[Businessmtg] Prudent Reserve

[Steve Rankin]

Hi Betsy,

It is true that our decision-making structure doesn't allow for speedy
decisions.  That is intentional.  
Simple housekeeping issues can be decided very quickly by a simple majority,
but those are rare situations.  Most issues require the KBDM process which
can be accomplished in a single meeting on most issues assuming we reach a
consensus in a week or less and require 2/3 affirmative vote of the members
attending the meeting.  Issues that involve changes to ASP, such as our
recent Motion #22 require a minimum of 3 consecutive meetings, which means
at least 5 months including the months between meetings.  
In this particular case, the decision does not change ASP so it is the
standard KBDM process and 2/3 vote affirmative vote to pass.  There are two
factors that will affect how quickly that actually happens.  
1.  How quickly do we determine what our financial obligations are?
2.  How quickly do we reach a consensus on the final decision?
The answer to #1 depends largely on how much accuracy the members want, how
much evidence they want to back up those numbers, and whether those numbers
are controversial or not.  Are educated guesses bases on past experience
good enough?  Or do the members want actual numbers from the present?  If
the members want actual numbers from the present, then we'd have to wait
years to get those numbers.  OTOH, if reasonable numbers based on past
experience is good enough, then we could reach a consensus at the next
Business Meeting.  How much controversy results?  Do we have a consensus
with a small minority objecting, or is a consensus doubtful.  It if is just
a small minority dissenting, then we move to the motion and voting phase.
If a minority disagrees with the majority on the outcome of the motion, we
have an opportunity for the minority to file a 'minority opinion' which is a
statement that is attached to the record of the motion.  It sometimes
happens that motions pass or fail on popularity rather than principle, so
the 'minority opinion' gives the minority an opportunity to make their
statement on the record of the motion.  We haven't had that happen in ASP,
but I have seen it happen in f2f Al-Anon where the entire Assembly rallied
behind a popular leader, but when the minority opinion was read after the
adrenalin rush of the vote, the entire Assembly conducted a revote and the
motion was unanimous the other way.  Interesting process.  
The answer to #2 depends on how quickly the members accept the various data
points of a future budget & prudent reserve.  
For example, I could put together a proposed budget for the next year in a
few hours based on my experience in ASP combined with having served at all
the levels of f2f Al-Anon, combined with my understanding of how Delegates
are funded to the WSC, and so on.  Calculating the Prudent Reserve is easy
since it is merely one year's expenses.  However, I don't want to step on
the treasurer's toes as this is probably more her job than mine.  
Hugs,
Steve




-----Original Message-----
From: Businessmtg On Behalf Of Betsy C
Subject: [Businessmtg] Prudent Reserve
<snip>
My only concern is that our decision-making structure doesn't allow for fast
decisions.  I wouldn't want to deny support to the larger service structure
for a year or two while we sort ourselves out.
*Betsy C*