[Businessmtg] Daily Share Retention

[Margaret G]

{Background: I have worked with computers and the Internet for many years personally and professionally. I’m aware that there is no real privacy online because anything electronic can be subject to hacking or misuse. I am aware that others can save or forward emails that I send to them, even if they are instructed not to do so. I worked in a situation where my emails were public record. Under certain circumstances they could be requested by the press or subpoenaed by the courts. I learned early on to be careful what I put in those emails and instructed those I supervised to do the same. I also learned to save sent and received emails to protect myself in future conflicts that might arise.}
Why do we keep ASP daily shares forever? (I understand keeping business meeting shares in lieu of minutes. I believe this should be clearly stated at the beginning of each business meeting.)
Anonymity in Al-Anon is so important that it is addressed in two Traditions (11 & 12) and is discussed frequently in CAL. The extensive ASP Archive of Daily Shares seems to be in opposition to this important principle of the program. Writings that are submitted to WSO with the intention that they might be published are different from daily spur of the moment personal shares in this or any meeting. There is the expectation that those writings will be reviewed and evaluated. If chosen, they will be professionally edited and then published behind protective layers of anonymity.
I question the appropriateness of maintaining a permanent and perpetual archive of all daily shares posted to ASP. This does not happen in any other recovery meeting that I’m aware of.  Hackers can get into anything online or anyone could nefariously request membership in order to access these shares. The ASP archives are not particularly user friendly and these actions may not be likely, but the fact that they are possible is a concern.
When the GEA began recording video conferencing sessions for secretarial purposes without notification, an uproar ensued. Event descriptions and log-in information now clearly state that recording will be in process.
This statement appears on the ASP Member Page, Elected Trusted Servants; Greeter Committee; Greeter Instructions; “Note: The qualification letters written to the greeters are private shares and are to be treated just like any other share in Al-Anon – they are not to be given to anyone else, EXCEPT the Greeter Chair (routinely) and/or List Administrator. Periodically, greeters should purge personal correspondence from their computers – we do not maintain long-term archives of personal correspondence as trusted servants of A Serenity Place.”
I believe that the daily share archive is “a long-term archive of personal correspondence.” Shares should be eliminated permanently after a reasonable administrative period (30 -90 days) and there should be clear disclaimers that a short- term archive exists.
Thanks for considering my ideas.
Margaret G.