World Service Conference

Transcription

1 World Service Conference April 15-18, 2013

2 Conference Theme The Spiritual Journey of Changing Me to We

3 Conference Goals

4 Goal 1 The spiritual tone of the Conference will prevail by the demonstration of mutual respect and acceptable conduct by its members.

5 Goal 2 Conference members will understand the purpose of the Conference, relationships within the structure, and be able to articulate Conference decisions.

6 Goal 3 Knowing that our Higher Power is present in the expression of our group conscience, Conference members will presume goodwill.

7 Conference Rules

8 Two Minutes at the Mic No Clapping Presume Good Will Stay on Topic If Someone Says What You Were Going to Say, Please Sit Down Start and End on Time

9 5 Elements of KBDM

10 1. Open communication between leadership and membership 2. Dialogue before deliberation 3. All decision-makers have common access to full information 4. Existence in a culture of trust 5. Confidence in the competency of our partners

11 Policy Discussions

12 Memorial Contributions Should we accept contributions from family members and friends of deceased Al-Anon members?

13 Tradition Seven: Prevent undue influence Tradition Five: Comfort to family members Open questions remain Policy Committee will continue to gather information Will continue to discuss at WSC

14 Anonymity Discussed proposed changes to text in Service Manual (Is it accurate? Does it provide clarity? Can you live with it?) Text was circulated to members for suggestions and questions prior to Conference Voted to approve changes (98 yes, o no, o abstain) Use generic contact info on flyers

15 Public Outreach Discussed proposed changes to text in Service Manual (Is it accurate? Does it provide clarity? Can you live with it?) Text was circulated to members for suggestions and questions prior to Conference Voted to approve changes (98 yes, o no, o abstain)

16 Public Outreach WSO handles national publicity to ensure uniform message At least 6 contacts with message to absorb it Clarification given new technology Areas were creating PSAs on YouTube For local projects, best to have group conscience

17 Open Policy Committee Meeting

18 Discussed 2 Items 1. Contributions from AA/Al-Anon Conventions 2. Reserve Funds/Prudent Reserves

19 Chosen Agenda Items

20 Chosen Agenda Item #1 Improving Retention of Newcomers and Experienced Al-Anon Members

21 Rides to meetings Give How Al-Anon Works Make eye contact/warmth/hugs Assign greeter/hugger Is your meeting inviting/welcoming? Ask someone to share what Al-Anon means to them

22 Use 6-meeting format for newcomers Treat them like a member (don t skip 7th Tradition basket) Answer questions, loving interchange Involve experienced members in service Experienced members lead workshops Blog on Members Website: How does your group welcome newcomers?

23 Chosen Agenda Item #2 How can we get districts without DRs and few GRs to become re-involved in participating at Assemblies and AWSC? How do we reach out to registered groups who do not attend Area events?

24 Pick up the phone and have one-on-one conversation with contacts, Why aren t you participating? Use conference goals at Assemblies/AWSC Merge districts Find a leader Give encouragement

25 Adopt a district Be a good role model Sit with someone new Offer love and support Why would you want your group to isolate?

26 Affirmations

27 Regional Trustees Paula B., US Southeast, Second 3-year term Debbie G., US North Central, First 3-year term

28 Trustees at Large Connie H., Iowa, Second 3-year term Judy K., Nevada, First 3-year term Elizabeth M., Maine, First 3-year term

29 Board Officers Karen R., Chair Connie H., Vice Chair Penny R., Treasurer

30 Carrie K., 3-year term ECRPM

31 Literature

32 Literature Committee Report Bring all CAL literature into our meetings Write stories for the forum: Your difficulties How your worked the program around them Steps, Traditions, Concepts

33 Staff Update: Tom C. Associate Director of Communications - Literature

34 Staff Update: Tom C. Legacy Workbook (P-92), 176 pages Applying Steps, Traditions and Concepts to our personal lives Available in English, French & Spanish at the International Convention ($15 US or Canadian) Available to fellowship by July 7th

35 Staff Update: Tom C. 20 new quotes will be available for 2014 calendars Posted on Area Chair ecommunities Last year, no requests for calendar quotes Be sure to refer to Service Manual when reprinting excerpts from literature

36 Staff Update: Tom C. Intimacy in Alcoholic Relationships (book in progress) 775 shares submitted so far 76 from men Looking for more shares to ensure diversity

37 How Al-Anon Works Soft Cover Extending trial another 3 years $6.00/copy as of May 1st Intended for outreach and pay-it-forward to newcomers Marketing campaign to clarify pay-it-forward intent, survey to gauge use for outreach

38 eliterature

39 Having Had a Spiritual Awakening Available on 3 ebook providers 500 copies sold so far Next ebook?

40 How Al-Anon Works

41 How Al-Anon Works $11.99 Available before International Convention Research: Daily use books tend not to reduce usage of print books when ebook version is available Will monitor impact on fellowship

42 Digital Audio Book

43 How Al-Anon Works No CDs, digital download from audio book retailers $24.99 May be available sooner than the ebook

44 Electronic Forum Waiting for providers Probably won t be available on all three providers simultaneously If you don t have the device associated with a specific provider, you can download the app for that provider

45 Pamphlet for Parents & Grandparents Motion brought forth by Literature Committee, Motion carried (97 yes, 1 no, 0 abstain) Tools don t always fit when dealing with an underage family members Can be used for outreach by people who don t have children, when talking to parents

46 Workshop on Importance of Conference Approved Literature in Meetings Task Force

47 Workshop on Importance of CAL Amazing skit on Why CAL? Materials to conduct a workshop on this topic

48 Annual Report

49 Annual Report Means by which WSO is accountable to members Covers January 1, December 31, 2012 Will be printed in the Conference Summary, which will be available on the members website WSC approved the 2012 Annual Report (96 yes, 1 no, 1 abstention)

50 2012 Audit Report

51 2012 Audit Report Projected a loss for 2012 Loss was more than projected 60% of groups donated - milestone Northern California % of groups, $102/group (Avg. cost of services/group = $253) $51,580 in 2012 compared to $49,741 in 2011 WSC Approved 2012 Audit Report (98 yes, 0 no, 0 abst.)

