Mark M (Strood - West Kent)

Some of our more dedicated readers might have been wondering whatever happened to Mark M … you remember Mark don't you! We had numerous entries for this particular 'Joy Boy' under our Area News section for West Kent..... a devious bugger by all accounts .. some things never change:

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/medway-launch-appeal-91204/

Just another case of leaving before you're sacked!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Our thanks to our correspondents

West Kent Intergroup – and yet another misrepresentation of Tradition Four!

Wandering around the internet we came across the official AA website for West Kent Intergroup (mostly famous for its hosting of the cult groups based in the Medway area: Strood, Rochester, Gravesend etc. See here and here). At one time this intergroup was effectively taken over by the cult (and for all we know still is). Certainly if the above website is anything to go by then ignorance still reigns supreme in this AA backwater.


 

According to West Kent IG (with respect to Tradition Four – or in their case with absolutely NO respect for Tradition Four) in their aide-memoire (there's posh for you!) to GSRs our West Kent experts on the traditions remind these group representatives that: 

“We wish to emphasize that the Traditions clearly state that ‘Every AA group is autonomous’ and can do as their group conscience decides., so there is absolutely no pressure being put on to any group to do anything – these are purely suggestions.”

Now you'll note that West Kent goes to great lengths to ensure that the GSRs in question are in “absolutely” no doubt about what the Traditions (or rather Tradition) states. We'll repeat it just in case YOU'RE in “absolutely” no doubt yourselves (but this time with emphases just in case you miss the good bits):

“We wish to emphasize that the Traditions clearly state that ‘Every AA group is autonomous’ and can do as their group conscience decides., so there is absolutely no pressure being put on to any group to do anything – these are purely suggestions.”

Fantastic! Couldn't be clearer could it. And it comes from the intergroup so IT MUST BE RIGHT!!

Only one problem though...... they're “ABSOLUTELY” WRONG!! “ABSOLUTELY”. We hope you didn't miss this bit so we'll say it again in …

REALLY REALLY BIG LETTERS!

THEY'VE GOT IT “ABSOLUTELY” WRONG!

What Tradition Four ACTUALLY says is as follows:

“Four – Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole” (short form)

and

“4. - With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.” (long form)

(our emphases)

From these it is quite clear that each group is NOT autonomous in every respect. There is a significant qualification to their latitude of action. Perhaps West Kent IG might like to consult the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous from time to time just to make sure they're quite up to speed on this one. Or maybe as a cult intergroup (?) it suits them to misrepresent this particular tradition?

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous … and its ACTUAL traditions ….. “ABSOLUTELY”!)

Swanscombe Beginners meeting – Friday (West Kent Intergroup)

It would seem this group has extensive links with the Strood/Rochester/Gravesend cult groups. A standard cult tactic is to target newcomers in their recruitment drive ie. the most vulnerable, and therefore the most amenable to cult 'suggestions' (ie. orders)

Cheers

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)

The peasants are revolting at Poole Intergroup!

“Poole Intergroup unravelled in disarray after a contentious vote on whether to accept the Road to Recovery group. 11 GSRs carried a ‘no’ Conscience from their groups, gaining the majority decision. This outcome was completely unacceptable to our now not so benevolent Chairman, and deemed ‘illegal’ and ‘uninformed’ by his wife, a self-declared expert on all matters Traditional and Guideline. Our President, his First Lady and the party faithful flatly refused to accept the Ultimate Authority as expressed in the Group Conscience and the ensuing triumph of disunity tells us all we need to know.

It was all a bit of a bloodbath. GSRs didn’t much like the implication that their members are revolting peasants. Members present didn’t much care for the implication that the Conscience was not ‘loving’, nor did we like all the frantic ‘I am definitely right and you’re wrong!’ statements, quotes and arm-waving put downs from our First Lady & co.

‘But I’m a member of AA if I say I am', pleads the Road to Recovery Representative, accusing us of prejudice (that old chestnut). An NA refugee to the CA meeting which Wayne P and henchmen converted over night to an AA meeting a la Plymouth, he is, and will be welcome, for sure, at an AA meeting, where the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking. Trouble is, he doesn’t go to any, apart from Intergroup, and then there is trouble, all hell breaking loose around what he represents, as he sits quietly playing with his pen.

