Questions (not) accepted for conference 2016 (contd)

Comment: AA currently has no effective method for dealing with any form of bullying, sexual harassment etc (online or otherwise) within the fellowship. It does propose guidelines (16, 17) and therefore can be said to have a policy in place … but implementation is patchy. In some areas sexual predation (so-called '13 stepping') may be described as virtually endemic, and shockingly blatant in some instances. Some of the accounts that have been relayed to us almost defy belief. Of similar concern, and far more widespread, is the virtual 'institutionalisation' of bullying and coercion practised predominantly by cult groups under the guise of sponsorship. This has been extensively documented on the aacultwatch website. Here the programme is no longer disseminated as “suggested” but rather as compulsory, and the edicts of the 'sponsor' to be taken as absolute. Any recourse for those so abused is effectively non-existent. They either tolerate it (and in some instances become perpetrators themselves), leave AA or find some kind of refuge in the wider fellowship where such perversions are largely absent.

However recently, when looking into the background of a question submitted to conference (and rejected), we stumbled upon this little gem:

The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) Ltd is a registered charity. Its objective is “TO HELP CHRONIC ALCOHOLICS TO OVERCOME THEIR ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL AND TO SERVE THE FELLOWSHIP KNOWN AS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN SUCH OF ITS WORK OF ASSISTING ALCOHOLICS TO ACHIEVE SOBRIETY.” and it acts “AS AN UMBRELLA OR RESOURCE BODY”. Under the terms of its registration the charity ie. the General Service Board, is required to report any serious incidents including “fraud, theft or other significant loss” and “suspicions, allegations or incidents of abuse of vulnerable beneficiaries “ (in this case AA members) to the Charity Commission. Failure to do so may lead to regulatory action for mismanagement.

Following on from above (and in the absence of any formal complaints procedure within AA) we would advise anyone who has been the subject of any kind of abuse (or indeed is a witness to such acts) to make a formal complaint via the General Service Office (whose email address is: gso@alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk - using perhaps the heading “Attn: General Service Board”). The latter are then obliged to report this to the Charity Commission. Although no kind of effective response may be expected from the General Service Office or the Board Itself a sufficient number of complaints forwarded in this fashion may serve to place pressure on the GSB (and on AA) to take these matters far more seriously, and institute some real reforms (ie. effective action) to deal with these widespread abuses.

Additionally there is also provision on the Charity Commission site for members of the public (including, obviously, AA members) to make a complaint directly to the Commission itself. Again this may serve ultimately to focus the fellowship's concentration on the pressing need to carry out substantial reforms. Failure to do so can only lead, in the long run, to the progressive demise of AA in Great Britain, and the loss of a valuable resource for dealing with chronic alcohol addiction.

But most importantly ... for the newcomer .. there is no longer any need to suffer in silence. Make your voice heard! And help create a healthier environment in which members can flourish rather than flounder!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Needless to say we shall be using both of the above procedures in future, and (we anticipate) with increasing frequency. Moreover when contacting the General Service Board we will take care to remind them of their obligation to submit an additional report to the Charity Commission in each instance. We will also be carrying out checks to ensure they do so....

Is AA to blame for ‘13th Step’ slaying, as lawsuit claims?

See link

American Bar Association Journal

Comment: The consequences of a failure by AA members to take effective action against sexual predators …. and the 'chit' (court mandated attendance) system

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Dealing with Predators

See here

Source: Central Region forum, Australia, 2001

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to the member (US) who sent us the attachment

'I was fresh meat': how AA meetings push some women into harmful dating

Former peer support group members attest to not-so-safe space that exposes recovering addicts to sexual harassment – and derails their journey to sobriety

Extracts: 

“According to New York psychotherapist Scott W Stern, when the general population thinks about recovery programs, there’s not a lot of distinction between treatment and support. 

Treatment, such as rehabilitation and therapy, is run by professionals who start with their clients from where they are and work with them through a variety of medical and psychological means to build their autonomy, he said. In contrast, support groups like AA or NA provide merely a peer-to-peer network of individuals supposedly working toward the same goal.

Such groups are not equipped to address many of the complex issues that come along with addiction, since they’re run by people who are not trained as professionals. “These groups are places anyone can walk into, where anything could happen,” he said.

In essence, an environment that is touted as a safe space can be anything but. From easier access to substances to sexual harassment, abuse or even outright murder, these programs can inflict further damage.” 

“Meanwhile, members are expected to move through the organization’s 12 steps and accept the doctrine put forth by AA. Some of the women I talked to called the groups cult-like, saying that members cling to the written word in the Big Book and exclude anyone who might question it, leaving them alone when they stumble across what is commonly known as “the 13th step” – that is, when someone makes sexual advances on someone new to recovery”. 

“Stern said the problem is compounded when sex offenders go through the drug courts and are ordered to go to 12-step meetings, which he said is a fairly common occurrence. 

“For people with criminal records, it’s not uncommon that they will argue they were under the influence of substances,” he said. “Ninety percent of treatment facilities in the US are 12-step-facilitated, too, which means no matter your crime, you’re most likely going to end up at AA or NA.”

