Author Archives: Danna M

Trusted Servants 04/2022

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Trusted Servants – April 2022

as of April 1, 2022
 

  • 12 Step Volunteer Listkeeper (4/22 – 10/22): Mary O
  • Birthday Listkeeper (4/22 – 10/22): Rene G
  • Sponsor Listkeeper (4/22 – 10/22): Theresa B

Trusted Servants who make up the Steering Committee:

  • Business Meeting Chair (10/20-10/22): Danna M
  • GSR (10/21-10/22): VACANT
  • GVR (10/21-10/22): Julie K
  • Greeter (4/22 – 10/22): Diane L
  • Greeter (4/22 – 4/23): De W
  • Listkeeper (4/22 – 4/23): Sophie R
  • Listkeeper Alternate (4/22 – 4/23): Susan P
  • OIAA Rep (4/22 – 4/23): VACANT
  • Secretary (10/21-10/22): Michele R
  • Temporary Mentor (4/22 – 4/23): Becky L
  • Treasurer (10/21-10/23): Cheryl B
  • Website Administrator (10/21-10/22): Cheryl D
  • Webkeeper (10/21-10/22): VACANT
  • Webkeeper Backup (10/21-10/22): Pat S
  • Weekly Leader Listkeeper (4/22 – 4/23): Emily M
  • Immediate Past Business Meeting Chair: Joan B.
  • Immediate Past GSR: Nicole W
  • Immediate Past OIAA Rep: Lynn H & Kirsten V
  • Immediate Past Secretary: Nancy C (deceased)

0422 – Agenda

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April 2022 Business Meeting Agenda

***IMPORTANT NOTE: Please DO NOT respond to this message.

Additional individual emails will be coming, to which you can respond.

=============================================
GROW BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA: April 2022
=============================================

– Trusted Servant (TS) Positions – Incoming & Outgoing Trusted Servants
– Semi-Annual Reports: Secretary (all Trusted Servants), Treasurer, Listkeeper, OIAA Representative, Mini-Steering Committee
– Business Items (each will be posted separately to facilitate discussion and voting)

We will consider the following proposals during our meeting. If you have an item that you would like to add, or if I have not accurately represented an item that you recommended, please email me privately and I will add it to the Agenda. Note that I use a different e-mail address (dmcd.grow@gmail.com) for the business meeting.

Proposal 1 – GROW TS Membership Requirements
Proposal 2 – Secretary Position Description
Proposal 3 – Preamble Language
Proposal 4 – Website Support
Proposal 5 – Temporary Mentor Form Letter
Proposal 6 – Website Position Descriptions

Respectfully,
danna M.
GROW Business Chair
dmcd.grow@gmail.com

0422 – Excerpt from Pamphlet “The AA Group”

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Excerpt from Pamphlet “The AA Group”

What is an Informed A.A. Group Conscience?

“The group conscience is the collective conscience of the group membership and thus represents substantial unanimity on an issue before definitive action is taken. This is achieved by the group members through the sharing of full information, individual points of view, and the practice of A.A. principles. To be fully informed requires a willingness to listen to minority opinions with an open mind.

“On sensitive issues, the group works slowly discouraging formal motions until a clear sense of its collective view emerges. Placing principles before personalities, the membership is wary of dominant opinions. Its voice is heard when a well-informed group arrives at a decision. The result rests on more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ count precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the group conscience. The term “informed group conscience” implies that pertinent information has been studied and all views have been heard before the group votes.

– From the pamphlet,
The AA Group: Where it all begins. 2005, p. 26-77.

0422 – Business Meeting Guidelines

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GROW Business Meeting Guidelines

  1. Proposals to be considered during GROW business meetings should include the following:
    1. A clear brief statement that summarizes the proposal;
    2. A rationale that describes why the group conscience decision is needed, and
    3. Specific language to be presented for discussion and voting in the business meeting (including, as appropriate, language for a job description, form letter, or GROW policy or guideline). This language may need to be modified by the Trusted Servant responsible for the area to reflect the group’s discussions.
    4. Before submitting a proposal, meeting participants are encouraged to consult with the Business Chair, Secretary, or Steering Committee members to formulate their proposals if they need help. They should also review past Group Conscience Decisions related to the proposal (see http://www.g-r-o-w.com/members/groupc/gctopics/gc_index.htm).
  2. We allow a minimum of 3 days for discussion, more when warranted.
  3. At the end of the 3-day discussion period, the Chair calls for a vote. 3 days are allowed for voting, which can be done either publicly on the list, or privately by sending votes to the Chair. The Chair counts the votes.
  4. The voting is done by: I agree or I disagree.
  5. At the end of the voting period, the Chair announces the results of the vote. The group holds to a 2/3 majority to pass or fail any group conscience decision.
  6. Following the announcement of results, the Chair will ask if the minority wants 3 days to discuss their minority opinion.
    1. If yes, then 3 days of discussion will begin.
    2. At the end of the 3 days of discussion, the Chair will ask if anyone who originally voted for the Proposal (a majority voter) has been persuaded by this discussion to change her opinion. If yes, the Chair then calls for another 3-day voting period. The outcome of the second vote is the determining vote. As in the first vote, the 2/3 majority vote will be observed. If no majority voters have been persuaded to change their opinion, there will not be another vote.
    3. If the minority does not want 3 days to express their opinion, there will be no further discussion and there will not be another vote.
  7. At the end of the voting period, the Business Chair announces the final results of the vote. The group holds to a 2/3 majority to pass or fail any group conscience decision.
  8. Note: if any item on the agenda has not reached a consensus or a motion by the 17th day of the Business Meeting, the item is tabled and held over to the next scheduled Business Meeting.

Please read the excerpt from the AA pamphlet “The AA Group” offering
Guidance About Informed Group Conscience Decisions.

2026 Business Meeting Welcome

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Welcome to the April 2026 Business Meeting

April 5, 2026

Greetings, and welcome to the April 2026 Business Meeting
of Grateful Recovering Online Women (GROW).

I am Mary O, a recovering alcoholic, and your Business Chair for this
meeting.Thank you for participating!

This is a closed meeting, open only to members of GROW, for the discussion of business as it relates to our group. Our business meetings run in four-day segments and last no more than 29 days.

