Group Conscience Topics
Mailing List
- Birthday Celebrations (10/05)
- Copyrights > Permissions (1/99)
- Etiquette > Establishing Etiquette (8/98)
- Etiquette > Personal Responses to List (4/03)
- Etiquette > Personal Responses to List (9/98)
- Mailing List > List Server > HTML (10/14)
- List Server > Esosoft (7/98)
- Member Participation (4/12)
- Message Formatting > Text Formats (4/12)
- Message Formatting > Text Formats (7/03)
- Online Sponsor List > New Members (10/01)
- Re-posting Topics (1/99)
- Requests for Information > Policy (11/10)
- Requests for Information > Policy (4/13)
- Requests for Information > Public Information Officer (4/13)
- Roll Call > Establishing an Annual Roll Call (4/13)
- Roll Call > Should GROW Conduct a Roll Call? (10/08)
- Steps & Traditions > Establishing Steps/Traditions Topic (10/99)
- Who to Contact (4/16)
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Birthday Celebrations
Birthday Celebrations (10/05)
Decision: Birthday Celebrations: We have agreed to celebrate quarterly sobriety dates (3, 6, 9, and then 18 months) in addition to the annual birthdays we now recognize. This means a change in the Birthday Listkeeper job description. There is continuing discussion on this topic in terms of how these differ from yearly celebrations, and the needed change in the Birthday Listkeeper position.
We have agreed to celebrate quarterly sobriety dates in addition to the annual birthdays we now recognize, and we have agreed on a revised job description to reflect the change. This will be recorded as group conscience by consensus.
Everyone who responded agreed to the changes as follows:
WHAT IT SAID:
-Develop list of celebrants for each month and -- at the end of each week -- send to the group a list of those members who will celebrate annual anniversaries during the coming week; or, if the Birthday Listkeeper so chooses, send birthday announcements to the group early in the a.m.on the day of each birthday.
WHAT IT WAS CHANGED TO:
[***Develop list of celebrants for each month and -- at the end of each week -- send to the group a list of those members who will celebrate 3-, 6-, 9-, 12- AND 18-MONTH ANNIVERSARIES during the coming week; or, if the Birthday Listkeeper so chooses, send birthday announcements to the group early in the a.m.on the day of each birthday.]***
WHAT IT SAID:
-At the end of each month, send a letter to the group with a list including all the celebrants for that month and the total years of sobriety that were celebrated.
WHAT IT WAS CHANGED TO:
[***At the end of each month, send a letter to the group with a list including all the
Proposal: In addition to recognizing annual sobriety dates, we will also celebrate 3- and 6-month anniversaries of GROW members.
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Copyrights
Copyrights > Permissions (1/99)
Decision: GROW does not allow group postings of any copyrighted material for which permission to distribute has not been obtained from the copyright owner.
Etiquette
Etiquette > Establishing Etiquette (8/98)
Decision: Adopted Mail List Etiquette
Etiquette > Personal Responses to List (4/03)
Decision: By consensus, the secretary will post the following reminder to the group at least once a month (this is in addition to the entire guide to email etiquette currently being posted): "Hi, Just a reminder that we here in GROW enjoy both on- and off-topic posts. While we send personal messages such as welcomes, hugs, and "enjoyed-your-share" comments privately, when one of our members needs help, we can all benefit from the show of open support and the sharing of experience, strength and hope shared publicly."
Etiquette > Personal Responses to List (9/98)
Decision: For shares, reply to be set to sender of original mail.
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List Server
List Server > HTML (10/14)
Decision: The GROW list serve will use HTML for our group emails, and all pertinent references on our web site be changed to reflect this.
Proposal: I propose that the GROW list serve use HTML for our group emails, and that all pertinent references on our web site be changed to reflect this, if it goes through.
Locations: The only places I can find plain text referred to is in:
- Greeter Letter #2, where I propose it simply be dropped,
- Mailman Letter -- Regular List, we may wish to simply remove the references to HTML, where "HTML and attachments are stripped" is stated
- Email Etiquette page, we would remove the very last line that refers to using plain text, not html.
