MEETING OPENS WITH DECLARATION OF UNITY, FOLLOWED BY THE SERENITY PRAYER AND READING OF 12 TRADITIONS, 5:00 PM.
Present: Reggie J. (chair), Denise from South Carolina (treasurer), Anne from Washington (5:30 AM Thurs), Nan from CA (10 AM Thurs), Stephanie of Brooklyn (5:30 AM Weds), Robin from Harlem (5:30 AM Mon), Mindy from NYC (7:00 AM Mon), Jill from TN (5:30 AM Tues), Jane from MI (live Ann Arbor, Sat. AM), Amy H. from Brooklyn (7:00 AM Tues).
TRUSTEES present: Carol Anne from NH, Linda from FL, Kathleen from MI, Joy from TN
VISITORS present: Peggy from RI, Susan from Boston, Erin from Boston, Diane from GA, Sabrina from FL, Ed from Mexico, Marilyn from NY, Kevin from Los Angeles, Nancy from IL, Beverly from PA
REPORTS:
501(c)3 Status Update:
— Our 501(c)3 application was accepted by the IRS. All donations to Intergroup are now tax deductible, as of May 15, 2014. This means taxes can be filed yearly on an ePostcard. It means GSA Phone Bridge Intergroup can now accept donations through PayPal. PayPal’s 2.2% fee will come out of the donation. There will be no charge to the donor. Donations are still acceptable via check, made out to PHONE BRIDGE INTERGROUP, and mailed to Phone Bridge Intergroup, P.O. Box 64, Jonesborough, TN 37659. Our Intergroup Treasurer, Joy in TN, can be contacted at (423) 741-7723.
Treasurer’s Report:
— Total: $3,328.35.
— Phone Bridge Intergroup’s budget is $1,500 a year to cover greysheetmeeting.org website expenses, the post office box and any postage. Phone Bridge Intergroup would also spend about $1,000 to an accountant to review Phone Bridge Intergroup’s books. This makes Phone Bridge Intergroup’s budget about $2,500 a year.
— Based on the 1,000 people who dial in to phone bridge meetings, Phone Bridge Intergroup would be self-supporting if all who used the Bridge contributed $2-$3 a YEAR.
— Contributions have dropped drastically and there is no prudent reserve
Motion approved to accept reports.
NEW BUSINESS:
Motion approved to allow Amy H. to assist Chair Reggie J and Treasurer Denise on sending out meeting minutes to GSRs. Term, 6 months.
Motion approved to allow Reggie to serve as chair for another 6 months, to December 31, 2014.
Motion approved to empower GSRs to announce at their groups’ next business meeting Phone Bridge Intergroup’s new 501(c)3 status, to encourage donations, to direct members to our website and PayPal function and to remind people of Phone Bridge Intergroup Treasurer’s name and number for snail mail contributions.
SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOR GSRs TO READ AT THEIR GROUP’S BUSINESS MEETINGS:
“1. GSA Phone Bridge Intergroup’s non-profit status has finally been granted. Therefore all contributions made to the Phone Bridge Intergroup are tax deductible.
2. “Phone Bridge Intergroup’s donations have dropped a lot. Intergroup’s costs are about $2,500 a year — $1,500 for website maintenance, post office box and postage, and $1,000 a year for an independent audit. About 1,000 people use the Phone Bridge Intergroup every week. If all users of the Phone Bridge would contribute just $2 or $3 a year, Phone Bridge Intergroup’s expenses would be met. Intergroup cannot do its work without contributions from the groups and from individual members.
3. “If you wish to make a donation to Phone Bridge Intergroup, you can donate via PayPal (www.greysheetmeeting.org/
TABLED FOR AUGUST’S INTERGROUP MEETING:
— What to do with leaderless meetings? How do we shut a meeting down? Suggestions to discuss and vote on include reducing length of service commitments, coming up with formats that encourage those on leaderless calls to read from AA’s Big Book and exchange numbers.
NEXT MEETING: August 10, 2014 @ 5:00 PM, ET
MEETING CLOSED at 6:00 PM, ET with the Serenity Prayer and the “I Am Responsible” declaration.
Denise D, Secretary
Amy E, Co-Secretary
