Group Handbook Working Page

Section Assignments – Currently 4 are unassigned. Please contact David M. if you wish to take additional categories.

1 – GROUP HANDBOOK DEFINITION – BETTY – Posted 12/4/19
2 – GROUP DEFINITION/ESTABLISHMENT – BETTY – Posted 1/5/20
3 – GROUP ORGANIZATION – MIKE
4 – TYPES OF MEETINGS – BILL
5 – TRUSTED SERVANTS/RESPONSIBILITIES – BILL & MIKE – Posted 1/17/20
6 – ROOM FORMAT/MEETING PROCEDURES
7 – ROOM FINANCES – MIKE – Posted 1/17/20
8 – LITERATURE – JACK – Posted 12/13/19
9 – NEW MEMBERS/SUPPORT
10 – ROOM ACTIONS – JIM
11 – GROUP PROBLEMS – JIM
12 – HOSTING AN ‘OPEN TO THE PUBLIC’ EVENT
13 – ENDING/RELOCATING A GROUP
14 – GAM-ANON – JACK – Posted 11/18/19
15 – TRUSTEES – JACK – Posted 11/18/19

1 – GROUP HANDBOOK DEFINITION – Betty

  • Role of the Group Handbook
    • Statement of goals and objectives
      • What is a Group Handbook
      • What is the purpose of the Group Handbook
      • Why is the Group Handbook important
      • How do we tell the Groups that they must/should follow the Group Handbook
      • Guidance code’s impact on room procedures and rules
      • The Group Handbook must/should contain the rules that the Group should follow
      • The Group Handbook must/should be explicit procedures not guidance
      • Unity Step 4
  • GROUP HANDBOOK DEFINITION – 12/4/19

    Role of the Group Handbook
    Statement of goals and objectives
    What is a Group Handbook:
    The Group Handbook is a tool to be used in all Gamblers Anonymous meetings. Assuring that all rooms are functioning in the same way. Our fellowship is only as strong and healthy as our rooms.

    What is the purpose of the Group Handbook:
    The purpose of this piece of literature is to guide the Gamblers Anonymous members with information on how to have that strong healthy room. It covers topics of types of meetings, trusted servants, room procedures finances, literature, support, actions, problems, etc. Following these guidelines make us united and strong.

    Why is the Group Handbook important:
    In order to have unity, it is essential for groups to follow
    the same guidelines. The Group Handbook is an
    approved piece of literature that is sent to every meeting
    when it notifies ISO of its commitment to use and follow
    GA literature.

    How do we tell the Groups that they must/should follow the Group Handbook:
    Its not a matter of telling you, must/should, use it. GA literature goes through a process before it is approved for print. After it is approved, it is printed for a specific. use, as in the Group Handbook. To be used and followed In all GA rooms. Only approved literature is allowed to be Used in rooms.

    Guidance code’s impact on room procedures and Rules:
    The Guidance Code of Gamblers Anonymous is not to be 1 Construed as a legal document. The Guidance Code is A statement of aims, purpose and service structure of The Fellowship. A room is named a group only if they Commit themselves to follow the Gamblers Anonymous Guidance Code and limit their use, display and
    Distribution to only approved and appropriate Gamblers Anonymous literature.

    The Group Handbook must/should contain the rules That the Group should follow:
    The new Group Handbook will be complete in Addressing as many issues that come up in a room. Assisting groups in answering these problems.

    The Group Handbook must/should be explicit Procedures not guidance:
    By having every room following the same procedures There will be uniformity in all groups

    Unity Step 4:
    Each group should be self-governing except in matters Affecting other groups or Gamblers Anonymous as a Whole. The Group Handbook is an approved piece of Literature that was produced to guide our rooms, its only Purpose is to be used in every Gamblers Anonymous
    Room.

2 – GROUP DEFINITION/ESTABLISHMENT – Betty

  • GA Group Definition
    • See Guidance Code
  • Establishing A GA Group
    • Who can establish
    • Where can it be
    • How many are required
    • Commitment from founders
    • Unity Step 3
    • Administrative procedures in order to establish a GA Group
      • Guidance Code, Article VII, Section 1
      • RSO notification, if applicable
      • Commitment to carry the message to the local area through PR activities
      • Notification to the area Intergroup, if applicable

      • GROUP DEFINITION/ESTABLISHMENT

        GA GROUP DEFINITION

        See Guidance Code: Article VII, Section 1

        Whenever two or more persons with a desire to stop

        Gambling meet together on a regular, weekly scheduled

        basis to discuss their gambling problem, they will be known

        as a group, only if they commit themselves to follow

        Gamblers Anonymous’ Guidance Code and limit their use

        Display and distribution to only approved and appropriate

        Gamblers Anonymous literature. They are also to notify

        The International Service Office (I.S.O.) of their existence.

