November Report:

What Service Means to Me – A Cycle of Growth and Recovery in Action
I am writing this as I leave a service position and take on a new one. At our October District 5 Business Meeting, I was elected District Representative for District 5 for the next three years. I am delighted to accept this position and am proud and humbled to serve in this capacity for you. And it is you that I serve – all the groups in District 5 and their individual members. I look forward to what the next three years bring to District 5 and to me personally in my recovery.

I realized as I was thinking about what to write that I will probably have an overall theme for my service as your DR, that theme being the incredible opportunities for growth and recovery that are offered to us through service, by giving back to the program. I want to share with you the growth I have experienced myself and witnessed in others in service to the program. I want to excite you, motivate you, energize you, encourage you, and make you curious about service – wanting and willing to explore what service has to offer you.

I have held a number of service positions and am just leaving one that has reminded me yet again of the miraculous opportunities that come our way in service. I have served over the last three years as the Area’s Bylaws and Insurance Coordinator. What I get to see at this level of service is growth and recovery in action. District and Area service involves keeping Al-Anon alive and thriving – conducting the necessary business to keep Al-Anon alive as an organization. This is so crucial because this means that our meetings can continue to thrive so anyone affected by someone’s drinking can find the help they need. At our district and area meetings, I have witnessed our Steps, Traditions, and Concepts in action as difficult issues are discussed and resolved – or not resolved but discussed again and then resolved – as people’s differing, passionate opinions are heard and respected. It is almost beyond what words can describe to witness our Higher Power in action:

• as we each individually “turn our will and our lives over…”
• as we Let Go and Let God.
• as we experience Traditions One and Two in action.

As I mentioned, this is the end of a 3-year panel of service. Many of the people leaving their Area service positions shared about the growth and recovery they experienced:

• “It has not only helped my own recovery, but because of what I have gained from being in the arms of Al-Anon, my community has benefited as well.”
• “…service has kept me busy and allowed the program to take an active place in my life. You are truly my family of choice and I do love you all whether you like it or not.”
• “I had to learn that what I was able to do was enough.”
• “I learned I could take it one day at a time and if I couldn’t do something that had to be done, someone would take it for the rest of the team.”
• “…service is the fast track to recovery.”
• “Service for me helps keep me grounded.”
• “Doing service gives me an opportunity to practice the principles of this program for and with people who understand.”
• “Doing Al-Anon business, we love and support each other in our recovery. And in doing that, I have learned to love and respect you all.”
• “The best way to learn is to have fun.”
• “The opportunity to serve…was the opportunity of a lifetime and when I entered these rooms on my hands and knees, I would never have dreamed life could be so good.”
• “Let us each remember that our service in Al-Anon does not ask for proficiency to serve, only a willingness to be of service.”
• “I keep being challenged to go beyond what I think I’m capable of doing. Somehow my Higher Power is always there, if I just ask for help and trust he will put people there to guide and be supportive. I had to be still and know he was there.”
• “A wonderful way to learn Progress, not Perfection!”
• “My relationship with and connection to my Higher Power is much stronger as a result of my service - I have been forced to learn to turn things over and to remain open to the guidance of my Higher Power.”

District 5 had great representation at the Assembly with almost 30 GRs attending, one of the largest groups there. Some of the business conducted – discussion and approval of the revised Bylaws; election of a new delegate, officers, and coordinators; discussion on changing the Area policy around dual membership service (to be discussed again at next Assembly). Ask your GR for more details about their Assembly experience.

