Wayne P – the next chapter! (Plymouth Road to Recovery (cult) group)

And so it would appear the rehabilitation of Little Wayne proceeds apace. After being rendered a “non-person” - due to a little misdemeanour on his part some months ago (this reflected in the disappearance of a number of his recordings from the cult website) - it would seem that Wayne has been welcomed back into the fold, his renaissance exhibited in his role as closing speaker at the recent 17th anniversary of this cult group (audio recording now available courtesy of the group's website - which also features some free advertising for a few notable 'circuit speakers' – 'personalities' - as always - before 'principles' with this group!). As usual it was delegated to one of the aacultwatch team to sit through yet another session of Wayne discoursing on his favourite subjects i.e. Wayne, his home group and sponsorship. The unfortunate auditor in this instance was assured in advance they would receive full psychiatric assistance subsequent to their ordeal, and, moreover, a “crash team” was put on stand-by during the actual audition - just in case! (you never can be too careful!) We are pleased to report that no permanent damage has been sustained by the individual in question (although it was touch and go on several occasions!) Additionally, however, and perhaps to alleviate some of the more serious consequences of having to listen to the “Roadies” expound on their version of recovery, the auditor was instructed to monitor and record the number of instances where sponsorship and God/Higher Power/spiritual experience were mentioned during the course of the one hour long recording. The session itself was structured in four sections with three speakers having 10 minutes each to rehearse their scripts, the finale being reserved for the aforementioned 'grande fromage'. According to the count the terms 'sponsor' and 'sponsorship' occurred no less than 67 times - an average of over once per minute. On the other hand the terms God/Higher Power/spiritual experience were noted on only 13 occasions (two of which seemingly referred to the group itself?). So nothing's changed there then! The speakers sounded off in an ascending hierarchical order based on length of sobriety (interestingly the incidence of the term 'sponsor' etc seemed to increase correspondingly, with Little Wayne mentioning it no less than 25 times during the course of his own address). The speakers were unremarkable in most respects but the underlying message was quite clear – a 'hard sell' for both the Road to Recovery (cult) group and then their own (rather twisted) version of sponsorship (i.e. the “do-exactly-as-your-told” style). Other meetings were referred to but only to be 'damned with faint praise' or more often than not cited (either explicitly or by implication) as presenting a rather sub-standard version of the recovery programme as contrasted, of course, with the Roadies' own quite naturally superior brand. Indeed the term applied to the former was (by implication) “Beano” readers (a children's comic) whereas our heroes contrived to portray themselves as 'hard core' Big Book fans (a tome of which they remain strangely ignorant – most especially when it comes to Chapter 7 “Working With Others” ??) Anyways no contest there then! The Beano readers have it! But to return to our theme: During the course of these speeches there was much self-deprecating humour (generously interspersed with equal quantities of mutual admiration) the former presumably an attempt at faking some species of humility on the part of the respective speakers. Much of this self-mockery seemed to focus on who had managed to endure the Road to Recovery group the longest - the odds-on favourite for this dubious honour would seem to be Wayne (although on this we still cannot be entirely sure). The scripted performances were almost uniformly mind numbingly predictable, and consisted largely of standardised quotes from the Big Book with an occasional link line thrown in betraying the last vestiges of independent thought on the part of the presenter. Defects of character were mentioned but again either in an attempt to suggest some degree of humility, and thus persuade their listeners that these were in fact mere mortal men (incidentally no women featured in this performance – presumably they were all too busy making the tea – the Visions movement has always been a male-dominated grouping), or occasionally with some degree of embarrassment as if the merest mention might cause them to suffer some kind of censure from the assembled faithful. But at last we arrive at the main course – Little Wayne! If ever there was a man who was so demonstrably incapable of being honest with himself this must surely be a prime example! And if experience is supposed to be a teacher then here indeed was her most unwilling student! Firstly we are welcomed to the Road to Recovery group - “The most famous AA[ ??] group in the country” (quote). He extends his thanks to the group's detractors (we do hope that we too are included in this ever lengthening list) claiming that they have no idea how much they have assisted the Road to Recovery. (Well no worries there Wayne. But then we know otherwise!). Following on from this characteristically modest introduction we are treated to the usual diet of sponsorship, sponsorship, home group, sponsorship, sponsorship blah blah blah. Interwoven within this dross is a bit of name dropping – but only the usual suspects – this intended presumably to lend some weight (and even credibility) to what is otherwise an extremely lacklustre performance. Indeed there would even seem to be a growing defensiveness on the part of Little Wayne with regard to the “shit” that has been coming the group's way over the last few years – well ever since the group started or so it would seem. This, of course, is swept quite magisterially aside for we must all have been indoctrinated in this group's motto by now viz. “We are ALWAYS right and you are ALWAYS wrong”! Nevertheless the group is cast in the role of underdog, one striving heroically moreover to carry the true message, and this despite the blinkered notions of “mainstream AA” (who are referred to almost in passing). We are then exposed to an extended and somewhat covert “apologia” on the part of the main protagonist in this drama, his own deficiencies re-cast again heroically, but making seemingly now a virtue of his own stupidity. No less an authority than Bill Wilson is rolled out at this point to lend some semblance of substance to what is otherwise a quite transparent rationalisation, the fault abiding apparently rather (neatly) within the observer than with the 'actor' himself. So history is (neatly) rewritten, and no doubt all the boxes (neatly) ticked, justice (so neatly) self-administered, and amends no doubt quite (neatly) concluded! Wayne is BACK and the show WILL go on! (or so his sponsor says!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

