[Businessmtg] GEA Districting

[Mary Abbott]

I’ve read all of the shares on this topic and spent some time thinking about them. It is this paragraph from Anne O. that gave me the greatest pause. 

“Note that this GEA leadership team (not the districting  thoughtforce or taskforce)  is approaching districting a step at a time, so voting on situations in front of us without a larger plan, this means If the recommendation below passes, we don't know what happens next, and if it fails, we start the discussion all over again with a new Task Force.”

Based on our meeting shares, I certainly agree that the proposed structure lacks perfection. As a person who has, in the past, been intimately familiar with obsessing about the lack of perfection in myself and others, I think it is important to step back and realize that there will never be a perfect structure that perfectly fits for all time zones, languages, level of service (% of GRs), etc. 

This proposal is not one that a couple of people got together over the weekend to draft. There has already been a great deal of time spent in discussions with feedback. This feedback has been further discussed by a task force that spent months working to come up with an initial structure and plan.

 My concern is if we “blow-up” this proposed structure: 
1. The group will have to find a whole new set of service volunteers to come up with a completely new plan. 

2. Months down the road, are we likely to have a plan that is any better? Will we continue to pick on that plan’s imperfections too? 

3. As Anne’s paragraph notes, this is just the first step in the process. We don’t know what the second step will be until we take the first step. 

I see agreeing to this initial proposed structure as a place to start from. Our trusted servants may well find out that this initial structure needs to be further modified. I trust in the process that is being guided by the traditions and concepts. I trust that revisions will be made as needed. 

My view is the we vote to accept that structure and move to the next phase putting together our GEA. I see this as progress not perfection. 

Thank you Anne for all of your work on this. Your time and service is greatly appreciated. I have complete trust that you will represent ASP with what you believe will be in our best interest within the context of what is best for the whole.

My final input would be that with only a couple of days left on this topic, it might be good for others to say yes or no to the proposed structure, so Anne has a more clear idea as to what the ASP preference is. 

Mary A. 

Sent from my iPhone