January 2004 OASC Minutes
Ozark Area met at 618 Jackson, Joplin, Mo on January 04, 2004 Hosted by Fifth Tradition Group.
Meeting opened at 2:00pm with Serenity Prayer. Twelve Traditions and Twelve concepts read.
Roll Call: Officers present: Chair (Dale S.), Vice Chair (Mike S.), Treasurer (Jackee C.), RCM (Steve H.).
Offices Vacant: Alt RCM, Secretary.
Subcommittee Chairs present: PI (Craig B.), H&I (Alan F.), HOLP (Nancy M.), and Literature Review (Eddie M.).
Subcommittee Chairs vacant: AWAM, Outreach.
Groups represented: But Do It, Butterflies are Free, 5th Tradition, Just For Today, Miracles, Never Alone, Survivors, Together in Unity, and We Do Recover. Groups absent: Spiritual Principles.
Quorum established: 9 of 10 groups represented.
Corrections/additions to October Minutes: Never Alone pointed out a typo in their report. The Thursday noon meeting in Cassville was recorded as being in the SETOD building. It should have read SETOP building.
Motion to accept November minutes as written. Second. – Passed.
Administrative Reports:
Chair – Dale S., no report.
Vice-Chair – Hello Ozark Area, The Administrative Committee put on the Area New Years Eve function as tasked by the Ozark Area groups. There was a spaghetti dinner, music and party favors. There ended up being a gratitude meeting due to the cancellation of the scheduled speaker. A total of $180.00 was issued from the AWAM budget for supplies, food, and the building rental. The function brought in a total of $228.06, leaving a surplus of $48.06 after the original $180.00 was deducted. ILS, Mike S.
Treasurer – Ozark Area Treasurer's Report for December and January (Meeting of November 23, 2003).
Balance................$3261.05 Balance ending November 23, 2003 (see previous report).
Total Deposits......$445.89 Donations and credits given in November 23, 2003 meeting.
Total Expenses....$848.80 Expenses since November 23, 2003 report and last meeting.
Current Balance…$2858.14 Balance as of January 04, 2004 meeting.
BREAKDOWNS:
DONATIONS EXPENSES
Miracles $23.41 $8.00 Linda Q., check #1290 – PI printing.
But Do It $25.00 $30.00 Darlene L., check #1291 – Lit. books.
We Do Recover $64.42 $20.71 Southwestern Bell, check #1292 (Dec. bill).
Together in Unity $50.00 $46.80 The Joplin Globe, check #1293 (Dec. bill).
Spiritual Principles $50.00 $19.53 AT&T Systems, check #1294 (Dec. bill).
Butterflies are Free $5.00 $90.00 Joplin Answering Service, check #1295 (Dec. bill).
$21.30 Office Depot, check #1296 – Treasurer ink.
GROUP DONATIONS $217.83 $125.00 Dale S., check #1297 – AWAM function.
$25.00 Jackee C., check #1298 – AWAM function.
$240.32 Best Western, check #1299 – Rooms for Regional meeting.
AWAM (Dec. function) $228.06 $30.00 Galena Senior Center, check #1300 – AWAM function.
$90.00 Joplin Answering Service, check #1301 (Jan. bill). $46.80 The Joplin Globe, check #1302.
$19.68 AT&T Systems, check #1303 (Jan. bill).
$20.71 Southwestern Bell, check #1304 (Jan. bill).
$13.95 US Bank – Order checks.
$1.00 Bank service charge.
TOTAL DEPOSITS $445.89 ~ $848.80 TOTAL EXPENSES (TWO MONTHS)
Funds of $18.59 were collected at area meeting for We Do Recover. Thank you to We Do Recover for hosting area. ILS, Jackee C.
RCM – Steve H., no report.
Subcommittee Reports:
AWAM – See above report under Vice-Chair.
