Capital Region Intergroup Minutes

Capital Region Intergroup Minutes

5-17-14

Attendees

•Terry (Phone Coordinator)

•Bruce A. (Secretary)

•Brian H. (Treasurer)

•Marcia(representing Saturday group; chaired meeting in Ann's absence)

•Nancy (Thursday Saratoga Rep)

Group Reports

Sunday Colonie A new key person has stepped up, and the meeting remains open.

Sunday Saratoga No report.

Monday Clifton Park Attendance has fluctuated from one to a few people, a member said.

Tuesday Men’s 15-20 in attendance, finances good. Contributed $50.00 to Intergroup.

Wednesday Noon No report.

Thursday Saratoga 8-14 in attendance, mostly men. Contributed $60.00 to Intergroup.

David F e-mailed a report indicating attendance fluctuates somewhat.

Temple Sinai Synagogue accepts what the group is able to offer for rent.

Friday Albany Attendance 6-12. Meeting at Pine Grove for $25 rent. $ improving.

Saturday Colonie Attendance continues strong.

Secretary’s Report

Minutes from 3-15-14 meeting read and accepted.

Treasurer’s Report

•Brian reported that two cash donations--$50.00 from the Tuesday Men's Group and $60.00 from the Thursday Saratoga group--will be deposited by check into the Intergroup account.

•Intergroup now has $301.29, enough to cover expenses through October.

•$20.00 was collected at the meeting per the 7th Tradition and paid directly to the church as rent for May and July (pre-paid).

Report accepted.

Phone Coordinator’s Report

•Terry reported that 10 calls were received in the last two months.

•One of the calls was from an agency that works with sex offenders. They use the Intergroup's online schedule to refer clients to meetings. Some clients had reported back that meetings were not held at the time and place indicated on the schedule. This underscores the need to keep the schedule current and to make sure meetings are held.

•Terry reported that volunteers have filled all seven days on the schedule for responding to phone messages.

Report accepted.

Old Business

•Bruce reported that a member has stepped up to serve as key person for the Sunday Colonie meeting, and the meeting has continued with a handful of people in attendance most weeks.

•No members had heard from northern groups about holding an Intergroup meeting closer to Saratoga.

•Terry is still planning to step down after more than two years as phone coordinator. Members will announce at meetings that the position is available.

New Business

•Brian asked how Intergroup would respond if finances fell short of expenses between Intergroup meetings. After discussion, the group proposed a series of steps:

1. Send out notification to groups that Intergroup finances are insufficient to meet expenses.
2. Change the outgoing phone message to direct callers to the website. (Callers could still leave a message).
3. Cancel the phone service a month before finances fall short, maintaining the website.
4. If finances continue to shrink, cancel the website service a month before running out of money.

•The group tabled a vote on the proposed measures until the July meeting to give groups an opportunity to weigh in on it.

•Nancy suggested holding Intergroup meetings via conference call or call-in service to accommodate group representatives who cannot attend in person. The group decided to hold a physical meeting in July, but allow group reps to attend telephonically. Terry volunteered to set up the free call-in service for the meeting.

Next Intergroup meeting July 19, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Pine Grove Church, Colonie (or a more northerly location, if the one of the northern groups arranges it).