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April 2010 e-AA Newsletter
This newsletter includes reports submitted from: Acting Group Secretary, Sally; Treasurer, Ketra; Online Intergroup Representative, Susan; Grapevine Representative, Scott; Literature Committee Chair, Sheila; Twelve Step Coordinator, Todd; Forums Coordinator, Juanita; Real-Time Coordinator, Scott; Listkeeper, Trish O.; Webteam Chair, John P., and Newsletter Editor, Ann.
1. Acting Group Secretary's Report, Sally
We have been a little scattered on leadership since Christmas thanks to life circumstances getting in the way -- and the need to practice AA principles on ourselves. I want to thank Ian again for taking over for me Jan-March due to my lousy computer connections.
I think all of our Trusted Servants need to stand up and smile right about now because E-AA.org is -- and has been -- running just fine -- everyone is doing their jobs -- every email meeting is going strong and each committee is doing their job. The chat team is doing a great job in a difficult position -- and our newcomers are finding the AA recovery here they came for. AA teaches us to step up to the plate when needed -- and i thank you all for demonstrating that principle.
We will begin elections for next years' Trusted Servants on June 1st -- we have a number of positions to elect and i encourage you all to think about volunteering. I for one have always gotten back far more than i give to all AA service.
2. Treasurer's Report, Ketra
Here's our accounts snapshot:
75.20 member contributions
288.94 expenses
507.18 balance forward
Detailed .pdf viewable here:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8FVry85kLj6NDI0MjE4ZTMtNGRmNC00NDdkLTk3NzItYTJkMjQyODEwZjRk&hl=en
For your convenience, contribution methods are:
PayPal: http://www.e-aa.org/group_seventh.php
Mail:
The e-AA Group
732 Viader Ct.
Santa Clara, CA 95050
USA
3. Online Intergroup Representative's Report, Susan
OIAA CHAIR'S REPORT
May 1, 2010
April Reports were submitted and questions answered by the following: OIAA Historian, OIAA Listkeeper, OIAA Secretary, OIAA Treasurer, OIAA alt.Chair, OIAA Chair, 12th Step Committee, Cooperation With the Professional Community Committee, Unity Committee, Finance Committee, Policy & Admissions Committee, Public Information Committee, Web Committee, Convention Committee, Ad-Hoc Sponsor Committee, Ad-Hoc Welcome Committee.
In April the Assembly had two listed Topic Discussions: Tradition 4, Concept IV and there were no requested topic discussions for April. All posts and summaries of above topics are available in the business email list archives.
One Regular Motion was voted on and results were: 2010 Convention Committee Budget - motion carried.
Thank you to Boris and Terry R. who were lead shares on the Concept IV and Tradition 4, respectively.
Special note for IGR's and Alt.-IGR's. Please try to find a way to make the agenda as well as committee reports, available to everyone in your group or meeting. Thank you to all voting members who voted in April as we were able to make quorum. Any member of the Assembly may request a discussion for the topic discussion portion of the monthly agenda.
Please, let's all stick to the May agenda as set out, noting the exception of Wacky Wednesday. The Open Forum may be used at anytime as a venue for off-topic sharing of ideas or off-agenda items of discussion. You are reminded that this list is moderated.
4. Grapevine Representative's Report, Scott
We have sent weekly reminders for the drawing to all lists of E-AA on either Sunday or Monday. This month we had 36 entries, Well Done!
This months grapevine drawing winner was Sandy, Congratulations Sandy!
March Grapevine Magazine Highlights
As have long been aware of what a deadly roadblock to recovery talk of God can be to newcomers. In a 1961 Grapevine article called "The Dilemma of No Faith," Bill W. wonders how many we lose because of their "dire conviction that, if they go near AA, they will be pressured to conform to some particular brand of faith or theology."
As the stories in this issue attest, newcomers still have to get past warnings that AA is "a Christian program," as David K., author of "Sober Rabbi," did. Others, like Bert W., author of "Continental Shift," struggle with the Big Book's implication "that if I do not shed my agnosticism, I cannot stay sober." How do AAs overcome such obstacles? David K. says identifying with others helped him put his alcoholism first without feeling spiritually threatened. ("Better to be a sober Christian than to be a drunken Jew!" he thought.) Bert embraced the mysteries of life. "My universe features no shortage of powers greater than myself. Plate tectonics and erosion spring to mind."
