Al-Anon and Alateen are self-help recovery programs for people who believe their lives may have been affected by someone else's drinking. We come together to find help and support in dealing with the effects of alcoholism on our lives. The single purpose of these programs is to help families and friends of alcoholics, whether the alcoholic is drinking or not.
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Answers to the Frequenly Asked Questions
- What is Area?
Area is the geographical grouping of Districts. Calgary falls within Area 80. Area 80 encompasses Alberta, Northwest Territories, and SE British Columbia.
- What is Assembly?
Assembly is the meeting of all Group Representatives, District Representatives, and Assembly Elected Officers for a specific Area. Issues affecting Al-Anon at the Area level are discussed. Any issue that requires a change is voted on. There is only one vote per group. It is usually the Group Representative that attends but another individual may represent their group if the Group Representative is not available.
All Al-Anon members are welcome to attend Assembly. Area 80 meets in Central Alberta twice a year; once in the spring and again in the fall.
- What is Area World Service Committee?
It is the group of Al-Anon members who meet to create the itinerary for the Area Assembly. Area 80 includes all Area Officers and Coordinators (i.e. Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, etc.), District Representatives, Al-Anon Information Services Chairpersons, and the Literature Distribution Centre Chairperson.
- What is an Area Delegate?
It is an Al-Anon member elected at Assembly to represent the Area at World Service Conference. They represent our issues at the World level. Area Delegates from Canada and the United States meet once a year, usually in the spring, to discuss issues affecting Al-Anon at the World Wide level. They meet for about five days with all other delegates. This is a three year term position.
- What is World Service Conference?
It is the gathering of all Area Delegates from Canada and USA, World Service Office Officers, and representatives from other Al-Anon Areas throughout the world. They meet every year, usually in the spring, for a period of about five days to discuss issues that affect Al-Anon at the World Wide Level. There is much work that goes on throughout the year by conference members. A summary of each conference is published every year. This is available to any Al-Anon member. It can be purchased in Calgary at our Literature Distribution Centre or from our World Service Office at www.Al-Anon.Alateen.org.
- What is a Trustee?
It is an Al-Anon member elected to represent a geographical region that contains multiple Areas. There are also a few elected Trustees that are not attached to a specific geographical region, they are called Trustees at large. They serve a three year term and there is a formal election process. The Board of Trustees direct the business operations of the World Service Office, look after the welfare of the legal rights of the Al-Anon fellowship, and ensure our Al-Anon principles are protected in the process.
- What is World Service Office?
It is Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. It is currently located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Our Executives, Officers, and staff work from this location in providing service and guidance to the fellowship as a whole. More visual aspects of this office are: the publishing of all our Al-Anon Literature, our monthly Al-Anon magazine called the Forum, our world wide web site, servicing our toll free world meeting information, group records, group mailings, public service announcements – radio and TV, etc.
- What are the Concepts?
The Concepts are the Third Legacy (One being the Steps and Two being the Traditions) of Al-Anon. They are the tools of service. They ensure that the principles of the Al-Anon program are upheld in our Service work, which is another tool of recovery.
- What are the General Warranties?
The General Warranties are five statements created to guide the decisions made at the World Service Conference level-see Member FAQ #40. It ensures that Al-Anon’s Traditions are adhered to in the daily operation of our Organization and the servants who make those decisions on behalf of the Al-Anon Fellowship.