Upload
others
View
6
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
WelcometoAreaAssembly!YouarethemostimportantpeopleattheAssemblybecauseyouaretheonlymembersattheAssemblywhohaveavoteatthebusinessmeeting.YourvoteconnectsthemembersofyourgrouptotheworldwidefellowshipofAl-AnonanddeterminesthewayAl-AnoninMontanafunctionstohelpfamiliesofalcoholics.YouareatrustedservantwhoreliesonguidancefromaHigherPoweranddirectionfromthegroupconscious.Itisahumblingandempoweringexperience.AllofusontheAreaCommitteesayCONGRATULATIONSonbeingelectedtoserveasaGR.Enjoyyourterm.
What is theGRexchange? It isameetingheldateachAssemblytoprepareGRsfortheAreabusinessmeetingandtoallowGRstoshareinformationandexperience,strengthandhopewitheachother.
MynameisCarolSullivanandoneofmydutiesatAlternateDelegateistochairthismeeting.mtafgaltdelegate@gmail.com406-261-2744.Pleaseshareyourthoughtsandideastohelpmakethisexchangemeaningfulandproductive.
INFORMATION Foundinyour2014-17ServiceManual
WhatismyjobasaGRatanAssembly?Toattendthebusinessmeetingandtoexpressavoiceandvoteonbehalfofyourgroup.
WhicheventsontheAssemblyscheduleamIsupposedtoattend?• GRExchangegathering(GRschool)• BusinessmeetingonSaturday,bothmorningandafternoonsessions.
WhatdoIneedtotaketoanAssembly?
• Al-Anon/AlateenServiceManual
• Pen/papertotakenotes
• CopiesofminutesfromthepreviousAssembly.AvailablefromyourDistrictRepresentative(DR).
CanIrepresentmorethanonegroupatanAssembly?No.
Whatwillhappenatthebusinessmeeting?
TheAreabusinessmeetinghasamorningandafternoonsession.You’llreceiveanagendawhenyouarriveatthe
businessmeeting.Atypicalbusinessmeetingincludesthefollowingitems:§ Delegate’sReport§ MinutesfromthepreviousAssembly§ AreaTreasurer’sReportandbudget§ Workshopsputonbycoordinators
AL-ANON GR EXCHANGE
§ ReportsfromAreaCoordinatorsandDRs§ UpdateonAl-AnoneventsincludingRoundupandAssemblies§ DiscussionofissuesaffectingAl-AnoninMontana
HowdoIlearnaboutissuesthatarecomingupforavoteatAssembly? TherearecertainitemsthatrequireavoteateveryAssembly.Votingissuescomeoutofdiscussionsheldthe
eveningbeforetheAssemblyAreaWorldServiceCommittee(AWSC)meetings.ThesemeetingsareattendedbyDRsandtheDRssharethatinformationattheirDistrictmeetings.
WhatifsomethingcomesupforavoteinthebusinessmeetingbutIhaven’thadachancetotalktomygroup
aboutit? MostnewGRswillstrugglewiththisandthesolutionwillcomeasyoustudytheTraditionsandConceptsof
Service.Basically,TraditionTwosaysthatyouareatrustedservantandConceptThreeallowsyouarightofdecisionasatrustedservant.ThereisanexcellentdiscussionofthisunderConceptThreeintheServiceManual.UsuallytheprocessofchangeinAl-AnonisslowandthoroughsoGRsareverypreparedbythetimeanissuecomesupforavote.Anotherscenarioisthatyoumayhavetakenagroupconscienceatyourhomegroupaboutanissue,butthenyoulearnnewinformationattheAssemblythatchangesyouropinion.Doyouvoteasyourgroupconsciencedictatedorfollowyourownconscience?Thisagaininvolvesmutualtrustbetweenthegroupanditstrustedservant.AtanAssemblyyouarepartofaninformedgroupconscienceandConceptThreeallowsyouthefreedomtomakeyourbestchoiceonbehalfofyourgroup.Ifyouarereallyuncomfortableaboutavotebecauseyoudon’tunderstandtheissueorthinkitshouldgotothegroupsfirst,thensaythattotheAssemblybeforethevoteistaken.Chancesareotherswillfeelthesameway.
