[Businessmtg] Service Questions for Steve

[Anna RC.]

Good morning all.!  I have a few questions based on Steve’s response to BJ. 

“..the members of ASP made the decision to set a
boundary on who can serve. We did that to protect the sanctity of the members and ASP itself. “

Currently several other members have mentioned these “boundaries” are more like dominant requirements,  so why are they not being voted on or at least discussed?  We have business meetings so the whole business list can discuss and vote on issues.   Why are these comments being ignored?  Let’s remember tradition 2.  


“ASP is not an Al-Anon group”

Then what exactly is it?  The website states : “Every al - Anon meeting has a different ‘flavor’.  This includes online meetings like A Serenity Place.”  Sounds like a meeting to me.


“If that's not good enough for someone, then
frankly I probably don't want that person serving in a critical position on the Steering Committee. Service is supposed to be about doing what ASP
needs, not what the member wants to do.”

Yet,  we’re not listening to the multiple people who every single business meeting state they think these requirements are outdated and are doing more harm then good.  Doing what one member wants over the rest,  is not “doing what ASP needs.”  It’s catering to the one individual,  and the group as a whole cannot grow properly when we only serve one individual.  

What is the issue with changing these requirements?  Besides a select few not liking it. Is there some other reasoning?  Everytime someone suggests it they get a huge lecture on when this group was formed and why things were established that way then,  but it was years ago.  Sometimes things need to be refreshed.  Change isn’t always bad,  besides,  how things have been obviously is no longer working.  What does the group have to lose?  I’m not being sarcastic,  I really don’t get it.  Why the pushback?   We are not hiring people as employees at a business,  we are seeking service volunteers.  As long as the member has a background with the steps,  traditions,  has a sponsor and is willing to serve,  what’s the problem?   Yes,  ASP does require you to have some technological computer skills,  but I doubt people would even have made it here without those. 

Thanks for letting me share,
Anna RC.