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| Alcoholics Anonymous in Southern Wisconsin | ||
Alcoholic’s Anonymous – Area 75
11/07/09
Fall Conference
MINUTES
2009 Fall Conference
OFFICERS PRESENT:
Stu E, Delegate; Nancy H., Area Chairperson; Nancy B., Alt Chair; John B, Alt Delegate/Literature; JD O., Secretary; Cynthia D., Alt Secretary; Todd U., Treasurer; Doreen H., Alt Treasurer
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PRESENT:
George P., Grapevine Chair; George B., Conf. Adv. Com. Chair; Les M., Corrections Chair; Randy R., CPC Chair; Liz Y., PI Chair; Fred K., Treatment Chair; Lee Ann F., Special Needs Chair; David K., Area Archives Chair; Nancy S., Archivist; Kathy W., Registrar
DCM’S PRESENT:
D1-Birdie R.; D2-Clyde M.; D3-Marv S.; D4-Ryan G.; D8- Bridgett A.; D11-Ric C.; D12-Terry H.; D13-Leslie F.; D14-Frank S. (Alt); D15-Brent W.; D16- Theresa W.; D17- John H.; D20-Brent B.; D22-Clayton S.; D24–Matt K.; D27-Gary C. (Alt); D28–Dave F.; D29-Lynn G.; D31-Benjamin B.; D32-John C.; D34-Drew A.;D36-Barb W.
GSR’S and ALT GSR’s and Others PRESENT:
D1 – Joel J., Jeanette S., Cheryl R., Chris, Nancy S.; D2 – Bob T., Jim T.; D7 – Beth M; D12 – Joe M., Bill R., Mary R.; D13 – Rick B., Chris P., Diane L., Mark L., Nicole S., Perry C., Phyllis R., Mel F., Rich B., Mark G., Sylvia Y., Donna W., ; D15 – T. Michael, Jeff P., Peter W., Jason G.; D16 – Dick H., Gerald W.; D17 – Tara H.; D20 – Thomas B. Patti L., Sybil D., Lisa T., Lindsay P., Matthew E., Penny R., Dave J., Dan D.; D22 – Herb P.; D24 – Jared R., Linda R., Carol A.; D25 – Marian B., Marty P., Kathryne H., Dave D., Jeff Z., Eric S., Tim L., David C.; D27 – Nealy M., Gary C.; D29 – Dennis D., Pat B.; D32 – Ryan S., Doug N., Kari E., Tina H., Kurt H., Eric D., Carl H., George D., Cindy D., Howard P., RJ E., Rick M.; D33 – Susan B., D34 – Erin J., Chet O.
OTHERS PRESENT: Past Delegates: John B., Bob B. Bill H., Joan J., Bill A., Nancy G.; George P.; Fall Conf. Chair 2009 – Jeff Z., Barb F., Spring Conf. 2011 Chair – Ken N.; Spring Conf. 2012 - Co-Chairs Dave S. & Penny R.; Area 74 Incoming Chair – Marty L.; Area 74 Incoming Delegate Steve H.
Nancy H., Area Chairperson, opened the meeting with a moment of silence, followed by the serenity prayer.
John B., Alternate Delegate, read the Twelve Concepts.
JD O., Area Secretary, took Roll Call.
SECRETARIES REPORT - JD O.
Minutes from the Fall Pre-conference approved and accepted.
TREASURERS REPORT – Todd U.
Todd U, Doreen H, Joan J, Leo M, Matt Z, Drew A,
Our last Committee has not met since my last report
The Area agreed to increase the Delegate’s budget by $500 and the Archivist’s budget by $100
Contributions continue to be received without any indication of the, GSO number, District number, or the name of Group that is making the contribution.
Remember Chairs all expense reports must have corresponding receipts before payments can be made. Please have all of your expenses for this year in by 12/15/09.
Please also make a note that checks should be made out to Area 75 Treasurer, not SWAC, Rainbow Fund or Count on Us
If you would like to use rainbow funds for corrections please contact Les Meir beforehand. I will need confirmation from him before I issue a check
The Rainbow fund getting quite substantial. Use it up.
There are financial reports on the back table
A year to date general financial report, which I have made 100 copies of
A year to date contributions report, which I have made 2 copies of, please leave these on the table.