Stern suggests the judicial system should be revamped. However, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) said the way they mandate recovery has already undergone vast changes in recent years.

While it’s still not perfect, Terrence Walton, the NADCP’s chief of standards, said the courts mandate professional treatment before recommending a peer support group to facilitate long-term recovery. He also said that drug courts no longer specify AA/NA as the support group that must be attended, as was the case a decade ago. 

“We don’t recommend AA to unwilling participants anymore because if you force someone to go to AA or NA with people who are not being forced to go there, it can be a bad mix. You need to want to participate for those programs to work,” Walton said.”

Source: The Guardian (online): Alcoholism 22 Sept 2015

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Thanks to our correspondents for drawing our attention to this article 

See also: 

AA Recovery rates
Primary Purpose/Back to Basics
Minority Report 2013

Sexual predators in AA (“13 Stepping”)

Apart from some minor factual inaccuracies we think this video should not be dismissed by AA members simply as an expression of 'resentment' on the part of a few disenchanted members but rather an issue which needs to be taken a great deal more seriously by all of us. We were particularly interested in the comments of an ex-AA world board member (Jim B) regarding the much misquoted Tradition Four ie. each group is autonomous, which seems to be employed to justify inaction on the part of the fellowship at virtually every service level. What the Tradition actually says is: 

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

“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 neighboring 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.”

(our emphases) 

In other words this tradition may not be employed to exempt AA groups or the General Service board from their responsibility to ensure our 'common welfare' (which includes direct intervention where necessary to prevent such abuses occurring). Where the abuse is of a criminal nature the relevant authorities need to be notified and full co-operation extended to the police in assisting them with their enquiries. Failure to do so in Great Britain at least constitutes an offence. The defence of anonymity may not be used to hide the identity of the perpetrator. Similarly there exists legal redress with regard to stalking and harassment Harassment may include: “repeated attempts to impose unwanted communications and contacts upon a victim in a manner that could be expected to cause distress or fear in any reasonable person”. (Thus, for example, a particularly intrusive sponsor who repeatedly seeks to impose their will upon a sponsee can be warned that their behaviour may fall into this category and be advised accordingly). AA guidelines on abusive conduct should be prominently displayed at all meetings and where necessary read out periodically to ensure that every member of the group is made aware of these and their own responsibilities (Personal Conduct Matters (Guidelines for Alcoholics Anonymous in Great Britain: No. 17). Where an individual has been identified as constituting a menace (on the basis of reliable information and not mere gossip) they should be advised their conduct will no longer be tolerated. If they fail to take heed a group is entirely within its rights to ban them from their meeting and to notify other groups in the area accordingly. Abusers need to understand that they must take full responsibility for their own conduct and thereafter bear the consequences of their actions. Not only must AA meetings be a safe place to share - they must also be a safe place to meet. 

Cheers 

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Predation – civil action in the US!

Extracts:

"Slain woman’s family alleges AA meetings point ‘financial, sexual, and violent predators’ to victims.

It's no secret that Alcoholics Anonymous attracts troubled individuals–and has helped many turn their lives around.

But the nonprofit organization known for its 12-step program also attracts some who find it a convenient place to meet targets for a so-called "13th step"–exploiting troubled women sexually and financially, claims a California lawsuit. …..” 

 

"AA meetings are repeatedly used by financial, sexual, and violent predators as a means to locate victims," alleges the civil wrongful death suit filed by ….... against .... Alcoholics Anonymous of Santa Clarita, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Los Angeles County, and two attorneys, among other defendants.

It says AA had a “reckless disregard for, and deliberate indifference…to the safety and security of victims attending AA meetings who are repeatedly preyed upon at those meetings by financial, violent, and sexual predators …..

AA of Santa Clarita didn’t respond to Pro Publica's requests for comment. A public information officer for AA’s general service staff called the issues Pro Publica raised "distressing and disturbing.” However, each AA group operates autonomously, she said.”

Others apparently not involved in the case brought by the parents of the dead woman agreed that predatory behavior by individuals with a criminal history can be a problem concerning vulnerable members of AA.”

Source:

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/slain_womans_family_alleges_aa_meetings_point_financial_sexual_and_violent_/

And similarly reported:

"Parents Accuse AA of Harboring a Predator

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Grieving parents say in court that their daughter was murdered by her sociopathic addict boyfriend because Alcoholics Anonymous concealed his history of domestic violence.”

“AA has known for years that meetings "are repeatedly used by financial, sexual, and violent predators as a means to locate victims," according to the lawsuit in Superior Court.

But nevertheless the organization has no "specific policies and guidelines concerning conduct of so-called 'sponsors'" and does little to supervise them.”

“The couple seeks punitive damages for wrongful death, conversion of money and property, professional negligence, violation of equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment, Monell violation, and Bane Act violation.

Alcoholics Anonymous World Services declined to comment.”

