Idéguec and Gulemo
(letters, April 2002)
Monday, April 22nd - 11:58 AM
Gulemo,
Will you explain to me why we would be better off having our own GSO. Shouldn't we rather unite our forces and thoughts and join many countries?
I am a universal-minded type of person. I am waiting for your detailed point of view, not that I will argue, but I really want to know.
Idéguec
Tuesday, April 23rd - 9:53 AM
Idéguec,
You are a universal-minded type of person, so am I. Thirthy-two countries will be represented next October 2nd to 5th at the International General Service Meeting. The IGSM is held every two years, once in USA, once in another country. Why aren't we represented along with these 32 countries? Why not "unite our forces and thoughts and join many countries?" Is what we call the "World" Service Conference really worldwide? or only for US and Canada? It would be four times less expensive for our two Quebec areas for example to send but one delegate to the IGSM every two years rather than two delegates every year to the so-called WSC. Anyhow, one ought to...
"Think - think - think"...and laugh!
There are 30,000 Family Groups around the world, of which 20,000 are in North America where FG was born in the early fifties. Canadian FG members (2,000 groups) are the only ones in the world to send financial contributions to a foreign World Service Office where 500 francophone FGs in Canada represent but 2.5% in all. Moreover these 500 FGs are the only ones in the world to translate a foreign Magazine to which they cannot participate unless they write in English, at great expense and by disdaining their own Magazine! Why not translate "first things first" and let go of the rest? According to WSO and our Traditions, a francophone Magazine is "a matter of Area autonomy".
A 12-Tradition way of life
1st Tradition: "Our common welfare should come first; personal progress for the greatest number depends upon unity." The Les Groupes familiaux Magazine committee believes that a true francophone Magazine would contribute to unite francophone FGs in Canada which are at the present time divided between two areas (Quebec East and Quebec West) totally ignorant of each other.
2nd Tradition: "For our group purpose there is but one authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience..." inasmuch as there really is a group conscience in all and every group. And a group conscience is not to be confused with a GR's conscience since GRs meet but once a year at their Area Assemby. "Our leaders [GRs, DRs, coordonators, area officers, etc.] are but trusted servants; they do not govern." Thus they cannot send guidelines in every group. Whatever it be, groups are autonomous and use or disregard these guidelines as they wish.
4th Tradition: "Each group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting another group or FGs as a whole."
9th Tradition: "Our groups, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve." The Les Groupes familiaux Magazine is directly responsible to its subscribers who are all volonteers; no systematic area-paid subscription!
12th Tradition: "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities. "
There are 200 FGs in Sweden where FG members have a Magazine of their own and a General Service Office of their own. They manage their financial contributions by themselves and are represented every two years at the International General Service Meeting. There are 200 FGs in France, which means one GSO, one Magazine and one delegate to the IGSM. There are 160 FGs in Italy, which means one GSO and one delegate to the IGSM. There are 2500 FGs in Mexico (35 Areas), which means one GSO, one Magazine and one delegate to IGSM. It is all up to us, FG francophone members in Canada to manage our own business and have the services we deserve, begining with an Magazine of our own.
Everything passes by, so shall we. As much goes with the wind!
Gulemo
Wednesday, April 24th - 8:49 AM
Gulemo,
Many thanks for answering me. It's quite interesting indeed. Did you ever talk with Swedish FG members as to why they seperated from the World Service Conference? Do you know anyone at the IGSM? Thanks again.
Idéguec
Wednesday, April 24th - 1:05 PM
Idéguec,
Swedish FG members never had to seperate from the World Service Conference, they were never a part of it. They created their own GSO and their own GSC right from the begining. Canadian and Quebec FGs are the only ones in the world to be represented at the "US" Service Conference which we erroneously call the "World" Service Conference where francophones are any minority (500 FGs as compared to 200 in Sweden and 160 in Italy!) and we whine for having services in our language rather than managing our own business. A former FTS executive (French Translation Service, now a LDC - Litterature Distribution Center) used to say we have a "privilege", as though there could be priveleges in FGs!
