Break away 'service' structure in Australia!

A member kindly forwarded to us the following link (http://accso.org.au) to something called the “Australian Conference of Central Service Offices – Alcoholics Anonymous” drawing our attention to the About Us section of the website. We quote:

“About Us

This website has been produced by the South East Australasia General Service Office trading as The Australian Conference of Central Service Offices (ACCSO) of Alcoholics Anonymous, under the instructions of the affiliated Australian groups.

Over time, many Australian members felt that somehow AA’s spiritual focus had been lost with an over emphasis on structure and legalism in the general service structure.

As a result of this Delegate Bodies in Australia resolved to start ACCSO to serve excluded and alienated members, service entities and groups in and around Australia.

The organisation is guided by the collective wisdom of past members and groups in Australia and USA combined with relevant present Australian AA experience.”

(our emphasis)

It is not entirely clear from the website what these members are “excluded and alienated” from but the site does carry an extended and detailed section on non-“Conference Approved” AA literature which is suggestive. Apart from the self-evident fact that AA members can read what they like this does not preclude the possibility they may end up consulting stuff (under the 'non-conference approved' category) which is basically rubbish. Newcomers especially need to take care when making such choices.

Another part of the site deals with the question of sponsorship. In one section entitled Get a Sponsor (is this a suggestion?) we are told:

“• A few members may tell you that they got sober without the aid of a sponsor and they may be telling the truth. However, our AA experience tells us that you will have a much better chance with a sponsor than without one. In AA you will probably find that your sponsor is a vital part of your recovery.”

Here the implication is clear. A “few members (ie a very, very small minority, and therefore hardly worth taking seriously) may (ie. but not definitely!) tell you that they got sober without the aid of a sponsor and they may be telling the truth” (but you can't be sure. In fact they may not be telling the truth).

They continue:

“However, our AA experience (but MAYbe not everybody's – remember that very, very small minority!) tells us that you will (or MAY) have a much better chance with a sponsor than without one. In AA you will probably (but not definitely) find that your sponsor is a vital (?) part of your recovery”

Now we looked up “vital” just to see what the word meant: “essential”, “necessary”, “extremely important”.

As far as we're aware nowhere in any AA conference approved literature is sponsorship described as being “essential” or ”necessary” for recovery. “Spiritual experience” is described as vital. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness (according to our recollection) are described as “essential”. Although “sponsorship” MAY be regarded as important it is certainly NOT defined as vital (as in “probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism” (AA, How it Works, p. 60)

We would suggest that any member using this site pay close attention to the admonition included there under Opinions Within:

“Opinions expressed in articles within this site are those of their owners and may not reflect the opinion of AA as a whole”

Well at least that's an accurate statement!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to the member who drew our attention to the above

Step'n Ahead/Last Mile Foundation recruiting in AA meetings (Australia)

From a very confused newcomer – and who can blame them!

“Hi,

Sorry to bother you. I’ve had a bad experience with a non-AA Group step'n ahead/thelastmile posing as an AA meeting.

The Sunday Leederville WA meeting I attended (AA events) taught from the step'n ahead/thelastmile book and workbook.

No lessons were from the Big Book or any other AA Literature.

What is AA’s position on Non-AA groups using AA meetings to recruit?

What is AA’s position on Non-AA courses being advertised as AA meetings?

In my last 5.5 weeks I have heard new members are the lifeblood of AA.

I went to 3 meetings yesterday …..... The non-AA Group step'n ahead/thelastmile was recruiting at RPH (Royal Perth Hospital).

I went to Subiaco where I’ve previously seen The non-AA Group step'n ahead/thelastmile was recruiting. I asked the chair/leader what their position was. He said they were part of AA.

This is wrong. Please check - http://www.thelastmilefoundation.org/

I left and went to Claremont. The chair/leader of Claremont/Nedlands said I only have myself to blame. Even though I was recruited in Nedlands with him chairing and the Serenity Magazine was used as authority for attending.

I find it alarming the group chair at Subiaco & Claremont/Nedlands are aware of this group (and allow them to prey on new members)

When I voiced my concerns at the state office I was told we all do it differently.

My problem: If I trust AA with my recovery I need to know they will respect my trust.

