AFG, Inc. Strategic Plan & Bylaws
Working within the framework of Al‑Anon’s Legacies, the Board, Executive Committee, and Senior World Service Office Staff have developed the AFG, Inc. Mission Statement, Envisioned Future, and Strategic Goals to assist the World Service Office in the work it carries out on behalf of Al‑Anon Family Groups.
As a non-profit organization, AFG, Inc. operates in accordance with its Bylaws, which represent the Board’s legal agreement with our members.
Letters from the Chairperson of the Board
Letters containing information about the most recent Board, Policy, and Finance Committee Meetings.
Chairperson of the Board Letter – Section View
Dear Al‑Anon and Alateen members,
The purpose of this Chairperson of the Board (COB) Letter is to share with you some of the highlights from the July 2020 Board Week. You will also find Updates from our Policy Chairperson, a Finance Update from our Treasurer, and a Conference Leadership Team (CLT) Update.
The members of the Board of Trustees would like to thank the membership for your overwhelming and amazing response to the May 2020 Special Appeal Letter. Contributions for June 2020 were $509,058. This set a record for the most contributions ever received in a month! Although this is an extraordinary accomplishment, we still need members’ help. (See the Finance Update attached to this letter.)
The Board approved the Revised 2020 Budget. The Revised Budget restricts World Service Office (WSO) Volunteer and Staff travel through the end of the year, extends furloughs, and limits hiring.
Each July, the Board approves the theme for the upcoming year’s WSC. The 2021 WSC will be held in Tarrytown, NY. The CLT recommended and the Board approved that the theme for the 2021 WSC will be:
Moving Forward with Unity, Courage, and Perseverance
Avancemos con unidad, valor y perseverancia
Allons de l’avant avec unité, courage et persévérance
The Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) facilitated a 2021 Strategy Options session that provided information to help Board members prioritize and select the Strategies which will most effectively advance the Goals and Envisioned Future of the AFG, Inc. Strategic Plan. The SLT will now take the selected Strategies and identify the resources needed to support them. The SLT will make another presentation to the Board at the October 2020 Board meeting where the Strategies will be given final approval.
Traditionally at the WSC after each thought or task force presentation and after hearing feedback on the presentations, the COB will ask for next steps. Due to the 2020 WSC being held virtually, Conference members were asked to post their feedback from the two Thought Forces and one Task Force to AFG Connects. The Board of Trustees had a lengthy discussion on the feedback received from Conference members. The Board decided no further action was needed regarding the Fear of Change Thought Force. The Board felt there are enough resources on the topic in our current literature. There will be further discussion on next steps for the Identify Ways to Look at Service in Relation to Roles, Terms, & Possible Roadblocks Thought Force and the Reaching & Unifying Rural & Large Geographic Populations Task Force at the October Board Meeting.
As a result of the pandemic, many Areas are holding their events virtually. This creates a unique opportunity for the Board of Trustees and WSO, represented by the COB, Executive Director, and Chairperson of Executive Committee, to engage in conversation with members. The idea presented was a “virtual town hall” meeting where we could talk to each other and reason things out. The Board enthusiastically supported the idea and encouraged the development of a plan. Details will be provided to Area Delegates by the first of September.
At the January 2020 Board Meeting, the Board passed a motion authorizing the WSO to establish an Al‑Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service recertification and training program (WSO AMIAS Program) for all WSO Staff members who may be required to work with teenagers in a capacity representing AFG, Inc. (See the January 2020 COB Letter.) At the July 2020 Board meeting, the Board passed a motion that will require Trustees and At‑Large Executive Committee members to become certified AMIAS through the WSO AMIAS Program starting in 2021. As a result of this decision, Trustees and At‑Large Executive Committee members will only have to become certified AMIAS in their Area if they will be serving their Area in an AMIAS capacity
In June 2020, the Electronic Meeting Work Group (EMWG) was tasked with determining if it is feasible and consistent with the role of the WSO to register or license Al‑Anon events that are being held electronically and not connected to a service arm. After discussion and performing a Knowledge‑Based Decision‑Making (KBDM) process, the EMWG concluded that it is undesirable to have events outside the service structure. The EMWG will continue to work on a KBDM on how to register electronic events appropriately. After performing a KBDM, the EMWG has concluded that electronic meetings are Al‑Anon groups and are asked to adhere to the same policies that apply to all Al‑Anon groups. The EMWG is evaluating all the considerations related to defining electronic meetings as Al‑Anon groups, which include electronic meetings having a Group Representative (GR) with duties and responsibilities as currently defined by the 2018‑2021 Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P‑24/27) version two (2).
You may have noticed that the COB Letter is being sent out later than usual following Board Week. The COB Letter is being released simultaneously in all three languages (English, French, and Spanish). In order to do this, the Letter has to be translated in French and Spanish, which leads to a later release date for the Letter. I hope you agree that the delay is worth the wait.
Two weeks following the posting of this Letter, the Trustees will begin making contact with their assigned Delegates to serve as a resource for clarification or for questions about this Letter. If you prefer not to have the Trustee phone you, please let him/her know when the initial contact is made. The Board will continue discussing Delegate concerns that have been raised on AFG Connects over the past several weeks.
In appreciation,
Lynette K.
Chairperson, Board of Trustees
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.