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TABLE OF CONTENTS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
WESTERN AREA OF MISSOURI SERVICE GUIDELINES
SECTION ONE—THE AREA ASSEMBLY
1.1 THE ASSEMBLY—MEETINGS
1.2 THE ASSEMBLY—MEMBERSHIP
1.3 THE ASSEMBLY—OFFICERS
1.4 THE ASSEMBLY—COMMITTEES
1.5 THE ASSEMBLY—ELECTIONS
1.6 THE ASSEMBLY—FUNDING
SECTION TWO—THE AREA COMMITTEE
2.1 THE AREA COMMITTEE—COMPOSITION
2.2 THE AREA COMMITTEE—MEETINGS
SECTION THREE—STANDING COMMITTEES
3.1 GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, COMPOSITION AND GUIDELINES
3.2 WESTERN AREA CONVENTION COMMITTEE
3.3 STATE CONVENTION COMMITTEE
SECTION FOUR—THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
SECTION FIVE—THE GENERAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES
SECTION SIX—DISTRICTS, DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT ELECTIONS
6.1 DISTRICT COMMITTEES
6.2 DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEETINGS
6.3 DISTRICT ELECTIONS
6.4 DISTRICTS
6.5 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
SECTION SEVEN—AMENDMENTS
7.1 PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL
7.2 INCORPORATION INTO GUIDELINES
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Western Area of Missouri Assembly of Alcoholics Anonymous will be a service
body. It will protect and respect the autonomy and the privilege of dissent
of any or all AA groups in the Area and of any voting members of the Area Assembly.
In the course of its deliberations and discussions, the Assembly will be ever
mindful of the ideals expressed in the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions,
the Twelve Concepts, and the AA Service Manual. It shall strive to be the true
voice and group conscience of AA unity in the Western Area of Missouri.
Service will be the primary purpose of the Assembly. It will encourage all
AA groups to participate in the business conducted and to support it in its
efforts to cooperate with General Service Office, AA World Services, and the
AA General Service Conference.
The Assembly is specifically charged with the duty of electing a Delegate to
the General Service Conference and to provide the Delegate with the support
to assist in the course of duties of this office. The Assembly is further charged
with electing such other officers as it deems necessary to conduct the business
of the Assembly.
There are no ruling bodies in Alcoholics Anonymous, only trusted servants.
It should, therefore, be recognized that the procedures set forth in this set
of guidelines for the Assembly, the Area Committee, standing committees, and
district committees simply consolidate in one place are suggested guidelines,
ratified by a majority of the Western Area of Missouri Assembly.
The procedures are, to the best of our knowledge, compatible with the Twelve
Steps, the Twelve Traditions, the Twelve Concepts, and the AA Service Manual.
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WESTERN AREA OF MISSOURI SERVICE GUIDELINES
SECTION ONE—THE AREA ASSEMBLY
1.1 THE ASSEMBLY—MEETINGS
A) Area Assemblies in the Western Area will be held on a quarterly basis during
the months of January, March, June and September whenever possible.
B) The meetings will be at locations and on dates selected by the Area Chairperson.
These will be announced as far in advance as possible.
C) The agenda for Assemblies will be prepared by the Area Chairperson, assisted
by the Area Secretary.
D) Meeting notices, agendas, workshop topics, and the minutes of the last Assembly
will be sent to all voting members of the Assembly no less than 30 days prior
to the next Assembly.
E) It will be announced at the Assembly that only voting members on the Secretary’s
roll will be permitted to vote on the Assembly business, qualifying “voting
members.”
F) A majority vote will be sufficient for usual Assembly business. A two-thirds
majority written ballot, however, will be necessary for the election or removal
of officers.
G) Business coming up for discussion from the floor at any Assembly that is
not on the agenda and which requires an Assembly vote should be placed on the
agenda for the following Assembly, providing such placement is approved by a
majority of the voting members present. Immediate or emergency action may be
taken with the approval of two-thirds of the Assembly.
