Minutes VPI 24-11-2019
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Minutes VPI 24-11-2019 Open with the Preamble Present: Peter O’D, Sandy P, Peter W, Tony S, Frank O’L, Doug W, Adam C (Visitor), John (MAP) Jeremy (Visitor) Peter M, Scott (VPI). Apologies: Andrea, Peter G, Laurie P, David A, Peter T 1. Minutes from previous meeting approved - moved Frank O’L - seconded Tony S - All agreed 2. Prison Visit Reports 2.1 Melbourne Assessment Prison - MAP: Doug W, John B MAP is stable now with five volunteers sharing a 2 x 2 + 1 roster. Small attendances, but as per our primary purpose the message is being delivered, the message is that there is AA in all prisons. Challenge being a short stay. 2.2 MRC: Frank O’L Similar to last quarterly report the MRC is not getting many attending AA meetings usually 0 – 6. We are still holding 2 meetings each Wednesday 9.30am – 10.45 and 11.15 – 12.30 and each meeting is for only one Area to stop the meetings being abused by most of those previously coming to meeting and only wanting to meet up with other Area prisoners not for attending AA meetings. The reason for the two meetings is so that they can attend meetings every second week. 2.3 Dame Phyllis Frost: Lynne G (Michael from Sunbry has taken over as Friday Co-Ord) This will be my last report for the prison Intergroup. I have finished service at the Women's Prison after 13 years. It has been a privilege and honour to have been of service. AA currently attends Dame Phyllis Frost 3 days a week. There is a meeting held every second Sunday in the leisure centre. This is facilitated by 2 to 3 AA members and is well attended. Gabby I manages the Sunday roster. My name is currently listed as a contact for the Womens prison and Gabby has agreed to now be the contact. Could the VPI records be amended to reflect this please? I have given Gabby's phone number to Frank if there are any enquiries. AA runs an 'Introduction to AA program' on a Friday morning. This is facilitated by Kristi J and is well attended every week by 10 to 20 women. AA holds a meeting in the protection area every Thursday morning. This was being facilitated by Barb, and myself but will now be facilitated by Michael P and Barb. On average 10 women attend. I have been collecting literature for all three meetings in the past. Gabby, Kristie and Michael have been made aware of the Prison Intergroup and been encouraged to attend. 2.4 Ravenhall: Peter M We have currently three AA members with full clearances attending Ravenhall Prison every Friday afternoon. In the last month, Peter T has managed to obtain escorted clearances for five New AA members to come in on a rotating roster when they can. AA has been at Ravenhall since the Prison opened. The meeting is held at the program section within the prison and this allows all prisoners in the General community to attend. A meeting in protection recently requested by prison management has not yet eventuated but we are hopeful it for the future. The prisoners hold their own meetings on Friday’s after the main meeting. Currently there are over 45 prisoners on the list to attend AA and NA meetings. Regular attendance is about eight. A mature prisoner has been elected secretary of the group and is very proactive in attracting new members and supporting existing ones. The group conscience has named the group “The Ravens Group” This meeting has been supported and encouraged by program management. Peter T has supplied a structured format for the meeting, which is followed by the members. The Prison library is supplied with AA literature and the librarian. The program people at the prison are friends of AA and continue to be supportive. VPI literature is circulated and appreciated by the prisoners. The AA meetings are encouraged by the prison professionals. We need more AA members with good sobriety to join us and get and give the benefits of service as set out in the first paragraph of Chapter 7 of the Big Book. 2.5 Port Phillip Prison: Peter O'D Members Roster We have five members with current active clearance, although one of these has not attended for several weeks. Additionally, two members have sought documentation to consider applications for clearance but have yet to apply. Regular attendance by the AA Members is vital if we are to build a trust relationship with Inmates and Staff, and maintain it. As the saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating!” We must deliver on the promises we make. If we say we will be present every Saturday we must turn up. This requires two elements: (1) being on the Roster requires a real commitment to attend regularly; and (2) we clearly need more members willing