Rationale: I doubt anyone uses plain text any more. Formatting has been a problem for the listkeepers recently. I suspect that plain text is part of the problem. Phones and tablets are very difficult to set to plain text.
Comments: Of the 16 members who responded, all were in agreement. Therefore, we have achieved consensus on this item and it is now a part of our Group Conscience decisions.
List Server > Esosoft (7/98)
Decision: To use Esosoft as Listserver
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Member Participation
Member Participation (4/12)
Decision: We have consensus on NOT accepting this Proposal to require or suggest that newcomers share in our meetings, and it is DECLINED.
Proposal: GROW should require/suggest that new comers participate in sharing at our meetings. This Proposal is based on the observation that there are many who join our group and do not participate by sharing, and that perhaps these members should be contacted and if there is no response, their names should be removed from the group roster.
Comments: Many expressed sadness that more people in our group do not regularly share, however everyone felt that a Proposal such as this would violate AA Traditions.
It was suggested that if a newcomer has not shared in about a month, perhaps the Temporary Mentor (if this is not already being done) could contact her to encourage her to share and see if she needs assistance.
Additionally, one of our Greeters reminded us that when they send out the first GROW Meeting to a newcomer, the letter encourages her to "Please feel free to share on it [the topic] or on anything that you would like to share with us, or you may choose to just `listen.'
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Message Formatting
Message Formatting > Text Formats (4/12)
Decision: We have consensus that the Mail List Etiquette and the Greeter # 1 letter be revised to remove the requirement of the use of plain text in messages. Rather, we should include language that requests that members use a conservative font in a size 12 or 14, in
Proposal: The Secretary should send private reminder message(s) to members who do not comply with the Mail List Etiquette when sending messages to the group; i.e. Email programs should be set to send and receive plain text -- not html." This is proposed because it can be very difficult to read emails that are sent in 5.5 or 8.0 fonts and/or in color.
This is proposed because it can be very difficult to read emails that are sent in 5.5 or 8.0 fonts and/or in color.
Comments: Comments: We did NOT reach consensus on this Proposal. Though some members were in agreement that the Secretary should send reminder messages to members, several members expressed that they (1) did not know how to change the format of their email, (2) preferred to use color and symbols to express themselves in their share, (3) preferred to use html format and did not want to have to go to the trouble to, or did not remember to, change to plain text format before sending something to GROW.
- It was also suggested that if we are not going to insist on plain text formatting, the Mail List Etiquette message to the group should be changed.
- Two members provided instructions for changing the email formats.
- One member suggested a "middle way:" Could we ask posters to try to keep the format of their messages as simple as possible (i.e., avoid colors, unusual fonts, emoticons, etc.)?
- Since we did not reach consensus on Proposal 4.1, we will have an additional four (4) days of discussion to try to reach agreement.
- We were provided with a history lesson about the origins of our Mail List Etiquette which requests that messages be sent in "plain text" and, it was concluded that those software and email program constraints no longer exist, and that we should adapt our guidelines accordingly.
Ten of eighteen respondents suggested lifting the requirement to use plain text, and the other eight respondents were in agreement to have the Mail List Etiquette request a "middle ground" -- that is, request that members use a conservative font in size 12 or 14 in either black or blue color. Quite a few members suggested that the plain text requirement be lifted. One member asked if "readability" had been raised as an issue.
Message Formatting > Text Formats (7/03)
Decision: The topic of not allowing HTML was tabled until October.
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Online Sponsor List
Online Sponsor List > New Members (10/01)
Decision: By consensus agreed that GROW welcomer(s) will send our online sponsor list to new members.
Re-posting Topics
Re-posting Topics (1/99)
Decision: The topic will be reposted during the week with encouragement to hear from members who haven't yet shared on topic.
See Trusted Servant Duties > Weekly Leader Listkeeper Job Description > Posting Schedule (10/11) for decision to discontinue mid-week re-posting.
