Traditions question - Uncomfortable Meeting today

[Krissy2007]

I go to an early morning meeting regularly (I try to get there a couple times a week). The meeting meets every weekday. It is a pretty regular group - you know who you will see by going there as there are several group members who go every day, several who go three times a week, etc. It is not my home group, but I feel very close to a lot of the people there.

It is a little more laid back than other meetings. They sometimes crosstalk, there is often a lot of laughing, and people share more than once usually (it is a small meeting). They also read from the 24 hours a day book (non conference approved). Some members of my home group have been turned off by this meeting because it isn't as traditional. The people in my home group are a bit more rigid - have a very "this is life and death" view and are VERY by the book (so much so that when we were discussing buying a rack for literature, I was told we were only allowed to buy it from the AA World Service place - no other would be allowed in the room.)

Personally, I understand the need for traditions. Having said that, I am very middle of the road. I attend these two very different meetings and get useful things from both of them. I am still very new (1 1/2 years sober and attending AA faithfully the whole time), and I know there is a lot I don't know or understand. So, I am trying it all.

Today, at the laid back meeting, a man was reading the preamble. He is a bit mentally unstable (dual diagnosed). He started inserting words into it (like, "AA is a socialist fellowship of....". It really took me by surprise. A woman who I really respect who has been sober like 42 years interrupted him and told him not to do that. She was really upset.

He finished reading and left (he muttered something about the first tradition on his way out).

The meeting ended up being people sharing about their feelings. A few men thought we should treat him with love and acceptance and try and guide him more softly than the woman did. I felt like the woman was right - he was bastardizing the words of the program - that have been useful for so many years for so many people.

I guess to me, it was TOO far. We ended up having a really good meeting discussing the traditions and will have a group conscious soon.

I am interested how other meetings would have handled something like that.

[Tommyh]

Krissy,at my home group the meeting chair reads the preamble.Our chair people have to be at least 6 months sober to chair.
I believe my group would have responded according to their beliefs - if they thought he was doing it on purpose or just could not help himself because of his mental condition.
If he was doing it on purpose,the old timer probably did right.

End result is we probably would talk with him after the meeting and possibly suggest he listen for a while.Seems like your group took it and something good came from it after all.

[CarolD]

Had I been the chair.....
when he finished messing it up.....I would have said

"Thanks for your interpretation of the reading
now....I'll read the AA version"

I love early bird meetings.....starting my day with one
before work made my day smoother....

In this specific situation.....as it was not my home group
I would have not shared on how they are going to
address the situation.

Good to see you here again....

[tommyk]

Tough call, hard to say how I'd react in the moment... but...

.. I've heard some hilarious mis-readings of the readings, and I try as hard as I can not to bust out laughing, because I know the person reading will be embarrassed.

So I concentrate really hard on thanking God that I CAN read correctly.

[Cathy31]

I think I would've dealt with it similarly - but more importantly - you sound like YOU are on the right track! That is super, well done and continue doing what you're doing...discussing the issue, having a group conscience, all good things! Well done on your sobriety!
Cathy31
x

[shaun00]

lol.....sounds like fun..lol.

carols solution was the best imo.......let it ride then correct it.

Ive seen some strange things go on in meetings.........like the two vagrants that came in a local group some years ago..and sat at the back drunk and giggling.

when the pot got to the back........they promptly ran up the road with it never to be seen again......lol.

Not that long ago i would have bit your guys head of for messing with the preamble......until it was suggested to me to think for 5 minutes before i open my mouth.....