H) If any Area officer, Area standing committee chairperson, DCM or GSR is
absent from any two consecutive Area Assemblies and is not represented by an
alternate, the Area Chairperson, upon notification from the Secretary, may contact
the absent member or the appropriate group or district to seek a remedy to the
absence or to ask for the selection of a qualified replacement.
I) A quorum for Assembly business will be those members present, providing
notice of the meeting has been given.
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1.2 THE ASSEMBLY—MEMBERSHIP
A) Voting members of the Assembly, elected for two year terms will be Delegate,
Alternate Delegate, Chairperson, Alternate Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer,
all Area Standing Committee Chairpeople, all DCMs, and the GSRs of all registered
groups in the Western Area of Missouri. Alternate Secretary, Alternate Treasurer,
Alternate Standing Committee Chairpeople, Alternate DCMs, and Alternate GSRs
may vote for voting members if the voting members are not present. Additional
voting members are all former Western Area of Missouri Delegates, any Trustee
elected by the Western Area of Missouri and the Western Area Archivist. No one
person shall have more than one vote. Therefore, it is recommended that no one
person hold more than one voting position at Western Area Assembly.
B) All former Western Area of Missouri Delegates and any Trustees elected from
Western Area of Missouri may, if willing, serve as ex officio voting members
of the assembly and will be placed on the mailing list by the Secretary to receive
all Assembly communications.
C) The Area Archivist, elected to serve an indefinite term, subject to disapproval
by the Assembly, will be an ex officio voting member of the Assembly.
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1.3 THE ASSEMBLY—OFFICERS
A) The elected officers of the Assembly will be the Delegate, Alternate Delegate,
Chairperson, Alternate Chairperson, Secretary, Alternate Secretary, Treasurer,
Alternate Treasurer and the Area Archivist.
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DELEGATE
B) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Delegate:
1. The elected Delegate will carry out the clearly defined duties indicated
in the AA Service Manual.
2. The Delegate should have at least six years of continuous sobriety and should
have served at least one full term as an Area officer, Committee Chairperson
or DCM.
3. The Delegate is authorized expenses which need not be vouchered. They include
the amount specified by the GSO for the General Service Conference and monthly
Western Area expenses.
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ALTERNATE DELEGATE
C) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Alternate Delegate:
1. The Alternate Delegate will assume the duties of the Delegate in the Delegates
absence.
2. The Alternate Delegate should have at least six years of continuous sobriety
and should have served at least one full term as an Area Officer, Committee
Chairperson, or DCM.
3. Should the Delegate be unable to finish the term, the Alternate shall automatically
become Delegate to finish the term.
4. The Alternate Delegate will be responsible for sending Western Area minutes
and guidelines to all other Alternate Delegates in the Southwest Region and
to the Editor of the Southwest Regional Newsletter.
5. The Alternate Delegate will be authorized unvouchered expenses per month
for the performance of Western Area duties.
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CHAIRPERSON
D) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Area Chairperson:
1. The Chairperson shall carry out the clearly defined duties as indicated
in the AA Service Manual.
2. The Area Chairperson should have at least five years of continuous sobriety.
3. The Chairperson should have served at least one full term as an Area Officer,
Standing Committee Chairperson, or DCM.
4. The Chairperson will present all Standing Committee Chairpeople, elected
from within their own committees, to the Assembly members for their approval
during the Elections Assembly.
5. The Chairperson shall be authorized unvouchered expenses for monthly Area
duties.
6. The Chairperson will serve as an ex officio member of the State Convention
Committee.
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ALTERNATE CHAIRPERSON
E) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Alternate Chairperson:
1. The Alternate Chairperson will assume the duties of the Chairperson in the
Chairpersons absence.
2. The Alternate Chairperson will be responsible for all Area workshops, both
at the Assembly and if any are sponsored by the Area Committee in the Districts.
3. The Alternate Chairperson will serve as coordinator for all Area Standing
Committees and committee Chair people.
4. The Alternate Chairperson should have at least five years of continuous
sobriety.
5. The Alternate Chairperson should have served at least one full term as an
Area Officer, Standing Committee Chairperson or DCM.
