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Sunday 29 September 2013

Conference Questions (2013) forum discussion (contd)


Committee No. 3 

Question 1: 

Inventory Question

Would the Fellowship discuss and share experience on whether we as a fellowship are satisfied with the level of 12th step work that is being done at the various levels of Service? 

Background: 

“Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick.”

(Alcoholics Anonymous, page 164)

Tradition 5

[See also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]

Extracts:

The simple answer will always be No but then the question invites that response. My own experience (which cannot necessarily be extrapolated any more generally) is as follows: I was virtually dragged to my first AA meeting by my long-suffering wife. I didn't want to be there, didn't believe I had a problem, was - as far as I can recall since I was half pissed - welcomed accordingly, and spoken to at length by an 'old timer' (25 years plus) and even offered a lift home. I had no interest in the meeting nor in what anyone else had to say and I couldn't get out of there fast enough at the end. My second meeting (some year or so later) I got to on my own after ringing the phone office. I was offered a contact but declined. I didn't want anyone coming round to my home. When I arrived at the meeting I was met by a couple of guys who got me a cup of tea. The remainder of those present carried on conversing in groups about the room. I listened to what was said and at the end of the meeting I was given a Where to Find , a beginners' pack and a couple of phone numbers. I made my way back home. I repeated the same thing on the following day. People respected my privacy, did not intrude where they were not likely to be welcome, didn't tell me what to do and seemed to realise that they were not dealing with a complete basket case. I did get a sponsor (but only because that seemed to be the 'done' thing). I subsequently realised that I neither wanted nor needed one and thereafter relied on what I heard in meetings, my friends, my own experience and my own judgement. Now I'm an 'old timer' so it seemed to have worked for me. Over the years I've observed people getting the full 'treatment' who've relapsed time and time again, some leaving AA and some dying in the process. They might have been 'sponsored up' to the hilt, whisked through the programme without time to think, told to do this that and the other (whatever seemed fashionable at the time) and all to no effect. On the other hand I've seen plenty of guys break all the 'rules' (masquerading as 'suggestions' - of which there seem to be an ever increasing number), do it 'all wrong' and who've still managed to get and stay sober ie. they wanted recovery badly enough. In brief AA members do- and generally continue to do - what is humanly possible, which by definition is always imperfect and incomplete (hence the redundant nature of the question). The responsibility thereafter lies with the individual themselves and with their own conception of a Higher Power. In my view there is an over-emphasis in AA on 'human' power and contrivance (primarily through the much abused sponsorship system (referred to by Dr Bob as 'sponsor worship') and not enough emphasis (and trust) on and in the inherent wisdom and intuitive 'power' of every human being. An alcoholic who truly wants recovery is unstoppable and really needs nothing more than exposure to the 'shared' experience (and example) of others who have preceded them (without any accessory conditions or 'contracts' being imposed ie. what is commonly known as 'unconditional love'). For those who don't want what we have there really is nothing to be done and no amount of tinkering on our part will change that. That they do not recover is not their 'fault' nor certainly is it ours! It's called alcoholism. (see the three 'pertinent ideas' Chapter Five, Alcoholics Anonymous – any edition you like) “

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

See also AA Minority Report 2013

Saturday 28 September 2013

Clone mail!


From time to time we get mails from members which are generally intelligent, perceptive, moving, thoughtful, and well worth the read. And then unfortunately we get mail from cult members as well! These are usually the direct antithesis: banal, scripted, arrogant, myopic and sometimes even abusive. Occasionally one of the latter make an attempt at irony, presumably seeking to exercise what little capacity for independent thought and imagination they still retain. Oh dear, oh dear! Not a good idea! Here is the latest offering from a budding (but failing) Noël Coward: 

I'd like to take the time to thank you for providing me with a list of all the AA meetings where I can find people practicing [sic] the true program of Alcoholics Anonymous as outlined in the literature. 

cheers and thanks for the great work! 

One real alcoholic.” 

(from someone calling himself Chris S – we always like to give 'credit' where credit's due!) 

We know – yawn! But there you have it. The very epitome of cult wit! But then that's as good as it gets! 

The author of this 'gem' is, as you have may have guessed, referring to our listings for cult meetings in Great Britain, the United States and the Rest of the world. Whilst these are far from comprehensive they give a rough idea of how extensively the rot has spread within AA, or at least in terms of this particular brand of fundamentalist dogma. You will note the reference to the “true program of Alcoholics Anonymous as outlined in the literature”. We have to say that to date we haven't come across a single cult member who seems to have even a nodding acquaintance with the aforementioned texts. Rather they have had the regurgitated version thrust down their throats by some so-called Big Book 'expert' who in turn no doubt was tutored by some equally ignorant sponsor - and so on up the line! A bad case of the blind leading the blind! And then of course he signs off: “One real alcoholic”. Only one! Is there only one real alcoholic in the whole of AA! Goodness gracious! Who have we been mixing with all these years? A bunch of fakes! 

Perhaps it would be better to leave this “one”, “true” alcoholic to his own private fantasy whilst the rest of us get on with the business of living in the “real” world 

Cheerio 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous … and Noël Coward!)

Friday 27 September 2013

"Those Goof Balls", November, 1945, Bill W





See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Thursday 26 September 2013

On a lighter note!


A default Sans Serif font walks into a bar. The bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve your type here!" 
 
A drunk walks out of a bar and sees a nun standing at a bus stop. He walks up to her and punches her in the face. When she falls to the ground, he starts screaming, "You're not so tough now, are you, Batman?" 
 
A dyslexic guy walks into a bra.
 
Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Alcohol research


InitialI nteraction of Newcomers in Alcoholics Anonymous: A Field Experiment in Class Symbols and Socialization, Lofland JF, Lejeune RA, Social Problems, Vol.8 (2), 102-111, 1960

This paper reports an exploratory field experiment on one aspect of one of the alcoholic therapy organizations, Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. enjoys the reputation of being one of the more effective organizations in helping alcoholics arrest their sickness. Attention has naturally turned to the problem of why a larger number of alcoholics do not affiliate with A.A. (5,8). We are concerned with the sociological features of this problem and specifically with what features of the social structures of A.A. groups may facilitate or deter affiliation.”

