Author Archives: Danna M

2019 – Group Conscience Decisions

April 2019

1. Propose the launch of the new GROW website after the April 2019 Business Meeting for use by the membership. Place the current older GROW website in a subfolder within the GROW hosting structure to allow access for the ongoing transfer of GROW business archives to the new GROW website.
   For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 1 from the April 2019 business meeting.
2. Propose creating a 1-year rotating position of Website Administrator to maintain the functionality and server side of the website with a basic job description as follows:

Website Administrator

• 1-year term
• 2 years sobriety
• 2 years GROW membership
• Served a full term as webkeeper of the GROW website
• Member of Business List
• Maintain a periodic backup of the GROW database
• Maintain GROW website updates
• Inform Steering Committee when updates are made to the website.
• Consult with Steering Committee before making substantial design or content changes to GROW website.
• Support Webkeeper and Backup Webkeeper on WordPress site issues.

For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 2 from the April 2019 business meeting.

3. Use the current job descriptions of Backup Webkeeper, Webkeeper and Admin positions. Track the upcoming changes for review in October 2019 Business meeting. For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 3 from the April 2019 business meeting.
4. Assign Allison M to the GROW Webkeeper position and assign Tanya C to the GROW Admin position, both positions commencing April 2019.
   For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 4 from the April 2019 business meeting.
5. Open the Backup Webkeeper position to the membership. This position will include maintaining the Weekly Meeting Topics on the new GROW website. For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 5 from the April 2019 business meeting.
6. Begin posting the meeting on Saturday, no later than Sunday morning. We will “revisit” this topic in our October 2012 Business Meeting to discuss possible modification of our website and literature to reflect this change.
   For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 9 from the April 2019 business meeting.
7. Add language about an On-call Meeting Leader List to Weekly Topic Leader Message and make additional edits to the Weekly Leader Listkeeper responsibilities.

Recommended Language:“If you would like to be added to the on-call meeting leader list, please reply and let me know. You will be added to a list of volunteers who are willing to quickly post a weekly topic when the scheduled chair is unavailable. The only requirement is that you are available to check your email every Saturday/Sunday and respond quickly to a request from the Weekly Leader Listkeeper, so she can find someone to chair in a timely manner.”
For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 10 from the April 2019 business meeting.

8. Add form letter to GROW form letters page titled Weekly Leader Reminder Letter which is sent to the upcoming leader on Wednesday.
   Recommended Language: “If you would like to be added to the on-call meeting leader list, please reply and let me know. You will be added to a list of volunteers who are willing to quickly post a weekly topic when the scheduled chair is unavailable. The only requirement is that you are available to check your email every Saturday/Sunday and respond quickly to a request from the Weekly Leader Listkeeper, so she can find someone to chair in a timely manner.”
   For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 10 from the April 2019 business meeting.
9. Add form letter to GROW form letters page titled Weekly Leader Reminder Letter which is sent to the upcoming leader on Wednesday.

Recommended Language:
Dear [Name]:
I’m sending you a friendly reminder that you are scheduled to chair this upcoming Sunday. I’ll be attaching a clean copy of the updated meeting format to this email. Let me know if you have trouble opening it or copying it to an email. Please remember not to add any urls in your post!

**Please reply to this email to verify your availability to lead this Sunday. You must send your meeting lead email on Saturday night, no later than Sunday morning, to ensure that ladies in various time zones will receive the meeting on Sunday morning.
If, for some reason you cannot chair the meeting this Sunday, please let me know before Saturday so I can find a replacement leader.

*For a list of meeting topics that have been previously used, visit the following link on the GROW webpage Meeting Topics webpage at https://g-r-o-w.com/meeting-topics/

10. The current Step language pertinent to each month will be inserted into the regular meeting format for the month indicated. It should be inserted at the start of the Lead section, and the Weekly Leader may add her lead immediately after that. The Tradition will continue to be sent at the start of each month.

    For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 12 from the April 2019 business meeting.

11. Add language about a On-call Meeting Leader List to Weekly Topic Leader Message and make additional edits to the Weekly Leader Listkeeper Responsibilities.

