Delegate’s Corner

Sponsorship Skits/Handouts from July 2024 Assembly

Commentary from July 2024 Communicator

There are two things most people don't like: Change and The Way Things Are.

I am one who does not mind change; in fact, I like it most of the time. However, when it comes to reducing the number of assemblies, I am concerned. Here is why.

How much time do we need to spend on Al-Anon?  Good question, right? Al-Anon teaches us: "First Things First." What happens to our Al-Anon programs when we put other things ahead of our recovery?  It is said that alcoholics need their AA meetings, because it is a matter of life and death. I was in worse shape than the alcoholic before I got into Al-Anon. The alcoholic wasn't suicidal, I was.  For me, it was a matter of life or death.

How important is service to one's program? It is said that there is a difference between relief and recovery. Relief is reading the daily reader and working the Steps; for recovery, we need to work all Three Legacies--the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts. The Concepts are all about growth through service. How important was Al-Anon to Lois and Anne B? I know that sounds extreme, but I think of where commitment to Al-Anon was back in 1951. Is it the same today?

Why do we do service? It seems to me that service is our commitment to give back for what we have been given. It comes from sacrifice and wanting to grow. But this commitment to service is slowly fading.

There are certainly barriers to doing service, but service is not a commitment of convenience. The fellowship gives us options through support to overcome these barriers. Couldn't caregiving be done by others? Couldn't members share rides to get to meetings or service? Couldn't groups or districts do fundraisers to fund their GRs? In my opinion, money for the Area (Tradition Seven) is not in the equation. Whenever the Area or WSO send a special appeal letter, the membership answers the call. We are told to think abundantly.

My concern is that by going to only two assemblies a year, Al-Anon Area service becomes less important, and that is the message given to newcomers in service. I do not see wasted time at assemblies, and we work the complete hours 99 percent of the time. Are we fitting our Area service to what is convenient at a cost to our Area and the program?

I experienced the shortening of the World Service Conference from five to four days. WSO sends out information ahead of time, and during the discussion on this topic at Conference, there was only one delegate who was for shortening WSC to four days. The delegates felt stressed, pushed and did not have time to process what was presented to us. Even some of the trustees felt the same way.

This is my heartfelt opinion--just my experience, strength and hope--and I want to thank those of you who read this article. It will also be posted to the Area website under the Service Menu at the Delegate's Corner.

Your Delegate, 

Joanne C., Panel 62