District 13
Meeting Minutes – 11/16/2021
Next
District Meeting 12/21/2021
Meeting was hybrid
Attendance & Introductions:
Jim W, Debbie F, Paul S, Brian K, Scott H, Tom D, Dan C,
John S, Dani P, Bob K, Jimmy P, Jim C, Randall,
Ashley E, Marilyn R, Mark C, MJ, Mike R, Ken, Steve B, Mike,
George
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.
- 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.
(VIDEO STARTED AT CONCEPTS AND I
MISSED WHO READ TRADITIONS)
Concepts 1 and 12 were read by
MJ
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 advised that we are still
looking for a secretary. Asked if anyone
was attending for the first time. – Ken, Mike, MJ
Jim W asked everyone to review
minutes. Motion to approve. Minutes
approved.
Jim W went over the agenda.
Motion to approve. Agenda approved.
REPORTS:
Treasurer’s Report – Dan C.
Collected $187.00. Paid out $48.00 (Amazon
web services, cell phone). Op funds $2,408.62 ● Pink Can total: $810.15.
●
If sending checks, please put meeting number on
the check. You can find it in the
directory.
●
Tax stuff not yet squared away.
●
Motion to send $750 to Chicago and $750 to New
York. – Motion passed. ● Brian asked about Thanksgiving appeal. Letters were sent out.
VCC Committee- Tom D
●
Tu, Th, Sat meeting still going. Attendance remains about the same. Saturday best turnout – 8-10 attending and
newcomers!
Finance Committee – Steve B.
●
Meeting was 11/9.
●
Group contributions up from last year by $20,000
●
Individual contributions up from last year by
$37,000
●
Approved a $100 increase in the CPC budget
●
Approved three units for air purification for
the office - $900
●
Write off of Polish big books $291
●
Write off old service manuals $536
●
Write off old Grapevine magazines $2,075
●
Next meeting in January 2022
Brian asked what they are doing with the Polish big books –
will be destroyed since they are older editions.
Correctional Facilities
Committee – Phil M. (absent)
Directory and Literature –
Vacant
●
MJ asked what this position entails.
Workshop Committee – Brian K.
●
Holding off on large events at the moment
●
Vicki has one in the pipeline
Public Information
Committee/Cooperation with Professional Community Committee – Scott H.
●
Meeting on 11/8
●
DUI speakers are on hold – not a lot of
opportunities at the time ● Oak Park had a take back day for the
youth. Took a lot of pills!
●
Members attended Skokie drug court – trying to
initiate rehabilitation instead of jail
●
Pace Bus project – budget discussion
●
Tinley Park or Orland Park – went to the schools
to reach out with 5 speakers for 10 minutes each with questions after
Paul asked for more information regarding the Skokie drug
court. Scott did not have details.
AA Grapevine Committee – John S.
John asked that each group get a Grapevine rep. Urged members to subscribe to Here’s How.
● The
Grapevine Committee met, both online and in person, November 9, 2021; welcomed
KatieM. (CASO Office Manager) to our meeting.
We reviewed the current issue of Grapevine News; discussed a special
project/request from Katie M. for our input on the potential distribution of
Grapevine/LaVina magazine
backstock in Area 19
● Alternate
Chair, Monique P. continued leading our discussion on how committee
members’groups are accepting/integrating the new preamble language in their
meetings; polled the group on any materials needs and on member gratitude
Current Magazine Issues
● This
month’s Grapevine featured section is: This month’s special section is “Prayer
&
Meditation,” featuring powerful
selections from the brand new Grapevine book Prayer &
Meditation. Also featuring
stories of hope during the current COVID-19 pandemic
● Submit
your stories for upcoming issues: Oldtimers! - Let’s hear from our long-time
members!What was AA like when you came in? What have you learned over the
years? (stories due Dec.
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: “Family
in AA.” Submit your Spanish-language stories onindividual steps and traditions
●
Grapevine has a new podcast!! “The AA Grapevine
Half-Hour Variety Hour” debuted Oct 4.Join Don and Sam each week as they
interview a different member about their experience, strength and hope in a
casual ‘meeting after the meeting’ manner. Special features will enhance each
episode. New episodes available in English Mondays, 9:00 am EST. Visit
https://www.aagrapevine.org/podcast to listen.
●
New Book now available! *Prayer &
Meditation* features stories by members of about themany ways they incorporate
prayer and meditation in their daily lives (Now available - $11.50) ●
We have changed printers, so watch for your Grapevine and La Viña magazines in
a white mailer
●
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.