An old timer joined in at the last, to make the indisputable point to Poole that ‘the Loving God didn’t want them at Intergroup last time and He didn’t want them in Bournemouth either’.

Keep at it Fellas, we haven't heard the last of it.”


Comment: All of the above is highly reminiscent of the West Kent Intergroup fiasco of a couple of years ago. Yet another not so “humble servant” Daaayyyviidd (ex-chairman) with the aid of various cult cohorts (primarily Glynne “The Incredible Hulk” and Barbara “Cults are a Good Thing” K) misdirected the assembled GSRs with the claim that they were quite entitled to go against the vote of their group consciences arrogating to themselves the rights of “delegates” as opposed to “representatives” when it came to exercising their various “Right(s) of Decision” and “Right(s) of Participation” blah blah blah (three of those GSRs subsequently acted accordingly - see West Kent section of site for more detail on this). Even so a majority of groups voted for the removal of the Strood axis of cult groups and again the collective conscience of AA in the area was disregarded by a clique of almost breathtakingly arrogant Intergroup officers. Various references were made at that time to the Concepts, and then to assorted Warranties with allusions moreover to “consultations with York” (Ooooohhhhh! Sharp intake of breath!! Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!!) thrown into the pot (although we're still not at all sure what York has to do with any of this, since, and according to a member of our acquaintance, GSO is nothing more than an administrative centre doubling up as a “bookshop”) to fudge even further the issue in question: ie. should we continue to countenance cult groups within Alcoholics Anonymous which systematically abuse, and in some cases slaughter newcomers, granting them thereby licence to operate with impunity, and completely unchallenged – or then again should we not? Still such matters really are of little importance and what does it matter indeed if a few new members choose quite selfishly (and self pityingly) to take their own lives! Nothing could be more important surely than presenting a united front to the world and preserving the inalienable rights of cult groups and members to persecute anyone who does not quite 'fit' the AA profile, or who shows any sign of thinking for themselves. PERISH THE THOUGHT! (the operative word being the first!). For our cult readers (and we know you're out there!) that last bit was irony just in case you didn't quite GET IT!

Cheers

The Fellas

(our usual thanks to this AA member for their contribution)

Some things never change - and some people never learn

The Strood/Rochester gang - or is it the Rochester/Strood gang nowadays? The word is that attendance is falling at Strood (Cult HQ West Kent) - seems that even some of their own members can't quite stomach this extremist approach. Still it's a caring sharing programme isn't it? Except when it comes to newcomers .......

.......for it would seem that yet another of these unfortunates (unfortunate, that is, to fall under the influence of cult propaganda) has been on the receiving end of their version of "tough love" (cult speak for "getting the cold shoulder"). The individual in question had apparently been accelerated through the programme and was up to step Four (under the guidance of that all-embracing icon of the cult recovery programme - "THE SPONSOR") and this in a matter of three months. Somewhat bizarrely they picked up a drink (Who'd of thought it! An alcoholic relapsing - well we never!!). Needless to say the experience was quite devastating and some might even say necessary - after all - if you're unconvinced "step over to the nearest bar....."! Compounding their bewilderment they simply could not fathom why they were not getting it!! There they were, sitting in a meeting, week after week, surrounded by the massed (or not so massed!) ranks of the "happy, joyous and free" brigade, row upon row of faces fixed in that rictus grin of enforced bliss, giving it large with yet another rendition of the cult anthem beginning with the immortal words "My sponsor says....." - and yet nothing! They were left instead with that gradually dawning - and perhaps bleak - reality - a life without alcohol! It would seem that a smile and another chorus of "My sponsor says..." was just not going to fix this problem! So now the real work begins - real sharing about real problems, and this with real people with a real solution - no more Disneyland recovery! No more pretending, no more papering over the cracks, no more playing to the gallery and putting on yet another performance to gain the approval of your SPONSOR or whoever happens to be flavour of this particular month! Time indeed for a REALITY Check!

