[Businessmtg] Fw: LA Position

Tue Dec 1 04:37:50 PST 2009

Hi All,

Below is the first part of Khaleelah's message.

Thanks,
D

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: wasmixedup <wasmixedup at yahoo.com>
To: Denise Siegel <siewrthy at pacbell.net>
Sent: Mon, November 30, 2009 11:23:54 PM
Subject: RE: [Businessmtg] LA Position

Hello all :)

I don't want this to be received in ill light, but I'd like to share my general opinion and feelings on what I've experienced during this particular business meeting.  I will first state that I am fairly new to ASP, although not Al-Anon, and this is my very first business meeting with ASP. I will also note that I am fairly new to service/trusted servant stuff in Al-Anon as a whole. I've done a few things in my F2F meetings an have recently taken on a small longer-term position in my Home F2F meeting. 

Now, with all that having been said, I feel a bit off-putting with what appears to me as bickering, to some degree, about the two or three issues that have been part of this business meeting. Again, this is my perception.  I may be missing something, but I really don't get what the "big deal" is about the currently open/needed TS positions. I do understand what some people's opinions/ideas/perceptions have been. I don't understand why, as it seems to me, we're talking repeatedly about the same thing in a circular fashion. I do not mean to be offensive to anyone by saying all of this. 

To be further honest, although I am wiling to take on a bigger role in this meeting, I am also aware that I am not necessarily in a position, currently, to be of adequate service. For example, though I have a computer and internet connection at home, by the time I get home from work I generally

-----Original Message-----
From: Denise Siegel <siewrthy at pacbell.net>
Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 11:05 PM
To: wasmixedup at yahoo.com
Cc: ASP Business <businessmtg at asp-afg.org>
Subject: [Businessmtg] LA Position

Hi Folks,

>From my three years of experience with ASP, I have found that things work pretty well. The issue, it  appears to me, is always about getting members to step up and take service positions. I think part of this is an "online" issue. Members hate it when the "chair" doesn't chair for a day; they also get really really angry when they are house-cleaned from the list because they don't respond to the List Administrator's call to respond to remain on the list. As a greeter, I have seen some pretty nasty emails going around because someone got de-listed because they didn't respond and seem to think that it is everyone else's problem except their own.

I don't know if this is a "control" issue as many have stated. I think it is an inherent problem with online. It is easier to delete the request for service--harder to turn one's head aside when the call is made at a F2F.

I love being a greeter and hope to be the greeter chair when that position is called for. I'd be happy to do list administrator if that is what is needed. 

I think there some things to consider when comparing online with F2F. Namely, the transitions are easier and more seamless. At a F2F, you are all in the same (or nearby) towns. Transitioning things like treasurer is so MUCH easier. Transitioning things which may even involve moving around COUNTRIES is not so easy. So, maybe the extended time commitments seem daunting but they also seem somewhat realistic--IMHO. And I also think that many in other countries feel they can't lead because they are in other countries...I think making it clear that service at ASP is NOT country-specific might help. Just a thought.

I have felt, again IMHO, that those that are questioning control are also trying to exert an excessive amount of control in how this meeting operates. I am all about embracing change if the change is good. I've heard a lot of complaining but not a lot of solutions. I'd love to hear solutions. 

Breaking up the LA job is fine if that is what works. But Jennifer had to send out requests for Chairs twice to get them filled. And, as Tara said, getting greeters has been difficult. I know that when I signed up, one other did...albeit, reluctantly, and she lasted about a month. I did greeter duty alone for a year. Sometimes it was a LOT; most times, manageable. I had an immense amount of support from Tara and Dawn. They helped me so much to understand and respond to sometimes very difficult exchanges. I was and am dedicated to greeting. I get so much from this position of service.

Last time we asked for greeters, only one applied and I was asked to stay on. Which I was happy to do but wondered why no one else in the 200+ membership could spend from 1 to 15 minutes a day to do this position?

As with donations and such, cyberspace has limitations and anonymity that F2F doesn't offer. Both the good and the bad.

Lots of people come here in pain and learn and grow. But for the same people, they don't understand the value and benefit of service. It is something that is clearer in a F2F; it is easier to refuse the benefit of service online--perhaps because the benefits are not clearly seen; or perhaps because it is easier to hide online.

If reducing the time commitments or breaking up duties is the answer, then lets talk about what make sense. I'd rather focus on solutions, personally, than take this time to question the decisions made by those who came before us.

Thanks for letting me share.

Hugs and love,
Denise

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