        NOTE: GUIDANCE CODE CAN BE FOUND AT:

        trusteewebsite.com

        ESTABLISHING A GA GROUP

        Who can establish :

        The establishment of a G.A. group has been a wonderful

        experience for many people. Such an undertaking requires

        no special talent other than a desire to stop gambling and

        to help other compulsive gamblers do the same. The

        mechanics of founding a G.A. group meeting are quite

        simple. First, write to the International Service Office for

        a starter kit which will tell you how to go about starting a

        meeting. The next order of business is to secure a

        comfortable and permanent meeting place. Churches have

        always been found to be most cooperative in making their

        facilities available to us. Often they have asked for no

        rental fee, but experience shows that we ought always

        adhere to the principle of being truly self-supporting and

        feel that the acceptance of any facility rent-free would

        constitute an outside contribution. So we always make

        arrangements to pay at least a small rental fee. Other

        possibilities for meeting places are lodge halls or club

        rooms. Hospitals and rooms in banks are now also

        available to us as more people understand compulsive

        gambling. Whatever facilities are considered, it has been

        found that four important factors should be taken into

        consideration:

      • Administrative procedures in order to establish a G.A. group

        Guidance code, Article VII, Section 1, as in GA Group

        Definition above.

        RSO notification, if applicable:

        See Guidance Code, Article XI, Section 1.

        Commitment to carry the message to the local area through

        PR activities.

        The Public Relations Representative shall disseminate

        information about Gamblers Anonymous to the media

        and to anyone else requesting information: shall inform

        the Intergroup and the International Service Office of

        any public relations efforts.

        Notification to the area Intergroup, if applicable:

        The Group Service Representative or GSR, is the go

        between for the group to the Intergroup and ISO. It is a

        Position that is usually for a one year term. The GSR

        represents your room at all Intergroup Meetings, votes

        as per room decisions, and should be the Life Liner

        Chairperson for your room.

3 – GROUP ORGANIZATION – Mike

  • Criteria for selecting a GA room
    • Member Commitment
    • What information/material is exchanged with ISO
    • Facility Choice
    • Geographical consideration
    • Distance from other meetings
    • Insurance requirements
    • Rent
    • Day of week
    • Setting meeting times and what comes with that commitment
    • Kitchen/bathrooms
    • Event room for larger crowds No business locations that depend on a member’s attendance
    • Keys for access
    • Meetings in rooms/facilities that are part of other Fellowships or outside entities
    • No ID for access, with specific exceptions

4 – TYPES OF MEETINGS – Bill

  • Types of meetings
    • Open meetings – clearly define
      • Open therapy meeting
      • Open to the public meeting
        • Held on different night than regular meeting
    • Closed meetings – clearly define
    • Modified closed meetings – clearly define
      • Comment meetings
      • Preferred categories
      • Beginner’s meetings
      • 90-day meetings
      • Speaker meetings
      • Step meetings
      • Anniversary/Birthday meetings
      • Conditions/risks for changing the meeting type for a single meeting
  • Combined GA/GamAnon separate and special event – not a GA meeting
  • Deciding what type of meeting fits for your group

5 – TRUSTED SERVANTS/RESPONSIBILITES – Bill & Mike

  • What is a trusted servant
  • Mandatory positions for each room and responsibilities
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
    • Room balance accountability and handling of money
      • Weekly balance logs
      • Checking accounts versus cash
  • Optional additional positions and responsibilities
  • Assistant Secretary
  • Pressure relief chairperson
  • Public relations representative
  • Group representatives for Intergroup
  • New member greeter
  • Multiple positions by same person, for limited time
  • Rotation Principle
    • Rotating Trusted Servants
    • Rotating Meeting Chairs
  • How is the meeting chairperson selected
  • Role and duties of meeting chairperson
  • Same person holding multiple positions in different rooms
  • Treasurer cannot be treasurer in multiple rooms
  • Elected versus appointed/volunteer positions
  • Initial organizational meeting
  • Business meeting
    • How is a business meeting conducted
  • Room format meeting
    • How is a room format meeting conducted
  • The qualifications to be meeting chairperson
  • What the meeting chairperson is responsible for
  • Key holder responsibilities
  • Notifying ISO

GROUP HANDBOOK ROOM SECRETARY AND TREASURER – 1/17/20

Although each room is self-governing, there are two positions which should be mandatory; Secretary and Treasurer.