Source: https://www.courthousenews.com/2012/09/28/50771.htm

Comment: This is what is heading our way sooner or later. It's simply a matter of time. All it takes is one more suicide, and a grieving family who won't be fobbed with yet another platitude issued by someone from the General Service office. AA groups are NOT autonomous. Our guidelines are crystal clear:

Tradition 4 (short form): “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.”

Tradition 4 (long form): 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 neighboring 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.”

(our emphases)

These statements really could not be more explicit. It is somewhat depressing therefore to read that a staff member for the general service office should so misquote this guideline. AA groups are NOT unconditionally autonomous. They are NOT at liberty to do whatever they like. They are supposed to be RESPONSIBLE for their own conduct and for that of their members. Moreover when a group fails in their duty of care it is CLEARLY the responsibility of other groups and members to intervene and take action, and not simply throw up their hands and raise the “autonomy” defence! Much is made in AA of inventory taking or taking stock. But those of us who have even a limited acquaintanceship with the recovery programme know that this is supposed to be followed by some form of remedial action. (Even better of course is not to 'f**k up' in the first place!). But there really is very little point in producing guidance on abuse etc if this is not accompanied by ACTION. Predators need to be exposed (and barred from meetings if necessary). Newcomers need to be warned in no uncertain terms who these people are. Cult groups (where most of the systematic abuse takes place) need to be removed from Where to Finds and steps taken to ensure that all relevant agencies are notified that they are no longer recognised as being part of AA. At the moment when someone approaches us with a grievance (genuine or otherwise) they're greeted with what must appear to be at best indifference, at worse callousness. It is not enough simply to (mis)quote Tradition 4 or even ignore people who may be suffering entirely unnecessarily. The choice - AND RESPONSIBILITY -  is ours. Do nothing and watch AA disintegrate into complete chaos - or take clear and determined action to prevent this abuse from happening ….. and then get on with what we're supposed to be doing … helping the still suffering alcoholic.

Over to you

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to the AA member for drawing our attention to these articles

Dealing with predators

“Predators are AA members who take advantage of other members in various ways, such as:

sexual harassment

sexual attack

pressuring members to join a particular religious group

borrowing money

selling goods for personal gain

offering investment schemes

theft of group funds”

Possible solutions:

“Talk to other members about it and raise the matter at a group conscience meeting. Take care that you aren't just passing on rumours. Make sure you have well-established facts to work with

Discuss the problem with the person suspected of preying on other members. Listen to their side of the matter. Let them know the group disapproves of predatory behaviour

Make sure other members stay with the suspected predator whenever he or she is talking to vulnerable new members

Raise your concerns with any of the members you think may be at risk from the predator

Don't think the matter ends with your group. The predator may leave your group and move to fresh hunting grounds. You may need to warn members in other groups

Barring someone from meetings is an extreme step and should only be taken when other steps have failed

In certain situations you may need to notify the police

Under no circumstances should members resort to vigilante action and use violence to try to solve the problem. This would be totally against the spirit of the Fellowship and could turn the situation into a worse problem”

Source: Central Region Forum, (Authorised for publication by The General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous Australia)

Comment: We could add to the above list considerably if one were to include cult members' exploitation/manipulation/coercion of newcomers.

By sexual predation what is clearly NOT being alluded to here is 'boy meets girl' in AA (or for that matter 'boy meets boy' etc) and falls in love (or even lust) but rather those individuals who serially and systematically target newcomers purely to satisfy their own sexual/ego desires. Members do form relationships of many types and some work out and some don't – much like the rest of society. What consenting adults get up to in their spare time is their business. But we're not talking about consenting adults here. We're talking about the deliberate exploitation of emotionally vulnerable people by those who know exactly what they're doing. Predators may well be sick people themselves but it's not a sickness that AA deals with. Maybe they do need help, and perhaps the best way to do that is to confront them with their behaviour. Failing to act not only places newcomers at risk but simply serves to exacerbate the problem for everyone concerned including the predator. Colluding with them or ignoring their conduct has precisely the same effect as for example enabling the alcoholic. One might think it's the compassionate thing to do but it isn't. It just leads to more and more trouble. The solution (and responsibility) lies in our hands ….. it just needs to be applied! And by whom? Take a guess!

Over to you

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to the member who drew our attention to this AA document

Predators – their part – our part!

A member drew our attention to this case study (for want of a better expression) of predatory behaviour within AA entitled: Predators Lurk in Alcoholics Anonymous

Some extracts:

“The structure of AA actually serves to help the individual who wants to prey on people. New members are encouraged to seek out a “sponsor”, a person who has been clean and sober for some time and knows the 12-step program. This person must be of the same sex. This is ostensibly to prevent men from preying on women, but same sex predators can – and do – exploit the AA system.“

“Ironically, the regulars in the AA community are usually aware of who the predators are, in fact …... came under scrutiny from a local AA chapter, when their leadership council voted to ban him from their meeting place after accusations of inappropriate behavior with sponsees.“

“After …... was banned from that AA location, a general meeting was held which drew a standing-room-only crowd and resulted in heated debate. …... admitted he had engaged in homosexual behavior in his past but denied inappropriate actions with members of AA. Many were unconvinced, but the crowd voted to allow ….... back in the meetings. One member said, “Who are we to exclude anyone? Our program teaches us to be inclusive.””

