BARS & CELLS

Bars & Cells is the CFC newsletter published quarterly and primarily contains the CFC minutes from the Quarterly Assemblies and Workshops. However, the CFC would like you to provide stories, letters, poems, etc., that have been shared by inmates at your meetings so their experience, strength and hope can be published in the Bars & Cells to be shared with others. Please forward information or any other items of interest to the CFC Secretary or to a member of the committee.

Thanks for the opportunity to serve as your Area 64 CFC Secretary. I look forward to my duties and welcome any and all suggestions or ideas for improving our paths of communication. I'm privileged to be serving with an outstanding committee and group of trusted servants.

Yours in Service,

Jethro

CFC Secretary

Area 64 1^st Quarter Assembly

Friday, January 23, 2004

Ray R, CFC Chair, opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer at 8p.m. There were 39 people present at the sharing session.

Sharing Highlights:

Ray R-Once he started coming to the Corrections Committee meetings, his heart became part of this committee. All committees are great, but this is the special committee. He has two letters from Memphis that need responses.

Mary Ann E -Gave up the DCM position for her district and lost one of their GSR's. Todd who passed away and will be sorely missed. Our workshops have been informative and a lot of fun.

Mandy S -Still goes to Sumner County Jail and feels blessed that she is able to do so. She has others interested in serving. The web site got one hit only. The pre-release still needs to be added to the site and she'll contact JJ to get the site updated. Thanks for the opportunity to serve. It's been an honor.

Val H - Takes a meeting into CCA Chattanooga on Monday night. Meetings have been really strange lately. She tries to focus on recovery and the solution, but there's been a lot of drug talk and unruly women.

Jenny-Has been taking a meeting in this past year by herself, there are just not a lot of women at this point who have the time or desire to go in. She will get with her DCM for help.

Jethro-Group still has men's and women's meetings but participation has been poor from outside volunteers. Most of his time has been busy with a recovery group that his church takes in the jail.

Barry-Alt DCM, District 41, CCA Clifton. One inmate was released and then suddenly passed away. He certainly has an attitude of gratitude.

He is grateful whenever the doors close behind him.

Kevin-Spent a lot of time trying to stay out of jail and now is trying to get in. He is trying to start a step study meeting in DC4.

Milton-asked if anyone was new to corrections. Said we do everything we can to take meetings in. Keep coming back.

Darrell N-Good to see a crowd. No longer taking in meeting but he's a member of this committee.

Pat P-Not going in anywhere right now but hopes to carry the message in other ways. He sends literature and informs others about our committee. There is so much love and sacrifice on this committee and he needs to be with people like that.

Reda-Their literature fundraiser last fall was a great success.

Tony-They raised $1,400 for literature, but it goes fast.

Todd-group has started taking collections for literature. They feel sure the meeting will get off the ground eventually. This meeting is at Turney.

Karen-goes into Sumner co Jail with Mandy but doesn't go all the time. Karen celebrated her belly button birthday at the assembly.

Cindy L-Goes into Washington Co Jail and Sullivan Co Jail. Very grateful she can correspond with inmates, soon she will have her masters degree and is also in the process of an adoption. She couldn't do that if she wasn't sober today.

Our 7^th tradition was $118

Meeting closed at 9:05 with the Lord's Prayer.

Saturday, January 24, 2004

Ray R, Chair - Opened the business meeting at 7:30 am with the Serenity Prayer.

Several (crazy) members present wearing prison uniforms. Some collected “bail money” for literature. What a hoot!

Chairperson - Ray R

Ray stated he is grateful for serving this committee for the past two years and thanked the rest of the officers. This committee has lots of love. Ray read the CFC Purpose.

Alternate Chair - Mary Ann E

Alt. Chair-Mary Ann E

Mary Ann stated that we've tried to put the fun back into dysfunction. It's been a pleasure serving this committee. Come back cause we plan to continue having fun.

Val H-Secretary-asked for motion to dispense with reading of the minutes. Motion passed. Minutes were approved as written.

Mandy S, Treasurer

Gave the treasurer's report with the balance of $1,424.47 as of 1/24/04. The final report is as follows.

Treasurer's report 11/8/03 through 1/24/04

Next order of business was election of 2004-2006 corrections committee officers. The following are the results.