I will post each Agenda item, one by one, in separate emails and **ask that you respond to each accordingly.** This makes it easier to “tally” the  responses and suggestions to each item. We will have a four (4) day period of open discussion on each Agenda item. This, hopefully, will allow  all members regardless of work schedules, time zones, etc. to participate  and comment. At the beginning of the 5th day, I will post the  results/consensus of our discussions.

Before we begin, let’s have a moment of silence to reflect on why we are here, followed by the Serenity Prayer.

Thank you for attending
Mary O
BC for GROW

In this Business Meeting, let us be guided by The Twelve Traditions:

  1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
  2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
  3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
  4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
  5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
  6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
  7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
  8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
  9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
  10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
  11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.
  12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Let us all keep in mind our Unity of Service statement from the Grapevine of September 1998:

“Unity seldom means that we all agree on everything. Nor is unity served by setting aside our concerns and conforming to the majority opinion (or the vocal minority) . . . Unity is best achieved by a full hearing of all points of view . . . time for all of those involved to step back from emotional responses . . . as well as careful consideration and prayer for that which will best serve the group or AA as a whole.”

Thank you for being here and for your dedication to GROW.

Respectfully,
Mary O
GROW Business Chair

Go to meeting contents

2021 – Group Conscience Decisions

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2021 – Group Conscience Decisions

April 2021

  1. Delete “Mailman Letter – Business List” and “Mailman Letter – Regular List” from the Trusted Servants/Letter Templates webpage

    Delete the references to the above two letters in the Listkeeper Position Description and replace with a reference to the Listkeeper Message letter template.

    Rationale: The two Mailman Letters currently listed on our website are no longer used, and the links are broken.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 1 from the April 2021 business meeting.

  2. GROW will maintain a page on its website that lists Group Conscience decisions.

    Rationale: GROW’s previous website contained a straightforward list of the specific language of Group Conscience decisions reached in our business meetings. On our new website, it is difficult to do research for proposals being developed and to support actions taken in response to queries or issues that come up in our e-mail meeting. The website is our archive for GROW. It is the only place where past decisions are documented, and it should provide easy access to Group Conscience decisions.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 2 from the April 2021 business meeting.

  3. 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, Treasurer, Secretary, and Weekly Leader Listkeeper.

    Rationale: Some Trusted Servant positions demand that the person holding the position has a working knowledge about how GROW works. Position descriptions already include membership requirements for the Website Administrator and the Webkeeper and Webkeeper Backup (four, two, and one years respectively).

    In order to assure effective support for GROW’s continued successful operations, Trusted Servants in key positions should have been members of our group for least one year. The normal training by the outgoing Trusted Servant may not be adequate in situations where decisions and/or actions should reflect our historic approaches. Members who are new to GROW will not have the experience they would get from serving in other positions first and attending our business meetings.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 3 from the April 2021 business meeting.

  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.

    Rationale: In October 2014, GROW decided to discontinue its contributions to OIAA because our OIAA Representatives had consistently reported ineffective operations and management in the organization. (To read about the decision-making process at that time, visit http://www.g-r-o-w.com/members/groupc/gctopics/gc_oiaa.htm#contributions). Our current OIAA Representative’s Report for April 2021 reveals 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.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 4 from the April 2021 business meeting.

    Recommended Language: Revise the following bullet in the Treasurer’s position description to reflect GROW’s decision to reinstate contributions to OIAA.

    • Pay all group expenses per the distribution below and maintain a prudent reserve of $122.00:
      • Make quarterly contributions, prior to each Business meeting, to GSO (The General Service Office, Grand Central Station, PO Box 459, New York, NY 10164-0423; Group Service # 633230). Allocate 80% of the total available contribution amount to GSO
      • Allocate 20% of GROW’s total available contribution amount to OIAA
      • $12.00 monthly to OSO-AA (PayPal: dean.collins@insightplanners.com) (6 months expenses)
      • $50.00 annual subscription to Grapevine magazine

  5. Amend the Treasurer’s position description to change the requirement to make quarterly distributions to bi-annually, prior to each business meeting.

    Rationale: The current position description requires the Treasurer to make quarterly distributions to GSO. This has not been done for some time, as distributions have actually been made once a year. Our Treasurer recommends that the distributions be done every six months when the Treasurer’s report is prepared for the business meeting. It takes us back to Prudent Reserve every six months and makes the bookkeeping much simpler.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 5 from the April 2021 business meeting.

    Recommended Language: Amend the sub-bullet under “Pay all group expenses per the distribution below and maintain a prudent reserve of $122.00:” as shown below. (Given the apparent approval of resuming OIAA contributions, I’m showing the two relevant sub-bullets for clarity.)

    • Pay all group expenses per the distribution below and maintain a prudent reserve of $122.00:
      • Make quarterlybiannual contributions prior to GROW’s business meetings to GSO (The General Service Office, Grand Central Station, PO Box 459, New York, NY 10164-0) and OIAA.  Allocate 80% of the total available contribution amount to GSO.
      • Allocate 20% of GROW’s total available contribution amount to OIAA
      • $12.00 monthly to OSO-AA (PayPal: dean.collins@insightplanners.com) (6 months expenses)
      • $50.00 annual subscription to Grapevine magazine

    October 2021

  6. GROW will devote one meeting to service in the last week of the month before recruitment begins (February and August). While the topic will not be limited to service within GROW, all current TSs are encouraged to share on their experience in the job to encourage GROW members to volunteer when recruitment begins. The Weekly Leader Listkeeper will reserve the last Sunday of February and September for the topic of Service.

    Rationale: The proposal reflects broad agreement in business meeting participants’ comments addressing the lack of volunteers for Trusted Servant (TS) positions. Comments broadly, but not unanimously, supported having a GROW meeting topic devoted to service before the recruitment process begins.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 2 from the October 2021 business meeting.

    Recommended Language: Add to the Weekly Leader Listkeeper’s position description an eleventh bullet:
    “Allocate the last meeting in February and August by identifying Service as the topic next to the date on the volunteer lead request message.”

  7. In the Secretary’s recruitment messages, rather than referring members to the position descriptions for Trusted Servants, provide a brief description of their job that includes its basic function and how it benefits GROW, the time required to do the job, workload intensity, and the busiest times. The descriptions will also include the name and email address of the person currently holding the position. The Business Meeting Chair and Secretary will work with Trusted Servants to develop the job descriptions before the March 2022 recruitment effort begins.

