Welcome to our quarterly newsletter
BARS & CELLS
Area 64
3rd Quarter Assembly
Jackson,
Tennessee
July 18,
19 & 20, 2003
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 me.
Thank you all so much for the opportunity to serve the Corrections
Facilities Committee. – Val H
Friday, July 18, 2003
Ray
R, CFC Chair, opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer at 8:10 p.m. Mary Ann E read the CFC Purpose. There were
approximately 33 people present. This is billed as our sharing session.
Sharing
Highlights:
Ray R – He has
correspondence that needs to be taken care of – letters from Memphis and
Whiteville that require a response. Two
CFC members volunteered to respond to the correspondence. Ray received current copies of Sharing Behind the Walls as well as a
copy of the Grapevine from GSO that doesn’t have staples, the binding is
sewn. He passed the Grapevine around.
He has been traveling a lot since the last assembly. He spoke at several
meetings and spent a lot of time in Knoxville, Maryville, Cookeville and
Cherokee. He is currently attending
Warren County Jail. Volunteers are needed
at the Turney Center, the inmates would like to have a 12 & 12 step study
meeting. Turney Center has a main
complex and an annex and he has received several letters from the Annex. Ray is trying to get help from
Nashville. Ray received a letter from
Julio at GSO stating that the book, Inmate to Inmate, is to be updated. GSO is requesting donations of personal
stories. GSO wants sample copies of
pre-release forms currently in use around the Country so that GSO might put
together a generic pre-release form for everyone’s use and the form will be
included in the Corrections Workbook.
Val H – Takes a meeting
into CCA Chattanooga on Monday nights with three other volunteers. The size of the meeting varies. The facility has a new Warden and Chaplain and they are very cooperative. They allow us to bring sobriety chips in to
award the women.
Mary Ann E – Needs a
pre-release contact from Knoxville for a woman getting out of TPW. She is not taking meeting in at this time
but is corresponding with a female inmate in California. She took meetings into prison for four years
and needed to take a break. She will
get involved again.
Mandy S – Takes meetings
into Sumner County jail. She is
corresponding with a 26 year old woman who is up for one to three sentences for
killing three people in an auto accident. Mandy said a Probation and Parole
Convention is scheduled for August 9 to 13th in Nashville. She needs volunteers to man a CFC literature
booth at the convention. Mandy shared
with newcomers how literature distribution works and what literature is for
sale.
James, Pulaski – Take
meeting in on Wednesdays. He is still
having problems with meeting times, but continues to try to have meetings.
Karen – Goes to Sumner
County jail. It’s difficult going
behind the bars, literally. She was
left behind one night but eventually got out.
Scary experience!!
Janice – Goes to penal
farm. Has 8 or 9 women who are
grateful. The women want any literature
that they can get. She makes
certificates for the girls since they can’t take in sobriety chips. She is grateful for the couple of women who
have gotten out and stayed sober. She
was also locked in one time, between stairways. She eventually got out too.
Double scary!!
Laura, Shelby County
Penal Farm – Took a meeting to a prison in Memphis in the past, but that meeting fell apart. They also had to cancel their annual retreat
due to lack of interest.
Barry, South Central Corrections in Clifton – He
sobered up in this committee. Had an
Inmate at his meeting who was celebrating
three years of sobriety. The
inmate managed to slip in oatmeal cream pies for everyone in celebration of his
birthday. Birthdays are pretty
important.
William – Can take a few
men out to local meetings but can’t go into jail yet. Can’t get in back but Warden is working on getting guards to
bring men out.
Tracy – hasn’t been
going lately, but willing to go when he gets a chance. Corrections committee is like a second home
group.
Toni – Had been taking
meeting into Paris but has been out for a while. Is planning to go back in. They can take cake and chips in to
celebrate birthdays at this facility.
Cindy – Takes meetings
into Henderson County jail. She gets a
lot of support from local groups with chips and literature. Sometimes she goes by herself, sometimes she
has a few women to help. She enjoys it
and needs literature.
