I was a member of VAC from November 2021 until June 2022. Having only one year of sobriety when I joined, the facility provided me all that I needed from meeting to the fellowship in the rooms. Up until early April 2022 I had no issues. A fellow member with over 30 years of sobriety was the chairperson of the Wednesday 5:30PM Mens Happy Hour meeting. Approximately 45 minutes prior to the start of the 5:30 meeting, a lady named Governor Lynn McMinn approached this individual and informed him that his service commitment had expired and that another member of the club was to start chairing effective immediately. The man was blown away. He rarely attends meetings at VAC. Since I filled in a few times as chairperson at that meeting I was asked to attend a meeting with the Governor. Yes, you are reading that correctly. Please see Traditional 2:
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority--a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
Lynn governs the facility and does not comply with being a trusted servant. The meeting took place and I was asked if I felt that the removal of the chairperson was handled properly. I said that since he had been chairing the meeting for over 2 years that it made sense that a change was due however I felt that the manner it was held 45 minutes before the start of the meeting was not professional. I found out the reason for the quick change was that she had already notified someone else that he was to begin chairing immediately. Very poor planning by the Governor.
After that, I decided to do some homework. I received a copy of the bylaws and found that various policies and procedures were not being followed. There were two chairpersons at another meeting that I attended that had been chairing for 15 and 18 years respectively. The bylaws state 6 months max.
Shortly thereafter, I asked the Secretary of the Happy Hour meeting when the last as well as the next group business meeting was to take place. The Secretary Flora and Governor Lynn were side by side and said "I don't know". I informed both that the meetings souls be held quarterly per the bylaws. They were shocked that I had a copy as neither one had ever seen them. At the next Happy Hour meeting, it was announced that a quarterly business meeting would be held on June 1, 2022.
A few other issues similar to what I have stated above which I questioned which Lynn and her gang hated.
One day in June I walk into a meeting room intending to go to the Happy Hour meeting.
Therefore, I enter the room and was informed by one of Governor Lynn's gang members that I was not welcome to attend the meeting. I said nothing and walked through to the courtyard, came back in room and took a seat. People were arriving and the room was nearly full, about 40 people. Governor Lynn stands up and says to me, you are not welcome at this meeting and further says no one in the group wants you here. I looked towards the group and they were shocked. Governor Lynn goes onto say that if I don't leave, she will call Phoenix PD. I told her, go ahead. 20 minutes later PD showed up and spoke to Lynn and the chairperson for a few minutes. Then the PD entered the room and walked to my chair. They informed me that I was trespassing and if I didn't vacate the property I would be changed with trespassing. I immediately left and have never been back. There is absolutely no anonymity at Alano so be careful what you say and who you say it to. read more