See also Links and downloads 

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Conference Questions (2013) forum discussion (contd)


Committee No. 2

Question 2: 

Would the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations on the question of:

What can AA do to better carry the message to young alcoholics both inside and outside of the Fellowship?

More specifically, would Conference consider, discuss and make recommendations on the following:

a. What can be done to make AA more of an attractive place to young people inside of AA?
b. What can be done to make AA more of an attractive place to young people outside of AA?
c. Consider updating the “Too Young?” poster with input from younger members?
d. Could young people be represented in the AA structure?


Background

In Continental Europe Region there is a position of Young People contact who has a Liaison Officer role with full voting rights.

Ref:

Too young poster AAGB
Too young poster AA US
Too Young pamphlet
 

[See also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]

Extracts:

In reply to ....., 
I don’t think the articles I selected concerning ICYPPA were isolated examples, or out of context. I could have included more. It can be noted the dates of the articles span the period 1986-2010. The AA Grapevine digital archive does not yet include the years 2011 and 2012. I too would invite people to read all the articles about ICYPPA in AA Grapevine and Box 4-5-9. I was not implying that ICYPPA is not part of AA, but suggest that the status, conduct and purpose of ICYPPA and Young People’s groups be re-evaluated in context with AA Traditions, Concepts and AA public relations. 

As long as young people appreciate that large scale gatherings of thousands of alcoholics attracting public attention parallel the large public gatherings of the Washingtonian movement (The Language of the Heart p 5) then I suppose that's OK. The Washingtonian Movement's public relations failed and the movement collapsed. AA is now holding large public gatherings. Those who are aware of national press reports concerning AA in the USA and Great Britain will be aware that some press reports in recent years are much less than positive. These large scale AA gatherings and failing AA public relations at national levels parallel Washingtoninan Movement history. There were over 4000 attendees at the 2008 ICYPPA Los Angeles convention (Box 4-5-9 April/May 2008); 44,000 young and old attendees at the Toronto international convention in 2005 (AA Grapevine October 2005).

Since history tends to repeat itself, for the present and future welfare of AA, I think each new generation needs to consider whether it is continuing to repeat constructive history or repeating the destructive. I suggest young people in AA boycott large scale international events and attend regional forums instead.

It seems to me with an increasing effort to attract young people in recent years with organised events and special comic strip literature, by treating them like juveniles instead adults, the fellowship is becoming less attractive to young people in general. Of the 140 million alcohol dependent people worldwide,[1] the young alcoholics among them will be as diverse in attitude, creed, race, culture, taste and opinion as any other group in world society. I think youth organisation appeals only to a proportion of young people; it is not necessarily inclusive to all youth of differing cultures in a multi-racial society. The fellowship census 2010, Great Britain,  http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/download/1/Library/Documents/AA%20Surveys/2010%20Survey.pdf shows the proportion of young people in the fellowship was relatively stable at 7 -9% in the period 1978 – 1997, but had fallen to 5% in 2002. This appears to reflect the overall worldwide membership estimates which show reasonable growth until 2002.

AA membership estimates:
1960: 250,000 (The Language of the Heart p 308)
1965: 350,000 (The Language of the Heart p 328)
1976: 1,000,000 (Forward to 3rd edition Big Book)
2002: 2,215,293 (Box 4-5-9 Summer 2002)
2007: 2,000,000 (Forward to 4th edition Big Book)
2012: 2,133,842 (Box 4-5-9 Summer 2012)

Rather than trying to attract young people by having a special contact and celebrating sobriety in large AA events and thereby making a public spectacle of itself, I think AA as a whole needs to reflect on why it is only appealing to 2.1 million of the 140 million alcoholics worldwide. The harmful use of alcohol results in approximately 2.5 million deaths each year [2] this is more than there are AA members in the whole worldwide fellowship.

1 World Health Organisation, Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, 2011
2 World Health Organisation, European Ministerial Conference on Young People and Alcohol, Stockholm, Sweden, 2001 ”


and:

Just a correction to the above post. The reference numbers to the World Health Organisation reports should have been the other way round. (2 being 1) For anyone interested, they can be read online by putting the document titles into a search engine. “

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

See also AA Minority Report 2013

Monday 23 September 2013

Sexual predators in AA (“13 Stepping”)






Apart from some minor factual inaccuracies we think this video should not be dismissed by AA members simply as an expression of 'resentment' on the part of a few disenchanted members but rather an issue which needs to be taken a great deal more seriously by all of us. We were particularly interested in the comments of an ex-AA world board member (Jim B) regarding the much misquoted Tradition Four ie. each group is autonomous, which seems to be employed to justify inaction on the part of the fellowship at virtually every service level. What the Tradition actually says is: 

Four—Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.” (short form) 

4.—With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.”

(our emphases) 

In other words this tradition may not be employed to exempt AA groups or the General Service board from their responsibility to ensure our 'common welfare' (which includes direct intervention where necessary to prevent such abuses occurring). Where the abuse is of a criminal nature the relevant authorities need to be notified and full co-operation extended to the police in assisting them with their enquiries. Failure to do so in Great Britain at least constitutes an offence. The defence of anonymity may not be used to hide the identity of the perpetrator. Similarly there exists legal redress with regard to stalking and harassment Harassment may include: “repeated attempts to impose unwanted communications and contacts upon a victim in a manner that could be expected to cause distress or fear in any reasonable person”. (Thus, for example, a particularly intrusive sponsor who repeatedly seeks to impose their will upon a sponsee can be warned that their behaviour may fall into this category and be advised accordingly). AA guidelines on abusive conduct should be prominently displayed at all meetings and where necessary read out periodically to ensure that every member of the group is made aware of these and their own responsibilities (Personal Conduct Matters (Guidelines for Alcoholics Anonymous in Great Britain: No. 17). Where an individual has been identified as constituting a menace (on the basis of reliable information and not mere gossip) they should be advised their conduct will no longer be tolerated. If they fail to take heed a group is entirely within its rights to ban them from their meeting and to notify other groups in the area accordingly. Abusers need to understand that they must take full responsibility for their own conduct and thereafter bear the consequences of their actions. Not only must AA meetings be a safe place to share - they must also be a safe place to meet. 