Jethro B – Introduced
himself as the literature coordinator – the yellow section on left side of the
literature coordinator map. He’s not taking a meeting in now. He will be speaking at a facility in
Nashville. At Dyer County jail an
officer requested literature. Jethro
will investigate their needs. If you
need literature and are in his area, let him know by tomorrow morning.
Charley – not taking
meeting inside, but has been to a workshop in Davidson County. They have decided to have a contact person
on the inside and one coordinator on the outside in order to make it easy to
screen requests for taking meetings inside.
Cindy L, District 1 – Takes
meetings to Sullivan County and Washington County jails. Was taking a meeting to Unicoi but that
meeting has fallen by the wayside. The
meeting will be starting up again per request of the jail. Her home group gave her $100 to put towards
Grapevines. She was contacted by
a woman who got out of jail that said she related to Cindy’s story. Cindy wanted to meet her for coffee, but the
lady said, don’t worry I just won’t drive any more. Cindy calls her mom every Wednesday night and tells her she’s out
of jail and glad that she didn’t have to get bailed out!!
Sherman – Not currently
in a corrections group. Since the jail
moved he doesn’t go in. He holds
meetings at the courthouse. They get people
from half-way houses and it feels like a corrections group. He received a letter from GSO thinking that
he was an inmate and suggested he get an outside sponsor.
Pat P – He’s not
currently going in, but he is serving on the committee in Nashville. They get tired of all the different groups
calling the prisons and jails wanting to take a meeting in, so the
inside/outside dedicated contact should work well.
George – After his
second DUI, he gave up driving too!! He
is excited about the activity in Knoxville.
The meetings are growing and the list of volunteers is growing too. Things are going well.
Kevin – Represents a
group that would like to suggest to the AA Assembly, at the business meeting,
that one location and person be used for Area 64 business needs. This includes one phone number that can be a
referral service and one post office box for the collection of mail, such as
pre-release requests. They suggested a
space at the Archives building.
Carl – Hasn’t been in
since the first of year but has a couple of guys that he sponsors going in.
Milton – Dist 19 – Not
much going on, can’t get volunteers.
Came to the meeting to sign-in to ensure he’ll continue to get the Bars
and Cells and encouraged newcomers to sign up as well.
Mike, PI Chair – talked
about committees putting something together for the web page. Each committee will decide what will go on
their respective page. There’s an
orientation for CCA on the 23rd in Nashville. At the District meeting, District 32
mentioned they have a problem with what the corrections committee does. Mike is concerned about their attitude.
Ray
R – Indicated that he will be out-of-pocket August 5th to August 28th. Anything that comes up during that time
should be referred to Mary Ann E. He is
going to a Native American festival in Canada, which is a once in a lifetime
opportunity.
It
was announced that the Ad Hoc committee for the CFC web page needs to meet for
a short time after the meeting as Val H has information from the PI committee
that she’d like to share.
Pat
P – Reminded everyone that the Corrections Committee will have a fall workshop
in September. Flyers are available
with all the information. Mary Ann E
read the fall workshop info from the workshop flyer.
The
7th tradition was $92.00
The
meeting closed at 9:05 with Lords prayer.
Ray
R, Chair – Opened the business meeting at 7:30 a.m. with the Serenity
Prayer. Mary Ann E read the CFC Purpose
and Val H read the 12 Traditions.
There
were approximately 27 people present.
Chairperson – Ray
Shared
his AA travels and service work. He
read letters from GSO; one regarding the staple free Grapevine and the second regarding GSO’s request for stories from
inmates who recovered in prison so that their stories can published in an
updated Inmate to Inmate. He will be out-of-pocket for three weeks
next month and if you have needs during that time, contact the Alternate Chair,
Mary Ann E. He really appreciates her.
Alternate Chair – Mary
Ann E
Attended
three funerals in the past three months.