A year to date Chair expense report, which I have made 2 copies of, please leave these on the table.
Are there any Questions?
Expenses and contributions to date:
Expenses compared to budget:
Expenses by category
Todd commented that the increase in revenue is primarily due to 2 factors:
The last 2 conferences have done very well
Increased numbers of Group Contributions
Motion to approve the Treasurer’s report – Approved.
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT – Nancy H.
Activities since the September Pre-Conference Assembly have included:
Responded to emails and phone calls from committee chairs, delegate and past delegates, DCM’s, GSR’s and other AA members.
Attended meeting of ad hoc committee reviewing the area handbook and worked with the committee to get the handbook ready for wider review before submitting it as a proposal at the Winter Service Assembly in January. The committee has met approximately 20 hours so far in addition to work between meetings.
Attended District 12 open meeting, AA at the VA, Women to Women in addition to my regular meetings.
I want to give a special welcome to any new DCM’s who are here today. We would like to especially welcome districts 4 and 22 who have not been represented recently. Welcome back.
Questions regarding the Rainbow Fund have come to me recently. The area corrections chair, Les M., is responsible for authorizing disbursements. Districts or outside sponsors who need literature for correctional institutions should contact Les. Les needs to authorize purchase of the literature before it is ordered. In some cases Les will order the literature and see that it gets to the appropriate person. The area treasurer is responsible for receipt of funds into the Rainbow Fund and for disbursement of funds upon authorization by the area corrections chair.
Our next meeting will be the Winter Service Assembly. Area officers and committee chairs will be submitting their budgets for 2010 to the treasurer by the end of this year. Anyone having a proposal to submit for consideration by the area should have the proposal to me prior to the Winter Service Assembly so that it can be given to the appropriate committee.
Please contact me if you would like me to visit your District Meeting or participate in an event. I would love to visit each district during this rotation.
Yours in service, Nancy H.
DELEGATE’S REPORT – Stu E.
Good morning. This being the last report of 2009, a sincere thank you is in order to those among us who will rotate out of their present positions at year's end. To all those DCM's, District Standing Committee Chairs, District Officers, and GSR's, it has been a genuine pleasure to have served with you and to have seen the fabulous efforts so many of you have made in service to A.A. during the course of your terms. I hope we shall all meet again in the course of serving this wonderful spiritual society of alcoholics in action carrying our message of experience, strength, and hope.
Below are some news highlights, all of which are very recent:
Financial--Contributions received by G.S.O. for the first nine months of 2009 ran 6.5% less than budgeted and 6% less than in 2008. Unaudited 2009 net income stands at $1,026,100 compared with a loss of $315,900 same period in 2008. There exists nine months of operating expenses in the Reserve Fund. Literature sales were particularly strong before the price increase.
Grapevine/LaVina--through September, the Grapevine lost $95,500 and LaVina lost $36,780. Monthly circulation figures are 103,000 and 9,775 respectively, both down from 2008.
Archives--Michelle M. is now our full-time Archives Director, but the Archives staff level is only 3 compared with a usual staff of 5.
C.P.C./Treatment/Special Needs/P.I.--The discussion on full face photography of actors portraying A.A. members in our videos will continue in the Trustees' P.I. Committee in January. Our ECR Trustee has "strongly urged" that a delegate within the region forward a proposed GSC Agenda Item on the subject for the agenda of the 2010 or 60th, General Service Conference (GSC). We have had many discussions in committee and through a survey we conducted here this summer. I would like to submit the requested item, as long as the Assembly concurs.
The video, Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous, will be placed into distribution just as soon as is possible and ought to be part of the C.P.C. Kit after that occurs. For just the DVD version, all three language versions should be on one DVD for $10.00. The Young Peoples Video (Project) should be released for distribution just as soon as one last copyright release form is received at A.A.W.S.
Some new Special Needs items are being considered. Our Area 75 Special Needs Chair has been sent information.
Literature--The Trustees' Committee on Literature has taken no action on the proposed pamphlet directed towards alcoholics who are military veterans. Their feeling is that the pamphlet directed towards the armed forces member presently covers the need, though some more current (Iraq/Afghanistan/ maybe some veteran) stories might be added in the future. I notified all directly involved with the proposal by email just as soon as I got the information.
