[Businessmtg] Introduction of the Agenda Topic for Discussion X

[List Administrator]

Biz-Pals, 

As we await resumes for the two service positions that have been
announced we can talk about ASP's participation requirements for serving
as an ASP greeter or topic chairperson... 

- - - - - 

TOPIC 

"Do we want to consider lowering ASP's group participation requirements
before members can stand for non-elected ASP service positions?" 

- - - - - 

ASP currently requires one year of active ASP participation before a
member can serve as a greeter and six months of ASP participation before
becoming eligible to serve as a topic chair.to 

A. ASP's Greeter Chair, Anne O., has asked that we reconsider lowering
the requirement for greeters to six months participation. In the past
the Greeters were given access to certain membership files so a one year
participation requirement was set to let us get to know a member better
before granting them this access. Greeters no longer have that access so
the suggestion is that a shorter period of six months of group
participation would be sufficient. 

B. As acting Secretary, I have asked that we reconsider the six months
of ASP participation currently required for Topic Chairs. This request
is driven by the need to fill the seven Topic Chair positions when too
few volunteers step up to serve the group. Our current rotation of topic
chairs has members repeating as chairs where it would be much preferable
to rotate to all new chairs. We did have one member who volunteered who
has many years of Al-Anon recovery, but who had less that six months in
ASP so I could not select her. When we must turn down experienced
Al-Anons because of insufficient ASP participation I think it's worth
discussing whether we might be better served if the requirements to
serve as topic chair had some flexibility. 

- - - - - 

For the moment we begin with a general discussion - the possibility of
lowering group participation requirements for our non-elected service
positions and the possible effects this may have on the group. 

[A bit later we will begin discussions of the greeter and topic chair
positions individually.] 

This topic is now open... 

"Do we want to consider lowering ASP's group participation requirements
before members can stand for non-elected ASP service positions?" 

In service, 

Jerry H. 

-