Tales from Happy Clappy Land

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away.......... or maybe closer to home …. how about Ealing? Yes. Ealing will do nicely!

[We want to emphasise here that the following account is entirely fictional, and any resemblance whatsoever to individuals alive or dead is purely coincidental. Ealing itself is an entirely fabricated and imaginary place and not to be found on any map. Now where we were? Ah yes! Happy Clappy Land]

Once upon a time in …. Ealing.... a strange and wondrous place indeed, one full of dark mysteries, and then of darker deeds (and with lots of pubs as well) there lived a fellow who was full of woe (and other things as well), and who really didn't have a clue. But one day Dennis (for this was the blessed one's name), and as he trudged the streets of darkest Ealing, found a great light shining down upon him and suddenly he was quite sure that he knew it all! So excited was Dennis that he was inspired to spread the word (or in his case a lot of words!) to anyone who was prepared to listen (and even if they were not). So HAPPY was Happy Dennis (for this was now indeed his given name) that he jumped for joy at this revelation and ran through the town laughing like a maniac (or so those poor, benighted and unenlightened fools all about him assumed, but then after all what did they know!). But what to do next, and how might he spread his gospel of bliss, and for the briefest moment Happy Dennis was all of a dither! But then again the light descended, and now once more his path grew clear. He would start a meeting, and then another, and this until Ealing was quite overfull, and even bursting at the seams, and there within these blessed assemblies he would spread the blessed word, and this forever, and then to all and sundry. And now he hunted high and hunted low until he found finally his HAPPY sanctuary (for the gods in their wisdom - or perhaps stupidity - had guided him at last to that HAPPY place). Now Dennis sent word to every quarter, and so his flock gathered all about him, and they did come from far and wide (even from Southall and Hayes - or so we're told) and to whom Dennis passed on his ecstatic word. But Dennis was so HAPPY now , and getting HAPPIER by the minute, and indeed so happy was HAPPY Dennis that he could barely contain his joy at all and felt obliged to jump in the air on account of this, and even as he did so - oh what bliss! - for so did everyone else jump all about him! The meetings spread from one to two, and then to four, and then to even more, and before long the entire town was full of meetings with not even room for one more Tescos! And to these happy gatherings he gave special names, one was called Healthy, another Radiant, another Growing (and Glowing) and even another named Wonderful until finally he had run out of slogans and decided to call the last one just plain old “Sponsored Walks"! By this time HAPPY Dennis was so uplifted he could no longer stay indoors and he decided to take the meeting out of doors, and so he led forth his flock into the sunlight and there they followed him all humble and meek. First he would go to the right, and then to the left and sometimes he would just stop right there in the middle of the street, and at each and every move so would his flock follow his lead, and thus they would all proceed, and in one great, big, happy company! And finally when the day was done they would stand in a circle everyone, with each one holding the other's hands, to recite their prayers all most humbly. Then, and at HAPPY Dennis' signal, they would with one accord bound forth into the air and JUMP FOR JOY for they were all in HAPPY CLAPPY LAND!!!

You couldn't make it up could you? Ooops! We just did – didn't we?

More seriously a number of members have commented that the (relatively sane) practice of holding hands at the end of meetings to say the Serenity Prayer (together with various chanted add-ons) is in itself a form of “emotional coercion”. It is quite difficult for those who do not wish to participate to do so without causing some degree of disruption to the meeting (something that does not occur for example if you don't want to recite the Serenity prayer). More importantly some regard should be had for the newcomer in this instance. They really may not want to hold hands and yet here they are given very little real choice. We believe that it should be made clear at the beginning of the meeting (or just before the end) that no one is obliged to participate in such activities if they do not wish, or better still, that such rituals are entirely dispensed with. They do after all come across as rather childish and perhaps even a little HAPPY CLAPPY. For our part the aacultwatch team has voted (unanimously), and consistent with our anti-abuse and anti-coercion stance, no longer to join in these rituals (and this including, most emphatically, jumping in the air!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Lots more coming from Happy Clappy Land soon

Uncontroversial controversy!

