2026 Trusted Servant Reports
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer April 2026 thru Sept 2026:
Current Balance $757.40, including
7th Tradition donations of $557.40 and
Prudent Reserve of $200.00
_________________________
Payments to go out:
Dean Collins $144.00
GSO $330.72
OIAA $82.68
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Baughman
GROW Treasurer
Greeters’ Report
It’s going fine. Susan P.
Listkeepers’ Report
Service position of GROW Listkeeper is going well. The Alt Listkeeper has been trained on all aspects of the position. The alternating of service with the Greeters works well. Communication between everyone seems good. Wendy D, alcoholic.
As alternate Listkeeper, I have enjoyed my one week on one week off schedule working with a greeter to admit new members. I periodically have difficulties with our website but having an alternate to help has worked out. Theresa B.
Secretary No report position has not been filled because this position is vacant.
Business Chair’s Report
This role is going well. Its challenges have helped me grow, and I do my best to embrace that growth. I’m glad I stepped outside my comfort zone to take on this service position. Mary O.
General Service Rep – No Report – position has not been filled
Newcomer Rep’s Report (See also Item 4)
Sophie F
I’m an alcoholic and serving as our Newcomer Rep.
I’ve not been nearly as consistent as would be ideal but hopefully things are more settled for me personally and I can be moving forwards.
We had a mini subcommittee after the last Biz Meeting and we began rolling around some ideas about how to ensure we looked after our newcomers and new joiners.
We had some useful feedback around cutting down the initial form letter so it really is more of a “hi, hello” rather than the very long letter it currently stood as.
Currently the amended welcome from the Newcomer Rep is that I send a brief welcome/hello and then further form letters if the newcomer /joiner responds and wishes to know more. This way we get to tailor the masses of information available to be specific to what someone may be interested in as it varies so much from person to person.
Newcomer Rep Welcome Letter Template
Hi [name]
I am [newcomer rep name] and I’m an alcoholic, member here in GROW and serving as the Newcomer Rep for GROW. I see that you joined GROW recently and I’d like to welcome you!
In the past, some members have found our information overwhelming at first, so we created this position (Newcomer Rep) as a helpful resource for anyone new to GROW, new to AA or new to sobriety should you have questions and/or concerns about how our group and/or AA works.
Please let me know if there’s anything I can help with.
[personal sign-off e.g., Big welcome hugs to you! Great to have you here. [Name]
We also went into quite a lot of discussion over whether we could send a virtual birthday coin either as part of the announcement to the group or individually.
I think we had a volunteer who was going to create a series of j.pegs of images of sobriety chips for this purpose if the group were open to trialling this as an idea.
It has been so good to see a steady flow of ladies joining and even better to see/hear many of those new ladies share regularly on and off topic. It is heartening me to see and feel GROW grow in this way.
I am slightly saddened that my own circumstances mean I’m less connected with the weekly meeting and the group than at any other time in my long GROW membership but I’m still very much participating in AA, and living the 12 step program and Big Book.
My hope is with a more settled schedule I will at least have time to serve more consistently.
I know I have sent out an apology to the group previously and to the new ladies I’ve missed but just to add this again.
Sending those famous GROW {{{{{{{{{{{cyberhugs}}}}}}}}}}}
Sophie F
Somerset U.K.
Agenda for October and outcomes
Item One: Newcomers and the Third Tradition
Purpose: Clarify how newcomers may affirm adherence to the Third Tradition.
Discussion: Determine whether expressing a desire to stop drinking or acknowledging a problem with alcohol is sufficient; consider newcomer confusion and concerns about the current request.
Submitted by: Rachel S.
1a. Current Inquiry Pattern
GROW has recently received many emails from women asking how to “get a sponsor.” These messages are inquiries about sponsorship, not requests to join the group.
Current Response
GROW currently replies with its standard initial email, which:
- Provides general information about the group.
