The Pigeon

Transcription

The Pigeon

The Pigeon
www.area36.org
www.area36.org
Newsletter
Newsletterofofthe
theSouthern
SouthernMinnesota
MinnesotaArea
Area3636Assembly
Assembly
Delegate Report
Hello Southern Minnesota, Area 36! I hope everyone had
a wonderful summer! By the time you are reading this, it
will be nearly fall! What a year it’s been so far! Since my
last Pigeon report, I have finished up visiting the Districts
to give my Delegate’s Report. What a great experience this
has been. I have been warmly received by the Districts and
invigorated by the enthusiasm of the GSRs and other trusted
servants in our Area. I also had the privilege of attending
the 2015 80th International A.A. Convention held in Atlanta,
Georgia. What a powerful experience that was! I made
a mistake on our hotel reservation so upon our arrival in
Atlanta, my husband and I were informed that we didn’t have
a room, and that it would be extremely difficult to find one
at this point. I started texting and phoning those of us from
Area 36 as well as some other Delegates that I knew were
already in Atlanta to see if anyone had any suggestions and
within 10 minutes, our very own Carla N. texted me with a
solution. Thanks to my Higher Power and Carla N.’s loving
example of service and sacrifice in her willingness to share
her room with us, we were comfortably placed within an hour
of finding out that we didn’t have a room reservation. What
an example of God doing for me what I can’t do for myself!
I also had the privilege of presenting on a panel where the
topic was Carrying the Message through P.I. That too was an
incredible experience. Quite frankly, I was still a bit frazzled
and worn out from the initial travel / hotel room experience
(or opportunity as we say) that I just wanted to ask someone
else to take my place. But, after pausing when agitated and
praying the 7th Step Prayer, I did not cancel, and suited up and
showed up for my presentation. I am very grateful I did not
miss the opportunity as when I arrived at the meeting room,
I was greeted by so many of our friends here in Southern
Minnesota as well as friends I have made over the last year
through U.S. and Canada. It was truly a spiritual experience
to have been allowed the opportunity to patriciate and to be
shown God’s love through all those who showed up as well.
I have also been busy participating in opportunities to provide
the experience of Area 36 to other Areas by way of Delegates
sending out sharing opportunities. For example, one of the
Delegates from Canada sent out an inquiry asking if any
Areas had Archivist and/or Archives positions and if so, what
their duties were and what kind of budget was associated
with one or both. Another Delegate inquired as to whether
any Areas have had an Alternate Delegate step down in
mid-rotation and, if so, what procedure was used to fill that
vacancy.
Some news from the GSO recently received is that a new
General Manager has been appointed effective October 1,
2015. His name is Greg Tobin and he brings with him many
of years of experience in corporate publishing and non-profit
management. He also has a strong professional background
in the book publishing field, both editorial and managerial.
We are all very grateful for Phyllis’s time as General Manager
over the past 7 years and wish her the very best as she moves
on to new endeavors!
I am also grateful for the opportunity to have cooked hot dogs
with our Chairperson, Missy, P., at the Intergroup Open House
held Saturday, August 15. I also look forward to reporting on
my experience from the West Central Regional Forum which
was held in Casper, WY, August 22-23.
Additionally, I hope to see you all at our October Assembly.
One of things we will be doing is electing a West Central
Regional Trustee candidate whose name will go forward to
the 2016 GSC for voting on. I have contacted all of our past
Delegates to let them know of this opportunity and should
they be interested, to please attend the October Assembly.
March
20152015
September
Conference will be held March 4-6, 2016 at the Ramada Inn
in Bismarck, ND. A flyer for this event has been posted to
area36.org. The flyer has the code needed to get the $109
room rate.
Thank you all for your service and if you have any questions,
or if I can be service to your District and/or Group, please let
me know.
In love and service,
Lisa Dawn G
Panel 65/Area 36 Delegate
delegate@area36.org
Chairperson
Greetings Area 36!!!!
I had the awesome opportunity to attend the International Convention
in Atlanta this past July!! What a great experience and chance
to see some of our fellow AA members from Area 36 represent
us well in some of the break out meetings. And two of Southern
Minnesota’s “Old timers” were chosen on Friday night to share for
five minutes during the Old Timers Meeting! They did a fabulous
job at letting the rest of the AA world know that AA is alive and
flourishing in Minnesota!! As for me I have been busy creating the
Southern Minnesota 2016 Proposed Budget that your GSRs and Area
Committee will be voting on at the October Assembly!! I have also
been obtaining dates and locations for the 2016 Area 36 Calendar of
events!! I accompanied Mary M. on an adventure in seeking a hotel
for the 2016 RUSC. The hotel that was chosen by the committee is the
Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park, Mn. If you haven’t been to a RUSC
then you are missing a chance to make Spiritual Connections with
other Alcoholics in Recovery. Don’t miss this one (just a strong suggestion, not an order)!! I also have been asked to cook hot dogs at the
Unity Open House (I will try not to burn anything) and attended all of
the Area Calendar events. If you would like me to visit your District
Meetings please feel free to do so. Thank you for allowing me to be of
service to you!!
Yours in Service,
Missy P
Area 36 Chairperson
Alternate Chairperson
Hello everyone!
The Recovery, Unity & Service Conference (RUSC)
Committee has been busy meeting each month. In planning
the 2016 RUSC, we’ve realized it’s important to get group
feedback to help in planning future RUSC’s. To accomplish
that,
Please join us! at the next Area Assembly on Sat, October
17th at the Hutchinson Event Center, Hutchinson, MN to
participate in a discussion about our annual Area 36 Recovery,
Unity & Service Conference. The Conference’s history and
past data will be presented. We will then have a pro/con
discussion to include topics such as whether it would be best
to keep the event a 3-day conference with a similar format or
possibly be of a shorter duration with other format changes.
Please come and share your experience, strength and hope!
To clarify, the 2016 RUSC will have the same format as in
the past.
(continued on page 4)
Finally, please note that the West Central Regional Service
The Pigeon is a confidential A.A. publication meant only for A.A. members. It contains members’ full names and addresses, just as A.A. directories do. This usage does not in
any way violate our tradition of anonymity to the public communications media. Names, phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses may not be used for any solicitation
purposes.
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
Table of Contents
Delegate and Area Chair Reports �� Page 1
Contact Information��2
District Meeting Locations, Past Delegates��3
Officer Reports��4
Event Listings��5, 17, 24, 25, 26
Area Financial Reports��5 - 7
Group Contributions Report��8
Area Standing Committee Reports�� 10-14
Experiences from the 2015 International�� 18, 19
District Reports��22
Reports from our Community��25
June Area Assembly Minutes�� 27 - 31
May Area Committee Minutes��23 - 29
August Area Committee Meeting Minutes�� 36
Area Maps...................................................................................37
September 2015 Area Assembly Agenda�� 38
2015 Area Assembly Calendar�� 39
Inclement Weather Procedure�� 39
Area Standing Committees
Archives
Drew F
Niles Aarchives@area36.org pi@area36.org
Cooperation with the
Professional Community
Larry F
cpc@area36.org
Remote Communities
and Special Needs
Eric J
remotecom@area36.org
Corrections
Terry H
corrections@area36.org
Structure
Alternate Delegate
structure@area36.org
Finance
finance@area36.org
Grapevine
Carla N
grapevine@area36.org
Technology
Patrick S
website@area36.org
Group Records
Annette W
grouprecords@area36.org
Literature
Joe B
literature@area36.org
Treatment Facilities
Theo A
treatment@area36.org
Area Delegate
Lisa Dawn G
delegate@area36.org
Mary M
altchairperson@area36.org
Alternate Delegate
Curt K
altdelegate@area36.org
Area Secretary
Jeanne H
secretary@area36.org
Area Chairperson
Melissa P
chairperson@area36.org
Area Treasurer
Karl R
treasurer@area36.org
Archivist
Paul H
archivist@area36.org
Corrections Facilities
Contact Program
Coordinator
Tom B
cfcp@area36.org
Pink Can Coordinator
James N
pinkcanplan@area36.org
Treatment Temporary
Contact Desk
Andy D
treatment-temp-contact@
area36.org
Newsletter
Jim V
newsletter@area36.org
Public Information
District Committee Members (DCMs)
District 12
Barb D
District 2
David R
District 13
Anna L
District 3
Bonnie M
District 4
Dave N
District 5
Mort M
District 6
Jesse J
District 7
Kelli M
District 8
Beth W
District 9
Dan S
Districts 10 & 11
No contact available at this
time, please contact Area
Chair if you want to help.
District 14
Mike C
District 15
Lori N
District 16
Jason H
District 17
Edward A
District 18
Kevin M
District 19
Ayla B
District 20
Dustin F
District 21
Corbett O
District 22
Steve A
District 23
Tom C
Page 2
Area Officers
To email all Area 36 chairs Technologist
Dennis B
at once, you can use
Area36-Chairs@area36.org webmaster@area36.org
District 1
Denise W
September 2015
District 24
Greg J
District 25
Timothy
District 26
Mark D
District 27
(Linguistic Spanish District)
No contact available at this
time, please contact Area
Chair if you want to help.
Note: All districts have
e-mail addresses on the Area
36 website. They are in the
format of: dist#@area36.org,
where “#” indicates a district
number.
For example dist2@area36.
org
Other Trusted Servants (non-voting)
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 3
District Meeting Location Information
District 1
District 9
District 2
Districts 10
3rd Wednesday, 6:30 P.M.
Various locations
Contact DCM
3rd Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
First Lutheran Church
Rushford, MN
District 3
2nd Tuesday 7:00 P.M.
1430 5th Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001
Contact Area Chair
Districts 11
Contact Area Chair
3rd Tuesday, 6:30 P.M.
West Hills
605 Florence Ave.
Owatonna, Mn
District 12
District 5
District 13
3rd Monday, 7:00 P.M.
Senior Citizens Center
Sherburn,MN
District 6
Contact Area Chair
1st Tuesday 7:00 P.M.
United Methodist Church
10506 Hanson Blvd. NW
Coon Rapids, MN
District 7
District 14
Contact DCM
2nd Monday 6:30 P.M.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
13600 Technology Drive
Eden Prairie, MN
District 8
3rd Wednesday 7:30 P.M.
Fairview Community Center
Roseville, MN
1st Monday 7:30 P.M.
United Methodist Church
609 8th Street NW
Buffalo, MN
District 15
4th Monday 7:00 P.M.
Christ Lutheran Church
11194 36th Street
Lake Elmo, MN
District 16
District 21
District 26
District 17
District 22
District 27
District 18
District 23
3rd Thursday 7:00 P.M.
Faribault Alano
217 Central Avenue
Faribault, MN
Lighthouse Assembly of God
Hwy. 212 W.
Plato, MN
2nd Thursday 6:30 P.M.
Plymouth Congregational
Church
1900 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
District 19
2nd Wednesday 7:00 P.M.
Rosemount Community
Center
13885 Robert Trail
Rosemount, MN
District 20
4th Tuesday, 7:00 P.M.
Twin Lakes Alano Society
4938 Brooklyn Boulevard
Brooklyn Center, MN
Pilgrim Methodist Church
4325 Zachary Lane
Plymouth, MN
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
13207 Lake Street Ext.
Minnetonka, MN
2nd Friday 6:00 pm
Eastside Alano
1099 Payne Avenue
St. Paul, MN
Contact Area Chair
3rd Thursday, 7:00 P.M.
River Valley Church
100 N. Washington
New Ulm, MN
District 24
1st Monday 7:00 P.M.
St. John’s Lutheran Church
119 8th Avenue West
Shakopee, MN
District 25
Woodlake Lutheran Church
7525 Oliver Avenue South
Richfield, MN
Past Delegates of the Southern MN Area 36 to the General Service Conference of A.A.
Panel 1: 1950 – 1951
Pat C
deceased
Panel 17: 1967 – 1968
Jim F
deceased
Panel 3: 1953 – 1954
Robert T
deceased
Panel 19: 1969
Marvin J
deceased
Panel 5: 1955
Ferris W
deceased
Panel 19: 1970
George Z
deceased
Panel 5: 1956
Murray L
deceased
Panel 21: 1971 – 1972
Warren M
deceased
Panel 7: 1957 – 1958
Alf S
deceased
Panel 23: 1973 – 1974
Earl L
deceased
Panel 9: 1959 – 1960
Harold S
deceased
Panel 25: 1975 – 1976
Marvin S
deceased
Panel 11: 1961 – 1962
Vince S
deceased
Panel 27: 1977 – 1978
Donald H
deceased
Panel 13: 1963 – 1964
G.J. (Joe) W
deceased deceased
Panel 29: 1979 – 1980
Bob B
del29@area36.org
Panel 15: 1965 – 1966
Robert D
deceased
Panel 31: 1981 – 1982
Stan M
del31@area36.org
Panel 33: 1983 – 1984
WCR Trustee: 1989 – 1992
Don B
deceased
Panel 35: 1985 – 1986
Richard K
deceased
Panel 37: 1987 – 1988
Jack C
deceased
Panel 39: 1989 – 1990
Chuck R
deceased
Panel 41: 1991 – 1992
Dennis B
del41@area36.org
Panel 43: 1993 – 1994
Esther H
deceased
Panel 45: 1995 – 1996
Doug M
del45@area36.org
Panel 53: 2003 – 2004
Brenda L
del53@area36.org
Panel 55: 2005 – 2006
Mark M
del55@area36.org
Panel 57: 2007 – 8/2007
Samira A
del57@area36.org
Panel 57-59: 8/2007 – 2010
Scott A
del59@area36.org
Panel 61: 2011 – 2012
Angie E
del61@area36.org
Panel 63: 2013 – 2014
Terry L
del63@area36.org
Panel 47: 1997 – 1998
Karin M
del47@area36.org
Panel 49: 1999 – 2000
Bonnie M
del49@area36.org
Panel 51: 2001 – 2002
Christine C
del51@area36.org
Submissions to The Pigeon
What is The Pigeon
General submissions to The Pigeon are due the Saturday of Area Committee Meetings. Area
Officers’ and Area Standing Committee Chairs’ submissions are due the Wednesday following Area
Committee Meetings, to allow them to incorporate items of relevance into their reports from the
Area Committee Meeting.
The Pigeon is a General Service Newsletter published four times
a year by the Southern Minnesota Area Assembly of Alcoholics
Anonymous. There is no subscription fee; contributions from A.A.
members, groups and districts are welcome. Bulk rate postage paid
at St. Paul, Minnesota. The Pigeon presents the experience and
opinions of A.A. members and others interested in the A.A. program.
Opinions expressed herein are not to be attributed to Alcoholics
Anonymous as a whole, nor does publication of any article imply
endorsement by either A.A. or the Southern Minnesota Area
Assembly. Articles and letters are invited, although no payment can
be made, nor can contributed material be returned.
Submissions are preferred electronically using a Word document to the Area’s newsletter email
address: newsletter@area36.org. Submissions should not be heavily formatted: indicating sentence
and paragraph structure is all that is required. Please do not submit as a “read only” document it may
need to be edited for space or content.
Letters to the Editor/Opinion should have a title and the city where the author is from included in
the submission.
PC and Mac users can also type their submissions directly into an e-mail message. Mac users,
please save your file as type “.doc” or “.txt” before sending as an attachment if you do not type your
submission directly into an e-mail message.
If you have any questions regarding submitting an item for The Pigeon, from preparation, formatting,
to deadlines, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you!
Jim V.
The Pigeon Editor and Area 36 Newsletter Chair
All submissions should be sent to The Pigeon, in care of the Southern
Minnesota Area Assembly address of record:
Southern Minnesota Area Assembly
P.O. Box 2812 Minneapolis MN 55402
Or you mail email them to the Newsletter Chair at
Newsletter@area36.org
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Area Officer Reports
Page 4
conscience God finds is an informed one.
We also have some exciting things to share about RUSC
2016:
I look forward to seeing you all at a general service event
soon.
Date: January 15-17, 2016
Thanks for your service,
Location: DoubleTree Park Place Hotel, 1500 Park Place Blvd,
St. Louis Park, 55416
Curt K
Costs: (register before 12/28/15 for best rates)
RUSC: $17.00 before 12/28/15, $20.00 after 12/28/15
Hotel: $99.00 before 12/28/15, $129.00 or more after 12/28/15
depending on availability (2 double beds or King – same rate
for up to 4 people in same room)
Pre-register by mailing bottom part of flyer and payment to:
SMAA
P.O. Box 2812
.Minneapolis, MN 55402
NEW THIS YEAR!
•.Online hotel registration (go to area36.org for hotel link and
flyer)
•.Email address for RUSC questions: rusc2016@area36.org
Flyer: Available at AA meetings, Minneapolis and St. Paul
Intergroups, and online at www.area36.org
Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you
for the opportunity to serve!
Mary M
altchairperson@area36.org
Alternate Delegates Report
Since my last report, I have enjoyed participating in the
June Area Assembly and attending and participating in the
International Convention in Atlanta. I chaired the Structure
Committee Meeting at the Area Committee Meeting today,
August 8th. And I look forward to attending the West Central
Regional Forum in Casper, WY later in August.
The highlight of the June Assembly was a very useful pro and
con discussion of whether the Area should put all the time and
resources it does into staffing a booth at the State Fair. Pro
and con debates give us a chance to discuss substantive topics
without the burden and dynamics of having a proposal to vote
on. Tom B. and Carla N. both an excellent job of presenting
thoughtful points of view and relevant background material to
help us better inform our own opinions.
The International Convention in Atlanta was a powerful and
inspiring experience as expected. I have not missed attending
the International since I made my first one when I was less
than two years sober – this was my fifth International. This
year I was honored with the opportunity to speak on the topic
“Intensive Work with Other Alcoholics” at one of the Saturday
meetings. But the experiences I most loved were the big
meetings at the event. There is nothing like the kind of energy
and enthusiasm that is unleased by forty to fifty thousand
sober alcoholics praying and cheering and fellowshipping
together. This truly is an experience you must not miss.
I have been learning many lessons in patience when it comes
to process and procedure within our Area service structure.
As I have seen many times in the past, lack of clarity about the
who, how, and when of decision making can cause our work
to be way more odious and contentious than necessary. The
Structure Committee is doing work now to update our Area
Actions Booklet to help clarify what the Area has chosen as
its procedures for business items by past action. Even among
our longtime trusted servants there are differing memories of
how certain items should be handled. Finding the actual Area
actions that define our procedures will help. Without clarity it
is too easy for emotion and personal agenda to sway how we
think an item should be or must be handled by each body of
the Area. We’ll all be better off when the existing ground rules
are compiled in one place, clarified and summarized for all to
use.
Remember, God shows up in our group conscience. We are
each responsible for doing our part to ensure that the group
Alternate Delegate and Structure Committee Chair
Secretary Report
Hi all,
Please review all unapproved Assembly minutes. The March
Assembly minutes are in the June 2015 Pigeon and the June
Assembly minutes will be in the upcoming September 2015
Pigeon. These will be on the agenda for approval at the
October Assembly. I have submitted my budget to the Area
Chair for the 2016 proposed budget. I want to thank everyone
for using the mikes at our Area events as it makes review the
minutes before I submit them so much easier. I also want
to thank Brad for doing such a wonderful job on copying
the audio so I can submit minutes that make sense. If there
is anything I can do to help anyone of you, please just ask.
Thank you for allowing me to serve.
Jeanne H. Area 36 Secretary
Treasurers Report
Treasurers Report
Hello Area 36- I hope all are well in their continued growth,
sobriety and life. One note (I ask again) that would really aid
me regarding the Group Contributions-please ask your Group
Treasurer to put your group name on the envelope or on the
check-thank you. In addition to my daily treasurer duties,
I have attended all our Area 36 events and district events I
have been invited to be a part of. As a wise man told me after
my being elected to the Treasurer position, “You will now
understand the true meaning of sacrifice”- I do. In addition,
I have provided all documents needed to the Area Chair for
creating the 2016 proposed budget.
Group contributions are slightly lower than expected,
though our expenditures are also lower than expected. When
heading to Casper- remember committee chairs and officersCarpooling-doubling-up in rooms not only helps the Area save
funds, but leads to great fellowship, more sharing of ideas
of how to help the still suffering and long-term memories. A
few highlights from the Treasurer’s Report found later in the
Pigeon:
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS:
•.The total amount of the Area’s Operating Fund Current
balance $9288.31
•.Total Checking/Savings balances down vs 2014 $37,342.39
vs 2015 $32,981.19
INCOME AND EXPENSE PREVIOUS YEAR
COMPARISON
•.Total Income almost dead on even with last year-:
(-$480.53)…$33,928.08 vs. $33,447.55
INCOME AND EXPENSE BUDGET VS. ACTUAL
INCOME:
•.Group Contributions down -$2,298.67
EXPENSE:
•.Under Operating Expenses “Printing and copying” :
$3244.74 spent this year vs. $1625 budgeted- this has been
caused by need to reorder envelopes which happens every 2-3
years.
•.Total Expenses (Page 3)- $-8,326.25 under budget
•.Net Income (last line item) less money lost than budgeted
(-$6,293.98 vs -$11,362.99)
In Peace and Service
Respectfully
Karl R
Area 36 Treasurer
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
10:55 PM
Balance Sheet Prev Year Comparison
08/04/2015
As of July 31, 2015
Cash Basis
Jul 31, 15
Jul 31, 14
Are you a professional,
or do you know a professional
who would like to attend…
$ Change
ASSETS
Current Assets
Checking/Savings
TCF PINK CAN CHECKING
9,345.99
11,604.51
-2,258.52
TCF CHECKING
9,288.31
12,800.42
-3,512.11
TCF DELEGATE'S FUND
General Service Conference Fund
1,600.37
1,600.37
0.00
International Convention Fund
1,000.00
1,000.00
0.00
TCF DELEGATE'S FUND - Other
Total TCF DELEGATE'S FUND
TCF RESERVE FUND
Total Checking/Savings
0.35
-0.37
0.72
2,600.72
2,600.00
0.72
11,746.17
10,337.46
1,408.71
32,981.19
37,342.39
-4,361.20
2,514.38
591.67
1,922.71
Other Current Assets
Inventory
Inventory - Literature
Inventory - Grapevine
Inventory - Other
Total Inventory
Undeposited Funds
Total Other Current Assets
Page 5
339.90
1,930.40
-1,590.50
-2,040.71
0.00
-2,040.71
813.57
2,522.07
-1,708.50
-25.00
-5.00
-20.00
788.57
2,517.07
-1,728.50
33,769.76
39,859.46
-6,089.70
33,769.76
39,859.46
-6,089.70
FREE Alcoholics Anonymous Informational
Breakfast meeting for PROFESSIONALS
Eastside Neighborhood Services Building
1700 – 2nd Street NE
Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday, November 5, 2014, 7:30-8:30am
Bringing the A.A. message to the attention of those who are
often the first to see alcoholics in need of help
• Physicians
• Clergy
• Court Officials
• Educators
• Police and Firefighters
• Human Resources
• Lawyers
• Counselors
• Other Professionals
Hosted by the CPC (Cooperation with the Professional Community)
Committees of Southern MN A.A. Districts 13 and 18.
Provide us with your name or the name of your professional
and we will invite them for you!
Name____________________________________________________________
Total Current Assets
TOTAL ASSETS
Organization__________________________Occupation__________________
Email_____________________________________Phone__________________
Address__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Equity
Unrestricted Fund
Pink Can Fund
Net Income
Total Equity
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY
37,702.32
40,450.97
-2,748.65
2,361.42
2,361.42
0.00
-6,293.98
-2,952.93
-3,341.05
33,769.76
39,859.46
-6,089.70
33,769.76
39,859.46
-6,089.70
Income & Expense Prev Year Comparison
08/04/2015
Cash Basis
Jan - Jul 15
Jan - Jul 14
$ Change
% Change
Ordinary Income/Expense
Income
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
COMMITTEE REVENUE
OTHER REVENUE
Total Income
27,905.66
27,661.28
244.38
0.88%
358.60
1,468.19
-1,109.59
-75.58%
75.65%
486.55
277.00
209.55
4,696.74
4,521.61
175.13
3.87%
33,447.55
33,928.08
-480.53
-1.42%
Expense
Reconciliation Discrepancies
256.47
0.00
256.47
100.0%
ASSEMBLY EXPENSES
12,973.77
12,990.01
-16.24
-0.13%
COMMITTEE EXPENSES
11,678.53
12,194.97
-516.44
-4.24%
COMMITTEE TRAVEL AND LODGING
5,552.05
3,232.02
2,320.03
71.78%
DELEGATE EXPENSES
1,309.89
2,372.00
-1,062.11
-44.78%
OFFICER TRAVEL AND LODGING
3,545.39
2,212.33
1,333.06
60.26%
OTHER EXPENSES
Total Expense
Net Ordinary Income
Total Other Expense
Net Other Income
Net Income
The Firing Line Group of Alcoholics Anonymous
To our 8th Annual Anniversary celebration/open speaker meeting
Free Italian dinner with dessert is provided
Free child care!
Free Food!
Free Fun!
Showcase your culinary skills if you choose! You are welcome to
bring some food/dessert to share, or not!