If I choose another group that would be my decision (but I choice [sic] AA instead).

If I’m deceived at a vulnerable time – that’s a violation.

The group advertised in Serenity as  The Book Speakers Group are step'n ahead/thelastmile.

(Tuesday Northbridge & Sunday Leederville.)”

Our response:

“Dear …...

Thanks for the email - no bother! We've had some dealings with the Last Mile bunch but we're interested to hear they are actively recruiting in AA meetings. Of course AA as such will express no views on this activity but the groups can and should point out to those involved that this is not what AA meetings are for. Any AA group which affiliates itself with an outside organisation according to our traditions may no longer call itself an AA group. Clearly the people you have been talking to are unaware of this fact or prefer not to face up to it. In the short term your best bet is to go to those AA meetings that are abiding by the traditions and perhaps raise the issue with them and perhaps at your local regional body. It's always a good idea to familiarise yourself with the relevant guidelines before entering into a debate. An alcoholic 'properly armed with the facts' so to speak is in a much better position to communicate their point of view. But as always what must take top priority is your own recovery.

We'll raise some of the points you raise on our website (if that's OK with you) and see if we get any kind of response. At the very least we can make people aware that these groups are breaking AA traditions... something which they would probably not want too widely known

The Fellas”

(our edits)

Comment: This new member raises some pretty valid questions. Can we honestly say that newcomers who place their trust in us are not being let down? Only a few years ago we would have advised anyone approaching AA who believed they had some kind of serious alcohol problem to visit a meeting – any meeting – and see what they thought. We can't say the same today. Instead in all honesty we would feel obliged to advise them that they might like to consider AA as a possible solution but that they should approach the fellowship with some caution for the above reasons (as well as others eg. sexual predation, cult predators etc etc. Do we really want this list to go on …... ad infinitum!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Terrigal Speakers meeting

We were recently contacted by a member from NSW Australia with reference to this meeting:

“Hello firstly I would like to take you for all the great work you are doing.

I live on the central coast N.S.W Australia there is a group called the Terrigal speakers meeting on at 5.30 pm Sunday. This meeting fits what you are saying about cult groups 100%. They have people controlling about 15 meetings here , they stack votes, tell the cso here what to do or they will pull all funding, they go around to meeting and go to the new comer and get them to go to their meetings, tell the new comer that the people at the other meeting are all sick so stay away, tell them that they have talk about how good there sponsors are when the share and tell everyone they have to get a sponsor, what jobs they can have even control some people money, tried to turn a gay lady here straight by trying to play with her breast, the list goes on and on and on, would like any info on how to stop them if that can be done at all, also how to get there meeting put up on your site to maybe stop someone from falling into their trap 

Thank you keep up the good work 

Regards ….....”


Our response: 

”Hi …...

Thanks for the mail. If you send us as much detail about the specific meeting eg. times, full location address etc (in order that people don't confuse it with other meetings in the area) we will flag it up on the site. Again as much background information as you can provide would also be useful. The best way to deal with a cult group is firstly to stop pretending that it doesn't exist. Getting people to talk about their conduct openly ie. exposing them, is usually a good way to get the ball rolling. Once you've pulled away the rock you can see what's lurking underneath! Alerting newcomers is of prime importance. They are after all the most vulnerable members, and a prime target for the cult. If you have cult members visiting AA meetings on what we call 'fishing expeditions' they can be warned off. Once they realise that they've been rumbled they usually go away - or at least until they think the dust has settled! Raising the matter at the local assembly (intergroup) is another way of bringing members' attention to what is going on. What the cult hate above all is being subjected to any kind of examination. There's quite of bit of stuff on the site about what they're up to. We particularly recommend the Minority report (2013) and the article on the Primary Purpose gang. We hope this has been helpful and look forward to hearing from you 

Cheers

The Fellas” 

(minor edits) 

Comment: Any further information is always welcome. Our usual thanks to our correspondent 

Cheerio 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Dealing with predators

“Predators are AA members who take advantage of other members in various ways, such as:

sexual harassment

sexual attack

pressuring members to join a particular religious group

borrowing money

selling goods for personal gain

offering investment schemes

theft of group funds”

Possible solutions:

