[Businessmtg] ASP Group Representative Report - September 2023

[Anne]

All,

 

Since we last met, there was an Area Assembly scheduled. I was unable to attend but have some notes and outcomes for you below.  I hope my choice of “line” to separate  topics will make it easier to read the information I have to share with you this month.

 

The GEA proposed a set of voting procedures that were discussed and voted on at the recent August 19th Assembly.   And at that Assembly, our GEA Area Delegate was elected.  I was unable to attend, but have this brief synopsis to share with you.  I wrap up the report with the list of positions that have been filled by Al-Anon members.  Not all positions are held by GR’s.

 

The Area now has 891 groups and only 376 Group Representatives, out of which, 152 voting members (I.e. GRs) were present at the Assembly.  I don’t have any updates at this time on the districting needs of the Area.

 

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The Assembly voting procedures were presented ahead of the assembly and a motion was made and accepted at the assembly.

This procedure applies to elections of Area Officers and other persons (Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Chair, Secretary and Treasurer).

Each group has one vote.

1. The Chair asks each current or past active Group Representative (GR) of the GEA who submitted their candidacy by the published deadline whether that person is prepared to serve in the applicable position for three years (or a partial term if it applies). If so, that person becomes a candidate.

2. As suggested in Warranty Three, the voting process should be followed even if there is only one candidate.

3. Names of all candidates for each open position in turn are displayed.

4. Votes are cast. Candidates leave the room or meeting while votes are tallied and displayed.

5. In the spirit of substantial unanimity, the first candidate to receive a two‑thirds vote is elected.

6. If no one has the required two‑thirds vote after several ballots have been taken, the Chair may suggest that the candidates with the largest percentage of votes remain on the ballot and the others withdraw.

7. Whether or not any names are withdrawn, another ballot is taken.

8. If still no election occurs, the Chair asks for a motion to close the balloting and that the choice be made by lot between the two with the highest number of votes. The first one selected is elected.

 

Confidential balloting is required for any election at the GEA Assembly. Electronic voting methods will be used with reasonable accommodations to permit all attending GRs to vote at the discretion of the Chair.

a.      After each ballot, the electronic results are posted for the Assembly to see.

b.      When a person is elected, the election result, but not the actual vote count, is announced to the Assembly and recorded in the minutes by the Secretary.

 

Bullets 1-8 are based on Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2022-2025 v 2, pages 156-157 and 161.

 

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Area Delegate discussion and vote:

There were six candidates in all and their completed applications, answering questions about their service experience, skills they would bring to the table and the reason why they would  be the best choice for the area delegate, were shared with the GRs, a few days in advance.

 

The GRs were allowed to ask questions in real time and eight GR’s asked questions, that were to be answered by each candidate. The GRs had 30 seconds to ask a question and the each candidate had one minute to answer each question. 

 

Finally, in an anonymous electronic poll, Burt P, our current Area Secretary, was elected. He won by a substantial majority, getting more than 2/3 of the votes polled.

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GEA Leadership and Support positions update - 

 

-The GEA Treasurer Becky, resigned in early August, an interim Treasurer has been appointed.

-The GEA Secretary, Burt, is now the GEA Delegate, an interim Secretary has been appointed.

 

Rosemary (GEA Chair)  <mailto:geachair at gmail.com> geachair at gmail.com
Burt (GEA Delegate)  <mailto:geadelegate262 at gmail.com> geadelegate262 at gmail.com
Nieta (GEA Alt Delegate)  <mailto:ngreene1012 at gmail.com> ngreene1012 at gmail.com
Mike (Group Records Coodinator)  <mailto:geagrc at gmail.com> geagrc at gmail.com
Marthanne (GEA Interim Treasurer)  <mailto:emarthanne at gmail.com> emarthanne at gmail.com
Tom (GEA Interim Secretary)   <mailto:geasecretary at gmail.com> geasecretary at gmail.com
Rocio P (GEA Language coordinator)

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Yours in Service,

 

Anne