I know no one at the IGSM but I am a regular reader of Area Monitor and both Summaries - that of the "World" (US?) Service Conference and the IGSM's. These three pieces of litterature give us a real feeling of belonging to a "Worldwide" Fellowship. However francophones, at least in Canada, do not get this information, they have no clue of what is going on in FGs around the world. A true French language Magazine would give us an opportunity to translate "first things first" mainly from Area Monitor and both Summaries, and then we could value true French language personal stories. Lets keep it simple.
If you are ever lucky enough to be a delegate (I wish you are), you will meet with WSO employees (WSO will always remain the World Service Office by the way - not to be confused with the Conference ) who are universal- and open-minded much more than we can imagine here. Our problem is not with WSO but rather with our own servants, former FTS servants above all. ( "We are but a minority - we are not numerous enough - we're worthless and stupid! - We were born but for a translation - Members are not willing to serve, how pityful! - We are granted a privilege! - etc." )
On day at a time, years go by, life fades away, and water runs forward in rivers and never runs back.
Gulemo
Wednesday, April 24th - 1:56 PM
Gulemo,
I think I will have to know more about the history of the World Service Office (out of curiosity or out of personal interest). How do you know all that? Which countries are represented at the WSC then?
By the way, you don't have to convince me of the usefulness of having a true French language Magazine... I believe that, by way of discussing this issue with other members, weighing the pros and cons, we will get to it... At last, what is the problem?
I may be a bit naive...
Idéguec
Thursday, April 25th - 9:36 AM
Idéguec,
I know "all that" mainly by reading Area Monitor and both Summaries.
The only other country that is invited to the "US" Service Conference, may I repeat, is Canada. That is why we say erroneously "World" Service Conference, while the real World Service Conference is the International General Service Meeting and we are no part of it as yet.
As for the Magazine, money is the problem. 700$ Can are needed to launch a first issue of the Magazine in all 500 groups and the Area Officers' collaboration is needed for that. (330 groups in QW = 420$ Can and 170 groups in QE = 280$ Can). And you know as well as I do that the 3Gs are not going to help us in any way, I mean those who manage and lead everything. ( Les Gilberte, les Gertrude et les Germaine qui gèrent et qui mènent. )* Those who have been against a true French language Magazine up till recently are now those who would take control over it! Such is the matter: power, control, manoeuverings, schemes, personal ambitions, pettinesses, settlings of scores between men and women, all the emotional turmoil... in short, human nature. Holy Mary, pray for me...
Gulemo
[January 2007] - In FG's Area background there are old lady-lesbians "on brakes" - non active. Right! But this is nothing to make an issue out of. Let them be lesbians. The matter is that they have never resumed their mariage failure and they have never finished settling issues with men. Nowhere are they elected, or else they elect themselves in a dishonnest way by manoeuvring and manipulating GRs - who understand nothing in that matter - and they are not accountable to anyone. When asked about this, Enabler has nothing to say but that "ordinary members don't have to know that!" If servants are "directly responsable to those they serve", who is Enabler responsable to? Moreover if ordinary members don't have to know that, who does?
Barely 12% men in FGs in 2003 and the few there are are all suspected of being pedophiles ("homosexuals!"), abusers, profiteers, irresponsable monsters! And, let's say it, women are saints! Let's push that hypocritical nonsense a little further: FGs are for men!! Which men? Which women!!! What will there be left of this Fellowship in 15 years from now if nothing ever changes?
This is what is to be found in families and friends of alcoholics and drug addicts: real "disorders" which are rarely if ever spoken of. No wonder! Schizophrenia (loss of contact with reality - that of ordinary members - anxiety/depression, bulimia/anorexia, personality disorders ("defects of caracter "), etc. Our Lord makes marvels for us. As to the rest of the world, it is none of our problem! Kyrie Eleison! Hare Krishna!
Gulemo
*Alluding to a type of woman who manoeuvers in order to control everything; an authoritarian, dishonnest and hypocrite type of person. However "for our group purpose, there is but one authority, a loving God..." Names (first names) mentionned in this site are fictitious.
| Idéguec and Gulemo are fictitious names of FG anonymous members in Quebec (Canada). Opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the persons who give them and do not involve FGs as a whole. "Take what suits best and leave the rest." |