     Rationale: The proposal reflects broad agreement in business meeting participants’ comments addressing the lack of volunteers for Trusted Servant (TS) positions. Discussions revealed that GROW’s position descriptions are too long and to detailed to attract volunteers. There was near-unanimous agreement that hearing from the current TS about the position was much more effective. Because TSs change over time, and their experiences will be different, the Chair is proposing that a simple job description that can be used during every recruitment process would be more practical. This would not replace the individual TS shares about their experience in the position that TSs post during the Service topic GROW meeting.

    For more information on this Group Conscience decision, please refer to Proposal 3 from the October 2021 business meeting.

2020 – Group Conscience Decisions

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2020 – Group Conscience Decisions

April 2020

  1. Edit Monthly Listkeeper Message and Greeter Letter #2 to address the problem of shares that bounce to the listkeepers because they are addressed to more recipients than GROW.  Further edit Greeter Letter #2 for clarity and brevity.

    Rationale: “Too many recipients” bounces require listkeepers to take several actions. Shares that bounce are delayed from reaching GROW. Some members do not resend, even after being notified by the listkeeper.

    For more information on this Group Conscience Decision, please refer to Proposal 4 from the April 2020 business meeting.

    Recommended Language:

    Monthly Listkeeper’s Message

    Important Addresses
    Listkeeper’s Address: grow-owner@oso-aa.org
    (Use this address to change your subscription, or to unsubscribe, resubscribe or ask questions about GROW-related email problems).

    Send shares to the List use this address: grow@oso-aa.org
    (Use this address for all your shares or posts of any sort to the regular list. Address your share to ONLY the grow@oso-aa.org address. If another address is included (even if in the ‘Cc or ‘Bcc field) the email will bounce).  The list is set up to accept messages that are addressed to Grow only. The individual(s) you send messages in addition to GROW will probably receive the message; however, the Grow list will not.
    NOTE: Please do not post subscription change requests to GROW because they are too easily overlooked.

    GROW Website:
    http://www.g-r-o-w.com
    To access the member’s section, you’ll need the following password:
    Password: sobertodayhow2484

    The GROW Website provides members with all of the information listed in this email, plus business meeting updates, and an archive section. Check the Website for what is happening in GROW.

    Personal Webpages
    Each member has a password protected personal webpage where she can make changes to her account, such as:
    -vacation (disable mail delivery)
    -unsubscribe
    -change her account from regular mail to digest or visa versa

    http://oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow_oso-aa.org
    If you lose your password, you can retrieve it here:
    http://oso-aa.org/mailman/options/grow_oso-aa.org

    Scroll down the page to the lower part, under the blue bar titled “Password Retrieval.” Click on “remind” and your password will immediately be sent to the email address you use for GROW.

    If you do not feel comfortable making your own changes, please address all such requests to the listkeeper’s email box, which is: grow-owner@oso-aa.org

    Greeter Letter #2

    Welcome to GROW! This is one of two emails you will receive from me with the information you need to start participating in our meeting right away. You might want to save these for future reference.

    Sharing with the Group

    Address your email to grow@oso-aa.organd your post will be sent to all members.

    • Do not add any other addresses to the email or it will bounce. This includes addresses in the ‘Cc or ‘Bcc address fields.

    Address your share to ONLY the grow@oso-aa.org address. If another address is included (even if in the ‘Cc or ‘Bcc field) the email will bounce).  The list is set up to accept messages that are addressed to Grow only. The individual(s) you send messages in addition to GROW will probably receive the message; however, the Grow list will not.

    Add grow@oso-aa.org to your Address Book to ensure GROW emails don’t go to your SPAM folder.

    Replying to a Post

    • Do not use the “Reply to All” option when you respond privately to another member’s post to GROW, as your personal message will also be directed to the GROW list and it will bounce to the Listkeepers.
    • For those using phones and tablets, be aware that the default reply option is often “Reply to All.” Please double-check.

    Email Volume
    The volume of mail through the GROW list can be overwhelming. If you experience this, you might find it very helpful to choose one or more of the following:

    • Create a separate email address to reduce the confusion of mixing GROW mail with your other email. Email the Listkeepers at grow-owner@oso-aa.orgwith your new address. As an FYI, AOL and Yahoo addresses have been problematic for some members with the GROW list.
    • If you use an existing email for GROW, you might create folders for your GROW email; filters can also be set up to direct GROW mail into the GROW folder.
    • Request the Digest Version (a file containing the day’s posts in a single email) by contacting the Listkeepers at grow-owner@oso-aa.org.

    Topics
    A new meeting topic is sent to everyone on the list each Sunday and we share throughout the week. On topic and Off topic shares are welcome.

    • Off topic posts should be appropriate for an AA meeting. Please note in your subject line if your share is Off topic (Off Topic: … )
    • On topic posts are your shares on the weekly meeting topic. Please note in your subject line if your share is On topic (On Topic: … )
    • Please do not type in all CAPS; this is considered to be yelling.

    Web Site and Password
    Visit the GROW web site for more information. The URL for GROW is: http://www.g-r-o-w.com. For the members only section you’ll need the password: sobertodayhow2484

    Other
    If you have questions not answered by our website information, please write to me and I’ll be sure to answer them or send your questions to someone who can.

    I hope Grateful Recovering Online Women is helpful to you in your journey and growth in sobriety.

    Again, welcome
    [ Greeter Name ]
    Grateful Recovering Online Women

  2. GROW adopts the following policy for addressing non-performance in a Trusted Servant position.

    Rationale:

    There have been several instances in the past where a Trusted Servant did not fulfill all the duties outlined in her position description.

    While this may have created problems, Trusted Servants who were aware of the problem did not have a formal process for bringing the problem to the attention of the Steering Committee, and their complaint was never raised. Therefore, no action was taken to correct the problem. In one instance, the issue was raised with some Trusted Servants, but there was no process for allowing the Trusted Servant to improve her performance or for making a decision on whether the Trusted Servant should be removed. This proposal provides a formal process that will make it easier to raise such problems to the Steering Committee, to allow the Trusted Servant to correct performance, and to remove the Trusted Servant if performance does not improve.

    For more information about this Group Conscience Decision, please refer to Proposal 6 from the April 2020 business meeting.

    Recommended Language: The following statement will be added as #9 to the Business Meeting Guidelines.

