South Florida Intergroup Archives - Minutes and Agenda Sexual Recovery and Recovery from Obsessive Fantasy and Romantic Obsession

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Minutes, 1st Quarter 2010

Commenced Sunday, January 24, 2009 4:34 PM

Opened with theSerenity Prayer

Three counties represented.

Group Reports

Group Liaison

• Absent /waived

Web Traffic Report

• Informed group of details regarding southfloridaslaa.org hits:included fact that site gets approximately 200 hits/day. Mostcommon search term ending in landing is “SLAA.” 40% landingafter searching word “sex.” Approximately 20% coming through FWSwebsite link.

• Discussion that themeeting list still reflects old address for the Tues. and Fri.meetings at GLCC. Steve will look into that.

ESLAA.org

• Started by SFI, became autonomous S.L.A.A. group on January 1st, 2010, Current membership includes 5 Conference CommitteeChairs, members from ½ of the 50 States, includes an FWS staffmember, 45 – 47% are women. Mon. night online meeting averages 8people and looking to start a meeting convenient to West Coast andInternational members.

  • Although the use of the name “ESLAA” caused some initial controversy, ESLAA has now been linked to the FWA Online Meetings page; Douglas recommended that a letter of appreciation be sent to FWS for that action.

  • Concern about use of avatars that are pictures of members, available to non-members from the “public parking lot.” (See motion below).

Public Information Report

• Discussedthe development of Treatment Center Outreach kit as CPIC/JointConference project. After kit completed and implemented in testintergroups, CLC and CPIC will determine how to proceed with kit.

Business

Adoption of Privacy Policy adapted from The Journal.

• Motion (David): Temporarily adopt the Policy Changes on an interim basis untilbrought up again at a meeting with larger attendance of 9 or moremembers.

  • Passed 3yes-0no-1abstain.

Privacy Policies of ESLAA

• Motion (David): Statement that “Intergroup has concern with the use of humanlikeness and would recommend that they develop an avatar acceptancepolicy to avoid triggering, abusive or identifying photographs orimages.”

• Passed 3yes-0no-1abstain.

What to do regarding contact of members from the press regarding information on Sex, Love as an addiction or on the fellowship.

• Motion (David): Request that Group Liaison call contacts listed for meetings toinform them that they can refer press inquiries to the SFI contactsfor information on fellowship/sex love addiction.
  • Passed 3yes-0no-1abstain

Proposed IFD to be sent to ABM regarding the issue of anorexia as an addiction (See Agenda).

• No Motion.

Distributing the SLAA Basic Text through popular media outlets (e.g., borders.com, amazon.com).

• Discussed issue of“revenue neutrality”; IFD at was proposed by SFI last year andwas well received.
• Motion(Steve): We form an ad hoc subcommittee to draft a specificMotion and solicit Intergroup member input and present at a specialtelephonic meeting the last week of February.

  • Passed 4yes-0no-0abstain (unanimous)

Motion to ABM on legitimacy of Conference to be able to approve public information kits that combine text, graphics, audio, and video and are delivered via a combination of web, print, and mobile devices, etc. (See Agenda).

• Motion to proceedwith above (movant?).
  • Passed 3yes-0no-1abstain

Adjourned 5:56 PM (Meeting time expanded by group conscious).

P.I.W.G. Pilot Outreach Team, January 2010

willing to write text and later select images for graphics designer: Estelle, Douglas, Steve, Ron, Dan, David, Raquel
willing to be involved with coordination: David, Douglas
willing to follow up mailings and emailings with a phone call: John
willing to speak with other professionals about slaa: Ron, Raquel
willing to moderate an e-slaa meeting: John, Douglas
willing to do digital graphic design: Moses (not present but willing), Douglas, and Mark from Seattle area (not present but willing)
willing to be a Group Service Rep: Steve, Shana, David, and John
willing to be on the cpic: David, Ron, Douglas, and Vonni

Startup Meeting, January 2010

Overall

• comments from the 1/9/10 meeting
  • Sam A.: "May best be used in areas that have an intergroup."
  • David B.: "Free professionals pamphlets are on legal paper, and Program Directors will not be interested in the S.L.A.A. Traditions and literature listings."
  • Steve B.: "We're not the C.P.I.C. or the C.L.C., narrowly tailored."

Guide for Group and Intergroup Outreach to Treatment Facilities

• comments from the 1/9/10 meeting
  • Steve B.: "Set up an intergroup outreach committee."
  • David B.: "Separate the Guide from rest of kit."
  • Sam A.: "Will need volunteer resources too."
• The goal: Reaching out to the sex and love addict going through drug and alcohol treatment
• The first objective: Showing the staff how S.L.A.A. resources benefit them
• How to make an appointment with a Program Director or other manager
• Deciding whether to offer bringing an S.L.A.A. meeting into the facility
• Preparing for the meeting with the staff: what to know in advance, what to bring, and how to dress
• What to say and what to not say
• Follow up is everything

