AA MINORITY REPORT 2017 (revised)

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Monday 27 December 2010

"Primary Purpose" and "Back to Basics" groups and meetings

The following meetings (GB) are listed on various "Primary Purpose/Back to Basics" directories (prominent amongst which is the Dallas Primary Purpose movement). The directories themselves are accessed via websites (some identifying themselves as being associated with Alcoholics Anonymous, others not so). These sites carry quite explicit, misleading and unproven information on AA and on AA recovery rates (and this to AA's detriment). This has have been brought to their attention by aacultwatch (together with evidence to the contrary - see following links: AA recovery rates; Primary Purpose - so far we have received no response). The inclusions of such separate directories are contrary to AA traditions and moreover a clear breach of one of AA's three legacies ie unity. We consider these groups (and the groups included in their directories) as being divisive, dishonest, and quite disingenuous, and moreover so far removed from the guiding principles of AA as to no longer constitute genuine AA groups. We are quite aware that some groups which propagate this misleading propaganda do not use either of the above titles in their group names. Equally however there are those that do utilise these denominations but which are in no way associated with this perversion of AA; this question must be left finally to each individual to make the appropriate judgement. However we would advise newcomers (and those who are in contact with newcomers) to be aware that groups which bear such titles (as well as those that use the terms "Big Book Study group", "Newcomers" or "Beginners" meetings, “Road to Recovery” - but bearing in mind the above caveat) should be approached with some caution. The profiles of these cult groups have been covered in some detail on our website.

England

Primary Purpose Big Book Study Group
Beckenham, Kent
Wednesday 19:15 hours
Downham Way Family Church

Line by Line Big Book Study Group
Brighton
East Sussex
The Crypt
St. George's Church
St. George's Road
Thursday 6:30 – 7:30 pm

Primary Purpose Group
Brighton, UK
Monday 7.30pm Millview Hospital

The Coleshill Primary Purpose Group
Coleshill near Birmingham
Sacred Heart Church
Wednesday 8:00 PM

The Halifax Primary Purpose Group
Halifax, West Yorkshire
The Ebenezer Centre
St. James Road

Maldon Big Book Study Group
Maldon, Essex

Eccles Big Book Study Group
Eccles, Manchester UK
Tuesday at 8:00 PM
Friends Meeting House
The Polygon, off Wellington Road
Eccles, Salford

Primary Purpose Big Book Study Meeting
259 Pitsmoor Road
Sheffield,
Mondays 7pm - 8.30pm

Southsea, Portsmouth
Monday
7:00-8:00 pm Back To Basics Meeting
St Simon's Church
Waverley road,
Southsea, Portsmouth

Southport Tuesday
8:00 pm-9:00pm. Back To Basics Meeting
Quakers Meeting Rooms
Court Road
Southport

Barnoldswick, Lancashire Tuesday
7:30-8:30 p.m. Back To Basics Meeting
Holy Trinity Church,
Skipton Road,
Barnoldswick

Women's Primary Purpose Group (Enfield)
Enfield, Middx
St Andrew's Parish Hall, Room 3, Silver Street
Tuesdays 7:30pm - 9:00pm

Enfield Primary Purpose Big Book Study
Enfield, Middx
Convent of the Holy Family
London Road
Saturdays 7:00pm - 8:00pm

AA Primary Purpose Big Book Study Group
Perranuthnoe, Cornwall
Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm
Perranuthnoe Church Hall

Purley There Is A Solution Big Book Study Group
Purley – South London & Surrey
Purley Reform Church
Brighton Road
Mondays 8:00 PM

Sunday Night Big Book Study Group
Stratford on Avon
Mulberry Street
Sunday - 7:30 – 9:00 PM

Toddington Primary Purpose
Toddington
Saturday 7:00 PM

Scotland

Aberdeen Big Book Workshop
Aberdeen
Thursday 7.30 - 9pm
St Peters Roman Catholic Church
Castlegate

Aberdeen
Wednesday
8:00-9:30 pm Back To Basics Meeting
St Marks Church
Rosemount Viaduct

Big Book Study Meeting
Edinburgh
Monday 8pm,
Apostolic Church Hall
New Street, Musselburgh

Priesthill Big Book Study,
Priesthill Community Hall
Priesthill Road
Pollok
Glasgow

Big Book Study Meeting
Edinburgh
Monday 8pm,
Apostolic Church Hall
New Street, Musselburgh

Motherwell Primary Purpose Group
Motherwell
The Baptist Church
Windmill Road
Monday night 8pm

Big Book Study
Dundee
Lochee West
Monday night 8pm

Wales

Johnston Primary Purpose Big Book Study
Johnston
Pembrokeshire
at "The Oasis”
Near Johnston Baptist Church
Tuesday evenings 8.00pm to 9.30pm

