Open Positions – District 14 Needs Your Help!

District 14 Area 36Leave a comment

We have several Committee Chair positions open in the district.  Below is a brief description of the positions that need to be filled.  If you have interest in serving in any of these positions, please contact Mike H at 952-270-3500 or email at dist14@area35.org .

 

CPC Chairperson

The district CPC (Cooperation With the Professional Community) Chairperson works with A.A. groups to provide information on Alcoholics Anonymous to professional persons, groups and organizations.  This work can entail reaching out via email, hosting an information breakfast for professionals, attending a community or civic event and attending the staff meeting of a group of professionals.  It is a good idea for the person serving in this position in our district to participate in the Area 36 committee meetings on the CPC Committee.

 

Sample suggestions for District CPC Activities:

  1. Do outreach with the National Guard Offices to help AA’S in the service.
  2. Place Big Books in school libraries through guidance counselors.
  3. Become involved in the many events in Area 36 reaching out to GBLT, Asian, Homeless and Veterans.
  4. Get literature out to health care facilities in your District.
  5. Focus on clergy. See if you can put literature in your churches common area.
  6. Provide Meeting Directories to professionals, clergy, doctors, social workers, police departments, and libraries.
  7. Sponsor a Professional (clergy, lawyer, doctor, etc.) and sign them up to receive the About AA newsletter.
  8. Do AA Informational presentations before professionals and civic groups.
  9. Buy Grapevine subscriptions for your professionals.

 

PI Chairperson

The district PI (Public Information) Chairperson works to increase awareness of AA in the general public.   This work can entail putting together public service announcements about AA in our community and organizing a public information booth.  It is a good idea for the person serving in this position in our district to participate in the Area 36 committee meetings on PI Committee.

 

Sample suggestions for District PI Activities:

  1. Set up an answering service for 12 step calls and requests for meeting locations and time.
  2. Have a P.I. (Public Information) booth at the county fair.
  3. Get your District to help with the State Fair.
  4. Have a P.I. (Public Information) luncheon.
  5. Get AA contact information into the local papers and PSAs on the local cable community TV channel.
  6. Public Service Announcements to radio stations.
  7. Provide literature at the government offices.

 

Remote Communities (formerly Accessibilities) Chairperson

The district Remote Communities Chairperson serves to make the groups/meetings in our district more accessible – both for those with special needs and during times of crises (ex: COVID-19).  It is a good idea for the person serving in this position in our district to participate in the Area 36 committee meetings on the Accessibilities Committee.

The definition of Accessibilities community is where it is difficult to carry the AA message because of language, culture, geography, or life condition. The central mission of this committee is to go to any lengths necessary to carry AA’s message to all those who need it and is just one more link in the chain of responsibility in our effort to help the alcoholic to who still suffers.

 

Sample suggestions for District Remote Communities Activities:

  1. Sign up to write to a Loner.
  2. Work with language barrier communities.
  3. Work with hearing, visual and physically impaired communities.
  4. Work with the homeless community and senior citizen Groups.

2022 District 14 Group Inventory Results

District 14 Area 361 Comment

Facilitated by Jason V.

Question 1: What is the purpose of the district committee and are we fulfilling that purpose?

Shared thoughts:

  1. Our purpose is to be the connection between the groups and AA, serving the groups, and helping to bring the message.
  2. To stay sober and help others to do the same, to facilitate this.
  3. To serve our district, be of service.  We are not completely fulfilling our purpose as it’s a tall order.
  4. We are a conduit from district to the groups.

Question 2: Are we reaching enough people in our district and what can we do better to serve the groups? All cultures, Special needs?

Shared thoughts:

  1. We do try to empower each group to the best of our abilities.  We are a resource and are available.
  2. There are so many hidden communities in our area; when we see them we need to make ourselves known and available.
  3. With regards to people struggling with means, possibly a childcare available meeting.
  4. Albertville Camels has a babysitter available.        Also, remember to reach out to our elderly members.

Question 3: Are we being fiscally responsible and good custodians of the monies entrusted to us?

Shared thoughts:

  1. Yes and no. We are responsible but should be spending more on getting people to conventions and out into the community.
  2. We are responsible but could spend more on remote communities.

Question 4: Are we serving the GSRs well? How can we improve?

Shared thoughts:

  1. As a new GSR I feel well equipped with the tools to help.
  2. GSRs ARE the group. We could recruit from groups that have no GSR.
  3. We have talked about getting out to the groups and making ourselves known and available.
  4. As a first meeting tonight GSR I do not feel well prepared.
  5. GSR’s have been given GSR packets and all available AA resources, please speak up if you have not received this information.

Question 5: Are we using the tools available to help our district service? What have you found helpful?

Shared thoughts:

  1. The Technology Chair has done a great job making all the information easily accessible.
  2. Please continue sharing any and all information with our Technology Chair. Shared information can be found at district14area36.org.
  3. Please see our GSR Advocate, we have one just to help GSRs with any questions.
  4. GSR Advocate will continue to work and catch any GSRs that are not totally “plugged in”.

Question 6: How do we improve our district meeting?

Shared thoughts:

  1. Improve our time management, shorten our meeting time.
  2. GSRs would like a short list of the exact information they should be bringing to their groups from each district meeting.
  3. Check our district website under “new to service”, this is a great resource.

Question 7: How can our District Officers and Chairs improve? Suggestions?

Shared thoughts:

  1. The District Secretary could get the meeting minutes out earlier so groups had faster access to bullet points from the meeting.