4,303.81
714.61
16.6%
37,305.14
3,029.38
8.12%
-6,886.97
-3,377.06
-3,509.91
103.93%
19,715.12
22,242.24
-2,527.12
-11.36%
19,715.12
22,242.24
-2,527.12
-11.36%
19,122.13
21,818.11
-2,695.98
-12.36%
19,122.13
21,818.11
-2,695.98
-12.36%
592.99
424.13
168.86
39.81%
New Life Presbyterian Church
-6,293.98
-2,952.93
-3,341.05
113.14%
(formerly known as North Como Presbyterian Church)
We start serving dinner at 5 pm
Patrick B. from Shoulder to Shoulder group speaks at 7 pm
Please join us for free fun, food and a message located at:
Other Expense
PINK CAN EXPENSES
You and your Family are invited by
5,018.42
Other Income
Total Other Income
Page 1 of 1
40,334.52
Other Income/Expense
PINK CAN PLAN
Saturday, October 24th at 5 pm
10:58 PM
January through July 2015
GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS
Send to: District 13 CPC, PO BOX 48042,
Coon Rapids, MN 55448 or CPCBREAKFAST@YAHOO.COM
965 Larpenteur Ave West
July financials continued on page 6
Roseville, MN 55113
Saturday, October 24th at 5 pm
Page 1 of 1
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Income and Expenses Budget vs Actual
July 2015
Jan - Jul 15
Budget
$ Over Budget
% of Budget
Income
GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS
Group Contribution
Group Contribution - Birthday
Group Contribution - Individual
GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS - Other
Total GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
26,126.58
29,684.49
-3,557.91
88.01%
677.65
519.84
157.81
130.36%
30,204.33
-2,298.67
92.39%
18.8%
15.00
1,086.43
27,905.66
Birthday
25.00
133.00
-108.00
In-Kind
278.60
384.26
-105.66
72.5%
55.00
353.00
-298.00
15.58%
358.60
870.26
-511.66
41.21%
0.00
500.00
-500.00
0.0%
0.00
500.00
-500.00
0.0%
-74.75
120.00
-194.75
-62.29%
-74.75
120.00
-194.75
-62.29%
486.55
620.00
-133.45
78.48%
741.00
1,000.00
-259.00
74.1%
Individual
Total SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
COMMITTEE REVENUE
Literature
561.30
Public Information
State Fair Exhibition
Total Public Information
Web-Site
Web Hosting
Total Web-Site
Total COMMITTEE REVENUE
OTHER REVENUE
Trusted Servant LT Revenue
RUS Conference
Ice Cream
In-Kind
7th Tradition
235.00
20.00
163.64
Coffee/Food
305.10
Registration
2,894.00
3,900.00
-1,006.00
74.21%
3,617.74
338.00
3,900.00
700.00
-282.26
-362.00
92.76%
48.29%
4,696.74
5,600.00
-903.26
83.87%
General Service Conference
0.00
0.19
-0.19
0.0%
Delegate Fund - Other
0.00
0.49
-0.49
0.0%
0.00
0.00
0.68
2.51
-0.68
-2.51
0.0%
0.0%
0.00
33,447.55
3.19
37,297.78
-3.19
-3,850.23
0.0%
89.68%
Total RUS Conference
Coffee/Food
Total OTHER REVENUE
INTEREST
Delegate Fund
Total Delegate Fund
Reserve Fund Interest
Total INTEREST
Total Income
Expense
Reconciliation Discrepancies
ASSEMBLY EXPENSES
Fixed Costs
Accounting Expenses
General Service Conf Contrib
Insurance
State Filing Fees
Total Fixed Costs
Operating Costs
Archives Storage & Maintenance
256.47
290.00
325.00
-35.00
89.23%
1,600.00
1,600.00
0.00
100.0%
408.00
400.00
8.00
102.0%
2,325.00
-2.00
99.91%
172.34%
25.00
2,323.00
3,000.00
Web Hosting
361.92
210.00
151.92
Data Backup/Storage
168.00
168.00
0.00
100.0%
Coffee/Food
678.09
360.00
318.09
188.36%
Event Recording
156.76
255.00
-98.24
61.48%
2,376.64
1,757.00
619.64
135.27%
Miscellaneous
30.00
140.00
-110.00
21.43%
Office Equipment
61.39
Meeting Room Rent
Postage
Printing & Copying
Supplies
Total Operating Costs
Total ASSEMBLY EXPENSES
COMMITTEE EXPENSES
Archives Expense
480.60
525.00
-44.40
91.54%
3,244.74
1,625.00
1,619.74
199.68%
92.63
315.00
-222.37
29.41%
10,650.77
12,973.77
5,355.00
7,680.00
5,295.77
5,293.77
198.89%
168.93%
676.00
4,500.00
-3,824.00
15.02%
Correctional Facilities Expense
2,680.11
1,193.00
1,487.11
224.65%
CPC Expense
1,203.52
665.00
538.52
180.98%
100.0%
Finance Expense
Finance Letter & Mailing
19.94
0.00
19.94
Finance Expense - Other
0.00
877.00
-877.00
0.0%
19.94
120.49
877.00
130.00
-857.06
-9.51
2.27%
92.69%
Total Finance Expense
Grapevine Expense
Group Records Expense
0.00
320.00
-320.00
0.0%
Literature Expense
1,013.38
0.00
1,013.38
100.0%
Newsletter Expense
3,588.61
4,830.00
-1,241.39
74.3%
Public Information
State Fair Booth
Public Information - Other
Remote Communities
Structure Expense
1,495.71
0.00
920.00
-920.00
0.0%
1,495.71
485.32
920.00
270.00
575.71
215.32
162.58%
179.75%
21.00
10.00
11.00
210.0%
0.00
1,560.00
-1,560.00
0.0%
53.90
1,560.00
-1,506.10
3.46%
Treatment Facilities Expense
TF Temporary Contact Services
Treatment Facilities Expense - Other
Total Treatment Facilities Expense
Web-Site
Total COMMITTEE EXPENSES
53.90
320.55
40.00
280.55
801.38%
11,678.53
15,315.00
-3,636.47
76.26%
Page 6
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Income and Expenses Budget vs Actual
July 2015
Jan - Jul 15
Budget
$ Over Budget
% of Budget
COMMITTEE TRAVEL AND LODGING
Archives
572.00
940.00
-368.00
60.85%
1,563.35
1,292.67
270.68
120.94%
381.56
815.00
-433.44
46.82%
1,067.90
955.00
112.90
111.82%
Group Records
142.83
925.00
-782.17
15.44%
Literature
548.80
865.00
-316.20
63.45%
0.00
703.00
-703.00
0.0%
Correctional Facilities
CPC
Grapevine
Newsletter
Public Information
0.00
840.00
-840.00
0.0%
Remote Communities
373.50
947.00
-573.50
39.44%
344.27
1,360.00
-1,015.73
25.31%
Web-Site
341.43
940.00
-598.57
36.32%
COMMITTEE TRAVEL AND LODGING - Other
216.41
5,552.05
10,582.67
-5,030.62
52.46%
0.00
500.00
-500.00
0.0%
1,309.89
1,967.60
-657.71
66.57%
0.00
600.00
-600.00
0.0%
Total DELEGATE EXPENSES
OFFICER TRAVEL AND LODGING
1,309.89
3,067.60
-1,757.71
42.7%
Alt Area Chair Travel & Lodging
562.70
945.00
-382.30
59.55%
Alt Delegate Travel and Lodging
1,211.57
974.00
237.57
124.39%
Area Chair Travel & Lodging
225.40
849.00
-623.60
26.55%
Secretary Travel and Lodging
831.44
1,035.00
-203.56
80.33%
Treasurer Travel and Lodging
714.28
918.50
-204.22
77.77%
3,545.39
4,721.50
-1,176.11
75.09%
0.00
1,800.00
-1,800.00
0.0%
696.32
1,800.00
-1,103.68
38.68%
Total COMMITTEE TRAVEL AND LODGING
DELEGATE EXPENSES
Delegate Expense
Delegate Travel and Lodging
Past Delegate Travel
Total OFFICER TRAVEL AND LODGING
OTHER EXPENSES
Trusted Servant LT
Committee Travel
163.10
Coffee/Food
516.00
Supplies
Trusted Servant LT - Other
Total Trusted Servant LT
RUS Conference
17.22
Committee Travel
922.90
Chair Travel/Lodging
303.16
Copying/Supplies
Hall/Equipment Rental
85.75
2,296.97
Speaker
285.66
RUS Conference - Other
327.66
4,794.00
-4,466.34
6.84%
4,222.10
4,794.00
-571.90
88.07%
Delegate's Workshop
100.00
700.00
-600.00
14.29%
Total OTHER EXPENSES
5,018.42
7,294.00
-2,275.58
68.8%
40,334.52
48,660.77
-8,326.25
82.89%
-6,886.97
-11,362.99
4,476.02
60.61%
19,715.12
22,831.00
-3,115.88
86.35%
19,715.12
22,831.00
-3,115.88
86.35%
19,715.12
22,831.00
-3,115.88
86.35%
622.10
168.00
454.10
370.3%
Pink Can Literature
8,905.78
22,663.00
-13,757.22
39.3%
PINK CAN EXPENSES - Other
9,594.25
19,122.13
22,831.00
-3,708.87
83.76%
19,122.13
22,831.00
-3,708.87
83.76%
592.99
0.00
592.99
100.0%
-6,293.98
-11,362.99
5,069.01
55.39%
Total RUS Conference
Total Expense
Net Ordinary Income
Other Income
PINK CAN PLAN
Pink Can Plan Contributions
Total PINK CAN PLAN
Total Other Income
Other Expense
PINK CAN EXPENSES
Pink Can - Non Literature
Total PINK CAN EXPENSES
Total Other Expense
Net Other Income
Net Income
Page 7
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 8
Southern Minnesota Area Assembly Group Contributions 2015
www.area36.org
MAY 1, 2015 -JULY 30, 2015
Group Name
Amount
Group Name
Group Name
Amount
Amount
107831
10.00
Hand of AA
24 Hours of Hope Lakeville
20.00
Hanover Monday Night AA
42nd Street AA Group
27.00
Happy And Sober
A Baffled Lot
39.56
Happy Destiny
A Levelers
20.00
Happy Hour Squad AA Meeting
A Vision for You - Burnsville
25.00
Happy, Joyous and Free
A Vision for You - Owatonna
49.70
Hastings A.A.
125.00
AA Saturday Night
70.00
Hayfield A.A.
40.00
Shivering Denizens
AA Sisters in Sobriety
40.00
Highland AA Group
60.00
SIGMA AA Group
30.00
Amazing Grace A.A.
10.00
Hole in the Doughnut Group
73.31
Silver Lake / New Brighton
10.00
Homeboyz Squad
20.00
Silver Lake AA Group
70.00
77.86
SOS - Sharing Our Sobriety
36.60
SOS - Sober on Saturday
30.36
Amigos III
150.00
30.00
150.00
10.00
163.99
40.00
7.59
Sahara Tues 8 PM Mens
26.91
Sam St. Pierre
20.00
Saturday Morning Men's AA
25.00
Saturday Night Live AA
37.00
Serenity Seekers - Chanhassen
50.00
Serenity Seekers AA Group
20.00
Serenus Group
Andover Alano Society Squad 9*
25.00
Hope's Noon AA
Andover Alano Society, Squad 7
10.00
Hopkins Monday Friends Group
Annandale Lakers
25.00
Howard Lake - Waverly AA
25.00
Southwest Women's AA
As Bill Sees It - Delano
70.00
Hugo A.A.
22.00
SQ 7 Sunday Morning
Autonomous Big Book
120.00
5.00
75.00
100.00
20.00
100.00
Island Lake AA Group
12.50
Squad 1
38.40
Bar None AA Group
89.16
It Might Have Been Worse
23.42
Squad 9
105.00
Basic Principles
12.41
Jim H
25.00
St Joe's Monday Night
7.50
Jim V
10.00
St. Charles A.A.
Basic Twelve Group
71.00
Joe W
15.00
St. Croix Alano Monday Morning
10.00
Bloomington Hyland Club
50.00
Jump Start Mixed 12 X 12
25.00
St. Croix Alano Society-TuesdayTopic
10.00
Boiler Room Squad
20.00
Just For Today Women's AA
9.00
St. Croix Alano Thursday AM.
10.00
Katy C
7.00
St. Croix Alano Tues 8 30 a.m.
25.00
St. Louis Park Sunday Night AA Group
91.80
Basic Text AA
Bridge to Shore Group*
225.00
60.00
200.00
Bridges AA Group
55.92
Keep Coming Back AA
Bryant Lake AA
74.90
Ladies' Night Happy Hour - Sahara Club
31.30
St. Luke's Men's Group
25.00
Buffalo Women's Big Book Study
25.00
Lake City - Thursday PM & Saturday AM
50.00
St. Luke's Saturday Morning Men's Group
30.56
Candlelight Tues AA
50.00
Laker's Friday 630
14.40
St. Patrick's Group
25.00
Lakers Saturday Morning AA
24.00
Step-Sisters Thursday Night - Anoka
10.00
Cavalier Club Thursday 8 PM
134.00
150.00
Center Group
15.00
Larry F
36.00
Steps to Serenity
11.00
Children of Chaos
34.00
Lee I
11.00
Steps to Serenity Group
50.00
Chunks and Measures
53.27
Main Idea AA Groups
320.00
Stillwater Morning Group
160.00
Common Solution
60.64
Mainstreeters AA
225.00
Students of Life
20.00
Como Park Big Book Study
51.08
Maplewood Group
142.62
Summit Hill AA Group
47.48
Continous Action
21.84
Medina A.A. Group
34.00
Sunday Night Grace
20.00
Coon Rapids Alano, Squad 2
25.00
Meeting of the Waters AA Group
25.00
Sunday Serenity Group
35.00
Cornerstone AA - Buffalo
23.80
Mendota 1030 AA Group
50.00
Temple AA - Wednesday 615 PM
35.00
Michael B
10.00
The Book Club
Midway Club
60.00
Third Tradition - Winona
Cottage Grove AA
CRC Friends of Bill W
120.00
30.00
24.65
102.00
Minnetonka Big Book Study Group
35.85
Third Tradition Group
Daily Reprieve
59.10
Minnetonka Seniors AA Group
40.00
Thunderbird Noon Groups
105.00
Dakota Alano Friday 6PM AA
20.00
Monday Night Big Book Study Group.
36.00
Thursday Men's Al Group
25.00
Dakota Alano Monday Night Big Book 600PM
14.00
Monday Night Temple Meeting
48.65
Thursday Night Buffalo Big Book
64.00
Dakota Alano Saturday 11 AM AA
15.45
Monticello Alano Wed Night Discovering AA
40.00
Thursday Night Victory AA
50.00
Dakota Alano Sunday 8 PM Meeting
25.00
Morristown AA Big Book Study Group
50.00
Thursday Night Women's Group
30.00
Dakota Alano Wed. 8PM
17.00
New Brighton Sunday Morning Big Book
98.46
Thursday Women's Serenity Group
50.00
Day By Dei
68.02
New Hope Alano Squad 30
10.00
Tradition 3 Group of Edina
Defogged Mens A.A. Group
74.00
Normandale Group
20.00
Tradition Five Group
Design For Living (Big Book)
40.00
Oasis Group
19.57
Tradition One A.A.
15.00
Dunn Sober AA
57.46
Owatonna Saturday Night Open Meeting
33.92
Tradition Three - Plymouth
50.00
Dynamic Women's Group
29.45
Patricia M
30.00
Tradition Three - Rochester
Peace Group
50.00
Tradition Three - Waconia
23.00
Pine Island A.A.
50.00
U.R.S. Tuesday Nite AA
Fairhaven Friday Night AA
80.00
Pioneer AA Group
Fairmont Big Book Group
60.00
Fireside Women's Big Book Meeting
Crushed Grapes
Edina Open Speaker Meeting
Edina Thursday Men's Group #1
100.05
200.00
45.69
30.00
143.68
44.72
300.00
40.00
260.98
Una Luz en el Camino
30.00
Pocket Our Pride - Mnpls
50.00
Up the Creek Big Book
112.49
30.27
Practical Experience
11.75
Uptown Group
160.00
Firing Line
90.00
Primary Purpose AA - Woodbury
11.21
Valerie L
20.00
For Today AA
30.00
Primary Purpose Group - Burnsville
Valley Creek Group - Monday AA
25.00
Foreword XIX
93.88
Promises Group at Knox
20.00
Valley Creek Thursday Night
40.00
200.00
Prospect Park AA Group
9.88
Valley View AA
50.00
20.00
Richfield Alano Squad 6E
20.00
Valley West AA
Ridge Runners II
25.00
Waconia A.A. Group
Ringmasters
Fourth Dimension Stillwater
Fourth Dimension Chanhassen
Foxhall Chapter 7
171.93
France Avenue AA
20.00
Freedom From Bondage
Friday Morning Candleight Faribault
100.00
7.00
100.00
10.00
100.00
43.00
Wednesday AM Womens Serenity Group
Rivertown Big Book
50.00
Wednesday Women's Serenity@Good Sheperd
29.50
Rockford Riverview AA
10.00
West Moore Lake AA
10.00
12.50
Friday Night 12 x 12 By The Book
89.00
Roseville Wednesday AA
18.00
White Bear Lake 10 AM Pages of Wisdom
25.00
Fridley Alano Squad 3
20.00
Rule 62 Big Book Study Group
54.50
White Bear Lake Wednesday Morning Group
25.00
Fridley Alano, Squad 27 - Happy Hour*
30.00
Rule 62 Cavalier
18.78
Windom AA Group
75.00
G.R.O.W. Group
15.00
Ryan V
31.00
Winona Big Book
GLBT and Proud Group
30.76
Sahara Club - There is a Solution
15.44
Winona Wed. Nite Step
Gopher AA
16.48
Sahara Club Wednesday Big Book Meeting
Gratitude Group
30.00
Sahara Saturday 715 a.m.
66.88
Hampden Park AA
25.00
Sahara Thursday 7.30 PM Men's AA
50.00
2.36
1.00
50.00
Women's 12 & 12 Study Group
15.00
Women's AA at Elim
10.00
Total Group Contributions
11,044.19
The next Pigeon submittal deadlines:
December Edition – Released the first week in September
Area DCM’s: Articles are due no later than August 8th (at the Area
Committee)
Area Officers and Committee Chairs: Articles are due no later than August
12 (Wednesday after the Area Committee)
Submit event information to The Pigeon editor for inclusion. Please check
the Area website at: www.area36.org for a more complete, current list Page 1 of 1
of workshops, roundups, anniversary events, etc., of interest to the A.A.
Fellowship. To ensure opportunity for attendance and participation at your
event, please consider avoiding schedule conflicts with already scheduled and
posted events. We publish A.A. non service events in the spirit of cooperation
with others.
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 9
My history with the Recovery, Unity & Service Conference
Scott A – Past Delegate Area 36
pi
ritu
al Way
Southern Minnesota AA
Recovery, Unity & Service
Conference
Our Spiritual Way of life
o
fL
i fe
The 2003 “Service Conference” came and I attended as the new DCM
for District 21 and I was given a topic to present on. (Tradition Three)
Did I just become one of those spiritual giants I admired so much from
my first conference? I had arrived!! I remember the event being held in
Owatonna and our Delegate approached me about maybe making some
changes to the event and having a little more structure to it. I was later
asked to be part of a six person committee to develop a new format and
new guidelines for the event. Eventually we formed the committee and
I remember Christine, Bonnie, Denny, Mark, Myself, and a GSR.
My best memories come from setting up on Friday afternoon and
watching the people come rolling in all evening and the friendships,
good humor, sharing, food, coffee & even some ice cream. It was
spending the weekend together and saying good bye on Sunday and
looking forward to seeing everyone in the near future. I can still see
the expressions on faces and the passion people showed while at the
microphone. I remember when we had a lot of guests from Nebraska,
Iowa & Northern Minnesota. The weekend as it was laid out in our
program seemed just too short. In my mind these memories are
priceless.
S
In January of 2001 the date arrived and I had no choice about attending
as for some reason my sponsor needed a ride and I had just regained
my ability to drive. I guess I was elected to drive the both of us to
Hutchinson where it was being held. There is a lot I don’t remember
about the event but I remember it was real crowded in that small hotel
space and I remember the faces of those attending and the presenters
who knew so much and I only hoped I would become as wise in the
ways of AA as they were. These people were spiritual giants!! The
event started on Saturday morning and closed about noon on Sunday.
The Sunday topic was the “Twelve Concepts” and there were three
presenters, each covering four Concepts. I was intrigued and as a result
I started reading and studying the Concepts.
The event has allowed me to grow immensely throughout the years I
was involved with it. My second year chairing the event we went to
Fairmont on the coldest weekend of the year. We had a topic about
working with wet drunks and I asked a man who was not involved in
Area general service but who did a lot of twelfth step work with wet
drunks to cover the topic. What a presentation!!! A few years later as a
Delegate I invited a non alcoholic to be our Saturday night speaker and
he was a big hit as well as being the Chairman of the Board for AA as
a whole. I learned to be flexible and open minded while still adhering
to the guidelines.
Our
I’m going back and remembering my first SMAA “Service
Conference” and it was in my early days of sobriety. I was 10 months
sober when my sponsor introduced me to District 21 in October of
2000. I was elected to be my groups GSR. I rode to the October 2000
Assembly with the DCM and watched the election with amazement
on how the whole process works. My sponsor was elected as the
Area Chairperson. (Via the hat) I was told at the Assembly to put the
“Service Conference” on my calendar and attend.
DoubleTree - Park Place
1500 Park Place Blvd.
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
It was 2004 and we started to work on the new format and developing
guidelines and we started off with a Mission Statement:
The primary purpose of the Recovery, Unity & Service Conference
is to attract members to general service, inform new G.S.R.’s, and
develop strong future servants. Through presentations and sharing, of
the selected readings based on the chosen theme, the Recovery, Unity
& Service Conference fosters the growth of Area Committee members, and integrates the General Service Conference theme into Area
service work.
We spent the better part of a year hammering out all the details and
I’ll never forget the debate about what to call it. We wanted the name
to reflect the fact that’s it not just for people involved in service but
the fellowship as a whole. Our mission statement states it’s to attract
new people to service. Another important item was developing the
timeline on when items need to be completed as that helps future committee stay on task. All our hard work paid off as at the March 2005
Assembly our proposal for this new event was passed with not a lot of
discussion. Everybody seemed to be backing it up. Wow – a three day
event.
In January of 2005 I started my new position with the Area as the
Alternate Chairperson and I was handed the reins to head up the
committee putting together the very first “Recovery, Unity, & Service
Conference”. To add to the excitement, it was the 25th year of this type
of event with the Area. If you have ever picked up on my fondness for
this event it’s because of all the hands on involvement over the years.
We picked a committee and met in a number of locations throughout the year. The best meeting is when we all come together with our
books and ideas about what would be good readings for the topics and
it takes many hours to decide and everyone to agree.
The 2006 event was in Rochester MN at the Grand Kahler Hotel and
our speaker was Howard Lowry, a new S.E. Regional Trustee from
Mississippi. I can still see the faces in the room and remember the new
people that attended. Our current Delegate was quite new and showed
up to see what this was all about. I remember talking to her over ice
cream. Our mission statement must work. The event went off without a
glitch because of the guidelines put in place.
January 15, 16, 17, 2016
New
Online
Hotel Registration
See Below
Pre-register
by 12/28/2015
for best rate
S t e p s Tr a d i t i o n s a n d C o n c e p t s
Friday, January 15, 2016
Saturday, January 16, 2016
7:45 PM—8:45 PM
Connecting with the Newcomer
• All Inclusive - Never Exclusive
• Are We Doing Enough to Help the Newcomer?
9:00 PM—10:00 PM
Connecting with the Newcomer
• How Do We See the Newcomer?
• Home Group - Where It Begins
4:30 PM—7:00 PM
DINNER (on your own)
9:00 AM—10:00 AM
Connecting with Each Other
• Singleness of Purpose in a Changing World
• Informed Group Conscience - The Key to Unity
10:15 AM—11:15 AM
Connecting with Each Other
• Autonomy and Unity - A Balance
• Be Involved, Be Inspired, Be of Service
11:15 AM—1:00 PM
3:30 PM—4:30 PM
Connecting with AA as a Whole
• One Among Many In All of Our Affairs
• Self-Sacrifice - Essential to Our Participation
7:15 PM—8:15 PM
AA Speaker - Her Story
Carole B. - A.A.W.S Director, Billings, MT
8:15 PM—8:45 PM
Ask-It Basket
8:45 PM—10:00 PM
Cookie and Ice Cream Social
LUNCH (on your own)
Sunday, January 17, 2016
1:00 PM—2:00 PM
• Participating in All of AA
• Understanding Self-Support Beyond Financial
9:00 AM—10:00 AM
Connecting with our Higher Power
• Prayer, Meditation and Inventory
• A Spiritual Way of Life on a Daily Basis
10:15 AM—11:15 AM
Carole B. — Her Ideas and Experience with AA as a Whole
2:15 PM—3:15 PM
• Our Heritage/Our Legacy
• Reaching Out to the Next Generation
11:15 AM—Noon
Delegate’s Comments
RUSC Chair Remarks & Closing
NEW!!! Hotel Reservation Link
http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/M/MSPPHDT-UNS-20160115/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Link also available at WWW.AREA36.org
QUESTIONS?? : E-mail RUSC2016@AREA36.org
REGISTRATION FORM
REGISTRATION COST: $17.00/person before 12/28/2015 - $20.00/person after 12/28/2015
HOTEL COST: DoubleTree Park Place $99.00 King or 2 double beds before 12/28/2015,
$129.00 or more after 12/28/15 based on availability
Phone 1-800-245-9190 Ask for Recovery, Unity and Service Conference rate
NAME:
CITY, STATE, ZIP:
HOME GROUP:
SERVICE POSITION:
Please pre-register by December 28, 2015. Complete, cut and mail with your check payable to “SMAA”
Please mail all pre-registrations to: SMAA, P.O. Box 2812, Minneapolis, MN 55402
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 10
Area Committee Reports
Archives
The Archives Committee is alive and enthusiastic in bringing forth
another Archives Alive on October 31, 2015! The committee is tremendously grateful for the support given by the Fellowship as a whole, and
for each participating district specifically.
The committee is in the process of developing some new ideas to
enhance the Fellowships connection to Archives:
1. A 24 page booklet on our Southern Minnesota Archives history
2. A DVD to introduce our Repository to the Fellowship
3. Considering having a “Movie Night” accenting old A.A. movies and
videos
We hope you look forward to these events coming to fruition as much
as we do. If anyone cares to become a part of a vibrant, alive group
working on “carrying our past to the future” please feel free to come
join us! If you are willing and interested contact your DCM, or your
District Archives chair, and they can point you in the right direction!
will be open to AAIs for the medical professionals there. Of particular
interest would be to participate in a grand round focused on addictions.
Larry has been in contact with someone from Fairview/University of
MN Health Services. They have placed AA literature in their discharge
packets. Larry will also be meeting with the Behavioral Emergency
Department professionals.
Larry also met with the Director of Mental Health at Allina Health
services. They will be implementing a temporary contact program
specific to their patients in which they will email contact information
to Minneapolis Intergroup to arrange a contact. They will be starting
with the treatment center at Unity Hospital.
Respectfully submitted,
Sooze H
Below is an email from Fairview health services that we have been
working with.
Niles A
As you can see we have a meeting set up with their Behavioral
Emergency Room Department. They have been very helpful to AA by
what they are doing.
Area 36 Archives Chair
Hi,
In Love and Service,
I found a use for the Frequently Asked Questions about AA and “Is
there an Alcoholic in your life” brochures. These are both being placed
in out Discharge packets for patients and out in the main lobby. I did
put your cards inside the brochures that were placed in the Discharge
Packets. I could use more of these since I put them in the Discharge
packets today. If you are in the area could you drop off another 30-50
of the Is There… and 50-75 of the Freq.. brochures please next week?
Thinking that when you come for our Behavioral ED meeting, bring
just a few of each of the brochures you brought in originally. We can
see if they want anything specific for patients over in that area as they
have a drawer of brochures that they hand out to patients. Maybe the
one you had for adolescents may be something they decide to us?
Jan
HELD AT THE AREA 36
ARCHIVES REPOSITORY
712 E. 10TH STREET
GLENCOE, MN
“How we found AA and stayed.”
WITH DISTRICTS 12, 20 & 24
10AM to noon: Presentations by Districts
• Including a presentation on the
historical aspect of sponsorship
Potluck BBQ to follow!
HOSTED BY THE AREA 36 ARCHIVES COMMITTEE
Janice D
West Emergency Department Administrative Coordinator
University of Minnesota Medical Center
We also met with the Director of Mental health at Allina Health services. They will implement a program to email patients info to Mpls
Intergroup, i.e. Name,age,gender,phone and zip code. It will start first
with the patients leaving the treatment center at Unity Hospital.
I Niles and attended the District 2 meeting in June and I will be visiting
District 19 Meeting August 12th
Will be attending the Midwest Regional Forum in on Casper Wy. On
August 21st-August 23d
Yours in Service
Larry F
Corrections
Cooperation with the Professional
Community
I missed the June Area assembly and the Committee meetings this
month. Sooze Hickman the CPC Alternate did go however.
This is her report from the Area Committee Meeting
CPC Area Committee Meeting Report
August 8, 2015
Larry could not attend today so I facilitated the meeting.
John J, District 1 CPC chair, attended. He is working on making contacts in the Mayo Clinic. He has given general AA information to the
chair of the media relations committee. That person will be sharing the
AA literature with the committee to discuss ways to share AA information with Mayo patients and professionals. He is also working on
making contacts with other people within Mayo to determine if they
Hello from corrections,
. he corrections committee has been busy since my last report. We
T
have attended resource fairs at MCF-St. Cloud, Faribault and Lino
Lakes. At these fairs offenders have an opportunity to connect with us,
and about sixty other organizations that will assist them in transitioning
from prison life back into society.
. he resources at their disposal range from housing, employment,
T
and recovery needs all the way through to the Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) and Social Security Administration. When they visit
us they have an opportunity to sign up for our temporary contact program or CFCP. They also are welcome to take a Big Book, Twelve and
Twelve or a Daily Reflections. Books are provided by your generous
donations to our area’s Pink Can Plan. We will send representatives
to Red Wing in September and wrap up the resource fair season in
October at Stillwater. Let us not forget to keep these men and women
in our prayers as they transition into a new life.
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 11
. he Transition Manager of the Department of Corrections (DOC) has
T
asked us to meet with her to share experiences we have had in carrying the message into correctional facilities, any blocks that would deter
any of us from volunteering and any frustrations we have had with any
of their policies. Their hope is to loosen the restrictions placed on us
as far as our ability to “sponsor” these men and women after release.
The DOC’s thinking seems to be leaning in the direction of these
men and women become comfortable with those of us who carry the
message into the prisons. Therefore, they should be allowed to have
contact with us on the outside. We are not interested in changing any
of the DOC’s current policies. However, if they choose to change current policies, they feel our experiences may be valuable information to
them.