Comment: What is interesting about the above is not so much what it says about the predator (he is what he is and must take responsibility for his actions) but rather what it says about some members of AA. Apparently it is acceptable (or tolerable) to the latter to allow certain individuals to sexually exploit (and otherwise) newcomers to the fellowship on the grounds that to bar them from meetings would not be “inclusive”. Here the rights of the predator are to be upheld but not those of their victims. One individual may prey upon literally scores of newcomers, perhaps driving them away from the fellowship and even condemning them to death, and apparently that's OK so long as the perpetrator's sobriety is safeguarded! Well guess what? It isn't OK! In fact it's an abdication of responsibility and indication of moral bankruptcy. We would remind these members here of AA guidelines (GB):

and in particular:

“Failure to challenge and stop inappropriate behaviour gives the offender permission to repeat the offensive behaviour and encourages others to follow suit”.

Bullying, harassment, intimidation, sexual predation undoubtedly exist in AA, an inevitable consequence perhaps of any social grouping. Inevitable maybe but NOT to be either condoned or ignored. Within the cult groups this kind of conduct is endemic, even systemic, and sanctioned under the guise of 'strong sponsorship' or so-called 'tough love'. The 'carrot and stick' approach with the 'twelve promises' dangled as an incentive to the sponsee to comply coupled with numerous reminders (sometimes explicit) that failure to accede to their sponsor's every “suggestion” (ie. direction) will inevitably result in relapse and perhaps death is a powerful combination to resist especially when presented as the 'authentic' AA message to the vulnerable newcomer. So how about the newcomer's rights! What happened to the concept of a 'duty of care'? The General Service Office (York) can't do anything about this problem nor can the General Service Conference. So guess where the bucks stops! ….... You got it!

So if you've got a bully/predator in your midst (and you're sure of your facts) confront them (preferably in front of the group). Ask them to account for their conduct. If they're unable to do so inform them of the consequences if they continue. ie. banned from attending the meeting. If they don't get the message go ahead and ban them. Inform other groups and members of your decision. If it's a cult group where such conduct is the norm then it's up to other groups in the area to apply sanctions. Exclude the group from the local intergroup and refuse to recognise them as an AA group - and then make sure to publicise the fact remembering to notify any outside organisations that may be in contact with them. Remember: Our first duty is to the alcoholic who wants to stop drinking not to facilitate those who have other motives for attending meetings – that's our primary purpose!

Over to you,

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to the member who drew this essay to our attention

“Chit” system + predators + newcomers = DISASTER!

Extracts:

“Each year, the legal system coerces more than 150,000 people to join AA, according to AA’s own membership surveys. Many are drunken drivers ordered to attend a few months of meetings. Others are felons whose records include sexual offenses and domestic violence and who choose AA over longer prison sentences. They mingle with AA’s traditional clientele, ordinary citizens who are voluntarily seeking help with their drinking problems from a group whose main tenets is anonymity. (When telling often-harrowing stories of their alcoholism, the recovering drinkers introduce themselves only by their first names.) 

 

Forced attendance seems at odds with the original traditions of the organization, which state that the “only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.” So far, AA has declined to caution members about potentially dangerous peers or to create separate meetings for convicted criminals. “We do not discriminate against any prospective AA member, even if he or she comes to us under pressure from a court, an employer, or any other agency,” the public information officer at New York’s central office wrote in a June email. “

“Internal AA documents show that when questioned about the sexual abuse of young women by other members, the organization’s leadership decided in 2009 that it could not do anything to screen potential members.  AA, which is a nonprofit, considers each of the nearly 60,000 U.S. AA groups autonomous and responsible for supervising themselves. Board members argued that a group organized around anonymity could do nothing to monitor members without undercutting its basic principles.”

“Sexually exploitative actions toward newcomers in AA have long been detailed in AA’s history; biographies of founder Bill Wilson detail his sexual encounters with attractive female members. One associate of Wilson’s told a biographer that at one point, he and others feared Wilson’s womanizing would derail the group altogether. The actions, which range from inappropriate advances to rape, are known in AA circles as the  “13th Step.”

In 2007, stories in the Washington Post and Newsweek described the sexual and emotional abuse of young women at a cultlike AA group in Washington, D.C., called Midtown. The stories included the accounts of young women who said they were pressured to have sex with many AA members, but especially with the group leader, Michael Quinones, who has since died.

Police concluded that no crime had been committed, since the women involved were over the age of 16 and therefore consenting adults.”

AA groups abroad have also confronted the issue of sexual predation among its members. In 2001, Australian AA officials published guidelines for how to bar financial, spiritual, and sexual predators from the group, noting that older members had  a “moral obligation” to help protect vulnerable new members – and possibly a legal one. In 2002, 3,400 British AA groups voted to adopt a new code of conduct regarding predatory behavior, concluding, “Failure to challenge and stop inappropriate behaviour gives the offender permission to repeat the offensive behaviour and encourages others to follow suit."

