WelcometoAreaAssembly!YouarethemostimportantpeopleattheAssemblybecauseyouaretheonlymembersattheAssemblywhohaveavoteatthebusinessmeeting.YourvoteconnectsthemembersofyourgrouptotheworldwidefellowshipofAl-AnonanddeterminesthewayAl-AnoninMontanafunctionstohelpfamiliesofalcoholics.YouareatrustedservantwhoreliesonguidancefromaHigherPoweranddirectionfromthegroupconscious.Itisahumblingandempoweringexperience.AllofusontheAreaCommitteesayCONGRATULATIONSonbeingelectedtoserveasaGR.Enjoyyourterm.

What is theGRexchange? It isameetingheldateachAssemblytoprepareGRsfortheAreabusinessmeetingandtoallowGRstoshareinformationandexperience,strengthandhopewitheachother.

MynameisCarolSullivanandoneofmydutiesatAlternateDelegateistochairthismeeting.mtafgaltdelegate@gmail.com406-261-2744.Pleaseshareyourthoughtsandideastohelpmakethisexchangemeaningfulandproductive.

INFORMATION Foundinyour2014-17ServiceManual

WhatismyjobasaGRatanAssembly?Toattendthebusinessmeetingandtoexpressavoiceandvoteonbehalfofyourgroup.

WhicheventsontheAssemblyscheduleamIsupposedtoattend?• GRExchangegathering(GRschool)• BusinessmeetingonSaturday,bothmorningandafternoonsessions.

WhatdoIneedtotaketoanAssembly?

• Al-Anon/AlateenServiceManual

• Pen/papertotakenotes

• CopiesofminutesfromthepreviousAssembly.AvailablefromyourDistrictRepresentative(DR).

CanIrepresentmorethanonegroupatanAssembly?No.

Whatwillhappenatthebusinessmeeting?

TheAreabusinessmeetinghasamorningandafternoonsession.You’llreceiveanagendawhenyouarriveatthe

businessmeeting.Atypicalbusinessmeetingincludesthefollowingitems:§ Delegate’sReport§ MinutesfromthepreviousAssembly§ AreaTreasurer’sReportandbudget§ Workshopsputonbycoordinators

AL-ANON GR EXCHANGE

§ ReportsfromAreaCoordinatorsandDRs§ UpdateonAl-AnoneventsincludingRoundupandAssemblies§ DiscussionofissuesaffectingAl-AnoninMontana

HowdoIlearnaboutissuesthatarecomingupforavoteatAssembly? TherearecertainitemsthatrequireavoteateveryAssembly.Votingissuescomeoutofdiscussionsheldthe

eveningbeforetheAssemblyAreaWorldServiceCommittee(AWSC)meetings.ThesemeetingsareattendedbyDRsandtheDRssharethatinformationattheirDistrictmeetings.

WhatifsomethingcomesupforavoteinthebusinessmeetingbutIhaven’thadachancetotalktomygroup

aboutit? MostnewGRswillstrugglewiththisandthesolutionwillcomeasyoustudytheTraditionsandConceptsof

Service.Basically,TraditionTwosaysthatyouareatrustedservantandConceptThreeallowsyouarightofdecisionasatrustedservant.ThereisanexcellentdiscussionofthisunderConceptThreeintheServiceManual.UsuallytheprocessofchangeinAl-AnonisslowandthoroughsoGRsareverypreparedbythetimeanissuecomesupforavote.Anotherscenarioisthatyoumayhavetakenagroupconscienceatyourhomegroupaboutanissue,butthenyoulearnnewinformationattheAssemblythatchangesyouropinion.Doyouvoteasyourgroupconsciencedictatedorfollowyourownconscience?Thisagaininvolvesmutualtrustbetweenthegroupanditstrustedservant.AtanAssemblyyouarepartofaninformedgroupconscienceandConceptThreeallowsyouthefreedomtomakeyourbestchoiceonbehalfofyourgroup.Ifyouarereallyuncomfortableaboutavotebecauseyoudon’tunderstandtheissueorthinkitshouldgotothegroupsfirst,thensaythattotheAssemblybeforethevoteistaken.Chancesareotherswillfeelthesameway.

