GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS TRUSTEE MEETING
APRIL 29 & 30, 1992
LE MERIDIEN HOTEL – MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA

A) ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken by Karen H.

B) INTRODUCTIONS OF NEW MEMBERS – CHANGES
Larry G. welcomed everyone to Montreal and asked that all who were here for the first time stand and introduce themselves.

C) CHAIRMAN’S OPENING STATEMENT
Larry G gave an opening statement explaining that after receiving Roberts Rules of Order abstentions are only counted when it is necessary to prove a quorum is present, therefore we will not count abstentions and only yes and no votes will be counted.

D) MINUTES OF THE SAN DIEGO MEETING
The minutes of the San Diego meeting were approved as submitted.
Approved: 29 Against: 0

E) COMMITTEE REPORTS:
1. Conference Committee – Paul P
Paul P gave a report on the three upcoming National conferences. The dates are as follows:
Houston: November 20-22, 1992
Pittsburgh: April 30 – May 2, 1993
Anaheim: October 29-31, 1993

2. Lifeliner Report – Karen H
Karen H gave a report on Lifeliners and passed out a graph showing Lifeliner activity for the past two years. Lifeliners are increasing. She thanked each and every Trustee for getting the word out.

3. Financial Status – Chairman B.O.R.
Vince V handed out a copy of the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 1991 through June 30, 1992, giving actual expenses for the last nine months. He read each item individually, showing that the I.S.O. is under budget at this time.

4. Telephone Hotline – Paul A
Paul A gave a report on the 800 Hotline. Two proposals were submitted. Both systems could provide us with what we need but at the present time we don’t have the funds. The committee will look into ways of raising needed funds.

5. Booklet on history of G.A. – Eddie L
Eddie L gave a report stating that the committee has met ten times completing nine pages of the early history of G.A. It was asked that anyone having facts on the early years of G.A. please submit them to Eddie or Bill B.

6. Review of B.O.R. Election Procedure – Dan B (election proposal attached)
Steve R gave the report in the absence of Dan B. The committee will continue reviewing election procedures.

7. Literature Committee – Paul A
Paul A gave a report on literature and stressed the fact that if you want literature presented it must first go to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

8. Unity and Gam-Anon Committee – Dan M (resolution attached)
Danny M gave a committee report on the resolution that Gamblers Anonymous is not violating the Unity Program by affiliating with Gam-Anon in six different ways as presented. (*See below)
A motion was made to accept this resolution as a formal resolution of this Board of Trustees.
Approved: 25 Against: 7 Passed

RESOLVED
WHEREAS: Gamblers Anonymous Open Meetings commonly include Gam-Anon members;
WHEREAS: Gamblers Anonymous Intergroup meetings commonly reserve a portion of time in which Gam-Anon members are invited to discuss matters of interest to both groups;
WHEREAS: Gamblers Anonymous Step Meetings are often Open Meetings in which Gam-Anon members are welcome to attend and participate;
WHEREAS: Gamblers Anonymous social functions and conferences are commonly co-hosted with Gam-Anon members;
WHEREAS: Gamblers Anonymous Hot Lines commonly serve both Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon, with each group sharing the financial burden;
WHEREAS: Gamblers Anonymous has a responsibility to make new members aware of the existence of Gam-Anon and does so through our literature;
THEREFORE: The Board of Trustees of Gamblers Anonymous does not perceive any of the above to violate any step of the Gamblers Anonymous Unity Program.

9. Literature Correction Committee – George M
George M gave a report that all approved corrections for “G.A. – A New Beginning” and “Sharing Recovery Through Gamblers Anonymous” have been listed.

