December, 2007
Al-Anon Family Group Service
The Intergroup Office provides the following services for Houston and Surrounding Areas (Districts 4, 5, and 7 of Texas East Area 53)
- Telephone Answered 7 days a week 713-683-7227,
Spanish: 713-681-1296 - Website: www.houstonalanon.org
- Current Meeting Schedule
- Literature Sales
- Other Local Services
Group Registrations
Thank you Al-Anon Groups who re-registered during our re-registration process. The response of registration is proof of how much you care for your program. The benefits include a Service manual for your GR, a Forum magazine, listing world wide thru WSO and Al-Anon Xtra newsletter. If your group does not have a group number nor has a change of information, please fill out a registration form.
You may receive a registration form online from WSO at their website www.al-anon.alateen.org (external). You may call us and we will mail one out to your group.
Please mail or e-mail a copy to WSO, your District Representative, ETAA records and the Intergroup Office. These addresses may be found in the latest Beacon or on the back of the original registration form received from the Intergroup Office. Please keep a copy for your records.
All registrations need to be updated with a current mailing address and/or group representative as positions change.
Service
Al-Anon Opportunities of Service
(We owe it so much and our help is needed!)
- GR (Group Representative) — this person represents your group’s voice at the District Meeting (usually a 3-yr term, can be the ISR Alternate.)
- ISR (Intergroup Service Representative) — this person represents your group’s voice at the quarterly ISR meeting (usually a 3-yr term, can be the GR Alternate.)
- BOD (Board of Directors) — a two-year term to determine how the Intergroup Office functions; each participates as an officer or different chairperson of committees for the Intergroup Office. Candidate must have 2 years of Al-Anon as their primary program. (We will need a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 new BOD in April of 2008.)
- Committee Members — a person who helps the Intergroup Office and the BOD with various functions i.e. newsletter, after-hours volunteer coordinator, helps with fundraisers, helps with outside literature sales, etc. (We have 4 events coming this spring and are in need of volunteers for outside Literature Sales and various other duties.)
- Office Volunteer — a person who comes into the office during business hours to help with duties; stamping of literature, inventory counts, filing, shred old paper work, putting the newsletter together, making bookmarks, etc.
- Outreach Volunteers — persons who—when called upon—go into the community to hand out materials for health fairs, speak to groups other than program members and Al-Anon members, take tapes or Beta videos to local Radio and Television stations, etc.
Applications for the above positions for the Intergroup Office may be found on our volunteer page.
Literature
Pamphlet Reviews
- Sponsorship, What It’s All About (P31) — Do you have a sponsor? Are you nervous about asking someone to sponsor you? Did someone ask you to be his or her sponsor? This recovery brochure lays out the “who, what, how and why” of Sponsorship. Expectations, roles and FAQs are included.
- Is Al-Anon for Men? (P1) — Yes! Al-Anon is for men. And this pamphlet tells you why. Excellent for newcomers who may feel out of place. It re-caps the Al-Anon purpose from a male perspective. Makes a few suggestions on how to get started and find a sense of belonging.
- Seventh Tradition (S-21) — “Every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” Most of us have heard this many times. We add our $1 to our meeting basket. But is that all this tradition is about? How about our time, talent and energy? Doesn’t Al-Anon need those as well? This pamphlet helps newcomers as well as veterans to Al-Anon understand the ideas behind service and giving.
