A) Welcome and opening statement- Dan M.
Dan M. gave his opening statement regarding procedures for the meeting and explained that we would attempt to follow Roberts Rules of Order. All new members of the Board of Trustees or members who had not been present before were asked to stand and introduce themselves.

B) Roll Call- Changes- Karen H.
Karen H. took roll and at the same time, dates of abstinence were recorded and changes to the Confidential Trustee Listing were made.

C) Approval of minutes from Tampa mtg.
The minutes of the Connecticut meeting were approved as submitted.
Approved: 34 Against: 0

D) Committee Reports
1. Minneapolis Conference Update- Tom M.
Tom M. gave a report on Minneapolis stating everything is going very well. He asked Stafford K. to say a few words and everyone was given a warm welcome. 350 are expected to attend.

2. Scottsdale Conference Update- Tom M.
Tom M. gave a report on the upcoming Conference to held October 20-23, 1995 in Scottsdale. He has been in contact with the committee and everything seems to be going fine.

3. Catskills Conference Update- Tom M.
Tom M. gave a report on the Catskills Conference to be held April 26-28, 1996. Everything is going as planned and they are well on their way.

4. ISO/Lifeliner Report- Karen H.
Karen H. gave her report and handed out a graph for the past two years activity. An increase of $3,802.00 was shown for the year. She stressed the importance of Lifeliners and thanked all who have made the commitment to help carry the message to those who still suffer.

5. Walk-a-thon Update- Shirley M.
Mary S. gave a report on the Walk-A-Thon to be held Saturday morning at 6:30 A.M. The walk will be 2-1/2 miles up to the Nature Preserve and 2-1/2 miles back. They are hoping for a good turn out.

6. Literature Committee Report- Denis M.
Denis M. gave the Literature Committee report. New procedures for the approving literature are being reviewed. The Board of Trustees will see if the worth pursuing for approval.

E. Old Business
1. Booklet on history of G.A.- “From Seed to Plant”. Tabled fromFlorida,… (Bill B., N.Y.)
Committee is being turned over to Dan M. and Tom M.

2. “Filling the Void” as official G.A. literature and placed in the Information Packet. Tabled from Florida & Connecticut. (Literature Committee)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 10 Against: 29 Failed

3. “If God spoke to G.A., He might have said…” as approved G.A. literature and included in the Information Packet. Tabled from Florida & Connecticut. (Literature Committee)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 5 Against: 33 Failed

4. “Have you quit the fellowship of G.A.?” as approved G.A. literature and place in the Information Packet. Tabled from Florida & Connecticut. (Literature Committee)
Motion to accept “Have you quit the Fellowship of GA?” as approved GA literature. This will be a separate one sheet piece.
Approved: 36 Against: 1 Passed (1st Vote)

5. Compile a booklet on the differing formats used by various areas in conducting a Mini Conference. (This can be used as an aid to those areas hosting a Mini Conference for the first time). (Steve R., No. California & Committee) Motion to accept above deleting phone numbers and making graphic changes. Approved: 25 Against: 8 Passed (1st Vote)

6. Guidance Code, page 17 Article XIII, Section II, line 13: Add: Current and/or past members in good standing…To read: Along with at least five (5) current and/or past members of good standing of the Board of Trustees or the Board of Regents. (Board of Regents) *This will also constitute a By-Law change* Approved: 32 Against: 1 Passed (2nd Vote)

7. Guidance Code, page 17, Article XIII, Section II, line 14, after word Regents. Add: Any member who is a candidate shall be excluded from the ballot counting (Board of Regents) Motion to accept above. Approved: 36 Against: 0 Passed (2nd Vote)

8. Update all Gamblers Anonymous literature to reflect gender neutral phrases and portrayals. Tabled from Florida. (Minnesota)
Motion to accept above.
Motion to table.
Approved: 32 Against: 5 Passed

