The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by Bill B., Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

ROLL CALL: Designation - Trustee (T); Alternate Trustee (A); Alternate Trustee, Acting Trustee (AT)

Bill M. (T), Douglas M. (T), Sid L. (A), Larry S. (T), Hank K. (T), Martin K. (A), Bill W. (T), Ben L. (T), Ralph G. (A), Leroy N. (T), Warren B. (T), Bob S. (T), Bill G. (T), Elmer M. (A), Norman W. (T), Pat P. (T), Sam B. (T), Irwin S. (A), Bob K. (T), Joseph I. (A), William K.B. (Chairman T), Jack F. (T), Jose S. (T), Al C. (T), Bob F. (T), Proxy: Dave R. (T); Nat A. (AT).

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Big Book : A draft made by AA World Service, October 14, 1976 to be handled by mail meeting. Within 30 days GA will be given two years to dispose of books currently in stock. Letter from G.A. attorney of disclaimer for big book should be unanimous by trustees.

2. Postal Employees Survey: Each Trustee asked in writing to N.S.O. for six or more surveys. And each Trustee attended meeting other than the regular meeting attended. Ask for these surveys to be filled out. Show how aggressive you are.

3. National Conference Committee Report on Conference Tentative Format:
Presented by Le N.

First International Conference of G. A.

To the Board of Trustees and all G.A. Members
October 22-24, 1976
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Dear Brothers:

This is our 8th bi-annual report regarding the 1977 Conference. Chicago has been hard at work putting together an informative and educational program for all of GA. It is our intention that here – at Pittsburgh – we shall be able to finalize the GA Program. A copy of the advance program is attached.

To date, as you will note on the attached financial sheet, we have approximately 354 adults, plus 36 children, already having made reservations. Based on a projection we made three years ago, that is about 38% of the projected attendance.

As a Trustee who may not have been involved in the Program planning, we still need your assistance in promoting the deposits from members in your area. Now is the time to really push this idea. We suggest a $25.00 original deposit with $25.00 monthly installments. You can see by the figures that this would have the member paid up on a Plan A program.

Chicago intends to provide the dinner speaker for the Banquet night and also provide the format for the candle-lighting ceremony. A preview of the program and the facilities – for the Trustees – has been tentatively planned for April, 1977.

Thank you for your past assistance. We look forward to additional help for the next nine months.

Respectfully submitted,
Sam G.
Chairman

Le N.
Trustee

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 59415
North Town Station
Chicago, Ill. 60659

FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF G.A.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT -10/15/76

INCOME: Groups ($2.00 per package)
1974 Miami $ 254.00
1974 West Coast 159.00
1974 Cincinnati 238.00
1975 New York 610.00
1975 West Coast 232.00
1975 Toronto 303.86
1976 Cherry Hill 590.00
1976 No. California 220.00
TOTAL $2,606.86

Individual Deposits:
Plan A 163
Plan B 12
Plan C 6
No Plan Indicated 8
Total 189 (*) $6,620.00
Less Amount Refunded 186.00

Net Total From Individuals $6,434.00
Fund-Raising 242.80
Interest Earned 263.45
Miscellaneous Income 8.93

Total Income $9,556.04

EXPENSES: Postage $ 514.05
Printing 329.54
Telephone 144.85
Office Supplies 137.53
Equipment (Tape Recorder) 35.00
Miscellaneous Expenses 115.52

TOTAL EXPENSES $1,276.49

BALANCE $8,279.55 __

First National Bank of Chicago – Savings Account Balance $8,199.19
First National Bank of Chicago – Checking Account Balance 80.36
Total $8,279.55

(*) Represents approximately 390 people

Respectfully submitted,
Le. N.

RESERVATIONS BY STATES

CALIFORNIA 21

CONNECTICUT 1

FLORIDA 9

GEORGIA 4

ILLINOIS 20

MARYLAND 4

MASSACHUSETTES 3

MICHIGAN 5

NEVADA 5

NEW JERSEY 21

NEW YORK 44

OHIO 19

PENNSYLVANIA 17

VIRGINIA 1

WEST VIRGINIA 1

UNKNOWN 1

TORONTO 9

MONTREAL 3

LONDON 1

TOTAL 189

4. French G.A. Combo Book?: Utmost speed in a reply from Felix D.B. within two weeks.

5. GA Pins 20 Years Committee – Joe S. and Jack F.: It was the thinking of Bo T. to have a GA pin with the letters GA and the years beneath that, such as 10 -15 -20, etc.

