Information on this page was taken from the AA Service Manual and also from the Area 31 Handbook

THE AREA 31
SERVICE COMMITTEE
General Functions of
Area 31

Area Assemblies: There are two Area Assemblies that take place in Western Mass Area 31, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. All AA members are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

The Spring Assembly is a mini-Conference held four to sit weeks prior to the General Service Conference in New York. The format is set to closely resemble the same committee process followed at the actual conference. Reports are given from each mini conference committee, thereby giving our Delegate an opportunity to gather a sense of the Area’s conscience concerning any given conference agenda item. The second day is the same as the Fall assembly as described below.

The Fall Assembly is a two-day affair, where the first day is comprised of work- shops/sharing sessions, fellowship, and typically an “ask-it-basket” session and an “open-mic” with our past delegates sharing their collective wisdom to answer a variety of questions posed. The second day of the assembly is the Area’s business meeting where members hear reports from the Delegate, the area officers, the service committee chairs, district committee members, and vote on any old and new business. At this meeting the Assembly may charge the Area Committee with certain tasks and directions to perform before the next assembly. During the Fall assembly in odd-numbered years, the election of officers, Delegate and Alternate Delegate takes place according to Area 31 Third Legacy procedure below.

A comprehensive look at the Fall and Spring Assemblies can be found in the Area 31 Guidelines.

THIRD LEAGACY VOTING PROCEDURE OF AREA 31

The AA Third Legacy procedure is a type of voting procedure established to elect an Area’s Delegate to the General Service Conference. In Area 31 the Third Legacy
procedure is also used to elect area officers, except the Registrar.

• Any voting member of the assembly may nominate a candidate to office.

• After nominations for the office are closed, the candidates’ names are posted on the blackboard.

• All voting members cast written ballots.

• The tally for each candidate is posted on the blackboard. The first candidate to receive 2/3rds majority of the vote is elected. (2/3rds majority vote is based on the total votes cast at each ballot.)

• If no candidate receives 2/3rds of the vote at the first ballot then a second ballot is taken.

• After the second ballot, if no candidate received 2/3rds majority, any candidate who received less that 1/5th of the vote is automatically withdrawn.

• After the 4th ballot, if no candidate has 2/3rds majority of the vote, the chair asks for a motion, second, and majority show of hands conducting a fifth and final ballot.

• If the motion fails, the two top candidates go into a hat. Ties for second also go into the hat. The first name drawn from the hat is elected to the position.

• If the motion passes, a 5th ballot is taken. If no candidate gains the 2/3rds needed, then the top two names go into the hat (plus ties) and the first name drawn is elected.

 GROUP INVENTORY

A group inventory meeting is held periodically to allow groups to evaluate how well they are carrying the AA message, as well as fulfilling their primary purpose: to help alcoholics recover through AA’s suggested Twelve Steps and Traditions of recovery. A group inventory is not designed to settle a controversial issue.  No voting takes place.  Its purpose is for the group to see that its actions and conduct are within AA’s trusted framework, to identify areas for improvement and to allow the group to become informed on AA’s Traditions. Sometimes, suggestions are carried back to the group business meeting for consideration and action. This is where the collective conscience of the group membership is achieved and actions taken now are based on an informed group conscience.

Many groups ask the Area for assistance in arranging a group inventory be asking an
experienced AA to chair this meeting for the group. We are grateful to our past delegates, current delegate, and other area officers and AA’s who help out. One way of conducting a group inventory is to examine the Twelve Traditions and see how well the group is following these guidelines. Another successful method is to have the outside moderator asks the questions, compiled from the AA shared experience, found in the section “AA group inventory” in the pamphlet The AA Group. It has been the long time opinion that an annual group inventory not only maintains the group’s general health, but can actually revitalize the groups health!

An Area Service Commitment takes place when a group invites the Area Committee to
speak at its meeting. Area Committee members share the Experience, Strength, and Hope as it relates to their sobriety in general, as well as to how their service experience has helped them stay sober. Newcomers and AA’s at the meeting get to hear first-hand about different service positions, and get to meet some of their local trusted servants. Area Service Commitments also provide a good opportunity for the Area Committee Members to visit groups and be more in touch with the area conscience.