Cults and A.A. Conventions

An A.A. member’s escape from the clutches of a cult… 


“The Recovery Alliance Inc. (RAI), bills itself as a self-help organization dedicated to the advancement of recovery for what the group refers to as “obsessive-compulsive” persons, such as alcoholics, compulsive eaters, and compulsive gamblers. RAI practices the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but claims to do it in a way that is more “pure” than AA and other “Anonymous” fellowships. RAI believes that the 12-step programs have been watered down over the years and no longer practice the true program of recovery as it was intended by its founders.

RAI is structured as a non-profit organization, with a board of directors and an organizational charter. Although the board elects a chairman, all the members’ activities, beliefs, and direction evolve from the founding member, Donald Gilroy. Gilroy teaches that the “illness” that members are recovering from is centered in selfishness and self-centeredness. To recover, members must commit their lives to selfless self-sacrifice. They are subjected to, among other things, rigorous and tiresome fund-raising, schedules, public humiliation, rigidly controlled diets, and other abusive conduct.

I wrote the following letter to RAI members two years after leaving the group.

March 7, 1992

Hi!

This week has marked two years since I left the Recovery Alliance, Inc. (RAI). I am writing this letter just to let you know what it’s like on this side. I have so much to say that I could go on for pages, but I will try to keep this as brief as possible.

I have seen you guys several times – fund-raising, of course. I saw you selling T-shirts in Seattle and raffle tickets at the Durham Fair. I have seen you at car shows, department stores, and at the fireworks. My first reaction when I see you is repulsion, but it is quickly followed by sorrow. I know what it is like for you, since you are all victims (yes victims do exist), just as I was.

It is interesting what I am able to see now that I couldn’t see then. For as long as I was there I knew that I was unhappy, but I was told that the problem was with my recovery, not my environment.

I remember making the decision to leave. It was like all of a sudden being struck with a bolt of sanity. I’m sure you all think it was because I had a boyfriend. Well, I made my decision a couple of months before I met him. After having been placed on probation, I remember standing in my room and thinking, “I can’t do this anymore. I want to leave.” It was not the first time I had ever had that thought, but this time it was different. This time it was followed by another thought, which was “I don’t care what the consequences will be.” As you observed, I made no attempt to meet the terms of my probation.

When I first left, I was quite confused. Fortunately, I quickly got help from some professionals who have experience with working with former members of RAI and other similarly destructive groups. They helped me see the insanity of the situation. The loss of freethinking. The emotional, sexual, and spiritual abuse we were all suffering. The psychopathology of Donald. I was helped by some books – Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steve Hassan and People of the Lie by Scot Peck.

Well, the consequences of my leaving were nothing like I expected. What am I like today? I’m basically a happy person. I have a good job in my field with a Fortune 500 company. I have a nice apartment (yes, with off-street parking) and a decent car. I have a handful of close friends and many acquaintances. Most of my friends are in 12-step programs, but some aren’t. I have good relationships with my family.

Most of all I have freedom. I probably average three AA meetings a week – sometimes more, sometimes less. If I’m tired or just don’t feel like going to a meeting, I stay home. Or I go somewhere else. I keep busy, but make time for myself too. I clean my apartment every week. I just finished reading a 1,000 page novel. On weekends I frequently get together with friends and go dancing, hiking, or on day trips. I have dated several guys in the last two years, and have had a couple of steady relationship, too.

How’s my relationship with God? Fine. I worship the god of my own understanding.

I am not overweight, nor am I underweight. I eat two or three meals a day, and sometimes, if I feel like it, I have a snack in between.

I am able to express whatever is on my mind, and I don’t have to follow any formula. I attend fairs and festivals as a participant, not as a vendor. I attend AA conventions as an AA member, not as a vendor – and not as a person with superior knowledge.

Not a Friday has gone by when I haven’t come home from a long work week and said to myself, “Thank God I don’t have to go to that awful meeting.”

I feel sorry for other former members who haven’t received the help they need. Many of them end up with tremendous guilt as a result of RAI’s teachings. Some have joined other destructive groups. One has died. Fortunately, however, most of us have been helped by the proper professionals and have been able to live happy lives.

I wish you all the best, and hope that you will soon realize the amount of control and deception taking place in your surroundings.