6. If the Chairperson is unable to finish the term, the Alternate Chairperson
will automatically become Chairperson to finish the term.
7. The Alternate Chairperson will be responsible for keeping the maps of the
Western Area of Missouri, seeing that they are properly updated when amended
by the Assembly.
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SECRETARY
F) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Area Secretary:
1. The Secretary will carry out the clearly defined duties of Area Secretary
as indicated in the AA Service Manual.
2. The Secretary should have at least four years of continuous sobriety.
3. The Secretary should have served at least one full term as an Area Officer,
Standing Committee Chairperson or DCM. Previous outside secretarial experience
would be helpful.
4. The Secretary will be responsible for taking the minutes of the Assembly
and receiving all Area Committee meeting minutes.
5. When Assembly business requires a vote the Secretary will announce that
only voting members of the Assembly are to vote, qualifying “voting members”.
(see page 4, 1.2)
6. The Secretary is to assist the Chairperson in preparing the Assembly agenda,
taking care that business carried over from the previous Assembly is placed
on the agenda.
7. The Secretary is responsible for all minutes and records of the Western
Area of Missouri and will be responsible for keeping the original and all undistributed
copies of the Western Area of Missouri Service Guidelines and to see that they
are properly updated when amended by the Assembly. The Secretary will be responsible
for seeing that all new members of the Assembly receive a copy of the W.A. Guidelines.
8. The Secretary will be responsible for keeping all mailing lists up to date,
including the name, address and telephone number of every Area Officer, Standing
Committee Chairperson, former Delegates, DCMs, GSRs and their alternates, whenever
possible.
9. The Secretary will have a petty cash fund to be replenished quarterly.
10.The Secretary will be the guardian of the Western Area computer throughout
the two year term and will carry renter’s or home owner’s insurance
to protect against any loss. In addition, the Secretary will create (and routinely
update as needed) backup files of all information stored in the Area computer
and give these files to the Alternate Secretary for safe keeping.
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ALTERNATE SECRETARY
G) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Alternate Secretary:
1. The Alternate Secretary is to assist the Secretary in the completion of
the stated duties and will be responsible for housing the off-site backup files
of information stored in the Area computer.
2. If the Secretary is unable to finish the term, the Alternate Secretary will
automatically become Secretary to finish the term.
3. The Alternate Secretary will assume the Secretary’s duties when the
Secretary is absent.
4. The Alternate Secretary will have a vote only in the absence of the Area
Secretary.
5. The Alternate Secretary should have at least four years of continuous sobriety.
Previous secretarial experience would be helpful.
6. The Alternate Secretary should have served at least one full term as an
Area Officer, Standing Committee Chairperson or DCM.
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TREASURER
H) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Area Treasurer:
1. The Treasurer will carry out the clearly defined duties indicated in the
AA Service Manual.
2. The Treasurer should have at least four years of continuous sobriety.
3. The Treasurer should have served at least one full term as an Area Officer,
Standing Committee Chairperson or DCM. Previous outside experience would be
helpful.
4. The Treasurer is responsible for being guardian of all Area funds, with
an eye for preventing foolish, extravagant or unauthorized spending of Area
Committee money.
5. The Treasurer will be responsible for preparing a quarterly financial report
and record of group contributions which will be presented at each Assembly.
A copy will be provided to each voting member of the Assembly at the meeting
or by mail.
6. The Treasurer is responsible for making the groups aware of the money needed
for Western Area of Missouri and GSO support.
7. The Treasurer is responsible for preparing an annual budget for the Assembly
which will be presented for approval of the Assembly each January along with
a complete report of the previous year’s finances.
a. The Treasurer will be responsible for preparing and filing an annual tax
statement as required by law.
8. The Treasure will maintain a banking account for the deposit of all Area
receipts. A demand savings account may be used for funds not immediately needed
for current expenses and disbursements from the checking account. The bank signature
card will contain the signatures of the Area Treasurer, the Area Chairperson
and at least one other Area Officer.
