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District 12 Minutes – January 16,2010   District 12 P.O. Box 658 Oskaloosa, Ia. 52577www.aadistrict12ia.org                 www.aa-iowa.org – Area 24 website 
The District 12 meeting took place at St James Church in Oskaloosa. TJ opened the meeting with a moment of silence followed by the serenity prayer. Greer read the 1st tradition long form. Introductions were made around the table. Greer request email addresses and phone numbers. TJ read the minutes from previous month’s meeting. Terry K. made motion to accept the minutes, 2nd by Charlene, motion passed. 
Treasurers Report:Treasurer’s report for December 2009 – Beginning balance $896.13 on 11/19/09, beginning balance $573.93 on 12/16/09, checkbook balance $475.66 on 1/16/10. We are into our prudent reserve by $24.34. 
DCM Report:I attended the January Business meeting in Marshalltown last weekend. Some of the things discussed are as follows. Fall conference for 2010 will be held in Davenport on October 8, 9, and 10th. Spring Assembly 2011 will be held in Waterloo – no dates given yet, should have those by the March business meeting. Area 24 treasurer changed banks to allow for state wide access to the account. Before changing bank, the treasurer had to send all monies – check or cash in the mail. Now with the new account she can access the account from any branch in the state. I am wondering if this is something we need to think about. I’m not sure what our options are at the moment. I would like for our treasurer to gather information for us. GSO is revamping the pamphlet “It sure beats sitting in a cell”. They would like stories of experiences from the A.A. community. They are looking for 4 or 5 paragraphs per article. If you are interested in sharing any experience you have or know of somebody who would like to share, Please talk with me after the meeting. GSO is still wanting to know how to handle the Literature funds that are profit. I don’t know if I have any opinion other than it should be used for A.A. related things. Not sure putting new bathrooms in a building that A.A. doesn’t and shouldn’t own is really A.A. business. What’s your opinion? The translation equipment will be purchased. Area committee is looking for equipment between $500.00 and $1200.00. Which pretty much means that even though we have made our voice known, the minority didn’t sway the majority. I don’t feel this is a bad decision, I just don’t think we should single out one ethnic group to help. What about the many other people who live among us that have difficulty with English? Area 24 is now IRS complainant. We are incorporated. Our tax status is settled without having to pay any penalties. There was a motion to retain the lawyer as our legal point of contact for any further legal matters. That motion was tabled until more information could be gathered as to what exactly a legal point of contact would do. There was a big mess from fall conference on monies spent by the committee for the Hospitality room. Money was taken from the Assembly seed money and used to finance the cost of the Hospitality room. The cost was $600.00 and I don’t know exactly what that entailed. However the Hospitality room made $812.00 which was given back to the Area to cover the monies used. So in actuality, there was a profit of $215.00 given back to Area 24. The bylaws state that Area 24 will not fund Hospitality rooms. So the $215.00 will be sent back to District 20 and District 7 evenly split with an explanation that Area 24 could not accept the money because it was from the Hospitality room. If they District decide to send it back as donations, it would then be accepted. Kind of a play on words, but I think the right thing to do. That’s about all I have for now. Yours in Service, T.J
Alt DCM report: Hi all, I am glad to be back. Meeting schedule and  phone list are both  updated. Looking forward to the next District 12 meeting at St. Paul’s. Spaghetti dinner and speaker Rick C. Please come and bring a friend. Yours in service, Greer S. 
GSR Reports: 
KnoxvilleGSR:No report 
Osky – Keep Sobriety Simple Sunday – Danny G. GSR: We have great attendance 10 – 20 members. We have had some problems with money missing. We hope this will fix itself. We are keeping an eye on it. We may need to change some things. The very best meeting in town. In service, Danny G.  
Pella Group – Amanda G. GSR:  Pella group is going well. We have moved to our new room – 200. It is working for now, but probably won’t for long. It really is too small and we are on track and will be making donations to District on up after Spring Conference. I missed the meeting last month due to a family Christmas obligation and fely really bad. I’m glad to be back! Hope everyone’s holiday went well and a Happy New Year to all! Yours in service, Amanda G. 
Ottumwa Start your Day over Noon Group – Tim R GSR:Our group has seen diminishing numbers for the last month. In our last business meeting, Dennis A. was elected as the new ALT GSR for our group. Welcome Dennis!! Since we are struggling to pay rent without using our prudent reserve, there was discussion on elimination one of our five meetings. No such action has been taken at this time as we will continue to monitor our account balance. In Service, Tim R. 
Ottumwa How it Works Group – GSR:   No report  
Ottumwa Bloom Where your Planted Group –  GSR:No report. 
Floris Recovering and Making Progress Group –GSR:No report.
Fairfield Serenity Group – Jocelen G. GSR:I attended the Service Weekend at Marshalltown. I learned a lot about the service structure and the upside-down triangle. We discussed setting up a phone line/answering machine that list local meeting locations and times and include contact numbers. I will let you know when it is set up. In love and service, Jocelen G. 
Friday Serenity Group Osky – Danny G. GSR:Attendance is from 8 – 10 members. Had one newcomer last Friday. 
Tuesday Night Big Book Study Oksy – Danny G GSR: Attendance is low, but meeting is enjoyed by all 
Centerville Friends of Bill W. Group – GSR: No Report 
Osky – Monday Thursday Freedom Group – GSR:No report 
Chair Report: 
LCM Reports:
The Antioch meeting (rural Fairfield) is not going to be meeting through the rest of the winter. Things seem to be going well for the Tranquility Group in Fairfield at their new location (Friend’s Church on South 6th Street). The Out of Towners group in Keosauqua continues to have steady attendance. In love and service, Jocelen G. 
