[Businessmtg] WSO Support, Boundaries, and Excess Funds
Susan
sushon at comcast.net
Sat Oct 22 10:19:34 PDT 2011
Hi Business Meeting Participants,
I appreciate that the current lack of an official framework for online meetings to have group representation is less than ideal. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for those who have worked hard toward that goal.
At the same time, I also appreciate that the pace of growth of All Things Internet has outstripped the rate of change and adaptation within many human organizations. People who have either grown up or caught up with the social networking capabilities of computers and the information superhighway consider its omnipresence to be as normal as air. They may see its value as something Extremely Obvious, but, as with air, not everyone sees it.
Internet meetings definitely have a place within the Al-Anon community. Whether or not everyone acknowledges this, it is inevitable. Just as we can't push the river and force the larger organization to adjust their policies regarding group representation according to a Specific Timetable, no-one will be able to prevent a confluence of f2f Al-Anon with internet Al-Anon from happening eventually.
In the meantime, we are all privileged to be part of the Al-Anon Family Groups. We have internet meetings and face to face meetings; we have literature and sponsorship and a wealth of miracles available to boost our spiritual recovery on a daily basis. With the simple annual signing of a form, ASP gains permission to use all conference-approved literature in our online meetings. Because we are part of Al-Anon, we have the benefit of the steps and the protection of the traditions. We carry the experience strength and hope of decades of growth and maturation within the fellowship. Literature, legitimacy, steps, traditions, and experienced membership, all lend a LOT of support to ASP, and to its one purpose, which is to help families of alcoholics.
What we have in common within the fellowship is much more important than our differences. The World Service Office facilitates the ongoing functionality of the Al-Anon Family Groups. They serve us. They are part of us, and we are part of them. Tradition 1 tells us personal progress for the greatest number depends upon unity: In that spirit we all have the opportunity to work toward the emergence of a clear channel for representation for online groups, while continuing our membership, no matter how long it takes.
I believe it is a mistake to interpret our current situation as online groups vs. the World Service Office. Nor do I perceive any kind of organized conspiracy to keep online groups from fair treatment. We here are witness to a process of inexorable change. Fitting online Al-Anon into a framework that was formed before the Internet existed is a puzzle. It will take time to work it out. Creating a whole new framework could have unforeseen consequences, and it makes sense to me that this would not be undertaken lightly.
None of this is personal. (That's the good news and the bad news!) It will sort itself out.
Some may be tired of waiting, but I am troubled by the suggestion we "set a boundary" with the WSO.
External detachment from the WSO, through walking away or not giving them any of our surplus funds, would have a detrimental effect on ASP (and probably would not impact AFG as a whole). By the same token, donating money to an outside entity would be a break with the traditions, and as such would have the potential to harm our group as well as the fellowship.
Impatience with the lack of consensus among various personalities within Al-Anon's governing body does not justify the breaking of program principles. According to our traditions, principles trump personalities.
On the other hand, detachment of an internal nature could mean continuing to do our footwork, in whatever way we are called to do it, while letting go of the outcome.
I believe that part of our footwork is to avoid holding on to excess funds. The larger that amount grows, the more potentially controversial its distribution will be.
I apologize for submitting this a few hours after Denise suggested we "table" this discussion. I have been writing it over the past few days and really wanted to get it out there.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan B.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Rankin" <steve at serenitysys.com>
To: sushon at comcast.net
Cc: "ASP Business" <businessmtg at asp-afg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 2:28:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Businessmtg] Fw: Re: Donations
Hi ASPers,
Unfortunately, this is the extent of the communication that I have received
from WSO over the years.
1. WSO requires that online meetings sign a legal contract every year to
have permission to use CAL in our meetings. The primary purpose of this
contract is to protect WSO copyrights on CAL.
2. WSO requests donations from the meeting.
Now, what part of that can be called support and representation by WSO, I
haven't a clue.
