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Greater Winston-Salem Area Intergroup
October 2011Volume 1, Issue 1
Service OpportunitiesInformational Manual
Step 12 – “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”
Tradition 5 – “Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.”
Table of Contents
The Purpose and Benefit of This Informational Manual 3
The Home Group......................................................4
Answering Service....................................................5
Cooperation with the Professional Community -
Public Information.........................................6
Correctional Facilities...............................................7
Special Needs...........................................................8
Treatment Facilities..................................................9
Web Site.................................................................10
GWSAI Purpose and Service Positions.............11 - 15
The Purpose and Benefit of This BookletOur Twelfth Step - carrying the message - is the basic service that the A.A. Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence. Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven’t been given the truth may die.
Hence, an A.A. service is anything whatever that helps us to reach a fellow sufferer- ranging all the way from the Twelfth Step itself to a phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.’s General Service Office for national and international action. This is our Third Legacy of Service.
Services include meeting places, hospital cooperation, and intergroup offices; they mean pamphlets, books, and good publicity of almost every description. They call for committees, delegates, trustees, and conferences. And not to be forgotten, they need voluntary money contributions from within the Fellowship.
The purpose of this Service Opportunities Informational Manual is to make available information on the various opportunities for carrying the message of recovery to the recovering alcoholic in the greater Winston-Salem, NC area through the service structure of the Greater Winston-Salem Area Intergroup Service (GWSAI). A description of each of the GWSAI committees is presented, requirements for participation are outlined, and contact information for the service committee chairperson is listed.
Getting StartedIf you are new to Alcoholics Anonymous, it is suggested that you first look within your home group for opportunities to serve the Fellowship. There are always basic opportunities to help out, whether it is in preparing the meeting room, making coffee, chairing a meeting, or cleaning up after the meeting ends. These tasks don’t just get done by themselves – they have to be performed by members of the group or by meeting attendees. We find that by doing for others without expecting anything in return we “get out of ourselves.” This enables us to experience both humility and gratitude, two essential ingredients for long-term sobriety.
“I am responsible . . . When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA
always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”
THE HOME GROUP
Service to Alcoholics Anonymous begins within the AA home group. It takes member participation to ensure that group service work is done. By following the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, we maintain our commitment to preserve our spiritual and democratic Fellowship by “creating service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.” QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONEach group determines the minimum length of sobriety of A.A. members to be eligible for any position (or office). The general guidelines might be stable sobriety of six months to a year, or longer. These service positions may have titles. But titles in A.A. do not bring authority or honor; they describe services and responsibilities. And it has been generally found that giving members service positions solely to help them stay sober does not work; instead, the group’s welfare is of primary concern in choosing officers.Individual groups have many ways of making sure that the necessary services are performed with a minimum of organization. The basic service opportunities available to individual members can be making coffee, setting up or putting away chairs before and after meetings, cleaning up the meeting room, scrubbing the toilets, and so forth. Depending on the individual group, the following service positions may be a part of the group’s service structure:
General Service Representative (GSR) Alternate GSR Group Chairperson Secretary Treasurer Intergroup Representative Literature Representative Grapevine Representative Public Information (PI) Representative Treatment Facilities Representative Correctional Facilities Representative Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) Representative Special Needs Representative
CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on becoming involved in service in your home group, talk to your sponsor and to your group’s GSR or Group Chairperson. It is also suggested that you read the pamphlet P-16 “The A.A. Group … Where It All Begins.”
ANSWERING SERVICE COMMITTEE
The purpose of the GWSAI Answering Service Committee is to carry the message of recovery from alcoholism by answering telephone calls to the GWSAI Hotline from individuals seeking help from alcoholism; those searching for a meeting location; or those requesting other information about Alcoholics Anonymous.QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONThe committee recommends at least one year of sobriety to answer calls to the Alcoholics Anonymous Answering Service. It is also strongly suggested that the interested member check with their sponsor before signing up to volunteer. Sign-up forms are available at most home groups, at the GWSAI office, and on-line at www.w-saa.org.If you decide to participate, your identity will remain strictly confidential. No one will know your telephone number other than the Answering Service. When someone calls the Answering Service for help, the Service will forward the call to you if you are available. The answering service provider’s number appears on your caller ID; the GWSAI Answering Service number appears on the caller’s Caller ID if they have it. Your number does not appear anywhere in the interaction. It is important that you be readily available on a steady basis for the times you sign up to answer calls. Much of our Answering Service expense in the past has been from members being unavailable for the times they signed up for. As a result, the Answering Service has to make many calls searching for an available member.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES Current activities of the GWSAI Answering Service Committee are simple: we make ourselves available to those calling our GWSAI Answering Service seeking information about Alcoholics Anonymous.The GWSAI Committee has an ongoing immediate need for people in recovery to take calls to the GWSAI Hotline. There is a particular need for women in recovery to perform this service.CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on becoming involved in the GWSAI Answering Service, please contact the GWSAI Answering Service Committee Chairperson Ryan B.
