Leadership

Leadership must come from the officers. They must have the enthusiasm and knowledge of the individual committee member and the ability to organize and give the committee direction and incentive.

Qualifications

In preparation for the service manual’s revision some 10 years past, a great number of present and past committee chairpersons were contacted by mail. They were asked to weigh their successes and failures and to decide, judging by record, what attributes and experience seemed most helpful to them in fulfilling their jobs. We have used their stories to define various positions as does the AA Service Manual.

What is a District Chairperson?

The Chairperson is a person with a considerable amount of sobriety, usually five years or more. They have the ability to lead and organize, yet act as a servant rather than a dictator. An ideal chairperson has good planning abilities and must be able to conduct meetings in an orderly fashion.

What is a District Secretary?

The Secretary is a person with a substantial amount of sobriety, usually two or more years. The secretary is responsible for taking the minutes at district meetings, they are also responsible for maintaining contact information and sending out bulletins to encourage people to come to district or area functions. The secretary is also in a good position to act as liaison between officers and committee members. Perhaps the most difficult job in this position is the ability to remain objective when transcribing the meeting minutes.

What is a District Treasurer?

The Treasurer is a person with a substantial amount of sobriety, usually two or more years. The treasurer should act as the careful guardian of district funds. If the treasurer has a background in bookkeeping, so much the better. In most cases the treasurer is responsible for raising the money needed for district or area support-and the support of GSO, an activity, which calls for firmness and diplomacy.

What is a District Committee Member (DCM?)

The DCM is an essential link between the group’s GSR and the area’s delegate to the General Service Conference (see AA Service Manual page 579). As leader of the district committee, made up of all the GSR’s in the district, the DCM is exposed to the group conscience of that group. As a member of the Area Committee, he or she is able to pass on this thinking to the area delegate and the area committee. (Source: AA Service Manual pg. 13)

The DCM is an AA that usually has served as a GSR and whom the other GSR’s wish to make responsible for their district activities. Experience has shown that one should not serve in both capacities that are DCM and GSR. An able and experienced GSR makes a good DCM provided he or she has the time and urge to work closely with groups within the district.

Suggested Qualifications for DCM:

◊ Be eligible for election to delegate.

◊ The time and energy to serve the district

What is an Alternate District Committee Member?

In a recent study of practices in the U.S. and Canada, an alter-nate was found in more than half of the areas that reported. The alternate is a backup for the regular district committee member. If for any reason the primary member is unable to serve (or resigns) – then the alternate must be willing to step up to fill the vacancy. (See AA Service Manual pg. 114 DCM change form)