District 9 Minutes

7  Feb 2010

ATTENDANCE: Alt. DCM - Pat J.; Treasurer – Cathy G.;  Grapevine – Kate S;  Literature – Davi M..; PI – Park M.; Secretary – Mary Ann P.; Corrections – Colleen M.; Intergroup Liason - Gayle S.

Groups Present: Courage to Change – Clark J.; Northwest – Heidi. Sisters in Sobriety - Cheryl K. Blandine Group - Donna S.; Diversity Group - Lee G; West End - Mary H.; Marquette - Teri K.; North Scott - Neil B.

Secretary’s minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report:  Beginning balance - $825.85; Total Income - $924.49; Total Expenses - $494.90; Operating Balance - $1255.44

DCM: Greetings to all.  I am confident the Mini Event was a great success thanks to the hard

work of the Committee and all other volunteers.  I would like to thank Davi M. for all her hard work.  I am sure at this point Davi you realize that your hard work paid off.  Thank you again.  Please make certain you provide a report for the next meeting to enable the person who has the opportunity of being chairperson next year to have some direction.  Additionally, Cathy G., if you would please prepare a treasurer’s report so we know the financial details of the mini event for next month it would be greatly appreciated.  I have been in contact with our Delegate, Rick C., and he really wants the groups to discuss the issue which is: do we want the General Service Office to keep using Literature profits to help fund the General Service Office’s services?  If not, what services do we want to cut?  He really wants to take that information to New York from the groups and we need to start the discussion with our groups as soon as possible. Please remember we have an Area meeting in Marshalltown on March 20 and 21^st and we will be discussing agenda items.  I encourage all of you to attend.  I also request all committee chair persons to provide me with an update of their committee activities by March 17, 2010, to enable me to prepare a report from our district to the area committee.  I am providing copies of the ad which was brought to my attention wherein the person complained a tradition is being broken in our District.  I have sent a few copies of this ad for your review.  I have emailed New York and will wait for their response.  Pat J. was able to attend the Area Committee Meeting for me in Marshalltown in January.  Thank you again Pat for attending in my absence.  Her report is summarized as follows: There was good discussion on the question on the Inverted Triangle and is it working in AA.  Rick, our Delegate discussed that we must choose our leaders wisely or the information does not flow very well or at all from New York to our groups and visa versa.  Rick pointed out that it is not up to “them” it is up to “me.”  Some felt we don’t elect the qualified, we qualify the willing.  There was a suggestion that a person read Concept 9 and 10 before voting for Officers.  There was some discussion about donations and the process by which Area receives them.  There was a request made if you know anyone who has experience in AA while in jail please ask them to send 4 or 5 paragraphs to the Corrections Desk at GSO, Jim Malone, or email Rick C., our delegate.  Also, if anyone is signing legally binding documents when going into prisons/jails, the General Service Office is interested in accumulating information for a pamphlet.  Rick C.’s number and email can be provided by Pat or myself and should be on the list from the Area that has previously provided, however, I do believe one of Rick’s phone numbers has changed.  At the West Central Regional Conference in Dubuque, which will be held on March 5, 6, and 7, 2010, the Agenda items will be discussed to help educate us.  Archives is wondering if we should move the Archives to Marshalltown?  Does anyone have a strong feeling about his one way or another?  Big Book sales are below budget, probably due to the price increase.  There was ongoing discussion about the translation equipment.  We are in compliance with the IRS for the Area 24 Tax Status.  The treasurer will add to the SOP the necessary process to stay in compliance.  The committee for conference guideline revisions is almost complete.  Kevin A. asks that if there are any areas of concern to please contact him.  I know this is a lot of information but please try to consider this carefully and contact me with your thoughts and questions. 

My last thought is do we want to take an Inventory of our District in the near future.  Please let me know your thoughts.  Thanks See you in March.

