Members Opinion — There was a time when AA events were affordable…

There was a time when AA events were affordable. Now, they no longer are.

WHY? 

Because Committees are playing the Directors and setting the stages for those who can afford to attend and picking locations that  are too expensive and that only allow a limited number of people to attend.

There was a time when we all booked and shared our own accommodations, we carpooled, we billeted with members in the area of the events, we shared eskies of food with the ones struggling to cover costs, we could afford to cover their registrations within our Home Groups, or we paid for it at the door without them knowing…because we could afford to do that.

Events were held in church halls, school auditoriums, PCYC’s, any room big enough to hold a hundred members upwards…these limited numbers of events now exclude a whole pool of members.

For those on low incomes, AND those who have mortgages and high rents, those making financial restitutions, those who cannot get to places like The Royal National Park by train etc and those on disability pensions, they all miss out……. it excludes them completely.

The AA events held now ALL seem to have followed suit with a $200—$300 price tag.

For a couple, the registration, plus petrol, works out to be close to a mortgage payment or a week’s rent. 

I personally know many couples in AA now who simply cannot afford to go to events together any more.

Add attendance to the varied events like ANZAA, FOTS, The Men’s Weekend and The Sydney Roundup and you have over $1,ooo in registrations alone for ONE member to attend 2 AA events outside their Home Group.

Though each Host Committee has their own autonomy, please consider cheaper venues, consider going back to allowing members to organise their own accommodations/billets and food, so that more people can enjoy attending these events instead of just those with more disposable income.

Is it ok to justify the costs of each one by saying “JUST SAVE UP”? Sadly this does not work within the low socio economic members. Cars, fridges and washing machines break, pets need vets, kids need school fees and excursions, people need to pay for doctors and health care fees. There are ALWAYS unexpected costs and the list is endless, these matters alone make it hard to “Just save up”.

ALL these kind of AA events need to be thoroughly reconsidered in regards to costs, locations and exclusiveness ….ANY location that limits numbers of alcoholics who can attend to under 100, is excluding members and it is making AA into a three tier fellowship…Those with money, those struggling to save any money and those who simply cannot afford to go whether they are newcomers or aged pensioners/retirees.

Sadly, once again- same as last year…the majority of members of my own Home Group will not be attending any of these events this year because they simply cannot afford the registrations of any of them. 

There was a time (pre Covid) when we went to them all as a group…it was part of our group’s unity and everyone loved it.

Thank you for your time reading this…I hope that something can be done to resolve this problem.

AA Member, NSW South Coast