[Businessmtg] PR Overflow

[Emee Arthur]

Our agenda states: 1. WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH MONIES OVER AND ABOVE OUR PRUDENT RESERVE? a) Do we provide a newcomers packet to those who are new to Al-Anon and ASP, this includes purchasing newcomers packages and mailing them out? 
 
 This is what we are currently discussing. The question is not just whether we are FOR or AGAINST the  Newcomers Packets  but rather (if we do want them) DO WE WANT THAT EXPENSE TO COME OUT OF THE OF THE PRUDENT RESERVE OVERFLOW?  I would say NO! 
 
 Even if I wanted to vote yes for the NC Packets I would not vote for them at this point because the expense for them will  be automatically taken from the Prudent Reserve Overflow UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED IN THE MOTION.  I believe that if our group wants to do this then we need to make a committment to do this as a service and THIS EXPENSE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET, not just an "after thought" to be done if we have an Overflow of funds.
 
 SO, IF WE LIKE THE NC PACKET IDEA BUT DO NOT WANT THE MONEY TAKEN FROM THE PR OVERFLOW then we would vote NO for a motion for the Newcomers Packets even if we want the packets.
 
 
If that motion that does not pass then I believe the process is that we could make a new motion STATING WHERE WE WOULD LIKE THE FUNDING TO COME FROM, is this correct? 
 
 
 
EXAMPLE MOTION: I make a motion to mail NC Packets to any Newcomer to ASP who is also a Newcomer to Al-Anon, who requests one, and who is unable to attend a F2F meeting, and that the EXPENSE OF THIS SERVICE BE PART OF THE GROUP'S REGULAR EXPENSES (NOT TAKEN FROM THE PR OVERFLOW).
 
Steve brought up a couple of very good points.  One that we would be helping WSO by purchasing the newcomers packets and two, we would be helping the imagage of our on-line group by sending these packets to our new members. I sat down and read each pamphlet in the NC Packet last night and they were all helpful. It was hard to just choose 2-3 favorites. I especially liked the Forum subscription form that was inside because I believe the Forum is a wonderful tool for a Newcomer.
 
 
 
Yes, it would be nice to have all the pamphlets and literature on-line so that we could copy what we'd like but I can understand why WSO will not do this.  I believe it would violate their copyright law and WSO would loose one of its primary souces of financial support.  Literature sales would drop tremendously if our literature could be posted on-line and copied.  The WSO depends on those many small profits made from literature sales. 
 
 I am neutral about the Packets at this point, I think they are very nice and will be helpful to some. I visualize them as a cherry on top of an ice cream desert. Makes the desert look really great!  Some people love cherries and others just toss them aside. 
 
*Steve, you were right that the pamplet would be $.75 to mail (as is) but when I weighed the pamphlet inside mailing envelope it went up to the next level which is $.92.
 
  I would like to see us do something for our regular members with the PR Overflow monies. Why not be good to ourselves and use part of the PR Overflow as a bonus for our regular members. We seem to focus on the Newcomers which is great but we also need to remember our "bread and butter" & longtime members and do nice things for them too sometimes.  I would like to see a drawing set up for pieces of literature:  HOW AL-ANON WORKS; PATHS TO RECOVERY; THE 12-STEP INVENTORY WORKBOOK; WHEN I GOT BUSY I GOT BETTER, ETC. The member who's name is drawn would choose the book he/she would like to have and we would purchase it and have it sent to that member. This would also help WSO and would be something that would stir up enthusiasm in our group. I think it would encourage members to stick around and participate in the group - they might even get a little suprise gift once in awhile. I would find that exciting, especially if I were someone short on funds that cannot afford literature.  
 
I honestly believe that the Newcomers to our ASP meeting would benefit more from a Newcomers Information Meeting than from Phamplets or Newcomers Packets.  A chairperson could suggest the pamphlets and books they find helpful to the newcomer and help them find them. Also, when the newcomer finds a sponsor that sponsor could help them a lot.
 
 
 
Just my wordy $.99 worth (smile). Emee  
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