    When a Trusted Servant (TS-A) feels that another Trusted Servant (TS-B) is not meeting the requirements of her position description, TS-A will take her issues to the small Steering Committee (made up of the Business Chair, Secretary, and Listkeepers) for consideration. She should not engage with or confront TS-B. The small Steering Committee can choose to bring the issue to the full Steering Committee.

    The review of TS-B’s performance should be based only on the duties outlined in the position description. If it is found that the complaint is based on different personal working styles, preferences, or infrequent mistakes – and TS-B is otherwise meeting the requirements of her job description, the complaint will be dismissed without informing or involving TS-B. If it is established that one or more of the duties assigned to TS-B is not being met, the small Steering Committee will:

    1. Assure that TS-B is aware of and allowed to respond to the complaints and, if appropriate, to propose remedial actions to correct problems.
    2. If TS-B does not propose remedial actions, the small Steering Committee will establish appropriate remedial actions that TS-B can take to correct the problems;
    3. Establish a timeframe and deadline for remedial actions to be taken and documented;
    4. If the small Steering Committee has not already elevated the issue to the full Steering Committee, they will inform the larger Steering Committee of the findings, remedial actions, and timeframe;
    5. The full Steering Committee will decide whether TS-B can remain in the position or should be removed;
    6. If the Steering Committee decides that TS-B should be removed from the position, they will inform her in writing of their decision. The Secretary will deliver the documented decision to TS-B and call for volunteers to fill the position to the end of the current term.

    October 2020

    1. In the Weekly Leader Listkeeper’s job description, revise the existing bullet that mentions the monthly Tradition posting to make it clear that the tradition corresponding to the month will be posted twice each month, and the WLL will invite members to share on that Tradition.

      Rationale

      • Since we decided to devote the first meeting each month to the appropriate Step, posting and discussion of the Tradition has not happened. The tradition meeting has not been posted in over 6 months. It has been lost. When we discussed creating a Step meeting, there was a lot of discussion about whether it should be just the Step or the Step and Tradition. It was never the intent of the participants in the business meeting to drop the Traditions from our meetings.
      • Currently, these are the relevant bullets in the WLL job description:
      • Allocate the first meeting of each month to the corresponding Step by identifying the Step as the topic next to the date on the volunteer lead request message.
      • Post monthly Step and Tradition discussion topics to correspond with the month.
      • The existing bullet in the Weekly Leader Listkeeper’s job description is not clear and confuses the Step Meeting with the way it was done before that meeting was created. The recommended change clarifies GROW’s expectations for assuring the Tradition is highlighted each month.

      For more information about this Group Conscience Decision, please refer to Proposal 3 from the October 2020 business meeting.

      Recommended Language: Replace the existing bullet (“Post monthly Step and Tradition discussion topics to correspond with the month.”) with the following: “At the beginning and middle of each month, post the corresponding Tradition and invite members to share on that topic anytime during the month.”

    2. Add text of common duties as (shown at the end of this proposal) to the “New Trusted Servant Letter.”

      Rationale: There is no mention anywhere of the common duties that have developed from time and issues arising. Further, not all job descriptions contain a reference or link to the Common Duties. The welcome letter informs the new TS where they can find the job description, but unless they are curious and investigate the site, the common duties can be overlooked. I for one have found answers to many questions and a tried and true guideline in that piece of literature and would like to see it brought up to the awareness of the incoming Trusted Servant. It is as simple as adding it to the bottom of the letter already being sent out to new trusted servants.

      For more information about this Group Conscience Decision, please refer to Proposal 4 from the October 2020 business meeting.

      Recommended Language:

      Dear [ Name of New Trusted Servant ],

      Thank you for volunteering for the position of [ Trusted Servant Position ].

      You are replacing [name of past trusted servant] in this position. She will send you any up-to-date lists and/or letter templates you will need to fulfill your duties. She will also mentor you as you transition into your new job. Her email address is [email address of past trusted servant]. If you have not heard from her, we encourage you to contact her now.

      Please review your job description immediately. Each job description has been established by group conscience. If your job requires making periodic announcements to the group, please do so as outlined in your job description. Letters/announcements are also a matter of group conscience, developed to ensure a consistent message to all GROW members. Other than including your own name and contact information where appropriate, please do not change the text of the message.

      If you have not yet received information from the outgoing [ Trusted Servant Position ], you can access your job description and any letter templates needed for your job on the GROW website.

      Trusted Servant job descriptions are described here.
      List of Trusted Servant letter templates are here.

      Sometimes a job can feel a little scary. If you have *any* questions, please ask. Along with your mentor, the Steering Committee is here to answer questions and support you in your service to GROW. As GROW Secretary, I am the primary contact for trusted servants. You are also welcome to email any one of the Steering Committee members listed at the end of this email.

      If you find yourself unable to fulfill your obligations, temporarily or otherwise, please let me or another Steering Committee member know immediately. We will ensure that your tasks are carried out in your absence.

      Again, thank you for your service to GROW. Service work is important to individual recovery, and it is essential to the well-being of our group. We hope you find serving GROW to be a rewarding experience.

      Trusted Servant Common Duties

      The following describes duties that are common expectations for all Trusted Servants.

      • Must be a member of Business List
      • Smooth and uninterrupted volunteer service to GROW depends upon your ability to carry out your commitments. If a Trusted Servant finds that she cannot meet all the duties listed in her Job Description, she will inform the Secretary and/or Business Meeting Chair that she is unable to fulfill her responsibilities. Working with the Trusted Servant and the Steering Committee, the Secretary and/or Business Chair will then seek alternatives for assuring all duties are covered (including securing a temporary back-up or advertising the position on the main list). If a member of the Steering Committee is concerned that not all items in a job description are being met, she may bring her concern to Secretary and/or Business Meeting Chair, who will work with the Trusted Servant to assure their duties are covered.
      • Must be able to reply to business and steering committee email within 48 hours. If unable to do so, should inform the steering committee in advance, or in the case of a computer related problem, make every effort to telephone another group member who can let the Steering Committee know.
      • Lack of response to business, steering committee, or direct personal email by another trusted servant for a period of seven consecutive days will be reason for a temporary replacement chosen by the steering committee.
      • Lack of response to business, steering committee, or direct personal email by another trusted servant for a period of fourteen consecutive days will be reason for temporary replacement by steering committee until a permanent replacement can be chosen by the next business meeting.
      • Provide successor with all necessary information, including job guidelines and letter templates, and serve as a mentor for a period of time to ensure continuity of service.
      • Be able to cut, copy, paste, and save to a folder.

