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

 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 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!

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)