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

[Steve Rankin]

Hi ASPers  . . . aka Part 4 of the opening of this topic.

Hopefully Part 4 will be the finally part of opening this topic.

Where are we now and what do we know right now?

1.	ASP is an Al-Anon Family Group NOW.  Not sometime in the future, but right now.
2.	As an Al-Anon Family Group, we have both the right and the responsibility to elect a Group Representative who will represent ASP in the Fellowship of Al-Anon.

a.	Everything you need to know about a Group Representative is in the Service Manual.  Now.  
b.	See below for an excerpt from the Service Manual regarding the election of a Group Representative.

3.	ASP is responsible for supporting its Group Representative attendance at Area meetings. 

a.	The good news is that the new Virtual Area will meet . . . virtually, so our GR won’t incur the usual travel expenses of face-to-face GRs.

4.	ASP’s Group Representative will be just as eligible to serve at the Area level as an elected officer or coordinator as any of the other GRs representing other electronic groups.  

a.	Generally speaking, 
b.	In other words, it is possible that our GR could get elected to an Area position, which would mean we would need to elect someone else to replace them. 
c.	In time, this will settle out, but that’s the way it’s going to be for the first go round.

5.	The GRs of the new Virtual Area will elect a Delegate to represent the Area at the 2022 World Service Conference (WSC). 

a.	The WSC is a week-long face-to-face in person event held in Virginia Beach, VA, USA.  It is NOT a virtual event. 

 

Service Manual, page 149:

 

Election of a Group Representative (GR) and an Alternate

The GR is elected by his group by any election procedure it chooses. The term of office for a Group Representative is recommended to be three years. Service is a vital part of recovery and it benefits both the Group Representative and the group if a full three-year term is served.

An Al‑Anon or Alateen member who is also a member of A.A. is not eligible to serve as GR.

Since the newly elected GR may be attending the election Assembly, the group’s elections should precede the date of the Assembly.

To emphasize the need for selecting informed GRs, a special election meeting may be called by the group, with time devoted to consider the role of the GR in our service structure and his work in the District and Area. A group may re-elect its GR for another term.

 

 

6.	Areas are responsible for paying the “Equalized Expense” of the World Service Conference.

 

Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual

    “Delegates’ Equalized Expenses Because costs of travel to the World Service Conference are different for each Delegate, a formula was developed to provide a fair equalization of expenses:

     The Delegate’s Equalized Expense is calculated by dividing the Full Amount for Delegates to attend the Conference by the number of Delegates. The Full Amount is the total estimated travel, hotel, meal and incidental expenses for the Delegates, including their portion of the costs of Conference supplies. This full amount is reported to the Board of Trustees. A substantial portion of the Full Amount, as determined by the Board of Trustees, is the Equalized Expense and is paid by the Areas. The balance of the Conference costs is paid out of AFG’s General Fund. The Conference Leadership Team informs each Area the Equalized Expense is to be sent to WSO by the Area before January 1. The Delegates’ travel and incidental expenses are defrayed by these funds, regardless of distance traveled.

     In gratitude, many Areas choose to contribute additional funds, up to or more than the full Amount.”       

Pg. 165 Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2018 -2021

 

6. continued.  The following is a history of the Equalized Expense for the Washington Area where I live.  Since WA State is on the other side of the country, the “full expense” for their Delegate exceeds the Equalized Expense.  This is notable because the Washington Area believes the 7th Tradition requires that they be responsible for the FULL expense, not merely the Equalized Expense.

 

2012 full expense $1,966 equalized $1,250- difference of $716

2013 full expense $2,210 equalized $1,350- difference of $850

2014 full expense $1,968 equalized $1,280 -difference of $678

2015 full expense $1,907 equalized $1,280 -difference of $627

2016 full expense $2,447 equalized $1,493- difference of $954

2017 full expense $1,965 equalized $1,297- difference of $686

2018 full expense $1,909 equalized $1,260 -difference of $649

2019 full expense $2,443 equalized $1,612- difference of $832

 

Regardless of whether you believe as the Washington Area does, the new Virtual Area will need to pay for at least the Equalized Expense in 2022, which is likely to be considerably more than the 2019 figure above.  

 

Why is this important to ASP?

 

*	The Virtual Area will begin organizing some time this year.  
*	The Virtual Area has no existing funds and no established source of income or donations.
*	A large majority of Electronic Al-Anon Groups rely on free services and are not self-supporting in any way, nor do they have any history of practicing the Seventh Tradition.
*	ASP has a long history of practicing the Seventh Tradition and being FULLY self-supporting.  
*	ASP has a long history of financially supporting WSO through voluntary contributions during the many years that ASP was not recognized as a Group, and therefore did not have other Al-Anon service arms to support. 
*	ASP has been an Al-Anon Group since mid-April 2021, and is therefore now responsible for supporting a different Al-Anon service structure than what is represented by out outdated Motion #11 of June 2013.

 

In summary, ASP is a Group today, which means we can elect a Group Rep and join the fellowship’s service structure.

 

Additionally, ASP had over $1,000 in excess of our Prudent Reserve.  Donating those funds would support WSO, however, it would do nothing to support the new Virtual Area that we are responsible for now.  I believe that ASP’s financial condition is unusual in Al-Anon, especially unusual in online Al-Anon – and for that we are very fortunate.  I also believe that without considerable financial support from ASP, that the Virtual Area will be unable to meet its financial obligations. 

 

Hugs,

Steve