GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS TRUSTEE MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 1991
HANANLEI HOTEL-SAN DIEGO, CALFIORNIA

A) ROLL CALL

Roll call was taken by Karen H.

B) INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS-CHANGES

Larry G. welcomed all new members and asked anyone attending for the first time stand and introduce themselves.

C) CHAIRMAN’S OPENING STATEMENT

Larry G. welcomed everyone and thanked Malcolm and his committee for a great job. He stated that four Proxy’s were received from Australia (the 2 Trustees and Alternates) and since he was not voting he would take one of the votes and give the other vote to Karen H. So when Larry and Karen vote they are voting the proxy’s and not for themselves. General procedures for how the meeting would be conducted were discussed and it was stated that Roberts Rules of Order would be followed.

D) MINUTES OF THE DETROIT MEETING

The minutes of the Detroit meeting were approved as submitted.
Approved: 28 Against: 1 Abstained: 1

E) COMMITTEE REPORTS:

1. Conference Committee-Paul P.
Paul P. gave a report on the three upcoming conferences.
Montreal (April 30-May 3, 1992) is working on the concept that it is an International Conference. So far reservations have been received from Korea, Germany, England, Canada and the United States. If you are sending in your reservations from the U.S., the funds will be converted at the rate of exchange on the day they are received. The U.S./Canada dollar fluctuation has been running in the Canadians favor, so it would be advantageous to get your money in as soon as possible.

Houston’s Conference is November 20-22, 1992 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. Flyers were promised to be here but as yet have not arrived.

Pittsburgh is working on their conference for April 30-May 2, 1993 and things seem to be moving right along.

2. Lifeliner Report-I.E.S.-Karen H.
Karen H. gave a report on the Lifeliners and handed out a chart for the past years activity. She thanked the Trustees for getting involved and making their areas aware of the importance of Lifeliners.

3. Chairman B.O.R.-Financial Situation
Vince V. read a letter he wrote to the Trustees explaining the financial status of the International Service Office. A chart showing receipts and disbursements for April 1991-September 1991 was also presented.

4. Telephone Hot Line-Paul A.
Paul A. gave a report including a cost analysis on a toll free National Hot-Line. After much discussion it was decided the committee would continue working on this to come up with the best possible solution. The committee members besides Paul A. are Joe L., George M., Jim C., and Mike S.

5. Book by Ray M.-Bill B.
Eddie L. gave a report for the “History Committee” that was reviewing the book submitted by Ray M.

The committee had a total of four meetings and came to the conclusion that Ray M.’s memories, letters and memorabilia could not be a book but could be the basis of a history of the founding of Gamblers Anonymous.

Motion was made for the History Committee to pursue history of G.A.’s first five years until a book or pamphlet is complete and distributed to all Trustees for review.
Approved: 18 Against: 5 Abstained: 7 Passed

F) OLD BUSINESS

1. Guidance Code
Page 7, Article VIII, Section II:
To read: Trustees shall submit nominations for an International Executive Secretary to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees during the first session of the Board of Trustees Meeting where the election is to be held. The Chairman of the Board of Trustees will hold the election during the final session of the meeting- 2nd vote.
Approved: 30 Against: 0 Abstained: 2 Passed

2. Sponsorship Literature: “What is Sponsorship” (see attached)- 2nd vote
Approved: 27 Against: 2 Abstained: 4 Passed

3. “Step One Worksheet” (see attached)- tabled from Detroit
Approved: 23 Against: 7 Abstained: 4 Passed

G) COMBO BOOK

1. Page 17-Step II:
To read: “Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television and public speaking engagements.”
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 3 Against: 29 Abstained: 2 Failed

2. Page 17- #1:
To have the word “full” appear in bold print.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 6 Against: 24 Abstained: 3 Failed

H) GUIDANCE CODE

1. Page 1- Article III – Section 1- Item 2:
Change the word “churches” to “houses of worship”.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 14 Against: 7 Abstained: 4 Failed
(2/3 vote needed)

2. Page 5 – Article VII- Section 4:
Add “It is the direct responsibility of the Group Secretary to ask the member if the person has attended (39) thirty-nine meetings during the course of the year.”
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 9 Against: 18 Abstained: 1 Failed

3. Page 4- Article VII Section 1:
Add on the 5th line after the word “literature”- “and read at each meeting from the GA Combo Book a minimum of pages 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 17.”
Motion to accept above, adding “page 3 and the bottom of page 14.”
Approved: 5 Against: 24 Abstained: 3 Failed

4. Page 16- Article XIIIx- Section II- 14th line:
Delete “or the Board of Regents.”
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 17 Against: 14 Abstained: 4 Failed
(2/3 vote needed)

