GUTS Business Meeting – 07/06/2025

📝 GUTS Business Meeting Minutes — July 6, 2025

Business Meeting Chair: Lauren
Steering Committee Chair: Suzie
Secretary: Christian

🏦 Treasury & Bank Transition Updates

Bank Account Transfers

• Approximately $1,000 is being moved from the main account into individual reserves.
• Each account requires separate setup and verification, causing delays.
• Target cutoff for completion: end of the month.
• Zoom and Tech account transitions expected this week; ORC account coordination remains in progress.

Reason for Bank Change

• Facilitates access for multiple users without requiring personal information (e.g., SSNs).
• Enables individual usernames/passwords, eliminating credential sharing.
• Enhances privacy for the Treasurer and streamlines future transitions.

Quarterly Reporting

• Contributions approved in April are still under Q2, not Q3—correction underway.

💻 Tech Team Report

Recent Fixes

• Mobile user verification issue resolved.
• Business and Steering Meeting minutes are updated—except for May (still missing).
• Request made for anyone with a copy of May’s minutes.

Website Enhancements

• Service Positions page and the Google doc being upgraded with clickable links.
• Men’s and LGBTQIA+ Allies meetings added to the calendar.

Business Meeting Notes Visibility

• Notes were previously approved to be public, but visibility issues persist.
• Overlapping permissions identified; further investigation underway.

📋 Committee Reports & Votes

Treasurer’s Report — ✅ Approved with 24 Yes Votes
ORC Report — No update; representative not present
Tech Report — ✅ Approved with 24 Yes Votes

📣 GSR Report by Dennis

Area Assembly Highlights (April Conference)

• Delegate shared accessibility updates for tablet editions and checklists.
• AA literature purchase pilot was discussed but not acted on.

Literature & Media

• Upcoming releases include The Best of These Walls Could Talk, featuring a contributor known to Dennis.
• Minor updates proposed to sponsorship pamphlets.

Inclusion & Language

• Suggested removing gendered terms (e.g., “woman”) from service manual essays.

International AA Collaboration

• Australia’s service announcements may be adapted for U.S. and Canadian groups.
• Other countries (UK, etc.) operate independent General Service Offices.

Transparency & Outreach

• General Service Conference info available on multiple Area websites.
• PI (Public Information) materials being incorporated into outreach.

Alternate GSR Role Proposal

• Recommended creating an Alternate GSR for continuity/training.
• Community expressed support; formal feedback to be submitted.

Report Approval — ✅ Passed with 21 Yes Votes

 Sponsorship Workshop Report

Planning Progress

• Community polling selected four time slots: 
  • Sunday 12–3 PM PT
  • Saturday 12–3 PM PT
  • Monday & Thursday 6–7:30 PM PT

Next Steps

• Workshops will run in hourly segments or 1.5-hour blocks.
• Final poll to select 3–4 sessions.

Content Source

• Materials are AA-approved pamphlets; focus on structured guidance.

Coordination

• Scheduling avoids conflicts with training rooms/events.

Report Approval — ✅ Passed with 25 Yes Votes

🧑‍🏫 Training Team Elections

• Kel approved as Trainer (sobriety waiver) — ✅ 22 Yes Votes
• Vincent approved as Trainer — ✅ 18 Yes Votes
• Jamie approved as Training Coordinator — ✅ 26 Yes Votes

🗳️ Steering Committee

• Suzie re-elected as Chair — ✅ 18 Yes Votes
• Members elected: 
  • Mark M — ✅ 26 Yes Votes
  • Kristen — ✅ 26 Yes Votes
  • Christian — ✅ 24 Yes Votes
  • Jayna — ✅ 23 Yes Votes

📋 Administrative Roles

• Business Meeting Chair (second term): Lauren — ✅ 24 Yes Votes
• Secretary: Christian — ✅ 22 Yes Votes
• Email Coordinator: Gabi — ✅ 26 Yes Votes

💻 LNG Zoom Admins

• Gabi — ✅ 21 Yes Votes
• Christian — ✅ 23 Yes Votes

🫂 Outreach Committee (ORC)

• Janna — ✅ 23 Yes Votes
• Glen — ✅ 24 Yes Votes
• Mary — ✅ 24 Yes Votes

🙋 Newcomers Hosts

• Rich — ✅ 22 Yes Votes
• David — ✅ 18 Yes Votes

📖 Big Book and Traditions Hosts

• David — ✅ Approved for Big Book Study (21 Yes Votes)
• Glen — ✅ Approved for Twelve Traditions Meeting (21 Yes Votes)

✅ Summary Note

Multiple service positions were filled, including Training, Admin, and Outreach roles. The group waived a sobriety requirement for one trainer due to urgency and preparedness.

