“JOYS OF
RECOVERY
David B
[founder of the Joys of Recovery] sponsored David C [otherwise
referred to as 'the Icon' and successor to David B – see website]
and Tony M. Tony M left to form the Little Venice Step Meeting on a
Monday Night (corner of Shirland Rd and Formosa St). David C went to
'A Vision for You' in Eaton Square and sponsored various people who
formed their own meetings. The original 'Vision' meeting closed down
because of a lack of people doing service at the meeting (as some
attendees were commuting from far afield for the meeting). The
attendees left and formed (among others):
EALING
(Various);
GUILDFORD
MONDAY;
ROCHESTER
- THERE IS A SOLUTION MONDAY (the Medway groups and East Kent groups
formed from here).
David B
also sponsored Wayne P (from Plymouth) who formed various meetings in
Plymouth, which in turn has had its own offshoots in Bristol, Exeter,
Bournemouth and Torquay. A sponsee of Wayne's also set up the 'Road
to Recovery' meetings in West London, however they have since parted
company and these meetings may have reverted to mainstream AA.
The 'Joys
of Recovery' has a number of manifestations (all in differing levels
of extremity), including various parts of London, Surrey and
Middlesex. It is THESE meetings that use the 'Six Suggestions' or
'Six Point Card', and have been seen (more recently) at Tolworth
(Thursday Night), Cambridge (Saturday Night), Victoria (Monday Night
- recently closed), Tottenham and a couple of meetings in
Northfields, and reportedly a meeting in Chester.
PRIMARY
PURPOSE
The
Primary Purpose [originating in Dallas and inspired apparently by Joe
McQ and Charlie P's study course] meetings have no connection with
David B or the 'Vision' or 'Joys' meetings. As said before these are
more related to groups and meetings in America (hence Primary
Purpose). These meetings do not use the 'Six Suggestions' or have
'Six Point Cards', but have often used non-conference approved
literature (albeit on a separate table). However some of these
meetings use certain levels of 'segregation' (with some of these
groups having separate meetings after the meeting for men and women).
The Purley meetings are the closest linked with these, and have
frequently 'imported' speakers from the USA. This is almost certainly
the same with Sidcup. As many are aware there is an 'underground'
directory of certain Primary Purpose meetings (that may or may not be
comprehensive in their eyes).
The
meetings that specifically come under this 'Sub-heading' have been
previously listed on the website (taken directly from the Primary
Purpose Directory).
DESIGN FOR
LIVING
This
meeting in Wimbledon has no connections with either of the above, and
I have reason to believe that there has been some local pressure
placed on this meeting - again, this group may or may not have
reverted to 'mainstream' AA. I suggest those available look for
themselves.”
Comment:
Thus the contagion spreads!
Cheerio
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
(An extract from a contribution sent in by an AA member – our usual thanks extended)
(An extract from a contribution sent in by an AA member – our usual thanks extended)
PS See
here
for more background on the Primary Purpose/Back to Basics movement
