Chairperson
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Duties and qualifications quoted from The AA Service Manual Combined with Twelve Concepts for World Service, 2004-2005 Edition, pp S40-41

DUTIES

The chairperson is responsible for the smooth running of area assemblies, consulting with the committee before setting the date and time, making sure that all groups are notified, consulting with officers and committee members on the program, and chairing the assembly meetings. The chairperson, more than any other officer, keeps the delegate informed about what is going on in the area, and makes sure that committee members are aware of what goes on in world services.

QUALIFICATIONS

The chairperson should have a solid period of sobriety (three to five years), and experience in group, central office, institutional, and/or area affairs. Area chairpersons need a sound understanding and appreciation of the Steps, the Traditions, and the Concepts, along with a good fund of experience gained through applying these guiding principles successfully to local problems. Communication skills, leadership qualities, and sensitivity to the wishes of the local area are also important.

SWTA

Area segment Extracted and edited from Service Structure and Procedures Southwest Texas Area Assembly, 2004 English.

The Duties of the chairperson shall be to conduct all Area Assembly meetings, prepare and have published meeting Agenda, appoint Committees and their respective Chairpersons and in general shall perform the duties of the Administrative Officer of the Area Assembly. The Area Assembly shall have business meetings conducted by the Area Chairperson, on or around the months of April and October each year. The April business meeting should be in Conjunction with the Pre-General Service Conference Workshop. The October business meeting should be in conjunction with the Southwest Texas Area Conference. Time and place for the January, April, and July meetings to be selected by the Area Chairperson and Area Delegate. Beginning in the year 2003, the SWTA will conduct an Area Inventory in the general assembly every two years at the summer workshop. The complete minutes of this inventory will be compiled by the Area Secretary, and mailed to all DCMs and Area Officers prior to the next business meeting. A copy of this inventory will be given to the incoming Area Chairman at the October Assembly for review. At the October meeting of each odd year, the Area Assembly will hold elections for Area Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Area Chairperson, Alternate Chairperson, Area Secretary and Area Treasurer. Election of the Area Chairperson shall be by two thirds (2/3) majority vote and shall be by secret ballot. The Area Chairperson shall read that portion of the AA Service Manual that is applicable before the meeting.

Specific duties of the Southwest Texas Area Chairperson include:

  • Voting Officer of the Area Committee
  • Voting member of the Area Assembly
  • Signatory on Area Assembly bank account
  • A Webmaster shall be appointed by the Area Chairperson and serve as a technical advisor to the Area Chairperson for matters affecting the structure of the Web page. In all cases, AA Traditions and group conscience of the Area assembly will be final authority regarding use and implementation of the Area Web Site.
  • Any Proposed amendments to the Service Structure shall be submitted in writing to the Area Chairperson, with a copy to the Area Delegate. The Chairperson shall include the proposed amendment on the agenda of the next Area Assembly meeting, and an affirmative simple majority vote if the Area Assembly recommends the amendment be submitted to the Area AA groups for their ratification.
  • Special workshops for these committees to be held with approval of the Area Chairperson and Delegate