August Report:

Note – the italicized text is included in my report as published in theSeptember/October Alagram. There is a difference because the web has no space constraints, so I can include more information in the web version of my report. The non-italicized text is additional information included in my report as posted to the District 5 website.

I am writing as your new District Representative (DR). I was the Alternate DR and will be completing this service panel and serving as your DR through December of this year. After much thought and prayer, Erik resigned as DR at the beginning of August due to the commitments and responsibilities of a new job. As Alternate DR, I worked closely with him for close to three years now, and I’d like to take this opportunity, on behalf of District 5, to thank Erik for his years of love and service at district level and wish him all the best as he focuses on the new challenges in his life – thank you, Erik!

I’d also like to express my appreciation for the words of support I’ve received over the last month from district members – thank you!

I have two primary areas of focus for this report – the upcoming Assembly and the upcoming district elections.

The Northern California World Service Area (NCWSA) Assembly is coming up in October (10/17-19.) These assemblies are an integral link between the individual Al-Anon groups and Al-Anon and Alateen as a whole. Every group in the Area has a voice and a vote in Area business through their Group Representative (GR). Area business is conducted at these Assemblies and through the participation of the GRs in the discussions and deliberations, the active voice of our groups leads to an effective group conscience in Area business decisions. Your GR can then report back to you on the decisions made at Assembly.

This is why it is so very important for each group to have a GR and to send their GR to Assembly. Since we know some groups are too small to have sufficient funds to send their GR, District 5 has established a Scholarship Fund to help send GRs to Assembly. [Note from Debbie - click here for more information.]

Some of the important Agenda items that will be discussed and voted on at the October Assembly are approval of the revised Area Bylaws, a motion to revise the current Area policy on service above the group level for dual members, and staggering the rotation of the service year panels across the districts in our Area.

PLEASE SEND YOUR GR TO ASSEMBLY!

I mentioned above that one of the agenda items at the October Assembly is a motion about revising the current Area policy on service above the group level for dual members. The actual motion is as follows:

"That the NCWSA change our guideline so that Al-Anon/Alateen member who are also AA members may be in service beyond the group level including Group Representative to Assembly except for positions that 'could lead to membership in the World Service Conference (WSC)' such as a District Representative."

Similar motions have been made previously to request that our Delegate ask that the Service Manual policy be changed to allow dual members to serve above the group level. This motion, however, is for our Area policy to be changed. This change would allow dual members to serve as GRs and Area coordinators in our Area.

Your GR has more information about this motion and some of the other agenda items. Your GR may want to discuss them at the group level to get input on how your group feels about this issue. While it is indeed both invaluable and crucial for your GR to know how your group feels about this issue, it is also the responsibility of your GR to vote as your trusted servant. There is a great reading in Hope for Today, on August 21, about this. It says, in part:

As a new GR I wanted to vote the way my group told me. We discussed the issues and members spoke in favor and against them. Before it was time to choose, the outgoing GR made a motion to let me use my best judgment. He said I would receive more information at the Assembly, and I wouldn’t have the opportunity to check with my group on every matter. Several members reminded us of Concept Three, “The Right of Decision makes effective leadership possible.” I couldn’t believe my group trusted me to speak for them. Nevertheless, I “Let Go and Let God” and trusted myself to make good decision at the Assembly.

The quote at the end says, “Being allowed to make appropriate decisions, to act freely without being hassled or second guessed, gives dignity to the person who is doing the job.” from The Concepts – Al-Anon’s Best Kept Secret?, p8.

Here is some additional information about the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Structure from our Service Manual.

Pages 55-59

The foundation of the Al-Anon Family Groups structure is the membership. The basic unit is the Al-Anon or Alateen group.

Group Representatives (GRs) are elected by group members. The GR is elected for a three-year term and represents the group’s concerns and wishes as well as informing the group of what is happening in Al-Anon beyond the group level.

There are two major lines of communication between the individual and Al-Anon and Alateen as a whole. The first is the World Service Conference (WSC) that directly serves Al-Anon and Alateen groups….The second is the clearinghouse known as the World Service Office (WSO) which acts as the service center for groups throughout the world…

The District is the first link from the groups to the WSO and the WSC…. The GRs from the district attend the district meetings to represent their group. Decisions may be made on holding local functions, doing local outreach, and news will be disseminated to and from the groups.

