Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

45. 
Would Conference please discuss and make recommendations on the current wording in the A.A. literature and on the website regarding Open Meetings with a view to making it plainer that those attending A.A. meetings have some connection with alcoholism, either their own or somebody else’s.

1) Background material:

Open Meetings statement (see the national website);

Front covers of the London Where to Find and the
Where to Find A.A. Great Britain and English Speaking Europe.
The A.A. Preamble
Traditions 3, 5, 6 and 10.

2) Recommendation

The first paragraph of the website statement under the headings ‘About AA Meetings’ ‘Open Meetings’ states the case clearly that ‘Open’ meetings are for anyone wanting to solve a personal drinking problem, and for friends and families of those wanting to solve a drinking problem.

The statement on the front covers of the two meeting directories, “Non‐alcoholics may attend meetings listed as ‘open’ should I think for clarity and in keeping with A.A.s primary purpose, be changed and carry the same sentence or something similar.

Why?

The term and wording “Non‐alcoholics may attend meetings listed as ‘open’ on the covers of the two directories would seem not to serve our primary purpose as stated in the last two lines of the Preamble.

It is the case that many who have addictions other than alcohol go along to open meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous for their therapeutic benefit. Such individuals are not attending an A.A. meeting because they are supporting a family member or friend with a drinking problem, or because they have a desire to stop drinking (they may be moderate drinkers) they are attending because they have an addiction, and want to draw strength and comfort from our mature and strong Fellowship. Such individuals frequently share regardless of the fact that alcohol may not be their problem. In this case I feel that Traditions 3, 5, 6 and 10 are being contravened.

In this era where the words “recovery” and “in recovery” have become umbrella terms for those sober from alcohol, clean from drugs or abstinent from sex/food/or rock and roll, Alcoholics Anonymous has a real obligation to hold firmly and clearly to our primary purpose.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Background material did not match question and is already covered in AA literature.

Comment: Too true! It is known that some therapists and treatments centres are advising clients who don't meet our membership requirement to attend AA meetings simply for their therapeutic value (and the fact that they're free!) with a total disregard (thereby demonstrating their disrespect) for our primary purpose Of course the following statements may be read out (where appropriate, and in addition to the Preamble) to clarify what this purpose is.

Source: http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/f-17_primarypurposestatementcard.pdf 

Furthermore it is perfectly legitimate for members to point out to the interlopers where necessary that whereas they have our sympathy (and perhaps even empathy) they are quite definitely in the WRONG place!

At this point it might be worth considering the potential impact of the 'chit' system (court mandated attendance) on the fellowship where individuals may be referred - or compelled - to attend AA meetings who don't fall into the category of drinker which AA caters for ie. the chronic alcoholic. These individuals may be sent to us purely on the basis of having some kind of drinking problem associated with their offending behaviour. This does not mean they are necessarily alcoholics, and certainly does not imply that AA is the best place for them. But a government looking to make swingeing cuts in public expenditure ie. ours, might be tempted not only to 'dump' these individuals on us but also anyone with any kind of addiction problem in order to save money. The consequences for AA in Great Britain could be as devastating as they have been in some parts of the US already.

See also: Problems Other Than Alcohol: What Can Be Done About Them, February, 1958, Bill W

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

44. 
Would Conference like to give their approval (or otherwise) of individual members keeping their GPs informed of AA meeting in their areas. This is a very inexpensive way of spreading the message. 

Background

It came about when my GP asked me some years ago whether there was a list of AA meetings. I gave her the green one (i.e. without any members’ telephone numbers on it) and have since kept her up to date when a new one is issued. She seems pleased to have it. As you know it also gives our various helplines. It seems to be an effective and inexpensive way of keeping our GPs in the picture and since they presumably are aware of our states of health they will also hopefully observe how effective AA is.

Terms of Reference No. 7 A local PI issue – does not need Conference approval.

Comment: Bloody excellent idea! Who'd've thought common sense might break out in AA. This is how we're supposed to operate. Low key, informal, personal ie the direct antithesis of the AA 'promoters' with their advertising campaigns, banners, meetings at the House of Commons etc. Keep it Simple. Keep it Personal.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption

More background to Plymouth Intergroup fraud allegations

See here for previous entries

“So, the Outgoing Chairman is Dave M, he's not from Roads ….... He never once asked to check the books, and has all but shrugged off all responsibility for the events.......

