Andreas B.
Yelp
Lets talk about Dawn Patrol in the mornings.
Sucks for the BIPOC newcomer! I've been over and over again, hoping to, needing to share. These legacy "older white men" govern the group. Every so often, a woman can speak, she's usually over 40 and mostly every speaker chosen is someone who either has clean time of 5+ years or is a returning remembered face who went out for a while, years clean and needs to get sh*t off of their chest.
Bless their hearts, I mean that, for they know not what they do, its covert here in White Utopia, it inevitably boils right out of 'em, this connotation of covert ...... Im not going to say it. I don't want to assume nor point fingers, but you can believe, Ill tell the whole group, or face to face.
Today, after needing to share, after listening to the legacy 'ol goats use the pass and tag method they have that SUCKS!! (there's too many remembered faces who tag each other day in, day out, not cognizant of the BIPOC person who might want to share, who is sitting there bursting with anger, pain, frustration and all of the nuances we need to release) wont and doesn't get the chance to share.
When you do, rushing after NUMEROUS meetings to get this out as one of the several convenient and fantastically structured places to go, it is solid folks, there is always coffee and someone there, many to speak with after as well, when you share and go on, no timer is used and the old boys look at you with discomforting glare, unwelcoming, kind of like "who is this cocky guy, what do we care, hurry up dude" thing. Its always, I mean ALWAYS weird.
This isn't just my perception, I've talked to BIPOC after, before, during and at other meetings. Don't hold presence with color and expect to share. You'll have about maybe 1 in 15 chances to share, literally. But Buck, Jed and Sharon will share and tag each other, thanking each other for their share. Joquan, Malik or Tae wont get a word in, leavin' frustrated. Its just what they do at Dawn Patrol.
Now, I've been there over the years so so many times trying to make it work hoping for change. Long after Im gone, the covert clan, the legacy members who come from the West Hills, come from Oregon City, come from Beaverton, come from the farms, come from outer regions with their upscale or solid running cars, before work feeling fresh and clean, will be doing the same thing. They are here, they feel comfortable, this is their clan. Its not yours and , its clear. Im going to give up ever thinking it might be different. Im sober, I've been sober, Im clean, as a whistle. Im educated, clean cut, smooth about my language but sharp, and im done.
Please know that if you are BIPOC, yea, good luck, if you are a newcomer, policy says they have to "welcome you" and they do! But you know those who say one thing and do the other? You are not welcome as much as you need,.
Alano Club is solid! But that meeting is run and for elderly white men over 45 who ran the gamut and don't need to hear young feisty, successful and motivated people, especially f color, trying to get cleaner and more sober. Go to another at Alano, they're great, beware of my warnings, its there. Dawn Patrol sucks. Im tired of folks talking and me hiding it. Im keeping it real for the newcomer.
Its no wonder there is a lot of "returning legacy folks that are back after "going out". Fellas, consider restructure of your share approach, like the basement where there is tickets, and have them puty BURN on the back if they need to talk so as to pass over a missed ticket or something. Do something "fellas", you know who you are.