Each district elects a District Representative (DR), who may visit the groups and represents their voice at Area meetings. Each district may have officers and coordinators to help the district carry the message. The district and its officers are a resource to their groups, and may be called upon to resolve questions or problems.

Areas are comprised of groups and districts in a specific geographical space…. Every group in the Area has a voice and a vote in Area business through their GR. Each Area in the US and Canada is represented at the annual World Service Conference (WSC) by an Area Delegate, elected every three years by the GRs. Areas also elect officers and coordinators. All Area officers and coordinators are important links in the chain of service, and a resource to the groups and districts in their Area.

The Area Assembly is the business meeting where the groups send their representatives to express a voice and vote on behalf of the group.

In between Assemblies, Area Committee Meetings are held, attended by the Area Delegate, officers, coordinators, DRs and intergroup liaisons. At these meetings, the Assembly agenda is planned, information and reports are conveyed, and decisions may be made that cannot wait until the next Assembly.

The World Service Conference (WSC) is an annual meeting of the elected Delegates from each Area. Through the discussions and deliberations at the WSC, the active voice and effective group conscience of Al-Anon is heard on world service matters.

Delegate members attending the WSC are chosen at Area Assemblies by the groups through a series of elections. Having been elected in this democratic manner, they are entrusted by the group conscience in accordance with Concept Three to make decisions for the fellowship worldwide.

Here’s another way to look at and understand the structure:

Page 59

Each Al-Anon and Alateen groups elects a Group Representative (GR) and in this way connects to Al-Anon worldwide as described in Concept One. The GR attends district meetings, where problems are discussed and information is exchanged. GRs elect a District Representative (DR) to represent the district at Area Committee meetings.

DRs and GRs are expected to attend meetings of the Assembly whenever its Chairperson calls them. Once every three years, at the Assembly, the eligible GRs elect a Delegate to the WSC for the ensuing three years.

This succession of elected links gives each Al-Anon and Alateen group a voice in the WSC. The same links provide a continuous chain of communication for the flow of information between the groups, districts, Assemblies, WSC, and the World Service Office. When Conference decisions are made the same communication chain carries the information back from the Delegate, to the Assembly, to the DR, to the GR and to the group members. A group that fails to have a GR denies the members a voice and causes a break on the link of communications.

And here are a few more important pieces of information from the Service Manual.

Page 133-134.

The GR is elected by his group for a three-year term by any election procedure it chooses. A group may re-elect its GR for another term.

The GR attends the Assembly.

Each group provides its GR with sufficient funds to fulfill the GR duties including participation in the Assembly. Expenses may include meals, transportation, accommodations, and registration fees.

Each group supports the district in the purchase of public outreach materials and activities.

What this all comes down to is that each group participates both directly and indirectly in what happens to our wonderful program of recovery, the worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon and Alateen.

There is much, much more information about our structure, service opportunities, and Al-Anon/Alateen history available in the Service Manual. Copies of the Service Manual are available for purchase by any member. Or ask your GR if you would like more information about anything mentioned above.

It is also time for district elections. Our current service panel began in January 2006 and ends in December 2008. It is time for a new set of GR’s, coordinators and officers to be elected for District 5 to begin service in January 2009. GR’s are elected or re-elected by each group. Coordinators and officers are elected at the District 5 business meeting.

D5 Officer positions are DR, Alternate DR, Secretary, and Treasurer.

D5 Coordinator positions are Alagram, Alateen Safety, Alateen (Napa County), Alateen (Sonoma County), Archives, Cooperating with the Professional Community, Diversity, Info Line (Hotline), Institutions, Insurance, Literature, Public Information, Schedules & Voicemail, Special Events, Tape & CD Librarian, Website, AA Liaison, Alateen Treasurer, Bash Treasurer, Literature Treasurer, and Public Outreach Treasurer.

We will be electing D5 officers at the D5 October Business meeting on Tues, October 7, 2008. We will be electing coordinators either at the October Business meeting or at the November Business meeting on Tues, November 4, 2008. This will be decided at the September Business meeting on 9/2/08, so check with your GR for when the coordinator elections will occur.

Any Al-Anon or Alateen member is eligible to serve as a district officer or coordinator. If you are interested, please attend our election business meeting(s). If you are interested in finding out more about what the various responsibilities are for the different positions, please feel free to contact the person currently filling that position. Contact information for these positions is included in the Alagram and on our District schedules.