Whatistheprocedurefordiscussion/votingduringthebusinessmeeting?DuringthebusinessmeetingtheChairwillfollowsomebasicrulesofparliamentaryprocedure.Whenanissuecomesupforavote,thefollowingstepsoccur:
1. AmemberoftheAssemblymakesamotion2. Anothermembersecondsthatmotion3. Thereisdiscussionaboutthemotion4. Avoteistaken,usuallybyashowofhands“InFavor”and“Opposed.”Onelectionsorsensitive
issueswrittenballotsmaybeused.5. Theminorityopinionisofferedanotherchancetospeakafterthevote
Motionscanbetabled,whichmeanstheywillcomebackupatalatertime.Amotioncanbechangedorrescindedbythepersonwhomadeit.SometimestheChairwillaskyoutousethemicrophonetospeak.Theremaybeatimelimitpershareoralimitofoneshareperpersononanissue.TheserestrictionsarealwaysannouncedaheadoftimeandtheyareusuallyimposedbecauseofAssemblytimeconstraints.
What is the voting structure of Al-Anon?
Al-Anon’sservicestructurecanbeconfusingwithalltheacronymsandrules.Bepatientwithyourselfandtrytopickupalittlebitatatime.Beforelongyou’llbeanexpert!
ThechartaboveisasimplifiedviewofhowvotingworksinAl-Anon.ThemainpointhereisthatasaGRyouareavitallinkintheflowofinformation,electionofadelegate,andpolicychangeaffectingthefellowship.YouarethebridgebetweenthemembersandthewholeAl-Anonservicestructure.
WSC -AlldelegatesmeetannuallyfortheWorldServiceConference(WSC).SinceGRselectadelegate,thevoiceofthegroupsiscarriedtotheConference.
Area Assembly -MontanaAreaismadeupof13districts.GRselectaDelegatetorepresentthemattheWorldServiceConference.AreahastwoAWSCmeetingsandtwoAssembliesperyear.
District -Madeupofgroupsinageographicalregion.GRselectaDistrictRep(DR)torepresentthematAreaWorldServiceCommittee(AWSC)meetings
Group -electsaGRtorepresentthematDistrictandArealevels.
Whovotes?Delegates
Whovotes?GRs
Whovotes?GRs
Whovotes?Members
Information
Information
Information
TOOLS
InAl-Anonwealwaystalkaboutusingthetoolsoftheprogram.WhattoolsareavailabletohelpGRsdotheirjobs?Someexamplesarelistedhere.
SponsorHigherPowerTraditionsConceptsLong-timeMembersServiceSponsor 12StepsDistrictMeetings Al-AnonWorldServiceOfficewebsite:www.al-anon.orgMTAreawebsite:http://mt.al-anon.alateen.orgConferenceSummariesavailableontheWSOwebsite
Contacts TheAreaSecretarykeepstrackofthenamesandcontactinformationforallofthemembersontheAreacommittee.DuringthetermDRswillreceiveanupdatedcontactlistifanythingchanges.YourDRhasacompletecontactlistofalltheofficers,otherDRsandcoordinators.
CurrentAreaofficers2016-18.Delegate–ElaineDotsonAlternateDelegate–CarolSullivanAreaChairperson–ConnieWineAreaSecretary–LoriKaschtAreaTreasurer–PamCunningham
A few spiritual principles to remember
ThreeObstaclestoSuccessinAl-Anon–pg54ServiceManualAllAl-Anondiscussionsshouldbeconstructive,helpful,loving,andunderstanding.Instrivingtowardtheseideals,weavoidtopicsthatcanleadtodissensionanddistractusfromourgoals.ConflictResolutionUsingOurTwelveTraditions(S-72)
• DiscussionsofReligion:Al-Anonisnotalliedwithanysectordenomination.Itisaspiritualprogram,basedonnoparticularformofreligion.Everyoneiswelcomenomatterwhataffiliationornone.Letusnotdefeatourpurposebyenteringintodiscussionsconcerningspecificreligiousbeliefs.
