[Businessmtg] ASP Business - Newcomer's Draft

[Linda Hicks]

Hi Business Meeting Friends,
I did read the Newcomer's draft and thank you, Steve, for all your work and
input.  I have the following thoughts, questions, and hopefully some
constructive input.

1/  I may have missed the information about the need to reconstruct the
existing opening.  Personally, I like simpler better, and it is much
simpler in my view.
I did not come into ASP as a newcomer to Al-Anon and it has been so many
years ago, I do not remember how much attention I paid to the newcomer's
greeting at that time.  I do remember the confusion and fear as a newcomer
though, and I don't honestly know if I would have waded through all those
words and information.  We are  all individually unique.

2/  Under the heading "ASP Meeting Format" the sentence that begins "We
avoid gossip, crosstalk, or advise" - I would like to see the word
"criticism" added.  I know it is in some of the openings and I remember
feeling severely criticized as a newcomer, by family, friends, the
alcoholic, and myself.

3/ Under the CAL where some of the suggested readings are described as
"favorites" of some - we each have our own favorites and I think it's
better than the person discover their own or learn from their sponsor and
meetings which they might prefer. As we seasoned members know, all CAL is
helpful and rewarding and fresh every time we read it.

4/  Under Sponsorship
The wording if a sponsor declines that said it's "about them" bothered me.
I can't give you a logical reason except it sounds so negative on the
sponsor's part.  There are many legitimate reasons a sponsor may be unable
to do so at a certain time.

5/  The Serenity Prayer has no "The" before the word courage.
Every printing I've read states........."accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change....."

Thank you for listening to my thoughts and input.
Hugs, Linda