9. All checks will be signed by at least two of the three bank signatures.
10.The Treasurer will be the guardian of the Western Area computer containing
the financial information throughout the two year term and will carry renter’s
or homeowner’s insurance to protect against any loss. In addition, the
Treasurer will create (and routinely update as needed) backup files of all information
stored in the computer and give these files to the Alternate Treasurer for safe
keeping.
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ALTERNATE TREASURER
I) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Alternate Treasurer:
1. The Alternate Treasurer is to assist the Area Treasurer in the completion
of stated duties.
2. If the Treasurer is unable to finish the term, the Alternate Treasurer will
automatically become Treasurer to finish the term.
3. The Alternate Treasurer will assume the Treasurer’s duties when the
Treasurer is absent.
4. The Alternate Treasurer will have a vote only in the absence of the Area
Treasurer.
5. The Alternate Treasurer should have at least four years of continuous sobriety.
Previous outside experience would be helpful.
6. The Alternate Treasurer should have served at least one full term as an
Area Officer, standing committee Chairperson, or DCM.
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ARCHIVIST
J) The following are among the duties and qualifications of the Area Archivist:
1. The Archivist shall carry out the clearly defined duties as indicated in
the Western Area Archives Policy and Procedures adopted.
2. The Area Archivist should have at least 5 years of continuous sobriety.
3. The Archivist should have served at least one full term as an Area Officer,
Standing Committee Chairperson, or DCM.
4. The Archivist is the person responsible for the collection of the documents
and artifactual items. He or she takes care of and maintains the physical integrity
of the collection. The Archivist is also responsible for ensuring the protection
of the anonymity of members, and the confidentiality of the AA records. It is
helpful and desireable that the archivist takes at least an introductory course
in archival science or library science. From shared experience we know that
it takes a considerable amount of time to become familiar with a collection
of historical information. Therefore, it is recommended that the archivist not
rotate frequently.
5. The primary function of the archivist can be considered therefore to be
twofold: primarily, a custodial responsibility for assuring the physical integrity
of the collection and its availability to persons with a valid reason for study-
and also a parallel and crucial role of data gatherer. It is in this latter
capacity that service can be rendered to Bill W's urging that archives are needed
"so that myth doesn't prevail over fact". In a real sense then, AA
archivists are "keepers of the past"
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EXPENSES
K) Area expenses will be those approved in the budget by the Western Area of
Missouri Assembly.
L) Any elected Assembly Officer receiving money from the Western Area of Missouri
(excluding Assembly overnight motel reimbursement) will prepare a quarterly
financial statement to be presented to the Assembly body.
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1.4 THE ASSEMBLY—COMMITTEES
A) Standing Committees of the Assembly will be Conventions (Area and State),
Cooperation with the Professional Community, Correctional Facilities, Archives,
Literature, Public Information, Treatment, Grapevine, Special Needs and any
other committees as deemed necessary to cooperate with corresponding committees
of the General Service Conference.
B) Special task committees may be formed for a specific term by the Area Chairperson.
C) Refer to Standing Committees 3.1.
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1.5 THE ASSEMBLY—ELECTIONS
A) All Area officers will be elected by the Third Legacy procedure as defined
in the current AA Service Manual.
B) At the Fall Assembly during even numbered years, there will be an election
of Area officers and standing committee chairperson to serve two year terms
beginning January 1 of the odd numbered years.
C) The Assembly may, by a majority vote, remove the names of any eligible Area
committee members from the list if they are not present at the Election Assembly.
D) There will be no nominating committee appointed.
E) Absentee or proxy votes will not be allowed.
F) After nominations from the Area Committee are taken through the Third Legacy
procedure, nominations may be taken from the floor. No nominations of absent
members of the Assembly will be allowed or considered unless that member has
informed the Area Chairperson of the reason for his absence and his willingness
to serve in the particular office being considered.
G) Each candidate for office may give a brief statement of his AA service background
and the length of continuous sobriety.