I have been attending meetings in Oskaloosa, Albia and Ottumwa and letting the groups know that they need to voice their opinions at the District Meeting. The Friday and Tuesday meetings in Oskaloosa are still going. Tuesday Big book is still struggling but we’re still going. Would like to see more people as I think Big Book is what makes AA. In loving service, Terry K. 
Hello all you adorable alcoholics!. I have attended meetings in Oskaloosa, Knoxville, Fairfield and Ottumwa. The Fairfield meeting attendance was awesome with 35 people there, great sharing and at least 10 people with over 20 years sober in attendance. Osky, Knoxville and Ottumwa doing well and wonderful fellowship going on. I will be leaving for Florida tomorrow and expect to attend meetings there – will take their inventory and Let you know how they are doing. I love you guys. Your trusted servant – God Bless, Shawna G. 
Newsletter Report – Audrey V.M.:Audrey has been unable to attend due to her husband’s work schedule, but wants everyone to know she is doing ok and will have the newsletter ready for the next month’s meeting. In service for Audrey, Amanda G. 
Archives Report – :No report 
Literature – Charlene M.:I have sold 12 big books. My inventory is low. I will be ordering literature as soon as I get the account changed over to my name. Account has $502.33. Soberly submitted Charlene M. 
Corrections Report – :No report 
Events Coordinator Report – Shawna G.:Nothing to report. I will discuss having an event in the spring at the next meeting. So think about what you’d like to see the district host as far as workshops, Big Book Study, Steps, Traditions, Topics etc. I still love you guys, God Bless, Shawna G. 
Grapevine – Tim R.:We had many old copies of the Grapevine donated recently. I have spread the grapevine wealth among the Family Recovery Center in Ottumwa and a few groups around the District. There are still a few grapevines left, so if you would like some for distribution, please let me know. Tim R. 
Website master – T.J (interium).:Greeting all, I don’t know if anybody has had a chance to go to the website recently. I have been working on getting the information updated. I am currently working on getting our meeting schedule back on the site. I made an error and had to remove the information that was there. I should have it all back on by the end of the month. I have recently found out that there is a monthly charge for the website of $9.95. I had believe that for some reason this was a once a year cost. However it is not. So I am looking at other providers to see where we can save money. I have been in contact with District 7 and their cost per month is $8.85. So might go that route if I can’t find anything cheaper. Got to remember though, cheaper doesn’t mean better. Also I have bank statements with the automatic withdraws and will be asking for re-imbursement. Yours in Service, T.J.  
PI/CPC – Jocelen G.:I completed the mailing project and sent out letters to 22 probation officers and 73 counselors within our District. I have received two responses from probation officers. Both request pamphlets and one of them was also interested in having contact with an A.A. member to talk to their clients and accompany the probation officer to an open meeting. I left a voice message for this request before the holidays and did not hear back so I sent a follow-up letter this week. Overall, there is $47.03 left in my budget. I would like to obtain more pamphlets to have on hand for this project. Thank you for this opportunity to be of service. Jocelen G. 
Old Business:
Nothing much  
New Business:
Shawna G. made a motion to have automatic withdrawl of funds for website from checking account, seconded by Terry K. During discussion T.J stated that he didn’t know if the funds could be taken directly from a checking account. He will make sure it can be done by contacting the website administrators. For the time being funds will continue to be taken from private credit card. Motion passed.  Discussion on having individual email accounts that are for District chairs with anonymous providers instead of using personal accounts. T.J is to set up account for DCM and Alt DCM by next meeting. Others may wish to do so as well. This way there is one address for GSR’s, District, Area and GSO to use as a point of contact.  Fliers for District event are out. However the font is not liked, will change that for next event. We are expecting around 50 people for this event.  Shawna discussed that donations will be 1 quarter behind for reporting purposes to Area. T.J was reimbursed for 2 months of website fees and mileage to Marshalltown business meeting for a total of $64.90.  
Around the District:
Jocelen – Do we as a group conscience want GSO to use Literature money to get out of the red? Why is GSO in the red? What expenses could be cut to help bring cost in line?Shawna – GSO needs to take an inventory and check their spending. We need to be sure we are funding programs that will help the still suffering alcoholic – Bridging the Gap. Not using it to make renovations on a building that A. A. doesn’t own if that is what is happening.T.J – How many people does it take to do the jobs at GSO? Is it possible that they have some people that aren’t really needed? T.J. – Area 24 2010 budget was approved. Within that budget, translation equipment will be purchased for Spanish speaking district.  Charlene shared a story on how having the ‘Living Sober” book helped her with working with a newcomer. Tim shared that a Denver meeting has a group conscience meeting once a week.  T.J will send out the group meeting information sheets electronically. He will also find and send out a copy of the Area 24 2010 calendar of events. Reminder – Please think about rotating the District meeting again this year. Need to think about coming up with a schedule. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.   Terry K. motion to adjourn, Tim R. seconded, passed by all. Next meeting is February 6th at St Paul’s at 10:00 am.  
Carrying the Message:
Please continue to support your local meetings. And if possible attend a meeting in another town. 
A.A. Recovery Related Announcements:
Rick C., our Area 24 Delegate, will be telling his story after the February District meeting. Please try to attend. 
Non AA Recovery Related Announcements:
Camel Club April Anniversary tickets on sell for cedar chest and quilt.