[Businessmtg] Ongoing Prudent Reserve Excess Discussions

[logmark at comcast.net]

Biz-Pals, 

  

I want it clear that I am trying to move toward a consensus 

and thus my continued request for facts and opinions. With our 

Service Manual in one hand, the steps, trad's, and concepts 

in the other I'm attempting to feel my way through this gray 

area so my gut doesn't end up in a tangle in the end. 

  

So here are the bits of info that hold me back from being readily 

willing to support OLA-IS in addition to the WSO: 

  

1) 

Information Services (IS) are usually locally focused. Because of 

on-line's nature of not having a "locality" OLA-IS can't fully meet 

the current requirements to be registered as an IS. As listed in our 

Service Manual the requirements are: 

a) have a name that indicates the nature of its service (OLA-IS does.) 

b) has a P.O. Box or office address (I presume it does.) 

c) maintains a listing in the local telephone directory. (Which is a 

   problem in that we're not localized and the Service Manual, 

   that is the WSC - our fellowship's ultimate group conscience - 

   hasn't gotten around to directly addressing or resolving this issue 

   regarding on-line Al-Anon yet. Currently a gray area, and 

d) conducts activities in addition to Twelve Step telephone calls 

   examples of which are listed as "works with...service committees; 

   arranges group exchange meetings; publishes meeting lists; and 

   performs ANY OTHER (my emphasis added) as outlined in 'Groups at 

   Work.'" (OLA-IS would easily qualify if they are active.) 

  

...so C) isn't resolved - perhaps a work-around was agreed to, and while 

d) wouldn't be a problem except that the last time I got info regarding 

OLA-IS it wasn't doing a lot, or at least had very little needs for funds 

and was turning the majority of the donations they received over to the 

WSO. Also, if I recall without re-research, the WSO had made a determination 

that OLA-IS wasn't an Information Service (or some such thing) and also 

what was the OLA-IS was brought into/under the WSO umbrella to do its work 

there as a part of the WSO structure. I need clarity here. 

  

And all this and its attending thinking brings me to these problems when 

it comes to financially supporting "OLA-IS" with our group funds: 

  

I.   Is the entity known as "OLA-IS" registered with Al-Anon? This can be 

     strung out with all kinds of legitimate constructions within the Traditions, 

     but I simply do not do unregistered Al-Anon.  doI don't unregistered f2f 

     meetings (with the exception of groups just forming as as such not yet registered.) 

     Don't do unregistered on-line meetings (one of the reasons I chose ASP as my 

     on-line meeting.) I can only support group funds going to registered Al-Anon 

     entities. What is their registration number? If they have one I'm good with 

     supporting them IF THEY ARE ACTIVE. They ought at a minimum tell us what they 

     have done in, say, the past  six months or year and how much that has cost them. 

     As a member of the ASP Business Meeting for [8?] years and ASP's Steering 

     Committee for 5 of those years I do not recall ever getting a report from 

     "OLA-IS" on their activities or finances - nor a request for support. Without 

     either how can I make an informed decision? 

  

II.  If "OLA-IS" has been effectively folded into the WSO - as opposed to is 

     cooperating with the WSO - then donating to "OLA-IS" would constitute "Earmarking" 

     donations. Our Service Manual states that "all donations [to the WSO] are 

     allocated to the General Fund. Contributions cannot be earmarked for 

     special purposes...." So how does "OLA-IS" currently operate? Are they an entity 

     completely separate from the WSO or are they functioning in practice as a part 

     of the WSO? How does the WSO view "OLA-IS?" Does the WSO currently fund OLS-IS's 

     activities which would give us a clue as to their autonomy and affiliation. Finally, 

     does the WSO recognize "OLA-IS" as an Information Service?  

  

These are the specific bits of info I need to make an informed decision. If I am 

assured that this outfit is registered, is regularly working at its stated purpose, 

has a budget (which would help us determine what an appropriate donation would be ,) 

and is an accepted service entity autonomous in fact and deed from the WSO structure 

I'd be more than okay with allocating appropritely-sized  donations to them. Indeed, 

ASP would have an obligation to support them. 

  

In any case I see no need to hold up all donations to the WSO until all "OLS-IS" questions 

are resolved. Can we not see our way to sending the WSO, say 50% of our  Funds in Excess 

of Prudent Reserve, while we are resolving our position regarding OLA-IS support? We 

could even agree to temporarily send small quarterly donations, say $50, to OLA-IS pending 

further information and final ASP resolutions. Nothing to keep us from this, either. 

  

Financial Progress, not Financial Perfection in action. 

  

Hug$, 

Jerry 

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