Premeeting Chair and Officer Agenda

Sunday May 4, 2025

6:00 PM ET

Officers and Committee Chairs BTVIG/Working Group to Brainstorm Together:

Starting at 6:00 PM Eastern Time

(5 CT – 4 MT - 3 PT) via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

The business meeting will follow a working session of the officers and any of the

committee chairs. The meeting is open to everyone but as it is a working session the

discussion will be with the officers and chairs only. This means that the zoom room will

open at 6pm eastern. If time is left… open questions will be allowed.

I look forward to seeing you.

Topics:

Figure a way to differentiate between meeting business and

intergroup business while keeping with the “one” meeting

tradition of Better Together.(Carryover from last month)

Discuss the numbers that are being collected.

- average end time

Issues from Committee Chairs:

What dates for Service Saturday Service Saturday (Intergroup) works the rest of the

year.

-Open Forum:

Explanation of the Officer Terms: As per the by-laws Section 5 - Term of Office

A. Board members shall be elected to serve for a period of two years.

1) On even-numbered years the chair and secretary shall be elected. On odd-numbered years the

vice chair and treasurer shall be elected.

2) Newly elected officers shall begin service at the Intergroup meeting following their election.

B. Board members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

C. After an interval of two years, a member may again be eligible for election to their prior office.

D. Upon election to the board, members shall cease to be a representative of their group they

represent, and that group shall choose a new IR.

Meeting to be held virtually via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

Better Together Virtual Intergroup (BTVIG) Business Meeting First Sunday each month

(Second if first is a holiday weekend) Room Opens at 6 PM (CT)The Better Together Virtual Intergroup Business Meeting

Start Time: 7:00 PM Eastern End Time: 8:15 or earlier by motion

Chairperson: Russell W Term: 1/2025 - 12/2026 Secretary: Catherine P.

Term: 1/2025 - 12/2026

Vice Chairperson: Lori D Treasurer: Carla C.

Term: 1/2023 - 12/2025 Term: 1/2024 - 12/2025

Business Meeting Agenda

Sunday May 4, 2025

7:00 PM ET

via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

Welcoming:(Start recording and AI)

Chairperson: Russell W

Opening Prayer:

God set aside everything we think we know about

our higher power, about ourselves, about this

intergroup, and our own recovery so we may have

an open mind and a new experience with all these

things. Please help us see the truth.

Minutes: Reading / Waiver of Reading / Motion to Approve

Secretary: Catherine P.

Reports from Officers:

Lori D

- Vice Chairperson

Catherine P - Secretary

Carla C

- - Treasurer

BTVIG Committee Chair Reports and

Data Tech

Data tech - Matthew B.

Lori

-Host / Co-host

Meeting to be held virtually via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

Better Together Virtual Intergroup (BTVIG) Business Meeting First Sunday each month

(Second if first is a holiday weekend) Room Opens at 6 PM (CT)Catherine P -Zoom Service Training

Sonya P.

-Member Contact list

Michelle -Newsletter

Kelly M

-Welcome Committee

Open - Speaker Seekers

Lori -Workshops

Open -Sponsorship Committee

Annie -

-No Disruptions

Russell -Facebook: Admins: Kimmy H, Lori D, Russell W, Jenni R, Rena S

BTVIG Meeting Delegates:

- Newcomer Meeting Rep

* World Service- Mary Helen

Mary Helen- Virtual Region Delegate

Mary Helen- World Service Office Delegate exp 2025

World Services and or Regional Visitors:

Ongoing business to review percentage review for 7th tradition

*It is the group’s conscience as per a previous motion approved by group

conscience:

When a motion is to be voted on the Chair seeks 3 members to speak in

favor “pro” and 3 members to speak not in favor “con” on the motion with

one min each to present their views. When these 6 members have finished

presenting their views there is no other discussion to be taken the motion

is to be voted on.

New business:

Call for any new business:

Retreat information - update

Any member in the zoom BM zoom room can bring up new business, to be

considered in the meeting. Make a motion, ask a question, begin a conversation

about this BTVIG Intergroup

Your voice is welcome, this is your business meeting!

