troy moderated the meeting

neveah took the minutes  

Serenity Prayer

*Our Code of Ethics: 

To keep each of our meetings safe and productive, we:

Communicate our views honestly and respectfully on issues raised, especially controversial ones. We do not raise our voices, stoop to sarcasm, cuss, or try to bully others into our way of thinking.

Are tolerant when we differ. We share our meeting time fairly so that each of us has an equal opportunity to comment.

Are willing to put our egos aside when our opinions do not win favor with others. We are able to let go, trust our group conscience, and strive for the “unity and harmony that our Fellowship requires for the successful accomplishment of its primary purpose. Our service structure exists to support us” (per concept 6, from our draft ‘Framework for Living’) and works for the greater good.

Encourage one another by doing our part to maintain a safe and supportive atmosphere.

These points have proved to be our blueprint for success. We ask your cooperation in continuing these traditions as we work together in the coming months. Thank you for contributing your time and talents. Your Twelfth Step work is deeply appreciated!

(*used with permission from the Conference Literature Committee) (04/05/22)

Rules of Order:

Robert's Rules of Order are to be used in biz Meetings (3/11/99). Also: Please note how Robert’s rules of order are to be used: “In the interest of tackling all of the items on this agenda and allowing everyone the opportunity to speak on the extremely important topics, suggest the following format in this meeting: Each topic under New Business will begin with a motion being made: That motion will then either be seconded or set aside. Upon the motion being seconded, discussion will begin. During discussion, only friendly amendments will be accepted to the motion. An amendment will be considered a friendly amendment if the original provider of the motion concurs with the amendment. Everyone will be allowed one share on each motion presented. Each share will be limited to 3 minutes in length. The end of discussion will be the point at which a vote is taken. A vote was taken on following this format and the Motion passed. (2/15/07)

Announcements

None

Approve June agenda - APPROVED

Approve May minutes - APPROVED

Approve Treasurer's report - APPROVED

Read and review Liaison report - READ

Op Applications

None

Old Business

None

New Business

Officer Elections for mandate period July 2026 through June 2027

Annual election (for contested posts) to be in June.

There are no contested Officer posts.

Motion from troy to approve the following received Nominations for Officer posts - ALL NOMINATIONS APPROVED

Chairperson - troy

Co-Chairperson - no nominations received

Secretary - neveah

Liaison Officer - Anne

Webmaster - troy

Co-Webmaster - Lotus

Treasurer - Lotus

For details of the Officer posts duties and requirements, see the Officers webpage: http://slaaonline.org/officers/

15 min Discussions of ABC/M Material in our GC BMs May-July.

From Agenda Second Version (containing even the new Motions and IFDs for 2026):

ITEM NUMBER     MOTION/IFD     DESCRIPTION     PAGE

26o01/19-02 Motion That the ‘HOW Step and Sponsorship Guide’ be approved and published. 6  (Discussed at May GC BM)

26o02/23-23 Motion That Authors/Writers of Literature submitted for Conference Approval or review by IFD, must confirm along with their literature submission that they meet a sobriety requirement of 2 continuous years of self defined sobriety, along with the definition of their self defined sobriety. 8  (Discussed at June GC BM)

26o03/25-18 IFD This IFD seeks Conference discussion on whether to approve S.L.A.A. Hopes and Promises to become one of S.L.A.A.’s Core Documents. 10  (Discussed at June GC BM)

26o04/25-19 By-Laws Motion Proposed change is to add a Section 5 under Article III. Membership. 13 

26o05/25-20 By-Laws Motion The general business sessions of the Annual Business Conference, called the Annual Business Meeting, shall be the Annual Business Meeting of the Corporation. 14 

26o06/25-21 By-Laws Motion Article V – The Fellowship-Wide Services S.L.A.A. Conference Charter, Section 5 – Conference Delegates. 16 

26o07/25-22 IFD This IFD seeks Conference discussion of "How should an Intergroup be Defined or Limited? 23 

26o08/25-23 IFD Current Contribution Limits 24 

26o09/25-24 Motion Conference Service Manual - Eliminate Conference Committee Conflict Resolution Process 26 

26o10/25-25 IFD Conference Service Manual Review Process Revision 27

26o11/24-02 Motion: Core Document Motion: proposed revisions to the “S.L.A.A. Preamble.” 30 

26o12/24-03 Bylaws Motion Motion: revision to "The 12 Recommended Guidelines for Dealing With The Media" 32 

26n13/26-01 IFD Structure and authority of the Conference Charter Committee (CCC) 37 

26n14/26-02 IFD Revise the Conference Service Manual (CSM), Conference Committee Conflict Resolution Process (CRP). 40 

26n15/26-03 Literature IFD “Recovery from Sex and Love Addiction for Nonbelievers" as a resource for S.L.A.A. members--especially those who do not believe in a traditional religious deity. 43 

26n16/26-04 IFD To discuss codifying that Motions/IFDs may not be used to comment on or provide feedback on another Motion/IFD (i.e., Literature) on the same ABM agenda. 44 

26n17/26-05 Literature IFD This IFD seeks Conference discussion of the draft document: “Sex and Love Addiction 46 — Two Threads in the Same Fabric.” 