Shared about her service work, speaking commitments and said she
corresponds with a female inmate in California. Mary Ann celebrated nine years of sobriety and feels blessed.
Congrats Mary Ann!
Secretary – Val H
A
motion was made, seconded and passed
to dispense the reading of the minutes and to accept the minutes as written in
the Bars & Cells. Val shared her service work activity during
the last quarter.
Treasurer –Mandy S
Shared
her service work. Announced that a
Probation and Parole Convention in Nashville needs volunteers to work a
corrections table. She explained the
literature that’s available at the end of today’s meeting. There are six literature coordinators at
this meeting. Gave Treasurer’s report
and explained a clarification of a reimbursement from Area. A motion
was made, seconded and passed to accept the Treasurer’s report as written. Mandy stated that Workbooks are for sale as
well as workbook kits. As an update to the Treasurers report, the checking
statement showed no service charge for May or June. Mandy called the bank and was told that May and June were not
service charged because of account activity.
Treasurer’s report
4/5/03 through 7/20/03
|
Balance Forwarded |
1,284.07 |
|
|
|
|
Income |
|
|
7th Tradition – 2nd Quarter Assembly |
178.55 |
|
Group Donation/E Chat |
96.83 |
|
Individual Donation |
100.00 |
|
Reimbursement from Area 64 for Literature and Newsletter |
767.62 |
|
Other |
14.00 |
|
Total
Income |
1,157.00 |
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
Literature |
737.28 |
|
Postage
– Bars & Cells |
37.00 |
|
Bank
Service Charge (April) |
5.00 |
|
Total
Expense |
779.28 |
|
|
|
|
Balance as of 7/20/03 |
1,661.79 |
Archives – James F
Ray
R asked where the Corrections archive display board is. James has it and James is not at this
assembly. Ray asked Tracy if he had
anything to report and Tracy said no.
Budget & Finance
Jethro
B – Attended the Budget and Finance meeting on Friday night and stated that the
committee cut the proposed 2004 corrections committee budget from $2,400 to
$1,450. Changes are: Literature from $1,700 to $1,200; newsletter
$400 to 150, $100 pre-release and elimination of the chairperson expense. We discussed how we might deal with the
changes. Ray suggested that we go to
our groups and encourage donations to the State.
Literature
coordinators reported their activity and literature requests this past quarter
and current needs.
Ray
stated our purpose is to get literature to inmates, not facility library.
Carl
updated us on the condition of David K.
David had more surgery but is doing well and is in good spirits. He hopes to be at the next assembly. We miss you David!
Cindy
L - Sandra C informed her that she
(Sandra) is stepping down as literature coordinator for Northeast
Tennessee. We’ll need a replacement.
James,
Archives – James is not here. Ray asked
Tracy if had anything to report and he said no.
OLD BUSINESS
The
Ad Hoc committee for the new website reported to the committee their
recommendations for future use and set up of the corrections page. They recommended that the following items be
shown on the corrections page:
Statement
of Purpose
Workshop
Flyer
Bars
& Cells Newsletter (without last names or other personal info)
A
District Map with point and click capabilities
A
“Contact Us” link, which will go to a Hotmail, password protected account.
A
motion was made, seconded and passed
to accept the recommendations of the Ad Hoc committee.
There
was discussion about stipulating that one individual person from the standing
committee officers be a liaison to the Webmaster. A motion was made,
seconded and passed that our liaison will be Mandy S., Treasurer, as she was on
the Ad Hoc committee and up-to-date on web page issues.
There
was further discussion on the web site and that since JJ T is the
webmaster, he is the only person authorized to make changes on our web
page. It was suggested that the
committee can be contacted via a Hotmail account that will be set up and
password protected.
NEW BUSINESS
We
discussed how much literature to order for the next workshop and assembly. We are charged to have literature at the
next assembly, plus we need literature for the Workshop. Pat P made a motion that we spend $700 above and beyond what we are charged to
bring, which would come to approximately $1,200. The motion was
seconded and passed.
