Business Meetings

Business Meeting called to order at 6:56 p.m.

 

In attendance: Todd (chair), Tony B (myself, secretary), Dolf, Richie, Mitch N.Y.C., Bob

 

We began with the Serenity Prayer. 

 

Todd invited a motion to dispense with the reading of the previous month’s minutes which had been posted on our website by Ray B (not present) 

 

Richie made the motion to dispense; Mitch seconded.

 

Todd reviewed the new chair commitments for the term from Oct-Dec. 

 

Mon – Rotating until we find a permanent chair. (Note: This position has been filled by Taylor B.)

Tues – Matt

Wed – Richie

Thurs – Emily B.

Fri – Mitch

Sat – Emily O / Margarita as back-up

Sun – Greg B (from Long Island) 

 

Old Business:

 

A couple of reminders: It has been brought to Todd’s attention that some meetings have not been running on time. Through Group Conscience, all of our meetings should begin and end on time. Todd asked for comments or questions; there were none.

 

Todd complimented Richie for the manner in which he closed tonight’s 6pm Topics meeting – ‘a nice combination of allowing silence, and then ended it early’ when it became obvious no one else wished to share. Todd reminded the group it is always okay to end early rather than feeling responsible to fill the time.

 

Richie added, ‘without being curt’, he did not want to hurt feelings, reminded people of cross-talk. He was tactful in his approach and no names were mentioned. As he summed up, ‘for the good and orderly direction of the meeting.’

 

New Business: 

There was none. 

 

Todd invited a motion to adjourn. Bob made the motion; Mitch seconded.

 

Meeting ended at 7:06 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Tony

 

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Business Meeting of the Cherry Grove Off-Island LGBTQ (CGOI)
Group of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Wednesday, June 19th, 2024
Meeting began at 7:00 PM. In attendance: Todd (chair), Richie, Bob, Margarita, John G., David, Margaret, Emily B, Dolf.

Todd began the meeting asking for someone to volunteer as secretary in Tony’s absence, as he was unable to make it. Richie volunteered to be the secretary for this evening.

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Business Meeting of the Cherry Grove Off-Island LGBTQ (CGOI)
Group of Alcoholic’s Anonymous (AA) . Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Meeting began at 6:59p.m.

In attendance: Todd (chair), Tony (secretary, myself), Margaret, Dolf H.O.W., Margarita, Kevin M., Clifford, Mitch, Micky, John G., Bob, Richie

Todd began by reviewing the previous minutes. Motion made to accept (Richie), and seconded by Bob/Cliff simultaneously.

The planned topic for discussion/review is the safety protocol for preventing/handling ZOOM bombers. The group formed to investigate this was made up of Cliff, Richie, and Emily B (not present this evening.)

Cliff began by mentioning the ‘dos and dont’s’ of security protocol at meetings – the list was posted on the screen for all to follow; Todd thanked all the people for their thoroughness and service in presenting a ‘comprehensive’ list. Light conversations/questions and comments ensued regarding Cliff’s presentation.

• Richie added that we need a security cohost at each meeting.  At this point, Todd invited people to ask questions if they had any.
• Bob- Would people be able to be unmuted when they first came in?
• Margarita – Thanked people for their service; recommended sending a copy of the security protocol list to all chairs; Todd agreed.
• Dolf – questioned the three-minute timer, to which Todd and Cliff responded. 

After congratulating the group for its efforts in putting together this list, Todd invited a vote to accept it. Richie tallied the vote: YES – 10, NO – 1.  The list was accepted.

Todd asked for new business: No added new business or motions, per se. Although, comments of various degrees were discussed. 

• Cliff- About emailing the list to all involved.
• John- questioned where he should insert ‘How it Works’ while chairing the Sunday meeting.
• Cliff- offered to rewrite the scripts to suit each meeting. It was mentioned that, on some days, the script is the same; so, there would not be a need to necessarily do seven separate scripts.
• Richie- commented on John’s remark and wanted clarification.
• Mitch- had a question about the length of shares.
• Margaret- mentioned that we lack consistency, to which Richie disagreed.
• Dolf- asked if we had dropped the subject of counselors at meetings. Todd explained we’re an open meeting and all are welcome. A few comments followed, but the ‘take’ of this secretary is that people are okay with visitors outside the program attending this meeting as either counselors or students.