"When I've raised the concerns I've discussed in this article (Big Bookery, indoctrination, druggie talk in meetings , chanting and hand-holding etc) at group conscience and intergroup meetings I've been accused of violating Tradition Ten by stirring up controversy. But Tradition Ten is about public controversy - i.e. outside issues. There has always been controversy in AA, for example read Bill W's essay on Tradition Three in 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. Another time, commenting on the turbulent 1958 US Conference, Bill observed, "If individuals were deeply disturbed - I say, 'This is fine'. What parliament, what republic, what democracy has not been disturbed? Friction of opposing viewpoints is the very modus operandi on which they proceed. Then what should we be afraid of?" (from As Bill Sees It). A GSB trustee speaking at the 1971 US Conference said, "Honest differences of opinion should co-exist in AA. I suppose it is a miracle there isn't more controversy inside AA." Or as the chairman of this year's British Conference (2007) reminded delegates, "We can disagree without being disagreeable." In 1971 the editor of Grapevine said, "A magazine would be terribly bland if there was never any controversy. In AA there are as many opinions as there are alcoholics. We welcome diverse points of view."

In AA we seek unity - not the unanimity of the graveyard. In any case it is the dissonant practices I have described which generate controversy.

Bill W wrote in Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, "Within AA I suppose we shall always quarrel a good bit. Mostly, I think, about how to do the greatest good for the greatest number of drunks ... Surmounting such problems, in AA's rather rugged school of life, is a healthy exercise." ...

Grapevine's Statement of Purpose reads in part, "The awareness that every AA member has an individual way of working the program permeates the pages of Grapevine, and throughout its history the magazine has been a forum for the varied and often divergent opinions of AA's around the world ...."

(Share, July 2007)

PS: The US 1971 references are from Not God: a history of AA, by Ernie Kurtz (Hazelden)."

(our thanks to this member for pointing us in the direction of the article)

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Tradition Ten

Short form:

"Ten—Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."

Long form:

"10.—No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., express any opinion on outside controversial issues—particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever."

Comment: Again a pretty straightforward statement - or at least for some! Alcoholics Anonymous (collectively) and AA groups (as constituents of AA) "can express no views whatever" and "oppose no one" in relation to "outside controversial issues". Conversely AA members (individually) may (and do) hold whatever views they like, they may express them to whoever, whenever, and in whatever fashion they like, but NOT "in such a way as to implicate A.A.", and "particularly" not (though not exclusively) in those areas relating to "politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion" [some synonyms for "implicate": incriminate, involve, compromise, embroil, entangle, inculpate. Some antonyms: eliminate, rule out, acquit, exclude, dissociate, disentangle, exculpate]. Following on from this (and within the context of AA) an individual may express themselves according to the principle of freedom of speech (something of a luxury these days with the increasing proliferation of legal constraints!) but should make it clear that their statements represent only their own views and not those of Alcoholics Anonymous. ie. they are NOT spokesmen for the organisation nor for that matter are they the SOLE authorities on what constitutes its guidelines and programme of recovery, and moreover their mode of implementation. This tradition certainly does NOT - and indeed should not - exclude criticism of AA (ie. "inside issues"), nor does it dictate or delimit the forum in which such commentary might take place. It certainly does not exclude criticism of the activities of the cult, nor where and in what form this might be expressed. To emphasise the point: the statement "Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one" is made with reference to "outside controversial issues", and is NOT to be taken to refer to "inside issues" ie. the activities of rogue elements within AA. Indeed AA groups (and their members) “must” take action where such groups (and their members) cause harm to AA members (and indeed to the general public) and as a consequence bring the fellowship itself into disrepute (see: Personal Conduct Matters (Guidelines for Alcoholics Anonymous in Great Britain: No. 17))

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

You need never “THINK” again!

Are you feeling a little lack lustre? Is life getting you down a bit? Perhaps you're not entirely satisfied, or even HAPPY, JOYOUS and FREE???

Well here's a clue for you: YOU'RE NOT ON THE PROGRAMME!! But never fear for we have a SOLUTION, a VISION FOR YOU – and an answer to every single problem! Yes you too can trudge the way of Happy Destiny, along the ROAD TO RECOVERY! You too can be rocketed into a fourth dimension - never to return again! So just get yourself along to one of OUR (and NOT ONE OF THEIR) meetings and you need never ever THINK again!