Lit
Coordinators – We need to elect a replacement for two literature
coordinators. One coordinator stepped
down and the other has become inactive.
Cindy L said she would be willing to replace the Northeast Tennessee
coordinator for the next six months. A motion
was made seconded and passed to elect Cindy L as the new literature coordinator
for Northeast Tennessee.
Cindy
L asked if we have a guideline as to when a literature coordinator is
replaced. Ray said it’s not written in
stone but the rule of thumb is a coordinator missing three meetings and no
contact. Barry suggested we contact
Bill, Southwest literature coordinator since he has not been active, before we
replace him. After discussion, a motion was made seconded and passed to
elect Laura C as the replacement for Southwest Tennessee for the remainder of
2003.
We
discussed written guidelines regarding the literature coordinators. It was decided that we would discuss this
issue and perhaps formulate guidelines at the fall workshop. The fall workshop is September 12, 13 &
14 at the Shoney’s Inn in Gallatin.
Our
7th tradition was $86.55.
A
motion was made, seconded and passed
to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at
8:50 a.m. with the Lord’s Prayer.
CFC
Semi-Annual Workshop
Shoney’s
Inn, Gallatin, Tennessee
September
12, 13, 14 2003
Over
the three-day workshop, sharing had a tendency to get repetitious, so I have
condensed comments so they wouldn’t be redundant. I also beg your pardon for the times I get so caught up in
listening that my notes reflect comments that are not always quite on target.
Please remember, “Progress not Perfection”.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,
2003
Ray
R, Chair – Opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer at 7:05 p.m. This meeting is billed as our early bird
meeting and an informal sharing session.
Mandy
S read the 12 traditions.
There
were 15 people present.
Sharing Highlights:
Ray R – Has been on the
road since the last assembly meeting.
He went to two Native American spiritual meetings, one in New Mexico and
one in Canada. He also attended a meeting
at a boy’s maximum security penitentiary in Canada that houses boys from 12 to 21 years of age. The
kids were glad to have him come in and share. He came away from these meetings
feeling very spiritual.
Mandy S – Has been
pretty busy since 3rd Quarter Assembly. Since she was approved as the corrections website coordinator,
there was only one hit, and that was from JJ T, Webmaster. The web address is Area64assembly.org. There will be links on the main website, one
of which will link to the corrections site.
The corrections page will have a map with point and click features and
will have links of its own. Mandy
celebrated five years sobriety in July and picked up her chip at a meeting in
Anchorage Alaska. Pretty cool!!!! She attended the Probation and Parole
Convention. This was attraction rather
than promotion at work. She had contact
with AAers from other parts of the country and many vendors. It was an interesting convention. She had a contact from a man at Cumberland
Heights that is involved with bridging the gap.
Val H – She takes a
meeting into a CCA facility in Chattanooga.
The meeting has gotten bigger and she goes through a lot of
literature. There are pennies for
prisoner cans at the clubs in Chattanooga but donations have been slim. There was a situation where she picked up a
lady being released from jail but couldn’t get her to a meeting because of the
time of day. She had to take the woman
home instead. The woman promised to get
to a meeting that night, but Val felt doubtful that the lady would get to a
meeting or stay sober. Val feels guilty that she was unable to stick around
until meeting time. She asked if others
had this problem.
Mary Ann E –Went to the
Southeastern Conference and Convention in Memphis. The guest speaker was a man who had been convicted to 40 years or
to expiration and he was eventually released as a result of petitions from
Alanons. There are miracles in
sobriety. His story was really
neat. She talked about some girls
getting out. Has had an interesting
year.
Rebecca C – She finally
went to her first meeting behind the bars with Mandy S. It was a good experience and she hopes to go
back in again. She had a roundabout
inquiry from a friend who has a son incarcerated in Hardeman County. That facility has an AA meeting but without
outside AA volunteers going in. She
wondered if we knew anything about it.
