@ Woof: Do you remember when the term "graduates" was changed to "7th-steppers" and do you know why? Also when it changed were you being forced to follow the 12 steps or 7 steps. In KHK the 7 steps turned back into the 12 steps sometime between 1989 and 1992. I have the Basics list from both years. Recently I found out PFC/KHK Milford has changed the term from 7th-Stepper to "graduate" so I guess we're going back in time to when STRAIGHT was young. They are trying to distance themselves from their own past.
Yes, I remember.
Why? Original thought, long ago was to have a society of adolescents. Not unlike Junior Achievenment, Junior Optimist, Junnior Economic League, Straight Inc had always dreamed of creating a society.
A man by the name of George Ross was introduced to the COC "Chain of Command". He was equal to Helen Peterman, perhaps a wee bit above...because at the time he was only one in the "therapeutic" part of Straight Inc. with an education beyound a community colledge level. George Ross was Class A wierdo...strange as the come. Shortly after George's arrival, Miller Newton entered the COC...but now, Clearly now above Helen Peterman in the COC. Mel Sembler returns to the scene on the BOD, Board of Directors.
I am not sure if this society was originally Mel Semblers idea or if he firmly supported the idea. But right about that time it was announced that no longer would Straight have "graduates" but creat "New 7th Steppers". Which immediate created a "7th Step Society".
It remains unclear to me what exactly the "society" was for...rather, what the goal was. Ok, create a society of adolescent automotons...and do what??? As if we were to be the real Stepford Children...
We were called "7th Steppers". Straight only practiced 7 steps. The 12 steps were AA's, and only one was allowed to attend AA when I was there....Forget his name, but he was booted out of the marines and placed in Straight Inc.
It's interesting to me that you would see them as distancing themselves from thier past...and yet returning to the orginal term "Graduate"...Same whore....just a very old dress. But seriously, history repeats itself. It also further indicates there are no original ideas in the "treatment" realm. The wheel rolls like that and the grind goes on. And in the end thier attempts at creating a society continue...Simply now it's a "Graduate Society". A Secrete Society hidden in plain view...some how different from the rest of society.
The "society" concept is not my idea. Nor can I prove absolutely it was on the agenda of Straight Inc. But after holding the dots in my hands for years and finally connecting them...along with conversations with my father, I will bet my last dough nut creating a Society was a significant part of the grand scheme of Straight Inc.
And hence all the hub-bub ofer the Graduate/7th Stepper...I still call myself a "Graduate", but I was released as a 7th Stepper. My release was on the cusp of all this taking place. Being a Graduate meant to me , closure. It finally ended. But as a 7th Stepper...potentually it could have lasted much much longer than it did. The 7th Stepper meetings were a nighmare for me. Straight was becoming wierdor and wierdor by the day....Even as 7th Steppers or Graduates..."The Program" still maintained its foot hold in to the brain...constanly living in fear, looking over the shoulder.....afraid of being started over.
Of course, "The Program" still has it's talons in me, no longer do I fear being started over....but often live with the chagrin of it never ending.
Much Healing
woof
