1. Understanding Anonymity
Al-Anon Family Groups’
World Service Conference
Anonymity Task Force

2. Why is anonymity important to Al-Anon and Alateen?
Confidentiality of members’ identity
Confidentiality of sharing
Guard against any member seeking public
recognition
Freedom for members to determine their own
level of anonymity
“Spiritual foundation of all our Traditions”
(Tradition Twelve)
Confidentiality of identity: New members, in particular, seem to be more comfortable knowing that their full identity will be shielded.
Confidentiality of sharing: Anonymity goes beyond my name. For everyone, knowing that what is shared in an Al-Anon or Alateen meeting will stay “within the walls of this room and the confines of your mind” is very basic to our recovery.
Guard against any member seeking public recognition: This helps protect members from using Al-Anon for profit, prestige, or power. All members are important, regardless of their service position or background. No one is “Mr.” or Mrs. Al-Anon” nor placed on a pedestal.
Freedom for members to determine their own degree of anonymity: This allows me to have the level of anonymity that is most comfortable for me. I can be anonymous but not invisible.

3. There are three approaches to anonymity
Personal
Within Al-Anon: member-to-member
Outside the Al-Anon fellowship: the media (press, film, TV, and the Internet) and professionals
Each approach to anonymity is different and depends upon with whom I’m speaking.
Personal: I decide how much anonymity I need.
Within Al-Anon: I may use different degrees of anonymity with other members including other members in service. That’s okay.
Outside the Al-Anon fellowship: Anonymity with those outside the fellowship is much more structured for a variety of reasons. These reasons will be explained in this presentation.

4. Let’s look at anonymity from where you are or where you have been in your Al-Anon or Alateen program!

5. As a newcomer I might have questions about… anonymity in a meeting
In my Al-Anon or Alateen Group, I can use:
My first name only
My first name and
first initial of my last name
My full name
A pseudonym
Some members may be most comfortable using only their first name or even a pseudonym. Other members may feel just fine using their full name.
The important thing is that the choice is up to me. I have the right to decide, and I trust I will not be criticized for my choice.
I can change my mind at any time. It is always a personal decision!

6. My questions might be about… anonymity — with other members in service
On the other hand, I might have been in the fellowship for awhile and become active in service beyond the group level.
My questions might be about… anonymity — with other members in service

7. It is okay to give other members in service my contact information so that we can communicate with each other!
I can give them my
Full name
My postal and
addresses
My phone number(s)
When I step up to service opportunities such as Group Representative, District Representative, district or Area officers, and Coordinators, it becomes important for other members in service within the fellowship to be able to communicate with me.
Rosters are often used to facilitate contacting members in service at various positions. It is important that I only share this personal information with other members in service who need to communicate with each other.
If I am in service and am asked for contact information by a member not in service (or in service in other positions), I can offer to pass on that member’s request along with that member’s contact information to the member in service. The member in service can then contact the member.

8. It’s okay for me to give new friends my full name, address, e-mail or
Even if I am not yet involved in service beyond my group, I might attend:
A group anniversary
A workshop in my district
An Al-Anon convention
Any other special Al-Anon or
Alateen function
It’s okay for me to give new friends my full name, address, or
phone number!
I only share contact information with those new friends outside my Al-Anon or Alateen group with whom I’d like to communicate.
If I am asked for my contact or personal information by another member, it is up to me to decide if I will tell him or her how to reach me.
I can always use a pseudonym if I’m not comfortable sharing my name.

9. When I send an Al-Anon related letter or e-mail message to a member…
I am protecting another member’s anonymity as well as my own when I do this.
I use “AFG” instead of the Al-Anon/Alateen names on the envelope or in the subject line of an message.

10. My anonymity is broken when my full name is included…
…on a program-related report, flyer, or newsletter posted on an Al-Anon Web site that is open to the public.

11. When I become comfortable enough in my program, I will want to tell others outside of our fellowship about the recovery I have found in Al-Anon and Alateen. I will need to know about…

12. Anonymity and carrying the message outside of our fellowship
This is very important! We want Al-Anon and Alateen to be visible to professionals and others who might come in contact with families and friends who are still suffering from the effects of alcoholism. If professionals do not know about the fellowship, they will not be able to refer these people to the recovery that we offer in Al-Anon.
Even the general public (friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.) needs to be aware of Al-Anon. These people are then able to tell others about Al-Anon and Alateen.

13. If I say I am an Al-Anon member and appear in or am quoted in ANY type of media…
I'm Sue
I only use my first name or a pseudonym.
I do not show my full face.
I don’t identify any other Al-Anon, Alateen, or A.A. member.
Examples of media are press, radio, films, TV, the Internet, or any other format that is generally accessible to the public.
I only use my first name or a pseudonym: I have choices that maintain anonymity. For example, I can say “I am Sue”; “I am Sue R.”; or I can use a pseudonym such as “Cynthia.”
I do not show my full face: My face can be shown in silhouette, side, or partial views. It just can’t be a full-face image in the media.
I don’t identify any Al-Anon, Alateen, or A.A. members: I speak of and only identify myself.

