Good news! Cult meetings fold!

Yep! We're always delighted to announce the demise of a cult meeting but even more so when two bite the dust!

Guildford: Beginners (see our Cult Where to Find (GB) under Surrey – no connection with Guildford Young Persons of the same day incidentally) has shut down as has Herne Bay: Big Book Salvation (East Kent) (presumably because of a shortage of members who either needed or wanted to be saved!)

The latter group, of course, is associated with a certain 'cokehead' who goes by the name of Harry K (Remember him? .. of course you do! Who could forget such sartorial elegance!). We say 'cokehead' because not only is AA blessed (?) with his presence but also seemingly CA (Cocaine Anonymous) where he hangs about with another of his ilk, Richard E (yet another recipient of our“thug of the month” award... Is this pure coincidence??). We use the term 'cokehead' because some doubts have been expressed in certain quarters as to whether these two are even the real deal when it comes to lapping up the 'sauce' so beloved of “real” alcoholics …... although on this matter we can, of course, express no view …. 'Nuff said! We are informed, however, that CA is apparently prone to a particularly virulent form of recovery dogmatism (accompanied by an equally rabid brand of despotism!) which both Harry and Richard are most keen to promulgate …. both in their equally unique but repugnant ways! Strange to say their form of evangelism is not going down well amongst seasoned AA members who can spot a con artist a mile away (with the exception of Harry A (or Harry the Handbag … don't ask!) ….. who's hopped on the bandwagon to further his own control freak agenda). Unfortunately the same cannot be said for newcomers who may be somewhat more susceptible to their glib allure (is that the right word?).

But with every silver lining there comes a cloud in the shape of Esher Green Saturday evening meeting. More on this at a later date ….

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Westgate-on-Sea Sunday Big Book Study

Well the East Kent thugs are back in business! We are referring of course to Harry A (aka Harry the Handbag aka Robin the Boy Wonder) and Harry K (aka Batman) who operate out of the above meeting. (We'll be adding this to our Cult Where to Find shortly). They run the operation like their own private fiefdom and God help anybody who dares to forget this. A newcomer who unfortunately was unaware of the 'rules' for sharing was promptly reprimanded by these two 'gentlemen' for failing to comply after which all hell broke loose. Arguments flew from side to side with one member demanding a group conscience to address the issue. Both Harrys, being control freaks, did not like this idea at all and attempted to silence the opposition. Fortunately for our two thugs the majority of the group had been well trained and knew better than to rock the boat. However more than one member pointed out to our deadly duo something of the error of their ways to which Harry K (Batman) attempted to raise that defence employed by bullies the world over - that no one understood him (in his case because of the way he spoke - he's an American). He was quickly disabused of this notion by one of the dissenters. It was not his accent, he was informed, but what he said which constituted the offence.

We expect to see this meeting appear shortly in the Primary Purpose directory (an outside organisation and one already excluded by AA (Ireland). As you may recall both Batman and Robin's telephone numbers have been used in this directory as contact details for other groups run by the Primary Purpose 'franchise' including Herne Bay (Wednesday). Previously, when quizzed about this association at East Kent Intergroup, Harry A (the Handbag) initially denied all knowledge and then claimed that someone had 'stolen' his number and added it to the Primary Purpose directory without his permission! Yeah.... we believe you.... of course we do …. 

More to come on this …. we're sure …. 

Cheerio 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Herne Bay Big Book Salvation (Wednesday)

Yes! They really call themselves that! This meeting (still listed in the AA Where to Find despite being affiliated with the Primary Purpose movement – an outside organisation) is, however, on the way out! Since the departure of the local 'guru' Harry K, who has gone on to pastures new (ie. Cocaine Anonymous) - his exit much encouraged by the locals who had had quite enough of his brand of 'recovery' - the group has kind of …well …. disintegrated. But that's what happens when you cut off the head of a snake. It wriggles around a bit and looks like it might have some life in it but it's just plain had it! Herne Bay used to be a bog standard AA meeting. Its members helped newcomers (and themselves) when they could and otherwise just got on with it. No fanfares .. no fuss …. no Big Book 'experts', no 'personailty' (?) speakers, no work guides, no lectures, no 'know-it-all' sponsors …. just plain ordinary AA. But then the Tankerton/Canterbury Friday (cult) crew decided that Herne Bay were doing it all WRONG. They just hadn't GOT IT, and so they decided to stick their oar in - and thus began the process of disintegration. Then the 'messiah' arrived in the shape of a pair of carpet slippers - Harry K (together with his side-kick Harry A (otherwise known as Harry the Handbag – don't ask!!)) He was even more sure that they hadn't GOT IT and proceeded to bring THE WORD to the benighted heathen! Finally the heathen had had quite enough of Harry's 'missionary' work and invited him to go forth and multiply!  Of course in the good old days we would have just popped him in a pot and had him for supper … Ah! Happy times! Still …. mustn't complain. CA's loss is our gain! And maybe Herne Bay can be resurrected in its original form and return to being just an ordinary, cult free AA meeting.

