[Businessmtg] Group Representative Report - January 2026 BM

[List Administrator]

Hi All!

Kathleen isn't able to be active in this meeting right now, but she sent 
her report below for me to share on her behalf. Enjoy!

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Hello Business meeting,

Thank you for letting me be of service.    Please be aware, the below is 
a little lengthy since I am sharing information.   If there are any 
questions, feel free to email me.

Below is the Group Rep Report for January 2026:

A. October 25th Fall Assembly.   Below is my summary of the assembly.   
The official draft minutes are on our ASP website>On the home page>click 
Group Representative updates, see "10/25/2025 Assembly Minutes (DRAFT)". 
ASP Group Representative Informational Page | ASP Members Only Web Site 
[1]

  	*
The approval of the consent agenda for June and August will be moved 
forward to the next meeting.
  	*
We voted for the GEA Treasure and Jeri NW voted in.
  	*
We voted for the GEA Secretary and Brooke N voted in.
  	*
There were 2 topics with slide shows, 1) explained substantial unanimity 
in group voting, 2) explained KBDM.  Both are attached
  	*
Item III and IV:   Currently (before voting)  the Assembly passed issues 
based on a majority vote, or 51% in favor of passing.   We are 
discussing and voting using substantial unanimity.   There was 
discussion; we voted for using substantial unanimity or 67% in favor of 
an issue, which passed.   Now, all issues will require substantial 
unanimity before passing an issue.
  	*
Item V. Approved the verbiage recommended from the GEAWSC with edits 
from the Assembly regarding delegating the officers' duties, i.e. write 
checks, hold meetings, etc.  We have an attorney for the area who 
reviewed and agreed on verbiage.
  	*
Item VI.  moved to the summer assembly.  HOW WE GOT HERE | HOW DOES THE 
GEA MOVE FORWARD WITH APPOINTING COORDINATORS AND CREATING COMMITTEES, 
ETC.
  	*
Recommendation from GEAWSC: The Global Electronic Area World Service 
Committee (GEAWSC) recommends the Assembly to vote and approve that all 
Global Electronic Area Coordinator appointments, interim or otherwise, 
shall be made by or in accordance to the elected officers of each Panel 
of the GEA as they determine appropriate as stated on page 140 2022-2025 
Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual. (This has been discussed and adopted by 
the GEAWSC.)
  	*
Item VII.  Presentation of the 2026 Global Electronic Area Budget, which 
is the first presentation of a thorough budget.   Hurray!  We voted= 
Passed

B. DR 53 meeting minutes from 11-22-2025 below and posted on the "Group 
Representative updates" link>click DR meeting minutes from 11-22-2025. 
ASP Group Representative Informational Page | ASP Members Only Web Site 
[1]

  	*
Hi Martina,
  	*

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Thank you.   The substantial unanimity was voted and approved for 67%.
  	*

  	*
Thank you,
  	*
Kathleen H
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-------------------------

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Second amendment of the  minutes:

	*

The District 53 meeting was conducted by our District leader, Angel B.

In attendance were:
Martina N.  ( GR from 3 legacies) ; group Secretary
Kathleen Haskell  (GR from A Serenity Place)
Regrets were accepted from Arlene  (Utah)
and Audrey  (Oregon)
and Steve R (treasurer)

The meeting was opened with the AL-Anon declaration and Serenity prayer
October minutes were accepted

As District Rep, Angel B noted that the biggest challenge all over the 
world, in the GEA, is to get people to volunteer for service.  Many 
positions have gone unfilled, and every district is hampered by an 
inability to get most of the GRs to attend meetings reliably.

The meeting of the AREA,  GEA,  last week was attended by Kathleen H.,   
who gave a report:

important issues were the vote for what numerical value will constitute 
SUBSTANTIAL UNANIMITY.
KBDM (Knowledge-based-decision-making) process was accepted by vote
GEA WSC point 5 was legal language for duties of delegate officers' 
duties, which also was accepted by vote.
point 6 was How does the GEA move forward in appointing coordinators and 
creating committees?-- this is ongoing.
GEA buget was accepted by vote,  and seemed well done,
The new treasurer was voted on, and is Jerry

The PROCESS of the discussion and voting at the GEA was this:
a concept was presented to the room of 200 GRs.  Then people went to 
break out rooms, to discuss it.  Questions were asked and opinions 
shared.
The people were then brought back to the main room, for the next part.  
Each break-out group presented their discussion and consensus.
Then there was a vote by all the GRs.
Kathleen felt that this was a good method for trying to allow discussion 
and to find consensus, and to then vote.  All votes were brought to the 
floor by GRs, not the officers.

Our officers are:
Burt P, delegate
Tom L, alternate delegate
and Brenda,  Chair
They were all helpful, and Brenda especially.  Nothing seemed forced or 
out of line.

The Treasurer's report was voted on and accepted.  Kathleen said it was 
clear and reasonable, and well-presented.

The vote for Substantial Unamity was for 67%.

We had an internal discussion in our group today about this PROCESS.  We 
understand that the GEA has to operate in cyberspace, and that it limits 
the way we can come to consensus.  Kathleen felt that the structure was 
good.