    For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to
    Proposal 13 from the April 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    “My name is [ Weekly Topic Leader Listkeeper Name ]. I am an alcoholic, and I’m also your
    Weekly Leader Listkeeper. I am taking volunteers for the [ time period ].
    Here is the calendar of our upcoming leaders scheduled to chair. A big GROW thank you to all
    who are committed to growing in service.

    Month: [ Month ]
    [ Date, Name ] Step Meeting
    [ Date, Name ]
    [ Date, Name ]
    [ Date, Name ]

    Here is your opportunity to volunteer to lead a weekly meeting, choosing a topic that relates to
    your individual experience, strength and hope or a topic you would like to hear about, that relates
    to alcoholism recovery. The requirements necessary to lead a meeting are 90 days of continuous
    sobriety and a member of GROW for more than 30 days.

    [The April 2019 GROW business meeting designated the first meeting of the month to be a
    STEP MEETING. Please limit your lead share to the step of the corresponding month.]

    If you would like to volunteer, just hit reply and let me know which available date you would be
    willing to lead. Here are the available dates:

    [ Month, Day ] Step Meeting
    [ Month, Day ]
    [ Month, Day ]
    [ Month, Day ]
    [ Month, Day ]

    We try to give thoughtful attention to those who would like to lead a meeting around their A. A.
    anniversary. If the date requested is already filled, you will be offered another available date.
    Around Wednesday or Thursday of the week before you’re set to chair, I’ll contact you and pass
    on the meeting format.

    If, for some reason you cannot do the meeting on your selected Sunday, please let me know as soon as possible so I can find a replacement leader.

    I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. The topic meeting is a great way
    of saying “hi” and letting us all get to know you better.

    Thank you for your participation
    and thank you for letting me be of service.

    [ Name ]
    Weekly Leader Listkeeper

    P.S. As our membership is *growing*, we are getting duplicate names. When you respond
    please include your name and the first initial of your last name.”

---

October 2019

12. Adopt the new position descriptions for the Website Administrator, Webkeeper, and Webkeeper Backup.
    For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to
    Proposal 1 from the October 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    Website Administrator

    • 1-year term
    • 4 years of sobriety
    • 4 years in GROW membership
    • Served a full term as Webkeeper of the GROW website
    • Member of Business List
    • Voting member of the Steering Committee
    • Maintain GROW Server PLESK account
    • Maintain a periodic backup of the GROW database
    • Maintain GROW website updates (WordPress, theme and plugins)
    • Inform Steering Committee when updates are made to the website
    • Consult with Steering Committee before making substantial design or content changes to GROW website
    • Support Web-keeper and Backup Web-keeper on WordPress site issues
    • Provide Web-keeper and Backup Web-keeper with all necessary information and passwords to access all web accounts and web server
    • Provide the Web-keeper’s email address to the web hosting service and designate her as co-owner
    • As owner of the g-r-o-w web account, help ensure that the annual service fee is paid. If necessary, provide copies of invoice/receipt to GROW Treasurer for reimbursement
    • Upon retirement, transfer website account to successor, provide successor with all necessary information, including job guidelines, and serve as a mentor for a period of time to ensure continuity of service
    • Common duties and requirements to all Trusted Servant positions is described here.

    Webkeeper

    • 1-year term
    • 2 years of sobriety
    • 2 years in GROW membership
    • Served a full-term as Backup Web-keeper
    • Must be member of Business List
    • Voting member of the Steering Committee
    • Is second holder of the Treasurer’s passwords
    • Maintains public website (g-r-o-w.com) for GROW to provide information about Alcoholics Anonymous and for the purpose of attracting new members. Information should include:
    • Info about Alcoholics Anonymous
    • Info about GROW
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Our Guiding Philosophy
    • Guide for Email Etiquette
    • Traditions in Cyberspace
    • How to become a member
    • Maintain a password protected private section on g-r-o-w.com to provide GROW members with information about GROW, including:
    • List of trusted servants and job descriptions
    • Info about how we conduct business
    • Group conscience decisions
    • Common Welfare Guidelines
    • Important addresses
    • Work closely with the Business Meeting Chair and the Steering Committee to ensure that pertinent group history is preserved in the members’ section of the GROW website and that archived materials are accessible to GROW
    • Inform Steering Committee when updates are made to the website
    • Consult with Steering Committee before making substantial design or content changes to GROW website
    • Post all business meetings and keep updated throughout the business meeting
    • Ensure that any material posted on g-r-o-w.com appropriately protects the anonymity of anyone mentioned
    • Upon retirement, transfer website account to successor, provide successor with all necessary information, including job guidelines, and serve as a mentor for a period of time to ensure continuity of service
    • Common duties and requirements to all Trusted Servant positions is described here

