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