H) The Delegate will serve only one two-year term and will never again be a
candidate for this office. The only exception is if an Alternate Delegate steps
in to fill an unexpired term and then may be a candidate for a full term.
I) Other Area officers may not be eligible to succeed themselves unless they
have been elected to the office to fill an unexpired term, in which case they
may be a candidate for a full term.
J) The order of election will be Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Chairperson,
Alternate Chairperson, Secretary, Alternate Secretary, Treasurer, and Alternate
Treasurer.
K) Alternate Delegate and Alternate Chairperson are to be elected separately
and not as runners-up to the Delegate and Chairperson.
L) In the event any Area officer is unable to finish his term or is removed
from office by a vote of the Assembly, the Chairperson will call for an election
at the following Assembly if there are more than six months remaining in the
term at the time the vacancy occurs. If there are less than six months, the
Chairperson will appoint another member of the Area Committee to fulfill the
duties of the vacated office until the next election. If the vacancy is Delegate,
Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer, the alternate will automatically step into
the office and the above replacement procedure will apply for choosing new alternates.
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1.6 THE ASSEMBLY—FUNDING
A) Necessary funds must be available for the Assembly to fulfill its responsibilities.
B) Net proceeds of Western Area of Missouri Conventions will be forwarded to
the Area Treasurer by December 31st of that year. A determined amount of seed
money for the next year’s convention will be set by the Convention Committee
and will be subject to approval by the Assembly.
C) Individual members of the Assembly are encouraged to express their gratitude
for sobriety by donating to the Assembly $1 for each year of sobriety.
D) A great proportion of the responsibility for funding will come from the
individual groups in the Western Area of Missouri. Each is asked to provide
the Area Assembly or Committee at least $1 per member per year on a monthly
or quarterly basis or to give according to the current literature dealing with
AA finances. These contributions, however, are voluntary, and the Area Committee
welcomes whatever amount each group deems appropriate for the support of carrying
the AA message at the Area level.
E) Any surplus funds of the Assembly after a prudent reserve is maintained
may be dispersed to GSO by a vote of the Assembly.
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SECTION TWO—THE AREA COMMITTEE
2.1 THE AREA COMMITTEE—COMPOSITION
The Area Committee consists of the Area officers, Area Standing Committee Chairpeople,
and DCMS, or their alternates in the absence of a member.
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2.2 THE AREA COMMITTEE—MEETINGS
A) The Area Chairperson or the Delegate or three members of the Area Committee
may call for any special meeting of the Area Committee. The Committee will meet
only at such call. Notice of Area Committee meetings will be sent by the Area
Secretary to all Area Committee members at least ten days prior to such meeting,
notifying members of the time, date, and location of the meeting.
B) Any member or the Area Committee missing two consecutive Area Assembly business
meetings may be considered to have resigned and, in the case of the DCMs, the
Area Chairperson may contact the appropriate district committee to seek a remedy
to the situation or to seek the election of a qualified replacement.
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SECTION THREE—STANDING COMMITTEES
3.1 GENERAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, COMPOSITION AND GUIDELINES
The Western Area of Missouri Standing Committees are designed to serve as liaisons
to the A.A. members in our Area by passing on information from the General Service
Office and the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous.
All Western Area of Missouri Committees shall function in accordance with the
A.A. Guidelines from the General Service Office and through the utilization
of Committee Workbooks from the General Service Office. Committees wishing to
establish or change Policy and Procedures for their respective Committees may
do so provided a completed Policy and Procedure Manual is submitted to the entire
body of the Western Area of Missouri for their review and approval.
A) All Standing Committees will organize, set goals, and carry out their duties
internally. Each committee will be directly responsible to the Assembly and
any actions or major decisions affecting Western Area and/or Alcoholics Anonymous
as a whole will require Assembly approval. To be more financially responsible,
when a standing committee’s recommendations involve an expenditure of
money, an estimate of cost and its impact on the Area’s budget will be
part of the recommendation.