New Literature
- Sponsorship Bookmark (M-78) — Green and white bookmark outlining the role and privileges of the sponsor relationship. Pick one up today for your sponsor/sponsee! In English and Spanish $0.10
- Al-Anon/Alateen 2006-2009 Service Manual (P24) — $5.25
- Al-Anon and Alateen Groups at Work (P27) — (a supplement of P24) basic information and framework to help groups to develop and grow. $1.10
- Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses (B-29) — A book discussing grieving, whether it is the loss of childhood, a marriage or family member separations. $15.00
Literature Price Changes
Support of the Bookstore through literature sales has been extremely good this year. The BOD has decided to give a gift back to our groups. The pricing will change for the following items:
- Newcomer Packets (K-10) from $1.95 to $1.25
- Al-Anon Adult Child Newcomer Packets (K-21), Men Newcomer Packets (K-23) and Parents of Alcoholics Newcomer Packets (K-24) from $2.75 to $1.80
- Schedules from $0.55 to FREE (to become a public outreach tool)
Reports
Telephone Calls
Intergroup Office Telephone Calls Received for the 3rd Quarter of 2007
| Type of Call | July | August | September |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime | 227 | 260 | 162 |
| Returned Messages | 8 | 20 | 5 |
| Night-time/Weekend | 47 | 48 | 38 |
| Spanish Line | 14 | 17 | 13 |
| Total Calls | 296 | 345 | 218 |
Many thanks to all our night/weekend phone volunteers, your dedication to keeping the hand of Al-Anon out for those who seek help is a testament to your love of Al-Anon and your program. We have 3 openings for English-speaking phone volunteers. We are also seeking Spanish-speaking individuals interested in answering phones for daytime / nighttime or any specific hours for a 24/7 answered Spanish Line. Please contact Antonia 832-472-3377 for the Spanish Line. We say “Thank-you! and Good Bye!” to Pilar A., Bob T. and Nan C. and “Welcome Aboard!” to Yolanda, Suzanne and Alice.
Office Volunteers & Public Outreach Events Report
Many Thanks to Alice B. for all help with Quickbooks, the help with the Fall Face2Face and during the transition to the new office. Also, to Lorrie H. and Antonia for all the time and effort scheduling afterhours phone volunteers. We thank our many volunteers who have helped with Literature sales with several events: Cathy W. – Spirit of Houston Conference, Pat B. – ETAAA, Linda F. – Mouth of the Brazos Conference in Lake Jackson, Lucy A. – Spectrum Conference and the Baylor Medicine Conference and many others who have helped the various health fairs through out the area. Lisa W. with the Speaker meeting at the Bay Area Club and the Woodlands. Thanks to the speakers who have spoken through out the area, Alice B., Peter C., Roosevelt S., John B., Melissa E., Ricky K., Ken P., Jody P., Ricky M., Connie F., and Angie G.
Face2Face Report
by Elizabeth O.The fall Face2Face was a success both in attendance and as a fundraising event. 208 persons attended and a little over $2900 was raised for the Houston Intergroup Office! Melissa E, Roosevelt S, and John B were the main speakers on the powerful topic of boundaries. Ricky K, Jody P and Ken P lead a thoughtful panel discussion.
Face2Face Raffle Items
October 20, 2007
We would like to thank the many Groups who donated Raffle Baskets at the Fall Face2Face. Instead of having individuals bring raffle items we asked groups to put together a basket to raffle to help raise funds for the Intergroup Office. Your Raffle baskets were a huge success. We really need Al-Anon participation in order to keep this office open and we congratulate you on your participation. The BOD is in discussion of the possibility of doing the same for the Spring Face2Face scheduled in April 2008.
~Al-Anon Family
Featured Article
Al-Anon/Alateen Helps Military Families
Recent published reports show that heavy drinking has increased in the military. What data has not shown are the effects of this drinking on others. For 55 years family members and friends of alcoholics have found help and hope in Al-Anon meetings. There are meetings held on or near military bases in the US, Canada, and around the world. Al-Anon provides a safe, confidential, and free place for military families to share with and learn from other family members and friends of problems drinkers.
The latest Al-Anon/Alateen Membership Survey (completed in November 2003) shows that 25% of Al-Anon members and 29% of teen members surveyed have a relationship with a problem drinker on active duty in the military. An additional 6% have a relationship with a reservist, and 10% of adult and 29% of teens are dealing with a problem drinker retired from the military.
The common bond among A-Anon/Alateen members (and indeed the only requirement for membership) is that there is a problem with alcohol in a relative or friend. The relationship with an alcoholic may be current or past, and members come together for mutual aid and support. There are no dues or fees for the confidential meetings. There are no professional counselors; members take turns facilitating the meetings where they share their own experience, strength, and hope with each other, to learn how to better cope with the effects of alcoholism on their lives.
Al-Anon (which includes Alateen for younger members) was founded in 1951 by the wives of the two early AA members, and has evolved from 87 scattered groups to the over 26,000 Al-Anon Family Groups in 115 countries that can be found today. Additional information is available on the Al-Anon/Alateen Headquarters website (external). For local meeting information, call 713-683-7227 or check out our meetings page.