Minutes. Sunday, June 9, 2013 OA So Maine Intergroup (SMIG) Meeting

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1 Minutes Sunday, June 9, 2013 OA So Maine Intergroup (SMIG) Meeting The meeting convened at 5:05 p.m. Present were: Gina T., Susy K., Nancy D., Val H., Catherine P., Becky H., George H., Bob M., Steve M., Melissa B. and Barbara P. 1. Opening and Introductions a. Serenity Prayer and reading of OA s 12 Steps, 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts 2. Minutes of March 3, 2013 meeting a. Amended (Bob M. s name removed from Public Education & Information Committee) and approved. See attached. 3. Treasurer s Report - Catherine P. a. See attached, approved as submitted. 4. Committee Reports a. Registrar - Joyce M. - Absent b. Web Manager - Eigen H. - Absent, advised by Catherine P. that Eigen had no updates to make. c. Public Education & Information - Melissa B. i. See attached May meeting minutes, and outreach flyer from the committee to OA members to urge their participation on this committee. ii. Melissa made a verbal report: 1. Melissa asked that those present take outreach flyers back to share at their regular meetings. 2. Portland Recovery Center has offered to be of service in any way to the OA community. Melissa held her May meeting there at no charge. 3. August 31 is Melissa s deadline to receive contact information for health care professionals and others to whom we wish to send outreach mailing. 1 of 3 pages

2 d. Bylaws - Bob M. i. Bob would like everyone to review the current draft of the bylaws and get him any feedback by July 15th. ii. Catherine asked that page #s be included, but Gina said the document is not very long, so they should not be needed. e. Region 6 - George H. i. See attached report. ii. A man wants to speak to Region 6 about reinvigorating regional intergroups. He has experience doing this around the country. George is hoping a board member will be able to go to Albany to see this guy speak as early as Sept 2013, but more likely April or Sept iii.region 6 wants all groups and intergroups to pay thru PayPal from now on. iv.gina noted that we have enough funds in the budget to send 3 reps to Sept Region 6 meeting. f. Retreat - Robin H. - Absent 5. Old Business a. Google Groups - George H. i. George would like to set up a Google group so that communications can be sent to address and everyone in So. Maine Intergroup receives it. Approved. ii. George will set up Google Group for us. (Following the meeting, George set up the address and it is: smi_oa@googlegroups.com) b. Region 6 September 2013 meeting needs delegate. i. Travel on Friday. Things start around 9 a.m. on Saturday and end at 6 p.m. Meeting concludes punctually at 6 p.m. on Saturday. 4 to 4-1/2 hours from Saco to Albany. SMIG covers costs. c. Outreach to meetings - We agreed at last meeting to go to an extra meeting and introduce the group to intergroup and attend group conscience (business meeting). i. Catherine went to Lewiston, Sat. morning 10 am. 2 of 3 pages

3 ii. Becky went to Thursday night Brunswick meeting 7pm. Those present had not heard of SMIG. iii.george is going to go to Thursday meetings at Woodfords Church in Portland. iv.(melissa goes to Thursday morning Scarborough and they study traditions, do silent meditation, etc.) v. Gina went to Saturday morning meeting and went to group conscious. Suggested that meeting consider studying a tradition a month. 6. New Business a. Prudent reserve - Catherine P. i. SMIG (less the retreat) has $4, currently in balance. We have Region 6 and World Service 7th tradition to send. MOTION: Send $750 each to World Service and Region 6, leaving us with about $3,000. ii. For Retreat - We recommend that they need to keep prudent reserve equal to the deposit paid to the facility on the Sunday of the retreat weekend. Designated scholarship funds need to be set aside and kept as such. And beyond that, it is left to their discretion. b. Continue rotation of SMIG meeting location? i. There was discussion and decided to keep meetings as is. 7. Gina led the group in a memory quiz of the Traditions. 8. Next Meetings a. Sunday, SEPTEMBER 8, at 1 p.m. at Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick b. Sunday, DECEMBER 8, at 5:00 p.m., Brighton Medical Center, Portland 9. Close Respectfully submitted, Susy K. 3 of 3 pages

