Below are the minutes from AIS meetings that took place in November, January and April. We apologize for the tardiness. =)
AIS MEETING
Saturday, November 18, 2017
(W/ Corrections)
Clean Air
Kathy W, District Representative, called the meeting to order at 1:15 PM. There were 15 people present including eight groups present to vote.
District Treasurer’s Report – Ann R, District Secretary, announced a balance on hand of approximately $300.
AIS Treasurer's Report - Maureen H., AIS Secretary, reported a balance of $1,672.57. She walked the group through AIS finances. Income is around $1,340 annually and expenses run $2,870 leaving a deficit of almost $1500 a year that must be made up with more donations or fundraisers.
Reports were approved and AIS Treasurer’s Report is attached.
Combined AIS & District minutes from Oct. 7 were approved. Susan P will post minutes and district rep report on the website beginning with November.
Assembly Report: Kathy discussed two remote online meetings for West Texas and reminded the group that all information is on the website including the Pipeline (West Texas Area newsletter)– Members password - anonymity. Officers were elected and new delegate to World Service Conference The spring assembly elects the new Area coordinators. All that information is available online. District meetings can be held online also. The next West Texas Assembly is in Dallas, May 18-20, 2018. Kathy stated she has agreed to serve through that Assembly and the district needs to find a replacement for her. WSO website is “al-anon.org”. Members passwords are name of group, lower case one word plus afg. Ex. cleanair.afg.
Election AIS Officers: 8 groups were present to vote. A quorum is 6 groups.
Lori Wilhelm, Moss Ln, offered to serve as Amarillo Area Information Services Liason. There were no other nominations. Carol A made a motion to elect Lori by acclimation with a second from Maureen. Motion passed unanimously.
Lori then presided. She appointed the following:
Suzanne T, Clean Air, AIS Secretary
Carol A, Top of Texas, AIS answering service
Maureen H., Hobbs, AIS Treasurer
Kyll H, Courage to Change, AIS District Rep alternate.
Kim, Just for Today and Kathy, Courage to Change - Outreach Committee Chairs
District Representative position remains open beginning Jan. 1, 2018
Susan P., AIS Website Coordinator
There was discussion on a Facebook page (secret group) and other social media uses.
Outreach:
Heal the City – the group is getting some referrals. Those hosting are asked to write down the number attending. AIS will vote at the next meeting to register this meeting or not.
Other: meeting schedule and newcomer packets made available other places: Another Chance House, VA, ARAD, My Next Step Counseling Service and others.
Groups present received the 2018 “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism” booklet. Other groups and individuals may also request them for outreach.
Fundraiser: The group discussed the Chili Cook-Off as a large money raiser. Kaci R. will chair the 2018 event. The date February 24 was chosen. There was discussion to name it a Food Festival and allow all types of food from the groups. Advertising the event is important to the success.
Adjournment.
Next meeting January 13, 2018, 1:00 PM, Clean Air
Submitted,
Carol A.
Acting AIS Secretary
AIS MEETING
January 13, 2018 - Saturday
1:00 PM
Clean Air
Lori W., Amarillo Area Information Services Liaison, called the meeting to order at 1:10 pm, then lead the group in saying the Serenity Prayer.
There were 12 people present.
Minutes: November 18, 2017
Carol A. read the minutes.
Minutes discussed. Edits suggested.
Maureen H. made a motion to approve November 18, 2017 minutes w/ edits.
Lori W. seconded the motion.
Treasurer’s Report
Maureen H., AIS Treasurer, presented:
2017 Year-End Report
January 1, 2018 Opening Balance: $1,443.79
Proposed 2018 Budget
Yellow Pages Ad will be included for one more year
Carol A. made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report.
Marilyn L. seconded the motion.
Lori W. made a request for re-imbursement.
Carol A. made a motion to approve the request.
Vance M. seconded the motion
Points of Discussion:
Future purchases should be approved at an AIS meeting prior to actual purchase.
For emergency purchase requests, contact Lori W.
Website expenses
Donation to Assembly – make a budget line item
WSO & District 1 Reports
WSO Report (Kyll H. read Kathy’s report):
2018 Service Manual printing has been delayed.
More literature is now available as e-books. Check WSO website.
West Texas Assembly is May 4-6 in Dallas at the Omni Hotel
District 1 Report (Kyll H presented):
Heal the City meeting – Tuesday @ 6:30pm.
District 1 has provided Faith City Mission with literature.
ARAD
Is opening and Alanon will have a role. Recovery program is still being designed.
District 1 has donated literature
Courage to Change has also donated literature
Answering Service Report:
Carol requested the answering service have the AA phone number be available for referrals.
November 2017 invoice – 19 calls, of which 4 attended an Alanon meeting
Time slots needing coverage:
12:00pm – 4:00pm Monday
12:00pm – 3:00pm Thursday
9:00am – Noon Sunday
Liaison Report – Marilyn
All new elections at assembly (Bright, fresh panel)
Re-districting has resulted in more district assembly participation.
Hispanic district has continued to grow and still growing.