    Webkeeper Back-up

    • 1-year term
    • 1 year of sobriety
    • 1 year in GROW membership
    • Member of Business List
    • Voting member of the Steering Committee
    • Maintains the Weekly Meeting Topics in the private section of g-r-o-w.com
    • Support Web-keeper in maintaining public website (g-r-o-w.com) for GROW to provide information about Alcoholics Anonymous and to for the purpose of attracting new members
    • Info about AA
    • Info about GROW
    • FAQs
    • Guideline for Email Etiquette
    • Traditions in Cyberspace
    • How to become a member
    • Support the Web-keeper in maintaining a password-protected private section on g-r-o-w.comto provide GROW members with information about GROW, including:
    • List of trusted servants and job descriptions
    • Info about how we conduct business
    • Group conscience decisions
    • Common welfare guidelines
    • Important addresses
    • Common duties and requirements to all Trusted Servant positions is described here.

    For more information on this decision, please see the summary for Proposal 1 from the October 2019 business meeting.

13. The Sponsor Listkeeper job description is revised as shown, deleting bullets that have been struck out and adding the bullets shown in red.

    Rationale: During our discussions on the Temporary Mentor (newcomer committee and providing links to AA resources), it became clear that there are issues related to the Online Available Sponsors list/webpage because the people on that list do not always respond timely (or at all) to newcomers’ requests for help. Further, Available Online Sponsors do not rotate, and the only members that rotate on both the 12th Step List and the Sponsor List are the listkeepers. The Available Online Sponsor webpage creates the impression that only people on the sponsor list can sponsor, which in reality is not the case.

    For more information on this decision, please see the summary for Proposal 2.1 from the October 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    Sponsor Listkeeper Job Description

    • 6 month term
    • 1 year sobriety
    • Must be member of Business List.
    • Maintains a list of group members who are willing to sponsor online, including: first name, last initial, DOS, email address, location of residence.
    • At the term’s beginning and midterm, confirms sponsor volunteers are still GROW members.
    • Twice each month sends reminders to the group that the list is available upon request.
    • Forwards sponsor list to members when requested.
    • At least once each month, mails sponsor list to the group (see
    • Sponsor List Announcement form letter). May want to resend if someone on the list drops out mid-month.
    • Each month, invites GROW members to volunteer to be online sponsors (see Sponsor List Invitation form letter).
    • Each month, verifies that each woman on the list of available online sponsors want to continue to serve as a temporary or permanent sponsor (see Sponsor List Confirmation form letter).
    • The Listkeeper and Sponsor Listkeeper will coordinate to ensure that when someone unsubs, if that person is listed on the Sponsor List, her name will be deleted from the list of available sponsors as well.
    • The Sponsor Listkeeper will work with the Temporary Mentor to assure that newcomers who want a sponsor are assigned a temporary sponsor.
    • Common duties and requirements to all Trusted Servant positions is described here.
    • Wording for letter commonly used is provided in the link below:
    • Sponsor List Announcement
    • Sponsor List Invitation
    • Sponsor List Confirmation
14. Revise the current form letters for the Sponsor Listkeeper so that they are easier to read and focus on only one idea. Separate the content into: (1) monthly mailing to GROW membership announcing the available online sponsees, (2) monthly invitation for GROW members to volunteer to be included on the Sponsor List, and (3) monthly confirmation that people on the sponsor list wish to remain there.