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Bullying in East Kent

We quote:

“Dear fellas.

At last weeks East Kent Intergroup AGM which I attended, there was a report from a woman who had been subjected to bullying by a male member of the fellowship in East Kent.

This is not a new problem and one where it was suggested that guideline 17 be read out at the beginning of every meeting. If matters continued, outside organisations like the police should be involved.

What is noted is a group member can call a group conscience at any time during a meeting but what also should be noted is this bully sometimes corners his female victims outside meetings.

The treasurer of the intergroup also read out an email from someone who decided to leave a group where this bully was bullying female members. It was sent to the treasurer as he was requesting a receipt for a contribution but was leaving as a group treasurer.

The content was :-

My Dear …...

Just a question of a receipt for £### sent by me on behalf of ###### Wed.

I have now left this meeting as I could no longer accept the personal behaviour of a member.

He was someone I was powerless over,who I come to realise I certainly could not change.

He was a bully to female members and that was unacceptable, that I found quite shocking because he should of known better, and was talking the talk but his ego it would appear,stopped him walking the walk, if you can understand. I also know that he was economical with the truth.(Dallas)[a reference to the Primary Purpose movement - see below]

Any way mate that was my shit and I decided that it was best to go before I smacked him in mouth! not PC AND IN NO WAY SPIRITUAL 'EH?.

This bullies behaviour is not acceptable and he evidently has bullied officers of EKIG as well.

What was also shocking on the evening is directly after this was read out a member of another Group felt it an appropriate time to advertise in a 'matter of fact' way a forthcoming convention.

Eh HELLO! - it seems some group members in EKIG think its OK to gloss over this behaviour.

I don't know what's more shocking - the bully, them or both.

Please can you publicise this on your website - for the record this bully is an American who clearly sponsors himself.

Women - please watch out for him and remember he is a bully and his behaviour is unacceptable.

Keep up the good work fellas”

Comment: Well three guesses who this might be! No.. Give up! OK then.... It's none other than the local guru-in-residence and Big Book aficionado (or one of them at least!) Harry K... aka Batman. However Harry's reputation has spread far and wide already so this is hardly news! Still we're happy to do our bit in bringing such malefactors to the fellowship's attention. It is so often the case that those who preach the loudest seldom live up even to the most modest of expectations .. and Harry is no exception! Still the word is that he's defected to Cocaine Anonymous where apparently he's busy lecturing them on recovery … leather bound Big Book and all.... As they say - our gain is their loss!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Guidelines are all very well! But they're not much use unless they're IMPLEMENTED!

PPS Apparently Dover Monday is still ruminating about whether to break its affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement. Its group details are still listed with this outside organisation (together with the contact details for both Harry K and Harry A (otherwise known as Harry the Handbag aka Robin – see Batman above)). Until such time as it does Dover Monday may not refer to itself as an AA meeting. Herne Bay Wednesday however has decided to remain listed with Primary Purpose and similarly therefore may no longer be considered - or refer to itself as - an AA meeting.

A bit of this and that!

An email from a cult member:

“Just to inform you:

Kearsney [see: East Kent cult group gets its marching orders!] wed night (original Strood influence )

Now Dover wed night.

The meeting lives on is stronger and thankfully much more steps focused.

so.the Dover / Kerasney [sic] meeting will continue to flourish, sponser [sicker] people to wellness!

the members are more resoloute [sickest] than ever!”

Comment: Might try using a spell check now and then! Or maybe lay off 'the brew'! Note the explicit connection to the Strood group (West Kent cult). And finally for -  “the members are more resoloute than ever” - read ….. the fanatics still don't get it!

And also from East Kent:

Herne Bay Big Book Salvation (yes seriously!) and Dover (Monday)( two ex-AA groups now registered with the Primary Purpose cult gang in Dallas) are still listed in that directory (see here). The two contacts are Harry K and Harry A (aka Batman and Robin) although the former may have defected to Cocaine Anonymous by now (but more on him at a later date)

Lastly:

The Chelmsford Thursday meeting (listed in our GB Cult Where to Find) may have reverted to AA.......

And lastly... finally!