Buoyed by these actions, and prompted by the news accounts, in 2007 a member of the board of Alcoholics Anonymous in the U.S. and Canada drafted a seven-page memo to his colleagues on the board that listed accounts of sexually predatory behavior for which he had direct evidence.

More than two years later, AA’s newly created Subcommittee on Vulnerable Members responded with a one-page letter. Its sentences were lawyerly but the intent was clear. It said: “The subcommittee members agreed that the General Service Board in its position at the bottom of the A.A. service structure would not have a role in setting any behavioral policy or guideline for the A.A. groups or members in regards to protecting any vulnerable member. … The General Service Board has no authority, legal or otherwise, to control or direct the behavior of A.A. members and groups.”

Source: Twelve Steps to Danger: How Alcoholics Anonymous Can Be a Playground for Violence-Prone Members

(our emphases)

Comment: As we have argued before any AA participation in the “chit” system (court mandated attendance) runs directly contrary to our own traditions (specifically Tradition 6). “Outside organisations” (courts, treatment centres etc) may have a policy of referring people to AA for any number of reasons. That's their business. However it is NOT our business to facilitate this policy by issuing chits as confirmation of attendance. This is not co-operation; this is endorsement. Small wonder that Iain Duncan Smith is rather keen on us. We represent a potential 'dumping ground' for anyone the courts - and for that matter Job Centre staff (potentially) - decide has some kind of alcohol problem. We're cheap (well free actually) and seemingly willing to overlook any kind of conduct (including, it would seem, sexual predation). In fact why bother with prisons any more? Why not just fast track everyone and their brother in our direction – we'll rehabilitate them, and at no extra cost! No more so-called 'life' sentences behind bars. Send them to your local AA meeting instead! (Mind you …. maybe the 'clink' is preferable to some of the cult meetings operating in our midst! A cult sponsor versus a prison officer ….. tough call!).

But sexual predation is not the only risk newcomers face when coming to AA. Abuse manifests itself in many forms and the cult have developed a whole repertoire of their very own including 'suggestions' (cult speak for 'directions') on: sexual conduct (rather ironic given the behaviour of some of their leaders eg. Wayne P – Plymouth Road to Recovery cult group - whose trousers quite inexplicably fall down from time to time!), discontinuing prescribed medication (ie. interfering in the patient/doctor relationship), dress code (formal wear only at meetings), whether to wear a beard or not (seriously!), employment, moving house, religious belief (Roman Catholicism is kosher..... but Jews and Buddhists are out!) .. or to summarise: “Do exactly what your sponsor tells you”. (Apparently the latest edict from Happy Denis (or rather David “Icons” C his sponsor) is that playing the lottery is off! It's not sober behaviour. Now the lottery has been described as many things (including a 'tax on the stupid') but we've never heard it described thus. But with the cult the rules always proliferate – and so does the abuse …ad infinitum .. and ad nauseam!

As the above extract makes clear the General Service Board can do nothing. The General Service Conference can issue guidelines but not implement them. So guess where the buck stops? Yep – looking right back at you!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

For more on sexual predation see here

We are responsible!

We received the following communication some while ago. After careful consideration we decided to publish the article in full such is the serious nature of its content (with only one edit to preserve anonymity):

“March 1, 2011

Re: Making AA Safer for all members.

We know there was a Member Safety subcommittee formed in New York General Service Office and we know that no real action of any kind was taken. So we are wondering if you on the General Service Board (GSB) and in the General Service Office GSO could ask other trustees what’s going on in their areas and do they have some of these problems.

One of the problems we experience is that there are some 3000 AA meetings in the Los Angeles Area and there are only 70 General Service Rep’s that attend any one Westside Monthly District Meeting. (This group never gave us time to discuss this issue although we repeatedly tried.)

We were thinking it would be great if AAWS AA GSO and the Board/Delegates and all our groups could participate and act in unity with us to help make AA safe. AA is no longer safe.

So, the fact that AA has had predators in it’s fellowship since it’s beginning, is its skeleton in the closet, that we feel needs to be addressed.

A good case in point, two women who were raped in Covina, California by an AA member that they met in an AA meeting. Clearly this is an AA issue that must be addressed by AA as both victim and predator met in an AA meeting.

Following is the rest of the story; These two women were told by the fellowship that they should trust the fellowship, “that their best thinking had got them to Alcoholics Anonymous.” They were also told that until they could find a God of their own understanding that they should “Make the group their higher power”. These are not uncommon terms used in the room. And based on these beliefs, when the men offered them rides etc. they accepted on the basis that they could trust these individuals.

What is wrong with this picture?

As fellow sober members, we’re sure we can all agree that we want to stop the victimization of newcomers in any form.

A group of concerned long time and new AA members decided this is very important. So important, we have written literature and made a pamphlet. We feel it is imperative that we act swiftly in regards to this internal problem. Too many have already left AA never to return. Too many will die. Many will drink again. Years of this behavior can’t be ignored any longer. Other women will be raped and sexually assaulted as well as young gay men will be preyed upon. Even new comer men will be harassed and many members will be scammed on by members with lots of sobriety. We are so frustrated. But here’s what we have done.