Cheers 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Sunday 22 September 2013

AA Dogma and the Newcomer


A post we believe worth quoting in full: (Source: San Diego Reader – Community Blog

I Am Battling Alcoholism 

I will always have an affectionate affinity towards AA. AA feels homey; tolerant . . . It reminds me of my own big, happy dysfunctional family. In meetings, low-bottom drunks or angry people are perennially spouting off and the offenders are usually treated with kindness and tolerance

In the words of the founder of AA, Bill Wilson, AA is “maddeningly democratic.” Rarely do you see such inclusiveness in the ever increasingly divisive world we inhabit. Where can you see a parolee laughing and joshing with a prominent businessman?

However, there are some things that I have observed through the years that just don’t make sense to me. Sometimes, I believe some AAers can be extraordinarily myopic in their inability to see the “Big Picture.” But even worse is when the Big Picture is replaced by dogma. This is just my opinion mind you, and I certainly do not expect to sway or convince anyone I’m right. 

I believe Bill’s original program was practically unassailable: it was simple beautiful and effective. But, as with any other spiritual program/religion, when humans put their own twisted, agenda-ridden spin on things, the messages can get skewed.

I did not write this piece for the purpose of bashing AA. I wrote this for newcomers that may be encountering unforeseen issues and for AAers as food-for- thought. The following are three dogmatic statements you might hear as a newcomer. If you choose to not be bothered by them, great! But if you sense something unsettling about what you are hearing and not sure why, allow me to illuminate. . . 

1)You must have a higher Power, you must have a sponsor, you must do the steps in order to stay sober and be happy. Otherwise, you will drink again or be an unhappy dry drunk.

Absolutist, either-or-statements seem to be the biggest obstacle for most newcomers. They remind me of Christians telling non-believers: “If you don’t accept Jesus Christ as your savior you will go to hell.” When beliefs are presented as facts, it becomes dogma. The Webster’s definition of dogma: strict adherence to beliefs without question. Hello AA! I want to shake my home group sometimes and tell them: “We have no idea if the above mentioned statements we make to newcomers are categorically true. Some people do all of these things, and still fail. Others do none of the above, still don’t get drunk, and are happy.” 

I discovered while attending the interminably long albeit well-deserved DUI program I was mandated to attend that most of my fellow attendees had a wearily cynical view of AA. It seemed that many people were not adverse to having a sponsor or going to meetings; that was not it. It was the heavy handed, “either or” mentality that repelled potential newcomers. Of course many of my classmates wanted to get sober. But as newcomers, they simply could not-- without question--embrace some of the main tenets of AA after only a couple of meetings. Who asks you to just jump into something, giving it your all without asking questions? Cults do! Do not let AA people rush you into getting a sponsor right away or talk you into giving your entire life to AA. If you want to, great! But if you feel a little circumspect, not sure, that is okay, too

Believe me, if you stick around long enough, AA zealots, known as “Big Book Thumpers,” will start noticing you and will begin making “suggestions.” The salient suggestion is always: don’t be on the “periphery” of AA, be in the “center of the herd.” In my early sobriety, these zealot types tried to make me feel guilty and lazy for not participating more. But being able to objectively look back now, I realize remaining on the on the periphery proved to be wise. I discovered that many core members in my home group were seriously screwed up! They gossiped scandalously, were snobbish and cliquish. They also told newcomers not to take medication. 

I do not mean to imply that all meetings are created equal. Even though AA is supposed to be “democratic” as evidenced in the creation of the “Twelve Traditions,” unfortunately, hierarchies form. Usually the old timers of the meeting are running the show. They set the pace, the countenance, the ambience of the meeting. Whatever they engage in--good or bad--is going to have a formidable influence on the other members. I’ve seen meetings go seriously south because the kind, compassionate old timers had stopped coming and were replaced by members displaying all sorts of negative behavior. 

Working with others” and “Spreading the message” are ways of doing service, giving back, and derivi [sic - section seems to be missing] 

Perhaps you are a successful doctor that has a drinking problem. And perhaps the AAer that is pontificating your head off after the meeting is a Willy Loman salesman type. He may be intimidated by you. But AA gives him the chance to shine and show you that he has “something” you don’t have: sobriety. For once in his life he can feel superior. See through this person’s insecurities and don’t let his condescension alienate you enough not to want to return to a meeting.

If you know you are an alcoholic and know that you have not been successful quitting on your own, you have probably come to the conclusion that you need help. You see that these AA people have been able to achieve long term sobriety and this gives you hope that you can too. You realize In order to be successful, taking direction is crucial. With that in mind, you become “willing to listen” and are “open to suggestions.” 

Okay, so here’s the rub. There is a quote from the Big Book said in the preamble of every AA meeting: “If you want we have and are willing to go to any lengths, then you are ready to take certain steps . . .” This quote can cause you problems. You see, some AAers can use this quote as a vehicle for their own agendas and need to control.

You may start feeling rather conflicted and confused. You know you need to be willing to take suggestions, do the work, and trust the process, but at the same time you may feel manipulated by an AAer. His “suggestions” seem more like “orders” that you may find unduly invasive. But, if you do not agree with a “suggestion” or simply will not take a “suggestion” you may be accused of not “going to any lengths” or told you are “unwilling.” So which one is true? Are you just being stubborn and unwilling, or is someone making unreasonable demands upon you? Sometimes the lines can get very blurred. Exercising discernment is paramount. Just because an old timer has sobriety does not mean they know better. Try and extrapolate if the person’s motives are altruistic, or if they are really just trying to control you or need to feel superior to you. 

2) You’ll feel relieved and serene after doing your Fourth Step. However, if you leave something out you’ll drink again.

If you are not familiar with the fourth step allow me to elaborate: the fourth Step is where you get honest. In the first part, you write down all your resentments and anger towards all the people and institutions that have wronged you. Following this, is the second part where you admit all your wrongs against people/ institutions. 