Matt S from Roads audited the accounts, at least two weeks prior to AA Plymouth knowing the details.

Now, a timeline -

About 4 weeks ago AA Plymouth heard the rumours and many Group Consciences were called to discuss the vague details. Most groups voted for no further action to be taken, as we were all informed that the money had been repaid.

It wasn't until 2 weeks later that the amount of £14k was announced. And many groups were very vocal in acknowledging that if the amount was known about pre-emergency Intergroup meeting, then the voting may have taken a very different course.

It was around this time that the name of Mike M …....came to light, as well as the fact that he is employed by the ….....

Intergroup on Sunday 14th was an interesting affair. Dave M chaired the part of the meeting dealing with this issue. Yes! One of the key members, the joint signature bearer of the account, the guy who's signatures was forged, who never checked the books for 3 or 4 years - chaired the part of the meeting regarding his shared incompetence!!!!!

And as stated before - he is maintaining a presence within Intergroup as Prison Liaison Officer!

…........

AND Mr Chairman reports that those above him have advised that it's a GOOD thing that the police aren't getting involved!! Well, that's ok, we'll all be complicit shall we?

And then comes the group consciences following Intergroup, where Mr Chairman accused people of lobbying to get the police involved, until he was shouted down by another AA member - having advised them to "be careful who they listen to"

What a shame he didn't take that advice.

…......”

“Hi

Forgot to inform you that at Region the Regional Reps, both of which are from RTR, refused to read out a letter/statement to Intergroup regarding the financial issues. The Alternative Conference Delegate from the Kingsbridge group was instead forced to do this.

There were, apparently, some arguments before the statement and after it was delivered to region.

[What] Region did? Well, who knows”

“RTR watchers at Intergroup regularly heckle other members during debates or when it comes to a non RTR member speaking. No chairman ever challenges, and Dave M could or would never do it. Pretty rotten, huh?”

(Edits to preserve anonymity)

Comment: Gob smacked just about sums it up! Plymouth Intergroup is clearly rotten to the core! But would you expect anything different from a service structure run by the cult?! The police, however, have now been notified of the allegations by us, and have been supplied with all the relevant information at our disposal.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

43. 
Would Conference consider updating the guideline on bullying and conduct in AA, as how AA members should best deal with being bullied or abused anonymously on the internet by AA members?

Background

There are public internet websites in the UK run by UK AA members which regularly name people in the UK fellowship who are identifiable to all members in their regional area. The current guidelines do not cover this eventuality. Members attacked in this way are in an unfortunate position as the internet is not only regional, but national. Also the attacks are by anonymous people so there is no recourse for response. This seems to be an area not covered by the guidelines but one which is causing great upset to a number of members, and disunity on a local and regional level. This is not a local issue as the websites are usually not written by AA members in a different area to that of the people they are bullying. There is national input into these websites, and national distribution.

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: As always there's a simple solution! If the bullies, abusers and thugs who regularly appear on our blog discontinue their activities then they will disappear from our site. If not we will continue to publicise their names (and conduct) as widely as possible.... even internationally! We are referring of course to Jon F, Alexis K, Wayne P [Road to Recovery cult group Plymouth], Wally P [Back to Basics franchise, con merchant], Wayne B [Step'n Ahead/Last Mile Foundation .. or whatever it's called these days .. another con man], Harry K [aka Batman – coke head and control freak hailing from CA], Harry A [aka 'the Handbag', 'pill-head' and control freak, East Kent], Richard E [coke head and thug also hailing from CA], Billy [the Kid, thug and control freak, Hampton Wick Friday, Esher Saturday], David B [deceased – but not forgotten – founder of Joys of Recovery and various offshoots – control freak, tried to manipulate his way on to the General Service Board - failed. See also The Fix, AA Cults I Have Known], David C [heir to David B, bigot, control freak, co-publisher of various cult websites, sponsor to Happy Dennis ['fruitcake in residence' Ealing]], Chris R, Myers R [US, both run the Primary Purpose franchise with a sideline in book-binding flogging upmarket Big Book covers to the undiscerning punter], Joe and Charlie [self-proclaimed recovery 'experts' whose extremely patchy (whatever did happen to Chapter 7?) 'Big Book study' has been misinforming AA members for years], Clancy [US, another control freak, Pacific Group 'guru', did a regular 'turn' at the Bristol Reunion, and 'anti beard' for some reason!], Mike Q(uinones) (US, Midtown deceased – good riddance! Sexual predator, control freak etc)... the list goes on.....We're sure we've missed a few other assorted predators, abusers, paedophiles, perverts etc along the way but be sure to mail us and we'll be happy to publicise your activities on the site. We think you get our drift!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption

Plymouth (cult) Intergroup (contd)

See previous entries

From a correspondent::

“I thought you would be interested in the following numbers:

There are 29 meetings in Plymouth and I would say 27 groups.