Hospitals and Institutions – Ozark Area H&I Subcommittee Report, January 3, 2004. Greetings Ozark Area. Ozark Area H&I carries “the message” into 5 facilities, male and female – 16 to 18 commitments monthly. The chair is rather impressed that every facility liaison was present, however, a little disappointed by the number of members present. It is critical that people on the subcommittee attend the subcommittee meeting. The chair discussed with PI the possibility of posting the H&I contact list on the Area website. Craig and the PI subcommittee think this is a good idea. The chair will call all active members on the contact list and receive their permission to post their phone numbers on the website. Bill W. mentioned the quantity of fifth Thursdays in the year and requests permission to add the fifth Thursdays to House of Hope in Grove, OK, when applicable. Liaison will coordinate with that facility. The chair still lacks one invoice from Midwest Embroidery before being able to calculate the exact amount of money due to the Area. This will be known before the February OASC meeting. In the spirit of cooperation, there is an informative article in the Area newsletter in reference to H&I. Your feedback is desired. Next subcommittee meeting is February 14th at WDR. What’s in store for 2004? Alan F.
Literature Review – Being that I am new at this, and the fact that I’m looking for someone to blame, other than myself, my report is
not well organized. The subcommittee has attempted to meet twice to discuss our literature agenda. Both times did not go over well
due to a misinterpretation of the meeting times. Anyway I would like to thank Linda Q. for showing up, taking notes and filling me in on
what needs to be addressed ASAP. Which is: I will be scheduling a workshop soon, to go over the new Sponsorship book. A flier will
be out soon. It is of vital importance for the groups to attend this as we need to decide on the approval of the Sponsorship book soon.
Also, I am asking for stories, activities, events, clean time birthdates, etc., from the groups, for the newsletter. Well that is all I have at
this time. ILS, Eddie M. Discussion took place on the availability of the CAR report and when the Groups could expect a copy. It was
decided to task Dale S. with obtaining copies from WSO.
Public Information – PI subcommittee met 1/3/04, attendance was 4. Phone line: Answering service is violating traditions by asking callers their last names and phone numbers before transferring calls. Subcommittee discussed need to change from current answering service. Website: to include Area minutes, which include functions, and the Spiritual News newsletter (as edited by PI chair to make sure there are no Tradition violations). Craig B. Discussion on how answering service has been handling calls poorly. Examples were offered. PI chair was tasked to present alternatives to the GSRS. to the current service. Discussion on the Area minutes being posted on the website was offered. It was determined the topic would be discussed in the sharing session.
HOLP – Hello Ozark Area. The HOLP is going great. We are still in need of speakers. If you have any tapes, please submit them to Linda Q. or mail them to our PO box. Doug B. will be our Friday night speaker. I still have shirts for sale, so please, see me if you would like to purchase one. Our next subcommittee meeting will be February 14th at 2:30, at WDR. Thank you for all your support. In loving Service, Nancy M. Personal note: I think it would be a good idea to combine the AWAM and HOLP subcommittees.
Group Reports:
But Do It – Hello Ozark Area, But Do It meets at 6:30 on Wednesdays in the Oak Meadows Apartments Building 2, in the basement. This is a closed meeting. We have a $41.00 donation to the area. ILS, Doug B.
Butterflies are Free – Hello Ozark Area: Butterflies are Free group is ecstatic about hosting the February Area meeting. We have gained support, but we still need female support. We ask that the different groups bring a covered dish to the Area meeting. We will supply the main course, drinks, plates and silverware. We need support for the McDonald County jail meeting. We have filled the secretary position within our group. We are happy to donate $5.00 to Area. We also need female sponsors. Thank you, with happy service, Glen P. GSR P.S. We have speaker meetings and birthday meetings the last Thursday of the month. We have sold three books. Butterflies group has passed out fliers regarding the February OASC meeting. Our meetings are at 8:00 pm, on Thursdays. They are smoking and open meetings. Some clarification was requested on the McDonald County jail meeting being a group meeting or an H&I meeting. H&I chair responded; explaining it was an H&I meeting.
