District 13 Meeting Minutes – 08/17/2021
Next District Meeting 9/21/2021
Meeting was only on Zoom
Attendance &
Introductions:
Jim W, Steve B, Ashley,
Tom, Daniel C, Scott, Mark C, Debbie, Bob, Phil, Bre, Marilyn
Jim W opened the
District Meeting and Jim chaired the Meeting. The meeting was opened with a
quiet time followed by the Serenity Prayer and Responsibility Statement.
Scott - Read Traditions
1, 2, 9 and 12.
1.
Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery
depends upon AA Unity.
2.
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate
authority – a loving God as He may express himself in our group
conscience. Our leaders are but trusted
servants; they do not govern.
9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but
we may create service boards directly responsible to those they serve.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all
our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Concepts 1 and 12 were
read by Debbie
1. Final responsibility
and ultimate authority for AA World Service should always reside in the
collective conscience of our fellowship.
12. The conference shall observe the spirit of
the AA tradition taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth
or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial
principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified
authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion,
vote, and whenever possible substantial unanimity; that its actions never be
personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never
perform acts of government; that, like the society it serves, it will always
remain democratic in thought and action.
Jim W asked everyone to
review minutes. Mark Motioned, Debbie
Second, passed.
Jim W went over the
agenda. Debbie motioned, Mark C second, passed.
REPORTS:
Treasurer’s Report – Dan
C. (absent) but report emailed out
● Collected
$
$198.00. Paid out $101.57 (Amazon web services, cell phone, Phil M not
for profit status with state). Op funds $1,133.60
● Pink
Can total: $810.15 (hasn’t moved in a while). Going to leave it alone for now.
VCC Committee- Tom D
● Tu,
Th, Sat meeting still going strong
● Still
need to keep asking for Venmo donations
Finance Committee –
Steve B.
● No
report, meeting in Sept.
Correctional Facilities
Committee – Phil M.
● Nothing
new with the DOC – talking about opening up but nothing for sure yet.
● Decided
he will not be going to NOLA in person but will attend virtually in light of
the current pandemic climate.
Directory and Literature
Committee – Vacant
Workshop Committee – Tom
filling in for Brian K.
● Shooting
for a October date
Public Information
Committee/Cooperation with Professional Community Committee – Vacant AA
Grapevine Committee – John S.
● This month’s
Grapevine featured section is: “Seniors in AA” AA members share powerful
stories about the joys and challenges of getting older in sobriety. Issue
includes resources for seniors. Also included are stories of hope by members
during the current COVID-19 crisis
● Submit your
stories for upcoming issues: Emotional Sobriety — Over time, how have you
learned to use the tools of AA to gain serenity and peace? Share some wonderful
examples of emotional sobriety in your life today (stories due Sept 15)
● Important:
We’re looking for stories of experience with each Step and each Tradition!
(Pick a Step
or pick a Tradition and write about your experience!)
● This month’s
LaViña Special Section is “La Viña’s 25th Anniversary”
● Submit your
Spanish-language stories for: Newcomer issue (due Sep 30); The Three
Legacies
(due Oct 17)
Important: LaViña is always looking
for stories on individual steps and traditions
● Grapevine
and LaViña are live on Instagram!! Follow us at @alcoholicsanonymous_gv
@alcoholicosanonimos_lv See daily quotes, know when our new magazine issues
release, learn about new books and stay inspired by and connected to Grapevine
and LaViña, and to AA as a whole
● Happy
Birthday LaViña! This year LaViña celebrates 25 years of sharing the lived
experiences of the Spanish-speaking alcoholic community! To help celebrate
members can share a few paragraphs (English or Spanish) on what LaViña has
meant to them. Visit www.aalavina.org/25aniversario for more information
● Two New
Books now available! Free on the Inside: Stories of AA Recovery in Prison;
Mujeres en
AA (Womenin AA, Spanish-language)
● Want to Help
Another Alcoholic? Carry The Message Project 2021 gives three easy ways to
share Grapevine & LaViña’s great twelve step tools! Learn more at
www.aagrapevine.org/carry-the-message or visit the Grapevine YouTube channel
Hospitals and Treatment
Facilities Committee. – Mike R
● Amita/Saint
Alexius Behavioral Center Tuesday 6 PM Big Book Read and Discussion Meeting is
growing! Last week August 10th there were 13 AAs in attendance! Masks are worn
entering and leaving the facility!
● Share
meetings continue! Masks are worn by volunteers at all times in the facility!
Meetings are going on every day!
Thanks again to the
Sunday Morning Eye Opener Group for another Big Book donation for use at the
meetings!