4 Southern Maine Intergroup Minutes (Amended & Approved at 6/9/13 Mtg.) for the Sunday, March 3, 2013 Meeting Place: Brunswick s Mid-Coast Hospital Present (5 Intergroup Reps and three Officers*): *Gina T. (Intergroup Chair), ginat@fairpoint.net, (Augusta, Sat. 10 a.m. Rep.) *George H. (Intergroup Vice-Chair & Region 6 Rep.), 12stepgeorge@gmail.com, , Saco. *Catherine P. (Intergroup Treasurer), palmercatherinemaine@gmail.com, , Saco. Brian B. murrayhill7784@gmail.com, (Dealer s Choice OA, Tues., 6 p.m., Woodfords, Portland Rep.) Steve M., steve@morrisonrealtors.com, (Sunday, 7 p.m. BBSS, Portland Rep) Chris P. christinelpalmer@gmail.com, (Monday., 10 a.m., Scarboro Rep.) Becky H. beckyhaugusta@gmail.com, (Monday. 5:30 p.m., Brunswick Rep.) Absentee Notes: Our Intergroup Secretary, Susy K., was unable to attend, skist@gui.net, , Portland. Note: Susy, please notify Robin H. to send representative from Retreat Committee to Intergroup on June 9 in Portland. Our Intergroup Registrar, Joyce M. was absent, but delivered updates of our SMI area meeting list to the web mistress for oamaine.org. Thank you, Joyce M. (Portland), joyce.menges@gmail.com, Our Intergroup Web Manager was out of state. Thank you, Eigen H. (Portland), aeheald@gmail.com, Our Intergroup Public Education and Information Committee Chair, Melissa B. mboyd74@gmail.com, (Portland), was unable to attend. Melissa provided a statement below and DRAFT letter to health care professionals: 1 of 4 pages

5 As for Public Education and Information Committee we have drafted a letter which is attached and are stating a database to send out letters to health care and mental health professionals. The timeline has shifted to send the first batch of letters by May. Then our next step is to build our committee and work on other PIE work such as health fairs and other community outreach. Note: Melissa -- please include all Intergroup reps addresses (see this document and the Minutes for Dec. 9), on forthcoming news from PE&I Committee and let the Intergroup know of the date for your next committee meeting. Note: Groups are asked to provide the names of their health care professionals, along with addresses and contact information, to this Committee so that they may receive the health care information about OA. Every group needs to send a LIVE representative to Intergroup to vote on important matters affecting all OA groups. If you cannot attend, please send your alternate rep. We work for YOU. Guests did not attend and several groups were not represented. The Meeting began with the Serenity Prayer, followed by the reading of OA s Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts. Minutes were approved for Intergroup Meeting of Dec. 9, 2012, as distributed. Treasurer s Reports were distributed by Catherine P.: (see attached report and budget) December 9 (since last Intergroup) Ending Balances: Retreat Funds, $4, Intergroup Funds, $3, Today s Ending Balances: Retreat Funds, $4, Intergroup Funds, $3, of 4 pages

6 OTHER REPORTS Heard and Approved: George H. (Region 6 Update): The Region 6 Newsletter will be coming soon. The question on the table is how best to distribute it to our groups. April 20 is the next Region 6 Meeting. George and possibly Eigen will attend to represent Southern Maine Intergroup. Bob M. (Bylaws Committee includes Eigen, Gina and Bob. Deadline for SMI Bylaws adoption is May 2014) Reminder of Officers Elected in December (PLEASE SERVE and INVITE YOUR SPONSEES to SERVE OUR FELLOWSHIP): Gina T., Augusta, elected Chair for a Two-Year Term by sealed ballot Susy K., Portland, elected Secretary for a Two-Year Term by show of hands George H., Saco, elected Vice-Chair for a One-Year Term by sealed ballot Catherine P., Saco, elected Treasurer for a One-Year Term by show of hands George H., Saco, re-elected Region 6 Representative for Another One-Year Term Eigen H., Portland, elected Second Region 6 Representative for a Two-Year Term [ALTERNATE Region 6 Representative OPEN POSITION] NEW BUSINESS: Status of Intergroup: We discussed how to encourage attendance. Service keeps us slim. Find out where your 7 th Tradition dollars go. Take an interest in OA as a whole. Men s Workshop was discussed. Event Committee was discussed and included talk of a Service and Tradition Day in 2013, with a pot luck meal, attended by a Region 6 Representative. Locations considered included Augusta and Brunswick. Attending Other Groups Business Meetings. Those present chose one OA group to attend in an effort to inform OA members about the purpose of Intergroup. Humility, what does it mean to you? Each member shared. 3 of 4 pages

