What is your favorite Al‑Anon service position and why?
February’s topic is, “What is your favorite Al‑Anon service position and why?”
As always, you can also write about Al‑Anon’s three Legacies. This month features Step Two, Tradition Two, and Concept Two.
Sharings on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
New topics are being added each month!
I have a passion for service, it keeps me busy and grounded. Even though, I have experienced a few service roles, today, my favorite service is Alateen. I became an AMIAS as a way to help teens in Al-Anon. I remember how my children went through a lot of changes in the family. I was not available then and my emotional state was not healthy for understanding them. I was growing up myself. I’m glad they turn out to be good kids, they are adults children. Unfortunately, no program at all. However, I practice my principles with them and show… Read more »
When I first started in Al-Anon, I soon realized that as a result of growing up around alcoholism, I needed to keep the focus on changing myself and not my family members. My Sponsor encouraged me to get into service. She actually “voluntold” me to accept the position of Secretary that was available in one of the groups I attended when I had but six months in the program. I followed her suggestion, as anything she asked me to consider doing, always seemed to work out well! And after that, I kept volunteering from there on out. My most favorite… Read more »
I recently took on the role of phone service coordinator. I coordinate the coverage that volunteers give to phone service. I enjoy the phone service; helping people locate meetings. I also make new friends through my position.
My favorite position so far has been email coordinator. This position gave me the “excuse” to reach out to members in-between meetings, since I send out email reminders to the group about the speaker, topic, and readings for the week. I also had a heads-up about the topic and readings, so I could study the material ahead of the actual meeting. I also pass along the WSO newsletters or other announcements. I make sure I study the materials, so I can highlight anything important. Sometimes, I had to find someone to lead the meeting. Sometimes, we would talk about how… Read more »
Ours is a hybrid meeting and I really enjoy my role as tech setup. It’s a great way to be of service without having to be “front and center.” I help make the online members feel included and welcomed. I like knowing I’m helping make the meeting available to those who can’t get there in person for whatever reason. It’s wonderful how this program has a place for everyone. We can all use whatever skills we have to help carry the message.
I always served since coming to Al-Anon. Helping others has always been part of who I am, so serving was natural. Not too long after coming to the program, I started setting the room, making, coffee, and other minor tasks, that are very important, even if they seem trivial. Doing this made me feel good and gave me a sense of belonging , which I badly needed then. Serving also helped me to know the members outside the meeting context. Over the years, I served at various levels of service: Group Representative (GR), District Representative (DR), Alateen AMIAS and Coordinator,… Read more »
I never thought I would say this but my favorite position has been to be the treasurer of my meeting! I get nervous about money and decided to try this after weeks of the last treasurer saying they were done. Now I have been at it for three years and am ready to pass it on. Originally I was passed a load of materials with addresses for where to make donations and spreadsheets of how money was spent. Then Covid hit. I could no longer stick to the way other people had done this role before. I had to consult… Read more »
My first opportunity to serve beyond the group level was to answer the phones for our local information service. That was 25 years ago and many service positions between then and now, and I still LOVE serving as a link of information to members and newcomers alike. There have been MANY times when I have heard myself saying to the caller EXACTLY what I needed to hear myself. And through that service opportunity I gained a Sponsor. I had been in the program two years and still could not find myself able to trust another member with my deepest, darkest… Read more »
My meeting on Saturday was on service. I am an introvert who is learning to accept myself as I am. This means it’s really hard for me to share in a meeting. Often I keep thinking about your shares all week and in several days I have something to share. I am learning to at least check in by saying my name and how I am doing, and maybe share an experience hopefully of strength or that gave me hope. It seems so small but it’s huge for me. PS: an often overlooked service role is hosting a speaker. I… Read more »
I found that the service positions of GR & Public Outreach are very important to my personal growth. I felt like an important part of Al-Anon as a whole, like my efforts were respected & necessary, like I was an equal, and met some really great Al-Anon members from other groups, which made me feel welcomed & less self conscious. Even if you think you don’t have what it takes, others are willing to assist & encourage. Plus the Service Manual is an invaluable asset. Thank you for allowing me to represent my group, over my many years in Al-Anon.… Read more »
