The meeting was convened at 7:00 pm with the Serenity Prayer.

Introductions

Chair, IR, Uptown Tuesday 6:30 pm A
Co-Secretary and web chair, IR Midway 6:30 pm
Assistant Treasurer, IR, Inner Peace Thursday 11 am Al-Anon

It was noted that a quorum (5% of groups, that is, 6 or more) was not present so no substantive business could be done.

There were readings on Tradition 1 and Concept 1.

Business

1. Questions/Concerns

There was considerable discussion about the need for quickly getting out a newsletter, even though no one as yet is willing to serve as Newsletter editor for the year. The Chair offered to put one together and get it printed.

Among items for possible inclusion in the newsletter are the following:

• A letter from the chair, emphasizing the need for more members willing to take an active part in Intergroup service.
• An article about the website; The web chair prepared one last Spring but it was not used.
• A list of contributing groups in 2013. The immediate past assistant Treasurer said he would put one together.
• A brief “year in review” article. The co-treasurer saud he would will try to put one together.
• A brief review of the new workbook Reaching for Personal Freedom
• Information about volunteer opportunities

It was proposed that an appeal letter be included with the newsletter. the co-secretary will try to prepare a draft quickly. The Assistant Treasurer suggested that AA Intergroup might be able to give us a better price on printing than OfficeMax or Kinkos.

2. Additional Nominations for 2014

There were no nominations for Vice Chair, the only unfilled officer position.

3. Elections

With no nominations and no quorum, there was no election

4. Open Service Positions for 2014

The Assistant Treasurer is willing to be Office Manager and was immediately appointed. Positions that remain open are chairs for Newsletter, Group Liaison, Event Sales, Alateen, Archives. and Public Information. The Liaison to the Minnesota South Area position is also unfilled.

5. Telephone and Internet

The web chair reported on an offer from Integra, our phone and internet provider, for an improved level of internet service which is currently at the lowest speed offered. The quoted price is competitive with what we are currently paying, but does not include taxes and fees. He has asked for a sample bill including such fees but none has been provided.

6. Office copier

The co-treasurer reported he had seen copiers at OfficeMax that might be adequate to replace our aging copier and that might be affordable. He will try to get more information for the March meeting.

Reports

Chair

No specific report

Secretary

The minutes of the December meeting were approved unanimously.

Treasurer

Although the Treasurer was not present, she had provided a report. It showed a balance of $6,937 in the checking account and $5,000 in our prudent reserve Revenue for December included $793 in literature sales, $81 in medallion sales, and $831 contributions including $100 from individuals. Expenses included $1,526 for literature and $61 for medallions, $755 office rent, $127 telephone and internet and $150 to Minneapolis Information Services for our share of the website and for answering our phones when our office is closed. For December expenses exceeded revenue by $837.

Assistant Treasurer

The past Assistant Treasurer provided information for the entire year. December was down in both sales and contribution, probably because of weather and holidays. For the entire year, literature sales totaled $22,203, medallion sales totaled $679, sales tax received totaled $1.743, group contributions totaled $9,093 from 56 groups and individual contributions totaled $845 from 6 individuals, excluding “keep the change” contributions

Newletter

No report, but see above under business.

Office volunteers

No report, although it was pointed out that January will probably have only 3 days unstaffed

Website/Directory

The web chair reported he is considering separating out groups in suburbs from groups in Minneapolis and St. Paul to reduce the maximum number of groups on pages.

Literature

No report

Office Manger

She has restocked manila folders and separators for the office directory.

The web chair reported that we now have a previously owned Windows 7 computer thanks to a gift from an Al-Anon member. We do not have working copies of Microsoft Office on the computer, but do have Open Office installed.

Group Liaison

Open

Event Sales

Open.

Liaison Minnesota South Area

Open

The meeting closed at 8:05 pm with the Al-Anon Declaration.

The next meeting will be February 11, 2014 at 7 pm at the Griggs Midway building.