Oregon Area 58

AA in Oregon

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#6 Motion for Newsleter Laptop Purchase (February 2022)

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Motion:

To propose that Area 58 add an additional $750 to the current Newsletter budget to purchase
a Windows based laptop with the Microsoft Publisher program that is used to create, publish,
and store the quarterly Newsletter, Common Grounds.

Intent/Purpose:

To simplify the current process of requiring the new editor to have a Microsoft Office account
or to download the program onto their personal computer
To provide each rotating editor a Windows base laptop with the most current Publisher
version already installed and transferrable for the creation, publishing, and storage of each
quarterly Newsletter

To provide archival access to templates and past newsletters for each new editor to view or
copy when developing the newsletter eliminating the need to start from scratch

Current Practice:

The “rotating in” Newsletter chair must download the Microsoft Publisher program onto their
personal computer to develop, create, publish, and store each quarterly newsletter files,
Publisher files as well as PDF files
Attempts to download the program from the Area 58 account to a personal computer outside
the organization can be flawed and cause delays to the process and outcome
This sets up the need to create a new Newsletter from scratch without benefit of accessing
past Newsletter templates for examples
This will require the Hardware/Software Support Coordinator to keep track of needed
upgrades and/or new purchases of programs or laptops as well as provide each new editor with access codes

Budgetary Impact:

Current pricing of a basic laptop is between $750 and $1000
Current cost of the Microsoft Publisher program is $159.95 for a full purchase, without
recurring yearly costs
These prices will vary and may need to be revisited after each rotation to determine if the
laptop is performing as needed or if it will need to be replaced
Current Annual Budget for the Newsletter is $1,000. The request for an increase to the
budget of an additional $750 will be to cover price increases and still maintain possible
printing and postage costs

#5 Motion for Grapevine_LaVina (February 2022)

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Motion:

I propose that Area 58 increase the 2022 Grapevine/La Viña budget by $1,000, funds to be used to purchase 33 Grapevine subscriptions and 3 La Viña subscriptions, one for each District (33 English, 3 linguistic/Spanish-speaking).

Intent/Purpose:

To heighten awareness of Grapevine and La Viña with the goal of building the subscription base in Area 58 for both of our international journals
To demonstrate the effectiveness of Grapevine and La Viña as vital 12th step tools that reflect the current experience of our fellowship
To kickstart the Carry the Message Project/Lleve el Mensaje Proyecto 2022 (now in its third year) in Area 58
To create enthusiasm among a District’s members and GSRs to (1) take on the role of GVR/RLV for their District, and (2) include Grapevine/La Viña in their literature purchases and displays at their home groups
To make a one-time purchase from available surplus Area funds

Current Practice:

Area 58 does not currently purchase Grapevine/La Viña subscriptions for Districts or groups.

Budgetary Impact:

This will increase the 2022 Grapevine/ La Viña budget by $1,000 to a total of $2,200.

#4 Motion for Translation Equipment (February 2022)

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Motion:

District 28, 34, and 35 are requesting replacement of non-functioning translation equipment for their
combined districts with new equipment: 1 transceiver, 1 carry case, 20 units Digiwave Receivers, and 20
single-ear headphones, plus batteries, not to exceed $5,000.

Intent/Purpose:

Intent/Purpose:
Current transceivers for Spanish translations do not function effectively and have needed replacing for a
long time. With the help of the IT committee, we found this Digital Translation system the best fit. This
system is capable of a professional translation from out of state or out of the Country to translate
in-person assemblies and vice versa.
Using current technology will help increase communication and participation in these three linguistic
districts.

Current Practice:

Area 58 has always strived to provide adequate translation equipment but have not always been
able to obtain or afford up-to-date technology.

Budgetary Impact:

Not to exceed $5,000.

#3 Motion for PI PSAs (February 2022)

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Motion:

a one-time increase to the 2022 Public Information Committee budget
in the amount of $5,000 to place Public Service Announcements in Oregon online
newspapers.