5. Pages 14, 15 and 16- Article XIII
a) Delete the following: Section 1- entire last sentence beginning with “This Board shall…” and replace with “This Board shall be elected by the Board of Trustees at the spring meeting of the Board of Trustees.”
b) Section 10- 1st paragraph: Delete “to the Secretary of each recognized group in Gamblers Anonymous” and replace by “to the members of the Board of Trustees.”
c) Section 10- 2nd paragraph- delete.
d) Section II- delete and replace by “The annual election of Regents shall be by written ballot. The International Executive Secretary shall prepare the ballot, listing thereon the names of eighteen (18) nominees submitted by the Nominating Committee- next to their name will be included the number of continuous years abstinence from gambling, the home group, and previous service as Regent and/or Trustee. Said ballot shall provide adequate space for writing- in of the candidates of the Trustee’s choice. Each Trustee Area shall be entitled to one vote for up to nine (9) Regents (including write-ins) which will be cast in accordance with the Board of Trustee voting procedure. These ballots shall be given to the International Executive Secretary at the final session of the spring Trustee meeting. The I.E.S. will count them in the presence of five (5) members of the Board of Trustees and the nine candidates receiving the greatest number of votes shall be deemed elected. The results of said election should be duly noted in the minutes of the Board of Trustees’ meeting.
e) Section 12- delete (redundant same as section 3).
Motion to accept above.
Amendment 1- To add “This procedure include each candidate submit resumes to the Board of Trustees prior to the vote.”
Approved: 14 Against: 13 Abstained: 6 Passed
Amendment 2- To delete the word “area.”
Approved: 25 Against: 4 Abstained: 4 Passed
On the motion
Approved: 21 Against: 12 Abstained: 2 Failed
(2/3 vote needed)
After a lengthy discussion a committee was formed to study the current method of the Board of Regents election procedures and examine alternative methods. Dan B. will chair this committee.

I) NEW BUSINESS

1. The Board of Trustees to appoint a committee to review and revise the Blue book “Sharing Recovery Through Gamblers Anonymous” and the red book “GA- A New Beginning” to reflect the changes already approved by the Board.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 31 Against: 0 Abstained: 3 Passed
George M. will chair this committee.
These changes will be incorporated in the next printing of the above-mentioned books.”
a) Delete references to treatment facilities.
Motion made to delete references to treatment facilities by name.
Approved: 30 Against: 11 Abstained: 2 Passed
(1st vote)
b) Update information regarding councils on compulsive gambling.
Motion made to delete references to treatment facilities by name.
Approved: 24 Against: 5 Abstained: 3 Passed
(1st vote)

2. Apply the GA approved literature stamp to “GA- A New Beginning.” It has been done.

3. Re-emphasize the importance of Unity Step #11- The Board of Trustees does not approve of “full face” interviews. Discussion only.

4. Some members feel conferences are too entertainment oriented- what direction would the Board give to the Conference Committee? Discussion only.

5. Should the Lifeline Bulletin be left in hospitals, doctors’ waiting rooms, etc…?
Discussion was held. It was the consensus of this Board that the Lifeline Bulletin should not be left in hospitals, doctors waiting rooms, etc.

6. Are joint beginners meetings (GA & Gam-Anon members) approved by GA? Do they violate Unity Steps 4, 5, 6 and 10?
Discussion was held. The Red Book clarifys the different “types of Gamblers Anonymous Meetings that have proven to be successful throughout our Fellowship.”

7. The Lord’s Prayer may be used to close a GA meeting.
Discussion was held. It was the consensus of this Board that the Lord’s Prayer may be used to close a G.A. meeting. Each room has the right to decide.

8. “Sit downs” are voluntary and should not be used on members.
No discussion.

9. When commenting on therapy one should relate only their own experiences, not use hearsay.
No discussion.

10. The B.O.T. should appoint a qualified editor for the Lifeline Bulletin. The I.S.O. would still do the printing and distribution- Reasoning: the only paid GA member should not be put in a compromising position of having to decide editorial content. Also the I.E.S. has a heavy enough work load.
Discussion only.

11. “Towards 90 Days” (see attached) to become approve GA literature- 1st vote. Motion to accept above.
Amendment- To change page 2; inserting a colon after the words “most common”, page 8, adding a question mark after the words “accounted for” and change “G.A.” throughout to “Gamblers Anonymous”.
Approved: 31 Against: 0 Abstained: 0 Passed
On the motion
Approved: 31 Against: 0 Abstained: 0 Passed
(1st vote)

12. “A Newcomer asks…” (see attached) to become approved GA literature- 1st vote.
Motion to table above and send back to literature committee for presentation at Montreal.
Approved: 24 Against: 6 Abstained: 2 Passed

13. “A G.A. Group Inventory” (see attached) to become approved GA literature- 1st vote. Motion to accept above.
Approved: 8 Against: 20 Abstained: 4 Failed

14. “Welcome to the Fellowship of G.A.” (see attached) to become approved GA literature- 1st vote.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 12 Against: 17 Abstained: 3 Failed

15. Resolved: The following examples etc… (see attached)
Motion made that this item be given to a special committee, to be chaired by Danny M., for presentation at Montreal.
Approved: 27 Against: 3 Abstained: 3 Passed

16. Conference Site Selection- West- Fall of 1993.
Motion to accept L.A. Intergroups bid for the Fall 1993 Western Conference to he held in Anaheim, California.
Approved: 31 Against: 1 Abstained: 3 Passed

J) ANYTHING OMITTED FROM THE AGENDA.

1. Australia is asking for a Regional Service Office (R.S.O.)
Motion for Queensland to open a Regional Service Office.
Approved: 30 Against: 3 Abstained: 0 Passed

2. Literature Committee
Paul A. gave a report stating the Literature Committee took up each item individually as did the Board. One item was tabled to the Montreal Conference.

3. Larry G. stated that February 26, 1992 is the closing date for agenda items to reach him for the Montreal Meeting.

K) GOOD AND WELFARE

The meeting was closed with the Serenity Prayer at approximately 11:30 P.M.
Collection for the two (2) sessions was $600.75.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be April 29 and 30, 1992 in Montreal, Canada.

Respectfully Submitted,
Karen H.,
International Executive Secretary