Richmond Bridge/Surbiton Sunday …. ad nauseam!

The latest:

We have been assured by a representative of the Surbiton group that they have taken all necessary steps to deal with the questionable activities of one of the group's 'servants'. He is no longer with them having fallen on his sword (or perhaps he just tripped over his ego?) It turns out moreover that the cups and mugs were his in the first place so he was simply repossessing his own property!! Which begs the question of course ….... Anyway the group is back to normal functioning. As far as we can ascertain it has now reverted to being a bog standard AA group with absolutely no interference from our little pointed headed friends (ie. the cult). We have to assume however that David will continue his one man show at the Monday Richmond Bridge group until such time that they too finally wake up to the liability that he is - and ditch him – or risk ending up in the same parlous state as the Surbiton group.

One thing that has emerged from the various communications we have received concerning this débâcle is the assumption (one which we have come across many times before) that the information we are sent must come from newcomers who have an axe to grind. We really are at a loss to know why it is assumed only these people should fall prey to resentments. The evidence simply does not support this. Perhaps it's just easier blaming it on the new guy and represents yet another way of diverting attention away from the real issue. If someone's been the object of abuse we think it only human they might feel somewhat aggrieved. And if they should then voice that grievance why should the automatic response be that they're lying or in some way at fault. Taking one's inventory does not exclude recognising the fact that sometimes OTHER people really are at fault. For example are we seriously to believe that an adult who was abused as a child should take all the blame! Or even any of it! We think not. And yet we've read of instances where AA members have been in precisely that situation and then been told by their 'sponsors' they should look for the part they played in it! Seriously! It beggars belief!

Finally the moral of the story – yeah we're going to tell you …. you asked for it! Service positions are not a right nor are they an obligation. An individual may offer their services – or not. The group then decides yay or nay. If they're not up to the job the group decides whether they continue or otherwise. The job description is outlined in the group handbook. Every group should have one of these. If not they can be read online. A group secretary should (minimally) be well acquainted with the traditions. It takes about ten minutes to read them and a life time to understand even some of their implications. But at least make a start! One of the best ways to get to grip with the traditions is not to go to yet another bloody workshop where you can listen to someone spout off about them. Just get acquainted with the basic ideas and then observe the groups where they are not being followed or, as is frequently the case with the cult groups, being twisted virtually beyond all recognition. There's no shortage of opportunities believe us! In fact we'd go so far as to say we've yet to come across a single AA group that actually does abide by the traditions in full. But check it out for yourself. Don't take our word for it! Absolutely not!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our various correspondents – newcomers and otherwise!

Richmond Bridge Monday – soon to be released as an epic blockbuster!

Yep! The missives are flying in thick and fast - and from every direction. Never have we seen so much animation generated in the fellowship since …. well never! But gradually the fog begins to clear and we discover that ….

…... the fight reported to have taken place at the above meeting was no more than an exchange of cliches! The instigator – a fellow who goes by the name of Bernie – as in Bernie the Bore or the Richmond Camel “ - "was lecturing everyone …. saying [that the] "Bridge to normal living" isn't in the Big Book (like, so what?) and someone shared afterwards to say that they found him offensive and then someone else shouted "that is because you are not on the program" This created a tense atmosphere in the meeting. Bernie is increasingly a pain in the proverbial ass. He lectures and thumps the big book like a baptist preacher only ten times more nuts and boring.”

Now that's not what we'd call a fight or at least not in the traditional AA sense ie. fisticuffs with a few tables flying!

As for David (see previous entries) he claims that the missing Surbiton group funds were despatched to GSO (York) but without the group's permission. (Incidentally GSO currently holds funds well in excess of the stated prudent reserve. Next time you hear a treasurer bleating on about how hard up AA is check the yearly accounts). This seems rather unlikely since money sent to York usually consists of an excess over the 'prudent reserve', something which the Surbiton group can rarely manage to accumulate. Still the matter should be relatively easy to resolve. York can easily be contacted, the transfer confirmed, and the return of the funds requested. If it turns out that they have not received the funds then that leaves two possible alternatives: the treasurer needs to repay the money or, failing this, the police should be contacted forthwith (such a disposition of funds is referred to as “fraudulent conversion” or “theft” - a criminal offence). The cash book (which we take to mean the group accounts) has also disappeared with the errant treasurer. Now the group has no record of any transactions (including literature purchases where there also seems to have been some irregularities!). Finally, and as if to add insult to injury, David (it is said) has also taken off with the groups's coffee cups and mugs! Now that really is below the belt!

