Letter from America

"Hi folks, one of your countrymen was over here on vacation and at a local meeting told us of the problems you have in UK with cult groups in AA. He told me about a website you have, and asked me to write a few lines to it. Cult groups in AA is a kinda contradiction, because in reality they are not “in” AA, because they break most of our hard fought traditions. As such we have the right clearly outlined in AA procedure to remove them from intergroup, and the Where to Find list. We had three years of this crap in Central Florida, and it caused mayhem. Usual fundamentalist B.S. about medication, obeying your sponsor, avoiding weaker groups, blah, blah blah. In the end we voted them out, they just caused too much hurt and disunity. No individual can ever be junked from AA, but groups can if “They affect other groups or AA as a whole.” They screamed and hollered and quoted the concepts (bit about penalising). They were reminded that this particular concept applies to individuals, NOT to groups. We had newcomers warned off AA by physicians and shrinks because of their dogma , and that can't happen. Best advice guys, throw them out. They still hold their meetings here, but they ain't listed, can't vote, and don’t do phone duty. Common welfare comes first, if these power-trippers get their way AA is shafted.

Stay Cool

Anon"

(our usual thanks to AA contributor)