[Businessmtg] **** Motion #4 Update Topic - Opening Part 3

[Steve Rankin]

Hi ASPers . . . aka Part 3 of the opening of this topic.

I'd like to open the discussion of the Group Representative service position
at ASP, including the associated changes in the greater Al-Anon service
structure and its consequences.

At the 2021 World Service Conference (WSC) in April this year, the Al-Anon
Delegates, elected by the Group Representatives of the face-to-face Groups,
voted to recognize the electronic meetings - such as ASP - as Al-Anon
Groups, just like every face-to-face Group.  

This is a major change for the electronic meetings.  Prior to this, the
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters (WSO) and the Board of Directors (BoD) had
designated us as "meetings" and as such, we had no representation in the
greater fellowship of Al-Anon.  Does that matter?  I think so.

Unlike face-to-face meetings, WSO directs electronic meetings to donate all
excess funds to WSO, exclusively.  OTOH, the f2f group is free to make its
own decision, and typically donates 60% to their district, 30% to their
Area, and only 10% to WSO.  Similarly, WSO unlike f2f groups which have
group autonomy per the 4th Tradition, WSO dictates how electronic meetings
make decisions that differ from how they suggest f2f groups make the same
decision.  And, of course, there is the issue of CAL. Unlike a face-to-face
Al-Anon group, ASP is not allowed to post the Legacies, the Twelve Steps,
Twelve Traditions, or Twelve Concepts of Service on our website.  Instead,
WSO suggests that we send members to visit the WSO site.  

The point is that for the last 25+ years, the electronic Al-Anon world has
increasingly revolved around WSO instead of the Groups and its members.  

I'll note that this is changing because the fellowship decided to change it,
not WSO or the Board of Directors.  The timing suggests that untold
thousands of regular Al-Anon's joined electronic meeting in the face of
months of closure of their regular f2f meetings.  I know my own face-to-face
home group has not yet resumed face-to-face meetings.  Participation over
the last year has dwindled dramatically and only a half dozen attend its
Zoom version.  

The following is the text of the email sent to the CMAs from WSO:

Posted 05-07-2021 11:37 

Dear CMAs, 

We are excited to share with you the decisions made by the 2021 World
Service Conference (WSC), Al-Anon's largest representative group conscience,
regarding electronic meetings being recognized as Al-Anon groups and the
approval to create a new, non-geographic Area for registered Al-Anon Family
Groups which meet electronically! 

The Electronic Meeting Work Group (EMWG) provided 2021 WSC members
historical information that helped inform their group conscience decision to
change to the text in the "Digest of Al-Anon and Alateen Policies" (Policy
Digest) and the "World Service Handbook" sections of the Al-Anon/Alateen
Service Manual (P-24/27) version two (2) in order to be able to support a
non-geographic Area being added to the WSC structure. The full details of
the discussion will be available when the 2021 World Service Conference
Summary (P-46) is published later this summer. An abbreviated version with
key conference decisions, "Highlights of the 2021 World Service Conference"
will be posted on al-anon.org in late May/early June. 

As a result of the presentation and discussion, the 2021 WSC members voted
by substantial unanimity to support the recommendations offered by the EMWG,
and approved by the Policy Committee and Board of Trustees, which include
the following: 

*	Removal of the "Electronic Meetings" portion of the Policy Digest to
recognize permanently registered electronic Al-Anon meetings as Al-Anon
Family Groups, eligible for representation through an elected Area Delegate
with voice and vote at the World Service Conference. 

*	Revision of text found throughout the World Service Handbook to
support the creation of non-geographically based Areas. This change
immediately created a non-panel Area to which all the registered Al-Anon
Family Groups which meet electronically now belong.  

In other words, the World Service Conference and the WSO are now delighted
to be able to say, "Welcome CMAs of Al-Anon Family Groups!!!"  

We recognize these are historic, exciting, and potentially, a little
overwhelming change for you as your group's CMA. The WSO Staff are excited
to travel with you along the next steps of this journey. Next up for your
newly recognized group: to review and discuss the responsibilities and
opportunities of being part of the World Service Conference Structure in
anticipation of electing your first Group Representative, who will carry
your group's voice in electing your Area's Delegate. Helpful sections in the
Service Manual include: 

*	Pages 140-145 Links of Service-Duties of Assembly Members, Group
Representatives, District Representatives and Temporary Chairman 

*	Pages 59-61  Group Service Positions, particularly Group
Representative 
*	Pages 86-87 Service Participation by Members of Al-Anon Family
Groups Who Are also Members of Alcoholics Anonymous 

*	Pages 137-140 Terms Used in Al-Anon Service 

Reviewing this information in group business meetings will provide the
foundation of understanding for your group members to hold an informed group
conscience to elect a Group Representative.  

For those looking to understand the bigger picture, the attached flowchart
outlines the major milestones in the journey for Al-Anon Family Groups which
meet electronically electing your representatives and being formally
admitted to the World Service Conference.  

The WSO Director of Programs and Group Services Staff will be available to
answer your questions about the first step of electing a GR, and those that
follow, at the next meeting. The next meeting will be the first joint
meeting of the CMAs of all registered Al-Anon Family Groups which meeting
electronically!!!  Stay tuned for AFG Connects announcements-we will be
scheduling two meetings to accommodate all time zones. 

We appreciate your patience and your continued service,

WSO attached a flow chart of the process as WSO sees the process.

You can view the flow chart here: https://tinyurl.com/394m4nkd

 

IMHO, WSO has included certain assumptions on their part in this flow chart.
For example, WSO's flow chart states that the Virtual Area will elect a
TEMPORARY Chairperson vs a permanent Chairperson.  I prefer to take a wait
and see attitude and let the new Area make its own decisions.

WSO had scheduled a phone conference call with the CMA's of the electronic
meetings for June 16th, however at the last minute WSO canceled that meeting
and stated that they plan on rescheduling that conference call in late July.


So what do we know now?

Refer to the next installment, aka Part 4.  

Hugs,

Steve