Chairperson-Mary Ann E

Alt Chair-Mandy S

Secretary-Jethro B

Treasurer-Rebecca C

Pre-release-Karen T

Archivist-Amy M

Budget & Finance-Marty M

Website contact-Mandy S

Literature coordinators:

S Middle-William M

N Middle-Karen T

N East-Cindy L

S East-Val H

N West-Jethro

S West-vacant

Mideast-Ron P

West (Memphis)-vacant

Val H-motion made and seconded to approve

Minutes as written in the Bars & Cells.

Motion passed.

Budget & Finance-Pat P

Reported contributions are up and budget may be increased. Results will be announced at the business meeting. (Note: Outcome was that original budgeted amount was restored)

Motion passed to spend $700.00 on literature for the next assembly.

7^th tradition was $81.00

Meeting closed 8:45am with Lord's Prayer.

Fall CFC Workshop

March 5,6,7 Gallatin TN

Friday Sharing Session

Chairperson-Mary Ann-hasn't heard from GSO but has a lot of activity going on.

Alt Chair-Mandy S-women's population has grown in Sumner Co jail. Women's group “Journey” donated case of Big Books. She shared her story in several places. We've had 3 hits on the website.

Treasurer-Rebecca C-Whitehouse group going into TN Christian. Speaking at Sumner Co Drug Court. She celebrated her 20^th sobriety birthday.

Secretary-Jethro B-He's still happily married. Celebrated 3 year birthday in January. Volunteers in his area have been scarce but he still carries meeting in with his church group.

He speaks once a month at JACOA and at Buffalo Valley in Hohenwald.

George-still carrying meeting in to DUI facility. His districts corrections committee met on March 4^th and will be electing new chairperson.

Daryl N-Walt P. from Bristol is the new corrections chair for district 1.

Marty M-DCM District 34 Took meeting in Sumner county for 2 years. Not going in currently.

Bonita-Here to get info and see if she can find time to devote to corrections. Will take info back to her home group. Suggested we take a look at the agenda for the workshop.

Val-Still meeting at CCA Chattannooga. All time low attendance since searches have begun.

Having trouble getting help for meetings. Trying to get her district involved in all standing committees. She is DCM of District 81.

Sat morning sharing session

Denise C-most of her time has been consumed with grandbabies. (Something in the water?)

Kenny-GSR-High Noon Group-working mostly with treatment centers. Brought a contribution from his group.

Chuck E-Past Delegate-corresponding with 2 inmates in Decatur Co and CCA Whiteville.

Interim Chairman for probation and parole District 5.

Milton C-Area 64 Delegate-pointed out that we had failed to begin with the Serenity Prayer. We said the prayer and continued the meeting.

Amy M-Archivist-will be discussing ideas for CFC traveling bulletin board. She's been working with first time juvenile offenders group.

Sat Afternoon Panel Discussion

Panel members, Milton C.-Area 64 Delegate, Chuck E-Past Delegate, Daryl N-Past Corrections Chair

Panel discussion was about history, experience and fund-raising. Several highlights follow from that discussion.

Chuck E-remembers that the “Institutional Committee was split into corrections and treatment. He served as chairman before the split. Said that jail administrator is usually the key to getting into jails. Suggested a workshop for Judges in your area to educate them on what AA can and cannot do. Said that in his experience clear collection jars had worked best so people can see the money in it.

Darrell N-Started out as CFC chair for district #1. He started doing what older members told him to do. Literature was scarce in the beginning but he found ways around that. He would attend a group's meeting and when they announced that literature in the racks was free he would “clean out” the racks at the end of the meeting. Said after several close brushes with violence those groups finally gave him money for literature in order to leave theirs alone. Everyone got a laugh out of this. Darrell stated at that point he was sober but not necessarily serene. He remembers sitting at home sewing Grapevine editions together with needle and thread when the jails wouldn't allow them in with staples in them. He said at one time the CFC had a goal to have a meeting going into every county correction facility. Stated we have meetings going in approximately 68% now. Suggested we start a map like the committee had before showing meetings that are going behind the walls.

Milton C-1986 his sponsor told him to get more involved in service and it probably saved his life.

