Agenda May 3, 2024 Business Meeting

I. Old Business

II. New Business

A. A special session of the women’s breakout room proposed to amend the Chairperson’s opening script to include a statement about safety. John D. edited language that is currently in the Joy of Living live morning meeting script. A motion has been proposed to include the following language:

"An A.A. meeting is no different than the world in which we live. Problems found there can be present in A.A. If you think your safety is in jeopardy (for ex., bullying, threats of violence, stalking, or sexual harassment), notify the hosts and discuss it with your sponsor or support group after the meeting. These behaviors are unacceptable and need to be addressed by the group. Additionally, the suggested safety protocols are outlined in the Safety And A.A. pamphlet and are posted on our website.”

We've also crafted the script to add the language to related announcements already in place:

"Recordings of our meeting of any kind, such as video, still images or audio is expressly forbidden. The private chat feature of Zoom has been disabled for security reasons. You may, however, chat the host, or a co-host if you have questions related to your recovery.

B. The following motion will be considered:

The governance of the Happy Hour group lands ultimately with the group conscience. To get to that point, the Happy Hour Group has a Executive Board made up of the group officers, and monthly business meetings.

The Happy Hour Executive Board serves the group by facilitating open, safe, respectful, and democratic discussions and decision-making at full group business meetings. To aid in this process, they meet a week or more before the business meeting to review any motions put before them for consideration at the business meeting (these may not be all the motions the full group will see) to:

1. Ensure they are well-crafted, and
2. Ensure they do not violate any of our 12 Traditions

The Happy Hour’s Executive Board’s job is NOT to debate or discuss “content” of a motion, only to review motions for Group Conscience for the two (2) things above.

In the event a member wishes to make a new motion during a business meeting, the motion will be heard, and if seconded, discussed, and voted on. Any motion, new or otherwise, may be tabled until the next business meeting by a motion, a second, discussion, and finally a vote of those attending.

Our Executive Board does NOT govern – it SERVES!

The officers making up the Executive Board are:

1. Chairperson: The Happy Hour Chairperson chairs the Executive Board meetings and the group business meetings, making motions, voting and sharing as a member of the group without any special standing. The Happy Hour uses an abbreviated version of Roberts Rules of Order found elsewhere on this website.

By keeping Tradition One firmly in mind and encouraging members to become familiar with all the Traditions, the Chairperson will help to ensure a healthy A.A. group.

2. Secretary: The Secretary takes minutes at Executive Board meetings and sends a copy of the resultant agenda to the Webmaster at least a week before the Business Meeting to be posted on the website. The Secretary also takes the minutes at the group business meeting and sends them to the Webmaster to be posted on the group website.

3. Treasurer: The Happy Hour Treasurer maintains the group bank account, accepts donations in the form of checks, PayPal and Venmo, and presents a simple accounting of income, expenses and balances at the monthly meetings. After the meeting, this report is sent to the Webmaster to be posted with the business meeting minutes.

General service representative (G.S.R.): Working via the district and area committees, the G.S.R. is the group’s link with the General Service Conference, through which U.S. and Canadian groups share their experience and voice A.A.’s collective conscience. Sometimes called “the guardians of the Traditions,” G.S.R.s become familiar with A.A.’s Third Legacy — our spiritual responsibility to give service freely. Usually elected to serve two-year terms, they: • Represent the group at district meetings and area assemblies. • Keep group members informed about general service activities in their local areas. • Receive and share with their groups all mail from the General Service Office, including the newsletter Box 4-5-9, which is G.S.O.’s primary tool for communicating with the Fellowship. G.S.R.s also may assist their groups in solving a variety of problems, especially those related to the Traditions.

Coins and Literature Representative: The group’s Coins and Literature Representative makes certain that anniversary coins are available to be sent to people with anniversaries and that Big Books are available sent to newcomers. The Coins and Books representative may also be asked by the group to purchase other books and pamphlets to be mailed to members who need them.

Service Chairs: The Service Chairs manage the elections of all Service Positions, including Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, GSR, Coins and Books Representative, Service Chair, Webmaster, Hosts and Meeting Chairs, and arranges substitutes when necessary. The Service Chairs also train the hosts.