Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) and Diageo (Distillers) (contd)

(see here) 

Alcoholics Anonymous' investments with the distillery business (and tobacco companies) were apparently the result of a decision by Credit Suisse to put AA investment funds into an “interim collective fund” whilst the transfer was taking place between the previous brokers (Morgan Stanley) and themselves (we've been informed by another AA member that apparently this is not the first time that AA has become involved in the alcohol business although they could not be clear on the dates). This error came to light not because of any disclosures on the part of the General Service Office (York) but because a number of AA members (who are not particularly satisfied with AA's financial governance) took the time to investigate the matter and essentially obliged York to provide this information. Questions have also been raised about how our money is spent (and sometimes wasted) by York and how effective they have been in reducing costs at a time when everybody else in the country has had to tighten their belts (by all accounts not very!). Of course the aforementioned problem would never have arisen if we had not acquired such a substantial reserve in the first place (which is why our traditions (specifically Tradition 6) remind us of the dangers associated with the accumulation of “money” and “property”). As of now AA (Great Britain) possesses £1,879,181 in investments, cash on deposit and money held in a current account. The prudent reserve is set at £1,600,000 leaving £279,181 in working capital. Of course we wouldn't need this much money if we didn't lease offices in York, Glasgow and London or employ staff to man them. If we dispensed with these then the groups would be relieved of a considerable financial burden. Alternative measures could be adopted which require a much lesser investment without affecting the service we offer. The funds could then be more properly applied to carrying the AA message ie. the groups and meetings. Many of these are currently being subsidised by the generosity of their landlords (primarily religious organisations) and are paying less-than-market rates for the weekly rental of the premises in which they hold their meetings. According to our traditions we are not supposed to accept money from outside sources and yet effectively that is precisely what is happening. If we are to remain true to our principles we should be paying our own way. And as always the solution is simple!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

To be continued