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| Alcoholics Anonymous in Southern Wisconsin | ||
Alcoholic’s Anonymous – Area 75
11:30a.m., 6/26/11
Summer Service Assembly
Madison Senior Center
MINUTES
OFFICERS PRESENT:
Nancy H.-Delegate; Todd U.-Alt Delegate/Literature; Randy R. -Area Chairperson; Lee Ann F.-Alt Chair; Matt K.-Secretary; Kathy W.-Alt Secretary; Drew A.-Treasurer; John B.-Alt. Treasurer.
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PRESENT:
Ken N.-Corrections Chair; Brent W.-CPC Chair; Stu E.-Grapevine Chair; Barb W.-PI Chair; Thomas D.-Special Needs Chair; Lori S.-Treatment Chair; Nancy S.-Archivist; Terry R.-Alternate Archive Chair; Conference Advisory Chair-Bob S.
DCM’S PRESENT
D1-Scott J. (alt); D3-Pietje M. (alt); D7-Jill G. (alt).; D8-Dave A.; D11-Wendy A.; D12-Karen K.; D13-Mel F.; D16- Mark V.; D17-John H.; D20-Jessica S.; D22-Herbert P.; D23-Thomas B.; D24-Ray M.; D25-Danny C.; D27-Nealy R. (Alt); D28-Greg L.; D29-Lynn G.; D31-Kris C.; D30-Paul F. (alt); D34 Sue M.; D36-Peter W.
GSR’S and ALT GSR’s PRESENT:
D1-Steve S., Tom M., Bart V., Scott J.; D2-Bob T., Bill G., Chris B.; D3-Pietje M., Mary M., Patrick M., Gary V.; D4-Dave H., D11-Debrac C.; D12-Betty W., Tony G.; D13-Mark G., Wendy B., Kathy H.; D16-Dick H., Gerald W., Suzanne J., Michelle H., Gregg R.; D17-Tara H., Penny L., Darrel S., Steve N., Ted B., Nicholas R.; D20-Ed C., Elle L., Morgan B., Jennifer V.; D22-Julie L.; D28-Rick H., Steve H.; D29-Jeff G.; D31-Charlie, Dennis C.; D34-Lindsay F., Steve L., Cidny B., Christine C.
DISTRICT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS PRESENT;
D1-Joe S.; D16-Bill K., D17-Steve N.; D20-Rich B., Sean M., Penny R.; D24-June B.; D25-Jeff Z..; D32-Hawk M.; D34-EJ P.
OTHERS PRESENT: Past Delegates: Joan J., Ken G., Jo M., Nancy G.; George P., Stu E., Members At Large: John B., Fred K., Les M.
Randy R., Area Chairperson, opened the meeting with a moment of silence, followed by the serenity prayer.
George P., read the Twelve Concepts.
Matt K., Area Secretary, took Roll Call.
SECRETARY’S REPORT - Matt K.
Secretary requested that new DCM’s submit their information to Area 75 Registrar JD O.
The minutes from the 2011 Spring Conference were approved as printed.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Drew A.
Treasurer’s Report
Summer Service Assembly 2011
|
Total Assets |
Dec 31 2010 |
June 18 2011 |
Difference |
|
Banking Account |
|
|
|
|
General Funds |
$25,708.17 |
$20,606.80 |
($5,101.37) |
|
Corrections Literature Fund 1 |
$2,133.20 |
$539.00 |
($1,594.20) |
|
Prudent Reserve |
$5,000.00 |
$5,000.00 |
$ 0.00 |
|
Banking Account Total |
$32,841.37 |
$26,145.80 |
($6,695.57) |
|
Conference Seed Money 2 |
$2,000.00 |
$1,000.00 |
($1,000.00) |
|
Total Assets |
$34,841.37 |
$27,145.80 |
($7,695.57) |
|
Net Gain / Loss |
June 18 2011 YTD Total Income |
June 18 2011 YTD Total Expense |
Gain (Loss) |
|
General Funds |
$10,103.88 |
$16,205.25 |
($6,101.37) |
|
Corrections Literature Fund |
$1,792.81 |
$3,387.01 |
($1,594.20) |
|
Budget vs Expenses as of June 18 2011 |
|||
|
Officer / Chair |
Budget |
Actual |
Difference |
|
Alternate Chair |
$984.00 |
$- |
$984.00 |
|
Alternate Delegate |
$2,490.00 |
$588.05 |
$1,901.95 |
|
Alternate Secretary |
$275.00 |
$- |
$275.00 |
|
Alternate Treasurer |
$341.25 |
$126.60 |
$214.65 |
|
Archives Chair |
$700.00 |
$- |
$700.00 |
|
Archivist |
$3,300.00 |
$2,584.57 |
$715.43 |
|
Area Chair |
$2,337.00 |
$424.75 |
$1,912.25 |
|
CPC Chair |
$1,970.00 |
$475.00 |
$1,495.00 |
|
Corrections Chair |
$5,201.81 |
$583.76 |
$4,618.05 |
|
Delegate |
$4,665.00 |
$2,130.58 |
$2,534.42 |
|
Grapevine Chair |
$2,796.00 |
$872.28 |
$1,923.72 |
|
Overhead |
$9,185.00 |
$6,513.79 |
$2,671.21 |
|
PI Chair |
$1,198.00 |
$278.47 |
$919.53 |
|
Secretary |
$2,148.00 |
$633.75 |
$1,514.25 |
|
