[Businessmtg] CMA - 2 - What does the Service Manual Say?

Steve Rankin steve at serenitysys.com
Tue Apr 9 20:00:14 PDT 2024 

Hi folks,

 

In an attempt to make this easier to follow, I have inserted lines separating sections.  Single lines designate separate sections in the Service Manual, while double lines designate breaks in the discussion.  If the server mangles and it’s too difficult to read, please let me know and I’ll send out a PDF with all the formatting intact to everyone in the BM.

 

I’m going to try to explain what a CMA is.  Unfortunately, what should be very simple has been made complicated, so please be patient as I explain it from the beginning as the progression of the term “CMA” is critical to this discussion.  Part A will be ALL of the references to original Current Mailing Address (CMA) in the Service Manual and Part B will contain all references to the Current Mailing Address (CMA) in today’s Service Manual.

 

PART A.  I have Al-Anon Service Manuals going back to 1989 when the Service Manual was simply a collection of 3 pamphlets.  The following is an excerpt from the 1998-2000 Al-Anon Service Manual (the first Service Manual published as a single booklet).  This is the first description of a Current Mailing Address (CMA) from the 1998-2000 Service Manual on pages 46-47.

How to start an Al-Anon Group

Procedures

 

Each group should provide a current mailing address (CMA) and two group telephone contacts, to facilitate communication through WSO’s Group Records.  The location and time of the group’s meeting will be given to Al-Anon and Alateen members who travel and to individuals who contact WSO seeking a nearby group.  Those who list themselves as telephone contacts are willing to be called by of the group’s meeting will be given to Al-Anon/Alateen members seeking information about the Al-Anon group’s meeting or someone seeking Al-Anon’s help. The CMA maybe, but does not have to be, a group officer’s address; some groups rent a P.O. box.  The CMA can also be the listing of a member who anticipates keeping the same address for at least a year, who has no difficulty in receiving mail at home, and who attends meetings regularly.  In this way, the group can be assured of promptly receiving all materials sent from the WSO.  When the CMA changes, the WSO is to be notified immediately, so there will be no disruption of the mailings.

 

NOTE:

Please note the following details of the original CMA description in the Service Manual:

*	In addition to the CMA, the Service Manual suggests TWO additional contacts.
*	The Service Manual specifically mentions that some groups chose to use a PO Box for their Current Mailing Address.
*	The “current mailing address” is merely a mailing address to be used for WSO to send snail mail to the group.  No other purpose is mentioned or implied.

 

 

 

PART B.  Now we have the description of the Current Mailing Address (CMA) in the current 2022-2025 Al-Anon Service Manual, version 3.  Yes, the Service Manual has been updated 3 times since it was published.  It may be viewed and/or downloaded here <https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/service-manual/>  at https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/service-manual/. 

 

Pages 30-31

Registering Multiple Meetings

 

*	Meetings that register as separate groups are each eligible to have their own Group Representative to serve them above the group level; Current Mailing Address (CMA) to receive WSO, Area, and local mailings; and phone contacts for the public.
*	Groups that register with multiple meetings share the same name, WSO ID number, CMA, phone contacts, and share one Group Representative. District, Area, and WSO mailings (postal and email) are sent to one CMA to share with all the meetings in the group. Multiple meetings of one group have only one voice and one vote at District meetings and Area Assemblies. Groups with multiple meetings may need to consider how and when to hold business meetings so members from all the meetings can share information and participate in making group deci­sions.

Page 33

Initial Group Service Positions

The leadership of a group should be kept simple. 

A small group needs a CMA (Current Mailing Address), Group Representative (GR), Chairperson, and a Secretary; the latter often acts as Treasurer until the group is large enough to elect one. One or two members agree to be listed as group contacts to take Twelfth Step calls from newcomers. (See “Phone Contact for the Public.”)

Pages 34-35

Procedures for Starting an Alateen Group

Alateen Group Registration/Change forms and Al‑Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) forms are distributed by the Area and submitted to the WSO through the Area’s Alateen process. When the WSO receives a new Alateen group registration form from the Area, the WSO registers the group and assigns a WSO group number. The group is added to the mailing list for complimentary WSO publications. These publications, including Alateen Talk and other WSO mailings, are sent to the group’s Current Mailing Address (CMA) that is listed on the group registration form. (See “Group Ser­vice Positions”: “CMA [Current Mailing Address].”) Phone contacts and Alateen group CMAs are Area‑certified AMIAS.

Page 47

Group Business Meetings 

Warranty Three 

that all decisions be reached by discussion, vote and whenever possible by unanimity; 

The group business meeting is an opportunity for members to share their ideas to increase group membership, express concerns, plan special meetings or projects, and discuss other group busi­ness—such as changing the group name, Current Mailing Address (CMA), group Phone Contacts, the meeting time and place, finances, meeting format, meeting designation, District and Area matters, and other topics suggested by members of the group.