There is only ever a maximum of 6 GSRs ever at Plymouth intergroup. One of which is the R2R [Road to Recovery cult group] GSR.

Therefore only 5/27 non R2R groups are ever represented at IG or 18.5%. This is because most real AA groups have actively chosen not to support this intergroup.

The obvious question to me is how can this gathering be referred to as Plymouth Intergroup when it does not represent Plymouth AA.”

And:

“The other issue of Plymouth intergroup being undemocratic and unrepresentative was also raised. A non R2R GSR asked if a sub committee could be formed to determine why this was. This was also voted down by R2R members.

I am sure that you get the picture. If only GSRs were allowed to vote then Plymouth IG would be democratic, but most of the other Intergroup officers are R2R clones who vote in unison. It is very unhealthy and gives R2R an unassailable majority.

This is why most Plymouth groups do not attend or financially support this intergroup. We are called apathetic, but that is not the case. Our particular group conscience actively decided we want nothing to do with IG.”

Comment: It seems to us there are a number of alternatives here:

1. Rally the troops and send enough GSRs to Plymouth Intergroup to vote out the Road to Recovery cult group's officers and install AA members in their place;
2. Set up an alternative Intergroup excluding all R2R members. Other intergroups are hardly going to accord the existing intergroup recognition if it only has one GSR;
3. South West Region (and AA generally) puts into action Tradition Four and refuses to recognise the existing cult intergroup, and excludes its officers from any kind of participation in the service structure (much like de-listing a cult group). This would leave Plymouth without an effective intergroup ….. but then it doesn't have one anyway

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Jon F (remember him – An Incident at Conference) is 'acting out' true to form and continues to try and bully other members picking on women especially so we hear

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

42. 
Would conference give guidance as to how best to deal with AA lobbying websites likely to cause public controversy showing up prominently in search engines related to the search phrase “Alcoholics Anonymous”?

Background

It is generally considered that being on the first page of search results in Google makes you extremely relevant to the search phrase, and being in the first 3 pages makes you relevant. A large number of newcomers and professionals approach AA for the first time through Google and other search engines. Searches such as: Alcoholics anonymous South East Uk, Alcoholics anonymous Bedfordshire, Alcoholics anonymous Essex, alcoholics anonymous Cambridgeshire, lead to one or more results in the first 2 pages which say that parts of AA are highly dangerous. Searches for Alcoholics Anonymous Aberdeen, Alcoholics Anonymous Kent, Alcoholics Anonymous Hampshire Uk, Alcoholics Anonymous Middlesex give search results for these websites on the very first page presented. For the newcomer and professionals the publically [sic] accessible nature of these websites could confuse them or put them off from having anything to do with AA. This issue  effects [sic] AA as a whole as internet searches are national. It is possible to create members‐only websites which are less visible to search engines. It is possible to hire search consultants to help adjust search engine rankings to put such web results lower down the rankings.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Fully covered by Tradition 10

Comment: Not to mention searches for “Alcoholics Anonymous GB”!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

41. 
Would conference please give guidance as to the usage of public websites to lobby for national AA UK policies as an addition to the conference process itself?

Background

In the last few years there has been a growing incidence of UK‐based websites run by AA members who publicise their views on various topics of AA UK service policy and officers, GSO and the GSB. They also encourage AA members reading the websites to lobby GSO and GSB with these views. They go through the conference‐approved literature explaining where they believe it should be changed. They discuss various incidents they have heard of at GSO explaining where GSO or the board are at fault. Such blog posts are available to the general public. Password protected sites are easily available to set up. There is a UK service structure in existence that provide a process for lobbying and raising issues at the highest level. The use of public websites is maybe more likely to cause public controversy, and gets included in AA search results for the general public and professionals.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Fully covered by Tradition 10.