Meeting to be held virtually via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

Better Together Virtual Intergroup (BTVIG) Business Meeting First Sunday each month

(Second if first is a holiday weekend) Room Opens at 6 PM (CT)What’s on your mind

End meeting motion

Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot

change, courage to change the things I can, and the

wisdom to know the difference.

Close Meeting

Robert's Rules Hints:

What does Point of Order mean?

In parliamentary procedure, a point of order occurs when someone draws attention to a rule

violation in a meeting of a deliberative assembly.

(deliberative = relating to or intended for consideration or discussion)

The BTVIG Business is a deliberative assembly.

What does making a motion mean?

Motions are statements that describe a proposed action or decision. Although the formality of

Robert's Rules can seem cumbersome, the process of making motions ensures that no decision is

accepted without the opportunity for discussion and a vote.

How to introduce a motion, you would say,

“I move that … followed by a statement of the proposal.”

The motion is not discussed until it has been seconded by someone. Purpose of requiring a

seconding of a motion is to confirm that more than one member of the assembly wishes to discuss

it. No second, no motion.

Note:

*It is this group's conscience as per the BTVIG policy and Bylaws that motions are approved by

group conscience, and to be voted on the month after the motion was presented.

When a motion is to be voted on, the person who made the motion must be present and state it

again without changes.

The Chair will then seek,

3 members to speak in favor “pro”

3 members to speak not in favor “con”

on the motion with one min each to present their views.

When these 6 members have finished presenting their views there is no other discussion to be taken

and the motion is to be voted on.

Meeting to be held virtually via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

Better Together Virtual Intergroup (BTVIG) Business Meeting First Sunday each month

(Second if first is a holiday weekend) Room Opens at 6 PM (CT)

Premeeting Chair and Officer Agenda

Sunday April 6, 2025

6:00 PM ET

Officers and Committee Chairs BTVIG/Working Group to Brainstorm Together:

Starting at 6:00 PM Eastern Time

(5 CT – 4 MT - 3 PT) via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

The business meeting will follow a working session of the officers and any of the committee chairs. The meeting is open to everyone but as it is a working session the discussion will be with the officers and chairs only. This means that the zoom room will open at 6pm eastern. If time is left… open questions will be allowed.

I look forward to seeing you.

Topics:

Figure a way to differentiate between meeting business and intergroup business while keeping with the “one” meeting tradition of Better Together.

Discuss the numbers that are being collected.

- average end time

Issues from Committee Chairs:

What dates for Service Saturday Service Saturday (Intergroup) works the rest of the year.

-Open Forum:

Explanation of the Officer Terms: As per the by-laws Section 5 - Term of Office
A. Board members shall be elected to serve for a period of two years. 

1) On even-numbered years the chair and secretary shall be elected. On odd-numbered years the vice chair and treasurer shall be elected.
2) Newly elected officers shall begin service at the Intergroup meeting following their election. 

B. Board members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

C. After an interval of two years, a member may again be eligible for election to their prior office.
D. Upon election to the board, members shall cease to be a representative of their group they represent, and that group shall choose a new IR.

The Better Together Virtual Intergroup Business Meeting

Start Time: 7:00 PM Eastern          End Time: 8:15 or earlier by motion

Chairperson:       Russell W                                      Secretary:  Catherine P.

         Term:  1/2025  - 12/2026                             Term:  1/2025  - 12/2026            

Vice Chairperson:       Lori D                      Treasurer:    Carla C.

         Term:  1/2023  - 12/2025                              Term:  1/2024  - 12/2025

Business Meeting Agenda

Sunday April 6, 2025

7:00 PM ET

 via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family

Welcoming:(Start recording and AI)

Chairperson:   Russell W   

Opening Prayer:

God set aside everything we think we know about our higher power, about ourselves, about this intergroup, and our own recovery so we may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things. Please help us see the truth.

Minutes: Reading / Waiver of Reading / Motion to Approve

Secretary:  Catherine P.

