[Businessmtg] Temporary committee for newcomer needs:

[Sandie Parkker]

Hi my name is Faith.  I have been in ASP since 2014.  I have been in Alanon
since the late 70's or early eighties.  This is my first on line business
meeting.  I am not very tech savvy.  Do the best I can.

As far as a temporary committee for newcomers, I am on the fence.  It seems
that when directed to the appropriate area on the ASP site, one can get
most of the information one needs to function in this online group.  Here
are my observations below about newcomers.

A)  In regards to extensive writing:  I will say that when I first joined I
had a lot of verbal vomiting to do and made some very long emails.   I see
this with most newcomers when they make first contact.

B)  ESH:  The biggest thing I learned which I did not learn in a F2F was
even as a seasoned Alanoner, was to state little problem and lots of
solution.  In fact, I did not even know what ESH meant!  Or how to deliver
it on this site.

C)  Solution: ?  I don't know if something different could be done, short
of having an introductory "class" on attending an online meeting,
researched by the temporary committee, in association with volunteers.
Interval to be determined.  Just to get over the hump.

D) Newcomers and sponsorship:   Not everyone is "willing" to get a sponsor
or ready to have a sponsor, and the big issue, in my humble experience,
usually when directed or suggested to go to a F2F, people are not able to
do this for various reasons, ranging from distance to privacy, whatever.
So, bottom line they don't get a beginner packet.  And ASP is the lifeline.
  I have tried sponsoring people who ask me to sponsor them from F2F, using
the ASP site in addition to F2F meetings and do the work on line, and i
have not had much success with this.

E)  Sometimes there are new members who are either on drugs/meds.  And or
there are people who are in such a crisis state, that they have suicidal
ideation.  I recently saw the list admin put out a public notice on the
site about remaining safe.  That was a good idea.

These are my observations about newcomer needs and the temporary committee.
Thanks,
Faith