Until we have future meetings to vote on issues, we continue operation
as we have in the past.
Setting next members/business meeting for Tues., 23rd Feb, after Feedback
meeting.
We include on next meeting's agenda, discussion of including steps in guidelines,
type of step meeting(s), and length of step share, and scope.
Meeting was called to order by Maxine at 11:10pm EST.
Attendance: 15
5 Operators:
DanK georgew
Maxine RobZ
TimF
3 Non-ops:
Marn TimW
Yo
7 Partial attendance: Abram
ClayH johnnyb
Leslie Marie
soahc wade
Old business: None (as this is the first official business meeting).
Maxine
stated, "I have asked TimF to act as Secretary for this meeting until we
have someone in that position."
Maxine
made a motion that "Until we have future meetings
to vote on issues, we continue operation as we have in the past."
Robz
seconded the motion.
Motion passed. (7 yes; 1 no; 0 abstentions)
Discussion
(after the vote):
What
was the past?
In my
opinion, the meetings in the past were just as we saw tonight. That's
all. Any changes, there, in the motion states we are going to vote
in the future, rather than change. Correct me if I'm wrong.
May I
assume that you have recently made some changes without a vote and now
you are backtracking? If so, what changes have been made?
Recently,
it was brought to the attention of the room owner that decisions were being
made without a group conscience, which is what we need as a 12 step group.
Rick has retired as room owner. [Maxine has] volunteered to fill
in this position and essentially, we are starting out as a new SLAA group.
We need to set up officer positions, committees, etc, as the group feels
necessary, to continue to operate as a group. We need to abide by
the 12 traditions as a group, and that's why we need business/member meetings
to address concerns or situations that arise and to keep meetings running
smoothly. To continue to operate as in the past
means to keep meetings running
as they have been until we make any group consciences to change them --
keep ops leading meetings until we make motions to set guidelines/policies.
We need to have something to base continuation on and that would be operation
as in the past.
I agree
with all that has been said before me. The ultimate plan is to establish
REGULAR business meetings, but until then, to keep things JUST as they
have been -- same StarLink servers - same room name - same policy - etc.
To NOT vote affirmative on this motion would mean that we would open grounds
to making changes or policies NOW, but the intention is to set up REGULAR
business meetings first, so that ALL who wants to can schedule themselves
to attend.
I would
just like to point out two things: One, we announced another meeting for
next Tuesday the 23rd. At that meeting, Maxine will present an agenda
for discussion. Tonight we approved operating as we had been, as
we needed to keep going. Next week there will be many topics, and
we encourage you all to come.
Just
wish to suggest something that seems obvious to me, which is... If some
items on the agenda for a scheduled meeting
could be listed to the group
in a normal meeting, then you may have better turn-out. I don't really
like to go to meetings if I don't know their purpose in advance.
Maxine
stated: Last on tonight's agenda is to set a date for the next members
(business) meeting, for which I have an agenda prepared and will present
tonight after the close of this meeting.
Maxine
made a motion "Setting next members/business meeting
for Tues., 23rd Feb, after Feedback meeting."
Robz
seconded the motion.
Discussion:
Should
there be a minimum amount of time given when calling for a business meeting?
And should it be announced nightly? Just want everybody to have a
chance to participate.
I agree
there should be, but right now, it is important to resolve certain issues.
6 days is minimal, but should be adequate, as most who come here will see
it. It is also intended to announce at every meeting, And so send
agenda quickly, perhaps tomorrow. I remind you this meeting on Tuesday
is ONLY for discussion.
I have
a suggestion and this is only that, because I know some people do want
their privacy, and I completely respect that -- But I suggest an email
list, such that one person has email addresses for all interested parties,
and can pass along information that way.
Just
to clear things up... We, I think, are trying to establish a plan to set
up bus. meetings. We need to have one, to establish them. Once
we have one, I think our goal is to have them on a regular basis, Two times
a month, for example, on the same day. So, we will know for the whole
year when a business meeting is. So any one who is here a few times,
will know when they are, so then we don't have to announce them every night
-- we will know. (For example, second Tuesday after meeting is a
business meeting).
Motion
passed. (7 yes; 0 no; 2 abstentions)
Maxine
publicly shared the agenda for the next meeting:
Agenda for Business Meeting
(set for Tue-23-Feb-99 after Feedback Meeting)
I Discussion
of Establishing Officer Positions:
President (owner),
Vice-President (co-owner(s)),
Secretary, and
Web Site Specialist (instead of treasurer)
A Officers by Election or Volunteer Basis?
B Requirements for Officers
C Responsibilities for Officers
II Discussion
on OPs
A Deletion of non-active ops from list
B Continuation current ops
C Method of adding OPs
III Discussion
on types of meetings
A Open Share -- Sat & Sun
B Step Meetings -- Mon & Wed
C Feedback -- Tues & Fri
D Gratitude -- Thurs
E Business Meetings -- ??
IV Discussion
on Committees
A Policy Committee
B Any others Necessary?
Anything we don't get to
in the hour can be tabled over to the next meeting.
Georgew
mentioned that we have had requests to actually read step work at meetings.
Georgew made a motion that, "We include on next meeting's
agenda, discussion of including steps in guidelines, type of step meeting(s),
and length of step share, and scope."
TimF
seconded the motion.
Motion
passed. (6 yes; 2 no; 1 abstention)
Discussion (after the vote):
I just
want to clarify my strong opposition, I think we already have too much
to chew on Tuesday, so I think the issue of setting up a new meeting schedule
should wait, just a little while, so we can continue as we are for a little
while.
Please
note that Maxine has carefully set priorities for discussion, and we will
set a rough time limit. Any items not under discussion will simply
be passed onto next meeting. But at least you can all see the complete
proposed agenda. There probably are too many items, but the full
agenda eliminates time wasting discussion of other planned items being
added.
DanK made a motion to adjourn.
TimF
seconded the motion.
Motion
passed. (7 yes; 0 no; 0 abstention)
The business meeting was closed with the Serenity Prayer at 12:01am EST.