[Businessmtg] Resending BM Topic Introduction

[Jerry H.]

[Resending this since 1st sending has yet to appear 1-1/2 hrs. later...]

Biz-Pals,

ASP's requirement that prospective Topic Chairs must have 6 months of ASP membership, while of good intent, has at times kept well-qualified, long-term Al-Anon members from chairing our topic meetings when too few members have stepped forward to fill these seven service positions.

It is my belief that the Secretary, who is charged with filling the Topic Chair positions and overseeing the Topic Chairs' performance, ought to have some discretion in the application of the 6-month prior membership requirement when too few qualified members make themselves available for this service.

At such times, however rare, each Secretary, in order to perform their assigned duties, ought to be afforded the leeway to choose topic chairs from either those who have extensive prior Al-Anon experience (though having less than the currently requires 6-months of membership) OR by asking current topic chairs to extend their topic chair service for an additional term.

In the past member(s) with only a few days short of the 6-month membership requirement have been denied this opportunity to serve though they had long and respected prior Al-Anon experience.

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As this is a continuation of this discussion from a past Business Meeting I include my introductory email to the Business Meeting from that date here:

Biz-Pals,

Currently ASP requires 6 months of prior ASP membership before a member can serve as one of our daily Topic Chairs without consideration of past Al-Anon recovery and service experience.

During my recent term as LA it was, by policy, necessary for me to also fill the roll of Secretary who is normally responsible for soliciting and training ASP's Daily Topic
Chairs. Over two or three cycles I found that we did not always get at least seven qualified members volunteering for these positions.

ASP's prior service requirements are in general sound and wise. But when too few qualified ASP members volunteer for our Daily Chair positions the Secretary, perhaps with Steering Committee approval on a case-by-case basis, ought to have some discretion to fill open Topic Chair positions with significantly experienced and willing Al-Anons even though they may be a few days or weeks short of 6-months of ASP membership.

Asking sitting Topic chairs to extend their service to fill the gaps, as has been necessary in the past, when members with long and varied Al-Anon recovery and service experience outside of ASP have volunteered for the vacant positions doesn't make sense to me. I suggest we consider allowing some reasonable latitude in such circumstances.

In grateful recovery,
Jerry H.
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Your input and discussion on this topic is welcomed.

Respectfully,
Jerry H.
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