District 9 Minutes
12 July 2009
ATTENDANCE: DCM – Carrie C.; Alt. DCM - Pat J.; Grapevine – Kate S.; Literature – Davi M.; PI - Celeste N.; Intergroup Liason - Gail S.; CPC - Jammie B. Treatment – Brenda M.; Secretary – Mary Ann Peterson. Groups Present: Central - Pat S.; Clinton – Donna P.; DeWitt – Elle H.; Marquette – Dan P.;Northwest - Jack F.; North Scott – Neil B.; West End - Kim M.; Language of the Heart - Connie C.; Courage to Change - Teresa; Big Book Study
Secretary’s minutes were approved.
DCM: I was able to attend and represent District 9 at the Spring Conference in Clear Lake, Iowa. I was very proud to be able to report activity for most committees in the District. My hope is that attendance will be better at the Fall Conference in Des Moines, Iowa in October. Rick C. gave a great talk regarding his experience in New York. It was very similar to his report at our May District Meeting. The Spring Conference was very informative. At the DCM Sharing session there was much discussion about the book increase from AAWS. There was also discussion that there will be no printing of the GSO Directory this year. I am very excited to report this was the first Area Committee Meeting in Iowa where translation equipment was used for Area 24. The newest District, the Spanish speaking district was able to participate in a meaning ful way. This was very exciting for me to witness. The Area Treasurer reported group contributions are down $3,000.00. She also emphasized there needs to be included on each contribution the District number and Group number so the correct group receives credit for their contribution. The Corrections chairperson asked that groups slow down on their contributions to the Pink Can Fund as they currently have $3,641.00 in the fund and will not be in need of contributions for some time. The chair person will keep us posted. Anyone wanting to submit an article to the newsletter must do so by 9-15-09. The translation equipment that was used at this conference was borrowed and no equipment has been purchased yet. The investigation into what is the best purchase continues. There are very few directories for the groups to have for Area 24. I just received a disk in the mail and will make a few more copies if people would like. Please let me know at this next meeting. There is more work to be done for committee created to work on Website Flyer Guidelines. I am asking that District 9 authorize me to continue to work on this committee. I may need to travel to Des Moines a second time for this committee. There were some motions made to consider removing the mandatory DJ from the guidelines for conferences. It was determined that the committee will vote on guideline revisions at the fall conference. There was a motion that the chair person for the Newsletter consider the most cost effective method for distribution. The biggest news for District 9 of the conference was we won the bid for the 2010 Fall Conference, which is a voting conference. I hope everyone is ready to put in a considerable amount of time, effort, and commitment. Thanks Carrie C.
Alt DCM: For the month of June, we had 365 hits on our website, aaquadcities.com. Of that number, 298 were first time visitors.
Literature:. I was very glad to be able to attend the Spring Conference in June. In the Literature workshop the main topics of discussion were hikes in literature pricing and how chairs should sell the current stock of literature bought at the previous price. The Area Chair had a few suggestions, but mainly he says it is up to each group to rely on Tradition 4 in the selling of old literature items. He seemed to think it easier and mark everything up rather than splitting prices, but some wanted to honor the original pricing until the old stock was gone. After this, somebody asked a question regarding how to get people to read all the other literature that G.S.O. provides, so I piped up with my experience and what we're doing here, and I think that information was found to be helpful. I've brought a literature pamphlet review today for all the groups, so please grab a copy before you leave. love and service
Davi M.
Grapevine:
Greetings
from Grapevine,
I attended the conference in the Clear Lake and was able to meet with our area
rep. for the first time and am happy to bring back the following information
from workshop: Cassette tapes of "Stories from the Grapevine" are on
sale for $1 until supplies last. Contact me and I can get from Kevin what he
has left. The reasons from the price increase in the yearly subscriptions is that
they have been trying to stave off a price increase for a long time, but going
from Black & White to color and the binding of all subscriptions for
corrections has pushed it over the edge. I'm bringing a idea for a Grapevine
Workshop that I received from another AA group back to my group at our next
meeting. Once we have put together a more thought out plan I will present it to
District. Don't for get that you can have access to the Digital Archives for a
year or have an audio subscription that you can download to your computer or to
your MP3 player for $20.
Archives:
I
haven't heard from any members willing to do a recorded group history
report yet.
Please talk to your groups and make this available to them and have them
contact me
so we can set up a time. If people would prefer, I can come to them to do
the history interview.
The written forms are good, but there's nothing like the voice of an
"oldtimer" to bring our
AA history alive!
PI: One of our committee members is going forward with some spots on the radio. He will get information from GSO to give to the radio station. This won’t cost District 9 anything due to his contacts. We haven’t gotten too far on the books in the libraries, but the next PI chair could get going on this. Yes, I am resigning due to moving to Oregon. I’ll miss you all, but must go. I got some items to the Pride Fest and it went well. I am giving all I have as the PI chair to District 9. I need to be reimbursed $3.00 for pamphlets purchased from Intergroup.
Treatment: I attended the Area Assembly in June. Area Treatment Chair Sandy E. introduced the power point presentation and suggestions for committees were to bring presentations to the homeless shelters, VA hospitals, and nursing homes. The importance of knowing and practicing the AA traditions before going into treatment centers was discussed. There was a question and answer period and I was asked to share my experience in forming a committee and the duties we share. We viewed the “Hope” video which is currently shown to Treatment facility clients to transition from Treatment to Alcoholics Anonymous. Our next meeting will be August 2nd at 4:45pm. All meetings are going well. We have begun bringing Bridging the Gap presentations to the MARC Unit and will do so for approximately every four weeks.
Intergroup Liason: Calls for the month were 8-12 Step Calls, 194 Information, 2 Al-Anon, 77 Visitors. There was an increase in literature July 1st. $2.00 increase in Big Books. Other books will range from $0.50 to $1.00. Volunteers are needed for the Intergroup between 9-12:30. Maybe some afternoons. The Golf Event is July 26 at Duck Creek at 1PM. The cost is $47.00 per person. There are cash awards. Softball event will be held sometime in September at Crow Creek. District 90 Liason position is open at intergroup. Anyone interested let Jan B. know.
Clinton: All is well with the Clinton Group. Our business meeting was July 12th 2009, and our August business meeting will be August 9th at 8 a.m. I did attend the conference in Clear Lake, Iowa.
DeWitt: Meetings are going well. We have begun a Traditions meeting once a month at the Thursday 8PM meeting, the 1st Thursday of the month
Marquette: I went to the business meeting and gave them my report from the conference and what I learned there. We also had elections for every position except for my position. We also decided as a group to move the eight o clock on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to 5:30pm. The meeting was then adjourned.
Northwest: We changed our group elections to August rather than December to better prepare officers. We are planning to have a picnic soon. Jack F, our GSR is relocating out of state and can no longer function as GSR for the Northwest Group. Wes J is alternate and will probably become active GSR. I, Jack, thank the Northwest Group for allowing me to function in this position; also I want to thank District 9 for putting up with me. I am grateful to watch this group grow to where it is now. I love and respect the message that I predominately hear concerning experience, strength, and hope in our meetings. May God bless thiose who search for him.
West End: Our Twelfth suggestion: Carry the message to other alcoholics meeting is going well. Always room for improvement. Donations are down. We are hoping the Wed. 10AM Women’s Meeting will pick up. It is on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.
Old Business: Discussing our winning bid for the Fall 2010 Conference. A pre-committee has been formed to start the beginning stages of planning the conference.
New Business: PI position opening.
Pat J. motioned to adjourn. Davi M. seconded.
Next meeting will be held at Central Discussion on August 2nd at 3:30 pm. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.