News From Your Area Delegate

UPDATES

November 2024

NEW CONTENT

From the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the WSO letter 10/24

Finances: both literature sales and contributions are slightly above   budgeteamounts which has allowed the WSO to not make a transfer from Operating Funds into the Reserve, as is typical.

  • It has also allowed for four new projects which include new hires
  • Kathie M., Chairman, shared on several topics that the Board has been addressing:
    • Perception: WSO volunteers are always representing the WSO and AFG, Inc. and the perceptions others have is important
    • Reserve Fund: Three special projects underway because there is a slight surplus:
      • Core Systems Overhaul
      • Passing It On
      • PO Campaign for the Professional Young People
  • Events:
    • 2025 AA International Convention in Vancouver in July
    • 2028 Al-Anon International Convention, location to be determined; Boston has applied!!!
  • ICC (International Coordination Committee: This year both Russia and Austria were recommended and accepted at the IAGSM (International Al-Anon General Services Meeting) in the Fall. Much of the agenda was focused on the future of this meeting and interim approval was given to virtual meetings.
  • World Service Conference 2025 Theme: Investing in Each Other to Preserve Our Legacy to be used after 1/1/25
  • Warm good bye to Panel 62 Delegates (that’s me)

Policy Committee:

  • “Policy statements are interpretations of our basic guides the Twelve Steps the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts.
  • Naming groups: NEW groups and those that are making changes will need to comply with the new policy on naming groups (removing special demographics from group names like Womens or Mens groups). Those groups already named will NOT need to comply yet.

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD LETTER: July 2024

Did you know that there is a Board of Trustees? The concepts will tell you! And that Board is responsible for the legal functioning of AFG Inc and the WSC’s responsibility are traditional.

Our current Board Chair, Kathi M. met with current Delegates, as she does every quarter, to update us on what’s happening.  I have asked our Website Coordinator to post a link to this letter in my Delegate tile, along with details on WSO’s finances.

The Board did share a revised Budget for 2025 which shows a decrease in expenses and a slight decrease in literature sales. Total revenue over expenses is $197,860, which is a $78,310 increase in revenue. This does NOT mean that WSO does not need our contributions. Please encourage your members, GRs, to read the Quarterly Appeal and read the back of the donation envelope which lists all the services the WSO provides for YOUR group.

Next COB letter November 9th

JOB OPENING: WSO is looking for a part-time paralegal. They are also looking for an International Specialist. For more details and if you are willing to re-locate to Virginia Beach, VA please see me.

The 2024 WSC Conference summary is available. Just an FYI: you can read my Spiritual Talk and my 3-minute farewell sharing. It was a deep honor to be chosen to speak at the Closing Dinner and it was daunting as well. But it allowed me to really reflect on what a Higher Power does for me in my life.

As I head to the end of my term as your Delegate, I want to express my profound gratitude for being allowed to serve. I have learned so much about our Concepts of Service, especially around leadership skills, which I work on with my Service Sponsor weekly, and I have made some wonderful new life-long friends. My experience in Al-Anon is so much broader and wider. I attended an on-line meeting Thursday night in Minnesota to be present for my dear Delegate friend, Linda, as she told her story. How lucky am I?

And now onto matters for Panel 65: We need DRs and Coordinators. I am going to hold a zoom meeting for anyone interested in either and have some current DRs and Coordinators share their ESH about the positions. Any questions and comments will be welcomed at this forum. So for the unsure, please let people know. I am aiming for a date soon and will announce it on the website and send out a blast to DRs and Coordinators. Knowing more before a decision is made is, I think, always wiser.

Area Secretary needed! This job is essential and is an Area Officer so an incoming or outgoing DR and 3 years of service at the Area Level.

 October 2024

Here is the link so that you can submit a sharing on Sponsorship, both personal and service, to WSO for the new publication in process on Sponsorship. Anyone of us has valuable experience, strength, and hope to share so PLEASE consider!

If you are interested in what happens at the World Service Conference (WSC) here is a link to the summary.

Have you ever wondered how to apply to an at-large position on a WSO committee? Here is a position description for an International Specialist position with the WSO.

If you are thinking of standing for Area Delegate it is suggested that you read the job description as well as pages 150-151 & 156 in the 2022-2025 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual. Those who are employees of the WSO are not eligible.

  • : If you have been a participant of the Longitudinal Study. be on the lookout for an email which will give you the link to complete your participation for year 4.
  • Alateen meetings: after an e-mail exchange with Sue P.  Associate Director of Group Services, it is now clear: Hybrid Alateen meetings are considered live meetings, and any new Safety and Behavioral Guidelines will not apply. There are new, more stringent guidelines, in process for approval for electronic meetings.
  • The registration for the AA International in Vancouver, BC will open on 9/10. If you are interested here is the registration link. Registration opens Tuesday, September 10, at 12 pm EDT online at https://www.aa.org/international-convention It is 40-60 THOUSAND AA’s and 4,000 Al-Anon’s. Should be wonderful.
  • New policy about naming of groups: I mentioned this in my Delegate Report: anyone, including Alateens, can attend any meeting at any time. The new policy is to try to end the growing trend of using names for groups that are excluding. WSO is also asking those groups already named to try to respect this new policy. If you are a women’s group, for example, you can be searched for a women’s group in participants/attendees, but the name listed should have Women’s Group removed.
  • WSO Finances:

YTD: Lit sales $1,579,837 (Budget $1,561,365

Contributions: $1,342,395 (Budget $1,288,671

Net: $488,409 (Budget $283,063)

  • Literature sales were below budgeted amounts so a revised Budget will be presented soon.
  • The expenses for the costs for the Delegate to attend the 2025 WSC have been sent. The equalized expense is $2,532.00 and the full expense is $3,617.71. Our Area has traditionally payed the full amount. Some Areas send more but our Area donates $2000.00 per year to the WSO so that would be up to the AWSC. Payment is due by December 31st, but our able Treasurer will handle this. We do need a vote to approve the full amount if we sent it.

As always, contact me with any questions.

Love in service,

Jane P., Area Delegate