2024 Group Inventory Information

The Show Me Group had a Group Inventory meeting on Saturday, September 14th, 2024 from 1:30 to 5:00pm.  The following are the minutes recorded for the meeting:

Show Me Group Inventory Meeting Minutes

Saturday September 14, 2024 - 1:30 PM

In-Person Only

OPENING:

Attendance:  Approximately 40 to 50 members attended

Lunch was served at 1:30pm

-       Chili Dogs and Chili Frito Pies and other tasty treats!

-       Thank you so much for the members that served the group with this meal!

Called to order by the Chair: Justin W. @ 2:00pm.

Opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer.

Read from The AA Group Pamphlet pg.28 - “What is an informed A.A. group conscience?”

Read from The AA Group Pamphlet pg. 29 - “A.A. Group Inventory”

Justin called on Rob G (Group Secretary) to introduce our facilitator:

- Mike J. from the Clean Air North Group in Addison, TX

Rob noted the following:

1. We had 36 members respond to the Group Inventory Questionnaire - thank you!

2. Thank you to those that served us lunch!

3. A summary of all of the responses has been assembled, and copies are available up front for all to review and follow along as Mike walks us through each of the points.

4. Mike J actually led a group inventory at Show Me group about 10 years ago, he has served the A.A. fellowship in this way for several other groups, and will be a good resource for us as we go through this process.

5. Then Rob introduced Mike J. - 2:06pm.

GROUP INVENTORY - Facilitator - MIKE J.

The following questionnaire topics were each reviewed and discussed by the attendees.  There were many suggestions, questions, and ideas that were raised.  A summary of potential ideas and suggestions follows this list.

1. What is the basic purpose of our group? 2:08pm

2. What more can our group do to carry the message? 2:11pm

3. Is our group attracting alcoholics from different backgrounds?  Are we seeing a good cross-section of our community, including those with special needs? 2:21pm

4. Do new members stick with us, or does the turnover seem excessive?  If so, why?  What can we as a group do to retain members? 2:24pm

5. Do we emphasize the importance of sponsorship?  How effectively?  How can we do it better? 2:27pm

6. Are we careful to preserve the anonymity of our group members and other A.A.’s outside the meeting rooms?  Do we also leave what they share at meetings behind? 2:40pm

7. Does our group emphasize to all members the value of keeping up with the kitchen set-up, clean-up and other housekeeping chores that are essential for our Twelfth Step efforts? 2:43pm

8. Are all members given the opportunity to speak at meetings and to participate in other group activities? 2:45pm

9. Mindful that holding office is a great responsibility not to be viewed as the outcome of a popularity contest, are we choosing our officers with care? 2:49pm

10. Are we doing all we can to provide an attractive and accessible meeting place? 3:00pm

11. Does our group do its fair share toward participating in the purpose of A.A.—as it relates to our Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service? 3:05pm

12. What has our group done lately to bring the A.A. message to the attention of professionals in the community—the physicians, clergy, court officials, educators and others who are often the first to see alcoholics in need of help? 3:14pm

13. How is our group fulfilling its responsibility to the Seventh Tradition? 3:17pm

Suggestions/Potential Action Items:

1. Treatment/PI/CPC

   1. Develop a list of places to carry the message and cooperate with, and then develop a battle plan.  This could involve getting together with other groups in the community to discuss how we can allocate the opportunities to be sure all are covered and responsibility is taken by the group(s).

2. Chairperson Coordinator

   1. This would be a new trusted servant position (primary and alternate) to assign chairpersons to each meeting and ensure that they are chaired consistently and with rotating assignments.  This would include making sure that each chairperson is aware of their responsibilities and tasks.

3. Newcomer Chairperson Coordinator

   1. New trusted servant position (primary and alternate) to assign newcomer chairpersons at each meeting.  This is currently the responsibility for each meeting chairperson, and this would take that burden from the chairperson and provide another service position for the group to benefit from.

