[Businessmtg] Archive Discussion

[Marilyn Booms]

Hi everyone,

    "4.  More on Total Anonymity. WSO publishes a monthly magazine called
"The Forum", which is a collection of 1-2 page Al-Anon shares; each with the
member's name, city & state. Anonymous? Since I've recognized individual
Al-Anon members in many of those shares, I don't think so."

Quoted above from Steve's comments. Having submitted to "The Forum", I can
say that you do submit your name and address to WSO, HOWEVER, there's a
check box to either have your article pubished with name and state (no
city), anonymously,  or under a pseudonym.  When submitting,  one also
gives explicit permission for the share to be published. While the rest of
the numbered points seem valid; in my experience #4 isn't accurate. I'm
don't think this makes a huge impact on our discussion of ASP archives.
However, those wishing to submit to "The Forum" should not fear being
identified if they don't want to be.

I'd also like to point out that there's always the option of signing up for
ASP using an email address that doesn't contain your name, and using a
pseudonym as your screen name. This would prevent one's shares from being
identified by one's name.

Thanks for reading,
Marilyn



On Thu, Oct 24, 2024, 4:05 AM Steve Rankin via Businessmtg <
businessmtg at asp-afg.org> wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
>
>
> This has been an interesting discussion.  Unfortunately, some of it is
> founded on misconceptions and misunderstandings.
>
>
>
> 1.      Transparency #1.  Some have raised the issue of 'transparency'
> because the members of ASP aren't informed that the server maintains an
> archive of shares.  This is incorrect.  Every email share sent out by the
> server contains a link to the ASP web page where the very first listing
> after the home page is the Member Instructions page, which contains a full
> paragraph on accessing the ASP Meeting Archive
> <https://asp-afg.org/mailman/private/asp/> .
>
>
>
> 2.      Transparency #2.  I have little doubt that ASP is the most
> transparent Al-Anon electronic meeting extant.  In fact, I'd venture to say
> that ASP is more transparent than the vast majority of f2f meetings, and
> certainly more transparent than the GEA or WSO.
>
>
>
> 3.      Total anonymity.  There are no absolutes in Al-Anon, including
> anonymity.  However, when it comes to anonymity, there is considerably more
> anonymity available to the members of ASP than most Al-Anon meetings;
> electronic or face-to-face.  Where else can you attend an Al-Anon meeting
> using a false name or not appearing in person?
>
>
>
> For example, the Al-Anon Mobile App developed and hosted by WSO requires
> the
> following information from Al-Anon members: First Name, Last Name, Display
> Name, DOB, Gender, and Mobile Phone Number.
>
>
>
> Additionally, WSO's Mobile App requires that members accept the Terms &
> Conditions, which among other things requires that members allow WSO to use
> anything .  I will also note that WSO REQUIRES that members update the
> Al-Anon Mobile App to the latest version before it allows them to use it.
> What really concerns me, however, is Article 3.b. of the Terms of Use . . .
>
> "You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content
> which
> you submit, post or display on or through, the Services and grant AL-ANON a
> perpetual, nonexclusive, worldwide license to use such Content in
> connection
> with its business purposes."
>
> In other words, WSO may use anything posted by any member in an Al-Anon
> meeting hosted on the Mobile App for its business purposes.
>
>
>
> 4.      More on Total Anonymity.  WSO publishes a monthly magazine called
> "The Forum", which is a collection of 1-2 page Al-Anon shares; each with
> the
> member's name, city & state.  Anonymous?  Since I've recognized individual
> Al-Anon members in many of those shares, I don't think so.
>
>
>
> 5.      How are the Archives used?  I've heard mention of members using the
> Archives to access shares they missed for one reason or another.  Other
> examples that I've heard from members. . .
>
> new members that ache for Al-Anon shares, and finds a plethora of shares to
> read and help them get by,
>
> members traveling and unable to access their usual Al-Anon resources
> (sponsor, friends, f2f meetings, etc.) and find the Archives a valuable
> resource,
>
> members struggling with an issue that find some help by using the search
> feature of the Archives to read shares pertaining to the issue they are
> struggling with.
>
>
>
> As Lynne mentioned, the Archives provide the leadership of ASP with
> information that help us assess ASP's health and guide ASP through the
> future.
>
>
>
> 6.      Access to the Archives.  The Archives are not available to the
> general public; access requires members log in to the server.  Yes, this
> process isn't very robust, but then it's not intended to be.  Al-Anon is an
> anonymous fellowship where spiritual anonymity is the essence of our
> organization.  Al-Anon is not a secret organization.
>
>
>
> 7.      Anonymity again.  Many of us in Al-Anon find recovery and enjoy the
> fellowship at its finest - spiritual anonymity in abundance, but with
> little, if any ID-type anonymity.  We get to know a great deal about each
> other.  We've been in each other's homes, weddings, divorce court, baby
> showers and memorial services.  We get asked to pick up meds at the
> pharmacy, hold their hands when they have a doc appointment with a scary
> diagnosis, help handle legal docs, care for their pets in an emergency, and
> sometimes spend their last hours and minutes with them.  A sponsee from CA
> is visiting this weekend, again.  We use our full name in Al-Anon service;
> not just with each other, but with the fellowship.  During my term as an
> Area Officer, my full name, address and phone number were listed in the
> quarterly Area newsletter.
>
>
>
> Lastly, I'm concerned about the group throwing the baby out with the
> bathwater in the name of some concept of absolute anonymity that I believe
> has little to do with Al-Anon recovery.
>
>
>
> Love and SERENITY,
>
> Steve
>
> ____________________________
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> The ASP web site with all kinds of info for ASP members is
> http://asp-afg.org/members/
> For assistance with other ASP issues, contact Lynne, the List
> Administrator of ASP, at lynne at asp-afg.org
>