3 Legacies
Al-Anon has three sets of guiding principles that are referred to as our Three Legacies. These Legacies were adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. The Legacies include:
Recovery through the Twelve Steps, which encourage individual members to carry the Al-Anon message to others.
Unity through the Twelve Traditions, which protect the Al-Anon groups from influences that might distract or disrupt them from their common purpose.
Service through the Twelve Concepts of Service, which provide a guide for Al-Anon service.
In addition, the General Warranties of Al-Anon provide guidelines for the proceedings of the World Service Conference.
AA
Alcoholics Anonymous.
A separate entity, AFG cooperates with AA but is not affiliated with any outside entities.
AAC
Area Alateen Coordinator
AAPP
Area Alateen Process Person
AFG
Al-Anon Family Groups is the official name for what is often referred to as Al-Anon/Alateen.
AIS
Al-Anon Information Service.
AISL
Al-Anon Information Service Liaison
Alateen
The part of AFG that serves younger members, typically aged 12 to 20.
AMIAS
An Al Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service is an adult AFG member who has gone through the safety certification process in order to work with alateens.
Area
Areas are comprised of groups and districts in a geographical area. In our case, “the Area” is Area 50, the South Carolina World Service Area (SCWSA).
ASBR
Alateen Safety And Behavioral Requirements
Assembly
The area assembly is a business meeting where participating members share experiences and ideas, and group representatives vote on behalf of their members. Currently our Area has a one-day Assembly in the spring and a three-day Assembly in the fall.
AWSC
Area World Service Committtee
CAL
World Service Conference-Approved Literature.
CCT
Conference Committee on Trustees
CPC
Cooperation With The Professional Community
CMA
Current Mailing Address
Delegate
The trusted servant voted by the GRs at Assembly to represent our Area at the World Service Conference.
District
Districts are formed by and made up of Al-Anon/Alateen groups located within a geographical boundary. District 7 is composed of all registered groups in Charleston, Dorchester & Bekeley counties. “The District” refers either to the geographical district, or to the body of trusted servants who attend the District’s monthly business meeting.
DR / ADR
District Representative / Alternate District Representative.
The DR represents our District at Area-level meetings and chairs the District meeting.
Dual Member
Al-Anon or Alateen member who is also a member of AA. Also known as a “double winner.” See the Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual for service-related policies.
GEA
Geographic Electronic Area
GR
Group Representative. GRs represent their groups at District and Assembly.
GSO
General Service Office
IAGSM
International Al-anon General Service Meeting
ICC
International Coordinator Committee
ISR
Information Service Representative
KBDM
Knowledge-Based Decision Making is a method for building an informed group conscience.
Lois and Anne
Lois W. and Anne B. co-founded Al-Anon Family Groups in 1951.
LDC
Literature Distribution Center.
Please ask your group to order literature from our District’s LDC, as it helps the District.
ODAT
One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, AFG’s first daily reader.
Open/ Closed Meetings
Generally, AFG meetings are "Closed," limited to members and prospective members, giving them the freedom to share and listen to the experience, strength, and hope of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis. The only requirement for membership is that there is a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
A meeting may choose to be "Open" by the vote of its members. An "Open" meeting allows attendance by people who are not families and friends of alcoholics but who are interested in learning about AFG. People who may come to an “Open” meeting occasionally include students and professionals who work with alcoholics and their families.
PI
Public Information
PO
Public Outreach
PI/CPC
Public Information / Cooperating with the Professional Community.
Two branches of public outreach that sometimes have one coordinator. The third branch of public outreach is Institutions.
SCAFG
South Carolina Al-Anon Family Groups
SERDM
Southeastern Regional Delegates Meeting. Our Area is part of the Southeastern Region.
TEAM
Together Empowering Al-Anon Members. Areas can host TEAM events to provide an opportunity for interaction between Al-Anon members and the WSO staff and Al-Anon Board of Trustees.
WSC
The World Service Conference meets annually to share experiences, solve problems, and make decisions about Al-Anon issues.
WSD
World Service Delegate
WSO
The World Service Office in Virginia Beach, VA, is AFG’s clearinghouse and headquarters. The WSO acts as the service center for groups throughout the world.
