[Businessmtg] ASP Service Positions & other thoughts

[Jane Anon]

Hi all,

​I started an email on this topic over a week ago, but decided to give it
some more thought first. It's hard for me to talk about. I volunteered for
the Webmaster position hoping that I could serve Al-Anon and specifically
ASP, which had been my lifeline so many times. I wanted to give something
back.

I started serving and hit a snag attempting to download the program that
was used to develop and maintain the old ASP websites. After discussion
with the Steering Committee and doing a lot of work and research on my own,
I proposed using WordPress. This was approved and I created a new public
site. I then took the information from the old member site and transferred​
it to a new WordPress site, reorganizing the content and making some
additions. I presented it to the SC to unanimous approval and praise. I was
really happy to have done something that I hoped would help ASP members and
newcomers. It took many hours of work, but it was a labor of love and I was
happy to do it.

Several months later, things took an ugly turn. I won't be delicate or
tactful about this because I think it's important that I am honest here.
Steve and I disagreed about an issue regarding the website, and since then,
he has been critical of my service and has openly questioned the process by
which both sites were approved, calling the legitimacy of the approval into
question. Steve has even questioned my honesty and my motives. Prior to
that, I considered him a friend and had even asked and received personal
ESH via email and phone. So when he turned on me with such vehemence, it
was incredibly hurtful. I thought about quitting each time it happened, but
hung in there because I kept telling myself that ASP is bigger than him and
I made a commitment to serve for 3 full years. Since then, I have seen him
openly criticize several other SC members and seen people who were
genuinely attempting to serve in good faith resign as a result. This is
harmful both to Al-Anon and to ASP, in my opinion.... and I know things
like this have happened before. The webmaster who served before me told me
in an email that she resigned because of Steve as well and I am quite sure
there have been others.

My belief is that unless a Trusted Servant is taking ASP in a direction
that violates Al-Anon Traditions or principles, his or her actions should
not be criticized. In ASP, there are a lot of "guidelines" which are
unfortunately treated like RULES.... And they are often used to shut down
anyone who attempts to do anything on the SC that isn't in a very narrow
range of interpretation.
​ Steve does this more than anyone else, but occasionally others will chime
in. This not only limits the ability of ASP to change and grow in a
positive direction, it hurts those who volunteer to serve.

So while I would love to say that serving in ASP is a wonderful experience
for which I am grateful, I can't. I am increasingly saddened as my term
comes to a close, afraid that the work I did will eventually be erased
because Steve will somehow convince another SC that it has to be. I'm sad,
but I'm going to stick it out.

The one positive thing I can say regarding the Webmaster position is that
if someone wants to learn a bit about WordPress, you might be interested.
I'm honestly not sure it's worth it, though.​ Still, it is an easy program
to learn if you are at all comfortable with computers (Word, Excel, etc.),
and with a little more time, most people could learn how to do what I do on
a regular basis.

As to the time involved, in order to simply update the website
periodically, it shouldn't take more than an hour or so per week, if that.
The updates are at most 2-3 times per month and are quick and easy to do.
The time spent on the SC doesn't take much time either as a general rule.