Ed reported the following: Intergroup received a generous donations from the Oakland Monday meeting of $60. This leaves a regular fund balance of 499.77. The delegates fund received a generous donation of $121 from the Tuesday Santa Rosa meeting. This leaves a delegates fund balance of $416.95.

A motion to accept the treasurer's report was moved, seconded and passed.

1. Meeting List: John A. and Joyce

   The meeting list coordinators reported that one Sacramento meeting has closed.

   Joyce asked for input on the color paper to be used for the meeting list. After some discussion, the Intergroup decided that we should use easy to Xerox colors.

2. Newsletter: Judy

   The newsletter was posted on the NicA NorCal Web site and a paper copy was sent to all meeting contacts. A copy of the meeting list was enclosed with the paper copy sent to meeting contacts.

3. Web Site: John A.

   John A. reported the following:

   • A contact list manager program for our site is in the works.

   • A program that would allow any authorized person to upload content to the Web site is in the works.

   • There has been a problem with Web site uploads. This should be fixed shortly.

   After some discussion about our mailing list needs, Judy, Joyce and John A. agreed to have a conference call about how to run the electronic mailing list.

4. Outreach: Amanda, Judy, Keith

   Committee members reported the following:

   • The Outreach Committee successfully completed a project to send materials about NicA to stop smoking programs in Northern California. Members of the committee followed up on this mailing with phone calls to each program.

   • One of the key pieces of feedback from the Outreach Committee's calls was the need for more literature and services in Spanish.

   • There was a consensus of the Intergroup that it would be helpful if a NorCal NicA meeting list was sent at least once a year to all of the stop smoking programs who were contacted in the Outreach Committee's recent mailings.

   • Keith gave the American Lung Association NicA cards.

   • Terry is sending a card and a pamphlet in response to hotline calls.

5. Retreat: Amanda

   There will be a Retreat/Outreach committee meeting on March 25 at 6:30. The committee will discuss what should go into a survey about retreat preferences. This survey will then be put on the NorCal NicA Web site.

6. Chips: Amanda

   So far in 2006 161 chips have been sold. This leaves an inventory of 223 chips and a cash balance of $2.83.

7. World Services 2007 Conference: Catherine signed a contract with Inn Marin for the 2007 conference. Ani and Catherine will visit all Bay Area NicA meetings to talk about the conference and to encourage NicA members to volunteer for the conference.

   The Intergroup passed a motion to choose "Recovery by the Bay" as the conference slogan.

• World Services 2006. A motion was passed to make Keith, Ed, Joyce, Amanda, Melissa and Catherine the NorCal NicA delegates to the 2006 World Services Conference in Chicago. Money collected for the delegates fund will be divided among the delegates.

  Joyce announced that she would be putting forward a resolution at the conference calling on the NicA board to put together a yearly budget to be presented at the 2007 meeting.

• Election of Officers at the Next Meeting. Since it has been more than a year since the Intergroup last elected officers, there will be an election of officers at the next Intergroup meeting.

  As departing secretary, Judy, suggested that NicA Norcal Intergroup be more focused in its efforts. In particular, she recommended that the group set priorities first and then choose activities to meet those priorities. She also recommended that a cost benefit analysis be done on projects to ensure that the projects chosen for work be ones that provide the biggest return for the effort expended.

  Most members of the group disagreed with this assessment and felt that current practices were producing good results.

• Speakers Bureau. There was discussion of the idea of having a speakers bureau. There was general agreement that this would be a good idea. John A. very kindly offered to set up software that would allow people to sign up for an online speakers list.

• World Services Conference 2006. NicA NorCal delegates were asked to bring up the following concerns at the conference:
  • Many people are having difficulty getting through to the World Services office.

  • Many people are having difficulty getting information on their literature orders.

  • People who write to the pen pal service get no response.

  • There needs to be a better process for setting up new meetings. There should be clear directions for setting up a meeting. These directions should appear on the Web site.

• Marin Hotline Message. The Marin Hotline message cannot be heard clearly. Keith volunteered to get the problem fixed.

• Chips. Chips are available for purchase in small quantities at the Intergroup meeting. If you would like us to order chips for your meeting, please see Amanda.

• World Services Teleservice. Volunteers are needed to answer messages left at the World Services number. Messages are generally requests for information about some aspect of Nicotine Anonymous. Volunteers work from home and usually respond to one day's messages per week. For more information, please contact Keith.

• Service Opportunities. Northern California Intergroup is looking for volunteers to do outreach, participate in Intergroup, take on service positions, etc. Contact John L. or any Intergroup member for more information.

• Book of Daily Meditations. People are being sought to help contribute to a Book of Daily Meditations for the fellowship. Contact Ani for details. Her phone number is on the Intergroup meeting minutes. Or write to Kate W., coordinator at DailyMeditations@nicotine-anonymous.org

• Literature. World Services reminds us that literature should be bought from WSO, not copied. Literature sales are the primary revenue source for World Services.

The next Intergroup meeting is May 13, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon with fellowship afterward at Mandana Community Recovery Center, 3989 Howe Street (enter on 40th), Oakland in the Serenity Room, first floor of the Old House. All NicA members are encouraged to attend.