Intent/Purpose:

Fund 5-8 Public Service Announcements across the Area.
In collaboration with Districts, create and place PSAs to reach still suffering
alcoholics who may not think AA is for them or feel they may not be welcome in
A.A. Collaboration could include working with Spanish language districts or
BIPOC, Young People, LGBTQ and Agnostic fellowships.
Follows Bill Wilson’s suggestions that Public Information committees: (1) Ensure
A.A. remains visible and welcoming; (2) Learn how to communicate to all still
suffering alcoholics; and (3) Use the media to build public goodwill for A.A.

Current Practice:

In 2021, Oregon Area 58 Public Information Committee purchased ad space from
a Portland Metropolitan Area online newsletter with some good results. We raised
$1800 from Districts to place 3 different PSA’s that ran for one month each. As a
result of this effort, 1200 people clicked on links to get more info from Portland
Area Intergroup or West Side Central Office. However, this has involved placing
one ad at a time based on funds raised from Districts, and, to date, only a small
sector in the north part of the state has participated.

Budgetary Impact:

$5,000 increase to the fiscal year 2022 PI Committee budget

#2 Motion for Eliminating Finance Asst (February 2022)

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Motion:

To eliminate the finance assistant chair position from the Oregon Area finance committee

Intent/Purpose:

There is currently no definitive need for a finance assistant position for the finance committee. The tasks that are normally performed by the finance assistant would be assumed by the co-chair. the elimination of this position would enable trusted servants to send their requests for reimbursement or draws directly to the co-chair and reduce the number of steps necessary in the current process. This would change the length of the finance committee positions from three years to two years and might attract more members to make themselves available for the service position.

Current Practice:

The finance committee currently has a chair, co-chair and assistant chair. From history, it was estimated that the third person was added to this committee over 30 years ago. Historically, the third member of the committee was needed to assist in collecting reimbursement, budget and draw requests which previously only happened at in-person assemblies. Considering today’s technology with spreadsheet capabilities, virtual platforms and shared drives, there is no longer a need for this finance assistant position as all of these duties have the ability to be done at any time, not just in person at assemblies. Currently, the assistant chair totals receipts and forwards to the co-chair. That job responsibility is minimal and does not constitute an expressed need for a full committee position.

Budgetary Impact:

Oregon Area 58 currently pays each committee member a $208.00 stipend per (in person) assembly. If there were four in person assemblies per year, this would reduce costs to the Area in the amount of $832.00

#1 Motion for Hybrid Assemblies

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Motion:

Add to Area Guidelines (IV, Section A, Subsection 5) the following:
c) Area Assemblies should be conducted in-person and online

Intent/Purpose:

Even before the pandemic, Oregon Area 58 was considering a variety of methods to continue to reach out to rural Districts and Groups so they too could participate in Area service. While the pandemic forced Alcoholics Anonymous to meet virtually, Area Officers and members of the Ad hoc Committee on Hybrid Assemblies, in accordance to their charter, responded and now have the service background and equipment to continue to meet in a hybrid setting in the future.

Current Practice:

There is no current guidance on conducting Hybrid Assemblies.

Budgetary Impact:

Unknown. While the equipment has been purchased, there is no guiding precedent established on how this would affect attendance at Assemblies or how future Assemblies would be affected monetarily.

Guidelines & Sign-Up for CFC Volunteers

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An AA Service Opportunity Carrying the Message to Inside Members

If you desire to participate in this work, we suggest you read this pamphlet, complete and submit the attached application to the Area CFC.  You will be contacted by an Outside Sponsor to start your participation.

