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Minutes Unity Committee Meeting, September 12, 2026

              📢 PLEASE NOTE: NEW MEETING SCHEDULE  

                         The Unity Committee now meets monthly on the 2nd Saturday

11am PST / 2pm EST / 4pm Chile, Rio / 7pm UK / 20h CET

      Zoom Meeting ID: 992 5516 4740
      Passcode: Unity

Unity Committee Meeting Minutes

September 12, 2026

Chair: Jennifer H Unity Chair

Opening

The meeting was called to order by Jennifer H., Unity Committee Chair. The Declaration of Unity was read, followed by introductions. Members were asked to provide their name, home group, location, and voting-member status. It was noted that members must attend three meetings to become eligible to vote.

Participants

Jennifer H. (Unity Chair) UK • Jeannette B. (Unity Secretary) – USA • Jeff T. – France • Gordon T. – Palm Harbor, Florida, USA • Cam H. • Patty Z. – Florida, USA • Lurdes M.(Unity Liaison Coordinator) – Portugal • Janice K. – Seattle, Washington area, USA • Lisa – Punta Gorda, Florida, USA • Nyla – Wilmington, North Carolina, USA • Susan (OIAA Chair) – USA • Shane D. – Denver, Colorado, USA • John K. – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Manny B. USA

Approval of Previous Minutes

The minutes from the August 1, 2026 meeting were presented for approval. Janice made a motion to accept the minutes, and Patty seconded. The motion passed.

Open Service Positions

  • OIAA2026 Convention Chair Shadow ~ preparation for OIAA2027 Convention Chair  (minimum 5 years sobriety required)
  • The Creative and Communications Coordinator position has been filled by Arlene, who has agreed to provide approximately two hours per week. An additional volunteer based in China, Silent C, will assist with graphics and communications. No formal vote is required for this supporting volunteer role.

For more information and/or to send your AA Service CV, Please contact Unity Chair Jen H: Unity.Chair@aa-intergroup.org  (Service Description Template)

New Business: 2027 Budget – Jennifer H

Jen presented two proposed budget options for the 2027 Unity Committee and OIAA2027 Convention.

Proposal 1 – 5 Rooms:
 The first proposal is based on a three-day convention using five Zoom rooms: four rooms for meetings/sessions and one information room. The projected convention expenditure is $40,007, including approximately $18,660 for interpretation services, with 56 sessions planned across the three days. This option would allow more groups to participate and address the current waiting list of approximately 25–30 groups. Expanded interpretation services, including ASL access, are included.

Proposal 2 – 4 Rooms:
 The second proposal reduces the convention to four Zoom rooms: three rooms for meetings/sessions and one information room. The projected convention expenditure is $33,506, including approximately $14,610 for interpretation services. This option provides for approximately 41 sessions across the three days, with fewer sessions and participating groups than the five-room option.

The difference between the two proposals is approximately $6,500, primarily reflecting the additional room, sessions, and related interpretation costs in the five-room proposal.

The budget also includes projected Tradition 7 contributions of $7,000, based on approximately $5,989 in contributions received in 2025. After the projected contributions, the totals would be approximately $33,007 for the five-room proposal and $26,506 for the four-room proposal.

A required registration fee was discussed. Jen expressed concern that a mandatory fee could create an additional barrier for members who lack access to funds or technology. A suggested contribution option was discussed as an alternative. Manny also asked whether contributions could be earmarked for OIAA2027 or the Unity Committee through the Finance Committee. Jen said that contributions currently go into general group contribution funds, while Tradition 7 contributions made through individual convention registrations are earmarked for the convention. She noted that other options for earmarking contributions could be explored. 

Budget Motion – Janice

Janice moved to approve Proposal 1, the five-room budget proposal, providing four meeting/session rooms and one information room. 

Vote: 8 Yes • 0 No
The motion passed unanimously.

OIAA2026 Convention Update – Jennifer H

Jen reported that all but four convention sessions had been confirmed. Several groups had stopped communicating after registering to host sessions. Two of those sessions had already been offered to groups on the waiting list, with additional sessions to be reassigned if the original groups do not respond.

Approximately 260–270 individual registrations had been received following the initial registration email.

Arlene will assist with a more organized communications and outreach process, including reminders and promotional materials for groups and their communities.

Jen is also working with International Trustee Carlos to determine which languages should receive interpretation for specific convention sessions based on location, timing, and anticipated participation.

Technology Co-Hosts – Jennifer H (on behalf of Joe R)

The committee discussed Unity technology co-hosts. One Unity tech co-host will be assigned to each convention session to support host groups, security, and communication with the technology team.

Volunteers are needed to serve as tech co-hosts. Training sessions are scheduled beginning late October, with information available through the OIAA2026 convention website and group resources.

Unity IGR Workshop – Jennifer H.

Jennifer H. reported that approximately seven IGRs, new IGRs, and group members participated in the recent Unity IGR Workshop. The workshop was reported as well received and useful.

Liaison Work – Lurdes & Cam

Lurdes and Cam reported working together on liaison development. Cam discussed future outreach to underrepresented groups and compiling information to support this work.

Lurdes reported contacting Portuguese-speaking groups, with limited response from groups in Portugal and greater interest from some Brazilian groups. She has been translating and sharing IGR and convention information and continuing to build those connections.

Jen also described the liaison work as identifying groups already involved with OIAA, connecting with groups needing additional support, developing relationships with minority-language groups, and building a team of liaison representatives based on language.

Membership and WhatsApp Admin Update – Jeannette B

Jeannette B., Unity Secretary, provided an update on attendance and voting membership. Of the 32 members previously listed as active voting members, approximately 17 remain active. Members who have not attended for approximately three to four months may be moved to inactive voting status rather than removed from membership. At least four members became active voting members within the previous three months.

The committee’s WhatsApp groups were also reviewed. The Unity Community thread has approximately 120 members, while the English Unity thread has approximately 17 members, with additional Spanish, Portuguese, French, and other language threads. The Spanish and Portuguese threads would benefit from consistent translation assistance.

Lurdes raised concerns about the Portuguese WhatsApp group, noting that many existing members are no longer participating. The committee discussed refreshing inactive language groups and focusing on current contacts and groups interested in participating.

Motion – Portuguese WhatsApp Group – Jennifer H

Jen proposed “To close the existing Portuguese Unity WhatsApp thread and create a new Portuguese Unity Committee thread. For the other Unity WhatsApp threads, an attendance poll will be used to help determine active participation and tidy up the groups.” 

Lurdes M., Patty Z., and Cam H. raised their hands to propose and second the motion. The motion proceeded to a vote.

Vote: 6 Yes • 0 No

The motion passed. 

We now need a volunteer to implement this motion.

Other Business

Members were reminded to submit items for future agendas in advance. Please email Unity.Chair@aa-intergroup.org 

Jennifer H also noted that interpretation can be arranged for members who wish to participate but speak another language. Requests must be made two weeks in advance: chair.unity@aa-intergroup.org

One-Word Reflections

Members shared the following one-word reflections:

Reaffirming • Gratitude • Rebuilding • Re-energized • Committed • Inclusiveness • Excited • Professionally • Engagement • Dedication • Collaboration

Closing

The meeting closed with the Responsibility Statement followed by the Serenity Prayer.

Next Meeting – Saturday, 10 October 2026

Unity IGR Workshop: 12:30 PM ET • Full Unity Committee Meeting: 2:00 PM ET • Hard stop: 3:30 PM ET

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