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My AW belongs to a very large, strong AA group that has been meeting for about 20 years in a large auditorium at a local hospital. The group meets at 7-9pm on Friday nights. The meeting often attracts over a hundred people in large part because the parking is free at that time of night. However, the hospital is installing automated machines that will charge $4 per hour for parking. Some people may be asked to pay $8 - $12 to attend this meeting from now on. Numbers will surely drop at the meeting, people will surely suffer and discussion has already begun to find a new location for this very strong group.
Apparently the hospital management has already been approached for some kind of negotiable arrangement. Its response is that it is part of a large corporate health chain and the decision to charge for parkign 24 hours a day was made at corporate HQ in anothe state - and local management can't do anything about it.
I want to help the group because it almost seems unwilling to help itself in an advocacy sense due to the anonymity issue and the prohibition against courting public controversy. As I have a journalism background and I am not an alcoholic, I am considering writing a short news article for the local newspapers to try to pressure the hospital to waive the parking fee on Friday evenings. Is this the right thing to do? All advice gratefully received.
Hello Brad , perhaps u should ask the AA group if they want that kind of publicity . AA is anonymous so i doubt if they do . AA 's traditions also state that they remain anonymous at the level of press ,radio and tv . AA will find it's own space it probably isn't the first time this has happened nor will it be the last.
It is admirable that you want to propose a harmonious compromise for the better of both hospital and the AA meeting. That the group has benefitted for so long from its location and the patronage over all of the facility is wonderful. That all good things come to an end is unfortunate. It seems that the group is functioning in a detached, healthy way: it has approached the hospital management to see if there is a business negotiate that could be reached, and it can't. It is proposing amongst itself to see if members are willing to find a new location, with a facility that could possibly compromise, given the size of the group, the sum amount of savings the group have already, and the current time that the group meets. The hospital, already, will have an income from other facilities that it rents out, so the income it loses from the AA meeting will not be substantial. Lastly, your desire to involve yourself in the affaris of the group is unfair. Allow the group to work things out among themselves, in their own time. Perhaps you can be an advocate for a sister al anon meeting for this group at thier new location, wherever it may be founded.
Bradman, I totally understand your instinct to help in your skilled capacity as a journalist. What a match made in heaven, it seems! And yes, it seems like an unfair situation and perhaps it is on some levels. But that anonymity piece is the core and the tradition about no press is also core.
I just wanted you to know that I would think of the exact same thing if I were you!!! Trying to help! But the best way to be the most supportive and loving is to let them figure it out themselves. Alot of groups (aa and/or al anon/alateen) have to move these days, I know here where I live many churches are asking for groups to buy insurance, etc. But we are managing (as a district) and sometimes a change of location is a real gift- who knows maybe that group is too big in the eyes of HP and needs to break up into smaller more intimate groups to further share the love and reach out further on down the line somehow. Who knows but they need to sort if out themselves.
Welcome to the MIP family. I think it is wonderful that you want to help. However, I think the anonymity of the group is the most important thing. It can't be compromised in any way. My AH's home group was meeting a church that was sold so they had to find a new spot. They were able to find a new church that actually charged them less. Some meetings unfortunately end up going away because they are so small that can't sustain themseleves. But the larger ones usually have a way of making it through. Your sweet to be so concerned, but this is one case where detachment comes in handy.
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty <-- the cat
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