Steering Committee Minutes ~ 5-25-25
SC Feedback Items to be considered for June 1st 2025 Business Meeting
Chair ~ Suzie M
BM Chair ~ Lauren
Treasurer ~ Elle
Steering Committee members: Kimberly, Kristen, John E, Gabi, Rachel (excused), Jason W (excused)
Read Twelve Traditions ~
- Jason A. requesting to return to service in GUTS by vote in BM ~ Tabled at this time per Jason’s request
- Justin NY requesting to return to attending GUTS by vote in BM. However, there was acknowledgement that Justin NY has a “permanent ban” not a “indeterminate ban”, the permanent ban GC is just that and is not eligible for a vote to return. To discuss further in BM ~ Discussed among members and voted 5-0 to take to the BM.
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- Topic for Business Meeting Agenda: DaveD Tulsa
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Howdy all.
We had a bit of discussion last night during LNG on shortening the timer to 4-3 or 2 minutes if there remains a lot of hands that will possibly go past the cutoff point of 2 am PT. I have made this decision myself when hosting and have seen others do it as well. Glenn M CT suggested this is not GC so I didn’t make the call to shorten the clock. I’d just like to know if this is host discretion or not. Thanks for ya’lls for your service 🙂 ~ This is currently in the GC, no change is needed.
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- Feedback on Service team: Obama V.
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Do I get a proof of attendance for any meeting that I attend? ~ Gabi communicated with him and the verification has been resolved.
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- Topic for Business meeting agenda: Dedicated Dennis
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As many of us have probably heard, there is a big AA party going on in July in Vancouver. Past international conventions have attracted over 60000 attendees from over 90 countries. One of the highlights of the convention is the flag ceremony at the opening meeting on Friday night. A representative from every country represented carries their flag onto the stage. In Atlanta in 2015, 95 countries were represented. The average length is about 20 minutes. On Saturday morning this ceremony will be streamed on line, anonymity protected, for those who are not in Vancouver to see. My home group has in the past held a pizza party before its regular Saturday meeting to show the streamed ceremony. I can’t promise pizza. But I would like to propose that we could have such a special meeting here. The time I am thinking might be right after the Business Meeting on Sunday.
~ This item will go to the BM, vote 5-0, and is scheduled to be live streamed July 6, ‘25. Thank you Dennis
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- Topic for Business meeting: Jerry M.
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To eliminate the phrase ‘COED’ from COED Step Study meeting because it is not politically correct, outdated and also we as GUTS feature an LGBTQIA+Allies meeting participants whom may consider the term in bad taste or even offensive. ~ This item will be sent to the BM, vote 5-0
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- Feedback on Service Team: Jerry M.
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A host of guts and another cohost and I were creating a new meeting. I thought up the name, created the ChatGPT whatsapp flyers (3) and paid without repayment $175 for setting up the zoom room license for 10 users 30 hours per meeting. The 2 other guts officers then had disagreement with myself, created their own meeting and refused to repay the $175 owed to me.
This item was discussed and considered an outside issue and the development of a group with no affiliation with AAGUTS. Vote 0-6 to not forward to the BM.
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- Feedback on Service team: Haylee
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Guts is a cool kids club that of course favors the newconber, but abandons the relapsed. It’s a drama club thats pretensions fail the principles. I will not return. .I feel more empty than fulfilled. I feel more hurt than welcomed, I feel more judged than tolerated. Best wishes, Haylee – do what God’s will.
The group discussed the many efforts made to be supportive of every member or participant. ~ The vote was 0-5 and will not forward to the BM.
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- Topic for Business meeting: Lauren
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Topic: Service Members needing to be voted back into service after resigning.
“Lisa-Made a concrete motion to vote people back in who have been gone for 6 months or longer. Revisit the topic in 6 months.” 1/07/2024 BM notes
I am requesting that we revisit this topic because we did not consider how polling would work. Would members need to wait until a BM happens just to be voted back into service? I am hoping we can reconsider the logistics of this GC and have a discussion. ~ Discussed and will go to the BM, vote 6-0
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Mark M
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As “Zoom Admin” for this group, there was never any formal training given regarding “Reclaiming Host” or adding members who can get in the meeting room bypassing the waiting room and claiming host. I am now able to add people to our Zoom account as users, but if their email address is affiliated with another PAID FOR Zoom meeting, there is the risk of something happening to that account when I add them to the GUTS account. I have tried to find out on YouTube how to reclaim host, but to no avail. Any help or constructive direction would be appreciated.
