[Businessmtg] web page approval

[Karen Clem]

hi asp business members:
When I first came to Al-Anon i did not know value of the Al-Anon legacies.  I wanted to learn more, and I felt the only way to do that was through service.   I do this through the traditions/concepts weekly chair (as i learn by doing)  and through the business meeting.  As I also learn about them I see how they apply within ASP and in all other areas of our wonderful fellowship.  To see them disregarded in this way is wrong...just plain wrong.  I began to understand what Bill and Lois W, was/were creating for all of us in our respective fellowships.  They created a program that is based on harmony, equality and unity.  They made sure that we have traditions and concepts to guide us so that we keep this program free of outside influence and to provide a place of safety for those that enter these rooms.  They gave us a gift that can assist us with our own recovery (the steps) and they did this in a way that protects our fellowship while we have the freedom to structure our meetings differently.   As an ASP member,  there are several things that are happening here that I find very disturbing.   This is the same stuff that occurred in the July meeting in which nothing, I repeat, nothing was accomplished, and it was closed down for this very thing.  At least we have elections in process at this meeting.  Where are "principles above personalities" at demonstrating this...are we practicing this ?....NO, I don't believe we are.   When did this cease to be a part of Al-Anon?  (Truth be told,  we are not practicing the legacies in this business meeting either.)  This fellowship would not exist if we did not have our legacies and if they were not practiced within our fellowship.  It appears to me as a newcomer in this regard that many of these are being broken and/or disregarded.  At a minimum this is what i see happening within the push for the web page to be approved:
 Tradition 1, (common welfare and unity), Tradition 2, (we do not govern), Tradition 6 (endorsement of personal achievement through service), Tradition 7 (fully self supporting through group participation), Tradition 9 ( assigning duties to committee instead of allowing freedom for movement within the committee and through the business meeting), 

Concept 1 (ultimate responsibility belongs to the asp membership/group), Concept 2 (delegated authority vs. assumed authority), Concept 3  ( right of decision vs. effective leadership), Concept 4 (lack of participation within the fellowship), Concept 9 (assumed personal leadership authority at all service levels), Concept 10 (balanced service and responsibility to the fellowship as a whole).  

The general warranties are also affected.  Warranty 2 (unqualified authority over another), Warranty 3 (all decisions reached will be done through discussion and voting through unanimity - business meeting agenda and website issue), Warranty 5 (Al-Anon shall never perform any act of government as the fellowship shall remain democratic in thought and action).
The agenda issues being added after this meeting started do not belong here at this time.   It does not matter that one person wants to vote on something when it affects the entire group as a whole.  We need to as a group follow the process and put this issue out to the next business meeting.  Using a different voting process (Roberts Rules vs. KBDM)  to force an issue through the meeting does all of us a greater disservice than allowing the time needed to work on and address the issues.  Additionally,  it is irresponsible to the membership as a whole.   The fact that we have a website that functions does not mean it works for all...it does not.  There are issues associated with it that need to be addressed.  (These have already been brought up in an earlier email in this meeting.)  

As I looked through the archives and saw the process as it is suppose to work in the May Business Meeting, it seems we have a major problem here.   (Looking at the archives regarding the web page, it is apparent that there is a push to approve something that needs work.. why the rush and what is the reason for the push? )  I believe it is time for us to step back, look at the issues and try to behave as we should when we practice Al-Anon in our affairs.  In my eyes that means using and practicing the legacies in a manner that benefits us all, not the few.  We owe it to those in the fellowship to be honest and forthcoming in all we do.  We must look at the damage that can come from jumping the gun.   That does not include approving the web page at this time....

We do not have the right based on the legacies to shortcut things and approve things simply because a few want this.  We MUST base our decisions on our group conscience.  ASP is a beautiful place for those of us affected by alcoholism. ( It has saved many and helped others to find a way to recovery, and at the very least given those a voice that have never had such a thing in their life - including me.)  Thanks for listening.  
Additionally if this needs a motion to be placed on the next business meeting agenda, I am more than happy to do it.

Hugggsss,
Karen C.