[Businessmtg] Agenda Topic - Open ASP Service Positions

[Steve Rankin]

Hi Edith,

Yes & no.

See, on the one hand we are looking for members that have some experience in ASP and Al-Anon.  This is because we need trusted servants that have both knowledge of and respect for ASP's group consciences and way of doing things.  Additionally, we want our trusted servants to have a working knowledge of Al-Anon's principles, in particular our Twelve Traditions.  

When our trusted servants have a working knowledge and respect for both ASP's traditions and Al-Anon's Traditions, they [hopefully] approach both the work of their position and our discussions with those things in mind rather than the ideas and agendas of someone who is unfamiliar with our group consciences and Al-Anon's Traditions and principles.  

OTOH, I should point out that we are NOT looking for experts - whether that's expertise in the Al-Anon program or expertise in a specific position.  Our trusted servants are not professionals, nor do we need professionals.  In fact, professionals often cause more problems than they solve.  

Instead, what *I* like to look for in a new trusted servant is members that are active in our recovery meeting,  members that attend and participate in our Business Meeting, and who demonstrate the initiative to look at our group consciences and relate them and our Traditions to the subjects we are discussing.  Rather than expertise in quoting song and verse of Al-Anon principles quoted in our CAL, I'd like to see a willingness to go dig around and look stuff up and do their own thoughtful analysis of how Al-Anon principles should probably be best applied in the issue at hand.  

Given a choice between a member with a thousand years in the fellowship and a member with just a few, I prefer the member with just a few because aside from the obvious work we ask our trusted servants to do for us, the core purpose of Al-Anon service is to grow in the program through opportunities to grow that come from the struggles of doing what I've described here and from trying to do all of this while working and communicating with others.

As for splitting positions?  No.  Whoever holds the position is fully responsible for it.  My experience in this fellowship is that diluting service positions never accomplishes the goal.  When we attempt to attract members to service by trying to make job easier, the effect is to attract those that are too lazy to do the whole job, and in doing so we also remove much of the benefit of Al-Anon service for the member.  

Please note that none of our service positions require a significant level of technical expertise or experience.  The technical parts of our service positions can be learned in a few hours - and don't forget that we have several other experienced trusted servants that are more than willing to help.  Asking for help is one of those things that many of us need more practice at.  😊

For example, back in the 90's I was the Area Treasurer for Northern California Al-Anon.  It was well known that the treasury was total mess.  No one knew where the money was coming from, where it was going or how much we had where.  I worked to apply both my MBA and my understanding of our Al-Anon principles to develop a new accounting system that respected our principles and served the business needs of a six-figure Al-Anon service entity.  At the end of the 3-year term, I turned the treasury over to a handicapped young lady with TBI (traumatic brain injury) and no accounting experience, and she did just fine.   

Love and SERENITY,
Steve




-----Original Message-----
From: Businessmtg On Behalf Of Edith Villeneuve
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2022 10:45 AM
To: steve at serenitysys.com
Cc: ASP Business <businessmtg at asp-afg.org>
Subject: [Businessmtg] Agenda Topic - Open ASP Service Positions

Thank you Steve for your service to this group,  and thank you all who fill positions on this committee.

I get the impression we are looking for 'seasoned' ASP members to fill these positions.
 Q.   Is it possible to have two persons fill one position ?   For
example,  could someone like myself be an actual recording secretary,
paired with someone who has more ASP Service and Experience ?   Maybe that
person is willing to provide the experience but not be actual recording secretary.. therefore wondering if  we can split the position and have it filled more easily this way ?

Just a thought I had.
/Edith
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