You will be told that a tremendous burden will be lifted and you will feel positively euphoric after you’ve unloaded. Okay? I was raised Catholic, so I’m intimately familiar with this step due to the weekly confessions we were required to attend growing up . . . Some may feel cleansed and better, but not all. Personally, I felt terrible doing my Fourth Step, due to the *** sponsors I had. I felt supremely judged, and a little stupid for confessing to the “wrong person” twice. One sponsor shook her head in disdainful disbelief about an omission concerning lying on my resume, and the other sponsor awaited my Sex Inventory as if I was * Star. When I did not tell her everything (I believe we have a right to our privacy—especially what we do in the bedroom should be no one’s business) she looked genuinely disappointed! I mean really! According to the film” Bill Wilson” and biographers research, Bill had affairs throughout his marriage, drinking or not. It’s doubtful a sexual inventory would have even been included if Bill had been faithful . . . not all of us have sexual hang-ups or liaisons we feel the need to confess. 

The next time I do my fourth step, I am going to a priest and I suggest you do the same. They are really experienced at this sort of thing. You will not be judged. But, if you choose to do it with your sponsor, or another AAer, please choose someone very much like you culturally that is in the same socio-economic class as you. So if you are an ex- prostitute, I’d suggest you confess to another ex-prostitute. Picking some uppity lady from the ‘burbs who would understand “affairs” but not “prostitution” could prove to be an epic mistake. Sponsors know they are not supposed to say anything about your step, but believe me some can’t help but gossip because that is their nature. You did not sign a privacy agreement with her so legally she can talk smack about you all she wants. It’s not like you can sue her for defamation!

3) All you need in order to recover is AA. You don’t need therapy, medication or education. I often wonder if Bill W. would even recognize his program today, it’s been so twisted by no doubt, well-meaning zealots. Yes, AA is a faith-based program. But that doesn’t translate into “not science based.” Bill W. was extremely interested in the science behind addiction. However, at the time, Bill only had anecdotal evidence to back up his “physical allergy,” and “disease” claims about alcoholism. Bill never chose to be willfully ignorant of science nor did he want his followers to do the same. He had great thirst for knowledge and had a lot of respect for the medical and science fields. At one point, he became obsessed with finding medical antidotes to cure his enduring depression. He also had a lot of respect for psychologists like Carl Jung and William James and wrote highly of them as well as quoting them in the Big Book. 

When I first got to AA ten years ago, and even today, I hear a lot of people joke about how patently useless shrinks and medication are in curing alcoholism. And that the only things you need are the AA program and the Big Book. Once in an AA meeting I brought up a book I’d read, “Under the Influence” an evocative book written by a doctor explaining the genetic component of alcoholism. I soon found myself besieged by Thumpers at the end of the meeting, telling me the only book I needed to be concerned with was the “Big Book.” This I found rather contrary. Considering most AA cadets fully embrace the alcoholism-as-a-disease concept; it would naturally follow these people would want to know everything about their disease. If you had cancer, wouldn’t you want to read up on it? So why were they so repelled by a book explain the disease of alcoholism? Because they have let dogma replace reason that is why.

Listening can be dangerous to your health. It has been estimated that approximately forty-percent of all addicts have concomitant psychological disorders fueling their addiction. Yes, AA is the salient component of recovery from alcoholism, but it is not all. Many people have committed suicide or have been hospitalized due to AAers telling them not to take medicine or seek therapy. 

AA is not perfect. If you are a person that refuses to embrace dogma, you will be able to admit this. However, if you are a zealot, and hear something negative about AA-- no matter how accurate the assessment is--you will, more than likely, be fiercely defensive of all things AA. There is nothing I can do to change your mind. But please, old timers: Don’t be sanctimonious in your convictions. Allow the newcomer to come to his own conclusions on his own time, not yours.”

Comment: The last are admirable sentiments but we doubt somehow the author's exhortations will be heeded. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are hardly essentials for recovery within the cult.

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Saturday 21 September 2013

International Cultic Studies Association conference (Santa Fe)


ICSA Conference
High Demand Groups: Helping Former Members and Families

The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is conducting a conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico November 2-3, 2013. This conference will focus on the helping needs of former group members and families concerned about a loved one in a high-demand or cultic group or relationship. The conference will take place at La Fonda on the Plaza, one of Santa Fe's finest hotels, located in the heart of the old city.

The agenda will address the needs of those seeking help and those who want to help others. 

Speakers include some of the cultic studies field's most experienced mental health professionals, as well as other experts.  Among the mental health professionals attending will be contributors to a book project that will present the clinical state of the art in this field.

Attend this conference if you are interested in how psychologically manipulative and demanding groups can hurt people and what can be done to help those who are harmed.

Friday 20 September 2013

Alcohol research


Addiction, spirituality and 12-step programmes, Dossett W, International Social Work, 56(3) 369–383, 2013

Abstract

Drawing on qualitative data, this article attempts to clarify the language of spirituality as used in relation to addiction and recovery. It explores what is meant by ‘spirituality’ in the context of 12-step programmes followed in the numerous anonymous mutual help groups which address the problem of addiction to a variety of substances and behaviours, and raises some of the most frequently cited problems with a ‘spiritual’ approach. It argues that wariness on the part of social workers (and other professionals) of 12-step programmes on grounds of their religious/spiritual dimension may benefit from reconsideration. It also suggests that social workers might be informed and empowered to support those individuals and families who chose to seek recovery through the 12 steps.”


PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Our thanks to the member who brought this paper to our attention 

Thursday 19 September 2013

Conference Questions (2013) forum discussion (contd)


Committee No. 2 

Question 2: 

Would the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations on the question of:

What can AA do to better carry the message to young alcoholics both inside and outside of the Fellowship?

More specifically, would Conference consider, discuss and make recommendations on the following:

a. What can be done to make AA more of an attractive place to young people inside of AA?
b. What can be done to make AA more of an attractive place to young people outside of AA?
c. Consider updating the “Too Young?” poster with input from younger members?
d. Could young people be represented in the AA structure?