We are currently designing a card that can be handed out to offenders at resource fairs that has contact information for every intergroup
in the state. Not all of these men and women are released to the Twin
Cities, so we feel a card with statewide contact information would
be helpful. One last thing about resource fairs, Laura S., District
7 Corrections Chairperson, designed and ordered a beautiful blue
tablecloth that reads “Alcoholics Anonymous Correctional Facilities
Contact Program” across the front. Perhaps you will see it at one of
our area events.
. e continue to develop and nurture a relationship with staff at the
W
DOC Central Office as well as transition coordinators by attending
monthly meetings of the MN Transition Coalition. At these meetings we have an opportunity to network with DOC staff as well as
employees of other non-profit organizations that work in correctional
transitions. The opportunity for us to carry the message in a corrections capacity has also presented itself at these meetings. Two
such opportunities within District 8 have been asked of us. The first
of these will be at Volunteer of America (VOA) in Roseville and at
RS Eden on W. 7th Street in St. Paul. Billy S., our new Corrections
Chairperson in District 8, will have his hand full from the start. I
would like to take a moment to thank Billy S. for his willingness to be
of service.
. he statewide Corrections Committee met in late June and we conT
tinued moving forward in planning our joint area workshop. The
workshop will be held on October 10, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until
2:00p.m. At Calvary Community Church 1200 Roosevelt Road, Saint
Cloud, MN 56301. Lunch will be provided. We are planning on having two employees of the DOC as well a member of AA who came in
contact with AA while incarcerated present information. They will
also answer questions regarding carry the message behind prison walls
as well working with offenders after release. The title of the workshop
will be “Love and Tolerance of Others is Our Code”. Our hope is that it
will help dispel myths, rumors and fears of carrying the message into
prisons and working with offenders after release.
I. am looking forward to traveling to Casper, WY in late August
to attend the West Central Regional Forum. I will also be attending Bridging The Gap Workshop Weekend in Park City, UT mid
September. I look forward to giving you a full report in the next
pigeon and at the area assembly on October 15 in Hutchinson.
Thank you for allowing me to be of service,
Terry H
Area 36 corrections chairperson
to be better informed about Area finances. If I can be of help, please let
me know.
August 8th Finance Committee meeting: Treasurers from Districts 3,
7, 8, 13, 14, and the Secretary from District 18 joined Karl R., Area
Treasurer, and I at the Finance Committee meeting. We reviewed
proposed changes to the Area Finance Policy to implement the March
Assembly vote to provide mileage reimbursement to the 5 formerly
nonrotating positions of Corrections Contact Program Coordinator,
Temporary Contact Desk Coordinator, Pink Can Coordinator,
Archivist and Technologist. After discussion we agreed on the changes.
We had awesome discussion during the meeting, sharing our experience and helping each other with a variety of financial issues. Who
knew financial discussions could be so God-filled?!
Updated Financial Policy: The updated Financial Policy will be posted
on the main page of the Area 36 website soon. Please contact me in the
meantime if you have questions.
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service!
Mary M
finance@area36.org
Grapevine
Districts attending the August Grapevine La Viña Committee included
13, 15, 18 and 24. Some Grapevine Chairs collect used Grapevines to
distribute at other meetings. District 24 has been suggesting gifting
a subscription to medical facilities. This committee has already been
asked to have a table at Founders Day in November. We also discussed
that in the 2016 budget is a proposed Grapevine La Viña Workshop.
The planning committee would meet monthly and is still being formed.
Goal of the workshop is to have “hands on” coaching and teaching on
how to audio record a short story for the magazine and how to write an
article. In the interest of being fiscally responsible, I’ll await to see the
outcome of the full proposed budget to see how parts of the workshop
may need to be scaled back.
Activities of this committee these past few months include staffing Grapevine and La Viña literature at Gopher’s State Roundup
and attending the June Area Assembly. I also attended the St Paul
Intergroup Open House—we were celebrating Fellowship on the roof
in the Midtown neighborhood in St. Paul. Districts who’ve welcomed
a Grapevine La Viña presentation include Districts 18; 17 and 15 in
August; and will reschedule District 1 for later this summer or pre-fall.
I will be traveling to Casper, WY for the West Central Regional Forum
mid-August. I look forward to talking with Grapevine staff or Trustees
attending.
I had the privilege of facilitating and presenting a workshop on Special
Needs in A.A. at the International Convention in Atlanta, GA. (No
Area 36 funds were used for this travel.) My experience of that is
posted elsewhere in this newsletter’s edition.
A BIG KUDOS is sent out to Bonnie McC and her husband Nolan,
who also attended the International in GA. After volunteering at our
Grapevine La Viña booth, I was able to secure a box of materials that
they willingly brought back to MN for our Area’s use.
In gratitude for the opportunity to be of service,
Carla N
Finance
Area 36 Grapevine La Viña Committee Chair
June 28th Finance Letter stuffing party: We had another good turnout!
We were of service, practiced the traditions, and discussed life as we
stuffed envelopes. It was awesome fellowship once again! Thanks to
everyone who came to help! Our next stuffing party will be Sun, Sept
27th, 2015 from 1-3pm at my house - 697 Summer Lane, Eagan, MN
55123.
Group Records
Finance/Budget 101 discussion at June Assembly: We discussed key
points about the Area budget and financial statements, many of which
our Trusty Treasurer, Karl, presents during his Area treasurer reports.
We had comments afterward from attendees that it was helpful to learn
the basics of what to look for and make note of when discussing Area
finances. I’ve certainly learned a lot more since starting my rotation
as Finance Chair, that’s for sure! At the October Assembly we’ll be
discussing and voting on the Area 2016 budget so now is a good time
Greetings! My name is Annette Ward and I have been learning a lot
as your Area 36 Group Records Committee Chair for the 2015-2016
rotation. My job is to help the Groups in Southern MN either get
registered with the General Service Office (GSO) or update the GSO
Group Records database with accurate updated information.
GSO Group Records in New York has a staff of only four (4) people
and they serve all 93 Areas. My job is to assist GSO with the So. MN
Area 36 Group’s questions and to make any needed changes quickly
and efficiently so our GSO folk in NY may focus on and perform their
already tremendously vast load of duties!
The GSO Group Records database is non-public and secure. I have the
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 12
one (1) User license for So. MN Area 36 and it is contained in the one
(1) computer provided to me so I can gain access to the GSO Group
Records database (called Fellowship New Vision or FNV). This also
means that any GSR or Contact information supplied is used only
for the purpose of communications from GSO, Area 36 and District
regarding AA general service.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS GROUP INFORMATION CHANGE FORM
U.S. and Canada
GROUP SERVICE No. ________________________________
DELEGATE AREA No. _______________
DATE: ____________________
DISTRICT No. _____________ No. OF MEMBERS: _______________
OLD INFORMATION
NEW INFORMATION
GROUP NAME: ________________________________________________
GROUP NAME: ________________________________________________
Group Meeting Location: _________________________________
Group Meeting Location: _________________________________
Street: __________________________________________________
Street: __________________________________________________
City/Town: _____________________________________________
City/Town: _____________________________________________
State/Province: __________________________________________
State/Province: __________________________________________
Important to Know: The local InterGroup Offices do not have access
to the GSO Group Records database. GSO is the only entity that
assigns Group Registration numbers. I know there is a lot of confusion
as to where you should update your Groups information, but to be clear
IF your Group is only updated with your local Intergroup website list,
then it is not updated with the GSO (thru me).
Zip Code: ____________
Zip Code: ____________
As your Group Records Chair, around the 1st and 15th each month,
I upload a .csv data file of all of our currently ACTIVE Groups into
our Minnesota Meeting Locator site: www.aaminnesota.org. I also
notify our Northern MN Webmaster, Bob, and he does his magic to be
sure the information uploads and the Google Maps works for any new
address changes!
Did you know that you can locate your Groups AA Registration # on
the www.aaminnesota.org site? When you click on your Group, you
can find the # located to the left of your Group’s name! It is important
that your Group Treasurer write this AA Registration # on all of your
Groups contribution checks to the GSO, Area 36 and District entities.
Important to Know: If your meeting does not show up on www.
aaminnesota.org, please contact me at grouprecords@area36.org and
we’ll see what we can do to rectify it. Only ACTIVE Groups will
show up in www.aaminnesota.org. If your Group does not have a
Group Service Representative (GSR) or Primary Contact listed, then,
unfortunately, your Group will be given an UNKNOWN status by
GSO meaning nobody is receiving the Group’s mail from GSO and
Area 36. A Group can also become “UNKNOWN” when the GSO or
Area 36 receives returned mail and is unable to confirm a new mailing
address for the Individual.
Directly following this report is the Area 36 Group Change Form with
instructions to send your Group’s changes to me at grouprecords@
area36.org. There are currently 933 ACTIVE Groups in So. MN.
I also take care of the So. MN Area 36 PIGEON Mailing Distribution
list. The PIGEON is currently being mailed to approximately 1,800
addresses! If you would like to be added to the PIGEON mailing distribution list or your mailing address has changed, please let me know
at grouprecords@area36.org!
I am so very grateful to the Area Committee for allowing me this
opportunity to serve and hopefully experience a whole bunch of
growth, personally and spiritually. I love working with you all!
Yours In Service,
Annette W
Area 36 Group Records Chair
grouprecords@area36.org
Telephone: _____________________
MEETING DAY
MON
■
TUES
■
WED
■
THUR
■
FRI
■
SAT
■
SUN
■
MON
■
TUES
■
WED
MEETING TIMES
_________
_________
_________
_________
Telephone: _____________________
MEETING DAY
■
THUR
■
FRI
■
SAT
■
SUN
■
MEETING TIMES
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
_________
GENERAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (G.S.R.)
GENERAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (G.S.R.)
Name: ________________________________________________
Name: ________________________________________________
Street: ________________________________________________
Street: ________________________________________________
City/Town: ______________________________________________
City/Town: ______________________________________________
State/Province: __________________________________________
State/Province: __________________________________________
Zip Code: ____________ Telephone : ______________________
E-mail: ________________________________________________
E-mail: ________________________________________________
ALTERNATE G.S.R.
■
or MAIL CONTACT
■
(Please check one
✓)
ALTERNATE G.S.R.
■
or MAIL CONTACT
■
(Please check one
✓)
Name: ________________________________________________
Name: ________________________________________________
Street: ________________________________________________
Street: ________________________________________________
City/Town: ______________________________________________
City/Town: ______________________________________________
State/Province: __________________________________________
State/Province: __________________________________________
E-mail: ________________________________________________
E-mail: ________________________________________________
If the Group is to be listed in the Directory, please provide a telephone number and mailing address for the G.S.R., Alternate
G.S.R., or Group contact. Listing in the Directory is for Twelfth Step referral and/or for meeting information. The G.S.R.’s (or other
contact) name and telephone number will be included in the Directory with the group’s name and service number.
OK TO LIST IN THE DIRECTORY?
■
Yes
■
No
SIGNATURE: _________________________________________________________________
DATE: ______________________
“Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. Membership ever depend
upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group they have
no other affiliation.” — Tradition Three (the long form)
“Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose — that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.”
— Tradition Five (the long form)
“Unless there is approximate conformity to A.A.’s Twelve Traditions, the group... can deteriorate and die.” — Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 174.
listed as DCM and District 2 DCM has changed, so if anyone knows
of someone I can contact in those Districts please let me know. The
packet contains some free material that is available from GSO that
your District literature can order. This packet idea came from our first
committee meeting “to stay in touch with our Districts and not let any
District fall through the cracks.”
F-28
- Revised 7-09
I. have proof read some of our outdated pamphlets and compared them
with the changes made to the newer revised pamphlets and sent my
findings to Dave Butler to present to the literature committee at the
Area Committee meetings on August 8th. I was unable to attend due
to work so Dave chaired the meeting. The committee is recommending
that the Area allow us to remove from inventory some of the outdated
pamphlets. If you would like to see what pamphlets we have reviewed
and their differences, please e-mail me and I will send it to you.
. t the committee meeting they talked about their county fairs and
A
what literature they have available at them and how it is displayed.
Both District 17 and District 3 placed orders last month and were
able to meet free shipping rates by combining their orders with other
groups, etc… I mention this as one idea in the packet I sent out.
District 3 bought books for library’s in their District which amounts to
a total of 5 libraries. They also have a new treatment center that bought
a bunch of literature from their District.
I. have an updated inventory if anyone would like to see what we have.
I am currently working with our Area Technologist to have it put
online. Hopefully I get the format done soon.
Yours in Service
Joe B
Area 36 Literature Chair
Newsletter
Greetings from the Area 36 Newsletter, the Pigeon.
Literature
Hello Area 36
. he past few months have been busy. By the time this newsletter
T
comes out I hope all of the Area’s DCM’s have received the Literature
Outreach packet I sent. If your address is different from the one listed
in the Pigeon, please email me with your current address and I will
see that you get one. Districts 10, 11, 22, and 27 do not have anyone
I am excited about this issue of the Pigeon as I feel we have some interesting articles.
The Recovery Unity and Service Conference will be held in St. Louis
Park, Mn on January 15 - 17, 2016. Past Delegate Scott A has written
an article on why AAs in our area should attend this conference and
what it has meant to him in his journey in AA. You can find his article
on page 9 along with the registration flyer.
We asked 5 Area 36 AA members who attended the 2015 International
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 13
Conference in Atlanta Georgia to write an article about their experiences at the conference. You will find their articles on pages 18 & 19
of this issue of the Pigeon.
In the June issue of the Pigeon, Renee R introduced a recurring column called “G.S.O. - Did You Know” As the title suggests, Renee
provides some interesting information about GSO and the services
they provide. This issue’s installment can be found on page 25.
And as I have mentioned in the past, if you have any ideas for articles
you would like to see in the Pigeon please forward to me and I will
work to add them.
Thanks for allowing me to serve
Jim V
Area36 Newsletter Chair
Public Information
Your Area 36 Public Information committee has had a busy summer.
We started off in June with a PI booth at the “Back to 50’s” car show
and expo. It was an interesting venue and demographic with plenty of
foot traffic. Thank you Phil F and Kelly S for doing such great work
running the PI Booth – it will continue to be a busy autumn with 2
health fairs and a round up.
Speaking of fairs…The MN State Fair. Jim B has been doing an
awesome job in chairing PI Booth committee. 100’s of volunteers have
been signed up, 50 pounds of pamphlets has been stocked, day captains
have been trained and our booth location has been assigned. We will
be in the Educational building and prepared to meet the public and
represent what AA is and what AA is not.
I had the chance to read some of the volunteer logs from past State
Fairs and it was uplifting. Some past volunteers have left the Fair
and brought drunks directly to a meeting. Others have shared their
experience with concerned family members/spouses. We don’t always
know the seeds we plant in the hearts and minds of future members of
Alcoholics Anonymous; our job is to suit and show up and carry the
message of Hope. Let God take care of the rest.
WCCO has approached the Area requesting the chance to do a piece on
the State Fair booth; more to come on that request. If you remember,
WCCO TV aired one our PSAs for 3 months in the spring; they
continue to be friends of AA. If only more TV and radio stations can
be called on to air our PSAs…
Speaking of participation; our last couple Area Committee PI
Committee meetings at the Area Committee Meeting, have been
poorly attended. Being a past DCM, I understand it was always a
struggle getting and keeping committee chairs. If you have anyone
who has any interest in Public Information, send them to an Area
Assembly or Area Committee Meeting. They don’t need to be district
committee chairs to participate, learn and serve.
Yours in Service
Drew F
Area 36 Public Information Chair
Remote Communities and Special
Needs
I hope your Summer is going as good as you wish. I hope it ends with
a corn dog and cheese curds as it should. I have been busy contacting
a few medical professionals and social workers to arrange AAI talks
with them. My hope is to complete a few this Fall. We met this past
weekend as a committee in Mankato. Represented were districts 1, 7,
13 & 20. If your district is not represented, please consider standing as
a special needs accessibilities chair. The only requirement is a passion
to make AA Meetings available to all who want them. The districts
represented are busy making sure our literature is ASL interpreted.
They are doing AAI talks, group outreach and forming their own committees. I’m excited and proud of all the work they are doing. A few
members are sharing their experience with an outside agency whose
purpose is to fund interpreters on a temporary basis in outstate AA
meeeings. Nothing is complete yet. We will let you know more about
it as it’s completed. You will see a listing of ASL interpreted meeting
near my article. This list is also on the Area’s meeting locator at
Area.36.org. Thank you District 7 for compiling the list. Our committe
will be providing a small packet of pamphlets specific to our audience.
These packets you may drop off with medical professionals who might
refer newcomers to our program. These professionals are medical Dr’s,
psychiatrists, psychologist and social workers in the medical field to
mention a few. I’m also excited to mention a workshop we will be plan for 2016. More to come.... See you
ning
at the Assembly. Revised 7/28/2015
These Twin City Metro AA Meetings provide An American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Monday, 7:30pm Tuesday, 7:00pm Wednesday, 7:00pm Thursday, 7:30pm Meeting) Friday, 7:30pm Sunday, 7:30pm Service # 138577 Tradition 5 (Closed /Step & Tradition) Valley of Peace Lutheran Church 4735 Bassett Creek Dr Golden Valley, MN 55422 Service # 631981 Common Solution (Closed Women’s Big Book Study) Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church 7600 Harold Ave Golden Valley, MN 55427 Service # 144534 Outright Mental Defectives (Open Big Book Study and Call-‐up) Dunning Recreation Center 1221 Marshall Ave Saint Paul, MN 55104 Service # 176775 Foxhall, Chapter 7 (Open Speaker Wooddale Church (Entrance #5) 6630 Shady Oak Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Service # 127839 Three Legacies (Open Speaker Meeting) Cross of Glory Baptist Church 4600 Shady Oak Road Hopkins, MN 55343 Service # 178827 SLPSNAAG (St. Louis Park Sunday Night AA Group) Union Congregational Church 3700 Alabama Ave S St Louis Park, MN 55416 Structure
The Structure Committee is made up of the Alternate Delegate and
the Alternate District Committee Members (Alt DCMs). At our meetUpdated August 16, 2015
ing this month we talked about the importance of doing our part as
individual AAs and committee members to ensure that the group
conscience of AA is an informed group conscience. We have a responsibility to do our part to see that the Area 40 service structure is
working well to facilitate the flow of information, ideas, and action
from the AA groups to the Districts to the Area to the General Service
Conference.
The committee is officially made up myself as Alt. Delegate and chair
of the committee and the Alt DCMs. We always welcome guests!
Seven AAs attended our meeting Saturday, including myself and the
Alt DCMs from Districts 1, 7, 8, 13, 15, and 19. Special thanks to
Nancy T. (Alt DCM for District 15) for taking the notes of the meeting.
Here are a couple of highlights from the meeting.
•.Stacy M. gave a report on the subcommittee that is updating the past
Area Actions booklet. The subcommittee is tracking down minutes
from Area Assemblies and Area Committee Meetings (ACM) prior to
2001 in order to be sure all past actions are included. They are also
researching minutes from some more recent years where there seem to
be gaps in the records.
•.Dan R. reported on the subcommittee to review the Area Inventory
minutes. This subcommittee will have a draft report of any possible
actionable items from the last inventory ready for Area Committee
chairs by the December ACM.
•.The proposal the committee brought to the ACM in May has been
withdrawn as a proposal. After extensive discussion with the Area
Chairperson and other Area Officers, it was decided that there was
no substantive change contained in the idea that needed Area action.
Instead, the Structure Committee will be suggesting to Area standing committee chairs that they take some time at the morning session
of the February ACM to introduce the General Service Conference
(GSC) agenda items. Given that the GSC agenda items are distributed
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 14
around mid-February, the Area Chair scheduled the February ACM
one week later than usual on Feb. 20, 2016. This will allow time to get
the GSC agenda items out to all the standing committee chairs in time
for their morning sessions that day. While acknowledging that Area
Committee Chairs may have other important items on their agendas
for the morning, the Structure Committee is asking that they consider
taking part of the time to inform the standing committee members
about the GSC agenda items. This will help jump start the process of
getting information and background out to the groups and Districts,
all with the intent of informing the group conscience before the April
Assembly/Delegate’s Workshop. Using the February Area Committee
Meetings as a starting point, we give groups in Area 36 the entire
month of March to review, consider, and discuss the agenda items
before convening in April for our Delegate’s Workshop. There is also
the West Central Regional Service Conference in early March that fits
into this timeframe. It makes sense to focus our attention on the GSC
agenda in this part of the year, leading up to when our Delegate goes to
New York in late April for the General Service Conference.
•.The committee discussed a possible agenda for the combined Area
Assembly and Delegate’s Workshop that will take place in early April
2016. Many good ideas were exchanged, all in the spirit of prioritizing what portions of an Assembly and what portions of the Delegate’s
Workshop must be retained in the new format. We have passed on
our ideas to the Area Chairperson. The Area Chairperson, who has
traditionally been responsible for the Assembly agenda, and the Alt.
Delegate, who has traditionally been responsible for the Delegate’s
Workshop, will work together to set an agenda for the day. The
Structure Committee suggests an agenda that extends the time from
9:00 am to 5:00 pm and arranges for a potluck or buffet meal on site in
order to facilitate a shorter lunch break. All of the substantive portions
of the Delegate’s Workshop would be retained – we keep the same
amount of time for committee discussions and the same amount of
time for sharing with the Delegate. We also have time in the day for
Assembly business and a time for important group, District, and Area
announcements. The committee appreciates this chance to offer input
to the Area Chairperson and the Alternate Delegate.
On behalf of a great group of committee members, please let me know
if you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding our work
on the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to be of service.
And thank you for all your service.
Curt K
Alternate Delegate and Structure Committee Chair
Technology
The technology committee had a meeting the first week of August.
It was decided to go live with the website and email on September 1,
2015. So, ready or not, here we go! Actually, the website looks wonderful. There are a couple of tweaks that need to be completed prior to roll
out, but we are close. The email, however, is not as close. SmarterMail
is the equivalent of Fort Knox and the CIA wrapped into one. I am currently working with Google to see if a merging can occur. After much
consideration and research, archiving your Smartermail and uploading
it to Gmail will not be possible. You can archive your Smartermail on
your desktop, but there is no search function, it just saves at as a big
ball of everything together. I am still exploring archive options but
options are limited. So, either we get the migration to work or we are
going to have to do it old school.
What that means, is, I need your help. I have 7 days to make this happen. If I can’t do it in the next 7 days, I will send out an email with
instructions to do the following: I need everyone to go through their
emails. Any emails you want to save will need to emailed to your personal account. Any attachments that you want to save will need to be
forwarded to your personal email or if all you want is the attachment,
than save the attachment to your computer’s desktop. Please delete
all unnecessary emails and folders, including your spam/junk folder.
Delete all emails you do not need!!!
Other issues include: adding Upcoming Events tab to the Home screen
like the current website, adding a Help tab to the home screen that
will contain how to guides and videos. It has been decided that the
Database for Corrections-Treatment should be its own entity and will
not be migrated into the new website. It will be its own separate identity. Also, Districts will eventually get emails and accounts on google,
however, will be subject to the 30GB data sharedrive. If those districts
wish to use more memory, than that district will have to create their
own accounts and pay for them.
We are discussing the re-structuring of Technology Committee/
mainly clarifying the titles, roles and those positions that are voting/
and or reimburse-able. What Dennis and I envision moving forward
is have the following positions, Technology Chair, which is a voting,
reimburse-able position. As part of the committee (the committee is all
under the Technology Committee) we will have the Webmaster, Audio
Recording, Email and Desktop Support. The Webmaster is or would
be a non-voting, reimburse-able position. Audio Recording is or would
be a non-voting, reimburse-able position, Email and Desktop support
would not be voting or reimburse-able positions.
Lastly, some odds and ends, we want to have a digital version of
Pigeon available. We are thinking of an opt-in or opt-out option to try
and save the Area costs mailing out the Pigeon. Committee for helping
other areas in our region to add them to the database. Should be having
a meeting in the coming month. And finally, a National Group Finder
is also being discussed. That’s it. Thanks for the opportunity to serve.
Yours in service,
Patrick S.
The Treatment Committee has been busy meeting with districts to
inform a larger segment of the fellowship about the Temporary Contact
Program (TCP). It is stated best from the Bridging the Gap Website
“As you may know, one of the more “slippery” places in the journey to
sobriety is between the door of the facility and the nearest A.A. group
or meeting. Some of us can tell you that, even though we heard of A.A.
in treatment or in prison, we were too fearful to go.” That is the BIG
WHY!
It has been my privilege to visit Districts 8, 12, 15, 19, 21 and 24. At
these meetings we have discussed the importance of reaching out to
the treatment professionals to foster cooperation and inform them
of the TCP. It is our hope that they might encourage their clients to
request a Temporary Contact to help them acclimate to our fellowship.
I have sent all of the DCM’s the Temporary Contact Volunteer Sign-up
Sheet to pass along to their committees, GSR’s and groups to ensure
that we have the resources in place to receive our future members.
I am scheduled to meet with Districts 1, 3, 7, 13, 16, and 18 over next 8
weeks. If there are any Districts that I have not yet scheduled to visit,
that would be interested in hearing more about our committee’s work
feel free to contact me at treatment@area36.org
It would be helpful to know which meetings are taking an interest in
each facility. We are also trying to find out about the facilities that are
being under-supported and looking for opportunities to reach the ones
that might still be willing to cooperate.
If any of our members with a year or more of sobriety would like to be
a Temporary Contact Volunteer for a newcomer; they can sign-up on
Area 36 website under the Treatment Committee tab.
Pink Can Plan
Hello from the Pink Can Plan
I would like to express my thanks for being able to serve as the Pink
Can Coordinator. We have sent books into many of the Southern
Minnesota State Prisons and Jails to help the still suffering alcoholic.
Some of the money received has gone towards purchasing literature for
the Transition Fairs. Thank you to all the volunteers who help make
this happen.
In this edition of The Pigeon, please find a group contributions report
and a literature sales report for the time period of January 1st through
July 31st. In 2015 we have spent more than received because of a
carry forward account balance from2014. We greatly appreciate all
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 15
Reports from other Area 36 Trusted Servants
contributions.
Pink Can Plan
If you have any questions or want to know more about the Pink Can
Plan please contact me at pinkcanplan@area36.org
Purchases by Item Summary
Yours in service,
LITERATURE PURCHASED
James N
GV-33 (Sober and Out)
GV-31 (No Matter What - Dealing with Adversity)
Shipping
180.00
202.50
GV-17 (Emotional Sobriety - The Next Frontier -- Volume I)
202.50
GV-27 (Young & Sober: Stories From AA Grapevine)
GV-100-1 (Grapevine - 1 Year Subscription)
884.85
B-06 (Came to Believe)
135.00
B-13 (AA in Prison - Inmate to Inmate)
B-14 (Twelve & Twelve - Soft Cover - Large Print)
7-Hi AA Group - 9AM Sat
A New Freedom*
AA Mainstreeters Edina
Amount
503.11
74.00
175.00
AA Sisters in Sobriety Group
47.75
Amazing Grace - Apple Valley
140.25
Annandale Lakers
Apple Valley Womens Group - Mon AM
25.00
186.00
Minneapolis Alano - Squad 88 - Chunks & M
Minnetonka Senior Group*
Monday Night Temple Meeting*
1,040.00
B-18 (As Bill Sees It - Soft Cover)
105.00
B-19 (Daily Reflections - Soft Cover - Large Print)
125.00
New Brighton Sunday Morning Big Book
P-01 (This is AA)
91.23
317.09
22.62
P-03 (Is AA for You)
237.37
P-15 (Questions and Answers on Sponsorship)
16.00
No Bull Big Book - Sqd 164 - Brooklin Pa*
190.00
P-21 (AA for the Native North American)
36.00
Oasis AA - Apple Valley
264.01
P-24 (Newcomer Asks)
12.00
13.00
Open Door Thurs Night Group*
100.06
Back to Basics - Coon Rapids
70.00
Promises On Knox-9;00 AM Saturday*
299.00
P-35 (Problems Other Than Alcoholic)
Richfield Bloomington AA Squad 6G
326.18
P-36 (Is AA for Me?)