    For more information on this group conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 2.2 from the October 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    Sponsor List Announcement:

    Dear Women of GROW,

    Grateful Recovering Online Women supports sponsorship. We offer this list to you of women who are willing to sponsor on-line. Many of us have found there is nothing like a live voice at the end of the phone, or a warm hug in a f2f contact when we are overwhelmed with a problem in our lives. On-line sponsorship can add another dimension to your recovery as on-line meetings. Please be aware that you can also ask anyone in GROW to be your sponsor. Online sponsors are not limited to this list. Know that it may take a few trials to find the right fit for you in a Sponsor.

    For more information about sponsorship, please visit our web page on sponsorship (g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/trusted-servants/online-sponsors/) in GROW’s members only section (password: sobertodayhow2484). You can also find AA’s “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship” at www.aa.org/assets/en_US/p-15_Q&AonSpon.pdf.

    List of Available Sponsors:
    [list sponsor names and information]
    Phone numbers of many on the above list are available upon request.

    [Name]
    Sponsor Listkeeper

    Sponsor List Invitation [New Form Letter]

    Dear Women of GROW,

    You can enhance your sobriety by offering to sponsor other alcoholics and share what has been given to you with others. If you would like to offer your name as a potential online sponsor in this group, please review the GROW web page on Sponsorship at g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/trusted-servants/online-sponsors/ (Password: sobertodayhow2484).

    You might also refer to AA’s pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship” at aa.org/assets/en_US/p-15_Q&AonSpon.pdf.
    If after reviewing this information, you want to add your name to our list, please send me the following information:

    name
    · geographic location
    · sobriety date
    · telephone number (if you wish)
    · current e-mail address
    · whether you are interested in being a temporary sponsor for a new member to GROW

    You will then be added to our Available Online Sponsors list which is sent to the group each month and to those who ask about sponsorship (whether on a temporary or permanent basis). Know the list is updated every month, and you must affirm your desire to stay on the list from month to month. Please know that you may be asked to sponsor newcomers and be alert to a suggested response time of 48 hours.

    Thank you,
    [Name]
    Sponsor Listkeeper

    Sponsor List Confirmation [New Form Letter]

    Dear Volunteer:

    Thank you for your service this past month by putting your name and contact information forward for being a sponsor in GROW. If you wish to continue next month, please Reply to [Sponsor Listkeeper Name].

    If you do not reply by the end of the month, I will remove your name from the list unless and until you contact me again.

    If you want to continue to be on the list, please send me any corrections or changes in your sponsor information.

    Thank you,
    [Name]
    Sponsor Listkeeper
    [e-mail address]

15. Eliminate the Newcomer Committee

    Rationale: The Newcomers Committee was created in the October 2018 business meeting to provide support to the Temporary Mentor. As proposed, the committee would have been made up of women who are new to sobriety – to whom new members to GROW and sobriety could better relate. When the Temporary Mentor called for volunteers, no newcomers volunteered; however, several women with long-term sobriety did volunteer.

    The committee began with 11 members, but two of them have withdrawn. Of the nine remaining members, two are willing at this time to be temporary sponsors for new GROW members. The current Temporary Mentor has not experienced workload conflicts and has not had to call on the committee for help except to find a temporary sponsor for the one new member who have asked about it.

    While established to help both the Temporary Mentor and new GROW members who are also new to sobriety, the Newcomer Committee did not achieve the goal of having members within their first year of sobriety. Rather, the members have long-term sobriety. Further, only two of the nine members are, at this time, available to be Temporary Sponsors for new members.

    The current Temporary Mentor has been able to handle the workload without recourse to the Committee. Therefore, the Newcomers Committee has been inactive and is not needed.

    For more information on this decision, please see the summary for Proposal 2.5 from the October 2019 business meeting.

16. Revise the Temporary Mentor job description to add a bullet for coordinating with the Sponsor Listkeeper to assure new members have the current GROW Sponsor List.

