GROUP INFORMATION RUBRIC

Transcription

1 1. NAME OF GROUP: Al-Anon and Alateen 2. LENGTH OF TIME THIS GROUP HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE: Almost as long as AA. Family groups formed as early as By 1951, the name Al-Anon Family Groups. First paid staff 1954; first handbook Al-Ateen grew out of Al-anon in NUMBER OF MEETINGS REGISTERED: as of ,000 Al-Anon groups in 133 countries and 107 online and telephone meetings; 1700 Al-Ateen groups worldwide. 4. LIST OF FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND MEETING PROTOCOLS: Twelve Steps; Twelve traditions; Twelve Concepts of Service, Al-Anon and Lateen Groups at Work. Four booklets were combined into the Service manual in Current Version AL-ANON/ALATEEN Service Manual. There is also cross references to a World Service Handbook, which is found at pages 131 et. sec. of the Service Manual. See also very extensive World Service Conference Summary Also WSC has its own charter starting at p. 171 of Service Manual for detailed conference procedures. 5. TYPE OF DECISION-MAKING ENTITY: Board of Trustees; WSC 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE DECISION-MAKING ENTITY: The Board of Trustees is composed of seven to 21 volunteer members: one sustaining member (the Executive Director), Trustees at Large, and Regional Trustees. Cofounders Lois W. and Anne B., now deceased, were honorary lifetime members. The term of office for Trustee at Large and Regional Trustee is three years; they may serve two terms, which may be consecutive. WSC is comprised of WSO representatives and Delegates. Delegates are divided into three staggered panels so that the Conference always includes two panels of delegates with two years experience. 7. DOES THIS GROUP HAVE A SEPARATE DECISION-MAKING ENTITY FOR LITERATURE? IF SO, WHAT IS IT? Al-Anon uses Conference Approval of literature which involves a literature committee, staff, volunteers and delegates. See (8) below.

2 8. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR CREATION AND APPROVAL OF LITERATURE? The process of Conference Approval ensures that designated Al-Anon members, Delegates, WSO staff, and volunteers will review the material before publication and/or production. Many members participation in the Conference Approval process guarantees the fellowship that the material is an expression of Al-Anon principles. Proposals of new material and major revisions of existing material are brought to the World Service Conference for recommendation and approval. Service committees may propose material with a service focus. Proposed manuscripts and/or content of Conference Approved Literature are reviewed by a Literature Committee. As a final step, the Executive Director, the Chairperson of the Policy Committee, and four other members of that Committee review all new pieces and major revisions of existing material before they are approved. The Board of Trustees through the Executive Director authorizes minor revisions. 9. NOMINATION/ELECTION PROCESS FOR MEMBERS OF THE DECISION-MAKING ENTITY INCLUDING WHO GETS TO VOTE FOR MEMBERS: Board of Trustees Trustee at Large candidates submit qualifying resumes to the WSO. Nominees are interviewed and selected by the full Board of Trustees. Each year, in January, the Board nominates three Trustees at Large. Regional Trustee candidates submit qualifying resumes to, and are nominated by, their respective Areas. At the World Service Conference, the nominee is selected by members of the WSC Regional Nominating Committee composed of the Delegates from the region, Delegates chosen by lot from outside the region, and Board members chosen by lot. The names of Regional Trustee and Trustee at Large nominees are presented to the Conference for an expression of traditional approval. All the nominees are then elected by the Board of Trustees at its annual meeting. WSC Extensive Delegate and Assembly Officer election provisions page TERMS OF OFFICE FOR DECISION-MAKING ENTITY: Two three-year terms for Trustees that may be consecutive.

