Location Northside
Time Meeting opened at 1:38 with serenity prayer. Kahle B
Readings Service Prayer Twelve Traditions Twelve Concepts On Service On Decorum Mission
Service Prayer - David B (Peacekeeper) Twelve Traditions - Jay (RCMA)
Twelve Concepts - David (Peacekeeper) On Service - Kahle B
On Decorum – Kahle B
Mission - David B (Peacekeeper)
RCM Team Workshop Concept 10 – Any member of a service body can petition that body for the redress of a personal grievance without fear of reprisal.
Jay – One of the the important words in Concept 10 is the word “petition”. If a member has a grievance it should be in the form of a petition in writing, not just verbally.
NA service should be done with respect for members. We are human and sometimes we can mistreat one another. Concept 10 provides a spritual means for service bodies to make amends to members involved in service who may have been wronged, so that we may treat one another fairly.
Jay provided an example of how a member had been nominated for a position in an area service body. He was asked to leave the room so that members could discuss his qualificaitons. In his absence from the discussion he was harmed in the business meeting by someone assasinating his character and he was not elected. He learned about the
discussion later and felt harmed by the comments. After speaking with his sponsor, prayer and meditation, and reflection, he wrote a letter addressed to the service body, asking for the decision concerning his election be revisited and discussed. Concept 10 allows for this process to happen to make sure that our members are treated with respect and fairness. Other examples of the practical application of Concept 10 were provided in the workshop.
The GSR’s broke out into 5 small groups to discuss Concept 10 further. Questionnaires with three questions were provided for discussion among the GSRs:
1. Do you know of anyone who has been wronged in service? Has the wrong been made right? How?
2. Have you ever been afraid to speak your conscience in service meetings? Do you know of anyone who has been afraid to speak freely? If so, why?
3. When is it appropriate to apply to the 10th Concept? When is it not appropriate? Group 1
1. We had a number of examples of members that were harmed. How was it made right? Mostly it was a matter of misinformation, so the correct information was provided. Promote unity. Practiced humility. Practice the principles we learn in recovery and apply them in the business meetings.
2. New people at this service body seem to be intimidated by the meeting. Experienced members need to act appropriately to make the new members feel welcome. We encourage people to serve, we need to make it welcoming to serve in this body.
RCM Team Workshop (continued) 3. When its just a matter of your feelings have been hurt this may not be an appropriate to apply Concept 10. After speaking with your sponsor, along with prayer and meditation it may be appropriate.
Group 2
1. Only one out nine of the members of this discussion group have experienced this. One member felt the decision to discontinue some meetings was made to quickly, so the process was slowed down to meet this member’s concerns. 2. We need to promote inclusion of all members, not just the members with strong personalities.
3. Whenever there is a perceived wrong the Concept should be applied. The member should address the admin committee. Felecia – what if the wrong came from the admin committee?
Mike D – the issue should be brought to the service body, not just the admin committee. Group 3
1. A member felt coerced to go along with the consensus of the members presents at the business meeting. An emergency group conscience was held to address this concern.
2. Yes, because of the fear of being ostracized. Some people are not willing to speak against the majority. Some people are afraid to speak because of lack of experience, language barriers, age, or personality conflicts.
3. When integrity is being questioned or the member is personally attacked. Group 4
1. Speaking with sponsor and prayer and meditation often takes care of issues before Concept 10 has to be applied. 2. Members with not as much clean time and experienced are often not comfortable speaking in service bodies. 3. After speaking with sponsor it may be appropriate to apply Concept 10.
Group 5
1. Yes, amends were made following a discussion.
2. Yes and Yes. Lack of knowledge of policy and feeling of intimidation.
3. Appropriate when the service body has been disrupted. Not appropriate when there are personality conflicts outside of NA.
RCM Team Workshop (continued) Felecia noticed a pattern from the workshops – new people attend ASC but experienced members don’t take the time to help the newer people. We as a body should be more compassionate to help new people when they arrive. Felecia handed out some information on the duties of the GSR position. The duties of the GSR position were discussed. Mike (Irving) noted that it should be stressed that the GSR is selected to be the voice of the group and the member’s decisions affect NA as a whole.
Andre – should I provide my opinion in my reporting back to the group or just what happened at the DASC meeting? Felecia - It is important to bring back accurate information.
Kahle – I went to a GSR workshop and the workshop stressed that the GSR should be in tune with the group. Some groups get overwhelmed with details and others want the details. Northside wants every detail with no spin, and they have many questions. Another group I was the GSR for did not want a lot of detail. So it is important to understand the needs of the group.
Mark – Felecia, you and Jay are doing an awesome job as RCM and RCMA. It is my responsiblity to take the conscience of the group to the Area even if I don’t agree with it.
Jarrett – When I first became a GSR I was ignorant about the duties of the GSR, could the DASC possibly provide a workshop to help new GSR’s learn the duties?
Felecia – you can bring that as idea to this body. David – What happened with virtual PBX?
Felecia – I have can have the information by the time of Northside’s next group conscience. I will have the information for this body next month.
Jay – In order to be transferred to virtual PBX, all the areas will have to sign up together to get the advertised pricing. Felecia – this would affect our area Helpline as well, since 888-ITWORKS would be serviced by Virtual PBX.
Nicolas – We could sign up to help the smaller areas but still maintain our own Helpline. Felecia – I will get complete information so that we know all the implications.