    3. Expand GROW’s statements about using URLs in message to allow links to AA meetings on Zoom.

      Rationale: With the pandemic, AA zoom meetings are taking place all over the world. They have quickly become an essential tool for many in recovery. Because our ESH is vital to AA meetings and our sobriety, sharing the Zoom ID and password (or the URL link) would be appropriate in these uncertain times.

      For more information about this Group Conscience Decision, please refer to Proposal 5 from the October 2020 business meeting.

      Recommended language:
      In Weekly Format Letter, “Topic for the week” section:
      [ Introduce the Topic of the Week – Remember that we do not include URLs to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites, and AA meetings on Zoom. ]

      In GROW Mail List Guidelines (5th bullet):
      We do not send attachments, chain letters, solicitations, virus alerts or announcements of non A.A. functions. We do not include URLs to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites, and AA meetings on Zoom.

    4. Change the reference to “URLs” in the Weekly Lead Format letter and the GROW Mail List Guidelines to “links.”

      Rationale:

      In discussing whether to allow links to AA meetings on Zoom, participants talked about the security issues that GROW members have experienced in the past when messages contained links to websites outside GROW or AA. To address that, in April 2019, the business meeting approved a Group Conscience decision to add a statement about not using URLs in the Topic section of the Weekly Lead Format letter and in the GROW Mail List Guidelines. The prohibition on URLs did not include the GROW website or AA websites.

      Our current discussion highlighted the point that the risk to GROW members does not result from the use of URLs in messages but from links based on those URLs. A member can type in a URL without linking to the questionable source. Then members can simply copy and paste the URL into their web browser without exposing the mailing list to viruses or malware.

      This proposal addresses the distinction between using URLs alone and creating links from those URLs to an outside source.

      For more information about this Group Conscience Decision, please refer to Proposal 6 from the October 2020 business meeting.

      Recommended Language:

      In the Topic section of the Weekly Lead Format letter, change “URLs” to “links” and include examples to help weekly leaders understand the difference.
      “[Introduce the Topic of the Week – Remember that we do not include  links to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites.]

      You may include URLs (e.g., http://www.g-r-o-w.com – no link – or http://www.aa.org/ – linked), but do not create the link that would automatically take the reader to that URL address. Some programs automatically create links when a URL is entered, so you will need to remove the link. If you need help with this, please contact a GROW Trusted Servant.”

      In the fifth bullet of the GROW Mail List Guidelines, change “URLs” to “links” and add a brief message about how to get help if you do not know how to prevent automatic links.
      “We do not send attachments, chain letters, solicitations, virus alerts or announcements of non A.A. functions. We do not include  links to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites. You can use URLs (e.g., http://www.aa.org/), but do not create a link that would automatically take the reader to that URL address. Some programs create links automatically, so if you need help with this, please contact a GROW Trusted Servant.”

2019 – Group Conscience Decisions

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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:

    3. 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.

    8. 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.

    10. 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.”

    12. 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.”

1021 – Final Summary of the October 21 Business Meeting

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Final Summary for the October 2021 Business Meeting

The October business meeting opened with the presentation of reports from our Treasurer, Listkeepers, Secretary, GSR, OIAA Representative, and Business Meeting Chair. You can find these reports and meeting details on GROW’s website at g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/business-meetings/. (You will need a password for the Members’ section (sobertodayhow2484).

When the October business meeting began, many Trusted Servant positions remained vacant. Therefore, the first few days of the meeting were dominated by efforts to fill those positions. There were no proposals for consideration as the meeting began. The Chair called for a discussion of GROW’s recruitment process, and the first two 3-day sessions were devoted to identifying areas where improvements could be made. Participants raised problem areas and made a wide range of suggestions.

Based on the discussions, the Chair submitted three proposals for consideration:

  • Adding to the Common Duties section of position descriptions three actions Trusted Servants would take to support recruitment (Proposal 1)
  • Devoting a GROW meeting topic to Service before our business meetings (Proposal 2)
  • Replacing the current links to position descriptions in the Secretary’s call for volunteers with brief descriptions of each Trusted Servant position (Proposal 3)

After three days of discussion on each proposal, participants voted whether to adopt the proposal as a Group Conscience decision. Two of the proposals received unanimous approval and are now

Group Conscience Decisions:

  • GROW will devote the last week in February and August to the topic of service.
  • Future recruitment messages will contain a brief description of the job rather than a link to the position description.

During our discussion of recruitment practices, many suggestions were made that were not directly related to the recruitment process but could improve GROW’s email meeting. The Chair made a list of these suggestions, and participants gave feedback ranging from “discuss in next business meeting” to “no follow-up needed” on each of eight “Good Ideas.” Based on these rankings, participants identified four areas for action and consideration during the April 2022 meeting:

  • Develop a side-by-side comparison of Trusted Servant positions
  • Review and suggest changes to the Secretary position description
  • Identify Trusted Servant positions that would benefit from job-sharing
  • Introduce a monthly meeting that covers AA’s 12 Concepts of World Service

The October 2021 GROW Business Meeting was adjourned on October 20th.

1021 – Summary of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th 3-day sessions

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Summary of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th 3-day sessions

During our fourth 3-day session, we voted on the three proposals. There was no more activity during the session. During the fifth 3-day session of our business meeting, voting results were announced for the three proposals under consideration.

Proposal 1.1 was not approved, receiving a 67% “I disagree” vote. During the fifth 3-day session, those who voted “I agree” for the proposal were invited to submit a Minority Opinion to explain their viewpoints, and two Minority Opinions were submitted. No one changed their vote in response (which would have triggered a re-vote). Therefore, this proposal is not approved, and it cannot be considered again until April 2023.

The group approved two proposals as Group Conscience decisions:

  • GROW will devote the last week in February and August to the topic of service.
  • Future recruitment messages will contain a brief description of the job rather than a link to the position description.

You will be able to find summaries of our discussions and the result of voting on our website at g-r-o-w.com/member-welcome/business-meetings/ after the meeting is adjourned.