52 2013 Budget

53 2013 Budget Deficit budget of $3,000 Was greater deficit, but: Delay printing of Service Manual Limit salary increase of WSO staff to cost of living Reduce travel of Board and Staff Reduce PSAs from 3 to 2 Increase price of literature

54 2013 Budget Contributions are 29% of income 40% of groups do not contribute to the WSO Last time contributions were greater than literature sales was 1954 If all groups who did not contribute, give $12 in 2013 = $75,000

55 2013 Budget We are balancing the budget on the backs of our staff and newcomers. The spiritual principle of giving is gratitude More important that 100% of members contribute to the Quarterly Appeal, than amount contributed

56 Finance Presentation

57 Finance Presentation June 22, 1951 a man from Massachusetts made the first contribution to Al-Anon First appeal was March 1952 in a newsletter to 250 groups (requested $1/person, 2x/year) They purchased a typewriter and a table

58 Finance Presentation Fellowship Communications Public Outreach Group Services Membership Outreach Administration & Business Services

59 Finance Presentation Ultimate responsibility for the WSO rests with the groups Members created the WSO It is up to us to maintain it

60 Toolkit on Service & Personal Growth Task Force

61 Charge: Text for 5 Pieces Members New to Group Service Members Serving the District Members Serving the Area Gifts of Service How does service work for me?

62 Public Service Announcements

63 Public Service Announcements DVD for the Area PI/CPC Coordinator Can make copies for use within the fellowship, but not broadcast quality Broadcast version will be HD and professional sound mix Persons depicted are actors, not Al-Anon members

64 Staff Update: Pat Q. Associate Director of Communications - Media

65 Staff Update: Pat Q. Ordered 136,700 Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism in time for April alcohol awareness month Areas reported very energized campaigns Received thanks from professionals/requests for more AFAs Airplay lists help target stations to ask to play PSA Best of Public Outreach now available in Spanish

66 Meet the Board July 2014

67 Do we want to host a Meet the Board Event? A Saturday in July, 2014 Suggest hotel(s)/cities Responsible for publicity and provide Area contact Board/WSO does the rest Deadline to submit form is September 15, 2013

68 International

69 International Visitor Laura C. F. from Mexico

70 IAGSM October 3-6, 2012 Cape Town, South Africa No Structure is Ever Alone HOPE Sculpture, Notes in glass bottles I may forget what they said, but I will never forget how they made me feel.

71 IAGSM Argentina Australia Belgium Brazil Denmark Finland Germany Italy New Zealand Peru Poland South Africa

72 IAGSM Sweden Switzerland UK and Eire US and Canada

73 Staff Update: Marsha W. Associate Director of Member Services - International

74 Staff Update: Marsha W. Translations of CAL (S-13), Literature Available in several languages 3 Pamphlets A Guide for the Family of the Alcoholic Purposes & Suggestions This is Al-Anon

75 Trip to Mexico Roger C.

76 Trip to Mexico March 17-22, 2013 February 8, 1965 = First group Now 3,662 groups, 406 Alateen Second largest structure, Largest Spanish speaking RSS = 4,000 attendees, Convention = 5,000 All voting members sign minutes at legal meeting

77 Trip to Colombia Ric B.

78 Trip to Colombia Not participating in IAGSM Met with information service committee How do you make groups behave? What do you do when they don t give money? Always refer back to the Service Manual No authority, don t give appearance of governance

79 Al-Anon International Convention Vancouver, BC, Canada - July 5-7, 2013

80

81 Staff Update: David Z. Director of Business Services

82 Staff Update: David Z. Final stages of being able to provide 24 hour automated meeting information Testing began the Monday after the WSC Moving from ecommunities to Communities More customizable More user friendly

83 Motion: Area Name Changes

84 Area Name Changes Alabama/Northwest Florida New Mexico/El Paso Manitoba/Northwest Ontario Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

85 Staff Update: Suzanne M. Associate Director of Member Services - Conference

86 Staff Update: Suzanne M. Valid CMAs: 14,667 groups, 7,791 s (53%) Get CMA on file with WSO (NCWSA form A16) This is your group s connection with WSO Receive Group enews

87 Conflict Resolution Cards Using the Twelve Traditions

88 Conflict Resolution Cards Using our Twelve Traditions Companion to Conflict Resolution wallet card For groups, districts, AIS, and areas to use as focus of discussion $4.00

89 Staff Update: Barbara O. Director of Member Services

90 Staff Update: Barbara O. Preview of new members website Easier to navigate, Simpler organization Available July 1st in English

91 Staff Update: Bob S. Director of Communication Services

92 Staff Update: Bob S. Survey to members: Service in which they have participated May 13 - July 21st Available on the members website Encourage other members to participate; If only GRs, not very representative

93 Sharing Ourselves Panel 51 Delegates Give 3-minute Talks

94 Love Gifts

95 Thought Force Use of Computers at WSC

96 Use of Computers at WSC Board of Trustees will discuss options presented Will probably form a Task Force

97 Next World Service Conference Friday, April 25th - Tuesday, April 29th, 2014