~ This feedback was discussed and determined resolved and will not go to the BM.
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- Topic for Business meeting: Jayna
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The current GC for those returning to service is to just inform a scheduler if gone UNDER 6 months and they can be added right back and for those gone longer than 6 months to be voted back in and redo cohost hours. I’d like to propose that we swap the voting-in here for those under 6 months. This would cut down on rage quitting significantly and share the weight put on schedulers in these situations by providing transparency to the group. Those gone longer than 6 months because of work, etc. (not bans) coming back isn’t the problem. They’d still do a refresh and start hours again. ~ This feedback was discussed and the 6-0 vote was to take it to the BM.
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Jayna
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As of now someone can be fast tracked to host IF there is an opening to host a sister meeting. If they are voted in and fast tracked they then can host the marathon too regardless of their cohost hours. We have other cohosts that are unable to attend sister meetings or can but there are no openings. I propose that we either change the GC to say that those voted in and fast tracked only host the sisters while they continue to gain their 60 hours before hosting the marathon OR change the 60 hour requirement for others to host to remain fair to all. It makes no sense that some have to follow this guideline to host and others don’t. ~ This feedback was discussed and the 6-0 vote was to take it to the BM.
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- Feedback on Service Team: Bently
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Due to the increasing need for stability within our sister meetings we may need to explore how we can assure that a long term service commitment is maintained. Too many people are taking commitments and then once elected or put in those commitments decide they are no longer interested. Perhaps we could make those commitments less time, or perhaps if someone backs out of a service commitment that we not allow someone who’s back out of a leadership position to hold another for 6 months. It doesn’t seem fair that people are taking these commitments on the basis that there was going to be a collective effort to have these meetings and then someone decides not to do them after being elected. We ought to have a more efficient and streamlined way to make sure people taking commitments are committed to their commitments. ~ This feedback was discussed and the 7-0 vote was to take it to the BM.
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Leona
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It has happened that a sister meeting did not happen for 3 weeks because of no host for the meeting. I think there needs to be a way to have hosts and cohosts for sister meetings in emergency situations. Hosts and cohosts are voted in to be a part of the group. How about having standby hosts and cohosts? Or have votes between Business Meetings to let the sister meetings go on.
~ This feedback was discussed and the 7-0 vote was to take it to the BM.
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Gabi
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Privacy of contact lists – I’d prefer to explain my reasoning during the meeting, but I’d like to discuss the possibility of locking the contact lists behind a password (this lists themselves, not the website). ~ This was discussed and it was determined by a 5-0 vote for informational purposes.
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Gabi
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Email for verification and general “contact us” spot. I know we talked about a possible gmail for verification assistance. I’m wondering if that could officially happen. Also, has moving away from having the admin@aaguts email being the default for the “contact us” spot ever been discussed? A gmail for that spot would be awesome ~ Elle offered that GUTS has additional emails that may be utilized. Vote 0-6, will not go to the BM
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Gabi
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SC feedback form & responses The formatting of the SC feedback on the website is not ideal. There is no date of each submission, it’s hard to navigate depending on the device you’re using. I’d like to propose using a google form style option – once a SC form is completed the info is loaded into a google sheet. This would give us the option of tracking feedback and outcomes more efficiently. Just a thought. ~ This is considered an inside tech improvement that does not require a GC. Vote 5-0 No BM
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- Topic for Business Meeting: Elle
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Service Guideline Suggestions/Updates for Consideration: To address ongoing issues with the abandonment and/or neglect of elected service commitment positions, and to ensure the group operates efficiently and maintains its commitments in good faith, I propose the following guideline:
Elected Service Commitment Accountability
Elected service members are accountable for the positions to which they are elected and agree to fulfill. A member will be removed from their service commitment if they:
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- Neglect or fail to perform the responsibilities of their position;
- Fail to notify the group of their absence or to arrange alternative coverage when absent; or
- Fail to acknowledge or respond to WhatsApp and/or email within 72 hours (or when regular communication is required for their service position).
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A removed position may be temporarily filled by a current service member who meets the established minimum sobriety, service, and experience requirements until a new nomination and vote are held for a replacement. Once removed, the member will be ineligible to serve in any elected service commitment positions for a minimum of six months.
~ The vote on this feedback was 5-0 to take to the BM.
* As a short summary, there will be some overlapping ideas and suggested improvements up for discussion in the BM meeting which will include; return to service, service commitments and duration, service requirements and an overall closer look at its components to best serve the room and to fulfill our primary purpose. Your full participation and input is important as this is our Group Conscience which always serves to guide us.