The room Secretary is responsible for the overall running of the meeting.  He/she should be responsible for arranging the room, displaying all GA-approved/appropriate literature, having coffee ready, and assigning a qualified member (with at least three months of current abstinence) to chair the meeting.  It is permissible for the Secretary and the Chairperson to be the same person.  It is suggested that the Chairperson be rotated.  It can be customary for a member celebrating a birthday to chair that meeting. The Chairperson is  not an elected position.  If the Secretary admits to gambling, he/she must resign the position immediately and a new Secretary elected by the group.  Room Secretary should have at least six months of current abstinence from gambling, but if there is no one in the group who has this requirement or no one who has this requirement is willing to accept the responsibility, it is permissible to elect someone with less abstinence.

Other responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Keeping an up-to-date roster of room members with their birthdays

Notifying appropriate parties (i.e. local intergroup, ISO) of upcoming birthdays

Notifying appropriate parties of any change in meeting location, time, or type, including disbandment 

Displaying an adequate number of current local area meeting and member telephone lists and having an adequate number of keychains and other GA materials on hand

Providing a person attending their first GA meeting with appropriate GA material such as a Combo book, A Towards 90 Day book, a GA meeting list, a GA Phone list, and a meeting phone list if one exists

Attending or assigning a designee to attend local Intergroup meetings

Reporting to the room any GA-related announcements such as social events, upcoming elections, and Life Liner pledges.

See Section 3 on page 5 of The GA Guidance Code for term of service information.

6 – ROOM FORMAT/MEETING PROCEDURES

  • Suggested items to be included in the room format/meeting procedures
    • Compiling a written room format/meeting procedures
    • (O) Opening announcements – Recurring statements regarding
    • (M) Meeting format – what happens during a meeting
    • (R) Room format – procedures to be followed away from the meeting procedures
    • (G) Group Conscience decisions – individual situations voted on to make exceptions to existing Room Formats
    • *R* How a GA room could be set up regarding seating arrangements
      • The shape of the room and the facilities offered to the meeting should be used to determine the most comfortable seating configuration.
        • Classroom – head table with members facing forward
        • Conference tables – Seating around tables
        • Circle – members sit in chairs without table with chair at a table or all in a circle with no table.
        • Square – Tables arranged in square or rectangle shape
        • Cafeteria – Long tables with people sitting on both sides
    • *R* Frequency of group elections
    • *R* Only approved/appropriate material
    • *R* Meeting attendance extenders – Skype, conference calls, etc.
    • *O* No audio or visual recordings of any kind
    • *R* No copying of approved literature, unless designated as such by the BOT
    • *M* Who may speak at a GA meeting
    • *M* When non-GA members are allowed to speak
    • *R* Meeting restrictions for anniversary speakers
    • *R* Structure of anniversary meetings
    • *R* Celebrations – 90 days, individual anniversaries, memorials, room anniversaries
    • *M* Suggestions for handling a member whose therapy goes on for far too long.
    • *M* Suggestions for those who drift away from gambling therapies
    • *R* Acknowledging members who have passed milestones– 30, 60, 90 days, etc.
    • *R* Disruptive members and procedures for addressing such problems
    • *M* Emphasis on reading the literature of Gamblers Anonymous
    • *R* Define Cross Talking, Comment, Cross Comment
    • *O* Prayers and readings from non-GA approved sources
    • *R* Format meeting (Business meeting or Group Conscience meeting) – Details
    • *R* Minimum abstinence in order to chair a meeting
    • *O* ‘What not to do in rooms’ suggestions, i.e. prayers, vulgarity, profanity, non-GA material, etc.
    • *R* End of meeting procedures
    • *M* Collection and payment distributions
    • *R* Treasury holdings guidelines
    • *M* Proper ways of collections
    • *R* Business Announcements at meeting
    • *R* Format meeting dates
    • *R* Names included on room phone list
      • What is included or restricted on the phone list?
    • *R* Phone list distribution
    • *O* Importance of Anonymity
    • *R* Elections
    • *R* Room breaks, if any.
    • *R* Scheduled regular payments from room treasury
    • *G* Unscheduled payments
    • *R* Newcomers procedures

