1 understanding anonymity al-anon family groups’ world service conference anonymity task force
TRANSCRIPT
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Understanding Anonymity
Al-Anon Family Groups’
World Service Conference
Anonymity Task Force
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Why is anonymity important to Al-Anon and Alateen?
• Confidentiality of members’ identity
• Confidentiality of sharing
• Guard against any member seeking public recognition
• Freedom for members to determine their own level of anonymity
• “Spiritual foundation of all our Traditions” (Tradition Twelve)
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There are three approaches to anonymity
• Personal
• Within Al-Anon: member-to-member
• Outside the Al-Anon fellowship: the media (press, film, TV, and the Internet) and professionals
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Let’s look at anonymity from where you are or where you
have been in your Al-Anon or Alateen program!
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As a newcomer I might have questions about…
anonymity in a meeting In my Al-Anon or Alateen Group, I can use:
• My first name only
• My first name and
first initial of my last name
• My full name
• A pseudonym
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On the other hand, I might have been in the fellowship for awhile
and become active in service beyond the group level.
My questions might be about…
anonymity — with other members in service
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It is okay to give other members in service my contact information so that we can communicate with each other!
I can give them my
• Full name
• My postal and
e-mail addresses
• My phone number(s)
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Even if I am not yet involved in service beyond my group, I might attend:
• A group anniversary• A workshop in my district• An Al-Anon convention • Any other special Al-Anon or
Alateen function
It’s okay for me to give new friends my full name, address, e-mail or
phone number!
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When I send an Al-Anon related letter or e-mail
message to a member…
I use “AFG” instead of the Al-Anon/Alateen names on the
envelope or in the subject line of an e-mail message.
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My anonymity is broken when my full name is
included…
…on a program-related report, flyer, or newsletter posted on an Al-Anon Web site that is
open to the public.
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When I become comfortable enough in my program, I will want to tell others outside of our fellowship about the recovery I have found
in Al-Anon and Alateen.
I will need to know about…
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Anonymity and carrying the message outside of
our fellowship
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If I say I am an Al-Anon member and appear in or am quoted in
ANY type of media…
• I only use my first name or a pseudonym.
• I do not show my full face.
• I don’t identify any other Al-Anon, Alateen, or A.A. member.
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When I communicate face-to-face about Al-Anon or
Alateen with any individual, the media, or a professional…
I may give them:
• My full name
• My personal contact information
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…When I speak I need to think about who is
in the audience…
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As a speaker, I’m free to decide how much anonymity I want
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I need to remember that when I state my full name and I am being recorded
my sharing may be posted on a
Web site.
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When I use e-mail to reach out to professionals or the media,
I use my own or an Al-Anon-related
e-mail address instead of my work
e-mail address
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I have choices when I send a letter to professionals
or the media
• I can use the Al-Anon name in the return address of the envelope.
• I can sign a letter using:– My full name, if I ask in writing that it not be
published.– My first name and first initial of my last name
along with the name of an Al-Anon group or service arm.
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Because I want to be considered a credible source of information
about Al-Anon and Alateen,
I want the media and other professionals to know how to
contact me!
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To review, when I give my personal information to anyone
outside Al-Anon/Alateen…
I need to tell them about anonymity by:
• Explaining Tradition Eleven
• Asking them specifically not to use my full name or a full face picture of me in print, radio, films, TV or on the Internet!
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All of the these situations were about my anonymity.
What about the anonymity
of others?
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That’s easy!
I carefully guard against revealing the name of any Al-Anon, Alateen, or A.A. member to anyone, inside
or outside the fellowships!
It’s their choice, not mine!
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I can look at our 2006-2009 Service Manual (P-24/27)
to learn about anonymity
• Al-Anon and Alateen “Groups at Work” section– Pages 50-51 & 52-53
• “Digest of Al-Anon and Alateen Policies” section– Pages 83-84 & 99– Pages 109-111
(Notes and Updates)
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Our Service Manual is availablefrom several sources
• Your group• On-line on the Members’ Web site• Your local AIS or LDC• The World Service Office
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Summing it all up
• There are three approaches to anonymity:
– Personal
– Within Al-Anon
– Outside of Al-Anon
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Summing it all up
• There are different ways for me to communicate depending upon my degree of anonymity.
• I need to consider to whom I am speaking before I respond to them.
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Summing it all up
• When I am speaking outside of
Al-Anon, I can uphold Tradition Eleven.
• The Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual is here for me as a resource.
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“Anonymity in Al-Anon
is a sacred trust,
basic to our fellowship
and its survival.”
2006-2009 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) page 50
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The End
Are there any additional comments or questions?