[Businessmtg] OT Sharing

[Bubbe Turner]

Hi all and thank you for including me in this business meeting.

When OL meetings first came about, WSO reminded us that this type meeting
was a supplement to f2f meetings - and also filled in for what we used to
call our Lone Members.  Al-Anon meetings are not a dumping ground but are a
place in which to learn about alcoholism and the effects on the families
and friends and how to achieve serenity for ourselves whether the alcoholic
is still drinking or not.

That said, have you ever thought about the terms OT and ESH?  OL meetings
I've been part of use OT when it pertains to business items, WSO news, or
announcements for the group as a whole. OT/ ESH is used strictly when
asking for Al-Anon Experience, Strength and Hope.  Some OL groups maintain
a list of longer time members willing to sponsor as well as a list of
members requesting sponsors.  The sponsor list is provided, with CAL info
about what a sponsor is and does,  to the person requesting a sponsor and
it is up to those people to pick and choose.  When two people do hook up as
sponsor/sponsee, what information they share is their business and is not a
matter for anyone else or a committee to decide ... and those conversations
are private.

If this committee limited OT to business items/announcements and left ESH
for members at large to use to ask for Al-Anon help, it might cut down on
the annoying amount of emails to some extent.

If it is absolutely, totally impossible for an OL member to go to f2f
meetings, an OL type of sponsorship can work until that newbie can get to
f2f meetings.  The main things I have used as an OL sponsor are - same as
f2f - is 1) go to as many meetings as possible; 2) go to open AA meetings;
3) read CAL only; 4) call me if you have a question (2 am is NOT a good
time); 5) lets talk and discuss assigned CAL readings on _______  (specific
topic) that pertains to the person's problem, one problem at a time,
please.   I realize different people sponsor differently but I do tend to
look at OL sponsorship as a stepping stone to having a f2f sponsor at some
point.

If you have ever done f2f 12 Step work, there are more situations there to
think about and very well might be going on in some of these OT emails.
Many of the OT situations I've read here at ASP might require a ride to a
safe place to stay, being taken to the hospital or calling the police or
suicide prevention, or an audience for drama and asking for money.  These
cannot be done very well in this OL setting without falling into the advice
giving category.

BJ