Special Needs Chair |
$1,181.00 |
$- |
$1,181.00 |
|
Treasurer |
$1,890.00 |
$364.20 |
$1,525.80 |
|
Treatment |
$1,278.00 |
$629.45 |
$648.55 |
|
Total Expenses |
$41,940.06 |
$16,205.25 |
$25,734.81 |
|
Expenses by Category Jan 1 – June 18 2011
|
|
|
General Funds Income and Expenses: Year-over-Year Comparison |
Jan 1 – May 31 2010 |
Jan 1 – May 31 2011 |
Difference |
|
Income3 |
$14,000.86 |
$8,709.43 |
($5,291.43) |
|
Expenses |
$9,678.49 |
$14,347.04 |
$4,668.55 |
|
Corrections Fund Income and Expenses: Year-over-Year Comparison |
Jan 1 – May 31 2010 |
Jan 1 – May 31 2011 |
Difference |
|
Income |
$2,909.83 |
$1,531.03 |
($1,378.80) |
|
Expenses |
$2,203.90 |
$3,387.01 |
$1,183.11 |
|
Expenses by department: year-over-year comparison
|
||||
|
Officer / Chair |
CY 2010 Budget |
CY 2011 Budget |
May 31, 2010 Actual |
May 31, 2011 Actual |
|
Alternate Chair |
$895.00 |
$984.00 |
$135.82 |
$- |
|
Alt Delegate |
$2,245.00 |
$2,490.00 |
$616.77 |
$588.05 |
|
Alt Secretary |
$416.00 |
$275.00 |
$0.00 |
$- |
|
Alt Treasurer |
$315.00 |
$341.25 |
$0.00 |
$126.60 |
|
Archives Chair |
$638.00 |
$700.00 |
$0.00 |
$- |
|
Archivist |
$3,301.00 |
$3,300.00 |
$2,872.57 |
$2,012.46 |
|
Area Chair |
$1,309.00 |
$2,337.00 |
$0.00 |
$424.75 |
|
CPC Chair |
$1,810.00 |
$1,970.00 |
$450.00 |
$475.00 |
|
Corrections Chair |
$2,063.00 |
$5,201.81 |
$489.50 |
$583.76 |
|
Delegate |
$4,111.00 |
$4,665.00 |
$2,533.19 |
$2,130.58 |
|
Grapevine Chair |
$1,568.00 |
$2,796.00 |
$0.00 |
$615.95 |
|
Overhead |
$4,180.00 |
$9,185.00 |
$1,841.62 |
$5,762.49 |
|
PI Chair |
$1,090.00 |
$1,198.00 |
$0.00 |
$- |
|
Secretary |
$1,968.00 |
$2,148.00 |
$0.00 |
$633.75 |
|
Special Needs |
$1,077.00 |
$1,181.00 |
$273.29 |
$- |
|
Treasurer |
$1,456.00 |
$1,890.00 |
$465.73 |
$364.20 |
|
Treatment |
$1,083.00 |
$1,278.00 |
$0.00 |
$629.45 |
|
Total Expenses |
$29,525.00 |
$41,940.06 |
$9,678.49 |
$14,347.04 |
|
Expenses by category: year-over-year comparison |
|||
|
Expense Category |
Spend as of May 31 2010 |
Spend as of May 31 2011 |
Difference |
|
Archives Rent |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
$0.00 |
|
GSO Conference Extra |
$0.00 |
$4,600.00 |
$4,600.00 |
|
GSO Conference Fee |
$1,200.00 |
$1,200.00 |
$0.00 |
|
Health Fair Booth Fee |
$450.00 |
$475.00 |
$25.00 |
|
Literature |
$148.20 |
$17.60 |
($130.60) |
|
Lodging |
$1,131.44 |
$883.30 |
($248.14) |
|
Meals |
$289.00 |
$395.00 |
$106.00 |
|
Mileage |
$1,927.30 |
$2,903.80 |
$976.50 |
|
Misc Office Expense |
$654.61 |
$384.58 |
($270.03) |
|
Postage |
$431.54 |
$187.69 |
($243.85) |
|
Printing/Copies |
$968.90 |
$1,175.07 |
$206.17 |
|
$130.00 |
$194.00 |
$64.00 |
|
|
Rent |
$1,147.50 |
$731.00 |
($416.50) |
|
Total Expenses |
$9,678.49 |
$14,347.04 |
$4,668.55 |
Miscellaneous
All
contributions should be made payable to Area 75 Treasurer and mailed
to
Area
75 Treasurer
PMB #167
5464 North Port Washington
Rd.
Glendale, WI 53217
Please use the contribution form when sending in a donation. The form can be found on the Area 75 website at http://www.area75.org/forms/donations.pdf
The Finance Committee has determined the GSO Conference Fee should be classified as an Overhead expense beginning in 2012.
The Finance Committee members are Drew A., John B., Ken G., Nancy G., Fred K. and Theresa W.
The treasurer’s report was approved by the Assembly.
DELEGATE’S REPORT – Nancy H.
Some of my activities since the Pre-Conference Assembly on April 10th have included:
Attendance at the 61st Annual General Service Conference in New York, May 1-7, 2011 and presenting my report at the Spring Conference Assembly on May 21st, 2011.
Attended a district meeting in District 25, Fond du Lac on April 12th
Spoke at the secretaries meeting at the Milwaukee Central Office on May 8th.
Attended a district meeting in District 20, Madison, on May 31st.