Cover Letter

• basic information about slaa resources
• comments from the 1/9/10 meeting
  • David B.: "Brief and two executive should be in the cover letter."
  • Sam A.: "The thirteenth stepping substance abuser will not be engaging in the A.A. or N.A. Twelve Steps."
  • David B.: "Willing to work on initial draft of cover letter."
  • Steve B.: "Almost always written in first person plural as members, so that we appear trustworthy and international, but not too professional."
  • All: "Agree."
  • David B.: "I like those things, but need to preface with an intro paragraph outline what sex and love addiction is."
  • Sam A.: "Sex and love recovery compliments substance abuse treatment."
  • Steve B.: "Don't make an overblown connection between insurance and accreditation. Avoid implying something not true."
• structure:
  • Opening paragraph
  • Brief on the potential benefits of S.L.A.A. resources for a substance abuse treatment program from an insurance and accreditation point of view
  • Executive summary of the importance of the sex and love addiction model in alcohol and drug relapse prevention (better recovery rates)
  • Executive summary of the use of S.L.A.A. resources in inpatient and outpatient programs
  • Closing paragraph

Program Director's landing page

• Information to further legitimize S.L.A.A. as an adjunct to existing treatment resources
• Hosted S.L.A.A. meetings as a distinguishing characteristic of a progressive inpatient program and how to launch and manage them
• How to get other S.L.A.A. resources appropriate for staff and/or patients

FAQ for treatment planning

• Exactly how the sex and love addiction model prevents relapse in alcohol and drug addicted patients
• Related DSM diagnoses with associated addictive behaviors, how S.L.A.A. practices complement and reinforce common therapeutic practice, and additional treatment goals and objectives options for each diagnosis

FAQ for outpatient programs

• Exactly how the sex and love addiction model prevents relapse in alcohol and drug addicted patients in outpatient programs
• How to match meetings up with a patient's outpatient schedule
• Link to the local meeting list
• Links to free local and worldwide S.L.A.A. resources
• Links to the F.W.S. web store
• Contact information for a trusted servant who talks to professionals

S.L.A.A. aftercare sheet

• Header with blanks for name and date provided to patient
• Table of blanks for meeting dates, times, locations, meeting names, topics, and signature

FAQ for discharge planning

• How S.L.A.A. meeting attendance in the discharge plan improves a patient's likelihood of success
• The safety measures typically employed at meetings
• How to find S.L.A.A. meetings and other S.L.A.A. resources
• How to specify S.L.A.A. resources in a discharge plan
• How to match meetings up with a patient's residential plans
• Links (see below)
• Contact information for a trusted servant who talks to professionals

S.L.A.A. referral sheet

• Header with blanks for name, patient number, discharge date, primary therapist
• Table of blanks for days of the week, times, locations, meeting names, and contact

Agenda, Southwest Florida Ad Hoc Startup Subcommittee Meeting, September, 2009

• Commense at 4:30 PM EST
• Opening (5 min)
  • We version of the Serenity Prayer
  • Updating contact information (name, phone, email, town)

• S.F.I. Goal (1 min)
  • Two meetings per week in Fort Myers
  • Proper timeslot, location, outreach, literature, format, initial chairing, and contact people to support the venue(s)
  • Listing of the meetings to give to sex and love addicts seeking recovery
• S.F.I. Resources (4 min)
  • Conference calls of the SW Florida Ad Hoc Startup Subcommittee
  • Safe meeting startup kit (anonymity, confidentiality, use of the alternate S.L.A.A. name)
  • Seed money for literature and first month's rent
  • Listing on SouthFloridaSLAA.org and SLAAfws.org
  • Email newsletter
  • FWS Newsletter
  • Mailing to healthcare professionals in the area
  • Mailing to treatment centers in the area
  • Mailing to churches in the area
• Desired S.L.A.A. meeting schedule for Fort Myers (5 min)
• Chairpeople volunteers (5 min)
• Venue ideas and volunteer team (20 min)
• Closing (5 min)
  • Review of action items
  • Announce October 25th quarterly
  • We version of the Serenity Prayer
• Ajourn at 5:15 PM EST (estimated)

Minutes, Big Outreach Planning, September 2009

September 13, 2009

Meeting called to order at 4:30 by Douglas.

Members present:

• Douglas
• Dan (by telephone)
• Shana
• David
• Jerome
• Raquel
• Steve
• Ron

Douglas began by discussing the South Florida project.  The FWS CPIC Committee has voted the South Florida Intergroup to proceed with a pilot project to create a “stream of hope,” finding ways to disseminate information about the Fellowship to persons unknown and in need of SLA recovery.

It is estimated that 10 million people suffer from SLA worldwide and we are looking for ways to establish outreach at the intergroup levels.  If South Florida efforts are successful, efforts will serve as model for intergroups worldwide.

Douglas reviewed the items on the Meeting Agenda, attached hereto as Exhibit, covering:

• The conference CPIC vote,
• The applicable Traditions,
• CPIC Conference accomplishments and projects,

Attention was then directed to prior SFI efforts, including mailings, the Southfloridasll.org Website, including the statistic that the Website receives a “hit” the average of once every 5 minutes.

There was discussion of further developing a CPIC outreach kits, started at the ABM, including cover letters and instructions to “landing pages” on the Web, specifically tailored to targeted professional and recovery programs.

