CLOSED!!Political Discussion - A Place to &quot;duke it out&quot; (7400+)

Top 904. Jul 28, 2003 2:00 PM

» SteveT - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Meet the New Sheriff, Same as the Old Sherif

In response to message posted by La_la:

People give what they can.

Unless they are Berkshire shareholders. smile

-- posted by SteveT

Top 905. Jul 28, 2003 2:22 PM

» litab16 - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Meet the New Sheriff, Same as the Old Sherif

In response to message posted by Kirk:

AA will not take government funding nor will they allow any member to donate more than $50 at a time yet they are by far the most effective organization on the planet for accomplishing their goals.

Not quite AA does allow up to $2,000 in donations per member.

Another large source of its funding are its books and other media sold. Over 1 million of its handbooks are sold each year either at $5 (hardcover) or $4.60 (softcover). That is just one of its many successful publications.

-- posted by litab16

Top 906. Jul 28, 2003 2:39 PM

» Kirk - Re: Efficiently Helping Folks

In response to message posted by litab16:

I said "$50 at a time"... which most that actively support do by donating to local chapters at a weekly meeting. My guess is the average is a buck or two to cover rent and food. It seems they have widened the rules or it might vary by county, county or state level but the case I was trying to make is AA is FULLY self funded and staffed. AA answers to nobody but their higher power and the group it serves. There is not liberal working for the Government getting paid to make sure AA has the proper ethnic mix of speakers or buys their cookies and coffee from supliers that have drug testing and wheelchair access. AA works and it is extremely efficient in terms of money spent.

-- posted by Kirk

Top 907. Jul 28, 2003 2:57 PM

» litab16 - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Meet the New Sheriff, Same as the Ol

In response to message posted by Kirk:

I don't know what the current Bush Administration is doing, but AA has worked closely with federal treatment programs in the past:

"Two Millionth copy of Big Book presented to Joseph A. Califano - 1979.

"I am asking all of our federally supported treatment programs to seek out A.A. organizations in the areas they serve, and to work with them so that recovering alcoholics leaving our programs will be fully aware of the support A.A. stands ready to give. … I am directing that in the guidelines for federal grants supporting treatment programs and in the review process that determines the award of these grants, the supporting role of Alcoholics Anonymous be recognized and specific cooperative arrangements be spelled out. (Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph A. Califano, during June 6, 1979, visit to the A.A. General Service Board in New York, where he accepted the two-millionth copy of Alcoholics Anonymous, the A.A. "Big Book" which was presented by Lois Wilson, the widow of Bill Wilson, the cofounder of A.A.)

Source: The Alcoholism Report, June 8, 1979.

-- posted by litab16

Top 908. Jul 28, 2003 3:09 PM

» Kirk - Re: AA gets ZERO Federal, State Gov. Money

In response to message posted by litab16:

Lita. I've worked with a county hospital with a treatment facility for drugs and alcohol addiction as a volunteer. All this means is the programs invite AA in to speak and make the patients aware of their programs, AA members offer to mentor (Sponsor) patients seeking recovery and they tell patients to join AA if they want a better chance to stay clean and sober. AA gets no funding to do this and does it more as a form of "service" to maintain their own sobriety.

-- posted by Kirk

Top 909. Jul 28, 2003 3:11 PM

» litab16 - Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Meet the New Sheriff, Same a

In response to message posted by Kirk:

In Georgia, AA is offered free meeting space for outpatients and other support as well. It probably differs by state. Most of the AA groups meet here without having to pay for space either in state health facilities, at churches or synagogues or sometimes even in office space that has been donated. I'm not aware of any group charged for its space.

I too have worked as a volunteer with another mental health support group. None of them have direct federal or state support, but do get a lot of support with in-kind assistance. Many of the national mental health organizations get grants regularly for the development of various programs or publications. I'd be surprised to learn that AA has never gotten federal grant money to develop either its national program or its publications and media packages.

-- posted by litab16

Top 910. Jul 28, 2003 7:25 PM

» Fred2000 - Re: Meet the New Sheriff, Same as the Old Sheriff

In response to message posted by La_la:

"People give what they can."

La_la... Can you substantiate that statement? I don't think people give what they can. I believe they give less than they can.

-- posted by Fred2000

Top 911. Jul 28, 2003 7:31 PM

» Kirk - Re: AA most successful organization ever.

In response to message posted by litab16:

I'd be surprised to learn that AA has never gotten federal grant money to develop either its national program or its publications and media packages.

AA is self supporting through their own contributions. Read "12 Steps and 12 Traditions" or tradition #7 here.

The only "paid" folks at AA are people that administer the office (paperwork, order books in bulk for meetings to sell to members at cost, etc.) All the "actual help" comes from volunteers.

As to getting outside support in the form of free meeting rooms: I look at it more like hospitals, churches and JAILS have a problem (substance abuse by members of their commuinities) and they are seeking help solving it. AA will gladly help and all they ask in return is a low rent or free place to have meetings to help those wanting help. Remember, AA is largly made up of long sober folks and they could easily meet in people's homes and keep it more social... nobody seeking help is comfortable going into a stranger's living room but they are more comfortable going to a church meeting room or a school room.

Can you imagine if schools were run that way? All a community would have to do is build a building then parents would support the educators who occupied the buildings to teach the kids? This is what voucher folks dream about, but it has far too many problems for me to endorse.

-- posted by Kirk

Top 912. Jul 28, 2003 7:32 PM

» Fred2000 - Re: Meet the New Sheriff, Same as the Old Sheriff

In response to message posted by Kirk:

"AA will not take government funding nor will they allow any member to donate more than $50 at a time yet they are by far the most effective organization on the planet for accomplishing their goals.

You want to guess why they are effective?"

Kirk... You have me there. I know very little about AA although I've heard that the alcoholic himself must decide to quit to be successful.

Yet we see people abuse alcohol every day. Even drive while they are under the influence. So the success of AA appears to be a relative thing. They are good at helping those who hit bottom and really want to quit but do little to solve the general problem. My hat's off to them but I'd hardly call it a complete program.

-- posted by Fred2000