Sincerely,

Holly”

(Extract from “Captive Hearts, Captive Minds –Freedom and Recovery from Cults and Abusive Relationships” (Hunter House, 1994) pp. 8-10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_Hearts,_Captive_Minds 

Comment: A book by one of the world's leading cult experts, J. Lalich, Professor of Sociology at California State University. Forward by M. Langone, Executive Director of the International Cul;tic Studies Association (ICSA)  http://www.icsahome.com/home  So, read all about it, cults have been targeting A.A. for some time.  Like the Primary Purpose cult, Back to Basics mob, Clancy I and the Pacific Group, RAI replays the same record, albeit stuck in a groove… “RAI practices the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), but claims to do it in a way that is more “pure” than AA and other “Anonymous” fellowships. RAI believes that the 12-step programs have been watered down over the years and no longer practice the true program of recovery as it was intended by its founders...” … Blah, blah, blah…

Watch out for those T-shirt vendors and lecturers at A.A. conventions - they may be victims in need of specialist counselling!

Cheerio, 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Wayne B – another fast buck to be made!

From Perth (Australia) we quote:

“Hi all

Wayne B returned to Perth last week to host another of his "Big Book" study workshops and is speaking at the WAYPAA (Western Australia Young Peoples in AA) convention being held this weekend. Last night (05/12/2014) he delivered a talk on the history of AA and it's evolution from the Washingtonians, Emmanuel Movement and Oxford Groups which was informative but was constantly interjected with statements like "rumour has it" when defending himself and also made reference to aacultwatch. Methinks he doth protest too much and as the saying goes: 'where there is smoke, there is fire.'

For all his stated loved for AA and the 12 Steps, I doubt anyone attending last night (other than his inner circle) is aware of his efforts to monetize and trivialise the 12 Steps by means of his Life's In Session board-game (http://www.lifesinsession.com/Home_Page.html). This violates the spirit and the letter of Traditions Six and Eleven. A cursory glance at his Facebook profile also leaves one in no doubt that he is a member of AA, thus violating Tradition Eleven. Tradition Eleven was written well before the advent of Facebook but it is my opinion that it could be extended to cover social media along with press, radio and films.

He also proceeded to extol the virtues of his sponsor and his grand sponsor and his great grand sponsor who was an eminent personality in AA. So much for placing principles before personalities (Tradition 12). He stated that he was here 'on vacation' and that he had been invited to speak at the convention and was not being paid. When a person is invited to do service in AA, it is customary to cover the person's travel expenses so he is here on a paid vacation...a subtle but important difference. As for the issue of his remuneration, as the CEO and President of his Last Mile Foundation (http://www.thelastmilefoundation.org/) he is no doubt drawing a salary and it would be interesting to see if the entity received funds from WAYPAA or any of the groups here in Perth, something for the CSO to look into.

On that subject, he has operated several foundations and legal entities including Step'n Ahead and Emotional Sobriety 101 (http://emotionalsobriety101.com/) which is identical to the Last Mile Foundation website. Both websites are a single page affair, clearly done in haste and poorly written with a nebulous mission statement. Granted, both are still under construction but the only professional aspect of either is the PayPal link.

pp. please see the attached screenshot as evidence of his association with this abominable board game:” [edited]

Comment: And he likes Tom Cruise …. say no more! (see Scientology – now there's a business model for making money!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our contributor

The Last Mile Foundation Inc. ... again! Like a bad penny!

Wayne Butler Executive Director, Last Mile Foundation Inc.

 

Let’s Play Wayne’s Game! (Not)

Coming Soon! (May 24, 2013!!!!)

“Life’s In Session^®” (Made in China)

 

Take a pre- sale peek: https://thelastmilefoundation.org/Life_s_in_Session.html

And....

“Greetings to my friends and fellow trudgers” http://www.lifesinsession.com/

Well, it sure rings bells. Monopoly? Nope. Snap? Maybe – “Chuck” Dederich and the Synanon Cult? The “Game”? - Great minds think alike!

“Control over members occurred through the "Game". The "Game" could have been considered to be a therapeutic tool, likened to a form of group therapy; or else to a form of a "social control", in which members humiliated one another and encouraged the exposure of one another's innermost weaknesses, or maybe both of these.” (Synanon Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanon)

As we ponder Wayne’s Game, we wonder, could the player’s exposé of another’s innermost weaknesses and control over him begin when the newcomer lands on the ‘Analysis Paralysis’ space? Or when he’s trying, (but not able) to work out ‘over 150 associations of play of the game’? Or when he lands on the ‘Take an Inventory’ space? Or when he gets lost in the ‘28 page Analogy Booklet’ and the ‘rule book’? Or when he picks up a ‘sponsor card’? Or could it be when the ‘2 minute timer’ runs out? Just imagine the sweating newbie’s pounding heart, those frantically flitting eyes, as the sponsor clock is ticking and he knows that time’s running out on him - in ‘Life’s in Session^®!’ BRAIN SEIZURE! Heart stopping! Eh? How exciting! What sponsor fun!

