Identity & Purpose

Al-Anon’s Suggested Preamble to The Twelve Steps

The Al-Anon Family Groups (AFG) are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems. We believe alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.

Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon is self-supporting through its own voluntary contributions.

Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic.

Minnesota South Area Al-Anon and Alateen

The keystone of Al-Anon’s structure is the membership. The basic unit is the Al-Anon or Alateen group, which consists of two or more individuals whose lives have been adversely affected by alcoholism coming together for mutual help.

Two principle lines of communication exist between the individual group and Al-Anon as a whole:

1) the World Service Conference, directly serving Al-Anon groups in the U.S. and Canada as well as groups and structures in other countries who communicate through the International Coordination Committee.

2) the World Service Office (WSO), headquarters for the Al-Anon Family Groups, providing service information and service to groups throughout the world, and link to other national General Service Offices (GSO).

Local Al-Anon and Alateen groups comprise a district. There are 21 Al-Anon/Alateen Districts in Minnesota South Area which consists of the southernmost third of Minnesota. Districts and Areas help facilitate communication among groups, the World Service Conference, and the World Service Office.