Whatistheprocedurefordiscussion/votingduringthebusinessmeeting?DuringthebusinessmeetingtheChairwillfollowsomebasicrulesofparliamentaryprocedure.Whenanissuecomesupforavote,thefollowingstepsoccur:

1. AmemberoftheAssemblymakesamotion2. Anothermembersecondsthatmotion3. Thereisdiscussionaboutthemotion4. Avoteistaken,usuallybyashowofhands“InFavor”and“Opposed.”Onelectionsorsensitive

issueswrittenballotsmaybeused.5. Theminorityopinionisofferedanotherchancetospeakafterthevote

Motionscanbetabled,whichmeanstheywillcomebackupatalatertime.Amotioncanbechangedorrescindedbythepersonwhomadeit.SometimestheChairwillaskyoutousethemicrophonetospeak.Theremaybeatimelimitpershareoralimitofoneshareperpersononanissue.TheserestrictionsarealwaysannouncedaheadoftimeandtheyareusuallyimposedbecauseofAssemblytimeconstraints.

What is the voting structure of Al-Anon?

Al-Anon’sservicestructurecanbeconfusingwithalltheacronymsandrules.Bepatientwithyourselfandtrytopickupalittlebitatatime.Beforelongyou’llbeanexpert!

ThechartaboveisasimplifiedviewofhowvotingworksinAl-Anon.ThemainpointhereisthatasaGRyouareavitallinkintheflowofinformation,electionofadelegate,andpolicychangeaffectingthefellowship.YouarethebridgebetweenthemembersandthewholeAl-Anonservicestructure.

WSC -AlldelegatesmeetannuallyfortheWorldServiceConference(WSC).SinceGRselectadelegate,thevoiceofthegroupsiscarriedtotheConference.

Area Assembly -MontanaAreaismadeupof13districts.GRselectaDelegatetorepresentthemattheWorldServiceConference.AreahastwoAWSCmeetingsandtwoAssembliesperyear.

District -Madeupofgroupsinageographicalregion.GRselectaDistrictRep(DR)torepresentthematAreaWorldServiceCommittee(AWSC)meetings

Group -electsaGRtorepresentthematDistrictandArealevels.

Whovotes?Delegates

Whovotes?GRs

Whovotes?GRs

Whovotes?Members

Information

Information

Information

TOOLS

InAl-Anonwealwaystalkaboutusingthetoolsoftheprogram.WhattoolsareavailabletohelpGRsdotheirjobs?Someexamplesarelistedhere.

SponsorHigherPowerTraditionsConceptsLong-timeMembersServiceSponsor 12StepsDistrictMeetings Al-AnonWorldServiceOfficewebsite:www.al-anon.orgMTAreawebsite:http://mt.al-anon.alateen.orgConferenceSummariesavailableontheWSOwebsite

Contacts TheAreaSecretarykeepstrackofthenamesandcontactinformationforallofthemembersontheAreacommittee.DuringthetermDRswillreceiveanupdatedcontactlistifanythingchanges.YourDRhasacompletecontactlistofalltheofficers,otherDRsandcoordinators.

CurrentAreaofficers2016-18.Delegate–ElaineDotsonAlternateDelegate–CarolSullivanAreaChairperson–ConnieWineAreaSecretary–LoriKaschtAreaTreasurer–PamCunningham

A few spiritual principles to remember

ThreeObstaclestoSuccessinAl-Anon–pg54ServiceManualAllAl-Anondiscussionsshouldbeconstructive,helpful,loving,andunderstanding.Instrivingtowardtheseideals,weavoidtopicsthatcanleadtodissensionanddistractusfromourgoals.ConflictResolutionUsingOurTwelveTraditions(S-72)

• DiscussionsofReligion:Al-Anonisnotalliedwithanysectordenomination.Itisaspiritualprogram,basedonnoparticularformofreligion.Everyoneiswelcomenomatterwhataffiliationornone.Letusnotdefeatourpurposebyenteringintodiscussionsconcerningspecificreligiousbeliefs.