B) A Standing Committee Chairperson should have at least four years of continuous
sobriety and will be a voting member of the Assembly. All Standing Committees
(with the exception of the State Convention Committee) will consist of: a chairperson,
elected by the committee; all district committee representatives elected by
their districts to serve on that particular committee; and any A.A. member wishing
to serve on that committee, and will serve two-year terms corresponding with
the Area Assembly terms. Alternates to each position are very important and
those elected should be willing and able to step in if needed.
C) The Standing Committee Chairperson will be responsible for helping corresponding
district committees and district representatives get activities and work started
at the district level to support and assist individual members and groups in
the work for which their particular committee is responsible. In the event a
district does not have a committee representative, the chairperson will work
directly with that district’s DCM.
D) Each Standing Committee Chairperson will submit a yearly budget to the Area
Treasurer at each September Assembly to assist the Treasurer in preparing a
yearly budget.
E) Each Standing Committee will hold a quarterly meeting on Saturday of each
Assembly weekend and the Committee Chairperson will be responsible for giving
a report (including a financial statement) at each Assembly business meeting
on the activities of their committee.
F) Each Standing Committee shall hold an election for Standing Committee Chairperson,
following Third Legacy procedure as defined in the current A.A. Service Manual,
at the Fall Assembly during even-numbered years. The Chairperson elected within
each committee will be presented to the Assembly by the Area Chairperson for
consideration and approval.
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3.2 WESTERN AREA CONVENTION COMMITTEE
The Western Area of Missouri Convention Committee will have these among its
duties:
A) The committee will be composed of a Chairperson elected by the Western Area
Convention Committee, other officers elected by the committee, all district
Convention Committee representatives, and any other AA members who choose to
work regularly with the Convention Committee.
B) Once assembled, the committee will organize and select from its ranks the
following assisting officers: Co-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Registration
Chairperson, Publicity and Public Information Chairperson, Entertainment Chairperson,
Hospitality Chairperson, Literature and Display Chairperson, and any other chairperson
deemed necessary by the committee.
C) The committee representatives will serve two-year terms corresponding with
Area Assembly elections and terms of office and will be responsible for the
Western Area of Missouri Conventions during that period.
D) The committee will function basically along GSO guidelines for conventions
and will be directly responsible to the Assembly for its actions. The chairperson
will make a report to each Assembly.
E) The committee will keep minutes, records, attendance files, mailing lists,
and financial records.
3.3 STATE CONVENTION COMMITTEE
The following are among the duties of the State Convention Committee:
A) Two members will be elected at each March Assembly for two year terms to
begin immediately after elections.
B) The State Conventions Committee shall be organized as suggested in the State
Conventions Committee Guidelines adopted by the committee and accepted by the
Eastern and Western Areas of Missouri.
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SECTION FOUR—THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The following are among the duties and qualifications of the DCMs:
A) DCMs should have at least four years of continuous sobriety.
B) It is suggested that DCMs should not also serve as a group GSR.
C) The DCM is expected to attend all Area Committee meetings and Area Assemblies
or to provide for an alternate to attend in their place.
D) The DCM is responsible for providing the Area Secretary with a complete
and current list of all District officers and GSRs, including their alternates.
Names, addresses and phone numbers should be furnished. The Area Secretary should
be notified of any changes during the term.
E) If a DCM misses two consecutive Assemblies and is not represented by an
alternate, the Area Chairperson may contact the appropriate District committee
and seek to remedy the situation or to seek the election of a qualified replacement.
F) The DCM should help coordinate visits of the Delegate to his District so
that the greatest number of people may be at a Delegate report meeting. He may
also want to arrange for various Area Officers and Standing Committee Chair
people to attend at least one District meeting a year in his District for sharing
Area and District activities.
G) The DCM will give a District report at each Assembly and may periodically
be asked to help interpret the conscience of groups in the District to the Delegate
or Assembly.
H) The DCM is asked to arrange for all District meeting minutes or District
information to be mailed to all Area Officers, Standing Committee Chair people
and the Area Archivist. It would also be helpful if minutes were mailed to other
DCMs, to former Delegates and to GSO.
