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May 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, Karl; Twelve Step Coordinator, Todd; Email Meeting Coordinator, Ian; Forums Coordinator, Juanita; Real-Time Coordinator, Scott; Listkeeper, Trish O., and Newsletter Editor, Ann.
1. Acting Group Secretary's Report, Sally
We passed a housekeeping motion making the Chair of the Literature Committee an elected position.
All the elements of e-aa.org are running well.
We began elections June 1st and will continue until complete. We will not address any motions until the elections are complete, but that doesn't prohibit discussion if there are issues that need to be talked about.
Thank you all for doing such a good job.
2. Treasurer's Report, Ketra
Hi, everyone. This month we had four members contribute financially to our operations' expenses. We dipped about 10% below our prudent reserve. Our current balance is $453.55.
Snapshot:
507.18 beginning balance
+93.00 contributions
-146.63 expenses
453.55 current balance
Detailed .pdf viewable here:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8FVry85kLj6ODY4MTNmMjAtODRhOS00YjRjLWFjNzAtZmJhOGMzMmQ4MTY2&hl=en
Given the hundreds of members and thousands of people we serve, it's an odd reflection of our group, but we're nonetheless financially okay. Literature is our largest monthly expense, generally about double the cost of our "rent" (web hosting and chat services), but we've done a responsible job of cost containment. Our "rent" to the "landlords" is staggered half-yearly, so we pay a chunk to each (alternating) quarterly. The next chunk is set for July, and is $180.00 to Pendulab for ChatBlazer. The group is NOT in any financial emergency, but it behooves us to be mindful of what we put into the hat.
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
June 1, 2010
May Reports were submitted and questions answered by the following: OIAA Listkeeper, OIAA Secretary, OIAA alt.Chair, OIAA Chair, 12th Step Committee, Cooperation With the Professional Community Committee, Unity Committee, Finance Committee, Policy & Admissions Committee, Public Information Committee, Convention Committee, Ad-Hoc Sponsor Committee, Ad-Hoc Welcome Committee.
Thank you Sr. Claire for roll call and as we stand now, 44 voting members and a quorum of 14. All posts, reports and summaries are available in the business email list archives.
Thank you to Randy and Blake S. who were lead shares on the Concept V and Tradition 5, 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. I received a mail asking me how does one make this available to their group? My experience when I was my group igr, was to post the monthly agenda, committee reports and topic discussions as they were sent in during the month, to our business list. I had a few members who did follow along and offered me ideas and suggestions to take back to Intergroup. We do want to hear from all members subscribed into this list, within our discussions, including what your group members think.
Thank you to alt. Chair Don M. who covered for me a few days last week while I was away. I will be away again at the end of this month, as I shall be flying to San Antonio Texas to attend the International Convention and I hope to meet many of you who will also be attending.
Please, let's all stick to the June 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
Hi Everyone! Well here it is my last report. It appears there will be another Grapevine Rep soon. Thanks all for letting me serve on this, it was a pleasure!
We have sent weekly reminders for the drawing to all lists of E-AA on either Sunday or Monday. This month we had 39 entries, Well Done!
This months grapevine drawing winner was Dave Berz, Congratulations Dave!
May Grapevine Magazine Highlights
This issue offers sharing on a range of topics, from the unexpected benefit of doing a Fifth Step to the powerful feeling of belonging gained from sponsorship and face-to-face meetings.
Re-reading it, I had the same experience that I often have at meetings, of hearing just what I need to stay sober today: that I can't take recovery for granted. Alcoholism never goes away, these stories remind me.
It lurks beneath the surface, lashing out in the nightmares described in "Drunk Dreams" or in the self-will depicted in "I'll Handle This Myself." "The danger does not go away just because I've achieved some time in AA," says the author of "It's Not the Shoelace."
"When I hold on to resentments ... when I am unwilling to listen to others and change my mind ... I am not only not emotionally sober but I also may become not physically sober."
The same stories also light the way to the solution: acknowledging the power of alcoholism, or learning that, as "Ugly Words" suggests, even when we are receiving help from another alcoholic, we may be giving it, taking our first steps toward trust in the Fellowship of AA.
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, Karl
May has been somewhat of a quiet month. Our committee said goodbye to our wonderful chair Sheila: thank you Sheila for all your hard work. The literature committee has honored me with the service of being their chair from May 1 until a newly elected chair of the literature committee takes the reins on September 1, 2010.
Missy has joined our committee and is hard at work looking for stories to add to E-AA's "Our Stories" page http://e-aa.org/group_stories.php ; This page has a tremendous collection of experience, strength, and hope for all of us; old timer and newcomer alike. Thank you to Missy and all the others who continue to seek out stories.
Trish2 continues the service of ordering Big Books and also of ordering the Grapevine subscription for the monthly Grapevine giveaway. Thank you so much Trish.
Big Book and grapevine orders in May were:
Grapevine - April Winner - Sandy in Australia 5/3
Big Books
Daryl Michigan Chat 5/3
Mike G. Illinois Chat 5/15
Ginny Michigan Womens/WL 5/16
Cindy Alberta Womens/WL 5/30
Please contact us if you would consider sharing your story or encouraging someone else to share their ES and H. We'd love to consider your story.