9. Korean Meeting- update on continuing problems and possible solutions. (Los Angeles)
Discussion only.

10. Add to the Meeting handbook- “It is suggested that members do not discuss any crime for which they may still be prosecuted, because anonymity is not necessarily a legal right, and the room itself offers no protection regarding these matters. (Los Angeles)
Approved: 35 Against: 0 Passed (2nd Vote)

11. Site selection: 1996 Southern Conference.
Areas bidding are: Vancouver, B.C.
Palm Beach, Florida
Both of the above areas submitted bids for the above Conference. A vote was taken by secret ballot and Vancouver, B.C. was awarded the 1996 Fall Conference to be held October 11-13, 1996 at the Whistler Resort.

12. Guidance Code, page 2, Article IV, Section 1. Change the following steps in our Recovery Program:
#2 “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
#3 “Made a decision to 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.”
#12“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive gamblers and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” Tabled from Florida (NW Ohio & W. Florida)
Motion to accept above as written.
Approved: 15 Against: 22 Failed

13. Combo Book, page 17, #3 to read:
“ Don’t test or tempt yourself. Don’t associate with acquaintances who gamble. Don’t gamble for anything. This includes the stock market, commodities, options, buying or playing lottery tickets, raffle tickets, flipping a coin or entering the office sport pool.” (Las Vegas)
Approved: 34 Against: 4 Passed (2nd Vote)

F. NEW BUSINESS
1. Place in the BOT Decision Booklet: “Requirement for all members running for Board of Trustees officers positions- you must be present to accept nominations.” (No. California)
Motion made that any Gamblers Anonymous member nominated for Chairman or 1st and 2nd Co-Chairman must be present to accept the nomination. (To be placed in Board of Trustees Decision Booklet).
Amendment to add “or in writing”.
Approved: 34 Against: 0 Passed
On the motion.
Approved: 32 Against: 2 Passed

2. Discuss how areas handle the issue of needing insurance to obtain a meeting place. (No. California)
Discussion was held.

3. Guidance Code, Article VIII, Section 1:
After: “The Board shall not exceed forty-eight (48) Trustees and Alternate Trustees”
Insert: However, only fifty-percent (50%) of the alternate Trustees from each areas must be present at each meeting. (Los Angeles)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 1 Against: 32 Failed

4. Approve making G.A. pins appropriate for celebrating 2, 3, and 4 year anniversaries by adding numbers 1, 2, 3 or 4. (Los Angeles)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 9 Against: 27 Failed

5. Guidance Code, Article VIII, Section 22:
Change 1st sentence to read: Any Trustee who misses two (2) consecutive board meetings, and any Alternate who misses three (3) consecutive board meetings, is automatically removed from the Board of Trustees,…(Los Angeles)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 3 Against: 35 Failed

6. Remove the word “slip” and replace with “relapse” anywhere it is written in our literature. (New Orleans)
Discussion only.

7. Site selection: 1997 Midwest Conference.
Areas bidding are: Chicago
Cincinnati
Both of the above areas submitted bids for the above Conference. A vote was taken by secret ballot and Chicago was awarded the 1997 Midwest Conference to be held May 30-31 and June 1, 1997 at the Chicago O’Hare Marriot.

8. Combo Book, page 14, 2nd paragraph:
Change capitalized “Compulsive Gamblers” to lower case letter to make grammatically correct & correspond with the rest of the book. (No. California)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 7 Against: 21 Failed
Motion to change Combo Book, page 14, paragraph 2 to read “Yes. Compulsive gamblers…”
Approved: 25 Against: 5 Passed (1st Vote)

9. Regarding the term of office for IES:
When does it start and when does it end? (Los Angeles)
Motion to table to Arizona.
Approved: 21 Against: 7 Passed

10. Guidance Code, Article VIII, Section 22:
Delete all references to Alternate Trustees. (Los Angeles)
Motion to amend Article VIII, Section 22 by deleting the word “Alternate” wherever it appears in this section.
Approved 4 Against: 35 Failed

