Al-Anon is a mutual support group for those affected by a loved one’s addiction to alcohol. Members meet to share their experiences and apply the Al‑Anon program to their lives. Spouses, partners, adult children of alcoholics, parents, and coworkers can all find help in Al‑Anon. Fact Sheet: Resources For Professionals
Newcomers Welcome
Call the Vermont answering service at (866) 972-5266. An Al-Anon member will call you back.
Anonymous Members, Visible Program
One of the first things we learn in Al-Anon/Alateen is that members are anonymous—but the program is not. If AlAnon Family Groups were anonymous, how would newcomers ever find us?
Because the program is not anonymous, Al-Anon can have a public name, website, meeting listings, literature, phone lines, and service offices. This allows Al-Anon to work with professionals and share information with communities that need support for families and friends of alcoholics.
Tradition Twelve reminds us that anonymity is the spiritual foundation of the program, placing “principles above personalities,” and Tradition Eleven protects the anonymity of individual members while ensuring the program remains visible to the public.
What does this mean when carrying the message publicly? Members may use full names within the fellowship, but in all forms of public media—press, radio, TV, films, and the internet—personal anonymity is maintained by using a first name and last initial, a pseudonym, or remaining completely anonymous. When working with professionals, members are encouraged to provide full names and contact details for credibility. In non-media settings, such as health fairs or community presentations, members may choose to use their full names if they feel comfortable doing so.
For more guidance, see Why Anonymity in AlAnon? (P33), Attracting and Cooperating (S40), and the “Anonymity” section of the “Digest of AlAnon and Alateen Policies” in the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual (P24/27).
The Forum, September 2026. Reprinted with permission of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Let It Begin With Me
When I came to Al-Anon—as a friend of mine says, many moons ago—I remember looking at the sayings on the walls. I didn’t understand at first that they were called slogans or how to apply them to my daily life. Some were easier to try than others. At that time, I felt overwhelmed and believed I was already doing everything for everyone.
Every time I looked at “Let It Begin with Me,” I saw red and became angry. I thought, It always begins with me. I cook, I clean, I pay the bills, I look after the children, and on and on. I felt it was time for someone else to “Let It Begin with Me.”
My attitude toward this slogan went on for quite a while. Over time, through attending lots of meetings and listening to fellow members, my thinking began to change.
I started to see this slogan differently and thought, Why not “Let It Begin with Me”? Everything has to begin somewhere. I began to feel grateful that I could choose to let it begin with me. In Al-Anon, I learned I could make small changes in how I responded, rather than waiting for others to change.
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Le lien and Al-Anon y Alateen en acción: When Recovery Is Found in Translation!
Alongside The Forum, the French and Spanish magazines Le lien and Al‑Anon y Alateen en acción support families and friends of alcoholics as part of Al‑Anon’s worldwide fellowship. As we celebrate 75 years of dedication and contributions, join us in this special look into their history.
Upcoming Events
Spiritual Day District 6 - Hybrid!September 12, 2026
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Spiritual Day District 3October 3, 2026
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Fall Area AssemblyOctober 17, 2026
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Gratitude WorkshopNovember 7, 2026
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Vermont Al-Anon Convention 2027April 9, 2027 – April 11, 2027
International Al-Anon ConventionJuly 20, 2028 – July 23, 2028