With gratitude in service,
~Peggy

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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

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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 :-)

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November Meeting Minutes:

November 4, 2008,
District 5 Meeting

7:03 D.R. Peggy called the meeting to order with the Serenity Prayer. Barbara read from Tradition 11; and Wendy read from Concept 11. Don read the October minutes. Wendy motioned to accept the minutes as corrected, and Jessica seconded the motion. Jenny has new Alagrams available. Barbara asked for more speakers on the speaker list. She is also compiling new guidelines for the new Group Representative introductory packets. Peggy reminded everyone to include their WSO group # in any correspondence with WSO and also any donations to the District or Area. She also recommended that no personal addresses should be used. Peggy asked for interest in a May Assembly; possibly located in Sonoma county. This new business was tabled. There will be a Pacific Region AA Service Assembly on 6-9 March 2009 in Oakland, California. It includes full Al-Anon participation. The topic will be: Discovering Choices. At this time, Peggy asked for opinions related to attendees experience at this year's Assembly.

Coordinator’s Reports:

Mark S., the head honcho for our December 6 "Bash," said that the deadline for turning in gift baskets to Marci is November 29. On 6 November, there will be a "walk-through" at the S.R. Rec. Hall at 415 Steele Ln. At this time, Debbie C. stood for the Alternate D.R. position. Both Debbie C. and Barbara spoke about their dedication to service. A vote was taken and Debbie C. was elected as our new Alternate D.R.

Election of New Coordinators:

• Karen was voted in as our new District Treasurer. /li>
• There are no candidates for our AA liaison.
• Debra Y. was voted in as our new Alagram editor.
• Alateen/Napa Cybil was voted in.
• Jaya was voted in as our new Alateen coordinator/Sonoma County.
• Wendy was voted in for our new position of Alateen/Public Outreach.
• Darlene was voted in as our Alateen Safety coordinator.
• Patty was voted in as our Archives coordinator.
• There are no candidates for the Diversity coordinator.
• Geri S. was voted in as our Information Line coordinator.
• Jessica was voted in as our Institutions coordinator.
• There were no candidates for our Insurance coordinator.
• Paula was voted in as our Literature coordinator.
• Debbie C-H was voted in for the new coordinator position of mail.
• There were no candidates for the media Tape/CD Librarian.
• There were no candidates for PI/CPC.
• There were no candidates for special events coordinator.
• There were no candidates for schedules coordinator.
• There were no candidates for voicemail.
• Jenny was voted in as our website coordinator.
• There were no candidates for Alateen treasurer.
• Elizabeth was voted in as Literature treasurer.
• Irene was voted in as Public Outreach treasurer.

The potluck for our December meeting will start at 6 P.M. in order for Alateen sponsors and coordinators to participate. Debbie C. urged anyone knowing about meeting closures during the Alathons to email this Information to her for the website.

8:37 The meeting closed with the Al-Anon Declaration.

- Don

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October Meeting Minutes:

October 7, 2008,
District 5 Meeting

7:00 D.R. Peggy called the meeting to order with the Serenity Prayer. Theresa read from both tradition and concept ten. Don read the September minutes that were accepted as corrected. Peggy asked for any new Group Representatives present to introduce themselves. Those present were Mike and Steve, who Peggy gave new Group Representative packets to. Tina will coordinate the election of the DR.

New Business:

"Bash" coordinator Mark S. has more flyers for the event, and is now putting together gift baskets for the raffle.

Barbara stood for Alternate District Representative vacated by Peggy for the rest of this panel and was voted in. District treasurer Tina stood for District Secretary for our next panel and was voted in. Peggy spoke of her appreciation of service. Peggy was formally voted in as District Representative for the next panel at this time. Mike suggested a new coordinator position of public outreach for Alateen, and Peggy suggested a new coordinator position for collecting and displaying mail in District 5's PO box. Marta made a motion to create the new coordinator position of public outreach for Alateen, and Wendy seconded. Theresa made the motion to create a mail coordinator service position, and Patty seconded. A vote was taken with the result of 16 for, 9 against and 5 abstentions, and the vote passed. Debbie C. made a motion to create the position of group records coordinator, and Jenny seconded. Tina will be our first group records coordinator.

