[Businessmtg] OT- My thoughts

[Claudia G.]

To the Business Meeting in general and the Steering Committee in particular:


I have been a member of ASP since 2010.  This online meeting has been my lifeline when there were no evening meetings in my hometown.  Here I learned about the Al-Anon program and the 3 legacies.  It's here that I found my Sponsor of four years, who was my rock and my best teacher when I most needed it.  This fellowship was my essential source of support when I recently lost my daughter.  In fact, I spent this past Mother's Day with another ASP member who also lost a child to this disease.  Therefore, I am most grateful for all that A Serenity Place has given me.


This also happens to be my first ASP Business Meeting and I would like to say that I am really discouraged and concerned about what I've witnessed so far.   I hope that the adversarial tone of this meeting is the exception rather than the norm....we all know what might happen if we continue doing what doesn't work.


Now that we have taken a break, and had time to reflect on the issues at hand, as a concerned ASP member, I feel the need to share my thoughts in an effort to find common ground, and in hopes that, in the future, we will choose to communicate with each other in an Al-Anon-like manner:


- Whenever too many participants repeat themselves, misunderstand the process, give the wrong answers or seem confused, I tend to conclude that either the instructions are not clear enough or that the process needs to be reviewed or perhaps simplified.   I am in no way new to the business world, having participated in several Board of Directors and business meetings for over 30 years.  However, I find the format of this meeting confusing and easily leading to misunderstandings and hurt feelings.


- More importantly, what happened to all the principles we focus on during the daily recovery meetings?  Isn't this the best opportunity to put them into practice, as "in all our affairs"?  I can cut the newcomers much slack, but is it not up to us with years in the program to be role models?   If an outsider had witnessed our past interchanges, would they think Al-Anon works?  Shouldn't we be embarrassed?  Wasn't "courtesy" one of the recent meeting topics that received eloquent shares?


- "...personal progress for the greatest number depends upon Unity".  To me this means that my personal agenda is set aside; that if I'm part of the minority opinion, while I have a right to express it, in the end majority rules.  It means that I must treat the majority and minority alike, with civility and respect.  The Golden Rule, first and foremost.


- I remind myself often to let the God of my understanding be my guide, both personally and collectively.  After all, I can't rely on my best thinking, or let my character defects take control.


- Every day I have the opportunity to start anew; this is not only my right but also my duty and responsibility.   Therefore, can we all come together and be part of the solution?  Can we please review our messages to make sure they pass the "T.H.I.N.K"  test before we hit "send"?  Can we treat our fellow members the way we would like to be treated?


Thank you for listening; and, as usual, please take what you like and leave the rest.


Respectfully,


Claudia