to join the roster. Regular Arrangements within Port Phillip We continue to conduct weekly Meetings on Saturday mornings 9.30 – 10.45. Attendance numbers Vary, as does continuity of attendance by individual inmates. The statistical breakdown for the period 1 May to 31 October 2019 is as follows: Total Prisoners who have attended 44 - Ranging across all eleven Mainstream Units Totals by times a prisoner has attended Once-29; Twice-10;Three-2, Four-1; Six-1; Nine-1 We continue to distribute basic Literature Items – Beginners Packs, Little BBs and 12x12s The security regime within Port Phillip directly affects who can attend and prisoners must apply for Security clearance from prison authorities by midnight Sunday each week. I then receive a list of those cleared to attend by Tuesday/Wednesday. Further, there are some Units from which prisoners are simply never allowed to attend. In addition, circumstances in individual Units on the day may mean prisoners are prevented from attending even if they have been given security clearance. And not surprisingly some prisoners decide on the day that, even if cleared, they won’t come – for whatever reason. In addition to conducting the Meeting, we continue to visit individual Units to ensure that prisoners are aware of the AA presence and requirements for attending the Meeting. This also means we make contact with prisoners who are not able to attend the Meeting. We have a good relationship with the prisoners who meet with us and they are very appreciative of our regular presence. Our relationship with Prison Staff is very positive. Regularity and consistency of attendance by AA Volunteers is crucial in this regard. Invitation I have recently been offered the opportunity to attend one of the regular Staff Meetings to make a short presentation about AA and what it is we offer to Prisoners. I am awaiting finalisation of details for this. Security Clearance Requirements The process for obtaining clearance for volunteers remains a relatively protracted one, requiring the completion and submission of significant documentation, participation in a full day Induction Program and a realistic timeframe from start to finish of around three months. 2.6 Dhurringile: Peter G Over the last quarter Dhurringile Prison AA group has held an hour-long meeting every Wednesday initially at 6pm and now at 5:45pm. We have had between none and four members from the prison, and one to three local members attending. Dealing with the institution has brought some new challenges of late, as staff changes have come with new demands and protocols to our little group. The AA program gives us the ability to adapt to change and gratitude for the support that has been afforded to us in the past. This quarter we recruited a new member from the outside who has gained clearance, as yet he has not attended. At Dhurringile we do not run a roster system, rather the local members with clearance come when they can. This seems to be working well. 2.7 Langhi KalKal: David A No report 2.8 Lodden & Middleton: David T We have 2 members attending the prison on a weekly basis on Wednesday evening, there are 2 sections to the prison, Loddon & Middleton. Loddon meeting starts @ 5pm until 6:20pm and then we go to Middleton that starts @7pm until 8pm. Loddon meeting is starting to improve, however there have been difficulty in consistency due to a lock down last week and at times the prisoners not attending on a regular basis with sometimes the person who is the secretary not opening up due to no real reason. The numbers can be from 2 to 6 prisoners. Middleton however is a strong meeting, numbers vary due to departures to other prisons or release from prison, we averaged about 8 to 12 prisoners. Overall it is a privilege to be able to attend the meetings and at this time there are 2 regulars from the Castlemaine area AA groups attending, this is room for more dependent on clearance and legal obligations the prison has to ensure the safety of AA's and that of the prison, yours in service, Dave T. 2.9 Barwon / Marngoneet / Karrenga Prisons: Peter W Report, Acknowledgements, Request Al-anon/Corrections, Quarterly Meeting 18th November 2019. Prisons in the Barwon South West Region: HM Prison Barwon, Lara. Marngoneet Correctional Centre, Lara. Karreenga Correctional Centre, Lara. Acknowledgements: Donations: Unfortunately, there are No Known Donations from the Geelong Region this Quarter. HM Prison Barwon/Maximum Security Meetings continue to grow and are now much more stable, with Main Stream Prisoners now regularly attending Meetings. Currently 9-10 men attending every week, inclusive of Regulars and The Usual Suspects/Newbies.