(See
the new aacultwatch forum)
“Learning
from the US experience of Twelve Step Facilitation continued….
1993.
Faced with the pressure of “Recovery” as the new organising
paradigm, the US group conscience goes into Orwellian double think.
AA loses its Circle and Triangle.
Whatever
Happened to the Circle and Triangle? AA Grapevine December 1993,
Vol. 50 No. 7
http://da.aagrapevine.org/
“…Adopted
at the 20th Anniversary International Convention in St. Louis, the
circle and triangle symbol was registered as an official AA mark in
1955, and has been widely used by various AA entities. By the
mid-1980s, however, it had also begun to be used by outside
organizations, such as novelty manufacturers, publishers, and
occasionally treatment facilities. There was growing concern in the
membership of AA about this situation…”
“…the
AA World Services board began in 1986 to contact outside entities
that were using the circle and triangle in an unauthorized manner,
and to take action to prevent such use of the symbol. AAWS
implemented this policy with restraint, and did not resort to legal
remedies until all attempts at persuasion and conciliation had been
unsuccessful. Of about 170 unauthorized users contacted, two suits
were filed, and both were settled in the very early stages….”
“…Denying
the use of the symbol to outside entities raised other problems,
however. By early 1990, it was clear that some AA members very much
wanted to be able to obtain medallions with "our" circle
and triangle. Both the AAWS and Grapevine Corporate boards began
receiving requests to produce sobriety chips and medallions, and the
matter was discussed at a joint meeting of the two boards in October
I990. Their consensus was that production of tokens and medallions
was unrelated to our primary purpose of carrying the AA message, and
they suggested that the matter be given a thorough airing at the
General Service Conference in order to seek a group conscience from
the Fellowship….”
“The
ad hoc committee met prior to the 1993 Conference, for several full
days of discussion and deliberation, and in turn presented its report
and recommendations on the Conference floor….”
“…Immediately
after the Conference, the General Service Board accepted AAWS's
recommendation to discontinue protecting the circle and triangle
symbol as one of AA's registered marks. And by early June, the
trustees reached substantial unanimity in support of AAWS's statement
that, to avoid the suggestion of association or affiliation with
outside goods and services, AA World Services, Inc. would phase out
the "official" or "legal" use of the circle and
triangle…”
"Letting
Go' of the Circle and Triangle As A Legal Mark" Box 4-5-9
August-September 1993 pp. 5-6:
http://aa.org/lang/en/en_pdfs/en_box459_aug-sept93.pdf
“….By
early 1990, some members of the Fellowship seemed to be saying two
things: "we want medallions with our circle
and triangle," while others were saying, "we don't want our
symbol aligned with non A.A. Purposes."
“….Following
lengthy considerations, the ad hoc committee presented their report
and recommendations to the 1993 Conference…”
“…By
early June, the General Service Board reached substantial unanimity
in support of A.A.W.S.'s statement that, consistent with our original
purpose lo avoid the suggestion of association or affiliation with
outside goods and services, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
Inc. will phase out the "official" or "legal" use
of the circle and triangle symbol….””
Note:
Conference Questions can be downloaded in pdf from the GSO (GB)
website. They are on pages 5-11, AA Service News, Issue 157,
Winter 2013
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/download/1/Library/Documents/AA%20Service%20News/157%20Winter%202013.pdf
Conference 2014 background material can be found on the GSO (GB) website. Follow the “Background Material for Conference 2014” link in the Document Library. http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/Members/Document-Library
Cheers
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS
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