[Businessmtg] List Administrator's Report

[List Administrator]

Hi, everyone, 

This is the first time I've made a separate List Administrator Report.
In light of the recent problems we've had enlisting service support from
ASP's Business Meeting's attendees, I feel the need to speak personally,
and not as a voice of ASP's administration. For many months now ASP's
service responsibilities have been juggled by fewer members despite
numerous calls for service volunteers. 

Al-Anon has long promoted shared service within the fellowship. The
simple needs of face-to-face Al-Anon meetings define a simple structure:
A Group Representative and alternate, a Treasurer, perhaps a
Chairperson, and maybe a Secretary and Literature Chairperson. The work
of those positions is sporadic and in most cases take a few minutes a
month to satisfy the group's needs. 

Online Al-Anon is a different critter. In the case of online ASP it
became clear to me that the service demands were far greater than my f2f
mind imagined. New folks don't just wander in and plunk themselves in an
empty seat. Greeters attend to them individually in order to enroll them
properly and take care of any problems that process might create. Once a
new member's email is added to ASP's membership roles, the intricacies
of how ASP works, how to share, and in many cases how internet
communications works (or doesn't work), creates a regular stream of
queries to the List Administrator to resolve a myriad of individual
difficulties. 

Business Meetings are not about a one-hour meeting after a topic meeting
to cover details the group needs to cover that month, but a lengthy
process in order to permit members from all over the world to have the
opportunity participate. With most Al-Anons being familiar with a fairly
efficient f2f business process, the long and drawn-out online process,
often taking an entire month to cover one topic, can bring impatience
and dissatisfaction to all involved. 

When these administrative burdens are shared by many hands ASP's
behind-the-scene's work goes fairly smoothly. When, however, the group's
chores are carried out by just a few those burdens can become
overwhelming. Not to say they can't be done by only a few, but at what
cost? I've been ASP's LA for about a year and a half. I'm more or less
up to speed on the daily LA chores. Now, with no one standing for the
Secretary position for month's on end, I find I'm also responsible for
chairing the Business Meeting and a couple of times a year of selecting
and training ASP's topic chairpersons. 

Every day of my life is affected by the responsibilities of these
combined positions. They weary me. The prospect of having to fill both
of these shoes for the next year and a half take me to a dim place. At
73 now that would take to 75 at the end of my ASP service. Not sure I
can commit to this anymore under the current circumstances. 

The Treasurer's position is now filled by our founder for lack of a
volunteer. And it's not just the Business Committee which continues to
leave service positions unfilled; our greeters come from the ASP
membership as a whole. As noted in the Greeter Chair's recent email, the
greeter positions appear to be going unfilled, too. We are edging closer
to the unfortunate position where ASP's wonderful recovery meeting is
being endangered by our business practices. It is critical that we right
this listing ship. 

This month we are once again placing calls for service in the Business
Meeting for a Secretary and a Treasurer. I can only hope that some
business meeting members are moved to serve this fine group in these
essential positions. Beyond that it is my hope that the BM can
contribute ideas which may improve our many members' willingness to fill
our service positions. There are many good reasons ASP is structured in
the fashion it is - many rooted in the requirements of our chosen online
medium, others deep in the Traditions, Concepts, and Warranties. If,
however, that structure needs addressing in order to assure ASP's future
we may have to consider that along with the risks of doing so. 

One thing sure: we can not much longer endure heaping all the group's
responsibilities on just a few shoulders. It's just not the way Al-Anon
does things. 

Respectfully in service, 

Jerry H., ASP List Administrator 

- 

5/1/2019