Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

12.

Would Conference consider removing the line “Fundamentally, though, the difference between an electronic meeting and the home group around the corner is only one of format”, page xxiv the foreword to the fourth edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous.

In November 2001 the fourth edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous was released in the USA. The members disagreed with this sentence so much that it was voted at the General Service Conference in April 2002 to be removed. It was removed beginning with the 4th printing of the 4th edition.

I have spoken with the General Service Office in York and it has been confirmed that we follow most of what literature comes from the USA and certainly when the book Alcoholics Anonymous is reprinted so I was curious as to why we have not followed by taking the same line out. It is my belief that this line is erroneous as there is a massive difference between an electronic meeting and a home group around the corner.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Valid point and confirm that AA GB Big Book will follow the US Big Book and the matter is in hand.

Comment: Yep! Got to agree with this one. There's no substitute for living, breathing (immediately present) alcoholics even if some of them shouldn't be let anywhere near a newcomer (ie. cult). Yo win some, you lose some!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

11.

The pamphlet, AA for the Older Alcoholic, has good stories relevant to that age group.

Can we produce a pamphlet of AA stories for the newcomer, such as ‘Freedom from Bondage’ and ‘He had to be shown’ from the third edition of the Big Book and ‘Grounded’ from the fourth edition of the Big Book and about seven more AA Big Book stories.

A newcomer’s chance of identification is then simpler and quicker and less costly for him.

Terms of Reference No. 7 The duplicating of AA literature is not in the best interest of our Primary Purpose.

Comment: Nor for that matter is making a profit out of book sales and then using that to subside GSO York. You'd think they'd be salivating at the idea of a new publishing opportunity!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – The Raising of Minimum Alcohol Prices in Saskatchewan, Canada

The Raising of Minimum Alcohol Prices in Saskatchewan, Canada: Impacts on Consumption and Implications for Public Health, Stockwell et al, American Journal of Public Health: December 2012, Vol. 102, No. 12, pp. e103-e110

See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – American Journal of Public Health

ajph.aphapublications.org

See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Politics... but not as we know it! (a slight diversion from our usual themes)

An alternative way of looking at politics! Perhaps not such a bad way of looking at life!

commondecency.org.uk

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous …. and Common Decency!)

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

9.

Should we be providing computers for the sole use of AA Service work, such as the Secretary and Treasury positions, within the Intergroups and Regions?

Terms of Reference No. 7 All groups are autonomous and this to be an issue best addressed locally.

Comment: Yeah! Absolutely! And company cars..... and pension plans ….and luncheon vouchers ….. and how about secretaries as well …. Ooh! Ooh! Can we have some?? (edges snout towards trough). (Note the usual misquote - and misinterpretation - of Tradition Four; all groups are NOT ENTIRELY AUTONOMOUS)

10.

Should we be using Company computers for AA Service work?

Terms of Reference No. 7 Local issue, Refer to Electronic Communications guidelines.

Comment: Seems to go together with 9 above!!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Cheap alcohol is 'devastating' life in the North East (Oct 2012)

independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

“Doctors in the North East of England have urged the Government to set a 50p minimum price per unit on alcohol following concerns about its “devastating impact” on the region's health.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, 21 leading medics said cheap, high potency alcohol needed to be kept "out of the hands of the vulnerable"......”

See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Helping Others Live Sober

helpingotherslivesober.org

“The mission of the “Helping Others” Research Project at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child Psychiatry is to improve the quality of life for youth, families, and communities by providing a continuum of scientific information, education, and personal experiences on the role of service in addiction recovery”

See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Common assault (contd)

Further to our previous entries (see here and here) we have sent notifications of the incident to London North Middlesex Intergroup (which covers the Uxbridge Friday meeting where the assault was reported) with copies to the Trustees of the General Service Board, the General Service Office (York) and London North Region. We have proposed that the Intergroup concerned institute a full enquiry into the incident to ascertain the identities of all involved, then report the matter to the police, and take action to ensure no further repetition. This kind of behaviour cannot and should not be tolerated within the Fellowship. Dependent on the response we receive, and the action subsequently taken, we shall consider what further steps we might take ourselves...... This one isn't going to go away!

We also note from other entries that Richard E has previous 'form' when it comes to threatening or assaulting other members. He has already been arrested and charged for “spitting in a female member's face in a Sunday night meeting in Barnes south-west London”, something which he apparently omits to mention when lecturing the rest of us.