G.S.O. computers were attacked by a virus last weekend. The system is still not running 100%, but progress has been made this week.
Finally, 2009 has been quite a year for us here and for all of Alcoholics Anonymous. I thank you all for the opportunity to have served you during this year. See you all either at the Winter Service Assembly or before!
Yours in Recovery and Service,
Stu E., Panel 59, Area 75 Delegate
Suggestion by Stu E. to have the Finance Committee discuss making a contribution to GSO. Nancy H. clarified that it would have to be Emergency New Business voted on by the Assembly.
ALT DELEGATE/LITERATURE CHAIR – John B.
2010 International Convention Update
Area 75 Fall Conference
Green Lake, WI
November 7, 2009
The 2010
International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous will be held July
1-4 in San Antonio, Texas with the theme “A Vision for You.”
A.A. members and guests from around the world will celebrate A.A.’s
75th year at this event with big meetings held Friday night, Saturday
night and Sunday morning in the Alamodome. Other meetings,
scheduled or informal, will take place throughout the weekend in the
San Antonio Convention Center and local hotels.
Convention
pre-registration began on September 1 and will continue through May
14, 2010; the pre-registration fee is $95. After that date you
must register onsite at the Convention Center; onsite
registration will be $110.
Housing information will be sent out only after you register; in the same manner used for registration. Housing assignments will be made on a “first-come-first-served” basis.
Many hotels in the Downtown Core are within walking distance of the Convention Center. In order to keep the registration fee affordable, no door-to-door shuttle bus service will be available in the Downtown Core. There will be identified stops for a downtown loop shuttle for those needing transportation. A limited-schedule bus shuttle will run between the Convention Center/Stadium area and hotels and motels outside the Downtown Core of hotels.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, San Antonio is a warm destination year round. On average, July is the warmest month with daytime temperatures averaging 96°F and 74°F in the evening. A.A. will be making its best effort to provide plenty of shade and water for Convention attendees. As hot as it is outdoors, be prepared for cool temperatures indoors – the air conditioning will be on, so dress accordingly.
Please see the A.A. website; www.aa.org for additional conference information and online registration.
I have a limited number of printed registration forms here today. If you haven’t attended an International Convention, now’s you chance to participate in an awesome spiritual experience. See you in San Antonio!
Here is a copy of an email sent from the General Service Office regarding the current housing situation:
Subject: International Convention Update
Dear Friends,
I wanted to give you a brief update on the International Convention. It’s been very busy since my September 4 update. Over 20,000 people registered for the International Convention already. However, this does not necessarily mean a larger attendance just that folks are registering early. As I mentioned in my email to you earlier this month, tying hotels to registration on a first-come, first-served basis really got us off to a busy start.
Hotel Reservations
For this Convention, we anticipated that providing rooms to registered attendees on a first-come, first-served basis would affect the number of people who registered and reserved housing early. The expectation was that we might see a slight increase from the number of early registrants who participated in the hotel lottery for previous Conventions. Personally, I expected that we would see half again as many, at most. For the 2005 International Convention in Toronto, only 3,000 rooms had been requested when they began assigning rooms in November of 2004. So we felt confident that we were in good shape for the opening of registration and housing.
However, after registration for San Antonio opened on September 1, our initial block of hotel rooms virtually sold out in less than two weeks. Most of the downtown core hotel rooms had been reserved within one week. These numbers are unprecedented. While we were able to respond to the demand and almost immediately add rooms and some new properties downtown, these rooms also sold out right away. This total number of rooms, over 8,000, is not historically reserved until the February before the Convention.
Housing Still Available
We continue to expand the selection of rooms in the outlying areas. There are rooms available through the Convention Housing Bureau, and new rooms are added to the reservation system as they come online. We do not expect to have additional room’s downtown available in our block.
Shuttle Service
We will provide shuttle service at no charge to registered Convention attendees. All of the housing booked through the Convention Housing Bureau will be included in the shuttle service.
I hope this information is helpful to you, as you attend assemblies and conferences this fall. We are in the process of updating our Web site with this information. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can provide more info about next year’s Convention. Excitement’s rising, and we’re looking forward to a wonderful Convention!
In fellowship,
Rick
W.
