"When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help
I want the hand of AA to be there.
And for that I am responsible."
*****
Welcome to District 28
"Courtesy, kindness, justice and love are the keynotes by which we come into harmony with practically anybody."
12 & 12, Step 10, p. 93
HOTLINE: 989-255-9036
DISTRICT 28 GSR MEETING MINUTES
OCTOBER 18, 2025
Members present: Charley R - DCM and Literature; Don H-Alternate DCM, -GSR Onaway, Diane R-secretary-treasurer, GSR Alpena DAD group and Grand Lake; Doug W,GSR Lewiston group; Candy K, GSR- Came to Believe; Kelly O, Webmaster; Debi B, Corrections and Community Liason; Jenny S, GSR-Back to Basics; Joe M, GSR-Living in the Solution.
The meeting was called to order by Charley R. at 11:45am.
OLD BUSINESS
1) Diane R -secretary treasurer
Secretary report: The minutes from the last meeting were sent out for review. No corrections were
recommended.
Report was accepted unopposed.
Treasury: The report was handed out for review. Diane noted that Sober Saturday again was fully self supported with a gain of funds. The District has received donations directed to Sober Saturday specifically for the event. The tally for CMIA and Sober Saturday was discussed. In addition, there is still a deficit between what has been collected and the expenses for the year. However, there is still sufficient funding for operations. Questions were answered regarding the report.
The report was accepted unopposed.
Webmaster Report: Kelly O reported the District 28 Website is up to date. She has been searching out platforms to bring the site up to current standards. The website does not receive that many hits but encourages groups to have their events posted.
The report was accepted unopposed.
Literature Report: Charley R reported that he made purchase of newcomer pkts which are paid for by the District 28 treasury. They are free to the groups. He will assist other groups with literature purchases. Recently, he assisted the Living in the Solutions Group with a purchase of which the group reimbursed the treasury for that purchase. He is also assisting the Over the Bridge Group with their literature purchases.
The report was accepted unopposed.
Open Speaker Report: Joe M reported for Bill K. The Open Speaker Meetings are well attended. The treasury supports the coffee and rent for the room. Bill K continues to acquire speakers for the meeting.
The report was accepted unopposed.
AA Hotline: Diane reported in Max’s absence. Max has been talked with and the phone continues to be slow in activity but monitored daily. He has been receiving requests for collect calls from corrections of which he has been refusing. The group supports this. The phone costs are still 00.00 as it remains free on Don’s account.
The report was accepted unopposed.
Community Liason: Deb B reports that the women’s jail meetings are going well. She focuses on AA literature but others with drug issues will attend. She received funding for support of literature from the CMIA area 32 corrections committee treasury of $150.00 of which she purchased literature and gave out. She made a request for a donation old Grapevine magazines. She is on the communication exchange from the Corrections Committee. She will be leaving for the winter and needs back up. Diane reports that she tried to support the meeting in Deb’s absence but it can be cumbersome and she really is strapped in service now. Kelly O volunteered to back Deb up as she has past experience with that service. Background checks are required. Jenny will take the request to Back to Basics. The jail pail issue was brought up again. It is up to the individual groups to put that out there to support literature purchases for inmates. Max reported to Diane that men’s meetings are still going well.
The report was accepted unopposed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Secretary: Diane reports that change reports for submitted for current and non existing District 28
meetings to the Area 32 registrar. There is still a bit more work to be done to get the project
completed. Change reports are available on the Area 32 website, however it is important for the change to be reported to the secretary to track changes. Diane is willing to submit the forms on behalf of any group that needs those changes made.
The following groups have had changes made:
Millersburg Women’s meeting: won’t be meeting in the winter months, Kelly will adjust.
Back to Basics Women’s meeting Alpena: new GSR, Jenny has received her kit.
Lewiston Group- re-registered as it has fallen off. Doug W is the new GSR and has received his GSR kit.
Grand Lake DAD’s group has been registered.
Hagensville Friday night, the address and meeting site has been changed to Rogers City Westminster. No GSR.
Monday Westminster Rogers City- group has been reregistered.