Thirty members of District 5 will attend Assembly. There will be $190.00 available as part of the scholarship fund. One Alateen will also be attending Assembly. More rooms may be available at the hotel. Vickie spoke on her coordination of rooms and rides to Assembly. Paula displayed the "T" shirts, and Debbie C. displayed the wallets available for Assembly. Peggy will identify tables reserved for our District at Assembly. The issues to be discussed and/or voted on are: - Dual membership; - new panel every year, instead of 3 years; - by-laws. Mark B. will record the lyrics to the rap-chant:

"We District 5, We Al-Anon family, We are gangstas of recovery, We gonna hit you with self-discovery."

Old Business:

Tina wishes to send Alateens to Assembly. Tina also wants the District to donate another $500.00 to Alateen. In addition, $250.00 will come from the Literature treasury. A vote was taken on this and it passed. Dora, our hotline coordinator, is ill and cannot help with the hotline.

GR Reports:

Debra, (St. Helena), Wednesday, would like to see more members in her group.

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

- Don

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September Meeting Minutes:

September 2, 2008,
District 5 Meeting

7:02 New district representative Peggy called the meeting to order with the Serenity Prayer. Secretary Don read the August minutes that were accepted as corrected. Peggy told the members that due to limited time; not all topics on the agenda will be covered in this meeting. Louise M. is still asking for paperback books for distribution in the prisons. At this point, Peggy asked for any new GRs to give their names/groups. None were present. A discussion now centered on the ways and means to select new officers and coordinators. A vote was taken, and we will elect new District officers in October and coordinators in November.

At this point Muriel, our Public Outreach coordinator, informed all that the booklet Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2009 is available.

Coordinator’s Reports:

Mark S., our "Bash" coordinator, now has flyers for the "Bash." Planning meetings are held on the last Friday of every month at 6 PM at the Rohnert Park IHOP. On September 9, a "walk through" will take place at the "Bash" site - the Santa Rosa Recreation Hall.

Vickie, our Assembly coordinator, is passing around a clipboard/sign-up sheet for rides and rooms to Assembly. Debbie C., our Webmaster, had handouts with questions and answers on the Assembly scholarship funds available.

Wendy, our Alateen treasurer, is concerned about their prudent reserve. She stated that Alateen needs about $500.00. At this point Muriel, our Public Outreach Treasurer, said she could donate to Alateen from her treasury. Peggy pointed out that if groups donate specifically to Public Outreach, we cannot use those funds for other things. Debbie C. remembered the tabled motion about a District laptop and suggested not giving away all the excess District funds without putting some aside until this topic is discussed. Peggy tabled the issue. Karen, our literature treasurer, said that literature has very large expenses coming soon, and cannot contribute any money to Alateen. Debbie C. made a motion that the general District treasury donate $500.00 to Alateen, and Paula seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed.

Peggy emphasized that District will still be able to provide scholarship funding for GRs short of cash to attend Assembly. There will be twenty GRs currently going to Assembly. AA liaison Mark Demonstrated a "rap chant" to show our team spirit at Assembly. Debbie C. showed everyone a sample of the lanyards available for $300.35 or 100 neck wallets for $239.46. Paula said that "T" shirts are available for $8.00 ea. Wendy made the motion and Tina seconded to purchase the wallets and "T" shirts. A vote was taken and the motion passed. Peggy reminded all GRs that registration for Assembly is due by September 15. Peggy said that the Area by-laws are printed in the current "12 Stepper" and urged all GRs attending Assembly to read them before attending Assembly. The GRs should also study the information on dual membership. Peggy also explained the requirements for officers and coordinators.

Debbie C. said that our website now has the news and events page up for September through December.

Jenny, our Alagram coordinator, gave her thanks to all who helped with the Alagram.

Wendy is suggesting colored comic pages be brought to the "Bash" committee meetings to be used for decorations.

The hotline issue will be tabled.