Attended a district meeting in District 24, Thiensville, on June 21st.
Attended the Wisconsin/UP Corrections Conference in Shawano on June 18th
Attended a workshop on Sponsorship and Service in District 23 in Waupun on June 25th.
The summer issue of Box 459 is available online and I also have copies here today. Copies were also mailed to all groups. Main contents of this issue is a summary of the 61st General Service Conference.
Final Conference Reports are expected to be mailed to Delegates in early August. If you want copies for your group or district before the Fall Service Assembly please contact me so that arrangements can be made to get copies from me to you.
The survey that was authorized by the 61st General Service Conference will take place in early August. 12 groups in Area 75 have been selected. I will be contacting the groups selected and arrange to attend a meeting or to have someone attend in my place to fulfill the requirements of the survey.
Contribution reports for 2011 through March were sent to each group in May. Only 19% of the groups registered with G.S.O. in area 75 contributed to G.S.O in the first quarter. I have the report with me if any one has questions about their group or district.
Rotation of staff at G.S.O. will occur on July 11th. When I receive a copy of the revised staff assignment list I will forward it to all on my distribution list. The only assignments that I am aware of so far is that Eva S. will replace Adrienne B. as Conference Coordinator, Adrienne B. will move to C.P.C., Mary C. will move from C.P.C. To Public Information.
Electronic availability of the Big Book and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions in the 2nd half of this year continues to be a target. I do not have any additional information since my report from the 61st General Service Conference.
Anonymity in our digital age continues to cause us to be reminded of our tradition of anonymity at the public level. Recently articles have appeared in major newspapers where members have broken their anonymity publicly. Facebook and other social media also continue to be a concern. Please remember our traditions. Perhaps a discussion on the traditions and how they apply to our personal lives could be a topic for a group meeting.
The East Central Regional Convention will be held July 22 - 24th in Columbus, Indiana (near Indianapolis). I will be speaking on a panel and if you attend the ice cream social on Saturday evening I am scheduled to scoop ice cream. I brought some flyers today or contact me and I can email one to you.
Have you ever attended a Regional Forum? Forums are held in our region every other year with an additional Forum held once every 8 years. The East Central Region will have a Forum this November in Miamisburg, Ohio (near Dayton). There is no registration fee for Forum's. They are put on by the A.A. General Service Board and open to anyone interested in A.A. The purpose is to enhance communication and participation among A.A. Members, the General Service Board, and staff and directors from the General Service Office Staff and the A.A. Grapevine. I have brochures available today and brochures will also be mailed to all G.S.R.'s and D.C.M.'s. Information and online registration is available online at www.aa.org.
Area/District Newsletters and Minutes. The following was included in a recent communication I received from GSO. “We welcome the opportunity to receive area newsletters and minutes, and always enjoy the sharing reflected in these. One copy mailed or emailed to the attention of the Conference Coordinator would help avoid duplication and possibly reduce some of your area and district mailing costs. All of the area/district newsletters and minutes that come to G.S.O. are forwarded to the Conference assignment, regardless of who these are addressed to. From there, one copy is placed in a circulating folder that is distributed to staff, the general manger, Archives, A.A. Grapevine, etc.” The email address for the Conference Coordinator is: conference@aa.org
In that regard I would like to mention that I am not getting minutes from all of the districts. Some who have sent them in the past have stopped – probably due to rotation of district secretaries. Please add delegate@area75.org to your mailing lists for minutes. If you are using snail mail my address is in the area directory. It is helpful if minutes are sent to all of the area officers and standing committee chairs to help us stay connected and informed.
I have several District visits scheduled. If you would like me to participate in a District meeting or at a District event please contact me so that I can get it on my calendar.
Nancy H., Area 75 Delegate, Panel 61
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT – Randy R.
It is with great pleasure and honor that I report all my activities since the 2011 Spring Conference. As most of you may already know I was the 2011 Spring Conference Treasures which has consumed most of my time since April. The conference is over and (speaking for myself) I couldn’t be happier.
I had an opportunity to visit District 25. I met for the first time the acting Interim DCM (Dani) for whom I will say is doing a phenomenal job as the acting DCM. Dani has struck me as a strong leader and in my opinion that is exactly what District 25 needs, especially now. I also had the opportunity to visit District 28 and was able to observe how the DCM (Greg L.) expresses his leadership and responsibilities to the District... Greg is also doing an outstanding job at exhibiting his strong commitment to following the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I also had the experience of driving myself, Terry R., Les M. Nancy H., Jeff Z. and
Chris S. to the Annual Corrections Conference that was held in Shawno, WI on June 18th. I had a good time driving up and especially on the way home. The day started at 400am (what else do you do at 400am) for me. I picked up the first rider at 445am. We picked up Nancy H. at 530am and met the other 3 at a truck stop in Fond du Lac for Breakfast. The Conference started at 900am and went till 300pm, it was very informative and I was invigorated and energized at the end, which gave our bus load lots to talk about on the way home. A spirited conference as far as I was concerned.
On Saturday June 25th, I attended Districts 23’s Workshop “Service and Sponsorship” at Holy Trinity Church, 315 Jefferson Street, Waupun. Districts 23’s DCM Tomas B. and the committee did an excellent job at organizing the event. Both speakers carried a solid message, followed by many questions, “Keep up the Good Work DST 23”.
