Group Records Report - August 2002

Summer greetings from Area 36 Group Records. As usual, I have a few updates for you since the last Pigeon.

As I mentioned in my last article, a request was made at the May Area Committee Meetings that Area 36 Group Records chairs meet as a committee at the August Committee Meetings. I'm pleased to announce that we had 2 of the 3 registered Group Records chairs in attendance. This is the first time the Group Records chairs have met in committee in a number of years.

Despite our small number, we had engaging discussions on the role of Group Records chairs, and how we exchange information between the District and Area and the General Service Office (GSO). We also explored means of keeping and updating Group Records electronically, and GSO's plans to (1.) update the database software they use to maintain records and (2.) make that database available to Area Group Records chairs. The District Group Records chairs were also able to discuss the challenges in updating their District's information, and share what they have found effective in accomplishing that.

Because of the interest of those attending, we will have another meeting of the Group Records chairs at the November Area Committee Meetings. And the meeting is open to anyone, so please consider joining us. You need not be currently active in Group Records to participate; curiosity about General Service is plenty of reason. (And, I probably shouldn't mention this, but… the coffee station is in the Group Records meeting room, and the Group Records meeting room has more windows in it than all the other meeting rooms combined.) Hope to see you there!

GSO has finished the directory updates and recently published the directories that contain group and contact information for all of the United States and Canada. Area 36's listing of groups and contacts is in the Western United States A.A. Directory. Most District Committee Members have received their copies by now; others should shortly.

At your next District meeting please take a moment to check your group's information, if you have chosen to have your group listed, to see that is correct. If it is not correct, please fill out a "Group Change Form" or "New Group Form", as appropriate, and send it to me. I will update the Area records, and forward the information on to GSO. The more current and accurate we keep Group Records, the fewer changes we need to make during the annual Group Records updates for GSO.

If you need forms, you can either contact me or download the forms directly from GSO's website at: http://aa.org/english/FellowshipSvcs/E_Svcs_d1.html. Just please remember to send the changes to me, and not directly to GSO, despite the instructions at the bottom of the form. We also intend to have a link to those forms on Area 36's newly redesigned web pages shortly.

Lastly, a reminder to the District Committee Members. As your officers and standing committee chairs change, please notify me so I can update the Area records and forward those changes on to GSO. And if you have a change in rotation, please notify me of those results as soon as you hold your elections. I will maintain records for both the old and new rotations through the transition.

That's all for now. I'd like anyone in the Fellowship to contact me if they have any questions or concerns regarding Group Records, including how to get involved in this rewarding opportunity in General Service.

Yours in Love and Service,
Steve K.
Area 36 Group Records Co-Chair