🏃‍♂️ Fast Tracking Hosts

1. Hosting Overview

• Members voted into fast track status can host sister meetings and marathon meetings, regardless of co-host readiness.

2. Policy Proposal

• Addressed inconsistencies for hosts not meeting attendance or hour thresholds.
• Proposed options: 
  • Restrict fast-tracked hosts to sister meetings until 60-hour milestone
  • Revise or remove 60-hour requirement for equity

3. Service Clarification

• Sister meeting hosting equates to being “in service.”
• Discussion on whether these hosts should participate in relevant threads.

✅ Co-Hosting Hours Motion

• Co-hosting requirement reduced to 40 hours
• Fast-tracked sister meeting hosts must complete 20 hours of co-hosting before hosting a marathon meeting.
• ✅ Motion passed with 18 Yes Votes

📝 Step Study Terminology Update

1. Background

• The term “coed” was originally used to denote combined men’s/women’s meetings.
• Now viewed as outdated and possibly insensitive, especially by LGBTQIA+ allies.

2. Opinions Shared

• Some argued “coed” offered clarity; others said it’s no longer necessary.
• Historical context of gender exclusion cited as reason to remove it.
• Recommendation made to update listings to say “a meeting for everyone.”

✅ Motion Passed

• Action: Remove “coed” from Step Study title and update group descriptions
• ✅ 17 Yes Votes

🛡️ Ethics Committee Guidelines
Status: ✅ Guidelines Approved; Structure and Protocols Finalized

1. 📜 Purpose and Objectives

• The Ethics Committee is designed to address personal, sensitive, or ethical issues within the group, offering a confidential alternative to public business meetings.
• It responds to challenges such as 13-stepping, interpersonal disputes, and concerns best handled through small-group resolution.
• Ensures members’ complaints can be heard without exposure or judgment, unless escalation is deemed necessary.

2. 🏗️ Structure and Membership

Composition:

• 1 man
• 1 woman
• 1 LGBTQIA+ representative

Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of sobriety
• At least 6 months of service experience
• Completion of the Twelve Steps
• Active familiarity with AA Traditions
• 6-month term commitment

Selection Process:

• Members must be voted in by the group; self-appointment is not permitted

3. 🛠️ Functionality and Protocols

• Monitor feedback channels and confidential reports
• Issue warnings as needed (three warnings = referral to the Business Meeting)
• Convene private meetings with involved parties to review concerns
• In urgent cases, may request temporary removal of members from the schedule pending review
• All matters handled with discretion, impartiality, and empathy
• Maintain a confidential communication thread for coordination

4. ✉️ Submission Process and Tech Setup

• A dedicated email will be created (e.g., EthicsCommittee@AGUTS.com)
• A new submission form will be developed with dropdown categories (e.g., interpersonal, harassment)
• Feedback will no longer route through the Steering Committee, to prevent conflicts of interest
• Volunteers are welcome to assist with form design and language

5. 🔍 Committee Separation

• Ethics and Steering Committees will operate independently
• Members may not serve on both concurrently
• Maintains checks and balances and protects confidentiality

6. 🧭 Guiding Philosophy

• The Ethics Committee’s purpose is not punitive, but restorative
• Aims to preserve group unity, ensure fair treatment, and uphold anonymity
• Escalation to a business meeting will only occur following Ethics Committee consensus
• Members emphasized creating a nonjudgmental space for resolution

🗳️ Final Vote Results — Ethics Committee Decisions

Motion	Outcome
Members must be voted in, not self-appointed	✅ Passed — 15 Yes
Structure adjusted to 3-member team (1 man, 1 woman, 1 LGBTQIA+)	✅ Passed — 12 Yes
Guidelines approved with room for future revisions	✅ Passed — 10 Yes
Scheduling protocol adopted for urgent complaints	✅ Passed — 16 Yes

🛑 Meeting Closure

• A motion to close the meeting was unanimously approved.
• The meeting was officially adjourned.