Question 8: What would you suggest we emphasize in our group outreach?

Shared thoughts:

  1. We need to help the groups understand we are not soliciting money.
  2. We need to help the groups understand we work for them, hence the upside down triangle.
  3. We suggest each group has a GSR. We can help our sponsees get into district service work.
  4. Wondering if some groups might be afraid of losing their autonomy by “joining” the district.

Question 9: What additional activities can we engage in to carry the message? How do we get more volunteer support?

Shared thoughts:

  1. Sponsors can really help to get people involved here. 

Question 10: How do we carry the message to the professionals in our community and what segment should we target?

Shared thoughts:

  1. Would like to see county attorneys and police officers well equipped to get people pointed to AA.
  2. What communities should we NOT target? Let’s get all of them schools, businesses, etc.
  3. We should target legal, medical, and education systems.
  4. We should get pamphlets out to hospitals etc.
  5. We can get information to employers through their safety directors.

Question 11:Your opinion on a district workshop? Yes, No, Ideas?

Shared thoughts:

  1. GSR workshop is being discussed for January 2023.
  2. Let’s open the workshop up to everyone to learn about chairs, officers, and GSR roles. A District information workshop.
  3. Examples like sponsorship and initial sobriety are being done in other districts.
  4. These are good ideas. Would also like to see what it’s like to start a meeting, including getting a GSR.
  5. Community outreach workshop.
  6. Workshops take a lot of work, planning, and people.

Question 12: All groups do not have a GSR. Why and how can we help?

Shared thoughts:

  1. Some groups will never have a GSR but it’s our job to educate groups on who we are and how we serve them.
  2. Currently 28 groups of our 49 in the district have a GSR.

The September “Pigeon Newsletter” is available here

District 14 Area 36Leave a comment

The September edition of the Pigeon newsletter is now available online.

The Pigeon Newsletter covers events and happenings in Area 36, financial reports for the Area, agendas for upcoming meetings as well as minutes from past meetings and a whole lot more. Check out the contents of the September edition:

  • Agenda: October 22nd Area Assembly
  • Contact Information
  • District Meeting Locations, Past Delegates, etc
  • Officer reports
  • Financials
  • Area Committee Reports
  • DCM Reports
  • Minneapolis Intergroup report
  • Minutes from Past Meeting
  • Bridging the Gap flyer
  • Maps & How to Submit Material to the Pigeon
  • Inclement Weather Policy
  • 2022 Calendar
  • Inclement Weather Policy
  • 2022 Calendar

September MIRUS

District 14 Area 36Leave a comment

Step Nine

“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”

After I started going to A.A. and working the steps, it took a couple of years before I would start my 9th Step. I had been convinced that “…there is a long period of reconstruction ahead,” as it says in the Big Book. But I would get stuck on the next sentence, “We must take the lead. I was full of fear and wasn’t getting past that fear.

Read the Full MIRUS here

The June “Pigeon Newsletter” is available here

District 14 Area 36Leave a comment

The June version of the Pigeon newsletter is now available online.

The Pigeon Newsletter covers events and happenings in Area 36, financial reports for the Area, agendas for upcoming meetings as well as minutes from past meetings and a whole lot more. Check out the contents of the June edition:

  • Agenda Area Assembly
  • Contact Information
  • District Meeting Locations, Past Delegates, etc
  • Officer reports
  • Financials
  • Financial Review Committee Report
  • Area Committee Reports
  • DCM Reports
  • Minneapolis and St Paul Interroup reports
  • Minutes from Past Meetings
  • AA Grupos Pioneros flyer / Correction
  • Bridging the Gap flyer
  • Native American Indian AA Convention flyer
  • Maps, How to Submit Material to the Pigeon
  • Inclement Weather Policy
  • 2022 Calendar

For GSR’s

District 14 Area 36Leave a comment
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Greetings General Service Representative (GSR)

Welcome to District 14. Your group has chosen you to be their GSR in order to represent them at the district and the area level. This is an honor and a privilege, and we thank you for your willingness to serve.

Two meetings of relevance: 

  1. District 14 meeting, occurring on the first Monday of the Month at the Buffalo United Methodist Church which is located at 600 8thStreet NW, Buffalo, MN 55313
  2. Area Assembly meetings take place every 2 months and Area committee meetings are held quarterly.  Here is the link to the area calendar: https://area36.org/events/

As the group’s representative the participation and attendance at these meetings is important. Although it is understood this may not work for every meeting we encourage you to do the best you can and if you, or your alternate GSR, are unable to attend please reach out to the District 14 GSR Advocate with any questions or needs. 

The link to the General Service Office (GSO) in New York will assist you with getting listed as the new GSR and how to access resources. If you prefer to contact the GSO via telephone their # is 1-212-870-3400. 

https://www.aa.org/information-for-new-trusted-servants

In love and tolerance,

District 14 ChairsDistrict 14 Chairs District 14 Officers 2021-2022
GSR Advocate – Denise S.K.
Archives Chair – Roger  D. 
Corrections/Pink Can – Joe F. 
CPC/Public Info Chair – Open
Literature/Grapevine – Lynnette S. 
Medallions Co-Chair – Roger D. 
Minneapolis Intergroup Rep – Steve S. 
Remote Communities – Open 
Treatment – Rick L. 		DCM – Mike H. 
Alternate DCM, Group Records, Technology, WebMaster, Structure -– Jon G.
Treasure – Frank W. 
Secretary – Heather S.W.