More on the cult "network" - Richmond, Tolworth ....

"Thank you for your reply,

John B does indeed attend Hampton Wick and he was one of the founders of the Richmond meeting along with a chap called Donald (who was sponsored by David B) and a few others. From my memory I remember Hampton Wick was opened on Kingston Hill shortly after the Richmond meeting was formed in 1997 or 1998. Another meeting was formed from the Richmond meeting: Tolworth Newcomers - a Thursday night meeting with printed literature cards containing 'the six suggestions' displayed on the top table where the secretary and chair sit. They also used to attend a restaurant after the meeting but they opted to have a food buffet in the hall after the meeting instead. Also, most worryingly, you are assigned a sponsor at this meeting. If you are new you have your number extracted from you and then told who your sponsor is going to be. When I was new to AA over 20 years ago I had great difficulty in saying no, so I can imagine how newcomers feel at this "newcomers" meeting.

I am personally fairly familiar with the Ealing meetings myself. What's been going on is Happy Dennis has made there be four meetings a day in Ealing, most of them being at either Bayham Road or Green Man Lane. Unfortunately some long-standing AA meetings have been dwindling and thinning-out to the point of closing as a result of an earlier meeting opening round the corner. Keep an eye on the Northfields meeting on Sunday morning; this meeting is a long-standing AA meeting, or should I say 'was', but it seems to be getting taken over by various sponsees of the Ealing brigade.

Keep an eye out for a guy called Richard E; he is the one who started the cult within CA and is famous (or infamous) in AA among West and South-West London. He is exactly like David B (I met David B on several occasions); when he attends AA meetings (which is uncommon now as he mainly does CA), he introduces himself as a 'recovered' alcoholic and then proceeds to tell the meeting that they're doing it wrong. He sponsors many individuals at once, and they are taken through the steps and begin sponsoring others after around four weeks of sobriety. Many of them relapse. He will point out to his sponsees who in the meeting is and is not alcoholic. He elects himself to sponsor others (i.e. "I will be your sponsor"). Every sponsee of his is required to attend a 'Big Book Study' at his house, where all he does is gets them to highlight the parts of the Big Book which he thinks are relevant (although he doesn't highlight the bit in The Family afterward which says "Now about health..." or the part in Working with Others that talks about not rushing the newcomer). He brainwashes his sponsees with the '3% recovery rate' (or is it 2%? I think he changes it each time), and as a result, his sponsees all attend meetings with chips on their shoulders and share that everyone else is doing it wrong, or 'not really an alcoholic'. His sponsees are not allowed to attend NA meetings, and the only AA meeting they are allowed to attend seems to be Hampton Wick Friday. He tells everyone (not just his sponsees) that they should not take medication. One of his sponsees was secretary at the Saturday morning meeting at Bayham Road and one time when I was there he shared "my sponsor told me what to do, he told me which meetings to go to and he told me how to recover" (does that sound like an oxymoron?). You people of aacultwatch would probably assume this is cult standard, but what worries me is that I was talking to one of Richard's sponsees after a meeting the other week in Ealing and he was telling me how Richard called him and said "pick me up and give me a lift into Kingston", and when the sponsee said he was busy, Richard apparently responded "I am your sponsor. You will give me a lift to Kingston". If there's anything that makes me think of a cult it's this; not only is controlling what people do in AA he's controlling what they do outside AA. There is unfortunately a lot of contempt towards him in the Richmond/Twickenham/Teddington area - an area that is otherwise harmonious within AA, with a wide fellowship.