Ridge Runners
48.70
Beyond Jitters
250.00
River City Round-up*
155.00
Bloomington Alano - Squad 15*
137.66
Rock Solid Group
209.08
Bloomington Alano - Squad 55
250.00
Rosemount AA Group
Bloomington Groups Squad 57*
297.56
Sahara 530 PM Sunday Group*
25.00
185.00
Boiler Room Group*
84.33
Sahara Club - Friday 6.30 AM Sunrise Mt*
Bryant Lake AA
60.00
Sahara Club - Saturday 715 AM*
530.26
Cavalier Club - Rule 62*
250.64
Sahara Club - Sunday 8.30 AM*
200.00
Cavalier Club - Thurs Men's Group
204.00
Sahara Club - Tues 8 PM Men's Group*
161.00
Common Solution
135.89
Sahara Club - Tues 8.30 Mens
280.95
Como Park Big Book Study
131.03
Sahara Club - Wednesday 6.00 PM Big Book
46.00
13.75
Complete Defeat
25.00
Sahara Club - Wednesday 6.30 AM*
25.00
Coon Rapids Alano - Squad 10
90.97
Sahara Club -Tues 5;30AM Sunrise Mt*
76.55
Crushed Grapes
33.82
Sahara Club Thursday Night 7.30 PM *
81.00
Design For Living - Big Book
33.00
Sahara Sunrise in Cincinnati
52.67
17.15
Dynamic Women's Group*
141.78
Sahara Tuesday 7A.M.
Fairmont Big Book Study Group*
164.00
Saturday Breakfast Club A.A.*
Farmington AA - Mon, Wed, Thurs*
320.00
Saturday Morning Serenity Group
75.00
191.40
69.50
Saturday Night Live AA*
245.00
Foglifters
187.17
Savage Unity AA
200.00
Forward XIX* - Mtka 12x12*
259.38
Sober on Saturday*
455.25
Fourth Dimension Group*
361.14
SQUAD 26
Foxhall Chapter 7*
525.76
St. George Thurs Nite Mens Group - Long L
Friday Night Hope Group
133.42
St. Louis Park Sun Night Group*
784.34
Happy Destiny Group*
179.80
78.00
66.00
Steps to Freedom
382.25
Happy Joyous & Free 134473
95.00
Summit Hill AA Group
516.92
Happy Joyous and Free*
79.06
Sunday Night Happy Hour
184.00
Sunday Serenity Group*
169.87
Hope's Noon AA*
Hopkins Monday Friends
How II
547.28
3.00
40.00
Sunlight of the Spirit AA*
92.80
The Wooddale Avenue AA Group
139.25
Individual
303.28
Three Legacies Meeting*
182.63
Kathleen Mishek
139.72
Thunder Bird AA
894.00
Laker's AA - Friday 6.30*
91.76
Thursday Night Speaker Meeting
86.79
Tradiition Five Group
91.02
Lakeville Saturday Big Book
253.19
Lava Lounge Candlelight 4G
50.00
Tradition Three - Plymouth*
Lester Prairie AA
25.00
Wed Night Mpls Big Book Group
156.00
Wednesday AM Women's Serenity Group
150.00
Women's Wed AA Serenity Group
170.00
Lynnhurst AA
Mainstreeters Groups @ Ply II
Mendota AA 9 & 10.30am & 7pm*
114.60
2,101.51
128.86
Minneapolis Alano - Squad 1
76.44
Minneapolis Alano - Squad 27
12.50
2.40
New Hope Alano - Squad 7*
Back to Basics
Firing Line Group*
1.50
26.00
P-09 (Memo to an Inmate)
206.20
25.00
1.75
P-05 (AA for the Woman)
Oasis/Sol. Seekers/Happy, Joyous & Free*
100.00
270.00
28.00
24.98
Belle Plaine AA Group
120.00
8,140.00
P-04 (Young People and AA)
Autonomous Big Book - Rochester
Basic Text AA- St. Paul*
330.00
B-16 (Big Book - Large Print)
GV-29 (Happy, Joyous & Free)
263.59
532.00
3,217.50
B-30 (Big Book - Soft Cover)
Amount
236.25
8,166.25
B-15 (Twelve & Twelve - Soft Cover)
B-27 (As Bill Sees It - Large Print)
Group
67.50
202.50
B-12 (Daily Reflections - Soft Cover)
Group
60.00
270.00
GV-30 (One on One: AA Sponsorship in Action)
B-07 (Living Sober)
1,039.00
GV-14 (Spiritual Awakenings -- Volume I)
GV-26 (Emotional Sobriety - The Next Frontier -- Volume II)
Group Contributions
67.50
270.00
201 (Newcomers Packet)
GV-20 (Beginners Book - Getting and Staying Sober In AA - Soft Cover)
Pink Can Plan
AMOUNT
Woodbury Serenity Sisters
TOTAL
89.00
120.00
9,776.64
P-33 (Sure Beats Sitting In a Cell)
P-37 (Too Young?)
P-42 (Brief Guide to AA)
6.00
16.00
2.40
24.00
1.75
P-51 (Can AA Help Me Too? African Americans Share Their Stories)
36.90
SB-12 (Spanish - Daily Reflections)
70.50
SB-15 (Spanish - Twelve & Twelve - Soft Cover)
SB-30 (Spanish - Big Book - Soft Cover)
58.50
506.00
26,709.05
Treatment Temporary Contact Desk
Hello to all,
I just wanted to give everyone a brief update on how things are going
since my last article in February. Things have been very slow since
then. Whereas we serviced 154 requests in 2013, and 104 in 2014,
We have only serviced 47 so far this year. Of those 47 requests, 30 of
these had a successful outcome and 17 failed for one reason or another.
The prevailing one is usually that they didn’t want a contact in the
first place. I added or updated 64 names to the database and deleted
16. I was grateful to see many more names coming in from outlying
areas such as Litchfield and Fairmont. Two areas that were lacking
in contacts prior to this. Please remember to update your info at
Intergroup or with your group’s GSR as quickly as possible after you
move.
On page you will find a spreadsheet showing which treatment centers
utilized our services in the past year as compared to previous years.
It is my hope that the treatment chairs in the districts will be able to
utilize this as a tool to focus their efforts in making contact with the
facilities which are no longer availing themselves of our services. Of
Page 1 of 1
the 46 requests we have received so far this year that were generated
locally, they came from 17 facilities. And they call us the land of
10,000 treatment centers. LOL
I am looking forward to attending the 25th Annual Bridging The Gap
Workshop Weekend this year which is being held in Park City, Utah
in a matter of a few weeks. Once again, thank you for letting me be of
service and I look forward to seeing you at our next assembly.
Yours in Love and Service,
Andy D
Pag
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 16
Temporary Contact Program -‐Year In Review-‐2015
District
1
3
4
4
4
5
7
8
8
8
8
8
8
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
14
14
14
16
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
18
19
21
21
21
21
22
22
22
23
23
24
24
26
A6
A16
A24
A35
A35
A35
A35
A35
A35
A35
A35
A35
A38
A74
A74
Treatment Center
Mayo Intensive Addiction Program
Fountain Centers
Project Turnabout
Community Addiction Recovery Enterprises C.A.R.E. Willmar
Prairie Lakes Youth Program (Detention Center)
Project Turnabout
On Belay House
Hazelden Fellowship
Tapestry
Twin Town
Women's Recovery Center
Avalon Midway
St Joseph's
Adolescent Treatment Care Winnebago ATCW
Fountain Centers
Lyric Substance Abuse
Transformation House
Unity Hospital
Prarie House (girls)
New Beginnings
Maple Lake Recovery Center (boys)
Dimensions In Recovery
Community Addiction Recovery Enterprises C.A.R.E. Anoka
West Hill Lodge
Spectrum
First Nations Recovery Center
HCMC Day Treatment Program
Breakaway
Fairview Lodging Plus
Fairview Riverside
Park Avenue
Progress Valley
Restoration Counseling & Community Services
Veterans Administration Medical Center
MN Adult & Teen Challenge
River Ridge
The Retreat
On Belay House
Hazelden (Outpatient Program)
Vinland
Wayside House
Omegon
Professional Counseling Center
New Ulm Medical Center
SOFS Forensic Transition Services
Haven
Lifestyles Counseling
Regions ADAP
Duffy's Rehab
Road To Recovery
Micah House
Nystrom's & Assoc
Bell Hill
Next Step
Recovery Plus
Dellwood Recovery Center
East Haven Halfway House
New Visions
Community Addiction Recovery Enterprises C.A.R.E.
Meadow Creek
General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital
Kinnic Falls
Burkwood
Summit Oaks
Valley Hope
A.R.T.
Axis
Walk Ins
Totals City
Rochester
Albert Lea
Willmar
Willmar
Willmar
Granite Falls
Eden Prairie
St. Paul
St. Paul
St. Paul
St. Paul
St. Paul
St. Paul
Winnebago
Fairmont
Fridley
Fridley
Fridley
Monticello
Waverly
Maple Lake
Maple Lake
Anoka
Owatonna
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Burnsville
Wayzata
Plymouth
Maple Grove
Loretto
Minneapolis
Minnetonka
Minnetonka
New Ulm
St. Peter
Shakopee
Prior Lake
St. Paul
Napa Valley, CA
Atlanta, GA
Council Bluffs
Otsego
Wadena
Staples
Princeton/St.Cloud
Cambridge
St. Cloud
Way up there
Carlton
Pine City
Fort Leonard, MO
River Falls, WI
Hudson, WI
Summit, NJ
Norton, KS
?
Palm Desert, CA
Minneapolis
Total Requests
Successful
Unsuccessful
Sent to Area 35
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
27
1
1
0
0
23
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
56
22
23
2
9
31
10
11
2
6
25
4
8
0
3
0
8
4
0
0
4
0
3
6
5
1
3
0
2
3
3
1
0
0
3
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
8
1
1
0
0
3
1
0
0
0
5
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21
10
1
9
4
1
9
4
3
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
51
22
15
36
3
26
8
5
12
1
25
14
10
24
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
3
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
51
82
18
2
7
0
16
48
9
1
3
0
35
33
8
1
4
0
0
1
1
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
6
3
2
1
0
5
1
1
0
1
0
2
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
8
3
0
0
1
7
2
0
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
18
33
7
7
14
3
10
15
4
1
4
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
4
3
2
5
2
0
4
1
1
1
0
0
2
1
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
3
5
2
6
1
1
2
2
0
5
0
1
1
3
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
3
0
2
0
1
2
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
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0
8/17/
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 17
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 18
Experiences at the 2015 International Conference
We asked 5 Area 36 AAs attending the 2015 International Conference in Atlanta Georgia,
to share their experiences with us. These 5 articles give us a glimpse of what they saw and
did at the conference and what the experience meant to them
My Experience at the 2015 International Convention
My name is Hunta Williams and I am an alcoholic and addict. I have
been sober for three years. I am honored to share my impressions
of the recent International AA Convention held in Atlanta. What
really struck me was the common bond we shared, despite our varied
backgrounds.
“Do the foot work….and act as if!”
Reflections on the 14th International AA Convention in
Atlanta, GA July, 2015
In early April, I spent the day beginning to learn how to fly fish on
the Whitewater River near Elba, MN. That afternoon, as my traveling companion and I headed back to the metro, I received a phone
call from Steve S. (former Mpls Intergroup Manager) now GSO staff
liaison for Special Needs-Accessibilities. He inquired if I would be
attending the 14th International Convention celebrating A.A.’s 80th
anniversary in Atlanta. I had been recommended to be a possible
workshop presenter on Special Needs in A.A. I had just rotated on
from serving as the Area 36 Remote Communities / Special NeedsAccessibilities Chair in January 2015. I expressed that I wasn’t
attending at this time, but thanks for the invite. He asked me to contact
him in the event that I changed my mind.
Needless to say, I had to quickly review my actions when I finished the
phone call. Did I just say “no” to an invitation to be of service at the
International Convention, with the caveat of sharing about Area 36’s
workshop on A.A. members and Special Needs? I was stunned by my
own selfish response. I could quickly rationalize that I wasn’t going, as
I was trying to get ahead on a credit bill that had gotten a bit too high.
However, I just made an impulsive decision based on fear (financial
insecurity) versus doing the footwork to make an informed decision to
travel or not, based on accurate financial information.
So, I did the footwork; tallied up the airfare; networked with others to
find lodging—which easily fell into place; and in the course of all this
footwork I received an unexpected financial gift. I called Steve back.
He was glad to hear from me, acknowledging he couldn’t promise that
I would be selected for a workshop--my name would go in the hopper!
I had quite the chuckle when I hung up the phone that time. Of course,
this was all about doing the footwork, “act as if” as I’ve been taught in
A.A. and leave the outcome in God’s Hands.
I ended up being selected as a moderator for the workshop on
“Reaching the Alcoholic with Special Needs.” It was humbling to
see my name in the program booklet. There I was, “the reluctant
trusted servant” amongst those who probably said yes right away.
The workshop fell into place that morning, complete with one of the
three presenters as a no show. I accepted that this too was part of a
Larger Plan. I quickly jotted down a few notes, and shared about Area
36’s Joint District and Area workshop on “A.A. members and Special
Needs.” A number of MN Fellowship friends attended, and other
Fellowship friends were there too. It was a gift to receive their support!
There were many more significant experiences in the course of the
weekend including staffing the Grapevine La Viña table and meeting
with Grapevine staff and a GV Trustee. Our GV staff were willing
to send me home with a half case of Grapevine La Viña promotional
materials. Bonnie McC, (past delegate panel 49 & DCM Dist. 3) and
husband Nolan drove to GA and transported the box back to MN.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience, strength
and hope of preparing and attending the 14th International A.A.
Convention in Atlanta, GA.
In gratitude,
Carla Nielson
Area 36 Grapevine La Viña Chair
When I arrived at the convention, I was overwhelmed to see the number of people attending from so many countries around the world. I
could see that there were interpreters available to help people communicate in the many different languages that were being spoken. And I
was happy to see that there was also a fairly large number of hard-ofhearing and deaf people, like me. So I didn’t feel alone. I felt a very
strong bond, seeing all these different people, all struggling with the
same disease of alcoholism and addiction, like me.
I began to greet everyone I could, hugging him or her in welcome.
Before the convention, I really had no idea how many people were
going to attend, seeking the help and support of others. Later that
night, I was inspired by the speaker, Michael (last name?), whose
powerful message really struck me. He said it doesn’t matter where
we come from or who we are, what our religion, nationality or personal challenge might be. We share the common bond of fighting this
sickness of alcoholism, together. I will always remember his words,
and keep them as a key part of my program now, and as I continue my
journey of sobriety.
Amidst all the crowds of people, I particularly remember one connection I made that really touched me. I met a man who is originally from
Argentina but is now living in Texas. I noticed him because he was
wearing a soccer shirt, and I am a huge soccer fan. Even though I am
deaf and don’t speak, and he does not know sign language, we figured
out a way to communicate. We introduced ourselves by showing each
other our name tags and then we gestured and used body language to
convey that we were both alcoholics and were glad we had come to
seek help and inspiration. We laughed and cried together and parted
ways smiling, feeling welcomed and supported.
H.W.
My Experience at the 2015 International Convention
When I was first asked if I would be willing to write about my experience in Atlanta, all I could think about was - how in the world am
I going to put what happened during a 4 day event into a few paragraphs! Because...there was so much that took place. But, I do have
some GREAT memories and that is what I can share.
The trip started the best way possible with having a “wonderful” travel
mate. My friend Michele and I were very much in sync with a variety of things that made both of our travel experiences easier. Traveling
with a friend was a new experience for me and I am really grateful for
all that we new about each other, and all that we learned. Our late
night talks and giggles were beautiful. To share such an enormous
event with someone close, was truly a gift. The entire 4 days were
filled with lots of tears, from all of the “big” meetings to the daytime
scheduled meetings, I had plenty of emotion. The tears were from
hearing the speakers at their most vulnerable, and speaking from their
hearts. I could not escape the Gratitude that came pouring in - for the
Fellowship and the sense of belonging. Also, the Joy and the Silliness
that popped up in such unexpected places.
We met folks from all over the world, and each new country was just
as much of a surprise as the one before it. Walking across the street
was an opportunity for laughter. Some folks got so excited that when
the light turned green, they raised their hands and yelled in joy! Now
that is silly!! My heart filled with joy at the level of excitement over
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 19
Experiences at the 2015 International Conference
such a simple thing. But, I knew, what they knew, and that is, we
travel a long journey to get to that joy. We all paid big prices and to
be in a place with others, where we can experience “together” on a
very large scale, that we all need to be reminded that we are not alone.
My heart fills recalling all of it again.
Thanks for the opportunity to share.
convention.
My journey started out at the Minneapolis airport where my girlfriend
and I met friends from the Fellowship at the terminal where we waited
for our flight to Atlanta. The mood was light hearted and upbeat.
Once onboard, many of us sat near each other and continued our conversations through the flight.
Val L. of it again.
When we arrived at Atlanta, we went straight to baggage claim,
grabbed our bags and we were off to catch the, “Marta”, Atlanta’s
public transportation system. When it arrived, we loaded our stuff and
headed to our hotel.
On the Fourth of July weekend I attended the 14th International
Convention celebrating 80 years of Alcoholics Anonymous. The
theme was “Happy, Joyous and Free.” This was my fifth International
Convention that I have attended in a row. I have attended San Diego,
California, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Toronto, Canada, San Antonio,
Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia.
The ride was smooth and soon we arrived at the transit station near our
hotel. We exited and took the long escalator up to the street where we
were greeted by a friendly local who knew all about the International
Convention and offered to walk us to our hotel. We accepted and he
engaged us in conversation about points of interest in Atlanta and a
little bit of his personal experience with alcoholism. He explained
that while he had attended meetings he would not be able to make the
Convention for personal reasons, but he still wanted to be helpful. We
thanked him and wished him well.
Atlanta Georgia International Convention was special because of the
fellowship. A group from Minnesota sat in the same section in the
dome for all three of the large meetings. It was fun to be a part of such
a great group of people.
The Convention schedule consisted of three large meetings and many
breakout sessions. The crowd in the dome was amazing. Almost the
entire dome was filled with Alcoholics and their families. The music
was great, people danced and beach balls were being tossed before
each big meeting started. What a great celebration of sobriety and an
example of being happy, joyous and free.
Friday night the meeting at the dome was the opening flag ceremony
where flags from 96 nations were represented. It was moving watching
a flag being waived for each nation. As the convention started. There
was such positivity, laughter and excitement in the air.
Saturday afternoon I attended a workshop called “Intensive Work With
Other Alcoholics,” and how important it is to our sobriety. What we
have been given we need to pass on to others. I try to practice this by:
Having a commitment in my home group, committing time to work
with other Alcoholics by going through the big book, being available
as a sponsor, and most importantly by being helpful when I can. It was
very informative.
Saturday night was equally awesome. A whole section of the main
floor was saved for old timers with 50 years or more sobriety. They
did a count up starting with 50 years of sobriety to over 60 years of
sobriety. Each old timer was welcomed with applause from the seats
in the dome. How exciting this was. Next it was time to draw names
from a big Georgia peach that was on the stage.
Twelve names were picked and the old timers were escorted to the
stage to sit down. Each old timer went to the podium and told their
stories. It was inspiring.
Sunday morning there were three speakers. One of which was a fire
fighter. He was a prison inmate and was able to speak that day. He
had four years of sobriety that day. He spoke about the two men that
would go to the prison to put on a meeting. He found this very helpful
to his sobriety. His story was very moving. He still had a lot of time
left his sentence but even in prison he was happy, joyous and free. This
was my favorite part of all the meetings.
The 14th International Convention was a great place to be on the fourth
of July of this year.
The meetings in the dome were very centered on the theme “Happy,
joyous and free. I am getting excited for the 2020 International
Convention in Detroit Michigan. I hope to see all of you there!
Stefanie M.
My experience - The 2015 International Convention
When I first walked into the building where the International
Convention was held, I saw a giant banner that read, “Welcome to the
2015 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous – 80 YEARS
HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE”
I found this theme played out again and again throughout the
That evening we put together our game plan for meetings and events
throughout the weekend. They included the Opening and Closing
Ceremonies, The Old Timers Meeting on Saturday Night, Healing
through Laughter, Let’s Be Friendly with our Friends and a play titled,
“The Magical Misery Tour” featuring a tribute band called “The
Bottles”. It sounded like a lot of fun and fellowship.
The next day we attended our first meeting at 9:30 titled ,”Meet
Your Neighbors” which was chaired by members from our own
West Central Region. They shared their experience as Delegates
and Trustees and their vision of the future of A.A. It was very
inspirational.
From there everyone went off to their next events and meetings
throughout the day. That evening we gathered outside the Georgia
Dome for the Opening Flag Ceremony. It was rather warm as we
waited to get in but it didn’t seem to bother anyone. No one complained. Instead, there was feeling of friendliness and community as
we were all looking forward to the Big Meeting inside.
When the doors opened we walked to our section and sat down with
about 50 of our friends from Minnesota. It was very festive with
music playing and beach balls flying through the air. We ate hotdogs,
nachos and popcorn while we danced in the aisles. I believe there were
around 56,000 people in attendance.
The Flag Ceremony began with the First Nation. A Native American
held high what looked like a wooden pole with Native American ceremonial items attached to it. He danced himself off the stage to take the
first spot in line. From there, representatives from over 80 countries
were introduced, each waving a tall flag from their home land. Next,
we heard from speakers representing diversity in this country and
Australia. One of them was deaf and he signed his story. It was truly
all inclusive. It was a great closing to a great day and we were Happy.
Day two was filled with meetings and meeting people and friends. At
lunch we went to an outside central plaza where we heard the beat of
bongo drums. There were people of all ages and cultures gathered
around and dancing to the upbeat tempo of the drums. From 15 year
olds to 85 year olds, there were no age boundaries and we felt the Joy
of A.A.
On Day 3, the closing ceremonies started at 9:00 a.m. where we once
again heard from 3 amazing speakers. One speaker, however, Jason
S., was especially poignant as he showed up in a prison uniform and
chains. There was deep emotion on his face and in his voice as he
shared his story and how he got to prison. He was on allowed to leave
the correctional facility with his Warden so he could speak at the convention. I believe he said he found A.A. inside the walls and that very
day he celebrated his 4 year anniversary. Even though he would soon
be returning to prison, he was Free.
This was the third International Convention that I have attended. By
the grace of a loving God and the A.A. Fellowship I hope to attend
many more.
Sincerely,
Eric B.
