Greater Delaware Valley Intergroup – Positions
RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF INTERGROUP POSITIONS
Group Representatives
General Chair/
Vice Chair
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Delegates to the Annual Business Meeting (ABM)
SERVICE COORDINATORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Inspiration Line Volunteers
Literature
Website Coordinator
Social
Institutional Outreach
Retreat Committee Chairperson
Headline News Editor
Group Representatives:
Sobriety Requirement: Established autonomously by each meeting group
In accordance with SLAA’s 4th Tradition – autonomy of groups – each group may choose to elect one of its members to serve as their meeting’s
representative to Intergroup. The Group Representative is a liaison who, to the best of their ability, carries their meeting’s group conscience to Intergroup and
carries back to information on the services, activities and monthly group conscience of Intergroup. Our collective experience leads Intergroup to suggest that Group
Representatives ought to have familiarity with the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions; continuous self-defined sobriety; regular attendance at the meeting they have been elected
to represent; attendance at the business meeting for the group they represent, the ability to attend Intergroup meetings regularly; ability to copy and distribute
information shared at Intergroup meetings, communicate thoughts and questions posted by the represented group and present these questions at Intergroup meetings and a
willingness to serve. Group Representatives are welcome and encouraged, but not required, to sit on at least one Intergroup service committee.
General Chair:
Sobriety Requirement: 1 year
Leads the Intergroup meeting; sits on the annual ad hoc Budget Committee; and may choose to attend the Annual Business Meeting of SLAA Fellowship-Wide Services. Our
collective experience leads Intergroup to suggest that the General Chair shall have a strong sense of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions as well as at least a rudimentary
proficiency with Robert’s Rules of Order; ability to work well with others, experience in leading a group, continuous self-defined sobriety; be well situated to
attend Intergroup meetings regularly; and have a sincere desire to serve the Fellowship. Additionally, the General Chair reviews the meeting minutes taken by the Recording
Secretary and submits the reviewed minutes to the Corresponding Secretary. The General Chair is welcome, but not required, to coordinate a service or sit on at least one
Intergroup committee in addition to those already mentioned.
Vice Chair:
Sobriety Requirement: 1 year
Runs the meeting in the absence of the Chair and performs other service as needed. Our collective experience leads Intergroup to suggest that the Vice Chair shall have a
strong sense of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions as well as at least a rudimentary proficiency with Robert’s Rules of Order; continuous self-defined sobriety; be
situated to attend Intergroup meetings regularly; and have a desire to serve. Additionally, the Vice Chair is welcome and encouraged, but not required, to sit on at least
one Intergroup committee.
Treasurer:
Sobriety Requirement: 2 years and accounting or bookkeeping skills
Responsible for processing 7th Tradition contributions and other donations received from SLAA groups and members. The Treasurer also manages SLAA-GDVI’s bank account from which the Treasurer pays GDVI’s bills and reimburses GDVI’s trusted servants for approved expenses; makes recommendations for dispensing funds; creates income/expense reports; and presents those reports to Intergroup monthly. The Treasurer also develops a suggested annual budget, sits on the annual ad hoc Budget Committee, and presents the Budget Committee’s suggested Annual Budget to Intergroup for approval by December of each year. Our collective experience leads Intergroup to suggest that the Treasurer shall have a strong sense of accounting practices, the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions; continuous self-defined sobriety; be situated to attend Intergroup meetings regularly; and have the desire to serve. The Treasurer is welcome, but not required, to sit on an additional Intergroup committee.
Recording Secretary:
Sobriety Requirement: 6 months
Takes the minutes at Intergroup meetings, types them and emails them to the Corresponding Secretary and the General Chair for review. Finished minutes should be
delivered to the Corresponding secretary three days prior to the monthly Intergroup meeting. Our collective experience leads Intergroup to suggest that the Recording
Secretary ought to be familiar with the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions; have or be willing to develop proficiency with Robert’s Rules of Order; continuous self-defined
sobriety; be situated to attend Intergroup meetings regularly; possess sufficient skills with creating computerized documents and emailing; and have a desire to serve.
Additionally, the Recording Secretary is welcome and encouraged, but not required, to sit on at least one Intergroup committee.
Corresponding Secretary:
Sobriety Requirement: 6 months
The Corresponding Secretary includes service in maintaining the Meeting List and Information Lines.
On the day before the monthly GDVI Board meeting the Corresponding Secretary sends the GDVI meeting agenda, meeting minutes, committee reports (submitted by each committee chair), meeting lists and informational flyers to the Board and Intergroup Representatives. These email addresses are maintained at the dvicorrespondingsecretary@gmail.com account. After the Board meeting these materials are also send to everyone on the GDVI email list. The corresponding secretary maintains the email account making deletions and additions as requested or needed.
