[Businessmtg] O/T

[Karen Lorraine]

Hi everyone

After reading, thinking and praying on the Traditions once again I would
like to share my opinion and vote and contribute to this business meeting
about the first topic O/T.

When I first came to ASP I was completely overwhelmed and did not have a
clue how any of this on line stuff worked and neither did I have a clue
about how meetings in general work.  I learned by experience and coming
back.  I can only speak for myself, the learning part was and is crucial to
my healing and recovery.  I have had to learn to navigate this thing myself
with a lot of help, guidance from what I saw demonstrated and modeled
around me here at ASP and at face to face meetings. I would not want to
change ASP.  I do not think it is broken.  I think what I am seeing and
witnessing relates to people coming in like myself very hurt and confused
learning how to work their program.  I believe that having the O/T
component in ASP on line Al-Anon meeting is a worthwhile tool.  If it is
overused or dominating the forum then I have a personal responsibility to
take care not to overuse it myself and share with the meeting if I have
concerns.

For later discussion perhaps:
The face to face meeting I attend regularly has a 'newcomer package and 6
newcomer meetings' specifically designed with the newcomer in mind and
following the Traditions and the conference approved literature of this
subject.  The 6 meetings focuses on: anonymity, sponsorship, Steps one, two
and three, focusing on ourselves and not the alcoholic, spirituality and
the issue of cross talk, conference approved literature.  I think that ASP
would benefit from offering a 'newcomer meeting' as a weekly meeting for
all of us not just our new members.

If ASP were to offer a newcomer meeting as a week day meeting topic it may
ease the early days and help build in some immediate support.  This program
takes time and well, practice.  I do not think there are any quickie fixes.


The other tool besides the "Newcomer meeting' is a call list of people whom
are willing to be contacted if there are questions or concerns which may or
may not lead to temporary sponsorship or sponsorship in general.  In the
case of ASP, it could be a list of people willing to share their email
address for just this purpose.  All great tools ASP may develop if agreed
upon or if there are people whom wish to give that service.

The discussion here have helped me to deepen and reflect on my program and
I thank you all for that,
love,
Ren