Trustee Line – Current Issue
May 2024
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Thoughts From The Trustees – Current and Past
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Monday, May 27,2024
Concerning the discussion about minors at meetings, I have a few concerns about this topic. I believe it would violate Unity step 3 as currently written. It states any one with desire to stop gambling is welcome and not any one over 18 is welcome. Also each state has different ages to define minors . How do we handle that. What are we supposed to have some one at door checking ID which would be ridiculous. Another thing is it would eliminate closed meetings , where only gamblers can attend. If because of legal issues, let’s get a procedure and policy in place to handle situations that might come up. I would like to hear if anyone has thoughts about this discussion. Thanks
Joe L – Former trustee – Area 11- Massachusetts
Friday, May 31, 2024
As a Trustee with nearly 37 years in the program, I am most uncomfortable with he current push by the Trustees to adopt a ONE-SIZE-FITS-All solution to the issue of minors at GA meetings. First, a minor is not a minor is not a minor. While compulsive gambling affects a 14 or 15 year-old as much as it does an 18 year-old, their ability to comprehend the totality of what is going on will probably not be the same. Having a responsible adult accompany that minor can often be a bridge to that comprehension. Having attended meetings over the years where an occasional 14- or 15 year-old comes into the room, it is ALWAYS with a parent or a responsible adult to serve as a buffer. If that adult perceives the room to be “safe”, the young teen is then welcome to attend the meeting by themselves. But that is by group conscience based on the parent’s preferences, not by a ruling that comes from on high. Instead of rigidly invoking Unity Step 3 and stopping there, how about considering Unity Step 4, “each group should be self-governing…” as a guide to how this situation should be handled?
Jack R – Current Trustee – Area: 1A – California –