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

- Don

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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

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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

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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

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October Treasury Report:

- Tina

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September Treasury Report:

- Tina

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August Treasury Report:

- Tina

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July Treasury Report:

- Tina

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June Treasury Report:

- Tina

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May Treasury Report:

- Tina

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October Report:

This is Election Season -- No, not that election, lol. Along with the Area positions your GRs will elect at the upcoming Assembly, our District officers and coordinators will be elected for the next panel of service (2009-2011) at the next two District meetings. So, for anyone who may wish to stand for election to any of the coordinator positions, you can read some of the “job descriptions” here. Some are new since the last time I posted about this. I am so grateful to the trusted servants who sent in their descriptions – you rock!!! There is also the complete list of Coordinator positions that we will be voting on, for the convenience of anyone in your groups who is thinking of serving.

Please also note on the News and Events page that the info for the Thanksgiving Alathon is up. If your group meets on Thursday and decides not to meet on that day, please email as soon as you know so that I can get an accurate list of temporary meeting closures up on the website.

Below are the charts showing the District website’s page hits for June - September.

Love in service,
Debbie C.

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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.

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November Report:

I Have the Family Disease of Alcoholism. I have been in the Al-Anon program for over six years and have grown in many ways. I have learned that alcoholism is a family disease, and I defiantly find it is always present, whether the alcoholic is drinking or not. I have been affected. Just like the addict, I suffer from problems that affect or affected my relationships, friendships, employment, my childhood, parenthood, love affairs and marriages. All of these suffer from the family disease of alcoholism.

Before coming to Al-Anon, I was so ill in my disease I was losing focus on reality. I became obsessed, anxious, and angry. And all of this I hid. I hid how I felt and almost stopped feeling altogether. I was anesthetized. I was in the clutches of a powerful and cunning disease. Just like the active drinker or drug addict, I had the same symptoms. I was part of a pattern of behavior that lurked around the corner. I do not need to go to a bar or get some sort of drug to “fall off the wagon.” I just have to slip back into old behavior.

The work I have done in Al-Anon can not be found in the room of a therapist, tried that; it can not be found in a shopping mall; it can not be found in material things. I found the help I needed from you. You who show up to meetings and share your experience, strength and hope with me. I want to thank you for listening.

Working the program, for me, is also doing service. Now, the close of my three-year commitment of being editor of the Alagram is here. This is my final issue. I feel a sense of fulfillment and pride. I have had a good ride doing this newsletter, and I am ready to hand over the job to someone else. Moving on is made so much easier because of the program. I want to thank you for letting me be of service. We grow together because of hard work and each other.

Best,
Jenny

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Dual Member Policy Dilemma:

It isn’t hard to imagine some members’ eyes glazing over at the thought of a “boring” business meeting. But as my group’s representative (GR), I have found a lot of serious program and recovery at the monthly District meetings and the four Area Assemblies I have gone to during this 3-year panel of service.*

I have also witnessed some powderkegs, including the perennial Dual Member debate. The Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual outlines current AFG’s policy on dual members: “Because of the unique nature of both programs, Al-Anon/Alateen members who are also A.A. members do not hold office beyond the group level” (2006-2009 edition, p. 79).

In 2006 a motion was tabled that the GRs voted on in 2007, proposing that our Area’s delegate bring up changing this policy at the World Service Conference (WSC). The motion was voted down, but if it had passed the next step would have been to ask the WSO to take the issue to groups worldwide. Other people might be able to tell you what worldwide percentage would be required to make such a change. I don’t have it in my notes, but I did write down the quote from someone who popped up right after the vote to say, “It will continue to be discussed until we as an Area are in substantial unanimity.”

And so it was, for a motion was immediately made to change the Area guidelines so that dual members could serve at the Area level, except for positions that could lead to membership in the WSC. (This, by the way, is similar to the way our District currently operates, allowing dual members to serve above the group level except where it would lead to Area-level service.)

