“London Calling”: AA (?) convention (contd)

Further to our previous entries we quote from a copy of an email sent to us: 

“For attn: GSRs, Intergroup officers (and interested members)

  
Circulation list: GSO, Trustees of the General Service Board, London Region (north), London Region (south) and their constituent IGs 

To whom it may concern, 

I am contacting you in my capacity as GSR New Malden (Sunday)(London South West Intergroup LSWIG) group in accordance with our group conscience (and Tradition Four). 

Despite repeated representations on our part to LSWIG the Intergroup in our view has been negligent in its responsibilities (with only a few notable exceptions) having failed to properly observe both the Guidelines and Traditions. Therefore it falls to us to remedy these omissions and bring to your attention the following. 

Under Tradition Four (as you are probably aware) groups may exercise autonomy although this latitude is not without qualification ie. “except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole”. 

Following on from the second section of the Tradition we draw your attention to the following event (of which you may or may not be aware):

 London Calling (see link: http://www.londoncallingaa.com) 

We have argued that since this “gathering” is clearly intended to be London-wide in scope under the above Tradition the organisers should have consulted with both relevant regions (London north and London south) together with their constituent intergroups (it might also be argued that since this is described as an “International” event the Trustees of the GSB should have been consulted under the same tradition). To the best of our knowledge they have not (with the exception of LSWIG within whose boundaries the event is to be located). 

We refer you here to the minutes of the two intergroup meetings where the issue was raised. See attachments “Minutes 27 March 2015 (1)” and “Minutes 29 May 2015” 

In our view the issue was not properly debated and the matter rushed through without proper deliberation with group officers (specifically the Chair) giving inaccurate advice on the aforementioned Tradition. It is clear from the minutes that the London Calling Committee only belatedly chose to consult LSWIG and then merely to have the event 'rubber-stamped'. LSWIG duly obliged. (Note: references are made in the minutes and also in the “ex-chair's report” (see attachment “Ex-chair's report 31.7.15”) to consultation with both GSO York and the London office. In both cases the matter was referred back to the IG advising them where the final responsibility remains). 

We raised our objections with LSWIG (sometimes referred to as SWLIG as an alternative acronym) drawing attention not only to London Calling's omissions but also to their own in deciding to endorse the event thereby lending the AA name (and logo) to the enterprise. These are summarised in the following attachments: “London Calling Supporting doc 31.7.15” and also the original agenda item submitted by the New Malden (Sunday) group. (“New Malden Agenda item”). 

The question was again discussed at the IG meeting held on the 31st July (see: “Agenda 31 July 2015”), which the New Malden group decided to boycott for procedural reasons. See “Boycott 26.7.15”). However we have been informed that the Intergroup voted to press ahead with the endorsement of the London Calling event notwithstanding our objections. 

I apologise for the length (and apparent complexity) of this correspondence but feel it is important your Intergroup/Region be placed in full possession of all the relevant facts (we also refer you here to the London Calling Chair's response to our agenda item: “Kamyar's [London Calling Chair] response 31.7.15”) should you wish to deliberate the matter further. We believe that LSWIG, even if only as a matter of courtesy, should have presented you with this information themselves. 

We should also add at this point that we have additional concerns about the London Calling event which were not directly raised with LSWIG viz. their advertising (and promotion) of named speakers which we believe is a fundamental breach of Tradition Twelve. 

We leave the matter in your hands. Should you wish further clarification please do not hesitate to contact me, 

Regards 

…....”

(GSR New Malden Sunday)

(edits to preserve anonymity)

Comment: It's interesting isn't it that this group is able to accomplish what both the so-called London Calling AA(?) Gathering and London South West Intergroup have so far failed to do ie. abide by Tradition Four - and consult with ALL interested parties (to be continued)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

See also:

Plymouth (cult) Intergroup corruption

For AA Minority Report 2013 click here