[Businessmtg] Incorporation - EIN etc.

[Steve Rankin]

Hi folks,

Thank you Jerry for several well made points.  I'd like to restate Jerry's points in my own words . . .

1. The simple alternative of obtaining an EIN and any bank accepting that as the only ID required seems to be wishful thinking.  That technique may work for a local f2f group, but there is evidence that suggests it is no longer good enough.  

2. If obtaining an EIN is the obvious and perfect solution, then why are so many Al-Anon service entities incorporated?  

3. It took until a few months ago for PayPal to freeze our account.  I hosted a wildlife rescue center's website on my account until recently, and PayPal froze their account over 2 years ago.  I just checked--it is still frozen because they haven't done the hoop jumping to fix it. 

4. While we could take the position that WE don’t NEED PayPal, as Jerry pointed out PayPal allows the folks that live outside of the US to easily participate in the 7th Tradition.  If we don't have PayPal, we have essentially told the members of ASP that live outside of the US that they'll have to jump through their own hoops to participate in the 7th Tradition because ASP is unwilling to jump through the hoops to correct the situation.  That is the same thing as creating a two-tiered membership at ASP: those that live in the United States and those that don't. IMHO, it is the meeting's responsibility to do what it can to make participation in ASP as open to members outside of the US as it is to those in the US.

5. I'm also bothered by 3rd party anecdotal information as well as information that may apply to a local face-to-face meeting, but may well NOT apply to ASP.  If you have first hand information on this issue that is also pertinent to ASP's much broader scope, then please provide it.  Specifics are required.  

6. Lastly, if you have an alternative idea, then check it out and verify that it is a viable alternative for ASP.  Our Trusted Servants have specific jobs to do in their service to ASP and we have the right to expect them to do those jobs, however that does not include researching the ideas of other members.


ASP is a much larger operation than any f2f meeting I've ever seen.  More than 10,000 members of Al-Anon have come through the 'doors' of ASP since I opened them 14 years ago.  I ran ASP on my own server and paid all the bills for the first 10 years.  Then I rotated out and ASP became fully self-supporting through the voluntary contributions of the general members for the first time 4 years ago.  It took time and effort to make the transition from ASP being under my personal care to being fully self-supporting.  It will take more time and effort to deal with this situation.  It's my opinion that it's time for ASP to take the next step.


Love and SERENITY,
Steve