Corrections facilities invite AA to bring AA meetings to problem drinkers in the facilities.  An AA member or AA Group becomes the Outside Sponsor for the Inside Meeting.  Members are scheduled to take the meeting into the facility on a weekly or monthly basis.  Where members are available, Team Leaders take meetings into the facility once each month with other guest members.  Outside Sponsors, Team Leaders and Panel Members attend facility orientation, so as to know and abide with the facility rules and regulations.  Outside Sponsors coordinate the Team Leader schedules for 6 months or one year.

Guest Members submit their Date of Birth, Social Security number & Oregon Driver’s License number to a Team Leader or Outside Sponsor for the one-time clearance to attend an inside meeting.  This information is required by the Facility to perform a quick background check prior to the visit by the Guest Member.

CF Committee, welcomes you as a member willing to share in this rewarding 12th step work.  We deem it a privilege to be able to share our Experience Strength and Hope in a correctional facility – and we trust you do also.  We are Guests of each facility and are expected to know and abide by their rules and regulations.  We are expected to live up to certain standards we have set for ourselves – some of which are expressed on the Do’s and Don’ts.  Please read them.  You will be expected to act accordingly.

DO’S & DON’T’S

  • Do – Have a valid Photo ID (i.e. driver’s license)
  • Do – Check dress rules (i.e. no tight fitting clothes)
  • Do – Keep your commitment, on time
  • Do – Share your experience strength and hope
  • Don’t – Use profane or vulgar language
  • Don’t – Take anything in or out
  • Don’t –  Give personal information to Inmates
  • Don’t – Talk about outside issues or drunk-a-log
  • Don’t – Promise jobs or aid of any kind

Corrections Participation Requirements

Notes:

  • These requirements are established by the Corrections Facility or Department
  • Participating Members should be active members in the Fellowship

Oregon State Department of Corrections

  1. Two years’ sobriety
  2. Age: 21 years’ minimum
  3. Off Supervision (no pending parole or probation) for 3 years or as specified by each facility.
  4. Submit to background check
  5. Attend 2-3 inside meetings prior to submitting clearance application.
  6. Be invited to attend DOC orientation.

Oregon Youth Authority

  1. Two-years sobriety (case by case basis)
  2. Age: 21 years’ minimum
  3. Clearance application may be submitted prior to attending inside meeting.

AA Corrections Service Positions

  • Outside Sponsor: Schedule Members for meetings, provides clearance applications.  2 or more years’ sobriety with corrections experience.  Has Facility Volunteer ID.
  • Team Leader: Leads Guest Members into facility. Has Facility Volunteer ID.
  • Panel Member: Member with one-time clearance or facility Volunteer ID

Contacting Regional Corrections Coordinators

Email: cfc@aa-oregon.org

Or write to: Oregon Area Corrections, 1900 NE 3rd St, Suite 106-500, Bend, OR 97701

Or ask your group’s General Service Rep to connect you with the Area CFC or Regional Corrections Coordinator for your local Area.

Suggested Readings: (AA Literature)

  • Carrying the Message into Correctional Facilities
  • Where Do I Go from Here?
  • AA in Prison: Inmate to Inmate
  • AA in Correctional Facilities: It Sure Beats Sitting in A Cell
  • Memo to an Inmate Who May Be an Alcoholic
  • A Message to Correctional Facility Administrators

Corrections Volunteer Registration Form


    Complete and submit this form to register for meetings inside Correctional Facilities

    I would like to participate in the following correctional facilities:

    You will be contacted by an Outside Sponsor - what is your preferred contact method?

    We are responsible when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help.  We want the hand of AA to be there and for that we are responsible.

     

    Anonymity

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    We make every effort to protect the anonymity of visitors to this site and those engaged in AA service work. We ask that you consider your privacy needs if submitting personal information by email or via our Email Contact Form. This site retains no personal information and does not use tracking cookies.

    The principles of AA anonymity are further explained in the AA pamphlets, Understanding Anonymity and Anonymity Online.