14. When I communicate face-to-face about Al-Anon or Alateen with any individual, the media, or a professional…
How can I
reach you?
I may give them:
My full name
My personal contact information
The important point here is that when I am speaking person-to-person with anyone outside the fellowship and give them information about Al-Anon or Alateen, I can tell them my full name and how to reach me personally. I just have to ask the person not to publish my full name in any form of media. I can also provide the person with a local Al-Anon telephone number or address that can be printed or posted on-line.
My contact information or that of a local Al-Anon service arm may be used later by the media or a professional for future requests.

15. …When I speak I need to think about who is in the audience…
Remember Sometimes, non-members attend Al-Anon open meetings or special program events.

16. As a speaker, I’m free to decide how much anonymity I want

17. my sharing may be posted on a Web site.
I need to remember that when I state my full name and I am being recorded
my sharing may be posted on a
Web site.
I need to ask if I am being recorded before I speak so that I can decide how I will introduce myself.
If my talk is posted on the Internet and I have given my full name, I need to realize my anonymity is broken at the level of the media, including on an Al-Anon Web site that is available to the public.

18. When I use e-mail to reach out to professionals or the media,
I use my own or an Al-Anon-related
address instead of my work
address
I have choices when I use my personal address. I can use or create an address that:
does not have my full name
belongs to an Al-Anon service arm
Does not link me to an outside entity

19. I have choices when I send a letter to professionals or the media
I can use the Al-Anon name in the return address of the envelope.
I can sign a letter using:
My full name, if I ask in writing that it not be published.
My first name and first initial of my last name along with the name of an Al-Anon group or service arm.

20. I want the media and other professionals to know how to contact me!
Because I want to be considered a credible source of information about Al-Anon and Alateen,
I want the media and other professionals to know how to contact me!
When I give my full contact information to persons outside the fellowship, I am accessible and perceived to be a much more credible source of information about Al-Anon and Alateen.

21. To review, when I give my personal information to anyone outside Al-Anon/Alateen…
I need to tell them about anonymity by:
Explaining Tradition Eleven
Asking them specifically not to use my full name or a full face picture of me in print, radio, films, TV or on the Internet!
Tradition Eleven
This allows Al-Anon and Alateen information to be disseminated to others outside the fellowship. These people can in turn give information to others or refer prospective members to our meetings.
I am not violating Tradition Eleven because I am maintaining my anonymity. At the same time, I am helping Al-Anon and Alateen to become better known.

22. All of the these situations were about my anonymity.
What about the anonymity
of others?

23. It’s their choice, not mine!
That’s easy!
I carefully guard against revealing the name of any Al-Anon, Alateen, or A.A. member to anyone, inside or outside the fellowships!
It’s their choice, not mine!
We guard the anonymity of each and every member of Al-Anon, Alateen, and A.A. regardless of our own personal choice regarding anonymity!
This means not even revealing to relatives, friends, co-workers, or other members whom we have seen or what we have heard at a meeting.
This also includes only sharing district-, Area-, and WSO-printed rosters of contact information for members who are involved in service at each respective level. I never give a roster to anyone not involved in service at a specific level. The purpose of such rosters is to facilitate communication in service at that level. (Refer to page 110 of the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual P-24/27 for further clarification regarding the use of full names and addresses on-line.)
At conventions, conference, and other meetings where not all the audience are members, the Anonymity Statement on page 109 of the Service Manual is read.
My anonymity is my choice! Your anonymity is your choice!

24. I can look at our 2006-2009 Service Manual (P-24/27) to learn about anonymity
Al-Anon and Alateen “Groups at Work” section
Pages & 52-53
“Digest of Al-Anon and Alateen Policies” section
Pages & 99
Pages
(Notes and Updates)
The Notes and Updates section on the Members’ Web site— the 2008 World Service Conference Approved changes to the “Anonymity” section of the Policy Digest. These changes will be included in the text of the next printing of the
Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual.

25. Our Service Manual is available from several sources
Your group
On-line on the Members’ Web site
Your local AIS or LDC
The World Service Office
Remember—when you buy from your local literature distribution center, you support your local services.
Each registered Al-Anon and Alateen group receives a free copy from the WSO.
The Service Manual is available in three languages: English, Spanish, and French.
Until the next printing of the Service Manual, annual World Service Conference-Approved changes are always posted in the on-line version in the “Notes and Updates” section of the Members’ Web site.

26. Summing it all up There are three approaches to anonymity: Personal
Within Al-Anon
Outside of Al-Anon

27. Summing it all up
There are different ways for me to communicate depending upon my degree of anonymity.
I need to consider to whom I am speaking before I respond to them.

28. Summing it all up When I am speaking outside of
Al-Anon, I can uphold Tradition Eleven.
The Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual is here for me as a resource.

29. basic to our fellowship
“Anonymity in Al-Anon
is a sacred trust,
basic to our fellowship
and its survival.”
Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) page 50

30. Are there any additional comments or questions?
The End
Are there any additional comments or questions?