Todd welcomed a motion to adjourn. Motion was made by Cliff. Seconded by Mitch/Margarita simultaneously.

Meeting ended at 7:37p.m. 

Todd announced our next Business Meeting would be held on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024. It will be for Elections. All service positions will be open. All are welcome. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Tony

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Business Meeting of the Cherry Grove Off-Island LGBTQ (CGOI)
Group of Alcoholic’s Anonymous (AA) . Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Meeting began at 6:58 P.M.

 

Business Meeting of the Cherry Grove Off-Island LGBTQ  (CGOI)
Group of Alcoholic’s Anonymous (AA) . March 20, 2024
Meeting began at 7:01 p.m.

In attendance: Todd (chair), Tony (secretary, myself), Margaret, Mitch, Gwen B, Dolf H.O.W., Donna M., Edward V., Emily O. (left early), Richie, Kir, Ray B. (joined late)

Top agenda item this evening – elections for meeting chairs. Commitment for April thru June. Todd provided a quick overview of format for each of the evenings.

(Note: There have been several staffing changes since this Business meeting. Names listed below reflect our most up-to-date Chair names, as of April 9, 2024). 

Sunday – Taylor B
Monday – Jeannie F
Tuesday – Matt B.
Wednesday – Bob S
Thursday – Emily B.
Friday – Emily O.
Saturday – Anna C

Todd thanked Secretary Tony, Cliff, and Ray for their service in noting, disseminating and posting the Minutes. 

OLD BUSINESS: 
Chair invited a motion to dispense with the reading of The Minutes which had included discussions only, but no new motions had been made. Richie made the motion to dispense, Edward V. seconded it.

NEW BUSINESS:
Richie announced that the fourth Anniversary of our AA Group is coming up on March 22, 2024.

Margaret made a Motion to be voted upon at our April Business Meeting. Margaret related that she had attended the Step Meeting recently when someone identified that they were attending their very first AA Meeting. Meeting then continued with the pre-scheduled discussion of Step Eight.

Margaret made the following motion, that was seconded by Edward:

“I make a motion that during our Step/Tradition Meeting (Tuesdays), if a participant identifies themselves as attending their first AA Meeting, that the topic for that meeting will become Step One.”

(Note: Margaret’s motion will now be at the top of our Agenda at our April Meeting for Discussion and a Vote) 

Richie suggested that people review the procedures and formats for running meetings. Todd said he will include reminders in his next mailing to the group

Mitchell commented on the smoothness in which these meetings are run in comparison to some other meetings.

Dolf suggested that perhaps our group should plan something special for our Group Anniversary dates in the future. 

Chair entertained a Motion to Adjourn. A motion was made by Richie.
Seconded by Edward V.

Meeting ended at 7:21p.m.
Our Next Business Meeting will be held on April 17th. 

 

Respectfully submitted, 

Tony

Posted on 4/12/2024

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Business Meeting of the Cherry Grove Off-Island LGBTQ  (CGOI)
Group of Alcoholic’s Anonymous (AA) . 
Wednesday February 21, 2024 on Zoom.

Meeting began at 6:59p.m.

In attendance:

Donna M., Ray B., Edward V., Margarita, Dolf H.O.W., Margaret, Michael C.,

Cliff-Philadelphia, Richie V., Todd (chair), Taylor, Bob Smith, Greg B., Emily B., Tony (myself, secretary)

Todd began reading the previous minutes (Motion to accept; seconded) which he announced had been posted on the group website, with expressed appreciation to Ray.

Reports:

Cliff made a correction in the previous minutes. Also explained that New York Intergroup does not list meetings on its website that are exclusively online meetings. Donna raised the question as to why, since the off-island group is affiliated (she presumed) with the in-person Fire Island group. Cliff explained the two A.A. groups are separate.

Old Business:

Todd continued with old business. Requested clarification from either Cliff or Ray: Are all meetings open/closed? To which Cliff replied, ‘All are open’.

New Business:

Admittedly, the opening remark of new business morphed into many different topics. For these minutes, I relay the remarks as they occurred to the best of my ability.

BOB – referred to open meetings and nursing students, which makes him uncomfortable. Suggested the possibility of a closed meeting

RICHIE – talked about the ZOOM bombing at the earlier meeting. CLIFF – commented on disabling the ‘chat’, which Richie did.