For info on the Last Mile Foundation’s murky goings on in Perth, Australia, see AA Minority Report 2013, appendices 1K and 1J, Click here

For info on Synanon and how to spot a modern day cult in your neighbourhood, we recommend “Cults in Our Midst” by Margaret Thaler Singer: “Cults basically have only two purposes: recruiting new members and fundraising.” (page 11) http://www.amazon.com/Cults-Our-Midst-Continuing-Against/dp/0787967416/ (amazon.com)   

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cults-Our-Midst-Continuing-Against/dp/0787967416/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369163160&sr=8-1&keywords=cults+in+our+midst (amazonbooks.co.uk)*

After that why not put your feet up with a Synanon Short Film, (Hotel California, such a lovely place.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THu690d7qJE

How history repeats itself with a twist!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

* Or any good bookseller!  (bear in mind Amazon's VERY extensive tax avoidance activities!)

The Last Mile Foundation Inc

 Wayne Butler

(Executive Director, The Last Mile Foundation Inc., Charismatic Authoritarian Leader, Alcoholics Not Anonymous)

“Cultic or ideologically extremist groups are controlled by a leader who is both charismatic and authoritarian. Both charisma and authoritarianism (or bullying) are required as they are the source of the group's central organizing dynamic of "love" and fear. For example, this is how a former member of the Newman Tendency described its leader: I liked him! I would have a problem disliking him now, even after what I already know about him. If he sat down right there next to me, I'd say, 'Hey Fred, how are you doing? Are you still corrupting people?”

(Quote from “A Primer on Cults and Ideologically Extremist Groups”, Dr. Alexandra Stein, http://blog.lib.umn.edu/stei0301/protea/a-primer-on-cults-and-ideologically-extremist-groups.html Free Minds UK Free Minds UK

For more info, see AA Minority Report 2013, appendix 1K Wayne B. Click here

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Wayne Butler (The Last Mile Foundation) – self supporting?

A member shares their experience of an encounter with Wayne Butler and the Last Mile Foundation

“Unfortunately when I came into recovery I met W. Butler and his gang. It felt like they targeted me as I was new and vulnerable. Before I knew it I felt like I was being threatened into only saying and doing certain things and only going to specific meetings of their choice. It was a horrible time. It was all done under the threat of 'if you don't follow what we say then you will probably drink again'. What an awful trap. Thankfully I escaped their grip and went to 'normal' meetings. At one point WB was even trying to get me to pay money towards his flight from the US to the UK by saying that AA members 'pay their own way'. Well I'm not sure how me paying for him is him paying his own way, but I was made to feel like I was not following the true path of recovery if I didn't do as he/they said. I gave him/them no money. I felt that their attitude towards me totally changed after that. It's almost like I was useless to them once they knew they couldn't get anything out of me. I'm so glad I'm free of them now and I'm living a sober life in normal AA....something they inferred wasn't possible.”

Comment: The above member seems to have had something of a narrow escape. But the lesson is clear – keep your money in your pocket and stay away from the “snake oil purveyors”!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks go to the AA member supplying this information

AA Minority Report 2013 - Appendix 1k Wayne B

Appendix 1k Wayne B

The eleventh of fifteen appendices to the AA Minority Report 2013

The Last Mile Foundation ….. again!

One of our correspondents has drawn our attention to this section of the Last Mile Foundation website (listed under Funding). (For some further background on this organisation see here - and elsewhere on the site by simply putting “Last Mile Foundation” into the Google search box above)

As may be seen included amongst the many items which the foundation suggests we might like to part with in order to support their objectives is something referred to as “Amends Money” (highlighted).... Now call us old fashioned but we generally believe that Amends Money (or financial amends) are generally best directed towards the injured party ie. those who we have ripped off, financially manipulated or simply mugged! There is some advice pertaining to this subject in the Big Book, Chapter 6, Into Action (and in particular pages 78-79). Strange to say there is absolutely no mention here of this money being diverted to other causes no matter how worthy they might believe themselves to be! And certainly not the Last Mile Foundation!

