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Understanding Anonymity

Al-Anon Family Groups’

World Service Conference

Anonymity Task Force

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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)

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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

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Let’s look at anonymity from where you are or where you

have been in your Al-Anon or Alateen program!

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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

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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

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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

e-mail addresses

• My phone number(s)

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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, e-mail or

phone number!

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When I send an Al-Anon related letter or e-mail

message to a member…

I use “AFG” instead of the Al-Anon/Alateen names on the

envelope or in the subject line of an e-mail message.

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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.

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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…

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Anonymity and carrying the message outside of

our fellowship

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If I say I am an Al-Anon member and appear in or am quoted in

ANY type of media…

• 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.

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When I communicate face-to-face about Al-Anon or

Alateen with any individual, the media, or a professional…

I may give them:

• My full name

• My personal contact information

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…When I speak I need to think about who is

in the audience…

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

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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.

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When I use e-mail to reach out to professionals or the media,

I use my own or an Al-Anon-related

e-mail address instead of my work

e-mail address

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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.

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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!

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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!

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All of the these situations were about my anonymity.

What about the anonymity

of others?

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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!

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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 50-51 & 52-53

• “Digest of Al-Anon and Alateen Policies” section– Pages 83-84 & 99– Pages 109-111

(Notes and Updates)

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Our Service Manual is availablefrom several sources

• Your group• On-line on the Members’ Web site• Your local AIS or LDC• The World Service Office

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Summing it all up

• There are three approaches to anonymity:

– Personal

– Within Al-Anon

– Outside of Al-Anon

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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.

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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.

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“Anonymity in Al-Anon

is a sacred trust,

basic to our fellowship

and its survival.”

2006-2009 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) page 50

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The End

Are there any additional comments or questions?