March 2012

District 17 Newsletter

        The district monthly GSR meeting was held Tuesday March 27, 2012 at the district office, located at 373 Woodward Ave., Kingsford, MI.  The meeting was opened with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer.  In attendance were:  Cliff W., Bruce L., Nancy H., John R., Debbie G., Kathy M., Darryl N., Dennis S., Betty S., Joanne B., Ed H. and Tom S.

Secretary’s Report 3/27/2012:

Motion was made and accepted to forego reading of minutes

Report was accepted as presented.

Financial Report 3/27/2012:

                                Balance from Feb. 2012 report                                            $1701.14

                                  Deposits:

                                                 TGIF-Fri. a.m. Iron Mtn.                                                                   $78.18

                                                Mon. nite 1st Lutheran. Church Iron Mtn.                                         $60.00

                                Withdrawals:

                                                3/23/12 AT&T Phone                                                                           $34.61

                              Balance March 2012                                                                $1804.71

We are self-supporting through our own contributions

              Joanne B., Treas. Dist. 17

Report was read and motion made and accepted as presented.

Corrections Report 3/27/2012

Corrections Report for the month of March..........For the men's....Dennis S. has been filling in and hoping to get another man on boards for Dickinson County jail meetings on Tuesday night. We will be looking for somebody to ask personally. Coffee is fine for now.

For the women's.......all is well. Schedule continues through April and then Karen K. will be added back on the schedule. We continue to stress the importance of the girls getting to a meeting the day they get out of jail. Val should be back soon to Florence if not already. I have not contacted her but will. I will be out of town for the intergroup, but

I will contact Jill in Iron River to remind her of the Corrections meeting that day and will also remind the other girls.

Respectfully submitted,

                                       Debbie G.

After Debbie’s correction report is was suggested that it may be a good idea to start approaching men with at least 2 years of sobriety to see if there are members of AA that would be interested in conducting the men’s jail meetings in Iron and Dickinson Co.

Report was read and motion made and accepted as presented.

Webmaster/Coordinator Report 3/27/2012

On Tuesday, March 13, 2012 met with Carol H at district office for further training of webmaster of district website and updated info for option #9 of the 0900 AA Hotline.

On Saturday, March 24, 2012 at district office to perform updates to district website by adding monthly newsletter, U P Intergroup minutes, announcement of upcoming service workshop in June, and uploading updates to Microsoft and APC backup battery websites.

On Tuesday, March 27 at district office to perform updates for the monthly webmaster report and to open the conference room downstairs for the district 17 monthly GSR meeting.

The District 17 Office has _450_ meeting cards in drawer divided into stacks of 50 cards.

The 0900 AA Hotline _71_hits, including _26_ calls w/no option pressed that included calls from regional services, phone services, Serra Laser Center, Texas call, Florida call, & AT&T.

The District website _81_ hits the past month.

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. Email to: dcm@district17a74.org

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 Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at District 17 Office in Kingsford.

Living my life 1-day at a time,

Cliff W. (Webmaster/coordinator, District17)

Kathy M. donated a Dell Omni Plex computer for back-up at the District Office. Thank you Kathy!!

Report was read and motion made and accepted as presented.

Archives Report 3/27/2012

Daryl N. reported that he has done some filing of the District Minutes that haven’t been done since last year.

PI/CPC Report 3/27/2012

Bruce L. explained PI/CPC but reminded everyone to read about it on AA.org

DCM Report 3/27/2012

March 24th and 25th went to Three Lakes, WI for the Delegates workshop on the 24th and the Area Assemble on the 25th.
At the delegate’s workshop worked on the CPC committee changes which included changing the out date DVD to include more current updated material. Agreed with this change (cost is only $1350). The other item was a change to Singleness of Purpose statement in the literature, by changing the statement ((non-alcoholics and professionals are encouraged to attend open AA meetings) to (encourage attending open AA meetings as observers). This was agreed to change, reason being any question could be asked after the meeting so as not to disrupt the meeting.
I did suggest to the Committee chair that the Area should mail CPC workbooks be mailed to all Area 74 districts to help in the expansion of the CPC program. This was also agreed upon and Marty C. will be mailing out workbooks in the near future.

March 25thArea meeting: After report was given one item did show up that will be presented to ALL registered groups. A change to tradition 11, to include; all media including the internet, this will be the first time a tradition will be changed, so it will be mailed to the groups for decision (which takes 75% of the groups who respond for it to be changed).
Old business:
1) Structure and Guidelines committee to go back to original scope of committee - Passed
2) Now & Then Newsletter E-mail only - Failed
3) Post Guidelines on web page - tabled
4) Survey of Newsletter recipients (where to e-mail or hard copy) (this is being done already on back of newsletter) -failed
5) Members being on more than one committee - Sent to Structures and Guidelines
6) Prudent Reserve for Area -Finance committee suggested $3000. But the question arouse about having money in a separate act verses as it stands now that the Area is alerted to the problem when monies get down to $3000 so action can be taken -Table for further decision.

New business:
1) To except a donation from WICYPAA for $1200 (they have a group number from GSO) - Was accepted.

4. DCM Report cont.

2) Now & then committee gave report on costs and reasons for delays in mailings.


I talked to past Delegate Dodie A. Who has agreed to be on our work shop panel along with our Delegate Marty L. and Karen on June 2?

Next Inter-groups

    March        Delta County – March 10th        
    April        Iron Mt. / Kingsford - April 14th
    May        Copper Country / South Range
    June        Manistique June 9th
    July            L’Anse
    August        (Ontonagon 2013) OPEN FOR 2012 – ANYONE INTERESTED?
    September    Niagara
    October        Newberry - October? (To be determined) 
    November    Ishpeming       
    December    Marquette – December 1st

        In Service,

                            Bruce L., DCM

Report was read and motion made and accepted as presented.

NEW BUSINESS 3/27/2012

Debbie G. asked if during the "What is Service?" Workshop, if Marty L. will be giving his report from National? Bruce L. stated he would not as this workshop is geared toward members who are not familiar with service and the importance of service.

It was also brought up that there should be discussion as to what the topics at this workshop will be.

Debbie G. stated there are so many members that don’t know or understand so much of the backstage of what goes on behind the scenes of AA i.e.; GSR, PI/CPC/Archives, etc.

Debbie G. suggested a panel on sponsor/sponsored guidelines.

Bruce L. felt that a very important part of workshop should also be a full explanation of "Service" and all of the different elements of it.

John R. said he thought it’s very important that the members/new members also know that any decisions that are made are made by the groups conscious and not in a back room somewhere.

Joanne B. It should be explained that we’re trusted servants and "No one" governs!!

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

              Respectfully;

                                       Nancy H.  Secretary, District 17