AREA LITERATURE COORDINATOR
WRITING WORKSHOPS:We are ready now to have a Writing Workshop. Our maiden voyage was a success! Elsa, the Area Alternate Delegate, and I are now tried, true and ready! We are waiting to be invited. Will it be your District next? Perhaps your Group wants something new and different for a meeting. District 10 invited us and our very first workshop was bi-lingual! We had submissions sent to the New Daily Reader and The Forum, some written in Spanish. It was attended by 25 members. Large or small, near or far, if you have an idea we are excited to work with you. Push this button below and let's get planning! |
WRITING WORKSHOP POWERPOINT:Click the button below to download the PowerPoint file used for the Writing Workshop.UPCOMING WORKSHOP INFO:TBD . . .
WHAT'S NEW:
FROM OUR INDEXES:Click the button below for the latest document of my results of looking up "Reaching Out" in various indexes! |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT CONFERENCE APPROVED LITERATURE (CAL):
A – If you’re in a meeting, there’s a good chance they’ll have an “Al-Anon/Alateen CAL Catalog” (item #S-15) with prices in it for every item. Another way to get it is electronically from the Al-Anon website: http://ecomm.al-anon.org/shop. Enter “S-15” in the search box & there will be a link for “Click here for free download.” A – The World Service Office (WSO) recommends that literature be ordered through a local Literature Distribution Center (LDC) to help support local services. Orders can be taken by LDC’s in a variety of ways. It’s best to contact your District’s LDC to find out how to place the order. Only items that you want to have ship regularly to a mailing address should be ordered through the World Service Office. For example: “The Forum” magazine, newsletters, service manuals, etc… A – Per the World Service Office: Because the process for the discontinuance of a Conference approved book is slightly different than for a pamphlet, let’s start with books. In order to discontinue a book, the following criteria are required: 1) The book has had a three-to-five year initial introductory period following the date of publication; 2) The sales of the book reflect minimal interest by the membership; 3) The content of the book is or will be adequately covered in other CAL material if needed. The process also requires that the Literature Committee must recommend discontinuance of the book. After determining that the above criteria have been fulfilled, the Board of Trustees may grant approval to discontinue the book. In keeping with a Conference motion, the Board of Trustees will notify in writing all Conference members of its intent to discontinue any books while there is still at least one-year’s quantity of books in stock at the WSO. The WSO sells the item until all the copies are gone. While this is occurring, a notice in catalogs & order forms will state, “While supplies last.” Discontinuance of Conference approved pamphlets (including CAL service tools) also requires recommendation of the Literature Committee. The Executive Committee must then pass a motion to discontinue the pamphlet. A – The short answer is that although Al-Anon’s roots are based in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) the AA “big book” is not & never has been Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature (CAL). “Outside” or non-conference approved literature may or may not convey the Al-Anon message. It also may be confusing to a newcomer, lead to dissension within members, or affect our groups’ unity. We are always free to read whatever we wish outside the meetings. For a “long” answer that further explains how several of our Traditions apply to this decision, please e-mail me to request the October 2008 memorandum from the WSO’s Executive Director to Conference members regarding this topic. |
QUESTIONS ABOUT SUBMITTING WRITINGS / SHARINGS:
A – Here is the official response from WSO about receiving writings for literature in development: “WSO has a process that includes sending an acknowledgment of receipt. Sometimes people don’t submit their address or they move & thus we are unable to send them their acknowledgement. If members submit a sharing & do not receive a ‘thank you’ letter within a couple weeks, they should contact the WSO to make sure that the WSO did receive it.” A – Provided that you included your contact info when you submitted your sharing for “The Forum”, you will only be notified when it’s actually published. WSO will also send you one complimentary copy of the issue in which it appears. Because of the vast number of writings the WSO receives, it could be several years before your sharing is published. Additionally, it’s important to note that every sharing submitted (even if it’s not for “The Forum”) becomes part of a general body of information & sharing from our fellowship that helps create new literature. So if a sharing you submitted for a different item is not used for that particular piece, it will be forwarded to the Forum Editorial Advisory Committee for their review & possible publication in “The Forum” magazine. A – It’s best to submit any writings or sharings directly to the World Service Office using any of these four ways: 1) Mail: Al-Anon Family Groups, 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617 2) Fax: (757) 563-1655 3) E-mail: wso@al-anon.org 4) On-line at the WSO website: www.al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/literature-resources/send-your-sharing/ A – Based on the answer above, it seems WSO will accept almost any format except smoke signals, semaphore, Morse code, & of course texting or use of emojis. A – YES! Helpful “writing guidelines” for each project currently under development are available through your local LDC, the WSO’s website (www.al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/literature-resources/send-your-sharing/), or you can contact me at Literature58@afgarea9.org & I can send them to you. |