Sorry I've waffled, but I thought it would be of interest, seeing as there wasn't any mention of Richard on the site. Some individuals have stood up to him, but most people shrug it off and say "I can only keep my side of the street clean".

Glad to be of service. May it continue.

... [name omitted]"

(our thanks again to this contributor)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

The cult "network": Richmond, Ealing, Hampton Wick.....

"Dear aacultwatch,

Having read your information on what determines a 'cult' meeting, I have to say that the Tuesday evening meeting in Richmond [Richmond: How it Works Tuesday 20.00 Unitarian Church, Ormond Rd] is a bit of an odd one. I, personally, would not label it as a 'cult' group, but there does seem to be a 'group within a group' at that particular meeting that practises some 'cult-like' behaviour.

I have been around since 1989 and this meeting has been going for over 10 years. I used to attend regularly but then my attendance became more sporadic until I moved away from the area for a few years. I moved back to West London a year ago and the meeting is now very different. I still see many of the old faces, and most of these people I believe genuinely care about the newcomer and want what's best for them, but as for this 'core group', the ideal is you can't get well unless you have a sponsor, and suddenly it's all-too-obvious what's going on here. The 'core group' seems to be led by an individual (who I believe is a salesman by trade) and appears to have many sponsees who are all given the 'Six Suggestions' and I have heard of a couple of people (who weren't even sponsees of his) being almost 'shouted-down' by this man if they don't do every single item on the list, even if they don't call a newcomer that day. This sort of stuff is incredibly dangerous and off-putting for newcomers. My observation is that this 'core group' (and many of its newer members, such as the young female secretary) are heavily influenced by the nearby 'Ealing gang' (need I say more?). Before I moved away the aforementioned individual was the secretary and all his invited speakers came from Rochester/Strood, and the Tottenham area, plus a couple of people I recognised from 'A Vision for You' when I attended there. I know this website pertains to Alcoholics Anonymous, but an almost identical cult within Cocaine Anonymous has sprung up in the same area and has the same ideals, and it is believed that the 'ringleader' was at one time sponsored within this group.

You also mentioned the Friday meetings in Hampton Wick, and maybe it's worth mentioning that the same people go to this meeting as well. Again, same drill - the majority of those in attendance are working a good program and simply try to help the newcomer. But, quite worryingly, this meeting has some influence from a member from Plymouth (you know what I mean by that, I'm sure - from what I understand she relocated from Plymouth to the area, and no doubt she was told which meetings to go to!), who sponsors most of the women who attend the meeting. I can't help but wonder what kind of message gets carried - although I have heard her sponsees say "I've got to 'phone newcomers" and "I have to call my sponsor".

Once again, these two groups are undermined by the minority of its membership, but I've read on your website about the agenda the 'cult' groups follow (such as the 'politically-approved message' and 'sponsor dependence') and these meetings both spring to mind. Fortunately they don't seem interested on subverting intergroup (as I attend regularly and there has been nothing striking).

I hope this is useful for you. Feel free to publish any of it. I can be emailed for more information.

Regards,

.... [name omitted]"

(Our thanks to this contributor)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

DALLAS, TEXAS, USA, CHANNEL FOUR GOES UNDERCOVER.........

"Miracles for sale"--A Channel 4 documentary exposing the culture of scam preachers in Dallas,Texas, who give bonefide Christian churches a bad name. ---Fake miracles, fraudulent faith healing, dangerous advice given to stop taking medication, suicide, extortion of the vulnerable, while the "pastors" rake in thousands of dollars. One of our Christian fellas, (brother Ed) thought some church going AA members might be interested in viewing this documentary (just in case some of these scam preachers should be invited to travel across the Atlantic to unsuspecting church congregations in the UK)
The eye opening documentary "Miracles for sale" (screened Monday 25th April 9pm on Channel 4) can be viewed on Channel 4 OD until 24th May.