NOTICE

To all of you out there who get your kicks from bullying or sexually exploiting other members (so-called '13 Steppers') we serve YOU notice. We will have absolutely no hesitation in 'outing' you on the site, naming names and giving full details of your conduct together with the groups where you operate. In dealing with you we will follow the same procedure as above passing on information to the relevant intergroup(s) - together with the aforementioned cc's – and, where appropriate, notifying the police

You will no longer be able to act with impunity

We will not collude in covering up your ABUSE

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED 

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

8.

Would Conference explore the feasibility of the Fellowship adopting an 0800 (free‐to‐caller) national number.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Telephone Sub Committee is already working on this and a report will be given to Conference.

Comment: No way! We should get one of those premium rate thingies and make loads and loads of dosh! We could have a big share out at the end of the year! …. Nah! Only kidding! Of course we should make it easier for people to contact us ….. on the other hand the number of crank calls is going to go up.... but what the hell!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

7. 
Would Conference instruct the General Service Board to arrange with GSO for the final report of the annual Conference to be issued to the Fellowship within 2 weeks of the closing of Conference?

Terms of Reference No. 7 Timeframe [sic] impractical for GSO staff

Comment: Come on chaps! A bit of caffeine should do the trick! Or is that against the RULES??

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Common assault! (contd)

Further to our previous entry “Common assault!” we have been sent further clarification on what actually took place (our thanks to the members who provided the info).

Firstly the meeting in question was Uxbridge Friday night. See below:

Apparently this locale has become a focus of a “Big Book fundamentalist cult” (possibly Primary Purpose - and see here) which has infested the Uxbridge, Slough, Ruislip and Harefield areas (you will note the name Richard E crops up … more on this particularly nasty piece of work later)

The cult members in question introduce themselves as recoverED (as distinguished from those who are merely 'recoverING', an inferior species, something which is made clear in the formers' sharing which is generally arrogant and “belittles the rest of the fellowship as being useless etc”). According to our correspondents the woman in question (whom we will refer to as the 'assaultee' as opposed to sponsee, and her sponsor as the abuser) was herself a rather unappealing character (not that this justifies the assault in any way) who shared that should she fail to phone her abuser at the precise time the phone would be slammed down on her. Moreover her abuser did not make suggestions but rather issued “rules and orders”. The woman's subsequent sharing was “littered” with numerous quotes from the Big Book whilst the general impression given was of someone who had been thoroughly “brainwashed”, her voice even being described as sounding “like a robot”. When time came for other members to 'share back' as is customary the assaultee made a point of ignoring those who were 'not on message' and instead ostentatiously read her Big Book while they were sharing. Clearly common courtesy does not constitute part of the cult curriculum.

Our correspondents add:

“But it does look like cult violence is on the up in AA. There is a thug who goes to the Friday Hampton Wick cult meeting called Richard . And he has apparently threatened to "punch the lights out" of anyone who openly challenges his supreme sponsorial authority. And he is sponsored by another nutter called Rupert who has set up yet another cult meeting in Surrey somewhere. A friend of mine attended it recently and said it was sickening. This is what happens when the prisoners run the prison, and the lunatics run the asylum. People come to AA to try and stay sober, not to fight endless battles with criminal gangsters and sociopathic loonies”.

Richard's hobbies (apart from threatening to punch people's “lights out”) include verbal abuse as well as a general liking for getting “physical”. Apparently he was a gangster in a previous incarnation. Seems like not a lot's changed there then! An altogether sick and twisted specimen!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anomymous)

PS More to follow on this …....

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

6.

Would Conference consider changing the title of "AA Conference" to "AA GB National Conscience" and to updating all relevant literature at the next reprint?

Terms of Reference No. 7 Considered this to be impractical, if not impossible, for the current title is referred to and built into the Concepts and our Service Structure

Comment: Nothing wrong with a bit of rebranding! Makes everyone think something new's happening!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

5.

Would Conference review the role of Conference delegates at Region? In particular, whether they should have voting rights in all matters at Region. Make recommendations.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Covered by existing AA literature and in view of Tradition 4 it is within the responsibility of local groups, intergroups and regions to decide on such matters.