MARGARITA – commented on Bob’s remark and asked why to consider the reasons for a closed meeting.

Ad lib from several people…..reasons of confidentiality.

RICHIE – brought up the dilemma of what meetings would be selected as open/closed.

MICHAEL C – He has no problem having some meetings closed

TODD – reminded people that Bob’s statement had not been addressed.

DONNA – brought up the point that closed meetings won’t eliminate the bombers at meetings.

EDWARD V – brought up the topic of ‘camera being off’. He stressed a few times, however, ‘Our primary purpose is to stay sober’.

CLIFF – commented that the meeting had morphed into five different topics, and, that we are all still learning because of ZOOM.

MARGARET – asked two questions: ‘ Why are we getting more people?’ we must be doing something right, ‘What’s really broken?’

DOLF – ‘This thing has gone into all different tangents.’ He suggested that it would be nice to know ahead of time if there are any students.

RAY – complimented Todd at his manner of running meetings.

TODD – finished the topic with an invitation for anyone who may feel strongly about this topic after our discussion tonight to make a motion.

CLIFF – reminded Todd and the group that motions AND change do not happen at the same meeting. First, the motion, then vote at the next meeting.

RICHIE – made a suggestion to discuss ‘this’ further.

DOLF – made motion to change script to invite medical students to introduce themselves. Nobody seconded.

RICHIE – directed to Cliff that, as chair, he will deal directly with the bombers as he sees fit.

TODD asked for a motion to adjourn

CLIFF – reminded the group that minutes should be emailed to those on the list.

TODD went back to topic of adjournment.

Edward V moved to adjourn; Bob seconded.

Meeting closed at 7:46p.m.

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Business Meeting of the Cherry Grove Off-Island LGBTQ  (CGOI)
Group of Alcoholic’s Anonymous (AA) . 
Wednesday January 17 2024 on Zoom. 

In attendance: Todd S. (chair), Tony (secretary), Emily O., Edward V., Margarita, Margaret, Cliff-Philadelphia, Michael C., Donna M., Gail, Greg B., Bob S.,

Mitch, Emily B., Ray. 

Todd called meeting to order at 7:01pm.

We opened with the Serenity Prayer.

Officer’s reports:

Group Chair Report: Todd S described his new role as Group Chair and spoke about the following talking points: 

~ Group Conscience is never to be feared 

~ Robert’s Rules have traditionally been useful as a guideline for keeping things moving, on track, and well organized for AA Business Meetings.

~ In the role of Group Chair, Todd says he will not have a vote, will not make motions himself, nor voice his opinion on any particular matter. He sees his role as facilitating others to put forward clear motions, and to facilitate that these are properly discussed and fairly voted upon to achieve Group Conscience.

~ Todd also intends to revive a previous procedure in CGOI that Minutes from each Business Meeting will be posted on the 6pmmeeting.com website for reference and easy access by others. Secretary (Tony B.) agreed to email Minutes to Chair who will review/edit and then forward to Ray B. for publishing on the CGOI website. 

~ Todd sees his overall role as Chair: “Keep it simple”.

Old Business: All positions of Meeting Chairs had been successfully filled at December Business Meeting for Jan to March 2024. Meeting Chairpeople  are: Sunday: Ray B.; Monday: Greg B; Tuesday: Edward V.; Wednesday: Richie V.; Thursday: Emily B.; Friday: Emily O.; Saturday: Margarita. 

Our group’s sobriety requirements for all of our CGOI meeting chairs is a minimum of 90 days of continuous sobriety for each Sunday through Friday Meeting slots. Our chair for the Beginner’s Meeting (Saturdays) has a sobriety requirement of at least one year of continuous sobriety. 

Ongoing discussion: Introduced by Clifford for making announcements in the week prior to the next round of elections for new Meeting Chairs (elections to be held on March 20, 2024) so that outreach is made to reach attendees who may only be regularly attending a specific night of the week. (Clarification: No formal motion was made at this time, so this is still merely an ongoing conversation at this point). 

New Business: Chair observed that all of our seven weekly meetings seem to be up and running smoothly at the start of this new year 2024. 

Chair asked if anyone in attendance had any issues that they felt needed attention as New Business. 

Seeing and hearing none, Chair adjourned the Meeting at 7:12pm

Our next Business Meeting will be held on February 21, 2024 on Zoom. All are welcome. Meeting Chairpersons are encouraged to attend. 

