breach of AA Traditions) and the speakers themselves prominently advertised (again in breach of AA Traditions - the one about "principles before personalities"). No proper accounting methods have been employed to account for the distribution of the monies charged for attendance at these gatherings - in some cases for substantial amounts)

Cult meetings - East and North Kent

East

Canterbury: Big Book Step & Tradition
Friday 19.30 Friends Meeting House, The Friars

Hythe
Monday 20.00 Methodist Church, Rampart Rd

Kearsney (Dover): Into Action
Wednesday 19.30 Kearsney Manor Nursing Home, Alkham Valley Rd
(used to be quite an active cult centre but operations seems to have switched to Tankerton Tuesday)

Margate
Friday 19.45 St John's Community Centre, St John's Church, Victoria Rd
(some cult influence here but group appears to have lost direction – formed a kind of once-a-month- hybrid with Al Anon participation – in breach of AA traditions)

Tankerton
Tuesday 19.45 Tankerton Evangelical Church
　
North

Beckenham: Primary Purpose Big Book Step Study
Wednesday 19.45 St Edmunds Church Hall, Village Way
(affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement - included in a number of their directories)

Bexleyheath: Road to Recovery
Monday 19.30 The Booth, The Salvation Army, Broadway

Bromley: Primary Purpose Big Book Study
Monday 19.45 Family Church, The Green Downham Way
(affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement - included in a number of their directories)

Sidcup: Into Action Multi-Mtg
Thursday 19.45 Emmanuel Methodist Church, Hadlow Rd

Sidcup: Into Action Multi-Mtg
Sunday 19.45 Emmanuel Methodist Church, Hadlow Rd
(both the Sidcup meetings form part of the Primary Purpose network (in breach of AA traditions of non-affiliation) – they carry links to this on their website, together with the rather unconvincing and disingenuous disclaimer that such inclusions do not constitute an endorsement, or otherwise, of this movement. Briefly, the Primary Purpose agenda is essentially predicated upon a series of lies – that the AA message has become "garbled", that this is a result of an influx of "treatment centre" members who treat AA meetings as therapy sessions, and that as a result recovery rates have fallen, and all this despite evidence (independent) to the contrary.

More cult meetings in Kent

Kent

Gravesend: Beginners
Tuesday 20.00 Emmanuel Baptist Church, Windmill St

Rochester: There is a Solution Big Book Step & Tradition
Monday 20.00 The Quaker Meeting House, Northgate

Rochester:
Saturday 10.45 The Quaker Meeting House, Northgate

Cult meeting of the day

Kent
Strood: There is a Solution
Thursday 20.00 St Nicholas with St Mary's Church

Cult meetings: Plymouth

PLYMOUTH: Road to Recovery
Tuesday 19.30 Church of Christ the King, Armada Way
Thursday 13.00 Quaker House, Mutley Plain
Friday 19.30 St Mathias Church Hall, North Hill
Sunday 17.30 (Sept-Dec)- Big Book study
18.45 Mini Meeting
19.30 Topic Meeting
St Mathias Church Hall, North Hill

And after a little breather.....we're back!!!

A worthwhile organisation to support:

Liberty (http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/):　

"Who we are:

Liberty is also known as the National Council for Civil Liberties. Founded in 1934, we are a cross party, non-party membership organisation at the heart of the movement for fundamental rights and freedoms in England and Wales. We promote the values of individual human dignity, equal treatment and fairness as the foundations of a democratic society.

Our mission

Liberty seeks to protect civil liberties and promote human rights for everyone. What we do Liberty campaigns to protect basic rights and freedoms through the courts, in Parliament and in the wider community. We do this through a combination of public campaigning, test case litigation, parliamentary lobbying, policy analysis and the provision of free advice and information."

We mention Liberty in this context simply because they are the precise antithesis to what the cult is about, those who are busily denying the most basic freedoms to the most vulnerable members of AA - the newcomer. Moreover, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/) states in 30 Articles what these rights are. The cult is directly and explicitly opposed, both in its dogma and its actions, to at least half a dozen of these articles. We'll leave it to you to decide which ones

Cheers

The Fellas