2002 Business Meetings
January
Quarterly Reports (posted separately)
Before I submitting the minutes I want to extend my heartfelt condolences, prayers & thoughts to our Archivist, Jean, on the death of her Mom, Friday in England.
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Minutes, GROW Business Meeting January 7-10, 2002
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Trusted Servant Positions.
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- Danna has volunteered as our new Weekly Leader Listkeeper.
- Ducky has volunteered as Welcomer.
- Please send theses ladies a note of thanks privately.
- We still need a backup welcomer, please post me privately to volunteer or nominate another GROW member.
There has still been no new business brought up, please let the meeting know of any questions you might have or business want to be dealt with.
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Respectively submitted,
Nancy C
GROW Secretary
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Minutes, GROW Business Meeting January 11-17, 2002
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New Business
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Minutes, GROW Business Meeting July 8--12, 2002
The GROW Business meeting was opened by Cheryl T., Business Chair, on July 8, 2002.
Nancy C announced that all the Trusted Servant openings have been filled except for that of the backup OIAA Representative, please help thank all of our new Trusted Servants:
- Co-Archivist Karen
- Secretary Judi
- Greeter Jean
- OIAA Representative
- Sponsor Listkeeper
- Backup Welcomer Kris
- Weekly Lead Listkeeper Josee
- Backup Greeter Karen
Please post me if you would like to volunteer as backup OIAA Representative.
Please help me thank our outgoing Trusted Servants:
- Co-archivist- Mage B
- Greeter- Lorraine
- Weekly Lead Listkeeper
- Backup Welcomer - Jean
- Backup Greeter: Dianna
- OIAA Rep- Tina
- Backup OIAA Rep Timi
- Nancy C - Outgoing GROW Secretary
July 24, 2002
Before adjourning, Karen asked to discuss the Online Service Conference curently in progress, deferring to our representative Tina for a formal report. The chair responded:
Karen has put much thought into this issue and it is obviously important. Today is the 17th day of this meeting, and according to our guidelines, "if any item on the agenda has not reached a consensus or a motion by the 17th day of the business meeting, the item is tabled and held over to the next scheduled business meeting."
Because this appears to be a matter of importance that may not wait until our next businesss meeting, I propose that we begin discussion based on the information we have available. I would ask Karen to synthesize her concern into a brief statement and/or question that we could discuss, with a hoped-for goal of reaching consensus by August 4.
If this is not acceptable to everyone, or if it is acceptable, but it becomes obvious that we cannot reach consensus after a 4-day discussion, then we must table it until the next business meeting regardless of consequences. So I put this question to you:
Are there any objections to opening a 4-day discussion about the Online Service Conference to see where it takes us, providing we comply with the regularly scheduled August 5 adjournment date?
Cheryl T., Chair
The group agreed to hold a four day discussion
There being no objections, discussion regarding GROW's participation in the Online Service Conferences (OCS) is now open. Both Karen and Tina, our outgoing OIAA Representative, have provided us with background information (re-posted at the end of this email for easy reference).
Discussion is open through Tuesday, July 30. At heart is whether we, as a group, agree or disagree with the following proposals:- 1. That GROW continue to send an Online Service Representative to the Online Service Conferences, but that GROW will withhold any formal endorsement of the OSC until (at least) after a report on the next conference scheduled for January 2003.
- 2. That the Online Service Representative advise the GROW steering committee and/or business list of Advisory ballots and any other significant decisions presented as representing group conscience for all online AA groups.
If, you don't have enough information after reading the background informaton below, please use the discussion period to ask questions.
Cheryl T., Chair
Karen Wrote:
Before we adjourn, I think it is important to discuss the Online Service Conference curently in progress. I will defer to our representative Tina for a formal report but as a conference observer, I have some concerns to share.
From the initial invitation to the conference: "The concept of a self-contained general service conference for the online AA world has been, and will continue to be, controversial. Your group's participation in this exploratory July meeting by sending a rep does not imply your group's membership in an eventual conference, or even agreement to its principles. It's just an opportunity for your group to be present at what may someday prove to be another historic moment in AA history."
Okay, to my interpretation, the invitation states that this or future conferences are an opportunity for ~our group~ to decide whether it wants to participate in the Online Conference and thus endorse whatever Advisories it issues and submits to participating online groups.
From the Orientation to OSC document:
"Conference members have the "right of decision," that is, they are not required or expected to check a proposed action with their electing group before casting a vote or taking a position on any matter. It is assumed that the Conference member acts always in the best interest of online AA groups as a whole, and that s/he is able to reach good decisions independently."
I don't have much problem with this, although it would preferable, IMO, that our group know what Advisories are being considered and theoretically endorsed by ~our group~ when our representative is asked to cast a vote on them.
What has precipitated my note to this business group and caused me some consternation is this statement from the Chair of the Conference: "First: The following is an "Establishment Statement." It authorizes the continuance of the OSC along the general lines of our first meeting. No amendments. Just vote "yea" or "nay," please. If your vote is "nay," there is no point in continuing as part of the Conference. We thank you and bid you farewell. If "yea," then go on to the vote for Steering Committee."
Tina or I can provide a copy of the Establishment Statement, but the above paragraph speaks for itself. It hardly constitutes a Group Conscience as the Establishment Statement was written by a self appointed temporary steering committee before the conference was ever convened.
