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.
Question I have the Paths to recovery book which has the concepts in. I am struggling to understand it and relate it to traditions etc. I wondered if anyone knows of a good study guide or some simple tips.
I've only just started to get to grips with the traditions.
The concepts are a little tricky but for me_ if read step one , trad one and concept one , they all fit together from (steps my personal recovery) level to group level and truly how this program works and how we run so smoothly world wide. We are truly the only prog i know where authority starts at the bottom ,the groups not one word can be changed with out a majority vote from all groups worldwide. pretty amazing .
Aloha, Mon - the Concepts can be pretty tough to wrap my head around. I'm even in service as a Group Representative and I still find my head spinning when the Concepts come up.
I do find that Paths to Recovery is a great book, as it can break down how the Concepts can apply in personal recovery. I can relate better that way.
But if you're still curious and want to know more about the Twelve Concepts beyond what's in Paths to Recovery, here are a few suggestions I have:
A Forum subscription. Each forum will hold a reading on the Step, Tradition and Concept of the month.
Pull out any of your daily readers (ODAT, Courage to Change, Hope for Today, etc.), and any of your other Al-Anon books and flip through to the back index and look under "Concepts". There's a good chance some of them will refer to a reading or two on how a member worked with a Concept.
Get your paws on an Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual (the big spiral-bound one). These go into very lengthy description on how the Concepts are utilized in the World Service structure. There's a free link to a PDF of the manual here: http://www.Al-Anon.org/members/pdf/p2427/P24_27.pdf
Seek out other service members in your local area. Find out who your DR (District Representative) is, who your Group Representative (GR) is, etc. Attend a couple District Meetings, and also attend your home group's Business Meeting (if they have one - if they don't, find a group that does).
Get in touch with some of the "old-timers". It's been my experience that the folks who have stayed in Al-Anon for many, many years have usually participated in service positions at the level of Group Representative and above. Over time, they've developed a better understanding of the Concepts.
Suggest a Concept meeting at one of your meetings. You don't HAVE to have someone there who's knowledgeable about the Concepts, although it can help... but it can be fun sitting as a group reading through all the available literature on the Concept of the month and discussing out loud how you see how you relate to it and apply it to your personal lives.
Surround yourself with "The Winners" - that means find a sponsor who participates in service and start learning. I can tell you I absolutely lucked out when the woman I asked to be my sponsor ended up being the Area Delegate. She is so full of knowledge and always willing to share what she knows.
Thank you both. Abbyal if read step one , trad one and concept one , they all fit together
This is a really good idea. Thank you.
Aloha A Forum subscription. Each forum will hold a reading on the Step, Tradition and Concept of the month.
I don't understand this. I subscribe to News and Views. Is that what you mean?
I hadn't thought of the daily readers...which is a brilliant idea and so obvious now its been suggested. Thank you
I am a GR for the first time, which is why I'm trying to study it. I'm learning it WITH my sponsor. Concepts just isn't something the groups round here seem to look at. I'm sure doing them together will help. We're trying to keep the focus on ourselves from the start so trying to understand it from a personal point of view rather than the groups.
Hi again , the forum is a magazine printed monthly by Al-Anon commonly refered to as a meeting in my pocket . you order it from WSO or if your group has a copy there is always a order form in the back of the forum. I believe it is 15 .00 a yr . not bad huh ? It has short stories , and as has already been said this yr it has step , traditon and concept in every issue . so if yu order it ask for it to begin from Jan 2010
Hi Mon - "The Forum" is Al-Anon's monthly magazine subscription. :) Something you're going to hear more about as a GR (we're supposed to encourage members to subscribe).
Here's a link... http://al-anon.alateen.org/forum.html
Abby - a Forum subscription is actually only $11 a year - $7 for the actual subscription and $4 for shipping/postage. :)
-- Edited by Aloha on Thursday 8th of July 2010 05:24:43 PM
