[Businessmtg] OT Meeting

[Bubbe Turner]

Hi All,

I believe it was Laura who mentioned in her opening for this topic to
discuss having a separate OT/Beginner's Meeting.

If ASP decided to have a Beginner's Meeting, there are specific Guidelines
(G2) published by WSO that apply to that particular kind of meeting.

Having been involved in the service end of our local Beginner's Meeting for
15+ years, I can tell you that a f2f Beginner's Meeting is worth it's
weight in gold to newcomers.  However, I don't believe the Beginner's
Meeting concept outlined in G2 has ever been adapted to On Line ... that
would need to be done if workable.  It requires certain CAL to be
available, weekly topics scheduled for each of the 6 weeks of the meeting
cycle AND experienced Al-Anon/Alateen volunteers to be present and constant
in conducting the meetings.  Many questions can be answered in that type of
meeting and newcomers can be introduced to CAL.

Personally I would leave the OT situation at ASP as it is unless too many
complaints are made and surely the SC has something in place to handle that
sort of thing.  Newcomers can be encouraged to talk to others after
meetings to "reason things out", to attend f2f meetings regularly, to buy
and read CAL and to get a sponsor.

I suggest not creating a Beginner's Meeting at this time due to a possible
lack of experience with the G2 Guidelines here plus the time it might take
to adapt the those Guidelines to OL.  There may also be an additional cost
for another meeting being added to the ASP server and there is the absolute
necessity of having several experienced Al-Anon members present at each
Beginner's Meeting on a regular basis who are versed in the 6-week schedule
and are familiar with the suggested CAL used.

There is a list of the CAL suggested for newcomer's on the Guideline sheet.

As ever,
BJ