[Businessmtg] Fwd: Steering Committee / List Administrator's Report, 01.02.2018

[List Administrator]

Steering Committee / List Administrator's Report
January, 2018

       This past year has included its share of turmoil in ASP's business 
dealings. I think it's beneficial to acknowledge that differences of 
opinion are not unusual in Al-Anon business settings. We've had some 
resignations from key positions in the wake of these differences. Others 
have stepped forward into these vacancies and are quickly learning the 
ropes.
       The core functions of ASP have not skipped a beat. Where our new 
leaders are short on knowledge, others have chipped in with their 
experience to fill the gaps. I'm happy to say that we're well on our way 
to putting these problems behind us. Worth noting is that we were for 
the most part able to keep these discussions within the Business Meeting 
and resolve them here; our general membership, so far as I can see, had 
few hints of the discord.

MEMBERSHIP
       Speaking of our membership, I've tracked our growth over the two 
months plus since you elected me List Administrator. The raw numbers 
surprised me a bit: since October 23rd to date we have added 242 
members. Note, though, that many new members quit ASP shortly after 
joining, principally because of the number of emails they receive, plus 
we lose some longer term members every month for various personal 
reasons (including too many emails).
       Using December as an example we had 90 additions and had 48 
members leave for a net growth of 42 members. In my experience this is 
no worse retention than F2F meetings over the long term - and perhaps a 
good deal better. I therefore don't see this as a problem which needs 
attention.
       From our 1,282 listed members we average only 30-40 topic shares 
on any given day - often by the same group of folks. It's evident that 
we have a great many lurkers or folks with inactive memberships. A purge 
of inactive members may be in order.

TOPIC MEETINGS
       Speaking for myself I've found the Topic Leads particularly 
interesting of late. Topic Chairs are a very important part of our daily 
recovery. I thank the outgoing topic chairs and look forward to new 
chairs and their contributions as they step into this service to the 
group.

STEERING COMMITTEE
       The Business Committee's decision to reject Motion #16 requires 
some movement on ASP's web site content. A brief history: past trusted 
servants had made some substantive changes to ASP's web page without 
Business Meeting approval. Motion #16 would have permitted keeping that 
web content up temporarily while unauthorized changes were uncovered and 
corrections made. Since the motion failed ASP can no longer keep our 
site up as it exists. ASP needs to get a corrected web site in place.
       After much discussion the Steering Committee unanimously decided 
to support a return to the last group-conscience-approved text we could 
determine: mid-2014. The Steering Committee has asked Steve, who has the 
technical skills necessary to update and merge this approved text with 
the approved design recently introduced by our past web master. The 
Steering Committee will be requesting that the Business Meeting accept 
the corrected web site with a group conscience vote so it can be posted. 
More to come on this...
       In the process of uncovering these unauthorized changes it was 
found that among other things the results of some past group consciences 
were omitted or reported incorrectly. [As an example Motion #15 
(rescinding the Newcomer Packet program) was reported as passing when 
the vote count shows it had failed.] Until corrected web content is 
approved and posted, please understand that the content of the current 
web pages contains some errors and misrepresentations of ASP Policies 
and Practices.
       Topics Currently Under Discussion in the Steering Committee:
       ~ ASP's Web Site
       ~ ASP's Greeter Process
       ~ ASP By-Laws necessary to file for 501(c)3 status

SERVICE POSITIONS
       Many ASP service positions are filled from the membership of this 
Business Meeting. Others are appointed from the membership. The workload 
of keeping ASP running smoothly is minimal when all service positions 
are filled. When positions are left unfilled the burden is placed on 
those remaining. Please, when calls to service are posted, consider 
serving this wonderful group. Among the most important service posts 
soon to be or currently vacant are Greeter Chairperson and the Greeters 
who welcome new members to our meeting.

Finally, on behalf of the Steering Committee I'd like to express our 
gratitude to the members of this and past Business Meetings. Without the 
participation and patience of members in this ASP adventure we share the 
Unity we are forming would be much more difficult to achieve. Thanks 
everyone!

Jerry H.,
List Administrator
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