2010 International Convention Coordinator
In Service,
John B. – Area 75 Alternate Delegate & Literature Chair
Area Inventory – Nancy H.
Nancy H. will have us count off by nine’s and mix-us up. At the last Assembly we picked the top 6 questions from the list of questions.
Each group will have a Secretary and asked them to compile the list of questions. We will meet back here at 11 o’clock to report each group’s response to the questions.
Group Summaries
The following people presented group summaries see the written notes below for responses to each of the questions.
Group 1- Beth
Group 2 – Benjamin B.
Group 3 – Leslie F.
Group 4 – Matt K.
Group 5 – Les M.
Group 6 – Jared R.
Group 7 – Bridgett A.
Group 8 – Lynn G.
Group 9 – Dan
Following are the questions discussed with bullets for the notes from each of the 9 breakout groups that discussed the various questions.
So often we hear at the group level how it is same people involved at the area level. Isn’t this really everyone’s responsibility? Where is everyone? Why don’t we want to be involved? Don’t we owe it to our sobriety? The concepts are also gifts from Bill many of us don’t realize exist. Concept # 1 describes this so well. “The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.” How can we as an area raise this awareness and ignite a heighten passion? Are we keeping service a secret?
Sponsorship is lacking. Service should be introduced through sponsorship. Our participation must be positive and informative. Be enthusiastic about your part. Be a positive role model. Speak as to how sponsorship has helped with your sobriety. Be personally accountable for the message. Make it part of you. Show that we are all part of it. How accessible is the information? How can we take advantage of technology? How do we get people sponsors? Do they know what a sponsor is. Area we going up to every newcomer? Are we guiding them by our experience, strength and hope? Are we carrying the message individually? What can I do? How can I expand sponsorship to the district or area?
Has to do with sponsorship. Area needs to support stronger sponsorship. Area officers attend group meetings to show unity as alcoholic to alcoholic. Emphasize service structure at the group level. Dispel myth about politics of the area at the district level. Enforce rotation of positions at district level. Communicate and inform. Groom your replacement/alternate. Encourage attraction at the group level from people actively in a service position.
Sponsorship. Home Group encouragement. Get sponsees involved – don’t intimidate. Newcomers want commitment and dedication. Have a passion. Make it attractive. Report positively. Service is 12th Step work. Let everyone know that we all have a voice and be approachable to young members. Be welcoming and listen to others. Small groups are good at Area. Say it from the podium when there is a service need as the speaker did last night. Be an attraction that people will want to be a part of.
Service commitments are a direct result of strong sponsorship. Sponsored into service results in larger participation. Often there is a misconception that service requires an arbitrarily long amount of sobriety. There is a conception that we continually “reinvent the wheel” at the Area level. This is a question that always seems to come up at inventories – is higher participation necessary? There is often a break down at the DCM – Group level as far as what the service positions are and what is required. There is often an intangible “Fear of commitment” among members of the fellowship. Bringing your sponsees, expose them to the structure and use the ripple effect of interest in the service structure. One responsibility is to ignite a passion in our respective districts and home groups. If we are not passionate about service, how can we expect others to be? Education of the newcomer as to the importance of the service structure and why we do this. The idea of personal approach to ignite the fire of service.
Not just an Area problem, it’s a District problem. People are presenting to different groups but no one is responding. People who show are already serving. 1) Approach people on a personal level (face to face) and personally invite them. 2) If sponsor is involved “you” should be involved. 3) Big part of it is attraction rather than promotion. Attitude is important for chair holders. Have a good attitude otherwise it will not attract new chair holders. 4) Newer AA’s are more enthusiastic to do service. People with a lot of time think they are finished with that particular job.
Service sponsorship. Support GSR’s. Remind people at group and individual responsibility to service and trying to hold them accountable.
Encourage people to honor spirit of rotation and lead through sponsorship. Unsure how to communicate needs to groups about what service is and does. Read “AA Comes of Age” to revitalize our own enthusiasm. If we voted line item on budget may help get others involved. Area host service workshops – be involved with District workshop. Help inform about what service is and help translate Traditions & Concepts into something tangible for each member. Begin with group leadership and personal sharing. Help educate how without service there are no meetings. Form some sort of sharing sessions for DCM’s to share enthusiasm & ideas. Introduce concepts at the group level. Encourage service sponsorship (both having & being).
