[Businessmtg] Ongoing Prudent Reserve Excess Discussions

[David Whittleton]

I would like to call for a vote on this topic.

On Sun, Oct 16, 2011 at 8:16 AM, <logmark at comcast.net> wrote:

>
>
> 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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>
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>
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-- 
Regards,

DPaul
Tampa, FL