MINUTES
UNDEREARNERS’ ANONYMOUS GSB MEETING
Thursday, March 20, 2014
VIA TELEPHONE (712) 775-7100
The meeting opened at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (8:00 PM Eastern Time) with the Serenity Prayer. Because Tamyah is taking a leave of absence, Matt served as acting chair. Julie volunteered to be timekeeper. Susan read the traditions.
Roll Call
Officers:
- Matt, Vice Chair
- Ed W., Secretary
- Janis B., Traditions Keeper (who joined the call later)
Committee Chairs:
- Janis B., service and structure committee
- Mary Joan, phone and technology committee
- Sandy (acting), world service committee
- Sonia W., public information committee
- Peter S., literature
- Mike M. (acting), finance committee
General Service Representatives:
- Peggy Q., Morning Tools Meeting on the international line
- Linda, 9:45 AM Step & Tools Meeting
- Nora W., 11 AM Selling with Serenity Meeting
- Mary Joan, 9:45 AM Friday goals meeting
- Maggie, 12:15 PM Saturday, Travel Visions Meeting, Seattle
- Julian, Monday night last gaspers
- Steve G., Monday, New York, 8 PM visions meeting
- Mary Joan, Goals Pages, Friday Morning
- Janis, 8:30 AM Steps and Tools Meeting
- Abby, phone meeting on international line
- Sandy, San Diego
- Mike M., Saturday meeting at the LGBT Center in New York City
- Julie, Bronx Saturday morning
- Susan, Sunday LA Farmer’s Market
- Mike M., Sunday 11:30 AM, Manhattan
- Chris, 7:15 AM Underearning and Solvency Meeting, Baltimore
- Sonia, 8:30 AM morning phone meeting on second line
- Norm, Wednesday night LA step study
Secretary’s Minutes: The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as read.
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): $6,572.00
Expenses:
(none)
Income: $ 900.00
New balance: $7,472.00
WSC prior balance: $2,463.00
Expenses:
Transcriptions $ 430.00
Books $ 79.00
Income: $ 646.00
WSC new balance: $2,600.00
TOTAL, BOTH ACCOUNTS $10,072.00
Finance Committee: (presented by Mike M., acting Chair):
Chrystal has been elected secretary.
The Internal Revenue Service received our request to be categorized as a “501C.3 Charitable Organization”, but has not yet granted it (Point of information added by the Secretary: Our existing non-profit status allows UA to avoid paying taxes on any income that it receives. However, until the above request is granted, UA contributions cannot legally be taken as a tax deduction for federal income taxes.).
They are working on a mechanism for separating WSC ticket sales from contributions to the UA general fund, as it is not possible to create a separate PayPal account for both. Much of the time it is clear to Andrew D. (who receives the PayPal payments) which is which; when it isn’t, Andrew contacts the person sending the payment.
There was discussion of adding a second signatory (other than Andrew) to the UA account. There was also discussion of formulating an approval process for expenses.
It appears that we need an “events” sub-account (besides that of the WSC), as Andrew has been using the main account for the upcoming retreat.
The committee will be reviewing the finances of the WSC.
The committee meets on the 3rd Monday of each month, except for this coming month, when it will be held on the 2nd Monday, to ensure that it happens before the April GSB Meeting.
Literature (presented by Peter S., Chair):
The committee wants to hold a writing workshop with the goal of writing a UA version of the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Peter noted that, because we are a young fellowship, we don’t have individual “elders” who have enough recovery to write an entire book from their own experience. However, he hopes that, collectively, the membership can do what each of us individually can’t. Towards that end, the committee has prepared a questionnaire that is now available
- On the web at www.9thTradition.org/Writing, including a web form
- On the Google Group, posted by Peter on March 19
It will also be distributed via MailChimp.
The existing step writing guide has been copyrighted by Debtors’ Anonymous (DA). The literature committee is looking into the question of whether DA will let us keep it on our website. The committee will, of course, use this existing guide in formulating the UA version.
Phone and Technology (presented by Mary Joan, Chair):
The phone meeting moderator training document is available for inspection. An electronic copy can be obtained by sending email to carrythismessage@nullgmail.com.
They are drafting a proposal for phone line policies and procedures, with the growth of phone meetings (currently 56!) requiring a policy for expanding the number of phone lines (currently 3 lines).
They are working to gather requirements for enhancement of the website.
They need more people, so they are drafting an announcement calling for more participants. In particular, they need help with the moderator training work and with the website.