Comment: Gripping stuff eh! But easily dealt with. Get rid of Region! End of debate!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – New powers to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder

New powers to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder, UK Government, Home Office, July, 2012

See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Part of the Picture: Lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s alcohol and drug use in England (2009-2011)

Part of the Picture: Lesbian, gay and bisexual people’s alcohol and drug use in England (2009-2011), Buffin J et al, National LGB Drug and Alcohol Database 

“Interim Conclusions

The data so far show four distinct findings:

Across all age groups LGB people are much more likely to use drugs compared to the general population.

Problematic patterns of drinking are much more common among LGB people.

LGB people demonstrate a greater likelihood of being dependent and high levels of substance-dependency compared to the general population.

Significant perceptual and structural barriers exist to seeking information, advice or help among LGB people”

See also Links and downloads

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Common assault!

The above appeared in our Twitter notifications together with a question addressed to us as to its veracity. Since we hadn't published the piece nor know of its source we can't say absolutely. Although we're somewhat shocked at its content we can't say we're really that surprised. It's simply the logical extension of the cult's increasingly dictatorial practices. The newcomer really isn't to blame. Clearly her self-esteem is so low that she thinks it perfectly acceptable for her so-called sponsor to commit a common assault on her... for that's what it is. A common assault: a criminal act punishable with a possible prison term. It would seem that some newcomers confuse humility with humiliation or have been persuaded that somehow being ordered around (and apparently abused) by a sponsor constitutes some part of the AA recovery programme. Well it doesn't …. Such abuses are completely unacceptable and members should make it clear both to the newcomers involved and the perpetrators in no uncertain terms that this is the case. We can only assume that the members present at the meeting where this admission was made smiled simply because they didn't know how otherwise to react. Or at least we hope so. The only other possible explanations are either that they have become so desensitised they no longer care or perhaps, worse still, they actually condone this conduct. The proper course of action would have been to inform the police immediately. If this had taken place in a meeting would there have been any doubt about what to do? The guidelines are very clear with regard to abusive conduct (see 16). Perhaps the members who were present at the meeting might like to take action instead of sitting by and permitting this kind of abuse to continue!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS The above information was reported to have come from a London meeting. We'd be interested to get more details on this perhaps with a view to notifying the police ourselves

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

4. 
What action could or should be taken by Groups to discourage the growing practice by some members who are acting contrary to the Traditions and are diverting, recruiting and encouraging new members to attend other bodies or organisations in place of attendance at AA meetings?

Terms of Reference No. 7 AA does not have an opinion on outside organisations and that this is a local issue, best addressed locally

Comment: String 'em up we say! …. Oops! Perhaps that's a bit extreme.... (pause …. looks around) … Nah! Hang 'em high anyway! But seriously as far as we're aware the traditions don't prohibit members from talking pretty much about what they want (washing machines that don't work, relationships that don't work, sponsors that don't work …etc etc …. you get our drift!). But generally the discussion (or rather series of speeches) revolves around something to do with not drinking booze interspersed with a good old fashioned rant from time to time– oh how we do love a good old rant!). And members are quite free to join any organisation they want or pursue any path to recovery they prefer. That's their business eg. Smart Recovery (if you fancy a secular alternative), counselling etc. On the other hand there's quite a few con merchants in AA who are quite happy to flog their own dubious 'quick fixes' eg. Primary Purpose, Back to Basics, Joys/Road to Recovery etc. So tread carefully!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Addiction Inbox

Addiction Inbox

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PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Study examines the relationship between marriage and alcohol

Study examines the relationship between marriage and alcohol, American Sociological Association (ASA), Science Daily, 19 August 2012

See also Links and downloads 

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

2. 
Can the Conference be broadcast via the internet by means of a webcast or podcast?

The intention is to provide more transparent operation of the service structure/conference. As I understand it there is no current facility for interested group members/members of the public to attend Conference and hear its deliberations. I think it would aid transparency and stimulate interest in the activities that occur in York/GSO if any interested parties could view or hear the proceedings on the internet. 

Terms of Reference No. 6/7 Not possible to safeguard the anonymity of AA members at Conference and insufficient background material

Comment: Good idea (although watching paint dry might be a more entertaining option for many members). We reckon we should adopt an X Factor format with the delegates doing a 'turn', the one giving the best performance getting the most votes! That should bring 'em in!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous) 

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Does sponsorship improve outcomes above Alcoholics Anonymous attendance?

Does sponsorship improve outcomes above Alcoholics Anonymous attendance? A latent class growth curve analysis, Widbrodt J et al, Addiction, 2012 Feb; 107(2): 301-311

 

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PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Conference questions not quite up to par!

