[Businessmtg] Frustrated

[aclaramie at aim.com]

This business meeting is getting more and more frustrating to me, IMHO.? I feel like the leaders of this group are trying to direct the rest of us into what they think and believe.

Bottom line, everyone has an equal voice and say in this meeting.? If motions don't accurately reflect what the leaders feel they need to reflect, and aren't made when the leaders they they should be made, why don't we just change the meeting style to having one where the leaders present the information, the members can debate and argue (or hopefully discuss) and after a certain time, the leaders present a motion and we vote? 

I don't speak up much and I don't want to overstep my bounds, but I am trying to go by the guidelines principles over personalities.? IMHO, this meeting is a mess.? We have accomplished abolutely nothing but arguing and bickering, and we are still only on the second topic (maybe the third) and we are wrapping up the third month.? We are only going every other month, and that is frustrating enough.? And why the bickering anyway?? everyone digresses and loses the main focus of the topics, and feelings are hurt and tangents are running with wild abandon. 

I decided to join the business meeting to understand more about alanon and more specifically, participate.? However, my gut feeling is that this is not how this is supposed to work.? I think we are all far enough into our program to be able to detach from the negativity and what appears to be personal shots made to others in the business meeting emails, but should we have to?? We beat this dead horse about sending someone to the international convention when we could have voted and moved on!

Now, I am putting this all out here.? I am have been thinking about it for a while now, however I have been reluctant as I tell myself I don't want to make anyone mad or maybe I don't know enough about this process.? But I have to post this and say, WHAT ARE WE DOING?? I understand we are trying and different format, but this is not pleasant.? Isn't the point to have MANY people participate instead of alienating many people into quitting?? This is not supposed to be a fascist regime, this is supposed to be a loving, safe, mature business meeting and I do think these basic rules should be carried over from the recovery meeting.? There seems to be more fighting and hurting going on here than happens at my work meetings?where there is ?NO ONE IN RECOVERY.

Sorry if I have offended anyone.? I say we get this vote over and move on.? And try to do a better job with the next topic in May.? 

Humbly, and with love, amanda