Yes it is everyone’s responsibility through sponsorship. Speak positively about service. Reach out and invite (promote vs. attract). Share more reach out tips at assembly for the positive ripple effect. Cultural demographic changes. Have greeters (past chairs & Delegates) at assemblies. We have coffee makers. Have some be greeters.
Isn’t this really everyone’s responsibility? Reasons for not getting involved: commitment; lack of self-confidence; believe it’s unavailable for newcomers. What can we do to improve: share our experience with service; when people share negative things about service let people know that they should check it out for themselves; service sponsorship; let people know about Area and elections.
If our primary purpose is to carry the message to the “still suffering alcoholic”, are we achieving this objective? If not, what can be done to change it? What can Area Standing Committee Chairs do to help spark greater activity at the District level?
Area standing committees coming to the district. A visitor for every meeting? Rarely do DCM’s want the area at district meetings. The area chairs are available to come to the meetings. Ground rules should be set to make sure meetings don’t go over. Agenda’s.
Better communications with area chairs and district chairs. Better understandings of the position that is being undertaken at the District level, yellow sheets. Better communications between district chairs between districts. Offer classes/school on service positions by the area chairs.
Area 75 is working – we are getting more districts involved. Area chair committees are doing the work and communicating well with districts. Could reach out more to university students (e.g. UW Milwaukee, UW Madison, Concordia, Cardinal Stritch, Whitewater) & young people. Can we have a young persons standing committee position in Area and District.
We are carrying the message but we can always do more. Carry the message into treatment and corrections and the constant willingness to try new things. Link more action with goals. There is a sense that the newcomer finds us and that the focus of contact is on the still suffering alcoholic. Frequent contact between the standing committee chairs and the districts serves to strike this spark. The increased use of electronic communication has increased the speed at which we communicate. The more accessible we are – the easier it is for the newcomer to find us. There is an idea of socio-economic status sometimes acting as a barrier of accessibility to the newcomer. We sometimes fall short in that we do not know what we do not know. The area chairs attendance at district open meetings and district workshops serves to widen the communication channels. Increasing the participation of the next generation insures the continuity of the service structure demographic. Analysis can be a tool to show us where the need is. For the message … email tool contact serves to strengthen the bond between the districts and the area. District to district contact.
Also ask people who’ve been around for a while “is this your last meeting?” (Ask how they are doing.) Why aren’t they doing service? As an area chair get out to meetings and talk to people. Invite them to participate in chairs. Explain what is all involved in the different chairs.
Are committee chairs utilizing the corresponding contacts of GSO. Area chairs very willing to visit.
Area chairs can visit districts and communicate with district committee chairs between assemblies. (Area chairs do show up when requested). Continue to keep district info for each committee. Each area chair should have info for each district chair. Ask area service committee to speak at groups.
Do area chairs reach out to DCM’s to let them know it is ok to ask them to come out (ex: emails to touch base now and then). How do DCM’s get district chairs to reach out to area chairs? Encourage utilization. Can a committee person represent area not just specific chair? Partnering & teaming between chairs.
Incorporate our service work in our stories. Let people know that they are part of the area. Doing a good job. Area chairs involvement at district levels (attendance). Area should reach out to “dark” districts.
If the Area DCM’s and GSR’s are bored by the business conducted by the Area meetings, what can be done to change it? How can we improve attendance by DCM’s, GSR’s, District Standing Committee Chairs, and Interested AA’s?
Use of the bell so people stay focused. Keep meetings positive. Have a district host a workshop in the afternoon. How can I tell if GSO recognizes a meeting? Get GSR’s? Electronic meetings? Conference lines? Reimbursable expenses. Take advantage of technology. Skype.
Limit time of reports and meetings. Strengthen one on one fellowship involved at area meetings. Emphasize that groups, DCM’s and GSR’s are the active voice of the fellowship.
Get GSR’s involved on standing committees at district level. Have GSR’s get involved and talking. This way of doing inventory is great. People feel more part of and it sparks enthusiasm. Have GSO panelists come show the videos. Bring other AA’s along to area and district meetings (car ride meetings are good!).