“Talk to other members about it and raise the matter at a group conscience meeting. Take care that you aren't just passing on rumours. Make sure you have well-established facts to work with

Discuss the problem with the person suspected of preying on other members. Listen to their side of the matter. Let them know the group disapproves of predatory behaviour

Make sure other members stay with the suspected predator whenever he or she is talking to vulnerable new members

Raise your concerns with any of the members you think may be at risk from the predator

Don't think the matter ends with your group. The predator may leave your group and move to fresh hunting grounds. You may need to warn members in other groups

Barring someone from meetings is an extreme step and should only be taken when other steps have failed

In certain situations you may need to notify the police

Under no circumstances should members resort to vigilante action and use violence to try to solve the problem. This would be totally against the spirit of the Fellowship and could turn the situation into a worse problem”

Source: Central Region Forum, (Authorised for publication by The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous Australia)

Comment: We could add to the above list considerably if one were to include cult members' exploitation/manipulation/coercion of newcomers.

By sexual predation what is clearly NOT being alluded to here is 'boy meets girl' in AA (or for that matter 'boy meets boy' etc) and falls in love (or even lust) but rather those individuals who serially and systematically target newcomers purely to satisfy their own sexual/ego desires. Members do form relationships of many types and some work out and some don't – much like the rest of society. What consenting adults get up to in their spare time is their business. But we're not talking about consenting adults here. We're talking about the deliberate exploitation of emotionally vulnerable people by those who know exactly what they're doing. Predators may well be sick people themselves but it's not a sickness that AA deals with. Maybe they do need help, and perhaps the best way to do that is to confront them with their behaviour. Failing to act not only places newcomers at risk but simply serves to exacerbate the problem for everyone concerned including the predator. Colluding with them or ignoring their conduct has precisely the same effect as for example enabling the alcoholic. One might think it's the compassionate thing to do but it isn't. It just leads to more and more trouble. The solution (and responsibility) lies in our hands ….. it just needs to be applied! And by whom? Take a guess!

Over to you

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to the member who drew our attention to this AA document

Primary Purpose (cult group) listings

AUSTRALIA

Introducing our new world wide directory of cult groups. These will be listed initially here (alphabetically by country) and then progressively located in our new Cult Where to Find (Rest of the World). (See here for more background on the Primary Purpose movement). Where these groups are also listed in AA Where to Finds they are in breach of Tradition 3 and may not call themselves an AA group (ie. affiliation with an outside organisation)

Primary Purpose Group

Brisbane

Big Book Study

Beenleigh. QLD

Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre

10 James Street QLD 4207

Monday 6:30 – 7:30 PM (PP)

Primary Purpose AA
Nowra New South Wales

Corner Shoalhaven and North Streets
Sunday - 6-30pm BB Study
Tuesday - 7-00pm Steps
Thursday - 5pm Mixed Study (cd/dvd/literature) (PP)

Penrith Sunlight of the Spirit Group.

Penrith New South Wales

Big Book Study Meeting

Sunday 6.00pm

The Quarterdeck, Station St (PP)

Big Book Discussion Meeting

Penrith New South Wales

The Quarterdeck, Station St,

Saturday 8.00am (PP)

Primary Purpose Group

Townsville

Sun City Church

98-102 Eyre St North Ward QLD 4810

Mondays 6 pm (PP)

Towradgi Big Book Study and Workshop Meeting

Towradgi

Congregational Hall
8 Carters Lane

NSW 2518

Thursday at 7:30 PM (PP)

The Kitchen Table Sobriety Group
Big Book Study & Workshop Meeting
8 Carters Lane Towradgi NSW 2519 (PP)

'Murky goings on' in Richmond, Victoria?

