District 9 Minutes
11 April 2010
ATTENDANCE: DCM - Carrie C. Alt. DCM - Pat J.; Grapevine – Kate S; Literature – Davi M..; PI – Park M.; Secretary – Mary Ann P.; Corrections – Colleen M.; CPC - Angie R.
Groups Present: Courage to Change – Clark J.; Sisters in Sobriety - Cheryl K. Blandine Group - Chris M.; Diversity Group - Lee G; West End - Mary H..; Bettendorf - Gary J.; Central - Pat S.
Secretary’s minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Beginning balance - $1,799.84; Total Income - $131.98; Total Expenses - $304.81; Operating Balance - $1,627.01
DCM: Greetings to all. I hope everyone remembers that today is the day we review all agenda items, quickly report them to our home groups and call me with any input so I can make a quick call to Rick C., our Delegate. I am purchasing a card from our District to forward to Rick this week so it will be there when he arrives. I have put in a call to Rick to see how to best transmit the information from us to him in New York. We had a great turnout at Marshalltown to listen to all agenda items. I appreciate the chair persons taking time to attend this important function, especially our two (2) new members. I would like to welcome Angie and Beth to out committee and know that all current members will assist them in any way they can. The first day of the most recent Marshalltown business meeting was spent covering the agenda items that will be discussed at our 60th General Service Conference, which our delegate, Rick C., will be attending. I will not take up anyone’s time attempting to recap what our chair persons will report. The Archives Area chairperson provided me with valuable information so that I can provide it to our new chair person. She suggested the actual Archives material may be moved to Marshalltown so people can view the material while attending business meetings. Corrections reported there is again a need for funds for the Pink Can Fund. The chairperson provided the following address for donations: Area 24 Corrections, Post Office Box 119, Sak City, IA, 50583. The translation equipment was purchased by Area 24 and the Spanish speaking community were able to participate. The equipment was purchased after considerable research. Mike M. reported there may need to be more receivers purchased. There was much discussion regarding the Conference Guideline revisions. I have provided a copy to the conference committee to review and have provided a few copies for this district committee. The Newsletter committee continues to have financial struggles. They are still interested in receiving e mails of anyone who wants to receive the Area 24 Newsletter by email. Anyone interested? There are interesting reports included in the Area 24 Newsletter, especially for the District 9 chair people. The Area committee is undergoing the task of revising their Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The DCMs will be receiving a copy of the proposed SOPs and I will forward them to all on my email list and will bring copies to the meeting following receipt. The Area committee will be accepting bids for the 2011 Fall Conference. There was a suggestion made if a district asks for a chair person to attend a function in their district it would be helpful to pay their expenses to offset the mileage and miscellaneous costs. I hope we will have the opportunity to discuss the 7th tradition today. There was considerable discussion at the meeting. We really need to begin to discuss at the group level personal contributions and the thought that simply put services may be cut to our membership if we do not have adequate funds to provide them. Three ideas for new business: (1) Do we want to revise our Standard Operating Procedures? (2) How do we get the message out regarding self support? (3) Do we want to have Brenda show the Hope video at a district meeting? Again, thank all of you for all that you do.
Alt DCM: I was able to go to Marshalltown to review the Agenda Items and the Area 24 Committee meeting on Sunday. The number of hits on our website, aaquadcities.com, for the month of March was 482. Please let me know today if you want me to register you for the Spring Conference. You'll have to make your own lodging arrangements but I could send in your registration and banquet fees if that helps. The earlier we send these in, the better for the Conference Committee.
Literature: I attended the Service Day in Marshalltown and have reviewed the Agenda Items for the 60th General Service Conference. Below is a summary of the items for review this year: Agenda Item A-review the revised draft pamphlet “The A.A. Member-Medications and Other Drugs,” which changed one sentence to “A.A. members are not doctors.”
Agenda Item B-review the revised draft pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship,” which eliminates outmoded ethnic, cultural, or vocational references.