But here's a thought!  Maybe just keep your cash in your pocket and go to an AA meeting.... no charge!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our usual thanks extended to our reporter

The Last Mile Foundation aka Step'n Ahead aka Emotional Sobriety aka …. who knows what else!

Busy …. busy …. busy... No time to lose!...... So many addicts to 'save' and so much dosh to be collected.... how does Wayne Butler (president/CEO) find the time!

And so …..from Perth, Western Australia:

“Hi friends of AA,

It was wonderful to find your article on this Wayne B. and his company!

I live in Perth, Western Australia and I am a very concerned member of AA because of the same reasons written in your concerns!

You're correct …. he has been here often, got to the young members, how I have seen them change under him. They teach his words, follow like sheep!!

One of the most dangerous issues is they are preaching NO medication!!!!! I have had a young newcomer on the phone to me crying after his "Spons" had told him he was not to take any medication while coming off alcohol, this poor sweet young man had not one but two alcoholic seizures ending up in hospital, he could have died and almost did! The doctor treating him wanted the name of this sponsor from AA , this looks bad for the fellowship!! After being made to feel under the control of this "Spons" making many phone calls to AA members but not able to distance himself from this "group" he is missing/gone..

Yes he comes here to his "work shops" or using AA members not aware of his game to fund them!

The control over his followers here frightens me and many other AA members. They go out to our meetings promoting their next "Money Raising Event". And they have had many!! We were informed to have a group conscience meeting and add that we only announce changes to AA meetings or AA anniversaries. We do Not give medical advice at this meeting,please respect this in your sharing. Also if they do not, then do not ask them to share.

We have also stopped them announcing their "events" where you pay at the door, or prepay in our AA literature, this along with not being able sell their event to our members should stop the funding for his company from our true AA members!

The control is out of control!!!

God bless


….....
Perth”

and then... from Rochester, New York state:

“Hello -

It looks like the Emotional Sobriety folks are coming to my hometown for our annual fall conference. I am very glad to have come across your site, and the links back to their program. Something just didn't ring true. I certainly have no intention of attending!

http://www.rochester-ny-aa.org/ you'll find a link to the conference flyer on this page

….....”

(our edits)

Comment: Quite apart from the vicious consequences suffered by new AA members as a result of this commercial enterprise's irresponsible activities it would seem that the Rochester Area Intergroup is now complicit in promoting the very same! Now what was that tradition ….. the one about non affiliation.. And wasn't there another one about being self supporting through our own voluntary contributions? Nah! It's slipped our minds for the time being....... couldn't have been very important anyway..... could it?

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Rochester Area Intergroup incidentally will shortly be receiving a link to the above!

Conference Questions (2012) forum discussion (contd)

Committee No. 1

Question 2:

“Would the Fellowship ask itself the question: “Are there too many meetings and not enough groups?”

Background

Traditions 4, 7

Pamphlet ‘The AA Group’

The Home Group: Heartbeat of AA

Consider the contribution to the carrying of the message, financial and practical implications when deliberating each question.”

Extracts

“I think the revival of the “Little Rock Plan” does have something to do with AA’s lack of growth and problems concerning unity, since it inverts the principles of AA Traditions. I wonder if Conference delegates, the General Service Boards of AA World Services, AA Grapevine Inc., the General Service Board in Great Britain, and those serving at regional, intergroup and group levels have not erred too much on the side of being led by the group conscience over the last 30 years or so, instead of leading the group conscience on AA Traditions via concept IX on certain issues.

At Conference 2000, the question was asked: How well is the transfer of delegated authority understood at group, intergroup and regional level within our structure? Is the trusted servant provision fully understood? Make recommendations.

Answer: The transfer of delegated authority is, in general, poorly understood at all levels. In addition the trusted servant provision is not fully understood. (Committee 5 Question 3)

This poor understanding of the transfer of delegated authority doesn’t appear to have changed in the last twelve years and it has laid the fellowship wide open to exploitation by outside enterprises.