I added that there is historical precedence about forming governmental 
processes and frameworks, and trying to come to consensus.  In the 
beginning, it would take centuries to arrive at consensus, and often war 
and bloodshed.
In AL-Anon, since the publication of "Many Voices, One Journey", we have 
understood that the "getting to substantial unanimity" took about 10 
years, in regard to purchasing  the office in Virginia Beach. This was 
an amazing achievement!  Al-Anon has always worked by consensus, and the 
desire for substantial unanimity.  We have never put a priority on 
efficiency.   But creating a world-wide organization built on servant 
leadership which is entirely voluntary has been hard.

We freely admit that for most of us, we came in to Al-Anon in terribie 
distress, and for most of us, it took several years until we were stable 
enough and strong enough to participate in anything beyond the group 
level.  The geographical areas, and especially the Area Delegates, are 
the result of 50 or more years of hard work to create viable groups, 
districts and areas.  Many of our best trusted servants have been in the 
organization for over 25 years.   Now we are expanding rapidly by zoom 
into other languages and cultures;  but the fundamental link is still 
that we love an alcoholic.  We must take into account ongoing crises in 
our personal lives, as well as the vicissitudes of things like the 
pandemic, or travel restrictions, and language barriers.
Given this, it seems that the structure of the GEA meeting was a 
success.

Kathleen gave a valuable response of educated minority opinion from 
Steve R. ( our treasurer) who was not able to attend today.  He sent a 
response to the process, noting that it seemed more about efficiency, 
and curtaiied some discussion.  We acknowledge this, and see it as a 
necessary evil in trying to build a coherent GEA.  Most likely, as the 
groups get stronger, and the feedback loops are enhanced, we will be 
more able to have the kinds of discussion which are possible in 
face-to-face meetings, among well-known participants.   For now, we are 
grateful that the GEA is trying to meet the need for an International 
AL-Anon presence and structure, and so efficiency seems needed.

Treasurer's report is deferred, as Steve R was unable to attend.  We 
would also like to suggest a quarterly report, rather than monthly, for 
our treaaurer.  (Voted on unanimously, today)

Group reports:
ASP-- Kathleen, no changes
3 legs-- Martina, no changes.  Note that we will have a group inventory 
in December and will suggest that we begin to have a treasurer and group 
funds, in order to donate to our District.

General issues: nothing new to add.

C.  Email to the District re:  GEA Domain changes. ASP Group 
Representative Informational Page | ASP Members Only Web Site [1]

  	*

D. There is _a pause on group naming policy _until the 2026 World 
Service Convention.

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WSO procedures based on the changed policy

  	*
New or changed Group names to follow new policy
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Encourage groups to use the "Attendees" designation.
  	*
_Group name issue: _ inviting and being attractive, and avoiding public 
controversy is important
there is a community identifier box on the listing site, for helping 
identify groups
We welcome all friends and families of alcoholics.

E. 2025 Projects

  	*
Core Systems Overhaul
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2025 A.A. International Convention
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eBooks Globally
  	*
2026 - 2029 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual
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Passing it on Strategy
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Outreach to Professionals

  	*
Certified CPA, Brown Edwards audit firm, Audit conducted Jan 2025 with 
no known issues.

F. Choosing a Group's Name Policy Implementation Town Hall meeting on 
September 13, 2025:

	*
  Brief Background

  	*
The 2024 World Service Conference adopted changes to the Choosing a 
Group's Name Policy ( Service Manual pages 85-86 v4).
  	*
The World Service Office (WSO) and the WSO Policy Committee implemented 
the Policy as they understood it.
  	*
Many Groups and members raised concerns and submitted appeals.

	*
At the 2025 World Service Conference:

  	*
Received 138 pages of appeals and discussed the topic at length;
  	*
Worked together to understand perspectives as we were able;
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Invited our Higher Powers to be present and to guide the Conference to 
an informed Group Conscience; and
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_Pressed 'pause'_ _on implementation until the 2026 Conference to allow 
areas time to provide further feedback on the Policy's implementation._

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The World Service Conference adopted the following motion by substantial 
unanimity (71%)

  	*
Allow group names to continue to include identifiers such as those 
currently listed on page 28 of the 2022-2025 v4a including "men, women, 
parents, adult children, young adults, other gender 
identification/sexual orientation, etc. with the understanding that in 
keeping with Tradition, Three and Five, the group will welcome anyone 
affected by someone else's drinking" until the 2026 World Service 
Conference to allow WSC Structure Areas to discuss the implementation of 
the 2024 WSC-approved "Choosing a Group's Name" Policy.

  	*
_The Areas are seeking to know the will of groups, then make a final 
discussion/decision._

  	*
_From my group's discussion, the groups already named will be 
grandfather in and new groups will fall under the updated group naming 
convention _

  	*
During the Pandemic, more groups formed with specific names, which 
brought the group naming issue forward in 2022.

G. GEA electronic Alateen Town Hall, October 4, 2025;  Nothing decided, 
more discussion at the 2026 World Service Conference.