Their meetings are on the 2nd Saturday of the month, at 1 PM Pacific Time (4 PM Eastern Time)
Public Information Committee (presented by Sonia W., Chair):
They are working on outreach to newcomers, both on a person-to-person basis and with relevant institutions and professionals. As part of that effort, they are working on a public information manual. They would like to appoint a newcomer coordinator, especially for matching newcomers with sponsors.
They are trying to figure out how to handle requests for speakers in a manner that is consistent with tradition. This means answering two questions:
- How a list of potential speakers should be compiled.
- How speakers should be selected from that list in a manner that is consistent with “principles above personalities”.
Historically, Andrew D., our founder, would get interview requests that he would either grant himself or forward to others of his choosing.
The committee is also trying to figure out why it gets occasional inquiries from the media, to which it responds with their standard letter, and then there is no further contact by the media representative.
The committee would like to have “UA in the news” links on the main website.
The committee meets on the 2nd Saturday of every month, at 7 AM Pacific Time (10 AM Eastern Time)
Service Structure Committee:
Janis is working on suggested guidelines for sponsorship. She is giving a Traditions Workshop on the 2nd Sunday of each month.
The committee needs volunteers!
World Service Conference Committee (WSCC) (presented by Sandy, acting Chair):
The WSC events for the month of March have been cancelled, pending Bella’s recovery from an illness. It is anticipated that these events will resume in April.
Requests for stipends for the WSC will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis, starting March 30. Requests can be made via email to wsc@nullUnderearnersAnonymous.org. They should contain the name of the representative, their phone number, their city and state, and the meeting (with location) that they represent, and their term of service.
Sandy emphasized the importance of understanding “the pulse of the Fellowship”, which is not necessarily the collective thinking of the GSB. Nevertheless, she requested that GSB officers and committee chairs attend.
The committee chairs are asked, by May 1, to report on
- The accomplishments of their committee to date,
- Plans for the future,
- Whether they plan to continue as chair or to step down
While all committees will have a chance to present their work at the WSC, they will be offered a second time slot if they file a proposed topic via email to either wsc@nullUnderearnersAnonymous.org or info@nullUnderearnersAnonymous.org
A number of people questioned the deadlines that Sandy proposed. They also expressed concern that the WSC was taking on responsibilities that seemed to fall more naturally within the purview of other committees.
Old Business
Proposal that “7th tradition”contributions to the GSB be allocated as follows, at least until the 2014 World Service Conference (WSC):
60% to the GSB general fund
30% to the World Service Conference (WSC)
10% to stipends/fellowships to attend the WSC
This motion was defeated, with 7 “yea” votes, 10 “nay” votes, and 2 abstentions. The meeting was adjourned at 7:11 PM Pacific Time (10:11 PM Eastern Time)
New Business
The Public Information Committee, seconded by the Phone and Technology Committee, proposes that we hire a new webmaster and appoint/accept as a volunteer one individual (to be identified by the committee) as the point of contact for all necessary communications henceforth.
The following additional language was put on the Google Group to expand on the intent of the motion:
We need a simple and orderly way to make updates and maintain underearnersanonymous.org and to have a Webmaster with whom UA has a cooperative, prospering and efficient relationship.
The new webmaster will work with existing UA web infrastructure and support the fellowship by providing updates and feature enhancements. (We are not seeking someone to create a new website; nor are we proposing switching hosting or email accounts at this point.) The UA Webmaster will remain a paid position, and it can be someone from within, or without, the UA fellowship.
An Request For Proposal (RFP) will be created by the Phone & Technology Committee that describes the needed expertise and qualifications. The RFP will also include a list of features and updates desired. Committee chairs, GSB officers and members will have input to the list of updates and new features desired. Goal: within 30 days of putting out RFP, we will have a new Webmaster. The work of the Webmaster be coordinated by a designated point person to be named from the Phone & Technology Committee.
Going forward, any desired changes to the website will be requested via a Google Form, collated by the Phone & Technology Committee, and submitted to the Webmaster for estimate. All work will be done via a work order, signed off by designated point person (DPP). Invoices for website work will be sent to DPP and passed onto the Treasurer for payment.
We have a list of website enhancements ready to go, and we need a cooperative webmaster; this motion is put forth so we are able to maintain underearnersanyonnous.org as the valuable and key resource it is in carrying the message of UA to those still suffering.
This motion was passed, with 13 “yea” votes, 1 “nay” vote, and 4 abstentions.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 PM Pacific Time (10:02 PM Eastern Time).
Respectfully submitted,
Ed W.
Secretary, General Service Board of UA