[Businessmtg] Consensus Determination

[Steve Rankin]

Thanks Jerry. As usual, very insightful and well said.

While I agree with you wholeheartedly regarding the concept of the Chair
following the meeting content and determining on her own whether we're near
unanimity or not.  I also believe that both ASP and the Chair will be better
for following that process - it's a matter of trust for ASP and for personal
growth for the Chair. 

However, I'm willing to let the Chair ask for a show of hands (as I
described a show of hands - nothing more formal than that) if she feels that
she needs that to feel confident about her perceptions. Strictly voluntary
and hopefully a tool that's rarely needed.

Hugs,
Steve




-----Original Message-----
From: Businessmtg
[mailto:businessmtg-bounces+steve=serenitysys.com at asp-afg.org] On Behalf Of
Gerald Hunter
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 9:59 PM
To: Steve - SC
Cc: ASP Business
Subject: [Businessmtg] Consensus Determination

Biz-Pals,

I've just poked my head out of the woods, so I've just now gotten to read
through the BM messages of the past few days. Already I'm detaching
emotionally and moving on to Principles.

Does the person chairing a meeting using KBDM need a method to determine
whether a consensus exists affirming moving forward to further discussion of
the topic at hand or the forming of a motion?

Yes. Remember, the goal is to arrive at motions which are developed by the
participation of all members of the body and therefore more likely to be
approved with near unanimity. Participation. Unity. Key words to think
about.

Is it not clear that we are nowhere near substantial unanimity on a process
for determining whether a unified consensus exists on this topic in this
meeting?

Clear as a bell to me. Can we not set aside our personalities, think a
little harder, and find a solution more agreeable to almost all? You ask me,
if we proceed with any of the suggestions so far we risk controversy, not
cooperation.

When a lack of consensus is ignored and personal will is substituted,
domination begins. I don't believe that's where any Al-Anon entity wants to
go. Folks, we can do better. I know it.

A word, please, about autonomy. ASP is not California or Michigan or Florida
or New Jersey. How any Area runs their business does not determine how ASP
is to run its business. When ASP's membership decided to take on full
responsibility for running this meeting it was agreed by a group conscience
to adopt the founding principles, policies, and practices ASP's founder had
set forth. A reminder, here, that a Group Conscience trumps all.

In every past meeting it has been sufficient that the chair followed the
meeting content, determined that the threshold for near unanimity has been
met (or not), then announced that a motion was to be written or the topic
was tabled or dropped. I know I kept track of how members felt. Near
unanimous agreements are pretty easy to identify.

My position is that members' thoughtful input will bring to the fore all the
good outcomes we can handle. Moving to a poll encourages members to rely on
others for the thinking and often limits participation to aye's and nay's.
That sounds a lot like Robert's Rules to me and why KBDM was adopted in the
first place.

Jerry
-
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