[Businessmtg] GEA Topic - Districts

[Steve Rankin]

Hi ASPers,

Other than the startup administrative decisions and work necessary for any
new organization, the two big questions that I see our new Area facing are:

1.	Districts
2.	Coordinators

The District question is by far the larger question in my mind.  Districts
represent smaller subsets of the Area.  Every Group within the Area should
belong to a District, and the GRs of the Groups within a District should be
able to attend District meetings where they can discuss issues they face
within their District as well as discussing the issues facing the Area and
Al-Anon as whole.  The GRs within a District elect officers to serve the
District (District Representative, Alternate DR, Treasurer, Secretary).
Districts may also have Coordinators, who focus on particular service areas
of Al-Anon such as Alateen, Public Outreach, Professional Community, etc.  

Naturally, Districts are more likely able to function well if there is some
communality within the Groups of the District.  Historically, that has been
accomplished by having districts with geographic boundaries.  

Since Areas have also been geographic, generally following state boundaries,
Districts have followed city,  metropolitan, or county or regional
boundaries (several counties).  In more recent years, some special districts
have been formed; typically Spanish-speaking districts with a broader
geographic boundary.  

The question facing the Area is how to delineate districts within the GEA.

Language?

Geographic such as continent?

Political such as nations?

Please discuss these ideas, including what you think the pros and cons are.

Hugs,

Steve

PS. Please note that the "World Service Office" has been very USA-centric
(plus Canada) and has not truly represented the "world" or the electronic
meetings in the past.  As a result, there are many around the world that had
a different view on how the electronic meeting should be represented and
included in the Al-Anon service structure.  I'll post another note about
that in a couple of days.