With gratitude in service,
Peggy P

July Report:

Happy 4th of July to all --
Boy oh boy time flies when you are having fun…

I started my new job about three months ago & I have been nothing but busy to the point of exhaustion & for sure to the point where I feel I have not been doing my job as your DR, which does not make me feel good.

I have missed two committee meetings & the One Day Assembly, & it looks like I will be missing the next Committee meeting in July as well because of work. I don’t consider myself a quitter, but if I cannot do at least some of the work that is required of me in service work I really have to ask myself & my higher Power if it is in the District’s best interest for me to stay - even if there are only 6 months left of my term.

I have been part of the District 5 By-Laws committee, & I am happy to say that we are moving along fine. We are hoping to finalize a draft of the by-laws after the Fall Assembly.

Napa County has a newly elected Alateen co-Coordinator. That is great news, since Alateen in Napa once again is buzzing, & lots of Al-Anons are going through the Alateen Safety Applications to become Alateen Sponsors. Does your community have Alateen meetings? Alateen Sponsors are always needed.

In the District meetings, we have had some interesting & informative discussions about anonymity & cross talk.

It is amazing how much “new” information comes up from listening to members & their experiences.

Have a great summer. Thank you for listening.

Al-Anon hugs,
Erik :-)

Top of Page

August Meeting Minutes:

August 5, 2008,
District 5 Meeting

7:03 new D.R. Peggy opens the meeting with the serenity prayer. Debra read from Tradition 8, and Bonnie read from Concept 8. Secretary Don read the July minutes that were accepted as corrected. Peggy asked for any new GRs present; there were none. Peggy is getting more information on how our district should manage our hotline. Peggy is also working on other officer/job descriptions.

The June 2009 convention is in need of committee chairpeople. There is new literature available. W.S.O. is suggesting that a copy of the "Forum" be included in the Newcomer pamphlet assortment. NCWSA is hosting an Alateen advisory committee during the October Assembly. Blogs are available on the website.

The next International convention will be in Vancouver on 2013. There are 755 meetings registered in the Northern California Area and 51 Spanish meetings. Peggy will be going to Sarah B's memorial and will provide car-pooling. Registration for the October assembly will be available online. Peggy also reminded everyone that new officers and coordinators are needed in December and GRs should approach their meetings for volunteers. Vicky will be coordinating car-pooling and rooms for the October assembly.

Old Business:

Our scholarship fund was brought up and a lengthy discussion ensued. Peggy asked that all GRs who needed money to attend assembly let the district know how much money they needed. Paula said that T shirts with the logo " watch us grow" will cost $160.00 (for a quantity). Debbie C. said that a dozen visors would cost $132.00, but if we purchased more, the cost per visor would go down.

Group Representative Discussion Forum

Bonnie asked how the secretary's from other meetings managed crosstalk. There was a lengthy discussion on this issue. Peggy asked for other topics. Vicky said that there is a large volume of un-claimed mail. The Alano Club is asking for an Al-Anon member to serve on their board.

8:32 The meeting closed with the Al-Anon Declaration.

- Don

Top of Page

July Meeting Minutes:

July 1, 2008,
District 5 Meeting

7:03 DR Erik called the meeting to order with the Serenity Prayer. Alternate DR Peggy asked for any new GRs present. One was present, whose name was Jay. Peggy also listed the candidates for Area officers. Sandy gave a report from the WSC. The highlights were a $95.00 per group average donation to Area in 2007. New literature is available on relationships. Pod-casts are now on the website. There will be a convention at the Santa Clara Marriott in June of 2009. There are no registration forms available for the 2008 Assembly yet. District Representative Erik expressed his regret that he hasn’t been able to keep up with committee meetings, and is thinking of stepping down from DR. Peggy said that the by-laws have taken up all of her spare time. Tina and Paula expressed their gratitude for our trusted servant, Erik.

At this time secretary Don read the June minutes. There were many corrections, and the minutes were accepted as corrected.

Coordinator's Reports:

- Alateen coordinator Darlene has flyers for many upcoming events. Alateen sponsor Cathy has her members do journals ,and she must get permission to publish them in the “Alagram.”

