[Businessmtg] Archiving

[Steve Rankin]

Hi folks,

Jerry proposes a logic train that I find a bit scary.

I'll paraphrase his idea . . . a previous List Administrator made a decision
that was improper because it was a policy decision, then Jerry says that a
later List Administrator can properly make a decision to reverse the
previous improper decision. 

What we need to understand is that if making a decision to do "A" is a
policy decision, then making a decision to do "-A" (aka undo A) is also a
policy decision. Two wrongs don't make a right sort of thing. 

Why is that a scary?

Because, at its essence Jerry is saying that absent a group conscience, a
List Administrator can make a policy decision. 

That's no different than what Dawn did in 2006, which would actually mean
that what Dawn did was OK because there wasn't a group conscience to the
contrary. Comprende?

Here's the deal. The List Administrator has no authority to make policy
decisions. Policy decisions belong to the members via the Business Meeting. 

The List Administrator is an "administrator", not a policy maker - or
un-maker. 

What about Jerry's contention that the List Administrator can revoke an
"improper administrative decision"; that a group conscience is not required.

Well, the problem with that is that many decisions have been made over the
years at ASP that were not part of a group conscience. Over time, those
decisions form a precedent for how things are done that are not formally
codified by a group conscience. In other words, we have formal group
consciences AND we have established practices (aka precedents) for how
things are done at ASP. 

Jerry is suggesting that the List Administrator has the authority to revoke
any practice that is not specified by a formal group conscience. All he'd
have to do is declare the practice improper (according to Jerry) and poof,
one person can change how ASP works. That's no different than what we just
dealt with the last couple of years when the LA thought she had the
authority to change things that she felt were "improper" or "wrong"
according to her words. 

Frankly, I believe that no member has the right to change how an Al-Anon
meeting works, what happens during the meeting, etc. Every meeting and group
has its way of doing things and if someone thinks something needs to change,
then it needs to go to the entire group. 

Now, we do allow the List Administrator to make autonomous decisions WHEN
NEEDED. The key part is "when needed". If the ASP does not "need" a decision
made before the Business Meeting can make a decision (policy issues) or
before the Steering Committee can make a decision (admin issues) then we
give the LA the authority to make the decision because ASP NEEDS that
decision sooner rather than later.

In a case where we've been doing something for over 12 years, it's hardly
imperative that we make a decision any time this year. 

Hugs,
Steve