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Requests for Information
Requests for Information > Policy (4/13)
Decision: GROW will not participate in research, surveys or similar projects conducted by
individuals or institutions outside Alcoholics Anonymous. The following statement will be posted on the GROW website: "To protect the anonymity of its members and to avoid any appearance of endorsing outside issues, GROW will not participate in research, surveys or similar projects conducted by individuals or institutions outside Alcoholics Anonymous."
Proposal: GROW should adopt a policy of refraining from any participation in educational or public informational surveys about alcoholism or related subjects. The following statement (suggested by one of our members) will be posted on the GROW website:
"To protect the anonymity of its members and to avoid any appearance of endorsing outside issues, GROW will not participate in research, surveys or similar projects conducted by individuals or institutions outside Alcoholics Anonymous."
Please share your opinions (for or against) about whether or not to adopt this statement and publish it on the website. We will have 4 days of discussion on this Proposal.
The following is a Motion received regarding our Proposal:
"I move that GROW adopt a policy of refraining from any participation in educational or public informational surveys about alcoholism or related subjects, and that the following statement be posted on the GROW website:"
"To protect the anonymity of its members and to avoid any appearance of endorsing outside issues, GROW will not participate in research, surveys or similar projects conducted by individuals or institutions outside Alcoholics Anonymous."
Comments: As you will recall, the Chair combined the proposals about forming a PI/CPC committee and creating a Survey Policy because of their being both unwieldy and similar and created this Proposal. 17 out of 18 members were in agreement that we should adopt this Proposal as a policy to refrain from participating in surveys about alcoholism or related subjects.
- One member did not agree with this. As a result, the Chair held the third week of discussions open for an extra day to give the member an opportunity to explain why she feels that we should deal with each request on a case-by-case basis. Because we have been unable to reach consensus by this method, we will move into the formal voting procedure.
- We had various comments on this Proposal and it was felt that even though some may personally choose to participate in this kind of survey, many are uncomfortable with the potential risk to anonymity. A clearly defined policy would avoid the time-consuming discussions that ensue each time a request comes in. Some felt that there are many AA resources that the researcher can take advantage of instead of soliciting information from our group.
- The opposing opinion was that the member would like to see us handle these requests on an individual basis rather than pre-emptively say no to them. As a member of the steering committee, she is willing to act as a screener for future requests and, in that role, she would determine the nature of the request, how the requestor would protect the anonymity of the individuals, and present a decision to the entire Steering Committee for each request. She further stated that she could not see how considering each request individually in the Steering Committee could distract the GROW group from our primary purpose.
The Chair then called for a motion from the floor and a seconder, which was done. The Chair announced the motion and opened up a 4-day formal discussion period on it. No discussion resulted so a vote was called for by Head Nods or Head Shakes. The result was: 21 Head Nods and 1 Head shake. Another 4 days of discussion were allowed for the Minority Opinion but no discussion followed.
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Requests for Information > Policy (4/13)
Decision: The two proposals were tabled, and a new proposal that linked both was
Proposal: GROW should establish a policy regarding our stand on survey requests from students of higher education and/or medical organizations outside of Alcoholics Anonymous for the purpose of information gathering and research. We occasionally receive requests to provide our members with a link to participate in said surveys which result in sometimes lengthy discussions of whether or not we should offer this information to our members. Below are some links to literature on the AA website as well as Service Material from GSO concerning survey participation from AA members.
Comments: Out of the 15 responses received, 14 were in agreement about establishing a Survey Policy. Most members agreed that we should have NO participation in any survey or inquiry from "students of higher education and/or medication organizations outside of AA. This distracts us from our primary purpose. Members might feel threatened about their anonymity being broken. We should adopt a general policy not to participate and post this policy on the public area of the website. The opposing suggestion was that we should consider each request we receive as one answer may not work for every request and that we should establish a policy on how to respond to such requests. One answer will not work for every request, and the Steering committee would make a decision on a case-by-case basis as the requests come in.
14 out of 15 agreed that we SHOULD establish a Survey Policy to deal with such requests.
Requests for Information > Policy (11/10)
Decision: It was decided to send a polite reply to person sending survey and then referral to OIAA.
Proposal: We need a formal consensus about how to deal with non-AA related surveys, inquiries, etc. that come to GROW.