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SECTION FIVE—THE GENERAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES
The following are among the duties and qualifications of the GSRs:
A) All Western Area of Missouri group GSRs are full voting members of the Area
Assembly and are expected to attend four quarterly Assemblies each year.
B) GSRs should have at least two years of continuous sobriety.
C) If a GSR misses two consecutive Assemblies and is not represented by an
alternate, the Area Chairperson may contact the appropriate GSR or group to
seek a remedy to the situation or to seek a qualified replacement.
D) The GSR will be responsible for providing his DCM with group information
for mailing lists and AA directories in time to meet appropriate deadlines.
E) GSRs are asked to report back to their groups the activities of the Area
Assembly.
F) GSRs will be asked from time to time by the Delegate or Assembly to help
interpret their groups’ conscience on matters to be considered.
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SECTION SIX—DISTRICTS, DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT ELECTIONS
6.1 DISTRICT COMMITTEES
A) Each District shown on the Area map should have a District Committee whose
members should be one DCM, other officers deemed necessary by the committee
and the elected GSR from each registered Group in the District.
B) Each District should have a Chairperson or representative for each corresponding
Area Standing Committee who shall automatically serve as a member of the corresponding
Area Committee and who should serve to coordinate activities at the District
level.
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6.2 DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEETINGS
A) District Committees should meet regularly at a time and place of their own
selection. Meetings should be monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly, but should be
at least quarterly.
B) District meetings should be held according to the guidelines in the current
AA Service Manual.
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6.3 DISTRICT ELECTIONS
A) In Western Area of Missouri Districts, all Group and District elections
should be held and completed prior to the Fall Assembly of even numbered years.
DCMs, GSRs and their alternates should be elected for two year terms beginning
January 1 following the election.
B) Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all newly elected DCMs, GSRs and
their alternates should be furnished to the Area Secretary at the Fall Assembly
prior to their taking office.
C) DCMs should be elected by the retiring GSR committee from among their present
and current membership.
D) No DCM, GSR, or their alternate should succeed himself as a voting member
of the District Committee or Area Assembly in the same office.
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6.4 DISTRICTS
The number of Districts in the Western Area of Missouri should be defined according
to the needs of the Groups, Districts and the Area.
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6.5 DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
District boundaries have been defined by the Area Assembly. They may only be
changed by a majority vote of the Assembly. District boundary changes should
reflect a combination of the needs of the Assembly and the Districts and Groups.
No changes shall be made until those proposed changes have been presented to
the District Committees and to the Groups in the geographical area affected
by the changes. The Alternate Chairperson is responsible for keeping the maps
and seeing that they are updated as a result of action by the Area Assembly.
A need for changing District boundaries may arise at Group, District, or Area
levels. Any Area Assembly, District, or Group wishing to change existing boundaries
may request the approval of the Area Assembly. The following procedure shall
be used:
A) The proposal shall be sent to the Area Chairperson in writing to be placed
on the agenda for the next scheduled Assembly.
B) If discussed and if the Areas Assembly votes to do so, the proposal will
be presented to the affected Groups or Districts for their consideration.
C) The Groups and Districts involved shall take a Group Conscience on the matter.
The results will be returned to the Area Assembly for discussion, and a vote
will be taken at the following Area Assembly.
D) No further action shall be considered for a period of six months.
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SECTION SEVEN—AMENDMENTS
7.1 PROPOSAL AND APPROVAL
Proposed amendments to these guidelines will be presented to the Area Chairperson
in writing. The Chairperson will place them on the agenda of the next Area Assembly
for first consideration. If a majority of the Assembly approves, the proposal
will be forwarded to the groups and districts for their consideration. Next,
the proposal will be placed on the agenda of the following Assembly for final
approval. Any such proposal would be mailed along with the Assembly agenda by
the Secretary to all voting members of the Assembly no less than 30 days before
the scheduled vote. The final vote may be by written ballot.
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7.2 INCORPORATION INTO GUIDELINES
The updating and accuracy of these amendments will be the responsibility of
the Area Secretary.
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