[Businessmtg] NEWCOMER PACKETS/Booklets

[Jerry H.]

Morning, all,


I recommend that, as long as ASP does not have funds to support it, ASP no longer provide Newcomer Packets/Booklets to newcomers. The expense and overhead of providing these booklets are not supportable by the current pattern of donations ASP has experienced over the last year or two.


I will say this: ASP has a Group Conscience which directs all funds in excess of our Prudent Reserve at the end of each Quarter be sent as a donation to the WSO. We have not been running much in the way of excesses over the past couple of years, but we have historically.


If we were to return to having funds in excess of our PR [one year's expenses plus the set-aside for nonprofit filings of ($300?)] we could support this packet program. For a while there we were sending checks to the WSO fairly regularly in amounts more than enough to supply newcomers with packets. Key would be to see how the membership reacts to the resumed "Passing the Basket" emails asking for membership donations to ASP now that we have an active treasurer again.


However, IF our increase in membership of recent past continues and is accompanied by a proportionate increase in member donations to ASP I'd rather send some of those excess funds in to purchase materials than have all of it go as a donation to Al-Anon's general fund.


For now, though I believe we need to put this newcomer literature thing on hold by passing a motion to that effect, such as, "The newcomer packet [booklet] program is put on hold until further notice" or the like.


One other thing: the motion which would have rescinded the Motion which created this program DID FAIL, but NOT because there weren't a significant majority of voters who wanted it stopped (19) - nor were there that many who wanted it to continue (10). It likely failed because many Business Committee members DID NOT VOTE AT ALL (8)! In order to have formed a consensus a 2/3rds majority of ALL BM Members must have voted in favor of the motion. Members who did not vote had the same affect as if they had voted NO.


Long and the short of it is this: whenever a motion is made and seconded on any topic, make sure you vote!


Jerry

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