Posen Wednesday-new GSR Kevin C
Onaway- re-registered New Beginnings-Don GSR
Alpena, Thursday Big Book- corrected.
Saturday Living in Solutions-corrected
Spruce. Lincoln and Harrisville moved to District 26.
Changes still working on: Tuesday Came to Believe- Rogers City, Trinity Alpena
The Atlanta Groups-Tuesday and Friday- no GSR and meetings are sparce and rarely attended. Diane will talk with Bill about solution. Onaway Women’s meeting moved to Wednesday.
The traditions workshop is upcoming in District 26. Diane would like to attend with support. Deb B and Kelly O agreed to go. Kelly O volunteered to pay for the gas. Discussion was held about conducting a traditions workshop for District 28. It was well discussed and supported. Diane, Deb and Kelly will report back after attending. Tentative date for the workshop will be January of 2026.
Diane reported that there has been requests for meeting lists. Charley will print.
DCM: Faithful Five pamphlets were discussed: it is a donation process for funds to come to the District Treasury. Some were passed out.
Don: Sober Saturday- Sober Saturday had low attendance. Issues brought up were competition with the Rogers City nautical festival and gossip and criticism amongst the groups of how funding was utilized for Sober Saturday. Again, Charley reports that the District follows tradition guidelines and Sober Saturday has been fully self supporting. Questions should be brought to the District meetings as transparency is important. Miscommunication and gossip harms other groups and AA as a whole. The transportation issue was a mute point. Don asked for an increase for the Sober Saturday budget, Charley requested $1500.00 budget. Discussion was held again and it was made clear that the treasury report is available to anyone. It was passed unopposed with the clause of being revisited if the treasury cannot support operations with the current donation rate. The Sober Saturday event will be held the first Saturday in June to coincide with the Area 32 CMIA meeting the first Sunday in June.
Discussion regarding the unused CMIA funds being returned. Charley reports that the committee allows for that extra funding to remain with the District.
GSR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION:
Joe M-Saturday morning is going well. 10-15 attend. Getting people to step up for service is still an ongoing issue. He also reported on the Speaker meeting. The men have not been coming from Sunrise Center as staffing has been an issue.
Jenny S- Back to Basics: 15-20 women attend. Some from Sunrise Center on occasion. Discussion regarding the letter from the DCM was initiated believing the group was targeted. Charley and Diane responded that the letter was distributed to all the groups in regard to the issues that were brought to the attention of the DCM. Jenny discussed the facebook page and group conscious that was held. That the issue was not open for a debate. She supported the previous GSR. Charley and Diane reiterated that Again, no particular person or group was identified or discussed at the District Meeting, that many groups were involved and there are other facebook groups. There are AA guidelines for social media and internet functions and traditions that support the letter and why it was sent.
DougW- there are 3 Lewiston Groups merged into one. They are holding their own. Attendance is from 4-8. Don moved to Gaylord. Many do not have driver’s license. Zoom meetings are a competition. Courts are now allowing for Zoom attendance.
Don- Onaway- re-registered as the New Beginnings Group. Snowbirds attending through the summer. The Women’s group is moving from Monday night to Wednesday late afternoon. Details coming. Discussion of a Big Book Study has been held. Newcomers come and go. Many are cross or drug addicted. The kayak trip was a success despite the weather surrounding the area. Again, response was good but attendance lower than expected.
Hillman- Don reported for Randy that attendance has been good and steady.Diane- reports that Sunday morning DAD and Thursday night Grand Lake has been well attended. The issue of the use of profanity has been revisited and that group conscience decided to limit the use.
Candy K- Tuesday Came to Believe is hosting a hot dog roast on Tuesday, October the 28th and Mike’s across from the church. The meeting is going well. She is the new GSR. They hope to host a speaker and potluck meeting in December.
Discussion was held regarding future events. Joe suggested a movie night at the Free Methodist Church. Don suggested each group host 1 event a year with District Support. Again Kelly O advised groups to post on the website.
Issues with limiting share times, disruptive attendees and problems at meetings were briefly visited.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:15pm.
Respectfully submitted:
Diane R.