Links to the texts given during the meeting or in advance by request to the Office at slaaonline@yahoo.com

Discussion 

@troy > Lotus could not attend today and has sent an email with some comments:

@Lotus (email) "I won't be at the meeting, but you have my endorsement for all of the Officers."

"I am opposed the ABM Agenda item regarding 2 years of sobriety being required for writing literature. Service is sobering. Writing, and participating in writing literature can help a person commit to sobriety. There are many failsafes in that there is usually a writing team, then the whole Fellowship can offer feedback, then the Style Committee of the CLC looks at it, then the whole CLC looks at it and votes on it; then, if it passes muster it is sent to the ABM for a whole conference of people to discuss, and ultimately vote upon it. Once it passes there, it is then passed before the eyes of the whole Board of Trustees to approve it to send to publication. So, there are many many stops along the ways for hundreds of sober eyes to shape a piece of literature, and in the end, it is HP's will as to whether a piece of literature is passed.

"I am unsure about the next two items of the ABM agenda. I will have a think on it, and look forward to what SLAAOnline Members think. 

@troy - i suggest we discuss:

26o02/23-23 Motion That Authors/Writers of Literature submitted for Conference Approval or review by IFD, must confirm along with their literature submission that they meet a sobriety requirement of 2 continuous years of self defined sobriety, along with the definition of their self defined sobriety. 8 

@troy > detailed version: Motion: That Authors/Writers of Literature submitted for Conference Approval or review by IFD, must confirm along with their literature submission that they meet a sobriety requirement of 2 continuous years of self defined sobriety, along with the definition of their self defined sobriety.

Intent: The primary purpose of S.L.A.A. literature is to share experience, strength and hope about how to achieve and maintain sobriety in S.L.A.A. It is a staple of recovery wisdom that “you cannot pass on what you don’t have” and if someone does not have sustained sobriety, they are not in a credible position to produce literature intended to help people get sober. Our board members are required to have three years of self defined sobriety, and the editors of the journal are required to have six months. We as a fellowship ought to require that the authors of our conference approved literature also have sobriety, at least at the time of their writing, so that we can trust their message by the results of their author’s sober living. Please see the Agenda Attachment for additional information pertinent to this Motion.

Requirements: For any piece of literature proposed to the CLC, the submission form should include a question confirming that the author(s) of the proposed literature have achieved 2 years of continuous, self-defined sobriety in S.L.A.A. Additionally, if the CLC enters any new literature proposal as an active project (Stage 3 of the LCEP flowchart), the Production Editor and all active members of the Writing Group must confirm that they meet the 2-year sobriety requirement before the literature progresses beyond step 4 in the LCEP Process. If at any point throughout the LCEP process, a member of the Writing Group or the Production Editor loses their sobriety, that piece of literature should not proceed through the LCEP process until the requirement is again met. Additionally, as any new members become involved with a piece of literature (as part of Writing Groups, a new Production Editor, etc) these members will be expected to meet the same sobriety requirement. Each member of the Writing Group and the Production Editor will be personally responsible for disclosing to the CLC whether or not they meet this level of sobriety and also to disclose any breaks in sobriety should they occur. This relies on the individual honesty and transparency of the trusted servants themselves, just like the sobriety requirement for the Board of Trustees. There are no costs associated with this change, only an update to the literature creation process. In fact, this may save the CLC time and energy by making sure that this time-intensive labor is only devoted to literature rooted in sobriety.

@troy i also do not support this motion ... i support that all willing members be able to contribute to the formation of new literature ... it is the texts themselves that should receive review and finally conference approval. 

 @neveah > I also do not support this motion. I also believe the literature/text review process is where the scrutiny should lie, and not within member sobriety.  the board of trustees is tasked with managing business for the fellowship, hence the sobriety scrutiny - so I don't believe the two are a fair comparison. 

@troy> next ABM item for discussion

26o03/25-18 IFD This IFD seeks Conference discussion on whether to approve S.L.A.A. Hopes and Promises to become one of S.L.A.A.’s Core Documents. 10

detailed version: it is a table - so cut-and-paste may be messy ...

