[Businessmtg] Pittsburgh Convention

[Anne OHara]

I have decided to read Paths to Recovery tradition 7 before weighing in on
this topic.  

Based on what I have read on Page 194, it is the World Service Conference,
not the Convention that would serve our group better and allow us to
accomplish far more.   I haven't heard yet of any seminar or workshop aimed
at online meetings scheduled at the convention nor have I seen the content
of the convention program on the Al-Anon site.  So there doesn't appear to
be anything published that would lead me to believe that there is structure
in place for an ASP representative to spread the word or educate others -
except for word of mouth and through networking.  Anyone please correct me
if I am wrong.  

 One of the suggested group obligations is paying some of the expenses for a
Group Rep to attend Area or District meetings where our group voice is heard
and represented - we know that as an online group we don't have an area,
district or GR.  From what I have read and heard here, this is how our group
voice is carried; from the area through the area delegate to the World
Service Conference.  Page 195 Paths to Recovery 2nd paragraph describes the
purpose of the conference which appears to be more in line with service and
positioning us with the WSO and future convention programs and I think would
give us a lot more bang for our buck.

At this point I am against sending a trusted servant to the convention I
would love to hear more about the merits of the convention in terms of
breathing life back into OLA or to position us with the WSO.  I think I
would need to feel that the expense was truly service related and right now
it does not appear to me to be.  And then does anyone know if we have the
ability to send a trusted servant as a delegate to the World Service
Conference?  A delegate is traditionally an area delegate - we don't have a
traditional district or area other than the entire world is our area.

I am looking forward to reading and learning more from the group.

Hugs....

Anne O