Minutes Full Board of Trustees
Tuesday July 16, 20196:00 p.m. (time in Minnesota) NOTE TIME CHANGE
Conference Call # (605) 472-5304
Participant code: 488333#
1. Call to order/Serenity Prayer at 6 p.m.
- Scott
2. Approval of prior meeting minutes- Colleen
Approved in June
3. Old Businessa. # Scholarships for starting new groups given since last meeting - Elaine
None since Juneb. Nominations for Board members- Scott
i. Paola & Francesco – Italian representatives
Discussion on the bylaws – any country may elect one representative.
Elaine will email back and find out if they have been elected by the Italiangroups. Elaine will send them the bylaws and cc the rest of the board
c. Meditation book submissions. A few more coming in. Scott suggested we publish
a book of 52 readings (weekly) instead. Elaine will send information out to themembership. Once this proposed new meditation book is complete we'll havethe Today book in English, the Today book in Spanish (Hoy) and this new bookwith weekly readings.
d. Welcoming Spirituality status (new EA workbook). It arrived last week and isnow available for sale.
4. Review of finances**- Derita
A few questions/clarifications on funds, particularly around the severe drop incontributed income during the spring 2019. EA ended the year in the red byapproximately $14,000.
5. Bylaw and Communications task forces*- Colleen
Colleen explained her proposal. Elaine would like to see these two ideas communicatedseparately – perhaps staggered in presenting the start dates. Also to start thecommunications efforts from a clean base – look at what our members want, how theywant to be communicated with etc – without concerning ourselves with what wecurrently have and focus on what we really need. The attached workplan language will
be basis for communicating these opportunities. Steve volunteered to be on the bylaw
task force. Colleen and Derita would like to be part of the communication committee.
Elaine is concerned about the potential for bias in setting up the bylaw review
committee. Steve suggested an application form similar to the trustee application inorder to create balance on the task force and offered to create one. Colleen suggested
we ask potential committee members to keep the good of EA as a whole in mind and willrevise the workplan. Both committees would be ad hoc according to Tradition 9 whichstates: EA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create special service boards
or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
6. Book and Literature committee update

a. Emory’s question about details of EA principles* - Elaine
EA has principles that vary from other “A” groups. Elaine will pass those along toEmory. IWIYWI lists the principles, as well as #75.
Luz in California has been working on Spanish translations and recently sent insome reflection questions for other pamphlets that we can use in the English
pamphlets as well. Elaine will add Principles to the website.

7. Resolving issues between Italian and francophone groups*- Elaine
We will ask if francophone community has documentation to translate from
French to Italian. Also, does the Italian intergroup have the rights to publish? EAlicenses materials by language, not by geographically.
Those operating in the EA fellowship are encouraged to follow the concepts,
slogans, principles, steps, and traditions in all they do. Colleen suggested weadapt the following Values Statement for clarification in moving forward in all
facets of EAI. Motion by Colleen and Seconded by Steve: We value honest,
respectful, interpersonal, intergroup communications that place the principles ofthe fellowship above individual or local interests. Motion passed. Derita voted
opposed; all others approved.
8. Points of Information:• Fall workshop will be held Sept 12-13 in St. Paul MN with annual
membership meeting on Sept 14 at 11 a.m.
• Steve and Paul accepted trusteeship; Lynn declined to join the board
after being approved.
• Membership will be notified before July 30 regarding the annualmembership meeting (per bylaws – 45 days prior to the meeting).
Motion by Steve to adjourn. Seconded by Paul at 7:43 p.m. Vote unanimous.
Next meeting August 13 6 p.m – 7 p.m.

**Documents will be sent via email prior to the meeting if not included with agenda.
*See further detail on next pages.

#5 - Bylaw and Communications task forces DRAFT*

As trusted servants, the members of the EA Board of Trustees meets periodically to discussbusiness issues and membership concerns. At a recent meeting, we discussed thecommunication challenges of helping with a large, diffuse, worldwide organization andreceiving responses from members on things like ratifying bylaws.
To respond to this challenge, and recent feedback from members about their frustrations inworking with the board, we have decided to create two member-based study groups. These
groups will help develop two products that guide the actions of our organization.
The first is the Bylaw Review Team. This group will participate in a review and revise of ourcurrent bylaws and coordinate a vote by the membership to ratify them. The second is theCommunications Planning Team. This group will help us examine and develop communication
goals and key messages and suggest ways we can more effectively do outreach to our manymembers.
We have named a Board trustee(s) to oversee both of these efforts, which we think will take six
to eight months’ of work. The work will involve monthly two-hour conference call meetings, aswell as five to six hours of “homework” and email communications among team members.
If you are comfortable making this commitment and sharing your time and talents, here is how
you be a part of these study groups:• If you are interested in participating on the Bylaw Review Team coordinated by NAME,
please send a note to CONTACT HERE. This team will look at current and past bylaws
and draft proposed new bylaws for a vote by EA members.
• If you have some thoughts or experience in developing communication objectives, key
messages, and communication strategies for effective outreach to large groups, contact
NAME AND CONTACT HERE coordinator for the Communications Planning Team.
We will chronicle the progress of these teams in the Connection newsletter each month andreport on the minutes of each meeting on our EA website.
There is no application process necessary. Simply email a note to the coordinator of the team
you want to be on, mention any expertise or past experience you might have in subject matter,and give us your contact information. We hope to complete team development and launch byAugust 31, 2019, so please send your note in by no later than Aug. 15.
Thank you for your patience as we work through the changes and growing pains that are part ofany dynamic organization. And thank you for helping make EA a stronger, more transparent andresponsive so we can be there for all those seeking emotional sobriety for many years to come.

#7: Emory’s question:
Can you send me at least what we consider our principles? I see different principles listed indifferent programs. For instance principal one in some programs is listed as Acceptance, inothers as Surrender. Slight difference I admit but I want to align with EA if I choose to pen
something up for your consideration.
#8 - Resolving issues between Italian and francophone groups*
Attachment from May 8 email