As much as I tried to visit my friends in District 9 on June 25th, the logistics became insurmountable as to journey there after District 25 and then get back to Brookfield only to reload the car and go to Madison today. I have prioritized my calendar to ensure that I will visit District 9 in the very near future.
I have been teaming up with the Alt. Chair about getting the word out to all DCM’s and GSR’s about obtaining questions for the Area 75 Inventory that will be taking place at the Fall Assembly. Please e-mail, snail mail, phone me with any questions you might like considered.
To all of the Districts sending me your minutes please keep sending and for those who aren’t please add me to your mailing list bls1825@wi.rr.com. Please keep all of the Standing Chairs, Officers Delegates Past and Present in mind for a visit to your District meeting.
A reminder for the upcoming East Central Regional Conference (July 22 – 24th, 2011) being held in Columbus, Ohio. Call me for more information if you are planning on going.
My personal goal as your Area Chair is to visit all districts at least once during their scheduled District Meeting time this year. I will be looking forward to seeing all of you at your district meetings.
Thank You for the Honor
Yours in Service
Randy R.
Area 75 Chairperson
ALT CHAIR / DARK DISTRICT—Lee Ann F.
I am pleased to announce District 22 has a DCM: Herbert P., who is here today! Thank you Herbert for your service.
Thank
you Joan, Edween and Erin for your help with District 34.
Our
Dark District Committee has been busy helping Districts 4/22,
23, and we have a flicker of activity with 35.
Thank you Nancy G. for facilitating a very helpful DCM Share today! 16 DCM's and 3 Alternate DCM's represented a total of 18 participating Districts in our Share session. There was a great exchange of ideas and activities such as 7th Tradition, workshops and how to reach out to groups for GSR participation. We will enthusiastically continue the DCM Share Sessions during future Area 75 Assembly meetings. Thanks everyone for making it a value added meeting!
We continue to be a resource for all of our Districts. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions and/or to share concerns, ideas, solutions.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lee Ann F.
ARCHIVE CHAIR – Read by Nancy S.
Paul E. had to resign as Archives Chairperson due to personal reasons. We are in the process of collecting resumes for a new Archives Chair. If anyone is interested I have resumes with me so you can be considered for the position. We need to have this position filled as soon as possible.
We will be having the 6th annual movie day again this year. November 13th is the tentative date. I learned in the past that a Sunday afternoon football game can take priority to movie day. As of now the packers don’t play on that date but until the packers and the NFL settle their labor dispute I can’t be sure when, or if they are playing. So watch the calendar on the Area 75 web site or look for a flyer in the near future.
The web site address is www.area75.org. On the lower left side of the home page is a link to the archives material. You will find a flyer with the hours and location of the archives room and you can print the Area 75 Archives workbook.
One of the projects that is in the making is another link so you will be able to see pictures of the Archives room. It is not a dark dungeon with boxes but rather a large room that is comfortable and welcoming.
You can read any of the 46 original Newspaper style Grapevines that we have of the 51 issues from June 1944 – August 1948. Or sit down and go through early correspondences between cities in Wisconsin and New York between1939 – 1952. See the Alcoholics Anonymous stamp that was issued August 19, 1981. We also have the first Milwaukee Between Us from October of 1952. We have most of the 1950’s and 1960’s Between Us when they too were a newspaper style. These are only a few of the materials you will find when you come to visit.
The Archives of Area75 is yours. You helped make it what it is when you sent the district minutes, district fliers, district when and where’s, and other materials. The room belongs to you. Come and find out where you have been.
Thank you for letting me serve you,
Nancy S
Area 75 Archivist
CPC CHAIR – Brent W.
I was asked to be the presenter by the AA VA presentation committee. The V.A. Hospital in Milwaukee has invited AA to give this presentation to health care staff twice in the last 6 months. The presentation consists of the CPC video, local district meeting lists, GSO CPC literature, a brief personal share by the presenter, followed by a Q&A session. Special thanks to Mike T., Kathy M., Julie L,, and Peter M. for coming up with a presentation format that has resulted in very positive feedback from the V.A. Staff.
Thank you to District 32, 33 and Stu E. for helping to staff the AA booth at this year’s WAAODA Conference. Attendance seemed to be low for this years conference, and only about the literature was distributed to attendees.
I also had the opportunity to speak with the staff at two Milwaukee area treatment centers and provided them with AA literature and local meeting lists.
Thank you to District 13 for inviting me to your last business meeting. I shared my experience with service work and am happy to report that District 13 has a new CPC Chair. Thank you Carrie B. for being of service.
In Service,
Brent W.
CORRECTIONS CHAIR – Ken N.
I have been to a few district meetings and MCCC (Milwaukee County Corrections Committee), and they seem to be holding their own. We the committee have distributed about $1,400 in literature this year so far. The funds are very low. We have new Corrections Literature Fund labels on the table with the cans. Please if you use the funds for your district do not forget the Area, as the Area needs a lot of help. At the Spring Conference the committee had about twelve people attend.
On June 5, 2011 I met with District 2 DCM Jane J., Jan B., Lt. Joel Gerth (who is from the Green Lake County jail) and about fifteen other AA’s. We are are proceeding to get AA meetings in the facility. It is going to take some time, but it is feasible. Lt. Gerth is very interested, but stated that it is a new facility and that it will take some time.
Joe S. went to the WI/UP Corrections workshop and will report.
Ken N.
Area 75 Corrections Chair
PI CHAIR – Barb W.
Since the last time I reported in, I attended the Area 75 Spring Conference. We had a combined meeting with the CPC Committee. The main discussion concerned what people were doing in their districts.