Background

In Continental Europe Region there is a position of Young People contact who has a Liaison Officer role with full voting rights.

Ref:

Too young poster AAGB
Too young poster AA US
Too Young pamphlet
 

[See also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]

Extracts:

Reading the reports of the Continental Europe Region’s Young People contact, I am concerned the contact’s role also appears to include the promotion of International Conferences of Young People in AA (ICYPPA). I think there needs to be some clarification of the status of ICYPAA and Young people’s groups (YPGs, YPAA) in relation to AA Traditions, Concepts, and AA public relations.

Relating to the extracts of AA Grapevine articles below, it seems to me ICYPAA events which attract several thousand young alcoholics at a time are organised by older alcoholics who are creating emotionally charged environments which border on orchestrating mass hysteria. I think young (and old) alcoholics need to be able to discern the difference between what is emotional experience and that which is spiritual. I think it needs to be seriously considered in which direction the fellowship is going. Whether it continues to grow on a non- religious spiritual path, or whether it stagnates on a diversion into religious emotionalism. I wonder what emotional states young people return home to school or work after such “mind blowing” AA? events. I am also concerned at what families, friends and professional therapists think of newly sober young people disappearing for such events. I think any trained exit counsellors would be concerned about hearing of information packed events which combine bonding rituals, sleep deprivation, intense activity and “mind blowing” emotional excitement, which in turn induce euphoric feelings of “spiritual?” experience and strong emotional bonds.

“Dear Grapevine Back-up plan scrapped” (AA Grapevine August 2010)
“I AM 20 years old…… Rehab introduced me to the longest period of sobriety I'd known, and to AA. In one of the meetings I found a flyer from the International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA). The Tuesday following my release from rehab I went to a meeting organizing a bus trip to Atlanta, Ga., for ICYPAA. I had no money but someone decided to drag me along. We left the next day. Can you imagine 3,000 young people in AA together celebrating sobriety and life? It was mind-blowing….”

"THE FUN FACTOR" (AA Grapevine February 2010)
“Walking into the rooms of AA at 17 years old, I was extremely skeptical about how fun the whole "sobriety thing" was going to be….. INCYPAA started its first bid to host the International Convention of Young People in AA (ICYPAA) and brought the bid to ICYPAA 2009 in Atlanta, Ga.
Arriving there after a nine-hour drive, I was overwhelmed with excitement. There was never a minute when there was nothing to do. The main speakers knocked me off my feet, made me laugh and made me cry….”

“Dear Grapevine Pure delight” (AA Grapevine June 2009)
“….ICYPAA is pure delight. Where else can you compete with your fellows to have fun over a 30-hour period without sleep?”

"Sobriety Rocks! " (AA Grapevine March 1988)
“There was much hugging at ICYPAA, in part because participants were given, at registration, a "warm fuzzy," which was a pompom made of short pieces of colored yarn worn around the neck: whenever a hug was exchanged, the huggers tied pieces of the yarn onto the other's neckpiece, with the goal of losing the warm fuzzy and gaining a lei of multi-colored yarn. Australian Tony A., currently living in Norfolk, Connecticut, said, "I ended up with hundreds of colorful ties on my string, a graphic illustration of 'you only get it by giving it away.' My pompom ended up threadbare and I ended up very well hugged." These "bonding rituals," as Tony called them, created for him "unbelievable feelings of belonging to a tribe that accepted me as kin even though I was 10,000 miles from home." David of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, also noted the importance of hugs: "At three years and ten months sober, I'm just now hugging people without jumping back or flinching. After I got back from ICYPAA, I saw a friend of mine and hugged him, and he said, 'Wow, a real hug from you! What happened?' I said, 'Go to ICYPAA and see for yourself.
Another distinguishing feature of ICYPAA is what might be called its interactive audience. ICYPAA participants often funneled their energy into whoops and hollers, whistles, calls, wild applause, and ritualized responses. For example, one person may give the sudden spontaneous cry--say, in the cafeteria or before a large meeting started--"ICKY! ICKY! ICKY!" which will be followed by a shouted chorus of "PAA! PAA! PAA!" Whenever someone introduced herself or himself at a meeting--i.e., said "My name is Jane and I'm an alcoholic"--everyone shouted, "Hi, Jane! We love you, Jane, lots and lots and lots--and who-o-o-ole bunches!"

“AA News: Young people party in NYC's Times Square at ICYPAA 52” (AA Grapevine October 2010)
“Starting with a packed sunset boat cruise around Manhattan and ending with a trip to historic Coney Island in Brooklyn, the 52nd Annual International Conference of Young People in AA (ICYPAA) drew more than 4,000 AAs to New York City from Aug. 26-29,2010.
"There's so much energy and I can remember the things I did," said Sara I., 22, of Fair Lawn, N.J., who was sober 55 days.
Included in the agenda were main speaker meetings; round-the-clock "marathon" meetings; presentations about AA World Service, Grapevine and other AA topics; Al-Anon and Alateen meetings; and dancing and entertainment each night.
"The stuff I'm doing here I'd normally be doing drunk," said Brooke D., 30, of Clifton, N.J. "It's weird being joyful while being sober."
For those wanting to play tourist, an information booth offered lists of local places to eat and visit; and maps of the city, subway and historic AA spots. Attendees could meet there hourly and connect with others wanting to explore the city….”

"ICYPAA Bounces Back" (AA Grapevine October 2006)
“…..On Thursday, the Pre-Conference Event kicked off at the recently reopened Aquarium of the Americas. AAs wound through the aquarium for exotic views of maritime flora and fauna. Penguins played in a simulation of their natural habitat and charmed their audience. Over plates of jambalaya, AAs hailed old friends, met new ones, and brought them along to the 10:30 P.M. speaker meeting in the Napoleon Ballroom to finish off the evening….. On Saturday evening, young AAs, suited up and slicked-down, entered the Armstrong Ballroom to share a banquet dinner. Later, conference attendees were surprised with a Mardi Gras parade--a brightly painted float circled the Napoleon Ballroom while masked AAs threw beaded necklaces and doubloons. The Cajun beat rocked the crowd and bounced off the rafters, as ICYPAAs jumped and stretched to catch the beads rocketing colorfully through the air. When all the beads had been caught and most of the jumping had died down, the sobriety countdown began. By the time AAs began to stand and claim their thirty days, twenty days, ten days, ICYPAA attendees were cheering with a fevered pitch of love and excitement….”

