Al-Anon, Alateen, and A.A. members and their guests joined together June 29–July 2, 2023, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, to celebrate recovery, unity, and service in Al-Anon Family Groups at the Al-Anon International Convention.
The Convention theme was “New Hope, New Friends, Renewed Recovery.” This theme was on display as some 3,800 attendees from around the world connected with one another and made “New Friends.” Thirty-three countries were represented! And for the first time ever at an International Convention, we were able to offer “New Hope” in a new way: a streaming component added more than 700 virtual attendees, including people from 13 countries not represented in person. Altogether, approximately 4,500 attendees from 46 countries celebrated “Renewed Recovery” together.
Convention attendees participated in panel discussions, put pen to paper in writing workshops, and listened with rapt attention to the speakers who shared their recovery stories, which were by turns harrowing, hilarious, and, ultimately, full of hope.
Even as we faced many challenges, we were reminded to give grace to one another and presume goodwill as World Service Office (WSO) Volunteers, Staff, and vendors all did the best they could to resolve issues, leaning into the Al-Anon slogan “Progress Not Perfection.”
From the kick-off Party on the Plaza on Thursday, which was another first, to the Native Sober Drummers serenading us as we left the final Big Meeting on Sunday, we all partook of the love, joy, and peace of the program.
In The Loop, September 2023
Thank you for sharing. The Convention must have been wonderful. Wow, we really are a worldwide fellowship. Thank you for your service and for keeping me “in the loop.”
It was an awesome experience! So glad I attended!! Thank you everyone for all the hard work putting it on ! Good job!!
An outstanding summary! One day I would like to attend. Best wishes to all.
Thank you so much!! What a wonderful experience and I loved New Mexico! The people were amazingly so wonderful and friendly!! I’ll always treasure this Convention and all the beautiful memories and new friends I made. Also, that I was so blessed to be able to attend and make a vacation of it too! Thank you to all who made this happen!! God bless you!!
It works if you work it, and you’re worth it! 😘💗💕
Greetings from Anjana -India. Attending Al-Anon Convention virtually, it was an amazing experience for me. I am very much grateful to WSO Team for including all those Al-Anon members who wished to but could not attend the Convention in-person.
Warm regards & love