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 Area:    RECOVERY
 Date:    04 Jul 95  06:15:29  Public
 From:    Rich Ward
 To:      Tim Dill
 Subject: Something I am Working on
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On (03 Jul 95) Tim Dill wrote to All...
 TD> This is an open letter that I am working on..
 TD> It's to the members and meetings at large at my Club...
 TD> I would like some info...and feed back ;-)
 TD> Point,  I have noticed there has been, I feel, is a dangerous dependency
 TD> on the part of meetings on the Club as a whole to provide services most
 TD> groups outside of Clubs do for themselves; Ie; Clean up, Coffee making,
My experience with clubs (12 step oriented) was in the days when there was
just AA meetings held at them.  AlAnon and NA were entirely separate entities
and found there own meeting spaces.  BTW! I'm talking about the late 70s and
early to mid 80s in NYC.
CLEANING UP - was up to the individual, her/his cup and ash tray (if a 
moker)
was taken care of by her/him or those 12 stepping her/him if the person was 
n
active alcoholic.  Each meeting paid it's OWN rent a set fee (set by the 
lub)
and if those attending didn't support the meeting it would cease to exist /
meet.
COFFEE MAKING - depending on the facilities available the coffee would be:
a) made by the club and shared with each meeting and paid for by a percentage
from each meeting's donations for that day OVER and above the rent paid.
b) made by each group from it's own donations.
 TD> Recruiting
 TD> group Secretaries, Holding the keys for Several meeting's lockers. This 

GROUP secretaries where ELECTED by the individual GROUP and if the no one
wanted the 'job' some 'control' person would take over until the group voted
a secretary in or it disbanded.  ;-)
THE club house always kept a key to each meetings/groups individual cabinet
in the club store room.
 TD> feel is a direct violation of traditions 4 and 7 concerning autonomy and
 TD> being self supporting. I need not remind everyone here that there
The only interference with autonomy, that I see, is the recruiting of
group secretaries.  If each group pays it's rent and pay proportionately
for it's coffee (made by the club or themselves) then it seems to cover
the self supporting.
 TD> was a reason for the Traditions being written by Bill W. it was to
 TD> protect the group from being torn asunder by personalities and to
It is my understanding that the traditions were/are a compilation of actions
taken by members acting as a group ... the results of which were detrimental
to say the least.  ;-)  Over the years we have discovered many other actions
that we know we better NOT do for the sake of the group.  Of course we (AA as
a whole) haven't found it necessary to put it/them in to the written
traditions.  However, in my not so humble opinion we constantly pass on
things in unwritten tradition(s) and those things change from time to time,
given the nature of the 'beasts' we are.
 TD> ensure that under all circumstances the group could dispense with
 TD> the services of the Clubs.
In my experience there have been (and probably still are) many times
when AA would not have existed in certain areas without the service of
clubs of some sort.
 TD> I see the meetings here at the Club failing that simple Guideline.
 TD> So in failing to follow those suggestions, I feel NONE of the
 TD> meetings here qualify as groups.
I think that the only current requirements to be listed are that the meeting 

group follow the program of AA as cited in the BB and admit ALL alcoholics to
their meetings.  Rather as simple as the ONLY requirement for membership is
the DESIRE to stop drinking.
 TD> Point,  In the case of the Rules of the Club, I have seen on more than 
one
In the case of ANY club house the group whose member to not agree with it's
(the club) rules are free to move their group.  Or as individual members
leave the GROUP or become a member of the BOARD and change the CLUB rules.
I can tell you that the SERENITY PRAY does and has played a big part in
my sober experiences.
 TD> I feel it's time that we begin to look at our Club once again as a
Is this "open letter" more appropriatley read at a club meeting rather
then at AA meetings at the club house?
 TD> Remember we were once like that ourselves.
You'd never suspect that when listening to some of 'them"!    ;-)
... Aw!, who let the humans in?
... Another triumph for truth, justice, and automatic weapons!
--- PPoint 1.92
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