He began by committing to one years worth of meetings at Fort Pillow and ended up taking that meeting in for 11 years. He attended his first assembly looking for literature. One way he got his group involved was by donating their money for a cake at birthday celebrations and using that money to buy Big Books. He shared with us an article published by the Grapevine that he submitted on that subject.

Several questions and answers followed and the CFC would like to thank our panel members for a very informative and entertaining session.

The remainder of Saturday afternoon was devoted to some issues that Milton C will be addressing as our Area 64 Delegate when he attends the General Service Conference in April.

He will be serving on the Corrections Committee at that conference. (Ain't God Good?) The following is excerpts from that discussion:.

1. Trying to get stories from inmates. (particularly women and young people) to subimit for “AA in Prison:Inmate to Inmate”

Articles should be 1200 words typed or written and submitted by July 1, 2004.

You can submit these to Milton.

2. Discussion on clarifying “purpose”

statement. Committee decided that any

reference to “membership” be omitted.

3.Talked about AA training programs for the workers at correctional facilities. Employees not being paid to attend this training was seen as one roadblock.

4. Looked at several items for possible inclusion into the CFC kits. One suggestion was that it be available electronically and Chuck E mentioned asking about a moratorium on new literature.

During discussion several people commented on how their meetings were run and how they keep the subject on alcohol. Also discussed the difficulties in doing the 4^th and 5^th steps behind the walls where sensitive information might be discovered.

Sun morning Business meeting

Amy M-Archivist-asked for and shared several ideas about improving our bulletin board. She sees the purpose as attracting new people to our committee and keeping current people informed. We shared several great ideas that Amy will be incorporating into her new design of the board.

Mary Ann-we should send copies of our minutes to the GSO.

Old Business

New literature coordinators needed in some areas but since no one was in attendance from those areas it was tabled.

New Business

Motion made and seconded to reduce sharing sessions to once on Saturday. Motion passed.

Motion made and seconded to change suggested workshop agenda to read Fri 7pm Registration and welcome. 8pm Candlelight AA meeting. Motion passed.

Motion made and seconded to change agenda to 9am opening comments and sharing and 10am-panel or speaker.

Motion passed.

Motion made and seconded for agenda lunch schedule to be from 12-2pm.

Motion passed.

Motion made and seconded to change agenda to read 2-4pm workbook review and questions and answers session and 4pm speaker meeting. Motion passed.

(Revised workshop agenda is included in these minutes)

Motion passed to leave website as it is without personal information on it.

Motion passed to add website address to our “Bars & Cells”

That address is:

www.area64assembly.org

Then click on corrections.

Motion passed to post large map indicating where meetings are going into facilities so members can see what's happening (or not happening) in their regions. Amy will take care of it.

Chuck M-Area 64 Treasurer

Said he would like to see a more open line of communication between the CFC and the districts in the Nashville region who work through the Middle TN Central Office. It was suggested by those present that we make more of an effort to invite those active volunteers to our meetings and workshops.

Treasurers Report as of 3/7/04

Beginning balance $1100.09

7^th Trad. 1^st Qtr. 213.00

Area 64 reimbursed 97.60

Workshop 7^th tradition 53.00

Literature Sales 12.00

E Chattanooga group 101.78

Workshop 7^th tradition 70.00

High Noon Group 122.00

Ending balance

As of 3/7/04 $1,769.47

Dates for Fall Workshop

August 27,28,29 at Gallatin.

Shoney's Inn

221 W Main St

Gallatin Tn 37066

Room rates $49.00 plus tax

615-452-5433

800-552-4667

Suggested Workshop Agenda

(Revised 3/7/04)

Fri 7pm-Registration & Welcome

8pm-Candlelight AA meeting

Sat 9am-Opening comments and

Sharing session.

10am-Speaker or Panel discussion

12-2pm-Lunch Break

2-4pm-Workbook review and

question and answer session

4pm-Speaker meeting

Dinner Break

8pm-Support local AA meeting

Sun 8:30am-Business meeting

Want more information on Area 64 Corrections Facilities Committee?

Check the website at: area64assembly.org

Click on Area 64 Committees then click on Correctional Facilities Committee.

If you know of someone “getting out.” Help them get in touch with us. Our pre-release contact information is:

Pre-release Contact

PO Box 68527

Nashville TN 37206

With Love and Service,

Jethro B

CFC Secretary

4th Quarter 2003

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