[Businessmtg] Consensus Building

[Gerald Hunter]

I see your points, Jane. I don't though, worry so much as some about whether or not individuals choose to read or respond as long as they've had ample opportunity to do so. If some BC members elect to "step out of the meeting" we proceed without them. Maybe we should be discussing what constitutes a sufficient time frame which would give our international membership time to ponder and respond.

Because others have mentioned the following, a couple of points not directly on the topic:

~In no Al-Anon setting have I ever seen "secret ballots". Group, District, Area, Area and District committees. I don't like 'em. I want to "see" who thinks what and why so I know who to talk with to attempt to find consensus. Raise those hands. Polling/informal voting hides this info from me here - important info. The way we do polls/voting is effectively secret balloting. Sounds like I'm asking for a roll call. Very Robert's Rules of me, aye? Come to think of it maybe that would work... Steve's suggested check and comment list submitted to the chair and posted in a constantly updated "reply all" post (working titled) "Current Positions of Committee Members". Add a deadline. Done.

~In my Area before every vote a literal countdown is taken to see how many qualified voters are in the room. In order for a motion to pass the yes votes of those in the room at the time have to meet or exceed the previously agreed-to level set as the substantial unanimity requirement. That means abstentions are effectively "no" votes. Somebody please post the ASP Policy which clears this up one way or the other....

~When I was ASP's elected Treasurer I wrote a check to the WSO for an amount equal to the excess funds over our stated Prudent Reserve at the end of a particular quarter. I thought I was following standard program and ASP principles, but ASP principles hadn't been set yet and did I get a scolding. Check out our records of motions made and passed. There's one in there meant to stop me from doing that again until the method of disbursing funds was settled. There's a lesson there for those who step beyond our group's agreed-to or unsettled practices. I think we should continue muddling along in this discussion until someone comes up with an "ah-ha" suggestion we can agree on, form our motion, pass it into ASP Policy, and only then apply it to our practices.

Jerry
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Jane Anon <happynjoyousnfree at gmail.com> wrote:
>Re asking for objections after determining a consensus has/has not
>been reached. My first reaction was PERFECT! But the problem is again
>we have to allow time for ppl to read and respond and have no way of
>knowing how many have seen that email. With an informal online poll we
>can see that number at a glance. A poll online is no more inherently
>formal than an email and imho gives us an opportunity to take the
>temperature of the room much more easily.
>
>-- 
>Jane
>
>"It is easier to put on slippers than to carpet the world." ~Stuart Smalley
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