[Businessmtg] Funds Over P.R.

[logmark at comcast.net]

Biz-Pals, 

  

I have continued to research and ponder our Traditions 

and this group's past decisions regarding the use of 

our funds over our Prudent Reserve. A couple of thoughts 

have come to mind I'd like to add to our discussion. 

  

One involves the wording of any motion which may come 

out of this. In the past we've used the term "One Year's 

Expenses" as the definition of our P.R. We have looked to 

our past years to determine this. For the Treasurer to 

donate excess funds we need to know future expenses, too. 

That would mean we would have to have a financial budget 

for any coming year in order for the Treasurer to be able 

to hold back that future year's P.R. then donate the rest 

in a timely fashion. In order to do a budget our Steering 

Committee and Business Meeting would have to get busier than 

we have been in the past. Planning events and expenses for 

the year ahead will take constant and thoughtful work. 

  

Then there are examples of listed expenses which are no longer 

being used but are accounted as a part of our current expenses: 

In the past the group conscience determined that we would provide 

Beginners Packets to those newcomers who requested them. 

We bought some and may even have sent some or all out, but 

are no longer, as far as I can tell, continuing the process 

with further purchases and postage costs. Is it then fitting 

to include that potential cost when we are not currently 

performing according to that long-ago and disregarded agreement? 

I think not. 

  

My thinking is that it would be similarly unfair to deduct funds from our 

Excess over Prudent Reserve for unapproved projects however laudible . It 

may be a good idea, however, to a budget set amount  to fund "future, as yet 

undefined expenses" [i.e., Chat Room, funding a Rep. to attend functions, 

Beginners Packets, A.A. Liaison regarding co-operation with their on line 

group problem solving, etc.] With that money already in our budget the 

the Treasurer could then calculate just what our Excess Funds are at any 

quarterly increment without awaiting the results of our plodding Business 

Meeting process. But for now there are no such active approved plans so 

holding back on distributing the excess funds from our members' donations 

[our current, stated Excess Funds - those over $1,301 USD] doesn't seem proper . 

  

[BTW - two business topics in one month!!!  WoooooHooooo!!!] 

  

Another thought comes from the call for us to co-operate with A.A. 

Unbeknownst to me, A.A. has been addressing at their highest levels 

the subject of electronic communications and the Principle of 

Anonymity - our joint Spiritual Foundation. Their past GSC [the counterpart 

to Al-Anon's World Service Conference (WSC) - where our greatest group 

consciences are held regarding Al-Anon processes, procedures, budgets, 

and CAL, etc. are determined] was focused on just this subject. It is worth 

considering for us because ASP's place in the Al-Anon community is and will 

continue to be affected by A.A.'s thinking on the topic and our co-operation 

with them. 

  

Paramount in their thinking is that electronic media, particularly but not 

limited to social networking sites - even those with password protected 

entry - are not anonymous. They are to be treated as the Press, Radio, and TV 

would be considered. Actual or full names are to be avoided. Every word 

published in on line media is now and forever available to the public in one 

fashion or another. With the legal limitations of our two programs' claims to 

anonymity it is fair to remind all that we are not completely anonymous. 

Law enforcement arms can and do have access to on line sharings when the court 

permits them to, and we are legally obligated to comply. The possibility of 

others using this information for business and/or criminal purposes is not to 

be ignored. [This is not just an on line problem but it is perhaps more 

important to us here because there is a permanent electronic record of what 

we each publish out there somewhere on the web.] 

  

I bring this up because it portrays in real-world terms one of the reasons 

that we as an on line meeting are viewed differently than are f2f meetings. 

The WSC and thus the WSO and our Trustees have yet to find a hole to plug 

us into so we are held to the side. Without the assured anonymity our 

spiritual foundation is weakened. I understand this better now. 

  

I can well imagine how this would tick  off folks who have struggled for years 

to gain equal status for ASP. But neither do I see a provision in our Principles 

which justifies the withholding of hundreds upon hundreds of our individual members' 

dollars either - especially when on the one hand we agree as a Registered Group to 

abide by Al-Anon Principles and on the other claim to support Al-Anon as a whole 

while we are in these aspects at least doing neither. 

  

It would be my hope that this Business Meeting determines to have a projected budget 

approved for each coming year, and that the Treasurer be directed to use that budget 

to determine the status of our excess funds quarterly. I further hope that this group 

elects to donate these funds each quarter within the guidelines set forth by our WSC, 

as administered by Al-Anon's WSO and our Trustees, and as published in Al-Anon's 

"Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual." 

  

Jerry 

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