Greater Toronto Area Intergroup

GENERAL MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2009

The meeting convened at 8 p.m. with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer. Elaine G. (Port Credit) read the Twelve Traditions. THOSE MEMBERS PRESENT: Active, Anniversary, Aurora, Bellamy, Beverly Hills, Bloordale, Brampton New Life, Credit Valley, East York, Erin Mills, Glenholme, Half Century, High Park, Hill, Keep It Simple (Scarborough), King City, Lansing, Leslie, Living Sober, Longbranch, Markham Village, Markland Wood, Mississauga, Mount Royal-York, Nova Vida (Portuguese),Open Hands, Orleta (Polish), Pine Hills, Prince Edward, Reaching Out, Rouge Valley Centenary, Rox Glen Traditional, Recovery, Royal York, Shepherd, Six Points, St. Clements, Steps To Serenity, Streetsville, Sunday Northwestern, Sunday Scarborough, Sunnyside, Trial & Error, Twelfth Tradition, Twelve Steps, Unionville, Westmoreland, Weston Sunday Open, and Willowdale. District Liaisons: Districts 02 and 18. Subcommittee Chairs: Access Ability, Archives, CPC, Public Information, Website/Newsletter, and Twelfth Step.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES – JUNE 2009: MOTION to adopt Minutes as presented moved by Wayne O. (Anniversary) and Carol (Markland Wood). MOTION CARRIED.

CHAIRPERSON’S OPENING REMARKS – Florence B. (Noon Rap), Operating Chair: Florence welcomed everyone present to the new location of the General Meeting; she asked that members spread the word and remind other about this location change. After a few housekeeping announcements, Florence stressed the importance of subcommittee budgets (as these are important for our charitable status), and emphasized that all 2010 Subcommittee Budgets be submitted to the office by October 1^st.

FINANCE REPORT – Bruce L. (Back to Basics), Finance Chair: Finance Report for the month of June 2009: In the month of June, donations were $8,026, below budget by $2,645. While group donations were lower than expected, individual gratitude donations exceeded estimate. Year-to-date donations were $43,723, which was $1,067 over budget due to group donations in January and February. June Income before Operating Expenses was $16,333 in line with budget. Sales were $15,124, over budget by $6,466. While literature sales may have been due to pre-increase purchases, sales in all categories were up significantly over budget and over last year. YTD Income before Operating Expenses was $106,332, over budget by $17,461 mainly due to the ORC contribution. Total expenses for June were $12,039, under budget by $3,764 because of a slight under run in most expense categories. Year-to-date total expenses were $73,687, which is $36,428 under budget. In addition to deferred telephone and legal / audit expenditures, there has been a general under run in payroll, operating and committee expense. Net income for June was $4,294, over budget by $4,161 due mainly to an under run in expenses. Year-to-date net income was $32,645; over budget by $53,889 the combined impact of ORC contribution, deferred telephone purchase and legal/audit expenses and lower than expected operating expenses. Prudent Reserve as of June 30, 2009 – Book value + accrued interest: $124,644.

After this report, Bruce clarified that the 2010 Subcommittee Budget submissions need to be in by October 1 in order that the Finance Committee can work on an overall budget for 2010. He also mentioned the question posited to him last month regarding the reason for the GSO literature price increases, citing from the GSO-circulated letter regarding this issue, mentioning such reasons as rising shipping costs, etc. Questions: Katie (Hill) asked why our Prudent Reserve figure is so high; Bruce answered that the prudent reserve reflects 6 month’s operating expenses for the office. Wayne (Anniversary) asked if the GSO literature price increase was “across the board” (i.e. including the U.S.); Bruce answered in the affirmative.

MOTION to Suspend Regular Business to facilitate elections for a new Operating Committee member moved by Wes B. (Longbranch) and seconded by Patrick (Glenholme). MOTION CARRIED. Florence explained that because a member of the Operating Committee resigned recently, we need to fill an Operating Committee Junior member position. After Florence outlined the requirements for the position, she appealed to the Floor for nominations. Phil M. (Bloordale) is the new Junior Operating Committee member (by acclamation).

7^th TRADITION: $312.18.

ACCESS ABILITY – Donna MacQ. (Sunnyside), Chairperson: We had 6 people out of 10 attending this meeting – pretty good for a Sunday in July. Dist.22 said that they have decided against asking for an ASL Interpreter to their Service Day, after all. Donna mentioned that she had received a copy of the proposed new Procedures & Guidelines for Intergroup. We are thankful that our committee can continue to function and will follow up on developments and do our best to cooperate. Next meeting: Sun. Aug.16 at 11 a.m. at 234.