For the more obsessive amongst you (who could think such a thing!) we present an index of “don'ts” and “musts” (Big Book, 3^rd edn). We personally counted them ourselves (yeah …...sure!). There are more “don'ts” than “musts”

Don't

1. 12
2. 14
3. 20
4. 53
5. 77
6. 82
7. 83
8. 86
9. 89
10. 90
11. 92
12. 93
13. 102
14. 108
15. 113
16. 120
17. 121
18. 126
19. 148
20. 149
21. 151
22. 157
23. 186
24. 188
25. 190
26. 194
27. 198
28. 202
29. 204
30. 206
31. 207
32. 239
33. 248
34. 257
35. 262
36. 263
37. 266
38. 267
39. 268
40. 271
41. 272
42. 273
43. 300
44. 301
45. 309
46. 318
47. 324
48. 326
49. 336
50. 337
51. 340
52. 346
53. 347
54. 348
55. 349
56. 350
57. 351
58. 352
59. 356
60. 362
61. 363
62. 367
63. 377
64. 378
65. 381
66. 382
67. 384
68. 386
69. 387
70. 389
71. 390
72. 391
73. 392
74. 400
75. 412
76. 423
77. 426
78. 429
79. 438
80. 439
81. 440
82. 443
83. 446
84. 447
85. 450
86. 464
87. 468
88. 469
89. 471
90. 477
91. 479
92. 482
93. 484
94. 485
95. 487
96. 488
97. 489
98. 492
99. 499
100. 500
101. 502
102. 503
103. 510
104. 511
105. 512
106. 516
107. 526
108. 527
109. 529
110. 540
111. 542
112. 550
113. 552

Must

1. 10
2. 14
3. 20
4. 21
5. 29
6. 33
7. 43
8. 44
9. 62
10. 66
11. 69
12. 73
13. 74
14. 75
15. 78
16. 79
17. 80
18. 81
19. 82
20. 83
21. 85
22. 86
23. 89
24. 90
25. 93
26. 95
27. 99
28. 100
29. 101
30. 111
31. 113
32. 114
33. 115
34. 117
35. 118
36. 120
37. 127
38. 130
39. 135
40. 141
41. 143
42. 144
43. 146
44. 152
45. 153
46. 154
47. 156
48. 159
49. 164
50. 175
51. 180
52. 181
53. 199
54. 217
55. 223
56. 256
57. 264
58. 269
59. 272
60. 277
61. 281
62. 286
63. 293
64. 297
65. 299
66. 307
67. 310
68. 311
69. 319
70. 325
71. 379
72. 380
73. 382
74. 390
75. 394
76. 395
77. 408
78. 422
79. 452
80. 458
81. 463
82. 475
83. 480
84. 481
85. 491
86. 501
87. 502
88. 504
89. 505
90. 506
91. 513
92. 516
93. 520
94. 524
95. 525
96. 526
97. 531
98. 533
99. 536
100. 563
101. 565
102. 569
103. 571
104. 572

Now don't you feel a whole lot better for that? Surely you must!!!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)


PS Cheers to our various correspondents!

Cult “Where to Find” (GB) – update – and other matters!

YORKSHIRE

Halifax Primary Purpose Group

Saturday 10.30 The Ebenezer Center, St. James Road

[Contact: comes under Ebenezer Centre Tel: 01422 342654]

(outside affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement)

Back To Basics Meeting

Wednesday 6:30 Harrogate Baptist Church. Victoria Avenue,

[Contact: comes under Baptist Church]

(described in the AA directory as a Big Book multi-meeting group but affiliated with the Back to Basics movement – a US separately incorporated “not for profit” outside enterprise)

EAST KENT

Herne Bay: Big Book Salvation

Wednesday 7.30 The Retreat, RC Church, 2 Clarence Road

[Contact: comes under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Southwark]

(outside affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement)

Dover Big Book Study

Monday 7.30 Our Lady of Dover RC Church, Roosevelt Road

[Contact: comes under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Southwark]

(outside affiliation with the Primary Purpose movement).

PS The word is that the two Primary Purpose contacts for these East Kent meetings – Harry K and Harry A (aka Batman and Robin) - have some rather interesting habits. We've learnt through the grapevine (no – not THAT Grapevine!) that Harry A (Robin), when challenged by the East Kent Intergroup about his inclusion in this outside directory as a contact for one of the above groups, denied all knowledge and claimed ….. identity theft! According to Harry A (aka Harry the Handbag) some person (or persons unknown) had maliciously ripped off his name and number and posted it off to Dallas (HQ of the Primary Purpose movement). In the subsequent interrogation (which did not include the use of thumbscrews) his story changed and he was asked if either group had agreed (through a group conscience) to their details being placed in the Primary Purpose directory. Obfuscation followed upon obfuscation whilst Harry A sought to evade his ruthless inquisitors. No one (including the hapless Handbag) seemed at all convinced by his feeble explanations. And yet the groups and his contact details still remain posted on the Primary Purpose website! As for Harry K (aka Batman – and holder of our prestigious Thug of the Month award) it would seem that he likes to get all “touchy feely” when it comes to carrying the one true, pure and unsullied AA message to the heathen (we mean you and us!) …. and most especially with the ladies. Apparently he's a fellow who likes to 'get up close and personal' when transmitting what he's got! Perhaps we've got this all wrong and he's merely a repressed tree hugger who's all confused! Or maybe it's just a hobby! Who can say!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

