The Twyn Community Hall, "The aims of an Intergroup are to aid the constituent Groups in their common purpose of carrying the A.A. 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." Reprinted from The A.A. Service Handbook for Great Britain, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc. Duties Of Officers. The Chairperson has the responsibility of convening and conducting the meetings, and approving the agenda and minutes before they are published. The chair is not 'in charge' but simply leads the meeting through the agenda items. The Vice Chairperson has the responsibility of leading the meeting in the absence of the Chair. 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 Treasurer has the responsibility for keeping a proper account of all Intergroup finances and ensuring that funds are available for its essential current requirements. The Telephone Liaison Officer co-ordinates the vital working of the Telephone Service as this is still a major method for the still suffering alcoholics to contact AA for help. A Public Information Officer is responsible for ensuring that information about the AA message and programme of recovery is conveyed to outside organisations to the best possible advantage. SEWIG supports the PI Officer with a PI Sub Committee made up of other members. This is necessary due to the wide range of activities that can be undertaken at any one time. The PI Officer will also set up a panel of members who are willing to speak or present at various functions and public gathering. The Health Liaison Officer is responsible for establishing links with health professionals and co-ordinating all aspects of carrying the message within the healthcare system. A Probation Liaison Officer/Social Services AA Liaison Officer is responsible for establishing links with the probation services in Wales. An Employment Liaison Officer assumes responsibility for liaising with all sectors of commerce and industry. SHARE Liaison Officer provide the essential contacts between members, Groups and the editorial teams. They actively encourage the contribution of articles and letters and the promotion of the magazines. Reports The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on 9th March 2012. What Is Intergroup? Intergroup is a group of representatives from individual local groups in a given area who come together to co-ordinate how the AA message can best be carried to the still suffering alcoholic in that area. Also, by using the combined strength and unity of the local groups, intergroup looks at how it can improve and maintain good relations with industry, commerce, health, prisons, local and national government organisations in the community. Intergroup carries the opinions and wishes of the individual groups to 'Region' where Intergroups across a much bigger geographical area e.g. Wales and the Borders meet on behalf of members. What Does Intergroup Do?
Intergroup Meetings. The South East Wales Intergroup (SEWIG) meetings are held quarterly, on the second Friday of the month, commencing February. It should be remembered that these are not like regular AA meetings they are business meetings and are therefore conducted in a more businesslike fashion with an agenda and minutes produced after every meeting. Although these meetings are business like they are also friendly and supportive. They are a great opportunity for members to be involved in service and to carry the message whilst also meeting new friends. Members of the Intergroup committee are made up of Group Service Representatives (GSR's) of member groups. Observers are welcome at Intergroup meetings, they may not vote but may express their views at the invitation of the Chairperson. SEWIG welcomes observers and all are welcome to express their views on topics of discussion. Group Service Representative. GSR's represent their individual groups because they are one of the Group's most qualified individuals to help the Group help its own future and the future of AA as a whole. However, it is not essential for a member of AA to be a serving GSR to be a member of Intergroup. Continuous sobriety, previous experience of service roles and a genuine desire to carry the message are equally as important criteria. Groups should take care in electing their GSR's. It is suggested that the GSR should have at least two years' continuous sobriety. The GSR will be familiar with the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and be prepared to uphold them, as well as being conversant with AA literature in general. Officers. SEWIG has appointed a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and members with other responsibilities as its officers. These officers will have an established period of sobriety, ideally not less than two years. They will each normally serve for not less than two years and not more than three years. This is to provide continuity whilst allowing other members the opportunity to give service in these roles. The officers can co-opt a member or members, either from GSR's or from Groups to perform a specific service such as organising a convention or convening a public meeting. The Intergroup may establish sub-committees for specific purposes. SEWIG has done this to support the Public Information (PI) Officer by setting up a Public Information Sub Committee that meets every six weeks outside of normal SEWIG meeting. SEWIG recognises that officers already have full and active lives, both within AA and outside of AA. For this reason when an individual is given a particular role, that person is not expected to carry the responsibility alone. Officers are actively encouraged to ask for help and support and to involve other group members in projects as required. |