ARCHIVES – Roy R. (Trial & Error), Chairperson: The next Archives Breakfast will be held on Sun. Nov 8 at the Oasis Convention Centre (Mississauga). This is the 25^th Anniversary of the event. Cost is $25. Tickets are available through Archives Committee members. Flyers for the event were made available to members at this meeting. Speakers are Joy (St. Catherines) and Pete QW. (Oakville). Next meeting: Fri. Aug.14 at 7 p.m. at 234.

CORRECTIONS: no report. Florence announced that this committee is going well; a hard copy report will be submitted to the office shortly.

CPC – Victoria B. (Steps to Serenity), CPC committee member: 8 persons/Districts were present at the July meeting. Reports: District 12 had concerns addressing CAMH interest in obtaining books and having meetings in their facility. In District 18, there was a package to the Woodgreen Staff Employment Centre (Danforth and Donlands area). District 22 reported that they will be having a Service Day on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Oakridge Community Centre (dance to follow the event; cost is $5). District 02 announced the upcoming Unity Day (Area 83/86 Joint venture) Sat. Sept. 26 in King City. Upcoming events: CPC will be present at the American Psychiatric Association Convention Aug.6-9. The committee will also be investigating their proposed 2010 budget for Intergroup. Next meeting: Mon. Aug.10 at 7 p.m. at 234.

INFORMATION AA DAY: no report. Next meeting: Mon. Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at 234.

PUBLIC INFORMATION – Bryan W. (Rox Glen Traditional), Chairperson: The last meeting was a Training Session, which focused on how to speak at non-AA meetings; the session went very well. This committee will not be meeting in August. Next meeting: Mon. Sept.21 at 7:30 p.m. at 234.

RECEPTION – Rick McC. (Six Points), Operating Committee 1st Vice Chair: 57 reps were present at this meeting.

TREATMENT FACILITIES: no report. Next meeting: Thurs. Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at 234.

TWELFTH STEP – Jim O. (Markland Wood), Chairperson: July presented “few challenges” regarding phone scheduling; but in the end all went OK. The new phone system has been ordered (a Bell system). This will take 6-8 weeks for installation. Cost: $7,000. Other new features for the phone system will be forthcoming. Florence added that in future there will be Workshops for Greeters to train on the new system. Next Phone Training Session: Sun. Aug. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at 234 (one year of continuous sobriety is needed to volunteer for the phones). Next 12 Step Committee meetings: Wed. Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. and Fri. Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.

WEBSITE/NEWSLETTER – Aaron K. (Yorkville), Chairperson: I’d like to thank all those that sent in contributions to the Better Times. I’d also like to thank all those members that sent in announcements to the Website for posting. The Website traffic is consistently healthy, and new additions include a Districts Page and a Procedures & Guidelines Page. The Better Times is still in need of a Co-Editor, and we’d like to specially thank Ciara for her extra efforts this month. The website would also invite the District Reps for submissions to the District Page. Next meeting: Sat. Aug.8 at 1 p.m. at 234.

WINTER SEASON OPEN HOUSE 2010: no report. Meetings will likely resume in September, once a committee is assembled. This event needs a Chairperson! Please submit service resumes to the Operating Committee c/o 234.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: no unfinished business.

NEW BUSINESS: No New Business.

Wes B. (Longbranch) took the opportunity to express his experience in service, and commented on some members talking about ‘The Clique” (meaning members who engage in regular service at all levels). Wes expressed that members involved in the so-called ‘Clique’ is a good thing, and asked members to challenge those members who speak of this term in a negative light. The point is to attract members to service which helps carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic, enhances sobriety, and promotes unity.

To accent these sentiments, Wes announced the upcoming Unity Day event, to be held Sat. Sept. 26 at the King City Community Centre (Arena), 25 Doctor’s Lane, King City. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.; dinner at 5:30 p.m. Dinner Tickets are $25 (see flyer). This is a joint venture between our Area (83) and also Area 86. The day will feature an address by Phyllis H., General Manager of our World service Office, and will also have Delegate’s 2009 General Service Conference reports and panels/presentations on: Public Information/CPC, Archives, Grapevine, Remote Communities, Corrections and Treatment. Lunch/refreshments are available. Tickets available from committee members (see flyer) or go online (available until Sept.12) at www.ficocomputers.com.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned with the Responsibility Pledge.

NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Tues. August 25 at 8 p.m. at Lansing United Church, 49 Bogert Ave. (Yonge and Sheppard subway).