Bristol Reunion?

We quote: 

“AA Reunion in Bristol, October: For reasons we do not understand or accept, our local service structure, for the first time in years, is not supporting the Reunion notice in 'Share' magazine this year. As in every year, a big commitment has been made to a beautiful venue in the centre of Bristol in order to have the annual reunion of those who attended the First European Convention held in Bristol in 1971. Since then the annual Reunion has continued to hold the traditional big speaker meetings (as in the 1980s) plus those and Joe and Charlie Big Book Studies in the 90s, and more recently several visits from this year's principal speaker, affectionately known as 'the Honorable [sic] Member for Los Angeles', and whose sobriety date is 31.10.1958! The notice in 'Share' was always helpful in informing the Fellowship about the dates for the Reunion. Our plea to readers is please, please tell all your friends about the Reunion. In this way you will be helping us not only meet our obligations but also helping us welcome the Honorable Gentleman from the Pacific group, LA - 'a man with love in his eyes for his fellow alcoholic' -and you can be sure there will be a cake for a 55-year-old! A big thank you from the Convenors. 

(From 'Bristol Fashion', the newsletter produced by members of the Bristol Newcomers group).” 

Comment: Having just about 'recovered' from exposure to the quite nauseating sycophancy exhibited above we would like to draw your attention to a few pertinent points: 

Joe and Charlie's so-called Big Book study (see Primary Purpose) omits almost completely one key, some might say almost pivotal section ie. Chapter Seven “Working With Others” (Step 12). Apparently the fellowship's low key, non-dogmatic approach simply didn't accord with our Big Book 'experts' opinions. The solution – leave it out! 

The “Honourable Member for Los Angeles” when asked to comment on the allegations of widespread abuse (including rape) perpetrated by the Midtown Group replied thus: 

"there probably have been some excesses, but they have helped more sober alcoholics in Washington than any other group by far" 

For our part we've never heard rape referred to as “some excesses”. As for the assertion that the group “helped more sober alcoholics.....” - where's your evidence? This apologist for the Midtown Group used to sponsor Mike Q(uinones) (now deceased), the ring leader and key participant in some of these “excesses”. The local AA service structure for their part failed to take any action to deal with the problem falling back on that time honoured, well-worn misquote of Tradition Four (“each group is autonomous”) thereby managing to wash their hands of the entire affair. So much for the concepts of collective and individual “responsibility”! (Incidentally Clancy also sponsors Wayne P – Plymouth Road to Recovery cult group – who similarly suffers from 'falling down trouser' syndrome – what a coincidence!} 

It may be that the Bristol local service structure (and Share magazine) have woken up to the fact that they have been supporting a group whose main 'business' (and we mean 'business') has been to promote personalities ahead of principles for some years now. Joe and Charlie's highly questionable study course is patchy to say the least and merely represents the views of a couple of alcoholics no more or less worthy of consideration than those of any other member of the fellowship (although we would say less!). Another example of this propagandist and essentially personality-driven approach is their reference to the “Honourable Gentleman from the Pacific group”. {This assertion might itself be challenged twice: anybody who implies that rape is a mere “excess” is neither honourable nor a gentleman). Surely the purpose of an AA convention (if in fact that is what the Bristol Reunion represents) is not to celebrate one individual's birthday (no matter how long he has refrained from committing suicide using alcohol) but to carry the AA message, a message we fear the “Honourable Member” lost touch with long ago! 

Cheerio 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous) 

PS Our thanks to the member who drew this article to our attention