Tonight we have our monthly  (1st Sunday of each month) business meeting for the Al-anon chat group. Here any of our members can come together to discuss and vote on issues. The MIP Al-anon business meetings follow a set format just as the regular meetings do. There is a chair person who conducts the meeting, first by presenting the agenda for the meeting, then calling on those who want to speak one by one. To speak, please always raise your hand ! and wait to be acknowledged. When you are finished speaking, please type "Done". It is requested there be no interrupting and that meeting protocol be followed. When a motion is made and seconded a vote will be called. To vote in favor of a motion type ! so that votes can be counted.

Below is a list of the things we have on the agenda for tonight, and a short summary of the topics...

Issues that have been raised for the agenda this month...

.

- Crosstalk persisting. Definition needed? 

.

- Members doing unsolicited chair actions and OP tasks.

.

- Achieving regular chair for every scheduled meeting slot (including job-sharing?)

.

- Service needed in the form of members willing to be added to chair sub list.

.

- Greeters for each meeting if possible.

.

- Alternative access to chat room that bypasses adverts.

.

- Access to the minutes of biz meetings

.

- Chairs (including subs) following certain protocols where possible.

.

 - How/where/when PM (private messages) can be explained to newcomers.

.

- ACOA focused weekly "hope for today" meeting?

Expanded info...

- Crosstalk persisting. Definition needed? 

** Many newcomers are unaware of the meaning of the word "crosstalk" in our meeting protocols. One of our group has offered this suggested definition to be included in chairs' meeting pastes: "Crosstalk means we do not interrupt during shares, give advise, or directly refer to or comment on the details of another member's share, either in our own shares or in our response to theirs."

.

- Members doing unsolicited chair actions and OP tasks: 

** Someone mentioned the need to clarify on this. Normally the person chairing the meeting is the only one directly responsible for doing certain things (unless they have asked for specific assistance in this from a greeter / helper). It can be distracting and chaotic if other members do those things as well. These tasks include: calling on people to share, introducing shares, dealing with newcomers who interrupt, pasting in scripted information etc.

.

- Achieving regular chair for every scheduled meeting slot: 

** We currently need chair persons to run the following meetings: saturday, sunday and monday mornings. The requirement is 6 months at face to face meetings and some experience of how our online groups work. It would also be useful to compile a list of members willing to take a partial chair position in the form of a job-share for a meeting that is without a regular chair. For example alternate weeks etc.

.

- Service needed in the form of members willing to be added to chair sub list: 

** We also need people who are willing to stand in on an ad hoc basis on any day a regular chair is unable, to be added to our "sub email list" of people who are alerted by any chair who needs a sub.

.

- Greeters for each meeting if possible: 

** A greeter is an important service provider who says hello to (welcoming) members in private message as they arrive, and pasting in the meeting topics in private message for them. The greeter may also be called on to talk to a newcomer in private message should that be required.

.

- Alternative access to chat room that bypasses adverts: 

** Some people have found the adverts pop up and interfered with their meeting experience on the website, asking if there is a different way to access the room. There are other ways to join the room using mIRC or other chat client on PC or Colloquy on Mac or iPhone. The server we are on is irc.chat4all.org, port 6667 which users will need to add to their IRC server list, and add our room name (#alanonchat) to their IRC channels.

.

- Access to the minutes of business meetings: 

** It was asked last month whether the business meeting minutes were available to members. John has suggested that minutes not be posted on the meeting info board but be kept with the business secretary (Walker) and be made available to any member who wishes to view them by giving her reasonable notice.

.

- Chairs (including subs) following certain protocols where possible: 

** It is helpful for chairs to 1) post topics on forum boards and 2) let others know when they can't attend their scheduled slot.  

1) So that the maximum number of people see there is a meeting taking place, chairs are asked to post a message on at least the main message board. Many newcomers who don't know about our meetings come to this message board as a first stop in seeking Al-anon help. Because there have been issues in the past with posting on the main board, there is a special arrangement with the board moderator for a standard format post to announce meetings which is removed by her after the meeting ends; 2) Chairs are also asked to email a list of substitute chairs on any day they are unable to attend, so that other chairs are aware and can either stand in on the day or can go in the room and let the group know a volunteer will be needed. This means that the group, including newcomers, don't need to wait wondering.

.

 - How/where/when PM (private messages) can be explained to newcomers: 

** A member pointed out last month that newcomers don't know how private messaging works on the website chatroom, and that an explanation could be formulated that can be pasted into the room. One member has come up with this simple synopsis that can be used when needed: To chat with someone one on one. Click on the persons name in the right hand side of the main chat box, click on PM. A new chat box will open with a tab at the top of the main chat of with the persons name on it. Click on that tab and begin private messaging. 

.

- ACOA focused weekly "hope for today" meeting? 

** A couple of people were talking about the potential of holding an Al-anon meeting with a main focus on recovery from the effects of growing up in an alcoholic home. It needn't be exclusively for adult children of alcoholics but just with that slant to topics and focus. Any thoughts?

Tigger 

(Business Chairperson)