ALT DCM Reports
Hi all,
September’s here and it has always seemed to me to be a “transition” month, caught between summer, the very beginning of fall, and, in AA, the oncoming Area 72 Western Washington Assembly. Just think of it … probably around 600 GSRs and DCMs, along with past & present delegates from Washington and beyond- all gathered to ensure that we continue to expand our reach out to anyone, anywhere, who needs the helping hand of A.A.
This is your moment, GSRs! You form the fundamental base at these assemblies for carrying the group conscience of your members and returning with the results of motions, discussions, elections, and information to better help extend that helping hand of recovery.
I missed the deadline for submitting September’s newsletter. I’m sure you all read the Alt DCM submissions from cover to cover-perhaps not, so I apologize and will be ready for next month’s subject: “… never be organized.” By the way, this is something the alt DCMs do every month- write on a subject that Pauline, our newsletter chair, gives us.
This month I continued to work with our most excellent webservant JC in making the website easier to access GSR and committee reports. There is a drop-down menu when you “mouse over” both the GSR and Trusted Servants tabs. From there you can access their reports. We're doing this in order to "share our experience, strength and hope" with those unable to make the meeting or want to access information spoken about in the meeting.
I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the energy, effort, and commitment our members make when they take on holding or attending an area/service quarterly. So much of this work is done behind the scenes and we benefit from your service. I want to thank Dina for attending quarterlies and workshops when others can’t attend, when she meets with me in 90-minute sessions before and after our business meetings in order to review how we all did, what could improve and set the agenda for the upcoming meeting. That’s in addition to talking to other DCMs, writing reports, and balancing this all with a professional and personal life. On this same list of service exemplars are Gary for the amazing work he does in his PI role, Jazmine for busting through the "half-measures" barrier & attending ICYPAA in San Francisco, and Howard who has gone out of his way to make sure workshops, well, work.
I attended the National AA Technology Workshop September 8-10 via zoom and slack. It was quite the event. Some of the seminars were way over my head (I do not code) but overall, it was interesting, informative, and heartfelt. One of the presentations that stood out for me was someone who spoke on web design needing to reflect some of the principles in our program. If anyone has a desire to quit drinking, how do we organize our pages? It needs to be more than just presenting information. How do we engage first timers to the web site? How do we engage with family members and friends? Or do we? What do we do to help people become more comfortable with using digital resources? How often do we ask for input on the design and content of our website? Do we have electronic methods that are easily used for 7th traditions? Do our zoom hosts help those who might have a problem with reading on-screen information? How do we sponsor in an online setting?
Please Note: In our GSR portion of the business meeting, I will be polling folks and asking if they have presented the 3 motions and one discussion topic to their group for input and whether they will be attending the Assembly in person or via Zoom. If you have any questions concerning the assembly, please don’t hesitate to call me.
I’d like to give a shoutout to the following GSRs for submitting August reports: Bryan B, Joe T, Lora H, Carol L, Lori M, and Gary E.
That thumb up extends to the following committee members as well: Dina, Will, May, Morgan, Gary, Mike, JC, Jazmine
If you submitted a report and your name is not on this list, please contact me.
Thanks for allowing me to be of service! It’s a privilege and a pleasure.
Dave Johnson
Alt DCM District 46
360-317-4893
Altdcm46@area72aa.org
“For free and for fun!”
September’s here and it has always seemed to me to be a “transition” month, caught between summer, the very beginning of fall, and, in AA, the oncoming Area 72 Western Washington Assembly. Just think of it … probably around 600 GSRs and DCMs, along with past & present delegates from Washington and beyond- all gathered to ensure that we continue to expand our reach out to anyone, anywhere, who needs the helping hand of A.A.
This is your moment, GSRs! You form the fundamental base at these assemblies for carrying the group conscience of your members and returning with the results of motions, discussions, elections, and information to better help extend that helping hand of recovery.
- Assembly Related Documents: https://area72aa.org/2023-area-assembly/documents/
- Online Assembly Registration: https://area72aa.org/2023-area-assembly/online-registration/
I missed the deadline for submitting September’s newsletter. I’m sure you all read the Alt DCM submissions from cover to cover-perhaps not, so I apologize and will be ready for next month’s subject: “… never be organized.” By the way, this is something the alt DCMs do every month- write on a subject that Pauline, our newsletter chair, gives us.
This month I continued to work with our most excellent webservant JC in making the website easier to access GSR and committee reports. There is a drop-down menu when you “mouse over” both the GSR and Trusted Servants tabs. From there you can access their reports. We're doing this in order to "share our experience, strength and hope" with those unable to make the meeting or want to access information spoken about in the meeting.