"Bidding for a New Life" (AA Grapevine July 1997)
“….Then our turn came. The room was filled with around 500 sober drunks, and even before we got into place, the "clapping beat" became so loud that I was overwhelmed. I felt so much love in that room, I forgot completely about my dance steps, and started jumping up and down uncontrollably, crying out loud. It was like God reached out and grabbed me and made me okay all at once. At that moment, I knew that I had a home and it was Alcoholics Anonymous. At that point, I was two years and a couple of days sober. That feeling has never left me. In an instant I experienced a fundamental change that I can't describe except to say that I've never felt alone since then. I realized that I'd been given everything I'd ever wanted--love, freedom, a home.
…… As I said earlier, I am happy, joyous, and free today, mostly because I've found a sponsor, Tom N. of Milwaukee, who has taken me through the "program of action" found in our basic text, and I have "had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps."….”

"SAY NO TO NOTHING" (AA Grapevine February 2010)
A German 'recluse' bursts out of her shell at ICYPAA 51
“….I set down my bags, went out for a smoke, and was kidnapped by ICYPAA old-timers. I got back about 13 hours later with two other AAs who crashed in my bed. After two hours of sleep, I jumped out of bed and yearned for more. That was two days before the conference actually started. ….I have truly been rocketed into a fourth dimension I never knew existed….. I always believed I would experience the Promises in my life, but I never expected them to all be thrown at me over one short weekend. I stood in the meeting room with 3,500 drunks under the age of 30, and I had chills running down my spine and tears in my eyes. …..I stood on my chair and danced to Bob Marley…… The spirituality in the room could have knocked me over. ….The first bit of advice I received was very useful. I was riding through Atlanta in the back of a pickup truck, and the "old-timers," who had been to at least three ICYPAAs before, said, "Say no to nothing, do it all, and sleep as little as possible." …..But before I knew it, I was on the stage at a nightclub full of sober people, raving with the D.J. I stopped and thought, Can this be right? Can this be spiritual? Can sobriety be so much fun? I asked God for an intuitive thought or decision, only to be thrown back into reality by a song that said, "Shut up and dance." At that moment I was released from the bondage of self. I knew, at that moment, I had found my place in this world…….At the beginning of each meeting, the speaker would introduce him or herself, "Hi, I am_____ and I am an alcoholic," and then the thousands of young people would return with, "Hi, _____, we love you, _____, lots and lots and lots and WHOOOOOLE BUNCHES! Whooo!" (This was accompanied by a group pelvic thrust toward the speaker which seemed to get bigger later in the weekend). And in "How it Works," when the line, "What an order! I can't go through with it," was read, everyone would yell, "B__________t!"
That is the attitude I left with. If you think you can't enjoy life in sobriety, "B__________t!" …….We are the next generation of old-timers, the future of this Fellowship. We, young people in AA around the world, are on fire with recovery.”

"Young People Smash the Delusion" (AA Grapevine October 2008)
“The surge of emotion at the 50th annual International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, had only a little to do with the vast quantities of coffee, soda, and energy drinks being consumed.
"There's a vibe here," said Stosh G., of Neptune, New Jersey. "Everybody here is excited about being sober."….. It's obvious that AAs come to ICYPAA to have fun, with a pre-conference trip to amusement park Frontier City, a scavenger hunt, dances in the ballroom every night, a game room, a film festival, karaoke, and jam sessions. Just about everywhere, people were smiling, hugging, and screaming with joy over running into an old friend….. "Many of the young alcoholics who attended . . . will go on to be the next generation of delegates, trustees, and board members," said Megan B., New York, New York, ICYPAA Advisory Council Chair. "It brought me a tremendous amount of hope for the future of AA." Other types of service were obvious all over the convention center. Tom P. of Oklahoma City offered foot massages, a service he'd started at the International Convention in 2000 in Minneapolis. "I saw a lot of people who were doing a lot of walking," he said.” On Saturday night, four Grapevine Reps from New York City and Michigan appeared in grape costumes--bunches of purple balloons--to hand out subscription cards to the Grapevine and increase awareness of the international journal of AA. "It's our magazine," said Raina….”

"FOREVER YOUNG"
The evolution of young people's groups in AA (AA Grapevine February 2010)
“….Young AAs think nothing of driving 15 hours on Friday, sleeping en masse on someone's floor, attending a Saturday event, then turning around on Sunday and driving back in time for school or work. I've done it myself. Thus the young people's groups establish strong personal ties by speaking at each other's groups and supporting each other's activities. Now there are young people's AA conventions in Canada, Australia, South Africa, Sweden and other international locations. Europe is preparing to host its first young people's convention in 2010….”

"PO Box 1980 Back on track" (AA Grapevine April 1993)
“….I came across a copy of the October 1986 Grapevine, with the heading, "Sunlight of the Spirit." I opened it up and the first word I saw on the page was "ICYPAA." It brought me back immediately to the theme of last year's ICYPAA (International Conference of Young People in AA), which was "Back to Basics." I saw what I needed to do, and so I called my sponsor, read the Big Book, the "Twelve and Twelve." and my daily reflections meditation. From then on my life increased spiritually, and I made several amends--one very special one to my sister. Then I called my father, and he asked me to speak at a meeting down in Albany.
So by some strange coincidence, I went back to basics, was shown the sunlight of the spirit, and got my recovery back on track….”