F) OLD BUSINESS
1. Delete references to treatment facilities by name in “Sharing Recovery Through Gamblers Anonymous” (blue book), and “GA – A New Beginning” (red book) – second vote
Approved: 27 Against: 4 Passed

2. Delete references to Councils of Compulsive Gambling by name in “Sharing Recovery Through Gamblers Anonymous” (blue book), and “GA – A New Beginning” (red book). Second vote Approved: 27 Against: 8 Passed

3. Approve “Towards 90 Days” as GA Literature. Amendment: Insert a colon after “most common” on line 21 of page 2; insert a question mark after “accounted for” on line 31 of page 8; and change GA to read “Gamblers Anonymous” throughout. – second vote
Approved: 33 Against: 1 Passed

4. “A Newcomer asks…” (see attached) to become approved G.A. Literature – tabled from San Diego.
Motion to table and go back to committee (Eddie L) to rewrite.
Approved: 28 Against: 3 Passed

G) GUIDANCE CODE
1. Page 9, Article VIII, Section 22:
To read: “Any Trustee or Alternate who misses two (2)…”
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 22 Against: 9 Passed

2. Page 7, Article VIII, Section 6:
Change to read “Two thirds (2/3) or more members”.
Motion to table to Houston.
Approved: 29 Against: 0 Passed

3. Page 9, Article VIII, Section 22:
Change so that Alternate Trustee is required to attend only one meeting in a two (2) year period (term).
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 3 Against: 25 Failed

4. Page 5, Article VII, Section 4:
Motion to change the wording from required to suggested.
Approved: 19 Against: 13 Failed
Delete entire section.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 5 Against: 27 Failed

5. The Trustee conference meeting shall be conducted in the fall of every year with at least one mail meeting during the year.
a) Remove “physical” from Article VIII, Section 9.
b) Remove “conference” from Article VIII, Section 13.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 2 Against: 32 Failed

5. Page 1 – Article III – Section I – Item 2.
Change the word “churches” to “houses of worship”
N.B. – I know this was on the last agenda, but the vote was 14-7-4 or more simply 14-7 which is the necessary 2/3 vote required. If we count abstentions, they would be negative votes and this is not correct. I am re-introducing the item for another 1st vote – (Larry G)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 24 Against: 2 Passed (1st vote)
Motion to change above in Section 1 Item 4.
Approved: 28 Against: 1 Passed (1st vote)

H. COMBO BOOK
1. Page 14 – Last paragraph
To read: “Gambling for the purpose of the compulsive gambler is defined as follows: Any betting or wagering for self or others, or by others for us, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends upon chance or “skill” constitutes gambling.” Motion to accept above.
Approved: 6 Against: 25 Failed

2. Page 1 – 2nd paragraph
Underline “in order to prevent a relapse”.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 0 Against: 28 Failed
Motion to capitalize “in order to prevent a relapse”.
Approved: 0 Against: 28 Failed

3. Pages 4/5 – Change #4
To read: “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves” – Step 8 would become
“Made a searching and fearless financial inventory of ourselves” – Steps 8 through 12 would become 9 through 13.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 0 Against: 30 Failed

4. Pages 4/5 – The Recovery Program:
Change the following steps to read:
#3 – Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
#5 – Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
#6 – Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
#7 – Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
#11 – Underline “as we understood Him”.

#12 – Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive gamblers, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Motion to accept above.
Motion to table.
Approved: 5 Against: 24 Failed
On the motion.
Approved: 4 Against: 30 Failed

5. Page 17 – number 6:
Change to read:
“6. When you are ready, the Trusted Servants will conduct a Pressure Relief Group meeting, or re- evaluation of you (and your spouse), if married, and adherence to it will aid in your recovery.”
Item withdrawn – no discussion

6. Page 14 – Last paragraph:
Eliminate in its entirety (if you don’t know what constitutes gambling why are you here?).
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 2 Against: 32 Failed

7. Page 17 – Top
Delete “Particularly the New Gamblers Anonymous Members”. (Because of the older members relapsing at rapid rates).
Item stricken – was presented at New Orleans.

