District 17/Area93 Meeting Minutes February 02, 2009

www.District17AA.org

 

6:28 pm – Meeting was called to order with moment of silence and the Serenity Prayer by Michael F.
                 Concepts were read by Steve
                 Introduced ourselves and group we represent: 17 GSRs and 5 officers
                 Introduction of Guests & Visitors: none.

 

Secretary Report:  Paul, a motion to approve the January minutes was unanimously approved.

Heather volunteered to be District Secretary, was appointed by the officers and confirmed by the District 17 membership.  Simon M. volunteered to be co-secretary.

 

DCM Report:  Attended the GSO Panel Meeting at the SFVAA Convention and served as chair for the panel, speakers and readers did a great job.  The GSRs from District 17 who volunteered to serve on a panel in this year’s Area 93 pre-conference are Jim C and Laura R, the alt delegate, Ken, will be notified.

 

Alt. DCM Report: Mark: DCM sharing meeting at the Area 93 Assembly.  Debbie J. pointed out that “the higher you go in general service…” the more you are working for the groups you serve.  Inverted pyramid.
New GSR’s: Kurt-Alt. Road to Recovery, Aaron-People In Progress, Steve-M-F 9am Moorpark, Alex-Alt.Young Peoples Meeting Unit A., Heather-Toluca Lake Speakers, Aaron-Alt. Sunrise/Sunset Group.

 

Treasurer Report: Jeff-January was light on group contributions and expenses. $152.40 is left in the reserves. We paid out $100 towards SFV Convention. Waiting for the other 3 districts sharing in the convention literature to remit their contributions, so potentially getting $75 and total outlay only $25.  Jeff is setting aside $100 per month for PRAASA. We will need more than $300. Please remit group contributions to District 17 AA.

 

Registrar Report: Howard (none.)

 

Area Standing Committees (Reports, Activity and/or Members):


Archives: Helen- There is an archive workshop on Sept 24th- 27th.  Good to get in touch with LA AA convention and would like to incorporate the archive committee.


CPC: Raul- Not present. Treatment Facilities: Simon-. Bridging the gap.  See presentation below.


Finance: Jeff- Maureen appointed Jeff the Finance Committee Co-Chair. There was lots of discussion in regards to mileage reimbursements, which have been changed on the area level. We now utilize a percentage of the Jan 1st 200x IRS amount. It used to be first 50 miles were exempt from reimbursement, it was changed officially. Area 93 is looking into getting an Interest Bearing Checking account. We have about 22,000 in reserves.


Grapevine/LaViña: No one attended.


Guidelines & Policies: Tom/Michael F- We are going to do a review of the area policy and procedures and look at streamlining them and cleaning them up and making them more useable. We are looking at taking some of the jargon out of them and turning them into some appendices people can use.


Literature/Audio Visual/Newsletter: Kirby-Jeff made a visit to the committee and showed the preliminary itinerary for the GSO conference. One is “A Newcomer Asks” and the other is “Questions and Answers about Sponsorship.” Should we ask newcomers to study the big book? Should we revise the big book to update lingo. www.AA.org- young people’s videos.


Public Information:  Laura- There was about 35 GSR’s. We forget about The Big Book in hotel rooms. It is too expensive and is too complicated. Tamara purchased public info binders for people who have been there for over a year. The cost is $10. They brought up the idea of  pass out central office cards to bail bonds offices, local jails.


Accessibility/Website: Paul/Raul- A flyer is being developed for members who cannot get out to AA meetings. Gathering info from SVFAA Convention ie: no translator, so in future we can make suggestions to make the conventions more handicap friendly. Final steps in American Sign Language video project. “ A Teenager’s Decision” was the story that was chosen. Fully vetted translator (does not read or write English) to meet with a group of deaf AA’s to have a conversation about the story before having the final signing and video recording. A checklist inventory form is being converted to pamphlet form. Check to see if the meetings that state they are handicapped meetings to make sure they really are handicap accessible/”friendly”. Raul is working on website but also the Area 93 website.


Registration: Howard- He will be meeting with the city committee at the Radford group because there are no GSR’s there. Mark has new GSR info to Howard so they will pass out copies. There were only 3 Group District Registrars at the group meeting, there were 35 at PI.


SFV Liaison:  Paul talked about Central Office suggesting 60/20/10/10 breakdown for contributions to SFVCO/GSO/Area 93/District 17 to keep local contributions high due to maximum service by SFV Central Office (24 hr phones, directories, website, convention, etc.).  If your group doesn’t have an Intergroup Representative, consider it.  They meet the 2nd Monday of each month.


H&I Liaison: none.

 

Old Business:

  1. Bridging the Gap ad hoc committee – Simon- Treatment facilities. Get card into treatment facilities to give to people that will be graduating or leaving the facility and it will have central office’s phone number and there will be a list of names of volunteers when they call, Central Office will contact the people on the list that they can take them to their first meeting. Bob Fisher has agreed to maintain that list and will be the liaison between the facility and Central Office. To be continued. Canvas our GSRs (start small) before next District meeting.  Contact facilities to see what “gap” needs are.
  2. Goals for Dist 17: Need Grapevine/LaVina (Larry), CPC-(Jim), Accessibility-open

 

New Business

  1. Funding of SFVAC Activities; already discussed in Treasurer’s Report.  Convention scholarships ($60) were made through individual contributions, so ($0) outlay from District 17.
  2. Open Discussion… What’s going on at your meetings?  Larry-singleness of purpose discussion is needed for his group, next District 17 meeting.  He will email discussion “starter”.
  3. Presentation – Concept VI – by Laura was tabled until next month.  Future presentations will happen only at District meetings not following Area Assemblies.

           
Birthdays/Good & Welfare

8:10 pm – Adjourned with Responsibility Declaration

Upcoming Events:

http://www.praasa.org/?q=en/wppraasa09.html