2013 world service conference virginia beach, va april 14-18, 2013
TRANSCRIPT
NEBRASKA DELEGATE REPORTCRAIG M., PANEL 51
2013 World Service Conference
Virginia Beach, VA
April 14-18, 2013
Memorial Contributions Task Force
Charge was to consider if we could allow gifts from family members in memorial to an AFG member
Current policy does not if family member is not a member of Al-Anon
Tradition 7 vs. Tradition 5
(Giving comfort…) Have family members
been considered ‘outside’
Task Force: Service Jobs for Dual Members Not a discussion about changing current
policy Create a piece that emphasizes what
dual members can do in service vs. what they cannot do
Task Force: Service Jobs for Dual Members
Policy Discussion - Anonymity
New text in the Anonymity section of the “Digest of Al-Anon and Alateen Policies
Websites accessible to the public Functions where Al-Anon members
are recorded Subject lines and addresses of e-
mails Postal correspondence
Chosen Agenda Item: “Improving the retention of newcomers and experienced Al-Anon members”
Most newcomers do not stay
Older members have an attrition rate
Al-Anon, thus is not growing
Chosen Agenda Item: “Improving the retention of newcomers and experienced Al-Anon members”
○ Friendship ○ Newcomer’s judge ○ Ask newcomer’s for their phone number○ “Lend” them copies of the Forum○ Give newcomer’s How Al-Anon Works.○ Have people arrive meetings at least 15
minutes ○ See WSO website, “How Does Your Group
Welcome Newcomers?”
LiteratureS-13 Translation of Conference
Approved Literature ○ Coming this spring; a catalog of translated
literature○ Those listed will be available and on-hand at
WSO vs. the past when WSO had to get copies from the country that produced it; long delays that seemed to be the fault of WSO when it was not
S-72 Conflict Resolution using our Twelve Traditions cards○ $4.00
Public RelationsThree-year conversation and 16 revisions Section of our Service Manual is renamed Public
Outreach.Revises current text on pp 107 -109 of the 2010-
2013 Service Manual.Does not change the 6th World Service Conference
statement of 1966, reaffirmed in 1971 Policy Committee did not consider pursuing a
change to our TraditionsEmphasize “Members and groups carry the
message” It takes at least 6 contacts with a message
AFG, Inc projects an annual revenue shortfall that is consistently $150,000/ year
Quarterly Appeal letter is the opportunity for individual members to express their gratitude.
Individuals may give a maximum of 1% of general revenue to AFG; this amount currently is $46,331.04
Does my contribution to the basket at my meetings reflect the level of my gratitude to Al-Anon?
Budget
Contribution Envelopes
Forum as e-literature; update 2013 Conference Summary Soft-cover version of “How Al-
Anon Works”, misunderstood “How Al-Anon Works” is coming
out as an e-book! ($11.99) Audio version of “How Al-Anon
Works” this summer ($24.99)
Annual Report – Executive Director
Legacy posters are no longer available – they don’t sell
Local groups may produce their own
But if they sell them must be for their cost – no profit
Annual Report – Executive Director
March, 1952 Al-Anon asked each member to contribute $1 per year
Today, that same contribution would be $17.00 twice per year
Finance Committee
Individual appeal; not an appeal to the groups
2013 Letter explains how funds are used for:
○Fellowship communication○Public Outreach○Group Services ○Membership Outreach○Supports the structures of the
district, area, and WSC
Quarterly Appeal Letter
“There is no romance in paying the rent, but it is a vital and important function…”
Lois Wilson
Who sent me to the World Service Conference as your trusted servant?
You did…
“Meet the Board” Project
July, 2014 Board Meeting Opportunity for members to
interact with the Board Areas apply by September
15, 2013 Three-year Trial
Literature Committee
Encourage use of other CAL literature besides daily readers
Parents of alcoholics timely reprint – 37,327 copies sold
Literature Committee
“Reach for Personal Freedom: Living the Legacies” B-92
176 pages $15.00 Released at the 2013
International Convention
Literature Committee
“Intimacy in Alcoholic Relationships” (working title) update
775 sharings received; only 76 from men
Need more sharings from everyone; encourage men to share
Public Service Announcement
15, 30, & 60 seconds in English 30 & 60 seconds in French and
Spanish Features parent (Jack) of alcoholic
child and wife (Rose) of an alcoholic
Increase from 3,300 to 5,000 television stations and 6,000 gatekeepers to over 10,000 radio stations
Task Force: Toolkit on Service and Personal Growth
How service contributes to personal growth
Apply to both new and experienced to service
Will include full bibliography of service references
Task Force: Toolkit on Service and Personal Growth
Board of Trustees will review & pass along to WSO staff for development
“We need to break the idea that recovery is separate from service and promote that without service there can be no recovery.” Ric B.
Communications Survey on Readiness for Step
12 Service Members will be asked to
survey their service May 13 – July 21, 2013 Encourage member
participation (see ‘Surveys for Members’ on Members-only website)
Public Outreach
137,000 copies of “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism” received/filled
Professionals having been thanking Al-Anon and asking for more copies for their waiting areas
24 Hour Meeting Information
WSO in final stages of testing Caller provides zip code and
preference for weekday, weekend, or day/evening meeting
Could be available very soon
New & Improved e-Communities
More customizable Easier to use Coming soon
New & Improved Members-only Website!
New Look Rotating topics Each Category – Own Webpage Service Manual on each Go live, July 1, 2013 Same log-on as current
Members-only site
Staff Updates
Encourage groups to get Current Mailing Address (CMA) e-mail registered with WSO
Of 14,667 registered groups only 7,791 (53%) have valid e-mail addresses for their group
Staff Updates
WSO is considering other options to allow delegates to visit Stepping Stones
Expense of having World Service Conferences in Connecticut
Staff Updates
Equalized Expense of Delegates to WSC:
16 Areas paid $1,280 Equalized Expense38 Areas paid $1,968 full amount per
delegate to attend WSC7 Areas paid somewhere between the
equalized expense amount and the full amount
6 Areas paid more than the full expense
2014 World Service Conference
Friday, April 25 – Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wyndham Virginia Beach Hotel, Virginia Beach, VA
2018 International Al-Anon/Alateen Convention Site
Baltimore, Maryland
July 5-7, 2013Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada
“This building, our literature, our legacies, and our service – all of it is worthless if we don’t pass it on to the next newcomer who needs our help.”
Ric B., Executive Director, World Service Office60th Anniversary Open House, April 16, 2011