Western Mass
Intergroup
Each pamphlet is available for reading in PDF format by clicking the title below
There are well over two hundred groups in the Western Mass Area. Each group may, if it wishes, register with the General Service Office in New York and elect a General Service Representative (GSR) who will serve as the link between the local group and global AA. GSR’s represent their group at a monthly district meeting and at a Fall and Spring Assemblies.
From the district meetings and the assemblies, the GSR brings information back to the group. GSR’s in each district elect two District Committee Members (DCM)(LCM) who assists the DCM’s in contacting and visiting groups, updating lists, and in any other way that may be needed. Both GSR’s and DCM’s are usually elected for a two year term. (for job descriptions and suggested sobriety lengths please see District Meeting page of this website).
The Western Mass. Area Committee consists of all Area Officers (Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Area Chair, Secretary, Treasure, and Registrar), Area Archivist, all DCM’s, LCM’s, Chairs and Co-Chairs of each of the following committees: Archives, Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC), Grapevine, and Public Information.
The Area Committee also includes the following committee chairs: Round-up, Western Mass Young Peoples Conference Committee, Western Mass Institution Committee, and the Western Mass and Berkshire Intergroup Committees.
The Area Committee meeting is held monthly at 7:30 pm on the first Wednesday following the second Tuesday of each month unless the committee members agree to an alternate time and date. The meeting is held at The Grace United Church at 474 Pleasant Street, Holyoke, MA. 01040 (a map is located at bottom of this page).
The Area Delegate, Area Chair, Secretary, and Treasure are elected at a Fall assembly by those eligible to vote at an assembly (see Guidelines VIII.C. for voting eligibility and procedures). They are elected in odd-numbered years for a two year term, beginning January 1st. The Area Archivist and Area Registrar are non-voting positions and are appointed by the Area Chair when that post is vacated.
AREA DELEGATE: Represents the area at the North American General Service Conference, prepares for and serves on a General Service Conference Committee, effectively reports back to the area fellowship the issues and actions of the General Service Conference.
The Delegate serves on the Area Committee and also attends the following area and state service meetings. Western Mass Area Spring and Fall Assemblies, Western Mass Round-Up, Western Mass Young People’s Conference, Massachusetts State Convention, North East Regional Alcoholics Anonymous Service Assembly (NERAASA), North East Regional Delegates meeting (NERD), North East Regional Forum (NERF), and the International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Delegate serves as a committee member the first year and as treasurer the second year of the Mass State Convention. The immediate past delegate serves as chair of the Mass State Convention.
Suggested qualifications for this two year commitment: to represent their district’s concerns to the Area Committee, and to bring information back to the district meeting from the area. Some districts have a Local Committee Member
- Several years of active participation in local and area affairs, as a G.S.R. and is a committee member.
- Time available, not only for the week-long Conference meeting in April but for all efforts needed before and after the conference.
- Five to six years of continuous sobriety.
- The ability to make and take suggestions - and criticism, too.
- Experience in chairing meetings.
- Knowledge of AA affairs, and of where to find the correct information when they do not know the answers.
- Through familiarity with the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts and how they apply to local concerns.
- The ability to be open-minded, to sit down with AA’s in the area and with other delegates to discuss and act on matters vital to AA
ALTERNATE DELEGATE: The Alternate Delegate works closely with the Area Delegate, attending the same service events as the Delegate, except the General Service Conference, and is prepared to serve as Delegate if necessary. The Alternate Delegate also serves on the Mass State Convention Planning Committee as program Co-Chair in the first year, and as program Chairperson the second year. The A.D. may also perform some special functions of the Area Committee.
Suggested qualifications:
- The Alternate Delegate are the same as the Area Delegate.
(see qualifications of the Area Delegate on upper page).
THE AREA CHAIRPERSON: The Area Chairperson prepares the agenda and chairs the monthly Area Committee meeting and the Spring and Fall assemblies, appoints an Area Registrar and Area Archivist as those positions become available.