Ray said there currently is a request for outside volunteers.
Michelle – Is in the
process of getting approved to take meetings inside. This is her first meeting and is glad to be here.
Dewey – Is brand new to
corrections work. He turned an eight
year sentence into 12 years in a North Carolina prison and now wants to give
back. He picked up a one year chip and told his story at Brushy Mountain.
Sam – The corrections
workshop is new to him and wants to find out about it. He goes to Putnam County jail in
Cookeville. He hasn’t had any outside
help but has a lot of gratitude. He is
trying to start a corrections committee.
He is contacting GSR’s to help start the process.
Walter – He is new to
this and wants to learn. Has a desire
to take a meeting into jail but has no direction.
James – He is not
currently taking meeting inside. He is grateful to be here this weekend.
James – Said it can be
tough getting into Pulaski jail. It’s
hard to carry the message inside when corrections officials don’t cooperate.
George – His goal was to
bring in more people than the Pulaski gang.
Currently the score is Knoxville 4, Pulaski 3. Go Knoxville!! Now
Knoxville can have the title of Knoxville “gang”. It takes persistence to keep taking those meetings inside. His sponsor was on death row and a miracle
happened and he ended up getting out after spending 20 years at Brushy
Mountain. His group is a registered
group – a DUI facility group called the Road Runners. Today is his bellybutton birthday and he doesn’t want to pass his
drivers license around to prove it. George
has a tendency to have a LOT of birthdays!!
Bobby – The Pulaski
Group is the only group taking in meetings in his area. He is getting involved again and glad he’s
going back inside. His friend’s son is
in the jail he visits, so it’s been special for him to go in. He thought for a while that he’d be the only
one of the Pulaski “gang” that would be here tonight but that he would come
anyway. As it turned out, others from Pulaski came to the meeting.
Janice P – The girls who
attend her meeting are requesting temporary sponsors while still inside. She likes to go out on the Internet to get
recovery information to take into the girls.
She is also working the steps with the inmates.
George - This is the first time in Knox county that
there are more women approved for service than men. He suggested to Val that she get names and phone numbers of women
who are willing to take released women to meetings. Said we’ve got to get the information out there.
Ray
R commented that we have to be dedicated.
There are some places we can’t get into and we can’t always get
volunteers to come to meetings. If they
can make two or three it seems that they keep coming back. Sometimes they can’t pay attention once the
door locks behind them.
Mandy
S explained that we have Correctional Facilities Workbooks for sale. She told the newcomers how to get
literature, either through their Central offices or from their literature
coordinator.
The
7th Tradition was $44.00
The
meeting closed at 8 p.m.
We
took a break and reconvened at 8:20 pm for an AA meeting. Mary Ann, Alternate Chair, chaired the meeting. The topic for discussion was
Celebration. Everyone shared and it was
a great meeting. We found we all had
lots to celebrate in our sober lives. The meeting closed with the Lords prayer
at 9:20 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13,
2003
Ray
R opened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. with the Serenity Prayer.
Mandy
S read the Corrections Statement of Purpose.
Karen
read the 12 Traditions.
Ray
R, Chair – He reminded everyone that this is our last workshop prior to change
of officers and his last workshop as CFC Chair. He said how glad that he was able to serve the committee. He shared that he’s been busy since the last
assembly. He has been going into jail
and says it’s all worth while if we can save just one life by going
inside. He also reminded us to respect
anonymity in this program. He shared
his experiences while at Native American meetings in New Mexico and
Canada. He had some very spiritual
experiences. He visited a boy’s maximum
security prison. He suggested that we
need to get our sponsees interested in working with others who are
incarcerated.
