SC Notes 1/29/2023
Old Business
I. What Constitutes an Emergency Vote/Meeting? (Tabled from the last SC meeting)
A. Issues that hinder the meeting technologically, harassment, meeting safety, and member safety that can’t wait until the next BM-Lisa
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
II. Additional Tech Helpers (Re-Visiting from last BM)
A. In light of information Lauren was given from the tech team, having 6 new tech helpers at once, would cause issues that could irrevocably damage the Website/Zoom room. New people tampering with the website/Zoom at all different times of the day along with having access to the keys of kingdom, so to speak, might not work out. SC voted to have this GC re-visited in the SC thread.
– Lauren: Danielle and Lauren discussed the issue privately to work out a solution. Both Sarah S and Danielle are okay with having the Training Coordinator included in the fold, and no further help is needed for now.
– Lauren: The solution that was agreed upon was a one at a time kind of deal. Adding on 1 new tech helper in the future with the understanding that this person needs to have a vetted skill set (Word Press, Domain Management, Zoom Admin) along with the guidance of Danielle’s/Sarah’s experience.
· Danielle doesn’t mind helping train one person at a time, but 6 people, at once, would be too many people.
– Danielle has a solution for the verification, email, etc. issues that have been occurring. The server needs to be upgraded, and she wants to bring what she has to the group at the next BM.
– Motion to bring this to the BM with further explanation from Sarah S and Danielle
Seconded and Passed
III. Tabled From the last Business Meeting
A. Several of our threads on WhatsApp have only one admin. Might be a good idea to add more admins to WhatsApp Threads to prevent the need to re-create threads.
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
B. Alternate Sister Meetings
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
C. LGBTQ Contact list
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
New Business
I. Language Monitor Thing on Zoom (SC Feedback)
A. Sarah S would like the group to review the chat etiquette policy that is currently in use to prevent racial and homophobic slurs, as well as extreme profanity, and vote to keep or disable it.
B. Sarah S also compiled a list of slanderous terms and phrases, but she requests not getting a GC on each individual word/phrase. She and an anonymous member (AL) both seem to be in concurrence regarding the removal of racial/bigoted/homophobic words and phrases from the chat. Allow service team discretion on any other words…like “fuck,” “shit,” or any of the other colorful and fun words we like to use as alcoholics. (SC Feedback)
1. This is not a ban on all cuss words-this is just for racist, bigoted, and homophobic words/phrases from the chat. Sarah compiled a list that is transparent for anyone who wishes to see the list. Cuss words would be service team discretion since context makes a difference.
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
II. A complaint was lodged against a fellow service member. This individual was disrupting the Live Thread, insulting fellow members, and made a negative comment about a newcomer’s sobriety in the public chat. This individual did not follow the guidelines in place when a member’s sobriety is in question and muted the newcomer’s mic without discussing the issue with the service team. The Host was in the process of re-directing the newcomer in a kindly manner per Host discretion. This individual continually sent insulting and combative messages to the Host while the meeting was in progress. The scheduled service team attempted to redirect this individual repeatedly in the Live Thread. (1/21/2023) (SC Feedback) Person was named in the SC Feedback
A. Is a strike necessary for this situation?
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
III. A complaint was lodged against a Host who holds the host tags 45 minutes into the next Host’s shift and gives themself cohost tags when they are not scheduled. This Host takes 20 minutes to cohost scheduled service members. The Host was not named in the SC feedback.
A. How would we like to proceed?
1. Re-iterating the group conscience in the group announcements or have a monthly blurb to remind everyone of how to proceed-Lisa
-Lauren can include any important information that needs to be brought to the group in the Group Announcements
2. It was suggested that a member with a Host key get contacted in situations where a Host is hijacking the tag or goes MIA. The GC for 6 helpers is being re-visited so the amount of people who have access to the Host key will be re-discussed with further explanation from Danielle and Sarah S.
-Motion to Bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
IV. Email Coordinator (SC Feedback)
A. Mona and Al suggest adding a service position to sort and organize the email inbox.
–Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
V. Founder’s Day Raffle (SC Feedback)
A. Founders Day Raffle! Thread being set up for GUTS members who would like to pay their own way to attend Founders Day (check dates). Wondering if GUTS could set up a basket for funding a raffle to send one or two members on the trip as well. Would have to clear a basket and announce prior to using funds! Daren/Mark have prices.
–Motion to bring to BM-Seconded and Passed
VI. Guidelines for the Male/Female Contact List
A. A list of guidelines for the male/female contact list needs to be made for the new Contacts Coordinators. Would anyone like to spear-head this?
1. Lauren will take a lead on creating guidelines for the Contact List Coordinators by discussing methods with the previous contact coordinators. Mona also offered to help her with this endeavor. (Will not be taken to the BM)
VII. Topics and the Spirit of Rotation (SC Feedback)
A. Jocelyne: In the spirit of rotation, shouldn’t we have someone else doing topics? I think it has been at least 18 months of one person writing them. (SC Feedback)
B. Lauren: Justin T is willing to step down from the Topics Commitment, but his 6-month term is over Feb 8 which is a week after the next meeting. Might not be necessary to bring this to the next BM since his term is ending anyways. He has completed two terms, and he cannot be re-nominated for another 6 months. He is aware and does not wish to be re-nominated. Maybe we can hold nominations and the new Topics Coordinator can take over Feb 8.
1. Bringing it to the BM to open nominations-Lisa
-Seconded and Passed
VIII. Cutting the Daily Topics Announcement (SC Feedback)
A. Sarah S: Until we get our website/server situation resolved, I think we should hold off on announcing Daily Topics. I know it’s a nice perk of being a member of GUTS to have them emailed, but if people aren’t receiving them, or if they’re receiving them sporadically, it might be more frustrating than anything else.
– Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
IX. Shortening Readings to Prevent 15-minute Introduction (SC Feedback)
A. Jocelyne: It is not true that intergroup regulates what has to be read. There are many marathon meetings that only read them the first and last meeting. I was just suggesting shortening – it shouldn’t take 15 minutes to start a meeting. (SC Feedback)
B. Karl: The number of announcements at the start of each GUTS meeting detracts from their potential to carry the message and support members’ recovery. I would like to raise a motion to reduce the number of announcements at the start of each meeting. Of course, there are essential components, but I am certain the script can be shortened. (SC Feedback)
– Al suggested contacting the Intergroup Rep (Sarah S) to see what Intergroup regulates in terms of the readings.
– It was suggested that if a topic is discussed 2 Business Meetings in a row, the group conscience vote cannot be re-visited for another 6 months.
· Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
X. Polls and transparency (SC Feedback)
A. Al: Remove polling in threads unless it’s transparent!
– Motion to bring to next BM-Seconded and Passed
XI. Division of Jobs (SC Feedback)
A. Lisa: Can we please discuss the issue of the division of jobs during service? It is becoming a problem and needs some solution-based brain storming. Thank you.
B. There have been problems of in-fighting occurring because members are not following GC for cohosting. People are getting territorial about doing certain jobs. The only job that has 1 person is the prompter.
C. Lisa proposes scheduling a prompter for each shift.
D. Lauren proposes to update the group regarding the division of jobs for cohosting in the Group Announcements.
– Motion to bring to the next BM-Seconded and Passed