Multi-culturalism grows outside AA meeting doors but inside, we are trending in a more exclusive direction. This is all a touchy subject for the defenders of the “perfect program,” and they seem to miss the irony of attacking the “flawed” statistics. That makes sense. So I do not have to test it! One of the things I admire about your writing is the focus on Big Picture trends and themes. Our AA Patrols are trained mechanics, and they fix 8 out of 10 cars at the roadside. Correlation is not causation, of course, but such correlations cannot be ruled out until arguments, and evidence show otherwise. However, improving racial diversity is not one of those things. Female members in the 2014 survey are now 38% of AA. Several comments state things which seem angry and condescending – the very things that upset them about AA. Individual and Group Membership . I’ve chirped away, at various times, about what I see as the systemic demise of the fellowship but my voice echoes in the canyons of indifference that most AA meetings have become. Entering the “spirit world” fouled what was a simple, sincerely intended experiment that was proving remarkably effective in helping suffering alcoholics. January of 2015, we counted 5% fewer members in our ranks. There is lots of room for BOTH. Attendance at a recovery centre with strict follow up and monitoring combined with a recovery group has proven to be the most effective in general of all recovery strategies (other than lifetime hospitalisation). Every addict in the country knows about AA now. Thanks. AAs were 12.3 years older than that: 50 years old. The first because it was strongly suggested. Step 1 - 3. How do we determine how many members we have? According to people who work in human-rights/human-resources, yes there is. We’ve never relived that past glory. In 1983 the average Yank was 30.9 years old and AAs were 10 years older. I believe people accepted a lot of shit from AA in the past because of a desperation that does not exist today. The second, to make certain the bat-shit crazy things I heard in the first one, wasn’t, in actual fact, a reality show prank. SMH. (My home group meets in an upstairs room at a small church with no elevator. Let’s isolate the last one: In 1983 our average age was 41 and today it’s 50. It’s about as scientific as People Magazine. But WHATEVER we do, let’s make SURE that we don’t change anything!!!! With nearly 30 years of sobriety I would not fit in very easily with any survey or be accessible for an AA survey. I’d hate to be a company president presenting those numbers to the board. Oh, she would come back for her anniversary once a year to celebrate sobriety. GSO or the Board or Conference can’t tell, e.g. Next America notes that 15% of marriages are mixed race and this ought to lead to a predominance of mixed-race. Honesty and Tolerance has grown, and continues to grow. hee-hee!) I think that it helps to focus more on the human connection than the spiritual connection. I hope I can find my voice some day, for the sake of the newcomer — and myself. Mark, Looking at data, I am pulled by my biases and my inclination towards confirming my preconceived views. But the numerical data suggests that we are overlooking something. Both are true. I find my higher power in my fellow recovering alcoholics IN PERSON. Upgrade your AA Membership to a package with even more benefits. We put up no resistance when told we’re “defective” folks who have a tendency to repeatedly come up short (shortcomings). But is that true? I agree that the religious fervor promoted in many AA meetings is seriously harming our fellowship. And I suspect many do not consider AA when GOD is presented as a must for sobriety. I would hope those organising such events were not so boneheaded as to ignore those members, but each group is autonomous and has the freedom to be imperfect. Each year our fellowship estimates our total number of members and groups. Sober since 1976, Joe authored the first secular daily reflection book for addicts and alcoholics, Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life and hosts a 21st century look at 12-Step life, Rebellion Dogs Radio. I would have RUN AWAY when I was newcomer. In AA it is manifested in the “Back to Basics” movement which I view personally as the most destructive challenge AA has faced since the beginning squabbles. That’s why AA Membership covers you and not your car. Apropos, Jim’s story in the Big Book: This physician, one of the earliest members of AA’s first black group, tells how freedom came as he worked among his people.’ Maybe Jim’s pic should be up there at GSO with Bill and Bob. Around three years she was recommended to attend a young people’s meeting and that got her active again for another year or so. There are grumpy oldtimers everywhere, but I believe they are rather rare. Let’s look at AA membership data. There is little in this program for all those of us who need to get our egos boosted, who have suffered abuse and gotten the crap beat out of our personalities. there could be 8 steps or 14 steps… this is not the vital force that cures me – mere words. Now what about AA’s population as a whole? I read Bill’s Story and I read some of the stories at the back of the book. My confusion arises from these 2 main thoughts: (1) AA literature, particularly the Big Book, clearly states that “we” have no monopoly on recovery. I was really surprised to see the racial divide so great. And the droning on about their personal (male) saviour is further alienating. But read on and that crack that doubters could squeeze themselves through eventually gets sealed, and God entirely supplants the “Higher Power concession”. AA as a whole may be following a cycle that has more to do with human nature or social convention than anything right or wrong we are doing in terms of stewardship.