Page 51

Group Reports and Announcements 

Trusted Servants’ Reports 

The Chairperson may call on the Secretary or another trusted servant to read announcements from other Al‑Anon service arms, including those sent to the group’s CMA (Current Mailing Address) from the WSO. The Treasurer or another trusted servant is asked to read the WSO Quarterly Appeal to Members and give the group a report on income and expenditures.

Page 55

Considerations regarding Group Finances

The Quarterly Appeal for Members from the WSO provides indi­vidual members the opportunity to participate in Twelfth Step work worldwide. The letter is sent to the CMA (Current Mailing Address) of the groups in the World Service Conference Structure in February, May, August, and November (and to groups worldwide in Novem­ber).

Pages 56-58

Group Service Positions

Suggested Duties of Group Officers/Leaders

Group Service Positions 

Tradition Two 

For our group purpose there is but one authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants—they do not govern. 

Suggested Duties of Group Officers/Leaders 

Group officers rotate regularly. Rotation gives all members the privilege of serving. Officers/leaders are trusted servants; they do not govern the group. Groups may attain more participation by electing alternates to the group service positions. Depending on group size and format, the group may choose not to fill all posi­tions listed. Groups may also choose to create additional positions to serve the group’s needs. 

Chairperson/Leader: 

*                  Opens the meeting by reading the Preamble or the Suggested Al‑Anon/Alateen Welcome and leads the group in reciting the Serenity Prayer; follows the group’s meeting format. 

*                  Introduces speakers or announces the subject of the meeting. 

*                  Invites members to take part. 

Program Chairperson: 

*                  Asks a member to chair the meeting. 

*                  Plans meetings. (See “Meeting Ideas.”) 

Secretary: 

*	Handles group correspondence.
*	Notifies the Area Group Records Coordinator or the WSO of any changes to the group, GR, and/or CMA mailing address, as well as phone numbers of group contacts. 
*	May pick up the mail from the PO Box (if applicable), receive group emails, or serve as the CMA (Current Mailing Address). 
*	May keep an up‑to‑date list of members and their contact in­formation to share with newcomers and members. 
*	Makes necessary Al‑Anon‑related announcements at meetings. 
*	Orders Conference Approved Literature in sufficient quantities to supply the group’s needs (if the group does not have a Lit­erature Chairperson). 
*	Encourages support of Alateen by providing information re­garding Al‑Anon Members Involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS) certification until the group elects a Group Representative. 

CMA (Current Mailing Address): 

*                  Receives postal and electronic group mail. 

*                  Shares the mail with the group. (See “Considerations When Starting Either an Al-Anon or Alateen Group.”)

Pages 60-62

Resources for Members and Groups

Newsletters/Timely Recovery Publications 

*	In the Loop, En Contacto, and Le Messager contain timely news and announcements from the World Service Office (WSO). These electronic communications are sent at least monthly to the group’s CMA (Current Mailing Address). 

Pages 72-73

Basic Terms Used in Al‑Anon Service

CMA: The Current Mailing Address receives the group mail from the WSO and takes it to the group. (See “Procedures for Starting an Al‑Anon Group”: “Group Contact Information”: “Current Mailing Ad­dress (CMA).” )

Pages 100-101

Anonymity Within Al‑Anon/Alateen

Service Communication

*	Current Mailing Addresses (CMAs), Group Representatives (GRs), and other trusted servants sending information by email to group members take care in the wording of email subject lines and use an email address that protects anonymity as the email addresses to which they are mailing may not be private. 

Pages 144-147

Duties of Assembly Members 

Group Representative (GR)

If a group also has an Alternate GR, the following duties may be shared: 

*        The GR and the Group The GR should be allowed regular time at group meetings to convey information concerning Al‑Anon in his District, Area, and, world service affairs. The GR has the re­sponsibility of seeing that correspondence from the World Ser­vice Office is reaching his group. If correspondence is not being brought to meetings by the person who is listed as the Current Mailing Address (CMA), the GR consults first with the CMA and, if a change is warranted, contacts the District Representative and the WSO to provide an up‑to‑date CMA (possibly his own), a phone listing, emails, and other pertinent group information. If the group has a PO Box, or if for any other reason the GR is not the group’s CMA, all correspondence should be referred to him. Although he does not replace the Group Secretary, he can explain communications in light of his understanding of the world Al-Anon picture. 

District Representative (DR)

*                  To check the group’s Current Mailing Address (CMA) with each GR in the District to determine if it is correct. 

 

 

 

NOTE:  

Please note:

1.	There are many more references to the CMA in today’s Service Manual, but aside from elevating the CMA from a mere postal address to a service position, not much changes in all that verbiage regarding the purpose of the CMA.
2.	The primary difference in the description of the Current Mailing Address (CMA) over the intervening 24 years are:

a.	Page 33 states that the first SERVICE POSITION in a new group is the CMA
b.	The current version receives snail mail AND email.
c.	States that the Secretary may be the CMA, while also describing the CMA as a separate service position.

 

 

OK, that’s it for the two versions of the Current Mailing Address (CMA).  For your enjoyment, the first is 182 words, and the current version is 1,182 words.  So much for keeping it simple.  

 

Love and SERENITY,

Steve

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