[Link no longer operative]

Of course nothing like this could ever possibly happen in AA --or could it? Fake AA preachers from Dallas,Texas? ---AA-Expect a miracle-AA--- Surely not. Advice given to stop taking medication? A miracle cure for all?---shooooweee, nope, cos we've got guardianship of our traditions to protect us, right.......haven't we?..... or have we?

Cheers,

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

WATCH OUT GLASGOW - HERE COME …...... THE DALLAS COWBOYS!

An upcoming event (as promoted on the Road to Recovery (Plymouth) cult website)

Yep, the Texas rodeo show’s coming to town—(minus Traditions 4 and 12). Topping the bill, the top hats of the Dallas Primary Purpose Group, no less. As these two most prestigious AA speakers trot the globe, the adulation of the audience is evidently raising their self esteem to such a high, that they can now rise above the rest of us plebs and break their anonymity at the public level, (for more info just Google Myers Raymer AA speaker or Chris Raymer AA speaker and all’s revealed, ----well, almost). Once you've have seen the internet ads, there’s no prize for guessing the unnamed Glasgow event will be another mind blowing performance of Primary Purpose "Big Book" sponsorship.---(Not to be confused with AA sponsorship, which doesn't blow minds.)

The event, whose theme doesn't say it is AA sponsorship but is nevertheless led by AA speakers (self appointed), highlights the Primary Purpose cult’s apparent limited capacity (or wilful economy) in being rigorously honest. And... when it comes to the voice of ultimate authority in AA --- A loving God as he may express himself in our group conscience, they're also apparently impaired in their capacity to hear.……. "The practice of inviting speakers from overseas violates traditions 4 and 12.”............ Nowadays, for the benefit of those in the fellowship with hearing disabilities, God (as you understand him, her or it) is patiently repeating himself............. "The practice of inviting speakers from overseas violates traditions 4 and 12.” (The General Service Conference, Great Britain, representing the voice of the AA group conscience in Great Britain ..... therefore representing the expression of a loving God as he may express himself in our group conscience........therefore representing the Ultimate Authority in AA, in Great Britain and the English speaking Continental Europe Region), has now found it necessary to make this same statement twice, in 1995 and 2010: "The practice of inviting speakers from overseas violates traditions 4 and 12.” ----PPG supporters note the full stop. Third time lucky... eh?

Now, moving on to Tradition 6, (lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose)……

When it comes to putting money in the AA pot, the average AA is, according to Tradition 7, “as tight as the bark on a tree,” therefore it figures that if he spends his twenty quid recovery money on a door ticket for, lets say the “For Good and All Glasgow Trans-Atlantic Theatre Co.”, then he’s going to be short of a bob or 20 when it comes to his voluntary contributions to the AA pot. (Pounds diverted away from AA’s Primary Purpose to pay the expenses of the infamous Traditions breaking few). Moving on to property and money, a BBS sponsorship lecture would, no doubt, be incomplete without the mention of those other “Big Books,” the ones to guide the sponsor in the art of how to coerce the novice into surrendering to his sponsor's will and to the mission of “Big Book” Sponsorship.” First, the prospective sponsor will need to be a proud owner.--- He’ll need a “Big Book”, maybe the most expensive one from GSO, a hardback say, price £8.00, or then again for that extra approval with the mother superiors, he could be tempted to go for the posh leather cover version, a real snip at £52.00 ($85.00) from Myers Raymer (Lost and Found Bookbindary). Being new to the game he’s bound to get lost between the covers, so “Big Book” sponsorship has just the thing to get him found........ a group with a Primary Purpose BBS guide. And just where does a group get a BBS guide? .......Ah yes, the ever productive Myers Raymer, Myers Raymer Book Bindery Inc., price £10.00 ($17.00), courtesy of Myers R. PPG (Dallas Texas). ........ affordable price too, only a tad more expensive than GSO’s “Big Book". Then he’ll need a guide through the 12 steps, with the works of the inspiration behind the Dallas PPG, the scripture of the 13th apostle and teacher of the 12 steps no less, Joe McQ, price say £5.00(second hand) and his guide to carry his message of Big Book sponsorship, RRP £8.00. ----To help us see this diversion from AA's primary purpose a bit more clearly we did a quick "Big Book" column inventory of liabilities and assets concerning potential money flow arising per AA member attending the Glasgow sponsorship event (book prices/dollar conversions rounded to the nearest pound):