Mary
Ann E, Alternate Chair – She went to
the Southeastern Conference and Convention in Memphis. She said she has enjoyed serving this past
two years as Alternate Chair. She
recapped the special speakers we’ve had at our workshops for the past two
years. At this workshop our panel will
be Darlene from Project Return, Inc. and Jim & Paul
, who are with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Department. It has been a blessing to serve.
Val
H, Secretary – Stated how special serving as CFC Secretary has been to
her. She provided several handouts and
requested that everyone pick up a copy of the minutes from the 3rd
Quarter Assembly and be prepared to approve the minutes at the business meeting
on Sunday. She updated everyone on her
activities since the last assembly.
Mandy
S, Treasurer – She is honored to serve as Corrections Treasurer. This committee has been a lot of fun. She mentioned the “Old Fart” party we had at
the last fall workshop for Mary Ann E.
Pictures of the party are on the table.
There is literature on the table from the Probation and Parole
Convention. This convention was a
meeting of vendors involved with corrections facilities. She even found many friends of Bill W at the
convention. She talked about her work with women on the inside trying to get
and stay sober. She received a letter
from a lady in jail a while back, and that lady is sitting in this room today
and now volunteers to go inside.
Gratitude!!
Ray
asked those who were not at the meeting last night to share today.
Sharing Highlights:
Karen – Goes to meetings
inside with Mandy. She reached out
while incarcerated and now she tries to give back. She recently had the courage to read the letter she sent to
Mandy. As a result of reaching out, she
has found sobriety and a way to give back.
Michael – Is two months
sober. Wants to get involved in
corrections when able and go in with James.
James – Takes meetings
into the Sumner County jail. Service work is so rewarding.
Bruce – Takes
meetings into Macon County jail to both
the men and women. Service is a big
boon to his sobriety. He takes away
more from the meetings than he takes in.
Leo – God works in
strange ways in his life. He got out of
treatment and Bruce got out of jail.
They volunteered to come to one of the Corrections workshops a few years
ago and as a result started a meeting at the Macon County Jail. Service is so rewarding.
Marion – Takes meetings
into Macon County Jail. She gets so
much more out of it than she puts in.
Darlene – Goes into
Sumner County Jail for the past year and a half. This keeps her sober. In
order to keep it you have to give it away.
She was in that revolving door for ten years and understands what the
inmates go through.
Michelle – Wants to
serve on the corrections committee and has applied to take meetings in. She doesn’t know if she’s approved yet, but
if she’s not approved there are other ways to serve the committee. She has found a lot of love in this room.
We
took a short recess.
♦Mary
Ann E introduced Karen who introduced the panel.
Jim
McCarthy is the Jail Administrator at CWC (Correctional Work Center) in
Davidson County and also an Alcoholic.
His program has a 13 year old recovery program that depends heavily on
AA volunteers. There are several facets
to their program. Currently their
population is strictly male, but they are soon to have women coming in.
Paul
Mulloy is the Program Director at CWC.
He explained that Inmates go through a 60 day program, they meet five
days a week and they also have a sponsorship program. Upon release the sponsor picks them up and takes the individual
to a meeting. This is the best program
developed in the past 13 years, is effective, and based on the twelve steps of
AA and NA. Currently there are 35
people bringing meetings in and sponsoring.
They have a homeless program and a reentry program, where a person helps
people get to where they need to go when they get out. The facility will be getting about 500 women
in the next 18 to 24 months. There is a
domestic violence program.
Victimization is what they are looking at for women. They are looking for female AA volunteers
and other women in alcohol and drug recovery.
There is a weekend retreat every three months. There are about 50 inmates who attend a step workshop run by AA
volunteers. Individuals who go to the
retreats and get to the outside are highly motivated to stay sober. They also refer to halfway houses. In the
works is an employment program.
They
are currently designing a program for the women. They need any information that is pertinent for working with
women. If there is any input, please
get with Karen. The program will be trial and error, and they will be looking
for gender specific programs. The goal
of the program is to get people in better shape going out as opposed to where
they were when they came in.