Alateen – Maureen
Meets Monday nights @ 8:00pm at Hobbs Group
Attendance is down
March 3 – Top of Texas Anniversary – Avery will be Alateen speaker
Literature – Vacant Position
Maureen usually orders literature, including pamphlets
Website – Susan
Last 4 weeks had 105 brand new unique visitors
Hopefully visitors are checking meeting schedules and upcoming events
Suzanne will email approved and edited AIS meeting minutes to Susan for posting on website.
Lori W. will put information on the Facebook page
Group Reports
Hobbs – Susan
Step Study – 1st Wednesday of the Month
Meetings – Wednesdays & Fridays @ 8:00pm
Have newcomers
Excited about the Food Festival
Moss Lane – Marilyn
Meeting schedule change: From Thursday @ 5:30pm to Friday @ 6:45pm
Monday night meeting is not making consistently
Clean Air
Night meetings are not well attende
Saturday & Sunday morning meetings are well attended
Touch of Soul
6 to 8 in attendance, but no newcomers recently
Top of Texas
Monday & Friday evening meetings are not well attended
Wednesday morning meeting has the best attendance
Gratitude
No information
Courage to Change
Small group but strong with 5 to 6 regular attendees
Excited about Food Festival
Just for Today – Wynona
4-person group
Meeting at Heal the City
Old Business
Heal the City
January 2, 2018 meeting did not go well.
Had to get literature in the dark using a flashlight
Had to meet in a children’s room with only child size tables
Meeting room had no heat
Lori W. will try to make appointment with Heal the City to discuss and resolve Alanon meeting issues.
Fundraiser
Upcoming Food Festival on February 24
Several groups have expressed excitement
Next meeting April 7th (Sunday) 1:00 PM, Clean Air
Adjournment.
Submitted,
Suzanne T.
Acting AIS Secretary
AIS MEETING
April 8, 2018 - Saturday
1:00 PM
Clean Air
Lori W., Amarillo Area Information Services Liaison, called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm, then opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer.
There were 12 people present.
Treasurer’s Report
Maureen H., AIS Treasurer, presented:
January 1, 2018 Opening Balance: $1,443.79
Credits
Net Income from Food Festival (February 2018): $1,524.00
Group Donations – January, February, & March 2018: $303.00
Debits
Answering Service Expenses - January, February, & March 2018: $211.08
Literature Expenses: $70.50
March 31, 2018 Closing Balance: $2,989.21
Detailed Income/Expenses from Food Festival
Proposed 2018 Budget – Anticipated Income & Expenses
Payment of $150 for Yellow Pages listing was due March 1st. Missed deadline, but check will be sent.
Payment of $150 for Area Assembly Liaison (Marilyn will be attending in Lori’s place.)
Carol A. made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report.
Kyll H. seconded the motion.
Minutes: January 13, 2017
Suzanne T. read the minutes.
Carol A. made a motion to approve minutes.
Bobbi S. seconded the motion.
District 1, Area 54 Report
Written by Cathy W. – District 1 Representative
This was Cathy’s final report; thus we are now in need of a new District 1 Representative.
District 1 has 17 active Al-Anon groups and 1 Alateen group.
There is one small Spanish speaking, which is presently in search of a new meeting location.
Many of the groups outside of Amarillo are in small communities, meaning the meetings are also small. Thus, fluctuations in attendance and membership are common.
Proposal to introduce a topic for discussion at AWSC:
Topic Title: Establish a Thought Force to Address Small-town and Rural Group Membership
Topic Statement: Due to vast distances, lack of resources, small numbers, isolation, cultural differences, small-towns and rural groups are not participating beyond the group levels in Al-Anon service.
Summary: It is proposed that WTA Area 54 establish a thought force to address and find solutions for increasing and supporting rural and small-town participation in all Al-Anon levels of service.
Heal the City
Al-Anon meetings have been suspended until Heal the City becomes more established.
ARAD
Just for Today Group has moved its Wednesday meetings to the facility. It is also facilitating a Saturday meeting open to families of ARAD patients. Just for Today Group has moved its Wednesday meetings to the facility. It is also facilitating a Saturday meeting open to families of ARAD patients.
AWSC
Spring and Fall Meetings will alternate between the East and West Regions. Spring 2018 Meeting will be in Abilene.
Miscellaneous
Chris Clark was the past Area Delegate. He is now the AWSC Chairperson.
Kay Miles is the new Area Delegate. She is from the DFW area.
Information regarding the new Area Treasurer will be forthcoming from Cathy.
Need a new Area Coordinator – No dual members
Finance Committee needs members+
Answering Service Report:
March 2018 – 12 calls
Need to provide AA contact information
Time slots are filled.
Volunteers are strong.
Susan will provide an updated meeting schedule.
ARAD
Saturday 2:00 pm Meeting
Just for Today group cannot continue to be solely responsible for this meeting.
Rotation of Groups
Must be proposed to the groups to determine which groups will take responsibility for which month of meetings.
Cathy will notify Just for Today of the schedule detailing which groups will be responsible for which months.
Cathy will register the meeting with WSO.
Proposal: Establish this meeting as an Outreach-Newcomer Meeting.
Must be established through the District
Kyll made a motion to send proposal to the District
Bobbi S. seconded the motion.
Next meeting May 22nd (Sunday) 1:00 PM, ARAD
Adjournment.
Submitted,
Suzanne T.
AIS Secretary