11. Combo Book, page 13 after “Can a compulsive gambler ever gamble normally again?” Delete the word No and Replace with: “Experience tell us that the first bet to a problem gambler is like the first small drink to an alcoholic.” (New Jersey)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 1 Against: 38 Failed

12. Combo Book, page 14, after…Do I need Gamblers Anonymous? Delete the word Yes. (New Jersey)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 6 Against: 31 Failed

13. Guidance Code, Article IX, Section 7:
Increase from $5,000 to $7,500. (No. California)
Motion to accept above.
Amendment to add to end of paragraph “The total combined annual expenditure cannot exceed $7,500.
Approved: 23 Against: 1 Passed
On the motion.
Approved: 36 Against: 0 Passed (1st Vote)

14. Combo Book, new page 17:
Insert: “Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” (Las Vegas)
No discussion.

15. Discuss updating the Group Handbook & Red Book to reflect the “Open Meeting Act” passed in Montreal 1992. (Great Northwest)
Motion to table.
Approved: 28 Against: 5 Passed

16. To not allow non GA members to conduct meetings, workshops or speak at GA meetings, conferences, or any other GA function. All be conducted by GA members only. In the event of a combined GA/GamAnon function, then only GA or GamAnon members may participate or conduct workshops, meetings, conferences or joint GA/GamAnon events. (Great Northwest)
Motion to accept above changing first four words to read “To only allow GA…”
Approved: 2 Against: 33 Failed

17. Discuss the pursuit of yearly anniversary coins. (Great Northwest)
Motion to table to Arizona.
Approved: 24 Against: 2 Passed

18. Guidance Code, Article VIII, Section 22:
Delete entirely as this is a violation of our Unity Steps #4. (Great Northwest)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 1 Against: 37 Failed

19. Discuss the nominations for Board of Trustees offices. (New York)
Discussion only.

20. Should we take attendance at Board of Trustee meetings?” (New York)
No discussion.

21. Due to the importance of Page 17 of the Combo Book, it is hereby moved that the contents of Page 17 be transferred to the inside cover of the Combo Book, and the current material on the inside cover be transferred to page 17. (No. Florida)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 1 Against: 35 Failed

22. Trustee meetings be declared non smoking (No. California)
Motion made that due to the proximity of people smoking and those who do not and whereas after a few hours the room is full of smoke it is moved that smoking not be permitted in the Trustee meeting room.
Approved: 16 Against: 18 Failed

23. To not formally recognize GA meeting designated as Women’s only, Men only, Gay only, Non smoking, Smoking etc. (Great Northwest)
This item is out of order. Does not meet with the “two year rule”.

24. If an area had a Step Meeting, the Trustee from that Area should go to 12 Step Meetings per year. (Long Island)
Discussion only.

25. Combo Book, page 17, #1:
Change to read: “…but at least two full meeting per week.” (Long Island)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 15 Against: 24 Failed

26. Guidance Code, Article IV, Unity Step 2:
Change to read: “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority- a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.” (Australia)
Motion to accept above.
Approved: 3 Against: 35 Failed

27. Discuss how changes can be made in the Pressure Relief pamphlet to better suit members in Australia. (Australia)
Motion made that Australia be permitted to make necessary changes to the Pressure Relief forms to adapt to their customs.
Approved: 28 Against: 5 Passed

28. Guidance Code, Article VIII, Section 24:
Delete entire section as this seems to be in direct conflict with Unity Step 10. (Philadelphia).
Motion to take above sentence out of the Guidance Code and place in Past Board of Trustees Decisions Book.
Approved: 14 Against: 24 Failed

G) Anything Omitted from Agenda
29. Sale of Audio Tapes.
Motion that permission be granted to allow taping of Conferences without approval of Gamblers Anonymous.
Approved: 6 Against: 28 Failed

H) Good and Welfare
The meeting was closed with the Serenity Prayer at 1:23 P.M. The collection for the three (3) sessions was $700.00.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held October 19 & 20, 1995 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen H., International
Executive Secretary