Al-Anon has three sets of guiding principles that are referred to as our Three Legacies. These Legacies were adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. The Legacies include:
Recovery through the Twelve Steps, which encourage individual members to carry the Al-Anon message to others.
Unity through the Twelve Traditions, which protect the Al-Anon groups from influences that might distract or disrupt them from their common purpose.
Service through the Twelve Concepts of Service, which provide a guide for Al-Anon service.
In addition, the General Warranties of Al-Anon provide guidelines for the proceedings of the World Service Conference.
AA
Alcoholics Anonymous.
A separate entity, AFG cooperates with AA but is not affiliated with any outside entities.
AAC
Area Alateen Coordinator
AAPP
Area Alateen Process Person
AFG
Al-Anon Family Groups is the official name for what is often referred to as Al-Anon/Alateen.
AIS
Al-Anon Information Service.
AISL
Al-Anon Information Service Liaison
Alateen
The part of AFG that serves younger members, typically aged 12 to 20.
AMIAS
An Al Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service is an adult AFG member who has gone through the safety certification process in order to work with alateens.
Area
Areas are comprised of groups and districts in a geographical area. In our case, “the Area” is Area 50, the South Carolina World Service Area (SCWSA).
ASBR
Alateen Safety And Behavioral Requirements
Assembly
The area assembly is a business meeting where participating members share experiences and ideas, and group representatives vote on behalf of their members. Currently our Area has a one-day Assembly in the spring and a three-day Assembly in the fall.
AWSC
Area World Service Committtee
CAL
World Service Conference-Approved Literature.
CCT
Conference Committee on Trustees
CPC
Cooperation With The Professional Community
CMA
Current Mailing Address
Delegate
The trusted servant voted by the GRs at Assembly to represent our Area at the World Service Conference.
District
Districts are formed by and made up of Al-Anon/Alateen groups located within a geographical boundary. District 7 is composed of all registered groups in Charleston, Dorchester & Bekeley counties. “The District” refers either to the geographical district, or to the body of trusted servants who attend the District’s monthly business meeting.
DR / ADR
District Representative / Alternate District Representative.
The DR represents our District at Area-level meetings and chairs the District meeting.
Dual Member
Al-Anon or Alateen member who is also a member of AA. Also known as a “double winner.” See the Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual for service-related policies.
GEA
Geographic Electronic Area
GR
Group Representative. GRs represent their groups at District and Assembly.
GSO
General Service Office
IAGSM
International Al-anon General Service Meeting
ICC
International Coordinator Committee
ISR
Information Service Representative
KBDM
Knowledge-Based Decision Making is a method for building an informed group conscience.
Lois and Anne
Lois W. and Anne B. co-founded Al-Anon Family Groups in 1951.
LDC
Literature Distribution Center.
Please ask your group to order literature from our District’s LDC, as it helps the District.
ODAT
One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, AFG’s first daily reader.
Open/ Closed Meetings
Generally, AFG meetings are "Closed," limited to members and prospective members, giving them the freedom to share and listen to the experience, strength, and hope of one another on a confidential and anonymous basis. The only requirement for membership is that there is a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend.
A meeting may choose to be "Open" by the vote of its members. An "Open" meeting allows attendance by people who are not families and friends of alcoholics but who are interested in learning about AFG. People who may come to an “Open” meeting occasionally include students and professionals who work with alcoholics and their families.
PI
Public Information
PO
Public Outreach
PI/CPC
Public Information / Cooperating with the Professional Community.
Two branches of public outreach that sometimes have one coordinator. The third branch of public outreach is Institutions.
SCAFG
South Carolina Al-Anon Family Groups
SERDM
Southeastern Regional Delegates Meeting. Our Area is part of the Southeastern Region.
TEAM
Together Empowering Al-Anon Members. Areas can host TEAM events to provide an opportunity for interaction between Al-Anon members and the WSO staff and Al-Anon Board of Trustees.
WSC
The World Service Conference meets annually to share experiences, solve problems, and make decisions about Al-Anon issues.
WSD
World Service Delegate
WSO
The World Service Office in Virginia Beach, VA, is AFG’s clearinghouse and headquarters. The WSO acts as the service center for groups throughout the world.