Agenda Item C-consider developing Conference approved literature focusing on spirituality, including stories from atheists and agnostics successfully sober in A.A. This refers to a need for a pamphlet addressing a) the active alcoholic intimidated by the misconception that A.A. is a religious program, b) the newcomer uncomfortable with common practices such as the Lord’s Prayer and meetings held in places of worship, and c) to the nonalcoholic professional in a position to refer alcoholics to A.A., but is reluctant to do so because of the misguided perception that ours is a religious program. The background material was extensive and indicated that a desire for such literature was requested as early as twenty years ago, though there was not enough group consensus to justify a pamphlet at that time. Recent requests, however, have come from a variety of Areas concerned that they are losing newcomers who feel A.A. is intolerant of the “non-believer.” The other end of the spectrum has expressed an opposition to such a pamphlet, fearful that it will create divisiveness within the Fellowship and they are certain that the nonspecific nature of a Higher Power is already clearly defined in current A.A. literature.
Agenda Item D-Area 29 in Maryland requested that a line from page 22 in “Frequently Asked Questions about A.A.” under the heading “What is a closed meeting?” be changed to “A closed meeting is limited to members of A.A.” The original response reads “A closed meeting is limited to members of the local A.A. group, or visiting members from other groups.” It was felt that this language was inconsistent with the Third Tradition.
Agenda Item E-considers a request to update the pamphlet “A.A. and the Armed Services,” with new stories reflecting more recent experience, including both past and active duty to enhance to its scope. It was last revised in 2003, but primarily addresses active military personnel rather than veterans.
Agenda Item F-requests that the booklet “Living Sober” be reviewed for possible revisions and updates, which has remained unaltered since its publication in 1975.
Agenda Item G-request to more clearly define the editorial responsibility of the G.S.O. Publications Department after the discovery that editorial changes were being made to Conference Approved Literature without review or approval of the Conference Committee on Literature and/or the Conference members. Area 76 in Wyoming proposed that the Publications Dept. limit their editorial authority so that the A.A. message continues to reflect the conscience of our membership.
Agenda Item H-consider request that the video “Your General Service Office, the Grapevine, and the General Service Structure” be revised and updated-that anonymity protection be enhanced, that it cover responsibilities of the G.S.R., D.C.M., and the General Service Board, and that it show updated versions of pamphlets and the 4th edition Big Book cover. Based upon discussion with two producers, the estimated production fee was up to $40,000 for revision in English, French, and Spanish with closed captioning.
Agenda Item I-concerns request from Area 36 in Southern Minnesota to develop a book on the history of “early pioneer women in A.A.”
PI: Not too much to report other than I am meeting with Pat and the Radisson staff Monday, March 8th, to go over the room layouts.
CPC: I attended the Area Conference in Marshalltown. I am reviewing the files passed along to me as I am a new chair in this position. I will be gathering volunteers for a CPC committee and look forward to serving District 9 as your CPC chair.
Corrections: Corrections participated in an orientation for new volunteers at the Scott County Jail in March. Corrections and PI are going to have an unmanned booth for the QC advocates for offender success annual resource fair. This fair is to promote awareness and education for offenders recently released from jail about AA.
Fall Conference Committee: Our committee met today and things are progressing well. Some of us have visited the RiverCenter and found it very spacious and it should provide a nice place for our Conference. We now have three registrations, so we are on a roll. We will be looking for help with this Conference on various Committees as we continue with this project.
Grapevine: I attended the Area Conference in Marshalltown and will be giving my report to the district today.
Old Business: District 9 voted to do a group inventory, time to be announced.
Angie R. is elected as the new CPC chair. The agenda items were reviewed and GSRs are to send feedback to Carrie so are delegate is able to take these to New York.
New Business: Rick C. will be attending our District meeting next month
Colleen M. motioned to adjourn. Davi M. seconded.
Next meeting will be held at Central Discussion on May 2nd at 3:30 pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.