- Asks recipients to follow the Third Tradition, as referenced in item one.
Voting Results for this topic:
Part 1: Tradition Three Wording
Please review the following options and vote for one:
- Keep the current wording: GROW leaves the Tradition Three statement unchanged.
5 votes for 1A
- Revise the wording: GROW adds a clarifying sentence to the membership letter or replaces “adhere” with another term, such as “abide by,” “comply with,” “follow,” or “agree to.” These alternatives are suggestions only.
6 votes for 1B
Wording to be used is the following:
Option C
“The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.” Because this is a closed meeting, we ask that you affirm your adherence to this tradition before we add your name to the meeting list. Do you have a desire to stop drinking?
Item 2 Amend the 12th Step Volunteer Listkeeper Description
Purpose: Review the tenth bullet point in the 12th Step Volunteer Listkeeper description.
Current wording: “Once a month, verifies that members of the 12th Step Committee are current GROW members and wish to continue their membership on the 12th Step Committee.”
Proposed change: Replace “Once a month” with “Once every three months.”
Submitted by: Michelle
Voting Results
Voting Options
- Keep the current wording: once a month.
Number of votes 0
- Change the frequency from once a month to once every three months.
Number of votes 4
- Change the frequency from once a month to once every six months.
Number of votes 4
Because 3 and 6 months have a tie, please vote again for B or C only.
Item 2: Final Vote Results
The initial vote resulted in a tie between the three-month and six-month options. A second vote was held, with the following results:
- Three months: 2 votes
- Six months: 6 votes
The six-month option received the majority of votes. Item 2 is now complete
Item 3 Essential Service Positions
Discussion: Identify essential service positions, review current coverage, and determine any recruitment or support needs.
Filling Essential Service Positions
Based on the discussion, the following approaches were suggested to help fill essential service positions.
- Make Personal Invitations
Each trusted servant should personally contact one member and invite them to volunteer for an open position.
Are you in favor of this suggestion, vote 1 as yes or no
- Announce Open Positions by Email
Send an email to the membership announcing the available positions. Although some members may receive additional emails, this approach could reach people who may be willing to serve.
Are you in favor of sending weekly announcements to GROW for open service positions? Vote yes or no.
- Combine Compatible Service Positions
Where practical, consider combining positions with related responsibilities:
- Topic Archivist and Weekly List Keeper
- Newcomer Representative and Twelfth Step Representative: Work on combining these roles is already underway.
Combined sectary and business chair roles due to lack of volunteers
Results for This Item
Voting Results
Extend a personal invitation
Vote: 5 in favor; 1 opposed.
Announce the service position weekly
Vote: 5 in favor; 1 opposed.
Combine compatible positions
Vote: 4 in favor; 1 opposed.
Follow-Up Required
This topic should be carried forward to the April business meeting for further discussion.
Combining positions would require corresponding updates to the position descriptions on the website. Because the current meeting is nearing its scheduled end, there is not enough time to address these changes fully today.
Closing Remarks
This summary concludes the GROW October 2026 Business Meeting. Thank you to everyone who joined the Business List and participated in the discussions. It was a pleasure to have you with us.
Service Acknowledgments
Special thanks to those who have served and are now rotating out of their positions. We also welcome Hilarie and Jennifer as our new List keeper and Greeter.
Business List Subscriptions
You do not need to contact the List keepers to unsubscribe from the Business Meeting list. They will process the unsubscribes within the next few days.
Prior to adjourning October 2026, we will say the long version of the serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the change, the change to the things I can and the
wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardships as the many
Pathways to peace, taking this world as it is not as I would have it.
Trusting that all things will be right if I embrace compassion, understanding and acceptance.
Grant me patience for those changes that take time. Appreciation for all that I have. Tolerance for those with different struggles and the strength to get up and try again one day at a time.
Our October 2026 Business Meeting has not adjourned. Thank you for being here Mary O BC for GROW