Mobile App
From Letters to Logins: WSO’s Role in Our Mobile App
As we celebrate 75 years of Al-Anon Family Groups, we honor the vision of Lois W. and Anne B. who founded the Clearing House in 1951 to share the collective wisdom of members with members. Through letters, newsletters, and the development of Conference Approved Literature, the Clearing House became the heartbeat of our fellowship.
Thirty years ago, in 1996, the Clearing House, known as the World Service Office (WSO), relocated from New York to Virginia Beach, Virginia. The move was prompted by the rising rental costs in New York and the Board’s fiduciary responsibility to make best use of the members’ Seventh Tradition contributions. While the location changed, the mission did not. Today, WSO Staff continue to support the Al-Anon Family Groups by responding to member correspondence, publishing electronic newsletters, developing Conference Approved Literature, and more.
In 2020, Al-Anon Family Groups launched its first mobile app, the Al-Anon Family Groups Mobile App, which includes a way for members to meet electronically. In doing so, the WSO became more than a clearinghouse; it also became a virtual venue. Just as local churches, libraries, or community centers provide a key to access the space for in-person meetings, WSO Staff now provide login credentials to access the meeting rooms within the Mobile App. As with physical venues, challenges can arise, whether technical or related to access. For groups meeting in the Mobile App, those challenges are appropriately raised with the WSO Staff responsible for maintaining the virtual venue.
Through every challenge, our principles endure: unity, service, and self-support. For 75 years, WSO has continued to support the shared wisdom and flow that move through our fellowship, keeping us connected through letters, literature, and now, logins.
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.
Area Inspiration
WSO Staff and Volunteer Area Visits
• Interested in revitalizing Al-Anon service in your Area?
• Could your Area use a refresher on the links of service?
• Do you have a new panel that might benefit from some service inspiration?
• Are you connected with a growing Spanish-speaking District that would appreciate
encouragement and support?
• Are there any vacant Area roles where some renewed enthusiasm could make a
difference?
Inviting World Service Office (WSO) Staff and Volunteers to your Area Assembly or
Convention can be a meaningful way to deepen our shared commitment to Al-Anon’s
spiritual principles and service legacy.
These visits offer so much more than information; they bring the gift of experience,
strength, and hope. Whether your Area is welcoming a new panel, exploring the links of
service, or nurturing growth in a Spanish-speaking District, the presence of WSO
representatives can help illuminate our service paths with clarity, experience and
encouragement.
Their participation can foster unity and understanding, helping Areas navigate service
challenges with grace and mutual respect. Through open dialogue and shared experience,
trusted servants are reminded that we are never alone in service and that our fellowship
extends far beyond our local boundaries.
If you are interested in inviting a WSO Staff member or Volunteer to your Area in person or
virtually, follow your Area’s established process. These connections can renew
enthusiasm, strengthen collaboration, and deepen our spiritual connection to the
worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon Family Groups.
These visits can serve as a beautiful reminder that “Together We Can Make It!”
Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.,
Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Inside Al-Anon Family Groups
Inside Al-Anon Family Groups
An Al-Anon Group Is an Al-Anon Group—Even Online
I wasn’t sure what bothered me about electronic Al-Anon groups when I first started attending them. They were new and different to me, and with my camera off and a made-up name, I could be completely invisible. I could drop in and out when I felt like it, without considering any disruption I might cause or sharing in the responsibility of serving the group. This made me vaguely uncomfortable, but the convenience swept me off my feet: I could do some household tasks or “just listen in,” letting the other members carry the meeting.
Then I started comparing my participation in electronic meetings with my participation in face-to-face meetings. The difference was stark! When I realized how little effort I put into “attending” an electronic meeting, I decided to change the way I showed up. I started joining the meeting on time and making myself available to help ensure the meeting opened when it was supposed to and included helpful topics. I sat up straight, kept my camera on, and paid attention. I started doing my best to recognize that an Al-Anon group is an Al-Anon group; whether we meet in a hospital conference room, a church basement, or on an electronic platform, it still remains an Al-Anon group.
Now, when I attend an Al-Anon meeting online, I think about how I’m supporting the group and how that affects Al-Anon as a whole. Am I contributing by serving, sharing in leadership, and taking turns so as not to control? Do I contribute financially to the electronic “basket” even though the expenses for the electronic platform or welcome materials are not obvious to me? Do I encourage other members to participate in the group and share Al-Anon-related announcements? Do I participate in group business meetings to keep the group informed and vibrant?
When I first started attending Al-Anon, I had only three face-to-face weekly meetings to choose from in a 40-mile radius, no matter the weather or any unexpected obligations that came up. After all these insights, I’m more grateful than ever for the many ways I can find recovery in an Al-Anon group—whether in person or online, almost anytime.
By Christa A.
Group Services & Alateen Coordinator
“Inside Al-Anon Family Groups” presents news, policy, and commentary from volunteers, staff and readers sharing experience through service. Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.