8. Page 17 – number 6:
Change to read “for you and your partner (if not single)”.
Motion to change “spouse” to significant other and take out “if married”.
Approved: 4 Against: 24 Failed
Motion to take out “and your spouse (if married)”.
Amendment to change the word “of” to “for”.
Approved: 10 Against: 19 Failed
Motion to table.
Approved: 6 Against: 18 Failed
On the motion.
Approved: 7 Against: 21 Failed

9. Page 5 – Step 12
Change to read:
“Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other compulsive gamblers and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” Motion to accept above.
Approved: 8 Against: 24 Failed

10. Page 9 – 2nd to last paragraph:
Use bold capital letters for “Honesty, Open-mindedness and Willingness”.
Motion to table to Houston.
Approved: 23 Against: 1 Passed

11. Page 13 – last paragraph:
Change “risking” to “suffering”.
Motion to accept above.
Motion to table.
Approved: 8 Against: 23 Failed
On the motion.
Approved: 6 Against: 25 Failed

I. NEW BUSINESS
1. It is suggested that each group voluntarily donate xx% of their collections to the I.S.O., to offset the required expenditures made on behalf of G.A. as a whole. Xx% to be determined by vote. – (N.Y.)
Discussion only.

2. “Check list of symptoms leading to relapse” as new GA literature – submitted To Literature Committee to be included in G.A. information packet on next printing. (copy attached)
Motion to table to Houston – Tony M. will research.
Approved: 28 Against: 0 Passed

3. Request for new trustees and alternates:
Area 1 – would like an additional trustee and alternate.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 34 Against: 0 Passed

Area 3 – would like a new area (3B) with trustee covering Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, plus its fringe areas.
Motion made for new Area 3B with one Trustee and Alternate to include Colorado, Wyoming, Western South Dakota and Western North Dakota transferring those areas from their existing areas.
Approved: 36 Against: 0 Passed

Area 5 – would like a new area to cover the provinces Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and P.E.I.
Motion made for new area 5A with one Trustee and Alternate to include Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. transferring those areas from area 5.
Approved: 31 Against:0 Passed

Additional realignment and request for Trustees.
Motion made for Area 8 to have one additional Trustee and Alternate.
Approved: 32 Against: 1 Passed

Motion made to transfer Northern Nevada from Area 2 to Area 3.
Approved: 32 Against: 0 Passed

Motion made to have River Falls and Superior, Wisconsin removed from Area 8 and be included in Area 8A.
Approved: 29 Against: 0 Passed

Motion made for Area 9 to take on Northwest Ohio, transferring it from Area 10.
Approved: 30 Against: 0 Passed

Motion made that Area 10 will encompass Erie, Newcastle, and Warren, Pennsylvania; removing them from Area 10A.
Approved: 25 Against: 1 Passed

Motion made for Area 13A to encompass Virginia; removing it from Area 10A.
Approved: 29 Against: 0 Passed

Designate trustee to represent countries with I.S.O. affiliations.
No decision.

4. Letter to Lou M from Bruce S – (see attached) – Points 1,2,3 and 4.
Motion made that this Board feels Bruce S did gamble in accordance with our definition of gambling.
Approved: 9 Against: 19 Failed
Motion made that the room has the right to take away a members abstinence.
Approved: 0 Against: 31 Failed

5. Allocate $5,000 (five thousand dollars) for translation of Gamblers Anonymous approved literature to Spanish.
Motion to table to Houston.
Approved: 6 Against: 21 Failed
No dollar allocation was decided at this time. Gil S has translated 95% of the Combo Book, G.A. – A New Beginning, and Towards 90 Days into Spanish and will send it to the I.S.O. Upon receiving this it will be forwarded to Pete V, who will then complete it.

6. Guidance to I.S.O. re: approving translations:
Procedure followed with Argentinean translations acceptable to the Board – same procedure will be followed with future translation requests.

7. Direction to I.E.S. regarding contacts from prisons.
Discussion was held. The I.E.S. will continue contacting Trustees in regards to contacts from prisons.

8. In light of the increase in cost of travel and conferences, should host conference committees make available an “economy plan” for those individuals desiring to attend conferences but are prohibited from doing so because of the cost involved?
Discussion only.