I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the energy, effort, and commitment our members make when they take on holding or attending an area/service quarterly. So much of this work is done behind the scenes and we benefit from your service. I want to thank Dina for attending quarterlies and workshops when others can’t attend, when she meets with me in 90-minute sessions before and after our business meetings in order to review how we all did, what could improve and set the agenda for the upcoming meeting. That’s in addition to talking to other DCMs, writing reports, and balancing this all with a professional and personal life. On this same list of service exemplars are Gary for the amazing work he does in his PI role, Jazmine for busting through the "half-measures" barrier & attending ICYPAA in San Francisco, and Howard who has gone out of his way to make sure workshops, well, work.
I attended the National AA Technology Workshop September 8-10 via zoom and slack. It was quite the event. Some of the seminars were way over my head (I do not code) but overall, it was interesting, informative, and heartfelt. One of the presentations that stood out for me was someone who spoke on web design needing to reflect some of the principles in our program. If anyone has a desire to quit drinking, how do we organize our pages? It needs to be more than just presenting information. How do we engage first timers to the web site? How do we engage with family members and friends? Or do we? What do we do to help people become more comfortable with using digital resources? How often do we ask for input on the design and content of our website? Do we have electronic methods that are easily used for 7th traditions? Do our zoom hosts help those who might have a problem with reading on-screen information? How do we sponsor in an online setting?
Please Note: In our GSR portion of the business meeting, I will be polling folks and asking if they have presented the 3 motions and one discussion topic to their group for input and whether they will be attending the Assembly in person or via Zoom. If you have any questions concerning the assembly, please don’t hesitate to call me.
I’d like to give a shoutout to the following GSRs for submitting August reports: Bryan B, Joe T, Lora H, Carol L, Lori M, and Gary E.
That thumb up extends to the following committee members as well: Dina, Will, May, Morgan, Gary, Mike, JC, Jazmine
If you submitted a report and your name is not on this list, please contact me.
Thanks for allowing me to be of service! It’s a privilege and a pleasure.
Dave Johnson
Alt DCM District 46
360-317-4893
Altdcm46@area72aa.org
“For free and for fun!”
August 2023
Hi all, it’s been quite a month, trying to balance service commitments with work and family life. That’s why I sometimes think of all of you as unsung superheroes of service … not that I’m prone to hyperbole …
The really big news are the few remaining Pre-Assemblies being held the next couple of weeks. Attendance is essential in understanding what you present to your groups and then take to the Assembly.
Central Districts
(14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
31, 40, 41)
August 19, 2023 Saturday
Fellowship @ 1:30 pm 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
HYBRID
Fauntleroy Church
9140 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136
MEETING ID:793 340 4691
PASSCODE: 178910
https://area72aa.org/event/2023-pre-assembly-central-districts/
Spanish-Speaking
(1, 57 & 58)
August 20, 2023 Sunday
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
230 Titusville Alley, Kent, WA 98032
Online Groups
(25 and any who want to participate virtually)
August 23, 2023 Wednesday
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
MEETING ID: 871 4398 4690
PASSCODE: 652757
Northern Districts
(2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 19,
24, 42, 46)
August 26, 2023 Saturday
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm HYBRID
Calvin Presbyterian Church
18826 3rd AVE NW Shoreline, WA 98177
MEETING ID:922 5801 1108
PASSCODE: Service3
https://area72aa.org/event/2023-pre-assembly-northern-districts/
Assembly Related Documents: https://area72aa.org/2023-area-assembly/documents/
This link takes you to all the information YOU need in order to poll your group and get their group conscience on the matters being discussed at the 2023 Area 72 Assembly. This is how A.A. works. The members speak, their group’s GSR passes information up to District and the Area and from there, the Area Delegate attends the General Service Conference. We’ve been doing this since April 20th, 1941 when 37 delegates met. Today, we have 93 who meet each year. It DOES NOT WORK if the voices of our members are not heard. That’s why GSRs are mentioned first in the service manual and sit above everyone else, save their group members, in the inverted triangle.
Once upon a time, A.A.’s main service office was called the Foundation Headquarters. Then the name was changed to the General Service Office. When responsibility for running A.A. was turned over to its members, we needed a way to direct the operations of the General Service Office (G.S.O). Hence, the General Service Conference was created.
So how do A.A. members “run” A.A.? How do the groups make their voices heard on overall A.A. policies? In order for AA to run itself, we have to have a system for finding out how A.A. as a whole feels about its world affairs, and how it wants to operate.
