Standing Items
1. Serenity prayer and request for notetaker
2. Establishment of Quorum (need 2/3 of registered representatives per the GSC Charter)
3. Approval of September minutes
4. Incorporation Committee
5. Webmaster Report
6. Literature Committee Report
Current Items
7. Statement by the Chair
8. Spirituality Committee Proposal:
Form a spirituality subcommittee of the GSC whose purpose is to expand our ability to communicate about how
spirituality leads to transformation in recovery.
The committee will have 2 primary goals:
1. Develop approaches to talking about spirituality in our literature in a way that gets to the heart of its
transformational power.
2. Address current needs and concerns, including the following: We need to communicate a strong
message of recovery, including the process of connecting with power greater than ourselves in order
to make that recovery possible. We need to provide a safe place to talk about our experiences with
that transformation without fear of disapproval. And we need to continue to help newcomers to feel
welcome no matter what spiritual beliefs they have.
9. Meeting handbook approval comes back to the table with the vote intact. 10 aye, 2 nay is 83% of those
present from September. 1. Update from LitCom and hear objections. 2. Do we want to revisit the vote?
10. Guidelines for writing about higher power: Do we revisit the 8-0 vote on the motion that “To approve the
guidelines for literature as-is instead of asking the groups to approve first.” held at the August meeting
11. Copyrighting the Handbook. Format(s) to publish the Handbook.
12. AOB
- From a member: When are GSC meetings held? Specifically what is the rule or guideline for when GSC
meetings are held? Adrienne’s preliminary answer: Currently GSC meetings are held on the 2nd
Sunday. Meetings may also be called as needed by the chair (according to my predecessor).
Recommend checking Online Meeting Schedule and https://gaais.org/gsc
Agenda and notes for 9 October, 2022
Forum rules
* The business of the General Service Conference is discussed. We make decisions by group conscience, guided by higher power. Those elected as a trustee or delegate can vote on all GSC matters. GAAIS staff can vote on issues related to their area.
* Back and forth discussion of different perspectives is appropriate. We strive to be respectful of all.
* Anonymity reminds us to place principles before personalities.
* The business of the General Service Conference is discussed. We make decisions by group conscience, guided by higher power. Those elected as a trustee or delegate can vote on all GSC matters. GAAIS staff can vote on issues related to their area.
* Back and forth discussion of different perspectives is appropriate. We strive to be respectful of all.
* Anonymity reminds us to place principles before personalities.
Re: Agenda and notes for 9 October, 2022
Draft minutes GSC Oct. 9, 2022
Meeting
1. Serenity prayer (led by Adrienne, Chair) and request for notetaker (Jeff volunteered)
2. Establishment of Quorum (need 2/3 of registered representatives per the GSC Charter)
Representatives present: Trustees (4), OOMG, EGGA, Women’s, Tuesday Eve., Rotterdam. Quorum established (8/12, at one point 9/12)
Several visitors were greeted.
3. Approval of September minutes – Unanimously approved with no changes.
4. Incorporation Committee Report – Committee is back up; will meet this coming week.
5. Webmaster Report – Several translations are in progress; someone is writing software to post the “reading for the day” on the site for ease of use by meetings that want to use it.
6. Literature Committee Report – The Literature Committee determined that the changes were minor, and recommended that the Meeting Handbook be approved by GSC.
7. Ian is giving up his position as Treasurer and we are looking for a new one.
Current Items
8. Statement by the Chair—Adrienne greeted the group as the new chair and stated a few things about her style, offering to talk with anyone who might have questions/concerns.
9. Spirituality Committee Proposal:
Form a spirituality subcommittee of the GSC whose purpose is to expand our ability to communicate about how spirituality leads to transformation in recovery.
The committee will have 2 primary goals:
Develop approaches to talking about spirituality in our literature in a way that gets to the heart of its transformational power.
Address current needs and concerns, including the following: We need to communicate a strong message of recovery, including the process of connecting with power greater than ourselves in order to make that recovery possible. We need to provide a safe place to talk about our experiences with that transformation without fear of disapproval. And we need to continue to help newcomers to feel welcome no matter what spiritual beliefs they have.
