[Businessmtg] More questions - Re: By-laws review

[Anne K]

On Jan 13, 2022, at 11:55 PM, Steve Rankin <steve at serenitysys.com> wrote:

Hi Steve - 

I have inserted my additional questions below marked with my name 

Hi Anne K,

In response to your questions. . .

- Article II Section 1 C - Would you please explain why the GR and Delegate positions are called out specifically?
STEVE: That clause discusses ASP's representation to the greater Al-Anon fellowship.  The only two service positions in Al-Anon that represent a Group to the greater Al-Anon fellowship are the Group Representative and the Delegate.
ANNEK - thank you - no questions

- Article II Section 2 - Generally speaking, readings on Tradition 2 suggest rotation of Group Officers (Al-Anon Service Manual / Group Service Positions specifically). Would you please explain how the Founder positions at ASP, since they "serve for Life or as long a member of ASP" (Article V Section 2 B b ii; but not detailed as such in the Service Structure), fit into this Tradition / and the 'Adherence to Al-Anon Principles' in Section 2 of the proposed by-laws? Also, what happens if one of the Founders wishes not to serve as a Founder but remain a member of ASP?  Why is this not a rotating position? 
STEVE: When ASP was founded, the Founders understood that the Service Manual is a reference document written by & revised by the WSO BoD, and is therefore not CAL in the same sense that as our other Conference Approved Literature.  In other words, it was intentional to NOT reference the Service Manual in the Founding Policies.  With few exceptions, Al-Anon groups are not obligated to follow the suggestions in the Service Manual.  ASP, like most Al-Anon groups acknowledges their right to autonomy guaranteed by Traditional 4.  The term of the Founder was established in ASP's Founding Policies. 
There are many examples in Al-Anon service that rotate rarely, or not at all.  Once someone has served as a Delegate, they are a Past Delegate for life.  Unlike other service positions, a Past Delegate is often accorded a special name tag, often with an identifying ribbon, to wear at conferences and conventions.  Past Delegates may belong to an exclusive forum hosted by WSO, and attend a special luncheon at International Conventions, as well as attending special conventions/conferences specifically for Delegates and Past Delegates, such as the Southwest Regional Delegates Meeting (SWRDM).  Additionally, Areas may accord Past Delegates special service positions after their term as Delegate is over.  For instance, I believe that Southern California, the immediate Past Delegate becomes the Chairman of the Board.  In Northern California, the Past Delegates may serve on the Area Committee for life and receive full reimbursement of all travel, lodging and meal expenses to all Area meetings, Assemblies, conferences and conventions associated with NCWSA as well as attendance at SWRDM.  Additionally, Past Delegates generally identify themselves as such when speaking at those events, while other members identify themselves by name only, regardless of their service background.  Then, there is the WSO Executive Director serves as the Sustaining Trustee on the WSO Board of Directors for as long as they are employed as the Executive Director, which historically has been until retirement.  Lois W. and Anne B., the co-founders of Al-Anon, were Lifetime Trustees who served as Trustee as long as each lived.  
So, that's a few examples of Al-Anon service positions that rarely or never rotate.  Why is this a good idea sometimes?  I've said it many times before, there were two goals in founding ASP:  (1) to create a safe Al-Anon meeting, and (2) to create a stable Al-Anon meeting.  How do we achieve stability?  A. Start with a set of core policies that foster safety and stability.  B.  Make those core permanent, much like our Steps, Traditions and Concepts are essentially impossible to change, so are the core policies of ASP known as the Founding Policies.  C.  Define a blend of officers that provide the actual service to the group and rotate regularly with two permanent long-timers that serve on the board primarily as advisors, though may provide actual service when needed.  
ANNEK - thank you - no questions

- Article III Section 1 B talks about ASP Officers and refers to Article V Section 4 which is actually Steering Committee Meetings. Perhaps you meant Article V Section 2 Definition of Members? 
STEVE:  Not really.  This simply states that the ASP officers are also members of ASP.  There are other organizations where this is not true, hence this statement. 
ANNEK - I'm sorry, I was not clear. I believe the reference to Article V Section 4 is incorrect.  - Article III Section 1 B is " ASP Officers: ASP officers, as defined in Article V, Section 4, are also members of ASP.   Article V Section 4 is " Steering Committee Meetings. A. Meetings are called and chaired by the ASP List Administrator. Article V Section 2 defines the steering committee members. 

- Article IV Section 4 - ..."a substantial majority (more than 67%) of votes cast..."   Both the ASP Service Structure and the Founding Policies of Motion 4 on the ASP Website refer to a " ...2/3 majority of voting members..."  As I'm sure you know, 2/3 is 66.6666667% so I understand the 67%. However, the addition of the words "more than" in the proposed bylaws seems to be a new requirement from ASP existing policy. Would you please explain the rationale behind the additional words? 
STEVE:  Agreed. The draft has been updated to more accurately comply with the Founding Policies.
ANNEK. No questions - thank you for re-numbering the sections as well

- Article VIII Section 2 F a - "If the List Administrator is unable to complete his/her term, then the next Alternate List Administrator will serve the office of List Administrator for a three-year term beginning at that time.  The previous office of that new List Administrator will then become vacant."  From the Service Structure, Alternate List Administrator #1 is the Secretary. The way I read this part of the proposed by-laws, the Secretary position is signing up for potentially 6 years of service. This wording is not in the Service Structure or Motion 4. Would you please explain why we wouldn't be electing a new List Administrator? 
STEVE: The List Administrator position is the one position that must be filled continuously.  Hence, this is the only position with a defined succession in the case of a vacancy.  Considering the realities that officer positions at ASP often go vacant for long periods of time, the length of time involved with electing an officer, and the investment of time and energy made by an alternate thrust into the List Administrator position, the honor of serving the full term is automatically available to an alternate.  Could that result in 6 years of service?  Technically, that would be possible, however that would be highly unlikely.
ANNEK - I would like to discuss the sfurther. I"m not against there being an alternate to the List Administrator position. I think having the alternate fulfill a 3 year term automatically is asking a lot of a person. Could it be an option for the alternate to fulfill a 3 year term as LA, otherwise it is a temporary position until a new LA is found or something like that? I feel this needs more discussion. 

Article XI Section 3 A - I am seconding Mary's suggestions (copied and pasted here for completeness): 
STEVE:  Mary's suggestions have been incorporated in the latest draft.  
ANNEK thank you - no questions

ANNEK Also I had a couple general comments at the end - the first one you took care of but I did not see any changes for the second: 
- Article VIII Section 2 B - it appears that some of the wording from A is in B

Love and SERENITY,
Steve


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