District 17 Newsletter May 2015

May 18, 2015

District 17 Newsletter

The district monthly GSR meeting was held Monday, May 18th, 2015 at the Iron Mountain, Mi. Alano Club. In attendance were: Bruce T., Debbie G., Cliff W., Matt S., Betty S., Karen K., Kathy M., Norm F., Pete E., John R., and Linda P. Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 29th, at 6:00pm.

Financial Report 5/18/2015:

Balance from March 2015 report $ 404.11

Withdrawals:

5-14 VISA/AT&T $ 66.77

5-18 CK#1351 (Rent: June, July, Aug.) $ 180.00

Contributions:

4-20 New Hope Group IM $ 60.00

5-8 123 Group Alano Club $ 40.00

5-9 Serenity Seekers IR $ 90.00

Balance for April 2015 $ 347.34

Betty S. Reported that she was able to talk to someone from AT&T on May 7th. AT&T agreed to reduce our phone charges to a basic rate. New rate will be reflected on our next month billing with a credit from May 1st. New rate effective for 12 months.

Betty will be out of town for the month of June and requested a cosigner on our checking account to be able to receive and pay bills. Motion for Bruce T. be on checking account was made, seconded and passed.

Attending GSR's also agreed to remind our groups of the New DCM and our commitment to contributing to reimbursing his AA expenses to certain conferences and meetings when we are able.

We are self-supporting through our own contributions

Sincerely, Betty S. district 17 Treasurer.

Treasures report was read and accepted as given.

Corrections Report:

Debbie reported that Dennis may be stepping down from his Corrections Co-chair position and that a new co-chair may be needed. She expressed a need for a second co-chair to help with responsibilities.

Kathy M. expressed interest in the position and the discussion was tabled until Debbie confirms Dennis's plans to step down. Thank you Kathy for you continued support.

Big Books are still needed for the jail meetings

Karen K. suggested picking up used books at Garage sales, Goodwill, St. Vincent's when we see them in our travels.

Correction report was read and accepted as given.

Webmaster Report:

        Have continued being active to keep the district 17 website updated as well as the website at Hostek Web Host site for District 17. This has been performed in my home office. Happy to report that the local AA Hotline 0900 has been active. In keeping Hostek Web Host updated involves checking periodically the email room and keeping inbox clean. Hostek has made changes that effects software used by Webmaster no longer allowing extensions for use of Microsoft Front Page and must now find other means in making changes on website.
        On Monday, May 18 reported to district office for updates including option #9 of the AA Hotline 0900 and discovered that office computer needs for webmaster to change password. Was able to bypass changes as webmaster doesn’t use any password. Attended the monthly GSR meeting at 6 pm.

    The District 17 Office has _400_meeting cards in drawer.
    The 0900 AA Hotline registered 18 calls including 3 calls with option #8.
    The District website recorded_100_hits this past month with a new web counter set at 10,229 total hits.

    Any member of the fellowship with sobriety can become a contact on the option #8 contact listing for a 3-month period. This listing should periodically be updated, especially for those who are about to take a 3-month turn with their listing on option #8.

    As a regular monthly reminder, must train people (female/male) the operation as coordinator of the 0900 AA Hotline and as webmaster of the district website. Anyone interested in getting involved with being webmaster or coordinator for 0900 AA Hotline please contact a District 17 committee member, or show up at the monthly GSR district meeting the last Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at District 17 Office at Alano Club Iron Mountain.

    Living my life 1-day at a time,
    Cliff W.

Webmaster report was read and accepted as given.

Archives Report:

None

Secretary Report:

Linda P. working on making sure that e-mails are up to date and that if anyone wanting AA news (and not on the 'list') should contact her.

Secretary report was read and accepted as given.

PI/CPC Report:

None

DCM Report:

New interim Bruce T sat in getting the feel of chairing a meeting

OLD BUSINESS:

Bruce T. express further information regarding the inter workings/relationship of AA and Intergroup.

Discussion regarding making sure our groups are donating properly, in accordance of the AA guidelines.

Karen K. attended the Area 74 Conference and noted that each of our groups should actually be donating $47.00 to the district. At present, our groups are only donating $2.61 a person and that a One dollar donation in the basket in1945 would cost $13.00 per person today. She expressed donating outside of the AA guidelines takes income away from the district, Area, and G.S.O.

This lead to the discussion of GSR's having regularly scheduled business meetings to help educate, inform and vote on business related topics without interfering an AA meeting.

Karen K. suggested a GSR workshop.

Debbie G. updated us on Intergroup information ie. rent deposit for next year and that Steve S. with (hopefully) volunteers would be repaving the K of C parking lot to help defer costs. Debbie reminded us of our entwined relationship with Intergroup.

Bruce tabled the Intergroup discussion until he could get more information from Steve S.

New Business:

John R. expressed that we continue to better inform our groups of Intergroup gatherings, AA events, and Service. Discussion on the importance of AA family outside of our immediate groups.

When anyone anywhere reaches out I want the hand of AA always to be there and for that I am responsible.

Respectfully;

Linda P. Secretary, Dist. 17