BDS December 2025 Minutes
BIG DEEP SOUTH CONVENTION 2026
Committee Planning Meeting
12/03/2025 Call to Order 6:30PM/End 7:52PM OPEN WITH PRAYER & MEDITATION (THANKS BRITTANY C!)
Chair (Mary H.) Al-Anon Liaison - Denise! Thanks to everyone for the enthusiasm. There is a lot of behind the scenes work going on with pre-registration and website. Voice guidelines being passed out for those interested to review.
Vice Chair (Scott B.) Hope everyone is comfortable in our new, larger meeting space. Rent for the new space is $50/night. We are passing the basket if anyone would like to contribute.
Secretary (Emily A.) Sign-in sheet being passed around.
Hotel Liaison (Bobby A./Michael) Working on alternate Saturday night meal options.
Treasurer (Bill B./Billy K.) NO REPORT 50/50 (Maria S./Mike H.) NO REPORT Accessibilities (Ricky P.) NO REPORT
Al-Anon Liaison - (Denise/Josie D.) Al-Anon speaker will be picked - female.
Audio/Video (Chip) NO REPORT Bingo (Cindy/Charlotte) NO REPORT Coffee (Lauren M./Shelly P.) Lauren spoke with Josie. Lauren, Shelley, and Josie will get together soon to discuss logistics. Decorations (Karen/Skye) NO REPORT
Entertainment (Tee/Tiffany) Working on ideas!
Fundraising/Pre-Events (Neville B.) NO REPORT Grapevine Rep (Bonnie/Brandy) NO REPORT Hospitality (Nick S./Dennis F.) NO REPORT
Housekeeping (Ralph M./Shane) NO REPORT Marathon Meetings - NEED CHAIR
Meditation (Brittany C./Morgan C.) NO REPORT
Merchandise (Mark F./Ryan L.) Did some research with vendors- tie dye will be about $3 more a shirt. 2025, 42 shirts left over. 2024, 10 shirts left over. Shirts are typically around $11-12 each, price increases with sizes.
Outreach (Laura B./Rachel M./Tori S.) Contacted 93 areas all across the country and all Al-Anon groups in Louisiana. Everyone is encouraged to do outreach - get a table at events if possible, bring flyers, etc. Several committee members have traveled to conventions, etc to spread the word.
Raffle/Auction (Angie B./Gina S.) NO REPORT
Registration (Leslie H./Lainey S.) As of 12/3/25 we have 150 pre-registrations!!
Scholarships (Nikki C./Josie D.) NO REPORT Security (Brandon S./Eric B.) NO REPORT
Snowballs/Popcorn (Ryan W.) Asked about procurement of snowball/popcorn machines and supplies. Bobby A. has the popcorn machine and Josie D. will be donating the snowball machine.
Speakers (Don/Tisere/Angel) NO REPORT T&C (Rachael F./Legier) NO REPORT
Tech Support/Website (Lisa/Carolyn) Been busy - website has been switched to a new platform that should be more user friendly. Cost is higher up front but will be less expensive moving forward. Website will be continuously revamped. Mary says thanks to both Lisa and Carolyn for all their hard work.
If anyone would like to make donations for the meeting space and/or the convention in general, this can be done directly with Leslie H. or on the website as a donation.
Welcoming (Jackie/Chris D./Andrea H.) NO REPORT
Workshop (Belinda,Tamara,Kacy) Planning for 4 workshops. Has talked to speakers about participating. Will talk with Al-Anon liaison about possible participation. Open to suggestions for topics!
OLD BUSINESS
No old business
NEW BUSINESS
- 2026 Voice Selection
● Five men stood for the position of the 2026 Voice. Each candidate offered a brief 2-3 minute personal statement outlining their sobriety history, sponsorship, service involvement, and why they felt called to serve in this role
○ Jeff A. ○ Shane
○ Rob A. ○ Shawn S.
○ Matthew
● After all candidates presented, they stepped out of the room so the committee could proceed w/ a vote ● A vote was held with a show of hands
● Jeff A. won the majority and will be the 2026 Big Deep South Convention voice
Artwork colors
● Before proceeding with color suggestions and voting, the committee held a discussion regarding the original artwork selected at the 11/5/2025 committee meeting versus the altered artwork later submitted by the artist. The artist modified the artwork by making numerous changes, resulting in a version that was not the artwork originally chosen.
○ Several questions were raised for consideration, including:
■ Should the altered artwork replace the original?
■ In fairness, should a revote be held to reconsider all submissions?
■ Should we proceed strictly with the artwork that had already been voted on?
■ What should go on the front left area of the shirt? some designs were suggested.
Merchandise committee will consider.
○ Committee members and visitors shared input. After discussion, a show-of-hands vote was held. The committee voted to move forward with the original artwork approved on 11/5/2025.
● Color suggestions from the committee:
○ Red, yellow, green
○ Red & yellow
○ Orange & blue
○ Light blue shirt with yellow, black and white design
○ Red, black, yellow
○ Medium grey shirts with orange, yellow and black design ○ Black shirt with yellow, red and white design
● A vote was held with a show of hands. Light blue shirt with yellow, black and
white design won the majority and will be the color scheme.
● With the design colors and shirt color chosen, the merchandise committee will now obtain quotes from 3 different shirt vendors in order to choose a supplier.
- Next meeting will be Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 6:30 pm at 6200 Camphor St., Metairie. CLOSE WITH PRAYER