[Businessmtg] Alternate Group Representative

[Jerry]

Biz-Pals,

Re: Alternate Group Representative

    My position is that ASP needs an Alternate Group Rep and that the responsibilities of the Alt GR position be limited to:

a) Filling in for our Group Rep whenever our GR is unable to attend to Al-Anon GR duties beyond the group level.

b) Staying fully informed of the ongoing Al-Anon District and Area business the GR is normally involved in so as to be able to be fully participate there should discussions and voting there be required.

c) As regards ASP internal business

    i. The AltGR would assume the GR's seat on ASP'S Steering Committee with voice and vote should the GR be unable to participate in any ongoing SC business, either temporarily or permanently.

    ii. Both the GR and the AltGR attend all Steering Committee meetings and business, both having voice, but only the GR would have a vote or be counted toward forming a consensus.

Re: At-Large Steering Committee Positions

     Following Concept 10 - "Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority and double-headed management is avoided."

     I'm of a mind that mixing the At-Larges' purpose with the specific responsibilities of an Alternate Group Representative would greatly diminish or eliminate the value of having At-Large participants.
     When all of our other three year SC positions are filled, having two short-term At-Large members as part of our internal business brings the opportunity for insights and fresh ideas from the general membership to the SC table.
     Another purpose of these "general member" seats is to temper what can become ingrained thinking in the SC. Through their rotating voices and, importantly, their two additional votes, weight is given to the voices of the entire membership.
      This is particularly important when ASP members do not stand for election and keep all ASP officer positions filled, forcing existing SC members to assume additional SC positions and their responsibilities, too - resulting in the appearance of very few individuals making all the decisions.

Concept 3: "Participation is the key to harmony."

     [Note: Having had to fill both our List Administrator and Secretary positions and responsibilities simultaneously drove me to distraction. Nothing I said above ought be construed as negative comments on those who are or have pulled long and stressful double duty in order to keep ASP functioning. Much gratitude is due them all!]

Jerry
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