"The Blizzard of '82" (AA Grapevine October 1989)
“….If you have never loved an AA group this won't interest you much. But we were a close knit bunch and Young Peoples' was something still fairly new in western Massachusetts. Ours was one of the biggest meetings in the valley. About one hundred and fifty people every week. All the chairs were taken and it was standing room only right to the wall. In the warm weather we gauged the size of the meeting by the number of motorcycles in front. It was a five- or a seven- or a ten-bike meeting. There had been many unforgettable moments there for all of us. This abrupt interruption in the routine brought some of them to mind on the long walk toward downtown Springfield.
One year we had a Christmas meeting and after the Lord's Prayer we had arranged to have some AA kids come in and sing a few carols. "Rudolph," "O Little Town of Bethlehem." But the one that got everybody was "Silent Night." There wasn't a dry eye in the room. Recently I got a phone call from the father of one of those "kids," who is now in college.
One year we had a going away party for committee members who would fly a big jet down to Memphis to put a bid in for the ICYPAA Conference. The house was more packed than ever. All the walls were plastered with posters and cut-out letters saying "Bon Voyage" and balloons were strung across the front of the hall. Some area level service people had shown up just for support. They had given the bid committee everything they could right from the start to get it off the ground and into the air….”

"Sunlight of the Spirit" (AA Grapevine October 1986)
“….In the reading of "How It Works," for example, following the words "Here are the steps we took. . ." the audience "helps" the reader by shouting out the numbers of the Steps in unison.
"ONE!"
"We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."
"TWO!"
"Came to believe. . ."
"THREE!" and so on all the way through the Steps, until the audience overreaches itself and shouts out "THIRTEEN!"
This impulsive addition, however, is met with a resounding and collective "BOO!"--putting to rest one of the common misconceptions about young people's groups.
Then, finally, in the phrase following the words, "Many of us exclaimed. . ." the audience again chimes in, right on cue: "'What an order! I can't go through with it,'" adding, however, an emotional addendum not written into the original text in response to this blatant form of denial. Can't go through with it, you say?
"BULL----!"…….
………."ICKY-PAA! ICKY-PAA! ICKY-PAA!" they chanted………
.……Once again at the microphone, Larry Y. reached into his coat pocket to extract yet another envelope, signaling that the 1987 site selection was about to be announced. The banquet hall exploded into a cacophony of chants.
"SOBAH! SOBAH! SOBAH!"
"California!"
"Tennessee! Tennessee! Tennessee!"
"TULSA!"
"ICYPAA! ICYPAA! ICYPAA!"
When the envelope was opened and the final selection named, nearly a quarter of the audience rose to its feet as one in wild, unbounded celebration.
"SOBAH! SOBAH!" the slogan of the Boston bid committee rang out, making clear once and for all just what a regional accent will do. Quite sober, "SOBAH" will be the theme of the 30th ICYPAA.
……….When the final meeting of the conference came to a close, in a swaying chain of linked arms, the conference joined together in a rendition of "Amazing Grace."

“PO Box 1980 Two Letters on rituals in AA” (AA Grapevine July 1998)
“The ritualized chanting that went on at ICYPAA (reported in the March Grapevine) seems to be more and more common at AA meetings nationwide. We need to guard against any actions in AA meetings that might be construed as cultish, and that includes chanting. When AA members shout "What's the point?" during the reading of "How It Works," newcomers feel excluded and old-timers cringe with embarrassment. Instead of ritualizing our responses, let's just sit quietly and give the speaker our full attention. That way, the message of recovery has a chance of getting through to those who really need to hear it.”
Kit K.
Sterling, Alaska "


Comment: Frothy emotional appeal seldom suffices. The message which can interest and hold these alcoholic people must have depth and weight. In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves, if they are to re-create their lives.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, The Doctor's Opinion).  Mob hysteria doesn't quite fit the bill!

(our emphases) 

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

See also AA Minority Report 2013

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Profile of a cult member


Being convinced, we were at Step Three, which is that we decided to turn our will and our life over to God as we understood Him. Just what do we mean by that, and just what do we do?

The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. On that basis we are almost always in collision with something or somebody, even though our motives are good. Most people try to live by self-propulsion. Each person is like an actor who wants to run the whole show; is forever trying to arrange the lights, the ballet, the scenery and the rest of the players in his own way. If his arrangements would only stay put, if only people would do as he wished, the show would be great. Everybody, including himself, would be pleased. Life would be wonderful. In trying to make these arrangements our actor may sometimes be quite virtuous. He may be kind, considerate, patient, generous; even modest and self-sacrificing. On the other hand, he may be mean, egotistical, selfish and dishonest. But, as with most humans, he is more likely to have varied traits.

What usually happens? The show doesn't come off very well. He begins to think life doesn't treat him right. He decides to exert himself more. He becomes, on the next occasion, still more demanding or gracious, as the case may be. Still the play does not suit him. Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame. He becomes angry, indignant, self-pitying. What is his basic trouble? Is he not really a self-seeker even when trying to be kind? Is he not a victim of the delusion that he can wrest satisfaction and happiness out of this world if he only manages well? Is it not evident to all the rest of the players that these are the things he wants? And do not his actions make each of them wish to retaliate, snatching all they can get out of the show? Is he not, even in his best moments, a producer of confusion rather than harmony?

Our actor is self-centered - ego-centric, as people like to call it nowadays. He is like the retired business man who lolls in the Florida sunshine in the winter complaining of the sad state of the nation; the minister who sighs over the sins of the twentieth century; politicians and reformers who are sure all would be Utopia if the rest of the world would only behave; the outlaw safe cracker who thinks society has wronged him; and the alcoholic who has lost all and is locked up. Whatever our protestations, are not most of us concerned with ourselves, our resentments, or our self-pity?

Selfishness - self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles. Driven by a hundred forms of fear, self-delusion, self-seeking, and self-pity, we step on the toes of our fellows and they retaliate. Sometimes they hurt us, seemingly without provocation, but we invariably find that at some time in the past we have made decisions based on self which later placed us in a position to be hurt.

So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making. They arise out of ourselves, and the alcoholic is an extreme example of self-will run riot, though he usually doesn't think so. Above everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible. And there often seems no way of entirely getting rid of self without His aid. Many of us had moral and philosophical convictions galore, but we could not live up to them even though we would have liked to. Neither could we reduce our self-centeredness much by wishing or trying on our own power. We had to have God's help.”
 