Here you will find our teams of happy, smiling, professional (untrained) life coaches who will take care of your EVERY worry. Problems with relationships, money, sex, children .....? You name it we've got it covered! Don't waste your time listening to the amateurs (health professionals, psychiatrists, teachers etc). Get along to your local “PRIMARY PURPOSE” meeting and you will find the whole solution wrapped up in a single person – Get a VISIONS SPONSOR! Get your life sorted! Get it NOW!

Don't delay – delay is DANGEROUS! Take advantage of this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity! Don't think – just do! You know it makes sense!

Come along to your friendly local branch (recently opened):

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA: RECOVERY, TUESDAY Meeting
19.30
All mtgs 'open'.
Tuesday
The Store House, Coleman St Community Centre, Coleman St

or another franchise just near you! For a list of our other outlets see here.

[Disclaimer: Our groups are not affiliated in any way with Alcoholics Anonymous (apart from using the AA name,the AA logo, being listed on the AA Where to Find etc), nor do we accept liability or responsibility in any form or to any degree for any consequences which might follow in any respect from any advice that we may or may not have given that you may or may not have taken, and that in assenting to the above you waive all legal remedies, and exculpate us completely and for all time from any consequences which may or may not be attributable to us – WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE!]

Cheerio

Have fun

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Infestation in Ealing (West London)

We have received a number of detailed complaints about the activities of these groups (all based at the same address: Ealing Centre for Independent Living, 1 Bayham Road, West Ealing, W13 0TQ) and their association with the cult. All these groups come under South Middlesex Intergroup, London Region (North). Comments for and against welcome as usual.

EALING: AM REFLECTIONS
Time: 07.30
Full wheelchair access.
All mtgs 'open'
Wednesday
1 Bayham Rd
W13

EALING: HEALTHY FEELING IN EALING
Time: 07.30
All mtgs 'open'
Tuesday
1 Bayham Rd

EALING: RADIANT FEELING IN EALING
Time: 07.30
All mtgs 'open'
Thursday
1 Bayham Rd

EALING: SPONSORED WALKS
Time: 08.45
All mtgs 'open'
Sunday
1 Bayham Rd

EALING: STEP & TRADITION
Time: 19.00
All mtgs 'open'
Sunday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING
Time: 07.30
All mtgs 'open'
Friday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING
Time: 13.30
All mtgs 'open'
Saturday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING
Time: 13.30
All mtgs 'open'
Sunday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING: A VISION FOR YOU
Time: 18.00
All mtgs 'open'
Monday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING: GREAT FEELING IN EALING
Time: 07.30
All mtgs 'open'
Monday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING: GROWING & GLOWING
Time: 18.00
All mtgs 'open'
Saturday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING: HAPPY, JOYOUS & FREE
Time: 18.00
All mtgs 'open'
Thursday
1 Bayham Rd

WEST EALING: WONDERFUL FEELING IN EALING
Time: 09.00
All mtgs 'open'
Saturday
1 Bayham Rd

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

How it Works - and How it Does NOT Work!

Regarding how I was treated as a newcomer. Of course I speak only for myself and my own experience. This takes me back to February 1984 in North Middlesex.

WHAT HAPPENED

Someone from the fellowship met me not far from a meeting venue and spoke to me for a while. He then took me to my first meeting. This was a small meeting of about 8 to 10 people. Bog standard AA as I have come to know it. I was introduced to members at that meeting and given a cup of tea and a newcomers pack. I was also given a "Where to Find" and some phone numbers. I was told to relax and try to listen for the similarities and not the differences. The part of the big book in chapter 5 about the actor trying to fit the scenery/lights etc to his satisfaction was read out. The chair was done by the person who had met me and taken me to the meeting.

People were friendly without being over bearing. There was no coercion, rather I sensed a genuine feeling of concern for my welfare. I did not feel threatened. I was told I was the most important person in the room. ( Well, I knew that anyway ! )

After the meeting, I was introduced to a man who asked me if I would like to go to another meeting the next day and he would pick me up in his car and take me there. I agreed. I was taken to several meetings over a period of a few weeks by this person. At that time, my circumstances were that I was homeless and destitute - a so-called "low bottom" case.