	Potential funds arising from the Glasgow event going to the AA Primary Purpose (AA Great Britain/GSO) per person attending		Potential funds arising from the Glasgow event diverted to the Primary Purpose (USA/PPG (Dallas, Texas)) per person attending
	GSO Big Book purchase Hardback choice	Myers R (posh) Big Book purchase Leather cover choice	GSO Big Book purchase Hardback choice	Myers R (posh) Big Book purchase Leather cover choice
Event entrance fee	-£20.00	-£20.00	£20.00	£20.00
Literature sales:
GSO Big Book	£8.00	…..	-£8.00	….
Myers R leatherback Big Book	…..	-£52.00	….	£52.00
Myers R PPG (Dallas) Big Book Study guide	-£10.00	-£10.00	£10.00	£10.00
Joe McQ 12 step guide (second hand)	-£5.00	-£5.00	£5.00	£5.00
Joe McQ Big Book Sponsor guide	-£8.00	-£8.00	£8.00	£8.00
Total	-£35.00	-£95.00	£35.00	£95.00

There you go chaps, a win-win situation, a complete 12 step programme (not AA), based on the Big Book and now hijacking AA --- and to boot, there's a personal twist of AA history thrown in for free (No need to buy the 12+12 or AA comes of Age then.) ----Tut tut. All this competition at a time when we're being asked to increase our contributions to GSO and our AA literature purchases. (sales of which account for 39% of the UK AA income and which contribute to finance the AA service structure and overseas development, or in other words contribute to finance AA's primary purpose). So then, any time you're tempted nip along to your online bookshop and buy an AA member's glossy violation of tradition 4 (long form) for a quick fix from ego deflation, it might be better to think about the common welfare of AA and reach for the chocolate instead. (better still share it with a newcomer, and the chocolate.)

The absence of the AA label in the promotion of the Glasgow event does of course dodge the can of worms which could be opened up with the UK Conference recommendation 2010: “To prevent misrepresentation, events organised outside of the service structure cannot use the AA name or logo* or use the Confidential Directory as a mailing list."

The promoters’ smart move not to link the advertising of this event to AA is a nice try to “legalise” it with AA Traditions— our hats could be off to them, but for the worms still hooked and dangling on Traditions 4, 6 and 12. Divinely inspired to withstand the almost inexhaustible and invariable twisted rationalisations of every single alcoholic mind in the fellowship, they are as Bill W. described “spiritual truths” and consequently, spiritually water tight as a bottle of Southern Comfort.

--- And Oh yes, contrary to present day popular belief, size matters (ego that is) ------ so does what AA members do outside AA meetings. The Traditions cover any AA member’s shenanigans outside the AA service structure, whenever these could damage the fellowship. For example, try violating Tradition 12 by breaking your anonymity at the public level inside an AA meeting or event. (Difficult, unless you make recordings and play them on public media). Try violating Tradition 4, as an individual, or by getting your group’s internal affairs to affect other groups or AA as a whole, (Difficult, unless you write a book which could affect AA, or you get your group's affairs to go external). Try violating Tradition 6 by holding an event without lending the AA name, but which mixes AA with outside enterprise. Difficult, unless you don’t include the AA name on any promotional material, but then imply it is AA to the audience in the event. –--a round of applause here "For Good and all Glasgow" sponsorship event — Clever deception, but it doesn’t wash with the spiritual truths of Traditions 4, 6 and 12. So there you go, any event, AA name or no name at all, which is run by AA members and which affects other AA groups or AA as a whole, violates the spiritual truth of tradition 4. (We think the Glasgow event themed on sponsorship, or to be precise, cult sponsorship infiltration of AA, fits this bill).