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 20
2016 Area 36 Proposed Budget
INCOME
Group Contributions
Special Contributions
Committee Revenue
Other Revenue
Interest
Total Income
$5,097.47
$96.00
$0.00
$3,980.35
$0.00
$4,092.19
$0.00
$0.00
$1,000.00
$0.00
$3,849.80
$265.25
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,360.32
$5.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,190.94
$15.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$5,264.33
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$5,249.91
$20.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,517.97
$118.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,013.91
$2,200.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,956.27
$45.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,219.91
$162.30
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4,855.42
$197.08
$1,651.99
$0.00
$0.00
$50,668.44
$3,123.63
$1,651.99
$4,980.35
$0.00
$9,173.82
$5,092.19
$4,115.05
$4,365.32
$3,205.94
$5,264.33
$5,269.91
$3,635.97
$6,213.91
$3,001.27
$4,382.21
$6,704.49
$60,424.41
$163.00
$3,730.00
$1,807.40
$300.00
$706.00
$5,595.95
$666.00
$1,980.00
$2,802.60
$160.00
$325.47
$350.00
$120.00
$2,750.00
$3,984.60
$700.00
$2,400.00
$350.00
$500.00
$4,119.71
$427.00
$27.00
$144.67
$450.00
$796.00
$2,025.00
$543.20
$655.00
$255.81
$0.00
$968.00
$1,821.00
$482.80
$265.00
$205.02
$0.00
$145.00
$6,465.00
$142.20
$100.00
$98.98
$0.00
$796.00
$1,355.00
$1,502.60
$205.00
$238.00
$0.00
$538.00
$1,615.00
$3,234.20
$25.00
$258.20
$0.00
$869.00
$3,190.00
$1,114.40
$146.00
$254.80
$0.00
$270.00
$1,655.00
$373.20
$50.00
$305.16
$0.00
$816.00
$1,935.00
$459.20
$155.00
$219.81
$0.00
$6,647.00
$32,640.71
$16,873.40
$2,788.00
$5,411.92
$6,745.95
$12,302.35
$6,284.07
$10,304.60
$5,668.38
$4,275.01
$3,741.82
$6,951.18
$4,096.60
$5,670.40
$5,574.20
$2,653.36
$3,585.01
$71,106.98
-$3,128.53
-$1,191.88
-$6,189.55
-$1,303.06
-$1,069.07
$1,522.51
-$1,681.27
-$460.63
$543.51
-$2,572.93
$1,728.85
$3,119.48
-$10,682.57
EXPENSE
Assembly Expense
Committee Expense
Committee Travel & Lodge
Delegate Expense
Officer Travel & Lodge
Other Expense
Total Expense
Net Ordinary Income
OTHER INCOME
PINK CAN PLAN
Total Other Income
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
OTHER EXPENSES
Pink Can Expenses
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
Total Other Expenses
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
Net Other Income
$6,313.90
$5,803.02
$6,622.90
$7,238.84
$8,295.62
$5,809.20
$6,948.38
$4,185.92
$8,075.20
$6,386.00
$5,798.90
$6,087.30
$77,565.18
NET INCOME
$3,185.37
$4,611.14
$433.35
$5,935.78
$7,226.55
$7,331.71
$5,267.11
$3,725.29
$8,618.71
$3,813.07
$7,527.75
$9,206.78
$66,882.61
INCOME
Group Contributions
Group Contribution
Birthday Contribution
$4,959.45
$138.02
$3,961.38
$130.81
$3,822.33
$27.47
$4,294.07
$66.25
$3,157.98
$32.96
$5,152.06
$112.27
$5,223.13
$26.78
$3,394.37
$123.60
$3,897.52
$116.39
$2,907.86
$48.41
$4,140.60
$79.31
$4,776.11
$79.31
$49,686.86
$981.58
Total Group Contributions
$5,097.47
$4,092.19
$3,849.80
$4,360.32
$3,190.94
$5,264.33
$5,249.91
$3,517.97
$4,013.91
$2,956.27
$4,219.91
$4,855.42
$50,668.44
Special Contributions
Anonymous Contributions
Birthday Contributions
In-Kind Contributions
Individual Contributions
Refund/Reimbursement
$0.00
$25.00
$41.00
$30.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$265.25
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$5.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$15.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$20.00
$0.00
$0.00
$4.00
$0.00
$114.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$45.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$62.30
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$39.00
$27.98
$130.10
$0.00
$0.00
$130.30
$379.23
$414.10
$0.00
Total Special Contributions
$96.00
$0.00
$265.25
$5.00
$15.00
$0.00
$20.00
$118.00
$0.00
$45.00
$162.30
$197.08
$923.63
Committee Revenue
Grapevine
Literature
P.I. State Fair Booth
Website
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.94
$551.05
$500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.94
$551.05
$1,000.00
$0.00
Total Committee Revenue
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,151.99
$500.00
$0.00
$1,651.99
$252.00
$25.00
$183.75
$320.25
$3,199.35
$3,980.35
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$252.00
$25.00
$183.75
$320.25
$3,199.35
$3,980.35
Other Revenue
RUSC CONFERENCE
Ice Cream
In-Kind
7th Tradition
Coffee/Food
Registration
TOTAL RUSC CONFERENCE
COFFEE / FOOD
Total Other Revenue
Interest
DELEGATES FUND
Int'l Conv Fund
TOTAL DELEGATES FUND
RESERVE FUND INTEREST
Total Interest
TOTAL INCOME
Expense
ASSEMBLY EXPENSES
Fixed Costs
GSC Contributions
Insurance
Total Fixed Costs
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,980.35
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,980.35
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,185.37
$4,611.14
$433.35
$5,935.78
$7,226.55
$7,331.71
$5,267.11
$3,725.29
$8,618.71
$3,813.07
$7,527.75
$9,206.78
$66,882.61
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,600.00
$408.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,600.00
$408.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,008.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$2,008.00
Operating Costs
Coffee/Food
Event Taping
Meeting Room Rent
Miscellaneous
Office Equipment
Postage
Printing & Copying
Supplies
Telephone
$0.00
$18.00
$0.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$25.00
$25.00
$0.00
$80.00
$56.00
$410.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$0.00
$25.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$0.00
$25.00
$0.00
$0.00
$29.00
$0.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$125.00
$25.00
$0.00
$80.00
$56.00
$410.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$130.00
$25.00
$0.00
$50.00
$68.00
$550.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$180.00
$25.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$25.00
$25.00
$0.00
$80.00
$56.00
$410.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$130.00
$25.00
$0.00
$50.00
$18.00
$300.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$50.00
$25.00
$0.00
$80.00
$49.00
$415.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$205.00
$25.00
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$100.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$0.00
$25.00
$0.00
$80.00
$56.00
$410.00
$20.00
$0.00
$75.00
$150.00
$25.00
$0.00
$550.00
$406.00
$3,005.00
$240.00
$0.00
$900.00
$1,020.00
$300.00
$0.00
Total Operating Expenses
$163.00
$666.00
$120.00
$274.00
$796.00
$968.00
$145.00
$796.00
$538.00
$869.00
$270.00
$816.00
$6,421.00
$163.00
$666.00
$120.00
$2,282.00
$796.00
$968.00
$145.00
$796.00
$538.00
$869.00
$270.00
$816.00
$8,429.00
TOTAL ASSEMBLY EXPENSES
COMMITTEE EXPENSE
Archive Expense
Archives Storage & Maint
Archive Expense - Other
Total Archive Expense
Correctional Facilities Expense
CF Temp Contact Services
CF Expense - Other
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$600.00
$150.00
$7,200.00
$1,800.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$750.00
$9,000.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$80.00
$20.00
$960.00
$240.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$100.00
$1,200.00
CPC Expense
CPC Expense - Other
$0.00
$560.00
$0.00
$90.00
$15.00
$0.00
$0.00
$105.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$15.00
$785.00
Total CPC Expense
$0.00
$560.00
$0.00
$90.00
$15.00
$0.00
$0.00
$105.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$15.00
$785.00
Finance Expense
Finance Letter & Mailing
Finance Expense - Other
$0.00
$0.00
$15.00
$0.00
$415.00
$0.00
$15.00
$0.00
$15.00
$0.00
$415.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$15.00
$0.00
$415.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$15.00
$0.00
$415.00
$0.00
$1,735.00
$0.00
Total Finance Expense
$0.00
$15.00
$415.00
$15.00
$15.00
$415.00
$0.00
$15.00
$415.00
$0.00
$15.00
$415.00
$1,735.00
Total CF Expense
Grapevine Expense
Grapevine Expense - Other
$240.00
$105.00
$810.00
$100.00
$40.00
$230.00
$2,155.00
$30.00
$0.00
$115.00
$0.00
$30.00
$3,855.00
Total Grapevine Expense
$240.00
$105.00
$810.00
$100.00
$40.00
$230.00
$2,155.00
$30.00
$0.00
$115.00
$0.00
$30.00
$3,855.00
Group Records Expense
Grp Rcrds Expense - Other
$60.00
$55.00
$30.00
$30.00
$55.00
$60.00
$30.00
$55.00
$30.00
$30.00
$30.00
$75.00
$540.00
Total Group Records Expense
$60.00
$55.00
$30.00
$30.00
$55.00
$60.00
$30.00
$55.00
$30.00
$30.00
$30.00
$75.00
$540.00
Literature Expense
Lit Expense - Other
$200.00
$75.00
$100.00
$10.00
$200.00
$0.00
$10.00
$0.00
$200.00
$0.00
$10.00
$200.00
$1,005.00
Total Literature Expense
$200.00
$75.00
$100.00
$10.00
$200.00
$0.00
$10.00
$0.00
$200.00
$0.00
$10.00
$200.00
$1,005.00
Newsletter Expense
Nwsltr Expense - Other
$2,260.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,610.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,610.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,610.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,090.00
Total Newsletter Expense
$2,260.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,610.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,610.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,610.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,090.00
Public Information Expense
State Fair Booth
P.I. Expense - Other
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$425.00
$899.71
$0.00
$550.00
$0.00
$46.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,690.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$70.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,495.71
$2,185.00
Total Public Information Expense
$0.00
$0.00
$425.00
$899.71
$550.00
$46.00
$1,690.00
$0.00
$0.00
$70.00
$0.00
$0.00
$3,680.71
Special Needs/Accessibilities
Special/AccessExpense - Other
$0.00
$150.00
$0.00
$0.00
$130.00
$0.00
$0.00
$130.00
$0.00
$0.00
$630.00
$130.00
$1,170.00
Total R.C. Expense
$0.00
$150.00
$0.00
$0.00
$130.00
$0.00
$0.00
$130.00
$0.00
$0.00
$630.00
$130.00
$1,170.00
Structure Expense
Area Development
Area Directory
Structure Expense - Other
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$550.00
Total Structure Expense
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$100.00
$50.00
$100.00
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$100.00
$550.00
Treatment Facilities Expense
TF Temp Contact Services
T.F. Expense - Other
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$295.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$295.00
$80.00
$0.00
$80.00
$0.00
$960.00
$590.00
Total T.F. Expense
$80.00
$80.00
$80.00
$375.00
$80.00
$80.00
$80.00
$80.00
$80.00
$375.00
$80.00
$80.00
$1,550.00
Web Site Expense
Meeting Locator
Web Site Expense - Other
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$40.00
$0.00
$480.00
Total Web Site Expense
TOTAL COMMITTEE EXPENSES
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$40.00
$480.00
$3,730.00
$1,980.00
$2,750.00
$4,119.71
$2,025.00
$1,821.00
$6,465.00
$1,355.00
$1,615.00
$3,190.00
$1,655.00
$1,935.00
$32,640.71
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 21
2016 Area 36 Proposed Budget
COMMITTEE TRAVEL & LODGING
Archives
Archives Display
Archives Expense - Other
$0.00
$238.20
$0.00
$57.00
$0.00
$441.00
$0.00
$71.40
$0.00
$57.00
$0.00
$57.00
$0.00
$40.20
$0.00
$57.00
$0.00
$70.20
$0.00
$717.00
$0.00
$70.20
$0.00
$57.00
$0.00
$1,933.20
Total Archives
$238.20
$57.00
$441.00
$71.40
$57.00
$57.00
$40.20
$57.00
$70.20
$717.00
$70.20
$57.00
$1,933.20
Correctional Facilities
CF Expense - Other
$195.00
$105.00
$375.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$15.00
$75.00
$1,525.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$2,740.00
Total Correctional Facilities
$195.00
$105.00
$375.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$15.00
$75.00
$1,525.00
$75.00
$75.00
$75.00
$2,740.00
Cooperation with the Professional Community
CPC Expense - Other
$150.00
$69.00
$435.60
$26.40
$54.00
$10.00
$24.00
$54.00
$10.00
$26.40
$24.00
$27.00
$910.40
Total CPC
$69.00
$435.60
$26.40
$54.00
$10.00
$24.00
$54.00
$10.00
$26.40
$24.00
$27.00
$910.40
$150.00
Grapevine
Grapevine Display
Grapevin - Other
$0.00
$167.40
$0.00
$132.00
$0.00
$372.00
$0.00
$49.80
$0.00
$54.60
$0.00
$46.20
$0.00
$21.00
$0.00
$33.60
$0.00
$21.00
$0.00
$36.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$33.60
$0.00
$967.20
Total Grapevine
$167.40
$132.00
$372.00
$49.80
$54.60
$46.20
$21.00
$33.60
$21.00
$36.00
$0.00
$33.60
$967.20
Group Records
Groups Records - Other
$183.00
$42.00
$396.00
$42.00
$42.00
$42.00
$0.00
$42.00
$18.00
$42.00
$42.00
$42.00
$933.00
Total Group Records
$183.00
$42.00
$396.00
$42.00
$42.00
$42.00
$0.00
$42.00
$18.00
$42.00
$42.00
$42.00
$933.00
Literature
Literature Display
Literature - Other
$0.00
$162.00
$0.00
$93.00
$0.00
$465.00
$0.00
$30.00
$0.00
$42.00
$0.00
$54.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$42.00
$0.00
$42.00
$0.00
$60.00
$0.00
$54.00
$0.00
$42.00
$0.00
$1,086.00
Total Literature
$162.00
$93.00
$465.00
$30.00
$42.00
$54.00
$0.00
$42.00
$42.00
$60.00
$54.00
$42.00
$1,086.00
Newsletter
Newsletter - Other
$144.00
$36.00
$360.00
$21.00
$36.00
$36.00
$0.00
$36.00
$0.00
$30.00
$24.00
$36.00
$759.00
Total Newsletter
$144.00
$36.00
$360.00
$21.00
$36.00
$36.00
$0.00
$36.00
$0.00
$30.00
$24.00
$36.00
$759.00
Public Information
Public Information - Other
$131.00
$36.00
$0.00
$15.00
$36.00
$12.00
$12.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$30.00
$30.00
$302.00
$131.00
$36.00
$0.00
$15.00
$36.00
$12.00
$12.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$30.00
$30.00
$302.00
Special Needs/Accessibilities
SN/Acc. Other
$132.00
$2,133.00
$360.00
$35.00
$33.00
$37.80
$0.00
$33.00
$0.00
$21.00
$0.00
$33.00
$2,817.80
Total Remote Communities
$132.00
$2,133.00
$360.00
$35.00
$33.00
$37.80
$0.00
$33.00
$0.00
$21.00
$0.00
$33.00
$2,817.80
T.C. - Other
$150.00
$0.00
$360.00
$14.00
$44.00
$30.00
$30.00
$14.00
$1,530.00
$18.00
$30.00
$14.00
$2,234.00
Total Treatment Faciliities
$150.00
$0.00
$360.00
$14.00
$44.00
$30.00
$30.00
$14.00
$1,530.00
$18.00
$30.00
$14.00
$2,234.00
Web Site
Web Site - Other
$154.80
$99.60
$420.00
$47.40
$69.60
$82.80
$0.00
$1,116.00
$18.00
$89.00
$24.00
$69.60
$2,190.80
Total Web Site
$154.80
$99.60
$420.00
$47.40
$69.60
$82.80
$0.00
$1,116.00
$18.00
$89.00
$24.00
$69.60
$2,190.80
$1,807.40
$2,802.60
$3,984.60
$427.00
$543.20
$482.80
$142.20
$1,502.60
$3,234.20
$1,114.40
$373.20
$459.20
$16,873.40
DELEGATES EXPENSES
Delegate Expense - Other
Delegate Printing
Delegate Trvl & Ldgng
Past Delegate Travel
TOTAL COMMITTEE TRVL & LDGNG
$0.00
$0.00
$300.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$60.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$600.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$27.00
$0.00
$0.00
$150.00
$405.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$165.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$105.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$25.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$46.00
$100.00
$0.00
$0.00
$50.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$55.00
$100.00
$0.00
$150.00
$1,938.00
$700.00
TOTAL DELEGATES EXPENSE
$300.00
$160.00
$700.00
$27.00
$655.00
$265.00
$100.00
$205.00
$25.00
$146.00
$50.00
$155.00
$2,788.00
OFFICER TRAVEL & LODGING
Alt Area Chair T & L
Alt Delegate T & L
Area Chair T & L
Secretary T & L
Treasurer T & L
$17.00
$25.00
$204.00
$220.00
$240.00
$33.00
$53.21
$99.26
$100.00
$40.00
$480.00
$480.00
$480.00
$480.00
$480.00
$18.00
$27.87
$25.00
$52.80
$21.00
$53.00
$53.21
$37.60
$64.00
$48.00
$63.00
$12.88
$53.14
$28.00
$48.00
$14.00
$48.98
$0.00
$36.00
$0.00
$54.40
$42.00
$37.60
$64.00
$40.00
$65.00
$50.00
$37.60
$72.00
$33.60
$50.00
$64.64
$70.56
$36.00
$33.60
$60.00
$80.00
$76.16
$64.00
$25.00
$53.00
$53.21
$37.60
$36.00
$40.00
$960.40
$991.00
$1,158.52
$1,252.80
$1,049.20
TOTAL OFFICER TRVL & LDGNG
$706.00
$325.47
$2,400.00
$144.67
$255.81
$205.02
$98.98
$238.00
$258.20
$254.80
$305.16
$219.81
$5,411.92
$949.66
$353.29
$525.00
$283.25
$1,800.00
$750.00
$334.75
$4,995.95
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$949.66
$353.29
$525.00
$283.25
$1,800.00
$750.00
$334.75
$4,995.95
OTHER EXPENSES
RUSC Conference Expense
Committee Travel
Chair Travel/Lodging
Coffee/Food
Copying/Supplies
Hall/Equipment Rental
Speaker
RUSC Conf. Exp. - Other
Total RUSC Conference Expense
Delegates Workshop Expense
TSLT Workshop
$600.00
$350.00
$350.00
$450.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,750.00
Total Delegates Workshop
$600.00
$350.00
$350.00
$450.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$1,750.00
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES
$5,595.95
$350.00
$350.00
$450.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,745.95
TOTAL EXPENSES
$5,595.95
$350.00
$350.00
$450.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$6,745.95
Net Ordinary Income
-$2,410.58
$4,261.14
$83.35
$5,485.78
$7,226.55
$7,331.71
$5,267.11
$3,725.29
$8,618.71
$3,813.07
$7,527.75
$9,206.78
$60,136.66
OTHER INCOME
Pink Can Plan
P.C.P. Contributions
Total Pink Can Plan
TOTAL OTHER INCOME
OTHER EXPENSES
Pink Can Plan
Pink Can - Non-Literature
Pink Can Literature
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
$0.00
$3,156.95
$0.00
$2,901.51
$0.00
$3,311.45
$0.00
$3,619.42
$0.00
$4,147.81
$0.00
$2,904.60
$0.00
$3,474.19
$0.00
$2,092.96
$0.00
$4,037.60
$0.00
$3,193.00
$0.00
$2,899.45
$0.00
$3,043.65
$0.00
$38,782.59
Total Pink Can Plan
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES
$3,156.95
$2,901.51
$3,311.45
$3,619.42
$4,147.81
$2,904.60
$3,474.19
$2,092.96
$4,037.60
$3,193.00
$2,899.45
$3,043.65
$38,782.59
Net Other Income
NET INCOME
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
-$2,410.58
$4,261.14
$83.35
$5,485.78
$7,226.55
$7,331.71
$5,267.11
$3,725.29
$8,618.71
$3,813.07
$7,527.75
$9,206.78
$60,136.66
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 22
District Reports
District 1
Hello! From District 1!
I Denise W. am pleased to serve as the District Committee Member!
About District 1= serving east Dodge (Dodge Center), Goodhue (Red
Wing), Olmsted (Rochester) and Wabasha (Wabasha) Counties which
are located in Southeast Minnesota. We have approximately 30 groups
with 8 left to visit. We have 133 meetings listed in our directory with
Thursdays having 31 meetings in our District! Information on times
and locations can be found at aadistrict1.org or aameetinglocator.org.
at the Steele County Fair. Our District has had a booth at this fair for
many years.
Yours in Service
Bonnie McConnell
DCM Dist 3
District 4,5, 6
No Report
District 1 meetings are held every third Wednesdays……AA groups
hold these meetings at various locations with a dinner provided. That
information can be found at aadistrict1.org.
District 7
Our committees Chairs are almost full and we are still looking for
committee members for those chairs if you are from our area and looking for service work please come to our district meetings. Or contact
me via email.
District 7 is made up of approximately 35 groups in Edina, Eden
Prairie, Chanhassen and some areas of Lake Minnetonka. We meet the
second Monday of each month at 6:30PM in Room 206 of St Andrews
Church, 1300 Technology Drive, in Eden Prairie. Our GSR attendance
is typically 6-8 each meeting. Our Group Outreach committee is hoping to increase those numbers. Our Committee Chairs are very active
in service work. Newsletter and Workshop Committee Chairs are still
open.
• Answering Service – Frank K.
• Archives-Joe B.
• CPC- John J.
• PI –Open
• Corrections- Renee B.
• Grapevine-Zac
• Group Records- Kit D.
• Literature-Steve G.
• Remote Communities- Taylor B.
• Treatment Facilities- Shawn S.
• Web Site – Barb R/Eileen
We have ordered new directories with the newest information found.
Most up to date information can be found at aadistrict1.org. Please
email myself or group records with any changes.
Thank you to the groups for their contributions this year we have also
sent out a letter to all of our groups explaining what the district does
and where those contributions go. If your group did not receive a
letter please email me. Also we received a contribution from a group
in Eyota…….we do not have meeting information for that group so I
would appreciate any information so I may visit that group.
Respectfully yours in Service
Greetings from District 7,
Since my report in June I was fortunate to attend Alcoholics
Anonymous
80th International Convention with many District 7 members!! What
an amazing experience. I also was able to attend the Area Assembly in
June and August’s Area Committee Meeting. At that meeting I had the
privilege of chairing the DCM sharing session in the morning.
District 7 was a participant at Archives Alive in July. This was a great
event with some amazing speakers
We unanimously voted to change the name of the Remote
Communities Committee to Special Needs and Accessibilities to align
with the Area’s vote earlier this year.
Our PI Committee still has many sub-committees that are all working on different projects and we are hoping to combine resources
with other districts for our Local Area Newspaper & Public Display
Sub-committees.
Stef M has agreed to be our day captain for our State Fair Commitment
Corrections Chair, Laura S, has been helping out at the Area level
because we do not have any correctional facilities in our district. She
has attended the Transition Fairs in Fairbault and Rush City.
Denise W.
District 7 is starting to prepare for our 2016 Budget and we hope to
have feedback from GSR’s and Committee Chairs by October.
Email: dist1@area36.org
Yours in Service-
DCM District 1
Kelli Marushin
District 2
No Report
District 3
. District 3 Meeting is being held at the West Hills Alano 605 West
Florence Avenue, Owatonna, MN 55060. The meetings have been set
to be on the first or second Saturday of the month so as to not conflict
with the area calendar. The dates for the remainder of the year are
September 12th, October 10th, November 14th & December 12th.
We are currently working on putting Big Books & 12 & 12 in the
Libraries in English and Spanish. One group has said they will help
support this project. We have the Owatonna Libraries done.
Our Directory of groups have been printed and are being delivered to
the groups.
There has been a consistant 10 to 15 people at the District meeting.
Which for our District is pretty good [27 groups].
We have a new Corrections chair Richard J. He was inspired from the
International Convention in Atlanta. Thank you Richard.
The week of August 18th through 23rd our District will have a booth
DCM-District 7
952-836-8282
Districts 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
No Report
District 13
Hello from District 13! We are done with the Anoka County Fair and
are looking forward to our day at the Minnesota State Fair! Thanks to
everyone who has (and are planning on) staffing the fair booths. We
couldn’t do it without you!
At our June district meeting our Area Delegate, Lisa, recounted her
experience at the General Service Conference. Her report was lively
and informative. Thanks Lisa!
I would also like to thank all the Area Committee Chairs who have
visited us at the District meeting and shared their experience strength
and hope with us! We look forward to having more visitors in the
future!
District 13 comprises all of Anoka County and some of Northeast
Minneapolis. Our district has approximately 175 groups and six
alano societies. Our district meeting is held the first Tuesday of every
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 23
District Reports
month. We usually have 15-20 GSRs attend each district meeting, in
addition to our committee chairs and officers. We also have a steering
committee meeting on the Sunday before each district meeting. We set
the district agenda at the steering committee meeting, and officers and
committee chairs give updates on their work. Anybody is welcome to
attend the steering committee meeting.
In June we were thrilled to get a new Corrections Chair, Nickolas
H. At our district meeting in July Diane M. agreed to be our Group
Records chair. I happy to say at this moment all of our committee
chairs are filled! Here is a summary of what the committees have
been doing. Our CPC chair, Annette, shared AA information at a
first responders group. Our Literature chair, Scott, received a donation of eight big books which were then donated to Transformation
House. He also has been highlighting a pamphlet each month at our
district meeting. Our Newsletter chair, Karla, has put together her
second newsletter for District 13, H.O.P.E.S., (Helpful Opportunities
for People to Experience Service) to be distributed to our groups and
local alanos. If you would like to write an article for us or would like
to receive an electronic copy please e-mail her at district13newsletter@
gmail.com. Our Grapevine chair, Karl, has visited a few groups to
inform them about the Grapevine subscription challenge and the service opportunity of being Grapevine Representative for the meeting.
He also was able to encourage the Monday night meeting Complete
Defeat to let him sell Grapevine books at that meeting. Our Public
Information chair, Joe, has local cable TV stations running PSAs from
GSO. He also has arranged and scheduled District 13 members to
sit at the AA booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Our Archives chair,
Greg, set up an Archives display at our annual Gratitude night. Our
Gratitude Night chairs, Jerry K. and Ann H., pulled off a well-attended
and fun Gratitude Night for our district. It was a full house with awesome speakers! I’d like to thank Jerry K. for his hard work arranging
people to sit at District 13’s booth at the Anoka County Fair in July.
Our Special Needs/Accessibilities chair, Lenny, received his committee
workbook and is looking forward to building a committee.
worked with our Secretary, September to update our policies such
as mileage reimbursement, and district voting procedures. Our
Corrections Chair Rosie reports that more AA members from our district have stepped up as volunteers to lead meetings on Sundays and
Mondays at the Wright County jail, but we can still use more members to lead meetings. We packaged up a box of AA pamphlets that
Steve S will deliver to the Delano Treatment Facility.
DCMs…. If you are in the northern or western suburbs of
Minneapolis and would like to team up with our district to present a
Workshop this winter or next spring, please contact me.
Yours in service,
Mike Cruikshank
District 14 DCM 763-684-4817
District 15
Greetings from District 15. We have been busy with the Washington
County Fair and will be participating in the State Fair as well. Lisa
Dawn gave us her Conference presentation at our June meeting. Theo
A visited our July meeting and spoke with us regarding the Treatment
Temporary Contact Program and several of us signed up. It’s a great
opportunity for 12th step work. Carla N will be visiting our meeting on August 24th and speaking about the Grapevine. We will be
planning our fall workshop at our next meeting so keep an eye out
for more information. We will post our flier on the Area website. We
are going to be working on getting more GSR’s to the district meetings. The District Alt DCM has been busy doing outreach and her
and I will be going to the West Central Regional Forum August 21st
through the 23rd. I have been given the opportunity to be on next
year’s RUSC planning committee and have been busy with that. All
in all things are going well in our District. Thank you for allowing
me to be of service to AA.
The District will be sending my alternate, Stacy M. to attend the West
Central Regional Forum in Casper, Wyoming.
Lori Nordgaard, DCM District 15
Thank you to all the individuals and groups that support District 13!
Without all of your contributions of time and money, we would not be
able to be active in providing services for the groups or the still suffering alcoholic.
District 16
If there is anything that we can do to help your group or you individually please contact us at: dist13@area36.org.
Yours in Service,
Anna L.
District 13 DCM
District 14
Greetings from District 14 - Wright County, including the great cities
of Monticello, St. Michael, Buffalo, Delano and Cokato.
At our August meeting we had the pleasure to hear from Area 36
representatives Lisa G and Mary M. Mary gave us an update on the
Recovery, Unity & Service Conference coming up in January and Lisa
gave her delegate report. Thanks Mary and Lisa for sharing… you
both dis a great job!
I wish to say a special thanks to one of the long-timers in our district.
Lynette Smith has been active in service for over 30 years within
District 14 and is still going strong! In the last few months she lead
our efforts to enlist the volunteers needed to staff the Wright County
Fair and then managed the booth including set-up and tear-down over
the 5 days of the Fair. In July, Lynette along with Jerry Newman
represented District 14 as a presenter at Archives Alive in Glenco and
Niles A reported they did a great job talking about their experiences in
the old days. Lynette also chairs our PI committee and keeps our local
public service announcemtns up to date. And when Lisa came to give
her delegate report this month, Lynette brought the treats - homemade
brownies… ok, really good brownies!. So, on behalf of District 14, I
say thanks Lynette for all you do!!!
Other district updates: We passed a budget for 2015 and established
a prudent reserve fund. Our Alternate DCM & Archives Chair, Jim
Greetings from Rice County. Let’s see… what’s new since May?
On Thursday, May 21st Lisa Dawn presented her delegate’s report in
place of our normal district meeting at the Faribault Alano. She did
an excellent job, and we were grateful to learn about her experiences
at the General Service Conference.
After some discussion and the input of the groups our district has
decided to put on a workshop in January or February on the topic of
the Traditions. In particular, we are excited to put on a Traditions
play as part of the workshop. It should be fun! At our June meeting
we also had an engaging discussion about district voting policies. It
was on opportunity to learn about putting principles before personalities, listening to the minority opinion, and operating according to
parliamentary procedures. After a proposal was voted down everyone
left in harmonious spirits. On Sunday, August 9th we had our annual
District Unity Picnic in Faribault. What fun it was. We had a record
breaking attendance of 78 people, and each group sent a representative to talk for a few minutes on the topic of “Faith without works is
dead.” We watched a storm roll in on the horizon, and wouldn’t you
know that the last speaker finished just as the rain started falling?
Perfect timing.
In service,
Jason Hallen
DCM – District 16
District 17
No Report
District 18
Hello from District 18.
We meet at Plymouth Congregational Church in South Minneapolis,
the second Thursday of every month. Our meeting starts at 6:30 and
ends at 8:30 pm. We normally get around 30+ GSR’s to attend. Last
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
month we had the chance to hear Jason V., our District Treasurer tell of
his experience at the International in Atlanta. He did present there and
could not hold back his enthusiasm for the event. He said his smile
was only matched by the smile of alcoholics from all over the world.
He had a great time.
The new Archives Chair, Denton, myself and Ken R., met to organize an effort to bring artifacts of District 18 from the Repository in
Glencoe and use them to set up a small display at the meeting every
month. Ken’s historical knowledge of the District will show through
this display each and every month. He regularly sets up one at 2218
1st Avenue, the oldest continually active Alano in the world.
The treatment Committee has the list from Theo of the treatment
centers in Minneapolis. They will be calling on each for contacts and
how to better make use of the temporary contact program. We hope
to have Theo visit soon with a member of AA who used the contact
program.
Our Public Information Chair, Super Dave, will be getting the
booth ready for MCTC’s 5th Annual “Operation Recovery” fair at
the Minneapolis Community and Technical College on Thursday,
September 18th, 10am to 3pm. I have been asked to speak at the event.
I hope, as many GSR’s and others from the District will be there with
me. This is annual get together in honor of National Recovery Month.
Its main purpose is to overcome stigma affiliated with drug and alcohol recovery. Last year the event drew 1,200 people.
This month Annette from Group Records will speak of how important
it is getting group contact information to the GSO office in New York.
She will bring with her the updated GSO forms to hand out. Angela
K., the PI Chair from District 7, will be making a proposal to fund
an ad in City Pages to specifically reach the college age alcoholic.
Next month Ashley, a hearing impaired member of AA, will come to
District 18. Terp will be signing. She will show us how American
Sign Language is so important for AA in Minnesota. She comes
from her home group, the SLPSNAAG Step Study Meeting, in St.
Louis Park. Her challenge growing up as both alcoholic and hearing
impaired will be important for us to hear.
September 2015
Page 24
contacting them via phone and setting up meetings for those facilities
that are interested. Our goal is inform them of what A.A. is and what
A.A. is not and also to offer a variety literature to them to have for
their patients like pamphlets, books, grapevine subscriptions and meeting directories.