"The spirituality of AA has remained pragmatic," Ward Ewing, chair of AA's General Service Board, ventures. "The fundamental faith for members of AA is the hope that today they can live sober lives." Sharing our stories—what actually happened rather than what we believe—lights the way for others. Having the humility to say what works for us, not what will work for you, honors the individual spirit of every alcoholic who reaches out for help.
Subscriptions to the Grapevine can be ordered here:
http://www.aagrapevine.org/catalog/shop/gvsuborder.php
The cost for a 1 year subscription is $27 for the USA, $31 for Canada and $39 for all other international orders.
Call for Articles: The AA Grapevine is your meeting. Please feel free to share. We are always looking for new stories to share with our readers, especially for our Special Sections. If you would like to share a story with us, please keep in mind that we need to receive it at least three months prior to publication. The Grapevine welcomes articles on every aspect of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous.
We are always glad to get stories about helping others and working with professionals. In addition, we always welcome articles about the Traditions and the Twelve Steps. Suggested manuscript length is three to seven double-spaced pages. Include your full name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Please keep a copy of your work because manuscripts cannot be returned. Refer to our Submission Guidelines for more information.
Mail to:
Editorial department, Grapevine,
475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10115
or by email to gveditorial@aagrapevine.org
5. Literature Committee Chair's Report, Sheila
April was yet another active month here... Sue T shared her story with us, it is posted on "our stories " section; you can find her story (and many more) here: http://www.e-aa.org/group_stories.php
We sent out 9 Big Books:
Serena from the UK, via Womens/WL
Faith from Tennessee via Chatroom
Julie from Maryland via Forums
Janice from Florida via Temp. Sponsor
Gwendolyn from British Columbia via GetHelpNow
Susan from New Zealand via Women’s/WL
David from Florida via Chat
Sondra from Florida via GetHelpNow
Amanda from Florida via Womens/WL
I have a couple of quotes to pass on from our Big Books recipients:
"I'm a newbie and am reaching out"
"I need all the help I can get!!"
"What is the BIG BOOK??? I guess I don't have one...."
"thank you, i do not have the book, have heard of it"
Thanks to all on the Literature Committee who answer the calls for help.
6. Twelve Step Coordinator's Report, Todd
Step-12 Email Team
Talley = Requests: 58
E-aa Personal Replies: 126
The team grew this month by three… You know who you are… Good Job… Good Deal!
Thank you for all the Replies to Step-12 email requests.
If you are Interested and Willing to respond to GetHelpNow emails
Please Complete the FORM here http://www.e-aa.org/help.php and I will contact the E-aa listkeeping.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are responsible . . .
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help,
We want the hand of A.A. always to be there.
And for that: We are responsible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. Forum Coordinator's Report, Juanita
April was an active month in terms of newcomer registrations as well as moderator rotation. We currently have 2,037 active users and a total of 2,457 registered users on E-AA discussion forums. We have had two moderators rotate out of service and two rotate in with a total of ten members on the forums committee. The forums are running very well and without reportable incident.
8. Real Time Coordinator's Report - Scott
Many new people in chat room and more new ones each day!
March log-ins
Fellowship Room-7458 log-ins with some repeat users
Meeting Room-2829 log-ins with some repeat users
New to Recovery Room-1081 log-ins with some repeat users
April log ins
Fellowship Room-6805 log-ins with repeat users
Meeting Room-2567 log-ins with some repeat users
New to Recovery Room-1112 log ins with some repeat users
Combined Fellowship/Meeting Room- (5 days) 1260
376 more log-ins then last month total
Monitors Report- Jenny, Buster, Don, Dan, Brenda, Mags, Thane, Todd, Walt, Dean, Walt
Joy has stepped down as monitor. Thanks so much for all your service!
Phill removed from room on 7 day time out due to refusal to observe decorum guidelines. ChristopherO also removed for refusal to observe decorum guidelines and traditions of AA, mainly tradition 10 and preaching biblical verses, and posting of various non AA websites. Both had numerous warnings and discussions. Both have continued to ignore the time outs effectively extending them.
