Responding to the Special Appeal


 February 17, 2021

The Special Appeal, a tri-annual request to the fellowship for financial contributions, plays an integral role in supporting the work of the S-Anon World Service Office. The financial boost from these donations go directly to support the day-to-day operations of the WSO, and we have a few suggestions on how you can spread the word of the February Appeal Letter sent to groups earlier this month:

-Copy/Paste this brief message to your group contact list via email or text message, or in the chat function of your virtual meeting space:

The S-Anon World Service Office Special Appeal has arrived! Read the letter at member.sanon.org/februaryappeal and contribute via PayPal at paypal.me/sanonwso or on the S-Anon website sanon.org/donate. Thank you for your contribution!

-Read the letter to your groups for three consecutive meetings and “pass the group’s virtual basket” or ask members to contribute directly to the WSO.

-Is your group’s donation collection on hold for the time being? We’ve got you covered! Share the following links so members can contribute directly to the WSO: paypal.me/sanonwso or sanon.org/donate

-Forward the Special Appeal email to your group and ask your intergroup to help spread the message as well.

Thank you for going above and beyond to ensure the WSO continues to be financially supported by the fellowship and thank you for spreading the word about this Special Appeal.

S-Ateens are Welcome


 

Technology has allowed us to continue S-Anon gatherings in the absence of in-person, face-to-face meetings. This raises questions regarding S-Ateen participation including, “Are teens allowed in S-Anon meetings?”

S-Ateen members (ages 12 to 19) are part of the S-Anon International Family Groups in accordance with the S-Anon World Service Conference Charter: “The term S-Anon includes S-Ateen. Therefore, the above Charter applies to all registered groups, including S-Ateen.” As such, S-Ateen members are welcome to attend any S-Anon meeting – both virtual and in-person.

Whether an S-Anon or S-Ateen member, it takes great courage to attend that first meeting. And even if it’s not a member’s first meeting, joining a new group can be just as daunting. Whatever the circumstances, it is important to extend a warm welcome to all newcomers, both S-Anon and S-Ateen.

Tradition Three: “The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of sexaholism in a relative or friend.”

Referring to Tradition Three when making decisions on who can attend S-Anon meetings, keeps it simple and takes personal opinions out of the discussion. If someone is there for their own recovery, being affected by another person’s sexaholism, they belong, regardless of age.

Tradition Five: “Each S-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of sexaholics. We do this by encouraging and understanding our sexaholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving comfort to families of sexaholics.”

S-Anon’s one purpose is to help families of sexaholics. We do this by welcoming, encouraging, and understanding our sexaholic relatives. This includes S-Ateen members.

For a more thorough Traditions-based explanation on this issue, please refer to Appendix D in the S-Anon/S-Ateen Service Manual.

Discussions on including S-Ateen members in S-Anon meetings and recovery events – both in-person and virtual — are encouraged. Support is available from the S-Ateen Committee, and S-Anon members may also contact their Area Delegate or Regional Trustee for more information. The S-Ateen Committee Chair can be reached at [email protected].

Celebrating a Successful Virtual Convention


 

The first ever virtual S-Anon/S-Ateen International Convention was attended by 685 S-Anon and 12 S-Ateen members. Thank you to Atlanta for hosting such a wonderful, far reaching event, and for all the volunteers that made it possible!

Reminder: Motions to the WSC Due March 1


 

Motions for the 2021 World Service Conference are due March 1, 2021. Motions ready for submission can be emailed to [email protected].

The Motion Form, Motion Checklist, and Motion References can all be found in the S-Anon/S-Ateen Service Manual (SSSM) under Appendix H.

For more information, check out the WSC Q&A, read through what the SSSM has to say about the WSC Policies and Procedures, or email the World Service Conference Committee Chair at [email protected].

February 2021 Special Appeal


 February 5, 2021

The Special Appeal is a triannual request from the S-Anon World Service Office for 7th Tradition donations. Please share this appeal with your group and consider making a contribution today!

Dear S-Anon Members,

My social life before S-Anon was very comfortable for me. I was surrounded by people I had known for years, I had never really pushed myself to expand my circle and experience beyond those I had always known, and I was good with that. It wasn’t until I came to S-Anon that I realized how much I had been missing in the world. I had been struggling to live my life with an active sexaholic, with no realization that anyone else was going through the same experience. My friends and family had offered suggestions to me for years, but I felt no real support or fellowship through my struggle.

It wasn’t until S-Anon introduced me to members with different backgrounds, life experiences, cultures, ethnicities, and upbringings, all struggling with the effects of sexaholism, that I began to grow. I didn’t need to be surrounded by more people exactly like me; that wouldn’t help me. I didn’t need to hear more of the same; I needed to hear and share my own story with S-Anon members whom I might never have met on my own.