Telephone: 336-995-5243Email: [email protected]
CPC/PI: Cooperation with the Professional Community / Public Information
The purpose of the GWSAI CPC/PI committee is to inform professionals and future professionals about AA – what we are, where we are, what we can do and what we cannot do. CPC attempts to establish better communication between AAs and professionals, and to find simple, effective ways of cooperating without affiliating. Professionals include health care personnel, clergy, law enforcement officers, primary school and college educators, social workers or anyone who deals with problem drinkers in the course of their work. Many of these people often encounter the suffering alcoholic, and in spite of public awareness, many of them simply don't know what to do with a drunk.The purpose of the GWSAI CPC/PI Committee‘s Public Information activity is to present information about AA – what we are, where we are, what we can do and what we cannot do with the general public whenever we are asked to do so. Typical venues where we might give brief talks and/or man booths include schools, colleges and universities, local businesses, health fairs, church and civic functions, etc. The GWSAI CPC/PI committee tries to keep basic printed materials about AA at locations like hospitals and churches where they might be readily available to the general public. Manning of booths typically involves brief conversations and delivery of basic AA information pamphlets.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONThe committee requires at least one (1) year of sobriety. In order to participate, the member must have a good working knowledge of AA's recovery program. Additionally, committee members must be willing to read and become familiar with AA's basic literature.
CURRENT ACTIVITIESCurrently activities of the GWSAI CPC/PI Committee are:
Taking informational meetings to Wake Forest University students. Participation in Forsyth County's quarterly Crises Intervention Training (CIT). Manning informational booths at events as requested and needed.
The GWSAI CPC/PI Committee has an ongoing need for people in recovery to participate when needed.
CONTACT INFORMATIONFor more information on becoming involved please contact the GWSAI CPC/PI
Chairperson: Homer M.
Telephone: 336-
Email: [email protected]
CORRECTIONS FACILITIES COMMITTEE
The purpose of the GWSAI Corrections Facilities Committee is to carry the message of recovery from alcoholism into the local jail and prison system to give HOPE to the men and women who are incarcerated “behind the gray walls” that there is a better way of living on the outside.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONThe GWSAI CF committee follows the prison guidelines of at least one year of continuous sobriety to take a meeting to the prison or jail. In order to participate, the member must go to the prison or jail orientation to obtain a “blue card”, which allows the assignee to go in to and out of the corrections system. Former inmates have some additional requirements. If you have served time you have to have been out of jail or prison for at least one year. If you were on parole you have to have been off parole for a minimum of one year.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES Currently meetings are being taken to:
North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women in Lexington, NC
Cherry Street Prison in Winston-Salem, NC.
The GWSAI CF Committee is working on getting committed men and women to start meetings in the Forsyth County Jail. We have an immediate need for people in recovery who meet the above qualifications to become approved to participate in these meetings.
CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on becoming involved in taking meetings into the local correctional facilities please contact the GWSAI Correctional Facilities
Chairperson: Scott S.Telephone: 336-Co-chair: Katie M.Telephone: 336-Email: [email protected]
SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE
The purpose of the GWSAI Special Needs Committee is to carry the message of recovery to those AA members with special needs. While there are no special A.A. members, many members have special needs. A.A.s with special needs are persons who are blind or visually impaired; deaf or hard of hearing; chronically ill or homebound, and those who are developmentally disabled.QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONThe Special Needs committee participation only requires approval of one’s sponsor.CURRENT ACTIVITIES Current activities of the GWSAI Special Needs Committee are:
Arranging “mobile meetings” for A.A. members who do not have access to regular A.A. meetings. These are members who are home bound, in hospitals, rehabilitation centers for the physically disabled or challenged, or residences for the developmentally disabled. Providing ‘loaner’ CD player and CDs; arranging for online AA meetings if interested.
