[Businessmtg] Business meeting topic: Welcome Page

[Lisa Bisa]

Great discussion, thanks all.

Who the 'Welcome Page' page is meant for seems to have changed but its title has not. 

The term ‘newcomers’ can have a dual meaning and that can lead to a muddled message. This is a point of confusion even in f2f groups, as when I introduce myself as ‘Hi, I’m not new to Al-anon but new to this meeting' and somebody hands me a beginners packet. It’s a thing, LOL.

The original page welcomed everybody but the new page’s content welcomes only ‘newcomers'. Whether it’s an ‘everyone’ page or a ‘newcomers to Al-anon’ page or some combo thereof, the content that follows should reflect which it is.

so...
New to Al-Anon (aka newcomers)
Current members new to this meeting (aka _____?) Anybody got a better term for us?

Continuing on,

If it’s a 'Newcomers to Al-anon’ only page, then the Title (which also serves as the link to that page) would logically say:
	’Newcomers to Al-anon Welcome’ (cumbersome, yeah)
	Followed by subtitle:
	‘We welcome you to A Serenity Place Al-Anon Family Group!’

If the old title 'Newcomers & Beginners to Al-Anon’ remains (not great but it sorta recognizes a difference between the two), then keeping a generic intro as per old page serves both types of ’newcomers': 
	‘Newcomers to Al-Anon & Current Members’
	Welcome to A Serenity Place!  Whether you are new etc
	Each Al-Anon Family Group has one purpose: etc

then follow with a subtitle and specific info (as per Steve's new page):
	For the Newcomer to Al-anon
	Getting Started
	You’ve taken the first step etc'
 
I like the old version’s placement of the Al-Anon purpose as the first thing to follow either title. I don’t think it’s redundant to the Al-anon opening further down the page, but I can see why it could be deleted for brevity. I think how our our program works is neatly summed up in the Purpose’s Statement. We’re a 12-step program LOL! Also a good place to create a link to OUR 12 step page.

As to the amount of administrative information to provide and the need for simplicity, I agree many (maybe most won’t read much when joining for oh so many reasons, but I continue to come back to the site for more info when I’m ready for it. I also send newcomers to Al-anon specific ASP site links when they have questions...

From living with RA/ADHD/dyslexic/cPTSD, I’m learning that if I start with the Big Picture, then address details next, the Big Picture provides context and make info less overwhelming and more likely to be read and absorbed. Having said that, in general I assume the majority here expect to read A LOT or they wouldn’t choose a reading format like this to begin with.

On the ‘sponsor says No!’ stuff, the phrase ‘it’s about them’ is often used derisively. A gentler approach might be ‘don’t assume it’s about you’ (negative assumptions and taking things personally vs QTIP/Principles above personalities.

Lisa Bisa