1. 
Would Conference agree that a statement such as the following should be made at the beginning of every meeting and that a sign be made available requesting the same?

"To maintain the best possible spiritual atmosphere, to protect newcomers and AA as a whole, it is requested that mobile phones and any other recording devices are turned off until the meeting is over." 

Terms of Reference No. 7 Issue is best addressed locally

Comment: To which might be appended: “It is requested that all sponsorship obsessives, Big Book 'nutters', recovery 'experts', 'circuit speakers', local 'gurus' and assorted cult control freaks be similarly turned off until the meeting is over”.

Wouldn't that be bliss!! 

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous) 

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

Alcohol research – Alcohol and related health issues in China: action needed

 

Alcohol and related health issues in China: action needed, Jiang et al, The Lancet, vol 3, April 2015,

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PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

'Chit system' - experience from the US ... all bad!

An email we received (with thanks to the contributor)

“Fellas,

Please accept this healthy criticism in the spirit in which it is offered.

In fact, it is actually an amend from across the pond.

Your recent post on the AA conference questions (2015) and in particular the Revised chapter Nine 'Probation/Criminal Justice Service' lacks sufficient input as to the requirements of how to practice the Traditions when approaching new or potential expanding opportunities to serve and to practice the 12th step.

We here in the "States" did not practice the required fore-vision to determine where our "Cooperation with the Courts" would have unintended consequences. In fact, my amend to you is that we did not practice that part of our requirements to assess where our precious autonomy would effect neighboring groups and AA as a whole in regard to any such cooperation with outside agencies.

Simply put, the Groups here have been unable to manage and keep the "Cooperation" from spilling over into "AFFILIATION". I would caution you that the long-form of Tradition 6 states, "While an AA group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affiliation or endorsement, ACTUAL OR IMPLIED". Emphasis mine.

Fresh probationers reeling from a serious alcohol arrest (or even a minor one) cannot discern between the punishment and the offer of help. Court/Probation departments cannot discern between an alcoholic and a party that made a mistake. From the governmental agencies side they feel "what can it hurt to send someone who is not an alcoholic to AA"? We fell for the same trap.

The effort to do the most good for the most drunks got us into huge problems. Here are but a few:

1-Anonymity is broken at both the level of the media AND personal anonymity in your own community. At the level of the media, national celebrities have their sentences published that they are to attend AA as part of the probation and then when they re-offend AA is seen as less than effective or the problem. Worse, violent criminals are given reduced sentences if they attend AA. Then this information is digested by potential members they are less likely to want to go a fellowship that is attended by convicted violent felons who are forced to attend. Again when the violent party re-offends it is front page news. The media is so expansive today that the Conference simply cannot control it with annual letters to the press.

On a personal level, your anonymity will be broken. You will be attending AA with parties that do not want to be there. Not having a desire to embrace the AA way of life they are not required to follow our Traditions. And they don't! Your meeting mate will leave your meeting and spread the word but it won't be the word of recovery. When he is a co-worker of your spouse or your boss or your child's teacher it can be very damaging to the relationships you are trying to rebuild. Many people in the United States travel 20-30 miles to attend a meeting when there is one just down the street. Many start underground/invite only meetings. 

2-Bureaucracies being what they are, they have never met a concept that isn't worth expanding. We started with Drug Courts then added Sobriety Courts, Mental Health Courts and Veterans Courts. In spite of studies that these courts are neither successful nor healthy they continue to send parties from all issues to the rooms of AA. The court does not share our purpose of to carry the message to the suffering alcoholic. Their goal is to say they did something! When things go wrong they feel their bases have been covered. They can pull out a folder filled with court slips (chits in your land) and say, "What more could we have done?" We sent them to AA! I have attended AA meetings with Court ordered child molesters, shoplifters, wife beaters, marijuana smokers, crack heads, pill heads, bad parents, bad employees and the list goes on. The issue is NOT that this was their crimes. My fourth step includes some of these very offenses. The issue is that these parties did not think that AA was the solution to their defects. They thought it was the solution to their legal issues. They thought it was the solution to a reduction in their jail sentence. Some weren't even problem drinkers let alone alcoholics.

3- AA stratifies. There is a line between those who meet the requirement and those who do not (remember the Big Book calls upon us to determine if a man is alcoholic AND willing before working with him. Such a discernment is not hard to do). Newcomers that have the desire to quit drinking get mixed in with the legions who do not. Most newcomers of either stripe consider existing AA to cliquish. They are right!