The Chair also presented a “List of Good Ideas” that were discussed but not acted on during this meeting. As of this writing, 10 participants had provided their priority (scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being to discuss in April 2022 and 3 being to drop the idea from future agendas. The “Good Ideas” included:

    • Job-sharing
    • Simplify position descriptions
    • Decision-making history/explanation for how/why GROW TS positions were created
    • Side-by-side comparison chart of TS positions
    • Secretary as a mentor, rather than back-up to Temporary Mentor and birthday, sponsor, Weekly Meeting Lead, and 12th Step Volunteer Listkeeper
    • How to ask GROW sponsors to suggest their sponsees take a service position
    • Review requirements for length of sobriety and time of membership in GROW
    • Have a meeting similar to our monthly Traditions topic for AA’s 12 Concepts for World Service

    At this time, 16 participants have provided feedback, although everyone did not rank every idea on the list. In order to compare the results, I added the rank value (1, 2, or 3) for each idea to get a “score” where the lower the value, the greater the priority. The following list orders the ideas by score.

    Side-by-Side Comparison………….. 11
    Sec/Mentor Job Description……….. 13
    Job-sharing……………………………… 15
    Concepts Meeting…………………….. 17
    Time In Sobriety/GROW……………. 18
    How/Why of TS Duties………………. 22
    PD Reviews……………………………… 24
    Sponsors and GROW Service…….. 26

    Respectfully,
    danna M
    GROW Business Meeting Chair
    dmcd.grow@gmail.com

1021 – Summary of 2nd 3-day Session

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Summary of 2nd 3-day Session of Business Meeting

The second 3-day session of the GROW business meeting ended yesterday. During this session, participants continued to comment on the “Recruiting Trusted Servants” issue paper. The Chair submitted a summary of comments, the comments themselves, and a response to comments.

On the first day of the third, three proposals were presented that reflected actions that commenters supported broadly. These proposals include:

  • Proposal 1: Adding a “Common Duties” bullet that gives all Trusted Servants to engage in and support the Secretary in attracting GROW members to volunteer for service positions.
  • Proposal 2: Devoting a GROW meeting topic to Service prior to each business meeting.
  • Proposal 3: Replacing links to position descriptions with more simple, plain language describing each GROW Trusted Servant position.

Meeting participants will now discuss these specific proposals through the end of the day on Tuesday, October 12.

If you would like to participate in our business meeting, please send your request to our listkeepers at grow-owner@oso-aa.org.

Respectfully submitted,
danna M
GROW Business Meeting Chair
dmcd.grow@gmail.com

Sponsor List Confirmation

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Sponsor List Confirmation

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]

Sponsor List Invitation

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Sponsor List Invitation

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. The sponsor list is intended only for AA women who are subscribed to GROW emails and are part of GROW.

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

1021 – Proposal 3: Brief Job Descriptions

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Proposal 3: Brief Job Descriptions

Group Conscience Decision:

In the Secretary’s recruitment messages, rather than referring members to the position descriptions for Trusted Servants, provide a brief description of their job that includes its basic function and how it benefits GROW, the time required to do the job, workload intensity, and the busiest times. The descriptions will also include the name and email address of the person currently holding the position.

The Business Meeting Chair and Secretary will work with Trusted Servants to develop the job descriptions before the March 2022 recruitment effort begins.

Rationale: The proposal reflects broad agreement in business meeting participants’ comments addressing the lack of volunteers for Trusted Servant (TS) positions. Discussions revealed that GROW’s position descriptions are too long and to detailed to attract volunteers. There was near-unanimous agreement that hearing from the current TS about the position was much more effective.

Because TSs change over time, and their experiences will be different, the Chair is proposing that a simple job description that can be used during every recruitment process would be more practical. This would not replace the individual TS shares about their experience in the position that TSs post during the Service topic GROW meeting.

Summary of Comments

Ten women commented on Proposal 3 calling for the Secretary’s announcements of Trusted Servant vacancies to present brief plain-language job descriptions instead of links to position descriptions. There was unanimous support for this proposal.

Results of Voting

Sixteen (16) participants voted “I agree” and no one voted “I disagree” on the proposal to replace the link to position descriptions in the Secretary’s announcement of Trusted Servant vacancies with more simple job descriptions.  Therefore, Proposal 3 is approved and adopted as a Group Conscience decision.

1021 – Proposal 2: Service Topic Meeting

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Group Conscience Decision:

GROW will devote one meeting to service in the last week of the month before recruitment begins (February and August).

While the topic will not be limited to service within GROW, all current TSs are encouraged to share on their experience in the job to encourage GROW members to volunteer when recruitment begins. The Weekly Leader Listkeeper will reserve the last Sunday of February and September for the topic of Service.

Recommended Language: Add to the Weekly Leader Listkeeper’s position description an eleventh bullet:

  • Allocate the last meeting in February and August by identifying Service as the topic next to the date on the volunteer lead request message.

Rationale: The proposal reflects broad agreement in business meeting participants’ comments addressing the lack of volunteers for Trusted Servant (TS) positions. Comments broadly, but not unanimously, supported having a GROW meeting topic devoted to service before the recruitment process begins.

Summary of Comments

Ten women commented on Proposal 2 that calls for two GROW meetings be devoted to the topic of service in late February and August. All comments agreed with the proposal. One commenter expressed regret that this would eliminate two more opportunities for weekly meeting leaders to select their own topic. Another commenter thought that releasing the service topic midweek would avoid this. Finally, a third commenter suggested that the mid-week suggestion should be carried forward to the April 2022 business meeting.

Results of Voting

Sixteen (16) people voted “I agree” on the proposal to devote a GROW weekly meeting topic to Service in the last week of February and August (before recruitment for Trusted Servants begins). No one voted “I disagree.”

1021 – Proposal 2: Service Meeting Topic

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Proposal 2: Service Topic

Group Conscience Decision:

GROW will devote one meeting to service in the last week of the month before recruitment begins (February and August). While the topic will not be limited to service within GROW, all current TSs are encouraged to share on their experience in the job to encourage GROW members to volunteer when recruitment begins. The Weekly Leader Listkeeper will reserve the last Sunday of February and September for the topic of Service.

Recommended Language: Add to the Weekly Leader Listkeeper’s position description an eleventh bullet:

  • Allocate the last meeting in February and August by identifying Service as the topic next to the date on the volunteer lead request message.

