[Businessmtg] Fwd: Request for Business Meeting Agenda Item

[Lynne]

Hi everyone,

Here is Linda's email with her concerns. Linda, please feel free to add 
anything to this.

The discussion is now open.

Hugs,

Lynne

-------- Original Message --------

  		SUBJECT:
  		Request for Business Meeting Agenda Item

  		DATE:
  		2023-12-10 13:11

  		FROM:
  		Linda Hicks <roslyngirl714 at gmail.com>

  		TO:
  		Steering Committee <steering_committee at asp-afg.org>

>> Steering Committee Members.

>> Something that has bothered me for a long time in ASP is the Archives 
>> which store personal shares from day one and on, seemingly forever.  I 
>> remember discussing this issue with Steve, privately, some years ago, 
>> but I honestly don't remember the specifics.  I'm thinking at the time 
>> he said it was a technical issue, but I'm not certain.  If that was 
>> the case, I would think that technoilogy has evolved by now to allow 
>> changes.  My preference would be to delete members shares after a 
>> specified amount of time.
>> 
>> I would ask the following questions:

>> 1/ What is the purpose of saving/archiving everyone's shares?

>> 2/ Are the members actually aware that their shares are preserved?  I 
>> do remember being stunned when I first learned my shares were saved 
>> and could be accessed repeatedly.  While it may say that in the 
>> volumes available for newcomers to read, I didn't comprehend it.  
>> Frankly, I didn't read all the information that was available.

>> 3/ If known shares are kept for posterity, would members feel 
>> comfortable sharing openly and honestly, or just 'speak' Al-Anon.  I 
>> do remember a reluctance in being very personal when I first learned 
>> this.  Today I'm not affected because I know the importance of 
>> working, not just talking and I'm comfortable in my Al-Anon skin 
>> today.  I'm not as paranoid as I was, but I now know if I choose (key 
>> word) to be 'published' I can write to the Forum.  I can also record 
>> my story for use as some Al-Anoner's have done through time (a good 
>> example is Mary Pearl, known to many oldtimers).  However, it would be 
>> with my permission.

>> 4/ Anonymity is important to many in these rooms.  Does saving a 
>> person's share risk their anonymity?  Will they continue to feel safe?

>> 5/ Is archiving a person's share like recording a private conversation 
>> - particularly without that person being aware?

>> 6/ I have never kept a personal diary because I have never wanted 
>> someone else to read it.

>> 7/ We all are at different places at different times and having a 
>> permanent record of a bad day does not serve my best interests.
>> 
>> I would like the issue of not saving ASP shares for an unlimited 
>> period of time to be added to the agenda for disussion.
>> Thank you - Hugs,
>> Linda