2022-2025 - Al-Anon Family Groups

1 2022-2025 . AL ANON/ALATEEN. SERVICE MANUAL. AL ANON AND ALATEEN Groups AT WORK. DIGEST OF AL ANON AND ALATEEN POLICIES. WORLD SERVICE handbook . AL ANON'. S TWELVE CONCEPTS OF SERVICE. Al-Anon WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE CHARTER. 2003 ALATEEN MOTION FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES v2. 2022-2025 . Al Anon/Alateen Service Manual The 2022-2025 edition of the Al Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) replaces any previous editions. Changes to sections of the Service Manual sometimes occur between editions, as a result of World Service Office procedural changes and Conference motions. The most recent edits are then posted electronically as portions of the updated Service Manual. To keep track of these updates, a process for identifying subsequent versions of each edition and their changes has been adapted. The version number for each edition can be found on the back of the title page.

2 Every Al Anon and Alateen member is encouraged to actively use and study this Manual. It gives a clear and concise picture of the Al Anon fellowship, its purpose and functions, and how it helps us to resolve group problems and maintain unity. Additional copies may be ordered from the WSO or from your Literature Distribution Center. An electronic version is available at al Those who wish to translate this Manual for use by Al Anon and Alateen Groups worldwide may obtain permission by writing to the address on the back of the title page. Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Al Anon/Alateen World Service Office, virginia Beach, VA. The Al Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcohol . ics who share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a Family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.

3 Al Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership. Al Anon is self supporting through its own voluntary contributions. Al Anon has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by prac . ticing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic. Suggested Al Anon Preamble to the Twelve Steps For information and catalog of literature write: Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. World Service Office for Al Anon and Alateen 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway virginia Beach, VA 23454 5617. Phone 757 563 1600 Fax 757 563 1656. al wso@al AL ANON AND ALATEEN Groups AT WORK. Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.

4 , 1964. DIGEST OF AL ANON AND ALATEEN POLICIES. Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1975. WORLD SERVICE handbook . Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1973. AL ANON'S TWELVE CONCEPTS OF SERVICE. Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1970. Al Anon/Alateen is supported by members' voluntary contributions and from the sale of our Conference Approved Literature. This Manual is available in Spanish and French. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechani . cal, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Al Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1992. Revised 2022. Sections Approved by World Service Conference Al Anon Family Groups v2 P-24/27 Printed in the USA. Preface Questions pertaining to the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts of Service continually arise within our fellowship.

5 Over the years, four booklets were introduced to assist members in resolv . ing specific situations. In 1992, the four booklets were combined into one and retitled Al Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P 24/27). This Manual reflects the collective experience of our membership in its ongoing effort to interpret the Traditions and Concepts of Service in a spirit of unity and harmony. Members seeking answers to specific questions of special situa . tions may well find guidance within these pages. Each section has its own purpose, author, and Table of Contents. The Index lists the many topics addressed throughout the Manual. To reflect new information and changing points of view, an online version of the Manual is updated between printings as changes are made. It can be found on the Members menu at Al Anon/Alateen members may initiate revisions to the Manual at any time by making suggestions to their District Representative (DR), Area Delegate, or the World Service Office (WSO).

6 For this 2022-2025 edition, the Al Anon and Alateen Groups at Work section is also being printed as a separate booklet (P 24) as a tool for Groups in the hopes of making this important group infor . mation available to more members worldwide. Al Anon Declaration Let It Begin with Me When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, let the hand of Al Anon and Alateen always be there, and Let It Begin with Me. 3. Table of Contents 3. Al Anon and Alateen Groups at 5. Digest of Al Anon and Alateen Policies ..79. World Service handbook ..137. Al Anon's Twelve Concepts of Al Anon World Service Conference Charter .. 227. Appendix: 2003 Alateen Motion from the Board of .. 232. 235. Note: Vertical lines in outer margins indicate where changes were made to the content in this edition. 4 Al Anon and Alateen Groups at Work Al Anon and Alateen Groups at Work provides a framework within which each group can develop and grow.

7 It offers basic information to all group members concerning the group structure and how it relates to other Groups and Al Anon as a whole. Table of Contents Introduction .. 8. Suggested Meeting 9. Suggested Meeting Meeting The Serenity Suggested Al Anon/Alateen Suggested Al Anon Preamble to the Twelve 12. Suggested Alateen Preamble to the Twelve 12. Our Three Twelve Twelve Traditions Al Twelve Traditions Twelve Concepts of General Warranties of the 17. Suggested Al Anon/Alateen Al Anon Optional Reading on Four Primary Three Obstacles to Success in Al Understanding Understanding History: Al Anon and Starting Al Anon Family Spiritual Benefits of Registering Groups with the Considerations When Starting Either an Al Anon or Alateen Selecting a Day and Time to Hold the Finding a Location to Hold Group Naming the Designating Meeting Considerations When Starting an Al Anon Holding Beginners' Registering Multiple 5.

8 Procedures for Starting an Al Anon Group Contact Current Mailing Address (CMA)..31. Group Email Phone Contact for the WSO Registration Initial Group Service Considerations When Starting an Alateen Procedures for Starting an Alateen Alateen Basics for Group Sharing in Al Anon/Alateen Welcoming New Meeting Ideas for Occasional Supporting Group Public Outreach in the Personal and Group Al Anon Personal Service Alateen Group Alateen Personal Group Group Group Business Meetings and Group Group Group Problems and Group Reports and Group Considerations regarding Group Group Bank When a Group Group Service Suggested Duties of Group Resources for Members and Al Anon Service Arm The WSO Website (al )..60. Guidelines Relevant to Newsletters/Timely Recovery Literature and Service 6 Structure of the Al Anon/Alateen Fellowship (Links of Service)..63. Al Anon Information Service (AIS/Intergroups).

9 65. Area Area World Service World Service Conference (WSC)..68. From the Group to the World Service Office (WSO)..69. WSO Basic Terms Used in Al Anon Al Anon Information Literature Distribution World 7. Introduction The message of the Al Anon Family Groups , Al Anon and Alateen, is one of hope. It is the story of men, women, and children who once felt helpless, lost, and lonely because of another's alcoholism. Al . though Al Anon grew from a need expressed by Family members of Alcoholics Anonymous, Al Anon and Alateen offer help and hope to friends and families of alcoholics, whether the alcoholic is still drink . Al-Anon and Alateen Groups at Work ing or not. While many of our members no longer maintain daily contact with an alcoholic, they seek the mutual support Al Anon and Alateen Groups offer. Al Anon is a unique fellowship that unites members of different backgrounds in an inspiring endeavor: helping themselves and oth.

10 Ers to lead purposeful, useful lives by overcoming the frustration and helplessness caused by close association with an alcoholic. Alateen (Al Anon for younger members) is a vital part of Al Anon Family Groups . Young people seeking help with problems that arise when alcoholism afflicts a parent, another close relative, or a friend, meet to exchange experiences and to gain an understanding of themselves and the alcoholic. This helps their own personal de . velopment and can help stabilize troubled thinking resulting from close association with an alcoholic. Al Anon and Alateen Groups at Work explains how to start a group, help it grow, and discover how other members have solved problems common to Groups . (Note that in countries outside of the World Service Conference Structure, terms mentioned may vary ac . cording to need.) The harmony and success of each group depends on shared responsibility, a warm spirit of fellowship, and individual self improvement.