Well, You can sit on the fence (uncomfortably we hope) or you can do something about it. While Texas cowboys chop the foundation of the fellowship and make a few bucks out of AA, while GSO settles for the dimes, there is the one buck that stops with you. You could just sit there and hope it all goes away, while the buck burns a hole in your pocket (or your conscience), or you could pass the buck to someone else, or pass it up the service structure to conference and GSO,(that’s good for a while because it gets talked about) but sooner or later, since final responsibility and authority in AA lies with the AA groups themselves (that means you), then you'll get the buck passed right back to down to you, like Conference 1995/2010: "The practice of inviting speakers from overseas violates traditions 4 and 12.” So what can you do if individuals persist on violating traditions 4 and 12? (We think six years since 1995 ticks the box for persistence) Well, you can pass the buck right back to where it came from, (as Bill W did with the gent he called the "poser" --the one who insisted on breaking his anonymity by giving public lectures 50% AA and 50% of his own religious convictions. (how history repeats with a twist)--- Bills answer to this "poser" was to threaten to get AA members to write several thousand letters to object if he went ahead with the lectures. ----(So, when AA members took the lid off anonymity, the protective mantle covering the fellowship and the spiritual foundation of our Traditions, Bill W. said, "Something had to be done." For more info--- AA Tradition how it developed pages 46-47). ---Note here, AA is self regulated (not unregulated) by the AA members themselves and when called upon by certain violations of Tradition, there's a time for each to don his or her jacket of guardian of our fellowship and of AA Traditions, as indicated in Guideline 17 and concept 12, warranty 5: "Feeling the weight of all these forces, certain members who run counter to to AA's Traditions sometimes say they are being censored or punished and that therefore they are being governed. It would appear, however, that AA's right to object calmly and privately to specific violations is at least equal to the rights of the violators to violate".

So if you're sitting on the fence (uncomfortably we hope), pessimistic or just plain apathetic with the notion that (thanks to the internet) one AA group has the power to spread its cult sponsorship tentacles across the world, (never mind Tradition 4), that going on experience elsewhere in the UK, this means a hijack of your intergroup telephone service by cult telephone responders and dangerous advice being given to newcomers to stop taking their prescribed medication, then you can do something about it. (We've found the optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the thought). You can exercise your right (as a guardian of tradition) to object calmly and privately to specific violations, which is at least equal to the rights of the violators who violate. With today's persistent "posers" threatening our fellowship, we suggest that a few hundred thousand AA members, the world over, contact the following members, informing them that they are out of order with AA Tradition and Conference recommendations. (Try not be put off if you think Glasgow or Dallas is a long long way away and nothing to do with you, because one day a cult tentacle may land in your neighbourhood and you might be grateful of some support from elsewhere). Thanks to the internet, AA is now a global group with a global problem, which needs to be globally nipped in the bud by ordinary AA members like you.)

Contact Myers Raymer and inform him (politely) that you object to his breaking of his anonymity and AA Traditions; It would be better for AA as a whole if he cancelled his trip from the USA to Glasgow, Scotland; and forthwith, humbly confined his AA works to within the AA service structure in his locality (Like the other 2 to 3 million Alcoholics Anonymous around the World.)

Lost and Found Bookbindery,

327 Ingram Loop, Ingram,Texas 78025 USA

http://bigbookfixer.com

Email Myers Raymer at: postmaster@bigbookfixer.com

Raymer Bookbindery Inc.

885 Northfork Circle

Lewisville, TX 75057 USA

http://raymerbook.com

Email Myers Raymer at: myers.raymer@raymerbook.com

Primary Purpose Group of AA (Dallas) Texas

www.ppgaadallas.org

Email: myers_r@ppgaadallas.org

Contact Pamela, Ben and Donald, (the Glasgow event’s contacts) with a similar (polite) message that you object to their violating Traditions 4 and 12 and ask them (For good and for all) to cancel the event and ask those signed up for it to donate the twenty quid to GSO.

Pamela Tel/Text: 07920772896

Ben Tel/Text: 07828553462

Donald Tel/Text: 07957568371

www.forgoodandforall.com

For Good And For All PO Box 29340 Glasgow, G20 2BQ Scotland

Cheers,

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Ealing going Viral!

The problem:

We've received yet more complaints with regard to the activities of the Ealing groups based at Bayham Rd and the Green Man Lane Community Centre. There have been reports that these groups: pursue an anti-prescribed medication policy (contrary to AA guidelines); that meetings have been open without consultation with neighbouring (and legitimate AA) groups (in breach of Tradition Four and with detrimental effects upon attendance at these latter groups); that these meetings supply non-conference approved literature some of which appears to be in breach of AAWS copyright (who have incidentally been notified of this); that these groups are affiliated with an outside organisation, which renders them ineligible to call themselves AA groups (under Tradition 3):

“Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.”

Finally - that they are bringing AA into disrepute and acting contrary to the interests of AA unity (Tradition 1).

We have been asked to present some ideas that may be employed by the local groups to ensure that this situation is remedied.