It was discerned that I may need medical help, and 2 female AA members arranged to meet me and took me to see a doctor. This doctor referred me to a local hospital for detox, which was sorely needed in my case. In hospital I was visited by AA members and received many "get well" cards from them. I was touched by this. I had thought I had no friends. Clearly I was mistaken. I still have these cards today - 26 years later - I have kept them as tokens of fellowship.

Once my head and body had cleared of alcohol, I returned to meetings and was able to absorb the message of recovery at my own pace. I was never impressed by those who preached and lectured, but rather I was attracted to those who offered friendship and fellowship, and who seemed to be working the program rather than just preaching or talking about it. I got to the stage of recovery where I was able to make my own decisions regarding who I wanted as a sponsor and how I wanted to work the steps. This took some time.

WHAT DID NOT HAPPEN

I was not given a leaflet or a prompt card concocted by a personality doing their own thing in AA without any consultation with the rest of AA, and disregarding the consequences to the fellowship as a whole. I was not told that only certain groups had the "correct" message, or the "best" message. I was not told that the rest (mainstream) of AA was in some way defective or inferior. No part of AA was spoken about in a belittling or contemptuous way. I was not given misinformation and lies about the comparative "success rates" of AA.

I was not coerced into doing "daily suggestions" or taking the steps immediately, or assigned a sponsor without a careful prior consideration of the matter on my part. I was given some general suggestions regarding the serenity prayer, attending regular meetings and contact with AA members, but I was allowed to make my own mind up about what I was able to do, and when I was able to do it. I did not encounter any meeting where everyone "sang from the same hymn sheet" (a nonsense I sometimes hear in meetings today - AA is a fellowship of the spirit, not Sunday "Songs Of Praise" )

There seemed always to be a diversity of experience strength and hope in the early meetings I attended. This allowed me to make choices - I was able to discern for myself what kind of sobriety I wanted and what I didn't want.

I was not told that seeking out the advice of doctors or therapists was "wrong" or "not on the program" etc. In fact I was very much encouraged to take "outside help" where necessary. I was rightly guided to a doctor and encouraged to follow his advice and referral. (This truly reflects the experience and practice of the founder members who took a lot of "outside" help and advice. Read the Big Book and "Pass it On " for further details on this.)

I was not told to "jump for joy" or "get on my knees" or perform any other body contortions. Nor was I told I should feel happy all the time, or what I should believe regarding a higher power, or how many times I should pray in a day etc. Nor was I given false assurances about never having a bad day, or that life would always be a bowl of cherries etc.

I was not given a fixed time to ring a sponsor, outside which they would slam the phone down and refuse to talk to me. People I experienced practised compassion and the AA responsibility card - "When anyone anywhere reaches out for help I want the hand of AA to be there... " (Note: ANYone, ANYwhere.. and the hand of AA. No mention of "exactly 7am only" or the "hand of a special cult genius with a superiority complex")

I could say more, but I will leave it at this for now. I think you get the picture

Regarding meetings where newcomers are ignored. Of course, this is to be regretted whenever or wherever it occurs. I cannot control what others do, or do not do. Only what I do. My personal recovery is insured by working with others. If I don't do that I risk a relapse. In general, if a meeting doesn't practice the Traditions, and help or reach out to the newcomer, that meeting will wither and die. Simple. In my experience cult groups are no exception to this phenomenon. I have seen several cult group meetings fade and die over the years. For example, a "Vision" style step meeting in Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith on Friday night wilted some years ago. Also a Visionary meeting in Edgeware on Monday night suffered the same fate. Mainstream meetings in those areas, however, are still going strong. Sometimes newcomers don't want to be swamped by chirpy young men in dress suits pushing DIY prompt cards, and the promise of Shangri-La if only you do everything they dictate without question. Many newcomers prefer a quieter, simpler, and more discreet approach. Not all alcoholics want to be the centre of attention. Although I admit that I am not one of that particular category! I'm the kind of alcoholic who, if I am sat in a meeting and someone walks in and says "Hi" to everyone, I automatically feel that I have been ignored, even though I haven't been. They should have said "Hi everyone and hi T.S." Identify?

Happy New Year ! Love and Light to you in 2011. :) T.S.

Click here to share your experience in our forum.