Reports from Officers:

Lori D         - Vice Chairperson  

Catherine P    - Secretary

Carla C  -   - Treasurer   

BTVIG Committee Chair Reports and

Data Tech

Data tech - Matthew B.

Lori        -Host / Co-host 

Catherine P -Zoom Service Training

Sonya P. -Member Contact list

Michelle   -Newsletter Com Newsletter

Kelly M   -Welcome Committee

Open   - Speaker Seekers

Lori   -Workshops

Open  -Sponsorship Committee

Annie -   -No Disruptions

Russell   -Facebook: Admins: Kimmy H, Lori D, Russell W, Jenni R, Rena S

BTVIG Meeting Delegates:

      - Newcomer Meeting Rep

* World Service- Mary Helen

      Mary Helen- Virtual Region Delegate

      Mary Helen- World Service Office Delegate exp 2025

World Services and or Regional Visitors:

Ongoing business to review:

Discuss meeting business and intergroup meeting without disruptive for meeting.

*It is the group’s conscience as per a previous motion approved by group conscience:
When a motion is to be voted on the Chair seeks 3 members to speak in favor “pro” and 3 members to speak not in favor “con” on the motion with one min each to present their views.  When these 6 members have finished presenting their views there is no other discussion to be taken the motion is to be voted on.

New business:

Call for any new business:

Retreat information -

Any member in the zoom BM zoom room can bring up new business, to be considered in the meeting. Make a motion, ask a question, begin a conversation about this BTVIG Intergroup

Your voice is welcome, this is your business meeting!

What’s on your mind

End meeting motion

Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Close Meeting

Robert's Rules Hints: 

What does Point of Order mean?

In parliamentary procedure, a point of order occurs when someone draws attention to a rule violation in a meeting of a deliberative assembly.

(deliberative = relating to or intended for consideration or discussion)

The BTVIG Business is a deliberative assembly.

What does making a motion mean?

Motions are statements that describe a proposed action or decision. Although the formality of Robert's Rules can seem cumbersome, the process of making motions ensures that no decision is accepted without the opportunity for discussion and a vote.

How to introduce a motion, you would say,

“I move that … followed by a statement of the proposal.” 

The motion is not discussed until it has been seconded by someone. Purpose of requiring a seconding of a motion is to confirm that more than one member of the assembly wishes to discuss it. No second, no motion.

Note:

*It is this group's conscience as per the BTVIG policy and Bylaws that motions are approved by group conscience, and to be voted on the month after the motion was presented.

When a motion is to be voted on, the person who made the motion must be present and state it again without changes.

The Chair will then seek,

3 members to speak in favor “pro”

3 members to speak not in favor “con”

on the motion with one min each to present their views. 

When these 6 members have finished presenting their views there is no other discussion to be taken and the motion is to be voted on.

The Better Together Virtual Intergroup Business Meeting

Sunday, February 2, 2025 7:00 PM ET

Chairperson: Russell W Term: 1/2024 - 12/2026 Vice Chairperson: Lori D Term: 1/2023 -

12/2025 Secretary: Catherine P. Term: 1/2024 - 12/2026 Treasurer: Carla C Term: 1/2023 -

12/2025

Business Meeting Agenda

Welcoming: Chairperson Russel W Opened the meeting at 7pm

Attendance – Russell, Catherine P, Carla C, Lori D

Minutes:

Reading Waiver of Reading Motion by Catherine P. seconded by Maryhelen motion passed

12/13.

Reports from Officers and Delegates

Vice Chair/Chair:

The New Years marathon went great. We are having another service fair - did one a few months

ago and the next one will be on February 22nd. All the committee chairs will be there and will

speak about what they do and then we will go into breakout rooms so people can visit the

various committees and see how they can be of service! The last one was successful. We had

people sign up for service and we are looking forward to doing it again.

Secretary:

Catherine posted the minutes from January to the Facebook group and they went out with the

newsletter as well. Apologies for the delay - That’s it!

