GUTS Business Meeting – 11/03/2024

11/3/24 Business Meeting Agenda

BM Chair:         Mary Mc

BM Co-Chair:  Mark M.

Secretary:       Tom D

SC Members:   Mary M, Christian B, Dedicated Dennis, Jason W, Jayna, John E, Lauren S, Mark M, Suzie M, Brando, Gabrielle, Holly A, Jeannine, Kristen R, Leona, Margie S, T-man

1. Treasurer’s Report – Elle

Bank – beginning balance -$6,727.55

Total deposits – $718.76

• Noting Uncanny Automator purchase ($149), just installed, amongst purchases (is a yearly expense and a reserve for it should be kept)

Total expenses – $6,761.84 ($19.94 pending as of 10/31)

7th tradition apps – beginning balance – ($705.30)

7th tradition apps – end balance – $740.98

Ending cash balance – $7,482.88 (about $30 more than last month – has not included 7th tradition costs due to a GSO CVV code error and changes to OIAA’s intake of 7th tradition funds)

Prudent reserve – $2k

ORC – Q4 Bal 10/31 – $2,024.96

Zoom Exp reserve – $845 (Nov invoice pending)

Tech reserve (interserver & mailpoet) – $45

Comments

• Jerry – How do we allocate ORC funds towards people’s needs?
  • Mary Mc – We don’t demand to know what someone’s income requirements are. We state in our script that we will provide literature without proof of need. This is a program of rigorous honesty, and we ask people to be honest and forthright.
• Gabrielle – What plan is the Zoom account on?
  • Elle – We have 2 Zoom rooms, one is for training
• Thomas – two questions
  • Question about Google integration – Google’s costs fluctuate, everything is always in flux with them, I would be wary of connecting the expenses of our group with a “ruthless mega-corporation”. Concerns about tying our group to Google.
  • What is the most costly item in the budget and how is that part of the group conscience? How does group conscience relate to the budgetary decisions being made?
    • Elle: I don’t make decisions without group conscience. Example given is Uncanny Automator, and we used up all of the free credits, but we were still in need and using the product with 3 phone lists. No cost to use the Google services, the cost is in the integration ($12.40/monthly, paid annually) for the phone lists. All expenses were approved by GC. Our largest expenses are actually the Zoom rooms we use. Other items have been examined to ensure we’re getting the best deal.
    • Kristen: Thanks to Elle for her service. GUTS values the 7th tradition due to a previous AA group, many foundational members of GUTS and its treatment of 7th trad funds. All previous BMs have notes available on the website.
    • Thomas: Applauds the transparency in budget situations, gives thanks to Elle for her handling of the budget. Sponsee is the “IT guy”, and he needs help. Needs some group investment to get the right kind of help for the website.
      • Mary Mc – asks Thomas to “hold that thought” re: the website as an update on the category is forthcoming in the meeting.

Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report – Seconded and passed (16 Yes/0 Dissent)

 

1. ORC Report – Jason W.

Jason – We gave out 12 medallions (1 for 18y) and 14 books (Big Books & 12x12s). Under budget, operating in the green, moving smoothly. Thanking the other members of ORC for keeping things moving smoothly.

Motion to approve ORC Report – Seconded and passed (11 Yes/0 Dissent)

• Committee Report

1. Intergroup Representative – POSITION VACANT

 

1. GSR report – Dennis

General Service Representative Report  

November 3, 2024

1.⁠ ⁠The Plain Language Big Book is now available for sale for $11 on the AA website AA.org. As of Friday, it was not available on Everything AA, I’m sure it will be eventually, since it is Conference Approved.

1. I have only seen snippets of the book posted on Facebook by people who are just trying to find fault in it. I reserve my judgment until I see more of the book.
2. Again, I remind you that this is not meant to replace the Big Book. A 5th edition is in the works and I expect it to be out sometime in 2026.

2.⁠ ⁠At our district meeting we had a presentation from Homegroup Online, a service which gives group treasurers protection without having to use personal information. I don’t know if Elle would be interested in looking into it. If she wants to find out more I have the guys phone no.

3.⁠ ⁠The district is looking for workshop suggestions, including but not limited to ‘The ‘Traditions or Security

4.⁠ ⁠According to the Delaware delegate, there were at least 118 proposed agenda items submitted for consideration at the Conference next April. The next step is for the Trustees Conference Committee to sort through them and decide which ones to put on the weeklong conference agenda. This will be done at the January board meeting which will also be attended by the Chairs of the various Conference(Delegates) committees. Once they decide which ones to put on the agenda, all the delegates will receive in February a list of all the items and the background information for the items pertaining to their committees. The delegate will choose certain items he thinks would interest the groups and submit that list to the GSRs to get input from their groups. I will make that list available to everyone, while picking out just 2 or 3 that might interest this group and bring it to the April business meeting.

5.⁠ ⁠I would like to thank Elle for helping me set up an email specifically for the GSR. It is aagutsgsr@gmail.com. You can send any GSR related messages or questions to me there.

Thank you for letting me be of service.

Dennis J., GSR

Mary Mc – giving thanks to Dennis for his service commitment

Dennis – would like to have GSR reports put on the website

Mary Mc – should we provide plain language BB as part of ORC?