    For more information on this decision, please see the summary for Proposal 2.3a from the October 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    Temporary Mentor Job Description

    • 1 year term
    • 1 year of continuous sobriety
    • 1 year membership in GROW
    • Must be a member of the Business List
    • Will be a member of the Steering Committee
    • Read GROW mail daily to note when the Greeter introduces new members in order to contact the new member privately to offer additional support in making solid connection with the Group and/or AA
    • About 2-3 days after she joins, contact each new member to explain your position as Temporary Mentor (TM), offering to answer questions or provide guidance until the member feels comfortable in the GROW group (see Temporary Mentor #1 form letter)
    • Work with the Sponsor Listkeeper to assign a Temporary Sponsor when requested and provide new members a link to the Sponsor Listkeeper.
      Refer the newcomer to other online AA resources, as well as ways to find face-to-face AA resources
    • Maintain working relationship with, and assist new member as needed with learning, GROW email etiquette guidelines
    • Each month, the Temporary Mentor will send a short letter reminding GROW members of AA resources available to them
    • Establish and lead a Newcomer Committee (that may include members who are new to recovery from alcoholism) who will assist in supporting newcomers to GROW and AA
    • Common duties and requirements to all Trusted Servant positions is described here
17. Replace the existing Temporary Mentor Letter #1 with the following.

    Rationale: The letter on the test website is outdated and does not reflect changes that were approved in the October 2018 and April 2019 business meetings. The second paragraph in the proposed letter reflects those decisions and a change that is necessary given our Group Conscience decision to eliminate the Available Online Sponsors webpage from GROW’s website. It also reminds newcomers that they can ask anyone in GROW to be their sponsor.

    For more information on this decision, please see the summary for Proposal 2.4 from the October 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    Hi [ New Member Name ],

    I am [ Mentor Name ], Temporary Mentor 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 (Temporary Mentor) as a helpful resource should you have questions and/or concerns about how our group and/or AA works.

    Just a reminder that you can learn more about AA by visiting one of these links:

    • The Alcoholics Anonymous general services office (GSO) and information such as the AA Big Book (titled “Alcoholics Anonymous”) or the “12 Steps and 12 Traditions,” along with many pamphlets as well as links to local resources for AA.
    • AA’s Online Intergroup (OIAA) where you can find meeting lists as well as real-time phone numbers and other Internet types of meetings.
    • AA’s Grapevine magazine with stories and audio stories and Grapevine subscription options.

    Each month, our Sponsor Listkeeper sends out a list of women in GROW who have volunteered to sponsor our members. When you read a share that touches you personally or that reflects what you want in sobriety, I recommend that you write to them. After you know them better, you can ask them to sponsor you. The Sponsor Listkeeper can send you a list of available sponsors in GROW. Please be aware that you can ask anyone in GROW to sponsor you. You do not have to limit your choices to the List of Available Online Sponsors. In case you would like to contact our Sponsor Listkeeper, you can write to her at [SLK e-mail].

    It would be my pleasure to correspond with you by email (or phone) so if you’d like some help, just let me know. Thanks.

    [ Temporary Mentor Name ]
    GROW Temporary Mentor

18. Add the introductory paragraphs to the online sponsor webpage at g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/trusted-servants/online-sponsors/ that addresses online sponsorship.

    Rationale: After removing the available online sponsors webpage, GROW should address using online sponsors to help our members, especially our new members, navigate the process of finding an online sponsor.

    For more information on this decision, please see the summary for Proposal 2.6a from the October 2019 business meeting.

    Recommended Language: “Many of us have found there is nothing like a live voice at the end of the phone, or a warm hug in face-to-face contact when we are overwhelmed with a problem in our lives. On-line sponsorship can add another dimension to your recovery as do on-line meetings. Each month, GROW provides a list of available online sponsors who have volunteered for this service. Please be aware that you can also ask anyone in GROW to be your sponsor. Online sponsors are not limited to this list. Know that it may take a few trials to find the right fit for you in a Sponsor.

    GROW’s Sponsor Listkeeper sends out the list of available online sponsors at the beginning of each month. If you want to contact our Sponsor Listkeeper, you can find the e-mail address of the current Trusted Servant by going to the Members section on our website at https://g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/trusted-servants/. At the bottom of the page will be a link to the current roster. Look for the Sponsor Listkeeper on that list. You’ll need the password to enter the Members’ section. It’s sobertodayhow2484.”