NEBRASKA DELEGATE REPORTCRAIG M., PANEL 51

2013 World Service Conference

Virginia Beach, VA

April 14-18, 2013

Memorial Contributions Task Force

Charge was to consider if we could allow gifts from family members in memorial to an AFG member

Current policy does not if family member is not a member of Al-Anon

Tradition 7 vs. Tradition 5

(Giving comfort…) Have family members

been considered ‘outside’

Task Force: Service Jobs for Dual Members Not a discussion about changing current

policy Create a piece that emphasizes what

dual members can do in service vs. what they cannot do

Task Force: Service Jobs for Dual Members

Policy Discussion - Anonymity

New text in the Anonymity section of the “Digest of Al-Anon and Alateen Policies

Websites accessible to the public Functions where Al-Anon members

are recorded Subject lines and addresses of e-

mails Postal correspondence

Chosen Agenda Item: “Improving the retention of newcomers and experienced Al-Anon members”

Most newcomers do not stay

Older members have an attrition rate

Al-Anon, thus is not growing

Chosen Agenda Item: “Improving the retention of newcomers and experienced Al-Anon members”

○ Friendship ○ Newcomer’s judge ○ Ask newcomer’s for their phone number○ “Lend” them copies of the Forum○ Give newcomer’s How Al-Anon Works.○ Have people arrive meetings at least 15

minutes ○ See WSO website, “How Does Your Group

Welcome Newcomers?”

LiteratureS-13 Translation of Conference

Approved Literature ○ Coming this spring; a catalog of translated

literature○ Those listed will be available and on-hand at

WSO vs. the past when WSO had to get copies from the country that produced it; long delays that seemed to be the fault of WSO when it was not

S-72 Conflict Resolution using our Twelve Traditions cards○ $4.00

Public RelationsThree-year conversation and 16 revisions Section of our Service Manual is renamed Public

Outreach.Revises current text on pp 107 -109 of the 2010-

2013 Service Manual.Does not change the 6th World Service Conference

statement of 1966, reaffirmed in 1971 Policy Committee did not consider pursuing a

change to our TraditionsEmphasize “Members and groups carry the

message” It takes at least 6 contacts with a message

AFG, Inc projects an annual revenue shortfall that is consistently $150,000/ year

Quarterly Appeal letter is the opportunity for individual members to express their gratitude.

Individuals may give a maximum of 1% of general revenue to AFG; this amount currently is $46,331.04

Does my contribution to the basket at my meetings reflect the level of my gratitude to Al-Anon?

Budget

Contribution Envelopes

Forum as e-literature; update 2013 Conference Summary Soft-cover version of “How Al-

Anon Works”, misunderstood “How Al-Anon Works” is coming

out as an e-book! ($11.99) Audio version of “How Al-Anon

Works” this summer ($24.99)

Annual Report – Executive Director

Legacy posters are no longer available – they don’t sell

Local groups may produce their own

But if they sell them must be for their cost – no profit

Annual Report – Executive Director

March, 1952 Al-Anon asked each member to contribute $1 per year

Today, that same contribution would be $17.00 twice per year

Finance Committee

Individual appeal; not an appeal to the groups

2013 Letter explains how funds are used for:

○Fellowship communication○Public Outreach○Group Services ○Membership Outreach○Supports the structures of the

district, area, and WSC

Quarterly Appeal Letter

“There is no romance in paying the rent, but it is a vital and important function…”

Lois Wilson

Who sent me to the World Service Conference as your trusted servant?

You did…

“Meet the Board” Project

July, 2014 Board Meeting Opportunity for members to

interact with the Board Areas apply by September

15, 2013 Three-year Trial

Literature Committee

Encourage use of other CAL literature besides daily readers

Parents of alcoholics timely reprint – 37,327 copies sold

Literature Committee

“Reach for Personal Freedom: Living the Legacies” B-92

176 pages $15.00 Released at the 2013

International Convention

Literature Committee

“Intimacy in Alcoholic Relationships” (working title) update

775 sharings received; only 76 from men

Need more sharings from everyone; encourage men to share

Public Service Announcement

15, 30, & 60 seconds in English 30 & 60 seconds in French and

Spanish Features parent (Jack) of alcoholic

child and wife (Rose) of an alcoholic

Increase from 3,300 to 5,000 television stations and 6,000 gatekeepers to over 10,000 radio stations

Task Force: Toolkit on Service and Personal Growth

How service contributes to personal growth

Apply to both new and experienced to service

Will include full bibliography of service references

Task Force: Toolkit on Service and Personal Growth

Board of Trustees will review & pass along to WSO staff for development

“We need to break the idea that recovery is separate from service and promote that without service there can be no recovery.” Ric B.

Communications Survey on Readiness for Step

12 Service Members will be asked to

survey their service May 13 – July 21, 2013 Encourage member

participation (see ‘Surveys for Members’ on Members-only website)

Public Outreach

137,000 copies of “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism” received/filled

Professionals having been thanking Al-Anon and asking for more copies for their waiting areas

24 Hour Meeting Information

WSO in final stages of testing Caller provides zip code and

preference for weekday, weekend, or day/evening meeting

Could be available very soon

New & Improved e-Communities

More customizable Easier to use Coming soon

New & Improved Members-only Website!

New Look Rotating topics Each Category – Own Webpage Service Manual on each Go live, July 1, 2013 Same log-on as current

Members-only site

Staff Updates

Encourage groups to get Current Mailing Address (CMA) e-mail registered with WSO

Of 14,667 registered groups only 7,791 (53%) have valid e-mail addresses for their group

Staff Updates

WSO is considering other options to allow delegates to visit Stepping Stones

Expense of having World Service Conferences in Connecticut

Staff Updates

Equalized Expense of Delegates to WSC:

16 Areas paid $1,280 Equalized Expense38 Areas paid $1,968 full amount per

delegate to attend WSC7 Areas paid somewhere between the

equalized expense amount and the full amount

6 Areas paid more than the full expense

2014 World Service Conference

Friday, April 25 – Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Wyndham Virginia Beach Hotel, Virginia Beach, VA

2018 International Al-Anon/Alateen Convention Site

Baltimore, Maryland

July 5-7, 2013Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada

“This building, our literature, our legacies, and our service – all of it is worthless if we don’t pass it on to the next newcomer who needs our help.”

Ric B., Executive Director, World Service Office60th Anniversary Open House, April 16, 2011