On Jun3 18th I attended a Family Empowerment Summit that was put on by Milwaukee Public Schools. Lynn G. from District 29 & Julie L. from Districts 4 & 22 helped answer questions and hand out literature to families and professionals that attended.
I have been working to keep the Website up to day, not only the calendar, but the committees’ sections as well. I want to thank all the committees who have updated their section of the website. I have worked with a few districts to update their district meeting or the meetings within their district.
I am available to visit your district, or answer questions.
Respectfully submitted,
Barb W.
Area 75 PI Chair
AREA WEBMASTER Allen B.
No report
SPECIAL NEEDS CHAIR –Thomas D.
The Special Needs Committee has had several very productive periods. We expect to be able to implement our top three priorities prior to the next assembly. They are focused on greater accessibility 1) to the committee, the how-to of having a committee, and materials available; and 2) accessibility to Alcoholics Anonymous by people with special needs. They are:
A letter to advocacy service groups alerting them to the existence of AA and asking their advice on how we might be helpful;
Developing a display for conferences and use by districts to heighten awareness of the people and materials available; and
Augmenting the web with a Special Needs “handbook” to provide new District Chairs with the tools for understanding their responsibilities and the materials available to do so.
Letter – The letter to the groups will be finalized within the next few weeks and mailed shortly thereafter. Nealy R. has helped create a mail merge from the list of advocacy groups and we will augment the list with whatever other suggestions we receive from committee members and others. We will discuss this project with the area intergroups as we want them to be the initial contact point. The intent is that the groups will contact the intergroup in their area who can then contact appropriate people for follow up.
Display - Area 16 has been doing great work creating a display for Special Needs that will be set up at assemblies and conferences and available to districts. The purpose is to heighten awareness of the issues of accessibility and the availability of various tools to make AA more accessible.
The “Handbook” - The Committee is developing a list of tools available to the new chairperson that they may more easily find what is available to them and obtain suggestions on how to develop priorities for their local committee. The links will connect with accessibility materials, the Special Needs Workbook, how to get started, and a list of materials available through Area 75 among other things.
Finally, the Committee assisted Area 10 in putting on a Spanish to English workshop at the Spring (perhaps now “annual”) Assembly by providing equipment and translators.
In Service
Respectfully submitted:
Tom D., Chair, Special Needs Committee
TREATMENT CHAIR – Lori S.
We have identified some areas that needed to be brought to the attention of the assembly.
We heard some conflicting information regarding the meeting at the VA. One opinion is that the meetings are very successful, with 20-25 individuals attending. The AA's in the group are finally feeling comfortable enough to open up in the meetings. On the other hand, another opinion is that meetings are not going well at all. The VA has a past history of not notifying the patients that AA is available in the facility. The Sponsorship issue is a hot topic, because sponsorship is not being addressed as it should. Only 2 AA's are taking meetings in, and they are NOT being run as AA meetings should. Questions have been asked as to whether VA meetings are registered. There is always a need for more sponsors, particularly men.
District 15 is having difficulty with jail meetings.
District 20 was taking meetings into Mendota for a while, but they are no longer because there is nobody interested in taking meetings in any longer. Other facilities in the area are interested in literature, but not meetings.
We have stressed the use of "What AA does and does not do".
We are getting people interested in Bridging The Gap. People were signing up with their districts at the Assembly.
Kudos to those who are stepping up to this line of service.
Thank You for the opportunity to be of Service.
Lori S.,
Area 75 Treatment/BTG Chair
GRAPEVINE CHAIR – Stu E.
Good morning! Welcome all to the Area 75 Summer Service Assembly. The Area 75 Grapevine Committee met as scheduled this morning, and we had our usual sharing of experience, strength, and hope as related to our International Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous™. We will next meet at the Area 75 2011 Fall Service Assembly.
On the subject of News from the AA Grapevine and its Editorial Staff and Board, I have a few new things to report:
The NEW Grapevine Online subscription has arrived! After July 1st, cost for a really comprehensive package will be $34.97. There are numerous other single-product and bundle options. See www.aagrapevine.org for pricing and options.
The www.aagrapevine.org website has undergone some MAJOR upgrades this year. We of the GV Committee are excited about this and encourage ALL members to visit the site!
The GrapeNet Forum online Is undergoing repairs at the moment.
We would like to BILLBOARD the 7-Day Free Trial Subscription to Grapevine Online ... a painless way to try out a digital subscription. This is a GREAT deal!
A printable version of the Grapevine Product Catalog is available online too. It has really nice graphics and is very readable. Well done to the Grapevine staff for this version of the catalog!
For online subscriptions, several payment options are available, with more coming. As far as I know, this is because members have requested these options.
If you are looking to switch from your print subscription to any version of the online subscription products, every effort is being made to accommodate you. Call 1-800-631-6025 (English) or 1-800-640-8781 (Spanish).
In both print and digital versions, the July issue is the annual prison issue. It is available now.
Print subscription prices will be going up $2.00 on July 1st to $28.97.
LaVina Will celebrate its 15th ANNIVERSARY with the July/August issue. Be sure to look for the celebratory edition!
