[Businessmtg] Topic of Discussion

[Steve Rankin]

Hi folks,

 

Now that we have completed the List Administrator election, we can move on
to the next topic - discussion of the ASP Prudent Reserve and distribution
of excess funds.

 

As you may recall from the previous discussion, our prudent reserve needs
updating.  While the calculation of the amount of the prudent reserve is
fairly simple and provided by the Treasurer (Anne is our Acting Treasurer),
we will need to approve the actual amount.

 

The other issue is how we distribute our funds that are in excess of our
prudent reserve.  Historically, WSO was the nearly only Al-Anon service
entity for the electronic meetings, such as ASP, to donate to.  However,
that has changed dramatically with the creation of a new Al-Anon Area that
ASP is a part of.  This new Global Al-Anon Area will have considerable and
very real expenses that we have an obligation to support.  Examples of Area
expenses:

*	Equalized expense of sending the Area Delegate to the World Service
Conference this Spring.  The WSC is a face-to-face week-long conference held
every Spring.  WSO calculates the cost of the conference including the cost
of travel for each Delegate, then averages the cost for each Area to
equalize the expense.  Some Areas, such as mine in WA State chose to
contribute their full expense rather than just the lesser equalized expense.
Regardless, the minimum will likely be several thousand US dollars.
*	Cost of hosting Area meetings (think Zoom meetings or similar).
*	Cost of a website and related emails, mailing list, etc.  
*	Administrative costs such as incorporation, insurance, computer(s),
software.

 

Additionally, there is the distinct possibility/likelihood that the Area
will form Districts much like there are in the face-to-face service
structure, except based on language instead of geography, for example.  

 

My personal experience in face-to-face Al-Anon service is that many meetings
distribute their excess funds based on a simple formula:

    60% to the District

    30% to the Area

    10% to WSO

 

Please remember that the excess funds of the Districts are donated to the
Area and WSO, while the Area's excess funds are donated to WSO, so whatever
is left over trickles down to WSO anyway.

 

Love and SERENITY,

Steve