Live from the AA International: Observations

Me and My 70,000 Closest Friends!

This year’s International is in no way a disappointment! Being a part of the 3rd largest convention in the world and such a huge historical part of AA is humbling. Its something I believe all AA’s should attend if at all possible.

Personally it was tough leaving home this year; business, family and all kinds of other excuses. Getting into the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center to register pulled me into the spirit! Being amongst tens of thousands of fellow drunks is just what the doctor ordered.

One thing that I’m happy to hear is the statement before every meeting about not taking pictures and not posting them on “unrestricted social media sites.” Unfortunately, most people over 50 don’t understand what that means, even if they are active on Facebook or other sites.

In AA, we face an anonymity crisis with the advent of social media and the formation of AA groups on Facebook, etc. Being able to visit a Facebook AA group and see the full name, picture, and often times employer, family members and other details of a persons life. Its just good to see that being addressed. Hopefully it begins to sink in.

Today I attended the 9am meeting to hear Clancy, Peg M. and Sonja B. It was a great meeting. I’ve heard Clancy I. speak many times live and on CD/Tape. He has a gift when it comes to story telling, but never is he as poignant as he seems to be at major events. International Conventions and his Christmas Eve talks seem to get my attention and help me align my priorities.

A visit to SOBER CITY was a treat. Some friends call it “drunk junk” to which I somewhat agree, but at International Conventions, there’s a big area set up outside of the convention center with all the vendors. There’s funny shirts, and knick knacks of all kinds. My favorite new one was the “RESENTMINTS”: just a plain old tin of mints with the funny name. At $6 and $10 a pop, I wasn’t excited enough to fork over the cash today, but I might tomorrow. I did pick up the traditional T-Shirt (tie died of course) and coffee mug. My originality is enough to choke a horse.

The next meeting I went to was on newsletters and bulletins. My concern in AA is that members have irrational fears about the use of internet and social media. As a fellowship, my feeling is that we need to remain relevant to the norms of society. In society, the printed word is loosing its place. The subject was addressed slightly. Fears about anonymity are well founded, but solving one problem by avoiding a solution doesn’t seem to be the best idea. That would be like me not dating because I’m afraid of getting an STD. It could happen, but there are other ways to solve the problem. Its absolutely possible to remain 100% anonymous online.

My last stop before the big meeting was the meeting on Intergroups. When I needed help, I called an intergroup office. They took my call and helped me get to AA. The fellowship in our area seems to have lost its interest in the front line of 12th Step work and has let the Central Office do its own thing. I was interested in hearing if that is fellowship wide.

The Old Timers meeting was phenomenal. It seems that GSO isn’t listening to the fellowship in how they handle the Old Timers meeting. A guy with 63 years had the most time sober, and despite the fact that the entire stadium seemed to be chanting for them to let him share, they (the GSO manager) did it their way. Most of the people sharing had between 40-45 years sober…..which is a LONG TIME, but there were several people with 50+ years. Why not hear them?

It was nice that the big meeting ended in the “Serenity Prayer” instead of reciting Matthew 6:9 from the Christian Bible. That seems to be a big debate in AA. I’m not sure how. AA Preamble and Tradition say’s that AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. If we said the Pledge of Allegiance, it would seem to any reasonable and honest person that we were allied with the United States, why then does such a profoundly Christian prayer not at least give the impression that we’re a Christian organization.

Funny thing is that this matter has been of serious concern of the service structure and GSO for years, but the fellowship seems very resistant to change.

After all the festivities, the walk back to the convention center was great. Walking a mile or so with so many pumped up sober drunks was a blast. We had a great dinner on the Riverwalk then headed over to what we heard was a great time at the Westin. There was an ICYPAA hospitality room / rave party that was going on there. It was a zoo.

Yesterday’s young peoples meeting the chairperson said something like ” If anyone says that ICYPAA isn’t ‘AA’, THAT’S NOT TRUE!” Let me tell you folks, what I witnessed at the Westin WAS NOT AA! I really was embarrased for AA. It was a mob: people were walking around with no shirts, sitting on tables, pushing through the crowd. It was crazy. It wasn’t sober behavior. It wasn’t close.

The interesting thing about the Traditions, is that they state that each group (or entity) within AA is autonomous, except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole. Point one: Autonomous should NEVER be mistaken for Anarchy. Autonomy means self-GOVERNING! Point two: what I witnessed would definately adversely affect AA. Any non-member that may have witnessed that party wouldn’t view AA favorably. It was self-will run riot. In defense: when I was young, that atmosphere was attractive to me. AA can’t be all things to all people. Hopefully all the other young people groups and conferences understand that and just go elsewhere if they want the club atmosphere, or try harder to keep their attendees in line with better standards.

So my message to the folks at ICYPAA, in particularly those responsible for the event here: If you want to be considered “AA” then ACT LIKE IT! (the DJ was great though!)

So today was really a full event. The thing that kills me about the International Convention is that you can’t do it all. Its just not possible. They’ll have 25+ meetings at a time and you just have to pick one. PLUS they don’t exactly have a lunch break, so to just mingle, look at archives, eat and explore, you have to miss some of the other meetings too. Its just overwhelming.

Tomorrow is the end of the convention and we’ll get to do the tourist thing in San Antonio before our trip home monday. One big meeting at the Alamo Dome. No doubt it will be a great event. Despite my opinions and critique, I’m deeply grateful to the General Service Office, Trustees, Delegates, and to the City of San Antonio for everything that was done to pull of this “GREAT EVENT”. It’s not easy.

2015 in Atlanta, watch out. I’m there!