Post by RCA Webmaster on Jun 12, 2023 6:16:21 GMT -5
Decorum in debate is also guided by Robert’s Rules of Order, which states:
When a question is pending, a member can condemn the nature or likely consequences of the proposed measure in strong terms, but [the member] must avoid personalities, and under no circumstances can [the member] attack or question the motives of another member. The measure and not the member is the subject of the debate.
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Proposal for 2023 ABM
No: 8 Title: Proposal add language to the section entitled How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist on page 78 & 79 of the Basic Text to encourage reaching out to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and others
Submitter: RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion Type: Amendment to Fellowship Approved Literature.
Motion:
The Committee moves to edit the section of the Basic Text entitled “How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist,” at pages 78 and 79. Ballot Proposal Eight is to add the following items to the checklist:
“Reach out to other fellowships that have BIPOC [black, indigenous, and people of color], interracial, LGBTQ+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer +], differently abled, and other special-focus meetings to let them know that their members are welcome at your meeting.
“Reach out to other fellowships that have Spanish-speaking and other non-English-speaking meetings to let them know about RCA meetings in languages other than English.
“Reach out to organizations of therapists, addiction counselors, clergy, and others who specialize in working with couples who are BIPOC, interracial, LGBTQ+, or differently abled, or who speak a language other than English.
“Whenever doing outreach, let others know that RCA is open to all committed adult couples seeking to create or restore a caring, committed, and intimate relationship regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identification, religious background, culture, race, class, national origin, physical or mental challenge, or political affiliation.
Submitter’s Rationale:
If passed this proposal would implement a recommendation made by the RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (“Committee”). The Committee was appointed at the direction of the RCA Board of Directors to look for ways to help make RCA more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all, including in its website, literature, and meetings. RCA’s rules require the approval of the fellowship to make changes to RCA’s Basic Text. That is why this ballot proposal has been submitted to you for your consideration.
Individual meetings can grow by outreach to couples who might not have felt welcome or included in the past. The Basic Text presently does not suggest actions to reach out to these couples.
The Committee offered the following reasoning to the RCA Board of Trustees in support of its recommended revision.
“This list already encourages meetings to be diverse and welcoming. It is possible to go further with specific concrete actions that local meetings can take to grow, while promoting diversity and inclusion.”
.
Board of Trustees’ Comments on Proposal
The Board unanimously endorses Ballot Proposal #8 for the reasons stated in the submitter's rationale, which is based on the report of the Literature Committee's Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.
Structure Committee’s Comments on Proposal 8
Similar to Proposal 3, this proposed revision to the Basic Text would be much better suited for inclusion in a RCA Pamphlet regarding “How to Grow A Meeting”. The Structure Committee does not see the necessity for changing the Basic Text.
0 Yay 6 Nays
When a question is pending, a member can condemn the nature or likely consequences of the proposed measure in strong terms, but [the member] must avoid personalities, and under no circumstances can [the member] attack or question the motives of another member. The measure and not the member is the subject of the debate.
====================================
Proposal for 2023 ABM
No: 8 Title: Proposal add language to the section entitled How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist on page 78 & 79 of the Basic Text to encourage reaching out to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and others
Submitter: RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion Type: Amendment to Fellowship Approved Literature.
Motion:
The Committee moves to edit the section of the Basic Text entitled “How to Grow a Meeting – A Suggested Checklist,” at pages 78 and 79. Ballot Proposal Eight is to add the following items to the checklist:
“Reach out to other fellowships that have BIPOC [black, indigenous, and people of color], interracial, LGBTQ+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer +], differently abled, and other special-focus meetings to let them know that their members are welcome at your meeting.
“Reach out to other fellowships that have Spanish-speaking and other non-English-speaking meetings to let them know about RCA meetings in languages other than English.
“Reach out to organizations of therapists, addiction counselors, clergy, and others who specialize in working with couples who are BIPOC, interracial, LGBTQ+, or differently abled, or who speak a language other than English.
“Whenever doing outreach, let others know that RCA is open to all committed adult couples seeking to create or restore a caring, committed, and intimate relationship regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender identification, religious background, culture, race, class, national origin, physical or mental challenge, or political affiliation.
Submitter’s Rationale:
If passed this proposal would implement a recommendation made by the RCA Literature Committee’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (“Committee”). The Committee was appointed at the direction of the RCA Board of Directors to look for ways to help make RCA more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming to all, including in its website, literature, and meetings. RCA’s rules require the approval of the fellowship to make changes to RCA’s Basic Text. That is why this ballot proposal has been submitted to you for your consideration.
Individual meetings can grow by outreach to couples who might not have felt welcome or included in the past. The Basic Text presently does not suggest actions to reach out to these couples.
The Committee offered the following reasoning to the RCA Board of Trustees in support of its recommended revision.
“This list already encourages meetings to be diverse and welcoming. It is possible to go further with specific concrete actions that local meetings can take to grow, while promoting diversity and inclusion.”
.
Board of Trustees’ Comments on Proposal
The Board unanimously endorses Ballot Proposal #8 for the reasons stated in the submitter's rationale, which is based on the report of the Literature Committee's Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.
Structure Committee’s Comments on Proposal 8
Similar to Proposal 3, this proposed revision to the Basic Text would be much better suited for inclusion in a RCA Pamphlet regarding “How to Grow A Meeting”. The Structure Committee does not see the necessity for changing the Basic Text.
0 Yay 6 Nays