• Dennis: If someone asks, we should offer it
  • Mary Mc: It may be difficult to determine who should get the plain language version (not a replacement for our BB, and is at a 5th grade reading level), although recognize the value of having it as an option
• Jason: Just checked – is available from our supplier – opinion to keep things simple here, if it becomes a bigger deal we could treat as we do large print versions of BB. Think that we don’t want to add it to our ORC blurb in the host script. Would like to thank Mike E and Sarah F, equally answering emails and making things happen. They do a fabulous job, thanks to the team!
• Suzie: Not familiar with the plain language BB, are there alternative descriptions of people there? Maybe don’t change anything right now, people are not shy about asking, treat it when it is requested. In time, people will speak up and we can address it then.
• Gabrielle/Gabby: Is there a way to add a description to the plain language BB on our “shop” page? Important that we make sure those getting the plain language version know about the importance of also having a standard BB
• Jerry M : Are we talking about the BB 5e? Discussion with Dennis around when that will be published, Dennis suggests 2026, this is different than the plain language BB; concerned about the difference in language being different than what Bill W would have wanted. Dennis reminds that the plain language BB is conference-approved material.
• Mary Mc – clarifies the question, should we provide plain language BB to those who need it through the ORC? Jerry acknowledges the need but also reminds about the need for the standard BB.
• Thomas G – GUTS does not need to offer the plain language BB just because it is conference approved. Does not wish that GUTS offers this, and stresses that the group autonomy allows us to decide on offering it. Asks for a vote.
  • Mary Mc – a vote is not needed if we’re not changing any policy.
• Kristen R – Would like to see this put to a vote, has seen evidence of many that are helped with the simpler language in the plain language BB.

Motion to approve adding plain language BB to ORC  – Seconded and passed (16 Yes/1 Dissent)

 

Motion to approve GSR report  – Seconded and passed (18 Yes/0 Dissent)

 

1. Host Feedback Workshop/Team Training Progress – Kristen

Kristen – In the process of locating the workshop slide show so I can send it to the trainers and possibly condense it.

Motion to approve Committee Reports – Seconded and passed (11 Yes/0 Dissent)

1. Website Report
   1. TomD has agreed to make some piecemeal changes to the website; not part of the larger (Host/Co-Host) GUTS service team; but this is OK for service, do not need to be a part of the host/co-host group to make updates to the website
   2. Brando has just started a new job and may not have time
   3. Question to the group – should Tom and/or Brando be granted the permissions to make necessary changes to the website?
      1. Suzie – isn’t web admin an elected position (Mary Mc – yes)?
      2. Thomas G – This type of volunteer work is tough for people with jobs, comes in at odd hours; in a long term sense I’m concerned about this for the group’s longevity

• Dennis – If Tom and Brando are willing to do the work; let them.

1. Brando – Remember this coming up at the last GC; I have free time to work on stuff, not necessary to have it be just up to one person; not sure what the elected role entails. Took web development in college, used to being on the computer.
2. Suzie – Can we nominate/elect these guys? I think we should just “get it moving”.
3. TomD – Happy to help, can split duties with Brando no problem

• Suzie – Question: Are we not voting on having this be an elected position? (Mary Mc would like this to be the case)
• Mary Mc – what is the sobriety requirement for the elected website position – 1 year term, 6 months sobriety, no other service requirements

1. Dennis – can we have co-leaders? Mary Mc – yes

Motion to approve Brando & Tom as co-website administrators – Seconded and passed (17 Yes/1 Dissent) – permissions to be granted for this work

 

1. POLLS/VOTING – Lauren

 

1 Intergroup Representative POSITION UNFILLED

 

2 Schedulers – John E (VOTE: 13 Yes, 0 Dissent) and Jayna (VOTE: 17 Yes, 0 Dissent)

 

3 Website Admins – (Brando, Tom aforementioned), Elle is willing to help as well (VOTE: 16 Yes, 0 Dissent)

 

Elle, Brando and TomD are all members of the Website Team.

 

1. Topic for BM Agenda
   1. (From Oct BM) – Jason A desires to return to service, agreed in October to vote on this in November (now) – No motion is made.
      1. Christian and Mark – this was allowed for the BM in the most recent SC, although not voted on in SC. Would need to be brought back up to resolve.
      2. Jason W – makes a motion to take a vote now re: returning Jason A to service

Motion to approve Jason A returning to service as a cohost, not hosting – does not pass

 

• Topic for BM Agenda – Dennis
  1. Would be beneficial to all to have a sponsorship workshop
     1. Mary Mc asks for a motion, offers help
     2. Margie: Agreed this is an excellent idea, didn’t know it was a newcomer’s meeting, should use publication 15 from official conference-approved literature.

• Thomas G: motion to vote on this

Motion to approve introducing a sponsorship workshop that is AA-approved literature-based – Seconded and passed (16 Yes/0 Dissent).

Motion to create a committee to build a sponsorship workshop that is AA-approved literature-based and chaired by Dennis- Seconded and passed (16 Yes/0 Dissent).

 

• Topic for BM Agenda (Tabled at June BM) – Lauren

Any group-approved BM topic/proposal that has not been facilitated for 3 months will be tabled until a concrete proposal is brought to the group. Investigation and background work for accomplishing those topics can still be done. Bring the completed project to the group when it is ready for group approval and implementation. My main concern is the follow-through on projects that have been left undone for months. The group has amazing ideas, but keep in mind that work must be done for these ideas to be accomplished.

 

Motion to table BM topics/proposals that have not been facilitated for 3 months will be tabled until a concrete proposal is brought to the group- Seconded and passed (14 Yes/0 Dissent)

 

• Topic for BM Agenda – Mary Mc

Propose that we convert the speaker’s meeting to a beginner’s meeting

Thomas: Agree

Dennis: Agree this is a good idea

Mark: Let’s keep the option when speakers reach out to allow for it to happen as a speaker’s meeting if it can

Kristen: Want to make a motion, need to change this on website and Intergroup, need to make sure we follow that procedure

 

Motion to convert the speaker’s meeting to a beginner’s meeting- Seconded and passed (14 Yes/0 Dissent)

 

Mary Mc ends the meeting with the serenity prayer.