18.
Since
reading page 13 in SHARE June 2012, I have found that ‘Pineapple
Peter’s’ statement leads me to ask the following question:
Why
have Intergroups stopped reminding AA groups to include Guideline 17
in quarterly group conscience meetings?
All
the guidelines are essential for those in service posts but Guideline
17 reminds all AA members that there is a duty to stamp out any sign
of a return to the sick agenda that was curtailed by AA’s national
review in 2002; to protect newcomers from abuse, that caused some of
them to seek help from outside authorities who demanded AAs should do
something about it and so we should continue to do, for our own
sobriety and AA unity.
Terms
of Reference No. 6 Insufficient background information
19.
Can
the Fellowship share experience and make recommendations that provide
some specific guidance that both protects members, especially
Newcomers from predatory sexual behaviour and existing members from
mistaken allegations of the same thing.
Reason
for submission:
There
have been recent allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour to
newcomers from experienced AA members. These allegations bring the
name of Alcoholics Anonymous into disrepute, whether accurate or not.
The fact that they are made at all indicate that a Newcomer has felt
vulnerable in a fellowship where they should feel safe. The members
accused are powerless to defend themselves against a perception of
inappropriate behaviour. Many newcomers have come from situations
where they may have been abused and may easily misinterpret the
innate friendship in AA as inappropriate behaviour.
Our
current guidance in the Structure Handbook (pp 82‐86) skirts around
the issue of personal conduct, and does not specifically address
sexual predation (alleged or otherwise), or how we should respond to
this at Group, Intergroup and Regional level.
Background
Information:
The
AA Structure Handbook The Group, Section 5 (pp82‐86).
Traditions:
1, 2, 4, 5, and 12. (Twelve
Steps & Twelve Traditions ‘Contents’)
The
Language of the Heart Tradition
One, Tradition Two, Tradition Four, Tradition Five and Tradition
Twelve
Report
to Conference 2002 Guideline 17: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/download/1/Library/Documents/AA%20Service%20News/111%20Summer%202002.pdf
Terms
of Reference No. 7 There have been several submissions covering this
topic and a question has been selected that encompasses all areas of
the subject matter with appropriate background material.
Comment:
See previous entry
on subject. It's ACTION not words that are needed!
Cheers
The
Fellas (Friends
of Alcoholics Anonymous)
PS
For AA Minority Report 2013 click here
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