NGSG Inventory Summary for 2020

Dear Trusted Servants:

Thank you to all who participated in our NGSG Inventory on 12/21/20, including members of NGSG, and those who conducted the Inventory. Summary prepared by Zach is as follows:

Nassau County Inventory 12/21/2020

Attendees: John W. (moderator), Nisaa(timekeeper), Zach (minutes), Annabel (DCMC) and members of Nassau General Service Group

Annabel (DCMC) – opening remarks.

John W. opening remarks: In general inventories are uncommon. Not to take your inventory but to help you with the process. This is done in the same spirit as doing your own step-work. The miracle their happens in the 6/7 steps when we look at what we’ve uncovered and take some additional action. The real opportunity to help strengthen Nassau County comes after this inventory. No decisions will be made tonight. Encouraged to not have debate. Please focus remarks to John. Encouraged the current officers to listen as much as you can and try not to respond or give feedback.

Nassau County General Service Inventory
From the pamphlet The AA Group: “Many groups periodically hold a ‘group inventory meeting’ to evaluate how well they are fulfilling their primary purpose: to help alcoholics recover through A.A.’s suggested Twelve Steps of recovery.” We will apply this same principle to our county structure.

1 – What is the basic purpose of Nassau County General Service?
• Support the home groups and to receive information and pass it on.
• Communicate with other groups inside Nassau.
• Facilitate spreading the message of recovery to groups below the group level in the service
triangle.
• Provide services beyond the capabilities of the group.

2 – Are we fulfilling this purpose?
YES: One of the reasons our districts are not strong is our county meetings
provide all we need. Good leadership, communication, love and tolerance.
NO: Lack of reaching out to the area. Only as good as the person doing the service. We could be more willing.

3 – Is NCGS attracting a good cross section of AA members into Service?
In order to succeed we need enthusiastic leaders. We have ICYPAA connection which represents a good cross section.
Yes, a terrific cross section. We include the spanish district.
The people that have joined are both young and mature. So, Yes.
One of the problems is that a number of groups don’t have GSR’s and are not represented. Perhaps there needs to be more outreach.
The pulse of the group can be determined by the representation. Not diverse at all, not a lot of people that look like him.
How do we get groups that are not represented? Hopes that no one feels unwanted.
In terms of increasing representation . . are Spanish interpreters available?
How do we attract members into GS? As a DCM went to dark meeting (no gsr) and tried to encourage participation. Perhaps we should just have a county meeting and helping GSR’s get involved in committees where they have interest.
350 groups in Nassau. Due to Covid many of those closed. We do need more. In Queens they would send GSR’s to nearby meetings to encourage participation. In the past we sent letters to dark groups. We are not attracting GSR’s. We are only receiving contributions from 45 groups. Very low participation.

4 – Are we forming into cliques and being different to some GSRs?
I hope we don’t shrink into viewer districts because the DCM provides a voice. We have to make it fun! Unity breakfast, share a day, etc.
It’s the same GSR’s year after year.

5 – Is the turnover in Service positions excessive?
Consensus was no.

6 – Has enough effort been made to explain the need and value of unity (12 Traditions) and service (12 Concepts)?
• For those of us who participate the answer is yes.
• We do run tradition workshop meetings. Was sober many years before she heard
of the concepts.
• We hold regular workshops. ex. Bridging the gap, grapevine.
• We need to explain the value of these concepts and traditions. In GS you need a
thick skin. In Nassau we value and explain.

7 – Is adequate opportunity given to all members to speak and participate in NCGS activities to arrive at the actual voice and effective conscience for our whole County?
Visual affirmation.
• A good example is tonight. Annabel informed us but to get people to look at the minutes beforehand is a challenge.

8 – Are County officers picked with care and consideration on the basis that serving in this capacity is a great responsibility and opportunity for Twelfth Step work?
• In the three past rotations .. . .there have been situations where it was hard to find people to serve.

9 – Have we defined well the scope of authority and service responsibility of our County officers, by specific job descriptions or guidelines?
SKIPPED

10 – Are the issues brought to NCGS made clear so all know what they are voting for or against?
11 – Are all important decisions reached by a discussion, vote, and whenever possible substantial unanimity?
COMBINE 10 and 11 – “Do you know what you are voting on and is it clear how it happens?”
• It is because the voting process is the Roberts Rules. No one is hand picked and we go through the voting process.
• The issues are made very clear.

12 – How do we treat the “Right of Appeal” thus assuring that minority opinion will be heard and that petitions for redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered?
Visual affirmations.
• We have a good representation as far as elections and as far as committees go.
When we leave the room everyone is happy.

13 – Does NCGS carry its fair share of the job helping SENY and GSO carry the message?
• There are a small group here that carry this message.

14 – Does NCGS communicate clearly its distinction from Nassau Intergroup? Do we cooperate or affiliate?
• We definitely cooperate. There are a few committees where we work together.

15 – Are we “self-supporting through County contributions” in covering expenses for Service in
the County? Do we have sufficient operating funds and operate on a prudent financial principle? • Visual affirmation that Geralda is giving the right information.

16 – Do we have an effective system for accounting and reporting funds? Combined with 15.
Consensus was yes.

17 – Is there more NCGS can do to carry the message?
• We can be doing more. The clusters were effective. No representation among
the black groups.
• There has to be some kind of outreach.
• We need to find a way to incorporate some younger folks with us.

Concluding remarks – John: The important thing now is to look at notes and figure out what needs addressing. If groups need GSR’s this is a great time to do that. Go to business meetings and bring the new GSR pamphlet. There are never enough people to do all of the work. Focus on the solution rather than the problem. Instead of 12 committees with no chairs just have a few strong committees.

Yours in service,
Annabel B