[Businessmtg] Prudent Reserve

[Jerry]

Biz-Pals,

     It seems we're in an unusual period. Covid decimated many face-to-face (f2f) meetings over the past couple of years. Members either moved to existing or new email meetings, new Zoom or phone meetings, or just sequestered themselves. With f2f attendance bottoming out, WSO donations suffered.

     Nearly simultaneously the WSC got around to recognizing these electronic meetings. Hopefully most have figured out that supporting Al-Anon's service arms is essential to our fellowship's health.
     Here at ASP, a self-supporting group, instead of continuing with what was our Group Conscience decision to donate any funds in excess of our set Prudent Reserve to the WSO at the end of every fiscal quarter, we decided by Group Conscience to withhold all WSO donations until we know how this new Electronic Area and possible Districts will organize, what their expenses will be, and what will be appropriate ASP donations.
     It is becoming clear that the Area will not be fully fleshed out within a foreseeable timeframe. Even less clear is whether there will be Districts or what they would be.
---------------------
Could we not find a compromise between prudently preparing for our future increased financial responsibilities and our current responsibility to support our one known service arm - the WSO?

~   Why not return to our former Group Conscience until it becomes clearer what's happening on the Area front, relying on member donations to meet future needs once they become known?, or
~   Reserve a portion of our excess funds (a fraction or lump sum) for future Area/District donations and send the remainder to the WSO now, continuing quarterly as before until actual future needs become clear?
----------------------
     
     Much has been made by some among us about how other electronic meetings were not following the 7th Tradition by using free hosting sites while not supporting our service arms. ASP covers its own expenses, but currently we're not fully self-supporting in the manner that's traditionally been understood.
     Personally, I find this unacceptable.

In service,
Jerry
-