District 17 Newsletter

     October 6, 2006

 Peace and Serenity to all.  Here is the newsletter from our meeting held Thursday September 28 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Metropolitan.
     We opened with the Serenity Prayer.

     Present were Steve S., DCM, Dennis (GSR Monday Night Iron Mountain), Cliff W. (Iron Mountain VA Groups & district treasurer), Ken W., past DCM, Aaron and Terry, both quests.
     (1) Cliff - Please see finance Report. The Daily News has a Daily planner which lists all AA, Alanon, & NA meetings in the area. Cliff is still working on tracking down when it comes out and making sure it is up to date.
     (2) Dennis – Dennis presented a wants list needed by our district correctional facilities. The total amount of all the written material needed came to a total of $207.46.  The eligible voters at the meeting agreed to give Dennis the money but decided to table the vote until next months district meeting. This matter will be voted on at the next District meeting.  You need to be present to vote on this important issue. This is not new; it just has not been supported since 2004. A list of materials to be provided and where they are going is available. Please see Dennis S. or Steve S. if you are interested.  Please see attached corrections report submitted by Dennis.
     (3) Steve - Intergroup questions: A copy of the Intergroup financial report was handed out to appropriate members at this meeting. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this report or have questions please see Steve S. Also…it would be great for some new blood to take over the Intergroup committee. Sharon W. has been doing it for years, she needs a break. Typically there is a chairman and a co-chairman that learns and then does it the following year. We need a volunteer. Any takers?
     (4) District web site: At some time in the future we will need to purchase and maintain our own web space for hosting our web site. The cost on this will be between $10-15 per month. Cliff is donating the space and time.
     (5) Attendance: Attendance at our District Meeting has been steadily dropping. It is summer so…Maybe this fall it will get better. Remember…your group is counting on you to attend the District meeting so they can know what is going on in our area. If you are a GSR please attend or get an alternate to attend.
     (6) Service: We need to brainstorm for ideas. This is probably the biggest shortfall in our district and all districts. How do we get others in AA involved? First is by example. I did not actively participate in service for years, so I know how it works. I was resentful, jealous, lazy, worked to many hours, went to a million meetings so I didn’t need service work, had done it all 20 years ago so I can rest on my laurels. Excuses, that is what those are. It isn’t about what we are doing for ourselves; it is about what we are doing for others, for AA
     Very sad news to report was that our friend Pat D. from Armstrong Creek (the MC at Traveling Intergroup this past April in Kingsford) has passed away. She will be missed dearly for a long time.

     We closed with The Lord’s Prayer.

     In Love and Service,
     Steve S., District 17 DCM, Area 74
     P.O. Box 415, Iron Mountain, MI  49801     Page 2