Al-Anon Outreach to Institutions: Preparing the First Request
A library, facility or community organisation may be willing to make information about Al-Anon available. The first conversation is easier when the request names one action the institution can consider. Decide what the public needs to find, then ask the institution what it permits.
Start with the institution's actual question
Ask what information the organisation is seeking. A librarian might need a current handout and a place to send readers for meeting details. Another institution might want to know whether there is a local contact for questions. Begin with the request that has actually been made rather than assuming a broader programme is wanted.
Check whether another service volunteer already handles the relationship. Coordinate the contact and agree who can speak for the service effort. This helps the institution receive one clear request instead of several overlapping offers from people using different descriptions.
Make a small, reviewable proposal
Describe the intended audience, the item or activity you propose and the person who will maintain it. For example, ask whether the institution will review one current information handout for an existing resource table. Give staff enough detail to say whether it meets their needs.
Use the official outreach resource for material selection and confirm what may be displayed or reproduced. Ask how the institution handles approval, access and removal. Its permission to display information should not be described as sponsorship or endorsement of a group, publication or retail product.
Avoid mixing outreach with recognition
A public information table helps someone learn about the fellowship and find a reliable contact. It should not assume the reader attends a group, has a milestone to mark or wants a keepsake. The guide to Al-Anon token customs can help explain the separate question of local recognition customs when somebody asks it.
Do not collect names or personal details from people who take a leaflet. If they ask for a meeting route, give them the public information they can choose to use. A personal gift for an AA anniversary belongs in a private, separately agreed context.
Decide how the placement will stay accurate
Before leaving material, identify who will check whether the public contact or meeting reference is still current. Agree how staff can report an outdated item. If they prefer to remove material rather than maintain it, make sure the service volunteer knows what to do when it is time to review the placement.
Record what the institution approved, the date and the next check. Keep the notes about the material and the placement, not about the people who may read it. A simple record makes it possible to close the loop without monitoring who sought help.
Medallions to consider
These optional retail medallions are for a confirmed AA sobriety anniversary. Ask whether the recipient would welcome a keepsake and verify the milestone before choosing a design.
Tricolor Velvet Plum Ombre Sparkle (1-45y)
The current selector lists 1 to 45 years. The photo shows one sample inscription. Use the selector to choose the confirmed milestone.
Tricolor Jet Black (24h, 1-50y)
The current selector lists 1 to 50 years, plus 24 Hours and 18 Months. The photo shows one sample inscription. Use the selector to choose the confirmed milestone.
Common questions
Should I leave materials before staff agree?
Ask the institution to approve the placement and the material first.
Does a leaflet display imply the institution endorses Al-Anon?
Describe the actual arrangement without claiming an endorsement.
Keep reading
Explore Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins to compare the designs and available sobriety milestones.
