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.
After finding out that someone had posted a rather nasty message on this board regarding our groups registration with the World Service Office, which was removed by a board moderator, I wrote the following email and decided it might be best if posted here as well for every one to read. ************
Not sure who I'm addressing this to, but it really doesn't matter, hope you will read it and better understand;
I welcome the group to take its own position regarding WSO registration. Should it elect to do so, then someone other than myself should be willing to pursue it and bring about the nescessary changes. We were registered until 2 years ago or so.
Our group was registered with WSO on February 21, 2003. Our registration # was 067088. I will gladly post a scanned copy of this registration online for your viewing. It was not an "intention" to register, it was done.
When I was informed that our registration had expired by another group member, I looked into the situation, and reported my findings to the group during a group business meeting. Many things had changed regarding online policy by WSO since we were orginally registered. Being one of the very first online groups to register, WSO had not fully worked out all the kinks and details that came about in Conferrences since the start of online meetings. Once they had (over several years), and started to impliment them as policy, it was determined by the group that many f2f Al-Anon groups are not registered, and the conditions set for us to register the "online" group would actually do it (the group)more harm than good. Such as; To register the group, it would have to be on an "independent" website, not affiliated or associated with any other. Each group on MIP is a separate enitity, and is not affiliated or associated with any other group on the site, nor is it affliated with the site any more than a group is affliated with a church. The site provides the space for the groups to hold their meetings. Our group is not any more affiliated or associated with the site, any more than a Al-Anon group that gathers were other 12 step groups gather for meetings in a church, alano club, etc. besides the fact that they all have the 12 step recovery method as a modality. We are not even affiliated with the AA group, we would mostly likely work with them in a spirit of cooperation, as suggested by the WSO (if need be) but that would not constitute an association with their group.
Next, type "online al-anon meetings" on your google search engine. Our group comes up twice on the first page of results. It takes a great amount of work and a very long time (approx 2 years) to get such a high ranking on the internet. People do not look at page 47 of search engine results, they rarely will look past the first 2 pages of results. We are in the first 10 results on the first page(twice) out of 267,000 possible search matches. What good are we as a group if we can't reach the online community and the newcomer can't find us? I personally would not be willing to reinvest my energy or time in doing twice what I have done very successfully once. I however would not balk at anyone else who wanted to do so. However, MIP's room would remain open and available to Al-Anon's that wanted to enter it, attend meetings in it, provide service work in it, and help the newcomer in it. It is strickly for the use of Al-Anon members, old timers and newcomers alike that want to utilize it as a safe haven, a place to care and share.
Secondly, as for books... even when we were registered, WSO asked that we not put "graphics" of their books on our site because it somehow cut into where WSO makes the majority of their funds.. from the literature. However, the books are being sold through one of their own "authorized distributors"...Amazon.com which provides the graphics. The books being sold on our site does not take one penny from them any more than the books bought in a Books a Million store, or Barnes & Noble bookstore. So, we would be registered, not be given permission to quote any thing more than we can legally to start with, and while being registered and reconized as a Al-Anon group at the WSO level, we still would not be allowed to put graphics of al-anon literature on our web page?? We would be registered, but still not able to quote anything more than a paragraph in a meeting, and not be able to provide our members to easy access to CAL literature by using the same graphics that authorized distributors use and who our books are sold through, to attract the potiential buyers attention to them. In short, WSO will register us, but keep our hands so tied that as a group we are not able to be any more effective in carrying the message of Al-Anon than an unregistered group is. Unfindable, grossly limited in what can be quoted of the literature in online meetings, and not given easy, user friendly access to the CAL to purchase online.
When you understand what they give "permission" for us to quote in meetings... we don't need their permission to do so, simply because it does not violate any copyright to quote the "small exert" that they grant permission for, so long as they are not able to be compilled, combined and printed equalling a single full page of text. There is not any book in the world that a paragraph, (what WSO gives permission for) being quoted "in a chatroom" would violate the copyright of. Quoting a exert from a book that doesn't allow a full page of it to be "reprinted" doesn't constitute a copyright violation. What we are doing online is communicating, not publicating or reproducing. We can be registered, but we still are not allowed to utilize any more of the CAL than an unregistered online group legally can.
In short, f2f Al-Anon meetings are held in the same churches, often on the same dates and at the same time as AA meetings. Yet, they arn't required to find an independent place to hold their meetings. Nor are they required by WSO to be registered. Each groups desire to register with WSO is a group decision, provided it does not adversely effect another Al-Anon group or Al-Anon as a whole (Tradition 4). Only then can WSO ask that we not utilize the name Al-Anon. Even its CAL literature states any time 2 or more family members or friends of alcoholics gather they can call themselves an Al-Anon Family Group, provided that, "as a group" they have no other affiliation. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. (Tradition 3).
