Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups 209

10/12/2026

Extending a Warm Welcome to Student Observers

Welcoming students (professionals in training) helps extend Al‑Anon’s message of hope beyond our rooms. Observers come to learn without judgment, while respecting anonymity and confidentiality.

A warm welcome, a brief explanation of our Traditions, and clear boundaries help keep meetings safe while putting Al‑Anon principles into action. By opening our meetings with care, we invite others to understand how Al‑Anon and Alateen support the families and friends of alcoholics—and the shared path of recovery.

10/09/2026

New Look, Fresh Content—Enduring Message of Help and Hope

A brand‑new edition of Al‑Anon Faces Alcoholism (AFAM) is here, but its heart remains the same. Meaningful member sharings and insightful professional articles introduce potential newcomers to Al‑Anon and Alateen.

Designed for effective public outreach, Al‑Anon Faces Alcoholism helps professionals guide clients and patients affected by another’s alcoholism to find support and recovery in Al‑Anon Family Groups. You can help carry the message by purchasing copies to share within your community and with professionals for referral.

10/05/2026

10/01/2026

Reaching Families Worldwide Through Public Outreach

As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, Al‑Anon’s worldwide fellowship honors decades of providing hope and help to families and friends of alcoholics.

By raising awareness during September Recovery Month—and on International Recovery Day, September 30—we expand access to family recovery, reduce stigma, and ensure Al‑Anon’s message reaches anyone affected by someone else’s drinking.

To understand how Districts, Areas, and international structures can support these efforts, review the Public Outreach section in the "Digest of Al‑Anon and Alateen Policies" in the 2026‑2029 Al‑Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P‑24/27).

09/28/2026

Tending to My Garden of Grief
This morning, as I grappled once again with the loss of my daughter through estrangement by her choice over the last three years, my Higher Power gave me a perfect metaphor in a quote from the July 5 reading in Courage to Change (B-17). The quote at the bottom of the page reads, “Love your neighbor, yet pull not down your hedge.” This program is teaching me to turn my attention and reliance inward to the sustaining strength of God as I understand this presence within me.

I’ve been fighting an invasive species I planted 15 years ago: Russian sage. It is in one of my garden beds and has taken over all the other plants, and, through its traveling tendrils, it threatens to expand even further. In other beds where I planted it around my house, its spread has been curtailed by cherry trees from volunteer seeds that blew in, took root, and became stronger than the sage. But on this one side, it had free rein.

Read more:
https://al-anon.org/blog/tending-to-my-garden-of-grief/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260902ITL

By Janet L.
The Forum, Sept 2026
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.

09/25/2026

The Forum Needs Your Sharings about Our Three Legacies!

Please consider writing about one of the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, or Twelve Concepts of Service, as your World Service Office receives very few sharings about them. Submissions can range from about 200 to 400 words.

NOTE: Submissions in Spanish or French must be accompanied by an English translation. Submit sharings online, or to [email protected], or send your articles to The Forum, 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454‑5617.

Share Online Now!
https://al-anon.org/for-members/members-resources/literature/literature-resources/send-your-sharing/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260902ITL

09/23/2026

Register today!

09/21/2026

Attracting and Cooperating: Best Practices for Tradition Eleven

During National Recovery Month, observed each September in the US and Canada, and International Recovery Day, celebrated globally on September 30, consider reaching out to families and friends affected by someone else’s alcoholism and offering a message of hope. Whether by sharing literature at a community event, connecting with local professionals, or ensuring meeting information is current online, even small efforts can make a difference.

Read More:
https://al-anon.org/blog/attracting-and-cooperating-best-practices-for-tradition-eleven/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260902ITL

09/19/2026

“There are many reasons, but I think the initial one was the connection I made with people who opened their hearts by sharing their trials and struggles, past and present. When I first came to Al‑Anon, I didn’t know what to expect, but I quickly found something I hadn’t experienced before…”

Read a Selection from the September Forum:
https://al-anon.org/blog/why-i-stayed/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20260902ITL