- Dora, our hotline coordinator, said that there will be a meeting at CoCo’s on Farmer’s lane on July 13 at 3:00 P.M.. She still has been very busy with the hotline.

- The site chosen for the “Bash” will be the Santa Rosa recreation hall. The theme will be humor in recovery.

- Everyone was reminded about our upcoming barbeque on July 26.

- Debbie C. passed out guidelines for writing a share.

New Business

- More visors are needed for the October Assembly. Debbie C. emphasized that all in attendance should be able to have the same T shirt &/or visor. Debbie will contact Linda Dowd for the source of the visors. There was much discussion on this.

- A Forum reviewer is needed for the WSO.

- Louise is looking for money for literature. There was much discussion on this.

Erik announced that our August meeting will again be at the Alano club.

8:25 The meeting closed with the Al-Anon Declaration.

- Don

Top of Page

June Meeting Minutes:

June 3, 2008,
District 5 Meeting

7:10 P.M. D.R. called the meeting to order with the Serenity Prayer. Alt. D.R. Peggy read from tradition 6, and Sharon read from concept 6. Don read the May minutes that were accepted as corrected. Erik said that the July District 5 meeting will be located at the Santa Rosa Alano Club. Debbie C. will post this on the District 5 Website. Peggy asked for new G.R.s to introduce themselves. Brenda from the Monday night meeting in Guerneville, and Barbara from the Wednesday meeting in Healdsburg were present. Peggy said that the new candidates for delegate were Jackie, John, and Cathy. The candidates for Alt. delegate were Cathy, Patrick, Jackie, Lori, and Nancy. The Candidates for Chair were Cathy, Carol, Nancy, Lori, Johanna, and Patrick. The candidates for treasurer were Carol, Johanna, and Bruce. Coordinators are still needed. The candidate for treasurer was Johanna, and the Candidate for AAPP was Johanna. The election will be on October 17-19 , and the by-laws will be approved then. This is the 2008 Assembly, which will be held at the Burlingame Crowne Plaza.

Peggy said that quarterly appeals letters being sent out by WSO are intended for individual donations. Area inventory will be taken at the committee meeting in July. Peggy said that Vickie will become a trustee. Cybil is standing for the Napa Alternate Alateen Coordinator. A vote was taken and Cybil was voted in unanimously.

GR's Reports:

- Erik said that he had to focus on detaching from work concerns.

- Shireen said that a certain amount of time needed to be devoted to “venting.”

- Chris said that her group has time limits on “venting.”

- Peggy said that members of her group sign-up for business meeting topics that they wish to discuss.

- Amy, from the Wednesday night Santa Rosa group, said that her group had adopted a new meeting agenda.

- Sharon would like more discussion on the subject of crosstalk.

- Debbie C. said that the District got an email through the website from a GR who wanted to know how all the other meetings define cross talk, and encouraged meetings to participate.

- Jessica doesn’t like people giving unsolicited advice, and desires that all grievances be discussed openly.

- Theresa said a sign-up calendar is passed around for chairing meetings. Members are concerned about time limits and crosstalk.

- Karen was embarrassed and humiliated by accusations against her for crosstalking.

- Tina suggested that members refrain from using sentences with the word “you” very often.

New Business

A new Alateen treasurer is needed, and in November, all new positions for the next 3-year panel will be voted in.

Old Business

The Purchase of a laptop was tabled. District Secretary Don can barely keep up with recording the minutes in his own version of short hand, and can barely type 5 words a minute. The District treasury now has a prudent reserve of $2100.00.

Debbie C. reminded everyone that a motion had passed last year that 25% go to Area, 25% go to WSO, and the remainder stay with District 5, in case the District wanted to use the guideline of what they had already voted on to decide what to do with the District's excess funds.

WSO can provide the actual posting for our portable billboard.

The Alateen literature was tabled until July.

8:30 The meeting closed with the Al-Anon Declaration.

- Don

Top of Page

August Treasury Report:

- Tina

July Treasury Report:

- Tina

June Treasury Report:

- Tina

May Treasury Report:

- Tina

Top of Page

August Report:

Hi all,
We were discussing the Assembly Scholarship fund at the August District meeting. This topic was discussed at length last year, and the record of those discussions is still up on the web, here. I have updated the page for 2008, including the registration form (the link is in the “how does our GR register” question of the FAQ.) The form is not up on the ncwsa site as of this writing; I am so happy to be able to provide it on this site.

