[Businessmtg] Disbursement of Funds Over Prudent Reserve

[Steve Rankin]

Hi folks,

I can only partially agree with Jerry on the thinking that WSO is the only Al-Anon entity that we can donate our excess funds to.  Let me explain.

Way back around the time I founded ASP in 1996, some of the others involved in the online Al-Anon community started an online Intergroup they called OLA-IS - On Line Al-Anon Information Service.  The function of OLA-IS was to serve both as a central location for new comers to find out about online Al-Anon including descriptions of the online meetings and links to them, but also a forum for representatives from the online meetings to gather and communicate with each other - just like in a face-to-face Intergroup.  OLA-IS served a very real purpose, especially since WSO offered nothing in the way of assistance to members of Al-Anon looking for online Al-Anon, nor did WSO provide any assistance in facilitating interaction and communication between the online meetings.

Eventually, WSO did provide assistance for the newcomer looking for an online Al-Anon meeting, but even so it was some time before WSO provided direct links to the online meetings. 

Along the way, WSO decreed that there can be no online Intergroup, thereby eliminating OLA-IS and any form of cooperation/communication among the online meetings.  However, WSO recognizes that the OLA-IS web site serves a very valuable role in connecting newcomers to online meetings and therefore "allows" the OLA-IS site to remain.  

The leadership of OLA-IS attempted to work with WSO regarding the Al-Anon International in Pittsburg, PA in 2008.  Unfortunately, the online community's attempts to participate in the 4th AFG International similar to the 3rd AFG International in Salt Lake City were ignored.  

Instead, WSO determined that WSO is the representative of the online meetings to WSO and to the fellowship at large.  

I've known Ric B., the Executive Director of WSO since before I started ASP and Ric & had a very candid conversation regarding this last summer.  The bottom line is that the situation is muddy at best as the face-to-face leadership does not seem to be willing to let the online community be a legitimate part of the fellowship and/or service structure at any level.

My take on this is that OLA-IS is in fact the best solution available for the online Al-Anon community to both reach out to newcomers and to facilitate communication and cooperation among the online meetings, as well as serve as a liaison to WSO as originally set up. The alternative is that the online Al-Anon community has no voice what so ever in the Al-Anon structure or decision making process.  None.  

Therefore, it is my opinion that OLA-IS is a legitimate online Al-Anon service entity and worthy of our support.  

Love and SERENITY,
Steve