Information and Resources for Members and Trusted Servants
As of January 2021…
2020 in Review…
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 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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
The first ever virtual S-Anon/S-Ateen/SA International Conventions are just a month away, don’t forget to register!
Registration is open until January 20, 2021 and is $20.00.
The Public Information & Outreach (PI&O) Committee’s goal is to increase awareness of the S-Anon program for the general public, and to help local groups carry the message to their local communities.
The Committee’s current and upcoming projects include:
PI&O is looking to add more members, especially to help with the Corrections subcommittee. Interested in learning more? Email [email protected].
The World Service Conference (WSC) is S-Anon’s annual business meeting where representatives from areas throughout S-Anon in North America convene to make decisions on matters affecting our fellowship as a whole. Motions for the 2021 World Service Conference are due March 1, 2021, and the World Service Conference Committee has developed helpful information to guide you through the motion writing process along.
The Motion Form, Motion Checklist, and Motion References can now all be found in the S-Anon/S-Ateen Service Manual (SSSM) under Appendix H.
Have more questions? Check out the WSC Q&A, read what the SSSM has to say about the WSC Policies and Procedures here, or email the World Service Conference Committee Chair at [email protected].
January 22-24, 2021
The S-Anon/S-Ateen/SA International Conventions originally scheduled to take place in Atlanta, GA, January 2021, will now be virtual!*
“We are pleased to be able to host the joint 2021 winter convention in the United States and to welcome you virtually to Georgia. It is our hope that the speakers, the breakout meetings and the fellowship time will be a source of strength and recovery for all the members of SA, S-Anon and S-Ateen who participate.”
– Atlanta International Convention Host Committee
*A full schedule will be released closer to the event.
The WSO recently managed the reprint and arrival of over 8,000 Reflections of Hope. Though it’s the same edition as previous reprints, the Literature Committee made minor copy edits to fix a few grammatical errors and due to printing on different paper, the book is now 20% more compact than before.
Did you know? Since publication in 2008, the WSO has sold almost 22,000 copies of Reflections of Hope!
Your direct contributions to the World Service Office pave the way for those who are yet to come and help fulfill S-Anon’s primary purpose – to help families and friends of sexaholics.
Please consider making a contribution to the WSO and share the Special Appeal letter with your group.
Contributions can be made via www.sanon.org, paypal.me/sanonwso, or by mail at S-Anon WSO, P.O. Box 17294, Nashville, TN, 37217.