Each A.A. group has it’s say in worldwide A.A. affairs through its general service representative (GSR). A GSR is a member of a group and elected by the group members. If a group does not have a GSR it is isolated from the rest of the Fellowship and does not participate in the group conscience of A.A. as a whole.
For every district, the GSRs elect a district committee member (DCMs). DCMs hold regular district committee meetings with their GSRs.
Every group in an area can send its GSR to the area assembly. The DCMs are there, too, making up the area committee—a sort of steering committee for the assembly. Each group sends its own ideas or problems to the assembly and other groups can share their experience and help. From the assembly, each GSR can take back to the group the experience of other groups.
Every area elects a delegate to go to the General Service Conference in New York each April. The Conference represents a vast pool of A.A. experience gathered for decades from A.A.s all over the world. Every A.A. group can share its experience with other groups through its area delegate to the Conference.
The 93 elected area delegates make up over two-thirds of the Conference, but there are others at the annual Conference session, too: the 21 trustees of A.A.’s General Service Board; the directors of A.A. World Services, Inc. (the legal entity responsible for the business of the General Service Office) and the A.A. staff members at GSO; and the directors of The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., as well as the A.A. staff of the magazine.
Every A.A. group has a voice at the Conference if it has an active GSR!
In August I worked on updating our service manual, developing additional web resources for GSR and Trusted Servant reports. I lent a hand in organizing Orcas Island’s hosting of District 46’s August Business Meeting. I also updated the GSR page.
Help out the organizing committee for the October 6-8 Area 72 Assembly! Preregister now!
Go to https://area72aa.org/2023-area-assembly/online-registration/ to register online.
Thanks for letting me be of service!
Dave
360-317-4893
altdcm46@area72aa.org
The really big news are the few remaining Pre-Assemblies being held the next couple of weeks. Attendance is essential in understanding what you present to your groups and then take to the Assembly.
Central Districts
(14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
31, 40, 41)
August 19, 2023 Saturday
Fellowship @ 1:30 pm 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
HYBRID
Fauntleroy Church
9140 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98136
MEETING ID:793 340 4691
PASSCODE: 178910
https://area72aa.org/event/2023-pre-assembly-central-districts/
Spanish-Speaking
(1, 57 & 58)
August 20, 2023 Sunday
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
230 Titusville Alley, Kent, WA 98032
Online Groups
(25 and any who want to participate virtually)
August 23, 2023 Wednesday
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
MEETING ID: 871 4398 4690
PASSCODE: 652757
Northern Districts
(2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 19,
24, 42, 46)
August 26, 2023 Saturday
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm HYBRID
Calvin Presbyterian Church
18826 3rd AVE NW Shoreline, WA 98177
MEETING ID:922 5801 1108
PASSCODE: Service3
https://area72aa.org/event/2023-pre-assembly-northern-districts/
Assembly Related Documents: https://area72aa.org/2023-area-assembly/documents/
This link takes you to all the information YOU need in order to poll your group and get their group conscience on the matters being discussed at the 2023 Area 72 Assembly. This is how A.A. works. The members speak, their group’s GSR passes information up to District and the Area and from there, the Area Delegate attends the General Service Conference. We’ve been doing this since April 20th, 1941 when 37 delegates met. Today, we have 93 who meet each year. It DOES NOT WORK if the voices of our members are not heard. That’s why GSRs are mentioned first in the service manual and sit above everyone else, save their group members, in the inverted triangle.
Once upon a time, A.A.’s main service office was called the Foundation Headquarters. Then the name was changed to the General Service Office. When responsibility for running A.A. was turned over to its members, we needed a way to direct the operations of the General Service Office (G.S.O). Hence, the General Service Conference was created.
So how do A.A. members “run” A.A.? How do the groups make their voices heard on overall A.A. policies? In order for AA to run itself, we have to have a system for finding out how A.A. as a whole feels about its world affairs, and how it wants to operate.
Each A.A. group has it’s say in worldwide A.A. affairs through its general service representative (GSR). A GSR is a member of a group and elected by the group members. If a group does not have a GSR it is isolated from the rest of the Fellowship and does not participate in the group conscience of A.A. as a whole.
For every district, the GSRs elect a district committee member (DCMs). DCMs hold regular district committee meetings with their GSRs.
Every group in an area can send its GSR to the area assembly. The DCMs are there, too, making up the area committee—a sort of steering committee for the assembly. Each group sends its own ideas or problems to the assembly and other groups can share their experience and help. From the assembly, each GSR can take back to the group the experience of other groups.