Needless to say (but we'll say it anyway) the relapser was dropped like the proverbial hot potato by their SPONSOR. Well maybe it was time for a change anyway! But then the word got round and a second attempt to get a SPONSOR was similarly rebuffed - persona non grata is the alcoholic indeed who has the temerity to relapse whilst under the direction of a cult SPONSOR - it just doesn't look good at all!

Fortunately there is life after the cult experience - it's called Alcoholics Anonymous. The individual in question had sufficient wit to ring up the AA helpline where they were listened to, not patronised, not lectured, not told off and then subsequently referred to an AA meeting - a real AA meeting.

This incident reminds us of another occasion where a newcomer at the Strood meeting fell off the wagon. When they managed to finally get back to the room they were actually told to sit at the back and keep quiet as if they were some naughty school child! Something of a contrast with an AA meeting where they would be welcomed into the centre of the room and encouraged to speak up - if only to remind the rest of us what could so easily happen to ANY alcoholic who fails to maintain their "spiritual condition" (and this according to their own - not their SPONSOR's - conception of what this might constitute).

Finally a little nugget from down Bournemouth way. It would seem that the local branch of the cult - "Bournemouth: Road to Recovery"  has made yet another attempt to join the Bournemouth intergroup:

"Hi Fellas, An update from Bournemouth Intergroup. Last Wednesday evening the Intergroup dealt with an application from the Bournemouth "road to recovery group" to be allowed to join the Intergroup. At the February meeting the Chairman invited all GSR's to ask their groups to consult their conscience and vote if the RTR group could be allowed to join in the Bournemouth service structure. All groups within Bournemouth did take part and the issue was widely and fairly debated and principles of AA were followed.

The resulting vote at the Intergroup meeting led to just 3 groups supporting the RTR application. The overwhelming decision by Bournemouth group members was no.
Keep at it fellas.

ps. That's about 5 years now."

It's a pity this cult group doesn't get the message. Still it is an effective way of dealing with a cult meeting - quarantine the contagion, deny it access to newcomers, prevent its members from gaining access to the AA service structure and then watch it wither and die (take note other Intergroups - e.g. West Kent).

PS Maybe Bournemouth: Road to Recovery are now getting some idea of what it's like to be given the cold shoulder - perhaps there's a God after all!!

Cheerio

The Fellas
(Our usual thanks to AA members for the above contributions - information is power!)

News from Eastbourne and Sheppey

"Hello. My name's ....I was in the fellowship since last January at the Eastbourne “There is a solution” AA group. I found that certain practices were being used and having looked at your site - it is a very big issue. I'm glad to say that this meeting has now moved ..... I would be happy to go into what has gone on within this group...

I feel very strongly about this situation within AA. I've seen quite a few people join the "There is a solution" meeting only to realise it seems to be a religious Christian only meeting. I myself have been intimidated to the point I don't go to real AA meetings. I stood up to the main GSR who takes the group as a whole to church - her choice of church, to meetings that they sit and try to take over - the sick meetings as they call them. I've been told by a person who was sacked twice from the group as being evil! - trying to stop their meetings .... this made me feel like leaving .....I've been told by them when I was part off to not go alone to SICK meetings, stop my medication prescribed by my GP, to keep ringing newcomers everyday, put pressure on them to stay in the group. You are instructed to read Joe Mq [circuit speaker] 12 steps and other non AA material. Also forced to a talk given by American speaker in Croydon in the summer at a cost of £15 per ticket. A friend was forced to kneel and pray to god or leave group! A person who was forced to go to church, baptised even though does not believe in god and then sacked when pressure was too much they drank again. The list goes on. I hope that this in some way helps you. Many thanks for your time"

We've also been informed by another AA member that a group has set up in Sheppey (West Kent) going under the title of Road to Recovery. We've no confirmation yet whether this group forms part of the cult network which uses the AA name as a cover for its activities - but the group title is rather suggestive - we'd be happy to receive any further information which either refutes or confirms that connection

Cheers

The Fellas
(as usual our thanks to the contributors)