[Businessmtg] Business Meeting - Chair Requirements (Jerry)

[LindaLee H]

Hi Business Meeting Friends,
I accidentally sent my comment to the wrong address and got the "bounce" (Sorry, Steve).
Unfortunately, there is nothing in my Sent file so perhaps it's a sign to be briefer.  lol

I agree with Jerry that some discretion should be allowed the person assigning the chair people.  I think that
can be done without violating the intended guidelines.

While I have never held the position to find chair people, I am totally amazed that out of the large number of people who do participate on the meetings, we cannot find different people to chair the meetings.  That is only 14 people per year.  While every single person who chairs does an excellent job of service, personally I think someone who has not done it previously, or not for a long time, should be selected over someone who repeatedly volunteers - rather than first volunteer taken.
Rotation of service is the Al-Anon way.  Not only is chairing doing service, it also aids recovery.  Everyone one who chairs states that they get more than they give.

I have been in ASP for several years now.  Three times that I did volunteer to chair, I was turned down - once because it was "too soon" after I had chaired once.  The next two because the slate was filled.  Both valid reasons.  I have also volunteered to chair "IF" no one else stepped up, and it seems someone always did.

Perhaps if the time for rotation and volunteers needed to chair was announced daily for a couple of weeks prior to start of the new term, more would take notice?
As a sponsor, I always encourage my sponsees to volunteer.  I cannot "make" them, but I can encourage and support them, recognizing it is scary the first time.

Hugs, Linda