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Carrying the Message - Our Primary Purpose Aprii25-29, 1999

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Carrying the Message - Our Primary Purpose Aprii25-29, 1999 Table of Contents AI-Anon Family Groups 1999 World Service Conference Carrying the Message - Our Primary Purpose ApriI25-29, 1999 Opening Events WSO's Trial Structure ...........................27 Conference Theme ............................ .2 Business Services .............................27 Greetings from the Board ........................2 Fellowship Communication .....................27 Open Forum ..................................3 Group Services .............................. .27 Trip to Stepping Stones ........................ .3 Membership Outreach .........................27 Sharing Area Highlights ........................ .4 Public Outreach ............................ ..28 Approval of Annual Report ..................... .4 From the Heart Standing Committee Assignments ................ .5 Sharings from Panel 37 Delegates ................29 Board and Committee Sessions Overseas Representatives .......................37 Board of Trustees Selection Process ..................6 Spiritual Speakers ............................ .40 1999 Regional Trustee Selection Report .............6 Wrap-Up Sessions 2000 Regional Trustee Plan ......................6 Closing Sharings ........................... .44 Nominating Committee .........................6 Passing It On .............................. .44 Conference Committee on Trustees ................7 Panel 37 Skit ................................44 Fellowship Communication ........................8 Conference Members ......................... .45 Forum Editorial Advisory Committee ...............8 Conference Motions .......................... .46 Literature Committee I ..........................9 The Ask-It-Basket ........................... .48 Literature Committee II .........................9 1998 Annual Report ...........................62 Finances .....................................10 WSC Organizational Chart ......................88 1998 Financial Report ...................... ... 10 1999 Budget Report ........................... 10 Group Services ................................11 Concept 11 Group Services Committee ......................11 The AI-Anon Family Groups have delegated complete administra­ 199912000 AFG Service Plan .................... 14 tive and operational authority to their Conference and its service arms. Membership Outreach ........................... 14 "Our World Service Conference is the active voice and the effective AdmissionslHandbook Committee ................ 14 group conscience of our society in world affairs." International Coordination Committee ............. 15 -1998-2000 AI-AnoniAlateen Service Manual, page 153 50th Anniversary Ad hoc Committee .............. 15 2000 Conference Site Report ....................16 2000 AA International Convention ................ 16 Regional Service Seminar (RSS) Committee ........16 Service and Outreach . .17 Inventory of our Service Structure Ad hoc Report ..... 17 Long Range Study Panel (LRSP)/FFGs ............ 17 Policies and Procedures .......................... 19 Policy Committee ............................ .19 Internet Ad hoc Committee ...................... 19 Public Outreach ................................20 National Public Information Canada . .....20 Public Outreach Committee .................... .20 Public Service Announcement (PSA) Presentation ....21 World Wide Web Site ......................... .21 Workshops Agenda Items .................................22 Open Discussions .............................22 Agenda Item Workshops ........................23 Directors' Presentation ...........................25 Alateen Sponsorship ........................ ....26 Leadership Workshops ...........................26 © AI-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. 1999 1999 World Service Conference Summary 1 Opening Sessions CONFERENCE THEME: Marion W., Carrying the Message-Our Primary Purpose Assistant Conference Chairperson, At the last moment, our Conference Executive Committee Member Chairperson, Pat S., suffered some health prob­ lems that precluded her from chairing the WSc. In her stead, assistant chairperso'n Marion W. stepped in and did a beautiful job of keeping members focused on this year's theme: Carrying the Message-Our Primary Purpose. After opening the Conference, the first order of business was a motion from the Admissions! Handbook Committee, requesting that the fol­ lowing persons be seated at the 1999 World Service Conference with voice, but no vote: Helen W., Chairperson, Executive Committee for Real Property Management (ECRPM), AI-Anon member Richard Keilly, Director of Business Services, non-member Mariella S., representative from Italy, AI-Anon member Sheila A., representative