• Gossip:WemeettohelpourselvesandotherslearnandusetheAl-Anonphilosophy.Insuchgroups,gossipcanhavenopart.Wedonotdiscussmembersorothers,andparticularlynotthealcoholic.OurdedicationtoanonymitygivespeopleconfidenceinAl-Anon.Carelessrepeatingofmattersheardatmeetingscandefeattheverypurposesforwhichwearejoinedtogether.

• Dominance:Ourleadersaretrustedservants;theydonotgovern.NomemberofAl-Anonshoulddirect,assumeauthority,orgiveadvice.Ourprogramisbasedonsuggestion,inter-changeofexperience,androtationofleadership.Weprogressinourownwayandpace.Anyattempttomanageordirectislikelytohavedisastrousconsequencesforgroupharmony.

GroupConscience-pg53ServiceManualThegroupconscienceistheresultofthegroup’sbusinessmeetingdiscussions.Thegroupconscienceisthewillofthegroup.TheguidingprinciplesforthegroupconsciencearealwaystheTwelveTraditionsandtheTwelveConceptsofService.Itmaybehelpfulforthegrouptoreviewtheseprinciplespriortoanygroupdiscussions.Somesimplegroupdecisionsmaybedecidedquickly;however,othersmaytaketime.Itisbytakingthetimenecessarytohearfromallmemberswhowanttoparticipatethatagroupconscienceevolves.Inordertomakeaninformedgroupconsciencedecision,membersneedaccesstoalltheinformationabouttheissuetheyarebeingaskedtodiscuss,theyneedclarityonwhattheirdiscussionshopetoaccomplish,andtheyareaskedtotrusteachother’smotivesandcapabilities.Bysharinginformationasequals,takingtimefordiscussion,andmaintainingprinciplesabovepersonalitiesduringthediscussions,groupsareoftenabletoreachunanimityintheirdecisions.Ifunanimityisnotreachedintheallottedtimeframeofthemeeting,discussionsmaycontinueatanothertime.Onceagroupconsciencedecisionismade,theentiregroupsupportsthedecision.UseofConferenceApprovedLiterature(CAL)inMeetings–pg102ServiceManualTokeepAl-Anon’smessageinfocusandencourageunity,onlyAl-Anon/AlateenConferenceApprovedLiterature(CAL)andAl-Anon/Alateenservicetoolsaredisplayed,distributed,andusedatAl-AnonandAlateenmeetings,includingmeetingsatconferencesandconventions.Theseitemsreflecttheinformedgroupcon-scienceoftheAl-AnonFamilyGroupsasexpressedbyitsWorldServiceConferencesince1961.A.A.literatureisnotusedatAl-AnonmeetingsbecauseitiswrittenforandfromtheviewpointofalcoholicsandisnotAl-Anon/AlateenConferenceApprovedLiterature.RelianceonopinionsexpressedinA.A.andotheroutsidematerialscandistorttheAl-Anonapproach.ConferenceApprovedLiteratureprovidesaunifiedviewofAl-Anon/Alateentomembers,professionals,otherindividuals,andoutsideagencies.(SeeAl-AnonSpokenHere[P-53],WhyConferenceApprovedLiterature?[P-35],andthe“ThreeObstaclestoSuccessinAl-Anon,”asfoundinAlcoholism,theFamilyDisease[P-4]and“GroupsatWork”[P-24].)