7 – ROOM FINANCES – Mike

  • Treasury guidelines
  • Rent versus contributions for payments to facilities where the meeting is held
  • Contributions by members
  • Contributions by the group
  • Individual contributions away from room
  • Accounting to the members
  • Recordkeeping
  • Group sponsored events – requirements and dangerous omissions
    • Member dedicated events
  • 7th Unity Step
  • Keeping donations private
  • Not allowing anyone other than a current GA member to be treasurer for a GA group
  • Holding cash or opening bank account
    • Checking accounts – separate tax ID
    • Groups are not 501(c)3 entities
    • No person to use own SS# to open account
    • Group to file for new TIN#
    • Number of eligible signers
    • Number of signers per check
    • Updating signature cards after each election
    • Treasurer cannot be an account signer
    • Treasurer cannot hold the checkbook
  • Prevention of theft of collections
  • Dealing with person responsible for theft of funds
  • Paying rent – different payments.  Too much – not enough – nothing
  • No payment for rent should be paid on behalf of Gam-Anon
  • Audit of funds
  • Acceptable use of funds
  • Explanation of room expenditures of collections for the month should be declared prior to the weekly collection

ROOM FINANCES – 1/17/20

The room Treasurer is responsible for all financial matters dealing with the group, specifically collecting and disbursing donations made by its members and keeping financial records of such.  The Treasurer should have at least one year of current abstinence unless there is no one in the room with that much time or no one with the required abstinence is willing to take the responsibility.  If the Treasurer admits to gambling, he/she must immediately resign the position and an election held to fill the position.

The Treasurer should collect all donations made during a meeting.  The total should be verified by another room member and noted in a room financial ledger.  All monies should be kept with the rest of the room materials, under lock and key if possible.  Any room member may ask for an audit of the ledger at any time.  Donations to other interests such as ISO or special activities, should be kept separate and reported on as such.  When taking collections, baskets or some other receptacle should be passed around the room.  At no time should anyone walk around to each member with the collection container.  Donations are private.

The Treasurer shall make any disbursements as decided by the group.  This includes rent, insurance (if required), materials purchased from ISO, and any other expenses deemed acceptable by the group.   Receipts should be submitted in order to make a disbursement.  If the amount of money dictates it, a checking account may be opened.  If this occurs, deposits should be made within 5 business days of the meeting.  Receipts and bank statements should be retained.

At each meeting, after the collection, the Treasurer shall give a report to the group.  At a minimum, this must include previous balance, plus collections, minus disbursements, and the ending balance.

8 – LITERATURE

  • GA literature
  • Ordering from ISO
  • Ordering from RSO
  • Ordering from Intergroup
  • Security for literature inventory
  • GA-approved and appropriate only
  • Not copying approved literature, unless so designated

Literature – 12/13/19

Apart from meetings themselves, one of the cornerstones of the Gamblers Anonymous fellowship is its literature.  Gamblers Anonymous literature falls into two categories, “approved” and “appropriate”.  Gamblers Anonymous-approved literature is defined in the Guidance Code as any publication or item (i.e. pins, keychains, medallions, videos, multimedia, etc.) that has been approved by the Board of Trustees and is sold or distributed by the International Service Office (ISO), Regional Service Offices (RSO), or any Intergroup who has purchased this literature from either the ISO or any RSO.  Foreign language translations of Gamblers Anonymous approved literature are deemed to be approved if the final product has followed all necessary steps outlined by the Board of Trustees.  Currently, the ISO maintains well over 75 approved publications and items that are available for purchase. 

Gamblers Anonymous-appropriate literature consists of such things as local area member telephone lists, meeting and direction lists, flyers regarding events sponsored by the local groups, local Intergroups, surrounding area Intergroups, or conference committees. Other “appropriate” material must be designated as such by the Board of Trustees.

Individual groups should always allocate a portion of their treasuries to purchase approved literature and other items for sale to members or use in their rooms.   Groups and their members can purchase literature directly from the ISO or RSO or more commonly, it can be purchased from their Intergroup if they belong to one.  In fact, many Intergroups designate a literature chairperson or liaison whose sole responsibility it is to purchase and maintain a supply of publications and items that group representatives can purchase before or after Intergroup meetings.  All groups must be reminded that the photocopying of any approved literature in order to save money is absolutely prohibited unless that literature is specifically designated for that purpose. Such designation will be listed on the item(s), where applicable. 

Once literature and other items are purchased from the Intergroup, ISO, or RSO, groups are free to distribute them as they please.  However, when a group sells apiece of literature or other item to a member of that group, it should only be done at its acquisition price from the Intergroup, ISO, or RSO; groups must not make a profit from the sale.  Conversely, the Secretary of the group, at his or her discretion or through a group conscience, may provide literature or other items free of charge to a member who cannot afford them if the group believes it promotes that member’s recovery.