Recognition/Welcome/New GSRs Barney GSR – Just For Today
Nirvana is changing the name of the group to Garland Group Jacqueline P – Miracles and Solutions
Pam M – Southside Serenity GSR Brandon – Southside Serenity GSRA Richard – Red Oak GSRA
Previous Month's Minutes No changes - minutes accepted
Administrative Reports
Co-Facilitator No report due to RCM Team Workshop Notes taker No report due to RCM Team Workshop
Monitor No report due to RCM Team Workshop
Money Handler No report due to RCM Team Workshop - $457.29 above prudent reserve. Money Handler Alternate No report due to RCM Team Workshop
Peace Keeper No report due to RCM Team Workshop Peace Keeper Alternate No report due to RCM Team Workshop
RCM No report due to RCM Team Workshop
RCMA No report due to RCM Team Workshop
Sub-committee Reports
Cleansheet Valerie stated that she was tasked to find out what is the cost of changing the size of the cleansheets and meeting schedules. Changing from legal size to ledger size. Ledger size is $92. The legal size is $50 for the meeting schedule. For the cleansheet ledger size is $320, legal size is $151.95.
Kahle – it has already been decided that an adhoc committee will bring back information to this body including the cost. Since there is a potential cost increase involved this may ultimately have to be taken back to the groups.
Helpline Written report provided
Hospitals & Institutions Written report provided Literature Distribution Written report provided
Literature Review Open
Outreach
We took 20 members to Kaufman’s group. The next Outreach meeting is the third Saturday at 2pm at Northside. Public Relations Niki read the report.
Special Events Special Events Chair was absent. Greg (Notestaker) brought information about the last Special Events meeting in which it was decided that the DASC anniversary will be held at Central Group in December. If there are any questions or concerns please attend the next Special Events meeting, which will be held on April 25 at 6 pm at Central Group. Special Events Co-chair Absent
Website
Old Business Valerie and Bill made a mock up of the area meeting schedule, adding the map as discussed in last month’s DASC. The example of the map will be provided in the meeting minutes sent out to the GSR’s
Felecia – does the meeting schedule have what type of meeting is being held? That’s important. Bill – due to the space available on the sheet we had to leave some information off
Nicolas – could we at least put a C for “Closed” and O for “Open” meetings? Bill – we can try but again space is very limited.
Kahle – there seems to be a lot of questions about the schedule. I suggest creating an adhoc committee to work on the new format for the meeting schedule with the map included.
Vote – either send the meeting schedule back to the groups or form an adhoc committee? David (Northside) with either format will the results be brought back to this body?
Kahle – the body will decide on the results from either way. The body decided on the adhoc committee.
New Business Northside – Idea provided in detail as a separate document, to besent to the DASC distribution list (Basically the idea is to post subcommittee reports on the website).
Felecia – do we have the resources to do this? Is there a cost associated with adding the information to the website? Kahle – we don’t know the financial impact yet. Valerie is going to find out the answers to questions raised today. Mike D – We have been receiving the reports in a separate email, is there a problem with putting that on the website in a separate folder?
Kahle – Valerie is going to find out.
Niki – will this diminish the role of the Notestaker?
David (Peacekeeper) – No. The idea is that the subcommittee reports that are sent out by the Notestaker via email will be have the names scrubbed and then posted on the website.
Felecia – what is the benefit of posting this information on the website?
David – if members want details they can see the actual reports. GSR’s mostly summarize the information. If I am not a member of a service body and I want to know what happened in subcommittee meetings I should be able to find out on the website.
Open Forum No open forum topics were submitted.
Group Reports
A Whole New Deal
Awakenings Balls to the Walls kickball tournament April 20, 2013 and speaker jam Broken Chains Thanks to Northside, Irving, Outreach for helping with our attendance. Carrollton/Farmers Branch
Carrying the Message Central Group
Duncanville Predecessor speaker jam April 26 and 27. Dance on April 27. Eastside
Faith NA
Grove Car wash and barbeque on April 20, 2013. Dance on April 19, 2013 Irving Group
Just For Today Last House
Living Clean the Journey Continues McKinney
Miracles & Solutions Speaker Jam on April 13, 2013 Nirvana Changing our name to Garland Group
Northside 7:30 am meeting has started on Mondays and Fridays on a trial basis. One Step Closer
Possibilities RAW
Red Oak Group Rockwall NA Seagoville NA South Oak Cliff Southside Serenity Stay Alive
Stonewall
Town East Spring Fling April 27, 2013 starting at noon with a dance afterwards. Waxahachie
Work the Steps and Live Wylie
Nominations/Elections Alt Notestaker – Niki P nominated by Greg K. Niki accepted. David (Peacekeeper) read the qualifications. David – Elections are in September. Do you feel you have enough time to learn the position?
Niki – Yes I feel there is enough time.
Batman – Have you absconded with any NA funds or failed to complete an NA service commitment? Niki – No.
Niki was elected.
Hospitals & Institutions – Monitor – Open
Peacekeeper Alt – David nominated Kris. David read the qualifications. Kris accepted the nomination.
David (Northside) same as with Notestaker Alt, do you have enough time to learn the position? Kris – No.
Batman – Have you absconded with any NA funds or failed to complete an NA service commitment? Kris – No
Tony – Have you read all the guidelines?
Kris – I have been working with David to understand more about the current guidelines. Mike D nominated Mike B. Mike B declined.
No opposition to Kris C. Kris was elected.