That series of events felt to me like not taking no for an answer. Evidently this has been going on for over 30 years, and each time it is brought to the WSC it is voted down about 80% to 20%. This year the Area-level motion was voted down by “substantial unanimity” at this fall’s Assembly (2/3 “no” votes). It was also pointed out that even if it had been approved, the motion would not have been able to go into effect because it was in conflict with several statements in the Area bylaws, such as one mentioning following the current policies of the World Service Conference. (Our District, by the way, gets around that conflict by stating in our bylaws that we “shall defer to, but not be bound by” various AFG guidelines.)

Upon hearing the conflict comments, someone immediately made another motion to change the bylaws. If the new motion is not withdrawn, this is what the next panel of GRs will be voting on. The motion’s initiator refused to do so when asked whether he could just have acceptance that the policy is the group conscience of 80% of those at the World Service level. A longtime Area trusted servant stated that “The issue is people not accepting the group conscience of Al-Anon as a whole. We have agreed as an Area to abide by the World Service Conference policies.” Well, not all agree, and so the debate continues.

Sometime during this discussion there was a District Rep who came up to the microphone and stated that to pass the motion would mean breaking with the WSO (the statement really applies to either of the above motions). That was short and sweet. To understand the implications of that, allow me to share a background story...

As a GR instructed to conduct thorough group conscience sessions for the 2006-2007 motion, something rather surprising came to my attention. Members who felt very strongly on both sides of the issue came up to me and expressed shock to find out that our District was not in line with World Services on this policy. Of course those on the pro-change side were also shocked that the WSO had the policy at all, but there was something else, something deeper going on. These were longtimers with a strong understanding of AFG’s service structure and of a certain fundamental. 

What they shared and the look in their eyes showed some sense of betrayal, which literally means breaking trust, and I realized that in a way that is what our District's policy was doing. When members shared the harm that breaking with the WSO in this matter had caused, I thought at some point we might want to revisit the issue. What individuals decide is between them and their Higher Power, but as a body it seems we might want to “keep our side of the street clean.” I felt it was worth sharing this with the Assembly, because putting that motion into effect might have caused the same unintended consequence at the Area level.

An essential part of what we as trusted servants are being entrusted to do is to preserve and keep the structure of Al-Anon intact. This is so fundamental you can read it over and over in conference-approved literature, the Forum, hear it on speaker CDs and at Assemblies, etc. etc. For instance, in another context at this Assembly the current WSO delegate stated, “We need to stay in unity with all groups and follow what the Al-Anon program advises.” (This sounded to me like a direct reference to Tradition 1, “Our common welfare should come first; personal progress depends upon unity.”)

CAL Guideline G-3, Cooperation between Al-Anon and A.A., relates this idea directly to the dual member policy: “Because of the separateness of the Al-Anon and A.A. fellowships as stated in Tradition Six, Al-Anon policy is that world service offices beyond the group level, such as Group Representative (GR), should not be filled by Al-Anon/A.A. members. The need to focus at all times on the Al-Anon interpretation of the program could produce a conflict of interest or erode the separate singleness of purpose of each of the fellowships at Assembly and world service levels.”

Preserving Al-Anon is like a “prime directive,” to put it in words of my own understanding, something we are entrusted to do beyond whatever our specific service task may be. The next Area motion would basically be proposing to break with the WSO in the same way our District already does, and I would personally oppose it for the same reason. There is more to the story about people sharing how they had been mislead, how it causes harm, and how I think we should revisit this issue and examine whether we are keeping our side of the street clean at the District level, but this particular share is about Area Assembly. These are not considerations about dual member policy “as we would have it,” which I don’t take a definite side on. They are instead considerations of AFG “as it is,” and the obligations entrusted to those who choose to serve.

For me, one of the most resonant parts of the long version of the Serenity Prayer is, “Taking this world as it is, not as I would have it.” It did seem to me that a lot of what continues to go on at Assembly are efforts trying to force solutions as some would have it, rather than accepting the fellowship as it is. There are of course plenty of arguments for wanting to make the change, and I hope those who have this desire in their hearts continue to go through the proper channels and bring up the delegate motion again as they said they would do.

