GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS TRUSTEE MEETING
OCTOBER 28 & 29, 1993
INN AT THE PARK – ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

A) WELCOME AND OPENING STATEMENT – DAN M.

Dan M. gave an opening statement explaining procedures of the meeting. He stated that we would attempt to follow Roberts Rules of Order as best we can. All new Trustees and Alternate Trustees were asked to stand and introduce themselves.

B) ROLL CALL – CHANGES – KAREN H.

Karen H. took Roll Call and at the same time changes to the Trustees listing were made.

C) APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PITTSBURGH MEETING

The minutes of the Pittsburgh meeting were approved as submitted.
Approved: 34 Against: 0

D) COMMITTEE REPORTS

1. Anaheim Conference Update – Jo Ann S.

Jo Ann S. gave a report on Anaheim stating that this Conference is very organized and they are ready to go.

2. Connecticut Conference Update – Jo Ann S.

Jo Ann S. gave a report on Connecticut (April 29 - May 1, 1994). They already have 150 reservations and expect to sell out. Three hundred rooms have been booked and a back up hotel is available if needed.

3. Tampa/St. Pete Conference Update – Paul A.
Dick D. gave a report on Tampa (October 21 – 23, 1994). We have 600 rooms reserved at a Gulf ocean front hotel. The entertainment will be spectacular.

4. Minneapolis Conference Update – Jo Ann S.
Jo Ann S. gave a report on Minneapolis. An important change has been made. This conference will be May 5 – 7, 1995 at the Radisson Hotel. They are hard at work and 500 rooms have been put aside.

5. ISO/Lifeliner Report – Karen H.
Karen H. gave a report on Lifeliners and handed out a chart showing the past years activity. She tanked all those who continue to help spread the word about how important Lifeliners are to the International Service Office.

E) OLD BUSINESS

1. “A newcomer asks…” Tabled from Pittsburgh, Houston, Montreal, & San Diego – (Literature Committee)
Motion to accept above as presented.
Amendment to take out G.A. and spell out Gamblers Anonymous.
Approved: 30 Against: 1 Passed
On the motion.
Approved: 21 Against: 4 Passed (1st vote)

2. “Checklist of Symptoms Leading to Relapse” as approved G.A. literature.
Tabled from Pittsburgh (Literature Committee)
Motion to accept above with all 16 items.
Approved: 0 Against: 28 Failed

3. Review & Discuss status of Spanish translation.
Tabled from Pittsburgh, Houston & Montreal.
Tabled to Connecticut. Board of Regents will pursue.

4. Booklet on history of G.A. – “From Seed to Plant”.
Tabled from Pittsburgh, Houston, Montreal, San Diego & Livonia. (Eddie L., N.J. & Bill B., N.Y.)
Bill B. gave a report on the above. Two additional Chapters have been added. The Committee needs information from Areas. Vote was taken to continue Committee.
Approved: 31 Against: 1 Passed

5. “Gamblers Anonymous – A Day at a Time” as approved GA Literature. (Paul A., No. Florida, Stafford K., Minneapolis & Dan M., Detroit). 2nd Vote.
Discussion was held regarding changes being made on the above book. The Chair at the time stated that no changes (other than grammatical) would be accepted at this meeting. The Chair was then challenged as to not accepting changes. After two close “hand” votes, a “roll call” vote was taken.
It was determined by a 29 No to 25 Yes vote to the Chair was not out of order. On the original item.
Approved: 29 Against: 6 Passed
This book will be printed in Hard Cover.

6. Guidance Code, page 3, Article IV, Section 1, Unity Step 5: After the word “message” insert “of hope”. (NW Ohio) 2nd Vote
*And all other documents where Unity Step 5 is written.
Approved: 8 Against: 27 Failed

7. Combo Book, page 12, 1st sentence: Eliminate the words “seems to be”, and insert the word “is”. (Michigan)
Approved: 26 Against: 7 Passed 2nd Vote

8. Combo Book, inside cover: Delete the sentence “I sought my brother” and replace with “I sought my brother or sister”. (Oregon) 2nd Vote
Approved: 13 Against: 22 Failed