What I love most about this program is that no matter how different we are, we all share the same feelings. Inside we are all the same. We come together, no matter what our religious beliefs, skin color or life choices may be. We are who we are and that’s great because we are all a work in progress. We are all equals in the S-Anon program.

There is no other place in my world where I’ve experienced this sense of unity. I had no idea how much I craved this unity, or how much my old world lacked these much-needed perspectives. Today, I look forward to meeting new S-Anon members and learning how their experience might expand my world and further my recovery.

Our S-Anon World Service Office (WSO) offers resources every day to those who are in need of recovery from the effects of another’s sexual addiction. I am so grateful that the WSO is there to connect me with people who understand what it means to be affected by sexaholism. Please consider donating to our WSO to help preserve the unity of our fellowship, and to assure our program of recovery is available to all who are searching for hope and help from other S-Anon members who truly understand these situations and feelings. Contributions can be made online at www.sanon.org, paypal.me/sanonwso, or via mail to S-Anon WSO, P.O. Box 17294, Nashville, TN, 37217.

Your contributions are greatly appreciated,

Lindsay D., Indiana Area Delegate

WSO by the Numbers – January 2021


 January 19, 2021

As of January 2021…

  • US & Canada Registered Face-to-Face Groups: 322
  • International Face-to-Face Groups: 34
  • Registered Phone & Virtual Groups: 19
  • Temporary Phone & Virtual Groups: 47
  • S-Ateen Face-to-Face & Virtual Groups: 3
  • Long Distance Sponsors: 26
  • Phone Support: 29

2020 in Review…

  • Digital Welcome Packets Sent: 4,679
  • Requests for Phone & Virtual Meeting Schedule: 2,954
  • Unique Visitors to www.sanon.org: 63,831
  • Literature Orders Shipped: 2,078

From the Treasurer’s Desk


 

Dear S-Anon Fellowship,

I wanted to share our 2021 Budget, a few other financial items, and my gratitude for your generosity.

During the budget process, the Finance Committee heavily leans on the historical statistics when projecting revenue generated from literature sales, 7th Tradition contributions, and proceeds from International Conventions. Because 2020 has been unlike any other year and the upcoming year brings many uncertainties, the Finance Committee developed a conservative 2021 Budget for approval by the BOT.

As you may be aware, the January 2021 S-Anon/S-Ateen and SA International Conventions, originally scheduled in Atlanta, GA, transitioned from in-person to virtual, opening the opportunity for more S-Anons & S-Ateens to participate in an International Convention than ever before. The Salt Lake City Host Committee of the Road of Happy Destiny S-Anon/S-Ateen and SA International Conventions is still planning to hold a convention July 9-11, 2021. The World Service Office (WSO) will announce event details and when registrations will open in the coming months. I encourage you all to consider attending and I hope to see many of you at both recovery events.

In the Spring of 2021 we will be reprinting Working the S-Anon Program and later in the year, we expect to be publishing an S-Anon Twelve Traditions book. In the meantime, the final Traditions booklet, S-Anon Traditions Ten, Eleven, Twelve, is rounding completion through the Conference Approval Process and is expected to be published in Spring of 2021.

While 2020 brought many unexpected twists, the WSO experienced immense support through the continued generosity of S-Anon members. Thank you to all the groups and individuals who made 7th Tradition donations to the WSO this past year. Because of your contributions and innovative ways to continue meetings, the WSO has been able to weather the uncertainties of this year and is positioned to enter 2021 without utilizing the Prudent Reserves. The Prudent Reserve is an account which sets aside 6 months of WSO operating expenses.

Every donation, book or recording sale, or attendance at an International Convention provides ongoing support to the WSO and for that, I am grateful. I admire the courage that groups have displayed this year in finding new ways to continue meeting and holding events – my hope is that you all feel empowered by your resilience in your ability to carry the message of hope in recovery no matter what may come your way.

Thank you,

Dawnielle A.
Treasurer, Board of Trustees

 

The Importance of Honoring S-Anon’s Copyright


 

The S-Anon World Service Office (WSO) fields many questions from members each year regarding the use of intellectual property developed by the Fellowship. In the more recent months since many S-Anon groups have adapted to virtual or electronic meetings, the WSO has seen a significant rise in questions related to the protection of S-Anon’s copyrighted material.

While many cases of copyright infringement are obvious violations such as distributing and publishing entire pieces of work or continuously reprinting or reproducing excerpts of S-Anon literature through the internet or electronic devices, there are also other, more nuanced occurrences that may or may not exceed Fair Use laws. Understanding the nuances of what constitutes a copyright violation is no easy task, even within the court of law, but as it relates to use within the S-Anon fellowship, we have the guiding spiritual principles of the S-Anon Twelve Traditions that call upon us to honor the spirit of S-Anon’s copyright.