Regarding the insinuation that it is possibly the accounting of funds. In all of 2008, 2 Al-Anon members made contributions to MIP for rent and services provided. One for 25.00 and one made two payments of 20.00. This does not even cover the cost of the Al-Anon group home page, the Al-Anon groups message board, or meeting room entrance pages. Not even one of them. All of which incure a separate monthly expense. In fact; in all of 2007 and 2008, not enough was "collected" (which isn't "collected or solicited for" at all and hasn't been in over 4 years) was sufficient to pay even 1/2 a year of the expenses. How did it all get paid for? I paid the remaining funds from my own pocket and will continue to do so, whether the group is registered or not, whether you continue to chair or not, or you utilize the room, message board, and all the other goodies that are available to you on the site or not. You might want to read Tradition 7 and 8, and then determine how you would viably make this a registered group that is effective, available, more user friendly, and then how you would pay for it to be done.
Sincerely, John F. - A very grateful member of Al-Anon and of this online group, registered or not.
__________________
" And what did we gain? A new life, with purpose, meaning and constant progress, and all the contentment and fulfillment that comes from such growth."
John, thanks for posting this. I am especially interested to have the history of WSO's stated requirements put out where all can review in the context of the 12 & 12.
I'm thinking a good recipient would be the board of trustees - I can find you the name of the trustee at large, if you like - pm me.
My own sponsor, a past delegate, has said that "the" problem is the lack of representation of the online community through the GR/DR/Delegate structure. Personally, I think we in the broader sense of an online community COULD come up with a delegate if we wanted to - but in the absence of such a representative, it doesn't seem to me that we're any different than f2f groups that don't have a GR. (Not saying I think that's a good idea - just pointing out, as you have above, that it's a situation that already exists in the f2f world.)
I have thought for a long time that online recovery sites are very analagous to clubs such as alano, & am glad to see you saying the same thing.
I am replying to this post without having seen the original post so I have no idea if it was nasty, or simply quesitoning and hit a nerve with whoever removed it.
Honestly, when I first came to alanon I believed it was an evil cult. My first direct experience was in the alanon chat room of MIP. I came in hurt and angry and rather ugly about it. I know now that a lot of ops had their finger on the kick and ban button. Well, here I still am. Overall, I am told I am a respected, trusted member here, and that lots of people want what I have. Aside form being an op in our room, I am the GR for my f2f group and I am a sponsor in alanon. I give lots of service and have had lots of growth. Some may feel "stuck with me" and some may feel it's a good thing to have me here. For those who feel stuck with me, what you think is none of my business and I love you unconditionally. For those who feel my contribution to alanon would be missed, consider that I probably would not be in alanon were it not for MIP. I think a lot of people can say that.
I understand the reasons why our "affiliations" prevent us from being sanctioned by WSO. As an Alanon I know that is out of my control so I let it go. That doesn't mean we can't have alanon meetings or alanon based chat. I understand there was some issue about management of contributions in the past and I don't care. My f2f has no idea what our treasurer really does with the funds collected. He is a trusted servant and until/unless we can take a conscience about having a treasurers report, it will remain a mystery. We have literature, our bills are paid, etc. Different groups are different.
Honestly, John and I don't necessarily see eye to eye. As an alanon I am more than ok with that. It is recommended that newcomers go to multiple meetings to find what works for them. If you don't like it here, go elsewhere. If you are an alanon and feel the need to take an inventory of MIP, perhaps doing a step 4 on that would be something for you to consider. Obviously the post was born out of anger and resentment as at a minimum it wasn't kind. Those are among the worst enemies of an alanon. What are your motives? If you need a registered group to participate in then find one. As an example, It is snowing here right now and when I left the restaurant I was in an hour ago someone complained about the weather and I politely replied - "move". Often times one of the greatest forms of flattery is when someone gets themselves wrapped up enough in "you" that you become their HP. So, to the person who wrote the original post, thank you for making MIP your HP. You could certainly do a lot worse. I wish you the best in your recovery.
My thoughts are "How Important Is It" and "Easy Does It"
I really don't like to comment on another person's share on line or in F2F meetings as that would be crosstalk. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and thankfully the program has more than a loving allowance for them to share good or bad.
So I will take what I like and leave the rest. Hopefully, this person will just keep coming back.