AcronymsandCommonTermsDefinitionsarefoundinyourservicemanualAAPP AreaAlateenProcessPersonADR AlternateDistrict RepresentativeAFG Al-AnonFamilyGroupAGR AlternateGroupRepresentativeAIM AlateenInterestMeetingAIS Al-AnonInformationServiceAMIAS Al-AnonMemberInvolvedinAlateenServiceAWSC AreaWorldServiceCommitteeBN MotionsbeforetheywerenumberedC CurrentMotionCAL ConferenceApproved LiteratureCMA CurrentMailingAddressCPC CooperatingwiththeProfessionalCommunityDR District RepresentativeGR GroupRepresentativeIAGSM InternationalAl-AnonGeneralServicesMeetingISR InformationServiceRepresentativeKBDM KnowledgeBasedDecisionMakingLDC LiteratureDistributionCenterLMD LastMaintenanceDateNCRD NorthCentralRegionalDelegatesmeetingNERD NorthEastRegionalDelegatesmeetingNWRD NorthWestRegionalDelegatesmeetingODAT OneDayAtATimePI/CPC PublicInformation/Cooperatingwiththe

ProfessionalCommunityPMA PermanentMailing AddressNWRD SouthCentralRegionalDelegatesmeetingSERD SouthEastRegionalDelegatesmeetingSMR SuspendedMailRecordsSWRD SouthWestRegionalDelegatesmeetingTEAM TogetherEmpoweringAl-AnonMembersWSC WorldServiceConferenceWSO WorldService OfficeCOMMITTEE-Originatingbody.TASKFORCE-Temporaryunitofpeopleestablishedtoworkonasingledefinedtaskoractivity.Theyarethedoers.THOUGHTFORCE-Temporaryunittoresearchideasandpossibilities.Theyarethethinkers.WORKGROUP-Originatingbodyassignedtopursueandimplementmultipleduties.(Longterm)

7

AFG CON NE CTS USE R GUID E AFGCONNECTSisanewlydesignedcommunicationandsharingtoolthatdoesjustwhatitsays-connectsAFGgroupsworldwidebyprovidingdiscussionboards,documentsharingandadministrationhelp.ThislinkhasatutorialvideoforsettingupyourAFGConnectsaccount.http://www.al-anon.org/tempconnect/AFGC_User_Guide_Video.mp4ContactWSOforyourinitialusernameandpassword.Emailmeatmtafgaltdelegate@gmail.comforauserguideprintoutformatorquestions.

References

LiteratureguidelinesdownloadableontheWSOwebsite:§ StartinganAl-AnonGroup:G-12§ GroupRepresentatives:G-11§ Groupinventory:G-8§ CooperationbetweenAl-AnonandAA:G-3

Pamphlets§ WhenIGotBusy,IGotBetter:P-78§ TheConcepts–Al-Anon’sBestKeptSecret?P-57§ Al-Anon’sTwelveTraditionsIllustrated:P-60

Al-Anon/AlateenServiceManual

§ Pagesinindex–GroupRepresentative§ Al-AnonandAlateenGroupsatWork(section)§ Pagesinindex–Anonymity§ pg155-157DutiesofAssemblyMembers(especiallyGroupRep.)§ pg179-180HistoryofConcepts§ pg181-183ConceptOne§ pg85-188ConceptThree§ pg199-202“Leadership”essaywrittenbyBillW.§ pg214-225ConceptTwelveandtheWarranties

*Area32AFGGuidelinesavailableonlineandbyrequestinhardcopy.

§ ContactCarolS:mtafgaltdelegate@gmail.com

FOR QUARTERLY AL-ANON DONATIONS: District:Makecheckouttoyourdistrictname,andmailorhandtoyourDistrictTreasureratDistrictmeeting.Area:Makecheckoutto:MontanaAFG.Sendto:MontanaAFG,2800NMontanaAvePMB188,HelenaMT59601WSO:Al-AnonWSO-1600CorporateLandingParkway,VirginiaBeach,VA23454-5617Reminder:PutAFGandyourAl-Anongroup#oncheckbookasnameofyourgroup,foranonymity.Makesurethegroupnumberisinthememoarea.LookintheAREAGuidelinesfor-howtoopenacheckingaccount.