In the 1970s, Little Rock, Arkansas, produced another alcoholic with a plan which has striking similarities to the 1947 version in its coercive sponsorship and study. The 1947 plan was met with an outcry at the time including H.E.T.’s exclamation: “Good grief and little fishes! What have they got out there in Little Rock, Ark.--a concentration camp?”(AA Grapevine November 1947). It is therefore not surprising that the modern revival of the Little Rock plan has brought with it similar comparisons to a concentration camp with AA members referring to others as “Step Nazis” in Great Britain. It appears the term “Nazis” has also been coined in the USA:

"A lot of AAs are very rigid," according to one of my university professors. "Some turn into AA Nazis," she says. "There's no room for people who need to work a different kind of program." This woman is experienced and skilled with reaching troubled adolescents.” (Let the Dogs Bark, What do you say to AAs critics? AA Grapevine October 2004)

With the outside publication of a sponsorship guide to promote this Little Rock alcoholic’s plan for the fellowship and his treatment centres using this plan to sponsor newcomers into the fellowship, I’m sure few would disagree that this outside interference in our affairs has had a major influence on the fellowship. On a website which is providing help and support for people leaving AA the following post was made: (Names have been shortened to initial, to hopefully comply with this forum moderation. Although this could be construed technically as an opinion on an outside issue, I would disagree for the following reason: It represents an opinion on an outside interference in the affairs of AA which has already drawn AA into public controversy and therefore it is not an outside issue, but one which the fellowship as a whole needs to address without delay according to warranty five.)

"I have my doubts that “the F[ellas] [ie. aacultwatch]…” will be taken seriously, but I congratulate them on trying! We have a lot of J[oe] and C[harlie] worship in my area, we have a couple of treatment centers that use their “R[ecovery] D[ynamics]” program. It is very strange to hear some young guy from a hard upbringing, no more than 25 years old, spouting 1930′s sentax like a programmed machine, except with the fire of an evangelical preacher. That’s what R[ecovery] D[ynamics] will give you though. That and the people in the treatment centers being forced to endure painful dental surgeries and other medical procedures with no pain medication allowed afterward. Brain washing and torture.The best slogan spouting examples of the most recent graduates of these RD treatment centers are kept on as “assistant staff”. In other words, they get to make the newer clients obsessively analyze the alcoholic motives of their recurring belly-button lint and the center pays them next to nothing for their trouble since they are eternally grateful for the love of the center." (Border Collie Mix, 28th October 2011, on a website helping people leave AA)

I wonder if the inclusion of the Little Rock Plan in “Home Group: Heartbeat of AA” even the concept of the “Home Group” itself, has been led not by AA Traditions, but by the influential promotion of this alcoholic’s plan for the fellowship.

In 2010 another outside organization published a 12 step guide for use within AA [The Last Mile Foundation]. The organization specifically targets AA members, the vulnerable who may need medication, with “emotional sobriety”, as quoted on its website:

“We want and we encourage AA members to refer alcoholics to us who fit our demographic, especially those who are talking about going on medication or into a treatment program or talk therapy; most importantly, before they do so.”

From reading the guide, website and promotional workshop flier picked up at a local AA meeting in my area, I would call it ego feeding emotionalism, preying on the vulnerable, dangerous both to vulnerable individuals and to AA as a whole. But I wonder if this outside interference into our affairs is also leading the board of AA Grapevine Inc. to new publications such as “Emotional Sobriety 1” and “Emotional Sobriety II”?

Yet another sponsorship guide is being advertised as soon to be published, by another outside organization which has already published doctrinal AA meeting guides.

The comparison between Dr. Bob’s AA Grapevine editorial “On Cultivating Tolerance” (AA Grapevine July 1944) and the university professor’s comments in “Let the Dogs Bark, What do you say to AAs critics?” (AA Grapevine October 2004) shows how far some AA groups have moved away from the original flexible and all inclusive principles of A.A. to a rigid and exclusive dogma.

Dr. Bob’s all inclusive flexible approach to the programme with his analogy of the wheel with radiating spokes, each spoke allowing the individual AA newcomer almost unlimited ways in which to approach and interpret the programme; irrespective of religious belief, cultural or social backgrounds; inclusive to all those who need to work a different kind of program. Whereas the comment of the university professor in 2004 shows some AA groups are now rigid and exclusive: "A lot of AAs are very rigid," according to one of my university professors. "Some turn into AA Nazis," she says. "There's no room for people who need to work a different kind of program." (Let the Dogs Bark, What do you say to AAs critics? AA Grapevine October 2004).”

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Last Mile Foundation …... cashes in!

Extract from our forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/aacultwatch under thread: “TLM in Alanon UK?”