There is also some news on how the AA Grapevine is doing. I have gleaned this from several sources, like the AAGrapevine website and the most recent issue of Box 4-5-9. Current print subscriptions for 2011 have varied between 84,500 and 88,000 copies per month, depending on the month. No real trending is apparent. Budgeting is based on an anticipated average circulation of 88,235. Current digital subscription numbers have surpassed 1,000 per month. The Grapevine anticipates a loss of $93,970 for 2011 and LaVina anticipates a loss of $114,697 on 8,517 anticipated subscriptions, average.
So, what can we do here? We trusted servants can enthusiastically encourage members to consider subscribing to the magazine version of their choosing and to consider purchasing one or more of the Grapevine's excellent books or other products. We might consider using some of our various committee budgets to purchase Grapevine and LaVina materials if they fit into our service. It's OUR magazine, and it is up to us to support it!
A reminder--The Corrections Literature Fund supports AA literature, Grapevine/LaVina subscriptions and Grapevine/LaVina materials for use in corrections meetings whenever local funding does not exist for these resources. IF you as a Corrections Chair or Outside Sponsor require a subscription to Grapevine/LaVina for your jail or prison meeting, please fill out a subscription or order form and mail it to me or to our Area 75 Corrections Chair. DO INCLUDE A BRIEF note telling us that you ARE the outside sponsor, what YOUR contact information is, and which facility and meeting the items will be used in. That helps us maintain some accountability of this fund.
Finally, I am available to visit your district meetings and your local events or workshops to share more about the A.A. and Grapevine an LaVina. Sharing involves listening too, and I am eager to hear what you, your district committee, and your group have to say about the Grapevine and LaVina.
I thank you for this opportunity to serve you and A.A.
Yours in Recovery &Service
Stu E.
Area 75 Grapevine Chair
ALT DELEGATE/LITERATURE CHAIR – Todd U.
I would like to welcome those of you who are attending your first Area 75 meeting. I hope that it has been a positive experience for you and that you in turn will encourage others from your home group and districts to attend.
In addition to serving as the Area 75 Alternate Delegate, I also serve as your Area 75 Literature Chair. I will keep you informed of new developments and changes to the conference approved literature available from A.A. World Services Inc.
Our committee displays A.A. literature and audiovisual material at every possible area and district function and selling literature at those functions helps to carry the A.A. message and fulfill our primary purpose.
I attended the May 21, 2011,60th Annual Area 75 Spring Conference hosted by the Milwaukee Area AA Districts at the Sheraton Milwaukee – Brookfield Hotel.
I am sorry I was unable to attend the summer service assembly but I am moving this weekend.
Last month the following three recommendations from the 2011 Conference Committee on Literature resulted in advisory actions.
A. The revised draft pamphlet “The A.A. Member–Medications and Other Drugs” be approved.
B. The trustee’s Literature Committee continues the development of
literature which focuses on spirituality that includes stories from atheists and agnostics
who are successfully sober in Alcoholics Anonymous.
Replace the text under “When you’re a G.S.R.” in the pamphlet
“G.S.R. General Service Representative” and reflect the accurate history of the General Service Representative.
Additionally
Reviewed and accepted the progress report from the trustee’s Literature Committee on the revision of the pamphlet “A.A. and the Armed Services.”
Reviewed draft revisions to the Living Sober booklet.
Price updates from the publications department
The 2010 “My World” Public Service announcement is now $10
The CPC, Corrections, PI, Special Needs and TF kits are $18 each
12 steps and 12 Traditions in American Sign Language and on VHS are same as the hard covered book version.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the district secretaries that forward copies of their meeting minutes to me. It’s an invaluable tool to me, all of our Area officers and Standing Committee Chairs, in determining the needs of our A.A. community
I am available to attend district meetings as your Area Literature Chair if you would like and I look forward to seeing all of you again at the upcoming Fall Service Assembly – October 16 at the Madison Senior Center .
I hope to see you all there.
In Service,
Todd U. - Panel 61 Alternate Delegate & Literature Chair
Alternate Chair/Dark District Report—Lee Ann F.
No written report.
CONFERENCE ADVISORY REPORT CHAIR – Bob S.
No written report.
SPRING 2011 CONFERENCE CHAIR – Ken N.
The Conference went very well. We had 586 people registered. There were 204 for dinner. And 94 for breakfast. The good news is that all the bills are paid and we broke even. The bad news is we lost money due to the language in the hotel contract that was signed by myself and Randy R. as advised by our Advisors. So when advisors of future Conferences advise chairs PLEASE read it very carefully and read the fine
print. The Committee would like to thank everyone that came to the Conference .
Also the panels that shared. The volunteers that helped did a great job. There were will be a finale report at the Fall Assembly after the bank account is closed.