Now the moral of the story is …...pretty bloody obvious!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our various correspondents

PPS Now this really is traditional AA! David has threatened to set up his own rival group on Sundays! Like they say – all you need to start a meeting is a resentment and a tea pot! Now who should be the secretary or the treasurer of this new group? Hmmmm ….... We do hope that David is aware of Tradition Four … probably not!

And the Richmond Bridge (Monday) saga continues …..

It would appear that David (see previous entry) is something of a 'loose cannon' even in cult circles. He was – until recently – the treasurer of the Surbiton Sunday meeting and concurrently co-secretary of the meeting under question. Apparently his knowledge of AA traditions is rather limited if non-existent (always a positive attribute in a group secretary – irony!). At one time, according to our correspondent, he was involved in a publicity campaign promoting the Tuesday (Ormond Rd) cult meeting. This involved posting flyers through people's letterboxes in the Hampton/Hanworth area. Apparently this was not sanctioned by the group conscience but he went ahead and did it anyway. David's fondness for individual autonomy extends into other spheres. Despite AA guidelines on displaying non-AA literature separately from AA conference approved literature (and being reminded of this) he ignored this advice … and went ahead and did it anyway. The cult's involvement in the Monday meeting seems (according to our correspondent) to be limited (currently) to this one man show. Of course from our point of view ANY cult participation in an AA meeting if left unchallenged usually involves its early demise as a vehicle for carrying the AA message. Such meetings usually degenerate into a cult dominated clique devoted to flattering the ego of the latest narcissist to appear on the block whilst promoting his or her own twisted version of the programme.

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

(to be contd)

Richmond Bridge, Monday – the plot thickens!

Via that same inestimable AA 'grapevine' (where information is transmitted faster than a speeding bullet!) we received the following missive (our edits)

“Hi,

I noticed your latest posting about Richmond under the Bridge Monday night. I heard there was some sort of fight there last Monday, although I don't know the full details, but it involved some "guru" or other. Presumably this Billy person.

I don't know where you got your information from about the Monday meeting, but the Agnostics Meeting at Surbiton on Sunday has had problems with someone who attends that Monday Richmond meeting, in fact he is the secretary of that Monday meeting, and he also attends the Friday night Hampton Wick cult groups. The Agnostics meeting had him as a treasurer and he basically made it up he went along disregarding the Traditions completely, or completely unaware of them - This is what he did

He was sharing whenever he liked, many times over, making up the amount of money in the pot, (didn't keep accounts) telling lies to the group about the rent ( he claimed it was only 3 quid when in fact it was 10 ), bringing in people from other fellowships (probably CA) in order to boost numbers, with no regard as to whether they were alcoholics or not, appointing someone as literature person without consulting the group conscience. putting non AA literature on the front table when he was told it should be on a separate table. bringing in printouts about religion (e.g. Buddhism) for group discussion. acquiring AA literature from unknown source, and the group does not know if it was paid for.

2 women left the group because of this person.

There was a recent group conscience …. [where] he was strongly confronted on these issues and he subsequently resigned leaving a note and disappeared with the pot leaving the group with no funds. His name is David. Presumably his "understanding" of the Traditions came from the cult meetings he attends.

There have been a number of changes to that Surbiton "We Agnostics" meeting. The former secretary (….........) has left AA altogether. The group conscience changed the format and removed most of the verbal stuff that was read out at the beginning including the so called Agnostic steps and other stuff. The group readings are nearly always from Living Sober now …...”

Comment: We're quite sure that David's 'oversight' with regard to the group's funds will be rectified, and that they will be returned in full – promptly. Otherwise it becomes a matter for the police.

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent