District Sixteen Minutes

Introductions: Doug M., Alternate DCM; Larry H., Alternate GSR Cornerstone Group; Vern F., Vision 4 U GSR; Missy P., Literature Chair; Doug C., Secretary; Sue M., Center Group GSR; Ken H., Corrections Co-Chair; Denise B., Treasurer; Samira A., Third Tradition Group GSR; Ann M.; Lois P., Corrections Co-Chair; Todd T., DCM (arrived near end)

District meeting schedules have been reprinted. Added 2 new meetings - Morristown and 5:30 pm Thursday Big Book in Northfield. Doug C. will pick up the schedules from the printer.

Minutes for 9-19-02 approved. The secretary will make a roster of all the groups in the District and add the 2 new meetings.

Group contributions down this month. The treasurer will estimate total District expenses for current activities if there were no in-kind contributions from members.

The meeting is well attended. Speakers have been from all over the area. Our group elections will be in November.

Attendance is down, as few as 5 people. Finished the Big Book (first 164 pages and Dr. Bob's story) and are starting over. Group elections will be held at next month's group conscience meeting.

Our group elections were held, new group officers are - Doug C., GSR; Missy P., Alternate GSR; Mary S., Treasurer; Lois P., Secretary. The group was well represented at Hiawathaland. We have started our rotation at the jail annex. One group member suggested that the District election should be held in October so that the DCM-elect could attend the Area Assembly with the outgoing DCM.

Our group elections were held, new group officers are - Tom W., GSR; Barbara B., Alternate GSR. The group voted to increase our contribution to the phone from $30 to $60 each quarter. Several group members called the new voice mail and agree the new message is good.

[Report from member, no GSR in attendance]. The meeting averages 7-8 people. A group conscience meeting will be held next Thursday. We'll discuss giving money to the phone bill. The group has money and is going well.

Sloppy joes and other supplies cost $101. Missy will open the room Friday night, Third Tradition will cover Saturday 9am to 2 pm, Vision 4 U will cover later on Saturday. Please bring snacks. We'll have a TV/VCR to play several AA videos (Bill W., Behind the Walls).

Cornerstone agreed to host. Denise is chair of 4-person committee to organize the party. The party will be held in place of the December District meeting. Decision - topic for speakers will be to share experience regarding a promise out of the Big Book. Each group should pick 1 speaker to speak at the party.
The new Morristown group might participate. We will send fliers to the other groups that are not represented here at tonight's District Meeting. The fliers will be ready at the next District meeting.
The party will be a potluck held at the Faribault Alano. The District will supply a staple, perhaps sandwiches from Hy-Vee. Doors open at 6 pm, speakers at 7:30, each speaker will speak for about 5 minutes. The Faribault Alano approved our use of the facility and asked that we make a contribution of our choosing. Let's be generous. Doug M. and Vern have keys to the Alano.
Smoking Policy at the Alano - it's a smoking facility but usually has no smoking during the speaker at open speaker meetings. Should the District attempt to change this policy for the Holiday Party and make it non-smoking? Would we alienate people if we did? Could smoking be allowed in the back room only?

District elections will be held next month for District officers - DCM, Alternate DCM, Secretary, and Treasurer. The new DCM then recruits the standing committee chairs. Doug C. will research who can vote in the District election and get it in the minutes.

"…The committee member who is finishing a term sets up the election meeting and, in most districts, notifies the GSR's who have just been elected and those who are going out of office.

The method of election should be decided by the area assembly or by the district committee. Some options are:

Most district committees allow all current voting members of the district committee to vote in district elections.
Some committees also allow newly elected GSR's a vote, even though they might not take office until some time after the election.

Many district committees include alternate DCM's, a secretary and/or treasurer, and other officers or service committee chairpersons in addition to the DCM and GSR's. Sometimes, these jobs are held by the GSR's already on the committee; sometimes, they call for additional voting members, who are eligible to stand for DCM."

Vern F. attended the last District 3 meeting in Owatonna. They said they would like to do something with us, Vern told them that the ball was in their court and that District 19 was also interested.
Workshops with 3 districts have been held before - a representative from each district meet to plan the workshop.
Leave planning to the next rotation - District elections will be next month and the holiday party the following month.

Going fine. Question about detox in Hastings - will they allow men in the womens' meeting? Yes, men and women can attend either meeting. Third Tradition makes a point of always sending women only to the womens' detox meeting.

We have new videotapes. I'll be making a literature presentation at Vision 4 U the last Tuesday of this month.

The Family Focus meetings are going well now that John is confirming the meetings with Family Focus. Third Tradition and Vision 4 U are next in the rotation for the first week in November. Call John for the dates.

The annual area January Service Conference will be held January 18th-19th at the Holiday Inn in Owatonna. I think it's the best Area function to attend - there's no business, it's a good learning experience.