The array and amount of approved literature each group should maintain in their group supplies is up to the Secretary of that group or in some cases, established by a group conscience based on the size of their treasury and prior sales and use.  If a member desires a piece of literature or other item that is not in the group’s inventory, the member can either order it directly from the ISO or RSO or request that the Secretary acquire it at the next scheduled Intergroup meeting.  While there is no Gamblers Anonymous-mandated list of publications or items that groups should keep on hand for sale, groups must always make sure to purchase and maintain a sufficient number of the most up-to-date Combo Books to facilitate their meetings as well as a supply of keychains that note different levels of abstinence ranging from newcomer to nine months that can be presented to members as they reach these milestones.   Each group should also maintain a copy of the Guidance Code and Group Handbook on hand for reference purposes. 

Group literature and other items are typically stored in a briefcase or other storage container which is maintained in a secure place such as a locker (if the facility provides one) or in possession of the meeting secretary.  For security reasons, if the meeting secretary elects to possess the supplies, it is recommended that they not be stored in his or her automobile and it is imperative that they not be stored together with the group’s treasury.

One key piece of literature a group should never be without is what is known as a “newcomer packet”.  Newcomer packets are not purchased from the ISO or RSO but rather, created at either the Intergroup or individual group level.  Although each Intergroup or group can decide for themselves what items a newcomer packet should have, an ideal newcomer packet should contain, at the very least, a meeting directory and phone list, but might also contain such pieces of literature as the leaflets entitled  “A Newcomer Asks”, “Your First Meeting”, “Young Gamblers in Recovery, and “Suggestions for Coping with Urges to Gamble”; the booklet entitled “Towards 90 Days”, the information sheet on Pressure Relief Group Meetings, the card entitled “Before You Make That Bet – H.A.L.T.”, and a copy of the Combo Book.

According to the Guidance Code, groups must only use, display, or distribute Gamblers Anonymous-approved or –appropriate literature at their meetings.  Unfortunately, there are occasions where a member may try to incorporate non-approved or non-appropriate literature while giving their therapy.  This is sometimes done inadvertently although in rare cases, it may be done as an act of defiance (“I can read what I want to read”).  We have found that these breaches in the Guidance Code can often be prevented by announcing at the beginning of each meeting that “…our Guidance Code makes it clear that members should not read from, display or distribute anything other than G.A. approved or G.A. appropriate literature and to please ask a trusted servant if you are uncertain as to whether or not an item meets this standard”.  Even after being given this admonishment, if a member still insists on violating this rule, they should be told in strong but diplomatic terms that they should immediately cease the behavior and only as a last resort, should they be asked to leave the meeting.  Although Gamblers Anonymous groups may not themselves distribute or display non-approved or non-appropriate literature or items at their meetings, it is understood that if a group is renting a meeting room from a church or other outside entity, they have no control over what that church or other entity distributes or displays as part of their mission.  Groups should never make any attempt to remove items not belonging to them in order to make their room compliant with the Guidance Code.

9 – NEW MEMBERS/SUPPORT

  • New member packet
  • Handling new members
    • New member greeter
    • New member therapy experience
    • 20  questions
    • After meeting discussion
    • Money issues regarding new members
    • New member difficulties with reading
    • Temporary sponsorship
  • Handling those who come in support of a new member
    • No contributions
  • Room telephone meeting list – benefits and risks
  • Self-exclusion issues
  • Outside referrals, therapists, counselors, professional services, treatment centers, occupational cards, etc.

10 – ROOM ACTIONS – Jim

  • Group conscience decisions
  • Group conscience limitations
  • Handling members who are court ordered to attend meetings
  • Outside people looking for continuing education credits
  • Handling meeting closures
    • Meetings closed during holidays and members aren’t informed
    • Weather closures
    • Facility closures
  • Therapies including issues that violate Unity Step 10
  • Comments that violate Unity Step 10
  • The rules must explicitly show what is NOT acceptable in a meeting
  • Step 13 with other members
  • Allowing non-Gamblers Anonymous members to speak during meetings
  • Kicking a member out a group (Threatening to have member arrested)
  • Bringing children to meeting
  • Knitting or some other hobby/pastime during meeting
  • Bringing pets to meeting
  • Bringing working animals to meeting
  • Wearing Gambling Attire
  • Members asking for rides to meetings
  • Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous sharing expenses
  • Meeting place and using their address for mail and other business purposes
  • After meeting chat session
  • The importance of service work at the group level
  • Advertising new meetings in an established group
  • When the room becomes too small for the members
  • Attraction vs. Promotion – the most misunderstood concept
  • Sponsorship – Who, What, When and Where?
  • Allowing other 12 Step members/addicts who need a meeting attend Closed meetings
  • Mini-conference scholarships