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Another alternative “”Alcoholics Anonymous”(?) gathering

This one is coming up in the near future in the East Lancashire area and apparently under the auspices of the relevant Intergroup. Interestingly the website advertising the event (with its own music backing track!) indicates that this second incarnation is being launched “this time with the support of Inter-Group”, which would suggest that its first appearance on the world scene did not quite have that sanction. The occasion is paraded before us with the sort of marketing language you would expect from your average estate agent: ”Due to the success of the first event and huge enthusiastic demand from members we are excited to annouce [sic] the date for the second Open AA gathering ..” blah blah blah. Barely unable to contain our excitement already we are roused to what can only be described as a frenzy by the remainder of the sales pitch: “We have a guest speaker from Houston, Texas, a 12 step workshop, a Sponsorship workshop, a shared platform meeting with AA and ALANON members as well as a sobriety countdown with a special Big Book presentation. It promises to be a great day!” We have to say that the ticket price is quite modest - “only £6 each with a buffet meal included” but unfortunately you will be paying for your “drinks, tea, coffee” (and given the typical consumption of these by your average AA member this should be a nice little earner!). Additionally for those unfortunates amongst you who can't scrape up the requisites - never fear - a “limited number of service opportunities” have been made available so that you can work your passage! We do hope that the “trusted servants” are suitably attired for their duties – smocks and jerkins perhaps!

From our point of view the most significant item of course is the “guest speaker from Houston” (ie. Primary Purpose – see here for further information on this branch of the cult) (The website does point out that: ““No speakers will be paid fees or overseas travel expenses” and “a set of certified accounts will be made available” (although the statement does not exclude reference to all expenses, nor to whom these certified accounts will be made available)). Apparently during the day there will be two workshops - one on sponsorship and another on 12 Step work with both presented by a “guest speaker”. Since only one of these is mentioned in the advertising blurb we have to assume that this is the same person in both instances. The schedule for the day indicates that the “gathering” will last for some nine hours in total with no less than four hours being devoted to these two workshops; the remainder of the schedule is relatively uncontentious.

We contacted both the organiser of this event and the intergroup. The latter did not reply so we have to assume it's either deceased or gone into early hibernation. The former did come up with a polite but anodyne holding response but since then nothing. We made the usual points with regard to breaches of the Traditions etc etc but really expected nothing more than what we got – a blank silence!

By the way the site suggests: “Why not bring a newcomer!” We can think of a hundred reasons why not!

Cheers

The Fellas

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Christmas is coming! Yeah we noticed.....

Seriously though.... an AA member drew the following link to our attention which might be worth considering before you get well and truly stuck into the festivities …. Cooking with alcohol? Maybe not!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooking_with_alcohol

Friday 10 December 2010

I've never had a bad day


My earliest encounters with the Vision cult were in the late 1980's. I occasionally attended a meeting in Collingham Gardens near Earls Court tube. This meeting was called the "Joys of Recovery". I would hesitate to call this meeting a cult. The Vision cult didn't really exist back then - it hadn't fully developed yet. But the "Joys" was certainly a prelude to things yet to come. There was also a meeting at Pont Street in Knightsbridge on a Monday night. David B, founder of the Vision cult, and his band of followers could be found at both these West London meetings. They were a distinctive presence. David would sit at the back of the room chain smoking, surrounded by a coterie of eerily smiling young men, each with a somewhat vacant and far-away expression on his face.

David B was infamous for claiming that he had never had a bad day. "I got sober in 1975 and haven't had a bad day since". he proclaimed robustly. Many were impressed by this outlandish statement, including, I must admit, myself. His confident manner seemed full of conviction and gratitude, and a refreshing change from the "me, myself, and my misery" brigade (as I then called them) that one could hear at some other meetings. I thought those meetings were boring, lack-lustre and uninspirational. Back then I was long on demands and expectations from others, and short on patience, tolerance, love and understanding. I was what is referred to in the AA literature as a "bleeding deacon". I wanted everyone to be "well" according to my definition of well, and my definition of well was that you must always feel happy, and never feel sad. Life was either black or white, never both. This is a false expectation and analysis of course. It lacks humility, understanding and acceptance of the human condition.

Many people found David B to be annoying and dishonest. Whatever one's opinion, he certainly had the knack of grabbing attention. "David says that because he wants to show you how grateful he is" explained a very over-dressed lady at the Joys meeting. "Isn't he simply wondrous, darling" she added. Yes, indeed, there were definitely strong elements of showing off and attention seeking going on at Collingham Gardens in the late 1980's.

