District 9 Minutes
3 April 2011
ATTENDANCE: DCM - Pat J. Alt. DCM - Mary Ann P.; Treasurer: Park P.;Literature – Tim G.; PI – VACANT.; Archives - Mike .; Treatment - Donna .; CPC - Davi M.; Corrections - Elle H.; Grapevine - Cathy G.
Groups Present: Courage to Change – Clark J.; Central - Laura M.; Blandine Group - Ken A.;Bettendorf - Erica S.; Dewitt - Phyllis H.; Big Book Study - Jim E.; North Scott - Neil B.;Clinton - Troy S.; West End - Laura M.
Secretary’s minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Beginning Balance - $6,571.55; Total Income - $583.00; Total Expenses - $584.77; Operating Balance - $6,569.78; Ending Balance - $7,169.78
DCM: I attended the Service Weekend in Marshalltown on March 19/20th. It was good to see so many people there on Saturday and hear the comments on the Agenda items. On Saturday night, there was a P.I. Workshop in which they discussed the Area 24 website and more importantly, the need for anonymity in emails and on social networking sites (i.e. Facebook, etc). The internet is considered "press" as far as the 11th Tradition was the general consensus from GSO and Area 24. As one long-timer said "this tradition is in place to protect AA from people like me". It was also suggested that when sending emails to people from AA, you send in a "bcc" form in case someone forwards that email, others' anonymity is protected. From Sunday's meeting I have the following information to share. Flyers for the Forum being held in Davenport this fall should be coming to our DCMs and Intergroups soon. Area 24 will have a hospitality room and we will need greeters but details are still being worked out. I have brought a card for all of us to sign to send to our Delegate, Maureen, while she is at the General Service Conference in early May. I invited her to come to one of our District meetings to share her experience with the Conference but we have yet to set a date for that. The Alt. Delegate handed me a New Group Form for a new Group in Clinton called Links. I have sent them an email inviting them to join us at District 9. There should be apps available this year from GSO for IPODs, IPADs and Apple. It will be mid-2012 for Android and others. Our Area 24 Treasurer has stepped down so there will probably be an election for a replacement at the June Conference. The Chair of the Fall 2011 conference encouraged everyone to register for food as this will help offset the costs of the meeting rooms. The Spring 2012 Conference Chair brought to the committee a problem with the contract. It seems the hotel is requesting a down payment which wasn't expected from them in the past, so it was overlooked when getting the bid. After much discussion, it was voted to pay all of the deposit of $1970.
Alt DCM: I attended the Area 24 service weekend in Marshalltown on March 19 and
20th. It was great to see District 9 participation. The number of hits on the website www.aaquadcities.org was 491 for the month of March.
Corrections: The Conference Committee on Correction's Agenda noted that there has been progress on the recommended advisory action in reference to revising the pamphlet "It Sure Beats Sitting In A Cell". The publications Department had forwarded a partial draft to the subcommittee and will forward a full draft when it is completed. Based on the 2010 General Service Conference, the subcommittee was asked to provide a list of photos it would like to see included in the pamphlet and in January 2011, the trustee's committee on corrections reviewed the subcommittee's work and suggests a final review prior to publication regarding the pamphlet's relevance to the young incarcerated alcoholic. Also, the committee had responded to a request from an AA member that the corrections committee review the pamphlet "AA in Correctional Facilities". The committee reviewed suggestions from the Publications department for adding references to the 'Big Book' in this pamphlet and has agreed to forward these suggestions to the 2011 Conference Committee on Corrections. There were no discussions in reference to the Corrections Agenda Items for the General Service Conference (at the Area 24 General Service Day in Marshalltown on Saturday, March 19, 2011).
Treatment: Conference Agenda Items: A. Review draft recovery pamphlet for alcoholics with special needs. The special needs pamphlet for newcomers or prospective members is developed and that stories be solicited from members with various special needs, for example, members who are deaf, blind, wheel-chair bound, etc...(Cost is approximately $6,850.00) August 2009 meeting of the trustees’ committee on CPC/Treatment/Special Needs-Accessibilities accepted responsibility. January 31, 2011 the trustees’ Committee reviewed and agreed to forward to the 2011 Conference Committee the draft recovery pamphlet for alcoholics with special needs. Not much back ground information as the draft pamphlet is available at this point to committee members only. Discuss report from the trustees’ Committee regarding changing the “Treatment Facilities” Committee to “Treatment” Committee in committee titles and in AA Literature. 2010 Conference Committee report “the committee considered a suggestion to change the name of Treatment Facilities’ Committee to “Treatment” Committee. The committee requested that the trustees’ committee on CPC/Treatment Facilities/Special Needs Accessibilities forward to the 2011 background which would include details regarding the impact of such a name change on, among other things: titles relevant to AA literature; contents of relevant AA literature: and the focus of AA service committee work” The name change also allows for flexibility in ideas for where to reach the still suffering alcoholic – such as living/.nursing home settings as well as hospital emergency rooms.15 pieces of AA literature and pamphlets including service manual, service material, pamphlets and treatment workbook and kits would need to be changed to reflect the name change. No estimated cost in the background info.
