[Businessmtg] Web Master Discussion

[logmark at comcast.net]

Here's another thought: up until now we've been 

trying to figure out how to get someone to stand 

for the position of Web Master as it is now defined. 

  

That definition was written by someone who knew how 

to do all the ASP jobs and was accepted into our charter 

with little thought to whether future servants would 

have the full set of skills and knowledge to do any 

position as defined. 

  

Perhaps, given that even seemingly qualified folks are 

not standing for the job, could it be productive to 

take a new look at the position and see if more than one 

service position may be necessary to do it and to lessen 

the appearance of difficulty. Or, create an assistant 

position to break off some of the chores into another 

set of hands? 

  

Remember, all these service positions used to be performed 

by one person. We then broke the work into parts which 

were filled by seasoned ASP members. We are now passing 

two terms of rotation of these offices and are finding 

difficulty filling even the easier of them. Maybe we 

missed the mark initially and need to divide a bit more. 

Many hands lead to lighter work. 

  

Secondly, I disagree with the examples suggested as defining 

participation. By setting one service position up as a qualifier 

for another we would be creating an advancement protocol, not 

a willingness-to-serve requirement. A year in ASP at a minimum 

is reasonable. Other than that I would suggest that sitting 

in the business meeting alone would/should be more than enough 

to fill the participation requirement as would regular sharing 

in the topic meetings. We are not electing Trustees here where 

resumes are filtered carefully; we are electing group servants. 

  

Keep in mind that in any f2f Al-Anon meeting any member can stand 

for any group office. The only qualifications for being a servant are 

that they are affected by another's drinking*, they show up, and, when 

the call comes for service, they're willing to stand. 

  

[*Note that according to our Traditions, ...anyone can use Al-Anon, but 

group membership is limited to those affected by close contact with a 

problem drinker. While it is up to the individual to decide whether 

to attend meetings, individuals who are only affected by close contact 

with drug addicts and similar problemed people may attend meetings, but 

are not members and have no vote in group consciences, nor do they hold 

office. The trick is they are the ones who have to make this call themselves 

on this oft-forgotten limitation.] 

  

My personal reason for not standing is that I'm still burned out from 

having my three-year term as ASP Treasurer turn into a five-year hitch 

because the business meeting couldn't get itself around to the topic 

of filling the position. It's been many years and I'm still waiting for this 

Business Meeting to get around to addressing the long-awaited agenda item 

of what to do with our money in excess of our Prudent Reserve! If we can't 

get down to business, if we continue to do one agenda item per month/every-other- 

month with time off for summer holidays as we have for the past many years, 

why would I think that taking another service position wouldn't lead to the same 

over-serving in the future? 

  

Nobody is standing for Web Master. Is it not time to move on to another agenda 

item and bring this service position up again at our next [monthly?] meeting? 

Hopefully by then someone will re-think their willingness; meanwhile we could 

still be getting something accomplished. 

  

Jerry 

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