● The
CASA Hospital and Treatment Facilites Committee has finalized the Bridging The
Gap Application for Clients/Patients to apply for temporary sponsorship when
leaving a Hospital or Treatment Facility!
I have the application
for Volunteers who wish to participate! They will be contacted by a CASA
Volunteer for this service opportunity in their area. A system similar to 12
step calls!
Special Accessibilities
Committee – Randall (absent)
Committee on Conferences
– Vacant
Technology Committee-
Vacant
Website Administrator –
Nazar Z & John (absent)
Secretary’s Report – Bre
M
● No
report
Alternate District Chair
Report – Debbie F.
● No
report
District Chair Report –
Jim W
● D13 GSR/Alt GSR Info 2021
Spreadsheet o
I left a
message with Martin F., Group & Fellowship Services
Coordinator - I will email o District 13 with further
details when he gets back to me. Please mark a '✓' or 'no' in the yellow column
○https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12eF9FxlGJOVSHWk4ues
pbMKEd_PgkXjH/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=11800903227774945771
8&rtpof=true&sd=true
○ 6 have permission but no one has filled in the
yellow column.
● City/Suburban Directory o I submitted both edited
directories to Group Services on 7/24/21.
o
We can continue to edit both directories on my Google drive. ○ Your
previous edits are still there, so use blue to distinguish the new from the
old.
○ I have not been notified as
to when the deadline for printing newhard copydirectories is.
○ You can always submit your edits directly to
Group Services:
groupservices@chicagoaa.org
○ Edits for the online directory can be
submitted at any time and will be added immediately.
○ City -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kGeE-7jR-G0_VlJYUqB2gi9yE
GeVYNq4/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=118009032277749457718&rtpof
=true&sd=true ○ Suburban -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kJmImfXykdEfNh1XuZaKxhvM
dnf1_uOp/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=118009032277749457718&rtpof
=true&sd=true
● Casa 7/24/21 o The State Conference
(8/27-28/21) was the opening topic ○ Dick, Area 21, opened with a presentation.
○ Will be virtual
○ Speakers
■ Paula Champaign, Marty M NC & Tim H KY
○ Various panels
■ Friday - Literature
■ Saturday - Delegate,
Trustee, Al-Anon, NIA - treatment, SIA CPC/PI,
Archives & Using Digital formats panel
○ Entertainment -
■ Friday night sitcoms (See
flyer to submit), Scan code ■ Saturday night - talent & AA Jeopardy during
lunch (Sat?) ○ Tech help needed!
○ Need volunteers in general.
○ https://www.chicagoaa.org/event/illinois-state-conference/
o CASA will be hybrid - 9/18/21
- working on coffee, beverages and food issues.
○ The calendar at chicagoaa.org still has it as
"TBD" and "virtual".
○ I'm sendng a bunch of flyers from the July
CASA, including the one
for the CASA on 9/18/21, in
the email I'll send for tonight's meeting.
o
GSO/GSB
○ September 15 is the new
deadline to submit agenda items for the
72nd GSO used to be December
15.
○ Monica and Sean are available to discuss any
aspect of GSO/GSB but especially for agenda items.
o
2025 International Convention needs a theme - submit by 10/15/21. o Katie M. the CASO Office
Manager, is on vacation until 8/30/21.
o
CASO motion for 'Search Engine Optimization' (SEO) – passed
● Sharing 8/11/21 -
"Keeping Up Digital Progress" o So sharing sessions are recorded.
○ If you're interested, contact me and I'll
email the link when it becomes available.
○ Always a panel of interesting guests from all
over America and Canada who are
active in the Service Structure in some way
o
Some takeaways...
○ AA is not a place
○ Hybrid is the way most Areas are going for
assemblies.
○ We've learned much about missteps AA had made
as technology becomes more
prevalent to carry the message, but we must
always remain vigilant protecting
anonymity and not forsake those who don't use
technology for whatever reason;
the brick and mortar, and hard copy literature
AAs deserve equal attention.
○ Yet, going paperless can be an effective way
to cut costs at the Area and District levels.
○ Using interpretors (language and sign
language) virtually is very cost effective.
○ Bill Wilson often wrote about AA accepting
technological advances to carry the message.
○ There are many different hybrid set ups. (Our
set up in August was very similar to some of what was presented). ○ Technology
in AA (TIAA) blog: https://tiaa-forum.org/
New Business
● No
new business
Old Business
● See
DCM report above for info about updating the spreadsheet Motion to Close – Jim
W
Meeting Adjourned
Responsibility Statement
Lord’s Prayer