WESTGATE MORNING BIG BOOK STUDY SUNDAY Meeting (East Kent IG)

Well it would seem that one - or possibly two - of the East Kent "Harrys" (they're multiplying at an alarming rate!) has set up shop at the above mentioned meeting. Both of these are widely acknowledged as 'experts' on the recovery programme of Alcoholics Anonymous (as indeed they will unceasingly remind anyone who happens to stumble into their path!). It would seem that the rest of the fellowship in East Kent (and even adjacent intergroups) have been barking up the wrong tree completely and have somehow managed to stray from the “Road of Happy Destiny”. Fortunately for us (and here you cannot even begin to comprehend the depth our gratitude!) 'Batman and Robin' have now come to the rescue and have set about with considerable vigour to guide us back to safety. But enough already of the irony! This meeting joins a number of others in East Kent where the cult has set up Primary Purpose franchises. viz.

Dover

Monday at 7.30pm
Rear Room
Our Lady of Dover RC Church
Roosevelt Road
Dover
All meetings ‘Open’
Contacts: Harry K …..Harry A

Herne Bay

Wednesday at 7.30pm
The Retreat, RC Church
2 Clarence Road
Herne Bay
All meetings ‘Open’
Contact: Harry K …....

Both of these groups have formed affiliations with an outside enterprise ie. the Dallas Primary Purpose gang – a semi commercial operation (does a nice little sideline in leather bound Big Books – a snip at £40 so we hear!) which presents - additionally - entirely misleading information on AA recovery rates. The Westgate meeting does not yet appear in their directory (but this surely is merely an omission on the part of the Caped Crusader and his 'humble' side kick - soon to be rectified!).

So if you want to get the 'low down' on how to do the programme PROPERLY then get on down to one of these meetings and join the 'enlightened ones' - or even: “AS HARRY SEES IT!”

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Our “Thug of the Month” award goes to …....... Harry K (East Kent)

Yes. It's that time again - our national awards ceremony! And the winner standing head and shoulders above all the competition is Harry K – Thug of the Month! Indeed we have been quite inundated with votes for this particular candidate and we can no longer in all conscience ignore their many calls for his elevation to this quite prestigious position. The previous holder of this entirely ignoble title was of course Glynne M (West Kent) the erstwhile secretary of that intergroup (which still apparently has not learnt the lessons of the past with a significant number of cult members infesting their service structure) for her outstanding performance as the “Incredible Hulk” demonstrating at every opportunity her proclivity to bully her way to the desired result regardless of the consequences. However we feel that Harry K by far outshines her rather meagre efforts in his campaign to “reform” single-handedly the entire fellowship in that part of the country. He cuts a most dashing figure (or so we are told) and can always been seen clutching his no doubt well-thumbed copy of the Big Book which he brandishes frequently (and enthusiastically) in the direction of any hapless member who strays into his path. His prophetic abilities moreover are quite beyond dispute (although so far unproven) as increasing numbers of the brethren have had their “fortunes told” with the usual prediction that if they fail to follow his “directions” they will undoubtedly be cast into the pit of hell there to reside for all eternity. Brow-beating, lecturing, hectoring, finger-wagging, cross-sharing all form part of Harry K's formidable armoury for “carrying the message” to anybody whether they need it or not. Harry has a number of bases of operation from which he operates and where he instructs the heathen in the “True Way” (with occasional forays elsewhere amongst the “ungodly”) most notably the following:

Dover

Monday at 7.30pm
Rear Room
Our Lady of Dover RC Church
Roosevelt Road
Dover
All meetings ‘Open’
Contacts: Harry K …..Harry A

Herne Bay

Wednesday at 7.30pm
The Retreat, RC Church
2 Clarence Road
Herne Bay
All meetings ‘Open’
Contact: Harry K …....