from the UK and Eire, AI-Anon member Marilu C., representative from Mexico, AI-Anon member Annie M., representative from France, It was agreed by consensus that still picture AI-Anon member taking would be permitted at the Conference. Carole P., Public Outreach Service Manager Voting procedures were then discussed, and for Canada, AI-Anon member it was approved by a show of hands that subse­ Patrick Q., WSO Forum Coordinator, quent votes would be taken by closed ballot. AI-Anon member And it was agreed that substantial unanimity By a show of hands, the motion was carried. would be 2!3 of the votes taken. GREETINGS FROM THE BOARD Helen R., Helen opened her remarks by citing the She continued, "Our theme this year, address of AI-Anon's co-founder, Anne B., to 'Carrying the Message-Our Primary Pur­ Board of Trustees Chairperson the first World Service Conference in 1961: pose,' takes me back to oUf beginnings, "This Conference is the attainment of a long­ reminds me of the struggles as well as the suc­ hoped-for plan and it is, indeed, a privilege for cesses AI-Anon has had over these past 48 me to be with you during the next few days' years, and keeps me firmly planted in our pur­ meetings and activities." pose today. We will see some of our history "I feel much the same!" said Helen. "This when we visit Stepping Stones, the home of Conference is 'unique' in that we are meeting our co-founder, Lois, and we will each partici­ in Connecticut for the first time since moving pate in our history this week as we are guided our office to Virginia Beach, and I am excited in decisions by the group conscience. The and looking forward to the interaction with AI-Anon program is a precious gift that we you--delegates, staff, and WSO volunteers." share with each other!" Helen extended a welcome to those who Helen closed her remarks by inviting the returning to the WSC, to those who are attend­ members to join her in the AI-Anon ing their first World Service Conference as Declaration, "Let It Begin With Me. When any­ Panel 39 delegates, and to our international one, anywhere, reaches out for help, let the representatives. hand of AI-Anon and Alateen always be there, and-Let it Begin With Me." 2 1999 World Service Conference Summary Opening Sessions OPEN FORUM This session provides the opportunity for AI-Anon. AnnR., delegates to share thoughts and concerns from • Explanation on why we still use auditors from Moderator, Trustee the 1998 World Service Conference. All were New York City was requested. Response: The encouraged to speak without fear of criticism auditors we use have done our books for many or judgment on what they needed to state. years, and those of numerous other non-profit Members were asked to adhere to a two-minute organizations. One delegate shared an experience limit. Following is a summary of some of the of changing auditors that created many problems comments that were brought to the floor in an in her business and at higher costs. open forum discussion: • Several asked why sales of literature can­ • Why not have an AISILDC workshop with not be broken down by state or area, if we con­ every RSS, rather than just once a year? sider CAL purchases the same as contribu­ Response: The need to ensure good attendance tions. Response: The WSO is working on being and to maintain manageable staff workload able to break out literature sales by state, and to was how we came to the current system of be able to break out the statistics by area where holding one AISILDC workshop per year and states are divided. moving it around the structure. • A member asked if the creation of the jour­ • Why not have our book discount match the nals was approved by the Conference. quantity where the packaging break occurs­ Response: Journals with quotes from AI-Anon i.e., 25 books is the discounted minimum, yet a literature are service tools for carrying the case may contain 24. Response: This has been message. Service tools do not require rectified and now is in alignment. Conference approval. The journals contain • Could more books be printed with soft cov­ already approved CAL text and are available ers? Response: This will be discussed later in while supplies last. the Conference (see page 9 & 47). • An area felt that there is such good momen­ • The recent selection of a hotel site for the tum on the International Convention, we should USSW RSS created confusion. How can this do this in five years, not ten. This will be dis­ be avoided in the future? Response: In the past, cussed later in the Conference (see page 47). the WSO chose the hotel, then the RSS • Has there been a request for another book Committee changed the selection process to about Lois? Response: No requests have been include the delegates in the region. A formula received to date; the procedure would be to for selection criteria (how many meeting write and
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