5A. Conference Committee Format Report – Norman W.: Motion by Norman W., seconded by Le N. that survey on format be put on last page of bulletin and also have on for next conference in Chicago so the committee can get a better idea of what the GA member wants to see at a conference, location, format, etc.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Page 17 of Combo Book #7 to be eliminated soon enough. On question:
For – 3; Against – 14; Abstain – 3.

2. For what reasons other than gambling can a trusted servant be asked to resign? Amendment to the Guidance Code – takes two-thirds vote. Motioned by Bob F. and seconded by Larry S. A Trusted Servant can be removed for the following reasons: (1) admission to gambling; (2) act detrimental to GA; (3) For – 11; Against – 7. Requires a two-thirds vote to carry an amendment – Defeated.

3. Cooperation of National Council of Compulsive Gambling; assisting them in distribution of Brochure Survey of National Council. Council has supplied 20,000 Brochures to be given to inform the public. Compulsive gambling is an illness. Informs what National Council does. Proposes a program aimed at the reduction and prevention of compulsive gambling. What are the groups going to do with Brochure? Distribute them to Voluntary Health Agency Medical personnel, Labor management, Public Information Community Service. Booth at Chicago Conference approved. Board of Trustees to review survey before being used.

4. Page 13 Combo Book, second heading, “Social or Normal Again”. Add “Socially”: For – 7; Against – 13; Abstain – 2. Motioned by Norman W. and seconded by Jack F.

5. Should the Chairman of the B.O.T. appoint, accept a volunteer, or have voted upon a National Public Relations Coordinator: Show of hands to appoint a three-man committee to select a chairman. For – 17, Against – 0 Absent – 5.

6. Should the Chairman of the B.O.T. and the Assistant Chairman be from the same geographical area? For – 6; Against – 16.

7. N.S.O. Bulletin – discussion including format.

NSO BULLETIN

CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN FORMAT

(1) To encourage increased membership participation
(2) To develop a more interesting, informative and enlightening BULLETIN
(3) To allow for, and encourage, an exchange of ideas among the membership.

THE NSO BULLETING CAN BE A BLEND OF THE OLD AND NEW
The following can be retained:

(1) The cover, size, number of sheets and general appearance
(2) Minutes of BOT and BOR meetings
(3) Financial data (but – consolidate into one or two pages)
(4) Conclave announcements
(5) Showcase for new and approved literate (but identify as such; this was not done in the August 1976 issue)
(6) New and Views (but consolidate and select that which is most informative, interesting and would appeal to the entire membership)…..AVOID “John S. of the Oshkosh Groups says hello and enclosed find our $5 contribution”.

SOME NEW IDEAS AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE OLD

(1) “Question of the Month” Column

Solicit questions (interesting and thought-provoking) from the membership. Example: Should a one-year pin be given to a member who has not gambled but has attended only one meeting every four weeks?

Solicit answers from the membership, and then select three for publication. At end of column have next month’s question shown. THIS COLUMN COULD REFLECT A GOOD REPRESENTATIVE CROSS-SECTION OF OPINION.

(2) “Meet Your Trustees” Column – (Can include BOR and Trustee Alternatives)

Have Trustees, one each month, submit the following:

(a) a few paragraphs on their therapy
(b) their 12 step efforts (pinpointing their Trusted Servant positions leading to the BOT position)
(c) what he’d like to see happen during his tenure

(3) “Public Relations” Column

Techniques employed by PR people (individual group reps, inter-Group PR men, National reps) throughout the country, to “attract new people”.

(4) National Calendar of Coming Events (see AA monthly booklet)

i.e., November Bulleting will have November, December, January events.
THIS WILL PLACE ALL NOTICES TOGETHER RATHER THAN “ALL OVER THE PLACE”.

(5) Anniversary Notices

Devoted to 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th year anniversaries of individuals, groups, inter-groups, etc.

(6) “How We Can Grow Column

Solicit practical ideas and “tried and true” methods from membership on how to retain new members as well as holding on to the “older man”.

