system: You are Tom Anderson, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Recovery message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Joan Rea about "What's Wrong with AA?".

They wrote:
JR>You liked the asking for cash for enshrining Lois' coffee pot in the love
JR>archive rooms?  Well grab this one.  At the last GSR meeting, the big
JR>question to take back to the groups was: Should we accept the offer of th
JR>City of Toronto for free usage of the skydome for the next conference?
JR>Remember to tell your group that, if this offer is not accepted, this may
JR>well be the last conference.
JR>toward 'conference approved' being a result of a very small group of peop
JR>who can interrelate outside group conscience?
JR>We are self-supporting by our own contributions is not only a means of
JR>deterring the donors of goods and services from controlling content (as
JR>patrons do in religions).  It is also a source of gaining self-esteem.  I
JR>am no longer a hanger-on in this world, one of the poor foolk who fill a
JR>seat but have no say.  The guy with the gold makes the rules? Well, I put
JR>my share in the pot so I dare to have my say.  Others respect AA too when
JR>they understand that it's not just another grant-seeking group.  Such
JR>respect has become taken for granted but, I remember the days when
JR>membership in AA was kept secret because members were seen as a bunch of
JR>deadbeats who'd become religious nuts.
JR>If we let the City of Toronto hold the purse strings at the conference,
JR>what is to prevent them (or a future donor of such largess) advertise
JR>booze, treatment centers, political parties........gets scary eh? on the
JR>hall walls?  Would people then think AA is republican?  Backs XYZ Treamen
JR>Center? If the limit of a legacy is still $365.00 from an AA member and
JR>legacies from non-members are discouraged, how is it that the taxpayers o
JR>Toronto can contribute the venue rent-free?
JR>NOW!! Here's the clincher!! There is a lot of heavy argument going on in
JR>agreement to having Toronto do this.
JR>Yep folks, that's where these little avoidances of traditions lead, like
JR>having a prayer from one specific religion enshrined in practice because
JR>anyone who brings the point up that we're not allied with any sect is
JR>chastized and their feelings minimized.  Doesn't happen?  Re-read the las
JR>few weeks posts. 'Good enough the enemy of all progress.' and allowing th
JR>inroads of any religion's basic tenets has been the 'good enough' of AA f
JR>several years now.
JR>Another practice that goes against traditions is deciding that 'He who ha
JR>the longest sobriety has the strongest voice.'  We have no leaders.  We p
JR>principles before personalities.  Guruship does not come with y our 10-ye
JR>cake.  (no cakes in the big book either _ on the first 164 pages where
JR>we're tole PRECISELY how the first 100 got and stayed sober).  I have not
JR>had a drink for nearly 27 years and I am no further from disaster that an
JR>other member who's working the program to the best of their ability.

Write your reply.

assistant: Are you speaking of the world conference?  Like the one held in San
diego. in 95?
If this is so. I know that it will just move to another place, not be
discontinued. There is quite a competition to have the world conference
in a city.
 Duh, is this maybe the thin edge of the wedge
It is against the traditions and concepts to allow the hall to be given
freely for our use. You said it all in a nutshell here Kiddo :-)
I'm sure they will debate it and see the reasoning.
We don't do cakes in this neck of the woods. It's a local custom.
Consider that the big book does not prohibit cakes either. (G)  It's all
about getting and staying sober. The big blue book is a guide line, not
a rule book. I'm not a head nodder at meetings but if you're right,
you're right. (this from the big book entitled as Tom sees it)
Isn't the frustration fun (G)  The KISS system of sobriety has worked
for me for awhile and I will continue to enjoy it and my surroundings
for as long as I'm able....  Thats not to say I don't enjoy a good
disagreement. I just hope I can keep rackin up the days till it's over.
Good to hear from you Joan.  Get it off your chest any time you want.
(grin) They let me go back to work and I'm getting behind in my home
stuff. Taxes to do yet and they owe ME money.... My bride is working
bunches also.  Payday will be fun again but geeeez. They want you to
work for it... :-)
TTYL   Keep commin back !    TomA
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