District 9 Minutes

1 May 2011

ATTENDANCE: DCM - Pat J. Alt. DCM - Mary Ann P.; Treasurer: Park P.;Literature – Tim G.; PI – Lee C.; Archives - Mike .; Treatment - Donna .; CPC - Davi M.; Corrections - Elle H.; Grapevine - Cathy G.; Intergroup Liason - Kevin K.

Groups Present: Courage to Change – Clark J.; Central - Laura M.; Blandine Group - Ken A.;Bettendorf - Erica S.; Big Book Study - Jim E.; Northwest - Chad J.;Clinton - Troy S.; West End - Laura M.

Secretary’s minutes were approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Beginning Balance - $6,559.78; Total Income - $1095.00; Total Expenses - $375.45; Operating Balance - $6,689.33; Ending Balance - $7,289.33

DCM:  I have been in contact with our Delegate, Maureen, regarding a visiti to one of our District meetings to give a report on the General Service Conference.  Although many of us will be able to hear that at the Spring Conference, this will give others in our District a chance to come and hear as well as those who were unable to attend in June.  Right now we're "tentative" in July or confirmed for August.  I also mailed the card we all signed last month to arrive next week while she's at the GSC in New York.  I received a letter from GSO as a DCM so I believe our Chair information has arrived there finally.  I have yet to get my packet of information, however, but I'm sure we'll receive it soon.  I have had a couple of questions from others regarding the amount of money on hand for District.  Some of this is because we didn't have to travel last fall for our Fall Conference; however, this money has been sent to us by our Groups to "carry the message" into our District through the various Chair positions.  You all have a budget which is just a guideline.  You are not locked into that if your committee has a project that will put you outside that budget.  All you have to do is bring that to District for discussion and increase your budget if necessary.  I just didn't want the Chairs to think that "budget" was all you could spend.  Again, it's our role to carry the message of AA throughout our District.  

Alt DCM: The number of hits on the website www.aaquadcities.org was 467 for the month of April.  I will be registering the District chairs for the Spring Conference in June.  Chairs, please see me if you would like me to register you.

Corrections:  In March I had attended the Area 24 Service Day in Marshalltown and had the opportunity to speak with the Area Corrections Chairperson and he has offered to participate in a Corrections Workshop with us.  I'd like to know if the District would be interested in such an event.  Also, I'd like to know if the District would be willing to support me in attending a Corrections Workshop in Omaha in May.  As I am unable to attend the Area 24 Spring Conference in Waterloo due to an unexpected need for me to travel to Charlotte, NC.  I had been given permission from the coordinator/administrator at the Scott County jail to distribute literature inside the facility.  I did purchase some pamphlets from intergroup and the Grapevine Chairperson had shared with us some gently used Grapevines to distribute.  I did find out that the facility library has several Big Books that were previously donated from our Corrections Committee.  I had received a memorandum from the Corrections coordinator from GSO, requesting participation from the fellowship in regards to the Corrections Correspondence Service.  I have obtained some of the pamphlet's available for the fellowship to send in their information to correspond with the still suffering alcoholic behind the walls.  I have a couple of different items that may assist groups in having these things visually available....I also have additional copies of applications for the Scott County Jail facility for those interested in participating in meetings inside this facility and a flier to explain how to send this application in.  Again, asking GSR's to have available at their groups.  Also, I have large envelopes for you to post the applications in.....A reminder, as a fellowship committee, we ask that an individual have at least 6 months sobriety.  The next Corrections Committee meeting is scheduled for May 15 @ 3:30 at the West End, Alano Club.  We will be discussing Bridging the Gap, forming contact sheets to pass out to our District's groups for individuals who would be willing to contact an AA member coming out of a correctional facility.  And also discussing the possiblity of conducting a corrections workshop in the future. 

Treatment: CADS Outpatient Facility is interested in us bringing “Bridging The Gap” presentations into their facility for their daytime clients.  I am looking for more volunteers to see if we can make this happen.  Would like to approach the Clinton Facility to see if they would be interested in BTG presentations and/or AA meetings being brought to their facility.  (New Directions).  I spoke with the Literature Chair (Tim) and mentioned that maybe the facilities could use a small literature display that District 9 would tend to ensuring that they have current schedules and a variety of literature.  A committee member mentioned that maybe the treatment facilities would be interested in having District 9 Grapevine provide them with a monthly subscription of the Grapevine.  All is going well with the facilities that we are currently taking BTG presentations and AA meetings into.  I will be planning another Treatment Committee Meeting in late May or early June.

Literature: In conjunction with treatment chair, investigating setting up and maintaining a supply of literature racks at up to four treatment centers. Treatment chair has confirmed CADS would like a literature rack set and she is contacting three other treatment centers to see if they would like one also. Literature racks would contain meeting schedules and varying literature of interest to people in treatment that would help them understand how the AA way of life can help them stay sober.

CPC: The CPC Committee met this morning and our Area Chair was in attendance to share some suggestions on how we might cooperate more effectively with professionals.  In accordance with our decision to pursue members of the clergy, I have obtained a directory of all the churches listed in the Quad City Area.  We have decided to experiment with setting up a general email account to contact clergy members and see how many hits we receive.  In the meantime, we will also be researching meetings, assemblies, and conferences clergy members attend, so we might have a venue to establish personal contact as well.  Along with regular meeting schedules, we are also generating a separate list of open meetings to have on hand to give professionals.  Depending upon the response from the initial email contact, we may also be looking for responsible volunteers to assist in giving presentations, as our committee is small. 

PI: I am asking GSRs to go to their groups for a PI volunteer or PI liason.  I am having a committee meeting to determine projects for the year.  My phone number is 563-529-0350

Central: All meetings are going well. 

Courage to Change:  Courage to Change's annual picnic is tentatively scheduled for September 24th. As usual the picnic will be held at the Breezy Point Shelter at West Lake Park in Davenport. It is a pot luck dinner with burgers and hotdogs provided. Lots of family fun is always planned.

Old Business: Nova was elected District 9 Secretary.

New Business:  Clark J. makes a motion to send Elle to the Corrections Workshop in Omaha, NE. Motion passes.

Next District meeting will be held at Central Discussion on June 5th at 3:30pm.  All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.