Conducting a survey of wheelchair accessible meetings and add this information to local meeting lists/“Where and When” (wheelchair accessibility includes both the entrance to the meeting and access to bathroom facilities)
Making A.A./Special Needs informational presentations at schools for the blind, the deaf and hard of hearing, rehabilitation centers for people with brain damage and centers and schools for the developmentally disabled
Compiling and maintaining a list of sighted members who are willing to provide transportation to and from meetings and other A.A. functions for blind A.A. members
Providing AA resources as requested for others with special needs, and other areas of need as approved by the committee.
CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on becoming involved in the GWSAI Special Needs Committee please contact the Special Needs Committee:
Email: SpecialNeeds @w-saa.org.com
TREATMENT FACILITIES COMMITTEEHospitals and Institutions Informational AA Meetings
The purpose of the GWSAI Treatment Facilities Committee is to carry the message of recovery from alcoholism into hospitals and institutions so that patients are informed of and have the opportunity to participate in the recovery program of Alcoholics Anonymous.QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATIONThe committee requires if you are early in sobriety and or unsure if you are ready to serve, to ask your sponsor if they think you are ready.CURRENT ACTIVITIES Currently activities of the GWSAI Treatment Committee are taking informational meetings to:
Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Serviceso Truman Bldg. – Tuesdays and Fridays @ 8:00pmo Adams Bldg. – Mondays and Thursdays @ 8:00pm
Baptist Hospital Stitch Center – Mondays and Thursdays @ 8:00pm Forsyth Hospital Behavioral Health Detox Unit (2nd floor) – Tuesdays and
Thursdays @ 8:00pm
Volunteers commit to leading one or more meetings a month (example: 1st
Thursday every month) at one of the locations. New volunteers will go to a meeting with a current meeting leader to become comfortable on how the meeting works and where it is located. Written meeting guidelines are provided.
These are not A.A. meetings, but casual information meetings about A.A. meetings, how they work, and how it has worked for you. We are carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to the treatment patient.
The GWSAI Treatment Committee has a continuing need for people in recovery to take Information AA Meetings to locations.
CONTACT INFORMATION For more information on becoming involved in taking meetings into the local treatment facilities, please contact the GWSAI Treatment Chairperson, Larry S.
Telephone: 336-998-8844 – home336-817-0305 - cell
Email: [email protected]
WEB SITE COMMITTEE The purpose of the Greater Winston Salem Area Web Site Committee is to maintain the web site and printed meeting schedule offered by GWSAI to support its core mission of carrying the A.A. message of recovery from alcoholism into the community. Website Committee shall maintain the website in accordance with the website guidelines as approved by the Winston-Salem Intergroup and the General Service Office of A.A.QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION:A) The GWSAI requires at least one year of active and continuous sobriety, by anyone wishing to hold the Web Site Chair position. B) The in-coming Web Site Chair must work with the outgoing Web Site Chair to become familiar with all aspects of the position, thus ensuring a smooth transition without a disruption of service to the GWSAI. Currently, maintenance of the web site and printed schedule require a working knowledge of the following:
Microsoft Office – Word and Excel FTP file transfer HTML editing PHP programming MySQL Database
Additionally, the Web Site chair must be willing to pay the annual web site server and domain name registration fees using a personal credit card to be later reimbursed by the GWSAI.IMMEDIATE NEEDS: The Web Site Committee always seeks to improve its core mission of carrying the message. It currently needs volunteers to help with the following:
Gathering information on current events for inclusion on the web site Maintaining meeting schedule information for updates of the web site and
printed schedules Reviewing the web site revisions for adherence to GWSAI and GSO guidelines Searching for new ways for the web site and printed schedule to carry the
messageIn lieu of regular face-to-face meetings, the Web Site Committee conducts its business via e-mail and posting to the web.CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information on the Web Site Committee, please contact the Greater Winston-Salem Area Intergroup Web Site Committee Chair or Alternate Chair:
[email protected] (Chair)
GREATER WINSTON-SALEM AREA INTERGROUP (GWSAI)
Our Purpose:
The purpose of the Greater Winston-Salem Area Intergroup is the administration and coordination of Alcoholics Anonymous activities common to the various groups comprising its membership, including the maintenance and supervision of an Intergroup office. This office will aid the Groups in their common purpose of carrying the Alcoholic Anonymous message in the Greater Winston-Salem Area.
