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GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS TRUSTEES MEETING SEPTEMBER 9 & 10, 2004 RADISSON HOTEL, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
A) Welcome – Bob W. Chairman, Board of Trustees
B) Remembrance of our departed members – Marshall R.
C) Reading from "A Day at a Time Book" – Gail L.
D) Reading of the "12 Steps of Unity" – Chuck R.
E) Roll Call – Karen H. International Executive Secretary
F) Approval of Minutes from Montreal G) Committee Reports
1. Montreal Final Report – David M.
2. New Orleans Conference Report – Denis M.
3. Connecticut Conference Report – David M.
4. San Diego Conference Report – Denis M.
5. Boston Conference Report – David M.
6. ISO/Lifeliner Report – Karen H.
7. New Orleans Walkathon Report – Marc L.
8. Literature Committee Report – Chuck R.
9. Prison Committee Report – Jean-Marc L.
10. Literature on Tape Committee Report – Jimmy D.
11. Gamblers Anonymous Website Guidelines Committee Report – Allan S.
12. Website Revision Committee Report – David M.
13. Hotline Committee Report – Gary S.
INTRODUCTION
PART II
GA-ISO NORTH AMERICAN US/CANADA HOTLINE REPORT PART II
14. Pressure Relief Pamphlet Financial Forms Committee – David M.
15. Public Relations Committee Report – Norm B.
16. Prison Abstinence Date Committee Report
17. Map Committee Report – Dan B.
18. GA/Gam-Anon Conference Responsibility Committee Report – Larry B.
19. South America Report – George G.
20. Nominations for the Second Co-Chair of the B.O.T. – Chair UNFINISHED BUSINESS Passed 1st vote in Montreal
1. Combo Book, page 13
2. Change Article VIII, Section 13 of the Guidance Code, 2nd to last word
3. Change Article VIII, Section 9 of the Guidance Code
4. Change Article XIII, Section 11 of the Guidance Code
5. Include in the Gamblers Anonymous ‘’Starter Kit’’ a 3-page insert which explains what Gam-
Anon is and how a gam-Anon meeting can be started. Gam-Anon will be responsible for
providing these inserts to G.A.’s I.S.O. for inclusion Tabled from Montreal
6. Motion that we start the idea of a National Phone Hotline
7. Allow Areas with more than one Trustee the choice to stagger elections (half elected even
years, half elected odd years) NEW BUSINESS Committee Related Issues
1. To approve the online pressure relief group financial forms along with an online instruction
file to explain how it is to be used. They will both initially be available on the agenda website
and/or any other location deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees. Requests for New Committees
2. Make the website for the Trustees’ Agenda a function of a committee and set guidelines for
updating and reporting.
3. Form a committee to reapportion and possibly realign all Area Trustee allocations.
4. Form a committee to update the Sponsorship Manual.
6. Change Step 2 of the Unity Program to read as follows:
Combo Book
7. Combo Book page 16 question 18. Change from ‘’Do’’ to ‘’Did’’ (first word).
8. Combo Book page 2: Middle of 2nd paragraph after the word ‘’institution’’ add: ‘’but
cooperates with Gam-Anon.’’ The sentence would read ‘’Gamblers Anonymous is not allied with
any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; but cooperates with Gam-Anon.
Gamblers Anonymous does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes
any cause.’’
9. Combo Book, Page 17, #5, Line 1, Bold Print the word ‘’steps.’’
10. Combo Book, Page 11, under the question ‘’What is the dream world of the compulsive
gambler?’’ Change all the ‘’they’’ words to ‘’we’’ (occurs 9 times) and change the word
‘’themselves’’ to ‘’ourselves’’ (occurs 1 time) and change the word ‘’their’’ to ‘’our’’ (occurs 1
time).
11. Combo Book, Page 12, under the question ‘’Isn’t compulsive gambling basically a financial
problem?’’ Change the word ‘’themselves’’ to ‘’ourselves’’ (occurs 2 times) and change the word
‘’them’’ to ‘’us’’ (occurs 1 time) and change the word ‘’their’’ to ‘’our’’ (occurs 1 time).
