Public Information Pack Download

2010-06-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Lizzie has asked me to make the following public information pack available in readiness for the next committee meeting.

It can be downloaded here:

Public Information Pack

Andy

Minutes of PI Committee meeting held at the Millennium Centre, St Helens Sunday 9th May 2010

2010-05-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

PRESENT
Tom - St Helens (Chair/Prison Liaison Officer)
Liz A - Ormskirk (Minutes)
Lee B - St Helens (Telephone Liaison Officer)
Dave - St Helens (PI for St Helens)
Henry O’ - Padgate Saturday
Brenda - Warrington (MSWL Intergroup Secretary)
Lynn - Runcorn Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday Multigroup
Andy - St Helens

APOLOGIES
Julie - Wigan

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
The meeting commenced at 2.30pm.
Tom welcomed everybody to the meeting. Lynn read the Preamble. Andy read Tradition Two and Henry read the Guidelines for Public Information Officers.

Tom had been asked by intergroup to set up this meeting to form a PI committee. Ideally, each group in the MSWL area should have a PI Officer and the purpose of the committee would be to provide a means of pooling information, knowledge and resources to aid the individual PIs in their task and to ensure that information is successfully passed to newly appointed PIs.

Each member introduced themselves. Some areas where not represented at this meeting and it was agreed that the first priority would be to attract representatives from each group in the MSWL intergroup area. A discussion followed and three suggestions were put forward as a means of contacting all the groups:

a) To send a letter to each group
b) Committee members to visit each group
c) To put an announcement on the MSWL website (www.aa-mswlancs.org)
It was agreed that all three methods be undertaken.

It was decided that a letter be sent out first which will include the website url and contact details. This to be followed by a visit to the groups and all relevant information be available on the website. Liz to bring a draft letter to the next meeting.

Both Brenda and Henry had previous experience of PI work and brought valuable information and advice to the meeting. Brenda brought along a DVD entitled ‘Alcoholics Anonymous - Misc. Documents that may be useful to the Public Information Officer’. It was agreed that 10 copies be made to hand out at the next meeting. Liz agreed to take the copies and bring to the next meeting.

Brenda also provided a sample letter from Warrington PI team which has its own letterhead and explained that they had found information in the PI handbook very beneficial. She also recommended using a diary system which had proven successful for Warrington. Tom suggested we design a letterhead for this committee. To be discussed at the next meeting.

It was also suggested a central database be formed to keep records of contact details and to keep track of who has been contacted and responses received. To be discussed at a later date.

It was agreed that the climate is good for PI’s at this time due to the pressures upon organisations to keep within tight budgets whilst offering adequate help and support. It is an ideal opportunity for PI’s to explain what AA is and that there is no charge.

The present climate in AA was discussed which highlighted the need to bring awareness of intergroup to all AA members. Henry proposed running workshops to explain the roles of intergroup officers. Tom suggested this could be done through intergroup and Andy explained that the website could be used to announce them and/or present online workshops. He can also set up one or two blog areas linked to the main home page for intergroup announcements/information and for individual members to post information and suggestions. To be brought up at Intergroup and followed up at a later meeting.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Brenda was elected Chair.
Andy was elected Electronic Communications Liaison Officer.
Liz was elected Secretary.

A Literature Secretary will be needed for this committee. To be appointed at a later date.

A PI Officer is needed for Intergroup. Nominations to be taken to Intergroup.

It was suggested that a PI Liaison Officer be appointed to cover all areas combined. To be discussed at a later date.

PI Officers are needed to represent each group. Anybody interested in becoming a PI Officer would require 1-2 years sobriety or possibly less if being sponsored into the position. However, all interested AA members can attend the committee meeting and volunteer to help with administration duties. All PI’s are to be elected at group level. Committee members will be requesting an invitation to join group conscience meetings to explain the necessity of electing a PI Officer. To be discussed further at a later date.

Tom will pass on all Prison Liaison information on to Henry who is happy to become the next Prison/Probation Liaison Officer.

Date and Time of Next Meeting
2pm for 2.30pm start, Sunday 27th June 2010 at the Millennium Centre, St Helens.

New Meeting

2010-05-10T01:09:00.001-07:00

A new meeting has recently opened in Tarleton...

Tarleton - Friday 19:30
Farm Fellowship
Church Hall
Tarleton

(NB. Behind the farm shop at 23 Coe Lane, Tarleton PR4 6HH)

For an up to date list of all regional meetings, visit: www.aa-mswlancs.org

AA Merseyside & Southwest Lancs

Public Information Pack Download

Minutes of PI Committee meeting held at the Millennium Centre, St Helens Sunday 9th May 2010

New Meeting