DCM REPORT, September 12, 2020
It is my hope and prayer that you all continue to be healthy and well and safe during these continuing trying times. It is my sincere hope that all your AA needs are being met with Zoom meetings, out side meetings or possibly a combination of both. If you or your home groups are having any difficulties, please let us know if we can help in any way.
Unfortunately, due to continued restrictions and guidelines from the CDC and NC State, we are still unable to offer any face to face workshops, service presentations or events. Having recently attended some on-line Area functions/workshops, I feel there is no reason why we can’t offer the same at the District level. Thus, this morning, I plan to get through the business portion of our meeting quickly in order to present a MINI WORKSHOP in our 2nd 1/2 hour on “Virtual Space to face to Face”…vital suggestions on reopening! So, I will save my report from this Area Workshop till then. This will be a trial for future events!!
D-71’s Service Manual Study has launched. We held a group conscience at our first meeting on August 15th and decided on holding our study twice monthly, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 10:30-11:30. (The 2nd Saturday’s Book Study will follow our District’s GSR meeting). Notification of this new meeting appears on our website as well as distribution, through Ray at our Central Office, via the Where and When and Mountain Doins’. This is an open meeting and you all are welcome
Liz and I attended the Area Committee Meeting on Saturday, September 5th. It was one of the most efficient zoom meetings I have attended to date with breakout rooms and no glitches. WE planned the Fall Election Assembly with all the Agenda items to be presented. A full report is forthcoming but here are some highlights…. Katy P, our Delegate, will have her full report from her virtual GSB meeting, 8/3 and the GSC virtual session held 8/15. Please go to aanorthcarolina.org, delegates corner for her full report. Katy shared a current $$ challenge from from GSO. Did you know that in 2019, GSO spent $8.16 on “us” in member services (in all of the US and Canada). That’s 1.42M AA members at a cost of $11.6M. Here’s the “Challenge”!! AA Now needs our help!! If every AA member makes a contribution of $8.16 just once, it could support all of the services GSO provides to all groups, for one year!
Individuals, Groups, Districts can go to aa.org, click on
“make a contribution” and give $8.16. Or better yet…..
for old times’ sake, consider an old favorite,
“Make it a double”, for $16.32!
I’ll also post the flyer on our website.
At this time, it looks like 8 agenda items will move forward to the Fall Assembly, which will be virtual. Of note, to take back to your groups are th following: 1. Agenda item #2; the Western pre-conference will be hosted by Districts 43 and 13 in the Charlotte area. These two groups were supposed to host last year then Covid-19 had other plans for us all. Since they did all the leg work, including venue, caterer etc, it was a unanimous yes from the committee to bring it forward to the Assembly for approval. 2. Agenda item #4. Passed only by 70%. That GSO allow participation of all virtual groups not affiliated with a physical meeting space, to create a 94th Area to our Service Structure that will encompass those AA groups. Primary reason is to give them a voice. There was much discussion. 3. #7. This is my item from the Growth and Maintenance Committee that Area 51 will conduct an Inventory at the 2021 Fall Assembly. Because times are still uncertain, we changed the wording to give us a little wiggle room. Instead of “at the 2021 Assembly, we chanced it to by the 2023 Fall assembly. That unanimously passed. 4. #8, This item requests to add “One Day at a Time” to the current set of 5 slogans the GV currently has for purchase.
I will post the 8 Agenda Items on our website as soon as I receive the packet from the Area Chair for you all to review with your group members. I’ll be especially interested in your groups feedback on the 4 items I explained above when we meet next month.
All present at the Committee meeting voted to remain virtual for all meetings till the end of the year. The first Face to Face planned for 2021 will be the winter committee meeting in early March followed by the Pre-Conferences.
Please urge All of your group embers to attend the Assembly over Halloween Weekend. It’s an opportunity for those members who have never had the chance to attend an Assembly to see AA in action at the State level. And, an election Assembly will be an exciting added bonus.
I thank all of you for your service!
Stay safe and healthy!
Respectfully submitted,
Dale L. DCM D-71