Hot Topics

Why can’t I read outside literature in a meeting? There are some great readings elsewhere.
Sometimes it feels controlling to me.
Tradition One states: Our common welfare should come first. Personal progress for the
greatest number depends upon unity. That says that we don’t recover without unity. It is our
job not to have brilliant ideas about how things should be done. There are decades of
experience, strength, and hope behind our spiritual principles. Our job, each and every one
of us, is to not dilute Al-Anon. There are subtle ways in which this dilution can happen that
seem small. But these small things catch fire and have a life of their own. The term “qualifier”
is a rehab term but it’s firmly in our program now. The concern here is that the focus is on the
alcoholic and not on our own insanity due to the effects of this disease. “I’m here because
of him/her.” That’s not one of our spiritual principles.
Reading outside literature hasn’t been through the rigorous process of approval that Al-Anon
uses. The process is to ensure that we abide by all the Legacies. Someone asks, “Can’t I read
this quote that I saw on TikTok this morning?” Sorry, no. Another says, “I’ve found this
wonderful website with a lot of Al-Anon materials. All literature in this program is copyrighted
and if any is used permission from WSO must be obtained. Why? To keep the program
undiluted!
Please feel free to email me at chair@alanon.mystaging.online with any hot topic you want covered.
This tile will have new content periodically and hearing from the fellowship is so important. I
will, of course, ask you to write something up!!
Thank you.
Jane P., Area Chair