Road to Recovery Cult group (Plymouth) move into the "Recovery Business"

Well they're at it again - breaking another Tradition - so what's new! It occurred to the aacultwatch team it would be easier to carry news of when the aforementioned group DID actually abide by the Traditions - it would save a lot of a time all round. But a little background first:

"The Recovery Business"
　
The recession may be biting hard but some sectors are flourishing - which brings us to: "The Recovery Business". By this we mean the increasing proliferation of "workshops" (non-AA events) run by various "personalities" (some travelling from as far afield as sunny California) spreading their views, opinions, theories, speculations, hypotheses, (even experience occasionally!) on whatever passing fad is currently preoccupying them, and then presenting these flights of fancy suitably packaged for the delectation of the "punters" ie. anyone who may be parted from their money. These little shindigs sometimes run for a whole weekend for those brave souls who are willing to pay to listen for that long to these largely unoriginal performances. The "gig" may include Power Point presentations for the more technologically sophisticated but will certainly include workbooks, worksheets etc all of which lends an air of authenticity to what is essentially a scam. It's easier to part someone from their cash if they wander (usually shell-shocked) from the venue with at least something to show for the "experience" other than a rictus grin, and a throbbing headache acquired from a massive overdose of "emotional froth". Now we have no real objection to an enterprising fellow making a buck or two, and let's face it there are considerably more than one "born every day" but in this instance the "target market" is composed mostly of newcomers to AA, and certainly members new to the recovery programme. These are more likely to be impressed by a slick performance and a well rehearsed delivery with standardised jokes flying from the lip with practised ease. If you've still suffering, with nerves jangling like taut banjo strings, and your emotions and life in tatters, wandering around the landscape like some refugee in a war zone then anyone who can string a few coherent sentences together must seem almost blessed with Divine omniscience. "Recycling" is the buzz word these days and that's about all you're likely to get at one of these workshops. But that said so will you at an AA meeting - nothing original there either - but there's one crucial difference. In the first you'll get parted from your dough in short order one way or the other - in the latter you'll get it for free, and without all the unnecessary trimmings.

It would seem that the Road to Recovery cult group (among others) is getting in on the act. For some considerable time now audio files by various notables (including overseas imports) have been available via their website but evidently this cult group has decided to move into "marketing" other events. These include the Bristol Reunion, which this year features a couple of speakers from the US (apparently one of whom is an " an ideal successor to Joe and Charlie"). It's not made entirely clear what constitutes "ideal" (given that the programme refers to "progress rather than perfection") but we have to assume that the guy turns in a good act (together with his humble assistant). Additionally the site advertises another "show" in Glasgow in 2010 featuring a VVVVVIP from LA, the Venerable C, who will be doing "a turn" in that fair city. There is no mention on the site (which incidentally carries the disclaimer "© Road to Recovery Group 2009. This site is not approved or endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous. The views expressed belong solely to the individuals making them") that this is NOT an AA event nor for that matter is the "Relationships in Recovery" circus, which is similarly advertised on this cult website. But then (with a little more research) we come to the Glasgow extravaganza's sound system, which is being provided by an organisation called SoundsGood Media Productions, an outfit needless to say but we'll say it anyway, NOT associated with AA. We quote from the "About Us" section of their site:

"Sounds Good Media is a voluntary service staffed by members of 12 Step fellowships who give their time voluntarily to help themselves stay sober and help others to recover from alcoholism.

Sounds Good Media was set up by a small group of AA members involved in service who detected a great inconsistency in the quality of Public Address systens used at various AA conventions. Having detected this problem they decided to solve it by supplying AA with a reliable P.A. system. The next problem was how to fund th P.A. system. The solution for this was already at hand, record the meetings and sell the tapes. This also helped to solve another problem which was widespread (that of bad quality tapes or no taping of conventions at all - which left no archival record of previous members). So the idea was simply, supply P.A. system, record the meetings, sell the tapes and any excess money goes back into AA.

To comply with traditions a letter was sent to the World General Service Office in New York explaining the concept. The W.G.S.O. replied that AA could not accept money from outside organisations even though they are run by AA members. So Sounds Good couldn't give money to AA, but they could stop convention committes spending money on P.A's by supplying theirs free of charge. The only stipulation for this was that Sounds Good could sell tapes to fund the P.A. system. Due to public demand it was decided to expand the selection of tapes to include popular speakers from America etc. Again there was the problem of quality, so equipment was needed to 'clean' these tapes up. It soon became clear an office would be needed, so from humble beginnings our expansion had developed. This led to more volunteers joining, who used it as an aid to their recovery and went on to other things."

Now this may all be very worthy but in the end it amounts to what is technically known as a "lash up" ie. some way had to be devised to make it "look like" AA Traditions weren't being circumvented (we'll leave it to you to work out which ones) but fails utterly. In this particular instance we can't see what the problem is. The event itself is not AA sponsored and therefore does not have to abide by the Traditions. But even if it were an AA convention, workshop etc then this particular contrivance would still not solve the "problem". AA would be receiving a service for which it hadn't paid ie. a donation in kind rather than money (Incidentally, since when did it become a problem that there were no audio records, bad quality or otherwise, of speakers at a convention?) All sorts of difficulties arise here in connection with this issue - again we'll leave it to your ingenuity to discern what these might be. Finally there is reference to any "excess money" going back into AA, which seems to defeat entirely the purpose of the whole exercise. Whose money is this? If it's AA money then how can it "go back" to AA? If it's from Sounds Good Media profits then it's an outside donation - back to square one? Is it the copyright holder's money? Is it the publisher's money and so on and so forth? This situation illustrates perfectly why the Traditions exist, and why it's such a bad idea to try and "lawyer" your way round them.

Still it's been quite awhile - if ever - since the Road to Recovery cult group was an AA group running AA meetings and (as we mentioned above) we should really only be surprised when it does behave like one. But then Little Wayne (El Supremo) has as good as said so himself in his address to the faithful (available on an audio file from site): We quote:

"If you’re new or if you’re visiting this group – welcome. This group comes with a public health warning. Tonight you’re not in a meeting or mainstream meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Tonight you are at the heart of Alcoholics Anonymous."

and who are we to argue with Little Wayne.

Now here's an idea, and we're not even going to plug our own recovery course outlined on the site - Oh damn! We did. Sorry! Instead of wandering off to one of these "workshops" or "conventions" or "Big Book Study Groups?" or "Newcomers?" meetings or "Beginners?" meetings or buying a CD produced by whoever is the latest flavour of the month, keep your money in your pocket and go to an AA meeting - a REAL one. There you will find some ordinary joe who will probably read something out of the Big Book, and then AA will do what it does best - plain alcoholics telling it the way it is - no frills - no "froth" - no charge!! You may well have to sit through the "Great Saga of the Washing machine Breaking Down and How the Repairman Didn't Turn Up But Even So I Didn't Pick Up a Drink" from time to time, and there may be some members who are seriously "off message" on that particular day; but that comes with the territory. But we think that's a small price to pay to avoid having to witness a carefully choreographed, marketing platform for "personalities" who seem to have an insatiable need (craving perhaps?) to have their egos massaged regularly whilst topping up their bank accounts. Even better the newcomer can - if she or he is so inclined - go online at the official AA website, and read the Big Book FOR FREE and maybe make up their own minds about what constitutes the recovery programme of AA and how they want - or don't want - to do it. Wow! That's soooo radical!!!

Cheerio

The Fellas