ROOM ACTIONS – 1/29/20

  • Group conscience decisions: Group conscience will settle all disputes within the group.  Group conscience is just as important to the group as the guidance code.  Group Conscience does not supersede the Guidance Code.  GC happens anytime during the meeting.  GC decisions must be recorded by the Group Secretary or recording Secretary.  GC is to strengthen the group by the group’s decisions.  GC deals with issues at that time during the meeting.
  • Group conscience limitations: Group Conscience limitations when the decisions of the group violate the guidance code?
  • Handling members who are court ordered to attend meetings: Members attends any meeting they can and will ask members to sign their paper to prove the courts that they attended the meeting.  A trusteed servant of the group only signs with their initials protecting anonymity.  Accountability for the new member is vital the the new comer
  • Outside people looking for continuing education credits: A closed modified meeting and open meeting are ideal for this person to attend to only observe. 
  • Handling meeting closures
    • Meetings closed during holidays and members aren’t informed: All meetings should have at least one person attending the meeting so that someone is there.  Nothing is worse when a new member shows up and nobody is at the meeting. 
    • Weather closures: List on gamblersanonymous.org website
    • Facility closures: List on gamblersanonymous.org website
  • Therapies including issues that violate Unity Step 10: Gamblers Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the Gamblers Anonymous name ought never be drawn into public controversy
  • Comments that violate Unity Step 10: Gamblers Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the Gamblers Anonymous name ought never be drawn into public controversy:  Keep sharing related to Gambling.  All else doesn’t matter. 
  • The rules or the guidelines must explicitly show what is NOT acceptable in a meeting: By group conscience the room will abide by what group conscience decides what’s acceptable or not.  NO illegal behavior.  All members must feel safe within the group. 
  • Step 13 with other members: Step 13 must NOT happen during meetings.  We are all adults and you can stop feelings.  We are a 12 step program. 
  • Allowing non-Gamblers Anonymous members to speak during meetings: Only Gamblers anonymous members can speak during a weekly meeting.  A speaker meeting will allow outside speakers to attend at Speaker meeting to speak.  
  • Kicking a member out of a group (Threatening to have member arrested). Before removing a member contact the local Trustee, BOT Chair, Secretary of the group, unless physical theft or physical actions have occurred.  Remember members have EGO and Personalities.  Gamblers Anonymous offers not protection to a group during this matter.    
  • Bringing children to meeting: Children underage should NOT be brought to meeting. Gamblers Anonymous are NOT designed for baby setting.
  • Knitting or some other hobby/pastime during meeting: All meetings are for members to give and get strength threw others sharing their experience strength and hope with one another trying to solve their problems.
  • Bringing pets to meeting: NO pets allowed. Only working dogs
  • Bringing working animals to meeting: NO pets allowed. Only working dogs
  • Wearing Gambling Attire: We can’t tell people what NOT to wear. Advise members of the triggers of clothing. 
  • Members asking for rides to meetings: Every member who gives rides can put themselves at risk of fraud.  Proceed with caution. 
  • Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous sharing expenses: Gamblers Anonymous is self-supporting through their own contributions.  NO outside monies or sharing monies
  • Meeting place and using their address for mail and other business purposes: Gamblers anonymous are self-supporting declining outside contributions. Churchs ask for doations unless they claim the donations from the GA rooms as rent.  Churches pay their employees to deal with mail and the delivery of the mail for the GA groups. 
  • After meeting chat session: Always a good thing to do to get to know one another.  It’s strengthens comradery with in a group. 
  • The importance of service work at the group level. NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE
  • Advertising new meetings in an established group: Rogue GA members have used this tactic to grow a new group.
  • When the room becomes too small for the members: Search for a larger room to accommodate the room size.
  • Attraction vs. Promotion – the most misunderstood concept: NOT Sure
  • Sponsorship – Who, What, When and Where? There are some cases that a non-GA member was a sponsor to a GA member.  Some area’s lack in sponsorship.  I need more input
  • Allowing other 12 Step members/addicts who need a meeting attend Closed meetings: Closed meetings are for GA members only, cut and dried
  • Mini-conference scholarships: O I have NO idea about this

11 – GROUP PROBLEMS – Jim

  • A person or persons going to a group and getting literature and key chains to start a new group before contacting the ISO.
  • Split-off meetings (literature and funds)
  • Spiritual vs. Religious program
  • Members who do things their way (Unity program guidance)
  • Members who control rooms and members by giving money out to them (Combo Book)
  • Problem Gambling Council and members whom promote it.
  • Blunt violations of the Guidance Code
  • How much of our material is influenced by outside counselors/therapists
  • Guidance Code is just a bunch of suggestions
  • Other 12 Step groups and their effect on the GA environment in meetings
  • Pressure Relief Meetings going wrong/problems
  • Effects of not having an intergroup
  • Prayers and reading other non-GA information
  • Taking notes
  • BOT members visiting areas
  • Combining rooms (Treasurer, Secretary, Celebrations) Having a treasurer for 2 rooms
  • Too many meetings in one area (25 people attending 8 meetings)
  • Who advocates for a victim of abuse or harassment in Gamblers Anonymous?
  • Who do you tell when you witness inappropriate things
  • There are no superiors in Gamblers Anonymous (Unity Step 2)
  • Interactions with Intergroups
  • Self-Exclusion
  • More detail on Unity Step 10
  • When to call the Police

GROUP PROBLEMS – 1/29/20

  • A person or persons going to a group and getting literature and key chains to start a new group before contacting the ISO.  All new groups must go to the ISO to get registered by the ISO and get their information put onto the ISO website which the Hotline and Trustee of the area or state.  ISO will send out a new group box of literature.  
  • Split-off meetings (literature and funds). This occurred when there were 3 meeting nights acting as one meeting. Literature and monies were split 3 ways.  ISO, BOT chair was notified of the area’s actions
  • Spiritual vs. Religious program. Gamblers Anonymous is a Spiritual program which connects with a higher power NOT religious.
  • Members who do things their way (Unity program guidance). I call this a rogue member and is very detrimental to the fellowship and the area meetings they attend. This member can be very manipulative
  • Members who control rooms and members by giving money out to them (Combo Book)? I call this a rogue member and is very detrimental to the fellowship and the area meetings they attend. This member can be very manipulative
  • Problem Gambling Council and members whom promote it. Another rogue member and or group that shares their experiences with PGC, Therapist, Gateway about the effects of Gambling.
  • Blunt violations of the Guidance Code: Another rogue member and or group that steps on the Unity, Steps, and Guideance Code of GA
  • How much of our material is influenced by outside counselors/therapists: The red book/Blue book?
  • Guidance Code is just a bunch of suggestions: ?
  • Other 12 Step groups and their effect on the GA environment in meetings: Gam-Anon & AA members have projected their will upon our fellowship.
  • Pressure Relief Meetings going wrong/problems: Putting procedures in place that protect the person’s during A Pressure Relief. See Pressure Relief Chair
  • Effects of not having an intergroup: I don’t know cause I have never been apart of a Intergroup
  • Prayers and reading other non-GA information: NO OUTSIDE material is to be read or distributed during a meeting.
  • Taking notes: Remember what you see here what hear here stays here.
  • BOT members visiting areas: It’s a good thing. What we talking about the BOT board?
  • Combining rooms (Treasurer, Secretary, Celebrations) Having a treasurer for 2 rooms. Each room should have their own Secretary, Treasurer over each room. That’s why there is separate rooms.  Celebrations should take place before or after meeting.  
  • Too many meetings in one area (25 people attending 8 meetings). Meetings get weak and have a hard time with recovery. Personalities flare. 
  • Who advocates for a victim of abuse or harassment in Gamblers Anonymous? BOT issue
  • Who do you tell when you witness inappropriate things?
  • There are no superiors in Gamblers Anonymous (Unity Step 2)?
  • Interactions with Intergroups?
  • Self-Exclusion: NO outside issues, violation of Unity Step 10, No promoting outside issues
  • More detail on Unity Step 10?
  • When to call the Police: When a crime has been committed.

12 – HOSTING AN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVENT

Appropriate Speakers

No outside speakers

Advertising

Dangers of anonymity

Media coverage

Does not count for attendance

Not a GA meeting – but a GA function

Held on regular meeting night or separate evening?