District 20
No Report
District 21
Hello Area 36 I took over as DCM for District 21 this spring after our current DCM
had to step down. My first order of business was to put together a budget for the last half of 2015. It took us about 3 months to accomplish
this from start to finish. We are now in the process of reviewing our
financial policy and hope to have that passed this month. All of this
just in time to start working on next year’s budget.
We currently have 6 committee chairs and officers active in our district with our newest member being Alan N taking on Group Records
and Outreach. We hope to be able to reach out to more groups within
our District in the upcoming months in order to get more participation.
We are also in the process of planning a workshop for this fall. We
have a meeting a place and a group that’s willing to host. We’re now
working on picking a topic. We should have that accomplished at our
next meeting. Hopefully a workshop will inspire the groups we reach
out to, to take part in general service.
In Love and Service
Cory O
Districts 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
No Report
Denny B., Jason our Treasurer, myself and our Finance Chair, Dan
M, will meet this week to upgrade our District’s Financial Policy, just
in time for Budgeting. I will be attending the Western Regional in
Casper Wyoming and look forward to coming back to tell of how AA
is out West.
By all means feel free to come to Meetings. We look forward to greeting you there!
District 19
Greetings from District 19! We are comprised of all of Dakota County.
Our District meeting takes place on the 2nd Wednesday of every
month at 7:00pm at the Rosemount Community Center.
2016 West Central
Regional Alcoholics
Anonymous Service
Conference
Date: March, 4th, 5th & 6th 2016
In May District 19 joined with District 7 to have our Delegate give her
report from the General Service Conference. It was a great time with
food and fellowship. Lisa Dawn did a great job presenting the copious
amount of information from the Conference.
Location: Ramada Inn
1400 E. Interchange Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501
At our June District meeting we had the Area Grapevine and La Vina
Chair, Carla N., visit. She put on an excellent Grapevine presentation
and generated ideas for potential ways that our District could use the
Grapevine to better help the still suffering alcoholic in Dakota County.
A GSR’s group member had given feedback about how to reach alcoholics in our District and how to spend our money by reaching out to
the guidance counselors in the High School’s within Dakota County.
That GSR has drafted a great letter to send out to the schools and
will be sending it out soon. We are asking if the counselors have any
interest in having pamphlets, books, grapevine subscriptions, and/or
meeting directories in their offices available to the students. We are
looking forward to being helpful to the schools in any way that we can.
Our “Treatment Committee” drafted a letter to send to the 20+
treat612-323-7696 ment centers that are in District 19. They have
been reaching out to the Area Treatment Chair for guidance and suggestions, which has been very helpful. He informed our committee
that letters are usually thrown away so our committee is planning on
Room Rate: $109.00
Call: 1-800-854-9517 or
1-701-258-7000
Use code: WCRSC2016
Updated Flyer coming soon!
Check out:
Contact person: Paul K.
paulk_aa@yahoo.com
www.aanorthdakota.org
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 25
Articles From Our Community
“G.S.O - - - - Did You Know”
Minneapolis Intergroup
“G.S.O. .....Did you know.....?”
www.aaminneapolis.org
Many of you reading this article had the privilege of attending the
International Convention July 2-5th, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.
As I write this September article, we are in the final stages of development of the new website. We hope you not only like it but love it!
Did you know, that at the last International convention only 5 short
years ago we did not have an APP?
We will always be grateful to Lonnie K. for creating and maintaining
the current Minneapolis Intergroup
Did you know, that this year at the International Convention was the
first time that we had a speaker that was deaf?
website. He has been of service to Intergroup for many years and made
it possible for thousands of people to find a meeting and get connected
to Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank you Lonnie. You will always be part
of Intergroup’s history and success.
Did you know that for the first time we had a speaker at the international convention who was currently incarcerated?
Handling all of the little details to make those two meetings happen are
just a smaller portion of what our wonder staff at G.S.O. did to make
your experience at the 2015 International convention memorable.
Did you know that in April 2016 at the General Service Conference
in New York, two new Class B (alcoholic) regional trustees, from
the West Central and Western Canada regions, will be nominated.
Resumes must be received at G.S.O. no later than January 1, 2016, and
must be submitted by area delegates U.S./Canada, only.
Did you know that due to construction the G.S.O. will not be holding
office tours July 29th-November 30th 2015.
Yours in Love & Service,
In August 2014 we took the first web survey and took note of your
comments and concerns, and what you thought was important to
include on our website. We appreciate your feedback and feel we have
successfully implemented your suggestions.
It was a privilege to work with the Website Committee Taskforce. It
was indeed a huge task, and we wish to thank Jane A.-W., Chair, and
Miles S., Co-Chair, who kept the project going from start to finish.
Jennifer M., Jim S., Greg W., and Matthew Y. did crucial work on
content, programming and site navigation. Their talents in the areas
of marketing, communications, writing and programming, combined with their dedication to Minneapolis Intergroup and Alcoholics
Anonymous, were great contributions to our success.
The website developer proved to be talented and reliable. We thank
them for their expertise.
Renee R
Celebrating 74 Years of AA in the Upper Midwest
and Honoring AA Members With One Year of Sobriety!
Founder’s
Day
www.FoundersDayMN.org
Founder’s
Day Weekend
Weekend 2015
2011
Celebrating
75
Midwest
November
28,
29inin
&the
30,Upper
2014Midwest
Celebrating
71Years
Yearsof
ofAA
AA
the
Upper
and Honoring
Honoring AA
and
AA Members
MembersWith
WithOne
OneYear
YearofofSobriety!
Sobriety!
Register
online
at
Registration (Required)
$15.00
Friday,
November 28
Registration fee must be paid to attend
4:00 PM Registration Opens
The site is functional from desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. Let
us know what you think!
Your office manager, Gail S.
Day Weekend
events.
November 27,
&
2015
November
25, 28
26Founder’s
& 29,
27,
2011
7:00 PM Celebrating the History of AA in
the Upper Midwest
9:00 PM *AA Speaker:
Carla R - (Tujunga, CA)
FOUNDER‘S DAY WEEKEND 2015 Doubletree Park Place Hotel,
St. (Limited
LouisSeating)
Park,$15.00
MN
Banquet
$30.00
Pre-Registration
Friday, November 27
4:00
PM Registration
Opens
Saturday,
November
29
Friday,
November
7:00
Celebrating
the History
of AA in
10:30PM
AM
Panel of 25
Weekend
Speakers
4:00
PMPMRegistration
the
Upper
Midwest:
Clancy I.
1:00
Open
Call-Up
Meeting
7:00
PM
History of
AA’s in the
9:00
PM
*AA
Speaker:
1:00
PMCelebrating
Al-Anon
Meeting
(Open)
Upper
Midwest
C -Speaker:
(Hawthorne, CA)
3:00 PM Sharon
*Al-Anon
9:00 PM *AANancy
Speaker:
B - (Denton, TX)
B., Ocean
Saturday,
November
28City, MD
5:30 PM Rich
Banquet
10:30
Panel
Weekend Speakers
7:30AM
PM November
*AA of
Speaker:
Saturday,
26
1:00 PM Open
Call-Up
MeetingGA)
Lyle
- (Conyers,
10:30 AM Panel
of PWeekend
Speakers
9:30PM
PM *Al-Anon
Dance Speaker:
3:00
1:00 PM Open AA Call-up Mtg, Open Al-Anon Mtg
Pati S - (Forth Speakers
Worth, TX)
3:00 PM Alateen/Al-Anon
Sunday,
November
30
5:30
PM *Al-Anon
Banquet
Speaker:
9:00PM
AM *AA
Breakfast
7:30
Speaker:
Magdalena
E., Seattle, WA
10:00
AA Speaker:
Clancy
I - (Los Angeles, CA)
6:00
PMAMBanquet
Matthew
M
9:30
PM
Dance
7:30 PM *AA Speaker: - (Seattle, WA)
Peg M., Bellevue,
NE
*These meetings
are ASL Interpreted
Sunday,
November
29
9:30 PM Dance
9:00 AM Breakfast
Sunday,
27
10:00 AMNovember
AA Speaker:
9:00 AM Breakfast
Scott T - (Cold Brook, NY)
10:00 AM AA Speaker:
*These meetings
ASL Interpreted
Dick M.,are
Bellevue,
NE
*These meetings are ASL Interpreted
evening. required and must be paid to
Registration
attend Founder’s Day Weekend events.
Registration (Required)
$15.00
Registration
must be paid to attend
Founder’s
Breakfastfee
Buffet
$15.00
Banquet
(Limited
$30.00
Day
events.
TheWeekend
Breakfast
beginsSeating)
at 9:00 am Sunday
The
Banquet
beginsseating
at 5:30 will
pm Saturday
morning.
Theatre
be provided at
evening.
9:45am for the Speaker Meeting.
Banquet (Limited Seating)
$30.00
The Banquet begins at 6:00 PM Saturday evening.
Breakfast Buffet
$15.00
Big Book Study & Action Seminar
The Breakfast begins at 9:00 am Sunday
Friday 6 – 8:45 pm
morning.
Theatre seating
will be provided
at
Breakfast
$15.00
Saturday 9 –(Limited
12 (lunchSeating)
break) 1 – 4:30
pm
9:45
am for thebegins
Speaker Meeting.
The
Breakfast
Sunday
9 – 12 pm at 9:00 AM Sunday
morning. Theatre seating will be provided at
9:45 AM for the Speaker Meeting.
Big
Book Study
& Action Seminar
Founder’s
Day Weekend
Dance
Friday
6 – 9:30
8:45pm
pm
Saturday
Big
Book
& Action
Saturday
9 –Study
12 (lunch
break) Seminar
1 – 5 pm
Sunday 69 –– 8:45pm
Noon
Friday
Saturday 9 – 12 (lunch break) 1 – 4:30pm
Sunday 9 - 12
Founder’s Day Weekend Dance
Saturday 9:30 pm
Activities and Accommodations at
Activities
and
Accommodations
at Park, MN
Doubletree
Park
Place
Hotel, St. Louis
Hotel,
St.• 952.542.8600
Louis Park,orMN
1500 ParkDoubleTree
Place Blvd, St.Park
LouisPlace
Park, MN
55416
800.222.8733
1500 Park Place Blvd, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 • 952.542.8600 or 800.222.8733
Special Room Rates are available with early reservations.
Special Room
Rates
with
early
reservations
Please make reservations
directly
withare
theavailable
Doubletree
Park
Place
Hotel. Indicate they are for Founder’s Day.
Please make reservations directly with the DoubleTree Park Place Hotel. Indicate they are for Founder’s Day.
Registration
Badges
must
be worn
in Hotel
the
attimes.
all times.
Activities
andmust
Accommodations
atHotel
Registration
Badges
be worn
in the
at all
DoubleTree Park Place Hotel, St. Louis Park, MN
1500 Park
Place Blvd,
St. Louis Park, MN 55416 • 952.542.8600
or 800.222.8733
REGISTRATION
CARD
REGISTRATION
CARD
Please use a separate card for each registration.
Special Room Rates are available
Full Name _________________________________________________
Please use a separate card for each registration.
with early
Fullreservations
Name _________________________________________________
make reservations directly with the DoubleTree Park Place
Indicate
they are for Founder’s Day.
Name on Please
Badge ____________________________________________
NameHotel.
on Badge
____________________________________________
Phone Number______________________________________________
Phone Number______________________________________________
Email ____________________________________________________
Email ____________________________________________________
If you are an AA Member, do you have between 1-2 years of sobriety?
Yes
No
If you are an AA Member, do you have between 1-2 years of sobriety?
Yes
No
Home Group _______________________________________________
Home Group _______________________________________________
AA
Al-Anon
Alateen
Other _____________________
Celebrating 75 Years of AA in the Upper Midwest The Banquet begins at 5:30 pm Saturday
At
the Door
$18.00
AA
Al-Anon
Alateen
Other _____________________
❑ Pre-Registration $15.00
❑ At the Door $18.00
Registration $15.00
Banquet
$30.00
❑ Banquet $30.00
Breakfast
$15.00
❑ Beef ❑ Chicken ❑ Vegetarian
Willing to Volunteer
Vegetarian
❑ Breakfast $15.00
Total
Amount
Enclosed: $________________________
Total
Amount
Enclosed:
$ ___________________
❑ Willing to volunteer
Make checks payable to:
Founder’s Day Weekend
P.O. Box 8327, Minneapolis, MN 55408
❑ Pre-Registration $15.00
❑ At the Door $18.00
Registration $15.00
Banquet
$30.00
❑ Banquet $30.00
Breakfast
$15.00
❑ Beef ❑ Chicken ❑ Vegetarian
Willing to Volunteer
Vegetarian
❑ Breakfast $15.00
Total
Amount
Enclosed: $________________________
Total
Amount
Enclosed:
$ ___________________
❑ Willing to volunteer
Make checks payable to:
P.O. Box 8327, Minneapolis, MN 55408
ALL PRE-REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17TH.
ALL PRE-REGISTRATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17TH.
Volunteers Needed Founder’s Day Weekend 2015, which will be held over Thanksgiving weekend November 27, 28, and 29, 2015 takes an incredible amount of work to make it the exciting spiritual weekend that it is. If you would like to become a part of making it all happen, just check the committee you would like to work on and return the form to the address listed below. You will be contacted for your assignment as the weekend date nears. I would like to work on the following committee: _____ Host _____ Registration Name:________________________________________________ Email:_________________________________________________ Homegroup:___________________________________________ Phone Number with Area Code:____________________________ Please return completed form to:
P.O. Box 8327
Minneapolis, MN 55408-9998
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
West Central Regional Updates for
Grapevine Subscription Challenge
Area 35 Northern Minnesota & Area 36 Southern Minnesota Present Statewide Corrections Committee Workshop What Is It? A state, province and territory wide challenge to increase
new* Grapevine and La Viña subscriptions in 2015
How It Works? Any
between January 26,
2015 qualifies: including
Grapevine or La Viña
Digital; + Grapevine
Subscription Gift
defined as a new
been active in past six
new*, paid subscription
2015—December 20,
subscriptions for: +
in Print; + Grapevine
Complete & Redeemed
Certificates (*NEW:
subscription that hasn’t
months.)
The Prize: A special
section in 2016 issue of
Grapevine or La Viña
featuring members’
stories from the state,
province or territory
with the greatest
percentage growth in
new*, paid subscriptions or subscription gift certificates
Ever want to carry the message into a prison but were afraid? Iowa
North Dakota
Wyoming
South Dakota
Nebraska
Minnesota (35 & 36)
Montana
New
82
35
24
28
68
192
44
%
12.97
12.28
11.71
11.67
11.47
10.87
9.87
Base
11
1
1
3
29
29
1
Q&A
Food & Beverages
Ever want to volunteer to help in Corrections, but did not know how? Working with offenders regardless of their offenses
Dispelling myths, rumors, and fears of carrying the message into prisons &
working with offenders after release
October 10, 2015
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Calvary Community Church
1200 Roosevelt Road
Results as of 8/4/2015
Base
632
285
205
240
593
1767
446
Speakers
“Love & tolerance of others is our code” Big Book p. 84
Track the Challenge-Get more Details: www.aagrapevine.org/
challenge OR www.aagrapevine.org/challenge-lv
State
Page 26
New
2
0
0
0
12
13
0
St. Cloud MN
%
18.18
0
0
0
41.38
44.83
0
Lunch provided
Singleness of Purpose
Workshop
Alcoholics, Addicts and the AA Traditions
Save The Date For This Workshop!
Saturday, October 24, 2015
1:005:00pm
Plymouth Apostolic Lutheran Church
11015 County Rd 73
Plymouth, MN 55441
A workshop presented by:
District 21 and Living Our Principles Group
Watch for Further Details!
Workshop location will be handicap accessible.
st
1 Sat. BB
2
nd
Sat Grapevine
rd
3 Sat.12 and 12
th
th
4 Sat. Living Sober 5 Sat. Speaker
Where: Grace Fellowship 8601 101st Avenue North,
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
Enter on the backside of the church. (Door 3 / then upstairs)
When: Saturdays at 10 a.m.
What: Open AA Meeting
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Unapproved Minutes Area 36 Assembly June 27th, 2015
Southern Minnesota Area Assembly of Alcoholics Anonymous
Area Assembly
June 27th, 2015
New Ulm Community Center New Ulm, MN
Welcome, Serenity Prayer, and Introductions
Approval of March 21st, 2015 Assembly Minutes. Due to delay
of Pigeon approval of the March 2015 Assembly minutes will be
moved to the October 2015 Assembly.
Officer’s Reports:
Delegate: Lisa Dawn G. – Since the March Assembly I attended the
2015 General Service Conference in NY and have given reports to 13
Districts. Reports were from 1 to 1/1/2 hour in length. I have put on
700 miles to do this. I just did District 20’s report this past week. Still
have a few more to do (D21 and D14 in July and August). Thank you
all for the graciousness you have shown me to let me present. Final
report posted on area36.org if you wish to have your own copy or want
to read (42 page report). There is also a GSO financial report available
on web. I have been elected to chair the Policy/Admission Committee
at the 2016 Conference. This means that I will be attending the
January 2016 General Service Board meeting. I will be at the 2015
Forum and doing a presentation “carrying the message to health care
professionals”. Also attending the International in Atlanta and have
the honor of giving a talk on “carrying the message through PI”.
Alternate Delegate: Curt K. – One of my duties as Alternate Delegate
is to chair the Delegate’s workshop and I want to thank you all for your
participation (107+ attendees) – I’ve attended the May Area Committee
meeting with the Structure Committee (Alt. DMCs) and discussed
getting the agenda items to fellowship as early as possible. More
information forthcoming on how to accomplish getting agenda items
out to groups early. I am also going to the International at my expense,
not the Area’s. At the convention I have the privilege of speaking on
a panel about intensive work with other alcoholics as well. I will be
attending the Regional Forum in August. August 8th is our next Area
Structure Committee meeting with all the Alternate DCMs and anyone
wanting to observe is welcome.
Chairperson: Missy P. – I have been firming up dates for the 2016
calendar. I currently have all the Area Committee meetings set
and two Assemblies. I will be setting the date and location for the
Delegate’s workshop set next week. The RUSC is set. Attended all
Area Officer’s meeting. Going to Regional Forum. I will be sending
out budget worksheets out to all Area Committee Chairs and Officers
for 2016 to get that process started. I will be cooking and serving hot
dogs with Lisa Dawn on August 15th at the Unity Open House sponsored by Intergroup. I will also be attending the International.
Alternate Chairperson: Mary M. - The RUS conference dates and
location is set - see flyer ½ sheet. January 15-17, 2016 at the Double
Tree Park Place. Mark M. and Scott A. are the two past delegates on
the RUSC Committee and bring some history from past events. The
RUSC Committee is meeting monthly so any input is greatly appreciated in order to put together a great event. Finance letter stuffing
parting is this Sunday (6-28-2015 tomorrow) at Mary’s house.
Carla – in regards to RUSC, is room rate based on attendance. Yes. We
have guaranteed 30 rooms Friday night and 30 rooms Saturday night.
We pay the difference if we don’t fulfill the rooms reserved. Please
come and stay. This give us a really good rate on the meeting room.
Alan – ran into problems a few years ago. Suggest lowering the number of rooms down as this is in the metro and a lot of metro don’t stay
there. Just use caution.
Mary – contract signed and thanks for your concern
Dan – room rate $99.00 (1-4 people)
Secretary: Jeanne H. – Please, everyone read the Pigeon minutes
from the March Assembly as there is one GSR whose name is missing
as I could not make out what they said. I attended Gopher State and
had the privilege of reading “How it Works” and was more nervous
about messing up and then I really wouldn’t know “How it Works”. So,
please review minutes always for errors, missing items, etc. and let me
know how I can be of serve to any one of you.
Page 27
Treasurer: Karl R. – the 990 is done. Met with Financial Review
Committee to give them the information they needed to do their
review. I have received updates from Literature and Grapevine
Committee Chairs on the inventory balances and will be reflected on
Financial Statement. Doing my best to keep up with contributions
and requests that come in. When sending in contributions, please try
to include the full name of group somewhere. As much information
helps me to attribute the contributions to correct group. SMAA Area
Financial Performance Highlights: The total amount in the Area’s
Operating Fund (our checking account) is $7,465.99. This amount is
$5,420.45 below same time last year (keeping in mind we sent money
to the Reserve Fund). The Reserve Fund is at $11,746.17. Moneys
have already been paid to some of those who are attending the WCR
Forum and the State Fair Booth has been paid. Pink Can Checking is
$10,113.73 and this is down 23% (income wise) from last year. Group
contributions are down 8.8%. We are in a good place on our expenses
versus budgeted dollars. Please take time to review printout and get
with me if you have any questions.
Committee Chair Reports:
Archives: Niles A. - Archives Alive July 18, 2015 D2, 7 and 14 will
present. April Archives Alive was successful (D16, 18 and 23 presented). We have been getting 50-60 people come to each one of
these Archives Alive. People are amazed as to the displays we have
at Archives. The speakers have been great. The long-timers share
some great experience and the history of how they came to A.A. and
got involved in service inside and outside of A.A (i.e., Police Officer).
Other’s get into service within A.A. or at their current employers. The
Archive Committee has been wonderful help by going places I am
unable to go due to double commitments. Thanks for your support.
Group Records: Annette W. – Page 11-12 of Pigeon, please read for
information. Updated Group Information Sheets with specifics to
your groups that I can add to FNV and will show on meeting website.
(Open/closed/women’s/ASL, etc.). I have a small flyer in reference to
meeting locator what is on there or not and why your group may not
be on the meeting locator. Please pick one up and take to your groups.
Look for your meetings on website and check with me when you can’t
find it or if there are errors. Twice a month I update the data files
and updates for google maps for addresses and such. There are 1,790
addresses that we send the Pigeon to.
Literature: Joe B. – Please read my report in the Pigeon. More currently Literature had $190.00 in sales from Sunlight of the Spirit I need
to turn in. Ordered $261.00 of material that we needed. When ordering literature there are two way to do it. As the Literature Committee
Chair I can order bulk on my credit card and get a discount or use Area
account and GSO adds 6%. Sent an email to DCMs suggesting an outreach program with districts in ordering literature or to give assistance.
I have an itemized listing of literature inventory. One column has the
cost paid for when ordering (includes discount) and a separate column
with the actual sales cost if we had to replace the item.
Newsletter: Jim V. – not in attendance but Pigeon is here today for all
to take. His report for today will be sent out to all. Sorry for the lateness of Pigeon and will work better with next issue. Article on WCR
Forum and other exciting articles included in this issue. Also one concerning safety in our meetings article. We will have three articles in
the next issue from members attending the International. If you have
any ideas for articles for future Pigeon issues, please contact me.
Niles – why so late this time? Karl – miscommunication of paying
mailing ahead of time and didn’t get done, so should not happen in the
future.
Public Information: Drew F. – Busy – End of March we attended the
Labor Health & Benefit Fair, 3,500 participants from Unions throughout southern MN. A lot of stories of how A.A. impacted people’s lives.
A lot of info on “what A.A. is and isn’t.” Free event so will attend
next year. Attended a number of District meeting and have packets
on how to get involved with PI. Had a PI booth at the “Back to 50’s”
car show in women’s health sections. Very interesting. Coming up
in Sept. Walk for Recovery also a free event. It’s part of the MN
Recovery Connection. 2015 State Fair gearing up and working on day
captains and schedule. Reading through logs from 20-23 years ago
and pretty cool snap shot of this event. Area 35 will be participating
on first weekend. I also participated in Area finance review meeting
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 28
Unapproved Minutes Area 36 Assembly June 27th, 2015
the beginning of June.
Carla – Labor & Health event – why no fee (Non-profit?) Were all
non-for-profit offered free booth. Drew – this event was offered free
and I didn’t question this. Some events have open booths for non-profit.
Carla - Do you have a booth at Recovery Connections event? Is this an
outside issue? This is recovery for any and everything thing. Media
coverage, etc.
Drew – Not meeting till later this week to find out more about that
event. Is this an appropriate event to be at?
Carla – Even GSO was approached – they did not participate.
Technology: Patrick S. – Busy. Committee met about a month ago
with about seven of us. Working on website. Big picture items (what
website should contain, what is should look like, and what should be
available for individual districts. Cover the basic for right now. We
have a page you can look at www.area36stage.com to look. Gave a
presentation at District 18 to see what is there. We are getting closer
to completion. Share drive IDs set up and you can start saving documents from your computer to the share drive. Save to your computer
and I will give you a password to save to share drive. I will walk you
through it. Our Smatermail is getting full so go through your email
accounts and delete and save to desktop anything you want to keep and
we can go from there. We will be able to save into a “cloud” to save
space on our Email. Email migration is not quite ready. Really hard
to figure out. Working on it. Going to the International and will be
chairing a meeting on Technology and Recovery.
John -What is the megabyte? 12,000 mb can be stored and we are way
at limit in Smartermail.
Terry – Site going to be .com? No, just for stage. We will be an .org
when ready to go. Area36.org
Do we own all the domains? No, just area36.org.
Have you considered costs? I will have to bring up in committee
Joy – Are we going to be using the google drive? The share drives
we are referring to are the Google Drives. We won’t be attaching to
Google Plus for anonymity reasons.
Joy - I have experience with google, so I can help.
Eric – we had rotation meeting at start of year, will that be something
to consider when we are ready to roll out, possibly having a meeting?
Patrick – maybe in October Assembly.
Denise – I received that email regarding the calendar and my Area
email goes to district email and when opening google calendar it said
“you do not have permission”? – Patrick - not have permission at this
time so do not use as I have not given out passwords.
General Service Representative (GSR) Sharing
Ben M. – Foxhall Chapter 7 – Open speaker meeting (two speakers) every Thursday Eden Prairie at the Wooddale Lutheran Church.
July 25th we have our summer picnic at Round Lake Pavilion in Eden
Prairie. No pets or smoking allowed.
Ken B. – T3 Rochester - August 1st new location (2110 Hwy 14 E). We
have a meeting 7 days a weeks. Meetings to detox and jail.
Bjorn – Third Tradition Northfield – Meetings three nights a week
(Mon., Wed., and Fri.) - very active in service as a whole. Did a group
inventory June 9 and was a good experience and really recommend it
for all groups. We are celebrating 33rd Anniversary on August 14th.
Meg - (Alt. GSR) – SLIPSNAG – we are a “call up meeting” – picnic
on August 8th – Wayside House of Women & Men and Mission Detox
for group commitments, Intergroup phones
Mary – Minnetonka Big Book Study Group – a closed meeting Sunday
morning, Minnetonka Community Center 9 a.m. We had our annual
serenity breakfast and it was a good success. Service commitments at
the Retreat, Mission Detox, Scott County Jail and phones at Intergroup.
Mark – Up the Creek Big Book meeting in SE Minneapolis Thursday
nights at 7 p.m. – read the book cover to cover (not all on same night)
and continue to grow. 4th anniversary pot luck August 20th Thursday,
meal at 7 and speaker at 7:30. Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 1720 E.
Minnehaha Parkway in SE Minneapolis.
Katie – Alt GSR Happy Destiny in Richfield, Tuesday nights at 7:30
and are a mixed closed meeting (about 80-100 in attendance). We
have two service commitments; a local treatment center and phones at
Intergroup. We have an anniversary pot luck end of July.
Julie – Hole in the donut – GSR – Tuesday at 7:00, an open speaker
meeting with two speakers (a man and a woman each week) in
Roseville – July 14, pot luck for 7th anniversary
Mike – GSR Nobel Big Book Study – Brooklyn Park – 7:00 Tuesday
nights – We go to the Big Book for solutions for problems you may
bring to the meeting. Our commitments are to a couple of facilities
where people are unable to get out, we bring in a meeting.
Bill H. – GSR Keep Coming Back – Winona – meetings 6 days a week
Monday through Saturday – corrections work – halfway houses – good
attendance and work with La Crosse groups – work with sponsoring an
A.A. group out in SD, Pine Ridge Indian reservation – bonfire meeting
on Wednesday nights in summer.
Oliver – GSR Three Legacies in New Ulm meeting Sunday and
Wednesday evenings – Attended October Assembly in 2014 and several of the Archives Alive and encourage others to participate. Helped
a new group out of Hanska. Very active group 20 people attend
Chris – GSR Foundation Stone in Linden Hills on Friday nights 8 p.m.