There
was a question and answer period where Jim and Paul answered many
questions.
We
wish to thank Jim and Paul for taking the time to visit our committee and for
their informative presentation. For
anyone wishing more information, you may reach Paul at this email address,.
♦Jim
introduced Darlene from Project Return, Inc., an organization that
works with ex-offenders.
Darlene
explained what Project Return is, how it works and how it achieves its
goals. The program is dedicated to the
rehabilitation of Middle Tennessee’s prison population. Through employment placement, direct aid and
other support services, Project Return offers ex-offenders new beginnings. The agency helps probationers, parolees and
their family members to become self-sustaining, law-abiding members of the
community. The program provides training and assistance designed to increase
employability, improve life skills, and reduce ever-rising return-to-prison
rates.
Darlene
provided fact sheets about Project Return and read a poem, “The Starfish”, the
message being that help begins with just one.
A question/answer period followed.
We wish to thank Darlene for coming to our workshop and giving such an
enthusiastic presentation. We could
certainly tell how devoted Darlene is to Project Return. Again, I’ve detailed only a portion of her
presentation. Thank you Darlene.
We’d
also like to thank Mary Ann E for arranging for such excellent panels for the
past two years. Thank you Mary Ann, we
appreciate you.
Our
7th tradition was $30.00
We
took a lunch break and reconvened at 1:20 p.m.
This time is billed as a sharing session and Question and Answer period.
Rebecca
asked about volunteers at Hardeman County jail. Ray told her we have a real need for volunteers.
Mandy
talked about checking the website to get information regarding
corrections. It was decided at the Ad
Hoc committee that names or phone numbers would not be listed on the
website. Inquiries go to a blind email
site. The Area 64 site and any links
are set up to protect anonymity.
Sam
inquired about how to get a corrections committee meeting started and about
literature and other information. He
was told that resources are central offices, the area website and literature
coordinators.
Ray
talked about how each facility is different and that we should be aware of the
guidelines of the facility that we want to take meetings to. Be a facility coordinator as the contact who
contacts the inside coordinator. This speeds up the process as opposed to too
many people getting involved.
Do
we break tradition by talking about drugs at inside meetings? Consensus is that most drug addicts are
addicted to alcohol as well and we tell them to follow the program of AA and on
the outside to identify as an alcoholic. Focus on recovery. Some of us take NA schedules to our inside
meetings.
We
talked about the young girls being incarcerated today. The disease is taking our youngsters.
How
do we get outside AA members interested in going inside? Several people shared on how they handled
this in their areas.
We
took a short break and reconvened for a Workbook review.
We
discussed pre-release. What do you do
with people getting out that have no place to go? There were a few suggestions as to how to get a list of local
organizations that can help.
We
talked again about giving out phone numbers and using last names. Most of us don’t do that. We give the inmate the number of the local
central office or club, or just tell them we don’t give out our personal
information. Also, do not give out
addresses. The volunteer should arrange for a place to receive correspondence
from an inmate such as a Central Office or Club.
The
meeting adjourned at 3:15 with Lord’s Prayer.
We
closed out the evening with our traditional dinner at Jacky & Billy’s and
afterward supported the local meetings.
This was a quiet weekend at Shoney’s Inn. There were no drug busts, alcohol parties or cops. Maybe the AA message is spreading?
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14,
2003
Ray
R, Chair – Opened the business meeting at 8:40 a.m. with the Serenity Prayer.
Mary
Ann E, Alternate Chair – Read the CFC Purpose
Karen
– Read the 12 Traditions.
There
were 16 people present.
Chair – Ray R
He
recapped his activity since the last assembly.
Alternate Chair – Mary
Ann E
This
is our last workshop as a two year committee.
Hope everyone enjoyed the workshops.
She recapped her activity during the past quarter.
Secretary – Val H
She
stated that the minutes from the last quarter need to be approved. A motion
was made, seconded and passed to approve the minutes as written. She recapped her activity since the last
assembly.