• Gossip:WemeettohelpourselvesandotherslearnandusetheAl-Anonphilosophy.Insuchgroups,gossipcanhavenopart.Wedonotdiscussmembersorothers,andparticularlynotthealcoholic.OurdedicationtoanonymitygivespeopleconfidenceinAl-Anon.Carelessrepeatingofmattersheardatmeetingscandefeattheverypurposesforwhichwearejoinedtogether.
• Dominance:Ourleadersaretrustedservants;theydonotgovern.NomemberofAl-Anonshoulddirect,assumeauthority,orgiveadvice.Ourprogramisbasedonsuggestion,inter-changeofexperience,androtationofleadership.Weprogressinourownwayandpace.Anyattempttomanageordirectislikelytohavedisastrousconsequencesforgroupharmony.
GroupConscience-pg53ServiceManualThegroupconscienceistheresultofthegroup’sbusinessmeetingdiscussions.Thegroupconscienceisthewillofthegroup.TheguidingprinciplesforthegroupconsciencearealwaystheTwelveTraditionsandtheTwelveConceptsofService.Itmaybehelpfulforthegrouptoreviewtheseprinciplespriortoanygroupdiscussions.Somesimplegroupdecisionsmaybedecidedquickly;however,othersmaytaketime.Itisbytakingthetimenecessarytohearfromallmemberswhowanttoparticipatethatagroupconscienceevolves.Inordertomakeaninformedgroupconsciencedecision,membersneedaccesstoalltheinformationabouttheissuetheyarebeingaskedtodiscuss,theyneedclarityonwhattheirdiscussionshopetoaccomplish,andtheyareaskedtotrusteachother’smotivesandcapabilities.Bysharinginformationasequals,takingtimefordiscussion,andmaintainingprinciplesabovepersonalitiesduringthediscussions,groupsareoftenabletoreachunanimityintheirdecisions.Ifunanimityisnotreachedintheallottedtimeframeofthemeeting,discussionsmaycontinueatanothertime.Onceagroupconsciencedecisionismade,theentiregroupsupportsthedecision.UseofConferenceApprovedLiterature(CAL)inMeetings–pg102ServiceManualTokeepAl-Anon’smessageinfocusandencourageunity,onlyAl-Anon/AlateenConferenceApprovedLiterature(CAL)andAl-Anon/Alateenservicetoolsaredisplayed,distributed,andusedatAl-AnonandAlateenmeetings,includingmeetingsatconferencesandconventions.Theseitemsreflecttheinformedgroupcon-scienceoftheAl-AnonFamilyGroupsasexpressedbyitsWorldServiceConferencesince1961.A.A.literatureisnotusedatAl-AnonmeetingsbecauseitiswrittenforandfromtheviewpointofalcoholicsandisnotAl-Anon/AlateenConferenceApprovedLiterature.RelianceonopinionsexpressedinA.A.andotheroutsidematerialscandistorttheAl-Anonapproach.ConferenceApprovedLiteratureprovidesaunifiedviewofAl-Anon/Alateentomembers,professionals,otherindividuals,andoutsideagencies.(SeeAl-AnonSpokenHere[P-53],WhyConferenceApprovedLiterature?[P-35],andthe“ThreeObstaclestoSuccessinAl-Anon,”asfoundinAlcoholism,theFamilyDisease[P-4]and“GroupsatWork”[P-24].)