3 11. WHAT DECISIONS DOES THE DECISION-MAKING ENTITY MAKE? The Board of Trustees, which meets quarterly, is the legal entity responsible for administration of Al Anon s funds and services. Its service arm, the Executive Committee, which meets monthly, is delegated by the Board to make administrative decisions required in the interim between Board meetings. Also Committees, and working groups, task forces, thought forces. * * * * * WSC Conference Decisions a. The Conference hears financial and policy reports of the Board of Trustees and WSO services. b. Delegates and WSO members take under advisement all matters affecting Al Anon as a whole, engage in debate, appoint necessary committees and pass suitable motions for the direction of the Board of Trustees and the WSO. c. The Conference may recommend action respecting serious deviation from Al Anon Traditions and Concepts of Service. d. The Conference may adopt procedures and elect any needed officers by a method of its choosing. e. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the members registered at the Conference. f. At the close of each yearly session, the Conference will send a full report of its proceedings to all World Service Conference members, past WSC members and Area World Service Committees (Area officers, Coordinators and District Representatives). SEE ALSO duties of assembly members starting at p. 155 Service Manual.

4 12. DOES THIS GROUP HAVE INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIP? HOW IS IT REPRESENTED? Al-Anon and ALateen WS Conference directly serves Al Anon and Alateen groups in the U.S. and Canada (including their territories, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico). Groups and structures in other countries, several of which have their own conferences, are heard through the International Coordination Committee. There is also a World Service Office (WSO) headquarters of the Al Anon Family Groups which acts as the service center for groups throughout the world and is the link with other national General Service Offices (GSOs). In other countries, service is often provided by a national General Service Office (GSO) which is linked to the WSO through the International Coordination Committee. Each structure organizes the groups according to the needs of the structure. The International Coordination Committee (ICC) handles all issues related to groups and General Service Offices (GSOs) outside the World Service Conference (WSC) structure. TheICC provides the connection between the GSOs and the WSC structure. International Al Anon General Services Meeting (IAGSM) is a biennial (every other year) service meeting for General Service Offices/national service Al-Anon/Alateen Members Web site: Al-Anon and Alateen Groups at Work structures. The purpose of the IAGSM is to share the experience of Al Anon national services around the world through its Delegates. It is not a decision-making body and passes any recommendations through the International Coordination Committee to the Board of Trustees. In addition to the International Coordination Committee members attending this meeting, the WSO Board of Trustees sends two Trustees, one from the United States and the other from Canada. 13. DOES THIS GROUP HAVE AN ONLINE/PHONE MEMBERSHIP? HOW IS IT REPRESENTED? In 2001, the WSO started registering on-line meetings, and in 2007, other electronic meetings. By 2012 there were over 25,000 groups in 133 countries and 107 electronic (Internet and telephone) meetings. When electronic meetings form, they register with the World Service Office (WSO) in order to use the Al Anon name. Upon registration,they receive support from and have their voices heard and represented through the WSO. The manual does not specifically describe how they are represented. 14. DOES THIS GROUP HAVE GROUPS IN HOSPITALS AND INSTITUTIONS? HOW ARE THEY REPRESENTED? Institutions Committee: This committee develops and communicates methods members can use to bring the Al-Anon and Alateen presence to the families and friends of alcoholics who are in hospitals, treatment centers, correctional and other residential facilities. It also seeks to help members differentiate between the Al-Anon philosophy of recovery and that of the treatment center approach. Such clarification helps to uphold our Traditions, thus avoiding dilution of the Al-Anon program. Not sure about representation.

5 15. NAME LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION THAT ARE BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL GROUPS AND THE DECISION-MAKING ENTITY Group District Area World 16. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE INTERGROUP? Al-Anon Information Service (Intergroup) may serve one or more districts. A Liaison Member is elected or appointed to serve as link between Intergroup and Area WSO. Liaison usually serves three years and votes at Area WS Committee meetings, but not at Assembly unless she is a GR. 17. FINANCIAL SETUP NATIONAL: (US AND CANADA) As of 2015 budget and tax return: ED makes approx $250 K and a Director of Business Services makes almost $200, including the value of non-cash compensation. They have $3.62 million in total salary costs including payroll taxes and benefits. They own a 2 mil building and have at least 5 mil in invested assets. Total expense (over 5 mil) was more that total revenue in DIAGRAM OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