Comment: Yep! Answered this one before...... It's called: 'freedom of speech'. And AA's an ANONYMOUS organisation – not a secret one!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption

Yet another cult meeting bites the dust!

A correspondent reminded us (cheers!) that yet another cult meeting has gone the way all cult meetings should go …..into the bin!

In this case we're delighted to announce the Plymouth Road to Recovery cult group's meeting:

Saturday 11.00 Church of Christ the King, Armada Way ….

is no more..... no tears from us! Maybe they ran out of money??

We had noticed some time ago of variations to locations and times advertised for this FRAUD of a group … but as we said to our correspondent …. we don't like our Cult Where to Find (Great Britain) to be too accurate......We have been known to get these little details ever so slightly wrong ….

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

'Gongs' for all!

Yep! You may not realise this but two million or so AA members might just be eligible to get their very own 'gong'. Just get a friend to write you a recommendation and send it off to Queen Queenie (or Liz Windsor), c/o Buck House, London SW1A 1AA and you too could become the proud owner of a BEM (Medallist of the Order of the British Empire). (Now what did we do with that pesky Empire? Can't find it anywhere! Never mind! We'll have a look later).

These awards are handed out yearly to the good and worthy (and also civil servants, judges and politicians for just doing what they're paid to do anyway as well as the well-heeled who've given the party in power a bit of a 'bung'), a bit like the merit badges they used to hand out at school. Do some people never grow up!

See The Queen's Birthday Honours list (the very last person on it … of course!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous PBS ... Pretty Bloody Sober!)

PS For a few grand you can even get yourself a peerage and flounce around the House of Lords draped in a dead animal fur! So much for Darwin's theory!

PPS Thanks to our correspondent 

PPPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption (see here)

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

40. 
Would the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations on whether the intent behind Tradition 9 is being upheld when questions submitted for consideration by Conference are being rejected by Conference Steering Committee as being the responsibility of some other service board or committee?

Background

• Tradition 9 
• Summary of questions not accepted for Conference 2014 
• The Conference Charter‐Great Britain, AA Structure Handbook for Great Britain 2013, pp104‐107 
• Concept IV and V

A number of questions submitted last year for Conference 2014 were rejected under submission category 7 as being the /responsibility' of some other service board or committee.

Tradition 9 states that ‘AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.’
Pages 104 to 107 of The AA Structure Handbook for Great Britain 2013 state that ‘The Conference will ... be the vehicle by which AA in Great Britain can express its views on all matters of vital AA policy and all hazardous deviations from AA Tradition' and that ‘Since 1966 Conference has been for all practical purposes the voice and the effective conscience of the Fellowship in Great Britain'.

Concepts IV and V give a ‘right of participation' and a ‘right of appeal' to all members of the Fellowship.

My intention behind asking this question is to ask Conference to consider the intent behind the Traditions and the rights outlined by the Concepts, and for Conference to find a better way to uphold these when questions are being ignored by Conference Steering Committee and swept into an accountability vacuum between Conference and the Board of Trustees and, with Conference Steering Committee decisions only being revealed once per year, there being no right of appeal.

Terms of Reference No. 7 A new system is in place and the Terms of Reference of the CSC have been updated to reflect this.

Comment: Steady now! Risk of democracy breaking out!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth Intergroup corruption (see here)

