The following extract from the above (under Report by the Alternate Chair of Conference 2012)
“The Committee also received a very long Minority Report for consideration for presentation to Conference. The Committee accepted the Report and thanked the member who submitted it. After reviewing it at the September Conference Steering Committee meeting, the Committee asked for a revision of the Report, which was received and subsequently reviewed at the October meeting. Ultimately, the Committee felt that it could not be presented to Conference in its present form, largely owing to its length (over sixty pages with over one hundred pages of accompanying background material) and because the Report referenced and linked to a large number of sources (websites, etc) that are outside of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Committee however did feel that many of the concerns and issues raised in the Report were reflected in some of the questions that were selected for the Conference agenda. Furthermore, the Committee’s response suggests that the member may wish to re-submit the Report in revised and condensed form for consideration for Conference 2013”
(For a full copy of the report download here)
Comment: A full copy of this excellently researched and thoroughly evidence-based study was sent to us (as a matter of courtesy since our website is included in the lengthy list of reference material). Unlike the aforementioned committee we had no problem whatsoever in reading the article in its entirety and moreover were most impressed to observe the use of proper citation and reference methods which provided all the necessary background information throughout. We were also informed that the report had a number of authors (all of whom are AA members and had submitted their details to GSO York in confirmation of this). The reference therefore to a single member presenting the research is wholly inaccurate and misleading and should be corrected as soon as possible. Moreover the stance of the committee in rejecting evidential sources on the grounds that this requires reference to “outside” sources indicates again the misapplication of the relevant tradition. At some point the Conference (and indeed the Fellowship) will have to face up to the fact that AA does not operate in some kind of “bubble” but within the context of a wider society, and one in which we will have to demonstrate not only our relevance as an inclusive treatment method for alcoholism but also our ability to act in a principled, responsible and accountable manner. Our forerunners lay solid foundations on which to proceed, but unfortunately we have failed (and are failing) to build upon this. It would not be an exaggeration to say that time is fast running out for AA not only in the UK but also in the US to take action. The alternative we leave to your powers of inference.
In light of the above we will be producing a serialised version of the report over the next few weeks (together with some modest commentary on our part). We trust this will prove of assistance to those who find it relatively indigestible in its present form, and moreover provide some additional clarification (and expansion) of some of its central points. Finally we urge all AA members to consider the arguments presented by its AUTHORS …...and then take ACTION.
Cheers
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