I am a newly elected Delegate so I can’t speak on that service position although I’ve been told that it will be one of the most rewarding of all. I have held many positions in this wonderful program from setting up and chairing meetings, group secretary, treasurer, District level and Assembly level committees and Coordinator jobs. The most rewarding and amazing to date has been being an Alateen Sponsor. I think that I will never receive more gratitude than seeing one of these young minds grasp the program and want to pass it on. I have been blessed with watching… Read more »
During my term as DR there were lots up ups and downs, but my favorite service was visiting each meeting in our District. We had about 25 groups at the time, four of which were Spanish-speaking. I asked the GRs how they thought I should visit the group. The decision was for me to go on the week of their Business Meeting (BM) so I could introduce myself during the BM. This worked best since most meetings didn’t have time for question and answer during the regular meeting. It was a terrific way to introduce myself and share what the… Read more »
Step 2-“Came to believe…” Oh, when I walked in the doors, I knew everything, I had tried everything, and I believed that my life was hopeless. The gift of despair was mine and I was wallowing. But these words surprised me. I did “God experiments” by trusting outcomes would be okay even though my doubts were so strong. My Higher Power got me to the other side safely time and time again. “…could restore me to sanity” is an ongoing process, and proceeding nicely. as I acknowledge, accept, and relax into my lack of power over other people. If I… Read more »
Literature Chairperson at the group level is still my favorite service position. Early in my recovery, my group needed a literature chairperson and I volunteered. Then I started reading and reviewing all of the literature so I would be able to talk about it. How much I learned. At that point in time, I thought I needed to know everything so you might imagine how overwhelming this task I set for myself was. Even though there was less literature way back then there was still a lot. One day I hope to be the Literature Coordinator at the Area level… Read more »
My favorite Al-Anon service position has been that of Sponsor. It is so much easier to see behaviors in others that don’t serve them well, and then think about that in relation to one’s own behavior. Great way to learn. Quoting from the literature and sharing how I use the tools of the program is the best way to remind myself what I believe in and how I want to live my life. I never really know how my sponsorship helps others but it certainly has benefitted me in my own program and kept me coming back for more.
My first service position was a Group Representative. I enjoyed all aspects of the position. I attended District meetings where I met members from other groups. Then I attended Assemblies where I met more Area members. I became aware of the dedication of the members working to carry on the business of Al-Anon at the Area level. I saw how the Traditions and Concepts were used when making decisions. The bonus was that I made so many new friends. I was proud to represent my Group at the meetings. Stepping into the GR position gave me the courage to move… Read more »
While I have held a few different service positions so far, I must say, my favorite Al-Anon service position, so far, has been my home group’s literature chairperson. By being in the position, I had the opportunity to focus on my personal growth as it was helpful to be familiar with the many offerings available within the Al-Anon program and be able to offer suggestions to newcomers or my sponsees in particular. My Sponsor has always told me the “answers are in the book.” Amen to that statement! Granted…I have not read ALL the literature. However, Al-Anon literature is and… Read more »
I have always loved service in Al-Anon. When I was new, I became GR before I had a year in the program. The group was just happy somone stood for the position. I didn’t know a soul when I went to Assembly. I didnt even know why I was there but I quickly learned, and met new people who became close friends. And since then I’ve served in many different positions, even Alateen Sponsor for several years, but never DR and up. My work load was too much. I still try to encourage sponsees to service. Its a huge part… Read more »
I wanted to comment on a position at District, which was the Group Records. It taught me how important this position is. Without up-to-date meetings, location, etc. other people will not find the meetings. It is a way of carrying the message by making sure where to go. Just like all the positions I have done, all of them are important–for my growth, strength, and confidence.
Giving out the birthday tokens has been my favorite service position because I enjoy being part of this celebratory part of the program.