4200 Upton – cozy little group – opportunity to check in with person
at church and concern with noise but not us – picnic on Lake Harriet a
week from today
Malcolm – GSR Bridge to Shore at 2218 Monday 8 p.m. in
Minneapolis – Big Book meeting on first 164 pages. Strong fellowship
Jim – Rock Solid at Sahara Club 8 p.m. Monday – meeting started a
few years ago. I will share about my first meeting as a GSR for group
– did our first group inventory and it brought our group together more
– answer phones at Intergroup and meetings at Mission Detox. A big
issue at our group is there is a lot of newcomers and women and how
to get newcomers more involved in the meeting, so we now have two
speaker women a month so we can encourage other women to tell their
stories.
Marty T. – Alternate GSR - Lakers Friday Night – Prior Lake 6:30
Friday nights – best cookies – involved in Hastings Detox meetings
once a month - summer August 8th 11-6 picnic – Spring Lake Park
Pavilion on shore of Fish Lake – pot luck/hog roast – alternate between
step/tradition and open meeting.
Amanda – Happy, Joyous and Free in Columbia Heights – closed
woman’s AA Step/Tradition meeting Tuesday nights and we changed
time from 7:30 to 7. Have just recently lost some longtime members
and it has been great to see strength in sponsorship. The Alano that
they belong to is having a pancake breakfast on July 12th.
Chandra – Richfield/Bloomington Alano Club Monday night 6pm
– Big Book Greatest Hits meeting - open/mixed meeting – group
growing – lost past service commitment and have new on at a treatment center. Chili cook off and car wash coming up.
Dan - Parkway AA in Burnsville, Sunday nights 6:30 Step/Tradition/
Open topic meeting – Some transition in our group as a longtime
member moved to AZ – need a new GSR as I am coming up on
rotation
Greg – Big Book Group in Faribault Monday nights 6:30 – just had a
two year anniversary party – small group going through the Big Book
a couple paragraphs at a time and go around sharing
Tyler – GLBT & Pride AA Friday nights 7:30 at the Pride Institute in
Eden Prairie – Step 1, 2, 3 and open speaker meeting – planning our
1st anniversary meeting 29 years later which began October 16, 1986
this coming October – this meeting is in need of a lot of help on the
Traditions so my being the GSR has been great in that respect.
Tom – Alt GSR – Basic 12 Golden Valley Tuesday nights – Big
book meeting and then another meeting after – we answer phone
at Intergroup and go to Mission detox and always looking for more
members
Nancy – Como Park Big Book Thursday nights at 6:30 – In April had
our group inventory – have a monthly business meeting – some of our
commitments are Lino Lakes Correctional Facility, Ramsey Co. Jail
and several detox centers, Shakopee Women’s Prison and Intergroup
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September 2015
Page 29
Unapproved Minutes Area 36 Assembly June 27, 2015
Night Owls – working on encouraging all member to get involved in
service
Report from the Financial Review Committee: Mary M. - Three on
committee (Stacy McV., Drew F. and myself) we were also joined by
Karl R. so we could ask questions if needed – we reviewed expenses,
income and reconciliation – For Expenses – we used three months
of documentation, checked primarily that the reimbursements were
complete and with supporting receipts (dates, check numbers, etc.),
there was a series of missing some check stubs and we will be tracking them down. We concluded that most of the documentation was
complete with all the supporting information. There was here and there
documentation missing a check number so mostly small things. Then
we looked at Income – reviewed several deposit transactions from
three different months to make sure they matched Quicken entries
and we also decided to reach out to the Treasurers from two different groups for verification of specific deposits from them. We found
that some of the documentation was in conflict in what was recorded
in Quicken (i.e., May and July deposits in Quicken that the statements
showed different dates) but we did find them and double checking with
our Treasurer. Reconciliation – there were a couple of holes – not sure
reconciliation was done on a regular basis in the past. For the most
part, yes. We concluded that the Trusted Servant Guidelines should
be updated to that monthly reconciliation be done and to define what
documentation is required. We are mostly complete with the financial
review and will give a brief update at the October Assembly.
District Reports:
Districts 2: Bill H. (GSR) – Standing in for DCM – We have a prudent
reserve of $500.00. Meet the third Thursday of the month in Rushford,
MN. We have 2-3 GSRs so we need participation at our district level.
We will be participating in Archives Alive and have a long timer with
48 years of sobriety trying to get him to speak – have an AA meeting
at Fillmore County Jail and they nees help with this meeting – Charlie
N. (507-993–6108) for help with meeting.
District 4: Not present
District 8: Beth W. DCM – third Wednesday 7:30 Roseville – Our
district has way too much money and are looking for things to fund.
July 12 an all you can eat pancake breakfast – July 26 Maplewood
Alano hosting annual picnic at Battle Creek Park – Our ASL fund
wants to be fully self-supporting (Green Cans at meetings in D8) –
Literature Committee has made welcome GSR packets – We have a
Clergy packet – CPC is looking to make up some information packets
for teachers and this committee is very active right now by trying to
get into a lot of different institutions for educational purposes - PI
committee helping to staff State Fair booth on two days D8 has and
contributing to the City Pages ad – Grapevine Committee is looking at
getting subscriptions out to the various sober houses – the Institutions
Committee is working on attending meetings to find volunteers to
reach out to treatment centers that need meetings brought in.
District 12: Barb D. DCM – meeting third Monday – Sherburn MN
– only about ¼ of GSRs attend. Planning a PI luncheon on east side
of district to see if we can get them active there. Worthington attends
our district meeting but is not in our district and helping them to get
going. – Martin County Fair booth this year – Working on our website – Treatment centers/jails and even over in Sioux Falls – would like
more involvement with groups
District 16: Jason H. DCM – Rice County – third Thursday at
Faribault Alano – Topic for a workshop in January/February 2016 (The
Traditions a couple of them – singleness of purpose) with a Traditions
play – Finished discussion of our voting procedures at the district and
who gets to vote (GSRs, officers and district chairs) – participation
from groups is good – small committee working on Annual Unity
Picnic August 9 – trying to do bulk order of literature and partnering
up with other districts – jail meetings and treatment facility meetings –
updating of our directory is our next PI project
District 18: Kevin DCM – 2nd Thursday – normally have 40-45 GSRs,
we had a special event Delegate report with D22 and about 60 in
attendance – Lisa Dawn got standing ovation – we have someone who
is willing to be the district special needs chair – all of our committee
chair positions are filled. Trying to get going on some more PI booths
at events – great GSR sharing at meeting – mental health literature
needed out there – for Gopher State printed t-shirts with D18 on front
and back Service that has created quite a controversy and will see how
to proceed on this
District 20: Dustin F. DCM – consists of 70-85 meetings in districts
and small representation at district meeting (about a dozen). Going
to keep doing group outreach has been our focus for the district –
Some going to International – no Alt DCM yet – trying to determine
direction we want to go – Finances are improving – may need to get
a bigger room for district meeting – we do have an Intergroup rep –
Lisa Dawn gave her report – focused on the bigger picture and the
newcomer – The gentleman brought from Africa to Minneapolis to
International through your contributions and thanks for all the contributions to assist this
District 24: Greg J. DCM – 1st Monday – Shakopee – 15-25 attending – need to spend the money, be of service and carry the message
– sponsor hotels with meeting directories and trying to implement
“sponsor the professional” (putting together packets) – Lisa Dawn
presented – workshop with D19 for fall – meeting directory currently
updated – we have a bi-monthly newsletter – struggled to be here today
with this beautiful weather but as I sit here today there is no other
place I would rather be, so thank you for having me.
If any district wants an yofficer to help out, just ask for us.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Pro/Con Discussion on whether to keep the State Fair Booth –
Carla N. Pro side – to continue to have a PI booth at the State Fair
I had discussions with MN State Fair Staff, and Doug M., Val L., Tina
Mc. and Doug C. past chairs for this event. Also Area 35 Trusted
Servants Tom and Susie Ardolf. I was also Area 36 past PI chair for
2-1/2 years, as well as, looked at past actions and spoke with members
within this Area on why and how we do what we do. PI booth at state
since 1989 (26th year) it’s an example of our steps, traditions and concepts in action. Jointly with Area 35/36. It’s the longest standing 12
step opportunity that northern MN and southern MN participate in. It
takes about 120-150 volunteers to staff booth.
Providing literature to professionals and family more than it is for
ourselves. Pamphlets for other races, creeds, etc. We get to follow
directions and show up as a representative of the Big Book. It’s a
“hands on experience” of unity in action that they may not get to see
in their own home group. Moved to Educational Building four years
ago to work more closely with the professional (schools, social agencies, and agencies whose clients need our message, etc.) who may be
informed of what A.A. is and what A.A. is not. We are attraction not
promotion so the move to the Health/Education building filled that.
Right where we are supposed to be. Meet people who may not be
looking for us at all. We also provide outreach to the families of the
alcoholic. In Area Actions we also provide Alanon and Intergroups
information resources. Area35/36 work together and we are people
who would normally not mix, united together for the still suffering
alcoholic. Yes, the cost has certainly risen in 26 years, we must never
forget, that the way it got started was through a profound experience
with two people and two nickels (Bill W. phone call and the trolley). I
know that today’s discussion may make a difference, but we would also
need to bring Area 35 into this decision though Area 36 has the autonomy. Greatest group of participation of those who would normally not
mix.
Tom B. – Con side – Who is showing up to man the booth? Personally
no attachment for the booth. Several issues came up: cost, amount
of time with education of members covering the booth; location and
are we really helping the still suffering alcoholic. From the Service
Manual, Bill W. says that AA is more than a set of principles. A.A. in
action. Carry the message and those who haven’t been given the truth
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September 2015
Page 30
may die. “We can’t be all things to all people”. Is this service really
needed? If it is then maintain it we must.” A primary statement I
have heard in regards to the booth is that not many alcoholics come to
the booth. Most are family members or members already in A.A. and
who share with those covering the booth. In the money and spirituality pamphlet – every single A.A. service is designed to make more and
better 12th step work possible. Is this our best effort with the limited
resources we have? Is this 12th step work? Is this service needed? In
looking at the Traditions - 7th tradition – money, property and authority and prestige. Is this more for us than the alcoholic that still suffers?
How many do we reach from the state fair booth? How many do you
know came to A.A. through the State Fair?
Prestige definition – a widespread respect and admiration felt for
something on the basis of a perception of achievement and quality. Do
we have a perception problem concerning the State Fair Booth? Are
we more emotional than practical about this issue? 120-150 volunteer
alcoholics – what things can be done differently? Could we be more
useful elsewhere? Are we in the right location? Education building
does not have the traffic as the general population area. The professional does not visit booth. Not as much need or visits from attendees.
Spending money on billboards may be a better idea. Reaching out
directly to professional organizations and attending professional conferences may be better. Summing this up: Is this service essential to
our 12th step work? Is it enlarging and expanding our ability to reach
the still suffering alcoholic? Don’t like change, but take an honest look
at this service. Is there another joint venture we can do with Area 35?
Maybe this isn’t the best use of our groups’ funds and resources.
Discussion:
Nancy – D15 – similar discussion about Washington County Fair – we
have this long tradition of doing this and if we stop showing up, that
has an impact of people as well. MN Recovery Project is not A.A. so
maybe other organizations like that will take our place and then what?
If A.A. starts disappearing from state-wide prominent events, I worry
that there will be others who will confuse the issue of alcoholism.
Niles – Enjoyed perspective of both sides and there is no absolutely
perfect answer. Attraction not promotion – Grandstand versus
Education Building – you get a different crowd. Aren’t we both?
Who is the alcoholic still suffering? Is that not us, as well? Cleaned
up to represent A.A. We all get something out of this. Money? I and
another drove 350 miles to a district meeting and there were only three
people there, that’s what we do. Take the action, the result is God’s.
Dan – One thing I haven’t heard was, what is the actual statistics we
are putting into this (amounts of money, time, and people stopping by)?
What has been the outcome in terms of newcomers? Should we look
at how we are doing it? The few times I have been to the State Fair the
booth has looked exactly the same.
Katie – Last year – we did not have a lot of traffic – those that don’t
approach the booth and the impression that we are making on them,
may come to us later just by seeing us. $1000 for us to be there should
not be a price tag on sobriety. Are we able to track results? We may
never see the results for years to come.
Beth – Huge concern in our district, there is a book there so we know
what to do in the booth and many were not reading this. Saw one person doing more promotion than attraction. Get the DCMs to talk about
how to present ourselves and keep educating everyone of how to represent themselves and go to groups to give out this information as well.
Mike – At the State Fair a couple years ago. A new pigeon got to see
A.A in action. Many afraid to come by and ask questions and many
got information for family members. Put a seed in a couple who saw
us, isn’t that worth it? I think it is.
Val – My home group encouraged me to participate in my first year of
sobriety and I took the risk to identify myself as an alcoholic and as
an A.A member. Helped with my fear. Helped me to be a member of
A.A. We don’t know what the person walking by needs. I think it is
worth the $1,000.
Ben – Before I got sober if I’m walking through the education building, the last thing I would have done was walk up to the booth. But I
may go home and google A.A. I think it would be irresponsible to not
have this booth.
Chris – opportunity for us A.A. to engage in 12th step work and reach
out to the public. Not so with a bill board. Was a day captain one
year and it was wonderful to see the light come on with the volunteers.
Being in the Education Building has opportunities to connect with
people who have connections with potential alcoholics. I think there is
a lot of plusses to this and we get to interact with Area 35.
Teresa – Concerned when we talk about “If we don’t do this we will
be causing alcoholic deaths?” There are a million paths into A.A.
Financially, we are an organization who have great ideas and we vote
to pass these great ideas and then we don’t contribute the money to
back up paying for this great idea. When new people get to our meetings, how friendly is the welcome? We don’t know how to interact
with people. The problem is larger than don’t do the booth or do the
booth.
Chris – Prestige – this isn’t the first time that this has been eluded to.
Concerns I’ve heard were prestige, promotion, its ineffective, often
does misrepresent A.A., and money. It’s an opportunity to do service
work, but it’s not the only opportunity to do service work. People are
getting sober in other organizations. Is it planting a seed? Yes, but
so is a commercial on TV. What if someone doesn’t come? A lot of
hypothetical on why to do this. Fear based that if you don’t this something bad will happen.
Tyler – D7 PI Committee Chair – Area 36 is focused on the State Fair
and there is a sub-committee of the PI Committee for the State Fair –
too much focus year round and there may be other ways we could be of
service.
Ashley – When I was still drinking I did stop and got a pamphlet, I
think it is important that we let people know we are not treatment as
MN has a lot of treatment centers.
Greg – great presentations – personally see both sides – still suffering
alcoholic as our venue I think of medical staff, security people, and
police as our opportunity – limited resources look and are there better
alternatives. I think this is a pretty good one.
Barb – First experience at County Fair and am looking at it more
openly and “we have always done it that way”, does this still have
value. Applaud all of us to be a part of this discussion. Think outside
the box and not emotionally. Thinking about process that are efficient.
Maybe we don’t have to do it the way we have always done it. We do
need to do services for ourselves.
Brad – I see both sides and thanks for presentations – Flip side, a
number of districts that have to cover a couple of days due to lack of
participation and the number of days to be filled.
Ricki – haven’t worked A.A. booth at the State Fair, but have worked at
others. At the A.A. booth people make a wide path. Planting seeds is
valid. Long waiting list to get a booth at the State Fair and if we leave
we may not get back in.
Bill – We have the traditions to follow as an anonymous society at the
level of press, radio and film. Our opportunity to help those who want
to know more. This is an opportunity to let society see us and stay
within our traditions. Before I got to A.A. I had a totally different idea
of what A.A. is and does.
Lisa Dawn – Well researched and thought out presentations. We are
taking a look at why and what are we doing. Take emotions out of this.
There are so many ways to reach the still suffering. I got here when I
was ready to get here. The State Fair is one way to do that and there
are other ways to do that. It’s not whether to do, but is this our best
effort.
Jenny – my first exposure was a newspaper ad – there are so many
ways – maybe we need to go back to one alcoholic to another, go
where they are as our best effort.
Jeremy – In and out of A.A. for 20+ years. Did the State Fair at one
point of time and it was a wonderful opportunity for service but I
didn’t stay sober. Both presentations were inspiring. I don’t think it’s
a great idea. More on anonymity like the billboards.
Missy P. – this is just discussion – no vote today – thanks everyone and
to Carla N. and Tom B. for their presentations.
Presentation on how to prepare a Budget
Mary M. – Instead of “lets prepare a budget” it more about understanding Area finances do that at Area functions you can participate a
little bit more. I met with Denise B. to understand and I will share this
with you.
www.area36.org
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September 2015
Page 31
From the finance sheets given to you this morning there are four
sheets. The “highlights” or summary, balance sheet previous year
comparison, income and expense previous year comparison and the
last sheet is income and expense budget versus actual.
locations and number traveling.
Why are we doing this? We need to be informed and participate in our
finances and the best way to carry the message. Prudence not freak
out about money. This is where money and spirituality mix. We are
responsible for this so we can all help with the finances and in preparing a budget.
Nancy – DCM D15– page 3 of treasurer report – travel and lodging
10 times on this page. TSLT (Trusted Servants Leadership Training)
Confusion of terminology with acronyms
Terminology – budget means an estimate. Taking a stab at how much
money we will need to do all our awesome and fun stuff to carry the
message and how much in contributions do we need to do this and how
much group contributions do we think will come in and try and balance that.
Income – Is mostly group contributions
Net Income - is income minus expenses.
2015 Area 36 Budget – look at total income that we estimate for 2015 $58.864.11 (mostly group contributions)
Look at expenses - $70,505.83 (estimated)
Net ordinary is pink can
Net income – (-$11,641.72) – last October 2014 we approved that this
was okay. Mostly a spiritual decision.
Columns going up and down are the months of the year. The first few
months of the year is high as there is a lot of stuff going on at that time
of year. It may reflect a negative income right now as we have more
expenses.
Financial Highlights –
Balance Sheet previous year comparison
Operating fund (TCF checking) - $7,465.99 – we have limits to this
fund – operating fund can’t be greater than 1/3 of the budget in there
and we are currently good. (That’s that $70,505.83 number divided by
three)
Reserve fund (savings) $11,746.17 – also has a cap of 1/6 of budget
(70,505.83 divided by six)
Maximum available money - Checking plus Savings can’t be more
than one half of our budget.
Income and Expense previous year comparison –
Total income ($22,519.90) first and also compared to last year.
Total Expenses – ($29,638.69) and also compared to last year.
Net income - (-$5,758.56) but this is not what is actually in our checking and savings
Income & Expense Budget vs Actual – $22,519.90 (Actual) $26,893.77
(Budget) the $ over budget (-$4,373.77) Just less income than expenses
to date
Total expenses - $29,638.69 (Actual) - $40,777.81 (Budgeted) – spent
less than budgeted
Net Income – (-$5,758.56) but we estimated that we would be at
(-$13,884.14)
How does Area do budget?
Contributions – based on past three years and average to get number
for current year estimate.
Expenses – Assemblies – look at actual cost based on locations set on
the calendar (meeting room rent, postage, coffee, etc.)
Committee Expenses – per committee chairs on what you estimate
your expenses for the coming year to perform job (printing, travel for
events, etc.)
Committee and Officer travel and lodging – Where are we to be in
regards to the Area Calendar? Farther travel and overnight stays
increase estimated expenses. (Higher expenses out-of-state)
Other major expenses is the Delegate’s fund to send our Delegate to
New York. RUSC and TSLT are higher expense events as well.
Every year is different based on calendar, events for committees,
This way of budgeting works for districts and groups (GSRs).
Discussion –
Alan – Expected variance – What is expected and who actually show
up. The difference of 12 of 17 that go. Anticipation of not everyone
going.
Carla – A literally great presentation. Helps with my financial illiteracy. May want to change “Remote Communities” title to “Special
Needs” Committee on report
Dan – It’s an estimate but look at it throughout the year. Is money reallocated if the need arises? Look at group contributions – are groups
sending dollars or people and vice versus?
G.S.R. Report Highlights
Bjorn – D23 - What I took away – officers report doing what they are
to do – Lisa Dawn lots of travel and spending four months in reporting
mode – down on contributions from groups.
. ommittee Chairs – working on changing email platform and going to
C
google mail and changing Area web site
. SR general sharing – groups are doing well and involved in service.
G
No negative comments. District reports – need more growth in district. Only ½ of the districts scheduled today reported (even numbered
districts at this Assembly). Is ½ good?
. ro/con discussion – brought good sharing and more pro side view
P
shared today. It’s helpful for all here today to get a better understanding of the State Fair Booth.
. udget explanation was a good move to get this on the table for
B
information for all of us and a lot of people were engaged in Mary’s
information.
A good day
Announcements
Val – Started new meeting in Plymouth Thursday nights at 7 p.m.
– format steps/traditions/concepts/speaker – Plymouth Apostolic
Lutheran Church
Mark – Up the Creek - 4th Anniversary Thursday August 20th, dinner
at 7:00 and speaker at 7:30
Robert – Minneapolis Intergroup Unity Open House – August 15th, 9-1
and hot dogs cooked by Lisa Dawn and Missy P.
Niles – Archives Alive July 18th at Repository in Glencoe (2 hour presentation and a 20 minute presentation of where the Big Book comes
from)
Carla – I have subscription forms for Grapevine Subscription
Challenge still going on. Most number of new or renewed subscriptions -winner gets a dedicated issue to member articles.
Alan – DCM for district 21 is Corey (952-913-1301) not what is in the
Pigeon
. isa Dawn’s report this month Plymouth Tuesday (1-1/2 week from
L
Now)
SLIPSNAG – August 8th summer picnic at Wolf Park 4:30 to 9:00 – pot
luck, games and a gratitude meeting open to all
Close with the Responsibility Statement: I am responsible when anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to
be there and for that I am responsible.
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 32
Unapproved Minutes Area 36 Assembly May 9, 2015
Best Western, 1111 Range Street, North Mankato, MN
Area Committee Meeting
May 9th, 2015 (unapproved minutes)
Serenity Prayer and Introductions
Approve February, 2015 ACM Minutes – Eric B. 1st – Carla N. 2nd –
approved these minutes
Officers’ Reports:
Delegate – Lisa Dawn – Madam Chair/Mr. Chair this was used at the
conference – grateful for to be here with you all today – great conference and participated fully in conference. Report mostly finished (40
pages long) getting help and posted to web early next week – grateful
to a couple members who are proofing it for me – if you have any questions, please ask me
Panel 65 delegate put together a highlight newsletter that is shorter
than mine that anyone may look at if you want some of the highlights
– since the last Area Committee Meeting I have attended WRCAASC,
March Assembly, Delegate’s Workshop and the General Service
Conference and I was well prepared. Served on Policy/Admission
Committee at Conference and elected as chair for this committee for
the 2016 conference so I will be attending the January Board meeting - attending this Board meeting is new – there were so many well
prepared delegates - I have most districts have scheduled to hear her
report, but not all. I haven’t heard from Districts 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11,
12, 21, 23, 25, 26, and 27 our Bilingual District. I did give my first
report on last Saturday (May 2) at District 3 – Received email from
GSB – want delegates to have their Areas to look at the services
provided by GSB that are the most valuable to the fellowship, activities and services they oversee and less valuable and are there services
they do not oversee that they should (will email us the questionnaire)
need by May 31 to our Trustee to put together report. Maybe brought
on by our current financial – everything is static now – membership
levels are flat, contribution levels are flat, literature sales growth is
slow – what can we do to support these services? – Working with
Missy ad hoc committee looking for a finance presentation received
at the general service conference, so we can look at how we can be
more self-supporting through our own contributions, if interested we
need volunteers (DCM, Committee Chair, GSRs, etc.) - I am currently
working on a presentation with Larry Fyten to give at the Regional
Forum in Casper, WY on carrying the message through our CPC.
Alternate Delegate – Curt K. – Since last ACM I have attended the
WCRAASC, March Assembly, and Delegate’s Workshop – thank you
for attending (approx. 107+), Jason and D16 for hosting – thank you to
the Area Committee Chairs who were prepared for this day, as well
as, those Alt. DCMs who handled committee not assigned a standing committee chair – One of the biggest deals that we do as an Area
is that we are the conduit to and from our groups to pass along their
group conscience – We get this group conscience through our GSRs,
District, Area and to our Delegate - excited to hear Lisa Dawn’s report
– the group conscience is an amazing thing
Chairperson – Missy P. – Since our last ACM I attended the
WCRAASC, the March Assembly, D1 District meeting, I am working
on the 2016 Area Calendar, trying to firm up dates and locations (ACM
are set, one of the Assemblies) – 2015 Treasurer paperwork is finalized
to the Finance review committee will be getting together and hopefully
will have a report at the June Assembly – I have been in contact with
Sara (Area 35 Chair) trying to coordinate the 35/36 workshop and that
is still on going
Bonnie – Who’s on the Finance Review Committee? - Drew F., Stacy
McV. and Mary M. and Karl R. will be present for questions or location of documents
Carla – What about past area treasurer, have they not been part of this
committee? – No, it was not a requirement the first time we did that.
Alternate Chairperson – Mary M. – focusing on the RUSC planning committee – the committee in place and the two past Delegates
are Scott A. and Mark M. – Area Officer is myself, Jim V. is the
Committee Chair – Lori D13 DCM, and the GSR is Taylor B. from
Rochester – met for the first time this past Wednesday and have committee meeting dates set for the rest of the year – dates and location
will be decided soon – goal to have the ½ sheet save date flyer ready
for gopher state – looking at the feedback from past years on the event
itself and possibly have an Assembly discussion on this (pro & con)
when moving forward for 2017 – flush out how we as an Area can
make this event to best help the still suffering alcoholic
Secretary – Jeanne H. – I have finished and have submitted the March
2015 Assembly minutes to the Pigeon Editor and I am asking everyone
to please review these for accuracy. I apologize to one GSR as I was
unable to determine his name and Group name from the audio so hopefully that can be filled in before we approve these minutes at the June
Assembly. Writing up the minutes is like attending twice as I do listen
to the complete audio to ensure I capture the wording correctly. I did
attend the WCRAASC, March Assembly and the Delegate’s Workshop.
I will not be able to attend the West Central Regional Forum in Casper,
WY this August due to other conflicts. Please let me know how I can
be of service to you.
Treasurer- Karl R. – Hello all! Sorry I could not be here today. I
am in Portland, OR at my daughter’s graduation. I have been busily
keeping up with your contributions, reimbursements and questions
to be answered. Humbly, I am reconciling your accounts as well.
Everything necessary was given to our CPA two weeks ago. Our tax
deadline is May 15th. In addition, I met with our past Treasurer, Chris,
and we finalized 2014. I can be contacted directly at Treasurer@
area36.org . If I can be of service or visit your district or group-please
ask. There was also a small reconcile Chris needed to clean up from
December.
Balance Sheet – operating fund balance $7,342.27
Reserve fund - $11,746.17
Group contributions are down -$1,121.02 from budgeted
Total income below budget -$2,104.31 from budgeted
Total expenses under budget -$9,626.83
In the beginning of the year as an Area we have a lot of expenses to
that is why the net income of -$10,476.19 looks to large. This will
eventually even out so it is not as scary as it looks
*On the copies you have in front of you on the Highlight’s sheet under
Assets for the total amount of the Reserve Fund is wrong. Instead of
$5,519.32 it should read $11,746.16 – this amount is correct in the body
of the report
**See full report inside this Pigeon
Bonnie – what was the small thing that needed to be cleared up? It
wasn’t stated in email so right off hand I do not know.