Treasurer:

January financials

Net worth: $14,282.54

Starting Balance: $10,169.88

Donations: $822.34 (Chase $55.00, US Bank $175.00, Venmo $589.63, Paypal $2.71)

Expenses: $2,109.56 (Zoom $93.58, Postage $0, iPostal $14.99, Apple/Calendly $0.99,

Sheraton Deposit $2,000.00)

Ending Balance $13,101.78

US Bank move:

-

-

-

-

2 Accounts are open at US Bank One is currently being used (X9454). Debit card is in

hand. The second account was opened for use with the retreat going forward and is

awaiting its Debit Card for use with hotels and expenses.

$720 was moved into the active account from Venmo and the paper checks were finally

deposited electronically.

US Bank requires foreign checks to be deposited in person.

Once the second account card arrives we will be ready to move toward closing the

Chase account. This will entail changing the card on our monthly expenses and with the

retreat hotel.

Retreat Funding:

-

Working on a request to open a separate account for processing retreat donations and

expenses including a credit/debit card separate for meeting operating expenses.

International Donations:

-

-

-

-

Suggestion made to contact Michelle B from Canada who may have ideas on ways to

donate outside of the US.

US bank requires foreign checks to be deposited in person.

There hasn’t been a good solution for online deposits from outside the US

We have several Canadian donations through Interac that we are unable to accept.

Donor emailed, no response.

Heather B. suggests e-transfers to help with Canadian donations. Carla says it sounds

like PayPal will do it.

Annie C. says yes, Canadians can e-transfer within Canada but when it is international

you have to do an international money transfer which is different.

Michelle B. agrees with Annie C. but with international money transfers it is only $100 or

more. She says there are a couple of other apps for foreign currency if we wanted to try

that, but there is some cost associated with it so that needs to be considered.

Russ suggests that folks donate to OA in their own country. Because BT does well, we

don’t absolutely need it. We also want to think of tax purposes, what this means for our

treasurer for taxes. We will look into PayPal and will circle back to talk about it more.

Make Donations to WSO, Virtual Region:

-

-

-

-

Get percentages for prudent reserve, WSO, VR

Because of uncertainty around retreat expenses, propose to donate monthly based on

the previous month's 7th Tradition contributions.

Guidance on oa.org - New recommendations as of Jan 1st 2025 recommending groups

keep 50% of contributions, then pass 10% on to region and 40% on to WSO.

January Donations totalled $822.34 which would mean $328.94 would go to WSO and

$82.23 would go to Virtual Region

What is up with Paypal?

-

-

-

-

Paypal was set up successfully to allow fellows from outside the U.S. to make 7th

tradition contributions

Follow up: We need to add that option to the BTVIG website to take them to Paypal

while keeping everyone else on Venmo bc of fees

It works great! We started sending retreat registrations to Paypal

The intention of the second account for US Bank was to use as a secondary account fro

separate funds like the retreat fund, with a debit card attached to hold reservations etc.

What is up with the 2024 tases?:

-

-

Matthew B and I walked through the process and GOT IT DONE for 2024. The way we

did it gives me a good chance of doing it next year!

As part of the banking process with US Bank, a 2024 Financial Statement was

necessary. One was prepared and was actually necessary to complete our taxes.

Maryhelen asks if we are our own 501(c)( 3) or if we are part of the Virtual Region - we are our

own.

BTVIG Committee Chair Reports:

Data Tech Matthew B

If you are the head of our committee and need assistance, please let me know. As far as I know,

everything is working smoothly with no issues, and I'll leave it at that.

Host/Co-host Lori D

The host and co-host committees are moving smoothly. Lori just had a host committee meeting

(host/tech/host waiting room committee meeting). Gonna have a co-host meeting, I believe next

week—well, the second Wednesday of the month—to go over some new issues. With training and

everything, everything's going smoothly. I forgot last time that I was here to include SignUp Genius with

the host report. Jen, do you want to talk about SignUp Genius? I think it's pretty self-supporting. We do

have days where we don’t fill up until the last minute. I can just say that I don't have as much manpower

to be able to go after and fill each gap like I did in the beginning. If there are others who want to do that,

I'd be more than willing to train them. People are now getting their confirmations. So it is working the

way it's supposed to be working, which we're really happy about. Jen V will look into whether upgrading

to the next level of SignupGenius is prudent.