Treasurer – Mandy S
She
recapped her activity during the past quarter.
Gave the Treasurer’s report. A motion was made, seconded and passed to
accept the Treasurer’s report as given below.
Treasurer’s report
7/20/03 through 9/14/03
|
Balance Forwarded |
|
1,661.79 |
|
|
|
|
|
Income |
|
|
|
7th Tradition – Workshop,
Fri, Sat & Sun |
|
115.00 |
|
Literature Sales |
|
14.50 |
|
Total
Income |
|
1,721.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
Workbook
Kit from Mid-Tn Central Off. |
|
7.00 |
|
Chairpersons
Room @ Workshop |
|
111.96 |
|
P.O.
Box |
|
34.00 |
|
Coffee
& Supplies |
|
15.50 |
|
Total
Expense |
|
168.46 |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of 9/14/03 |
|
1,622.83 |
Punk
R – Had an AA/Alateen meeting on Saturday and that’s why he couldn’t attend the
workshop until this morning. He has
gotten more volunteers in his District and is happy for the help. Things are picking up, for both men and
women volunteers. He has been
supporting the corrections workshop for 13 years and is hoping to have the new
volunteer in his district getting just as involved.
Ray
R – Thanked everyone for their support.
Budget & Finance
No
report.
Literature Coordinators
George,
Knoxville, needs literature but primarily 12 and 12’s
Val
(for Peter R) needs Big Books
Archives – James F
No
report.
●Mandy
S – We decided at the 3rd Quarter Assembly that we would discuss
guidelines for literature coordinators.
Ray said we have general guidelines and it seems that we have changes to
literature coordinators each quarter and perhaps we should leave it alone. Mandy read the position description of the
Literature Coordinators from the CFC Policies, Program and Procedures. It’s pretty general and doesn’t define any
parameters. Mary Ann stated our purpose
is to get literature behind the walls and we can’t do that if literature
coordinators are not present to pick up literature.
Mandy
made a motion that if we have not
had any contact or heard from a literature coordinator after two consecutive
events that we vote as a committee to
find a new literature coordinator for that area. The motion was
seconded and passed.
We
got a little out of order and had a discussion after the motion passed.
Some of the discussion is worth mentioning in case the subject comes up
again at a future meeting.
DISCUSSION:
George
– Literature got to where it needed to go before we had literature
coordinators. We made it difficult by
adding literature coordinators. We
should just pass out literature to those that come to the meetings.
Ray
– The reason we voted for literature coordinators is that when literature is
available at meetings it was just grabbed up and sometimes just one or two
people got literature.
George
– Said he was here when everyone was just turned loose on the literature. Isn’t it the duty of this committee to
control the distribution of literature.
Mandy
said that if there isn’t any organization, the literature doesn’t get out to
where it needs to go.
George
– Has given away his portion of literature to other districts when needed.
Mary
Ann said that if literature is not picked up it goes to those that need it.
The
way it works now, according to Mandy, is that if a literature coordinator is
not present, literature will go to
someone present from that district. If
no one is at the meeting from that district, the literature is divided up
equally among those literature coordinators that are at the meeting.
Ray
mentioned that at one time the assembly asked for an accountability of our
literature needs. By having literature
coordinators, the Treasurer has better records for reporting purposes.
George
– get rid of the literature coordinators.
END OF DISCUSSION
●Website
– links will be to pre-release, Statement of Purpose, Bars & Cells, copy of
forms (pre-release), Workshop Flyer, A District Map, A Contact us link. There was only one hit and that was from JJ
Triccoli, webmaster.
We
discussed when to have the spring workshop. A motion was made, seconded and passed to have the Spring workshop on
March 5, 6 & 7th, 2004.
Room rates remain the same $48 plus tax
7th
tradition was $41.00
A
motion was made seconded and passed
to adjourn at 9:50 a.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Val
H
CFC
Secretary