[Businessmtg] Funding Int. Conv. Representation

[logmark at comcast.net]

Biz-Pals,

Our past and current LA's have a particular interaction history
with Al-Anon's WSO which they are sharing with us. Because
I use "Presume Good Will" in listening to reports and input, I
pre-suppose that each of us is giving this discussion our best.
I have no doubt that WSO is not attending to our requests as
they would f2f group requests, just as they are reporting to us.

Perhaps a discussion of why that is needs to be had. Since I also
presume that our Higher Powers are guiding events through our
group consciences at various service levels, I also "Presume
His Good Will" and accept only that I don't understand it yet.
I do know that turning vitriol on the WSO or our representatives
serves no constructive purpose other than to divide us.

Focusing on the actual topic which is to discuss whether or not
to fund - in whole or part - the attendance of one among us at
the up-coming International Convention, I'd say that we, like any
other Al-Anon meeting, ought be guided by principles outlined
in our literature. If that is our boundary in this discussion, then,
unless there is scheduled business for that representative there, or
unless that representative is required to be there, groups DO NOT
finance individual attendance at conventions.

Not once in my years has any group I know about or attend spent
one penny on sending a representative to an Area Convention. The
term "fun event" has been used in my experience to identify events
where business agendas do no take place. I see the International
as a "fun event." Important to personal recovery, but not a business
meeting.

I hope some of us go to International; I also hope we are wise enough
to refrain as a group from sending individuals to it.

Jerry in Michigan