Can u be banned from a AA Club/meeting

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Permalink Reply by Rory Fischer on January 3, 2010 at 10:47pm

the big book states you can never be thrown out of A.A.YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A MEETING PLACE AND PAY RENT AND a person is disruptive, or violent,they may be escorted out of the meeting and can go to other meeting or come back to this one IF THEY DON;T CAUSE ANY TROUBLE in general terms thats it but in some cases of violence its a different approach.We are sick people and when our sickness is in action, we must protect ourselves and others, when bodily harm is threatened, it take serious action and the law inforcement should take over because,we are not policemen.WE are not enablers,sometimes the nature of the addict is to help a friend or someone, who needs a place to stay or cash..MY SPONSOR SAYS NO NO NO,YOU DO NOT HELP ANOTHER FELLOW ADDICT,with money, maybe some food maybe a coat, but thats it...we are or should be self supporting...

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Permalink Reply by Bill LeBo on January 30, 2010 at 10:26pm

Pretty self explanatory. While no AA group or member can speak for AA as a whole, I think it is in the best interest of everyone that this individual not be allowed at this club. It is also "the right of every group to be wrong"......that was written by our founder in AA Comes of Age. That statement in itself is enough to give any AA group the authority to do exactly as it chooses, right, wrong, or indifferently; But common sense is all that is needed here. In a civil society, no individual has the right to threaten harm against another. An AA meeting is supposed to be a safe haven for those who are willing, and working at, getting better. It is obvious (if what you say is true) that this gentleman is creating an unsafe environment, and does not seem to be willing to provide the same courtesy and respect that he requires of others. Man, I could go on all day. Bottom line is, the guy should be out on his ass. Good luck with this. Exclusion for any reason, is never an easy decision.

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Permalink Reply by Dale Nally on May 6, 2010 at 10:41pm

I have a question sort of related to this topic, and would like some experience and guidance from anyone who
cares to share it.

Earlier this week a member of my home group shared at the group level that he has just had sex with a 14 year old, and was planning on going back to do it again next week. As anyone can imagine, it was an incredibly "toxic" share.....and the rest of the meeting was pretty disturbing.

I found out tonight that another member of the group called the police and reported the members name and phone #, and he has been contacted by the police and is currently under investigation.

:My home group and entire clubhouse is now in an uproar, some claiming that there has been a breech of a members anonymity that must be addressed imediately, and others coming down on the side of a legal and moral responsibility to protect an innocent victim from a planned criminal act. I have to admit, I can see both sides of the argument equally, and honestly don't know what the accepted wisdom of AA is on this
matter. I would like any advice, guidance or history to help guide the group in a group conscious meeting
to help us come to a spiritual solution regarding standards of sharing at meeting, and the principle of anonymity as it applies to criminal behavior.

thanks to anyone who can help,

Dale N
dalenally@hotmail.com

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Permalink Reply by Cameron F. on May 6, 2010 at 11:44pm

Lesson: Don't do Step 5 at meetings! There is no confidentiality at the meeting level. Meetings are incestuous by nature. Everyone knows who's F#@King whom and who's relapsing and who did what to whom, etc.

Our Big Book states on page 74: "We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world. Rightly and naturally, we think well before we choose the person or persons with whom to take this intimate and confidential step. Those of us belonging to a religious denomination which requires confession must, and of course, will want to go to the properly appointed authority whose duty it is to receive it." I believe we can make some inferences from this last sentence about properly appointed authorities: medical issues - take it to your doctor; emotional issues - take it to a professional therapist; criminal matters - take it to a lawyer; moral issues - take it to your priest or sponsor. Also on page 74 it says: "We say this because we are very anxious that we talk to the right person. It is important that he be able to keep a confidence; that he fully understand and approve what we are driving at; that he will not try to change our plan."

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Permalink Reply by Alana on June 7, 2010 at 10:16am

If you want something very personal to you, to be broadcast all over the place, just share it at a 12 Step meeting, or in front of any other group of people!.

This guy is nuts to talk about a matter that is archaically perceived as a "crime", in ANY group of people (even though most 14 year olds have all had sex in the year 2010).

Imagine, "Hi I am Alana and I am an alcoholic. I want the group to all know that last week I burglarized a neighbors house, and this week I am doing another house!"

OMG how s-t-u-p-i-d!

I would recommend to this guy that next time, he be more discreet and maybe post this instead on craigslist.org instead, along with his address, cell and tel #'s LMAO!

This is absolute proof that drugs and alcohol DO cause brain damage. What an idiot!


Alcohol Rehab @ RecoveryGraphics
Share Ur Recovery at MySobrietySpace.com

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Permalink Reply by Cameron F. on May 6, 2010 at 11:58pm

At our club, we had two members over the past 3 years who were violent, rude and disruptive. Our group numbers dwindled until attendance was just a two members and the offending individuals. We tolerated this for only a short period of time. Our group members decided that Tradition One: The common welfare of the group must come first, and we asked the club not to permit these individuals on the premises until their behavior improved. Since then our numbers have grown back to our normal attendance numbers. The two individuals continue to attend our meetings and their behavior has been very disruptive in those groups also.

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Permalink Reply by Cameron F. on May 8, 2010 at 12:28am

Correction: I meant to say, that the two individuals in question, continue to attend OTHER meetings (they nor longer attend ours) and their behavior has been reported to be very disruptive in those meetings. Kudos to Bill Wilson for having the foresight of the 12 Traditions as our recipe for Group Unity.

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Permalink Reply by Alana on June 7, 2010 at 9:12am

Lets just say that any bar would call the cops and have him evicted. So does AA. Maybe some guys need to kick his ass a little also.

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Permalink Reply by Garden Gal on June 8, 2010 at 2:40pm

Yes, you can be banned from an AA meeting. You can also be asked to leave if not talking about alcoholism, either leave or stop talking. Sometimes a drunk enters the room and if he doesn't shut up or becomes unruley, it's out the door. It's up to the leader of the meeting to keep things under control. Sometimes the cops are called and sometimes a vote is taken. I've witnessed many such happenings.

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