Every area elects a delegate to go to the General Service Conference in New York each April. The Conference represents a vast pool of A.A. experience gathered for decades from A.A.s all over the world. Every A.A. group can share its experience with other groups through its area delegate to the Conference.
The 93 elected area delegates make up over two-thirds of the Conference, but there are others at the annual Conference session, too: the 21 trustees of A.A.’s General Service Board; the directors of A.A. World Services, Inc. (the legal entity responsible for the business of the General Service Office) and the A.A. staff members at GSO; and the directors of The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., as well as the A.A. staff of the magazine.
Every A.A. group has a voice at the Conference if it has an active GSR!
In August I worked on updating our service manual, developing additional web resources for GSR and Trusted Servant reports. I lent a hand in organizing Orcas Island’s hosting of District 46’s August Business Meeting. I also updated the GSR page.
Help out the organizing committee for the October 6-8 Area 72 Assembly! Preregister now!
Go to https://area72aa.org/2023-area-assembly/online-registration/ to register online.
Thanks for letting me be of service!
Dave
360-317-4893
altdcm46@area72aa.org
July 2023 Alt DCM Report
Hi all,
It’s been a busy month for me with outside work and projects keeping me busy. Not nearly as busy as our PI Gary, though. Check out his in-depth report on this year’s Pacific Northwest Conference, held June 13-15th in Portland, OR. It’s an amazing read!
I’m glad he described all the events in some detail as I was unable to attend virtually due to work-related demands. I did make it to the July Area Business Quarterly where we discussed a number of topics, including:
Motions moved to October assembly agenda:
Motion: Area 72 submit the following Proposed Agenda Item for consideration at the General Service Conference: “The General Service Board develop supplemental reporting focused on the actual costs of the various service items we provide, with an initial draft being brought back to the Conference Committee on Finance for review at the General Service Conference.”
Motion: We move that Western Washington Area 72 support Oregon Area 58’s proposed agenda item to prioritize the following pieces of AA literature into ASL: the personal stories in the upcoming fifth edition; the pamphlet the AA group; the GSR pamphlet; and the AA Service Manual.
Motion: In the spirit of unity, we affirm that District 25 is an online district with no geographic boundaries.
JC and I worked on making reports from all trusted servants (elected, appointed & GSRs) more accessible to anyone wishing to avail themselves of District 46’s combined experience, strength and hope. Since everyone will be submitting reports, we don’t want people to have to wait a month to see what they might not have taken in at the business meeting or because they couldn’t attend. There is a dedicated sub-menu on the GSR page for GSR reports as well as another on the Trusted Servants page for all the elected/appointed positions.
Thank you for allowing me to be of service. It’s both a privilege and a blast!
Dave Johnson
altdcm46@area72aa.org
360-317-4893
July 2023 Alt DCM Report
Hi all,
It’s been a busy month for me with outside work and projects keeping me busy. Not nearly as busy as our PI Gary, though. Check out his in-depth report on this year’s Pacific Northwest Conference, held June 13-15th in Portland, OR. It’s an amazing read!
I’m glad he described all the events in some detail as I was unable to attend virtually due to work-related demands. I did make it to the July Area Business Quarterly where we discussed a number of topics, including:
- How can we make General Service more attractive? Are we asking too much of our Trusted Servants?
- Request A.A.W.S. prioritize translation of specific A. A. literature into ASL
- Web standing committee charter and responsibilities.
- Participation of Online Groups in Area 72
- Area 72 Assembly Schedule
Motions moved to October assembly agenda:
Motion: Area 72 submit the following Proposed Agenda Item for consideration at the General Service Conference: “The General Service Board develop supplemental reporting focused on the actual costs of the various service items we provide, with an initial draft being brought back to the Conference Committee on Finance for review at the General Service Conference.”
Motion: We move that Western Washington Area 72 support Oregon Area 58’s proposed agenda item to prioritize the following pieces of AA literature into ASL: the personal stories in the upcoming fifth edition; the pamphlet the AA group; the GSR pamphlet; and the AA Service Manual.
Motion: In the spirit of unity, we affirm that District 25 is an online district with no geographic boundaries.
JC and I worked on making reports from all trusted servants (elected, appointed & GSRs) more accessible to anyone wishing to avail themselves of District 46’s combined experience, strength and hope. Since everyone will be submitting reports, we don’t want people to have to wait a month to see what they might not have taken in at the business meeting or because they couldn’t attend. There is a dedicated sub-menu on the GSR page for GSR reports as well as another on the Trusted Servants page for all the elected/appointed positions.
Thank you for allowing me to be of service. It’s both a privilege and a blast!
Dave Johnson
altdcm46@area72aa.org
360-317-4893