MINUTES
UNDEREARNERS’ ANONYMOUS GSB MEETING
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013
VIA TELEPHONE (712) 775-7100
The meeting opened at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (8:00 PM Eastern Time) with the Serenity Prayer. Karen B. volunteered to be timekeeper. Tamyah read the traditions.
Roll Call
Officers:
- Tamyah E., Chair
- Matt B., Vice-Chair
- Ed W., Secretary
- Andrew D., Treasurer
- Janis B., Traditions Keeper
Committee Chairs:
- Andrew D., finance committee
- Janis B., service and structure committee
- Mary Joan, phone and technology committee
- Bella, world service committee
- Sonia W., public information committee
General Service Representatives:
- Peggy Q., Morning Tools Meeting on the international line
- Linda, 6 AM Selling with Serenity Meeting
- Jordan, LA 7 PM Sunday meeting
- Nora W., 11 AM Selling with Serenity Meeting
- Toni, Saturday 8 PM meeting in San Francisco
- Karen B. (Secretary was unable to determine her constituency from notes)
- Crystal, 8:30 P.M., Monday, Berkeley
- Mary Joan, 9:45 AM Friday goals meeting
- Susan H., Sunday Farmer’s Market meeting in LA
- Maggie, 12:15 PM Saturday, Travel Visions Meeting, Seattle
- Chris, 7:15 AM Underearning and Solvency Meeting, Baltimore
- Sonia, 8:30 AM morning phone meeting on second line
Secretary’s Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting required the following corrections:
- The rules of order for GSB meetings that was passed was, in fact, originally stated in an email from Janis B., the Service Structure Committee Chair, which reads in its entirety as follows:
Voting at the GSB meetings:
Before something is brought to a vote, there will be a presentation of the motion and why the maker of it considers it worthy of being presented. A period of one month will be allotted before voting, giving others time to be more informed on the issue via e-mail and or phone conversations, unless it is something of extreme urgency or a motion that is not controversial. The chair could take a brief consensus from the Body to determine if people are basically in agreement or need more time…
Voting is conducted on a motion after time is allowed for everyone to be informed and understand the issue being voted on.
Discussion: the floor is open for a limited amount of timed discussion, not solely for or against but to give an opportunity for expression of viewpoint or opinion, whatever that may be. So Chair might open the floor for discussion, by asking for different points of views to represented, not solely for or against,( some people might like part of the motion and not other parts, ) this form of discussion develops more of a consensus among members and less of a polarization, and we can modify and work together more productively and efficiently.
Voting in the past GSB meetings has been based on a 2/3 majority of the people voting. This applies to policy motions or other matters of importance. All other issues are based on a simple majority.
There is also the right to a Minority appeal following the vote on the motion.
- The motion labeled “proposal for a new phone system” mistakenly gave the impression that we had made a decision to get a new phone system. In fact, the motion was merely to form a committee to research possibilities in that area.
- The proposal regarding recordings of speakers at upcoming WSCC’s was not included in old business as it should have been.
The motion to accept the minutes with the above corrections was passed with 14 “yea” votes and 3 “nay” votes.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer’s report was also posted on the Google Group, and can be summarized as follows:
Prior balance (not including the WSC account): $6,268.65
Payment of deposit to Mary and Joseph Retreat Ctr. $3,000.00
Ink and postage $20.00
Income: $1,367.00
New balance: $4,615.65
WSC prior balance: $1,080.03
Expenses:
Transcription of Virtual Town Hall $92.00
Marketing (cartoons and music) $20.00
Software $29.95
Transcription $30.00
Misc. $4.50
Total expenses $176.95
WSC new balance: $1,079.99
TOTAL, BOTH ACCOUNTS $7,348.64
Committee Reports:
Service Structure Committee:
This committee meets on the first Monday of the month at 6 PM Eastern Time.
Public Information Committee:
Misa, our Information Officer, has begin directing inquiries to the committee email address, media@nullunderearnersanonymous.org.
The committee has prepared a fact sheet to present information to media and to newcomers.
In the interest of reaching younger people, the committee is researching a Facebook presence.
The committee is reviewing the outreach methods used by Debtors’ Anonymous (DA), Overeaters’ Anonymous (OA), and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), as well as possible outreach to poorer communities. Of particular interest to the committee is the DA practice of leaving their pamphlets in bankruptcy attorneys’ offices.
Their meetings are on the 2nd Saturday of the month, at7 AM Pacific Time (10 AM Eastern Time)
There was some concern that the outreach efforts described above constituted a violation of our tradition of “attraction, rather than promotion.” However, after further discussion, there seemed to be an informal consensus that these efforts were, in fact, not violating the tradition.
Phone and Technology (presented by Mary Joan, Chair):
They are continuing to thinking about how to denote such meetings, which they call “pop-up meetings”, on the website (They are concerned that members, especially newcomers, might not feel as safe at such meetings.).
They are, in concert with the literature committee, formulating a vision/plan regarding the website; in particular, they are formulating a plan regarding the downloading of speaker recordings.
They are looking into the possibility of moderator training and will present a proposal to the GSB when they have something finalized.
Their meetings are on the 2nd Saturday of the month, at 1 PM Pacific Time (4 PM Eastern Time)
Literature:
The Chair, Peter S., could not attend the meeting, so there was no report.
Finance Committee:
Nothing to add beyond Treasurer’s report
World Service Conference Committee (WSCC) (presented by Bella A., Chair):
With the payment of our $3000 deposit, the WSC secured the the dates we want (the week before Labor Day, 2014). We will need to pay them an additional $8,400 before the event.
The eMagazine that the WSCC had published last year under the name Voices of the Fellowship has been renamed to WSC 2014 .
The WSC plans to hold regular events, most notably Virtual Town Halls, between now and the 2014 WSCC. Over 200 people were on the phone bridge for the last Virtual Town Hall.
The committee’s previous plan for an eBook, Living Prosperously, a compendium of “stories around prosperity”, has been superseded by a plan to produce a hard cover book.
The committee expects to have its own website available over Christmas.
The committee needs input from the GSB regarding
- Topics for the business part of the WSC
- Rules by which stipends will be allocated
Old Business
Tony’s Presentation of “Knowledge Based Decision Making”
(to be posted separately on the Google Group)
Audio Recordings of Speakers at Upcoming WSCC’s
The WSCC will record, edit, and make available audio recordings of the 2014 Conference (i.e. the non-business portion of the event) on either the WSCC or main UA website for a nominal fee. The cost of access to the business portion of the 2014 WSC will be included in the cost of a ticket for GSR’s; others need only pay a nominal additional amount. Speakers will, as a condition of speaking, release all rights to their speeches. There will be no telephone access to the 2014 WSC.
This motion was passed with 12 “yea” votes and 1 “nay” vote.
New Business
Note: This New Business item (in italics below) was given “same meeting” status because the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary all agreed on both the importance and the pressing need for immediate consideration.
Appropriation of $400 fee payable to the IRS to process application for UA Tax Exempt Status
Point of information added by Secretary: Although we have previously verified that “UA GSB, Inc.” exists as a New York corporation, we have yet to receive a statement from the (federal) Internal Revenue Service that contributions to UA can be deducted from federal income taxes. To receive this statement, we need to request a “letter of determination” (of tax deductibility) and pay the $400 fee.
This motion was passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Ed W.
Secretary, General Service Board of UA