7 NEXT MEETINGS: NOTE: New Portland Intergroup Meeting Time of 5 p.m. Sunday, JUNE 9, at 5:00 p.m., Brighton Medical Center in Portland Sunday, SEPTEMBER 8, at 1 p.m. at Mid Coast Hospital (pending verification of space availability) Sunday, DECEMBER 8, at 5:00 p.m., Brighton Medical Center in Portland The meeting adjourned with the Serenity Prayer. 4 of 4 pages

8 Treasurer's Report So Me. Intergroup, Sunday, June 9, 2013, 5 p.m. Submitted by: Catherine P., Treas., Tel , Brighton Hosp. Opening Balance Intergroup March 3, 2013 $3, Opening Balance Retreat March 3, 2013 $4, BBForward (total) $8, correct Intergroup EXPENSES Paid: 3/25/13 Startup kit OA Meeting $22.25 (includes $5 refund from OA) 3/29/13 Postage Sharon W. kit $5.80 4/18/13 Reg 6 Travel (George H.) $ /20/13 Postage Stamps $18.40 $ EXPENSES TOTAL I-Group REVENUE since last report 3/25/13 7th Step Donations $ Lewiston, 10 a.m. Sat /7/13 7th Step Donations $76.20 Mon. 10 a.m. Scarboro /7/13 7th Step Donations $54.44 Thurs. 10 a.m. Scarboro /8/13 7th Step Donations $ Sun. Portland BBSS /27/13 7th Step Donations $60.00 Tues. Noon UCC Bath /27/13 7th Step Donations $60.00 Tues. 6 p.m. Woodfords, Ptld /21/13 7th Step Donations $85.49 Augusta, Sat. 10 a.m /28/13 7th Step Donations $ Waterville /3/13 7th Step Donations $ Sat. a.m. Portland TOTAL $ REVENUE BALANCE I-group $4,595.63

9 Retreat Expenses since last report: T O T A L Retreat Expenses $0.00 I N C O M E Retreat (since last statement) TOTAL Retreat Income $0.00 BALANCE Retreat BALANCE (combined) $9, $4, on hand $9, Intergroup Balance $9, Balance at TD Bank $0.00 variance

10 OA Public Education and Information Southern Maine May 2013 Meeting 5:00pm -5:45pm Portland Recovery Center, Portland Maine Meeting opened with Serenity prayer at 5:00pm Attending. Ginger, Melissa, Kathleen, Quinn (phone) Report. Melissa overviewed the process of how the group was formed. The initial task of the group is to mail letters to health care and mental health professionals in our region. This will allow our group to educate doctors and others about both our existence and the meeting locations in the region. OA has a manual with templates, ideas and process about how ways to engage in Public Education and Outreach. Melissa reviewed the process with the group. The mailing. Currently there is a database being added to do the mass mailing. The mailing will be printed and sent once more names and categories are added. Discussion. Our group had a lively discussion about educating particular professions about OA. Ginger, Kathleen and Quinn brainstormed professionals to send a letter to. Here is the list Chiropractors Nutritionists Massage Therapists Acupuncturists Psychologist Nurses PA s Nurses Doctors staff Optometrists Bariatric Surgeons The discussion then led to sending our information to other 12 step programs (AA, NA, FA and ACOA..etc..) Outreach Strategy.