AcronymsandCommonTermsDefinitionsarefoundinyourservicemanualAAPP AreaAlateenProcessPersonADR AlternateDistrict RepresentativeAFG Al-AnonFamilyGroupAGR AlternateGroupRepresentativeAIM AlateenInterestMeetingAIS Al-AnonInformationServiceAMIAS Al-AnonMemberInvolvedinAlateenServiceAWSC AreaWorldServiceCommitteeBN MotionsbeforetheywerenumberedC CurrentMotionCAL ConferenceApproved LiteratureCMA CurrentMailingAddressCPC CooperatingwiththeProfessionalCommunityDR District RepresentativeGR GroupRepresentativeIAGSM InternationalAl-AnonGeneralServicesMeetingISR InformationServiceRepresentativeKBDM KnowledgeBasedDecisionMakingLDC LiteratureDistributionCenterLMD LastMaintenanceDateNCRD NorthCentralRegionalDelegatesmeetingNERD NorthEastRegionalDelegatesmeetingNWRD NorthWestRegionalDelegatesmeetingODAT OneDayAtATimePI/CPC PublicInformation/Cooperatingwiththe
ProfessionalCommunityPMA PermanentMailing AddressNWRD SouthCentralRegionalDelegatesmeetingSERD SouthEastRegionalDelegatesmeetingSMR SuspendedMailRecordsSWRD SouthWestRegionalDelegatesmeetingTEAM TogetherEmpoweringAl-AnonMembersWSC WorldServiceConferenceWSO WorldService OfficeCOMMITTEE-Originatingbody.TASKFORCE-Temporaryunitofpeopleestablishedtoworkonasingledefinedtaskoractivity.Theyarethedoers.THOUGHTFORCE-Temporaryunittoresearchideasandpossibilities.Theyarethethinkers.WORKGROUP-Originatingbodyassignedtopursueandimplementmultipleduties.(Longterm)
7
AFG CON NE CTS USE R GUID E AFGCONNECTSisanewlydesignedcommunicationandsharingtoolthatdoesjustwhatitsays-connectsAFGgroupsworldwidebyprovidingdiscussionboards,documentsharingandadministrationhelp.ThislinkhasatutorialvideoforsettingupyourAFGConnectsaccount.http://www.al-anon.org/tempconnect/AFGC_User_Guide_Video.mp4ContactWSOforyourinitialusernameandpassword.Emailmeatmtafgaltdelegate@gmail.comforauserguideprintoutformatorquestions.
References
LiteratureguidelinesdownloadableontheWSOwebsite:§ StartinganAl-AnonGroup:G-12§ GroupRepresentatives:G-11§ Groupinventory:G-8§ CooperationbetweenAl-AnonandAA:G-3
Pamphlets§ WhenIGotBusy,IGotBetter:P-78§ TheConcepts–Al-Anon’sBestKeptSecret?P-57§ Al-Anon’sTwelveTraditionsIllustrated:P-60
Al-Anon/AlateenServiceManual
§ Pagesinindex–GroupRepresentative§ Al-AnonandAlateenGroupsatWork(section)§ Pagesinindex–Anonymity§ pg155-157DutiesofAssemblyMembers(especiallyGroupRep.)§ pg179-180HistoryofConcepts§ pg181-183ConceptOne§ pg85-188ConceptThree§ pg199-202“Leadership”essaywrittenbyBillW.§ pg214-225ConceptTwelveandtheWarranties
*Area32AFGGuidelinesavailableonlineandbyrequestinhardcopy.
§ ContactCarolS:[email protected]
FOR QUARTERLY AL-ANON DONATIONS: District:Makecheckouttoyourdistrictname,andmailorhandtoyourDistrictTreasureratDistrictmeeting.Area:Makecheckoutto:MontanaAFG.Sendto:MontanaAFG,2800NMontanaAvePMB188,HelenaMT59601WSO:Al-AnonWSO-1600CorporateLandingParkway,VirginiaBeach,VA23454-5617Reminder:PutAFGandyourAl-Anongroup#oncheckbookasnameofyourgroup,foranonymity.Makesurethegroupnumberisinthememoarea.LookintheAREAGuidelinesfor-howtoopenacheckingaccount.