|
Duties and qualifications quoted from The AA Service Manual Combined with Twelve Concepts for World Service, 2004-2005 Edition, pp S44-46.
Duties
Though the high point is the Conference meeting, the delegate’s job goes on year-round and involves all aspects of the Conference structure. The delegate should:
Attend the annual Conference meeting fully prepared. Immediately upon election, every delegate is put on the G.S.O. mailing list to receive Conference materials.
Communicate the actions of the Conference to area committee members and encourage them to pass on this information, and the delegate’s enthusiasm, to groups and to intergroups/central offices. If an area is too large for the delegate to cover in person, he or she will ask area officers and committee members to share the load.
Be prepared to attend all area and regional service meetings and assemblies applicable to his/her respective area. From these meetings, delegates come to better understand their own areas and can make suggestions for the Conference agenda. Here, too, they come in contact with A.A. members who might not be reached otherwise.
Help area committees obtain financial support for the area and G.S.O.
Provide leadership in solving local problems involving the A.A. Traditions.
Remind G.S.R.s to inform groups and individuals about the A.A. Grapevine and Conference-approved literature.
Cooperate with G.S.O. in obtaining information — for example, making sure that up-to-date information reaches G.S.O. in time to meet the deadline for each issue of the A.A. directory and helping carry out the triennial membership surveys.
Visit groups and districts in the area whenever possible.
Work closely with committee members and officers, sharing experience throughout the year. After G.S.R.s and committee members have reported on the Conference, learn from these A.A.s how groups and members have reacted.
Assume added responsibility if the area chair and alternate chair are unable to serve. Or, if an area committee is not functioning effectively, the delegate may take an active role in remedying the situation.
Keep the alternate delegate fully informed and active, so that the alternate can replace the delegate in an emergency.
Late in the second term, work with newly elected delegates to pass along a basic knowledge of Conference proceedings and problems.
Qualifications
Like other A.A. members, delegates come in all shapes and sizes. But some characteristics seem to make for well-qualified delegates. For example:
Several years of active participation in local and area affairs, as a G.S.R. and as a committee member.
Time available, not only for the week-long Conference meeting in April but for all the efforts needed before and after the Conference.
Five or six years of continuous sobriety. The sobriety requirement varies from area to area; in any case, a delegate should have been sober long enough to be responsible and informed.
The ability to make and take suggestions — and criticisms, too.
Experience in chairing meetings.
Knowledge of A.A. affairs, and of where to find the correct information when they do not know the answers.
Thorough familiarity with the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts and how they apply to local problems.
The ability to be open-minded, to sit down with A.A.s in the area and with other delegates to discuss and act on matters vital to A.A.
If you are thinking about standing for a term as delegate, ask yourself these questions:
How well did you do as a G.S.R.? As a committee member? Did you enjoy the responsibilities? Were you active?
Have you discussed the possibility with your family and your employer? Will the time be available for the amount of work required?
Are you familiar with this manual? With A.A. Comes of Age? And of course, with the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts?
Have you talked with past delegates to get an idea of the time and effort required and the sort of work you will need to do?
Southwest Texas Area segment extracted and edited from Service Structure and Procedures Southwest Texas Area Assembly, 2004 English.
SWTA
At the October meeting of each odd year, the Area Assembly will hold elections for Area Delegate. Traditionally the newly elected Delegate has been allowed to select the Area Secretary and the Area Treasurer, as they have to work closely. This selection needs to be approved by a majority of votes by the Area Assembly. It is recommended that nominees for Delegates have a Minimum of six (6) years of continuous sobriety and have served full terms as GSR and as DCM. Present outgoing DCMs having served a full term are eligible. The Area Delegate may have only one term of service (2 years) and shall never again be a candidate for this office. Should the Delegate be unable to complete the term of service, the alternate Delegate shall assume the Delegate's duties. However, should a Delegate be unable to serve over one year, he or she may qualify to serve a full term. The Alternate Delegate may be eligible to be elected for a full term after having filled a vacancy of less than a year. Likewise, no past Delegate may be a candidate to serve as GSR or DCM. The Area Assembly may remove the Delegate, The Alternate Delegate or any Area Committee Officer from the duties for a just cause. Such removal shall be by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote and by secret ballot.
Specific duties of the Southwest Texas Area Delegate include:
Selecting, in conjunction with the Area Chairperson, the location of the January, April, and July meetings
Voting member of Area Assembly
Voting member of Area Committee
Signatory on the Area Assembly bank account
Receives a copy of any proposed amendments to the Service Structure when added to the agenda
Approves special conferences, in conjunction with the Area Chairperson
Works closely with the Conference Committee and Officers regarding Policies
Eligible to become Area Chairperson at the completion of their term
|