Discussion ensued regarding the high number of recovery treatment centers in South Florida and how they can be approached successfully.  The approach was discussed with an emphasis not on the fellowship itself, but how the fellowship can help to solve their problems.  The goal is to catch the practical interests of counselors and program directors and to receive referrals through the treatment and discharge processes.

Douglas informed the Committee of the status of the e-slaa website that has been created and will include online meetings, moderated chat, Bulletin Boards, Forums and etc.

There was also discussion regarding targeting kits to clergy and other non-professional sources such as 12 Step Meeting Rooms.

Attention was then directed to developing an outreach team from interested SLAA members, including potential roles, talents and financial means.  As far as actual expenses the committee did not anticipate much other than the costs of bulk mailings.  Currently the Intergroup has approximately $507.00 on hand.  Reference was made to the “Simple and Easy Service” portion of the Agenda, attached.

Each attendee was then asked to identify those things that they could lend their talents and abilities to:

• Dan, a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Discussed his opportunity to talk to clients and other professionals in the field; mentioned lectures he has given in the past, and his ability to approach addiction treatment centers.  He also brought up the importance of approach because of a common fear that sending patients to Sex and Love recovery meeting could pose a danger of clients acting out.  It was agreed all materials will need to emphasize that meetings are “safe places” where sexual liaisons and acting out is strongly discouraged.
• Shana will serve outreach through her role as Group GSR and as GSC for her Pompano home group and the committee.
• David expressed an interest in researching publications including “Recovery Nation” and writing and speaking to groups.  He is also a GSR and interested in clerical outreach.
• John is the Monday Night South Miami meeting GSR and would like to help with phone calls and moderate e-meetings.  He also expressed an interest in approaching Recovery Services at South Miami Hospital.
• Raquel is a mental health professional and is interested outreach among professionals, sending emails and will check into a publication called “The Connections.”  Also willing to send emails.
• Steve is the GSR for the Plantation meeting, is currently interested in researching the mailing lists for professionals and writing.  His availability is tighter during the Fall College Semester and intends to volunteer for more services after December.

As the last item, Ron, David and Douglas will serve as liaisons for the FWS CPIC.

The next meeting date was set for Oct. 25th, 2009, which could be held by telephone conference if more convenient for those involved.

Initial Notes, Big Outreach Planning, September 2009

• The Goal
  • In synopsis, the stated goal of the Big Outreach is to use low cost, high impact outreach methods to reach many of the hundreds of thousands of South Floridian sex and love addicts who do not yet know of S.L.A.A. recovery resources.
  • Later, the Conference Public Information Committee, which requested that the S.F.I. be a pilot intergroup for a more agressive public outreach campaign, will propagate what we develop and learn to the rest of the S.L.A.A. intergroups in the world.
  • The end result is hoped to be that many more of the millions of sex and love addicts around the world will find S.L.A.A. resources and begin their personal paths to recovery.
• Some ideas to examine
  • leveraging recovery nation web site
  • leveraging radio 610.0 out of miami
  • target larger churches first
  • start addict-oriented literature with characteristics of sex and love addiction and signs of recovery
  • the Sstep Booklet seems to work as outreach material
  • listing in the white pages seems to be effective in outreach, especially when starting with the word 'sex' or the word 'love'
  • south miami hospital has a large substance abuse facility
  • raquel has an email list of professionals in the mental health care field
  • is S.L.A.A. listed in Connections?
• People stepped forward!
  • willing to be a Group Service Rep: Steve, Shana, David, and John
  • willing to write text and later select images for graphics designer: Estelle, Douglas, Steve, Ron, Dan, David, Raquel
  • willing to follow up mailings and emailings with a phone call: John
  • willing to speak with other professionals about slaa: Ron, Raquel
  • willing to moderate an e-slaa meeting: John, Douglas
  • willing to do digital graphic design: Moses (not present but willing), Douglas, and Mark from Seattle area (not present but willing)
  • willing to be involved with coordination: David, Douglas
  • willing to be on the cpic: David, Ron, Douglas, and Vonni
• Douglas stated that the writing group will be first in line to assemble via email, e-community, and free conference call to work on the text for brochures, cover letters, and landing pages.

Agenda, Big Outreach Planning, September 2009

Commense at 4:30 PM EST

Opening (3 min)

• We version of the Serenity Prayer
• Passing contact information sheet (name, phone, email, town)
• Selection of person to take minutes
• Selection of timer

Overview (12 minutes)