“I don’t know the situation with Al-anon, but the Last mile Foundation is active in AA in South East England. The Last mile foundation also goes under the name of “Stepnahead” and “Step’n Ahead into Emotional Sobriety”. I was handed a “Step’n Ahead into Emotional Sobriety” workshop flyer, distributed in an AA meeting in Sussex. The workshop was in London, September 2009, with Workshop speakers Wayne B and Tina A. (Los Angeles, CA). Last year I acquired a 12 step workbook produced by the foundation called “We are… Step’n Ahead” from someone who was involved with Primary Purpose groups in the South East.

There’s something about a retreat in Scotland on the Last Mile foundation’s website, in a testimony by a guy called Lawrence D:

“My first 'in person' experience with the Step'n Ahead workshop was in Scotland, and it provided me with immense hope. When I attended the Scotland workshop, I was blown away with the information they espoused about The ISM Factor, the Faulty Emotional Dependency Syndrome……” https://thelastmilefoundation.org/Lawrence_D.html

Lawrence also says in his testimony: "I was six months sober when I left London England. I had completed the first 9 steps with my sponsor. I immigrated to Perth Australia. I started a new group at two years into my sobriety.....”

To follow the story of “Step’n Ahead” in Perth Australia, see this article on aacultwatch:

http://aacultwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/minority-report-ends-up-in-australia.html

On the last mile foundation’s website home page, it can be seen that it targets its business at AA members for them to refer other members, especially those who might be considering professional medical help or counselling, (in other words, the vulnerable) to the Last Mile Foundation’s business.

This is from the Last mile Foundation website’s home page:

“..We need your help on two fronts: Referrals and donations.

1] We want and we encourage AA members to refer alcoholics to us who fit

our demographic, especially those who are talking about going on medication or into a treatment program or talk therapy; most importantly, before they do so.

2] We want to ensure that those who suffer from symptoms of The ISM Factor in alcoholism in sobriety -- regardless of an ability to pay -- has an opportunity to attend Step'n Ahead.

In addition to our affordable fees, we will fund our program through tax-deductible donations from Friends of Step'n Ahead, small business owners, corporations, individuals, government grants, and other fund raising efforts.”

Links to the Last mile Foundation:

http://www.stepnahead.com/

https://thelastmilefoundation.org/Home.html

I don’t think having an opinion on this matter is breaking Tradition Ten. The opposite is true. These things have to be taken seriously. Tradition Ten is not the relevant Tradition, this is a matter of upholding Traditions Four and Six, and also the General Warranties of Conference (Concept 12, warranties Five and Six) It is a matter regarding the affiliation to, or endorsement of, related facilities or outside enterprises. In this case, where a business is operating in AA, to call it an outside issue is a misunderstanding of traditions. AA has to protect itself from businesses which attempt to merge their activities within AA. Traditions Four, Six and Concept 12, Warranties Five and Six are clear The AA name cannot be lent to any outside enterprise; they must be entirely separate. There is a responsibility for AA members to see this is done by actively upholding AA Traditions and General Warranties of Conference. (Concept 12) This is not having an opinion on outside issues; it is having an opinion on an outside interference in the affairs of AA. It is something which AA members need to address at all levels.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it is targeting Al-anon as well, it doesn’t make much business sense to only make money out of one fellowship when you can make it out of two.

I have seen a retreat business under a different name advertising retreats in the USA, Ireland, England and Scotland, targeting its business at AA, Al -anon, NA, and their families.

I think for a newcomer to be “blown away with information they espoused” as stated by Lawrence D, which excite feelings of euphoria followed by emotional attachment to the mission could be interpreted as brainwashing, especially if they are in a particularly emotionally vulnerable state which ought to be treated by a medical professional or counsellor instead.

I think the workbook is complicated and absolute nonsense in places. In some places I can't work out it out at all. If I'd had to work through it in early recovery it would have made me feel inadequate to the point of being neurotic.

I hope this info. helps

P.S. This edit applied 04/07/12 [US date order] . It appears Wayne has changed the wording on the Last Mile Foundation website from:

"1] We want and we encourage AA members to refer alcoholics to us who fit our demographic, especially those who are talking about going on medication or into a treatment program or talk therapy; most importantly, before they do so."

to:

"We invite referrals of alcoholics and abnormal drinkers (and their loved ones) to our workshop program who fit our demographics."