Comments: It was discussed how to deal with non-AA related surveys, inquiries, etc. that come to GROW. Judy B researched this issue and contacted OIAA and provided us with Guidelines for handling this issue. Different ideas were brought up and more discussion on this item will go on for the next 4 day period.
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Requests for Information > Public Information Officer (4/13)
Decision: The two proposals were tabled, and a new proposal that linked both was presented. It was decided that we should NOT create a PI/CPC Trusted Servant Position.
Proposal: GROW should create a PI/CPC (Public Information/Cooperation with the Professional Community) position to address issues such as requests from individuals and/or institutions for survey participation from our members as well as other Public Information interests that may arise. This person could act as a liaison between GROW and GSO in gathering information to help GROW make decisions regarding any involvement with the Public/Professional community as they arise and how they might be in keeping with AA Traditions.
2. Should GROW should create a Trusted Servant Position which would interface with individual(s) or institutions who approach GROW for survey participation by our members, as well as other Public Information interests that may arise.
Comments: 11 out of 13 members decided against this Proposal. The opposing comments were that we should create this position; that our GROW Steering Committee can make decisions regarding any involvement with the Public/Professional community as they arise and how they might be in keeping with AA Traditions.
Upon voting, 13 out of 15 felt that we should NOT create such a position
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Roll Call
Roll Call > Establishing an Annual Roll Call (4/13)
The Listkeepers shall conduct a roll call every year. The particulars of when and how shall be left to the discretion of the Listkeepers.
(See more information on discussions in the
April 2013 meeting notes.)
Roll Call > Should GROW establish a Roll Call? (10/08)
Decision: The chair does not see a pattern here except that of people who are are (apparently) agreeing to disagree after 8 days of discussion. Therefore, this topic is retired from this business meeting.
Proposal: Roll Call
Comments: This proposal drew the most response the first four days, but no compromise rose from discussion. Therefore, it remained in discussion for the second four days. We still don't seem to be near a consensus:
Our Listkeeper stated that should we have a roll call once a year that she could announce to the group the number of people who responded, as opposed to the number of people "on the books". Personally, I'd still like to see the "members" who don't respond to a roll call let go completely if they don't respond, but if we can get a number of who did respond, I'd accept that as a compromise.
- I would like to see a monthly member count from the Listkeeper.
- I've read the great shares about this suggestion. After considering it, I don't think we need a roll call.
- I have no objection to having the List keeper provide a monthly report of the number of members, however I believe you will find that the number stays roughly the same each month with fluctuation up or down about 3-5 people. However, I am not clear on why we are seeking this information. What are we going to do with it? Also, would this information be shared only with the TS or with the group?
- I'm still not in favor of this -- I don't think the numbers provide us any useful information. We have a 'count' of subscribed members as part of the Business List (Listkeeper's report).
In summary, the comments ranged from (paraphrased here), "Annual roll-call; report the number who responded" to "monthly reporting of total numbers" to "reporting on the business list is enough" to "Why do we want this information and what would we do with it?"
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Steps & Traditions
Steps & Traditions > Establishing Steps/Traditions Topic (10/99)
Decision: GROW will, in addition to our regular weekly topics, have a Step discussion and a Tradition discussion each month; Step and Tradition to correspond with the month. (To begin immediately).
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Who to Contact (4/16)
Decision: Who To Contact for Issues in GROW. Our second motion, 2.2, passed unanimously. It lets us know who to contact first when any member has an issue in GROW. This is the first group of persons to contact. If need be, the entire Steering Committee can be brought into any major decision between business meetings. We find that very little of this nature happens, and most day-to-day issues can be handled by these four members.
Proposal: Who to Contact for Assistance (as part of the Statement of Purpose and Function of the Steering Committee). The following text will be added to the GROW website on the opening page for the members' section of the website and on the page listing all Trusted Servants:
For confidential assistance with questions, concerns, or issues, contact the Business Meeting Chair, Secretary, or Listkeepers. See lists of Trusted Servants and Steering Committee Members on the website at: http://www.g-r-o-w.com/members/ts/ts.htm.