Plymouth (cult) Intergroup – an annexe of the Road to Recovery cult group

Recently we received an email essentially arguing the case for non-disclosure of alleged criminal activity at this intergroup. The sender put forward a raft of supposedly mitigating factors in support of their position. From our point of view none of these justify a cover-up, which is essentially what Plymouth (cult) Intergroup is currently engaged in. This is a 'service' structure that is rotten to the core, its corrupt officers primarily derived from the Road to Recovery, and whose operations promote such widespread disaffection amongst other groups that few bother to participate anymore. This is the frequent concomitant where cult activity predominates in an area eg. Strood, Rochester (West Kent). The malign impact of these vectors of the “disease” should not be underestimated. Operating under the guise of the fellowship they advocate a perversion of the programme (sponsorship, sponsorship, sponsorship) by which means they corrupt everyone with whom they come into contact. But our correspondent's misplaced plea for 'compassion' presents an odd juxtaposition to the cult's usual practices. Remember these are very same people who will invariably, with almost brutal glee, demand of newcomers that they be prepared to “go to any lengths” and apply “rigorous honesty” in “ALL their affairs” whilst appending an ever-lengthening list of 'suggestions' ('cult speak' for edicts imposed mostly at the whim of their 'dictator') to their sponsees (or victims as we prefer to call them), most if not all of which 'commandments' are entirely irrelevant to recovery. No hint here of compassion nor of the AA 'hand' that 'reaches out' without condition. In fact precisely the opposite. But as you proceed further up the cult 'hierarchy', and join the ranks of the 'elect', honesty becomes considerably less rigorous, 'moral inventory' greatly relaxed, 'any lengths' much attenuated, and as for principles …... well these fairly fly out the window! A whole new set of standards (if they can be called that) now apply. Here any lie will suffice where it suits the individual's or group's interest. AA tradition will be twisted out of almost all recognition whilst 'personalities' multiply as fast as principles disappear. Plymouth Intergroup itself long ago ceased to be part of the AA service structure and has degenerated, in our view, way beyond the point of redemption. It has figured (together with its equally if not more corrupt partner) frequently on our blog over the years. The solution, however, is simple. The local groups need to rally their forces (because make no mistake - this is a war!) and send their GSRs to intergroup in sufficient numbers to force the resignations of all cult intergroup officers together with their sympathisers (almost as vile a breed as those they support) and replace them with the genuine AA article. The 'new' intergroup then needs to comply absolutely with both AA traditions and guidelines and above all ensure that it respects the rule of law. Only then can it be said that the Plymouth area has returned to the AA fold.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Anyone wishing to report fraudulent activity may do so via this site:

National Fraud Reporting Centre - Action Fraud.

ActionFraud is the UK’s national fraud and internet crime reporting centre

PPS See previous posts on Plymouth Intergroup's corrupt practices here

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

39. 
Would the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations on whether, given recent negative publicity surrounding corporate tax avoidance and the use of tax havens, allowing the Board's investment managers to place A.A. reserves in various funds ultimately controlled from Luxembourg risks the fellowship being drawn into public controversy?

Background

• Tradition 10 
• Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2013

The short form of tradition 10 suggests that ' ... the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy'.

The Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2013 discloses, at note 14, the following investments valued at over 5% of the total invested :

'Global Select Corporate Bond XXVIII (market value £172,352)

Global Select Total Return Bond XU (market value £43,981),

Bluebay Investment Grade Bond Fund Lux Listing (market value £89,894)

Global Brands F I Morgan Stanley (UK) (market value £86,271)

Global Select SICAV Sol Glob EQ L(A) (market value £96,510)'

These funds are listed in Luxembourg, a low tax regime.

My intention behind asking this question is to address what I see as a very real threat to AA's noncontroversial stance. I strongly believe our reserves should be held in UK listed investments, in a mix of risk‐free Government bonds and ethical investments. With public opinion as it currently stands, investing in Luxembourg assets is unwise.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Charities are not taxed on their investments.

Comment: Not to mention (but we will) AA's past investments in distilleries and tobacco companies! Not a good idea!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Plymouth (cult) Intergroup: embezzlement allegations

Embezzlement of funds - Plymouth (cult) Intergroup

Details relating to the alleged embezzlement of Plymouth Intergroup funds (see here) were passed to Devon and Cornwall Police this morning (including reference to the attempted cover-up). They were also referred to the General Service Office (York) who have already been informed of the incident. No doubt more will be revealed!

Apart from the matter itself what we find truly extraordinary is the response of the service structure in AA generally.

We notified the General Service Office (and the trustees) of our concerns a week ago. No response. They may or may not have acted on the information. Who can tell?

Plymouth Intergroup apparently deliberated upon the matter and then concluded what? To say nothing.

South West Region were also made aware of what was going on. Have they taken any action? All seems shrouded in secrecy.

Alcoholics Anonymous is an ….. anonymous organisation... not a secret nor indeed secretive one! For a fellowship which claims “rigorous honesty”, “moral inventory”, “making amends” and acting responsibly as its central principles these seem to have been curiously absent over recent times. Indeed observable behaviour would suggest the precise opposite. Disclosure of a criminal offence (alleged) is not a matter for debate either in group consciences or regional meetings or even consultations with the 'Big Sky Daddy'. You're required by law to report it. And if you don't you may well find yourself facing a criminal prosecution. We cannot afford to permit a culture to prevail in AA where misconduct (criminal or otherwise) is ignored or covered up. The argument frequently deployed to rationalise such obscuration is that it will bring AA into disrepute. What actually befouls our reputation is failing to live up to our own declared principles, and then behaving like hypocrites.

