JFtV Steering Committee Meetings

On May 01, 2021 - at a Special Business/Group Conscience Meeting the members in attendance approved the recommendations about the scope and structure of the Steering Comittee Task Team as listed below. The minutes from that meeting are here.

 Dear JFT Group Members,

On February 6, 2021, the second meeting of the JFT Steering Committee Task Team was held to continue the discussion of best practices for the JFT Virtual Steering Committees.  Detailed notes from that meeting are here.

A proposal for JFT's Steering Committees, defined here by changes to the current Steering Committee Job Description, was commended with substantial unanimity (defined by AA guidelines as a 2/3 majority) to the JFT Group for consideration at the next business meeting, which will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 (8:15 - 9:30 am EST). You are encouraged to review all the details of the proposal. 

In summary, the proposal recommends

• the scope of the JFT Virtual Steering Committee’s work, in alignment with AA’s Twelve Traditions (specifically Tradition 9) would be to receive, discuss, recommend, and decide on technical, security, and meeting format matters associated with the relevant JFT’s Virtual Meeting to the extent such matters do not impact other JFT Group meetings, JFT finances or the JFT Group as a whole; 
• matters that fall beyond the Steering Committees' scope will be referred to the JFT Business Meeting;
• recommendations and decisions will be made using AA tradition and the practice of the informed group conscience of those in attendance at a Steering Committee meeting;
• the JFT Virtual Steering Committees’ work be open to all who consider themselves a member of the relevant meeting; seek transparency and effective communication via email, meeting, and web announcement; establish regular and recurring meeting schedule to which all will be invited, and which may be canceled if there are no agenda items to be considered and proper notice is given; and provide advance notice of meetings and agenda items, solicitation of agenda item from members, and posting meeting minutes

Two additional recommendations were identified from the discussions. 

• The JFT Group consider a 'Group Inventory' using the 12 Traditions and conference guidelines.  This will be brought to the next JFT Business Meeting as an agenda item; 
• We would value more information and experience from others who have one group with multiple meetings. Todd A. will bring this to the District to ask if they might develop a workshop.

Questions and feedback - JFT Secretary (jftsecretary@gmail.com)

 Dear JFT Group Members,

On February 6th from 8:15-9:15 a.m. via the regular 6 am Zoom log-in, all are welcome to attend the second meeting of the special task team formed to discuss best practices for the JFT Virtual Steering Committees. Meeting details are below.   

The agenda for the second meeting is available here: 2021.02.06 JFT Committees Task Team Agenda.docx.  Please familiarize yourself with the agenda in advance. 

Thanks to those who participated in the initial meeting on January 23, 2021 and/or provided their input via other means (the agenda and notes for the initial meeting are posted below).

A proposal for review and discussion at the February 6th meeting has been drafted and included in the agenda and is available here:  Proposed Changes to JFT Virtual Meeting Steering Committee Service Job Descriptions for 6 Feb 2021 Task Meeting.  

Feedback prior to the meeting is welcome. In order to ensure that all interested JFT group members have an opportunity to review the same material, we will not make any adjustments to the proposal prior to the meeting. The volunteer facilitator, Liz D, will collect and provide an overview of any pre-meeting comments received prior to opening the discussion at the meeting.  

We hope to use the meeting time to discuss and determine together (1) whether there is an informed group conscience in favor of recommending the proposal or another specific recommendation to the JFT Business Meeting (e.g., the proposal with further changes or an alternative approach?), (2) whether the JFT group members need/want more information or process before recommending or attending a future Business Meeting on these topics, and (3) next steps and any service opportunities in relation to them. 

Please send any feedback or questions to the JFT Secretary (jftsecretary@gmail.com) and Liz D (eadoherty@gmail.com; 617-785-9982).  Hope to see many of you there.

Agenda from Session 1

Meeting Notes from Session 1

Invitation/Announcement: All are invited to a Special "JFT Committees Task Team" Meeting to be held on January 23, 2021 from 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. to discuss best practices for the JFT Virtual Steering Committees. 

The JFT Virtual Meetings were formed in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The JFT Virtual Steering Committees and Virtual Meeting Service Positions and their responsibilities were developed and endorsed at the September 2020 Business Meeting. These JFT Virtual Meeting Groups have continued to thrive and grow in attendance despite uncertain and rapidly changing circumstances caused by COVID-19. As we approach the one year anniversary of JFT Virtual Meetings, at the JFT Committees Task Force Meeting, we hope to continue our group’s journey in further developing and documenting the best practices for the Virtual Steering Committees in alignment with AA’s Twelve Traditions and Group Conscience, and then make a report and/or recommendation(s) back to the JFT Secretary and the JFT Group as a whole at a future Business Meeting. All JFT Meeting Attendees are invited to attend.

An Informed A.A. Group Conscience: The group conscience is the collective conscience of the group membership and thus represents substantial unanimity on an issue before definitive action is taken. This is achieved by the group members through the sharing of full information, individual points of view, and the practice of A.A. principles. To be fully informed requires a willingness to listen to minority opinions with an open mind. On sensitive issues, the group works slowly — discouraging formal motions until a clear sense of its collective view emerges. Placing principles before personalities, the membership is wary of dominant opinions. Its voice is heard when a well-informed group arrives at a decision. The result rests on more than a “yes” or “no” count — precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the group conscience. The term “informed group conscience” implies that pertinent information has been studied and all views have been heard before the group votes. (The AA Group) 

Concept 12. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action. (The Twelve Concepts for World Service)

The AA Group: Where It All Begins (Pamphlet)

• see page 23 regards "Why Have A Steering Committee"

Boston's Beacon Group - Model of Steering Committee