The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
A friend of mine went to an alanon meeting and it was explicitly expressed that one could not share about something that wasn't alanon. I am just wondering exactly what that means?
anyone have a viewpoint on what that means? what is one discouraged from talking about?
Not sure what your friend was told, just can share for what goes on in my home group's meeting. We strictly adhere to only CAL (Conference Approved Literature) from The World Service Office of The Al-Anon Family Groups.
The reasoning behind this is to adhere to the traditions. Especially Traditions 5 & 10. 5 states we have but one purpose to help families of alcoholics; 10 - no opinions on outside issues.
Although there are other sources of self-help materials, religious books, worthy causes, etc. the Al-Anon meetings usually only use materials that have been approved through the World Service Office.
An example of this would be - I may be of a certain faith, and derive great comfort from a reading from that faith's book - if you were a newcomer to the meeting and I shared from that book, you may feel pressured that you would have to be of that "faith" to benefit from the Al-Anon program. But in reality, that is not so.
This is my understanding of why the Al-Anon Family Groups use only CAL in their meetings.
Glad you have joined MIP - Hope that you will keep posting & being a part of our MIP family.
Wishing you peace, Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
In addition to what Rita has already shared, AA materials are not discussed during Al-Anon meetings either. This issue has come up in my home group when we have had guests who are also members of AA.
All of these other materials are absolutely appropriate to discuss with others outside of a meeting. Personally, I have an AA Blue Book and the Little Red Book, both of which I read in addition to my CAL literature and books. It helps me understand what my AH is working on in his program and it helps me with my program as well--Al-Anon came from AA and I firmly believe that the defects of character that make my H an A also make me an Al-Anon. We are simply the opposite sides of the same coin in many ways.
Welcome and keep coming back!!
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Do not be anxious about tomorrow; tomorrow will look after itself. The Bible, from Courage to Change, p.138
Many come to Alanon wanting help for their Alcoholics instead of themselves. My home group states that we don't discuss treatment centers or things of that nature that don't pertain to the Alanon program. If we start discussing how to help the alcoholics with treatments, the focus is on them and not us.
Christy
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
I like your nick name too , cute. Our meetings stick to confrence approved literature as well , outside publications such as the Big Book of AA , Meloney Beatie books , other programs etc not be discussed at group level , what we read outside of meetings is our business . Also if a AA member attends our meetings we request that they not discuss thier AA program durring the meeting , thus the table card usually displayed at meetings Al-Anon Spoken Here. When out side literature is part of a meeting it can get confusing for new commers so by using Al-Anon lit durring meetings it Keeps everything Simple and focused . Louise
I have 3 f2f meetings that I attend regulary. One group sticks to the steps. If anyone brings up a topic they try to relate it to a step. So, anyone can bring up anything and we can figure out how to relate with which step seems most helpful. Another group is more like a group therapy. We adhere strictly to the traditions and CAL lit but it is freer form and we address the topic that someone brings up with our ESH. The other group I attend took a group conscience when it was started over 20 years ago to read from a non-CAL book. It is a Native American group and the meeting is held on the reservation and the book is a Native American daily reader. I was taken aback when I found out the book was not CAL but as it is group conscience I accept it and have learned alot from the meeting and the readings. So, I guess it depends on the group. Any questions regarding the specific group can usually be addressed and answered before or after the meeting or during a business meeting. Hope this helps...