11 We discussed a process for outreach. There will be living google document which group members will have access to add in information about who to contact with their information including if available. Then we will follow this process 1. Finalize and personalize the letters to the professionals 2. Print and collate the letters for bulk mail 3. Group and others get together to stuff and put together the mailing 4. Letter is sent 5. If an is available we may send them an or letter 6. We will then track in our database letter sent on date sent 7. Follow up: after a few weeks someone in OA may call, or visit the place to business with flyers and meeting lists to follow up with any questions. We will track this progress as well A few things arose during our meeting: 1. it is critical that we match the skill set of OA member volunteers with the task and we need to have a script when doing any and all outreach. The group suggested when going to a doctor s office bring the 15 questions ask them how can we help you. Other activities to be planned. Post flyers about OA which can be found on OA PIE sections of the web and may be modified at the following places and more YMCAs, Churches, Grocery Stores, Hospitals etc. Attend Health Fairs and have OA information and a volunteer to answer questions Speak at UNE, USM nursing programs to educate caregivers as to OA the addiction and meetings Next Steps. 1. Continue to enthusiastically work with this group and invite others OAers to join 2. Work on continued development of the database and when ready do the bulk mailing to a wide audience

12 3. Once letter is mailed and ed send information to OA groups in our region to let the know it has been sent and ask newcomers how they found out about OA as an anecdotal measurement tool 4. Send out minutes and send out virtual document to committee and others to add their contact to the list 5. The group agreed to work on and we may have an in person or phone meeting once we get a wide variety of professions on our database. Meeting closed with Unity Prayer at 5:45pm

13 Region Six Representative Report As always, the Region 6 assembly was a great experience of service and of being more aware of what s going on beyond my own group and my own area as defined by our local intergroup. I have always found it tempting and really easy to want to keep my vision focused just on the OA group I belong to, forgetting that I belong to a much larger family than just the couple dozen people I see on a weekly basis. Absent from this latest assembly, and missed by all who knew her, was Mary Rose who passed on earlier this year. The Region paid a nice tribute to her during our meeting. I anticipate that September 28 will be my last assembly as a Region Representative (RR in OA alphabet soup) as the traditional practice of rotation of leadership calls me to pass the torch on next year to another. Perhaps you? But that s for God whom I call my Higher Power to decide as He expresses himself through our group conscience. The morning OA meeting was particularly powerful for a number of us as the discussion turned around the variety of ways we ve worked on the steps. There were a few, like me, who expressed gratitude for having sponsors who had been rigorous about working the steps and calling us to surrender sooner rather than later. It has to come for all of us if we re truly addicts. Others were grateful for sponsors who did not push so hard and let them struggle to learn from their own experience. And all voices in between could be heard. In the end, God had been guiding each of us. The morning session of the Region was, as always the practicality of getting us to our sub-committees with the necessary housekeeping that always goes with that. I served once again on the Finance Committee which, this time focused on reviewing the upcoming year s budget. We needed to look at one amendment, but I ll save that for the afternoon session, since it was actually around a rather exciting project the Region decided to pursue. The afternoon session was the business section of the day for the full assembly including committee reports and new business. IGOR submitted a motion for intergroup effectiveness training let by a facilitator with proven success turning various intergroups around. Delegates from the floor even testified to his ability as they had been part of struggling and failing intergroups and when this man took over as chair, he turned them into successful, thriving groups. The motion is to have one member from each IG come to Albany, probably the day before a Region 6 assembly, with the hope that the member will stay for the whole weekend and attend this one day workshop. Aside from transportation and food on the journey, the cost would be free. The finance committee in the morning had made a budget change proposal which took money from accounts that were not going to use the funds and move it to IGOR to fund this project. These motions, the budget adjustment and the plan for the workshop were approved.

14 PIPO had 5 blitzes proposed, but one project was incomplete. The other four were approved for Public Information blitzes. Again, the money is there for the asking and the deadline will be late August of this year for the next cycle. Youth in OA: The question is always whether each Intergroup has meetings that are youth friendly and would be able to welcome youth and meet their needs. One New York meeting has met with success and will soon be sharing their meeting format for others. Also, there may be a new packet forthcoming from WSO The fall assembly date has been moved to Sept. 28, Meanwhile, the 2014 dates are April 5 and Sept. 13 and in 2015 the dates are April 18 and either Sept. 26 or Oct. 3, yet to be finalized. Encourage all groups and IG to submit 7 th traditions via PayPal. Respectfully submitted George H. Region 6 Representative

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