Think on that!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Plymouth Road to Recovery (cult) group to be renamed Plymouth Maternity Unit

According to various correspondents male members (?) of this cult group (also see under Area News, South West for more on this group's perverse history) have been VERY busy 'carrying the message' (?), and their recipients equally busy carrying the consequences! Over the last few years no fewer than three 'RTR' babies have been produced with two of the mothers continuing to attend the cult group. The third (and a number of other past RTR 'baby mothers' - there are more?!) no longer attend AA. Wayne P (group guru and progenitor – in more ways than one!) has - as one would expect of a 'born' leader - made his own contribution to repopulating the Plymouth area and taken up with yet ANOTHER RTR woman after fathering a child with his last sponsee (we're assuming by now that Wayne's long suffering wife, if she has any sense, has walked away from this train-wreck of a marriage).

Perhaps aacultwatch should take part of the blame. After all it was us that advised the group to 'go forth and multiply”!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our various correspondents.

PPS See previous posts here 

PPPS Would the person who sent in two comments to be published on the blog contact us directly via our email address: aa_cultwatch@yahoo.co.uk. We'd like to check some of the background. As they stand we can't currently publish them. Anonymity guaranteed

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)

38. 
Would the Fellowship discuss, share experience and make recommendations on how GSO reserves should be brought back in line with Guidelines, for instance whether the selling price of AA literature ought to be reduced or whether other actions to reduce reserves should be considered?

Background

• Tradition 7

• Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2013

• The AA Structure Handbook for Great Britain 2013 p120

• Concept XII

The AA Structure Handbook for Great Britain 2013 p120 suggests GSO hold 'a prudent reserve equivalent to the budget expenditure for the forthcoming year', this aim being underlined by the Reserves Policy in the Report of the Trustees. However, at 30 September 2013 reserves totalled £2,096,000 while annual expenditure was £1,228,000.

In the year to 30 September 2013 the General Service Board reported a surplus of £188,000, further increasing its reserves from a figure already over the Handbook's recommended position and the Trustees' aim

Tradition 71ong [sic] form states that ' ... we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose.'

Additionally, Concept XII warns against becoming ' ... the seat of perilous wealth ... '

In the year to 30 September 2013 literature sales were £519,000 while costs as disclosed in the accounts were £182,000. Literature is therefore being sold at almost three times cost.

Reducing the selling price of literature would bring many benefits, such as:

• decreasing the Board's annual surplus and reducing reserves to bring them into line with Handbook and Trustees' aims to hold one year's running costs as a prudent reserve.

• helping groups and members to carry the message more widely at a lower cost.

• allowing AA groups to sell literature at a lower price than online bookstores, making this part of the fundamental attraction of meetings.

My intention behind asking this question is to address two significant issues revealed by the latest Accounts – those being that literature is being sold at a large profit, significantly hindering its vital role in carrying the message more widely, and the unnecessary and ever growing level of reserves which are in danger of compromising our primary spiritual aim.

Terms of Reference No. 7 Treasurer’s report at Conference 2014 answers this.

Comment: We'd go further.... we believe that ALL AA literature should be available FREE as online downloads. Printed literature should only be sold at cost. A facility should be made available on the website where members may make a VOLUNTARY donation for downloads thus obtained (but only to a pre-set maximum limit per account to avoid bequests being made by an alternative route). Advice should also be given that non-AA members (outside organisations) may of course avail themselves of the facility but refrain from making any donation. Only then will we be operating according to our own stated principles. See Tradition 7. AA is not a publishing business nor should profits from literature sales be used to subsidise the running of the General Service Office. Apart from being in breach of the aforementioned Tradition this subsidy reduces the “power of the pot” ie. the ability of the fellowship to hold the service structure to account by the simple expedient of withholding funds. In the meantime we advise members to download the existing free literature (here (GB) and here (US)) instead of purchasing hard copy. Moreover where competitively priced alternatives are available they should purchase these (although people should be aware that some of these are major tax avoiders in the UK eg. Amazon). AA is quite capable of functioning without this form of subsidy.

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

PPS Also see Plymouth (cult) Intergroup – fraud allegations (update)