Zoom Service Training Catherine P

Training is going well, we did not have a cohost training in January with the holidays etc. Our

February training will be on Friday February 21st at 6:30pm ET.

Catherine is very excited to have Amy G on board as another trainer!

If anyone would like to move up the ranks from cohost to host, or you’ve been a cohost for a

while and would like to get trained for Waiting Room please reach out to Catherine or Amy!

**Existing co-hosts and hosts** please come to training for refreshers and to learn new

protocols/best practices - especially because a lot of folks can’t make it to the monthly co-host

and host meetings where a lot of the new things are being talked about.

**CALL FOR SERVICE** If anyone is interested in becoming a trainer - contact Catherine P.

you can shadow during trainings.

There will be one co-host training a month going forward.

Contact List Sonya P

**CALL FOR SERVICE**

Need people to add to the team - they do not rotate so they are in need of new folks. The

position has been automated. They send a link and folks add their information. So if someone is

interested in helping out and joining in all that is required is an announcement and vet people to

get the link and instructions in chat - please reach out! Numbers are pretty low for December

had 43 people vetted to get the link but only 16 filled it out - pretty consistent even with the

simplified questions on the link. The number is up for January because of new years resolutions

but generally they are low. Sonya will ask Matthew if it’s possible to further simplify. But we are

complying with international privacy/data standards of protection.

Heather B. comments that Signupgenius link was wrong in the chat in meeting last night.

Communications Matthew B/Michelle B

Newsletter has been revamped - more information on there. Trying to link to the website for a lot

of information. If there is anything you would like to have in the newsletter please let Michelle

and Matthew know and feedback comments, suggestions, complaints all are good.

We had a motion go out suggesting that we try to get the newsletter out by the 15th of the

month so that people have two weeks to look at it. So the suggestion is that anyone who wants

to put something in the newsletter get it to Michelle and Matthew by the 12th of the month. The

newsletter went out to 1,394 subscribers.

Welcome Committee Kelly M

Nothing to report - everything is going great.

Speaker Seekers Committee

Matthew B is Calendar coordinator as part of data tech responsibilities. Per Matthew - So I sit on

the committee. And when I get a notification, either by email from somebody who booked themselves,

because when they cancel, they can self-cancel. They can self rebook. When that shows up in my

computer I will go to the Whatsapp group for the committee and say we have an open date, and I think we

have a couple of open dates right now. Speaker, seeker committee is an open group. Anybody can join,

even if you only submit one person a year. If anyone wants to join please let me know. When we came

into January we had a lot of open positions, because, you know, it was the holidays, and

people were just not. I sent out an email to all of our past speakers who had an email on

file to see if they would be interested in speaking again. Thanks to that we are pretty

much full through April. We can use help on the committee please get in touch if you

would like to join.

Workshop Committee Lori D.

Working on the Virtual Region Convention 2/28-3/1 we are doing 3 gratitude sessions - 10:30pm

Friday, 10:30pm Saturday and 8pm Sunday Eastern time. Sunday 1pm ET we are doing steps 8

and 9 and we need staff for those sessions let Lori know if you are a trained co-host and would

like to help.

BT Retreat - planning starting with the workshop committee tomorrow. The flier was posted in

the chat if you would like to do service. Going to meet to discuss all the various committees

underneath the workshop committee that will be available to serve on. If you’re not available at

7pm ET on Monday the meeting will be recorded. If you can’t make it but want to volunteer let

Lori know so she can add you to the whatsapp.

Sponsorship Committee

**CALL FOR SERVICE**

Not active at this time. Russ has someone who is working on acquiring info and ideas for when

the committee starts up again. If you are ever on another OA website and see any cool

sponsorship pdfs - download them and deposit them in the Sponsorship committee whatsapp to

use in future.

Jen V volunteers to help - she will follow up with Russ.