Committee chair,
Ken N
2011 Conference Financial Report—Randy R.
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Hotel Expenses |
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Conference Receipt"s |
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Banquet Minimum |
$9,000.00 |
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Registration |
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Banquet Minium Not Met |
$1,607.14 |
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Dinners |
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Guest Rooms |
$1,670.45 |
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Breakfasts |
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$12,277.59 |
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$16,269.00 |
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Conference Expenses |
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Bill W.-- Registration Form |
$523.00 |
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Committee Chair Expenses |
$5,275.52 |
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Bill W. ---Cash |
$50.00 |
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(minus $1,670.45) Guest Rooms |
-$1,670.45 |
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Bill W. Fund 2010 Conference |
$94.00 |
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Hospitality Donations Cash |
$60.00 |
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$3,605.07 |
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District Donations |
$210.00 |
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$937.00 |
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Area 75 Seed Money |
$1,000.00 |
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Closed Checking Acct. CC $200.54 |
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$1,000.00 |
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Cash From Conference $132.71 |
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Member Refunds |
$242.00 |
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$333.25 |
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$242.00 |
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Bank Fee's |
$83.95 |
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$83.95 |
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Total |
$17,208.61 |
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Total |
$17,539.25 |
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$17,539.25 - $17,208.61 = $330.64 |
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$330.64 is a net profit for the 2011 Spring Conference |
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$200.54 to Area 75 General Treasury |
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$130.10 forwarded to 2012 Conference for Bill W. Foundation |
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Items Not Credited For |
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Ice Cream Social 20 Sold @ $5.00= $100.00 |
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Deli Lunch $527.00 |
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Bottomless Mugs |
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Friday Sales 41 @ $15.00/each $615.00 |
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Saturday Sales 11 @ $15.00/each $165.00 |
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$1,407.30 |
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SPRING 2012 CONFERENCE CHAIR – Penny R.
Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Madison, May 4-6, 2012
Committee is on schedule
Registration flyers are now available. DCMs should have received a supply at the 2011 Conference held last month in Brookfield. If you have not received yours, please let me know. A supply of flyers will go out to the central offices this week.
Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.
Yours in service,
Penny R.
Conference Co-Chairperson
SPRING 2013 CONFERENCE CHAIR – Bob S.
No written report.
MAICO –
No report.
Winnebago Land Central Office – Randy R. for Les M.
We’ve been ordering extra literature, getting ready for the EAA Fly In. We have meetings up there on the grounds daily. We also take literature up there for sale. Our sales have been down a little this summer due to the construction out front on Main street. Our sales at the first Sunday Breakfast are doing well & 3rd Sunday breakfast is doing well also. We also take literature wherever we are asked. Also, our new price list is 80% complete.
Our hotline is manned by all volunteers during the day, transferred to a volunteer phone line at night, and transferred to the Blandine House on weekends. Also we have two co-chairs handling the hotline.
We are also working on getting our website up and running. We had Ken & Nancy at our Central Office to share about websites & group reps.
Winnebagoland Central Office Chairman,
Les M
MILWAUKEE CENTRAL OFFICE – Nancy S. for Dan F.
The office is open Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm. We continue to host 13 meetings a week. Monday through Friday 12:15pm and 4pm. Saturday’s we now have a beginners meeting at 9:15 along with the 10:30am and 3pm meeting. The hotline is manned 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
As of June 1st Jim B has retired as director of Greater Milwaukee Central Office. Dan F. has been voted as the new director by the board of directors at Milwaukee Central Office. The board has also voted to hire a person for 20 hours per week. Kathy S. continues to run the literature room.
The annual Jamboree will be held September 17th at the Zoo. Zoo admission and parking are included with the Jamboree ticket purchase of $25.00. Hospitality is from 5:00 – 6:00. The speaker will be Mildred F. from Toronto at 7:00. There will be a dance after the speaker.
If anyone has any questions or comments call Dan F.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan
F.
Milwaukee Central Office
7429
West Greenfield Avenue
West Allis, WI 53214
414-771-9119
RACINE AREA CENTRAL OFFICE-Darrel S.
Financially RACO is doing well and continues to stay above water. Literature sales seem to be down and donations from groups and individuals are steady. We now hav a sale rack to move old items.
Hotliine has been updated in regards to service volunteers and is well in that area. Call are answered as they come in. There were just shy of 100 calls in May. There is a growing concern with volunteers servicing the desk in the hours of 1pm-5pm since the hotline is routed to the desk during this time. This will be addressed at the July meeting.
All the committee seats are manned other than a few alternates. Primarily the new board is getting familiar with the workings of RACO.
Fellowship Day had good attendance but was down from prior years. We will continue to hold this function as it helps offset costs and provides a message of recovery with fellowship.
We now have the Monthly Reprieve back on line as of last month. The first email blast went out to over 1000 recipients.
RACO also provides space for District 17 functions, most recently a GSR meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Darrel S.
RACO Co-Chair
New Business
Bids for 2014 63rd Annual Spring Conference
District 17…no written report
Motion to Approve Additional Lodging Expense Reimbursement for Area 75 Delegate
Motion denied by assembly vote: 9 to 38
Please Email or call Randy R. with suggestions for Area 75 Inventory
Proposals to be voted on at the Fall Service Assembly 10/16/11:
Mileage Proposal
Proposal Sponsor(s):Bob S. Sponsor’s Phone: (262)547-6956
Sponsor's Service Position (if any): Conference Advisory Committee Chair
What is your proposal?: That Area 75 fund the Conference Advisory Committee Chair for mileage at the current approved rate and for other misc. expenses.
How did this proposal originate?: Through committee and conversation with several people among the A.A. community, including several current and past officers and standing committee chairs of Area 75. It appears they feel the Conference Advisory Committee Chair should be funded.
List any supporting documentation or background material attached to this proposal (if any).:
Area 75 has, for a long period of time, felt it best to reimburse expenses to their trusted servants.
List the primary benefits of your proposal to the area. What will happen if we adopt this proposal? It is felt by some that more could and would be accomplished if this position did not need to dig deep into their own pockets to accomplish Area 75 work. We will at some point in time have a person in this position that cannot afford to spend their own monies to accomplish the necessary duties of this position. This would also afford the chair more flexibility in visiting conference committee meetings when requested.
What will happen if this proposal is not adopted?
Some of the necessary work will get put off.