Break - October 18, 2025 GR meeting:

	*
The meeting was attended by and orchestrated by Angel B, our District 
Rep
Martina N (secretary)
Kathleen from A Serenity Place

Martina was late in starting the zoom link, and apologizes to all.

AlAnon Declaration
Serenity prayer

Secretary's minutes from 9/20 meeting were unanimously accepted

District Report, (Angel B):   no new changes, next big GEA assemby is 
next weekend, October 25.  All must be registered.  GRs are urged to be 
there.
Meeting starts at 8:30 am, and registered GRs will get the zoom link 
this week.

Jerry was unable to give an update.

ANGEL discussed 7th traditon posts for members in our different groups:
   (we are using the information sent to us about our bank acount access 
from Steve R.)

Review of our groups,
A Serenity Place, (Kathleen) No changes, about 40 posts a day average.  
Every day has a daily chair!
Steve is in move to Idaho, will connect with us once he is settled.

3 legacies (Martina) no change

Many Voices (Lynne was absent so Angel gave report.). No changes.

New topic -- possible topic for District level would be "Prudent 
Reserve", financial issues, for group members of all our groups-- will 
discuss with Steve R when he is available.

NAMES of Groups:  We had some discussion about this, and agree that the 
issue is deeper than that of names.  It is about who people feel 
comfortable with.

Many people grow up in dysfunctional families and finally come to find 
safety and welcome in AL-Anon.  It is hard for people to come into a 
group where they don't feel comfortable.  People naturally gravitate to 
groups where they feel understood and safe.
Martina --What has been my experience, is that once people have become 
committed ALAnon members, they are able to move into to wider group 
participation.  At the beginning it is a big help to go to a Women's 
group or a Men's group, or a Parent's group.  People can learn to 
appreciate anonymity and the deeply felt intention to be welcoming and 
comforting to all who come to any meeting.   People who come for the 
first time, and have a drunk spouse or partner or child whose behavior 
is escalating and causing great suffering need to feel safe and cared 
for.   New members also may be in financial crisis or difficulty and may 
not be able to contribute until their lives become more stable.

Regarding discussion and voting, group consensus, substantial unanimity 
and "group conscience":
  Martina suggested reading the book "Many Voices, One Journey".  This 
CAL book is about the process of coming to the "group conscience" of 
deciding to buy the office in Virginia Beach which is now headquarters 
of AlAnon.  The process was a long one, with years of conversations and 
discussion, until it seemed "the right thing to do" to most of the 
membership, and the vote could be almost unanimous.  This illustrates 
the group conscience process very clearly.

Al-A-Teen dilemma:  The advent of zoom makes this a solveable problem.  
We need teens to get good role models and loving sponsorship, with the 
emphasis on safety and healthy group function.  Young people can be able 
to participate online, without having to be driven to a meeting by a 
parent who may be less than supportive.  Also, good sponsors who are 
dynamic and good with teens will be easier to find in a wider pool of 
Al-Anon members.

The rapid expansion of AL-Anon over the world is making it important to 
find ways to provide the CAL literature in every language, and zoom 
meetings mean people in farwaway places can still meet for less cost 
than having to fly or travel great distances.  The supportive funding 
from the GEA groups can help this rapid expansion.

No new business.

We closed with the AL-ANON declaration and the Serenity Prayer.
   	*
Website.  Few things are better than a decent website for making 
information available to the groups, their GR's and even the regular 
members of the district.  The GRs easily reached a consensus on our need 
to hae a website, which is now live 
https://www.serenitysys.com/district53/ .  The website provides a wide 
variety of info for the members of District 53: the groups of District 
53 (group name, platform, GR name and email, how to contact the group 
and the WSO number of the group), contact information for all District 
and GEA officers, an archive of all District 53 meeting agendas & 
meeting minutes.
  	*
District 53 has a mailing list for our GRs and District officers.  This 
makes it easy for any of us to communicate with the rest of the trusted 
servants in District 53.  With the mailing list, each of us only needs 
to know one email address for District 53 and the server handles the 
rest, and only the server needs to be updated.

The following items are District 53 items:

  	*
Important news was that WSO, World Service Office,  will not enforce 
policy on group names and hold a moratorium on this question until 2026.
  	*
E-books for CAL are coming, but for now they have books for sale, and 
don't want to undercut the book sales of developing AL-Anon programs, so 
are waiting to see when it will be appropriate to introduce them.  The 
sale of CAL is the primary source of funding for WSO.   As a result, WSO 
is very reluctant to do anything that will impact on the sales of CAL.
  	*
AL-ANON'S 75TH anniversary is next year, 2026 and a new service manual 
will be forthcoming.  The latest edition of the Service Manual is 
published every 3 years.  Unlike other types of CAL, the Service Manual 
is revised frequently by WSO.  For example, WSO has published the 4th 
version of the 2022-2025 Service Manual.  _The following link has the 
service manual and page changes._  
https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/manuals-and-guidelines/

Thank you for letting be of service.

Links:
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[1] https://asp-afg.org/members/group-representative-updates/