ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
GUIDELINES
(Approved
(Amended
ARTICLE I
A. These guidelines apply only to the Worcester Area Intergroup members, its officers and committees. They are formulated to promote unity and efficiency in conduct of Worcester Area Intergroup and the operation of its office and in no way conflict with the traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
ARTICLE II
A. The primary purpose of Worcester Area Intergroup, Inc. is to carry the message to the alcoholic; offering collected and coordinated services to those who seek help; cooperating with individuals, clergy, schools, groups, courts, hospitals and institutions; such services to be conducted within the guidelines of AA traditions.
B. The secondary purpose of Worcester Area Intergroup, Inc. is to improve communications and cooperation between member groups in the general area through the following:
1. To maintain a 24-hour answering service.
2. To maintain and update a twelve-step list.
3. To maintain and update a meeting list.
4. To arrange and improve AA activities committees.
ARTICLE III
A. The body of Worcester Area Intergroup, Inc. shall consist of one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate from each participating group, said Delegate and Alternate to be the true and designated representative of its individual group conscience.
ARTICLE IV
A. Length of sobriety to be a Delegate or Alternate shall be determined by individual groups. Recommended one (1) year sobriety.
B. Each Delegate and Alternate shall serve for a period of time to be determined by individual group.
C. Each Delegate and Alternate shall serve and represent one (1) group only.
D. Delegates may succeed selves at Intergroup; however, it is suggested that new Delegates be elected in the spirit of rotation.
E. Separate groups, although meeting at the same address, shall be considered autonomous and shall be so represented.
ARTICLE V
A. The meeting of the Delegates shall be held at a time and location
that is agreeable to the Delegates to be set by a majority vote at the January
Delegates meeting. A vote to change the meeting time and location may be
brought about by a motion and a second and majority vote of the Delegates at
any time if so needed.
B. A quorum shall consist of Delegates or Alternates from at least two-thirds (2/3) of the groups present at the previous monthly meeting, but not less than eight (8) Delegates. Should quorum not be present at a monthly meeting, a subsequent meeting may be called upon request of a majority of the Steering Committee or upon request of at least 25% of member groups, at which time representation of at least 25% of the members shall constitute a quorum.
C. Each participating group has one (1) vote. No Delegate or Alternate may vote unless present during the vote in question. The Alternate may vote only in the absence of the Delegate.
D. No group member may represent a group unless elected Delegate or Alternate of said group.
E. Passing vote is constituted by a simple majority of the quorum.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS (Steering Committee)
(Suggested Minimum Sobriety 2 Years)
(Suggested Service Experience 6 months)
A. Chairperson – Presides at Delegate and Steering Committee meetings. Has no vote at Steering Committee Meeting or Delegates Meeting except to break a tie and may not make or second a motion. Automatically rotates to Trustee position for next term of office.
B. Alternate Chair – Presides in the absence of the Chairperson; chairs the Nominating Committee (Article VIIB). Automatically rotates to Chairperson position for next term of office.
C. Treasurer –Is responsible for
balancing the monthly bank statement, weekly issuance of checks to be co-signed
by the Alternate Treasurer, or in their absence, by the chairperson or Office
Manager. An outside firm will prepare all financial reports, all tax returns
and W2’s. The Treasurer is responsible for mailing all quarterly payroll tax
returns and annual tax returns by their due dates. (Retaining a copy for the
Intergroup office permanent files.)
D. Alternate Treasurer – Assumes the
duties of Treasurer in his/her absence. Responsible for cosigning all checks
issued. Notifies the Office Manager or Chair if unable to cosign checks.
Automatically rotates to Treasurer position for the next term of office.
E. Secretary –Records, reports and
distributes minutes of the Steering Committee and Delegates meetings to the
Steering Committee, Delegates and Intergroup Office. Maintains the Delegate
mailing list and keeping count of monthly representation to insure quorum is
met if necessary. Responsible for obtaining signatures for the Massachusetts Annual
Report and mailing it by the due date. (Also retaining a copy for the
Intergroup Office permanent files). Per
F. Trustees (4) – one (1) of which will be the immediate past Chairperson. Assists officers in all manner of business and vote only at Steering Committee Meeting unless they are also Delegate or Alternate Delegate for a member group.
G. Office Manager – Is a voting member of Steering Committee and functions according to the job description. The candidate for this position is approved solely by the Steering Committee.
