Al-Anews

Our Newsletter

July, 2008

(Available as PDF)

Editions

2007

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Do we have an e-mail address for your personal copy of the Al-Anews and other information coming from the Intergroup Office, District and WSO? Send us an e-mail and request to be put on our mailing list: alanon@houstonalanon.org

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)

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (except holidays)

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 ewsletter. If your group does not have a group number nor has a change of information, please fill out a registration form. If you face a dilemma with registration please contact the Intergroup Chair Ricky M. .

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

(Let the hand of Al-Anon be there…)

  • 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; Must have 2 years of Al-Anon as your primary program.
  • ISR (Intergroup Service Representative) — this person represents your group’s voice at the quarterly ISR meeting (A suggested 3-yr term, can be the GR Alternate.)
  • Committee Member — 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.
  • Office Volunteer — a person who comes into the office during business hours to help with duties: stamping of literature, inventory counts, filing, shredding 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. (Outside Literature Sales, Health Fairs and various other opportunities outside the office.)

Applications for the above positions for the Intergroup Office may be found on our service page.

Great News!

Our Office Is Growing! The Board of Directors has approved the addition of a full-time Office Manager to increase service level to our groups. If interested, please check this job posting at www.houstonalanon.org for details.

Upcoming Opportunities to Serve In Our Communities

  • Alateen Young Adult — needed to speak and to answer questions of a Junior High Audience in the Spring Branch Area. September 2008. Contact the office for more details.
  • Several Individuals are needed to hand out materials for — 2009, Catholic National Council on Alcoholism and Related Addictions Expo, March 11-14, 2009 (this is a 4 day event and many English and Spanish speaking Al-Anon’s are needed.) Contact the office for more details.

Events

Events Calendar 2008

See our events page.

Al-Anon Adult Children Conference

Connie F.

The Al-Anon Adult Conference was quite a success and a good time and a prime learning opportunity was had by all who attended. Attendance was approximately 200. Look for another conference some time in the future. Al-Anon Adult Children will be hosting a Parenting Speaker Meeting sometime in the future. Watch our website for future changes.

Face2Face Gift Baskets

We would like to thank the many Al-Anon Family Groups that donated Raffle Baskets at the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 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. If you are interested in bringing baskets for the Fall Face2Face, please contact Orville B. at the Intergroup Office!

Literature

Pamphlet Reviews

Elizabeth O.

  • Why Anonymity in Al-Anon? (P33) — Perfect for newcomers, this pamphlet instructs us on the spirit inherent in Traditions Twelve and Eleven. Personal experiences are shared clarifying why we are not just guarding our identify and those of the alcoholics. Anonymity allows us to share from the heart, and know that it will not be repeated. Great piece for newcomer packets.
  • A Member's Guide: Working As A Professional, Working with Professionals (P-34) — This pamphlet answers questions regarding professional interest in Al-Anon as a tool in the recovery of families of alcoholics in the light of our Traditions. What is the difference between cooperation and affiliation? May professionals attend closed meetings? Many questions are answered in this power-packed pamphlet using the Twelve Traditions as a basis. Excellent for members in the helping professions, students of helping professions and members who want to volunteer at treatment centers and carry out CPC (Cooperating with the Professional Community) work.
  • Purpose and Suggestions (P-13) — Crucial for anyone new to Al-Anon, this pamphlet describes how we help each other by sharing experience, strength and hope. Basic to Al-Anon Family Groups is our common bond: to help families and friends of alcoholics. We learn that whether or not the alcoholic has found sobriety, we can do a great deal to help ourselves. Suggestions for newcomers, and what to do if the alcoholic is in AA or not in AA is outlined. The Twelve Steps and Serenity Prayer are included. Great for newcomers!

New in the Bookstore

  • 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. $1.35

Books Coming in July

We have a few books coming out in July. They will make their first appearance at the International Conference.

  • Discovering Choices (B-30) — $16.50
  • Abramos el Corazon, transformemos nuestrasm perdidas (SB-29) — $15.00

Reports

Telephone Calls

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 Myria S. 281-208-3759 for the Spanish Line.

We say “Thank-you! and Good Bye!” to Lorrie H., Pilar A., Bob T., Jeanne A. Marilyn P., Jennifer M. and Nan C.; and “Welcome Aboard!” to Cindy L., Robin OM., Fran S. and Alice B.

Office Volunteers & Public Outreach Events Report

Many Thanks to: Alice B. for all her help with QuickBooks and the help with the Spring 2008 Face2Face; Lorrie H., Antonia and Myria S. for all the time and effort with the scheduling of the after-hours phone volunteers.

We thank our many volunteers who have helped with Literature handouts and literature sales at several events. Thanks to The Westbury AFG, Cathy W., Fran S., Lisa L., Pam D., Angie G., La Porte AFG (Donna C. & Katherine C), Atascocita AFG (Sue V. and others), Karen T. and many others who have helped with the various health fairs and other events throughout the area.

Thanks to the speakers who have spoken throughout the area: Lynn D., Angie G.

Thanks to Lynn for all her hard work trying to get the local Radio and Television Stations to air Al-Anon’s Public Service Announcements. To the many volunteers whose hands help orchestrate Face2Face and the election of the New Board of Directors — without your love and attention, these events would have not been successful. Thank you.

Board of Directors

Welcome Aboard

We welcome aboard our newest Board Members: Ricky M. (email), Alice B. (email), Orville B. (email) and Becca H. (email). We look forward to a new adventurous path the Office will be taking.

We say "Goodbye" and "Thank-you" to Jerry D., Suzanne I., Wendy S., Sally R., Lucy A. and Roy W. These folks have served us well with new direction and inspiration; it is hard to see you go. We thank Tina P. for staying on as the recording secretary as a non-voting Board Member. Your Service to Al-Anon has brought us stability and continuity.

Message From Ricky M.

From the desk of the chair

I hope you are all having a wonderful cool summer! My name is Ricky M. I come this way as a new Intergroup Board member for the next two years! I will serve this year as the Chairman. Boy, do we have an excited Board of Directors.

First, there is Alice B. (email) who will serve a one-year term as Treasurer. She has been dedicated to the Intergroup office administration and has been unbelievably successful! Last year she helped facilitate the Intergroup Office move to their new location, and has shown the need and quantifies a new hire of a full-time position for an office manager. She is also credited for the Spring Face2Face and has an expertise at business organization. Alice B.’s favorite phrase is "God is good!" He sure has been to us!

Then there is Becca H. (email), serving a two-year term, who has a great desire for service and wants to learn through action — from the Interim-treasurer to taking on the Chair of the Fall Face2Face! She brings new ideas that will make you want to reserve your seat early, because "once they are gone they are gone!"

Saving the best for last is Orville B. (email) who has the "Wisdom of Solomon!" His soft-spoken demeanor macerates the hardest conflicts. He has served as an Intergroup Board member before and has come to us at the perfect time of transition; we are grateful to have him.

Did I say transition? Yep, we learn that change is good in Al-Anon and boy, are we going-in big. The best way to find out what your Board is up to is by staying-tuned to their (text only) located on the website. If you read closely, you will find a marvelous array of new and exciting instruments of change!

And of course, change can be sad too. We want to recognize Pat B. for her long-term service in the Intergroup Office and express our gratitude to her abundance of help in her tenure. She has elected to move on to greater pastures. She will be sorely missed.

Again, we look forward to moving Intergroup to serve you in a healthy productive means,

God Bless,
Ricky M.

Featured Article

The Fellowship of Al-Anon

The common bond among Al-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.

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