The very first Online Service Conference has not left a favorable impression on me and I suggest (short of a motion) that we discuss this and consider asking our representative to proceed cautiously regarding our committment to this organization. If it is indeed ~our group~ being represented, then perhaps abstaining from votes such as these would be prudent.
I welcome Tina's comments which may have an entirely different perspective than mine.
Karen
Tina wrote:
This time in AA is in yet another history making stage with the formation of the 1st Online General Service Conference.(OSC) The Conference will meet twice a year, once in July and in January. Each session lasts for a month With this being this first session which is going on as I type there was no real agenda to be sent to the group OSC reps to get group conscience decisions. However, that will be quite different in January. What we are doing now is taking nominations for the steering committee and chair of the January session.
I am really excited about this venture and encourage our group to be a part of AA history.
Here is a summary of the history of the OSC.
The ONLINE SERVICE CONFERENCE is the keystone of the organization. The OSC is assembled from a single GSR provided from each online AA group, authorized to act in general services matters for the group. These representatives meet online under the agreement that they will act in the interests of online AA groups as a whole, not narrowly representing the interests of the groups from which they are appointed. Online Group Representatives (OGR's or GSR's) meet as Conference members for four calendar weeks only, twice a year, beginning the first Mondays of January and July. The meeting will take place online via mailing list software if available, or using other online technology, and will consider only motions from a formal agenda prepared prior to each Conference by its Steering Committee (see below). Neither new motions nor amendments may be introduced during the Conference meeting. The first week of the Conference will be devoted to an orientation to online general service and introduction of the agenda. The second and third weeks will be for discussion of the agenda motions only. In the final week, votes will take place on agenda motions, and those which pass with substantial unanimity will become ONLINE CONFERENCE ADVISORY ACTIONS, which are considered to represent the group conscience of online AA groups, and will be distributed to all groups through their GSRs/OGRs.
In the last three days of each July Conference, the group will elect three members to serve overlapping terms on the six-delegate ONLINE STEERING COMMITTEE (At the first meeting, three for two years, three for one year, to begin overlapping two-year terms beginning the following January).
Between Conference meetings, online Conference members may form committees and hold online meetings as desired; for example, by linguistic or special interest or ad hoc groups; however, any actions affecting online AA groups as a whole are to be proposed as motions to the Steering Committee which approves, prepares and presents the formal Conference agenda to each Conference.
The Online Steering Committee will meet continuously by email on a separate mailing list when the Conference is not in session, will act for the Conference when it is not in session, and will gather material and approve the formal agenda in advance of each Conference meeting. One delegate will be elected as Chairman of the Steering Committee for each one year period (two Conference meetings) by Steering Committee vote. Members of the Steering Committee must agree to serve for the two year term, and may organize themselves as they see fit. The Steering Committee delegates provide leadership and continuity for the conference by making or arranging presentations, conducting the orientation period, chairing Conference discussions, conducting votes during the final week, disseminating Conference decisions and providing information between Conference meetings. The Online Steering Committee will provide representation by sending delegates to attend the biennial World Service Meeting, if invited, and may also attend other international meetings where online participation appears appropriate. Through the Conference members and Steering Committee delegates, online AA groups will participate and be represented in the worldwide Fellowship of AA. Funding for travel and related expenses will be provided by the Conference as it deems appropriate. Information from such meetings will be passed to the Conference members and will also be used to develop the formal Conference agenda when appropriate.
ONLINE ADVISORY ACTIONS of the Online Service Conference are, as the term implies, advisory in nature and not regulatory. Each online AA group is autonomous. Further, these decisions refer and apply to online AA groups only, and do not conflict with or replace the Conference decisions of any AA national general service conference which acts for "face to face" AA organizations. Discussions and decisions from any national or supranational AA service conference may also be used as a basis for additions to the formal Conference agenda, when approved by the steering committee.
TERMINOLOGY:
Online Service Conference: An online meeting of "Conference members" (who may be designated GSRs or OGRs) provided by online AA groups. The meeting is a general service activity of Online AA, and represents the group conscience of online AA groups.
Online Conference Steering Committee: A group of six delegates who servetwo year overlapping terms and provide both leadership during Conference meetings and a continuing online presence between Conference meetings. These delegates also represent the Conference to meetings of other service organizations in the AA fellowship.
Conference member: A member of the Online Service Conference, elected or appointed by an online AA group. The Conference member agrees to act in the interests of Online AA as a whole, rather than solely in the interest of his group.
Delegate: A member of the Steering Committee, elected by the Conference. ( In the first meetings of the Conference, the Steering Committee will be made up of delegates appointed by the CyberConfCom ad hoc committee which is founding the Conference).
Online Advisory Action: A decision reached by the formal process of review by the Steering Committee, addition to the formal Conference Agenda, adoption by vote of the Confernce, and publication to the online AA groups. Such decisions are not regulatory, but represent the group conscience of online AA groups.
I really hopes that this report is inclusive of all of the information that our group needs to make a decision to join or not to join the OSC.
Love and Service
Tina
The group agreed by consensus to support the two suggestions as stated above.
October, 2002
There is no business other than the filling of trusted servant openings.