Fifth Tradition – Hello Area, my name is Don. I am the GSR for Fifth Tradition Group. We meet on Tuesdays, at 6:30 pm. Dale S. is our speaker the second Tuesday of this month. Fifth Tradition group is discussing having a Saint Patrick’s Day dance sometime in March. More details will be revealed as March approaches. We have a $20.00 donation for Area. Sincerely, Don C.
Just for Today – Hello Ozark Area. My name is Aaron and I’m an addict. Just for Today’s meeting schedule is the same. We usually have attendance of 8-10 addicts per meeting. We are still located at 201 South Jefferson, in Neosho. Once again I’m sorry to report that we do not have an Area donation. I would also like to ask if someone here would like to come down and speak at our meeting for support. Aaron. Discussion on what type of support was needed. GSR explained that a lot of the regular attendees were only there to get their drug court meeting attendance sheets signed and there was a lack of recovery based sharing. This led to a discussion on NA’s position regarding signing sheets. The point was made that WSO’s position is that we are not a monitoring agency for anyone, as this would constitute an affiliation.
Miracles – Report read by Lori M., alternate GSR. Hello Ozark Area, Miracles group meets on Tuesday nights at 8:00 pm with a closed meeting, and Friday with an open meeting at 6:30 pm, at the First Methodist Church, on 4th and Byers Street. Use the East door. Attendance is growing. We are fully self supporting. Thanks for coming to our chili cook-off; hope you had a good time. Things went well and Dale S. was the winner of the cook-off. We have an area donation of $50.00. IS, Jeff
Never Alone – The Never Alone group is located at 405 7th Street, in Monett. We conduct our meetings in the basement of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Tuesdays at 8:00 pm. We are handicapped accessible. Our meetings are non-smoking. Our meetings are closed except the last Tuesday of each month, which is open because that is also the Tuesday in which we celebrate birthdays from the group. Our group business meeting is conducted on the 1st Tuesday of each month after our meeting. This last month we have had 13-15 addicts per meeting. The Never Alone group has a $5.00 donation for Area this month. Financially we have paid rent for 3 months until April of 2004, sent $82.00 lit order, which was desperately needed, $5.00 to Area, we have $1.20 left for the group, but we are doing exceptionally well at this point and time. GSR, Trusted Servant for the Never Alone group. Danny H.
Spiritual Principles – Not present.
Survivors – Greetings Area, Survivors meets Mon-Sat at noon at 618 Jackson, in Joplin, MO. Attendance is good. We are making plans for our annual Sweetheart Ball in February. We need bodies to help us put the function on. Right now we are planning the function with 3 or 4 people. If you are willing to help let me know. We have a donation of $25.00. Shelie V.
Together in Unity – Hello Ozark Area, The Together In Unity group meets every night at 8:00 pm at 427 N. Cedar in Nevada, MO. Birthday Night is celebrated the last Sunday of the month. We have book study Tuesday and Thursday nights. Back on November 25th we began having noon meetings on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. These have gone well and we would like to add them to the meeting schedule. We also have started having noon meetings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on a trial basis. Attendance has remained steady at 10-15 addicts. Together in Unity has ordered T-shirts and started planning for our group’s one year Birthday Bash in May. We have a $25.00 donation for area this month. In loving service, Cara D.
We Do Recover – Hello Area, We Do Recover meets at 1330 Wall in Joplin, 7 nights a week at 8:00 pm. These are all open meetings with smoking. Monday night is book study. Our speaker night is the second Friday of the month at 8:00 pm. It is no smoking. Our birthday night is the last Friday of the month at 8:00 pm. It is no smoking. We have two midnight meetings Friday and Saturday. They are open and smoking meetings. We average about 60 addicts a meeting except the midnight meetings. I would like to take a moment to clarify any gossip or rumors going around. We Do Recover kept it’s doors open after the 8:00 meeting on New Year’s Eve for the addicts who could not cross the state line or attend the Area function. We Do Recover pushed the Area function during it’s announcements. We did not announce anything other than our doors would remain open. We Do Recover believes in the NA way and would not try to hold a function on the same night that any other group or Area was having a function. We simply kept our doors open for those who had no where else to go. We Do Recover has an Area donation of $135.02. Sincerely, Bruce A.
