District 9 Minutes
6 February 2011
ATTENDANCE: DCM – Pat J.; Alt. DCM – Mary Ann P.; Treasurer: Park P.; Literature – Tim G.; Secretary – Beth F.; Archives – Mike C.; Treatment – Donna S.; CPC – Davi M.; Corrections – Ellie H.; Grapevine: Cathy G.; PI – Erin M.
Groups Present: Bettendorf – Erica S.; Blandine – Ken A.; Central Discussion – Laura M.; Clinton – Jeff B. (Alt. GSR); Courage to Change – Clark J.; Diversity – Susanne R.; Marquette – Lauri K.; North Scott - Neil B.; West End – Laura M.
Secretary’s minutes were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Beginning Balance - $6,097.59; Total Income - $413.96; Total Expenses - $347.95; Operating Balance - $6,163.60; Ending Balance - $6,763.60.
DCM: I hope everyone enjoyed the Service Weekend in Marshalltown last month. I know I sure learned a lot in my sessions. There were several comments made regarding this being the biggest turnout of GSRs in a long time. I was pleased to see so much participation from District 9. We are lucky that all our positions are filled and we're an active District in carrying the message into our communities. A few items from Sunday's Area 24 Committee meeting: Our Spring Conf. will be in Waterloo in June; the Fall Conference will be in Des Moines in October and the 2012 Spring Conference will be in Council Bluffs but will be June 1-3 that year. The Area 24 proposed budget was reviewed and approved; it was voted to move the Area 24 Archives to Marshalltown which would make it more available for people to visit during our meetings there. There is a committee looking at how other states handle their Area meetings. Things such as format, length of time (one day or more), agenda, and location are being looked at. There's discussion about centralizing our assemblies in order to get more participation. Also, when the workshops should be held as this is really "the meat and potatoes" of what Area and District Chair's roles are. We'll hear more about this as time goes on. There will be a Regional Forum in Davenport in September. This is put on by GSO and hosted by Area 24. I'm sure we'll hear more about that soon. I'm looking forward to our Mini-Event and hope all of you will encourage others from your respective Groups to attend.
Alt DCM: The number of hits on our website, aaquadcities.com, for the month of January was 545. I attended the Area 24 Service Weekend in Marshalltown last month with the DCM including the business meeting and the DCM sharing session. I look forward to serving District 9 in this upcoming term.
Archives: No report
Corrections: I have made contact with Jennifer Rice from the Scott County jail. I have invited her to the corrections committee meeting, which will be held Sunday Feb 13 (2pm central discussion). Jennifer would like to know if we would like to participate in the Offender Resource Fair (in March, I believe). The next orientation for the jail will be Feb 23 and the approved applicants have been contacted. I have emailed and called the women who currently go into the jail Mon, Wed and Fri with their schedules through July. And I have also informed them and the men of the upcoming committee meeting.
CPC: The CPC Committee held their first meeting on January 23, 2011, and we had a former CPC Chair share their experience serving in this capacity. Workbooks and essential pamphlets were distributed to committee members for their perusal. Also, we responded to a request from Genesis West for pamphlets now that the Mark Unit is gone. We will maintain close contact and determine whether or not a presentation could be made at this location. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, February 27, 2011, and all are welcomed to attend.
Grapevine: Greetings from the Grapevine Chair! I have been reading the Grapevine information received from the past Chair to better understand its history and purpose. I sent in a request to GSO to let them know I am the new chair for District 9 and will be receiving updated information from New York. I will be contacting the Area Grapevine Chair so that I will be able to serve on his committee and gather any additional information. I am distributing introduction letters to the local registered groups so that they know how to contact me with suggestions and comments. I am also offering baskets to any groups (which the past Chair did) that may need them in order to collect gently used Grapevine donations which I will then give to the Treatment Chair for distribution. I am looking for willing participants to join the Grapevine Committee with me, anyone and everyone is welcome. The first Grapevine meeting is pending.
Literature: Downloaded copy of the Conference-approved Literature Catalog; reviewing our current literature display racks to become familiar with all literature and determine that literature is current. If new literature is available will order it from GSO in preparation of our Mini Event in March. Will begin contacting group GSR’s to determine who group literature chairs are to form a literature committee.
Treatment: Bridging the Gap committees are filled and we even have a few alternates to fill in if needed. The number of volunteers for different Treatment services has increased greatly with approximately 20 plus volunteers. This is not counting the Bridging the Gap Contact volunteers, which is over 75 people! I will be sending out a contact update sheet at the next meeting to all the GSRs asking them to please take this back to their group so we can update our contact list. This was a recommendation of the previous Contact Coordinator due to changed numbers, etc. Our first Bridging The Gap presentation for the Abbey is Monday January 7th and we will
be taking Bridging The Gap presentations every first Monday to the Abbey. I am still in need of a volunteer to oversee the Country Oaks (Speaker) Treatment Meetings on Tuesday at 8pm. If anyone is interested, please see me or call me @ 563-650-4225. I met with Sheryl F. who has a lot of experience and passion in Treatment and she shared some of her experience with me which I found very helpful. Treatment meeting to com in April, time and date to be determined.
Bettendorf: We are starting to update our phone list, if you are a home group member. Our annual group conscious meeting is scheduled for Saturday February 19th at 11:15am. Our anniversary is scheduled for April 2nd; coffee at 5:30, dinner at 6. Picnic date is August 28th. We are donating a basket for mini-conference. I expect to receive a welcome packet from GSO as I have submitted my info.
Central Discussion: Our last business meeting was held on 1/23/11. A motion was carried to contribute to GSO, Area, District, and Inner Group. Central Discussion has requested a treasurer’s report from each of those entities. This will help determine how much to contribute quarterly. Home group phone lists for Central Discussion have been printed and made available. Central Discussion carried a motion to contribute to the mini event March 5 at Bettendorf Group and for the Intergroup event in April. Our next business meeting is April 17th.
Clinton: the current GSR has stepped down; a new GSR will be elected at the next business meeting. The 3rd Wednesday of each month is a Speaker meeting with a pot luck dinner. Dinner starts at 6:45pm, Speaker starts at 8pm.
Courage to Change: All is well at Courage To Change. Our attendance is down slightly which is typical this time of year.
Diversity: Elections held recently, all positions have been filled. Membership is growing.
Marquette: The Marquette Anniversary will be April 30th. More information to follow.
North Scott: Excited for the 29th Anniversary dinner and speakers on February 18th.
West End: Next business meeting February 20th.
Old Business:
Budgets approved. Mary Ann P. motions to accept minutes; Kathy G. seconds. Erin M. motions to accept treasure’s report; Davi seconds. Erica S. motions to adjourn; Donna seconds.
New Business:
Area 24 Calendar distributed. District 9 Inventory discussed, will review one question from inventory at each meeting. Agenda items out in February, hope to have agenda items distributed to GSRs for group review prior March meeting in Marshalltown.
Next District meeting will be held at Central Discussion on March 6th at 3:30pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.