12. Combo Book – page 17 – guideline #6: Change the word ‘’may’’ to ‘’will’’ in the last line. Last
line would read: ‘’Adherence to it will aid in your recovery.’’
13. Combo Book – page 12: Add the word ‘’Bankruptcy’’ before the word ‘’Borrowing.’’ Sentence
would read: ‘’Bankruptcy, borrowing and/or lending of money (bailouts) in Gamblers Anonymous
is detrimental to our recovery and should not take place.’’
14. Combo Book, Page 17, number 3, Add the word ‘’Internet’’ after the words ‘’this includes
the’’. The sentence would read: This includes the Internet, stock market, commodities, options…
15. Page 13 of the Combo Book. Take out the words ‘’seem to’’ and add an ‘’s’’ to the word
‘’solve’’, so the sentence would read: We have found that willpower and self-knowledge will not
help in those mental blank spots, but adherence to spiritual principles solves our problems.
16. Combo Book Page 16, delete statement after question 20.
17. Combo Book Page 8, Change the 1st paragraph after the question ‘’What is compulsive
gambling?’’ from the current version:
18. Combo Book Page 12, Change the 1st sentence after the question ‘’Isn’t compulsive
gambling basically a financial problem?’’ from the
19. Reprint the Combo Book for ease of reading and understanding for combined
English/Spanish members. It is suggested that alternate paragraphs be in English followed by
alternate Spanish paragraphs.
Guidance Code
20. If a person attends their first G.A. meeting while in prison, their abstinence date starts with
that meeting. Also, if a G.A. member goes to prison after already being a G.A. member, his/her
abstinence still continues, if they stay clean in prison.
21. Guidance Code addition: Page 8, number 17, add sentence at the end (after the word
‘’Conference’’). ‘’Only Current or Former Trustees submit an item for the Trustees agenda.’’
22. Guidance Code change: Page 9, number 25 to read, ‘’An item that is passed or defeated
cannot be brought up for a vote for a vote for a period of two (2) years.’’
23. Guidance Code change, Article XVI, section 8: Delete last sentence and replace with ‘’His/her
expenses to these meetings shall be paid by the I.S.O.’’
24. Guidance Code change, Article VIII, section 1: Add the words ‘’weeks of’’ following (39).
Misc. Literature
25. Group Handbook, page 2 under secretary, item #3, at the end ‘’…that a new person is given
copies.’’ Add ‘’and also an updated phone list for the meeting room and an updated meeting list
for the area’’
26. Group Handbook, page #3 under treasurer, item #1, change to read ‘’take up a collection at
each meeting, usually during the business portion of the meeting.’’
27. Group Handbook, page #2, 5th line from bottom, change the sentence to read, ‘’their most
important qualification is that they have abstained from gambling for at least six (6) months,
unless it is a brand new group.’’
28. Group Handbook, page #3 under Rotating Meeting Chairperson, lines #4 and #5, to be
changed to read ‘’the chairperson should be a person who has a minimum of ninety (90) days of
abstinence.
29. Group Handbook, page #7 under suggested meeting format, after current #6 and prior to
current #7, add ‘’chairperson calls on another member to read the daily reading from the ‘’One
Day at a Time Book.’’
30. Group Handbook, page #7 under suggested meeting format, after current #6 and prior to
current #7, add ‘’chairperson calls on another member to explain pressure relief.’’
31. Group Handbook, page #5, the Rotation Principle and how it applies to the B.O.T. In
particular, please discuss the line ‘’…indeed, throughout the entire G.A. Fellowship. It means that
G.A., as such, will shy away from the idea of any individual, no matter how competent, serving
too long in any single capacity.’’ Follow up with a straw vote on whether the Rotation Principle
applies to members of the B.O.T.
32. In the G.A. first edition blue book from 1984 page 13 before the beginning of the ‘’Howie
and Abner’’ story, state the following: ‘’The following story is fiction and not based on any
personal G.A. story.