C. Consider removing line of dialog from video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous.” Suggestion is to remove the tag line “Uncle Sam is not gonna come in and bail us out” on the next reprint. The intent is that changes be made on reprints of the DVD not to incur the expense of disposing of current inventory. Other countries that use the HOPE DVD may not even understand who “Uncle Sam” is and this seems to be an outside issue. Cost for the line to be removed on future prints of the DVD would be $2,745.00 for all three (3) languages (French, Spanish and English) for a total of $8,235.00
D. Review the contents of the Treatment Facilities Kit and Workbook Suggestions are to add a hole-punched vinyl sleeve instead of current jewel box casing. Add the Young People’s videos as a tool for use with young people in treatment. Suggestions for use of the two DVDs and the AA Grapevine are included in the kit. That changes be made in the treatment facilities workbook to reflect that the AA message is carried to alcoholics in a wide variety of treatment setting, including outpatient settings.
E. Review Contents of Special Needs/Accessibilities Kit and Workbook Suggestions are to add a three (e) ring binder instead of the current pocket folder to achieve parity with other service kits and shared experience with carrying the AA message to those with less visible challenges such as illiteracy, autism, etc., be gathered and added to the special needs workbook when feasible.
Grapevine: Agenda Items: A.Consider that AA Grapevine, Inc. be permitted to utilize digital channels and current (commissionable) support and distribution technologies such as but not limited to smart phones, tablets, e-readers, applications and commissioned online stores for the sale and distribution of magazines, books and products. B. Consider permitting AA Grapevine, Inc. to accept contributions limited to the same General Service Board contribution policy, to be used for operation expenses with excess funds continuing to be forwarded to the Reserve Fund. C. Review request for a discussion on how best to support the Grapevine magazine. D. Consider collections of Grapevine stories for possible publication in the year 2012 or later. E. Review and discuss the results of the surveys conducted per the 2010 Advisory Action. F.Review revisions to “The AA Grapevine and La Vina: Our Meetings in Print” pamphlet. G. Review contents of the AA Grapevine Workbook. H. Other subjects.
Literature: I attended Area24 General Service Weekend March 19, 2011. Discussion centered on upcoming Conference Committee on Literature agenda for May 02, 2011. Of note, considerations included:
• Review draft pamphlet “The A.A. member-Medications and Other Drugs” (February 15, 2011 was the deadline for literature to be received & forwarded to literature committed for review.
• Discussion also occurred in concern to the development of literature which focuses on spirituality that includes stories from atheists and agnostics who are successfully sober I A.A. This stems from a request from the 2010 Conference Advisory Action that the trustees develop literature focusing on spirituality that includes stories from atheists and agnostics who are sober in A.A.
• Discussion also included consideration of including the A.A. Preamble in the front inside pages of the Big Book.
CPC: The CPC Committee met on March 27, 2011. After communicating with the District 90 Chair, it was determined that they do not need our assistance with the RIA request at this time, although we intend to keep that door open if there is a need for our services in the future. Also, there is currently not sufficient interest for a CPC presentation at Genesis West; however, we will continue to distribute literature as needed. The group conscience voted to pursue members of the clergy and I am currently working with a pastor of a local church to obtain a list of clergy in our region for contact. In the meantime, one of the committee members will revise one of our sample letters so they are ready to distribute to these professionals. We will also investigate the relative merit of sending copies of these letters by email as well. The next CPC meeting will be scheduled sometime late this month.
Blandine: The Blandine Group is planning the following actions in the neat future: 1. The group will become responsible for opening and closing the meeting themselves. 2. The group will become more self sufficient by providing their own supplies such as coffee, and condiments as needed. 3. The chairperson will become responsible for all cleanup and other actions as necessary. The action is taking place to get more people involved in their group and AA as a whole. The final date of this action has not yet been determined, but will be phased in to allow the groups to become more acclimated to this self sufficient form of participation in AA.
Central: All meetings are going well. The next business meeting is April 17th at 5:30pm.
Courage to Change: Everything is good. Attendance is very steady. Cookies and coffee is well received. Discussion in meetings still remains very solution focused.
Bettendorf: Bettendorf had its 40th Anniversary on April 2nd. It was very well attended and both the speakers did a fantastic job. Thanks to all who put it together, and for those who attended!
Clinton: The Clinton Group has begun plans on moving to a new building to the old Horace Mann Elementary school in North Clinton...in the Lyons District. We hope to have successfully moved by October of this year. Also attendance has been up particularly in the AM meetings, while nighttime meetings have been struggling. We are starting plans for our annual spring fling. The date and time will be forthcoming. And as always the third Wednesday of the month is our speaker meeting with doors opening at 6:45pm, potluck, 50/50 and big book raffles as well starting at 7:00pm and speaker at 8:00pm.
Old Business: The General Service Conference Agenda items were reviewed and discussed.
New Business:
Next District meeting will be held at Central Discussion on May 1st at 3:30pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.