In Attendance: Ray/Chair, Leo/Inter Group, Dena/GSR, Jan/Asst Treas/Lit, Shirley/Treas, Sibo/Secretary, Sterling/Alt GSR, Aaron/Archivist, Lana/GV Rep, Jackson/PI/CPC
Open Positions: Prison Chair
Secretary Report:
Gave minutes from last meeting.
Chair: motioned to accept Minutes. Accepted.
Intergroup Report. Leo reported that we got chairs from YHF.
Treasurer Report: Noon meeting are financially carrying Hope group’s costs. 8 pm financial amouts are down. Many new comers, so less money. Attendance counted from reports on HG envelopes. Court slips are increased.
Discussion: Some meetings do not have experienced chairs signing up or do not have chairs that follow directions on the HG envelope. There is lack of info, and possibly no money, from these meetings. Discussed possible solutions. Sibo to stamp more envelopes and have sample envelope in drawer. Also suggestion to have members of our Service Committee call people up from Service Board to fill leaders for meetings.
Action Item: The three columns on the Service Board, also located in each member’s folder will be called be called. Sibo-first column, Aaron-second column, and Jan-third column.
GSR Report: Dena attend 2008 Area Conf, a voting conference. Wasn’t able to vote due to a problem at conference, so no one was able to vote. Collected good info from many meetings there. 515 registered groups in our district. Only 9 gave to Intergroup. 0 out of District 68. Explained breakdown of groups to geographic area in Texas. Hope Group contributed $0. Discussed need for Group Conscience Inventory based on info from that conference. Suggested we combine it w/ a BBQ, every six months or on 5th Fridays of the month. Other group similar to our size and number of daily meetings are doing this.
Discussion: When to have an inventory: do it during a meeting time, at each meeting slot, once per month or longer session, surprise Inventory meeting, announced, weekend vs weekday. Inventory keeps everyone involved.
Question: What the process of a Group Inventory.
Dena, Sterling, Jan: It’s an inventory of what the group does. Are we meeting the functions of a good, healthy group. Suggestion to get an outside facilitator to do it. There are papers to fill out.
Action Item: How to improve attendance of a Group Inventory Meeting. Feed, promote, don’t force. Use Give two week’s notice.
New Business: Action Item from last Group Conscience for childcare at Hope.
Discussion: 6pm meetings, Monday and Wednesday, screenings, background checks (cheap to do), companies, volunteers. Decision to not use free volunteers nor companies. Will look locally.
Discussion on payment and special collection. Could model after other groups, like Bridge to Shore, CityWide Meetings. They pass a second can, clearly labeled “childcare donations.†Most of the parents using contribute, even if others (non-users) don’t. This seems to work for them. Suggested pay of $10 for 2 hours. 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Older teens, experienced caregivers. (See update in email.) One month commitment from two caregivers. Have locked box to pass around? Cregiver can ask for help if too many kids show up. We could set up an RSVP to help plan. Not required, but helpful. Toys to be stored in closet, not Al-Anon room. Members to donate toys.
Action Item: Lana and Sibo have experience in this area in looking for childcare and will screen, background check and post locally only. Daycare for 90 days trial basis in Al-Anon room.
Grapevine Rpt: Lana unable to schedule meeting w/ Dena, but will do. Nothing to report.
Old Business: Workshops:
May 12 next workshopt. 1:15pm BBQ, workshop from 2-3 pm on Concepts 1-3 by Sterling. Flier is out.
June 14. 10:30 am Women’s meeting, Noon: Group Inventory, 1:15 BBQ/Potluck, 2 Workshop on Concepts 4-6. 6 and 8 pm are regularly scheduled meetings.
Action Item: Leo will find a facilitator for the Group Inventory. Ex: Lance, Charlie Parker, Frank P.
Alt GSR Rpt: Sterling has fliers and info and copies of Dena’s notes from the District conference. Will be attending the next District conference.
Discussion: Aaron: complaints about non-AA issues at AA meeting.
Leo: Intergroup info out on that. How to redirect: let chair do it, sponsor redirect, just ask after meeting. Or love ‘em through it.
Action Item: circulate literature, have material available to any attendee. Educate. Remember Principles above Personalities.
Motion to end meeting. Passed.
8:25pm
Sibo: email to Hope Group, 5/11/08:
From my notes as secretary:
Service Committee members Lana and Sibo will locate 2 childcare givers.
Both will use a screening process including a background check. Sibo
stated that she does both for her other groups that require childcare.
She added that background checks are cheap. The group agreed to not
advertise widely (keep it local) nor hire from a company.The group
agreed to donate appropriate indoor toys and store them for the
childcare’s use. The group agreed to have childcare on Monday and
Wednesday for the 6 pm meeting, beginning in June. Rates and times were
discussed. $10/hour was suggested and the time of 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm was
suggested. A flyer w/ contact info will be posted. RSVPs are not
required, but welcomed, as this need grows, so that enough caregivers
are present. People from the group would be considered, if they seemed
appropriate, had very good recent references, reliability, experience,
etc. Sibo also has a list of typical screening questions.
Not discussed at the meeting, but I need to ask that we consider
tweaking our new childcare “policy.” As part of my teacher training at
my Live Oak UU Church, our group learned about safeguarding our
children, our caregivers, and our church. One policy that was stressed
and that we immediately adopted after having our process reviewed, was
the recommendation of having two childcare givers present at all times,
and at least two children present at all times. We could consider paying
only $7.50/hr for 1.5 hrs. That’s $22.50 for two caregivers per Monday
or Wednesday from 5:45 pm to 6:15 pm.
Also, from my training as a registered caregiver many years ago–It may
be a good idea to follow through on a step that registered homes go
through to make sure their locations are safe. A fire marshall comes out
and inspects the place, points out potential hazards, fire exits, etc,
and makes recommendations. It doesn’t keep us from hiring caregivers if
we don’t do what is recommended. However, the experience may help us
improve potential hazards. I don’t know if there is a cost (since it’s
outside of the normal process) but I can research it and find out. I’d
be willing to have some fundraiser to cover that.
Ray, in response:
Another safe guard is to require the alanon room doors remain open and neither children nor sitter leave the room. (hence the room can be seen from the coffeebar.
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