    A.A. Historical Events in January

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    January 1
    1946: The A.A. Grapevine increased the cost of a year’s subscription to
    $2.50.
    1948: Columbus Dispatch reported first anniversary of Central
    Ohio A.A. Group.
    1948: First A.A. meeting was held in Japan, English speaking.
    1988: West Virginia A.A. began the first statewide toll-free telephone
    hotline.
    January 2
    1889: Bridget Della Mary Gavin (Sister Ignatia) was born in Ireland.
    2003: Mid-Southern California Archives moved to new location in Riverside.
    January 3
    1939: First sale of Works Publishing Co. stock was recorded.
    1941: Jack Alexander told Bill W. the Oxford Group would be in his
    Saturday Evening Post article on A.A.
    January 4
    1939: Dr. Bob stated in a letter to Ruth Hock that A.A. had to get away from the Oxford Group atmosphere.
    1940: First A.A. group was founded in Detroit, Michigan.
    1941: Bill and Lois W. drove to Bedford Hills, NY, to see Stepping Stones and broke in through an unlocked window.
    January 5
    1941: Bill and Lois visited Bedford Hills again.
    1941: Bill W. told Jack Alexander that Jack was “the toast of
    A.A. — in Coca Cola, of course.”
    January 6
    2000: Stephen P., compiler of the Concordance to Alcoholics Anonymous, died.
    January 8
    1938: New York A.A. split from the Oxford Group.
    January 12
    1943: Press reported the first A.A. group in Pontiac, Michigan.
    January 13
    1988: Jack Norris, M.D., Chairman/Trustees of A.A. for 27 yrs. died.
    2003: Dr. Earle M., author of Physician Heal Thyself, sober
    9 years, died
    January 15
    1941: A.A. Bulletin No. 2 reported St. Louis group had ten members.
    1941: Bill W. asked Ruth Hock to get him “spook book,”
    The Unobstructed Universe.
    1945: First A.A. meeting held in Springfield, Missouri.
    1948: Polk Health Center Alcoholic Clinic for Negroes started operations
    with 14 willing subjects. The Washington Black Group of A.A. cooperated
    with the clinic.
    January 17
    1919: 18th amendment, “Prohibition,” became law.
    January 19
    1940: First A.A. group met in Detroit, Mich.
    1943: Canadian newspaper reported eight men met at “Little
    Denmark,” a Toronto restaurant, to discuss starting Canada’s first A.A.
    group.
    1999: Frank M., A.A. Archivist since 1983, died.
    January 20
    1954: Hank P., author of The Unbeliever in the first
    edition of the Big Book, died in Pennington, NJ.
    January 21
    1951: A.A. Grapevine published memorial issue on Dr. Bob.
    January 23
    1961: Bill W. sent an appreciation letter, which he considered
    long-overdue, to Dr. Carl Jung for his contribution to A.A.
    January 24
    1918: Bill W. and Lois Burnham were married, days before he was sent
    to Europe in WW I, weeks after sending a postcard to Senator Harold Hughes of Iowa, saying he wanted to live long enough
    to see Hughes become President.
    January 25
    1915: Dr. Bob S. married Anne Ripley.
    January 26
    1971: New York Times published Bill’s obituary on page 1.
    January 27
    1971: The Washington Post published an obituary of Bill W. written by Donald Graham, son of the owner of the Washington Post.
    January 30
    1961: Dr. Carl Jung answers Bill’s letter with “Spiritus Contra Spiritum.”
    Other significant things that happened in January (no specific date available):
    1938: Jim B., author of The Vicious Cycle, a former atheist, gave A.A. “God as we understand Him.”
    1940: First AA meeting not in a home meets at Kings School, Akron, Ohio.
    1942: Drunks are Square Pegs was published.
    1951: The A.A. Grapevine published a memorial issue on Dr. Bob.
    1984: Pass It On, the story of Bill W. and how the A.A. message reached the world, was published.

    Thanks to Billy C. and Nancy O. of the group “AA History Buffs” for this list, used by permission.