(Both meetings incidentally have an outside affiliation – with the Primary Purpose movement - and therefore properly may no longer call themselves AA meetings – according to Tradition 3)

Additionally however he has recently “taken over” the role of “guru in residence” at the Westgate meeting:

WESTGATE MORNING BIG BOOK STUDY SUNDAY Meeting

10.00 Disabled Access: Full wheelchair access.

All mtgs 'open'.

Westgate & Westbrook Residence Association, 21 St Mildreds Rd

Although this is referred to as a Big Book study meeting attendees should rather expect to have to endure a solo discourse by Harry K (possibly assisted by his second-in-command Harry A) their success or failure being adjudged according to how closely they follow Harry K's unique interpretation of the recovery programme. In this connection it does seem however that Harry's edition of the Big Book is missing one chapter which would account no doubt for his rather “bombastic” and authoritarian style of communication: Chapter 7 – Working WITH Others. It is quite evident from his methods that he cannot have for a single moment even glanced at the aforementioned chapter nor have any clue as to its existence. We can only account for this by its entire omission from the tome in his possession. Nevertheless we have no doubt whatsoever (and given his almost universal popularity) that we are sure to hear MUCH MORE from – and about - Harry.... ad infinitum!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

East Kent update

Two more groups in the East Kent area have signed up with the Primary Purpose cult movement (see here for a discussion). In the latest edition of the cult directory (August 2011) the following appear:

Dover

Monday at 7.30pm
Rear Room
Our Lady of Dover RC Church
Roosevelt Road
Dover
All meetings ‘Open’
Contacts: Harry K …..Harry A

Herne Bay

Wednesday at 7.30pm
The Retreat, RC Church
2 Clarence Road
Herne Bay
All meetings ‘Open’
Contact: Harry K …....

This movement (should you need to be reminded) knowingly misrepresents AA recovery rates (we say “knowingly” because we've pointed it out to them – still no reply on that? We wonder why? See here for a thoroughly researched – and accurate – study of actual recovery rates). Moreover they frequently quote from a draft of the Big Book in support of their erroneous arguments (a version incidentally that was rejected by the early fellowship in favour of the published first edition). Further they circulate an essay entitled Gresham's Law and Alcoholics Anonymous, a piece which is intended to demonstrate a decline in recovery rates and the reasons behind this (but which fails entirely to provide ANY evidence to support these opinions – see Critique). This “faction” places much emphasis on “personalities” before “principles” with their heavily promoted study guides (unvaryingly these are examples of micromanagement taken to the extreme and with very little scope for individual interpretation. It's so much easier isn't it, to let other people do your thinking for you? See here our own recovery course. Of course NEITHER of these methods are required in order to recover from alcoholism!) They are also a “primary” source for the latest rash ('rash' indeed being the operative word!) of circuit speakers (with accompanying CDs, work sheets, websites, audio file links, and all the other paraphernalia so essential to the “professional” alcoholic) with much advertised appearances by these “personalities” in both this country and the US. In one instance at least these promotional events are associated with commercial interests (drawing resources from AA and into the pockets of these individuals). Finally they talk frequently about the traditions but ignore these when they become 'inconvenient'. They are the “experts” on recovery who no one actually needs; otherwise known as “oxygen thieves”!

You will note from the contact details of the two groups mentioned above the unusual proliferation of “Harrys” in East Kent. Harry A is well known in the area and has been responsible for single-handedly boring the entire local fellowship for quite a number of years now (actually it seems like forever!). Ever the AA guru Harry never passes up the opportunity to deliver a lecture to anyone who cannot make good their escape quickly enough. In one instance (that we know of) a group got so tired of being subjected to his weekly sermonising that they formally asked him to desist. He did so and left never to be seen again – much to their relief. To the best of our knowledge Harry has never actually had a conversation WITH anyone in AA (and probably not elsewhere for that matter); he talks AT you rather than TO you! As for the other one this brand of Harry (Harry K) hails from “across the pond” originally. Again he is a classic example of the AA “know it all” and is frequently to be seen ostentatiously carrying his own well thumbed (and no doubt heavily indexed) copy of the Big Book to meetings. This AA “lawyer” is well renowned (would that be the correct designation?) for his erudition when it comes to quoting from the text (something that he does frequently and with great enthusiasm), employing his “synthetic knowledge” to great effect and thereby vanquishing all who dare to stand in his path. Again he is a prime example of someone who has substituted the superficial gloss of 'expertise' for the practical (and perhaps rather boring) application of spiritual principles in “all his affairs”. As usual the disparity between appearance and reality predominates – do not under any account scratch below this particular 'surface'!

It will be interesting to discover if either of these groups are aware (or were even consulted) of their inclusion in the cult directory? Was this the result of a group conscience or did the “bleeding deacons” dictate the terms?

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)