[Businessmtg] Gross Error in Table [Motion #4 Update Topic - Opening Part 1]

[Jerry H.]

Biz-Pals,

There is a gross error in the table Steve made up for us
(https://tinyurl.com/j3557b7s) and any similar publication of it.

I can't say that the error is entirely Steve's because the error
is also built into Motion #4 which he, I, and many other members
of the Business Meetings voted on back in 2006. We all overlooked
this point. In fact the Business Meeting did not then and does not
now have the authority or power to implement the following language
from Motion #4 and which Steve's comparison list restates:

(Erroneous Bullet Point 4 on Comparison List)
"Changes to ASP core policies require 2/3 majority of subscribed
membership of Business Committee"

This is patently false. Motion #4 as passed is in this part 
illegitimate because ASP's Founding Statement and Policies
clearly define the requirements to change Founding and Core
Policies as 75% of the full membership of ASP.

ASP Policy states:

"These Founding Policies are subject to amendment by substantial
unanimity of the FULL MEMBERSHIP [emphasis added] of A Serenity
Place. Amendments are defined as changes to Core Policies and
will be added to the end of this list of policies. Substantial
unanimity is defined to be the same as that required to change
the Steps, Traditions or Concepts at the fellowship level;
75% of all members must affirm the change."

The Founding Policies go on to reiterate this requirement in the
first item on it's list regarding Group Consciences:
 
"At A Serenity Place taking the group conscious will follow these
guidelines:
a) Amendment to Founding Policies is defined above."

75% of the full ASP membership has never approved lowering the
requirement to change Founding or Core Policies to 2/3rds
of the Business Meeting.

Because the comparison list provided to the Business Meeting
continues to misstate this I believe this important detail needs
to be corrected before this error continues to be held forth
as ASP Policy and therefore part of the background info for
these Motion #4 discussions.


In service,
Jerry H.
-




> On 09/13/2021 3:58 PM Steve Rankin <steve at serenitysys.com> wrote:
> 
>  
> Hi ASPers . . . aka Part 1 of the opening of this topic.
> Once again, due to the amount of material involved and the fact that we have
> new members joining us in the Business Meeting, I'm splitting my opening on
> this topic into several parts.  This is Part 1.
> I know it's a lot, and probably most of it is tedious to read, but it's
> important that the members of ASP understand what is happening.  If you've
> been here for the entire discussion, I wouldn't be surprised if you skipped
> reading all of this.   OTOH, if you haven't been here during the previous
> discussions of Motion #4, please please read it.  
> This month's agenda focuses on updating Motion #4 passed in 2006.  We had an
> open discussion on this at our last meeting.  That was interesting, but a
> bit counterproductive, so this month we will focus on 1 single portion of
> this issue at a time, with the goal of reaching a consensus on each of the 3
> sections we'll discuss.  
> The three sections of Motion #4 that we'll discuss this month are:
> 1.	Group Representative
> 2.	Web Master rolled into Secretary
> 3.	Founders
> As always, there are members in this meeting that we're in the last meeting,
> as well as members that don't recall much about Motion #4 anyway, so I am
> sending separate messages addressing "What is Motion #4" and what is the
> background behind it.  
> Here is a link to a web page I created that shows the specific changes
> side-by-side with the original and current Motion #4.  
> https://tinyurl.com/j3557b7s 
> The full version of the URL is:
> http://www.serenitysys.com/A_Serenity_Place/Business/nbm/asp_service_structu
> re_COMPARISON.html 
> What happens now?
> We will discuss the changes to the Secretary & Web Master sections of the
> recommendation for the next 7 days.  The discussion may be specific or
> general.  The discussion includes Q&A.  The discussion is open to possible
> wordsmithing changes, but any suggested changes should be presented with an
> explanation of how it better follows Al-Anon principles or is an
> improvement.  
> After 7 days, this discussion may be tabled, or not, depending on the flow
> of the discussion.  Ideally, we will have reached a consensus, and if so, I
> will post that consensus before we move on to the next section.  
> NO DECISION WILL BE MADE NOW.  If we reach a consensus on each section by
> the end of the month, then we will vote on the entire updated Motion #4.
> Because this is a major change in ASP, our policy requires that we discuss
> this at a minimum of 3 Business Meetings before any motion may be made or
> vote taken.  Since this is the 3rd month of discussion, we may reach a
> consensus and vote this month. 
> Hopefully, we will have a solid consensus this month so we can entertain a
> motion then, and vote on it.  
> Love and SERENITY,
> Steve
> 
> 
> ____________________________
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> The ASP web site with all kinds of info for ASP members is http://asp-afg.org/members/
> For assistance with other ASP issues, contact Steve the Founder of ASP, at steve at serenitysys.com

At A Serenity Place taking the group conscious will follow these guidelines: