BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETING
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
MAY 2, 1969

Meeting was called to order at 2:15 pm by Chairman Bill G. Trustees present were: Bill G., Chairman, Marty T. (New York), Sol D. (New York), Sy S. (New York), Joe D. (Mass.), Bill B. (New York), Norman W. (New Jersey), Don F. (Mass.), Francis E. (Penn.), Bill B., member of Board of Regents, Ray M., National Executive Secretary, acting as Recording Secretary and visitors Joe C., ERIC co-ordinator, Pat P., Bernie P., and Joe DeR.

Minutes of the meeting of October 25, 1968 were approved as read.

Chairman Bill G. advised he received very few replies to his Bulleting No. 3. He emphasized the importance of answering all future correspondence immediately if the Board is to function in a satisfactory manner. Chairman Bill G. was instructed to send future Trustee bulletins on one sheet of paper.

A discussion was held for appointment of a National Executive Secretary for the coming fiscal year starting July 1, 1969. Bill B. made motion to elect Ray M. as National Executive Secretary. This was seconded by Norman W. Before a vote was taken Ray M. was excused form the room for the purpose of discussion of other possible candidates. On his return to the room, the Trustees unanimously agreed that they should go back to their areas and send back any nominations selected by their areas and mail to Chairman Bill G. so that they would be received by May 16. On receipt of all nominations, Chairman Bill G. will send out ballots to all Trustees on May 20. and Trustees vote must be returned to Bill G. by June 20.

Bill B. made motion which was seconded by Sy S. to correct Section 10 of Article XX to read “The National Executive Secretary may be paid a monthly salary and/or receive a monthly expense account not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100), is approved by the Board of Regents and Board of Trustees”. Marty T. made motion which was seconded by Francis E., to correct Section I of Article XVII by eliminating the wording at the end of line 12, “All ballots must be received by the National Service Office prior to June 10th”.

After a short discussion, it was decided to retain the $200 ceiling for the purchase of literature by the Board of Regents. Any expense in excess of $200 will still require the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Norman W. made motion, which was seconded by Francis E., to discard the current By-Laws and replace same with a new set of By-Laws which will correspond exactly to the Guidance Code. Also to make necessary changes in the corporation papers and take the necessary steps to send both the revised By-Laws and revised corporation papers to the State of California. This is to be done with an attorney’s approval.
Motion Unanimously carried.

On a motion by Don F. and seconded by Sy S., it was unanimously agreed to place the Pittsburgh Group under the Ohio – Kentucky Trustee.

A motion was made by Don F. and seconded by Sy S., that any area desiring an area delegate should make application to the Board of Trustees. If the delegate is approved he may attend all future Board of Trustee meetings. He may present his area’s point of view at Trustees meetings through his own Trustee, and in his absence to his nearest Trustee. This was unanimously carried.

Ray M. was instructed to send out a questionnaire to all Groups asking a number of questions, such as correct mailing address, type of meetings, etc., etc.

A discussion was held regarding the type of free literature being sent out by the NSO. Bill B. (Regent) was instructed to send to the NSO the type of literature now being used by ERTC.

The Trustees suggested that all future letters received by the NSO should be promptly answered, even if this requires hiring of extra help.

By a vote of 8 to1 it was agreed to change the wording in the original New York combined pamphlet by eliminating the last paragraph on page 3 and replacing same with the following, “Therefore, in order to lead normal, happy lives we try to practice to the best of our ability certain principles in our daily affairs”. Also to replace the first paragraph at the top of page 4 and replace same with the following wording, “here are the steps which are suggested as a program of recovery”. Also to eliminate on page 4 the wording “We admitted we were powerless over gambling – that our lives had become unmanageable”.

Norman W. will send an explanation of the word “Pressure” to the NSO and this explanation should appear in the future NSO bulletin.

A proposed new pamphlet was submitted by the New England area Groups. A copy will be submitted to the Board of Trustees and NSO for their approval. The proposed new pamphlet by Sy G. from Los Angeles, Calif. On “Sponsorship” was discussed. A few changes of this pamphlet were proposed by Bill B. (Regent) and were accepted. Pamphlet was unanimously approved. It was decided that the NSO print a reasonable supply on letter size paper and send a small supply to each group. Printing in a pamphlet form will be discussed at a future meeting.

A discussion was held regarding the recent proposal by William Reel to write a book about G. A. On a motion by Marty T. and seconded by Sy s. it was decided by a vote of 6 to3 to allow William Reel to write a book on Gamblers Anonymous without editing. The Board was assured that Mr. Reel would not write anything that would be detrimental to G. A.

The meeting was adjourned at 7 pm to reconvene again at 9 pm. Meeting was reconvened at 9:05 pm by Chairman Bill G.

The Board of Trustees suggested that instead of sending G. A. pamphlets to people requesting information about Gamblers Anonymous, that they send a little kit as now being used by ERIC in New York. Bill B. (Regent) was instructed to send a sample kit to the NSO. On request for literature from judges, doctors, psychiatrists, etc., they will continue to receive G. A. pamphlets as in the past.

The bonding of NSO employees was discussed. It was unanimously agreed that it was not necessary to bond any NSO employee at this time.

After a short discussion, a motion was made by Joe D. and seconded by Bill B., to give approval to the Board of Regents to order the printing of 1,000 new G. A. Big Books (paper back size) at a cost of $723.24. Bill B. (Regent) will send 1,500 combination pamphlets to the NSO, which are already paid for.

A discussion was held, and it was decided, that Ray M. or someone should contact Mr. Bill Wilson, Founder of AA at the General Service Office in New York to determine their operational functions and to find out how they work with outside AA Foundations.

Ray M. was instructed to see that an article regarding expediters would appear in an early edition of the G. A. Bulletin. The Trustees also suggested that a letter be sent to all active expediters about the need of money by the NSO for the printing of the second edition of the Big Book.

The Trustees suggested that a surcharge of .50 or $1.00 should be added to all future area social functions ticket charges, and this surcharge money should be sent to the NSO as an area contribution.

The Trustees also suggested that no self-addressed stamped envelopes be sent to expediters.

Norman W. made the following suggestions for future Conclaves.

1. Members who send in reservations in advance and don’t attend should receive their money back.
2. More advance notice of Conclaves should be given in all areas.
3. Conclaves should be made more informative and interesting.

Motion made by Bill B. and seconded by Norman W. to adjourn meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Ray M.
Recording Secretary.