(7) Set Up a Cadre of “Regular Columnists” from within G.A. Writing on Their Areas of Specialty- Rotating each Month-Dealing with (for example).

Pressure Meetings - Sponsorship - Telephone Answering Services etc.

(8) Invite Columns from Interested Third Parties – such as Dr. Custer, Newspaper Columnists, etc.

(9) Selected Related Poetry or Writings from imaginative Members.

(10) Pure Therapy Column

Solicited from members throughout the world. Strive for a good cross-section geographically.

Acceptance of foregoing format, motion by Le N., not seconded, therefore, defeated.

Motion by Bob F. and seconded by Nat A. to accept the form presented by Norman W. For – 14; Against – 0; Absent – 5. Committee appointed on proposed changes in format of bulleting consisted of: Norman W., Bob F., Joe S., Bill G., Sam B., Bill W., and Bob K.

8. Should a system be developed that might aid us in measuring our growth?
Committee of four (Chairman, Bob F. – N.Y.; Hank K. – Toronto; Irving S. N.J.’ and Norman W. – N.J.) shall conduct survey on all aspects of GA growth sponsorship and retention.

9. Selection of Chairman of BOT, Asst. Chairman of BOT, and 2nd Asst. Chairman of BOT.
Chairman of BOT Bill B. – New York
First Assistant Chairman of BOT Le N. – Chicago
Second Assistant Chairman of BOT Bob F. – New York

10. Change in By Laws so that there might be alternate members of the B.O.R. which could substitute for absent, sick or deceased members of the B.O.R.

10A. Last Minutes – 2nd voting on combo, page 14, paragraph, “I only go on gambling binges periodically”. Do I need G.A.? Eliminating the first sentence and eliminate “however”. Add – yes, compulsive gamblers. For – 17 Against – 0 Absent – 3.

11. Advertising of G.A. on race cars, flyers, posters, etc. Question – request to put G.A. on a racing car. For – 0 Against – 22 unanimously.
Posters. For – 15 Against – 1 Absent – 6. Encourage this aspect. Flyers discussed.

12. Combo book, page 1, 3rd paragraph. Change the movement at fellowship. For – 15 Against – 2 1st voting.

13. Blood Program – Blood Program a list of names who are willing to give a pint of blood. Accepted on a local basis to do something like a blood program, but not on a national basis.

14. If a person is removed from office because of inactivity, should he be allowed to be reelected right away? Motion – Bob F. 2nd – Larry S. National Trustee or Alternate Trustee removed from office may not be allowed to run for office for one full term. For – 5 Against – 15 Absent – 2

15. How can a chapter be aided by members and attendance? Financially, asserting them with bodies in an organized fashion making an honest and good commitment Secretary and Representative makes a commitment for his or her group to see that the commitment is kept.

Leesberg: Motion by Hank K. 2nd letter to go to groups. Letter from chairman of the Board of Trustees to Bulleting. For – 17, Against – 0, Absent – 3.

Next Trustee Meeting 1977. Chicago, April 10 and 11th. Defeated.

Le N. Motion – Wed. July 20 .. noon time, 1977 no 2nd
July 19 .. 1 p.m., 1977 no 2nd
July 19 .. 5 p.m., 1977 2nd

For – 15 Against – 5

Good and Welfare:

Problem of members from 3 to 5 years – loosing a large number of these members.

Put good view together for agenda. Site for conference.

Recovery & Unity in pocket size. Put combo book in tape form. So. Bend Indiana Trustee to be assigned.

Rochester Group – they don’t know who their trustee is. Set up 11/2 hr. for all Trustees to get things off his or her chest.

All type of meetings – how to start them. Put on tape.

New members cannot afford to come to conference when given pressure group. Put the expense of conference in the budget.

Letter from the Syracuse, Miami Conference. Dear Trustee. What is a Trustee. What do they do. Geographic area. What are they. What and who determines them. This letter will be answered.

New Haven, Conn. Public Relations. Push reservation for International Conference, Chicago, Illinois…July 21, 22, 23, and 24.

Serenity Prayer

Total Collections:

$28.00
30.00
40.00
$98.00

Respectively submitted,

Jim Z.
National Executive Secretary