HOW THE INTERGROUP WORKS
WHEN WE MEET:The GWSAI meets 1 time/month, 12 months/year, always on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 6 p.m.
WHERE WE MEET: The GWSAI meets at the Intergroup Office located at 1020 Brookstown Avenue, upstairs in Suite 10. This is also where the Bookstore, that buys, sells and distributes A.A. Literature, is located.
WHO ATTENDS:The monthly meetings are attended by GWSAI Members:
1) The GWSAI Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, (and/or the Alternates of these positions if the Chairperson is unable to attend).2) The GWSAI Committee Chairs, (and/or theirs alternates if the Committee Chair is unable to attend). The Committee Chairs include: a) Answering Service b) Corrections c) CPC/PI (Cooperation with Professional Community & Public Information d) Literature e) Special Needs f) Treatment Centers g) Web Site3) The Representative, (and/or their alternate if the Group Representative is unable to attend) from each A.A. Group in Districts 18 and 19.
WHAT WE DO:The meetings address issues that immediately affect the A.A. Groups in Districts 18 and 19 such as:
A) How to better carry the message to the alcoholic in our Community through the services offered by the various GWSAI CommitteesB) General Housekeeping of the GWSAI Office and FinancesC) Troubleshoot for any Officer, Committee Chair or Group Representative that needs help in carrying the message to our Community.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GWSAI AS AN OFFICER OR COMMITTEE CHAIR:
1) Have 1 year of continuous and active sobriety.2) Be an active member of a participating A.A. Group in Districts 18 or 19.3) Be familiar with the 12 Traditions of A.A., and the Guidelines published by the General Services Office of A.A., especially those pertaining to the A.A. Central or Intergroup Office.4) Attend the GWSAI election meeting and present yourself as a candidate to hold office for the 2- year term.5) If your candidacy is accepted by the group, and you are voted in to hold the position, you will perform that duty for the 2-year term.6) You may run for another GWSAI position 2 years later after you have completed your original term.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GWSAI as a GROUP REPRESENTATIVE:1) Have 1 year of continuous and active sobriety.2) Be an active member of a participating A.A. Group in District 18 or 19.3) Be familiar with the 12 Traditions of A.A. and the published Guidelines from the General Services Offices of A.A., especially those pertaining to A.A. Central or Intergroup Office.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING THE GWSAI, AS AN OFFICER, OR COMMITTEE CHAIR, HERE ARE THE 13 SERVICE POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
1) GWSAI CHAIRPERSON2) GWSAI ALTERNATE CHAIRPERSON3) SECRETARY4) ALTERNATE SECRETARY5) TREASURER6) ALTERNATE TREASURER7) ANSWERING SERVICE CHAIR8) CORRECTIONS CHAIR9) CPC/PI CHAIR (Cooperation with the Professional Community / Public Information)10) LITERATURE CHAIR11) SPECIAL NEEDS CHAIR12) TREATMENT CENTER CHAIR13) WEB SITE CHAIR
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING THE GWSAI AS AN OFFICER, OR COMMITTEE CHAIR, HERE ARE THE DUTIES OF EACH POSITION:
1) GWSAI CHAIRPERSON-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Prepare the agenda for the regular monthly GWSAI meeting.C) Preside over the regular monthly meeting and any special meetings the Group asks the Chair to oversee.D) Maintain frequent contact with the GWSAI Officers and Committee Chairs to resolve any specific issues the Group wants addressed by that Officer or Committee Chair.
2) GWSAI ALTERNATE CHAIRPERSON-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Perform all duties of the GWSAI Chairperson, in their absence.
3) SECRETARY-A) Attend all regular monthly GWSAI meetings; taking the minutes (notes of the meeting) and writing and sending a written report of the meeting to all GWSAI members via email each month.B) Maintain correspondence with the General Services Office of A.A. in New York informing them of the GWSAI contact information and/or activities.
