January 18, 2026 District 2 Business Meeting Discussion

We had some good discussion at our most recent business meeting regarding the
issues which were brought to District 2 by the Lunch Bunch surrounding the Gratitude
Banquet. The discussion was broken into the following questions:
 What is the Primary Purpose of the Gratitude Banquet?
 How does District 2 feel about requesting contributions from individual members
rather than from groups?
 Is there a different way that groups would like to receive financial information
from District 2?
We only had time to discuss the first two questions. The third question will be discussed
in new business at our next business meeting. I am going to do my best to summarize
the points made about the first two questions. Our secretary, Angela, takes much better
notes than I do, so please read the minutes that she sends out to get a more accurate
account of how each person responded.
GSRs: I hope that you will take these discussions back to your groups to get their input
so that we can continue to have helpful discussions on ways that we can continue to
grow and evolve as a district.
 The Gratitude Banquet should be about fellowship and celebrating the spirit of
AA.
 The Gratitude Banquet should promote unity.
 In the past, there were speakers at the Gratitude Banquet who spoke about
gratitude, fellowship and unity. Should we bring back speakers?
 God should be in our discussions and events; God is in our Group Consciences,
but money and spirituality don’t mix.
 District events should be done in service to our groups.
 The Gratitude Banquet is a way for District 2 to show gratitude to the groups.
 Passing the basket is different than soliciting funds.
 District 2 should be presenting our financial needs in a different manner and not
at District events.
 Some people were/are excited to be able to contribute at events and were
previously unaware of the district’s financial needs.
 Are the lines for the 7th Tradition becoming blurred?
 We could accept individual contributions without solicitating contributions.
 A Group Conscience (at the district) should be held before we decide to request
contributions.

 A vote was made by the Gratitude Banquet planning committee about the district
asking for contributions at the event. The vote was unanimous. Shouldn’t this be
enough? If not, how would the groups prefer this to be handled in the future?
 If we accept individual contributions, how do we ensure that we are only
accepting money from AA members?
 Passing the basket should be limited to AA meetings and should not be done at
events.
 Concept 12, Warranty 2 was brought up:
“But in recent years these attitudes are everywhere on the decline; they quickly
disappear when the real need for a given A.A service become clear. To make
such a need clear is simply a matter of right information and education. We see
this in the continuous job now being done with good effect for our world service
by Delegates, Committee Members, and Generals Service Representatives.
They are finding money-begging by pressure exhortation is unwanted and
unneeded in A. A. They simply portray what the giver’s service dollar really brings
in terms of steering alcoholics to A.A., and in terms of our over-all unity and
effectiveness. This much done, the hoped-for contributions are forthcoming. The
donors can seldom see what the exact result has been. They well know,
however, that countless thousands of other alcoholics and their families are
certain to be helped.”
 Did we, as a district, circumvent our normal avenues because we were
overspending?
 By accepting and/or soliciting individual contributions, we are watering down the
voices of the groups.