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At the General Service Conference the delegates (total 93) for each region meet twice with each other and their regional trustee. (There are six regions in the U.S. and two in Canada). These meetings are typically not used to discuss conference agenda items, but to take care of any matters for the region or specific items that need discussion. It was also a time to ask any questions of our trustee regarding the General Service Conference procedures, and go through the upcoming agenda for the week. The big item on the Conference agenda this year specific to our region was the election of a new West Central Regional Trustee (see specifics below).
I attended both regional meetings - a lunch meeting held on Sunday, April 18 from 11:45-1:15, and another on Wednesday, April 21 from 12:00 Noon-1:15. Those in attendance from our region were: Ted S., West Central Region Trustee; Mike L., Area 24, Iowa; Charlie C., Area 35, Northern Minnesota; Brenda L, Area 36, Southern Minnesota; Earl F., Area 40, Montana; Connie S., Area 41, Nebraska; Eric B., Area 52, North Dakota; Perry G., Area 63, South Dakota; Don M., Area 76, Wyoming.
Discussion at our first meeting included Ted giving us an overview of the conference and answering a few questions we had regarding procedure, especially the upcoming election for a new West Central Regional Trustee. We also discussed the revised Host Planning Guide for the West Central Region A.A. Service Conference and changes made over the past year. We determined the revised guide would be saved to a CD and copies distributed to each delegate. Don gave us a brief recap of Cheyenne and Perry highlighted dates and location for the next WCRAASC which will be held in Rapid City, SD on March 5,6 & 7, 2005 at the Ramkota Inn. March 3,4 & 5, 2006 the WCRAASC will be held somewhere (yet to be determined) in our area
At our second regional meeting on Wednesday, Mary Claire L., G.S.O. staff member on the Correctional Facilities Assignment and our contact for the West Central Region joined us for lunch. She introduced herself and explained she is available any time for questions or information. She will also be working with our region in planning for the 2005 Regional Forum to be held Sept 30-Oct. 2 at the Best Western Heritage Inn in Great Falls, Montana.
We also discussed the rotation of our WCRAASC and whether we should change the schedule so a first year delegate will not have to jump in and host a regional. It was felt that responsibilities for the General Service Conference are plenty and adding a regional in the first year could be too overwhelming. We will continue to discuss this in our areas and readdress the issue at next year's Conference.
It is nice to have these regional meetings during the conference. I feel it helps unify us as a region and it is a nice relief knowing I have fellow delegates and my regional trustee to go to if I need to talk something through during the Conference, or at any time throughout the year.
Directly after the Wednesday regional lunch, beginning at 1:15 promptly, we participated in the election of our new West Central Regional Trustee. The election is held in the Conference main meeting room with all voting members of the conference in attendance; however, there is a roped off area for only those members eligible to vote in the election. They include: all eight delegates from our region, four members from the Conference Committee on Trustees and four from the trustees' Committee on Nominating (all members of these committees are put in a hat and drawn). The Third Legacy voting procedure is used for the election as described in the A.A. Service Manual. This procedure makes it a very spiritual process.
Nominees for West Central Regional Trustee came from each area in our region. Candidates were:
| Area 24 | Iowa | Charles (Chuck) B. | |
| Area 35 | Northern Minnesota | Susie A. | |
| Area 36 | Southern Minnesota | Dennis B. | |
| Area 40 | Montana | Bob H. | |
| Area 41 | Nebraska | Mark R. | |
| Area 52 | North Dakota | Loyd G. | |
| Area 63 | South Dakota | George R. | |
| Area 76 | Wyoming | R.E. "Moose" M. |
Immediately prior to the election delegates are given the opportunity to give a two-minute nominating speech on behalf of their area's candidate. This is followed by three minutes allotted for questions from the voting members regarding any of the candidates. We did not receive any questions during that time regarding any candidate.
Our newly elected West Central Region Trustee is: Charles (Chuck) B. from Area 24, Iowa. He will serve our region and A.A. as a whole very well for the next four years. Congratulations Chuck!