Get in the car, we’re going to a conference. There is the idea that we are “reinventing the wheel” at the area level. There is a question of what level of participation is ideal – is what we have now good enough? Increasing our own enthusiasm goes a long way toward putting an attractive face on service. There is also a sense that the good (what we have) is the enemy of the best (full participation). We all become content with the status quo.
Business meetings are going to be boring “Deal with it”. If you’re in the chair that’s part of it. It has to be done. Get through the boringness of it. Refer to the 3 legacies (unity/service/recovery). Have more workshops to show whats going on at district level. “Attraction with enthusiasm”. Keep their attention. Introduce new GSR’s, DCM’s and make them feel “engaged” at assembly. Ask it basket for questions people are afraid to ask. Bring FOOD. Have our area chair ask if there is anyone new to this area meeting (each meeting) to please stand up and introduce themselves. Then have our former delegates and others speak to the newcomer during the event to make them feel welcome.
Concern: Panels pull people from assembly during conferences. We can improve through service sponsorship.
Have fewer assemblies but cover more. Rotate area meetings, too far to drive. DCM encouragement. Change day of week. Less “live” reports. Written form only. Bored is an attitude and area is very good at being most efficient. More breaks during the meeting. More small group sessions instead of lecture style. Add fun things too. Thank you for the timer.
Lot in common with question 1. Mentor passion between chairs, etc.. Help districts break things down so not overwhelming. Chairs direct traffic between districts. Bored speaks to our defects not our spiritual recovery in service. Does bored mean a person doesn’t understand? CPC School. Workshops during assemblies now that we don’t have agenda planning.
Our responsibility – this must be done. Get the word out; let groups know what’s going on. Bring Food. Keep people accountable. Not be a committee of one.
Why are past Area Delegate’s no longer allowed voting participation in Area business? How does this practice serve the “still suffering alcoholic”?
There is nothing to say that they can’t (service manual). We strongly suggest delegates be allowed to participate (vote).
We need to know why past delegates don’t have a vote? Can we change this so they can vote? We felt and it was expressed that past delegates are not accountable to any one group so … no vote. Also their experience, strength & hope is still heard at area meetings. Why still on roll call?
Past delegates could sway votes if they had a vote. By not voting but getting to share opinions and knowledge and experience. Past delegates are still serving the still suffering alcoholic by being at our area meetings, serving on our ad hoc committees and sharing experience, strength and hope. Healthy. Rotating leadership encourages new people and new ideas.
Idea of rotation – our trusted servants becomes the elder statesmen. This serves the still suffering alcoholic in that each new voice can be heard and that each member has a role.
It has been the wishes of past delegates NOT to vote. Because the newcomer will be able to voice their opinion. Ask newcomer or people who cannot vote for their input so that they feel a part of. “How can we best serve you?”
Perpetuate rotation and keep the voting pool more balanced and rotated. We like it.
Not participating officer stay on advisory only. Spirit of rotation not letting newer voices in service be heard. Why is this an issue? Experience is still valuable. They could sway the vote. Past delegates not directly responsible to anyone.
No need to vote. They keep their voice of experience, strength and hope. They are to mentor not govern. Past delegates take note of dark districts and help reach out.
The groups should represent votes. Share why they don’t – simple explanation.
NOTE: Who is allowed to vote at area 75 assemblies is set by assembly action.
What is the basic purpose of the Area Assembly? Are we fulfilling these purposes? If we are not fulfilling these purposes what should be done to improve this?
Purpose – connect GSR’s DCM’s with their delegate. Needs to start at the bottom. These people are accessible. Use them. Anyone can ask for visits from the area.
Sharing of information. Carry the message. Fellowship.. Improve on others? See above.
Basic purpose of area assembly – election of delegate and regional trustee. Standing committees do the work that can’t be done at the district level. Be enthusiastic, make it attractive and bring others on board. Communication is key. Keep on stating the message. How do we better communicate what goes on at the area? How can we ensure people read the area handbook? Concept studies.
Communication, accomplish the business of the area, clearing house of information. We are fulfilling these purposes – yes but we can do better. More enthusiasm – breeds higher participation – breeds higher participation – breeds more interest – breeds more lives saved by carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous.
To go over AA business of area – geographical radius of the area. We think we are fulfilling this.