9. Please put in writing somewhere in GA literature, that a persons first day of GA clean time starts at his/her first meeting. Tabled from Pittsburgh. (Literature Committee)
Motion to add additional sentence to the Guidance Code, page 5, Article VII, Section 4 – “Date of abstinence starts from first G.A. meeting”.
Approved: 31 Against: 5 Passed (1st Vote)

10. “Another Chance” as approved GA literature and inserted on inside front cover of grey “Towards 90 Days” book. (Michigan & NW Ohio). 2nd Vote
Approved: 35 Against: 1 Passed

11. Request for a Regional Service Office by New Zealand. Tabled from Pittsburgh. (Dan M. to report).
Motion that New Zealand be granted a R.S.O. in compliance with the Guidance Code.
Approved: 29 Against: 3 Passed
A letter will be sent to them explaining this situation.

F) NEW BUSINESS

1. Combo Book, page 16 after “Most compulsive gamblers…, insert - “Do you have a desire to refrain from gambling? (Michigan)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 8 Against: 25 Failed

2. “Anonymity” as approved GA literature. (Las Vegas)
Discussion only.

3. “Principles before Personalities” as approved GA literature. (Las Vegas)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 0 Against: 24 Failed

4. “Design for Living” as approved GA literature (Las Vegas)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 4 Against: 25 Failed

5. “Intervention – How to Help Even Those Who Don’t Want Help” as approved GA literature. (Las Vegas)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 0 Against: 32 Failed

6. Can an Intergroup or Area limit the terms of their Trustees and/or Alternates? (Los Angeles)
Motion to allow Intergroups to limit the amount of terms that Trustees may serve.
Approved: 3 Against: 27 Failed

7. Can Gamblers Anonymous Pressure Relief Group literature be used by outside entities? (Anonymous)
A straw vote was taken and it is the consensus of this Board that Gamblers Anonymous Pressure Relief Group literature can be used by outside entities.

8. Guidance Code, page 5, Article VIII, Section 1, 2nd sentence: Replace period after the word year with a comma and add: counting no more than one meeting per week. (Houston)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 7 Against: 23 Failed

9. Guidance Code, page 2, Step 7: Change to read: Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to help us remove our shortcomings. (Chicago)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 3 Against: 28 Failed

10. Guidance Code, page 12, Article X, number 7: At end of sentence add: Suggested procedure shall be guided by Roberts Rules of Order. (Philadelphia)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 3 Against: 25 Failed

11. Combo Book, page 8, 1st paragraph, 1st sentence: Replace the word “arrested” with “amended” or “abated” or “regulated”. (Pittsburgh)
No action was taken.

12. Combo Book, page 9, 4th paragraph, 2nd sentence: Delete the words “To recover from” and replace with either “To rebound from” or “To face”. (Philadelphia)
Motion to delete the words “To recover from” and replace with “To rebound from”.
Approved: 0 Against: 34 Failed

13. Combo Book, page 16, number 12: Delete the word “expenditures” and replace with “expenses”. (New York)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 6 Against: 23 Failed

14. Combo Book, page 8, Insert “Just for Today” (enclosed) as page 8, and renumber remaining pages. (San Diego)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 2 Against: 29 Failed

15. Combo Book, page 2, 1st sentence, 3rd line: Insert the word “so” after the word “other”. (San Diego)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 15 Against: 15 Failed

16. Discuss the appropriateness of Gamblers Anonymous “Special Interest Groups, i.e., women only, gay/lesbian men only etc. (No Nevada)
A straw vote was taken and it is the consensus of this Board that meetings of “Special Interest” Groups are appropriate as long as they are open to all G.A. members.

17. Are Board of Trustee meetings open to people who are not members of Gamblers Anonymous? (No. California)
Discussion was held and it was determined the Board of Trustees meetings will remain as is.

