AA meeting “Sunrise On The Beach” has been asked to leave their meeting place of 15 years. The city was getting complaints from citizens about cigarette butts and the increasing size of over 25 people. I am sure the cussing in a tourist area along the Delray Beach did not go over very well either. We have the same problems at Sunrise Park in Holly Hill Florida, where just this past weekend the police were called on a ‘Sunrise Group’ AA member for harassing local citizens again. I am glad to see the City of Del Ray is concerned about complaints from the Del Ray citizens, and put an end to Del Ray AA meetings taking over the pavilion for years.
Thanks to www.theaachurch.com for this story! Check out their website!
Alcoholics Anonymous Group in Delray asked to Leave Meeting Place
November 25, 2012
But Delray Beach city officials want a group of people participating in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to move from their long-established place near the pavilion at the municipal beach on Atlantic Avenue and A1A.
Ron Brito, a member of the group, said police showed up at the meeting last week.
“They told us we no longer could do that,” Brito told the City Commission at a recent meeting. “We have no problems abiding by the rules. But our group has grown and this is a group that doesn’t have one leader.”
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experiences with sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for membership and the groups are self-supported through member contributions
Members often try to stay away from the limelight, endorse any causes or engage in controversy.
Brito told the City Commission he was there on his own accord but because the group has no leader, moving to another location was difficult because the members would have to be informed or vote on whether they would like to stay at the same location.
“I do believe it was in response to a complaint that there were cigarette butts being left in the pavilion,” said Delray Beach Police spokeswoman Nicole Guerriero. “No one was issued a citation. They were just made aware of the ordinance.”
City Attorney Brian Shutt said the city’s code says that no person shall use any portion of any park, recreation or municipal beach site for the purpose of assembling, where over 25 persons are involved without a permit.
Brito said that he personally would rather stay at the same spot and take out a permit if the group remains larger than 25.
“I rather adhere to the ordinance and if we need a permit then we need to apply for one,” Brito said. “Ideally we would get a blanket permit for the whole year.”
Brito said he fears that the permitting issue would come up again if they move, because after all, the suggested new site, Atlantic Dunes, is also a public park.
Assistant City Manager Bob Barcinski, whoever, said the group wouldn’t need a permit to meet at Atlantic Dunes Park.
“After some discussions it was agreed that a better location was to go to Atlantic Dunes. The advantage there is that there is parking and restrooms. This is not a wild, woolly bunch. It’s a quiet group.”
Another group member, Al Del Sasso, said he personally thinks it is better to keep the peace with the city and move to the offered location rather than having to apply for a permit every time they meet.
“It would be a laborious situation for an anonymous group to operate under those guidelines,” he said. “And we have to be sensitive to how tender the city is with regards to recovery housing.”
Del Sasso said the group decided Sunday to post someone at the old location to tell people of the group’s new spot.
“The idea of meeting on the beach is part of the flavor of the group, but it really doesn’t matter what part of the beach we’re on,” he said.
Meherrera@tribune.com or 561-243-6544
complete story- http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/delray-beach/fl-delray-aa-meeting-20121125,0,4116048.story
Also the Daytona Narcotics Anonymous meeting ‘The Third Tradition’ at Centennial Park in Holly Hill still is smoking at their meeting even after the no smoking rule has been in place since October 2012. Four months later and they still cannot follow Holly Hill rules or pay rent. What about their 7th tradition? What do they do with all the money they collect if it does not go to paying rent?
The Volusia County Intergroup meeting the Sunrise Group that meets at Sunrise Park in Holly Hill Florida continues to smoke at their meetings despite the fact of all the No SMOKING signs around them. They were smoking just this past weekend. How long is the City going to tolerate this AA meeting continuing to violate the NO SMOKING rules?
Hey guys. It is amazing how AA or any group takes the mindset that they have a right to disrupt any body else that may be around them. Having been a part of AA at one time in my life, I have seen it all to often. I can honestly say that I have never taken part of this type of behavior and have been criticized for “Not Being Loyal” to the group.
Citizens to have a right to enjoy their communities without the fear of being verbally or physically attacked by AA or any one else. There is defiantly something in the air concerning AA. It seems every time you turn around they are making the papers or the news.
Thanks for all your support and your efforts. I think your community is better off, having people like you involved with public affairs! Every Citizen Should Do This. God Bless!
HI Delivered. I agree there is something in the air about AA. It has actually become hard for us to keep up with all the stories. I think newspapers are starting to realize that their AA stories are getting a lot of interest! AA stories have been suppressed for so many years, it is about time they start reporting on them. Even as it stands, we are just scratching the surface. AA still has a huge stranglehold on the media. We are starting to see chinks in the armour though.
I am glad to hear you were not one of the AA members being dispruptive. I have really never seen behaviour that seems to be unique to so many AA and NA members at meetings and even websites. Similiar mindsets of entitlement and such lack of common courtesy.
Holly Hill is lucky to have had brave souls stand up to the status quo. There is so much apathy here and in this country. It just has not been right what AA and NA has been able to get away with at the expense of citizens in Holly Hill or on a National level.
We were thrilled to see the http://www.theaachurch.com website come online! Thanks and God Bless!
here is an artcle that also points to the problems we are having in Holly Hill Florida with Daytona Beach AA and Daytona Beach NA groups in our parks.
Emotions are still running high with Volusia County Intergroup allowing their smoking unruly bunch to mooch off of the city of Holly Hill and terrorize the citizens. AA or NA could care less.
http://nadaytona.org/2011/09/22/emotions-run-high-at-holly-hill-fl-meeting-discussing-naaa-park-meetings/
I agree. I too was a member for years and left. Im happy they told them to leave. They should not be out there on the beach in huge numbers. They think they are above the law in so many ways. http://www.leavingaa.com
Man can we relate to this story! In Holly Hill Florida The Sunrise Group has been harassing us for years and taking over the pavilions.
Here is a story we ran about a Thanksgiving incident where a 12 stepper from Daytona Beach threatened citizens.
http://nadaytona.org/2012/11/20/na-daytona-member-threatens-lives-of-locals-in-sunrise-park-holly-hill-florida/