Mission Statement:
Each Alcoholics Anonymous Group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose – To carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
Guidelines
I. Melrose Group Meeing Chairpersons:
● All chairs should have three months of sobriety and have attended meetings for three months (excludes treatment meetings).
● There is one numbered key for each meeting. When one person stops chairing and another starts, the key should transfer to the new person, and the Key Coordinator should be notified.
● Every three months, there is an opportunity to rotate. The white board will indicate who wants to take over for the next quarter. The spirit of rotation is encouraged.
● It is suggested to follow the AA Melrose Chair Script as written.
● Chair should arrive thirty minutes before the start of the meeting to unlock the door, make coffee, and to greet members as they arrive.
● After each meeting, chairs are responsible for washing the dishes and coffee pots, turning off the coffee, making sure everyone is out of the building at the end of the meeting, and locking the door.
● If there is a disruption during the meeting, you may ask the person to leave the meeting or get help from another alcoholic. It is not against AA traditions to call the police if safety is a concern.
II Melrose Group Conscience:
● Group Conscience allows everyone to be an equal member of the group. We should not havedesignated or self-appointed “decision makers”.
● Any member that attends Group Conscience and considers Melrose Group their home group may vote along with Group Conscience.
● The Group Conscience meets once a month and may schedule additional meetings as needed. They may attend in person or via Zoom (if available).
● Members who hold positions should have a report prepared to share with the group.
● Members who hold positions should arrive on time to each meeting. If unable to attend, please send a report to the Secretary detailing any updates related to your position to share with the group at least 24
hours before meeting.
● If a member is absent more than 30% of the meetings per year (or report sent before the meeting), Group Conscience may reconsider their membership and vote to replace that member.
III. Description of Group Conscience Positions
● For officer positions, we look for the same character qualities that mark a good trusted servant of any sort (and a good AA): patience, understanding and a firm determination “to place principles before
personalities.”
● Secretaries, Treasurers, GSRs, Intergroup Representative, Literature and Chips, Key Coordinator, and Webmaster should have a report prepared to share with the group at each meeting.
● Members who hold positions should arrive on time to each meeting. If unable to attend, please send a report to the Secretary detailing any updates related to your position to share with the group at least 24
hours before meeting.
● If a member is absent more than 30% of the meetings per year (or report sent before the meeting), Group Conscience may reconsider their membership and vote to replace that member.Chair
● Group Conscience Chair is a two year commitment.
● Two years of sobriety is required, along with required previous experience holding other position(s) on Group Conscience.
● The Chair creates an agenda for each meeting, facilitates the meetings and coordinates activities with other group officers. The meeting agenda includes reports from each officer, old business and new
business. An agenda is then drawn up for the following meeting.
● The Chair communicates Group Conscious meeting news to the Melrose meetings.
Secretary
● Melrose Secretary is a two year commitment, and requires at least two years of sobriety.
● The Secretary records the minutes during Group Conscience meetings, types up the minutes, and then emails the document to the board within a few days, and prints it for the Melrose bulletin board.
● The Secretary receives the group conscience officer reports from those who cannot attend meetings, and reads reports to the group.
Treasurer
● Melrose Treasurer is a two year commitment. Elected Treasurers should have at least two years of sobriety.
● While the work of the group treasurer often involves many details, it is important to remember that the money the treasurer oversees enables each group to fulfill its primary purpose of carrying the A.A. message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
● After the group’s basic needs are met (coordinating with Melrose 511 Inc), such as providing for rent, literature, refreshments, and, the group can participate in the financial support of the Fellowship as a whole by sending money to various A.A. service entities: 1) their local
intergroup or central office; 2) their area and district; and 3) the General Service Board.
● The Treasurer creates a monthly report with current financials to print and distribute at GC meeting and reports to the group.
● Documents monies spent on literature, chips, coffee, and any other expenditure for the Melrose Group.
● Maintains prudent reserve.
Literature and Chips
● This position is a one year commitment, and requires at least one year of sobriety.
● Tracks the need for books, pamphlets, and chips. Orders when necessary from AA.org., and keeps invoices for the group to reimburse.
Intergroup Representative
● This position has a one year commitment and requires at least one year of sobriety.
● Attends all Intergroup meetings.
● Represents Melrose Group, relaying current information about Melrose Group to Intergroup, and relays informations from Intergroup to Melrose Group at each Group Conscience meeting.
Keys Coordinator
● This position in a two year commitment and requires at least one year of sobriety.
● The Key Coordinator records key numbers for each meeting, and makes sure that a new meeting chair gets the key from the previous chair. There is one key for each Melrose Group meeting (Tuesday Noon
has one key).
● A record of the key numbers and meeting chairs is written in the Key Binder. Each key costs the group $50, so lost or unaccounted for keys are the responsibility of the chair who held it.
Webmaster
● Webmaster is a two year commitment, and requires at least one year of sobriety.
● Gathers needed passwords and logins for the Melrose website 511melrosegroup.org. Maintains website, adding current events and Melrose news, and current meeting minutes. Makes meeting
adjustments on the website when a Melrose Group meeting is removed or added, or there is a time change.
GSR
● The general service representative (GSR) is a two-year service commitment, and requires at least two years of sobriety. Active participation in Melrose Group is required, and this person should have a good understanding of the 12 Traditions
● The GSR is Melrose Group’s link to AA as a whole. GSRs attend district meetings and area assemblies, relaying information between group members and the general service structure of AA.
● Via the DCM and the delegate, the GSR sees to it that Melrose Group’s conscience on matters of importance to all A.A. becomes a part of the consensus when these matters are discussed at the annual Conference meeting in April. In return, the GSR enables the group to benefit from the meeting’s sharing of experience among area delegates and the other Conference members.
Alt GSR
● Attends district meetings when GSR is unavailable.
● Works closely with the GSR, so that the alternate can be a knowledgeable replacement if the GSR is unable to attend district meetings.
IV Melrose Safety Card (from GSO)
SAFETY CARD FOR A.A. GROUPS
A.A. membership does not include having to tolerate sexual harassment, threats of violence, financial coercion, or bullying. Nor is pressuring A.A. members into a particular point of view or belief relating to medication, religion, and other outside issues acceptable.
No one should have to tolerate racial, sexual orientation, gender, age, or other discrimination when they seek help when they seek help from AA.
It is not against A.A. tradition to call the police or discuss incident to sponsor, Group Conscience member, or trusted friend for guidance.
Anonymity is not a cloak protecting criminal behavior. The same laws that apply to the public are also applicable to AA meetings.
Please tell the meeting chairperson or another trusted member in the room if you need support.