Addressing Copyright Infringements within the Fellowship

While reproducing and redistributing S-Anon literature repeatedly, in-part, or as a replacement for purchasing (printed, digitally, or electronically) may seem like carrying the message, it has many unintended consequences:

Tradition Seven: The sale of S-Anon literature contributes to S-Anon’s ability to be fully self-supporting and continue carrying the message of recovery to those who have been affected by the sexual behavior of a family member or friend. Failing to defend and protect our copyright literature by permitting unauthorized uses of S-Anon literature diverts proceeds that would otherwise flow to support S-Anon and may jeopardize our ability to remain fully self-supporting.

Tradition Five and Tradition Ten: The World Service Office (WSO) is tasked with, among many other responsibilities, protecting S-Anon’s copyright. If S-Anon groups and members infringe upon S-Anon’s copyright, addressing violations directs S-Anon’s minimal resources from our primary purpose. It also has the potential to entangle S-Anon in outside issues such as legal disputes.

Tradition One and Tradition Four: The unity highlighted in Tradition One inspires the awareness that the long-term viability and preservation of the S-Anon fellowship belongs to all members. By placing an individual’s or group’s needs or desires above S-Anon’s common welfare, we lose sight of the importance of this unity. While groups are autonomous, they do not have the authority to approve the reprint or reproduction of S-Anon literature as this affects S-Anon as a whole by weakening the copyright ownership, diluting the Traditions as our spiritual guide, and diverting revenue from the S-Anon WSO.

The S-Anon Board of Trustees has identified a need for a more comprehensive guideline for groups and individuals to reference when questioning what is and isn’t a violation of copyright. For now, we ask all members to consider, on a case-by-case basis, how the use of S-Anon literature during meetings honors and supports the fellowship as a whole as opposed to benefiting individuals in the short term.

The Twelve Traditions remind us that the common welfare of S-Anon belongs to the groups, and that we are all responsible for preserving the integrity of the S-Anon program, including protecting our copyrights. As such, if any member becomes aware of a copyright violation by a group or individual member, we encourage you to speak up, reminding each other of our commitment to the Twelve Traditions. While the spirit of the Twelve Traditions teaches us that the most powerful commitment to these guidelines is an individual’s willing consent, we also understand that taking the appropriate actions when necessary to protect S-Anon’s copyright is essential. If copyright infringement is not resolved by a discussion, please contact your Area Delegate or Regional Trustee for experience, strength, and hope, or the WSO at [email protected].

Literature Acceptable for Reprint

There are a few reprint exceptions that are pre-approved and acceptable for credited reproduction by S-Anon groups which include the Suggest Meeting Format and Readings, Service Literature, and a few S-Anon writings for publication on local S-Anon websites. All mentioned resources can be found on the Member Site at member.sanon.org. In honor of the Conference Approved Literature (CAL) process and S-Anon’s copyright, S-Anon published literature cannot be altered or modified to any degree except for the Suggested Meeting Format (but not the CAL meeting readings) which can be customized to fit each group’s needs.

Addressing Copyright Violations Outside the Fellowship

If any S-Anon member is made aware of a violation of S-Anon copyright by an entity outside of S-Anon, please contact the WSO as this is best appropriately addressed in conjunction with the Executive Committee and the WSO’s copyright attorney.

If you have additional questions about the appropriate use of S-Anon literature, please contact our Literature Committee at [email protected]. Thank you for your service in carrying the message of S-Anon recovery and for helping to keep our S-Anon fellowship protected and healthy.

Group Sponsors


 December 15, 2020

The S-Anon World Service Office (WSO) is looking for S-Anon members who are available to share applicable and personal experience, strength, and hope with S-Anon groups who are working through group conflict or facing other common challenges.

It is recommended that a Group Sponsor be involved in a healthy and thriving S-Anon group, have general knowledge and a growing understanding of the S-Anon/S-Ateen Service Manual, the Twelve Traditions and Concepts, and S-Anon Service Literature.

Common inquiries fielded by Groups Sponsors include using the group conscience process, filling service positions within a group, conducting local outreach, or resolving questions related to the Traditions and how they apply to a particular scenario. Interested in learning more about this service position? Call or email the WSO at 1-800-210-8141 or [email protected].

If your S-Anon group would benefit from the guidance of a Group Sponsor, please also contact the WSO to be connected with a member willing to help.

You are now leaving the official website for S-Anon International Family Groups, Inc. This link is made available to provide information about local S-Anon & S-Ateen groups. By providing this link we do not imply review, endorsement or approval of the linked site. Thank you for visiting www.sanon.org. We hope that you have found the information you were seeking.

Deny