January 2019
Hello to all Arizona Al-Anon members and other friends,
It’s a brand-new panel. You may find comfort in seeing that we are a little unsure of our jobs, and we may be for some time. Some people say our Panel Commitments in a service position are three years because it takes that long to know what we’re doing. I think they may be right.
Someone told me at the Election Assembly in October 2018 that I’d make a good Delegate. I replied that I’d do my best, and that that would be good enough. I surprised myself. I told that person it was the first time I believed that. Like many of you, I grew up in a home where perfection seemed mandatory. The lesson I took into life was that windows could not have streaks, and nylons could not have runs, and anything worth doing was worth doing perfectly.
It took a lot of service- a lot of being loved when I made a mistake; a lot of sharing who I really was; a lot of beingembraced as the person I was- not the person I tried so hard to make you think I was. The Steps allowed me to find out who I was, the Traditions allowed me to work and play well with others, and the Concepts allowed me to see my part in the worldwide fellowship of the Al-Anon Family Groups. I guess it takes a village, right?
It’s January of 2019, and somehow, I am your Delegate. When I walked into the Assembly after the vote, and Karen congratulated me and introduced me as your new Delegate, I cried. You applauded, you whistled, you even cheered. On the way home, I told my husband I had never felt more loved. He said (sort of defensively) “Well, I love you!” He does. But he’s not so good at whooping and hollering.
I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you I am committed to do my best. I will learn as much as I can and work the best program of personal recovery I can. I will listen to you and to any messages I receive from the WSC or Al-Anon as a whole. Please stay in touch and tell me what you need and what you’re concerned about- as it relates to the position of Delegate.
If you haven’t read the Area Guidelines lately, here’s what I do:
• Attends World Service Conference. • Gives World Service Conference Report to the Area at Delegate’s Day. • Gives World Service Conference Report at Assemblies and World Service Committee Meetings. • Attends Southwest Regional Delegates Meeting while Delegate. Immediate Past Delegate attends SWRDM to introduce new Delegate. Expenses paid for these events by the Area. • Attends, if chooses, one TEAM (Together Empowering Al-Anon Members) event per year. • Serves as a channel of information from the World Service Conference to the area as well as from the area to the World Service Conference. • Responsible for submitting Regional Trustee candidate or notification of no candidate to the World Service Office on the Regional election year. • Works closely and provides information to the Alternate Delegate in case the Alternate Delegate needs to assume the Delegate responsibilities.
I need your help. Thanks for your love and support.
Hugs,
Claudia M
Panel 59 Arizona Delegate Azdelegatepanel59@al-anon-az.org