33. Page 2, number 7 in the Group Handbook –After the word ‘’abstinence’’ put a comma, then
add: providing they have attended 39 or more meetings in the prior 12 months. (This would make
it coincide with the Guidance Code, page 5, number 4)
34. Grey book Towards 90 Days, page 7, last paragraph
New Literature
35. Approval of the ‘’How I Keep from Gambling’’ pamphlet.
36. Approval of the ‘’Twelve Steps of Unity’’ pamphlet.
37. Approval of the ‘’Twelve Steps of Recovery’’ pamphlet.
38. Add the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as approved literature for Gamblers Anonymous.
Tom S. thru Roger S. – Area 8A
BOT Procedures
39. Motion: ‘’All conferences approved by the B.O.T. should contain the word ‘’International’’
somewhere within their title.’’
40 Board of Trustees Committee Chairs should be current Trustees. A G.A. member who has
never been a Trustee can be appointed as a Co-Chair of the committee. If a committee chair is
no longer serving as a current Trustee, then one of the Chairs of the Board of Trustees will
request a new one to volunteer from within the existing members of the committee. If none
volunteer, then one will be appointed. It is the option of the existing Chair to then remain as a
Co-Chair or member of the committee.
David M. – Area 12
No discussion
41. What guidelines are used by the Co-Chairs on materials that are disapproved for
conferences?
Joe B. - Area 6C
Discussion only
42. Permission to hold the 2007 National Conferences in Chicago (Spring 2007) and Los Angeles
(Fall 2007). The Fall 2007 conference will be a combined 50 year G.A. anniversary conference
hosted by all of the western areas.
43. For discussion: New procedures for all items brought to the floor to assure both pro and con
points of view to be heard.
44. To discuss and vote on every National Trustees becoming a member of Lifeliners.
Marshall R. – Area 12
45. A non-Trustee G.A. member may speak during the discussion period on any item that is
specific to their area only.
46. Starting with the Spring 2005 Trustees Agenda and for subsequent Trustee Agendas – Place
a moratorium on Combo Book changes for the odd years and a moratorium on Guidance Code
change for the even years with exception of emergency items deemed necessary by the Chairman
of the Board of Trustees. The moratorium will not apply to second votes.
Group Procedures
47. Straw Vote… The meeting room’s By-Laws or Standing rules cannot dictate what a person
can or cannot say while giving therapy.
48. Straw Vote… Can a G.A. room have stricter guidelines pertaining to pinnings and celebrating
successive anniversaries than what is contained in the Guidance Code?
49. Straw Vote… Should a person while giving therapy be interrupted by the room’s chairperson
or by someone in the room?
50. It is suggested that prior notice shall not be given to a new member before he or she is
called upon to answer the Twenty Questions on pages 15 and 16 of the Combo Book.
Intergroup Procedures
51. Discuss and a Straw Vote on whether garage sales which are open to the public are
acceptable as a fundraising activity for conference committees, Trustees, Intergroups or local
groups.
52. Discuss ways of attracting and retaining minority members.
53. Is the wearing of any sports-related clothing appropriate at a G.A. meeting, Intergroup or a
G.A. Conference?
54. Is clothing that displays race tracks, casinos, gambling establishments or gambling
paraphanalia, appropriate at a G.A. meeting, Intergroup or a G.A. Conference?
55. Is clothing advertising sports teams, race tracks, casinos, etc. appropriate at a G.A. meeting,
Intergroup or a G.A. Conference?
56. Is it appropriate to use Code Morin (Canada’s version of Robert’s rules) for French Intergroup
meeting procedures?
ISO Procedures
57. Motion to approve an R.S.O. for Quebec
58. Conference bid for the Fall 2006 Conference. This is open to bid by any Southern Area
Intergroup.
Any additional items that were omitted from the agenda. Chairman – BOT – Area 1
59. Request financial help for Argentina to translate approved literature.
Good and Welfare, Chairman – BOT – Area 1
The meeting was closed with the Serenity Prayer on September 10th at 5:55 P.M. The
collection for the four (4) sessions was $572.00.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held May 12, 2005 in Farmington,
Connecticut.
Respectfully submitted |