• The Conference
• The Fifth and Nineth Tradition (5 minutes)
  • Carrying the message to the millions of suffering sex and love addicts who have not had a chance to decide if recovery is for them
  • Directly responsible to those we serve
  • Serving clients, patients, church members, prisoners
  • Serving those compulsively searching to get into a relationship or to get laid or to reach some romantic or sexual height, no matter what the cost and without the ability to weigh the consequences
• C.P.I.C. 2008-2009 Conference year accomplishments
  • Rekindling of primary purpose
  • Recognition of need
  • Search for pilot Intergroup
  • Stream of hope
  • Kits over packets
  • Initial design of The Treatment Center Outreach Kit
  • Significant g rowth in size
• C.P.I.C. projects
  • The Dos
  • Rewrite of the C.P.I.C. Missions Statement
  • Propagating whatever we succeed with to other intergroups throughout the world
• Early S.F.I. outreach efforts
  • Florida Health Department liscence files
  • Professionals pamphlet (poorly assembled)
  • Meeting list
  • Cover letter
• S.F.I. Successes
  • The success of www.SouthFloridaSLAA.org web site
  • S.F.I.'s vision of thrift
  • The positive reception of the S.F.I. item for discussion at the 2009 A.B.M.
  • Recent planning effort
  • Transition to landing pages to reduce cost
  • The thrift of e-newsletters
  • Use of surveys to improve our understanding of community needs
  • The motion to call this meeting
  • Our pilot status
• Making the Treatment Center Outreach Kit work
  • Capitalizing on the South Florida Treatment culture
  • The importance of referral goodwill
  • Speaking in terms of the recipient interests, background, and daily concerns
  • The missing Program Director's brochure
  • Building off of the DSM-IV/V
  • Referral at discharge, during IOP, and during structured living
• e-SLAA
  • e-Communities and geometric growth
  • Contact forms and list growth
• Churches
  • Troublesome adultery, teen pregnancy, internet addictions, and statutory rape
  • The missing Clergy Brochure

It Takes a Team

• S.F.I./Conference Literature Committee Writing Groups (10 min)
  • Program Director (brochure, cover letter, landing page)
  • Treatment Counselor (brochure, cover letter, landing page)
  • Clergy (brochure, cover letter, landing page)
  • Therapist, Practitioners, Social Worker, etc. (brochure, cover letter, landing page)
  • Other Twelve-steppers (brochure, cover letter, landing page)
• Graphic Design (7 min)
  • Program Director (photography, brochure, email creative)
  • Treatment Counselor (photography, brochure, email creative)
  • Clergy (photography, brochure, email creative)
  • Therapists, Practitioners, Social Workers, etc. (photography, brochure, email creative)
  • Other Twelve-steppers (photography, brochure, email creative)
• Phone calls and presentations (5 min)
  • The right person for the job
• Measuring Effectiveness (5 min)
  • Group Service Representatives
  • Group Service Correspondent
• Increasing Reach (10 min)
  • Financial c ontributions for print and mail and sponsored links for love addiction or sex addiction
  • List builders
  • Core Marketing Group
  • Propagating What We Do through C.P.I.C. Participation

The Next Survey (5 min)

Closing (3 min)

• check the contact information sheet
• celebration of the 7th tradition for SFI
• announce October 25th quarterly
• we-version of the Serenity Prayer

Adjourn at 5:30 PM EST

Minutes, 3rd Quarter 2009

Old Business

• Webmaster Report: Hits still increasing, currently targetted only for SLAA members, adding slaa.ning.com.
• Financial Report: Gained some from Miami Step Retreat '09, money was counted by Ron S. and matches balance
• Minutes from first and second quarter read and adopted unanimously.
• No intergroup correspondent report (absent)
• No public information report (absent)
• Member suggested a calendar of yearly aniversaries be kept among south florida slaa members on an internally published calendar.
• Added safety for the person doing outreach as a criteria for assessing public information and outreach activities.
• Motion: Since the SFI cannot shoulder the time and cost of setting up a corporation, so a member's ssn number must be used for setting up a ficticious name and bank account, the SFI accepts responsibility for tax or penalties incurred in the extremely unusual case that an audit should occur. (unanimously adopted)

New Business

• Ron S. elected CPIC Liaison
• Motion: Empower the SFI Chairperson to call the next public information subcommittee meeting for the purpose of coordinating mailing, with appropriate web landing pages, to treatment facilities, clergy, and private therapists. (unanimously adopted)
• Motion: Empower the Public Information Chairperson to contact or delegate the contacting of local periodicals to place service announcements and/or ads announcing the web site and meeting list, costing up to $100. (unanimously adopted)

Minutes, 1st Quarter 2009

• dade and broward counties represented
• commenced at 4:04 PM
• discussed minutes of last three quarters because of new people at meeting
• sfi interested in Fort Myers meetings times, dates, and locations because of inquiries
• $371.00 balance for outreach
• Motion to make Vonnie from North Miami the Public INformation Chairperson. (adopted unanimously)
• Vonnie was farmiliarized with the operations of the public information arm.
• Motion to make Shana from North Broward the Group Service Correspondent. She is already familiar with the operations of Group Service Correspondent. (adapted unanimously)
• Motion to open a bank account for the S.F.I. after filing for a ficticious name with the State of Florida as the South Florida Intergroup. (adapted unanimously)
• Motion to approve use of the Step Recovery Booklet at the Poconos Step Retreat in December 2009. (adopted unanimously)
• Motion to have the Group Service Correspondent encourage meetings to distribute and use 12&12 sharing sheets. (adopted unanimously)
• Motion to submit an item for discussion at the A.B.M. to consider discourating the mix S.L.A.A. with other fellowships in accordance with the singleness of purpose of the Fifth Tradition because of the occurance of reports of anorexics and love addicts being asked to leave meetings in cities such as Atlanta where mixing occurs. (adopted unanimously)
• Motion to submit an item for discussion at the A.B.M. to increase the flow of information about S.L.A.A. to the public. (adopted unanimously)
• adjorned at 5:40 PM

