[Businessmtg] GR

[Tammy Louise]

Great thoughts. I concur.

On Tue, Sep 21, 2021 at 10:13 AM Steve Rankin <steve at serenitysys.com> wrote:

> Hi Betsy,
> I have real mixed feelings about the desirability of our Group Rep having
> prior experience with District & Area service.
> I believe that Al-Anon service is supposed to provide two distinct things:
> 1.  The actual service for the group.
> 2.  Opportunities for growth for the Al-Anon member providing the service.
> Our 8th Tradition tells us that we should be forever non-professional.
> With
> very few exceptions, there should never be a prerequisite of expertise for
> a
> service position.  For example, we don't need financial expertise to be a
> group treasurer.  In fact, a group treasurer is often a member that
> personally needs to work on their financial skills and discipline.
> Starting with the idea that the Group Rep service position is the entry
> level position into world of Al-Anon service beyond the Group level.  We
> need a member that has made some progress on working the Twelve Steps -
> enough so that they aren't overwhelmed by the world of Traditions and
> Concepts that they will be exposed to in service beyond the group level.
> Ideally, our Group Rep would be someone that would grow during their three
> years as GR, and bring that growth and service experience back to the
> meeting as a healthier member of Al-Anon, not just in the form of
> representation and reports.
> My point is that while it might be useful for ASP to have a GR with prior
> experience in Al-Anon service at the District and Area level, I would
> prefer
> a GR that actually needs the experience for their personal growth.   Yes,
> that is likely to result in struggles for both the GR and ASP as
> "opportunities for growth" are often sources of frustration.  Sometimes the
> word frustration should be in all caps.
> I'm much more interested in a Group Rep that is dedicated to representing
> ASP, not changing it; dedicated to the Traditions and Concepts, not
> changing
> them.  And now wowed by service titles; theirs or anyone else's.
> Hugs,
> Steve
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Businessmtg On Behalf Of Betsy C
> Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2021 7:09 AM
> To: steve at serenitysys.com
> Cc: ASP Business <businessmtg at asp-afg.org>
> Subject: [Businessmtg] GR
>
> I think the move to make online "meetings" into Groups was long overdue.  I
> am elated that at some time in the future we could have representation in
> the wider world of Al-Anon.
>
> So yes, I whole-heartedly support the creation of a GR position.
>
> Even though we don't know what kind of structure the WSO will come up with
> and what the timelines will be, I think it would be wise to have a Group
> Representative on our Steering Committee.  My hope is that this person
> might
> be someone with prior experience in the F2F world of districts and areas.
> I
> would want them to be ready to step up and participate as soon as the
> structure allows them to do so.
>
> --
> *Betsy C*
> ____________________________
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> Steve the Founder of ASP, at steve at serenitysys.com
>
>
> ____________________________
> To Unsubscribe, go to: http://www.asp-afg.org/mailman/listinfo/asp
> 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
>