4-Cult activity increases. Senior members who long for a day when the Traditions meant something but are afraid to confront it was THEM who did not follow the Traditions, try to clamp down and re-create an AA that they once knew. Unfortunately that utopia can only exist when ALL attendees meet the only requirement for AA membership. The result is they practice "hardcore AA". That is except for the old time practice of presenting a simple spiritual toolkit and leaving it to the prospect to pick it up. The AA member cannot practice this style of AA because the "prospect" is sentenced to another 100-200 meetings.

5- You simply cannot practice "Working with Others" "To the Wives" and "To the employer" with someone who is coerced into attendance. If you do not believe me please re-read those chapters looking for the theme of not forcing anyone to do anything. It actually says that you may spoil a future opportunity.

6-All of these unintended consequences damage AA unity in a manner you cannot imagine. After 25 years of the wide scale practice, the percentage of parties that were around when the process started and can act as "elder statesmen" shrinks. The parties that cry we have always done it this way (they have always done it that way because they have less than 15 years sobriety) grows. Any mention of even taking a look at the issues is met with frothy emotional appeal and worse.

7-Unity is constantly in jeopardy. You cannot practice the "we" of the first step. The step says "we admitted" not "some of us admitted".

I hope my information makes up for our error of not performing our own due diligence in some small way. Please do not let our mistakes travel into your land and harm your groups. Read the Traditions with an eye to how ultra inclusiveness may lead you break other Traditions. Go to AA.org and read their guideline on "Cooperating with the Courts" ( link provided http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/mg-05_coopwithcourt.pdf ). PLEASE read it with a focus on sections on how to solve the problems because by doing that you may be able to AVOID the problems. Read it scanning the horizon for damage you can do if you practice your group's autonomy without due diligence as to how it may effect AA as a whole.

There is a video on the website AA.org (link below) that specifically address the issue you face. Putting aside the implied affiliation caused by the fact that one of the chief speakers is a Non-alcoholic Trustee AND a former sobriety court judge; please listen to her advice to the Professionals she is addressing. She says that the probationers ought only be sent to Open Meetings. More importantly she says "if I were setting up a Sobriety Court today I would NOT rely on any system that requires that AA verifies attendance. In stead, I would train my professionals (probation officers) to be able to discern if the probationers were involved in the AA recovery program. In other words, she would make the government do their job! 

http://unikron.http.internapcdn.net/unikron/aa/cpc/v2/Legal_en_sub.mp4 

Please accept my sincere efforts to make amends for our mistakes. Please follow the Traditions in this and in all other matters. Please be aware that we fell for one or two court mandated attendees couldn't hurt. Now our meetings have 60-70 and even 90 per cent Court Affiliated Attendees. Our mistakes do not have to be yours. Once the toothpaste is our of the tube you will have a devil of a time getting it back into the tube.

As always use this email as this as you see fit or not at all,

Your friend, 

….....”

(edit to preserve anonymity)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

AA Conference questions (2015) contd

Committee No. 6

2. Review the revised Chapter Nine ‘Probation/Criminal Justice Service’ of the AA Service Handbook for Great Britain 2013.

Background

Revised Chapter Nine ‘Probation/Criminal Justice Service’.

Comment: Sounds a doozy! Go for it! But only so long as it doesn't end up with a load of hapless non-alcoholics being driven through the doors of AA just so the government can save themselves a bit of cash at our expense!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

AA Conference questions (2015) contd

Committee No. 6 

1. Would Conference consider ways to raise awareness of the ‘Twelve Traditions Checklist’ in the Fellowship?

Knowing the importance of the Traditions to our groups, I have found this personal application checklist very helpful. It was published in the 2004 [Winter] issue of ‘AA Service News’ and sent as a single copy with the booklet ‘AA Tradition – How It Developed’ on 31st March to celebrate AA’s birthday in the UK to all groups.

Can it be made available to all members by including this ‘Traditions Checklist’ for personal application on the literature list in GSO York?

The ‘Annual Traditions Week’ pamphlet is available in the Document Library of the AAGB website or hard copy on request from GSO.

Comment: Couldn't do any harm? The actual check list is of variable quality with some good – and some daft – questions. Members might like to pay particular attention to Tradition Four (autonomy). Each group does NOT possess unqualified autonomy, a fact much ignored by cult groups in particular.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here