District 17 Newsletter
May 14, 2006
Greetings Our 5th District (GSR) meeting of
2006 was held on April 25th in Iron River at the Alano Club. My apologies to
Dennis S., who drove all the way to Iron River and couldn’t find the club. I
will try to coordinate things better in the future. There were six people
present for the meeting, that includes Cliff W., Treasurer and me, the DCM.
Gordy and Marion from Iron Mountain came and Shannon and Libby from Iron County
were there. I would like to thank Iron River Alano Club meetings for hosting our
meeting. Thanks
The following items were discussed.
1. 0900 was again discussed. Barry has met with total inactivity on the
part of the DCH system. They apparently are not interested in working with us to
further our cause. I have talked to the administrator at the Sheriff’s
department and have worked out a tentative schedule to update our phone system
to include contact numbers. We will be able to put 10 phone numbers on the
machine. We need a list of ten people that are willing to have their names on
the list.
2. Meeting cards are going to print as soon as a few last minute changes
have been made. Cliff will either have an update on the cards at the next
district meeting or will have the cards in hand.
3. We will be taking nominations and voting in a new alternate DCM and also
a Secretary for the district. Please attend if you are interested in being
nominated or please be present to vote on this issue
4. An interesting point was brought up by Libby about the DCM being
reimbursed for travel to area functions. Apparently it has been misunderstood by
some, possibly many, that the DCM gets reimbursed for travel other than area
functions. The DCM gets reimbursed for AREA functions only. Area functions
include, Delegates Workshop, Spring and Fall Conference, Spring Assembly, etc. I
also get reimbursed for mailing that I do for the stamps and copies. I do not
ask for reimbursement for Intergroup, District Meetings, or other District level
functions. A GSR may ask his or her group for reimbursement for travel if they
so desire. Each meeting and each GSR is responsible for the procedures of their
group. The group brochure and the GSR brochure and Service Manual cover this
subject. Please read and feel free to ask questions if you have any.
5. I am going to open the table on the subject of Service Sponsorship. It
would be good if we all sponsored members into service work. Pick out someone
and start working on them. If you are in service work you know how rewarding it
can be so why not pass it on to someone else. This is another case of attraction
not promotion. Whining and moaning about how hard it is does nothing to attract
members into service work Gratitude is the Attitude And am I ever grateful to
be sober and alive How little I am asked in return for my life and my sobriety.
Service is more than just making coffee and being a GSR or DCM, it is a way
of life. In my life as a drunk everything I did was about me or for me. I had
lapses of insanity where I actually thought about where I was going or where I
had come from. Rarely did I wonder or care what was going on with other people.
Am I living life differently now? Or am I still just so self centered that the
end of my nose is as far as I care to see Do I really care what happens to
others? Am I a member of AA or am I just a trial member, you know, it expires
in 30 days. What am I doing to make sure that I am immersed in the program? Am I
truly committed to this great way of life? I have asked myself these questions
and many more in recent months and have found myself being able to say yes.
Thank you for all your support and work. We are members of AA, yes WE.
In Love and Service,
Steve S., District 17 DCM, Area 74
P.O. Box 415, Iron Mountain, MI 49801