SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Service Meeting Schedule

There are numerous ways you can be of service to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in the Harbor Area.

First and foremost is the Harbor Area Service Committee (Service Committee). Every group should be concerned with how the principles and traditions of the fellowship are adhered to in our area, as well as the way matters affecting A.A. are conducted nationally. Each group is autonomous, yet they are closely interrelated by cooperation for the good of all groups and for A.A. as a whole.

In the Harbor Area this is accomplished through the  Service Committee. The Service Committee is comprised of delegates elected from their respective groups or meetings to serve for a period of time on the Committee. Each delegate has a vote in the affairs of the Committee and is eligible to serve in any additional capacity that they desire upon approval by the Committee.

Within the Service Committee there are a number offices and sub-committees designated to perform certain functions for the successful operation of Alcoholics Anonymous throughout the Harbor Area.


OFFICES

THE HARBOR AREA SERVICE BOARD  The Harbor Area Service Board  (Board) members are Trusted Servants of the Harbor Area Service Committee. They provide liaison between the Service Committee and the Harbor Area Central Office (Central Office) and keep  the Service Committees informed of any office needs. Their services include the staffing of the Central Office and the general administration and operations of the office. The  Board consists of five members who serve on a rotating basis for a period of five years. On January first of each year, the Chairman (Chair One) is retired, the remaining chairmen move up one chair (chair two becomes chair one, etc.) and a new Chair Five is elected by the delegates to the Service Committee in December of each year.

CHAIR #1 - Chairman of the Board, designates the time and place of board meetings, formulates the meeting agenda, notifies all Board Members and interested parties, presents the Board minutes to the Service Committee, is the authorized signatory on all bank accounts, implements action authorized by the Service Committee, supervises the staff of Central Office  and is Manager of the Central Office.

CHAIR #2 - Board Member,  procedures and by-laws advisor, assists and advises the Chairman and the Board as to proper procedure, approves the content of the Harbor Light Bulletin and serves as adviser to the Action and Responsibility sub-committee.

CHAIR #3 - Board Member,  liaison and communications advisor, attends all sub-committee meetings, communicates information between sub-committees and the Board.

CHAIR #4 - Board Member, maintains a file of minutes and recommendations of the Service Board at Central Office, liaison to the Twelve Step, Telephone Answering and Website sub-committees, assists the Chairman in the preparation of the Service Board report.

CHAIR #5 - Board Member and  Service Committee Chairman, prepares agenda for Service Committee meetings, liaison between the Service Committee and the Board, reviews the minutes of the Service Committee, authorized signatory for all bank accounts, attends quarterly General Service Assembly Meetings.

TREASURER - Administers the funds of the Service Committee and provides guidance and counsel regarding the fiduciary responsibilities of the Service Committee. A co-signer of all checks and provides financial reports to the Service Committee.

SECRETARY - Maintains a record of the proceedings and recommendations of the Board and Service Committee. Responsible to see that the minutes are prepared for publication and submits them to the Board for approval.


SUB-COMMITTEES

ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY - Visit with registered groups and discuss the importance of participating on the Service Committee. The services provided by the Harbor Area Central Office. Encourage them to maintain their records with and contribute to the Central Office. Conduct periodic "Service Workshops" as an introduction to services provided by the Committee.

ARCHIVES - Promote the growth and importance of the Archives. Solicit material from the groups and meetings to add to the Archives. Catalogue and list the materials in the Archives. Maintain the archives in the storage facilities in the Central Office. Submit a monthly archive article for publication in the Harbor Light.

HARBOR LIGHT EDITOR - Prepare and publish the monthly Harbor Light Bulletin. Solicit meeting notices and coming event notices from the groups. Obtain and publish Committee and Board meeting minutes. Obtain and publish the Hospital and Institution Committee report. Maintain a current list of subscribers to the Harbor Light. Print, collate, bind and mail the newsletter each month. (See HARBOR LIGHT pages).

HOSPITAL & INSTITUTION - A standing committee of the Harbor Area Service Committee and is self-regulating. Administer and conduct panels for all of the hospitals and institutions that desire meetings. Conduct an annual fundraising event to raise money to purchase literature for over 40 hospitals and institutions. (See HOSPITAL & INSTITUTION page).

PROGRAM - Establish a sub-committee to plan and conduct fund raising events to help raise funds to finance the operations of the Harbor Area Central Office. Events include: · A Spring event (March or April) · Fourth of July picnic (July 4th.) · Traditions banquet (November) · An optional fourth event

PUBLIC INFORMATION - Provide speakers for corporations, hospitals, schools, churches, synagogues and/or professional groups who request information regarding Alcoholics Anonymous. Present a history of Alcoholics Anonymous, an explanation of the Steps and Traditions. Explain A.A. as a worldwide Fellowship, self-supporting through its' own contributions.

TWELVE STEP - Obtain, instruct, train and schedule volunteers to work at the Central Office to: · Answer the telephones. · Refer people to meetings. · Arrange Twelve Step calls.

WEBSITE - Maintain, expand and broaden the contents of the Harbor Area Service Committee's website in accord with the traditions and A.A. World Service guidelines. The committee is also responsible for maintaining the contract with the Internet Service Provider.


HARBOR AREA CENTRAL OFFICE

The Harbor Area Central Office is the public business office of the Service Committee. The paid staff address a constant influx of service requests from groups, individual members and the interested public, maintains a stock of A.A. literature for sale to groups and individuals, receives contributions, mails out literature and other material, maintains a list of speakers for both A.A. meetings and non-AA groups, keeps records of groups and their secretaries and treasurers,  and periodically publishes the local meeting directory. 

In accord with the Twelve Traditions, calls for help received by telephone or in person from members of A.A. and alcoholics who are still suffering are handled by Central Office volunteers who work in three hour shifts during the normal office hours of  9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday. When the office is closed  incoming calls are forwarded directly to local volunteer's telephones, thus providing 24 hour a day telephone coverage. The volunteers answer questions about alcoholism, recovery, meeting times or locations and the program of Alcoholics Anonymous that are received from alcoholics that are still suffering and from members of their family and concerned friends.  In some cases it may become necessary for the volunteers at arrange for a sober alcoholic to visit a wet drunk who requests help. In addition the volunteers assist non-alcoholics who have other living problems find an organization that may be of help.

To become a volunteer, serve on a sub-committee or begin serving as a delegate please contact Central Office in person, by phone, e-Mail, snail mail or FAX at:

3450 E. Spring Street, Suite 109
Long Beach, California 90806
(562) 989-7697
FAX NUMBER: (562) 989-1958
email : hacoaa@verizon.net

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