[Businessmtg] Motion 7 discussion

[Lynne]

Thank you Anne and Jerry for the background.

My understanding is that Motion #7 (below) is still in effect, but not 
actually being done. Now we are considering whether or how to modernize 
this motion, right? So we could 1) rescind it completely as it has not 
been being done for a long time, 2) modify it in some way - e.g. decide 
we want to send electronic packets instead of hard copies or 3) leave it 
as is (and either continue to ignore it or decide to implement it as 
written).

***Motion #7 → Passed
"It is moved that ASP send Newcomers Packets to new members that are - 
new to ASP, new to Al-Anon and who request it.  Fulfillment expenses to 
come out of the ASP treasury budget"

I am trying to also be mindful of the KBDM rules of discussion - which 
though I have read countless times, I still forget to practice! I listed 
them below for reference.

In light of that, my statement of experience is that I would have 
greatly appreciated a newcomers packet in any form when I joined ASP. I 
was both new to ASP and Al anon and was at sea when I first joined. I 
wholeheartedly support the intent behind Motion 7. Again, speaking from 
my own personal experience when I joined ASP, I would NOT have wanted to 
get a hard copy packet as I had not told my husband I had joined Al anon 
and would have worried about him seeing it in the mailbox. But I would 
have loved to have gotten an electronic download that I could read on my 
phone or computer.

My opinion is that figuring out a way to actually implement this motion 
would be very beneficial to our new members.

However, this brings up a lot of questions in my mind and I would love 
input from more experienced members. My understanding of how this works 
is that the BM makes the motions and the SC implements them. 
Implementing hard copies adds a level of complexity that we don't 
currently have in any aspect of our ASP service jobs - both on the SC 
and the other service positions. We are an exclusively electronic 
meeting, so having hard copies, worrying about postage, physically 
taking them to the mailbox - all of these things are hurdles. But having 
written that out, Motion 7 does NOT say that the newcomer packets have 
to be physical copies. So another question - does the Welcome Newcomer 
electronic booklet that Tori and Margaret mentioned count as a "Newcomer 
Packet"?  If that is the case, then could the SC figure out how to 
implement this motion with no changes required to the motion?

Hugs,

Lynne

https://asp-afg.org/members/kbdm/

VI. POSTS TO THE DISCUSSION

Members are asked to read ALL the new posts before posting a response or 
question. Please do NOT ask questions that have already been answered. A 
post may be:

A. A question;

B. A statement of fact--if so please provide supporting evidence;

C. A statement of Al-Anon principle--if so, please quote the applicable 
Step, Tradition or Concept;

D. A statement of experience--if so, please say so and describe the 
Al-Anon experience in our usual way: what it was like, what happened, 
and what it is like now;

E. A statement of opinion--if so please be clear that it is your opinion 
and not a statement of fact or Al-Anon principle.