DCM Sharing Session Report – Greg J. – 11 attending today – 9
were first year DCMs and two with one year experience - average
10-20 GSRs at most District meetings – most have multiple positions
filled - D3 getting BB (English/Spanish) for library – D20 has already
had a turnover in one of the positions - D15 just had a “catch and
retain” workshop and is organizing for the Washington Co Fair and
doing an inventory of literature for high schools and public libraries of
A.A. material, they have a CPC meeting schedule with the Washington
Co. Fire Association and trying to do the same with the Ecumenical
Association - D19 represents about 80+ meetings is using phones for
group records outreach – D7 has a new PI pamphlet and have “City
Pages” ad (affordable) – D16 planning workshops, had a discussion on
voting, D8 challenge chairs not spending enough money – D18 going
one-on-one for input from the 200 groups in district and only 25 are
contributing today – D1 rotates District meeting locations (last 3 hour)
- D13 has final stages of County fair booth planned, running a PSA
on local cable – D14 goes into St. Cloud VA treatment, Wright County
fair – D24 is doing a combined picnic with a large Alano trying to get
interest of members sponsoring a professional - Lisa attended and
share on GSB questionnaire – we talked about experience with social
media – and how to spend and raise money
Standing Committee Reports:
Archives – Niles A. – discussion about Archives Alive April 18 – 52
attended, 18, 16 and 23 spoke on how they found A.A. and he twist on
this one was one man spoke about industrial industry in metro area try
to get employees not into A.A. so much but into treatment and on from
there – some with long term sobriety were more involved in community service versus A.A. general service (i.e., Policemen) – we talked
about changing workshop format and being a bit more condensed at
Archives Alive (still have food), also reaching out to districts to get
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 33
members to come into the Archives and deal with their own archives
- Archives Alive July 18th next one and then November 7th. Lively
discussion at Archives meeting today and a lot of good things happening in Archives.
Cooperation with the Professional Community – Larry F. – very lively
meeting – I met with delegate last week and Lisa Dawn is doing a CPC
presentation (5-8 minutes) at Forum and gave her some information to
help with this and some of the information of what we are doing with
the directors or Alina and Park Nicollet – We did meet with the directors of Alina and Park Nicollet but Park Nicollet may not continue as
contact there has moved on and we don’t have a replacement name,
but Alina still interested in developing a pathway to A.A. for clients –
John in D1 is trying to help us get into Mayo clinic – Jennifer in D24
takes meetings into Waseca Women’s prison and trying to get an AAI
presentation in there. Larry contacted is church about doing an AAI
present in Marriage Encounter weekends (all young people) – Sooze
and I staffed the MSSA Conference (social service) and it went well
and gave out a lot of literature. Physician’s Assistance next year will
attend for only one day (student day) – Curt at D15 working in school
district – We are to do a workshop, maybe in Northfield and attract
young people, possibly at St. Olaf College – will try to multiple districts involved (4), suggestions and volunteers/districts welcomed
Jeanne - Larry do you have a workshop idea in mind? Larry – Passing
in on to the future – “It’s trendy for young people to be sober” “It’s
trendy to be sober when you are old too.”
Corrections – Terry H. – a lot going on right now - had joint 35/36
meeting with Terry P. chairing Area 35, theme for workshop “Love
and Tolerance of other is our code-working with offenders regardless
of their offense” Oct 10 2015 in St Cloud – we are planning to have
a Psychologist and former Warden from St. Cloud prison and an A.
A. member share – Corrections table at Gopher State and Northern
MN will have their info as well – Laura and I met with the MN
Transition Coalitions -connect with Volunteers of America who are
a Federal Halfway house and they have a huge need for meetings in
their facilities – Ayla and I went to the Dakota Co Transition Fair met
with offenders and hand out BBs and Daily Reflections – Networking
with Ramsey Co having their first transition fair this summer – with
Northern MN going to Rush City and Faribault transitions fairs and
you have never done a transition fair this is a great opportunity to
volunteer – Need a Spanish speaking A.A. member to go to Sherburne
County Federal Facility – We would like to redo the CFCP display for
transition fair and getting a tablecloth for display – DCMs your correction chairs information is needed, please send to me – GSO update
new vide in production and is going well
Bonnie – CFCP? Terry - Correctional Facility Contact Program
Carla – Which district is Volunteer of America Facility in? – D8 but
they have four different locations
Finance – Mary M. – First finance stuffing party (10 people and done
in less than two hours), any questions on the finance letter let me know
– next one will be Sunday June 28th 1-3 p.m. at Mary’s house next
one – three attendees today – look over four document from treasurer
documents (budget, reports etc.) and reviewed – Structure working on
guidelines for non-rotating to rotating position changes and finance
changes need to do be reflected in Financial Policy – will start looking
at cost comparisons for printing and copying for future use – doing a
Budget 101 presentation at an area assembly to help districts and GSRs
to understand preparation of budgets, etc. – part of the financial review
committee to report at June Assembly
Ken R – Can you give us non-profit status with MN and Department of
Revenue if in effect and up to date? Mary M. -Don’t know. Ken says
the IRS says we are defunct. We will follow up with Treasurer
Grapevine – Carla N. – four districts with 8 participants – discussed
overview of Grapevine and La Vina, how helpful the workbook is and
its’ online – attendees shared about outreach ideas from middle schools
to ERs in hospitals and laundromats – Preparing for Gopher State with
literature and books and will be more service oriented on how to use
Grapevine and La Via. Will have a task force to discuss possibility of
a Grapevine workshop in November 2015. Subscription challenge is
still on – I have attend WCRAASC, March Assembly and Delegate and
going out to district 19 and 17 meetings – May 2015 edition special on
CPC and two of our Area members have an article in there.
Group Records – Annette W. – one attendee this morning Kit D1
showed him how info is made into FNV database and made some
changes – DCMs or Groups records chairs send me your info as you
get it. Every two weeks I refresh the MN locator website on active
groups - 933 Active groups for So MN – sending DCMs group sheets
for inactive groups as they may still be active – DCMs send your
district committee chairs to Group Records and GSO will send a
workbook and communications from GSO – Open/Closed meeting and
meeting format is helpful to be listed – Registration number for group
is on AA MN locator – Took care of Pigeon mailing 1,795 getting
mailed the Pigeon – meeting location is at www.aaminnesota.org
Eric J – Is there a way to search for all ASL interpreter meetings? - No
Bonnie – address again? www.aaminnesota.org
Denise – Where to send group records forms? – Forms don’t ask for
type of meeting – Annette, that is why I asking for info separately.
Literature – Joe B. – Attended WCRAASC and Literature hot two
topics were mental health pamphlet and book 12x12x12 – Delegate’s
workshop and divided on both topics – not solving but getting better understanding to pass group conscience to delegate – attended
Sunlight of the Spirit with over 400 people at event – not attending
Gopher State – For the next edition of the Pigeon I will be reading
an “AA member medications and other drugs” doing a synopsis of
this – from the last Area Assembly we will follow up on the Daily
Reflections proposal from a District that was referred to committee – I
am available to attend District meetings – help districts be more active
with their groups to order and hand out literature – completed inventory and submitted to Karl R. – Dave B will be the Alt. Literature
Chair – closed with Declaration of Unity
Newsletter – Jim V. – humbled on doing first Pigeon issue – missed a
few articles that were sent to me – I apologize – updated the electronic
version and sent to Dennis and Patrick – had a combined meeting
with Web committee this morning - how to get Pigeon reading interest, look at articles on our experience of going to the International this
year, feature of a group or district in each issue, committee specific
crossword puzzle, website and email system, next issue will hand an
article about someone at GSO and their service position – at Delegate’s
workshop, talked how to get more people involved in Forums (Terry
L. to write up an article) – flyers needed (digitally preferred) by this
Wednesday for this issue
Larry F – When are reports due? – Jim - committee and officer reports
Wednesday and DCM reports due today or other article by Wednesday
Public Information – Eric B – alternate reporting – manned PI booth
at the Health and Wellness Fair March 28th over 3,500 attendees, there
was a lot of information and pamphlets handed out – Drew visited D19
and D13 on Area PI Committee and how to get involved – attended
March Assembly and Delegate’s workshop (large participation) – June
19-21 State Fair Grounds, Back to the 50 Ladies Showcase Car Show
– five attending this morning meeting – libraries books are online so
we can look to see if they have our A.A. books – high school outreach
shared - volunteers for other 12 step work going on – Senior Care
Center Outreach program and a mailing was done to 70 centers in D7
– adopt a hotel program – a need for 800 # for entire state, currently
being done in MT and there is someone on the line at the time – app on
national meeting listing - State Fair booth is looking for day captains
and volunteers (Area 35 has first weekend)
Carla – Back to the 50s - Area 36 was there once before 2007/2008 –
many members and switch with A.A. and Alanon – protect anonymity
Special Needs/Accessibilities – Eric J. – had an interpreter today, D7
had available funds – two deaf members from D7 – hope to have one
at next ACM or look into the future at Area committee budget – seven
attendees today – Mock AAI talk directed to mental health professionals about literature and then going district specific for what the need
is for target audience and to set up a talk –Transitional Rehabilitation
Facility for people with disabilities to do an AAI talk and setting up a
meeting with two social workers –getting a list of possible fall conferences for this committee to attend – there are different types of
interpreting services (medical, religion, and recovery, etc.) and they
want to set up a meeting to train their interpreter to be more recovery
friendly on May 21st – may have a booth at Gopher State but not sure
would rather work with professionals – will talk about an interpreter
policy for the area in this committee – D7 has issues with Special
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
Needs workbook
Structure – Curt K. – Two subcommittees set up – one for area
actions update for missing years so they will be looking to archives
for minutes – the other to look over area inventory minutes from
2014 September for actionable items – working on TS guidelines and
drafted update for non-rotating position change – area business cards
and adding CFCP, TCP and Delegate email addresses – implementing
March Assembly and Delegate’s workshop combining, want to expand
on this proposal and how to do this and look at the Area calendar as
a whole – first part of the year is about GSC and getting our delegate
prepared (we need a full day) – committee looking on moving the
February ACM a week later and using this as an opportunity to have
the conference items available for committee chairs to get them to district and have discussion on agenda items – get it out to the Assembly
for discussion as a whole
Carla – will Grapevine be added to business card – yes it is being
added
Bonnie – rotating proposal, new wording has to go before the
Assembly? Curt – in the last rotation where we updated them in a
number of ways did not.
Bonnie – But we are adding
Missy – My questions to you past delegates – is if we are just adding something that was approved at the Assembly to guidelines, do
we need to approve those guidelines again? – approved change or
approved wording?
Curt K – We had to interpret the proposal and put it in five different
places. The proposal was the approved wording in the guidelines. Let
me check on that and we won’t publish that till we have that clarified
and we will be them here or to the Assembly or move forward with
them if it seem appropriate.
Bonnie – my thought is that at least body needs read before published?
Curt K. – fine with that and will also check that there is nothing formal
in writing
Treatment - Robert S. chaired – (Missy P. read minutes) 7 attended –
D16 – AA meeting Fountain Center Treatment two time a week – D1- 8
people in his committee, bring a weekly to Community Behavioral
Health Hospital and doing AAI talks at several facilities – some new
chairs present – talked about Temp contact program – monthly meetings to the Haven Treatment Center in Waconia – how facilities are
not using TFC Program as they use to – D1 one volunteer database for
contact program – anyone interest in the Treatment Committee please
contact Theo
Technology – Patrick S. - Area 36 Technology Chair Committee
Minutes – May 9, 2015
We had 5 people attending the newsletter / website committee meeting. In attending we had 5 people. Jim – Area 36 Newsletter Chair,
Dennis B. – Area 36 Technologist, Patrick S. – Area 36 Technology
Chair, Julie – District 24 Website Chairperson, Denise D. – District 22
Website Chairperson. Applied for Nonprofit status with Google – provisionally approved. Will allow for area to use Gmail but still retain
our area.org email address.
Had to create a mission statement for Area 36. I used the corporate
bylaws and AA mission statements to create our own. This mission statement is not binding, I just needed to draft something to get
approved for Google’s non-profit status. Here is the mission statement
in full:
“Our mission is to manage the affairs of the Southern Minnesota Area
Assembly in support of the mission of Alcoholics Anonymous and
carrying the message to the still suffering alcoholic. The Southern
Minnesota Area Assembly is to operate in accordance with the 12
Traditions of Alcoholics and the AA Service Manual as it may be
amended from time to time by the General Service Conference of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Southern Minnesota Area Assembly is a fellowship of men and women
who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that
they may assist in service to support the aims of Alcoholics Anonymous
as a whole. There are no dues or fees for Southern Minnesota Area
Assembly membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Southern Minnesota Area Assembly is not allied with any sect,
September 2015
Page 34
denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to
engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to carry the message to the still suffering
alcoholic. “
Email ID’s are being created. We are hoping to migrate the email in
the next 2 months. We are not sure how much of your previous email
will transfer, still exploring the options in Google.
Website is looking great, we have a sample that I showed the Area
committee. But, we cannot go live on the web until the email is completed. Once the email is migrated, we can make the website live. We
have an August expected completion date for email and website.
I noticed recently that the email website@area36.org address was taking all the emails sent there and immediately sending it to the junk/
spam folder. I was using the technology@area36.org address. Looks
like everyone else was using the website@area36.org address. I believe
I have addressed all those requests that got lost in spam. Please continue to use the website@area36.org email address. Taylor – mission statement available? Patrick reread statement which
was taken from Corporate Bylaws and merged with A.A. Preamble
(see above)
Carla – Anonymity protected with IPhone with google merge? –
Patrick – Identity will be protected as I am not using an actual google
email, but logging into Gmail with a non-Gmail address, we shall see
how it will all work out, not set yet
Carla – Nor does this open up my personal contacts to be used by
Google? – Patrick – From mine it did not show my personal, we will be
going through all of this in the future so all will be educated on use
Bonnie – my email at area is sent to personal email – forwarding will
need to be reset up when we switch? – Patrick – When we migrate over
some of this stuff will probably have to be reset. We will work with
you.
Larry – D24 chair sent email at chaircpc.org wrong address – whatever
on area website says it is full – it is not – Patrick will help him. Also,
filter for junk mail is set high right now so please always check you
junk mail
Treasurer Question - Curt K – back to Ken R. IRS questions – We had
let out State of MN filing was not done and we went online and that is
now down and we are good with the IRS in filing our 990s every year.
We are up-to-date on IRS website.
Old Business: None
New Business
Set June Assembly Agenda –
Carla – a pro/con discussion having a booth at the state fair for future
years.
Flo –have a PI booth at Renaissance Festival – discuss with PI
committee
Patrick – no web presentation in June not ready
Missy – financial review committee report (Mary M to give report)
Carla – Treatment facilities contact program for person coming outwhat it is and how to do it, as well as, the Corrections Contact program
Denny – discussion to prioritize the services that GSO provides and
what can we do at an area level
Mary – pro/con on RUSC (length, etc.) – for Oct. Assembly instead
Mary – Budget 101
Carla – Budget 101 is good idea
Flo – Budget – area card with Grapevine? – It will be added
Missy – afternoon session will be:
Finance review committee
Pro/con for not having a state fair booth
Budget 101
New Business
Curt K. – Looking at task of combining the March Assembly with the
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
Delegate’s Workshop, our committee has decided to not change what
our Area has asked us to do which was to combine those two events
but the only way we see to do that feasibly by combing them we actually don’t have a March Assembly and we have a Delegate’s Workshop,
because of the timing of it all and our Delegate going to NY. Our
February Area Committee is generally schedule in the middle of the
month and we would like to propose moving that back a week which
Missy can do.
Structure Proposal – “Make the February 2016 ACM be about the
GSC agenda items in the morning session. We will have the Area
Committee Chairs to go over agenda items with district committee
chairs and others attending that morning.” We would try to balance
between getting the agenda items and the WCRAASC.
Missy – This is a 2nd motion out of committee and open for discussion
Carla – Mindful of large events around the area – 2nd week in February
for large Women’s conference that many of our member attend. – Curt
– the intent of this proposal is to move our date to later.
Dennis – The chair has always been careful so we would be good. We
need a sweet spot between when we get the agenda items and the WCR
conference. It’s a perfect time to get the committee discussing agenda
items.
Carla – It would really give us a good kick start within our committees
Missy – will get with Carla on dates – Can we vote on this here? Does
this go on the agenda for June as well?
Curt K. – so hearing the discussion and our proposal is to basically
just change the focus of that ACM so we don’t actually need to vote on
that? Do the groups actually have to decide?
Bonnie – So, In April there will be a Delegate’s Workshop, but there
will not be an Assembly? We are taking out the Assembly completely?
Missy – We already did that at the October Assembly.
Bonnie – I thought at the Assembly they went and put the two together.
Missy – You are correct.
Bonnie – So we are doing away with the Assembly part and just going
to have the Delegate’s Workshop. That’s changing on what we’re voting on.
Curt K. – At the Area Assembly the proposal was to combine those
two events, the Structure Committee took a look at that this morning
and we don’t think it’s feasible to combine them and have the full day
be the Delegate’s Workshop. So that was our action on that. Combining
of the two is basically saying one of them is the Delegate’s Workshop.
Dennis – If we do what you are proposing or what you talked about,
and use the morning of the ACM to talk about the agenda items then
we would only need the afternoon of the Assembly to do the rest of
the Delegate’s Workshop. We would still have the morning of the
Assembly available. Correct? That is the reason why this has to go to
the Assembly so that the GSRs know because we are moving a GSR
centered event.
Missy – point of clarification – the only thing this proposal does is
changing the February Area Committee Meeting. “Make the February
Area Committee Meeting about the General Service Agenda items.”
It doesn’t say anything about the Delegate’s Workshop of the March
Assembly.
Dennis – So what happens in the March Assembly?
Missy – that’s a different proposal and discussion.
Mary – then we should not be talking about- your job started out about
combining the March Assembly and the Delegate’s Workshop and I’m
not hearing anything about that. It sounded like the Assembly would
go away.
Curt K – As far as we understood it in Structure that decision has
already been made and we have been charged with figuring that out.
We haven’t been charged to coming back to the group or any other
group to have it rehashed again. So we had the sense that we had the
ability to go out and do that as we saw fit. I was informing you that we
think it’s going to look a lot like a Delegate’s Workshop because we
think that is the most important. This has nothing to do with this other
than background to let you know how that ties in.
September 2015
Page 35
Mary – My concern is you cannot eliminate a place where the GSRs
vote.
Curt K. – If you are concerned about that then you need to reverse the
decision that was made in October or tell the Structure Committee
that we don’t have the ability to act on it the way we see fit and give
us more instruction. But we decided that we could not take action on
what the Assembly said.
Bonnie – Can we on this Assembly can we go back and say “I think we
made a mistake.”? I would like see us go in front of the Assembly and
say I think we have made a mistake and we need to have the March
Assembly and we need to have the Delegate’s Workshop.
Curt K – That was discussed at our meeting this morning and that
maybe don’t take action on this at all, the combining of the two. We
decided, right or wrong, the way we would execute this decision would
be a Delegate’s Workshop
Missy P – We do have a motion on the floor. Make the February
committee meeting about the general service agenda items. How the
Assembly and the Delegate’s Workshop works after that can be discussed later. The proposal from October was to combine these two
event to be implemented in 2016. So first of all we have to take action
for this next and I have to have a way to put it on the calendar. Second,
obviously we have to have both in one day, because that it was the proposal says and that’s what we passed. And unless that changes, that’s
what is have to go through. We can’t just go to the Assembly and say
we made a mistake let’s vote this out right now. It would have to be
proposed right here and go through two committee meetings and then
to the October Assembly. Let’s get back to the making the February
Committee meeting about the general service agenda items.
Joe – made clarification – this is only for ACM morning agenda items.
Missy – items would be presented by Area Committee Chairs at the
morning meeting.
Patrick – I was under the impression moving back a week was to look
at them, have discussion on how to present at the Assembly to GSRs –
we are inviting GSRs to the Committee meeting?
Missy – GSRs are always invited to committee meetings – just looking at items and handing them out in trying to get ahead of the game
and start looking for answers to questions so you are prepared for
Delegate’s Workshop – no actual presentation
Flo – like the additional time to discuss items but have concerns on
combining the two events
Eric – great idea to focus morning session on this but burden of the
area committee chair for the dissemination of items to all and this
should be in hands of DCMs to their district chairs and GSRs - the
more we can talk about them the better
Lisa Dawn – I think it is a good idea to get the information out their
early - DCM sharing session is in morning – how do they participate?
We have the right of appeal if there a decision made by a previous
body and there is a process that we can do that?
Missy – DCMs don’t have a committee to serve on so DCMs would
have that information already so please email me on how you want to
participate
Patrick – Call the question –
Missy – The proposal is to make the February Area Committee meeting morning session about the general service conference agenda
items. This is to go out to the groups.
Eric – Why does this have to go back to the groups – as an area committee meeting we are just deciding what the agenda in the morning is
going to be – why do we need the GSRs approval to change agenda at
the area committee meeting
Dennis – If this is going to the Assembly it needs to go out to the
groups. The question is, does it need to go to the Assembly? Is it taking something away from the GSRs – Eric’s point is valid as it is only
an agenda change. The Area Committee has the right of decision as to
what it is going to discuss at the Area Committee. He only exception is
if we are taking something away from the GSRs which we clearly are
not doing.
Mary M – Affecting what the districts (DCMs/District Committee
www.area36.org
The Pigeon
Chairs) will be hearing at this meeting in the morning. You are taking district chair expectations of their morning meeting and making
it something else, so, taking away to voice district concerns and get
feedback. So in effect you could say you are affecting the GSRs.
Carla – Right of Decision mentioned - never as a committee chair have
I been told or instructed how to have her morning agenda set – losing
her right of decision
September 2015
Page 36
Responsibility Statement:
I. am responsible… When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help,
I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am
responsible.
Missy – since we don’t have unanimity, this should go to Assembly –
there are so many difference of opinions being heard
Lisa Dawn – no vote is necessary, it is a 2nd proposal from the
Structure Committee and will go out to the groups for discussion and
will come back to our next Area Committee meeting in August
Missy – I will see if meeting date can be arranged around this proposal
so it can go into effect if approved, so facility planning won’t be an
issue. I currently have a contract for February 13 and we may not be
able to move it. I will see what can be done.
Unapproved Minutes Area 36 Committee
Meeting August 8, 2015
Bonnie - Regional is in March – Missy and we will be having an April
event
of Alcoholics Anonymous
WCR March 4-6, 2016 in Bismarck
Missy - After reading the Trusted Servant Guidelines we do not have
enough clarification of when a proposal has to have approval (first time
or second time through) – idea was that it would come to the Area
committee as a 2nd proposal from committee but as a body this committee did not have enough information as to what their groups wanted
as to whether it was worthy or not to go on the Assembly agenda so
we didn’t need to vote on it the first time through. It went out with
as much information people could gain here and the second ACM we
voted on it whether to send onto Assembly or not.
Best Western, 1111 Range Street, North Mankato, MN
Area Committee Meeting
August 8th, 2015
Opened with the Serenity Prayer and Introductions at 1:00 p.m.
Do we have a quorum? Realized we did not have a quorum
present. Meeting was adjourned.
Eric – When our committee brought forward a proposal to change
our committee name, it was voted on here and was put on the March
Assembly. There was no sending this out to groups. Where is the
consistency?
Missy – In the past it has been done two different ways. In the Trusted
Servant Guidelines there is no clarification on which ones go forward
immediately and which ones don’t.
Mary - We are just giving the groups an opportunity to participate –
we have the ability to whether this goes to the Assembly or not.
Denise W D1 DCM– completely confused – what are we taking back
to groups? –
***Missy – taking back to our groups – make the February ACM
about the GSC agenda items
Carla – Can the Structure Chair send this proposal out to all?
Save the Date!! Lisa Dawn – Concept 5 is “…that minority opinion will be heard and
that petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully
considered.” I don’t know that the Area has a process for appeal – the
GSC has the minority opinion. Any District, group, etc. can bring
forth a motion to disregard previous motions and revert back
Carla – Would correspondence sent to Area Officers or the Structure
Committee
Lisa Dawn – the Structure Chair is part of the Officers so this could be
sent to the Area Officers in writing
Announcements:
Patrick – Congratulate Missy P. for handling the way things have been
going (frustrations and all) – the more work we do here (good and bad)
the better to see our weaknesses and strengths – we are doing what we
are supposed to be doing
Joe – Donated a more current service manual to our delegate
Brad – This Simple Program – Monday is our 11th anniversary – pot
luck – Carla N speaker – child care – open meeting
District 19 and District 24 proudly present. . . Emotional Sobriety: a continuing journey or a destination? Curt K – Just want you to know heard people’s concerns loud and
clear and the committee will look at Assembly/Delegate’s workshop
combination
Bonnie – Lisa Dawn talked about the right of appeal how does that
happen?
Come join us!! Date and Time: Saturday, October 3 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Location: Bridgewood Church 6201 W. 135 Street Savage, MN Featured Speakers: Carla N. – Minneapolis John W. – Burnsville Jennifer D. – Apple Valley Nancy K. – Belle Plaine Lunch and beverages will be provided. Please bring a dessert to share. A 7th Tradition voluntary offering will also be collected. Questions? Please contact Dan R. at 952-‐454-‐1604 or Kent H. at 952-‐215-‐8360 LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!!! www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 37
The Pigeon
www.area36.org
September 2015
Page 38
Southern Minnesota Area Assembly of Alcoholics Anonymous Area Assembly Agenda October 17th, 2015 9:00 A.M. -‐ 5:00 P.M. Hutchinson Event Center, Hutchinson, MN. 9:00 AM Welcome, Serenity Prayer, and Introductions 9:25 AM Approval of March 21st, 2015 Assembly Minutes. Approval of June 27th, 2015 Assembly Minutes. 9:30 AM Officer’s Reports-‐ Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Chairperson, Alternate Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer (5 minutes each) 10:00 AM Committee Chair Reports-‐ Cooperation with the Professional Committee, Corrections, Public Information, Special Needs/Accessibilities and Treatment. (5 Minutes each). 10:45 AM General Service Representative (GSR) Sharing 11:30 AM Lunch-‐ on your own 1:00 PM Report from the Financial Review Committee 1:10 PM Report on Area Actions Update Committee 1:15 PM Old Business: None New Business: Proposed Area 36 Budget Nomination of a possible West Central Regional Trustee. 1:45 PM District Reports-‐Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27. (3 Minutes Each) 2:15 PM Break 2:30 PM Pro/Con Discussion in regards to the Recovery, Unity and Service Conference. 3:00 PM District Reports-‐Districts 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27. (3 Minutes Each) 4:00 PM Right of Appeal: Given by the AA Group: Living Our Principles. 4:15 PM G.S.R. Report Highlights 4:30 PM Announcements: Area 35/36 Joint Workshop in St. Cloud on November 21st, 2015. 5:00 PM Close with the Responsibility Statement: I am responsible when anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA to be there and for that I am responsible. www.area36.org
The Pigeon
September 2015
Page 39
Inclement Weather Procedure for Area 36 Events
1. In the event of potential inclement weather, the Area Chair will monitor the weather the night before an Area Event (any event listed on the
official Area Calendar).
2. The Area Chair may also contact other Area Committee members such as Area Officers, Standing Area Committee Chairs, and DCM to ask
for local weather reports.
3. The Area Chair makes the determination based on DOT report, national weather service; any information gathered from Area Committee
Members based on local weather reports, individual safety being paramount, no later than 5am on the day of the Area Event.
4. Area Chair will ensure the Area Committee members are notified by phone by 6:00am as soon as determination is made to cancel the Area
Event and may enlist the assistance of the Area Officers to contact all Standing Committee Chairs, DCMs, and Past Delegates notifying them
of the cancellation.
5. The Area Chair will work to reschedule the event to the next available Saturday (if possible) and upon the ability to reschedule the event, will
work with Area Officer’s to contact Area Committee Members (ACM) by phone to inform (ACM) date/time of the rescheduled event.
6. The Area Chair will contact Web Chair to post cancellation and reschedule information.
September 2015
News from the
Southern Minnesota
Area Assembly
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AREA ASSEMBLY
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
FARIBAULT, MN
PERMIT NO. 21
P.O. Box 2812
Minneapolis, MN 55402
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Look Inside To Learn
All About
The General Service Office- Page 20
What is a RUSC anyway?? - Page 16

The Pigeon

Transcription

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