We have held two (2), “Make AA Safer Workshops”. Another District had a workshop in Monrovia, CA. on August 7, 2010. What was revealed was there was a man coming to the meeting and pulling out a gun and putting it in his lap. Using intimidation. No one escorted him out. Only after many times a newer member went to the police station.) They should have known what to do. Step outside, call the police and let them handle it. . People were too afraid to say anything.

When the traditions were first written AA members were carefully screened and only those wanting to get sober came. Everyone knew each other. It was a small fellowship. Around 20 years ago A Judge in Los Angeles began sending DUI’s and criminals to AA meetings who did not want to come to AA. Yet the traditions were never altered to accommodate for these strange new additions to our meetings sitting amongst us. Our traditions have been twisted. And the traditions were never intended to handle criminals. There is no bouncer. No Sergeant at Arms.

We hope all our districts will host workshops like this all over our region. It needs to be addressed and new folks need to be warned that AA is not safe. We feel the general population needs to be warned that things are not so safe in our meetings, nor have they been for years as we have written accounts to highlight this.

We all know what Tradition One is.

“Our Common welfare should come first. Personal recovery depends upon AA Unity. “

The principal of this tradition is to Carry the message, not harass and 13step the newcomer!

SO here is a statement that we all seem to like.

We of Alcoholics Anonymous feel that everyone should feel safe. If you don’t’ feel safe please tell the secretary or someone you trust.

"It is up to all of us as individuals in the rooms and in our groups to protect all members, particularly the minor and the new person, whether young or old, from any unsafe, or unspiritual behaviors.” No one should be sexually harassed or financially pressured in any way.

General Service in Every capacity has this same responsibility. Yet it passes it off to the groups at large. Which in no shape, way or form runs AA. That is a complete falsehood.

If Criminal behavior is going on and AAWS is not warning people or taking corrective measures to protect where we can, and our groups see this and also do nothing, then our public relations policy is not promoting attraction! Rather it is breaking the law and turning a blind eye.

We are all mandated reporters.

It’s our understanding that this is the law. Hence, this must be addressed in our preamble, in our literature, on our public website, and at General Service.

This criminal behavior grossly affects our public image. If the public at large knew that;

women have been raped by men in AA, that gay men have been told to take off their clothes to read their 5^th step, that women in the Spanish community are taken to the mountains and coerced to have sex with old timer men as part of reading their 5^th step to them, we believe things would be very damaging to our society and reputation as a whole.

Great Britain, Australia AA, and CODA in America have published literature and provided it to their fellowships.

• Awareness must be raised.
• We want literature written.
• We want literature read.
• We want warnings on our website.
• We want safety posters in the entry way to all AA meetings Halls and clubs.

If churches knew what was going on we could be thrown out of all churches due to liability insurance policies.

So these are the facts told to us since October 2009.

1.At Westside district meeting on Saturday January 23, 2010: A women approached me and told me that a women in her meeting had just been raped by an AA member, in the Pacific Palisades, CA.

2.Tuesday January 26^th, 2010. I was contacted by another old-timer and was told another woman was date raped and that she was unsupported by her large group of AA’s.

3.Young woman age 18 was 13 stepped (sexually harassed)by some guy who 13stepped hundreds of women. Most of them did not stay sober. (1975) She was harassed sexually by two middle age men. They wanted her to have sex with them and her sister all together. When she refused a second time they asked her to move out.

4. A Woman age forty, sober two years, at age 5 was molested by a sober man who dated her sober mother. She spoke of her experience at our May16, 2010 all day Area Assembly.

5. A woman who got sober in 1969 told me she was vulnerable when she was new and her daughter was molested by a sober man.

8. April 3, 2010; one 29 year old female was raped by a 49 year old male who is 23 years sober. He took her to a rural area in the mountains and raped her.

(He is now in jail) after 8 months of sitting in meetings intimidating new women with just days of sobriety.

9. Another young woman was taken to abandoned house in Azusa, CA. and raped.

10. A Man with 19 years sober age mid Fifties is taking brand new sober young women to Motel 6, getting them drunk and date rapping them.

11. Newcomers (male & female) have been sexually harassed for dates, sex and money for years…it’s still going on.

12. Oldtimer men have abused their power asking new comers and sponsee’s for money. Happening for years at a big men’s stag in Hollywood by a guy with 30 years of sobriety. When they ask him for their money back he tells them to go write about it!

13. Old timer men have told young new women that needed to have sex with them to get a spiritual awakening. This story was in “Newsweek Magazine” 2007

14.Gay new comers are running to straight meetings to get away from the old timers in West Hollywood.

15. Women are predators too. Male reported he will not attend certain meetings anymore because a woman is preying and hitting on him.

16. AT the PRAASA Predator workshop Mar 2010, I was told that the Spanish Community that there are “24 hours groups” in the United States. In these “24 Hour groups” they are tying people up and forcing them to stay against their will for days on end.