Minutes, 4th Quarter 2008

• Commenced at 4:30 PM on October 26th, 2008, with the Serenity Prayer
• Three counties represented (Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach)
• Minutes from 2nd quarter 2008 read and adopted without change 8-0-3.
• Outreach report read (web site upgrades and letters to professionals, but not the Conference-approved ones) and adopted unanimously.
• Motion, "To launch e-SLAA.org as a chat room following the style of the Bottom Line Group (a large and long-standing group with meetings of varying formats in multiple time slots, but not a club) as much as possible in the virtual space," adopted 11-0-0.
• Adjorned at 5:30 PM with the Serenity Prayer

Minutes, 2nd Quarter 2008

• April 27th 4 pm
• Martin and Broward County represented
• correct stuart meeting directions
• discussed how to handle troubling meeting participants
• $125 delegated to outreach adopted unanimously
• journal subscription $18
• sfi web site look and feel change
• retreat feb '09 miami, 3rd annual
• trusted servant cheap nice hotel
• overnight at hotel or just the day
• checking 7-8 at hotel
• ends at 1 pm
• unanimously adopted
• 7th tradition $20
• sample road $24, 7th tradition

Agenda, 2nd Quarter 2008

• start 4 pm
  • we-version of the Serenity Prayer
  • brief getting current
  • passing contact information sheet
  • selection of person to take minutes
  • celebration of the 7th tradition for SFI
• group feedback and needs
• minutes from the last meeting (read, adjust, and motion to adopt)
• any reports from inquiry representatives (respond to phone calls)
  • need another female correspondant?
• any reports from group service correspondant (stays in contact with individual groups and conveys information in both directions)
• notification secretary (contacts people by phone and paper mail for sfi meetings, newsletters, and events)
• intergroup conscience chairperson (coordinates and facilitates quarterly meetings, edits sfi newsletter, provides financial reports)
  • financial report
  • results of the first annual step retreat
  • results of twelve and twelve writing session
  • list of local recovery periodicals for outreach representative
• fws liason (interacts with fws and the sfi, attends the a.b.m.)
  • report of this month’s international a.b.m.
  • member retention information that might benefit the sfi or the groups directly
• yahoo groupmaster (maintains yahoo group)
• webmaster (maintains web site, manages contact data, forwards incoming requests, and handles bulk emails)
  • over 40 visitors per day, mostly through google or link from fws
  • some in program, some looking for love
  • schedule most common
  • averaging two day turnaround for meeting updates
  • access to retreat and round up flyers, computer cleaning software, and maps also common
  • contact list updated and ready for officers
• public information chairperson
  • to professionals
  • through the recovery community
  • to treatment facilities (revision of letter to professionals to target clergy)
  • to clergy (revision of letter to professionals to target clergy)
  • directly to people hitting bottom (list the SFI web site in local recovery periodicals and free public service listings - motion adopted 2Q 2006)
• old business
  • opening any vacated service positions (motions to replace absent members followed by nominations)
  • additional inquiry representatives?
  • new archivist?
• special agenda
• planing structure, choice of material, dates, and locations of future Step Retreats (Dade locations options?)
• content of, funding of, and delegation of work for this year's public information mail-out to clergy and treatment centers
• support of the Florida Round Up in October (meeting schedules, sfi newsletter, retreat flyers, fws information, signs for each)
• optional agenda
• traditions workshop at the round up in 2008
• increasing the level and perception of safety in the rooms of SLAA
• logo for the sfi
• end (5:30 pm)
  • we-version of the serenity prayer
  • some attendees go for dinner together - others stay for the s.l.a.a. anorexia meeting held in the same room at 6 pm
    

Minutes, 3rd Quarter 2007

• dade, broward, and palm beach represented
• commenced at 4 PM
• 7th tradition
• group needs - local consistencey of access to literature - discussion
• should the sfi stockpile literature for groups or palm beach intergroup? - not necessarily
• minutes from previous quarterly read and adopted unanimously
• any calls from phone list? - lucy responded yes
• notification of people on list
• $333.00 balance for outreach
• step retreat gained $6.03 with 22 participants from four counties not including the facilitator, 11 of which were women and 11 of which were men
• the step booklet will be updated for the next retreat
• the response was positive
• 12&12 report - board wants to hire a professional writer to finalize the 12&12 similar to alanon's process
• local workshop - positive experience, continue to submit sharing sheets
• brian's report from the A.B.M.
  • letter from BOT
  • issue - prudent reserve or endowment fund
  • agenda items at fws
  • issue about links - leave as is
  • new pamphlet - setting bottom lines
  • new chips - each step - 1, 2, and 3 available
• Motion to have another step retreat passed unanimously.
• Motion to use same material passed unanimously.
• closed with the serenity prayer
• ajourned at 5:55 pm
  

