Service

Service work is the backbone of AA. Join our team and help carry the message. Every position is vital to our group's mission.
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Why Service Matters

Service work in AA is how we give back what was freely given to us. Through service, we strengthen our sobriety, build meaningful connections, and ensure that AA remains available for the alcoholic who still suffers.

All service positions require active participation in PPG, willingness to serve for the specified term, commitment to AA’s principles and traditions, and the sobriety requirements listed below. Elections occur at Group Conscience meetings when terms expire or vacancies exist.

Service Positions

MEMBERS OF STEERING COMMITTEE, TERM, AND ELECTION DATES:

The SC is composed of the following members:

Group Conscience Chair Person

Term: 2 Years

Date: July (odd years)

Sobriety Requirement: 2 Years

Responsibilities of the Group Conscience Chairperson include:
•    Presiding over all GC and SC meetings.
•    Organizing the agenda.
•    Providing notice of the time, place, and agenda for regularly scheduled SC and GC meetings at least 14 days prior to the meeting.
•    Coordinating activities with other group officers and with those members who assume responsibility for hospitality, coffee making, meeting format, and other vital functions.

Secretary

Term: 1 Year

Date: April

Sobriety Requirement: 2 YearsResponsibilities of the Secretary include:
•    Taking the minutes of the SC and GC meetings and providing a copy of the minutes to the committee not later than 7 days after the meeting takes place. The SC minutes shall note the date, time and place of the meeting, what business was transacted, which decisions or votes were made, and which members were present and absent.
•    Making copies of the guidelines available to members.
•    Maintaining the bulletin board at the meeting facility.
•    Maintaining the meeting notebook and meeting announcements.
•    Assumes the role of SC chairperson in the chairperson’s absence at SC or GC meetings.

Treasurer

Term: 1 Year

Date: July

Sobriety Requirement: 2+ Years

Responsibilities of the treasurer include:
•    Collecting all donations and depositing them in the group’s account at the designated financial institution once per week.
•    Perform as primary group bank account manager.  Maintain group checkbook requiring single signature and prudent reserve savings account that requires two signatures to complete transactions.  Treasurer shall be the primary signatory and Meeting Chairperson shall be the secondary signatory.
•    Maintain two bank accounts
•    Checking account for operational expenses ($1000 in operating account for meeting combined with literature and babysitting balances
•    Savings account for prudent reserve ($4000)
•    Maintain a ledger of all the group’s income and expenses.
•    Preparing and presenting a statement of the group’s financial condition as requested by the  SC and at scheduled GC meetings. The financial statement will reflect the following; income, source of income, itemized expenses, total income, total expenses and current balance.  Group ledger and bank account statements shall be available at GC meetings.
•    PPG treasurer is responsible for purchasing all coffee and coffee bar related materials (animal crackers, pretzels, creamer, cups, etc.)
•    Ensuring that the bank account meets all applicable state and federal regulations.
•    Reimbursing members for legitimate expenses incurred in the course of conducting group business.
•    Paying the rent to the church each month on or before the third day of the month.
•    Making contributions to other AA organizations such as Intergroup, district general AA service assembly, area general service assembly and GSO. Contributions to the organizations listed above are to be a percentage of the funds remaining after the group’s normal expenses have been paid and the prudent reserve has been set aside, as follows:
◦    Intergroup:40%,
◦    District:10 %
◦    Area:10%
◦    GSO: 40%.

General Service Representative (GSR)

Term: 2 Years

Date: October (odd years)

Sobriety Requirement: 2 Years

Responsibilities of the GSR include:
•    Representing the group at the district and area general service assemblies.
•    Informing the group about general service activities in the local area.
•    Receiving and sharing with the group all mail from the GSO including the newsletter Box 4-5-9, which is the GSO’s primary tool for communicating with the fellowship.
•    Assisting the group in solving problems, especially those related to the 12 traditions.
•    Provide receipts to treasurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of conducting group business.

Alternate GSR

Term: 2 Years

Date: October (odd years)

Sobriety Requirement: 1 Years

The Alternate GSR assists the GSR and attends meetings as required with and in the place of the GSR.  The Alternate GSR moves to the GSR position upon completion of the GSR’s term of office.  A new Alternate GSR is then nominated and elected.

Intergroup Rep

Term: 2 Years

Date: January (ever years)

Sobriety Requirement: 1 Years

Responsibilities of the Intergroup Representative include:
•    Participating in the business meetings of Hill Country Intergroup.
•    Updating the group about the services and activities of Hill Country Intergroup.
•    Providing PPG meeting schedule information to Hill Country Intergroup.
•    Provide receipts to treasurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of conducting group business.

Alternate Intergroup Rep

Term: 2 Years

Date: January (even years)

Sobriety Requirement: 6 months

The Alternate Intergroup Representative assists the Intergroup Representative and attends meetings as required with and in the place of the Intergroup Representative. The Alternate Intergroup Representative moves to the Intergroup Representative position upon completion of the Intergroup Representative’s term of office.  A new Alternate Intergroup Representative is then sought and elected.