6 19. WHAT TYPE OF REPRESENTATION MODE IS USED TO MAKE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE ENTIRE FELLOWSHIP BODY? For Literature, See above, CAL method. 20. HOW DOES THE GOVERNING BODY ASSESS THE NEEDS OF THE FELLOWSHIP? Policy Committee: The WSO Policy Committee is composed of a Chairman, all members of the Board of Trustees, members of the Executive Committee, the Chairmen of all WSO selected committees (except the Conference Committee on Trustees), and the Conference members of the WSO administrative staff. It meets quarterly in advance of the meeting of the Board of Trustees. This is perhaps the most important of all the World Service Office (WSO) committees. It can exercise authority over issues or projects that involve Al Anon policy, public relations, or the Traditions, as these may arise in other WSO committees. It is empowered to consider any issues or projects submitted by an Al Anon member, or to reconsider a decision already made if any part of the fellowship dissents. The Idea behind the policy committee comes from AA as set out in the appendix: Several years ago it became evident that the mass of business coming before the quarterly Trustee meetings had become too big to handle. We therefore had to devise a committee to filter all these matters disposing of the lesser and fully examining the larger. The object was to break the jam at trustee meetings and to present the Board with carefully discussed recommendations, including minority reports, on the more serious issues. Thus the attention of the General Service Board could be accurately focused on what it really had to do. This committee, with ample time at its disposal, could also strengthen our process of planning and policy formation. It could avert blunders, both large and small, due to haste. 21. WHAT PROCESS IS IN PLACE TO BRING NEEDS BEFORE THE ENTIRE FELLOWSHIP BODY? Group Representatives work with District Representatives and ultimately the WSC Delegate who brings issues of concern to him to the attention of the Conference either through the Conference Committee or directly from the floor in open Conference session. 22. WHO IS ABLE TO VOTE AT THE CONFERENCE OF THE FELLOWSHIP BODY? Board of Trustees; World Service Office (WSO) Policy Committee, Executive Committee, members of the WSO administrative staff; Delegates Note: States and provinces with large Al Anon populations may petition the Conference to divide and send an additional delegate to the Conference

7 23. WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE CONFERENCE CAN ISSUE DIRECTIVES? Really Interesting discussion of this issue under Concept 7 (p. 194) SM. Basically it says that the WSO can always direct the Trustees, but that Trustee have veto power in certain circumstances that will be rarely used. As a practical matter, however, WSO votes (including trustees, staff and committee members) will be able to outvote delegates. Interesting discussion of p. 188 (Concept 4: participation principal. An exception to this: Three-fourths of all authorized participants registered at the Conference may bring about a reorganization of the World Service Office if or when it is deemed essential. They may request the resignation of the entire Board of Trustees and nominate a new slate of Trustees. Prior to resignation, it is the responsibility of the outgoing Trustees to vote on the successor slate presented by the Conference. For the purpose of bringing about a reorganization of the World Service Office, the number of World Service Office participants voting shall be limited to one-fourth of the total Conference vote. In this instance, the final decision-making body is the World Service Conference. 24. WHAT ARE THE ONGOING ROLES AND DUTIES OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE FELLOWSHIP BODY? WSC Conference Decisions a. The Conference hears financial and policy reports of the Board of Trustees and WSO services. b. Delegates and WSO members take under advisement all matters affecting Al Anon as a whole, engage in debate, appoint necessary committees and pass suitable motions for the direction of the Board of Trustees and the WSO. c. The Conference may recommend action respecting serious deviation from Al Anon Traditions and Concepts of Service. d. The Conference may adopt procedures and elect any needed officers by a method of its choosing. e. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the members registered at the Conference. f. At the close of each yearly session, the Conference will send a full report of its proceedings to all World Service Conference members, past WSC members and Area World Service Committees (Area officers, Coordinators and District Representatives). SEE ALSO duties of assembly members starting at p OFFICIAL FELLOWSHIP PROCESS FOR SOLVING GROUP PROBLEMS: When an individual or a group seeks clarification of any matter relating to the Al Anon fellowship, it is the responsibility of the World Service Office (WSO) Policy Committee to make statements that interpret and encourage use of the Traditions and Concepts. After approval by the Board of Trustees and the World Service Conference, these statements are set forth in the Policy Digest. To arrive at answers that are consistent, loving, and helpful takes time and patience, both on the part of the individual or unit seeking the clarification and on the part of the WSO Policy Committee.

8