[Businessmtg] archiving shares

Tue Nov 27 17:50:03 PST 2018

Hi Kim,

Hopefully, this will explain a few things that I think are confused.

True - and a bit sad IMHO - that we are not allowed to register as a group. 

It is also true that a trusted servant made what some of us believe was a
decision that should have been a group conscience decision. 
That does not mean that it was a bad decision, however.  IMHO, any decision
that made improperly is an improper decision, but not necessarily a bad
decision. It is entirely reasonable and possible that the group conscience
could be to continue Dawn's decision as is. 

It is also true that committees decide on which shares are published in the
Forum and other Al-Anon literature. However, I should point out that the
purpose of Al-Anon literature is very different than the purpose of Al-Anon
shares in a meeting. "Shares" in our literature is intended to "look good"
and "feel good". In fact, the truth is that the "shares" and "Al-Anon
stories" in our CAL are not true stories. Those wonderful stories are
actually "blended" stories written by a professional writer hired by WSO to
blend stories of several members into a single story for publication in our
CAL. 

Frankly, I find that incredibly frustrating, but it's quite true. We
discovered that little tidbit of information when "How Al-Anon Works" was
published in 1995. A young lady in my home group had been informed that her
story was going to be included in that new book, but when it came out her
"story" was drastically different than her true story. My Area challenged
WSO on the issue and WSO responded by (1) admitting to the process, and (2)
sending the writer to our RSS to talk to us about the process. IMHO, it
still sucks, but that's how important it must be to WSO to look good at all
costs. 

As for the truth in an Al-Anon meeting, including ASP . . .

Every share in an Al-Anon meeting is a share of Al-Anon experience, strength
and hope. 

Every single one. That includes the good, the bad and the ugly. 

I believe it is absolutely critical that we remember that.

My shares may or may not be prettier or sound like I have 35 years of
recovery. Regardless, my shares are no more Al-Anon ESH than the raw share
of a newcomer that verbally hemorages in the meeting. If I think otherwise,
then there is no humility. 

As for the website. Yes, I was directed to return the website to its last
recognized group conscience and I followed the directions I was given. 

Two points:

1. The content of the website reflected in the last recognized group
conscience was roughly 2014; well after the decision by Dawn to archive
shares.

2. The archives of ASP shares are not part of the WordPress website that was
altered, and subsequently, restored to its former content.

In other words, even if I had thought about the archives last year when I
restored the website, the archives were not included in the decision to
restore the WordPress website. 

FWIW, the Web Master does not have access to the mailing list software where
the Archive (Yes) (No) switch is. That software is controlled by the List
Administrator, not the Web Master. 

Hopefully, this explains some more details and reduces the confusion.

Hugs,
Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Businessmtg
[mailto:businessmtg-bounces+steve=serenitysys.com at asp-afg.org] On Behalf Of
Kim C
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2018 4:41 PM
To: steve at serenitysys.com
Cc: ASP Business
Subject: [Businessmtg] archiving shares

I understand we are not a registered Al-Anon Family Group.
Are these not our Core Values too?
*  Spiritually based: adhering to our Legacies.
*  Honest:  treating all equally, with integrity and respect
*  Transparent: sharing process, content, and information
*  Self-supporting:  refusing outside funding.

Archiving effects every group member and the decision was made by one.
That is certainly not keeping with Tradition 2.
Al-Anon CAL has a Conference approval process.  The Forum has a committee
who selects shares to be published in its monthly meeting in a pocket
magazine.  The shares permitted to be printed and published are as well
selected to share the Al-Anon message.  Not every share, just like in a F2F
meeting is an Al-Anon experience, strength and hope.  Check out ODAT
November 24 for further explanation.  The Forum is nothing like our
archiving shares.

Why is it okay for this group change, by a trusted servant, without
discussion and an informed group conscience, be any different then the
changes she made to the ASP website?

We recently directed Steve to return our website to the last recognized
group conscience.

Why was archiving not changed as well?

In gratitude,
Kim

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