Service Rep (Correctional/Treatment Facilities) - (CF/TF)

Term: 1 Year

Date: July

Sobriety Requirement: 2 Years

Responsibilities of the Service Representative include:
• Working as group liaison with (1) the local AA groups needing speakers; (2) Intergroup, district, or area committees involved with correctional facilities; and (3) treatment facilities.
• Keeping the PPG members informed about local twelve-step activities in nearby institutions and treatment facilities and encouraging group members to participate.
• Provide receipts to treasurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of conducting group business.

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Coffee Captain

Term: 3 months

Date: Every Group Conscience

Sobriety Requirement: 3 Months

Responsibilities of the Coffee Capitan include:
•    Keeping refreshment supplies fully stocked, including coffee, filters, sugar, creamer, cups, stirrers, paper towels, and miscellaneous supplies.
•    Facilitate the making of coffee.
•    Cleaning the kitchen of the PPG meeting space after the meeting, taking out trash (including men’s and women’s restroom), replacing trash liners, rinsing the percolators, repacking all supplies, and storing the supplies for the next meeting.
•    Visually inspecting to ensure the kitchen is ready for the preschool to use the next day.  It is okay to leave it cleaner than you found it.
•    Provide receipts to treasurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of conducting group business.

Literature/Grapevine Rep

Term:  Year

Date: January

Sobriety Requirement: 6 monthss

Responsibilities of the Literature Officer include:
•    Keeping literature fully stocked, including Big Books for newcomers, chips, brochures, and Hill Country Intergroup meeting schedules.
•    Ensuring that AA-approved books and pamphlets are available at the group meeting place.
•    Being familiar with the AA guidelines for literature available from the GSO literature coordinator.
•    Familiarizing members with the AA Grapevine, the international journal for AA.
•    Participating in the activities of the Hill Country area’s Grapevine committee.  Providing copies of the Grapevine for members to read/purchase.
•    Collecting donations for purchases and forwarding the donations to the Treasurer.
•    Provide receipts to treasurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of conducting group business.

Hospitality Czar

Term: 1 Year

Date: April

Sobriety Requirement: 6 Months

Responsibilities of the Hospitality Czar include:
•    Facilitating setup and take down of the meeting room.
•    Facilitating the greeting of attendees at the door.
•    Insuring that cigarette butts are cleaned up from in front of the building.
•    Provide receipts to treasurer for reimbursement of expenses incurred in the course of conducting group.

Meeting Chairperson

Term: 1 Year

Date: July (Can be re-elected yearly)

Sobriety Requirement: 5 Years

•    The meeting chairperson shall be elected by the GC for a term of one year, may serve consecutive terms, and is required to have a minimum of 5 years of consecutive sobriety.

Webmaster

Term: 1 Year

Date: July

Sobriety Requirement: 6 Months

Responsibilities of the Webmaster include:
•    Ensuring all content on PPG website is up to date.
•    Drafting summary of previous meetings topic and posting on website.

* Officers ending a one-year term may be elected to serve a second consecutive term.  Terms shall be staggered so that all members’ terms do not expire at the same time.
** Elections for each position occur at GC meetings on the Tuesday when the incumbent’s term is expired or when a vacancy exists.

Service Protocols

STEERING COMMITTEE REQUIREMENTS FOR SERVICE

Any PPG member nominated for a position on the SC shall: describe specific qualifications or experience required to successfully perform in a given position, have the continuous sobriety requirements mentioned above, affirm a willingness to perform the required duties of that position for its term, and attend the GC meetings.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR STEERING COMMITTEE
Any PPG member may choose to be a candidate for a position as long as that member meets the requirements for service.

ELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR STEERING COMMITTEE
Nominees who meet the minimum requirements for service and receive a simple majority of votes from the GC are elected to serve on the committee. In the event of a tie in the number of votes cast for nominees the chairperson may call for a second vote of the GC. If the second vote results in a tie, then a majority vote of the SC members present will decide which nominee is elected.

PROCEDURE FOR AUTOMATIC REMOVAL FROM STEERING COMMITTEE
Automatic removal from the SC occurs if a member relapses.  A member may also be automatically removed if that member misses two consecutive GC meetings without good reason and fails to notify any other member of the committee in advance of the absence.

FILLING VACANCIES
The GC must fill vacancies promptly for unexpired terms from the general membership of the group. Such vacancies will be filled by majority vote of the GC members present at any scheduled GC meeting.
VOTE Votes will be taken by simple majority of GC members present.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONDUCTING MEETINGS
The Chairperson presides over all SC and GC meetings. In the event of the chairperson’s absence, the secretary shall conduct the meeting. If the secretary is absent, then the treasurer shall preside. If these three officers are absent, then the responsibility shall pass to the member with the longest continuous sobriety.

SPECIAL PURPOSE (AD HOC) COMMITTEES
The SC may assign members to complete specific projects on a short-term basis.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
SC members provide general support to the SC and the general membership of the PPG.  SC members are to attend all committee and GC meetings.  Any responsibilities not detailed below but deemed necessary by the group may be added by vote of the GC.   Incumbent officers should provide guidance instructions and assistance to their successors at the end of their terms.