District Sixteen Minutes

Introductions: Todd T., DCM; Sue M., Center Group GSR; Denise B., Treasurer; Samira A., Third Tradition Group GSR; John D., Cornerstone Group GSR & Treatment Facilities Chair; Chris, Vision 4 U Group Alternate GSR; Judy, member; Doug C., secretary; Doug M., Alternate DCM; Lois P., Corrections Co-Chair

Area PI Committee is trying to get an AAI presentation in every 8th grade class in Minneapolis. They gave a sample talk at the Assembly.

Area Web Site - area36.org. The web site currently is used for informational purposes within AA only. Discussed the purpose of the site - should a 12th Step component be added? Should the name of the web site be changed? Should there be a link to Minneapolis & St. Paul Intergroup?

The Area still has not posted the District 16 pages we submitted for the Area web site. There is a list of local Northfield AA meetings at Northfield.org.

The Northern Minnesota Area is bringing a proposal that the General Service Conference delegates be able to review any literature they are asked to approve.

The Area voted to form a new committee on Remote Communities.

The January Service Conference will be in Owatonna next January.

Our Area Structure Committee has an ad hoc committee on proposed changes to the service structure. The committee will present a written report for Area Committee approval on December 1st. They're proposing a 3-year rotation for delegates and a group conscience process for determining the General Service Conference agenda.
Should our District form a Remote Communities Committee?

Passes out reprinted District Meeting Directories.

The Step Sisters meeting time has changed to 9:30 am.

Minutes for 9-20-01 approved.

Please note the following changes to the District 16 Mailing List
DCM---new e-mail address:tiddleybabes@yahoo.com
Literature--Missy's new address 15139 520th St. Kenyon, MN 55946
Vision 4 U--correct phone # 507-333-5327

Discussion regarding the district's decision on 9-20-01 to delete a discussion from the minutes. Decision - The district will have a presentation on gifts-in-kind at an upcoming district meeting. Samira will ask Dennis if he would be willing to give the presentation.

The -$150 under Center Group in this month's report is an accounting change only - shifting the entry from the general contributions to the PI Luncheon contributions.

Also note expenses for the Hiawathaland Hospitality Room, reprinting district meeting directories, mailing, and the PI Luncheon.

Attendance is 30-40. Our group conscience recently changed our format - now on the last Sunday of the month a volunteer will give a presentation on the tradition that corresponds with that month. Our normal meeting topics are a step, tradition, or a topic.

Attendance was up and we had 3 groups instead of the usual 2 at our last meeting. Our group conscience would like our group to host the Holiday Party.

We have 50 4th Edition Big Books on order - anyone is welcome to come and buy one when they arrive.

Our group conscience is concerned that the Holiday Party theme - "The Holidays Before and After" not become limited to Christmas stories. We'd like the concept of "holidays" expanded beyond Christmas. Tanner will speak for our group.

Dennis is waiting for personal recollections to be included in our group history.

We voted in favor of ensuring that delegates to the General Service Conference be given the opportunity to review literature before being asked to approve it.

We would like to see more discussion on the role of Class A trustees. We oppose any attempts to stop this discussion. Our group would like our District to discuss whether we continue to need Class A trustees. Take back to your group - is your group willing to discuss the need for Class A trustees? If so, what is your group conscience on the need for Class A trustees? Could our discussion include the opinions of current and past trustees?

We voted to set aside funds to pay for registration for Hiawathaland for group members who want to attend but can't afford to.

Attendance up a little - around 20.

Our group conscience is that we're willing to host the Holiday Party.

The facility we rent is now also used by a youth activity center. They leave the room messy; we discussed if we should do something about that. We voted not to play with their games.

Location - Archer House conference room where Center Group meets.

Time - Room is available at 5pm, start at 6pm.

Host - Vision 4 U Group.

Discussion regarding topic for speakers - "Holidays Before & After" versus "Celebrations Before & After". Do people associate the word "holidays" with a particular religion? Is "holidays" more limiting than "celebrations"? Should the groups discuss this so our speakers know that the District had this discussion? Sense of the meeting - the speaker topic will be "Celebrations Before and After".

This year's January Service Conference is January 12th and 13th in Owatonna. Not attending means missing out.

7th Tradition support totaled $13. The room was well attended, and provided a place for discussion among members, but volunteers were not available to staff the room for 2-3 hours. Is there substantial unanimity in the District in support of the hospitality room? Suggestion - have individuals sign up to cover the room instead of groups.

Women inmates at the jail annex have not wanted a meeting for a number of weeks. The number of women inmates is down. Could the jailers' attitude be an obstacle? Should we ask if we could give an AAI talk to the jailers?

Step Sisters meeting time has been changed to 9:30am.

Are meeting times listed consistently in the Northfield News? How do people find meetings? Northfield.org has a list of local meetings, but the name of the drug store where Third Tradition is located is incorrect. The DCM will talk to the PI chair about ways of publicizing meeting locations and times. Meeting schedules could be posted on bulletin boards. PSA's could be distributed to local media - PSA's are available from GSO. In Faribault the newspaper prints a list of local meetings each day. The groups phone the newspaper to inform them of any changes in meeting times and places.