Remember-E-AA will provide a complimentary Big Book to those who desire one and have a desire to stop drinking. The web form is http://www.e-aa.org/form_lit.php or just drop a note to one of us on the literature committee. It's important to mention the venue, or meeting where you heard about this offer (i.e. chat, forums, one of the e-mail meetings).
Responses from those who received a big book.
"I'm a newbie and am reaching out"
"I need all the help I can get!!"
"I feel crappy both emotionally and physically. I did not drink. I prayed. I didn't get to a meeting last night, but I did read from my Big Book that was sent to me by this wonderful group. Thank you to everyone who played a part in sending me my book."
"Thank you so much for the book."
"I cannot express my thanks enough."
6. Twelve Step Coordinator's Report, Todd
Step-12 Email Team
Approximated Talley = Requests: 90
E-aa Personal Replies: 210
Thank you for all the Replies to Step-12 email requests. You know who you are… Good Job… Good Deal!
The chatroom New Registration created a small influx of Tech Help. All requests where forwarded to ChatCom.
In an Effort to have smooth transitions after elections, this month we began a Roll Call…
13-here <> 3-pending <> 1-ReqRemoval <> 1-BadEmail
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. Email Meeting Coordinator's Report, Ian
The email meetings continue to be a strong source of recovery. The SV meeting was closed due to inactivity, and we opened a new informal list called "Lounge" - similar to the "meeting before/after the meeting".
8. Forum Coordinator's Report, Juanita
The forums are continuing to stay active with a good level of participation in discussion topics as well as newcomer registrations. We have had one moderator rotate out of position during the month of May. The newer moderators are learning the ropes quickly and there have been no other reportable incidents, thank-you.
9. Real Time Coordinator's Report - Scott
Many new people in chat room and more new ones each day!
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
May log-ins
Fellowship/Meeting Room-8865 log-ins with some repeat users
New to Recovery Room-907 log-ins with some repeat users
Monitors Report- Jenny, Buster, Don, Dan, Brenda, Mags, Thane, Todd, Walt, Dean, Walt
I have asked Brenda to be my Alt.Real Time Coordinator should I have to be away for awhile. While I'm away, she will handle all room business, add and subtract from chatcom as needed, and make the decisions I normally do with my utmost confidence.
Phill removed for 7 days last month for violation of Decorum guidelines.
He has continually entered room under hundreds of names and caused problems, ranging from posting of the orange papers, to vulgarity, to anti AA chat. He has shown he has no interest in our program and will continue to be banned from our room till further notice.
ChristopherO also has been banned from room for violation of decorum guidelines and the traditions of AA. Constant bible readings, religious names and disruption and rudeness when asked to refrain.
Both chatters were given plenty of chances and were talked to many time by many monitors. They choose to do it the hard way.
Chatcom Report- Liz, Lori, Niki, Russell added to chatcom. Russell and Liz as observers.
Pretty quiet this month in chatcom other then business as usual.
Roll call was tabulated and very few removed. Some have since been re added.
Combining of Fellowship room and meeting room a great success. A few grumblers, but they all got used to it and most have said they like it. New to recovery room remains open for recovery based chat during meetings
New registration has been installed. A bit of confusion at first but all seem to have found their way in. Thanks for all the hard work Dean for setting it up and getting it started! This new system will make it harder for multiple log-ins and keep the rooms much safer. Its also easier to use.
Addition of meeting announcements 5 minutes before meeting starts added to room for all meetings.
Addition of scheduled discussion topics, daily reflections, as Bill sees it, and other readings added to the new to recovery room. A link has been provided in announcements on front page with the schedule of times announcements occur.
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.
Memorial Day Alcathon was a success with many stepping up to chair or greet. The chatblazer software was malfunctioning all weekend but all made the best of it and all meetings were carried out. Thanks to Bob for all his help, and all who participated.
Thanks to all in Chat Committee and all chatters for the continued support!
10. Listkeeper's Report, Trish O.
Other than a few AOL'ers using spam buttons things are running smoothly. We have been discussing how to find a solution with this by maybe posting more often:
>
> Weekly post of awareness to all groups....... Please Do Not Use SPAM Button.
>
> Just Drop a email to listkeeping@e-aa.org and we will unsubscribe you as soon as possible!
Will keep everyone posted on this and maybe it will stop some of the bounce mails. Thank you everyone for all your all your support.
11. Newsletter Editor's Report, Ann
Missing newsletters from 2007 and 2008 were replaced. They are verifiable by anyone who has copies in their gmail (which is where I found my copies -- I never delete and no one who has gmail needs to, so I assume that there are other copies floating around to check that my uploads are accurate).
Newsletters still missing:
2001: August, October, November
2002: January April, May, July, November
2003: April, June September
2004: January, October, November, December
2005: January
If anyone has copies of these, I would greatly appreciate their being sent to me. Thank you!
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