Rationale: The proposal reflects broad agreement in business meeting participants’ comments addressing the lack of volunteers for Trusted Servant (TS) positions. Comments broadly, but not unanimously, supported having a GROW meeting topic devoted to service before the recruitment process begins.

Summary of Comments

Ten women commented on Proposal 2 that calls for two GROW meetings be devoted to the topic of service in late February and August. All comments agreed with the proposal. One commenter expressed regret that this would eliminate two more opportunities for weekly meeting leaders to select their own topic. Another commenter thought that releasing the service topic midweek would avoid this. Finally, a third commenter suggested that the mid-week suggestion should be carried forward to the April 2022 business meeting.

Results of Voting

Sixteen (16) people voted “I agree” on the proposal to devote a GROW weekly meeting topic to Service in the last week of February and August (before recruitment for Trusted Servants begins). No one voted “I disagree.”

1021 – Proposal 1: Trusted Servants and Recruitment

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Proposal 1: Trusted Servants & Recruitment Process

Add a bullet to the Common Duties that calls for every Trusted Servant to participate in the semi-annual recruitment process by recommending potential replacements, sending a personal share to GROW describing their experience as a Trusted Servant, and working with the Secretary during recruitment by personally encouraging potential volunteers.

Recommended Language: Add the following as the second bullet in the “Common Duties” on the GROW website and in

  • Every Trusted Servant shall participate in recruiting Trusted Servants in the following ways:
    • Participate in the recruitment process by identifying and recommending to the Secretary women who seem well-suited to the position the Trusted Servant currently holds;
    • In the week before recruitment begins (late February, late August), write a message to the GROW mail list that describes her job, estimates the workload, actual time spent, and what doing the job as done for their sobriety;
    • Help the Secretary during the recruitment month (March and September) by encouraging potential volunteers to volunteer for her position when recruitment begins.

Rationale: The proposal reflects broad agreement in business meeting participants’ comments addressing the lack of volunteers for Trusted Servant (TS) positions. The comments overwhelmingly agreed that TSs should be more involved in the recruitment process and supported the suggested proposal.

Summary of Comments

Eight women commented on Proposal 1 which would add a bullet to the Common Duties section of GROW position descriptions. Most of the comments were a simple expressions of agreement with the proposal. Two commenters felt that asking Trusted Servants to “identify” potential volunteers would create pressure for those identified. One commenter recommended wording changes. The Chair has edited the bullets to better reflect those concerns. We will vote on the resulting Proposal 1.1 during the fourth 3-day session.

Results of Voting on Proposal 1

Eighteen (18) participants voted on the Proposal that would add a bullet to the Common Duties that calls for every Trusted Servant to participate in the semi-annual recruitment process. Twelve voted “I disagree,” and six voted “I agree,” representing a 67% majority rejecting the proposal. Therefore, the proposal did not meet our requirement for a 2/3 majority. The Chair invited participants who voted “I agree” to submit a Minority Opinion. By our guidelines, if anyone changes their vote as a result of the Minority Opinion, there will be a re-vote.

Two people submitted Minority Opinions further supporting the proposal. One argued that requiring Trusted Servants to share on the topic of Service was not a burden and would help GROW. The other felt that we already identify potential candidates for TS positions and that including this in the proposal was appropriate.

No one changed their vote as a result of the Minority Opinions; therefore, the 67% vote rejecting the proposal stands, and the proposal is not accepted as a Group Conscience Decision, the subject cannot be raised again for at least a year.

1021 – Secretary’s Report – Trusted Servants

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Secretary’s Report – GROW Trusted Servants

October 2021

(clicking on name opens an email message)

Outgoing Trusted Servants

Incoming Trusted Servants

Trusted Servants – October 2021

(as of 12/14/21)

  • 12 Step Volunteer Listkeeper (10/21 – 4/22): Nicole W
  • Birthday Listkeeper (10/21 – 4/22): Mary O
  • Sponsor Listkeeper (10/21 – 4/22): Lynn H

Trusted Servants who make up the Steering Committee:

  • Business Meeting Chair (10/20-10/22): Danna M
  • GSR (10/21-10/22): VACANT
  • GVR (10/21-10/22): Julie Kr
  • Greeter (4/21-4/22): Amy N
  • Greeter (10/21-10/22): Karrie C
  • Listkeeper (4/21-4/22): Karen H
  • Listkeeper Alternate (4/21- 4/22): Sophie R
  • OIAA Rep (4/21-4/22):  Rene G
  • Secretary (10/21-10/22): Michele R
  • Temporary Mentor (4/21-4/22): Becky L
  • Treasurer (10/21-10/22): Cheryl B
  • Website Administrator (10/21-10/22): Cheryl D
  • Webkeeper (10/21-10/22): VACANT
  • Webkeeper Backup (10/21-10/22): Pat S
  • Weekly Leader Listkeeper (4/21-4/22): Emily M

Immediate Past Business Meeting Chair: Joan B
Immediate Past GSR: Nicole W
Immediate Past OIAA Rep: Lynn H & Kirsten V
Immediate Past Secretary: Nancy C

0420 – Secretary Report

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Apr 2020 Secretary’s Report

Outgoing Trusted Servants:

  • 12 Step Listkeeper (10/19-04/20): Karrie C. email
  • Birthday Listkeeper (10/19-4/20): Lynn H. email
  • Sponsor Listkeeper (10/19-4/20): Rene G. email

Trusted Servants who make up the Steering Committee:

  • Greeter (4/19-4/20): Sarah K. email
  • Greeter (4/19-4/20): Louise H. email
  • Listkeeper (4/19-4/20): Karen H. email
  • Listkeeper Alternate (4/19-4/20): Nancy C. email
  • Temporary Mentor (4/19-4/20): Danna M. email
  • Website Administrator (04/19-04/20): Tanya C. email
  • Webkeeper (4/19-4/20): Allison M. email
  • Weekly Leader Listkeeper (10/19-4/20): Bobby T. email

 

Incoming Trusted Servants:

  • 12 Step Listkeeper (10/19-04/20): Danna M. email
  • Birthday Listkeeper (10/19-4/20): Susan J. email
  • Sponsor Listkeeper (10/19-4/20): Alison B. email

Trusted Servants who make up the Steering Committee:

  • Business Meeting Chair (10/18-10/20): Joan B. email
  • GSR (10/18-10/20): Kate email
  • GVR (10/19-10/20): open
  • Greeter (4/20-4/21): Lisa M. email
  • Greeter (4/20-10/20): Louise H. email
  • Listkeeper (4/20-4/21): Sarah K. email
  • Listkeeper Alternate (4/20-10/20): Nancy C. email
  • OIAA Rep (10/19-10/20): open
  • Secretary (10/19-10/20): Laurie C. email
  • Temporary Mentor (4/20-4/21): open
  • Treasurer (10/19-10/21): Cheryl B. email
  • Website Admininstrator (4/20-10/20): Tanya C. email
  • Webkeeper (10/18-10/20): open
  • Webkeeper Backup (10/19-10/20): Cheryl D. email
  • Weekly Leader Listkeeper (4/20-4/21):Rene G. email

Trusted Servant Comparison Chart

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Comparison of Trusted Servant Jobs

 

Trusted Servant Position “Qualifying” sobriety “Qualifying” GROW membership Length of position Workload Busiest Times Primary Duties Skills Needed Current Trusted Servant
Common Duties
for all Trusted Servants		 Participate in business meetings;
inform Secretary and/or Business Chair if can’t fulfill responsibilities;
reply to business and steering committee emails within 48 hours;
mentor incoming Trusted Servant, ensure continuity of service by providing relevant documentation and form letters; and advice when specific issues arise
12th Step Listkeeper 1 year Not specified in Position Description 6 months Light Ongoing Read all emails, notify volunteers email Nicole W
Birthday Listkeeper 6 months Not specified in Position Description 6 months Light Ongoing Collect & announce sober anniversaries email Mary O
Sponsor Listkeeper 1 year Not specified in Position Description 1 year Light Ongoing & first of month Identify those willing to sponsor, provide to GROW email Lynn H
Business Meeting Chair 5 years At least
1 year		 2 years Heavy 2 months per year, Light remaining months March-April, September-October Facilitate business meeting, prepare many summaries, work with webkeepers to document meeting Organization, writing, timeliness Danna M
General Service Representative (GSR) 2 years Not specified in Position Description 2 years Light ? Group contact with AA’s General Service Office, keep Grow informed of activities of GSO, Conferences, and Conventions, advise Steering Committee on issues related to Traditions and Concepts of Service Email proficiency, interest in AA Traditions and Concepts of Service VACANT
Grapevine Representative (GVR) 1 year Not specified in Position Description 1 year Light Ongoing Post a monthly meeting topic published in Grapevine; provide info on tools available in magazine; have a subscription to the Grapevine (paid by GROW) Email proficiency Julie Kr
Greeter 1 year Not specified in Position Description 1 year:
terms overlap so that incoming Greeter can be trained by the lead greeter before the lead’s term expires		 Light to moderate Mostly around holidays Check e-mail daily; respond to inquiries; notify Listkeepers of new member; introduce new member to Grow; respond to new member questions; inform 12th Step Listkeeper of new members needing support Emailing skills and know how to copy and paste Amy N
Karrie C
Listkeeper 2 years 1 year 2 years –
first year being trained; second year training listkeeper alternate		 Checking email 2-3 times/day. Time per day depends on number of new women but each request takes only minutes. Team of 2 listkeepers – one week on, one week off. Easy to cover for each other. 2 end-of-month tasks. Ongoing Forward inquiries to greeters; handle requests to subscribe, unsub, change email address; troubleshoot ‘bounced’ emails and other technical issues; suscribe Trusted Servants and others to business meeting mailing list; on “Mini Steering Committee,” works with Business Chair and Secretary to resolve issues arising between business meetings; liaison with Grow listservice; send monthly letter to Grow with info on managing their Grow account and options email, organiza-tion, Timliness Karen H
Sophie R
OIAA Representative 2 years Not specified in Position Description 1 year Moderate April, October and first of month. Grow’s Representative to the Online Intergroup of AA (OIAA); participates in bi-annual elections and business of OIAA; inform Grow members of relevant OIAA decisions and actions; communicate Grow preferences to OIAA; provide report to business meeting twice a year Email Rene G
Secretary 2 years 1 year 1 year Heavy 2 months per year, Light remaining months March-April, September-October & first of month Manage Trusted Servant assignments, contact point for issues, disciplinary actions; member of “Mini Steering Committee” handling issues that arise between business meetings Organization, timeliness Michele R
Temporary Mentor 1 year 1 year 1 year Moderate to heavy Ongoing Contact & correspond with members new to sobriety email, organization, timely follow-up Becky L
Treasurer 2 years 2 years 2 years Light Ongoing Maintain checking and PayPal accounts for Grow; “pass the basket” each week for member contributions; report on Treasury status at business meetings twice a year; pay group expenses, including distributions to GSO and OIAA basic checking account balancing, online banking, Paypal. Cheryl B
Website Administrator 4 years 4 years 1 year Moderate to heavy Ongoing & April, October Assure information is posted to website as determined by Group Conscience decisions; assures Grow website is up-to-date; maintains backup of Grow website; working with Steering Committee, leads major website redesign efforts; support Webkeeper and Webkeeper backup with WordPress issues and website access; co-owner with Webkeeper of Grow website; with Treasurer, ensures that website fees are paid; mentor incoming Trusted Servant when term ends; assure quality of information WordPress, some HTML, organization, timeliness Cheryl D
Webkeeper 2 years 2 years 1 year Moderate to heavy, especially during and after business meetings Ongoing & April, October Maintain public and members’ sections of Grow website; post information to website as determined by Group Conscience decisions, including business meeting reports and notes, list of Trusted Servants, archive of Group Conscience Decisions; work with Business Meeting Chair to ensure Grow history and archives are maintained and accessible to Grow members; post business meeting reports, minutes, and summaries are posted while business meeting is in progress; ensure that website protects member anonymity WordPress, HTML coding, knowledge of Grow processes, organization, timeliness VACANT
Webkeeper Backup 1 year 1 year 1 year Light Weekends Update website with current weekly topics WordPress, email, timeliness Pat S
Weekly Leader Listkeeper 6 months 1 year 1 year Moderate to heavy Ongoing Identify meeting leaders, record leaders for 3-month period, remind leaders, provide form letter for meeting leads; invite shares each month on the corresponding Tradition; ask for volunteers each month for the on-call leaders list. email, Organization, timliness Emily M