20 MINUTE RECESS
Sharing Session: Posting the minutes on the website was discussed. The point was made that if the current minutes were to be posted, the OASC guideline prohibiting minutes from being sent to Region or being posted without prior approval from the Area, would need to be rescinded. It was felt that the minutes could be posted prior to approval if they were accompanied by a disclaimer. Motion to be made in new business. Also discussed, was the untimely manner in which Region has been getting minutes to our Area RCM. Regional guidelines and the Region secretary’s present difficulties were discussed. RCM was tasked to indicate Ozark Area’s frustrations with this situation and to press for a solution.
Old Business:
Motion to amend ASC Guideline 6.3 (section a) to read: Clean time requirement for Treasurer 5 years. – Passes
Motion to create Website Coordinator Guidelines. – Passes
Motion that the HOLP and AWAM subcommittees be reorganized into a single “Area Activities” subcommittee at such time as feasible to the current HOLP and AWAM subcommittees. – Fails Lengthy discussion ensues as to what issues some groups felt warranted the motion to fail. The pros and cons of the motion were presented. The main issues which prompted each group’s conscience were offered. The predominant feeling was that the idea had merit, but that the details and timing needed to be looked into first.
Motion to nominate Kelly Y. for Area Secretary. – Passes
15 MINUTE RECESS
New Business:
Motion to rescind the ASC guideline of March 2002 stating: That no OASC minutes be posted in the briefcase on the internet, or be sent to the Region until they have been approved by the OASC. Second. – Tabled to groups
Proposal made for the Chair to establish an Ad hoc committee to submit recommendations to the Area, for consideration by the Groups, on how all internal functions would work if HOLP and AWAM were to be combined into one single Area Activities subcommittee. There were several volunteers for the committee. Kenny C. was appointed by the Area Chair to head up the ad hoc committee. The first meeting will be February 14, at We Do Recover, 12:00 – 2:00 pm.
Motion to nominate Tommy H. for AWAM Chair, résumé submitted. Second. – Tabled to groups
Hello Ozark Area. I am Tommy an addict with 7 years clean. My home Group is We Do Recover. I have been GSR for the Free at Last group in the past. But for the last 18 months, going to meetings and chairing have been my way of working with the newcomer. I have an NA sponsor and work NA steps; I sponsor NA people. I promise only one thing. That is, to do my best, and sometimes, not make everybody happy. Love, Tommy H.
Motion to suspend phone line, effective immediately. Second. – Discussion on the damage the negative aspects of the poor phone-line service might be doing in comparison to the positive aspects of leaving an inadequate service in place. The predominant feeling was that something needed to be done, but the Area could not be without a phone line until an alternative could be established. Point made that this matter must be dealt with quickly due to the harm the poor service might be causing. Suggestion offered for Area to hold a special meeting in two weeks, at which time the PI chair will present alternatives to the current system. Motion withdrawn. Chair declares a special meeting, January 18, 2004, at We Do Recover, 1330 Wall, Joplin, MO, at 2:00 pm.
Adjourned meeting at 6:05 pm with a moment of silence for the addict that still suffers followed by the Gratitude Prayer. ILS, Mike S.
Next meeting will be hosted by Butterflies Are Free, Anderson Housing Authority, Anderson, MO. – Sunday, February 15, 2004 at 2:00 pm.
Subcommittee meetings – Saturday, February 14, 2004 at WDR, 1330 Wall, Joplin, MO – 12:00 pm Ad Hoc Committee for Area Activities Committee, 2:00 pm AWAM, 2:30 pm HOLP, 3:30 pm PI, 4:30 pm H&I.