No Disruptions Annie C.

No Disruptions is going well. Annie is already starting to gather people up for next quarter. It’s a

great team that is supporting each other

Facebook Kimmy H/Rena/Lori D/Russell/Jenni R and Rina S are admins

Having some issues with bots but per Facebook everyone gets bots so it is still pretty stagnant

in terms of the number of people being added. You cannot find the Facebook group – it is a

super secret hidden Facebook group that you need to be invited to. You need to friend Lori or

Russell or any of the admins – she is putting instructions in the meeting chat on what to do.

They do vet people and that is why they keep it close, that’s the only way to keep it hidden and

protect anonymity. If you have a different name on Facebook let them know because they will

not be certain that it is you. There have been bots recently so they are being extra careful. They

err on the side of security because they want to protect it. Lori adds that if you have shut down

your Facebook page and restarted and only have a very few friends, because otherwise if they

see that they will think your page was hacked and won’t friend you. Lots of interaction there and

a good place for recovery.

If you’re not in the Facebook group and you want to be contact Russ or Lori and they will add

you in.

Newcomer Meeting Rep - Fran

Fran not present - per Matthew B the newcomer meeting is struggling. Having a hard time

getting newcomers connected to sponsors. Getting a lot of newcomers from the OA website and

we will be inundated with the convention. If you sponsor or can do the first 12 days/temporary

sponsor would love to have you come help and support these people. Would love to get

newcomers connected with BT contact list and Welcome Committee. Jen V suggests that we

might use some of the same chat script from the main BT meeting in the newcomer meeting.

Matthew says he will follow up with Lori regarding that.

Virtual Region Delegate and World Service Delegate Maryhelen

Voted in Maryhelen for both VR Delegate and WS Delegate - Motion was made by Matthew B

seconded by Lori D. The motion passed with 15 in the room 13 hands raised. Russell and Carla

will handle getting Maryhelen registered for $249 for the business conference.

Ongoing Business:

**VOTE NEXT MONTH**

Carla C retracts her motion from last month to have a business meeting every other month. The

correct motion is for the business meeting to be changed from monthly to January, February,

and then April, June, August, October, November and December. The motion is to take the

business meeting from currently 12 months, and to change it, going forward to January,

February, April, June, August, October, November, and December, taking it down to 8 business

meetings a year. Catherine P seconds the motion. Next month we will vote on it.

New Business

Retreat September 2025

Themes of the retreat: Moving into action with the steps, evision bringing HP into one’s life, and

recover living in the sunlight of the spirit. Per Russ it’s going to be a weekend packed with

fellowship, sponsor meet and greets, multiple speaker events and so much more.

Checking in at 3pm on Friday. There will be a speaker, Kimmy will speak Friday night along with

a lot of other stuff that is going to be created in the committees. Going to be a connect

committee that will plan a lot of other stuff. Energize and envision and a recover committee that

will be filling up other times. Saturday Keynote speaker at lunch, then a dinner as well as other

activities and events.

Per Maida - going to a retreat can be total immersion in OA - it’s connection, it’s challenging but

wonderful and a way to plug into power.

Matthew B makes motion to adjourn Lori D. seconds motion passes 13/15.

Russell will stick around for 15 minutes in case anyone wants to discuss anything. Close with

Serenity prayer.

Meeting adjourned.

Note:

*It is this groups conscience as per the BTVIG policy and Bylaws that motions are approved by

group conscience, and to be voted on the month after the motion was presented.

When a motion is to be voted on, the person who made the motion must be present and state it

again without changes.

The Chair will then seek,

3 members to speak in favor “pro”

3 members to speak not in favor “con”

on the motion with one min each to present their views.

When these 6 members have finished presenting their views there is no other discussion to be

taken and the motion is to be voted on.

Meeting to be held virtually via Zoom @ Meeting ID: 558 759 5395 PW: family Better Together Virtual

Intergroup (BTVIG) Business Meeting First Sunday each month (Second if first is a holiday weekend)

Room Opens at 6 PM (CT)