Estimate any costs to the area. Outline where funding would come from. Explain whether this is a one-time or ongoing expense. This would need to be an ongoing budgeted expense. Being that this would be a new venture, it is difficult to speculate some of the exact expenses. There are currently six required meetings at which the chair is requested to attend. Mileage to conference and conference committee locations is going to vary by location of the hosting district. The current four meetings in Madison incur approximately 135 miles round trip per meeting.
One Facility Proposal
Proposal Sponsor(s):Bob S. Sponsor’s Phone: (262) 547-6956
Sponsor's Service Position (if any): Conference Advisory Committee Chair
What is your proposal?:
That Area 75 adopt the use of one facility for the purpose of hosting Area 75 Conferences.
How did this proposal originate?:
This proposal has been discussed in the Conference Advisory Committee for several years.
List any supporting documentation or background material attached to this proposal (if any).:
Based on past experience, Conference Facilities are inconsistent in their policies and, in some cases, have changed their requirements mid-contract. This is often due to the large turnover in the hospitality industry.
List the primary benefits of your proposal to the area. What will happen if we adopt this proposal?
The purpose of this proposal is to limit the amount of contract negotiation necessary and establish more consistent and favorable pricing on a continued basis.
What will happen if this proposal is not adopted?
We will continue to hold conferences at facilities throughout Area 75.
Estimate any costs to the area. Outline where funding would come from. Explain whether this is a one-time or ongoing expense.
We hope to negotiate better pricing with the facilities. No additional funding would be necessary.
Final comments (optional):
This would not prevent any district from hosting an Area Conference. The conference guidelines clearly state that the facility does not have to be located within the hosting district.
If this proposal is adopted, the proposal regarding use of five facilities will be withdrawn.
Five Facilities Proposal
Proposal Sponsor(s): Bob S. Sponsor’s Phone: (262) 547-6956
Sponsor's Service Position (if any): Conference Advisory Committee Chair
What is your proposal?:
That Area 75 adopt the use of five conference facilities on a rotating basis for the purpose of hosting Area 75 Conferences.
How did this proposal originate?:
This proposal has been discussed in committee for several years.
List any supporting documentation or background material attached to this proposal (if any).:
Based on past experience, Conference Facilities are inconsistent in their policies and, in some cases, have changed their requirements mid-contract. This is often due to the large turnover in the hospitality industry.
List the primary benefits of your proposal to the area. What will happen if we adopt this proposal?
The purpose of this proposal is to limit the amount of contract negotiation necessary and establish more consistent and favorable pricing on a continued basis.
What will happen if this proposal is not adopted?
We will continue to hold conferences at facilities throughout Area 75.
Estimate any costs to the area. Outline where funding would come from. Explain whether this is a one-time or ongoing expense.
We hope to negotiate better pricing with the facilities. No additional funding would be necessary.
Final comments (optional):
This would not prevent any district from hosting an Area Conference. The five facilities will be located throughout southern Wisconsin. The conference guidelines clearly state that the facility does not have to be located within the hosting district.
If this proposal is adopted, the proposal regarding the use of a single facility will be withdrawn.
ECR Conference Proposal
Proposal Sponsor(s): Bob S. Sponsor’s Phone: (262)547-6956
Sponsor's Service Position (if any): Conference Advisory Committee Chair
What is your proposal?:
That in the years in which Area 75 hosts the East Central Regional Conference (ECRC), the Area 75 annual conference be held in July in conjunction with the regional conference.
How did this proposal originate?:
This proposal originated in committee through suggestion from one of our past delegates.
List any supporting documentation or background material attached to this proposal (if any).:
The East Central Regional Conference is normally held in July to afford all areas in the East Central Region the opportunity to attend. This avoids any conflicts that may arise in the spring or fall.
List the primary benefits of your proposal to the area. What will happen if we adopt this proposal?
This proposal will change the time frame of our conference only in the years in which Area 75 hosts the East Central Regional Conference. This aligns our event with the timing of the ECRC when hosted by other Areas in the region. Most Areas have historically scheduled this conference in July.
What will happen if this proposal is not adopted?
The annual Area 75 Conference will continue to be held in the spring in all years.
Estimate any costs to the area. Outline where funding would come from. Explain whether this is a one-time or ongoing expense.
There would not be costs beyond those authorized by Assembly action for any annual Area conference and/or ECRC. In fact, seed money for the hosting Area is provided from the ECR Treasury ($3000 for last ECRC hosted by A75).
Final comments (optional):
1) When Area 75 still had a fall conference, we were able to accommodate this conference in that time frame. 2) Since there is no East Central Regional Conference during years that there is an International Convention, it does not conflict.
Literature Proposal
Coffee Volunteers Terry R. (and Randy’s R. car)
The meeting closed at 3:15 pm 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!”
10/82011 is the fourth annual “AA at the VA” mini-conference.
Upcoming dates:
7/22/11 – 7/24/11 East Central Regional Conference in Columbus, Indiana
10/16/11 - Fall Service Assembly at the Madison Senior Center
11/11/11 - 11/13/11 – East Central Regional Forum in Miamisburg, Ohio
1 In accordance with Assembly Actions, the Rainbow Can Fund and Count on Us Fund have been consolidated into a single fund known as the Corrections Literature Fund.
2 One thousand dollars in seed money for the Spring 2011 conference was returned to the Area and credited to general funds on June 8, 2011.
3 Includes Fall Conference 2009 proceeds of $4,195.62.