As it currently reads / Proposed changes

1. We will regain control of our lives.

1. We will gain balance in our lives with the help of a Higher Power. 

2. We will begin to feel dignity and respect for ourselves. 

2. We will begin to treat ourselves and others with compassion, dignity, and respect. 

3. Loneliness will subside and we will begin to enjoy being alone. 

3. We will begin to enjoy moments of reflection and serenity as feelings of loneliness subside.

4. We will no longer be plagued by an unceasing sense of longing.

4. We will no longer be burdened by an ongoing sense of longing. 

5. In the company of family and friends, we will be with them in body and mind. 

5. We will be present with others in mind, body and spirit. 

6. We will pursue interests and activities that we desire for ourselves. 

6. We will pursue top-line behaviors, interests, and activities that align with our spiritual, social, emotional, and physical well-being.  

7. Love will be a committed, thoughtful decision rather than a feeling by which we are overwhelmed. 

7. We will commit to love mindfully and intentionally, rather than being overcome by fantasy and obsession. 

8. We will Love and Accept ourselves. 

8. We will love, accept, and forgive ourselves with the help of our Higher Power, rather than rely on others for validation. 

9. We will relate to others from a state of wholeness. 

9. We will relate to others from a state of physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness. 

10. We will extend ourselves to nurture our own spiritual growth and that of others. 

10. We will nurture our own recovery and spiritual well-being before supporting others. 

11. We will make peace with our past and make amends to those we have harmed. 

11. We will make peace with our past as we make amends to those we have harmed. 

12. We will be thankful for what has been given us, what has been taken away and what has been left behind. 

12. We will have gratitude for what has been given to us, what has been taken away, and what has been left behind. 

Please see the Agenda Attachment for additional information pertinent to this Item For Discussion. 

Intent: The intent of this IFD is to have the S.L.A.A. Hopes and Promises be included amongst S.L.A.A. Core Documents.  Currently, the Blessings of S.L.A.A. are read in many meetings. The Twelve Hopes and Promises will conform to the Core Documents, listing twelve benefits of recovery. This draft is based on the “Daytona Promises,” which have been edited and revised, and reviewed by the CLC Style Committee. (See page 4 of the submission for background information collected from various S.L.A.A. resources). 

Requirements: Time to discuss the item at the 2025 ABM Conference in order to collect feedback on the “S.L.A.A. Hopes and Promises” draft document. 

@neveah> I am currently undecided on whether or not I would personally want this specific piece added as a core document. 

@troy> my impression is that this has a long way to go ... i am far from convinced that all the edits to the existing document are improvements ... and i do not have strong feelings that the hopes and promises need to be in the core documents ... the daytona promises - which some groups use ... was up for conference approval some years ago i believe ... but did not become conference-approved lit ... despite some shortcomings ... i personally like and am familiar with the daytona promises ... and if anything gets conference approved - i would support it being a basically unchanged daytona version ... just my take!

For info:  THE Promises (Modified from the Daytona, Florida group)

If you have decided to follow the suggestions in this program, a new life will begin to unfold within you. 

Along with this new life are promises that will guide and sustain you. They are manifested among us in sobriety, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. These are the promises we in this SLAA group have found:

1. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

2. We will begin to feel dignity and respect for ourselves. 

3. The loneliness will subside and we will begin to enjoy being alone. 

4. We will no longer be plagued by an unceasing sense of longing.

5. In the company of family and friends, we will be with them in body and mind.

6. We will pursue interests and activities that we desire for ourselves. 

7. Love will be a committed, thoughtful decision rather than a feeling by which we are overwhelmed. 

8. We will love and accept ourselves. 

9. We will relate to others from a state of wholeness. 

10. We will extend ourselves for the purpose of nurturing our own or another's spiritual growth. 

11. We will make peace with our past and make amends to those we have hurt.

12. We will be thankful for what has been given us, what has been taken away, and what has been left behind. 

Are these extravagant promises? We think not!!!! They are being fulfilled among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize IF WE WORK FOR THEM !!!

(that was the daytona promises - just for info)

10 min Open Forum

Sol1 >; I'm a little confused there's 3 different types of promises. I really don't know - but I like the ones used since long time ago.  I would not mind they to become a core document.  I really love the original ones. 

@troy > for info:  my understanding: 

approved promises (as in our standard meeting ending script) is from the basic text and thus approved lit 

the daytona promises never got conf approval

there is an original hopes and promises that never got conf approval ...

and there is now a revised hopes and promises in this abm ifd 

wow!

Serenity Prayer

Meeting adjourned