In the years since I left Vision, and grew up, I have reflected on this phrase "I have never had a bad day". Of course, our literature, including the Big Book, does not promise us that we will never have a bad day. The Big Book states that we will "know a new freedom and a new happiness". But that is not the same thing as saying that "we will NEVER have a bad day" No one can make such a promise. And thereby lies the issue. NO ONE can make such a promise. Also no one can verify if the person proclaiming to "never have had a bad day" is actually telling the truth. I shared it myself at Vision several times and I know that, deep in my heart, it just didn't feel right. I felt I was pretending in order to impress. I felt I was engaging with a deception. I stopped saying it and felt all the better for not doing so.

My later experience in recovery has left me with the realisation that the hype "I've never had a bad day" is nothing more than a confidence trick and a mechanism for controlling others.

And this is how it works: - You tell me that you have never had a bad day. Now this grabs me, and makes me feel that I am missing out on something. Like all human beings, I sometimes experience fears and insecurities, and this phrase "never had a bad day" seems to highlight my own inadequacy, real or imagined, in the face of your perfection. So I begin to turn to you for comfort and guidance, and, if you are convincing, charming and persistent enough, (and I am weak, uninformed, and unable to resist), I willingly allow you to take over and manage my life so that I can be like you - supposedly never having a bad day. Thus begins my new life of co-dependency upon you. Of course you have to keep telling me that you have never had a bad day or the whole illusion will rapidly evaporate. So, in a way, you are trapped too. And on and on it goes - a seemingly helpless cycle of dependency and control. And all based upon exaggerations, dishonesty, insecurity and attention seeking. And it can go on for years.

If I am lucky the cycle will be broken. Thankfully this happened in my case. I now know that I am just an ordinary bog standard human being and we humans experience good days and bad days. Even the most exalted among us - Queen Elizabeth II for example - is known to have the occasional bad turn. In fact I recall Her Majesty having an entire year of truly awful days in 1992 - her "annus horribilis" as she herself called it. Most people recognise that good days and bad days are part of the normal ebb and flow of life. It is only emotionally immature addicts, who, like spoilt children always looking for self-gratification, need every day to be perfect, and everyone, including themselves, to be flawless. It has been my experience that cult members, and their sponsors, are really no more happy than the rest of us. Within the environment of the cult they have developed a neurotic compulsion to project an image and narrative about themselves in which they must never be seen as anything less than perfect. Cults like Vision harness this pride and delusion, and use it to make members feel good about themselves. Trying to "feel good" by engaging with an illusion is exactly what addiction is all about.

For me real recovery is about moving on from such fantasies and illusions. "The attempt to avoid legitimate suffering lies at the root of all emotional illness" writes Scott Peck, author of "The Road Less Travelled". And the Big Book talks about the "certain trials and low points ahead" (AA page 15 "Bill's Story). "No pain, no gain" as the saying goes, and to a large extent this is true. Of course some pain, like physical pain for example, can be relieved by the services of a good doctor. But emotional pain is not so easy. Emotional pain is not optional. It is part of the natural and unavoidable processes of life.

But emotional pain also nudges me into a sacred task - to love and accept myself; to care for myself; to nurture my recovery, and to be honest and true to what I really believe. Furthermore the AA Program gives me permission to access a Higher Power (or Powers) of MY understanding, and thereby gain strength and wholeness from this unique spiritual and healing relationship.

Cults like Vision don't allow people to grow up and move on. They psychologically trap and imprison people. They marginalise the concept of a healing, loving and liberating Higher Power to the status of an "also ran", or even less. Rather they focus on the false idols of a sponsor and a group. This is part of the reason they are so dangerous and damaging. One of the most poisonous effects of my involvement in Vision was that it distracted and obstructed my relationship and understanding of my own Higher Power. Why bother accessing and getting to know my Higher Power better, when all I need do was ring up a cult sponsor and he would tell me what to do, say, think, feel or even believe. Talk about personal Higher Powers, or God as I understand that term, was certainly not liked at Vision. It was always "my sponsor said this" or "my sponsor said that" or "my sponsor told me to do this". I think the worst one for me was "my sponsor said it doesn't matter who or what my Higher Power is". Well, actually it does matter very much to me! The Big Book clearly says it has to make sense to the newcomer (AA page 93 "Working with Others") and that is should be a Power of my own conception and understanding (page 47) and not a human power (page 60 and pages 99/100). Cult Sponsors who tell their sponsees it doen't really matter what their Higher Power is are presenting themselves as a higher power by default. The Big Book clearly asks us to think carefully about these matters and ask ourselves what spiritual terms really mean to us as individuals.

