[Businessmtg] Secretary and Webmaster Positions

[Jerry H.]

Biz-Pals,

As usual, Steve's input is very informative. However, addressing the trusted servant positions separately then later concluding what the Group Conscience is on all the positions as a whole does not address how the various positions interact - on the Steering Committee (SC) and during those times when ASP does NOT have its many SC positions filled. That's why I address the webmaster position in terms of reducing the number of members on the SC.

Uncertainty as to the eventual outcome of the Group Rep (GR) discussions and whether that position, if approved, would have a seat on the SC affects, certainly, my position on the webmaster decision. There are already too few members sitting on the SC.

So, yes, my position is that information on the GR outcome should be known before deciding on whether or not to approve a further reduction in SC numbers. I've made my position on why that's important previously.

A few more facts which haven't been brought up:

~ More and more often the lives of SC members combined with the stresses of service in SC positions have resulted in SC members leaving their service positions early; and all too often needing them to extend their commitments well beyond 3 years. As Steve mentioned, and as an example, I left my List Administrator position 6 months short of my 3 year commitment. A large part of my decision was the stresses involved after it became necessary to take on the Secretary's jobs, too, when that seat was vacated. Life + service beyond what I had committed to just piled up on me. I've also had to extend past service inordinately. My story isn't all that unusual. Events often overtake our ideal plans and trusted servants end up doing more with fewer people.  -- So it needs to be understood, in my opinion, that ASP often has members of the SC filling multiple seats - further diminishing representation on the SC. There are "global" considerations beyond the one-item-at-a-time process of decision making.
~ ASP's Business Meeting can change most, but not all, things as it sees fit with a sufficient majority vote. There are some things, though, which it can not change. ASP's Founding Policies can not be changed without the approval of 75% of ALL members of ASP. [asp-afg.org/founding-statement/founding_policy/] This Policy defines the Steering Committee as consisting of our elected officers, any committee chairs, 2 'founders,' AND (emphasis added) 2 general members of ASP.
The dominant influencer on the SC has resisted filling those 2 general member seats on the SC on every occasion on claims that they are of little use and that it isn't necessary that every position be filled - effectively deleting those positions. Years ago I and others filled one of those member seats and did contribute. If for no reason other than to offer general members direct input and vote on the SC's discussions and Business Meeting Agendas it has always been my position that they ought to always be filled.

Increased representation improves outcomes. This is why I find that when any business discussion topic includes the potential for fewer seats on ASP's Steering Committee it is necessary to expand those discussions to include the affects potential changes would have on other elements of our service structure.

In service,
Jerry
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