Serenity Prayer:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Al-Anon LITERATURE SAMPLES
- Newcomer's Packet: https://al-anon.org/series/welcome-newcomers/
- Conference Approved Literature (with samples): https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/feature-publications/
- Chapter excerpts from Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature: https://al-anon.org/blog/category/sample-chapters/
FREE DOWNLOADABLE COPY OF THE AL-ANON SERVICE MANUAL (2022-2025): https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/service-manual/
FREE DOWNLOADABLE AL-ANON PAMPHLETS
https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/downloadable-items/
and
Forum excerpts - june 2024
I Found My Safe Space
I first set foot in Al‑Anon because of my mother’s drinking. My partner, who is in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), suggested Al‑Anon, and so did other outside help. At that point, I had been to some open A.A. meetings, and I craved the feeling of community I witnessed there.
One night, the day after my birthday, I hastily decided to go. “It’s now or never,” I told myself, knowing if I kept procrastinating, I’d likely not follow through. I knew Al‑Anon would not stop my mom or any alcoholic from drinking, but I also knew I couldn’t hold the weight of the disease on my own any longer.
The first night, I listened as others shared, and when it was my turn, I shared what I was grateful for, rather than what was truly in my heart. The person after me shared her hurt, anger, and raw emotions. I remember thinking that I felt the same way and wishing I had shared more honestly. I thanked that person after the meeting. Her honesty helped me realize that Al‑Anon is a space where I can be the real me. I’d never had that space at home. Here I could be grateful and devastated.
Al‑Anon is a safe space where I can process my experience within the community. I walked into Al‑Anon during a time when I was convinced I would lose everything to my mom’s drinking. Now, with almost four years in the program, I have gained so much. I’ve gained irreplaceable friendships, a Sponsor, community, safety, and endless tools. Though it wasn’t a way to save or change my mom, Al‑Anon changed and saved me.
By Ashleigh S.
The Forum, June 2024
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
NOTE FROM AL-ANON WORLD SERVICE ORGANIZATION
Maintain Your Anonymity on Social Media
According to social media research, nearly 3.5 billion people now use social media and are spending an average of nearly 2.5 hours every day on social networks. With stats like those, it’s no wonder that social media can be a great place to carry Al-Anon’s message of help and hope.
But before we as individuals start tweeting and posting, we need to consider the impact it may have on our personal anonymity as well as Al-Anon as a whole. As expected, we have members on both sides of this pendulum. Some are very cautious while others are more accepting when it comes to social media.
On page 122 of the 2018-2021 Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27), the “Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies” states, “Members maintain personal anonymity in all forms of public media including press, radio, films, TV, the internet, as well as other ways of reaching the public.” So how can you carry the message on social media and maintain personal anonymity? By liking or sharing Al-Anon WSO content to your network but not commenting about your Al‑Anon membership. The act of liking/sharing alone does not break your anonymity; Facebook is public so anyone, regardless of their relationship to Al-Anon, is free to like/share our content. We have several professionals and professional institutions who engage with our content on a regular basis.
Not commenting about your Al-Anon membership is key. If we publicly declare our membership on social networks, we risk becoming the “face” of Al-Anon, and any statements we’ve made or photos we’ve shared on social media, any time in the past, could potentially draw Al-Anon into controversy. We must remind ourselves that maintaining our anonymity is how we safeguard our program.
So, while it’s safe to hit the Like and Share buttons, we want to avoid comments stating that we are grateful members of Al-Anon—leave that for the rooms.
For more information, go to: https://al-anon.org/blog/maintain-your-anonymity-on-social-media/?utm_source=intheloop&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20190904ITL&utm_term=EN-textlink1_Read-more_&utm_content=/blog/maintain-your-anonymity-on-social-media/
AL-ANON PODCASTS
Please follow the links below to the Al-Anon World Service Organization's main web page. There are free podcasts available there on basic Al-Anon topics.
https://al-anon.org/newcomers/first-steps-al-anon-recovery/
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Did we cause our loved one to drink?
What does it mean, our lives became unmanageable?
Why did I feel afraid to go to my first Al-Anon meeting?
How did I feel at my first Al-Anon meeting?
Copyright © 2024 AFG District 39 - All Rights Reserved.
District 39 zoom business meeting on Sat Oct 5, 10-11 AM
All members are welcome! Please join us via zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4370448401?pwd=MmorbFhWTnlmc1V0ZjdaT0wyUEFkQT09
Meeting ID: 437 044 8401
Passcode: 637647