[Businessmtg] WSO's role in our worldwide fellowship

[logmark at comcast.net]

Biz Pals, 

  

Looking at page 25 in my Service Manual I see outlined 

that there are two lines of communications between all 

Al-Anon groups and Al-Anon as a whole: 

  

1) The World Service Conference (WSC,) "...that directly 

serves Al-Anon groups in the U.S. and Canada and groups 

and structures in other countries whose voice is heard 

through the International Coordination Committee." 

  

2) The World Service Office (WSO,) "...which acts as the 

service center for groups throughout the world and is the 

link with other national General Service Offices (GSO)..." 

  

It's worth noting that the WSC is entirely funded through 

the WSO's General Fund, so from a donation perspective the 

WSO is the place to go for both. 

  

While North America has been at this for many decades, parts 

of our world are in various stages of gradually arriving at 

service structures. These GSO's are linked to the WSO through 

its International Coordination Committee. I would imagine, 

though I'm not certain, that groups in these international 

groups donate to their GSO's rather than, or in addition to, 

the WSO. 

  

I could see where an international on line group based in North 

America could consider donating to various GSO's in addition to 

our WSO, though how to structure that isn't apparent to me. It'd 

make for a good discussion after having some research done. 

_ _ _ _ _ 

  

A bit of personal experience on how the WSO serves the world: 

  

A member of my initial home group came from a Lithuanian family 

and spoke the language fluently. The WSO publishes all CAL and in 

that role sees to translations from English, so after the wall 

came down and Al-Anon groups began to form in the former eastern 

block countries, the WSO tapped this member's abilities to begin 

supplying CAL in Lithuanian as they requested. Imagine this person's 

joy in traveling to her family's homeland and meeting with some of 

the new groups who now had some CAL of their own in part because 

of her efforts, but in whole because of the WSO and its world focus. -Wow! 

_ _ _ _ _ 

  

As far as using a percentage as opposed to a set donation amount, 

I don't see the distinction. We have our expenses (covered.) We 

have set our ample Prudent Reserve as one year's expenses (covered.) 

  

So whether we donate whatever dollar figure is our excess, or create 

a budget with a set donation line item which then redefines our "one year's 

expenses" therefore our Prudent Reserve (which should take us quite a few 

months of Business Meetings) seems to make little real difference. What 

would make a difference would be ASP finally committing to support Al-Anon 

as a whole. 

  

Jerry 

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