Reconsideration (or not)

R6 Chair Kimberly C asked on Friday for the conference to reconsider its decision of Thursday to consider major religious holidays in the scheduling of future conferences.

Her rationale was that nonreligious people could feel as though they had been relegated to lesser status. Indeed, the second pro speaker said as much, quite emotionally. She said she would leave the fellowship if this was not addressed.

By a vote very similar to the original, 91-70, the body voted to reconsider. During a lull in the issue while the conference considered another matter, two amendments and a referral to the board were offered, but apparently in the desire to shorten the process to allow it to be completed today, the referral and one of the amendments were pulled. This is what was offered:

Move that when planning the World Service Business Conference or other meetings scheduled in accordance with [relevant bylaws], the Board of Trustees will make every effort not to arrange such meetings during major holidays. Whenever possible, such meetings will not be arranged during the three days before or after the holidays.

(For the record, this was the original:

Move that when planning the World Service Business Conference or other meetings scheduled in accordance with OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII, Sections 1 and 2, the Board of Trustees shall not arrange such meetings during major religious holidays (including three days either side), such as but not limited to Good Friday through Easter Sunday (Western tradition), Good Friday through Easter Sunday (Eastern tradition), Passover, Hanuman Jayanti, Vesak, and Ramadan.

(And this is what passed:

“Move that when planning the World Service Business Conference or other meetings scheduled in accordance with OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII, Sections 1 and 2, the Board of Trustees will make every effort not to arrange such meetings during major holidays. Whenever possible, such meetings will not be arranged during the three days before or after the holidays.”

• It was then moved, and accepted, to suspend the rules, to allow the conference to go straight to the vote.
• Another vote was required to specify in what way the rules would be suspended, and the body approved going straight to the vote.
• Then, the amendment was accepted.
• Then, the body voted to skip debate on the motion, as amended.
• And then the motion was adopted.