Alt DCM: The number of hits on our website, aaquadcities.com, for the month of January were 112.  I have asked the webmaster to check on this as it's quite a bit lower than the usual 4-500 hits per month.

Corrections: There will be a corrections meeting on Feb 21st at 12:30pm at Central Discussion.  Anyone interested in taking meetings into the Scott County Jail and has 6 months sobriety please contact me or your groups GSR to get a form filled out.

Literature: With all the excitement of the Pictionary Tournament over, the Literature Committee should have a summary of "Pass It On: The Bill W. Story" by the March meeting.  I want to take another moment and give an enthusiastic thanks to all the groups, committee members, and the fellowship who came together to make this event such a success.  There were over ten teams who participated and, I am told, easily a hundred persons were present.  Not all of the expenses are in yet, but I am optimistic that we were able to be fully self-supporting at this event.  It was a lot of fun organizing this event and I hope we can top its success next year!

Intergroup Liason: 1-12 step call, 164 info calls, 1 Al-Anon call, and 39 visitors.  Intergroup is needing a volunteer for Friday AM.  Also looking for people for 12 step call list.  Contact Lisa at the Intergroup office.  The Phone Chair is looking for volunteer backup.  The Event Chair is in the process of looking for a speaker for the Anniversary.  The District 90 liason position is open.  Heidi L. will fill in temporarily for the newsletter position.

PI: Committee is continuing the process of contacting hotels in the area.  The information being left is pamphlet “Is A.A. for You?”, schedules, and our “business card”, “If you want to drink…”  Committee has also begun contacting the hospitals and clinics, leaving the same information.  We are also going to be contacting the bondsmen in the area. 

We are always open to new arenas.

Archives: The group history interviews are being transcribed. Kat (P?) volunteered to help and is working on the DeWitt interview, and I am finishing up the Bettendorf interview. Thanks to her and her willingness!! The Mini-event was a perfect forum to let people know what the chairs do and ask for that help, great thinking!!  Karla, from the Bettendorf Group Archives and I will be getting together within the next month to discuss ideas for scrapbooking some of the history items. Any other groups that are interested in helping are encouraged to get involved, my creativity only goes so far, and any input is appreciated. Also, I am still looking for long time members that I can interview!

Treatment: All meetings are going well.  Bridging the Gap has been put on hold until we can speak with the Director.  Literature has been purchased for Country Oaks and I would like to request gently used Big Books and 12/12's for donation.  Anyone that can donate it would be appreciated.  The Area chair has contacted me in regards to holding treatment workshop in the fall.  Districts 8 and 11 would join with us also.  More info will be available in the future. Our next committee meeting will be held on March 7th at 4"30pm at Central Discussion.  Anyone interested in joining our committee is welcome to attend.

2010 Fall Conference Report: Our Committee made good headway today.  We have decided to have an ice cream social rather than a DJ along with either karaoke or Big Book Pictionary.  Amot will be taping the Speakers.  Flyers will be up for review next month. 

Blandine: The group has voted that they will provide support for GSR attendance at the Area Regional Conference.  All is well.

North Scott: Our 28th Anniversary is scheduled for 27 February 2010 at the Parkview Lutheran Church 16 Grove Rd.  Doors open at 5:30pm, Food at 6:00pm, Speaker Ron and Jone R at 7:00pm.

Old Business: Colleen M. motioned to approve Secretary Minutes.  Davi M. seconds.  Park M. motioned to approve Treasurer's minutes.  Mary Ann P. seconds. 

The Mini- Event - Summary of Event

We are looking for volunteers for the West Central Regional Forum in Dubuque, IA. The list of volunteers have been given to Terry C.

We will review the ad for groups in District 9 regarding affiliation.

New Business:

Does District 9 want to do a group inventory.

Wes J. wants District to discuss the chairs attending the Spring Conference.

Colleen M.  motioned to adjourn.  Davi M. seconded.

Next meeting will be held at Central Discussion on March 7th at 3:30 pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.