17. At PRAASA another young Spanish girl told of a young man who killed himself recently in regards to a sexual predator. She was crying as she shared this story.

Aren’t we liable if we know that there are meetings that are not safe and still we do nothing? The effective change we want is responsibility on your part along with our grass roots movement. Things have gotten completely out of hand in Los Angeles, CA. And from what I heard at PRAASA it is going on all over the region.

Many of us have stopped going to co ed meetings because the Sexual Predator vibe is so bad

What can be done?

Ask groups all over the country to hold workshops and round table discussion and every regional assembly. (Like NA did 5 years ago) AA’s establish a subcommittee to address this issue and hold workshops with Your Monies with the Professional Community. (NA did this 5 years ago)

Ask groups to read a simple statement in their format.

Issue a release to Treatments Centers

We are not safe.

Issue a release to professionals. We are not safe.

More new facts:

18. Friday Night January 29, 2010. 414 Lincoln in Venice

Three women approached me. Two were raped by sober members.

19. Friday Night Feb 5^th, 2010

A male age 52 clean/sober 12 years tells me he is very disturbed with the element of guys he was seeing in the meetings. Who are they? They don’t even look like alcoholics.

The girl who was raped approached me again. She has never gone to the police.

20. Went to Radford Club in Sherman Oaks..

A priest approached me. Late 60’s, sober 22 years. He said “Thank you so much for doing this work. It really needs to be done.” He said “25% percent of all the women he send to AA get harassed and never come back after 1 meeting.”

21. Another man age 62 with 28 years said “it’s been going on all the years he’s been coming to Radford.”

I said but “Rape” he said …worse” He said “I would not believe the things that have happened. All these years!”

A female age 50, sober 18 years said that at a meeting place, Moorpark and Whitsett. there is a man there going up to new pretty girls asking them if they would suck his cock.

Both men and women are Predators.

22. The Marina Center. Male age 32 sober five years said that he was 13 stepped by a women when he was 3 months sober. She had 13 years. He was furious!

23. March 2010, I went to ACYPAA in San Diego.

From the panel on “Keeping Minors Safer in AA” I heard a Judge said he was afraid to send some young women to AA because he knows what might happen.

24. Another panelist said that A sober member who works as a parole officer who works with Sex offenders said” that sex offenders who are being released laugh at us because we are happy hunting grounds for sexual predators. In conclusion, some of them are coming to our meetings. They are not even Alcoholics.

25. February 17, 2010 Young 30 something pretty women came to our meeting on purpose. She heard what we are doing. She was in a treatment center and she was sexually harassed by the Director, a sober member of AA. She was terrified. He actually molested her while giving her a ride in his car.

She was coerced to have sex with him. She left the country she was so afraid.

26. March9, 2010 Marina Center. Culver City, CA.

Another member said that he was so mad that he fantasized about taking a gun and shooting the Sexual Predators at the meetings.

27. Friday Night March 12, 2010.

Rodeo Meeting Young very angry guy said he was a newcomer. And sees the old guys hitting on the new women. Male sober 10 years said older members said to him when he was new “get them while they are new and easy. After they sober up they won’t sleep with you anymore!

He said “it really needs to be addressed.” He also said, “yea there’s four or five guys here doing that.

28. I was told by a male 17 years that he was hit on by a professional prostitute in this meeting.

29. March 29, 2010

A man told me a woman was raped five years ago. After her first meeting she was followed home and raped. She did go to the police.

30. April 1, 2010 a 24 year old, 3 month sober female was harassed by 40 year old male sober 14 years.

She told us a man at The Marina Center was calling and texting and harassing her

Asking her where she was.

She is afraid. He tells her that he needs to know where she is or he might get drunk.

AT PRAASA IN LA…“Predators in AA” was given a late night round table discussion. One Hundred and thirty members attended.

Nine states and 15 regions were represented. They took minutes.

April 7, 2010, Culver City, CA

First MAAS (Make AA Safer) Workshop addressing Sexual and Financial Predators in AA. The minutes are attached in this packet.

The Latest News given to me as a result of handing out our green pamphlet.

31. Gay Male sober 15 years tells us that his first sponsor told him to take his clothes off to read his 5^th step.

32. 24 year old female sober 110 days He is being harassed for money at the Marina Center and she and he were hit on by a couple sober 28 years in their mid 50’s to have sex with them and swing.
33. Rosie, Harassed at Marina Center touched, sexually harassed. Unsupported by the women. They said stupid stuff to her. She drank and will not return there.
34. Elli, sexually harassed my member for 5 years, grabbed for 2 more years, then she punched him in the face. They are using our literature.

What would be great?

• We would love to speak with you on the phone.
• A letter sent to all GSR’s , Secretary’s and Central Office’s asking them to go to their groups and discuss this topic and start reading a safety statement and making announcements. And knowing we are dealing with Crime we also hope that General Service agrees that we need to address this issue as fast as possible.

