[Businessmtg] Question re newcomers page-clarification

[Jane Anon]

I think Steve is confusing the Newcomers page with the ASP Instructions
page at http://asp-afg.org/members/asp-instructions/ This page gives ASP
specific information. The newcomers page is for those new to Al-Anon itself.

On Mar 28, 2017 6:45 PM, "Steve Rankin" <steve at serenitysys.com> wrote:

> Hi ASPers,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I haven't looked at the Newcomer page for a long time, so I really can't
> talk about what it used to be. While there have been discussions on and off
> in the Steering Committee about possible changes, there hasn't been a
> consensus of the Steering Committee about changes for at least a few years.
> None the less, every discussion we've had has revolved around this basic
> premise:
>
>
>
> The purpose of the Newcomers page is to help newcomers find answers to
> their
> questions about ASP so that they can be a participating member of ASP
> without the fear of doing it "wrong" and getting their hand slapped. Sadly,
> members do get their hand slapped.
>
>
>
> So, I just took a close look at the current Newcomer page so I could talk
> about what is there now, and what I see is quite a few things that I
> seriously doubt are helpful to the newcomer at ASP.
>
>
>
> Here's what I found . . .
>
>
>
> 1.  The page starts off with links to WSO. Excuse me, but aren't we really
> trying to help the newcomer deal with their confusion at ASP? Sure, links
> to
> WSO are useful but they need to be moved much further down AFTER we've
> addresses more pressing problems the newcomer might be facing. Besides,
> we've already pointed every member to WSO during the process of joining
> ASP.
>
>
>
>
> 2.  Next, it tells the newcomer to address any further questions to the
> List
> Administrator BEFORE it has done a single thing to address any of the
> common
> questions. I'm confused. Is the purpose of the Newcomers page to send new
> members to WSO and/or the List Administrator, or is it there to answer
> their
> questions?  Oh, about the idea of sending members with questions or
> concerns
> to the List Administrator, our long-standing practice has been to suggest
> they contact ANY member of the Steering Committee.
>
>
>
> 3.  Next, it quotes the Serenity Prayer and the entire suggested Welcome we
> use in ASP. OK, but the newcomer gets both of those every day when the
> Daily
> Chair opens the day's meeting. I don't understand what question this
> answers.
>
>
>
> 4. Finally, the Newcomer page gets around to the "Tools of the Program" but
> instead of TALKING about the tools of the program, the page just gives the
> newcomer 7 links - all of them to WSO.
>
>
>
>       Tools of the Program
>
>
>
>       Meetings
>
>       Sponsorship
>
>       12 Steps
>
>       12 Traditions
>
>       12 Concepts of Service
>
>       Al-Anon Slogans
>
>       Conference Approved Literature
>
>
>
> Still nothing about ASP to help the newcomer with their questions about
> ASP.
>
>
>
> 5. Next is the link to WSO's podcasts.
>
>
>
> 6. Next is the Suggested Al-Anon Preamble To The Twelve Steps from the
> Al-Anon Service Manual. Four paragraphs long - it violates our permission
> to
> use CAL.
>
>
>
> 7. Next is three paragraphs from "How Al-Anon Works" called "To Those
> Confronted with Violence". As much as I like this quotation, it does
> violate
> the CAL copyright and violates our contract with WSO that gives ASP
> permission to use CAL.
>
>
>
> 8. A statement telling the newcomer that WSO has granted permission to ASP
> to quote CAL with a link to WSO for verification of that permission.
> However, there is nothing to inform the newcomer about WHAT CAL is, HOW
> they
> can use CAL their shares or how LIMITED we are with our use of CAL.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The bottom line? There is nothing on the Newcomer page that even pretends
> to
> help a newcomer understand ASP and how they can participate in ASP, etc.,
> etc., etc.
>
>
>
> Instead, the entire focus of the Newcomers page is all about WSO, which
> does
> nothing to help them at ASP.
>
>
>
> Just a suggestion of something that could be very useful to link to is the
> letters the Greeters send to every prospective member, as well as the
> Welcome Letter sent by the List Administrator. We used to have easy access
> to those letters that made it very easy for both newcomers and established
> members to reacquaint themselves with those initial contacts with ASP.
> Unfortunately, I'm not able to find any of those now.
>
>
>
> It seems to me that another valuable section would be a brief intro about
> sponsorship and a link to the ASP Sponsorship page.
>
>
>
> Perhaps a short paragraph about the maze of acronyms used in shares that
> have spread like wildfire in recent years. With a link to the page where
> members can find a list of frequently used acronyms.
>
>
>
> And more. I'm certain that many of you have some really good ideas.
>
>
>
> Hugs,
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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>
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