[Businessmtg] Useable CAL / Packet Topic

[Jerry]

Biz-Pals,

As a few have mentioned, reprinting or including scans of most of Al-Anon's CAL is not an option for us. Copyright protections prevent us from using any except those bits which the copyright owners either give blanket permission to use, or, as with our agreement with the owners, where we have limited permission to use up to a paragraph of CAL in our meeting topic introductions.

Beyond that I feel that there is also a high risk of plagiarism were we to spend much time reading existing CAL before writing any new materials for our web site - whether for newcomer-related materials or other purposes. The WSO isn't going to sue anybody, but it's both a legal and ethical necessity that we comply with their limits - one of those "Obedience to the Unenforceable" things.

Sandie mentioned posting a list of CAL which is approved for use. Great idea and a very good starting point. Occasionally there are a few articles in the FORUM magazine which can perhaps be used, too. I'd like to submit this list back to the WSO to get assurances we're not overstepping were we to use them on line.

As far as tabling this packet topic until the Newcomer Committee is official and it's suggestions take form - that makes a good deal of sense. A combination of the existing info, first-step stories, and other elements that committee may come up with may serve ASP's newcomers quite well.

So I would agree that we take a wait-and-see posture regarding our newcomer packet policy - though a vote on suspending our current policy until further notice would put our group conscience and our actions back in alignment.
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Before I go I want to take ownership of part of an ongoing set of oversights which Steve brought up, that of reports to the Business Meeting. Back when I was Treasurer I found myself keeping detailed records for the Tradition7 register. I autonomously elected to also post a summary to the full membership as part of my Passing the Basket notes. Because everybody was getting the summary and anybody could access the detailed Tradition7 Register I just assumed a separate report to the BM and SC would be redundant. Either I or following treasurers stopped posting these summaries at some point, though the Register remains open to all. I believe the treasury reports should resume at least in summary form and take responsibility for their disappearance. Sorry, folks.

The absence of Steering Committee Reports to the Business Committee I do find concerning.

Service hugs,
Jerry
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