Intergroup Officer Positions

The candidate wishing to stand for election must be considered familiar with this Intergroup.

Familiarity

If the candidate has either:

• previously held a post at this Intergroup, or
• has previously visited this Intergroup,

They’ll be considered familiar.

Standing

If the candidate is familiar with this Intergroup:

• To stand they’d need to attend TWO INTERGROUP MEETINGS; firstly their “intention to stand” meeting and then their ”election” meeting.

If the candidate is NOT familiar with this Intergroup:

• To stand they’d need to attend THREE INTERGROUP MEETINGS; firstly a “familiarisation meeting” then their “intention to stand” meeting, and then their “election” meeting.

Northamptonshire Intergroup Positions

Chairperson of Intergroup

The role of chairperson is to conduct and guide meetings of intergroup either business or conscience. They set the agenda for each meeting and also approve the agenda and minutes before publication. As a trusted servant, they carry the authority of intergroup but must account for any action taken on their behalf. It is the chairs responsibility to rule on points of procedure according to any by-laws and fellowship guidelines.

It is their responsibility to ensure each meeting within the area is aware of intergroup and to promote intergroup service to all fellows.

Vice chair of Intergroup

The role of vice chair is to conduct meetings if the chair is unable to attend. They may take on the role of chairperson after the chairs tenure has finished.

Secretary

The Secretary has the responsibility with the Chair for preparing the agenda and minutes of meetings and for distributing these documents to the Groups well before meetings so that there is ample time to discuss the contents. The Secretary deals with all correspondence, passing for example requests for speakers to outside organisations to the Public Information officer or a suitable member. The Secretary keeps in touch with the General Service Office making sure that it promptly has a copy of the minutes and notice of any change of officer.

Treasurer

The Treasurer has the responsibility for keeping a proper account of all Intergroup finances and ensuring that funds are available for its essential current requirements with a prudent reserve of, say, three months’ estimated expenditure. The Treasurer reports to Intergroup the balance remaining for prompt transfer through the service structure to the General Service Office.

Prison Liaison Officer

The Prison Liaison Officer should gather and collate all information about the prison Groups in their area (including open prisons, Young Offenders Institutions etc.) and forward the information to their Regions and to GSO.

Telephone Liaison Officer

The Telephone Liaison Officer co-ordinates the working of the Telephone Service.

Public Information Officer

A Public Information Officer is responsible for ensuring that information about the A.A. message and programme of recovery is conveyed to outside organisations to the best possible advantage. The provision of a panel of members to comply with requests for speakers is an important part of this activity.

Armed Services Liaison Officer

By working with the still suffering alcoholic who is or was a serving member of our Armed Forces, we try to ensure that there are telephone responders with lived experience. As Armed Services and civilian life and languages differ, in a crisis we sometimes need to talk to each other from the same place and in the same language. There are also opportunities to raise awareness by working with serving personnel and veterans.

Probation Liaison Officer

Alcoholics Anonymous relationship with Probation/Community Justice Systems (CJS) is vital in providing a link for those involved with Police, Courts, Prison – on Release, Probation and Social Services. We work across all areas and levels from using the chit system in groups to cooperating with CJS workers. This offers hope to alcoholics involved with the Probation/CJ systems looking for a way out of the merry-go-round of alcoholism

Literature Officer

 Since the publication of the Big Book, literature has been crucial in carrying AAs message of recovery. Our books and leaflets are vital tools in our twelfth step work. In our groups there is always a position for literature secretary – introducing newcomers to literature and helping others stay in touch with our growing library. GSO also have a Literature Sub Committee (LSC) which is responsible for drafting new or revising existing AA literature. It’s always good to see work approved by Conference and it being published. The LSC regularly collaborates with other service disciplines by offering help with drafting, reviewing and updating literature. If you are interested in seeing how AA literature can transform lives, then start by becoming your group literature secretary.

Employment Officer

Employers are increasingly responsible for the provision of a practical policy and strategy for the health, welfare and safety of employees. AA can offer a significant contribution to this requirement by the Employment Liaison Officers of intergroups and regions, working together with them. All members can play a part in this service by contributing to the distribution of leaflets and posters.

Share Liaison Officer

The Steps & Traditions, the Preamble, the Pledge, in fact everything you might need to open a meeting is in your copy of Share magazine.

There are members’ stories and interviews, a calendar round-up of Fellowship events and even some photos and cartoons to entertain you. No wonder we call Share ‘our meeting between meetings’.

For those who have difficulty getting to a meeting, Share can be a lifeline. We always need support from you, whether it’s to send an article in or take out a subscription,

Safeguarding Officer

The purpose of the Safeguarding role is to ensure members and prospective members are able to meet safely and observe up to date guidance and best practice to protect our members and the sider community

Archivist

The role of the archivist is to collect and preserve our history and ensure members anonymity in perpetuity. By these actions we will not lose the history of how we carry the message of recovery, and our memories will remain accessible for generations to come. If you are interested in the history of AA and would like to contribute to the archival collection, a service position in Archives is ideal.

Region Representatives

Region Representatives keep each body, Region and Intergroup, aware of business transacted at the other. Each Intergroup may send three voting representatives, whilst other AA members may attend as observers.

Regional Representatives and alternates should be elected by their intergroup as carefully as Group Service Representatives. They should be chosen as a general rule from amongst serving GSRs but any member, who has the necessary qualifications, even if not at the time serving as a GSR, may be elected. Such a representative will attend all intergroup meetings to report from the region and to hear from the intergroup their wishes to be expressed at the next regional meeting.

Qualification

It is suggested that at least three years’ continuous sobriety are necessary since it is hardly possible for a person to gain enough intergroup and group service in less time than that, to be of real use to the region.

They should have a good working knowledge of the following AA publications: Alcoholics Anonymous, The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, AA Comes of Age, the latest edition of The AA Structure and Service Handbooks for Great Britain & Continental Europe, The AA Service Manual

They should have good knowledge of the structure of AA.

The Regional Representative would, in the interest of continuity, serve for three years, after which he or she must retire and cannot be re-elected for at least one year.  It is suggested that three Representatives per intergroup be elected to the region since this would give proper continuity.

Northamptonshire Intergroup is a member of the Midlands Region, which also has members from Coventry & Warwickshire, Leicestershire & Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Birmingham, Wye Valley and Black Country, and Potteries & District. Region meetings are currently held at The Derby Conference Centre, London Road, Derby DE24 8UX. There are usually 5 meetings a year: January, March (pre-Conference), May (post-Conference), September, and November (AGM). Workshops are sometimes held at the January, March, and/or September meetings. All AA members are welcome to attend Region meetings, but only Region Reps and Region Officers may vote.

If a Region Rep is voted into a Region Officer position, the relevant intergroup is entitled to elect another Region Rep as a replacement.

Young Persons Liaison Office

The aim of the Young People’s service discipline is to carry the message of recovery to young people, and to help encourage younger members of the Fellowship into service. Young People’s Liaison Officers should ideally have come into recovery at the age of 30 or under.

Electronic Communications Liaison Officer

ECLO is responsible for the Intergroup website, ensuring meeting details are up-to-date using information supplied by local members, and for forwarding of emails to the relevant officers.

Health Liaison Officer

Member of AA that work to inform doctors, nurses, and other health professionals about what AA does and how it can be a valuable, cost-free resource for patients struggling with alcoholism.