On Saturday, May 21, members from District 6 convened for a “Town Hall-style” event specifically focused on gathering the District’s group conscience regarding the MAWS Conference Agenda, Items and Motions. In attendance were the two recently elected Delegates (Matt & Jerrod), GSRs Wes D. and LB, and other concerned members and friends. The event was held in a member’s apartment.
This was the first time District 6 chose to employ this method of getting member feedback and finalizing the conscience our Delegates will strive to represent to the Conference Body and in their voting. This new method was being tested based upon the following ideas:
- After the Agenda has been made available to the general membership, only a small portion currently show concerned interest.
- Genuinely concerned members will enlist themselves as stakeholders in the issues by being willing to attend an event about them.
- This forum removes a burden upon the DSC and it’s members to try to get people involved in business in which they do not wish to be involved.
- Overcome a procedural issue which affects the fellowship’s trusted servants’ abilities to implement proposed changes.
- Issue stems from the effect of “abstaining” based upon the way votes are counted in our Rules of Order. The vote counting method results in an “abstention” as the equivalent of casting a vote of “no.”
- Problem arises, for example, at a individual group’s business meeting. If, at this forum, many of the members present abstain due to not knowing enough (or caring enough), then even motions which may be advantageous to the fellowship may fail by default.
The event was scheduled to last 4 hours, but because of the group’s determination and focus, the business was completed in just under 3-1/2 hours.
Many thanks to the members and friends who showed up to be a part of this “groundbreaking” event.