●
Want to Help Another Alcoholic? Carry The
Message Project 2021 gives three easy ways toshare Grapevine & LaViña’s
great twelve step tools! Learn more at
www.aagrapevine.org/carry-the-message
or visit the Grapevine YouTube channel
Connect and Contribute
●
Consider supporting Here’s How (Chicago’s
monthly AA newsletter), in addition to Grapevineand LaViña. More information on
subscribing and/or submitting content available at chicagoaa.org/heres-how/
●
Sign up for emails from Grapevine and LaViña:
Grapevine Daily quote, monthly newsletter,
Grapevine and Your Group
(quarterly); LaViña weekly quote, LaViña news ww.aagrapevine.org/emails
●
Grapevine is always looking for stories,
photographs and illustrations. Visitwww.aagrapevine.org/share to learn more
about how you can share with Grapevine. ● Record your story. Grapevine is
collecting members’ stories in their own voices. Please visit: www.aagrapevine.org/audio-portal
for additional information.
●
Grapevine has a YouTube channel! Find member
stories from Grapevine and La Viña as well asinformational videos. Visit and
subscribe for free at www.youtube.com/aagrapevine
●
Please relay this report to your group.
Recommend your group purchase a GV/LV subscriptionto add to your group’s
literature library. Visit www.aagrapevine.org for more information on these and
other topics.
●
The next meeting of the Grapevine committee is
December 14, 2021, at 6:30pm
Ashley asked if there is a
dollar amount or subscription count to not have Grapevine go under – John did
not have this information.
Hospitals and Treatment
Facilities Committee. – Mike R
●
We are still waiting for the Information Packets
(with client appreciations and postage paid, self addressed envelopes)
regarding the Bridging The Gap program to present to Sara at Amita and Jill at
Share! They can pass this info on to their counselors, or I can get permission
to meet with their staff!
However, (separate email attachment sent) you will
find an application to volunteer and some information from GSO regarding the
“Bridging the Gap” program! PLEASE SEND THIS INFO ON TO THOSE IN YOUR GROUP
THAT ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING!
●
Meetings still continue at Amita/Saint Alexius
Behavioral Center and Share!
●
Yes! We could use more Big Books as The Meeting
Tub at Share is again running dry!
MJ asked how people would be
contacted. Mike advised that it would be
similar to being on the 12th step list.
Brian suggested we get someone
to attend active meetings so we can update our district directory.
Committee on Conferences –
Vacant
Special Accessibilities
Committee – Randall
●
Things are slow at the area level but busy in
the New York office. There is a new
chair.
●
A new community services page was created for
people who live in underserved or remote communities. This will be import for people in respects to
geography, language and culture. The
page is in English, Spanish & French.
●
There is a big book and 12&12 in American
Sign Language live on the AA World Services YouTube channel. All videos are available with close captioned
in English only. ● New big book in braille.
●
GSO has interviews with people in the Military
that are AA Members.
Technology Committee- Vacant
Secretary Report – Vacant
Website Administrator – Nazar Z
& John (absent)
●
Jim advised everyone to go to the website and
check out what is missing/what needs to be added.
●
Brian advised that Nazar is available on Signal
and that’s the best way to get in touch with him and advised that it would be
nice if they could attend.
●
Jim is going to be point in contacting Nazar to
try to get things corrected.
Alternate District Chair Report
– Debbie F.
●
No report
District Chair Report – Jim W
●
Attended CASA on November 13th.
●
Area budget passed. Brief discussion about the PI committee
budget but motion passed.
●
If you attend meetings that do not have a GSR
you can ask why.
●
Jim advised that we have a document that can be
updated to include all GSR’s
●
Thanksgiving appeal sent
●
Get involved in twelve step work and area
committees
●
Sub committees to translate the fourth edition
of the big book and separate committee to draft the new edition
●
East Central Forum – registration open ● GSR
experience – December 11th.
●
All events are available on the CASA website
New Business
●
Paul asked about the GSR Appreciation Dinner –
Jim called the Seville and they are open.
●
Brian said he would work with Paul to get the
planning going.
●
Brian will stop by the Seville and see if they
have the third Tuesday of April 2022 open.
●
Paul advised that we need to start thinking
about Picnic dates for 2022. July 16th. ● Ashley
to chair the picnic committee
Old Business
●
GSR/Alt GSR Info verification for Group Services
database:
>>Please click the link below (I will then grant you
permission), then check the info, and mark a ✓ with your name in the yellow
column, indicating the info is correct - make the corrections, if needed and
then mark the yellow column<< https://drive.google.com/file/d/12eF9FxlGJOVSHWk4uespbMKEd_PgkXjH/view?usp=drivesdk
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Next CASA Saturday January 13,
2022, hosted by District 3
Northbrook Civic Foundation, 2002
Walters Ave
Northbrook, IL 60062
Sharing 11:00am Lunch 12:00pm Assembly 1pm CT
Also on Zoom:
Meeting ID: 987 5972 6527
Passcode: 712021
To Join by phone: 312-626-6799 when prompted enter the
meeting ID and password
Motion to Close – Jim W
Meeting Adjourned
Responsibility Statement
Lord’s Prayer