Agenda, 3rd Quarter 2007

• start (4 pm)
  • we-version of the Serenity Prayer
  • brief getting current
  • passing contact information sheet
  • selection of person to take minutes
  • brief approval of 4 pm timeslot and movement to 4th Sunday in January, April, July, and October
  • celebration of the 7th tradition for SFI
• group feedback and needs
• minutes from the last meeting (read, adjust, and motion to adopt)
• any reports from inquiry representatives (respond to phone calls)
  • need another female correspondant?
• any reports from group service correspondant (stays in contact with individual groups and conveys information in both directions)
• notification secretary (contacts people by phone and paper mail for sfi meetings, newsletters, and events)
• intergroup conscience chairperson (coordinates and facilitates quarterly meetings, edits sfi newsletter, provides financial reports)
  • financial report
  • results of the first annual step retreat
  • results of twelve and twelve writing session
  • list of local recovery periodicals for outreach representative
• fws liason (interacts with fws and the sfi, attends the a.b.m.)
  • report of this month’s international a.b.m.
  • member retention information that might benefit the sfi or the groups directly
• yahoo groupmaster (maintains yahoo group)
• webmaster (maintains web site, manages contact data, forwards incoming requests, and handles bulk emails)
  • over 40 visitors per day, mostly through google or link from fws
  • some in program, some looking for love
  • schedule most common
  • averaging two day turnaround for meeting updates
  • access to retreat and round up flyers, computer cleaning software, and maps also common
  • contact list updated and ready for officers
• public information chairperson
  • to professionals
  • through the recovery community
  • to treatment facilities (revision of letter to professionals to target clergy)
  • to clergy (revision of letter to professionals to target clergy)
  • directly to people hitting bottom (list the SFI web site in local recovery periodicals and free public service listings - motion adopted 2Q 2006)
• old business
  • opening any vacated service positions (motions to replace absent members followed by nominations)
  • additional inquiry representatives?
  • new archivist?
• special agenda
• planing structure, choice of material, dates, and locations of future Step Retreats (Dade locations options?)
• content of, funding of, and delegation of work for this year's public information mail-out to clergy and treatment centers
• support of the Florida Round Up in October (meeting schedules, sfi newsletter, retreat flyers, fws information, signs for each)
• optional agenda
• traditions workshop at the round up in 2008
• increasing the level and perception of safety in the rooms of SLAA
• logo for the sfi
• end (5:30 pm)
  • we-version of the serenity prayer
  • some attendees go for dinner together - others stay for the s.l.a.a. anorexia meeting held in the same room at 6 pm
    

Minutes, 2rd Quarter 2007

meeting commenced at 3:00 PM on Sunday, April 15th, 2007

six members in attendance, three officers and three Group Service Representatives
three counties represented: Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

motions

• to use the a draft of the non-conference-approved sex and love step material at the annual SFI step retreat - adopted (4-1).
  • minority opinion: "the step material in the basic text is approved and could be used"
  • response to minority opinion: "the gentle path is not approved and is commonly used for step workshops and retreats"
  • vote retaken - adopted (4-1)
• to allow the use of sfi funds to make up to a $100 deposit to the venue for the step retreat - adopted (5-0).
• to use the contact list developed by sfi (no round up data) as appropriate to notify members of s.l.a.a. events and maintain contact, with a note indicating how to be removed from the list - adopted (5-0)
• to hold the next quarterly meeting after the a.b.m. so that the intergroup can get a report of proceedings

group feedback

• need more connection between the groups and the intergroup - all agreed

outreach

• no report this quarter

budgetary

• no income or expenses or income since 4th quarter 2006 meeting
  

meeting adjourned at 4:30 PM.

Minutes, 4th Quarter 2006

meeting commenced at 3:05 PM on Sunday, October 8th, 2006

three counties represented: Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

• Harriette
• Dan R.
• Mark J.
• Barry
• Brian
• Douglas

discussed the success of the 2006 Round Up

elections

• Barry elected new Notification Secretary

fws liason

• Brian gave a report
  • FWS needs money
  • Round Up gave FWS several thousand from the auction
  • FWS is rolling out the new web site that provides a web page for every group and intergroup worldwide

motions

• to generate a one-page flyer for club houses - adopted (5-0).
• to begin planning for the first annual SFI international twelve step retreat and workshop - adopted (5-0).

outreach

• Mark to revise letters to professionals to target clergy
• Douglas to organize list of local recovery periodicals generated by his secretary and give to Mark
• Mark to list the SFI web site in local recovery periodicals and free public service listings (motion adopted 2nd Q)

women's safety and interests

• discussed women's safety
• discussed effect of discussing masturbation at meetings
• discussed effect of sex-alogs at meetings
• discussed the possibility of recommending to groups to have a getting current for women only
• discussed the need to get survey results from Karen
• Brian to talk with Karen to get survey results

budgetary

• current balance of $266.00
• no expenses or income since last report
  

meeting adjourned (early) at 4:15 PM.

