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Memorandum

Public Outreach Department

TO: Area Delegates
FROM: Associate Director-Professionals
and Associate Director-Media
DATE: September 26, 2006
RE: News from WSO Public Outreach
CC: WSO Conference Members, Area Public Outreach
Coordinators

Exciting News....
On September 19th, Congressman Jim Ramstad (MN) read a proclamation into
the Congressional Record in honor of Al Anon Family Group's 55th
Anniversary.  A copy is attached to this memo which you may wish to
share with other members in your area.

The WSO has requested that a similar type of proclamation be read in the
Canadian Parliament in November congratulating Al-Anon on its 55th
anniversary. You will receive a copy of the text from the WSO when it is
available.

It's All About Cooperation...
In early September, the WSO hosted a very successful 55th Anniversa ry
Family Recovery lunch in Washington, DC. The event was held in
cooperation with the US Government's Center for Substance Abuse
Treatment which organizes National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Month aka
September Recovery Month.*  Dr. Constance Weisner, Director of the
Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente of Northern California*
presented the results of her research about the importance of treating
the family members at the same time as the alcoholic as a cost effective
way to lower medical costs and health care problems. Attendees included
professionals from national nonprofit organizations who are in contact
with families and friends of problem drinkers, as well as
representatives from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA)* and the White House's Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP) .* The Chairperson of the WSO's Board of Trustees
also shared parts of her personal recovery story.

Plans are underway for a 55th Anniversary Family Recovery Celebration
lunch in Ottawa, ON in November.  The WSO is cooperating with the
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA).*  National organizations,
Members of Parliament, and Senators will be invited.  Our Canadian
Trustees and Executive Committee members, the Board Chairperson, and a
few key WSO staff will represent the Al Anon fellowship. 

MORE...

About the Web...    [and Al-Anon Speaks Out]
Please note that the WSO has discontinued the US and Canadian versions
of Al-Anon Speaks Out newsletter for professionals, and removed it from
our Web site.  We are working on a new, more interactive Public Outreach
site, and will be posting timely information for professionals there.
Please advise your Area Web coordinators/Webmasters that links to
Al-Anon Speaks Out should be removed from Area, District, and AIS sites.

About PSAs...
Our new public service announcement, "What It's Like," has been very
well received by TV and radio stations in the US and Canada.  In its
first three months of release, it has aired on TV nearly 5,000 times and
on radio over 4,000 times!  According to our electronic tracking, PSAs
have aired in 45 states and two Canadian provinces. This is a very
strong start!  More details will be sent in the coming weeks to your
Area Public Outreach Coordinators.

There is still some confusion regarding the PSA DVDs given out at the
Conference.  The DVDs (original or copies you make) are made available
for member viewing, and are not available for sale.  The DVDs are not
broadcast quality and should not be taken to stations.  Members may
purchase the same PSAs on a BetaSP format tape (AV 30, $30.00) to
deliver to TV stations.

And about Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2007...
The order form for the second printing of our new outreach magazine is
now available on-line!  You can print out copies of the flyer/order form
to distribute, and/or order the magazine in English, French, and Spanish
through our on-line shopping cart!  Order deadline is February 15th,
2007, with delivery by April 1.