Every state could have

• A Make AA Safer representative that is trained to go to meetings where there is serious trouble.
• There is a hotline number
• E mail address
• Write literature
• Have a workshop

To support the member to call the police when a crime has been committed

We also feel that the judges, the rehabs and sober living homes need to understand what is really going on in our fellowship right now. (This is a legal liability if our government sends innocent women to AA and they are raped and sexually harassed and battered)

Although we have no control over individuals…Crime is Crime…Inside AA or outside on the street. AA will have a zero tolerance for crime and sexual harassment in our meetings.

In keeping with more then one of our traditions we think AAWS needs be in unity with our fellowship.

As I mentioned earlier, the small percentage of General Service Rep’s representing our vast amounts of groups makes it is easy to see that we are not really connected to NY or even to each other except by word of mouth, and in LA meetings are very spread out. This is where the traditions are NOT working in our urban areas.

Revealed at the MAAS workshop in Covina. A Male age 70, sober 34 years, said “that in the old days they took the bad ones out back and beat THEM UP”. Tear rolls down his face as this oldtimer said he did not know how to handle these predators anymore.

AA is not above the law. Why do AA’ers think they are special and above the law?

Oct 21, 2010

“Kristine and Saundra Cass Murdered by AA member she was dating in Honolulu, HI. Aug 20, 2010.”

Man followed woman home from meeting and murders her.

Lance Glock rape in West Covina, CA.

I have personal letters written by the two woman who were raped by the men they met in AA. Both men having teen years sober and 20 years older then most of the woman.

And lastly, A woman wrote me a 6 page letter how her son was 13 and was sexually molested by a sober man (his AA sponsor and was later killed) 2005 it made news and it was a 7 state pedophile ring targeting AA meetings and rehab. * “America’s Most Wanted.”

Nov 6^th, 2010. Meeting in West Hollywood. Woman tells me a woman was murdered outside a clubhouse in Glendale in 2007 by a man who everyone knew was mentally unstable. No one told him he had to leave. He stabbed her to death right outside the meeting hall. Says she is really disturbed by the downward turn of AA meetings.

Finally, newest tragedy…Herbert Tracy White Murdered in Downtown Los Angeles by a couple who he met in an AA meeting. They were trying to rob him, things went bad. They stabbed him to death and dismembered him.

It’s true there are good AA people, and they do exist, are being targeted. We feel both newperson and Oldtimer need to be warned. Pretending things are ok is a… bad idea!

Despite the resistance from our District and Area, 45 groups are already using our “Make AA Safer Pamphlet.” It has been translated into Spanish and is being duplicated and posted on the walls of meeting halls in Palm Springs Ca.

About ten meetings have written a safety statement and is read at the beginning of the meeting. My home group provides this Non-approved GSO literature with great pride. Knowing our literature helps raise awareness.

My home group may host one more MAAS (Make AA Safer Workshop in late May 2011. A large Workshop was help in Carlsbad in February 2011.

In Closing I want to say that the idea of sending criminals and DUI’s to meetings was discussed in our fellowship through a group conscious is preposterous. When this began to happen there is no way that 3000 groups in Los Angeles, had a business meeting, discussed the pros & cons in regards to the breaking of the Third tradition. “The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.”

Sending folks to AA when they don’t want to be there greatly infected the vibe, culture and environment that had been an esoteric place where one on one passing of sobriety was now replaced with judgmental, angry participants who were court ordered to attend AA instead of being sent to jail.

I personally sat in meetings in Honolulu when this first happened. It overwhelmed our little meeting at St Augustine’s Church in Downtown Honolulu. We were outraged. But none of us knew what to do.

In Addition to the fact the entire fellowship did not and is not capable of making this kind of decision. When the Traditions were first written, AA was a secret and small society. AA’ers would carefully screen each individual to see if they were really ready. They were in debate as to weather they would allow prostitutes, criminals or nonprofessional types. Once AA got Prison Wardens and the like on their National Board, they began in drove to sent these types to our meetings, but they DID NOT put into place safety measures or rewrite the traditions to attend to the new changes made to letting forced people to attend our intimate meeting setting.

AA touts it self on being non-professional. So why would a judge send hard criminals with a violent past to a group of for treatment. Most of them still don’t handle their anger well. AA’s GSB, its sub committee, has it’s head in the sand. Perhaps many of them don’t remember those days, before court ordered folks. I do. I was sober before it happened. I watched it change AA for the worse.

Unless serious Safety measures are taken and the innocent public are warned I fear that AA will simple die from the inside out. With folks like me and my friends just leaving to create some other kind of support groups, find and make a safer space to support each other with sobriety issues. There are hundreds of thousands of us. You can find us on Stinki-thinkin.com

& stop13stepin aa.wordpress.com

Sincerely,

[name omitted to preserve anonymity – our edit]

sober 35 years

Note* WE already know that it’s a problem that is going on all over the Pacific Region (consists of 9 states and 15 regions) that was discussed in detail at The Pacific Regional Forum last March in Los Angeles at The Round Table discussion for “Sexual and Financial Predators in AA”

And because of the Internet we can follow the stories all over the country and in Europe. Things have really escalated this past 12 months with violent behavior.”

Comment: None required

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)