Love and SERENITY,
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: businessmtg-bounces+steve=serenitysys.com at asp-afg.org
[mailto:businessmtg-bounces+steve=serenitysys.com at asp-afg.org] On Behalf Of
denise
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 5:15 PM
To: steve at serenitysys.com
Cc: ASP Business
Subject: [Businessmtg] Fw: Re: Donations
Hi All,
One thing I just realized is that I do have, however sporadic, contact with
WSO or the online meeting forum. There is VERY LITTLE contact. They request
each year a form to be filled out to continue to have the authority to use
CAL literature in our email meetings.
On VERY rare occasions someone will ask a question but there is no
announcement of any kind that would be the equivalent of a conference. I
will cull through my emails and see who and what contact I have had.
Sorry, I think the last time was in February of this year and it had to do
with the above form for continuing use of CAL.
I do receive a Forum each month (to be passed out at the meeting...not sure
how to do that) and a contribution form. Up to this point (sorry if I was
dense) I assumed that was specifically for me--perhaps it is
the "suggestion" for the meeting?
Hugs,
Denise
---------- Forwarded Message -----------
From: Sandie Dagg <svdagg at gmail.com>
To: Denise at asp-afg.org
Cc: ASP Business <businessmtg at asp-afg.org>
Sent: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:23:54 -0400
Subject: Re: [Businessmtg] Donations
The World Service Office may accept donations from Al-Anon members whether
we are a group or a meeting.
The following is from page 80 of the 2010-2013 Al-anon Service manual:
Electronic Meetings
The Internet and other electronic telecommunication Media are tools for
carrying and sharing the Al-Anon program of hope and recovery around the
world. These electronic meetings occur globally as well as locally without
geographic restrictions. Consequently, electronic meetings do not have a
Group Representative and are not part of any structure. They do, however
have a meeting contact.
When electronic meetings form, they register with the World service
Office (WSO) in order to use the Al-Anon name. Upon registration they
receive support from and have their voices heard and represented through the
WSO. Registered meetings may request license from the WSO to use in text
format the Steps, Traditions, Concepts of Service, Suggested Welcome,
Suggested Closing, and excerpts from Conference Approved Literature. (CAL).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If a on-line meeting was to register as a group - which area would they be
registered in? - which structure?
On another note - the Service Manual is not changed on a whim. Changes to
the Service Manual are often the result of suggestions/concerns/matters sent
in by Al-Anon members to the World Service Office. They are reviewed and
written by the Policy Committee - The Policy Committee consists of the Board
of Trustees, the Executive Committee and some staff members from the World
Service Office. Once the Policy committee has worked on them then and only
then do they go to the World Service Conference for Approval (or not). The
World Service Conference is comprised of 67 Delegates from each Area of the
U.S. and Canada - the Board of Trustees - the Executive Committee and some
Staff (6)..
ODAT
Sandie
On Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 3:52 PM, karaloye <karaloye at me.com> wrote:
> I find this all fascinating, and I'm learning so much.
>
> Sending our prudent reserve to a entity that will not allow us to
represent
> ourselves officially seems ... Strange
>
> Also I'm wondering how many 1000.00 donations they receive from one group?
>
> Maybe it is a good indication of how important and highly active we are
and
> they need to take notice.
>
> We have no say right now about any Al-Anon business as a whole. If we
> aren't recognized as an official group then following the 7th tradition,
are
> they accepting outside donations if they take our money?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kara
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> The ASP web site for ASP members is
> http://www.asp-afg.org/ASP/MembersOnly/index.htm
>
> For assistance with other ASP issues, contact the List Administrator, at
> denise at asp-afg.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Businessmtg mailing list
> Businessmtg at asp-afg.org
> http://www.asp-afg.org/mailman/listinfo/businessmtg
>
--
*Let It Begin with Me*
* *
*When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help*
* *
*Let the hand of Al-Anon and Alateen *
* *
*always be there, and- LET IT BEGIN WITH ME*
**
www.al-anon.alateen.org
Mark the date ----
Al-Anon's International Convention - July 5th - 7th 2013 ...Vancouver,
Canada
_______________________________________________
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_______________________________________________
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http://www.asp-afg.org/ASP/MembersOnly/index.htm
For assistance with other ASP issues, contact the List Administrator, at
denise at asp-afg.org
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