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Next Business Meeting –  Dec 21 7pm / Immediately following our regular meeting

 

 

Review of Notes from last meeting  (Below)-  Thanks Greg and Mitch

 

 

Old Business for review –  Cross Talk and Tiered Sharing at Beginners Meeting

 

 

Chairperson for ALL Meetings – 3 month commitment beginning January 1 2023 – 90 days of sobriety suggested  for all except Beginners it is suggested 1 year

 

We like to suggest all chairperson find helpers for hosting and co-hosting  / zoom etc especially when a meeting that requires shared screens for readings

 

WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP WHEN NEEDED 

 

Meetings

 

Monday / Daily Reflection  – Screen Sharing

Tuesday / Step / Tradition – Screen Sharing

Wednesday / Topic

Thursday / Big Book – Screen Sharing

Friday / Speaker

Saturday / Beginners

Sunday / Topic Discussion / Anniversary last Sunday of the month

 

Group Chairperson – Suggested one year of sobriety and familiar with traditions / 6 month commitment

Group Secretary – Suggested 90 days of sobriety and 6 month commitment

 

Other New Business from the floor if necessary

 

 

November Business Meeting to be held Nov 16th immediately following our 6pm meeting.

 

As of today there is no OLD Business to review and no NEW Business for discussion.  

 

If you have anything that you would like reviewed or discussed please let me know.  

 

Thanks

 

Clifford

 

ALL ARE WELCOME

 

 

October 19, 2022

1. Minutes – Accepted an Approved: Greg B Motion, Mitch 2nd

1. New Commitments: 90 days of continuous sobriety or more; chairperson of group have one year or more of sobriety. Cliff outlined the responsibilities of the position.
2. Group Meeting Leaders: October, November, December
   1. Monday, Reflections Meeting: Jeanne
   2. Tuesday, Step Meeting: Holly
   3. Wednesday, Topic: Cathy A.
   4. Thursday, Big Book: Connie
   5. Friday, Speaker: Ray (TJ – Update)
   6. Saturday, Beginners: Emily?
   7. Sunday, Discussion/Topic: Mitch
3. If anyone wishes to help or suggest speakers, leaders, please reach out to any of the chairpersons.
4. New meeting list: www.6pmlist.com
5. Meeting adjourned at 7:17 PM Motion  Mitch Approved Holly

 

 

Meeting open end at 6:53

 

Review of Minutes: 

Question to clarify the meaning of “double-dipping”. Motion to Approve: Jeanne; Second Mitch; Approved with one

 

 

 

A. Distractions:

 

Do we want to have a statement to ask folks to refrain from distracting activities during meetings. Cliff read a suggestion by Ray provided last month. Question: what is disruptive? What do we need by such a statement. The idea is that whatever we might not do at an in-person meeting should not be behavior in a regular meeting – such as smoking, eating, dress, other activities. Support for Cliff’s statement from the Florida meeting. Any comments should be generalized; this is a “casual” meeting; too many rules can complicate it; try to keep it simple. Suggestion to handle smoking separately since there are only one or two people who have smoked at meetings, so as not to single anyone out. Question: would the chairperson stop the video? Or, would the person themselves shut their video off. Concerns about shutting off the video could cause someone to feel unwelcome, become resentful, perhaps “go out”. Discussion followed that said that was not the intention and good to clarify. 

 

1. Motion: Read the following: “We suggest that if you’re eating smoking or engaged in any activity that might be a distraction to others, please turn your camera off.” Marguerita Second. 

 

 

Leave it alone; our readings are too long. Suggestion to read “The Promises” at the end of the Beginner’s Meeting. Would this replace The Serenity Prayer? Some groups also read “How It Works”. 

 

1. Motion: Ray: “To end the beginner’s meeting with “The Promises” before closing with “The Serenity Prayer”. Marguerita Seconded.  In Favor: 5; Opposed 1; Abstained 2. Motion Passes.

 

It’s a good idea to ask chairpersons to attend the business meetings, beginning with the next round of leaders. As a suggestion. Group Chairperson will remind folks of this suggestion when new terms are begun.

 

It was brought to the group, but the group preferred not making that part of the Cherry Grove group announcement. However, if someone in the group wants to announce it that would be fine. The discussion did go to the steering committee of The Cherry Grove Group and they chose not to make it part of their script.