GUTS Business Meeting – 12/07/2025

📝 AA GUTS Business Meeting Minutes

Date: Sunday, December 7^th 11:00 am PST
Chair: Lauren
Co-Chair: Christian
Secretary: Christian

1. Opening

• The meeting opened at 11:05 a.m. PST with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer.
• Lauren read the AA Preamble and the 12 Traditions.

2. Business Meeting Procedures (Reminder)

• 2 minutes per share, 2 shares per topic.
• Anyone may raise their hand to speak.
• Anyone may vote in the business meeting.

 

3. Treasurer’s Report – Elle

Elle delivered the detailed monthly financial report.

3.1 Starting Balances & Deposits

• Beginning balance (Nov 1): $3,458.64
• Transfers in: $828.87
• ORC refund (Hazelden): $14.54
• Total deposits: $817.41 (includes adjustments and October tail-end activity)

3.2 Expenses

Multiple expenses cleared at the beginning of November:

• ORC expenses
• Zoom subscription: $770.39
• MailPoet subscription
• Corporate filing fee (Delaware registered agent + virtual office)
• Website hosting (InterServer boost)
• Additional ORC supplies

Total expenses: $1,157.09

3.3 Ending Balance & Reserves

• Ending bank balance (Nov 30): $4,136.00
• ORC reserve: $1,045.93
• Prudent reserve: $1,000
• Zoom reserve: $1,539.90
• Tech reserve: $997.90

Pending:

• One check for $245 (Area 12) cleared on Dec 5.

3.4 Bank Transition

• All funds are fully transferred to the new bank.
• Old bank account requested to be closed.

Vote: Approve Treasurer’s Report

• Yes: 17 → Report approved

 

4. ORC Report – Momma Christi

• ORC committee rotates members every 3 days to respond to book/coin requests.
• Recent temporary issue with credit card processing was resolved with Elle’s help.
• All emails are caught up; only the most recent requests pending ordering.
• Compiled totals are not available for number of books/coins sent this month.

Vote: Approve ORC Report

• Yes: 16 → Report approved

 

5. Tech Team Report – Gabi

• Continuing updates to the website.
• Matching meeting terms and documentation with Lauren’s updated file.
• No major issues to report; team available for support needs.

Vote: Approve Tech Team Report

• Yes: 16 → Report approved

 

6. GSR Report – Dennis

6.1 GSO Correspondence

• GSO responded to proposed agenda item PA #87 related to literature for “the deteriorating alcoholic.”
• Committee took no action but encouraged further exploration.
• Topic may appear as a future Conference workshop topic (possibly 2027).

6.2 District & Election Updates

• District reviewing bylaws and outlining officer roles (DCM, Alt-DCM, Secretary, Treasurer).
• Elections occur in December; Dennis is standing as Alternate DCM.
• A new GSR election for GUTS will be held in May (Dennis’ term ends in August).
• Requirements for GSR include:
  • 2 years sobriety
  • Service at group level
  • Attendance at district meetings (2nd Tuesday monthly, 4 PM ET)
• Assemblies occur several times a year; next assembly is upcoming.

Vote: Approve GSR Report

• Yes: 16 → Report approved

 

7. Group Conscience Manual Update – Gabi

• Draft should be completed by next business meeting.
• Manual will be presented in two formats:
  • Chronological record of GCs
  • Topic-based sections
• Will serve as a reference PDF for training and clarity.

Vote: Approve GC Manual Update

• Yes: 15 → Report approved

 

8. Nominations & Elections

8.1 Scheduler Positions

• Bentley (2nd term) – Approved: 17 yes
• Tom (1st term) – Approved: 17 yes

8.2 Contact List Coordinator

• RA, Male Contact List Coordinator – Approved: 18 yes
• Women’s coordinator – No nominees, carries into next month.

