Purley (cult) meetings .. the medication issue …. again!

Here we go … again! Will they never learn?? 

 

We were recently contacted by a member from the Wimbledon area who told us that the Purley cult group is sending “out 'reps' to other meetings telling members that they are not sober if they take medication such as anti depressants.” Apparently the issue is going to be raised at the local intergroup (London South West .. so good luck with that!). 

 Our correspondent continues:

“There was a recent incident of one girl who was told to stop her anti depressant by one of these 'reps'. As a result of coming off her prescribed medication this girl tried to take her own life and is now recovering in hospital and does not want to go to AA. In fact her mother has contacted the General Service Office and seeking further advice. This just cannot be allowed to happen and is NOT AA.

The[re] is a leaflet on AA and medication which clearly states we do not give advice but there is a growing number of people who are doing just that and not adhering to the traditions and principles of AA. More worryingly they are blaming others who have expressed concerns and spreading malicious gossip. And as we know gossip is a killer. The yellow card is being broken time and many people are not feeling safe in these Wimbledon meetings.”

Does any of this sound familiar? .. 'Fraid so... The 'nutters' are still out there carrying the 'disease'. For their edification (if no one else's) here is the relevant (conference approved) leaflet: The A.A. Member—Medications and Other Drugs 

(You've got to wonder if any of these jokers can actually read! Maybe sign language?? Two fingered salute perhaps!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our correspondent wanted to remain anonymous not only for the usual reasons (ie. traditions)....but also concern about 'reprisals'. So not only 'nutters' but thugs as well... business as usual!

Some more on the 'genealogy' of the cult

“JOYS OF RECOVERY

David B [founder of the Joys of Recovery] sponsored David C [otherwise referred to as 'the Icon' and successor to David B – see website] and Tony M. Tony M left to form the Little Venice Step Meeting on a Monday Night (corner of Shirland Rd and Formosa St). David C went to 'A Vision for You' in Eaton Square and sponsored various people who formed their own meetings. The original 'Vision' meeting closed down because of a lack of people doing service at the meeting (as some attendees were commuting from far afield for the meeting). The attendees left and formed (among others):

EALING (Various);

GUILDFORD MONDAY;

ROCHESTER - THERE IS A SOLUTION MONDAY (the Medway groups and East Kent groups formed from here).

David B also sponsored Wayne P (from Plymouth) who formed various meetings in Plymouth, which in turn has had its own offshoots in Bristol, Exeter, Bournemouth and Torquay. A sponsee of Wayne's also set up the 'Road to Recovery' meetings in West London, however they have since parted company and these meetings may have reverted to mainstream AA.

The 'Joys of Recovery' has a number of manifestations (all in differing levels of extremity), including various parts of London, Surrey and Middlesex. It is THESE meetings that use the 'Six Suggestions' or 'Six Point Card', and have been seen (more recently) at Tolworth (Thursday Night), Cambridge (Saturday Night), Victoria (Monday Night - recently closed), Tottenham and a couple of meetings in Northfields, and reportedly a meeting in Chester.

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Primary Purpose [originating in Dallas and inspired apparently by Joe McQ and Charlie P's study course] meetings have no connection with David B or the 'Vision' or 'Joys' meetings. As said before these are more related to groups and meetings in America (hence Primary Purpose). These meetings do not use the 'Six Suggestions' or have 'Six Point Cards', but have often used non-conference approved literature (albeit on a separate table). However some of these meetings use certain levels of 'segregation' (with some of these groups having separate meetings after the meeting for men and women). The Purley meetings are the closest linked with these, and have frequently 'imported' speakers from the USA. This is almost certainly the same with Sidcup. As many are aware there is an 'underground' directory of certain Primary Purpose meetings (that may or may not be comprehensive in their eyes).

The meetings that specifically come under this 'Sub-heading' have been previously listed on the website (taken directly from the Primary Purpose Directory).