Minutes, 3rd Quarter 2006

meeting commenced at 3:05 PM

role call

• Mark J excused - in Vermont
• Brian R excused - doing Round Up service work
• Dan R excused - doing Round Up service work
• Reed O called to alert us to his absence
• Two new attendees were present

discussed support of the 2006 Round Up

• to get flyers out to meetings - copies taken to groups
• to query groups about what they want on the tables

motions

• to ask permission of the Round Up committee to have a table in the foyer - adopted.
• to have schedules on the SFI table - adopted.
• to have something from each meeting represented on the SFI table - rejected.
• to have available meeting maps on the SFI table - adopted.
• to have archive meeting lists on the SFI table - adopted.
• to allow meetings to send or deliver flyers for their home group for display - adopted.
• to list the SFI web site in local recovery periodicals and free public service listings - adopted.
• to do a mailing to treatment facilities - tabled.
• to table business related to expenditures (Preferred Motion) - adopted.

discussed outreach.

• through recovery periodicals
• through treatment facilities

discussed treasury

• current balance of $266.00
• the 60/40 rule
• disbursement
• past mailings
• future mailings
  

meeting adjourned (early) at 4:15 PM.

Minutes, 2nd Quarter 2006

April 9th, 2006

Began just after 3 p.m. with the Serenity Prayer

Ad Hoc Public Information Committee Report

• Mark J was out of state.
• The result of the 392 informational packets that went out to professionals was discussed.
• Three visitors were confirmed as having been referred specifically because of the SFI mailing to professionals.
• Four reports were given indicating an increased influx of newcommers.
• Two reports from therapists came they appreciated the information mailed
• Consensus was that it is difficult to gather accurate statistics that demonstrate cause and effect in a twelve step community.

Outreach

• Consensus was that SLAA in South Florida is not sufficiently developed to do prison outreach yet.
• Email sponsorship with a woman in Brazil is now occuring because of SFI web site.
• Direct outreach to addicts was discussed, but a determination of a method to reach them safely was tabled.
• Web site activity rose from 70 to 90 hits per day over the last three months.
• Dan R. and Douglas D. each reported several calls coming in because of the General Correspondence page on the SFI web site.
• Reply letter was sent out to Brian P., who is in prison because of his addiction and wrote to the SFI, recommending resources for his recovery.

Intergroup Communication

• John D. contacted each group at least twice this quarter by phone.
• Reed O. contacted each group at least three times this quarter by email and/or phone.
• Douglas D. has visited five groups at their regular meeting this quarter.
• Attendance at each group is satisfactory.
• The Thursday 7:00 p.m. Lantana "Women's Healing Group" needs support.

Financial

• Balance as of last face-to-face meeting was $0.00.
• The Palm Beach Intergroup Auction 2006 brought in $240 for the SFI.
• Tradition Seven brought in $6.
• The balance as of this meeting is $246.00.

Non-SLAA Events

• The sixth tradition and how it relates to non-SLAA events and announcements was discussed.
• Motion to create a "Non-SLAA Events" section to the events calendar passed unanimously.

Teleconferencing Versus Monthly Newsletter

• Whether teleconferencing has been effective was discussed. Policy four of the SFI which states, "The SFI is focussed on providing communication services to individual SLAA groups in the service area, keeping SFI decision-making and financial activities to a minimum, so that most authority and responsibility within the community is delegated to the group level," was discussed. It was thought that a monthly newsletter would be more effective in maintaining communication and visibility than the conference calls.
• Motion to replace the conference calls with a monthly newsletter to be posted on the web site and sent out to each group via USPS passed unanimously.

Monthly Newsletter Content

• Three-fold vision of the SFI
• Information about the SFI web site
• Recent SFI news (areas of success)
• Upcoming Events, both SLAA and non-SLAA
• Recommendation to each group to have copies of "Are you an addict?" pamphlets and SFI meeting schedules available at every meeting
• Articles on recovery (like "The Journal")
• Instructions on how to submit an article

Events

• The SFI picnic is postponed because the picnic site is still undergoing repair from Huricane Wilma damage. It was also brought to light that throwing events was more in the realm of individual groups and the Palm Beach Intergroup.

Round Up Representation

• Consensus was that the SFI have a table at the Round Up consisting of a representative, a pile of SFI meeting lists, a pile of documents explaining the vision and structure of the SFI, a display of benefits realized by the SFI (especially the ability to find updated information on current South Florida meetings), pictures overviewing the web site and FWS information.

Closed well before 5 p.m. with the "we version" of the Serenity Prayer

Minutes, 4th Quarter 2005

Meeting commenced at 3 PM on October 16th, 2005, as scheduled, with 8 in attendance.

• John R.
• Brian R.
• Dan R.
• Sheila S.
• John D.
• Mark J.
• Reed O.
• Douglas D.

Reed O. accepted the responsibility of taking these minutes. Thanks for a great job, Reed.
Introductory Announcements:

• The number of listed meetings increased from 16 to 18 since the last SFI meeting.
• The www.SouthFloridaSLAA.org web site is, as of last night, listed #1 in Google.com for the key words “Florida SLAA” and is prepaid for the domain name and the web hosting through 2010.
• Lucy M. and Debra E. accepted appointment as Female Inquiry Representative and Alternate, respectively, prior to this meeting.
• Paul R. resigned from his position as Intergroup Conscience Chairperson due to health issues in his family. (Douglas D. stood in as chairperson in Paul’s stead.)