The solution:

Firstly groups may ensure that they are not contaminated by this influence by employing cult-proofing techniques (see here). The advice contained here can be modified to suit local circumstances.

Secondly we would advise the local AA groups to call group consciences to decide on a plan of concerted action. This can result in the following decisions (implemented by South Middlesex Intergroup):

a) that the Bayham Road and Green Man Lane meetings be removed from the Local Where to Find;
b) that these groups are no longer eligible to participate in the service structure.(under Traditions 3 and 4 (amongst others)) ie. that any GSR representation at intergroup will no longer be recognised, that their members may no longer hold any intergroup positions, and moreover may not participate in those parts of the service structure that bring them into contact with newcomers eg. phone responders, twelve step calls, public information etc;

The above will have the effect of separating them from the formal service structure of AA and moreover protect the most vulnerable from their activities

It would be useful additionally if AA groups regularly announced these facts at their meetings to ensure this information is widely disseminated (especially to newcomers). ie. that the Bayham Rd and Green Man Lane meetings may no longer be regarded as legitimate AA meetings.

Thirdly members can express their concerns directly to the relevant Intergroup (in this instance South Middlesex - contacting them directly by email or by post), asking them what action they are taking to deal with the situation. Here is the link to their website:

http://www.aa-gb.org.uk/london/southmiddlesex/

Their postal address is: A.A Intergroup, South Middlesex, Jacob House, 3-5 Cynthia Street
London N1 9JF

Their email address is: s-middx-eclo@aa-email.org.uk
(We have already contacted them by email and will follow up on our enquiry and let you know the results).

Additionally (and if members wish to) they can copy their complaint to GSO York.

Here is their postal address: The General Service Office, The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) Limited, PO Box 1, 10 Toft Green, York, YO1 7NJ

Here is their email address: gso@alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Although GSO is unable directly to take action it will be on the record that a complaint has been made and this will then be passed on to the relevant intergroup.

Fourthly action may be taken to have the Bayham Rd and Green Lane meetings themselves closed down. This can be achieved by contacting the relevant landlords of the premises that these groups use and request that their tenancies be terminated on the grounds indicated above. The most useful approach would be to present them with information (and evidence) relating to the the anti-prescribed medication policy that the groups have adopted.

The landlords for the Bayham Rd meetings are: ECIL - Ealing Centre for Independent Living, 1 Bayham Road, West Ealing, London W13 0TQ

Your enquiry should be addressed to: Wendy Starkie who is the chair of the ECIL management and governance committee and/or Sian Vasey who is the director of ECIL

Their phone number is: 0208 840 8573

Email contacts are by form submission. Click here

(Note: as far as we are aware this organisation is quite ignorant of the activities of their tenants and is otherwise of good repute, has charitable status, and receives funding from “Ealing Council and the Ealing Primary Care Trust. [They] also receive project funding from the Big Lottery Fund, in addition to funding from smaller trusts.”

The landlords of the Green Man Lane venue are: from the contact details it would appear to be Ealing Council (we will amend accordingly if we discover otherwise)

Postal address: Green Man Lane Community Centre, Green Man Lane, West Ealing WI3 OSN

Telephone contact: 0208 825 5086

Email contact: khansa@ealing.gov.uk

There are further measures that may be employed and we will indicate these if events should demonstrate that they are necessary.

If AA members act singly and collectively via their groups (and Intergroup) this problem can easily be resolved – the choice is yours!

Over to you

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Richmond cult meeting and update to Warneford Hospital meeting (Thurs)

SURREY

Richmond: How it Works
Tuesday 20.00 Unitarian Church, Ormond Rd

OXFORDSHIRE

Oxford: Warneford Hospital
Thursday 19.30 McKinnes Room, Warneford Hospital, Old Rd, Headington

We have been informed that this meeting should be distinguished from other meetings at the same address or in the adjacent area (and about which we have received no complaints). We quote (in part):

"Dear Fellas,

Just read about your concerns about the Oxford Thursday meeting which I'll take forward with other long term members in the area.

I need to correct your report in that AA members in Oxford do, by invitation, attend and contribute to the lecture series (2 hours) that medical students are given on alcoholism which is held at the Warneford Hospital but that's because it houses the Dept of Psychiatry. Medical students could attend any open meeting. Those that do tend to come to the Friday breakfast meeting......."

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)