DESIGN FOR LIVING

This meeting in Wimbledon has no connections with either of the above, and I have reason to believe that there has been some local pressure placed on this meeting - again, this group may or may not have reverted to 'mainstream' AA. I suggest those available look for themselves.”

Comment: Thus the contagion spreads!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

(An extract from a contribution sent in by an AA member – our usual thanks extended)

PS See here for more background on the Primary Purpose/Back to Basics movement

Bexleyheath Road to Recovery - no more, no more, know more??

We were sent the following by a member:

"Just thought I'd point out that the Monday Bexleyheath Road to Recovery meeting has closed down ...... if you have a look in the back of March 2010's Share magazine this should confirm it."

We haven't got a copy of the relevant Share to hand but there's no mention of the meeting in the online AA Where to Find. It's always worth bearing in mind that when one of their little hoedowns (ie. a fiddle tune - geddit!!) closes another one usually springs up somewhere in the vicinity - just a little rebranding and Bob's your uncle!!!

.... which reminds us, and just to let you know - it's only 55 days (or 0 years 1 months 24 days) before Bob D (sponsored by the Purley Brigade) will give us (for a modest fee) the benefit of his thoughts on "accessing the power, spiritual principles in relationships, our primary purpose as the [sic] the way to freedom, how to survive the battle between ego and spirit, making amends and the mending of our separation". Well stone the crows! That's got to be worth a few Bob - geddit!! ... No? OK we give up!!

And finally the discussion's hotting up (well warming up a bit....) on the aacultwatch forum. Click here and join the debate

Cheerio

The Fellas

Purley cult group

There's an absolutely scurrilous rumour doing the rounds that the Purley group has finally been given the old heave-ho by North East Surrey Intergroup. Apparently they have become such a right royal pain in the you-know-what that all patience has expired. But never mind! They can always transfer their efforts to promoting that other side-line: the circuit speaker business. They now run a website advertising such notables as Bob D (whoever he is?) amongst others. And the blurb:

"Theme: Surrender

Acessing [sic] the power, spiritual principals [sic] in relationships, our primary purpose as the the way to freedom, how to survive the battle between ego and spirit, making amends and the mending of our separation"

Do we detect the faintest beginnings of psycho-babble here, or is it just our natural paranoia surfacing again!! Anyway for a tenner you can get two days worth of Bob holding forth on the above themes - well not really two days - more like a day and a bit - but never mind - if you can't get enough of Bob you can always click on the link to an audio file site and listen to Bob absolutely gratis. But if even Bob can't get your juices flowing then fear not for help is at hand! There's a whole procession of these worthies queueing up here, each one apparently quite desperate to impart their wisdom to us heathens. So following up on Bob's insight we'll be treated to Karl M (details to be announced), Mari G (tba) and finally, the crème de la crème, that well known import from the States, the venerable Myers R. Now if that lot can't get you sobered up then nothing will.

Cheerio

The Fellas

PS One thing that is particularly amusing about the site is the countdown meter - as of today it's only 106 days (or three months and fourteen days) before Bob regales us with his erudition. Can we hold out that long!! We think so - but only just!!

Cult meetings - Surrey

Guildford: Beginners
Monday 20.00 St Mary's Church Community Hall, Aldershot Rd

Purley: There is a Solution
Monday 20.00 United Reformed Church, Brighton Rd

Purley
Wednesday 20.00 United Reformed Church, Brighton Rd

Purley: There is a Solution Big Book Study
Saturday 09.30 United Reformed Church, Brighton Rd

(The Purley group is involved in running non-AA conventions (in breach of AA guidelines) with the usual imported US Primary Purpose speakers. Fliers of these events have been circulated at AA meetings (again in breach of AA Traditions) and the speakers themselves prominently advertised (again in breach of AA Traditions - the one about "principles before personalities"). No proper accounting methods have been employed to account for the distribution of the monies charged for attendance at these gatherings - in some cases for substantial amounts)