(our usual thanks to this member for their contribution)

Cheers

The Fellas

Another survivor of the Visions' cult

“Hello Fellowship Members,

I was directed to your page erroneously while I was searching for the GSO email address at York, I was astounded when I found the page I was on was about "A Vision for You" AA meeting at St. Peters Crypt in Victoria, London [a later email indicated that the correspondent was referring to the Vision For You group, St Peters, Eaton Square (Wednesday) – see Trans 1 under the Transcriptions/Scans section of site for more information on this cult group].

I had some personal experience of this particular group around 2003/4, Thankfully I had been to plenty of different AA and NA meetings to recognise that something was not right with these groups , and I wish today that I spoken my mind with some of the unfortunate newcomers who attended these meetings. (I never noticed till the end of the article that the letters were written in 2001).

I remember the 1st time I attended, everyone seemed so enthusiastic, but as I took my seat I noticed that all the women were sitting in one area, and as it became clearer, certain 'members' were seated in strategic positions. Immediately after that 1st meeting I was offered the help of a 'temporary sponsor', I was also given a card which said I had to get 2 newcomers numbers at every meeting I went to, there were a few other "suggestions" which looked more like orders to me. I was then asked what meetings I attended, I said "this one and that one" and was told they were 'unhealthy' meetings and I should go to this, this and that meeting. I was also told that I couldn't share till I had taken Step 5, and that I couldn't speak to a member of the opposite sex until I had completed Step 9. This went on for about 6 months or so, every morning I would get a call from my sponsor, or someone else who had taken my number at the previous nights meeting, often as early as 7.30 am. The straw that finally broke my connection with them came when reluctantly I answered the phone at 7.30 [am] and was asked "what is the 1st thing you do each morning?" I said "I go to the Toilet", the other party said , "No, you must pray, that must be the 1st thing you do in the morning". I had visions of trying to pray or meditate while needing to empty my bladder took prime position in the list of things to do, and I realised how ridiculous and dangerous these people were.

I still see them from time to time, they have a definite agenda, though I'm not sure what it is apart from running someone else's life, and controlling what they do. They also used to have a annual trip to Plymouth where they would sleep on other members floors, and do multiple meetings. Some of the relative 'newcomers' that I had known came back, but they had a look of absolute fear in their eye's (that might be the unmanageability) and I was glad I hadn't succumbed to the pressure almost salesman like ways they would pressure people into doing certain things.

They are still going strong, and like shapeshifters they can appear anywhere, and appear to give a really strong AA message, but I feel bad for the newcomers, the people on psychiatric medicine who are encouraged to detox as soon as possible, I feel I have been led to this website for a reason, just not sure what if anything it is yet, but I see these self serving creeps as the worst type of people in A.A. They have no mercy, and they are a cult, almost of satanic standards, very OCD as well.

That's my say for now.

J”

Over to you

The Fellas

(our usual thanks to this AA member for their contribution to our campaign to remove this pernicious corruption from the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous)

“Back to Basics”

The following group has been brought to our attention by a member (our usual thanks for this contribution) together with their succinct - but telling - commentary:

Back to Basics, Monday 1930, Haugh Court Residents Hall, Haugh Court, Haugh Road, Inverness

“I recently visited a "Back to Basics" meeting in Inverness and I must say that sub-tropical heat and comfy chairs was a nice change from the rickety seating in the draughty church room across the road (where the "regular" AA meeting was being held), but I was disturbed by the script books placed on every chair (with an interpretation of excerpts from the 12 & 12 being read out from the top table, rather than someone sharing what the piece meant to them and how they worked it), the idea that we could "study" 3 steps in an hour, and the small, but significant, alterations to the wording of the steps in the photocopied, freebie "reference notes for studying the big book" (courtesy of Southport B2B group).

I don't know how long a meeting has to run along cult lines, or how far down the sponsor-controlled recovery path it has to stray for it to be included in the Cult Where to Find but I thought it'd be as well to advise of its existence at least.

I shall leave it up to yourselves as to whether it merits being listed”

As usual comments welcome for and against our inclusion of this group in our Cult Where to Find

Cheers

The Fellas

PS Happy New Year to all members! – and an Unhappy New Year to the cult – you better believe it!!