(our emphases) 

Comment: The whole section describe a typical cult member perfectly. So to sum up – a cult member is someone who hasn't made it past Step Three – and isn't even trying! 

Cheers 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Higher Power Project


The Higher Power Project (University of Chester) is an attempt to record and map the range of understandings of ‘Higher Power’ or ‘power greater than ourselves’ used by people in recovery from addiction to alcohol or drugs. Those in recovery through Twelve Step Programmes, or Treatment Centres which use the Twelve Steps, are likely to have some concept of Higher Power, but people in recovery through other methods may also use the concept, or have a response to it that they might like to share with the project team.”

See also Links and downloads

Monday 16 September 2013

Links and downloads


See our extensive (and ever-growing) collection of links and downloads including sections on case law, Grapevine articles, cult research, academic papers, fact sheets, websites, journals and databases. Simply click here
 
Happy reading!
 
The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Sunday 15 September 2013

Cult information


(contd)

Due to some helpful feedback from members we will be building up a data base on research organisations and literature dealing with cults and their impact. Continuing with:

Traumatic Abuse in Cults: A Psychoanalytic Perspective, Shaw D, Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, p. 101

"Abstract

Using his ten year experience in Siddha Yoga under the leadership of Gurumayi, the author presents psychoanalytic concept-ualizations of narcissism in an effort to develop a way of understanding cult leaders and their followers, and especially of traumatic abuse in cults from the follower's perspective. A psychoanalytically informed treatment approach for working with recovering cult followers is proposed, consisting of providing:
1) an understanding of the leader's extreme dependence on the follower's submission and psychological enslavement;
2) a clear, firm, and detailed understanding of the leader's abusiveness; and
3) an exploration of normative and/or traumatic developmental issues for the follower, as part of a process of making sense of and giving meaning to the follower's experience."

See also Cult Research in Links and downloads

Alcohol research



The Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD) is an interdisciplinary research centre at the Faculty of Social Sciences. The centre was established in 1999 and conducts research within the field of alcohol- and drugs.

The aim of SoRAD is to perform and stimulate research on alcohol and drugs within the field of social sciences. SoRAD aims to motivate networking and knowledge exchange in between different research disciplines. The centre co-operates nationally and internationally. SoRAD arranges seminars and conferences, although it does not carry out any teaching.” 


PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Saturday 14 September 2013

Cult information


Due to some helpful feedback from members we will be building up a data base on research organisations and literature dealing with cults and their impact. Continuing with:

Cults: Faith, Healing and Coercion

a non-fiction book on cults and coercive persuasion, written by Marc Galanter (MD). The book was published in hardcover format in 1989 by Oxford University Press, and again in hardcover in 1999 in a second edition work. The second edition was reprinted by Oxford University Press, in March 2007.” 

See also Cult Research in Links and downloads

Cult information


(contd)

Due to some helpful feedback from members we will be building up a data base on research organisations and literature dealing with cults and their impact. Continuing with:

CultResearch.org

"The mission of this site is to promote a deeper, more accurate understanding of cults and the effects of cults. This is accomplished through the research of Dr. Janja Lalich, founder and developer of CultResearch.org. Dr. Lalich is:
  • A world-renowned expert in cultic studies
  • Professor of sociology at California State University, Chico
  • Author and coauthor of critically acclaimed books on cults
  • Avid contributor to the field of cultic studies through her research, presentations, and articles"

See also Cult Research in Links and downloads

Friday 13 September 2013

Conference Questions (2013) forum discussion (contd)


Committee No. 2 

Question 2: 

Would the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations on the question of:
  
What can AA do to better carry the message to young alcoholics both inside and outside of the Fellowship?

More specifically, would Conference consider, discuss and make recommendations on the following:

a. What can be done to make AA more of an attractive place to young people inside of AA?
b. What can be done to make AA more of an attractive place to young people outside of AA?
c. Consider updating the “Too Young?” poster with input from younger members?
d. Could young people be represented in the AA structure?


Background

In Continental Europe Region there is a position of Young People contact who has a Liaison Officer role with full voting rights.

Ref:

Too young poster AAGB
Too young poster AA US
Too Young pamphlet
 

[See also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]

Extracts:

The background to this question states “In Continental Europe Region there is a position of Young People contact who has a Liaison Officer role with full voting rights.” I wonder what the motivation was for creating this liaison position; whether it was motivated by the AA groups or whether it just came from someone’s idea which was floated at the regional assembly. Was the decision to create this new position, which gives one individual AA member the equivalent voting power of one third of all the AA groups in an intergroup at the regional assembly, made by passing the decision down to all the AA groups and intergroups in the region, and was it with full background? Was the decision passed by a two thirds majority vote of the AA groups and Intergroups within the region? Or was it a decision which was passed at the level of the Regional assembly, without consulting the AA groups and Intergroups?

When I was serving in my intergroup, the Public Information Liaison Officer had a small team involved in PI work. One of the members of the team had the co-opted responsibility of ‘School Talks Co-ordinator’, arranging school talks. This person arranged around 40-50 talks per year, having their own school talks team within the PI team. They did not have liaison voting rights at intergroup. It seems to me the creation of a Young Peoples Contact Liaison position is doubling up both on PI liaison and the established telephone and electronic helplines; If it is needed, I think the position ought to be a non-voting co-opted position under the PI Liaison, Telephone Liaison, or Electronics communications officers. At a time when so many service positions are unfilled in the service structure, it doesn’t make much sense to me to create another service position which doubles up on existing services. There have been additional positions with full voting rights added to the service structure in recent years, Electronic Communications Liaison Officer and convention conveners (Convention conveners used to be a co-opted position without voting rights). I am concerned that if more new liaison officer positions with full voting rights continue to be created, then this could upset the balance of power within the service structure; taking power away from the AA group conscience, via their GSRs and Regional Reps, and giving it over to other elected positions; thereby creating a system of hierarchical management. This needs to be avoided at all costs. Young people can call the national and local telephone helplines/ GSO email/ local intergroup emails anytime they want to. They can also do service on these helplines in order to help young people who are calling AA. Do they need a special contact or to be a special contact? I don’t think so."


Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

See also AA Minority Report 2013