During our second 3-day session, we voted on three proposals and considered two new proposals.
Results of Voting – Three New Group Conscience decisions
During the second three-day session, we voted on Proposal 1 (Delete Mailman form letter). Thirteen (13) participants voted in favor of removing the Mailman form letters from the website and changing the last bullet in the Listkeeper position description to refer to the Listkeeper Message rather than the Mailman letter. No one voted against the proposal. Therefore, Proposal 1 is adopted as a Group Conscience Decision.
Group Conscience Decision:
Delete “Mailman Letter – Business List” and “Mailman Letter – Regular List” from the Trusted Servants/Letter Templates webpage < http://g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/trusted-servants/letter-templates/>
Delete the references to the above two letters in the Listkeeper Position Description <http://g-r-o-w.com/listkeeper-and-alternate-listkeeper-description/> and replace with a reference to the Listkeeper Message letter template < http://g-r-o-w.com/form-listkeeper-letter/>.
During the second three-day session, we voted on Proposal 2 (Group Conscience decisions). Thirteen (13) participants voted in favor of creating a webpage that lists all of GROW’s Group Conscience decisions. No one voted against the proposal. Therefore, Proposal 2 is adopted as a Group Conscience decision.
Group Conscience Decision:
GROW will maintain a page on its website that lists Group Conscience decisions.
During the second three-day session, we voted on Proposal 3 (Group Conscience decisions). Twelve (12) participants voted in favor of creating a webpage that lists all of GROW’s Group Conscience decisions. No one voted against the proposal. Therefore, Proposal 3 now becomes a Group Conscience decision.
Group Conscience Decision:
Add to some position descriptions a bullet requiring that Trusted Servants have been a member of GROW for at least one year. The positions that would be subject to this requirement are: Business Meeting Chair, Listkeeper, Secretary, and Weekly Leader Listkeeper.
Discussion of Two New Proposals
During the second three-day session, two new and related proposals were presented and discussed:
Proposal 4: Given the improvement in OIAA operations and management, GROW will resume contributions to that organization by allocating 20% of our surplus to OIAA, with the remaining 80% continuing to go to GSO.
In October 2014, GROW decided to discontinue its contributions to OIAA due to its ineffective operations and management. The current OIAA Representative’s Report documents significant improvement in the organization’s operations and more effective support of alcoholics who visit their website. Attendance at OIAA meetings has significantly increased, positivity has increased (as opposed to prior arguments and conflict), and accountability is now an important value of the organization.
Eight participants commented on Proposal 4, all of them supporting the proposal. No one raised issues or questions. During the third 3-day session participants are voting on this proposal.
Proposal 5: Amend the Treasurer’s position description to change the requirement to make quarterly distributions to bi-annually, prior to each business meeting.
In reviewing the Treasurer’s position description (PD), the Chair found that the approved timing of contributions to GSO did not correctly describe the distribution schedule. While the PD directed her to make contributions quarterly, they have actually been made annually for some time. Therefore, at the recommendation of the Treasurer, the Chair proposed changing “quarterly” to “bi-annual,” timing to be consistent with the two business meetings in April and October of each year. The Chair combined the Recommended Language for this proposal with that of Proposal 4 since both proposals focused on the same area of the position description.
Because the proposal was presented in the middle of the 3-day session and because it is primarily a housekeeping chore, the Chair asked participants to comment in the day left in the session. During the third 3-day session, participants will vote on the proposal.