Douglas D. read the minutes of the 2nd Quarter 2005 SFI meeting.
The 7th Tradition basket was passed to cover the $10 cost of the current meeting. $14 was collected. Douglas D will send the $4 to FWS.
Agenda Item: Monthly meetings using teleconferencing on non-quarterly months

• Motion by Dan R. – The SFI shall teleconference at 9 AM on the second Sunday of months that the SFI does not meet [face-to-face]. [These months are February, March, May, June, August, September, November and December of each year.]
• Reed O. seconded the motion.
• The motion carried: 4 yeas, 2 nays.

Conference Call Information

• The next meeting is Sunday, November 13th at 9 AM.
• Call 641.497.7302.
• Enter the code 991483, and then press the pound key (#).

Announcements of Fellowship Activities and Service Opportunities:

• The West Palm Group will be having a Halloween Party on Saturday the 29th, details to be announced.
• Tampa is hosting a party on December 3rd.
• The Sample Road Group is sponsoring a “Celebration of Recovery” Holiday Party on December 10th. Flyers were circulated to meeting attendees in quantities to be distributed at their respective areas.

• A spiritual retreat is being planned in Sebring.

Agenda Item: Service Anorexia

• Dan R. expressed the importance of a nurturing environment and coined the term “nurturing cattle prod” over which we laughed.

Agenda Item: Ad Hoc Professional Outreach Committee

• Goal: to contact therapists
• Introductory cover letters to the professional community from several sources were read.
• Several attendees made revisions to the conglomerate letter prepared by the Committee, and a consensus was reached.
• Motion: To accept the letter as read.
• The motion passed unanimously: 7 yeas, 0 nays.

Related Discussion: How to get a database of professionals.

• Dan R. suggested three categories of state-licensed professionals that would “give the greatest bang for the buck”: (1) Licensed Medical Health Counselors, (2) Licensed Clinical Social Workers, (3) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. The categories of Psychologists and Psychiatrists were mentioned as the next two target categories.
• Douglas D. estimated the expense incurred for postage and handling around $0.50 per piece.
• Dan R. proposed suggesting to the Palm Beach Intergroup that a percentage of the money from their auction go to outreach costs for the SFI.
• Discussed a pilot mailing using the existing $100 contribution pledged.
• Tabled discussion of a wider mailing and the procurement of money to pay for it.

Agenda Item: Public Information

• Mark J. tabled discussion of notices in recovery periodicals.

Agenda Item: Finance

• The SFI currently does NOT have an income, a budget or a treasury.
• The web site is paid through 2010.
• Passing the basket covers the meeting space.
• The groups that benefit do not yet contribute to the SFI to cover the costs of mailings or reimbursement for copies, teleconferencing or outreach phone calls.

• Donations of individual groups to SFI tabled until FWS finishes the move to San Antonio.

Agenda Item: Officer Assignment and Reassignment

• Dan R. stepped down from the position of Schedule and Calendar Coordinator.
• Douglas D. accepted the position of Schedule and Calendar Coordinator.
• Brian R. accepted the position of Alternate Schedule and Calendar Coordinator.
• Douglas D. stepped down from the position of Group Service Correspondent.
• John D. accepted the position of Group Service Correspondent.
• Sheila S. accepted the position of Archivist.
• Brian R. accepted the position of Alternate Archivist.
• Mark J. accepted the position of Male Inquiry Representative Alternate.
• Douglas D. accepted the position of Intergroup Chairperson.
• Dan R. accepted the position of Alternate Intergroup Chairperson and will be chairing the conference calls.

Meeting came to a close with the “we” version of the Serenity Prayer at 5 PM as scheduled.

Minutes, 2nd Quarter 2005

• April 10th, 2005
• The picnic in Jupiter was announced for May 31st at 11 AM.
• Motion to keep quarterly SFI meeting schedule passed.
• Motion to ratify SFI Vision, Policy and Structure with the following three changes. Change the word "it" in item (1) of the "Threefold Vision" of SFI to "about S.L.A.A. recovery." Strike the introductory clause of item (2) of the SFI Policies staring with "Because" and ending with "safety". Use agenda-action-item meeting format for SFI quarterly meetings. The above three changes have been made on line.
• Budgetary discussion was tabled.
• The claim was again made that the Sunday GLCC meeting has dissolved.
• Douglas volunteered to notify FWS about Tuesday Sample Road and GLCC meetings, get password and info to Dan R., try to pre-register SouthFloridaIntergroup.org for five (5) years and pass appropriate information to each new SFI Trusted Servant to get them started.
• Outreach was discussed and delegated to the Outreach Committee led by Mark J. and including Douglas D. and Dan R.
• The following SFI Trusted Servants were elected.
  • Public Information Chairperson - Mark J.
  • Intergroup Conscience Chairperson and Intergroup Archivist Alternate - Paul R.
  • Schedule and Calendar Coordinator and Male Inquiry Response Representative - Dan R.
  • Intergroup Archivist and Female Inquiry Response Representative - Joanne B.
  • Notification Secretary - Reed O.
  • Group Service Correspondent and Webmaster - Douglas D.

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