8.3 Meeting Hosts

Big Book Meeting Hosts

• Delilah – Approved: 19 yes
• Amanda – Approved: 18 yes

Steps & Traditions

• Teresa (Traditions) – Approved: 18 yes
• Glen G. (Steps/Traditions) – Approved: 19 yes

Women’s Meeting Hosts

• Amanda – Approved: 16 yes
• Patty – Approved: 18 yes
• Shauna – Approved: 16 yes

 

9. Agenda Item: Trainer Backlog & Host Key Requirement

Issues Identified

• Large backlog of new service members requiring training.
• Host training is essential, particularly for sibling meetings.
• Repeated issue: hosts not knowing how to claim host or open Zoom room.
• Proposal includes:
  • Adding two new trainer positions
  • Requiring host key possession before hosting sibling meetings
  • Coordination with Mark for technical setup

Vote: Add Two Trainer Positions + Require Host Key Before Hosting

• Yes: 17 → Motion passes

 

Vote: Add Tom as Trainer

• Yes: 17 → Motion passes

 

10. Agenda Item: Sibling Meeting Disorganization & Understaffing

Issues Identified

• Frequent disorganization (especially Monday women’s meeting).
• Hosts often no-show or fail to communicate.
• Many sibling meeting hosts listed are inactive.
• Intergroup listing requires reliability.
• Scheduler cannot purge threads; only thread admins can.

Key Concerns

• Sustainability of meetings
• Burnout
• Lack of communication
• Risk to intergroup credibility

Motions & Votes in This Section

10.1 Create a Sibling Meeting Coordinator Position

• Duties: oversee threads, maintain rotation, ensure communication, verify hosts, assist with structure.
• Vote: 20 yes → Position created
• Temporary coverage: Bentley and Gabi until formal nominations next month.

10.2 Reevaluate Sibling Meeting Viability in 3 Months

• If instability persists, consider combining or closing meetings.
• Vote: 18 yes → Motion passes

10.3 Requirements for Sibling Meeting Coordinator

Proposed: 6-month term, 6 months sobriety, 3-month service prerequisite.

• Vote: 11 yes / 9 no → Motion passes, but due to split, topic eligible for Steering Committee reevaluation.

 

11. Agenda Item: Ethics Issue – Inappropriate Camera Requests

Summary

• A service member allegedly messaged a regular attendee multiple times requesting camera use in a manner considered targeting and harassing.
• Behavior not related to safety protocol.
• Ethics Committee referred to Business Meeting.

Key Points Raised

• Multiple attendees expressed:
  • This is harassment, not safety procedure.
  • Predatory behavior violates AA safety standards.
  • Screenshots are not required; victims’ reports are valid.
• Some attendees requested identity disclosure to assess risk history.

Motions & Votes

11.1 Suspend Service Member Pending Ethics Review & Interview

• Ethics Committee to speak with the individual.
• Schedulers to remove member from service during investigation.
• Vote: 20 yes → Motion passes

11.2 Clarify Ethics Policy: Any Service Member Under Ethics Review Is Removed From Schedule Immediately

• Updates guideline wording to eliminate ambiguity.
• Vote: 20 yes → Motion passes

 

12. Agenda Item: Disruptive Late-Night Participant

Behavior Reported

• Increasingly erratic shares:
  • Profanity
  • Racist or race-baiting statements
  • Graphic content
  • Mentions of violence (e.g., “I’m going to kill her before she kills me”)
• Possibly related to psychiatric medication changes.
• Has been muted, redirected, messaged privately multiple times.
• Behavior disrupts multiple hours of GUTS nightly.

Options Discussed

• Ban / suspension (per guidelines, first ban = 6 months)
• Share-restriction (controversial; hosts urged to redirect instead)
• Compassion balanced with meeting safety

Motions & Votes

12.1 Motion (Gabi & Mark Amendment):

Gabi will:

1. Speak directly with the participant.
2. Clearly explain that:
   • Their behavior warrants a six-month ban.
   • They are being given one final chance.
3. If any additional redirection is required, an immediate six-month ban will be issued.

Vote: 18 yes → Motion passes

 

13. Motion to Close Meeting

• Vote: 17 yes → Meeting adjourned

🛑 Meeting Closure