Create a channel for groups – GSR’s – DCM’s – connect and pass info – thoughts committee meetings. Share info/ideas what works. Yes we are fulfilling this. Outgoing chairs giving incoming chairs background info.
To carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic. Enthusiasm, education and communication. Thank you for GSR schools. Is providing checks and balances and accountability. Yes we are fulfilling the purpose! Providing education and support to districts thus groups.
Carry message area to gage if we are carrying the message to the alcoholic and structure. Mentor as stated in question 3. Open honest business on goings. Facilitate 12-step work. Validate. Assimilate. Hub between GSO and Area. Elections. Concept studies.
Communication between different levels. Get people involved! We are!
Do the trusted servants of Area 75 (Area Delegate, Alternate, Area Officers, Area Standing Committee Chairs, DCM’s, communicate sufficiently at the area level? Is there adequate discussion throughout the year? Are Area Assemblies well attended? Are reports adequate and frequent enough? How can we do a better job of communicating?
How can people with out access to the Internet obtain it? DCM’s that don’t have to get word out quickly can print and bring it to the district meetings. If the word needs to get out quickly make it personal (phone calls).
Better instructions on service positions from the area chairs to the district chairs. EX: CPC School, PI school. Districts need to receive acknowledgment that committee members are reading their minutes and provide feedback or visit.
Skype & blogging. Young person sharing. Different areas sharing ideas. Have someone from GSO (Phyllis) talk to us at area meeting or Skype. Feed the area assembly. Examples: Concepts workshop with free pizza. Sharing sessions during a lunch (or at winter service meeting?) on controversial subjects (spirituality, are we inclusive or exclusive? Paintball fight – shoot at your favorite past delegate.
The trusted servants communicate well at the area level. The discussion is frequent and adequate. The participation /attendance is good but it always could be better. Out of almost 1000 groups 150 is ok but it could always improve. Reports are adequate and frequent.
Everyone is aware of the communications that are out there. At area level be more cautious about making “blind carbon copies”.
We believe they are fulfilling their duties and communicate sufficiently. Dark districts – possibly reaching out via ad hoc committee or alternate delegate or past delegate. Reports from districts – is there a format for reports. Are reports available online. District reports are reported in the assembly minutes (NOTE: see www.area75.org minutes of prior meetings are posted)
DCM sharing/brainstorming sessions. Always available for questions and help. DCM’s better at forwarding minutes. Thank you for email. DCM to better share with GSR’s.
Spend on tasks at hand. Written reports with minutes. GSR, CPC School. Over communicating can drive people away. Define adequate? Justify expenses and eliminate fluff. Will fall conference weekend be replaced with fall assembly? What is our primary purpose? Three legacies. One-on-one.
Good at listening. Good at reporting. How can we do better.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Flyers are out for the Area 75 Spring Conference and packets in the back – please all Districts pick-up their packets of flyers.
Flyers at the back table for WICYPAA – in Wisconsin Dells
Flyers for the Women to Women Conference at the back table at upstairs
Take the last of the Final Conference Reports
This afternoon there are Standing Committee Meetings – please see the programs for the meetings
Also from 1 pm to 3:15 pm there is a GSR School
Grapevine submissions by Young People in AA are being requested by the end of November 2009
Finance Committee has not had a chance to meet so cannot recommend anything to the Assembly regarding a contribution to GSO; this business will need to be handled in January.
The meeting closed at 11:50 am with the Responsibility Declaration:
“When anyone, anywhere reaches out, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there, and for that; I am responsible!”
Upcoming events:
11/13/09 thru 11/15/09 - ECR Forum in Kalamazoo, MI
1/24/10 – Winter Service Assembly, Madison Senior Center
2/12-14/10 – Conference of Delegates Past and Present
3/21/10 – Delegates Workshop, Madison Senior Center
4/11/10 – Pre-Conference Assembly, Madison Senior Center
4/18-25/10 – General Service Conference
4/30-5/2/10 – Area 75 Spring Conference, Olympia Resort, Oconomowoc, WI
6/13/10 – Summer Service Assembly, Madison Senior Center
7/1/10 thru 7/4/10 – AA International Convention, San Antonio, TX
10/17/10 – Fall Service Assembly (Elections), Madison Senior Center