ARTICLE VII
A. It is recommended that a nominee for any office of the Steering
Committee must have a minimum of six (6) months service and attendance as an
Intergroup Delegate or Alternate Delegate in addition to a minimum of 2 years of
continuous sobriety.
B. A nominating committee composed of three (3) members of Intergroup
(with the Chairperson to be the current Alternate Chairperson and two (2) Delegates/Alternates
appointed by the Intergroup Chairperson) shall submit a slate of officers at
the regular October meeting. At this point, nominations from the floor will
also be accepted provided the nominee(s) is/are present and willing or have to
have given his/her prior approval in writing.
C. Elections are held at the November monthly Delegates Meeting. Additional
nominations from the floor will be accepted providing the nominee has accepted
the nomination. During the period of October to November meetings, interested,
qualified members of Alcoholics Anonymous may submit their own names for
election provided it is in writing and received no later than 5:00pm the day of
the election.
D. When three (3) successive attempts to elect an officer end in a tie,
the names of those involved shall be placed in a hat (or other device) and the
winner selected by lot.
E. The offices of Chairperson and Treasurer shall be filled by the
Secretary casting one (1) vote for the members present indicating the Alternate
Chairperson elected to Chairperson, the Alternate Treasurer elected to
Treasurer and the Chairperson elected to Trustee.
F. Newly elected officers assume office on the first of January. Term
of office for all officers will be one (1) year.
G. When an officer is absent for two (2) consecutive Steering Committee
meetings without prior approval from the Steering Committee, said office may be
declared vacant. Whenever such a vacancy occurs the office shall be filled by a
majority vote of the Delegates present at meeting following monthly meeting in
which the vacancy occurs. An office will become vacant upon disqualification
under guidelines or upon resignation. In the event that a vacancy occurs in the
Chairperson or Treasurer during the first six (6) months of the term, the
Alternate Chairperson or Alternate Treasurer shall be elected by a majority
vote of the Delegates present at the following monthly meeting in which the
vacancy occurs. If the vacancy occurs in the second six (6) months of the term,
the Alternate Chairperson or Alternate Treasurer will automatically fulfill the
duties of Chairperson or Treasurer and still be able to succeed the office the
following term. If needed, as determined by the Steering Committee, a temporary
Alternate Chairperson or Alternate Treasurer will be elected by the majority of
Delegates to fulfill the rest of the term ending December 31. (The above
provision in Article VII-Elections-E shall not apply to the temporary Alternate
Chairperson or Alternate Treasurer).
ARTICLE VIII
A. During the November elections all Committee Chairpersons (volunteers
or nominated) shall be appointed by the incoming Chairperson subject to
disapproval by the Delegates. Conference Committee Chairpersons, because they
are joint committees, will also be subject to disapproval by the District 25
GSR’s at their next monthly business meeting. These Conference Committees are
Treatments Facilities, Correctional Facilities and Public Information.
B. Any person so appointed, if not present, will have given his/her
prior approval in writing.
C. Committee Chairpersons, with the exception of Joint (Conference)
committee chairpersons, will serve for a period of a one (1) year term to be
concurrent with those of the Officers. Joint (Conference) Committee
chairpersons term shall be two years with the term to start on January 1st
of the odd numbered years and ending on December 31st of the even
numbered years.
D. Each Committee Chairperson is responsible for presenting a written
report at the monthly Delegates’ Meeting.
E. Each Conference Committee Chairperson is responsible for conducting,
or appointing an alternate to conduct a committee meeting on a pre- scheduled
date and time. In the event that no person can hold said meeting, it is the
responsibility of that Committee Chairperson or Alternate to notify the
Intergroup Office of the cancellation of the meeting.
ARTICLE IX
A. Procedures should be harmonious with the Twelve Traditions and
Twelve Concepts of AA World Services.
B. Roberts Rules of Order (Simplified) will be used as a procedural
guideline at Worcester Area Intergroup Meetings.
ARTICLE X
FINANCES
Worcester Area Intergroup shall maintain a checking account that
requires two (2) signatures following the restrictions and provisions below:
A.
No ATM or Debit cards shall be
allowed.
B.
Authorized signatories shall be
Treasurer, Alternate Treasurer, Chairperson and Office Manager.
ARTICLE XI
These Guidelines may be amended at any time by two (2) successive two-thirds
(2/3) vote of member groups Delegates present, provided a copy of proposed
amendment is submitted in writing to each member group at least twenty-five
(25) days before the meeting at which action is to be taken.