Al-Anon: Making people aware without breaking confidences
By KEVIN CLAPP / Staff Writer
For information on Al-Anon and Alateen meeting dates and times in Washington and Frederick counties, call 301-293-3803.
Information on Al-Anon or Alateen meetings in Pennsylvania and West Virginia is available by calling the international headquarters at 1-888-425-2666 Mondays to Fridays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or go to www.al-anon.alateen.org on the Web.
Here is the quandary facing Al-Anon: Spreading the word about their existence without betraying confidences and anonymity.
"It's an ongoing challenge just to make people aware that we're here," says Mary Lou, director of public outreach for Al-Anon's international headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va.
A nonprofit organization dependent on volunteer support, there is not a lot of funding available for splashy public relations campaigns.
The 55-member staff in Virginia Beach produces posters and public service announcements, but they can only do so much with limited resources. As a result, they rely heavily on volunteers at the district level.