GSA Phone Bridge Intergroup Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2023
3-4 pm EST
Downloadable Printable Copy

 

Intergroup meeting phone number: 712-432-5229, passcode 4320188#

The meeting opened at 3 PM by Cathy B., with the “We” version of the Serenity Prayer and reading of the 12 Traditions (on last page of Agenda).  

Attendance:

ISR – Stephanie

GSRs:  4 – Donna, Michelle for Lynn, Juanita, Mary Lu

Trustees: 6 – Cathy, Kris, Mary, Jessica, Shaaron, C.J.

Members Carrying Group’s vote: 0

Listeners: 5 –  Denise, Judith, Nancy, Debbie, Amy

Motion to accept the most recent Treasurer’s report as posted on the  greysheetmeetings.org website. Motion was made, seconded, and passed with no objections and one abstention.  

Motion to accept the Minutes from the October PB IG meeting as posted was made, seconded, and passed with no objections and one absention.

New Business: 

1. Our Receiving Treasurer is stepping down at the end of July. Amy C. has agreed to fill the new position of Assistant Treasurer to Joyce S., our Reporting Treasurer. Her term will begin August 1. Motion made and seconded and carried. 
2. All formats are being updated with the revised 7th Tradition announcement and some other changes;  updated formats are to be posted to our Phone Bridge website by July 28. * Following this meeting, Cathy sent an email to the Trustees and the two coordinators  (Katie, Beginners coordinator, and Lynn, R/R coordinator), and a separate email to the GSRs, with the announcement to be made at meetings from July 17-31. New formats are to be used starting August 1.  
3. ISR (Intergroup Service Representative) Report: Our ISR Stephanie announced:   

COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE 

GSA World Services will amend the 2022 Resolution: Traditions and Concepts Discussions to allow the Communication Committee to vary the method for supporting delegates in developing an understanding of the application of the Traditions and Concepts to their work as delegates. 

1. The 2022 Resolution specified monthly discussions. The Communication    Committee is currently facilitating quarterly Round Ups.
2.  The resolution has had to be amended every year as the Communication Committee adapts. This amendment removes specific details to allow the Communication

Committee to adapt without further amendments to the resolution.

STRUCTURE COMMITTEE

GSA World Services will amend the 2021 Resolution: Registering GreySheeters Anonymous Groups to add a step to the procedure. After registration, the Group Registrar will send each new group a Welcome Packet with information about groups in GreySheeters Anonymous. 

Contains information requested by many members and addresses confusion raised by many members. Content would be adapted over time to reflect changes.

Stephanie has also written an article for Service Matters bringing attention to the need for GSRs with some focus on the GSA Phone Bridge. 

4. Cathy raised New Business item not listed on the Agenda: Just as we have one GSR for all Relapse/Recovery meetings, a suggestion has been made to Trustees to have one GSR for all 5:30 a.m. meetings, one GSR for all 7:00 a.m. meetings,  etc.  During this discussion, a suggestion was made that 2 GSRs could share the position. To be discussed again at our September 10th Intergroup meeting.
5. Addendum to New Business:  motion made and votes taken via email on Tuesday 7/11:  Motion made by Cathy and seconded by Mary to change the wording “men and women” in the GSA Preamble in our format to “people.”  This change has been made by AA and has been suggested by GSAWS (although not required;  individual groups may vote to adopt new wording or to keep previous wording).  Motion passed. 

 Old Business:

1. Disruptions in meetings involving the meeting leader: If there are problems within a meeting that involve the leader (that is, the leader is the source of the problem) then it is OK for a member or members of the group to courteously ask the leader to stick to the format.  If the leader does not comply, OK for the group to hold immediate Group Conscience on how to proceed. This prompted discussion on leaders being aware of protocols of PB in general and of their particular meeting. 

Discussion:  

Suggestion asking the incoming leader if they are willing to follow the format. 

Suggestion that outgoing leaders brief incoming leaders. 

There is a leader toolkit on our Phone Bridge website. This does need to be reviewed and updated. 

Suggestion to hold regular leader orientation meetings.

1. Groups who would like to be represented at IG meetings but who do not have a GSR may appoint a meeting member with 90 days of back-to-back GS abstinence to carry their vote to the next IG meeting (can be a different meeting member each time). This means that someone looks at the agenda and reports any topics to be discussed or to be voted on at that next IG meeting. This is not up for a vote, just information to pass on to groups. 
2. Announcements portion of meetings:  Concern from members that there are too many announcements during the meetings.  Takes too much time, and some of these announcements are not specific to PB IG.  

 Discussion: 

Suggestion to make Marathon announcements only the first week of the month.

Suggestion to make announcements no sooner than one week before an event. 

Concern that would mean newcomers to the PB would not get the information they need about the marathons. 

Keep the information brief. Post complete information on PBIG website.  

1. A few members have suggested recording marathon speakers and making these recordings available.  GSAWS does not feature videos.  SW IG records speakers and posts on the YouTube channel. Concerns: would need marathon speaker’s permission to record; would need to be respectful of members who speak or share regarding phone numbers; at in-person meetings when speakers or a whole meeting is recorded, phone numbers are not shared so it’s not a concern but would be for phone bridge meetings.  To be further discussed at the next IG meeting. 

Tabled for September 10 meeting:

1. GSRs for series of meetings instead of individual meetings
2. Meeting leader training
3. Making the announcements portion of the meeting shorter
4. Recording Marathon speakers 

If you have any additional New Business, please email us at phonebridgetrustees@greysheetmeetings.org at least two weeks PRIOR to the next IG meeting with any new items you would like to discuss. 

NOTE: At the IG meeting we only discuss business that affects the Phone Bridge at the IG level; we do not discuss the business of individual meetings.  For issues with individual meetings, please contact the Phone Bridge Trustees by email, or discuss at that meeting’s monthly business meeting.   

The next Intergroup meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 3:00 pm EST. 

Close with the Responsibility Pledge & the “We” version of the Serenity Prayer.

Responsibility Pledge 

“When anyone, anywhere, realizes they have a problem with food, I want them to think of the GreySheet solution. For that, I am responsible.” 

Serenity Prayer

 

The Twelve Traditions of GSA*

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon GSA unity.
2. For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority–a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants – they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for GSA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or GSA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the compulsive eater who still suffers.
6. A GSA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the GSA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every GSA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. GSA should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. GSA as such ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. GSA has no opinion on outside issues; hence the GSA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and film.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

 

*The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are reprinted with permission (1998) of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions does not mean that A.A. is in any way affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism only —use of the Steps and Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, or in any other non-A.A. context, does not imply otherwise.