Chatcom Report- lain added to chatcom.
Chatcom has been orderly and we have had some productive conversations. Mainly, discussing what chatcom is, and who is the chat committee. Chat Committee has been reestablished per the Op-Docs, with current observers remaining in chatcom.
Roll call was asked ending May 1st. results not tabulated yet.
Discussion and Chat Committee vote on combining of Fellowship and Meetings done in same room. Vote was unanimous to have meetings in same room as Fellowship room, effectively making Fellowship room a before and after meeting chat. New to recovery room remains open for new entrants and AA based recovery chat only during meetings.
Discussion on changing current registration system with a vote for approval. No complaints. The new system would effectively change from a user name/e-mail addy log in to a registered E-mail log in system, with a confirmation e-mail sent with link before being registered, hence improving the safety and security of the chat room and removing multiple registrants with dummy e-mail addys. It should be a vast improvement. All will have to re-register when completed.
CC"s comments: Chat room continues to show vast improvement. Chatters stepping up to help newies, and assist in meetings when needed. Decorum guidelines being met aside from a few various instances which will happen now and then. The addition of the meetings to fellowship room has been done with little disruption and appears to have increased the amount of meeting attendees. All chatters have commented on how much better the chat room has been in a weeks time.
Chat Coordinators agenda for month of April
1) Meetings in same room as Fellowship-completed
2) New registration system-in progress
3) Roll call for chatcom-done awaiting tabulation
4) Cleaning of chatblazer server of old and obscene log in names with an occasional mistake. Chatter asked to kindly re-register and met with mostly positive reactions. Accidents happen dealing with 1100 different names. Jenny instrumental in helping and implementing this. Thank you!
Thanks to all in Chat Committee and all chatters for the continued support!
9. Listkeeper's Report, Trish O.
Everything is running smoothly in the listkeeping department. Thank you for allowing me to be of service. .
10. Webteam Chair's Report, John P.
I was the chairperson for the WebTeam during the month of April but needed to vacate at the end of the month due to uncertain status of my living arrangements. So, at this time, the chairperson's position is vacant until the team can agree on a new chairperson as Bonnie turned it over to me at the end of March.
It has been an active month with your Web Team. During the month of April we:
- Brought on new and eager members to the team.
- Discussed the duties of the team and which tasks are assigned to whom.
- Identified the need for essential items to keep e-AA.org running smoothly such as:
a) Backups: Currently done but could be done better. Ideas were tossed around with Walt , Karl, Dean and others to lay framework for the future.
b) Job Assignments / Alternates: This was discussed as everyone has certain talents and we are attempting to use them most efficiently. This includes the ability to cover when others are unwilling or unable to perform required tasks. Plus it's tough to compliment someone for doing a great job if you don't know who they are ;-)
c) Documentation: In all organizations, Documentation is key to continuity. e-AA is certainly no different as documenting our jobs / functions are required to make turnovers ( whatever the reason ) smoother and transparent for the members and visitors to e-AA.
Some progress has been made with the items above. I hope it will continue at this fast pace.
We have also started making headway with other teams to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Kudos especially to Scott and Jenny for their contributions from the Chat Team.
I would like to take this opportunity to express what a great pleasure it has been working with your Trusted Servants of e-AA and wish everyone well in the future. Oh, and 1 more thing ...
Walt is bringing the bagels as he's still the new guy here ;-)
11. Newsletter Editor's Report, Ann
In October I performed maintenance on the mailing list, removing 240 emails in the subscriber database that had been returned as failures. I have added subscriber database maintenance as a monthly task for the 5-10 returned failures that crop up as each newsletter is sent out.
In April I discovered that many newsletters are missing from the archives. Here is a list of the newsletters discovered missing:
2001: August, October, November
2002: January April, May, July, November
2003: April, June September
2004: January, October, November, December
2005: January
2007: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2008: January, February, March, April, May, June, July
I will be able to replace the 2007 and 2008 newsletters, but I have no record of those from the years 2001-2004. If anyone has copies of these, I would greatly appreciate their being sent to me. Thank you!
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