A correspondent contacted us recently in connection with the following:

“I'm curious at the 'murky goings on' in Richmond Victoria. Could your contacts in Perth find out more details and any more up to date info on this? I'm interested to know whether the Richmond, Victoria CSO has yet complied with conference. I note the Hong Kong International 'AA'? convention advertised on the website promotes the all singing all dancing "Scott L. From Nashville Tennessee" (I wonder how much he's getting paid). Hong Kong convention flyer: 'AA Times Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings and Events in Victoria Australia: http://aatimes.org.au/events

"The National Office of AA Australia should not supply AA literature to the Central Service Office (CSO) located in Richmond, Victoria which names itself as ‘Alcoholics Anonymous Victoria’ and ‘AA Victoria’ until that CSO changes its registered business and trading name to one which more appropriately describes its function and role in our fellowship. (Topics for the 2011 General Service Conference, Topic 002/2011;‘AA Around Australia’ September 2011, page 7) http://www.aa.org.au/members/documents/AAAA2011SepFinal.pdf”

Also it is interesting to note from the same document the following item listed under Topic 031/2011 (p. 6):

“Conference Finance Committee

Conference resolved that the General Service Board should produce a draft guideline regarding the use of members‟ contributions towards the cost of importing AA speakers, being mindful that groups are autonomous and noting that Guideline 14 already contains some relevant information.

Guideline to be submitted as a topic for Conference 2011.

Suggested Guideline

Although most members enjoy hearing speakers from other countries, using members‟ contributions to fund travel and accommodation expenses of such speakers to attend conventions and rallies in Australia can cause disharmony and disunity, so the decision requires careful consideration.

Ideally speakers from overseas should be selected from those already booked to attend, and who are self funding. However, if a committee believes that there is a unique speaker, who carries the Alcoholics Anonymous message better than anyone in Australia, or anyone else who is attending the Convention, they should put forward a valid argument to their group conscience.

The practice of individual members funding speakers to attend should be avoided, particularly if the group conscience has decided, for whatever reason, not to fund the speaker.

It is also worth reminding ourselves of the following statement which appears in our publication  "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions‟ under Tradition 12:

“we try to give up our natural desires for personal distinction as AA members both among fellow alcoholics and before the general public‟.

Funding members to speak could be considered to be disregarding this tradition.”

Comment: You'll note above the usual misquote of Tradition Four: “that groups are autonomous” (which is shocking when you consider this is being discussed at conference level!). What the tradition actually says is: “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting others groups or A.A. as a whole” (Short form).

And:

“With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. Group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, these groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.” (Long form – our emphases).

(Source: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/bigbook/pdf/traditions.pdf)

Moreover the observation that “if a committee believes that there is a unique speaker, who carries the Alcoholics Anonymous message better than anyone in Australia, or anyone else who is attending the Convention, they should put forward a valid argument to their group conscience” suggests a sense of irony on the part of the commentators. The notion that there exists no one in a whole continent who can 'uniquely' carry the AA message, and that resort has to be made to a foreign import implies a dearth of experience on the part of the entire Australian membership! Surely not! But the entire concept that a “unique speaker” is required in order to offer some “special interpretation” of the programme so that the message may be carried more effectively is questionable in itself. Actions not words form the substance of recovery. A glib delivery peppered with amusing anecdotes and slick one liners does not constitute the AA message. Something rather more than “emotional froth” is required. But perhaps this is what AA is degenerating into... “X Factor” recovery …. or 'bread and circuses'... we hope not!

We can only pray that the Australian members get their act together for surely without the services of Scott L all is lost (even more irony!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

The Minority report ends up in Australia!

“Hi there,

After writing the below I notice Wayne B gets a mention in your "A Minority report to conference 2012."

I went to his workshop last year, more than a few were on the verge of relapse after it. This group has become increasingly noticeable in Perth, Australia. Headed by Wayne Butler from the USA, his company through which this runs is The Last Mile Foundation …... Locally they brand themselves as having "Emotional Sobriety."

They breach lots of the traditions, and they have grow through local members not knowing or turning a blind eye to it.

They have their own "big book" and "12 step guide", known as the Step n' Ahead Workbook. They have a pyramid type sponsorship structure. All follow the same directions, HP is my sponsor and you're either willing or not. Never question your sponsor, no medication, no other therapists. They are told they have to have 5 sponsee's and actively recruit and target newcomers. Its very much an ego, personality type group that sees itself as the true AA. Most original members are those who were in AA, didn't work the program were about to leave/drink, then found this extreme version.

I personally have no issue if a member wants to go the extreme route, but it is the targeting of the newcomer that is the concern. The slanting and twisting of the big book, and the controlling cult like behaviour that goes on outside the rooms. ….......

many thanks”

An AA convention? We think not!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(Our thanks to our reporter in Perth)