Guiding Principles

                                           Updated: 08/03/2022

Guiding Principles

The Preamble

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.  Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

(1947 AA Grapevine Inc.)

Briefly, Northumberland Intergroup(NdIG) aims to:

• Help our constituent groups in our common purpose of carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
• Maintain and improve good relationships with the local community through the three legacies of unity, service and recovery.
• Meet four times each year.

It is structured as follows:

Principal Officers of: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. 

A period of 2 years continuous sobriety is suggested 

 Liaison Officers for:

• Public Information (PILO), Health (HLO), Share (Share LO), Telephone (TLO), Electronic Communication (ECLO) 

A period of 2 years continuous sobriety is suggested for these roles but those with one years sobriety can be sponsored into them

In more detail:

Group Services Representatives(GSRs) of up to two members (GSR + alternate) from each group. A period of 2 years continuous sobriety is suggested but members with 1 year may be sponsored into this role}. Alternates have voting rights only in the absence of the GSR.  The GSR plays a key role in carrying the conscience of a group to NdIG and in reverse.  Consequently, GSRs can�??t carry the conscience of more than one group, usually their Home Group. 

Regional Representatives (Reg. Reps.) of up to three members (selected from NdIG) 3 years continuous sobriety is required to represent NdIG at North East Regional Assembly (NERA) quarterly in York and to feedback information to NdIG. Up to three Reg Reps are allowed, each have voting rights at NERA. 

IG Aims:  The aims of an intergroup are to aid the constituent groups in their common purpose of carrying the AA message to the still suffering alcoholic and, by using their combined strength and unity, to improve and maintain good relations with all organisations in the community.

Intergroup Officers:

Chairman: 

• Convenes and conducts the meetings. 
• Liaises with the Secretary over agenda and minutes. 
• Carries executive authority of NdIG but should account for any action taken at the next meeting. 

Vice Chairman: 

Conducts the meeting in the absence of the Chairman

Secretary: 

• Liaises with Chairman over agenda and minutes
• Produces and distributes the minutes
• Deals with correspondence
• Sends a copy of minutes and officer changes to GSO 

Treasurer: 

• Keeps an account of NdIG money
• Makes quarterly contributions to the telephone service
• Carries a prudent reserve of three months�?? running expenses
• Produces details of income and expenditure for each intergroup meeting.
• Periodically sends contributions to GSO via NERA

Public Information: 

• PI work is sometimes referred to as �??carrying the message to the general public.�?�  
• This involves giving talks about recovery to doctors, nurses, social services, police, magistrates, schools and colleges. 
• The PILO role is one of co-ordinating contributing members working as a team. 

Health: HLOs are committed to being non-professional, especially when giving talks to Healthcare Professionals for which it is suggested that we:

• Are fully aware of the Traditions
• Are punctual and suitably dressed
• Politely make ourselves known
• Do not engage in debates about budgets, bed shortages or any outside issues
• Do not give medical advice to anyone
• May be required to register as a volunteer
• Limit ourselves to carrying our own simple message of recovery
• Be prepared to listen as well as talk
• Will be known as a member of AA by hospital workers and that your appearance, language, manner and conduct may influence their opinion of AA.

Telephones:

• The TLO for NdIG has quarterly meetings with other TLOs in the North of our region to update details of responders, twelfth steppers and meeting lists for the whole area. 
• The main purpose of telephone services is to put the suffering alcoholic in touch with an individual contact or AA group. 
• The Help and Suggestions card for 12^th Steppers has been acknowledged for its simple and comprehensive guidance. 
• NdIG and the other IGs involved each make a quarterly payment for the shared upkeep of the telephone service in our area.

Share/Roundabout Liaison Officers: Provide essential contacts between members, groups and the editorial teams. They actively encourage the contribution of articles and letters and the promotion of the magazines.

Electronic Communication:

emails:

• It is recommended that the blind carbon copy, bcc, should be used for multiple copies (such as emailing minutes of meetings) 

The ECLO:

• Its principal role is one of liaison, communication and co-ordination between groups, intergroup, region, and the Electronics Communications Sub-Committee (ECSC)

• Is the liaison between NdIG�??s local Fellowship and AAGB website team.
• Is responsible for checking the accuracy of anything posted on the website, for which Northumberland Intergroup has eight web pages: