On one of
our 'oh so' infrequent excursions into Wayneville (aka Plymouth Road
to Recovery cult group website ) we came across this little
'promotional' item under their Diary Dates section:
As you may
observe there is an impressive list of speakers (or is it a list of
impressive speakers?) much touted for this event which is described –
or at least according to their own online blurb - as “The
“Original” Woodstock
of AA”. In what respect the Stateline Retreat resembles the
'original' is difficult to discern. For example there is absolutely
no mention of 'hippie
chicks'
A hippie 'chick'
or 'heads'
(otherwise known as 'dudes')
A 'dude'
nor does
the size of this “intimate” gathering (900) compare particularly
favourably with the estimated 500,000 devotees who attended its
predecessor. Perhaps the term “intimate” holds the clue to this
connection. Maybe the 'free lurve' much in evidence at the first
festival is to be emulated during the intensive study that so
uniquely characterises – or so the organisers would have us
believe! - this particular colloquium. Indeed we are assured that
here you will find the “closest friends” (nudge nudge wink wink!)
“some
you know and the others you just don't know yet!”
(We can
only assume that “know” here is used in the biblical sense and
should not be confused with mere acquaintanceship!)
Between
whatever “love ins” that might take place (see under “hippie”)
the participants can take a break and explore the wonders of the AA
recovery programme. Apparently this event is quite unique focussing
as it does on “the twelve step recovery process and the principals
of the twelve traditions”, something presumably lacking in all other
AA gatherings! Moreover spectators will be regaled by “some of our
fellowships best communicators” as they attempt to induct the
audience into the mysteries of their craft! Well so far so bad.....
not much of a festival is it! Where are the ….. Ooops ….. Hold
on!..... There may be no music but there will be LASERS! Apparently
the light show will be courtesy of the SPEAKERS who will
shine their percipience upon the audience “with a laser like
focus”! Well OK.... laser LIKE .. you can't have everything!
Whad'ya want for 90 bucks!
Finally
the introductory 'taster' makes reference to THE programme which
apparently is “necessary to maintain this gift” (as in the gift
of sobriety). But curious! What was that bit in the Big Book about
contingency? (Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter Six, Into Action, p. 85):
“What we
have is a daily reprieve contingent
on the maintenance of our spiritual condition”.
But
'contingency' is not the same as 'necessity'.
ie. in the former case our 'daily reprieve' may
be dependent on such efforts but not necessarily
so. This would explain for example the ability of some AA members to
remain sober without any kind of belief or dependence on a spiritual
'entity' as such. Still we must have got it wrong! After all we
don't possess those 'laser-like' insights do we!!
[Note:
Although the Steps and Traditions are both mentioned as being the
subject of scrutiny there's a notable absence of the latter
throughout the schedule. We can only wonder why! Never mind... the Wizard of
Oz will be there (Clancy I) to lecture on Step 12 ..... All will be
well!]
But we
digress....
So now we
come to the event flier (downloadable from the site) and the always
irksome question of …. money!!!
90 dollars
plus accommodation is what this “intimate” gathering will cost
you. It would seem however that there is no lack of punters;
reservations are now closed... shame!
The
organiser (or at least the guy picking up the dough) is a fellow
called Bob Darrall.
Now a little bit of internet research (no more than a couple of minutes!) revealed further information about Bob D (as we might say in AA if we were at all interested in Tradition 12 – of which we know nothing of course!). Now Bob it would seem runs (or ran) a company called Darralect Entertainment LLC (a domestic limited liability company).
A few more clicks gave us sundry details - name, age, address etc
none of which are of great interest. Then we came across something
called Stateline Retreat Inc (yet another domestic non profit
corporation) registered under the name of Joseph F Kyle Esq but in
which the positions of director, president, secretary and treasurer
are ALL held by …... dear old Bob Darrall (the board meetings must
be absolutely riveting!)
But now it suddenly struck us - the Woodstock connection was clear! The light had finally dawned! The Stateline retreat had absolutely nothing to do with AA! It was just ….......... show biz! Phew! What a relief! Well THAT'S OK THEN!
Cheerio
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