18. To permit the IES, without approval of the Board of Trustees to make typographical, grammatical or punctuation corrections as necessary (when the correction would not affect the meaning) upon initial printing or reprinting of GA literature. (New York) Motion to accept above.
Approved: 7 Against: 23 Failed

19. A “GA Coin” as approved literature. (Tony M., Philadelphia will make presentation)
Motion to accept above with all the “the’s” inserted where applicable.
Approved: 27 Against: 1 Passed (1st Vote)

20. Site selections: 1995 Western Conference
Bids were presented by San Jose, California and Scottsdale, Arizona. After the presentations were made a vote was taken and Scottsdale was awarded the 1995 Western Conference to be held in October of 1995.

21. Expenditures for bids on National Conferences should be limited to hotel-provided videos and any other promotional literature provided free of charge, thus eliminating expensive bidding wars. (Chicago)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 4 Against: 30 Failed

22. Discuss ways to enhance members interest in Board of Trustee and Board of Regent issues. (Las Vegas)
Discussion was held on various ways that Areas use to enhance interest on National issues.

23. Is it a violation of either Unity Steps 6 or 7 for local regional or national conferences to accept advertising contributions to be used as giveaway item? (Anonymous)
Motion made that it is a violation of either Unity Steps 6 or 7 for local, regional or national conferences to accept advertising contributions to be used as giveaway items.
Approved: 8 Against: 22 Failed

24. Is the only requirement for GA membership to have a desire to stop gambling? Is the rest of the program suggested? A straw vote is requested. (Long Island)
Two straw votes were taken on this item.
1. It is the consensus of this Board that the only requirement for G.A. membership is a desire to stop gambling.
2. It is also the consensus of this Board that the rest of the program is suggested.

25. Is it proper for an Intergroup to host a joint GA/Gam-Anon Mini Conference where the signature requirements on checking accounts are as follows:
1 GA member and 1 Gam-Anon member
or
2 Gam-Anon members & no GA members
Straw vote requested (Long Island)
Two straw votes were taken on this item.
1. It is the consensus of this Board that it is proper for an Intergroup to host a joint G.A./Gam- Anon Mini Conference where the signature requirements on the checking accounts are 1 G.A. member and 1 Gam-Anon member.
2. It is also the consensus of this Board that it is proper for an Intergroup to host a joint G.A./Gam-Anon Mini Conference where the signature requirements on checking accounts are 2 Gam-Anon members and no G.A. members.

26. Does a room have a right to put a member on trial? Does a room have the right to refuse a member to celebrate an anniversary? (A member requested to celebrate an anniversary and is refused by his room because the majority of members at a special meeting felt that the member stated in his therapy that he gambled. The member stated that in his belief what he said was not admission to gambling). Straw vote requested (Long Island)
Discussion only.

27. Conduct a feasibility study on obtaining a nationwide liability insurance policy for all rooms with minimum coverage. (Long Island)
Discussion only.

28. Limit Trustee meetings to one per year. (No. California)
This item is ruled out of order a it has not yet been two years since it was brought up.

29. Is selling the Entertainment Book an appropriate fundraising tool for Groups and/or Intergroups? (San Diego)
Motion that only G.A. merchandise be sold in a G.A. room.
Amendment – And no other literature to be sold.
Approved: 18 Against: 9 Passed
On the motion.
Approved: 25 Against: 3 Passed

30. By-laws, Article 3, Section 8: Board of Regents is seeking an advisory opinion of the Board of Trustees to change the By-Laws to read “unlimited number of terms”. (Board of Regents)
Discussion was held. A straw vote was taken and it is the advisory opinion of this Board that the By-Laws, Article 3, Section 8, read “unlimited number of terms”.

31. Discuss what if anything can/should be done about plagiarism of GA literature by another 12 Step Fellowship “Bettors Anonymous”. (Upstate NY)
No action was taken.

G) ANYTHING OMITTED FROM AGENDA

32. Approve translation of Combo Book into Greek.
Motion to reimburse member for translation and type set costs for Greek Combo Book.
Approved: 4 Against: 29 Failed
Motion that we print the Combo Book in Greek.
Approved: 12 Against: 17 Failed

H) GOOD AND WELFARE

The meeting was closed with the Serenity Prayer at 1:30 P.M.
Collection for the three (3) sessions was $511.10.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held April 28 & 29, 1994 in Farmington, Connecticut..

Respectfully Submitted,
Karen H., International
Executive Secretary