13 – ENDING/RELOCATING A GROUP

  • How to close a GA Group that is no longer viable
  • Advance notice to all parties
  • Can’t pay expenses
  • Excess money disbursement
  • Excess materials

14 – GAM-ANON – Jack

Relationship to Gamblers Anonymous – (Back page of current Group Handbook?)

Current committee efforts on this exact subject are in active discussions

Gam-Anon – 11/18/19

Gam-Anon, established in 1958, is a 12-Step self-help fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, children, relatives, and close friends of compulsive gamblers.  There are currently over 200 Gam-Anon groups throughout the world and membership continues to flourish.  The primary purpose of Gam-Anon is to welcome, assist, and comfort those who have been affected by compulsive gamblers as well as to help them understand what compulsive gambling is.  This is all accomplished irrespective of whether their compulsive gambler actually joins Gamblers Anonymous.  Conversely, Gamblers Anonymous groups often advise new members of the availability of Gam-Anon meetings for members of their immediate families. 

Although Gam-Anon has historically maintained a close relationship with the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous and participates with them in regional and international conferences, it should be emphasized that Gam-Anon is a completely separate organization from Gamblers Anonymous and has its own headquarters, corporate structure, rules and procedures, and literature.   When Gam-Anon members attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings that are classified as “open meetings”, they do so only as “guests” and are neither permitted to participate in any part of the meeting nor donate to that group’s treasury.  As with any open meeting that has guests, if a Gamblers Anonymous member is not comfortable with the presence of a Gam-Anon member during their therapy, the Gam-Anon member will politely be asked to temporarily leave the room.

On occasion, Gamblers Anonymous members and Gam-Anon members from a particular area do come together and hold what is commonly known as a “combined meeting” (see Types of Meetings).  They may occur on a regular basis (i.e. monthly or bi-monthly) or as an occasional event that supplements regularly-scheduled Gamblers Anonymous meetings.  The purpose of a combined meeting is the same as any other Gamblers Anonymous or Gam-Anon meeting, but by holding them together, individual Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon members have an opportunity to learn and understand more about the respective fellowships by reading from each other’s literature and sharing individual experiences. However, it is important to note that because Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon remain totally separate organizations, all monies collected at these combined meetings must be in separate receptacles denoted by their respective organizations and shall be accounted for separately.

15 – TRUSTEES – Jack

  • Responsibilities of Trustees to the area rooms (Modified version of printed responsibilities)

Trustees – 11/18/19

The fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous is guided by a Board of Trustees consisting of members of Gamblers Anonymous, elected by peers in their respective geographic areas, who have completely abstained from gambling for a period of two years and have had regular attendance at Gamblers Anonymous meetings. According to the Guidance Code, the Board of Trustees’ primary function is to insure the most effective exchange of thoughts and ideas between all Gamblers Anonymous groups and to act in an official and executive capacity on all matters affecting Gamblers Anonymous as a whole except matters coming under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents or International Executive Secretary.  They are also the guardians of the two most important precepts of the fellowship, the twelve steps of recovery and the twelve steps of unity, and are guided by them in all their decisions.

In addition to their responsibilities to Gamblers Anonymous as a whole, the Trustees have the following duties to groups in the area they represent:

  • Attend as many of the various group meetings within their area as possible but at least 39 meetings per year. Where physical attendance is not possible, keep in regular communication through the mail and/or telephone.
  • Be available to all members and groups in their Trustee area for advice and guidance and work with their trusted servants to correct issues that do not conform to the Guidance Code or decisions of the Board of Trustees.
  • Attend and support local Gamblers Anonymous functions such as mini- conferences, dinner dances, picnics, etc.
  • Offer assistance to any group that has identified a problem.
  • Make groups in their Trustee area aware of, and encourage the use of the tools of Gamblers Anonymous such as Pressure Relief Group pamphlets, the Group Handbook, sponsorship pamphlets, the Gamblers Anonymous Blue Book, public relations materials, and all other Gamblers Anonymous approved literature.
  • Attend Intergroup meetings in their Trustee area on a regular basis
  • Encourage groups in their Trustee area to submit agenda items for the semi-annual Board of Trustee meetings as well as to bring all upcoming agenda items to the attention of groups in their Trustee area for input.
  • Offer assistance to any members desiring to start a new Gamblers Anonymous group.

Groups are also encouraged to access the Trustee Web Site (www.trusteewebsite.com) for such things as Trustee meeting agendas, Trustee committee reports, reference materials, information on the Board of Regents, and the Trustee Line (a communications tools available to past and present Trustees for the purpose of airing opinions about issues that affect the Trustees and Gamblers Anonymous as a whole).