[Businessmtg] Newcomer Committee

[Christine H]

I like the idea of a newcomer’s page. I would add some CAL suggestions as well. 

I live 20 minutes from my nearest f2f meeting. But I have my own car and I don’t mind the drive. Many people aren’t that lucky, or their meetings are even farther. ASP may be their only available meeting. 

I’m all for making it a bit easier for them. 

Christine H

> On Nov 1, 2018, at 6:14 PM, Jerry H. <logmark at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> All,
> 
> 
> Here's the thing: ASP is the meeting that these newcomers "walked" into. If they had walked into any f2f meeting would anyone there tell them to go somewhere else to start their recovery? Hope to heck not. They're here. They came to our door. Seems to me we could do more for them than we now do. A few committed members meeting from time to time to think creatively could certainly come up with some effective suggestions to improve newcomers' early weeks at ASP. 
> 
> 
> We do very little for newcomers. I might say exceptionally little. Not, mind you, that we MUST do anything, but should we be doing something? Every year a greater and greater proportion of Al-Anon members have come to the fellowship through internet doors. We are one of those doors.
> 
> 
> This Newcomer Committee, though nearly inactive since its inception due to the distractions of other pressing matters, could work to identify some simple things which would make our newer members feel more at home. I can think of a couple (have thought of a couple) which wouldn't hurt a thing and which could be easily done:
> 
> 
> 1) My original idea of creating a 1st Step Page for newcomers - a few members' 1st Step stories (the kind they might give at a f2f 1st Step) rotating monthly/quarterly to which newcomers, when they join, can be directed in ASP's welcoming documents. Anonymously I'd suggest. Instant [ersatz] 1st Step meeting.
> 
> 2) The things I face most often with newcomers as List Administrator are mostly simple, technical things. Yes, answers could usually be found by digging through ASP's website - if the newcomer is technically savvy enough, or in a mindset which lets them concentrate, but often that's not the case. Many are barely internet literate.
> 
>   Why not a simple guide sheet which pulls just a few essentials together so they can at least begin sharing without having to do research first. One sheet/page with things like:
> 
>   "To comment on a daily topic [look for the XXXX's] address your email to asp at asp-afg.org. Our server will then send it out to everyone. Never use a 'Reply All' function," and a few other "how-to's" would enable newcomers to get involved much more quickly. [Maybe with graphic examples?] 
> 
>   Add a few more simple guidelines and darned if they wouldn't have a basic ASP "starter kit."
> 
> 
> I'd like to also comment on the hard line many take regarding newcomers. The internet meeting can never duplicate the warmth of a f2f reception, nor, for that matter the human touch of warm bodies speaking honestly with one another. In that loving atmosphere leaving newcomers to reach out and discover things on their own, toe stubs and all, adds to their recoveries. However warm we may feel here on-line we're cool at best. We could warm things up around here and make it a bit easier for the lost souls who come to us through their keyboards.
> 
> 
> I wish every newcomer could/would find a f2f meeting they could call home. The reality, though, is that some can't or won't, and others could, but want an electronic meeting. It's not our job to direct everyone to f2f, it's our job to provide the best home we can. Without a committee of ASP members who are thinking about how we might improve our product we might just miss opportunities to help some of those folks out there.
> 
> 
> If there are members willing to serve, I believe this Newcomer Committee ought to be given the chance to prove itself.
> 
> 
> In service,
> 
> Jerry
> 
> -
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> 
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> 
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