Maybe there's a higher power at work. All he needs to do now to respect AA Traditions is to remove all other references to "AA" and "Alcoholics Anonymous" which might give an actual or implied connection between his workshops, his book and the Alcoholics Anonymous program. “

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Later this year we will be adding a "Conference Questions" section to our forum to permit a more wide ranging (and less censored) discussion (and with a facility for members to message each other, which is currently unavailable on the AA GB forum)

The Last Mile Foundation – another firm cashing in!

Extract from our discussion forum:

“I don’t know the situation with Al-anon, but the Last mile Foundation is active in AA in South East England. The Last mile foundation also goes under the name of “Stepnahead” and “Step’n Ahead into Emotional Sobriety”. I was handed a “Step’n Ahead into Emotional Sobriety” workshop flyer, distributed in an AA meeting in Sussex. The workshop was in London, September 2009, with Workshop speakers Wayne B and Tina A. (Los Angeles, CA). Last year I acquired a 12 step workbook produced by the foundation called “We are… Step’n Ahead” from someone who was involved with Primary Purpose groups in the South East.

There’s something about a retreat in Scotland on the Last Mile foundation’s website, in a testimony by a guy called Lawrence D:

“My first 'in person' experience with the Step'n Ahead workshop was in Scotland, and it provided me with immense hope. When I attended the Scotland workshop, I was blown away with the information they espoused about The ISM Factor, the Faulty Emotional Dependency Syndrome……”

https://thelastmilefoundation.org/Lawrence_D.html

Lawrence also says in his testimony: "I was six months sober when I left London England. I had completed the first 9 steps with my sponsor. I immigrated to Perth Australia. I started a new group at two years into my sobriety.....”

To follow the story of “Step’n Ahead” in Perth Australia, see this article on aacultwatch:

http://aacultwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/minority-report-ends-up-in-australia.html

On the last mile foundation’s website home page, it can be seen that it targets its business at AA members for them to refer other members, especially those who might be considering professional medical help or counselling, (in other words, the vulnerable) to the Last Mile Foundation’s business.

This is from the Last mile Foundation website’s home page:

“..We need your help on two fronts: Referrals and donations.

1] We want and we encourage AA members to refer alcoholics to us who fit our demographic, especially those who are talking about going on medication or into a treatment program or talk therapy; most importantly, before they do so.

2] We want to ensure that those who suffer from symptoms of The ISM Factor in alcoholism in sobriety -- regardless of an ability to pay -- has an

opportunity to attend Step'n Ahead.

In addition to our affordable fees, we will fund our program through tax-deductible donations from Friends of Step'n Ahead, small business owners, corporations, individuals, government grants, and other fund raising efforts.”

Links to the Last mile Foundation:

http://www.stepnahead.com/

https://thelastmilefoundation.org/Home.html

I don’t think having an opinion on this matter is breaking Tradition Ten. The opposite is true. These things have to be taken seriously. Tradition Ten is not the relevant Tradition, this is a matter of upholding Traditions Four and Six, and also the General Warranties of Conference (Concept 12, warranties Five and Six) It is a matter regarding the affiliation to, or endorsement of, related facilities or outside enterprises. In this case, where a business is operating in AA, to call it an outside issue is a misunderstanding of traditions. AA has to protect itself from businesses which attempt to merge their activities within AA. Traditions Four, Six and Concept 12, Warranties Five and Six are clear The AA name cannot be lent to any outside enterprise; they must be entirely separate. There is a responsibility for AA members to see this is done by actively upholding AA Traditions and General Warranties of Conference. (Concept 12) This is not having an opinion on outside issues; it is having an opinion on an outside interference in the affairs of AA. It is something which AA members need to address at all levels.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it is targeting Al-anon as well, it doesn’t make much business sense to only make money out of one fellowship when you can make it out of two.

I have seen a retreat business under a different name advertising retreats in the USA, Ireland, England and Scotland, targeting its business at AA, Al-anon, NA, and their families.

I think for a newcomer to be “blown away with information they espoused” as stated by Lawrence D, which excite feelings of euphoria followed by emotional attachment to the mission could be interpreted as brainwashing, especially if they are in a particularly emotionally vulnerable state which ought to be treated by a medical professional or counsellor instead.

I think the workbook is complicated and absolute nonsense in places. In some places I can't work out it out at all. If I'd had to work through it in early recovery it would have made me feel inadequate to the point of being neurotic.

I hope this info. Helps”

Comment: None needed

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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)