4) ALTERNATE SECRETARY-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Perform all duties of the GWSAI Secretary, in their absence.
5) TREASURER-A) Keep account of all monies received and expended by the GWSAI.B) Maintain the GWSAI checking account with a local bank.C) Take responsibility for paying all GWSAI expenses including, but not limited to: Rent, Telephone, Answering Service, Office expenses and Literature purchases for the GWSAI Bookstore.D) Prepare and present at each regular, monthly meeting of the GWSAI a financial reports detailing expenditures and have a copy of the Checking Account Statement to show to the Group.E) Maintain the financial accounts and records in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Services Office regarding the Treasurer’s duties and with our 12 Traditions.
6) ALTERNATE TREASURER-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Perform all duties of the GWSAI Treasurer, in their absence.C) Co-sign the bank account to be able to write checks in the absence of the Treasurer.
7) ANSWERING SERVICE CHAIR-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Report to the GWSAI on the Answering Service usage, and any other information regarding maintenance of the service account with the Answering Service Vendor.C) Maintain a relationship with the Answering Service Vendor to ensure the GWSAI is receiving all services and products GWSAI is promised by the Vendor.D) Maintain and update a current list of A.A. Group volunteers that have signed up to accept 12 Step calls via the Answering Service, and ensure the Vendor has the most current list.E) Educate and guide the A.A. Group Volunteers, who sign up to accept 12 Step calls, as to the responsibilities and protocol each Volunteer must follow when accepting 12 Step calls.F) Maintain the Answering Service in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Services Office of A.A., and with our 12 Traditions.
8) CORRECTIONS CHAIR-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings. B) Present at the regular, monthly meeting a report of the activities performed by Chair in the past month, or of upcoming events.C) Provide information to and coordination with, the GWSAI and the volunteers of 12 Step work in local penal institutions and that prisoners, in the penal system, have the opportunity to participate in the recovery program of A.A. in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Services Office of A.A., and with our 12 Traditions.D) Interface with the personnel of local penal institutions to arrange for volunteers to make visits to prisoners in these Institutions and carry the message of A.A.
9) CPC/PI CHAIR (Cooperation with the Professional Community & Public Information)-
A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Present at the regular, monthly meeting a report of the activities performed by Chair in the past month, or of upcoming events.C) Establish and maintain cooperation with the professional community in the greater Winston- Salem area in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Services Office of A.A., and with our 12 Traditions.D) Disseminate and present information concerning the recovery program of A.A. to the general public in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Services Office of A.A., and with our 12 Traditions.
10) LITERATURE CHAIR-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Present at the regular monthly meeting a report of the Literature Sales & Inventory information.C) Maintain the literature stock, (both conference and non-conference approved) as directed by the GWSAI and in accordance with the published Guidelines of the General Services Office of A.A. and with our 12 Traditions.D) Unpack, stock shelves and keep the Bookstore orderly for our membersE) Interface with the Web Site Chair to keep the printed Meeting Schedule up-to-date.F) Interface with the Group Volunteers ensuring they have access to the Bookstore to oversee Book Sales when they are signed up to do so.
11) SPECIAL NEEDS CHAIR-A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Present at the regular, monthly meeting a report of the activities performed by Chair in the past month, or of upcoming events.C) Ensuring the members of our Community with Special Needs (i.e. visually impaired, deaf or hearing impaired, chronically ill, or homebound) have an opportunity to participate in the recovery program of A.A. in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Service Office and with our 12 Traditions.
12) TREATMENT CENTER CHAIR- A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Present at the regular, monthly meeting a report of the activities performed by Chair in the past month, or of upcoming events.C) Provide information to and coordination with, the GWSAI and the volunteers of 12 Step work in local hospitals and mental institutions, and that patients in such institutions have the opportunity to participate in the recovery program of A.A. in accordance with the specific Guidelines published by the General Services Office of A.A., and with our 12 Traditions.
13) WEB SITE CHAIR- A) Attend all regular, monthly GWSAI meetings.B) Present at the regular, monthly meeting a report of the activities performed by Chair in the past month, or of upcoming changes to the GWSAI WebsiteC) Maintain the GWSAI website, www.w-saa.org, keeping the meeting schedule and activity schedule up-to-date.D) Interface with the Literature Chair to printed meeting schedule up-to-date.