I am not going to list “as we would have it” arguments for either side of the issue. I’m sure other people will be more than happy to do so. Send letters to the editor! For me, it all boils down to individual opinion, and as all our opinions are equal we could be arguing this for a thousand years. Whichever side is in the minority has Concept 5, “The rights of appeal and petition protect minorities and insure that they are heard.” AFG’s brochure The Concepts: Al-Anon’s Best-Kept Secret? even points out that “members with minority views actually have a duty to present a minority report to the Conference when they believe that a wrong decision could seriously effect Al-Anon.” I have heard it said, and it could be argued here, that this concept only guarantees the right to be heard. After that Tradition 1 takes effect. However, I have to admit I have a tendency to want to cheer on the underdog at Assembly.

Given that – plus the fact that our fellowship is “democratic in thought and action” and thus reminds me of the principles of free speech and the free interchange of ideas that our country is founded upon - I find myself rooting for the “change” side and wincing if at times they appear to alienate the majority. A theme of a recent WSC conference was “Building Bridges.” In contrast, it sometimes felt like the “change” initiators were burning bridges, or at least drawing up the bridge and pouring boiling oil on the heads of those knocking at the gate of their castle.

Hope I didn’t just lose you with that metaphor. Obviously it was exaggerated, to illustrate how each time this issue is discussed at Assembly the energy feels very fraught with tension. I believe that is because we all want connection (hence the “knocking at the gate” image) and feel bad when there is such a huge disconnect. Just my opinion, but scheduling that motion at the end of a tiring three days instead of earlier when we would have had time to come together and heal might not have been the best placement. It might have been nice to have more time for the group energy to reconnect before Assembly was over.

In the previous years of this panel, our District's GRs were asked to conduct thorough group conscience sessions around the dual member policy. With healing in mind, I tried to create a space where my group’s members felt safe expressing their opinions, some of which were very strong and divergent, by invoking out Concept 4, “Participation is the key to harmony,” and pointing out that our fellowship is composed of many voices with different opinions all singing together to make that harmony.

I cannot shake that “all together” idea. The two sides of this year's dual member motion were not reaching any kind of middle ground. In brief, the presenters based their position on "Let It Begin with Me," whereas the opposers felt it was a case of breaking with AFG as well as being against the Area by-laws. Might as well be comparing apples and oranges. In this instance as well as re. opinions on the dual member policy in general, I thought of the parable of the blind men and the elephant. You know, the one where a blind man feels the side of the elephant and thinks it’s a wall, another feels the tail and thinks it’s a rope, another feels the trunk and thinks it’s a snake, etc. Then they are all convinced they are right and the others are wrong, and none realize they are all a part of the same thing. In some mysterious way it felt to me like the two sides feel separate but are really grasping different ends of the same elephant. (Would that be "the elephant in the room"?)

What the answer to that might be is beyond my understanding. Fortunately, I don’t have to understand – that is what Higher Power is for! To be honest, there are good and bad arguments on both sides of the issue. To me, the best arguments on both sides are right. So it ends up like that old experiment – light is a wave or light is a particle – both theories are true, but both cannot exist at the same time and place. Depending on how you look at it, one point of view displaces the other. There are limits to our capacity, so we just keep trusting Higher Power and, hopefully, cheer each other on in harmony.

Love in Service,
Debbie C.

– Opinions expressed are those of the individuals. “Take what you liked and leave the rest.” Those with other points of view are happily encouraged to send in your shares!

*Quick review: Al-Anon Family Groups (AFG)’s service structure starts with Groups that are joined in geographical Districts, which make up larger Areas that together make up the World Service Conference. Your GR is your voice and vote not only at District meetings but also at the Area business meetings known as Assemblies, where among other things the GRs elect a Delegate to the WSC. Tradition 2 states, “For our group purpose there is but one authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants – they do not govern.” Every other level of AFG exists only to serve the groups, in accordance with Concept 1, “The ultimate responsibility and authority for Al-Anon’s World Services belongs to the Al-Anon Groups.”

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