9. In conformity with our Unity Steps regarding attraction rather than promotional activities, should the I.S.O. and individual Trustees require the publication of hotline numbers as part of the requirement for public speaking engagements, newspaper articles, or television and news coverage involving Gamblers Anonymous member interviews or information. Motion to accept above changing “require” to “request”.
Approved: 33 Against: 1 Passed

10. Have a B.O.T. Agenda Steering Committee – Executive (3) and two (2) others to approve agenda items.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 2 Against: 26 Failed

11. Is it written that a 50% profit must be built in to all our literature prices? If so, eliminate it wherever it is written.
Discussion was held. This is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.

12. Limit National or International Conferences to one (1) per calendar year and make all necessary Guidance Code changes.
Motion to accept above adding “with two Trustees meeting a year to become effective in 1995”.
Amendment to add “physical” meetings
Approved: 32 Against: 0 Passed
On the motion.
Approved: 13 Against: 18 Failed

13. Expenses for I.E.S and National Secretary of Gam-Anon should not be paid for by the conference as we are now penalizing attendees.
These expenses should be paid for by the I.S.O. of Gam-Anon Service Office.
Motion made that travel and conference expenses for the I.E.S. be paid for by the I.S.O.
Approved: 10 Against: 31 Failed
Motion made that International Conferences are the same as other National Conferences regarding the allocation of profits.
Approved: 28 Against: 3 Passed

14. Gamblers Anonymous – The First Meeting – presented anew (see attached).
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 1 Against: 25 Failed

15. Public Relation Survey Fact Sheet – already approved literature.
Add the following: Member’s home town and country. (In this way it would be easier to contact member (s) who reside closest to where the engagement is scheduled.
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 23 Against: 3 Passed

16. Each area should have one voting Trustee and as many Alternate Trustees as deemed necessary. All Alternate Trustees will be designated 1st Alternate, 2nd Alternate, etc – The Alternate Trustee would vote in place of the absent Trustee (reason) – cost becoming prohibitive and this way most areas can properly fund Trustee to Trustee meetings. Motion to table to Houston.
Approved: 27 Against: 1 Passed

17. Conference Site Selection – East – Spring 1994.
Two areas bid on the above conference. Long Island to host in Catskills and Connecticut to host in Hartford. Connecticut got the bid. Both areas were thanked for the time and effort spent on this.

J. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Re: 39 meeting requirement for pinnings and successive anniversaries – It is not clear as to what happens if someone misses the amount of meetings. Do they return to zero years and start over, or do they go back to the last year and go from there?
Ex: if one had four years, when would he get five years?
Discussion only.

2. Can money that is collected to support the group be used for flowers, fruit baskets, picnics, open meetings, etc… or must those types of good and welfare or events be supported by separate collections.
Discussion only.

3. Please clarify position on special needs meetings – i.e. Women, Young People, Gays, etc. Discussion was held. The Chairman during this part of the meeting was asking for a straw vote of having special group meetings – i.e. women, young people, gays, etc, as long as they live by the guidelines of Gamblers Anonymous, listing them on our meeting list.
A motion was made to over rule the chair on the above item.
Approved: 8 Against: 22 Failed
The straw vote was taken and it was the consensus of this Board that it is O.K. to have these special kinds of meetings.

4. More emphasis on “Tempting and Testing”:
Sports betters watching sports on TV.
Lottery gamblers checking numbers daily.
Casino gamblers frequenting casinos to watch shows.
Stock market gamblers reading media stock quotes.
Discussion only.

K) ANYTHING OMITTED FROM THE AGENDA
A group was being disrupted by a person who was made to attend the meeting by court order. The group wanted to know what position they could take. After discussion it was the consensus of this Board that “a member” needed to have a desire to stop gambling or they could be asked to leave.

L) GOOD AND WELFARE
Motion to table to Houston.
Approved: 25 Against: 3 Passed

The meeting was closed with the Serenity Prayer at approximately 4:30pm.
The collection for the four (4) sessions was $640.00.
The next Board of Trustees meeting will be November 19 and 20, 1992 in Houston, Texas.

Respectfully Submitted,
Karen H
International Executive Secretary