The Spirituality committee was formed as a subcommittee of the GSC, by unanimous vote. Johanna is chair. Jeff and Shmully volunteered to join.
10. Meeting handbook approval comes back to the table with the vote intact. 10 aye, 2 nay is 83% of those present from September. 1. Update from LitCom and hear objections. 2. Do we want to revisit the vote?
Per the tradition of respecting minority views, time was taken to hear reasons for the 2 nay votes (the vote occurred at the end of the last meeting). There was some discussion. There were two main concerns voiced:
-that the lack of inclusion of a more traditionally worded Serenity Prayer sends a message to groups when it is not clear that this truly represents fellowship consensus, noting that it is a recent change from overall fellowship practice
-that there is a need to get more feedback and bring more groups and individuals into the process.
The decision was made to move forward and not reconsider the vote (2 aye, 7 nay to reconsider). The chair noted that a decision on exactly how to publish it remains, as several proposals were put forward regarding this which were not able to be considered.
Item 11 was put on the table, by unanimous vote.
11. Guidelines for writing about higher power: Do we revisit the 8-0 vote on the motion that “To approve the guidelines for literature as-is instead of asking the groups to approve first.” held at the August meeting (see below for details.
The meeting ended with thanks and appreciation for the new chair from numerous members.
Meeting
1. Serenity prayer (led by Adrienne, Chair) and request for notetaker (Jeff volunteered)
2. Establishment of Quorum (need 2/3 of registered representatives per the GSC Charter)
Representatives present: Trustees (4), OOMG, EGGA, Women’s, Tuesday Eve., Rotterdam. Quorum established (8/12, at one point 9/12)
Several visitors were greeted.
3. Approval of September minutes – Unanimously approved with no changes.
4. Incorporation Committee Report – Committee is back up; will meet this coming week.
5. Webmaster Report – Several translations are in progress; someone is writing software to post the “reading for the day” on the site for ease of use by meetings that want to use it.
6. Literature Committee Report – The Literature Committee determined that the changes were minor, and recommended that the Meeting Handbook be approved by GSC.
7. Ian is giving up his position as Treasurer and we are looking for a new one.
Current Items
8. Statement by the Chair—Adrienne greeted the group as the new chair and stated a few things about her style, offering to talk with anyone who might have questions/concerns.
9. Spirituality Committee Proposal:
Form a spirituality subcommittee of the GSC whose purpose is to expand our ability to communicate about how spirituality leads to transformation in recovery.
The committee will have 2 primary goals:
Develop approaches to talking about spirituality in our literature in a way that gets to the heart of its transformational power.
Address current needs and concerns, including the following: We need to communicate a strong message of recovery, including the process of connecting with power greater than ourselves in order to make that recovery possible. We need to provide a safe place to talk about our experiences with that transformation without fear of disapproval. And we need to continue to help newcomers to feel welcome no matter what spiritual beliefs they have.
The Spirituality committee was formed as a subcommittee of the GSC, by unanimous vote. Johanna is chair. Jeff and Shmully volunteered to join.
10. Meeting handbook approval comes back to the table with the vote intact. 10 aye, 2 nay is 83% of those present from September. 1. Update from LitCom and hear objections. 2. Do we want to revisit the vote?
Per the tradition of respecting minority views, time was taken to hear reasons for the 2 nay votes (the vote occurred at the end of the last meeting). There was some discussion. There were two main concerns voiced:
-that the lack of inclusion of a more traditionally worded Serenity Prayer sends a message to groups when it is not clear that this truly represents fellowship consensus, noting that it is a recent change from overall fellowship practice
-that there is a need to get more feedback and bring more groups and individuals into the process.
The decision was made to move forward and not reconsider the vote (2 aye, 7 nay to reconsider). The chair noted that a decision on exactly how to publish it remains, as several proposals were put forward regarding this which were not able to be considered.
Item 11 was put on the table, by unanimous vote.
11. Guidelines for writing about higher power: Do we revisit the 8-0 vote on the motion that “To approve the guidelines for literature as-is instead of asking the groups to approve first.” held at the August meeting (see below for details.
The meeting ended with thanks and appreciation for the new chair from numerous members.