   2. In addition, it was discussed that we should review the newcomer packet and confirm that there is a designation for ‘temporary sponsor/contact’.  We should be diligent to have someone that is following up with each newcomer, as they may be hesitant to make that first text or call on their own.

4. Greeter Coordinator

   1. Same pattern as suggested above for the Newcomer Chairperson Coordinator.

   2. Again, to further unburden the meeting chairpersons, and provide additional service opportunities for members.

   3. Will help us to set the temperature for our meetings and create an even more welcoming experience.

5. Review Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

   1. Review the demographics of our city and county to compare against the demographics of our group.  This could help us learn more about who we are effectively targeting, and about potential other demographics we could try to reach better.  This could be a committee, or potentially assigned to an existing trusted servant role for research and feedback.

   2. https://data.census.gov/profile/Denton_CCD,_Denton_County,_Texas?g=060XX00US4812191010

   3. https://data.census.gov/profile/Denton_County,_Texas?g=050XX00US48121

6. Anonymity and Social Media

   1. It was discussed that we may want to start posting and providing GSO approved publications related to the principle of anonymity and social media, internet, email, etc.  There are several publications, but one that points to several others is “Anonymity Online And Digital Media” : https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/assets/smf-197_en.pdf

   2. This could be allocated to a new committee, potentially a workshop(s), or just handled through a current trusted servant role such as literature.

7. Cleaning Event Schedule

   1. Establish a schedule of cleaning events, as the current one posted is effectively not attended on Saturdays at 1:15pm.  This could involve establishing a new trusted servant position (primary and alternate) that updates and publishes the schedule, informs members and sponsors, and possibly assigns members to lead events and gather members for the events.

8. Club / Group Structure Committee

   1. We currently have entire segments of the group that do not participate in the group conscience and AA service structure, but continue to have meetings and find ways to serve the alcoholic and the community.  With the group as a whole having this segmentation, it seems appropriate to consider a club structure (or similar) so that each of the meetings could have their own trusted servants and participate in the AA service structure.  More service positions and opportunities is helpful for the growth of members and overall effectiveness of the group in carrying the message.

   2. Consider establishing a committee to research and gather some facts, visit other ‘club type groups’, learn the pros and cons, and report back to the group as a whole on options or recommendations.

9. Long Form of 12 Traditions

   1. We recently revised our meeting formats to limit the reading of the 12 Traditions to just the ‘Tradition of the Month’.  We may want to consider reading the long form of the tradition as well, as these can provide more insight and understanding of the principles that support unity of the group.

10. Zoom meetings

    1. Review use of Zoom in meetings.  We have been ‘Opening’ up meetings solely so that they can become ‘hybrid’ for remote and in-person attendance.  We may want to look at creating some separate Zoom-only meetings (at times other than the already scheduled in-person meetings).  We could also look at potentially having Closed Hybrid and Open Hybrid meeting definitions/options.

    2. This may involve the formation of a committee to research and return to the group with suggestions/pros/cons/etc.

ADJOURNMENT:  

Mike J. finished the Group Inventory review process.  - 3:32pm

Rob G. thanked Mike J. and gave him a Big Book signed by all in attendance, as well as a gift from Show Me as a token of appreciation for his service.

The Meeting was adjourned at 3:35pm. Closed the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer.

MEMBER INSTRUCTIONS:

It is up to individual members of the Show Me group to sponsor any of the 10 suggestions or action items listed in this document.  Sponsors can submit the items as discussion topics or motions just like any other new business item via:

1. Directly submit in writing or email to the group secretary, rob.graber@gmail.com.

2. Online form link on the ShowMeAA.org website under Group Conscience Info ( https://www.jotform.com/240706113491146 ) or QR Code below.

3. Marker board section for new motions (please include your email or contact info so we can list you as the sponsor).

Such items could be exactly as shown above, or anything you wish to submit to the agenda, and will follow the normal course of Trusted Servants review and Group Conscience discussion.