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Delegate's Bulletin Board

12 April 2020 Virtual Zoom Board Meeting

● I can’t express enough my gratitude to Mitchell B for taking the lead on developing tools to gather group and individual feedback on the 56 agenda items by creating the Google Forms that allow votes-n-notes to be captured; and Ryan W for her diligence (and patience) in keeping Area 09 informed in numerous MailChimp eblasts to the Fellowship. They are truly the Dynamic Duo. (●) Modifying the Area 06 background information summaries and including my personal thoughts on each of the 56 agenda items was, at first, a risky proposition, but one I think paid off. It demonstrates the level of transparency that I am committed to, but also allows others to see what my thoughts are so they can supplement my thoughts with new ones (rather than agree or disagree with me) to increase the diversity and informing my Right to Decision, which I’m hoping works out for the best. I’m ever hopeful that we have provided an unprecedented opportunity for feedback and developed tools that can be used going forward long after these days of virtual meetings have ended. (●) As of today, there have been 43 members/groups providing feedback in English and only 6 in Spanish, so I’m concerned that our Hispanic communities are not being heard or represented. Following the April 5th Pre-Conference Workshop, I sent an email to our Spanish-speaking “leaders” asking them to let me know when we can have a zoom meeting just for Spanish-speaking and bilingual members, and am still awaiting a response. (●) April 4 marked my third time through the background information, logging in 50± hours in an attempt to be informed and ready for the April 5th workshop. Since last October, my self-education in AA literature has included review and/or study of 41 AA pamphlets and four AAWS books (Pass It On, Dr. Bob and the Oldtimers, AA Comes of Age, and Our Great Responsibility). (●) Mitchell, Hiro, and me spent several hours learning the intricacies of Zoom (particularly screen sharing) to be prepared for the April 5th event. The virtual pre-conference workshop on April 5, from 08:30 am to 2:00 pm, was the highlight of my early service as delegate, surpassed only by PRAASA. With 145 participants, following Hiro’s introductory remarks, we showed attenders how to navigate among the available resources, there was lively, engaging discussion, and it felt like a real success. In retrospect, this marked a transition for me, ending a six-to-eight week period of preparation for the Conference. (●) In the spirit of availability and participation, I was able to meet in zoom business meetings with District 1 on 3/26, 4 on 4/1, 12 on 4/2, 6 on 4/7, 5 on 4/9, and am planning on being with District 17 on 4/14. It was also a pleasure to have a last minute zoom meeting with 45 Area members on March 29, following our virtual Board meeting earlier that day. I encourage all Districts to invite us and all officers to attend. I’d also like to initiate regularly-scheduled zoom meetings to meet with Area members, pending input from other Board members. (●) On the evening on March 30, I participated in my first AA meeting with the other 14 Pacific Region delegates and Kathi F, our Pacific Region Trustee. No business was discussed and it was good to have virtual face time with the other delegates. (●) I am scheduled to have my first zoom meeting with the Conference Literature Committee (TLC) on April 13, but this will be more of an informal gathering of TLC members to get acquainted than a working meeting of the committee. (●) I continue to post information on the Delegate’s Bulletin Board, with posts on March 30 of Kevin F, Area 03 delegate’s PRAASA presentation on a plain language Big Book and April 7 when I posted “The Virtual Delegate,” in answer to Gerry W’s request for archival materials in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. I also plan to post this Board report to keep everyone informed. (●) These are the days of cancellation and postponement. Since my March 29th report the International Convention, Pacific Region Forum, and numerous other AA events have been cancelled. The 2020 Panel 70 Conference was postponed, and we recently learned from the General Service Conference’s coordinators plans to have a zoom conference the week of May 16, currently planned for four days, with the likelihood of postponing many of the agenda items as essential work is conducted. (●) Given the postponement of the Conference to mid-May, I’ve asked everyone to have their feedback on the agenda items submitted no later than May 12th so that Mitchell and I have time to assemble the information before the virtual Conference, currently scheduled for four days between the time period of May 16th-22nd.

Until we all meet again in person, my love and concern for each of you!

Ed L, Panel 70 MSCA delegate,
msca09delegate70@yahoo.com
(760) 964-0012