The thirty (30), or so, Al-Anon and Alateen meetings (in both English and Spanish) in the Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley areas make-up District 8. District 8 is part of Southern California World Service (SCWS) also know as Area 4.
Please read these notes during your meetings - do not read phone numbers. Please place a printed copy of these announcements where members can get the information after meeting.
News for January 2023
Alejandra is now our new District Representative.
Please welcome her!!
2023 Al-Anon International Convention with AA Participation
This event will be in Albuquerque New Mexico, June 29-July 2, 2023. Registration is open and fees go up the closer too the event. Current fee is in place until January 11. Information on hotel rooms set aside for the convention will be provided upon registration for the event. Visit https://al-anon.org/wso-events/2023-al-anon-intternationalconvention for all the information.
Institutions Service
Al Anon informational meetings are being held on the first two Mondays (4:30 pm and 8 pm respectively) of the month at 5 Bath. The meetings are approximately 30 minutes and introduce people to Al-Anon and how Al-Anon can be of value in their lives. Contact John at (805) 705-1055 if you are interested in assisting with this service.
D8 Website Conversion Thought Force
The District is considering a change to the D8 website operating and management system. Al-Anon members are being sought to participate on a Thought Force that would look at "off the shelf" alternatives to allow the web site to operate more autonomously (to relieve work required by the current service position of webmaster), provide better mobile device delivery, increase user friendly Spanish language usage and improved website security. The Thought Force would define the "task/activity'', brainstorm ideas, and develop strategies to move forward - defining the potential idea that would then, upon a group conscience of the District, move forward to a Task Force and then Work Force. Please contact Fred at fredB51@cox.net if you are interested in serving in this estimated 3 month process.
District 8 Spanish Web Site Thought Force Needed
Join Larry, Alejandra, Graciela, Estella, and Scott in an engaging service opportunity. The goal is to create a Spanish version of the entire D8 web site. If you are interested please contact Alejandra (805) 252 -2213.
AMIAS Certification
Larry is now the new District 8 Alateen Liaison! Every Alateen group meeting requires two (2) adults that are AMIAAS certified. If you are interested, call or text Larry at 805-705-8787 or email: Larrydrd8@gmail.com.
Open District Service Opportunities
Beginner's Meeting Coordinator
Beginner's Meeting Coordinator-Our current coordinator Mala ended her service position at the end of December 2022. Also the Beginner's Meeting needs a leader for the third Tuesday of the month. If you are interested in either of these, please contact Mala at (858) 774-2455.
Public Outreach Coordinator
Help to carry the message of hope through local media and to professionals within our community. Please contact Alejandra if you are interested or have any questions.
District Records Coordinator
This position requires gathering local meeting information, group positions and records, and updating the information for Southern California WSO. Position information and mentorship will be provided by SCWS Records volunteers.
District Treasurer
If anyone is interested in this three year service position, please contact Linda at lhllt@cox.net. District Literature – This position requires the purchase and distribution of literature at the District level.
Group Representatives
!! NEW ZOOM SECURITY PROTOCOLS !!
PLEASE SHARE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOUR MEETING HOSTS FOR HYBRID OR ZOOM MEETINGS Meeting hosts may be experiencing difficulties due to ZOOM's recent double authentication process. This is particularly evident for meeting hosts who are signing on from a different device not previously used for our Al Anon meetings. Please have your hosts test their sign-in process a couple of days before the meeting (be sure there is not another Santa Barbara Al Anon meeting currently in progress). Each hybrid or zoom meeting page now has the following message -"If you are logging into the meeting as host on a new device for the first time, Zoom may require two-factor authentication. If you need help getting the second factor code, please call...". Either Mala or Steve's phone number will be shown. They will be able to assist you with those codes.
Meeting Updates
GR's are responsible to update their meeting changes through the SCWS website; this includes changes in new GR status, physical/virtual meeting status, time and venue changes, and holiday closures. Forms to request these changes can be found at https://www.scws-al-anon.org/group-records. Please take the time now to check and verify on SCWS web site that all your meeting information is correct by visiting https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/find-an-al-anon-meeting. Keeping this information current is an important service that you provide for the Newcomer to Al-Anon.
Other changes to Meetings
For posting of business meeting minutes, meeting formats, and other group assets, fill out the contact form at https://www.Al-Anonsantabarbara.info/Contact or notify our D8 webmaster at Webmaster@AlAnonSantaBarbara.info.
Liability Insurance
Liability Insurance is now provided through SCWS. D8's Certificate of Insurance expired in October 2022. GRs are responsible to obtain their own Certificate through the SCWS process. Be prepared to provide the legal name, address & phone # of your meeting facility as well as your Al Anon meeting ID. Information and forms to acquire the Certificate of Insurance can be found here: https://www.scws-al-anon.org/insurance/
Website Change Requests
Website updates can take 7 to 14 days to implement, so please provide at least 7 to 14 day lead time on meeting change requests.