I got a couple of emails last month that I’d like to share. One was from a lady suggesting that I change a May item from the News page that a meeting “had moved as of…” My reply was that the Meetings page is correct, but I do not go back and "update" old news months. It is there as a record of what the news was in May of 2008.

This might be a good opportunity for GRs to familiarize your groups with the jump menu at the top of the page that you can use to jump to whatever month and section you like (calendar, service reports, member shares, and sometimes calls for volunteers). There is no need to scroll down to get to the months you haven't read yet.

If your group would like to send in a "share" about how you like your new location (or anything you like) to keep news of your group fresh I would be happy to put that in as a GR service report. I add new things monthly and archive the page every 4 months, so August will go on the current page and then there Sept-Dec will go up (the jump menu has links to all the archived pages.)

Another email correspondence involved a suggestion that we “have a listing of some of the info from flyers that the Reps. bring back from the Dist Meetings on the website somehow.”

I am very grateful that our Concepts say that every service position is clearly defined. Our District site posts District-level events, and flyers when available. Thankfully, it is not supposed to be all things to all people. For events outside the District (our site) or Area (ncwsa site), I would encourage people to start with our Resources page and follow the links to outside sites such as the World Services site, which lists websites for some Areas and Districts, or just to google Al-Anon in a particular location if you are trying to find a specific event.

If someone wants to be a "flyer coordinator," however, I would be happy to meet with them and help figure out how they would need to configure the material so it could go up on the web under a coordinator’s report. Any trusted servant can send whatever type of report or announcement they like at any time, and I will be happy to put it up on the web.

Lastly, to the current group reps, officers, and coordinators, the request is still active for you to send in your “job description” before we vote on the next panel of trusted servants. Your description could be as simple as listing what your service duties were and approx. how long it took you to perform them each month, or you could add whatever you want to share about your own experience of doing that position. Read more about it here.

Volunteers are still needed to develop the “Procedural Manual” outlining the responsibilities for Officers & Coordinators, something the District has identified as desirable to have before the new panel is voted in this fall. Whether these projects succeed depends upon the level of participation of all concerned.

Love in service,
Debbie C.

July Report:

Dear members, if you have ever felt reluctant to send in a share because you have read something like it before, please know that what you share from the heart is not considered “copying.” We would love to hear from you! It helps our recovery to read your personal shares and to be touched by all that we have in common.
Want some ideas for writing shares? Check this out!

Please send in shares to
district5alanon@yahoo.com and jkterry@sonic.net

Another plea to send me stuff: There are many District-level service positions that follow the 3-year model – Group Reps, District Officers and Coordinators. I am very grateful to Teresa for submitting her share – please follow the Read More link, above, to see the whole share. I hope it inspires more of our current batch of trusted servants to send in descriptions of their service positions. I would love to have them all up on the web where anyone thinking of volunteering for the next panel (January 2009 – December 2011) can read about the positions and possibly be inspired to step up to District-level service.

Our District Rep, Erik, has called for volunteers to develop a “Procedural Manual” (guidelines) outlining the responsibilities for Officers & Coordinators, something the District has identified as desirable to have before the new panel is voted in this October. Whether these projects happen depends upon the participation of all concerned.

So, to the current group reps, officers, and coordinators, please email me and make this project a success. Your description could be as simple as listing what your service duties were and approx. how long it took you to perform them each month, or you could add whatever you want to share about your own experience of doing that position. We are not trying to replace official World Service guidelines where they exist, just trying to let people get a sense of what serving in our District might be like to help with their informed decision-making process (after which the new panel has the Right of Decision to do the job as it suits them… as always, “Take what you like and leave the rest!”)

To those thinking of serving next time, please don’t let the 3-year commitment deter you from volunteering. When I became a GR, I did not know if we would have to move out of Sonoma County, so I told my group I would do the job as long as I could if they wanted to vote me in… they did, and now here I am almost 3 years later, serving out my entire term as well as having taken on the website position at the District level. (So yes, it was on my to-do list to practice what I preach and write the “job description” for the website coordinator position!) Also keep in mind that all of the service positions can have Alternates if there are enough volunteers; part of the beauty of Al-Anon is that we don’t have to do things alone.

Love in service,
Debbie C.

Top of Page