In my experience cult sponsees become effectively infantilized by their controlling sponsors. Cult sponsors become isolated, narcissistic, grandiose control freaks; emotionally petrified individuals whose chief satisfaction in life is to seek out fully compliant victims for their compulsive need to control. Over time they build up hierarchical groups of regimented clones centered around an unaccountable chief sponsor or guru, and his subordinates. And all this under the cover of "helping others".

These cult sponsors can become arrogant and intolerant in the extreme. I remember a leading member of the Vision cult telling me that he thought intolerance was a good thing. He meant it. He was attempting to justify himself cross-sharing some guy who had shared in a meeting that he was going through a difficult patch. This happened about 10 years ago. I really didn't want what this individual (whom some call the "Icon") had back then, and I want what he has even less now. I actually feel sorry for him. It is truly tragic that someone who came to AA looking for help, was subsequently mesmerized by a sick personality (David B), and ended up so frigid and narrow in outlook, and with all the outward sensitivity and emotional development of a dalek.

Over time some of these cult sponsors can even become abusers and violent bullies. These grossly puffed-up individuals are looked upon as infallible demi-gods in their home groups. Meanwhile, back in the real world, they are committing adultery, or beating up on their girlfriend in private. Or posting puerile insults and libellous lies on internet forums and social network sites. Or within AA they are threatening other AA members who dare to challenge them; or who have the temerity to obstruct their plans of increased empire. Others are prone to temper tantrums and fits of rage. I personally witnessed one of David B's temper tantrums after a group conscience didn't go his way. Read the aacultwatch site for further details of the behaviour of these criminal dry drunk little monsters.

It doesn't have to be that way. Ironically, and happily, my life has been so much better OUTSIDE the cult, and their shallow "I've never have a bad day" cult-speak. In fact I've come across much more balanced and naturally happy people within the mainstream of AA.

Today I try to accept life on life's terms. It really isn't such a big deal for me any more. I don't need to impress anyone. I am free, and I mean REALLY free. I simply stay sober by not picking up a drink one day at a time, I trust my Higher Powers, and I try to live life to the full. Life is not a never changing formula written on a prompt card to be followed rigidly. Life is a constantly changing process of growth, balance and wholeness. It has light and dark. Bright colours and shades of grey. Good and bad. Happy and sad. Heat waves and cold spells. High points and low ebbs. Frivolity and reflection. Good humoured laughter and sorrowful weeping. And much, much more besides !

Enjoy the journey of a free and sober life !

Love and Light to you ! T.S.

aacultwatch forum

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

Friday 3 December 2010

Potential candidates for our Cult: Where to Find

We have received complaints about the following groups from a number of sources over the last few months. As usual always happy to hear views for and against.

Apparently the “Design for Living” franchise is opening up another branch in Newbury, Berkshire. This group is using the Wimbledon Template so presumably it will carry the same disclaimer: “The Design for Living AA Group.co.uk has neither been approved or endorsed by and is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. or any AA Service entity of any country” – so the question is: is it or isn't it an AA group? We think not! Whatever the case no doubt the newcomer will be faced with a table load of home-grown wisdom (non-conference approved literature, CDs etc) together with plenty of suggestions to help them along their way to utter confusion.

Next we have received a series of complaints about a cluster of groups in the Ealing area that would seem to be associated with the Visions gang. These are based at Bayham Road and bear all the hallmarks of a cult group. Slogans, literature, prompt cards etc are produced in prodigious quantities (none of which are conference approved nor indeed is this fact indicated on the “packaging”). Apparently the “personality” running these meetings has taken the “Misery is Optional” slogan one step further; even Pain is Optional now. Someone had better alert the British Medical Association – their services will no longer be required! The “lynch pin” of the group also (so it is suggested) has a regular slot in Share magazine. The publication must be in bad shape indeed to accept submissions from such sources!

We have also been notified of two more meetings carrying the Primary Purpose message (as opposed to the AA message). One of these is based in Loughton Essex, the other in Hertford. We drew to the attention of one of the supporters of these groups the article on the Primary Purpose movement (both here and in the US) together with an analysis of AA recovery rates (about which the PP movement knows little but has much to say!), both of which are presented under the Links section of our website. We received our usual reply: a deafening silence! This is an honest enough response since actually there is NO answer to these devastating analyses of the cult.

Finally, and perhaps more seriously (given the content of an email attachment which we received - see below), we have through our researches discovered that the Hampton Wick (Friday meetings - previously Kingston Hill) group also have connections with the cult, and the following document was sent to us which is said to emanate from there. (Click here). Interestingly precisely the same set of “suggestions” cropped up about three years ago in association with a cult group in North London. Put simply it is a “voyeur's charter” (and with paedophiliac tendencies). Hardly a coincidence!

Over to you

Cheers

The Fellas