The Area Chairperson also appoints Chairpersons (and Co-Chairpersons) to the following committee’s: Archives, Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC), Grapevine, and Public Information (P.I.). The Area Chair also communicates with area service committees, the standing committees, and the Spring and Fall Assemblies. The Area Chairperson attends NERAASA (North East Region of Alcoholics Anonymous Service Assembly).
Suggested qualifications:
- The Area Chair should have a solid period of sobriety (minimum of 3-5yrs), and has experience in group, Intergroup, institution, and/or area affairs. Area chairs need a sound understanding and appreciation of the 12 Steps of Recovery, The 12 Traditions of AA, and The 12 Concepts of Service, along with a good fund of
experience gained through applying these guides successfully to local problems. - Communications skills, leadership qualities, and sensitivity to the wishes of the local area are also important.
THE SECRETARY: Records and distributes minutes of the monthly Area Committee meetings and the Area Spring and Fall Assemblies, highlights business from previous meetings and announces any business requiring action, keeps a record of Area Committee Actions and Assembly Motions, and assists other area officers in formulating assembly agendas.
Suggested qualifications:
- The Secretary should have a reasonable period of sobriety, some service in group or Intergroup work, and some background in general office work. Computer knowledge is helpful, but not necessary. An effective secretary has a sense of order and the ability to capture the essentials of what is happening at a meeting. This is a time-consuming job and needs to be carried out in schedule, and any secretary needs to be sure that ample time is available.
THE TREASURER: Receives and records all contributions sent to the Area Committee, pays all area bills (rents, committee members approved expenses, mailing costs, ect.), compiles and presents a monthly treasure’s report to the Area Committee, compiles and presents a bi-annual treasurer’s report to the Spring and Fall assemblies, develops an annualized budget (see Guidelines IX.B.), and assists all other area officers as needed.
Suggested qualifications:
- The treasurer should be a responsible person with a solid period of sobriety. He or she should be organized enough to keep good records, and some accounting or bookkeeping experience is useful. If not, the person elected may need help in setting up a system, and if possible some clerical assistance. Persuasiveness, firmness, and diplomacy will help the treasurer do their job.
THE REGISTRAR: Regularly updates Area 31 groups information with the help of the DCM’s, maintains a database of group information to be shared regularly with the GSO (General Service Office) for the Eastern States Directory, reports at monthly Area Committee meetings, and at the Spring and Fall Assemblies, on the number of registered groups and members in the area, and generates mailing labels for the Area Secretary and each district.
Suggested qualifications:
- The Registrar should have a reasonable period of sobriety. Some service within the area, an organized approach, and computer literacy are helpful.
THE ARCHIVIST: The Archivist collects, organizes and preserves material of historic interest and is responsible for both the physical and intellectual integrity of the collection. The Archivist reports regularly to the Archives Committee and at the Spring and Fall Assemblies. The Archivist sits on the Area Committee, but does not have a vote.
Suggested Qualifications:
- The Archivist should have a solid period of sobriety (min 3-5 years), and experience in group, Intergroup, institutional, and/or Area 31 affairs, with some Archives Committee experience.
- Avid interest in Area 31’s history. Knowledge of or willingness to learn preservation and acquisition skills as the relate to material in the Area Archives.
(all above information obtained from the
Western Mass Area 31 Handbook of AA)
The AREA 31 SERVICE COMMITTEE
meets on the first Wednesdayafter the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30PM at the Grace United Church, 474 Pleasant Street, Holyoke, MA 01040.
PARK IN LOT AND ENTER TRHOUGH DOOR MARKED AT END OF HANDICAP RAMP. THROUGH THE DOOR AT TAKE RIGHT MEETING HALL IS STRAIGHT DOWN THE HALL.
MAP TO FACILTIY IS BELOW
FOR A MORE DEFINED DIRECTIONS PLEASE VIST
www.mapquest.com/directions/main