NOTE THAT ANONYMITY IS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE concerning email addresses. Therefore, ALL email sent from the dvicorrespondingsecretary account must use the blind carbon copy (BCC) option. Using the CC option will expose the identity of individuals and violate the Traditions of our Fellowship. Extreme care must be taken to assure the anonymity of all people receiving information from our Fellowship.
Meeting List service involves updates the full GDVI Meeting List monthly or as needed – i.e., when a meeting starts, moves or is discontinued — noting the date of the most recent update. All changes from individual meetings are sent to the above cited Gmail account. This person also updates the mini-meeting list, which includes only those meetings that have given approval to appear on the GDVI web page. This list is also updated monthly or as needed.
Finally, Information Line involves responding to inquiries about the meeting list, retreats, and other GDVI-sponsored events in the region. As Corresponding Secretary this person has the most up-to-date information about these recovery opportunities.
GDVI has enrolled in a free phone service provided via Google Voice using the number 609-621-SLAA (7522). This service will forward all calls to the Coordinator’s personal phone or whomever is designated to answer the call while maintaining the anonymity of both the caller and the Coordinator. The Coordinator will receive a message from Google Voice asking if the Coordinator wants to accept the call. The Coordinator can accept the call by pressing “1” on their phone and will be immediately connected to the call. If the Coordinator is unable to accept the call, then Goggle Voice will send a message to their phone and a separate message to the dvicorrespondingsecretary email account.
Delegates to the Annual Business Meeting (ABM)
Position Requirements: ABM delegates must have experience in being an active member of the GDVI board, committee chair and/or acted as an active meeting representative and have one year continuous self described sobriety.
a. Each Intergroup shall be entitled to one delegate member for up to the first five groups it represents, and one for each additional five groups or fraction
thereof.
b. Localities without Intergroups which seek representation at the Conference, shall have at least one delegate member, the exact number, determined using the same
proportionate system as described above. In any dispute concerning the number of delegate member(s), the Board of Trustees shall make the determination, subject to appeal
to the Conference.
c. Whenever possible, delegate member(s) and alternates shall be selected at least 120 days before the annual Conference and their names forwarded immediately to
Fellowship-Wide Services.
d. If an Intergroup or locality does not select its delegate member(s) and alternate(s) or fails to inform Fellowship-Wide Services before the Annual Conference, such
delegate member(s) and/or alternate(s) may appear at the Conference with evidence of their due selection deemed credible by the Trustees, and such delegate member(s)
shall be seated.
e. It is suggested that each delegate member be elected for a term of two years at the discretion of the electing group or intergroup, and in addition to attending the
Annual Business Conference, should serve the Fellowship-Wide Services Conference in its year-round business for such term. Terms may be abridged by the electing body for
lack of participation or for cause.
f. A delegate member should not serve for more than four consecutive years, respecting the tradition of rotation of leadership, except for reasons to be decided by the
local Intergroup with respect to its own delegate member(s).
g. The delegate member(s) should be selected for judgment, experience, stability, willingness and for faithful adherence to the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and
Twelve Recommended Guidelines of S.L.A.A.
h. Whenever possible, a delegate member should have a minimum of six months of continuous sobriety prior to the date of submitting qualifications and continuing to the
date of the Conference.
i. Delegate member(s) may be instructed as to the desires of the Intergroup they represent.
j. As participants, delegate member(s) shall not be bound by the wishes of their Intergroup, but should not vote against these wishes unless situations arise at the
Conference that make it necessary for the best interest of S.L.A.A. as a whole.
k. Communication concerning the Conference to the Intergroups shall be both direct and through the delegate member(s).
SERVICE COORDINATORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Inspiration Line Volunteers
The Inspiration Line Committee coordinated volunteers who leave inspirational messages. They also listen to feedback given to their sharing. It is used
as an everyday tool and in times of crisis. The line is as close to a 24 hour, human connection as is possible right now.
See additional Job Descriptions for
coordinator and volunteers for the Inspiration Line
Literature
Sobriety Requirement: 6 months
The Literature Committee supplied the groups of the Delaware Valley with literature that was purchased from Fellowship Wide Services. GDVI bought the literature at
a discount and sold it for the list price. In 1999 we sold 139 Basic Texts and 2758 pamphlets. Theoretically, the money that is generated would then be used for 12th
Step work by providing literature for those who cannot afford it, particularly those in prison, treatment centers and new meetings that are just getting started. The
requirements of the position is to have a commitment to expedite the orders for literature as quickly as possible.
See additional JOB DESCRIPTION
– Literature Committee document.
Website Coordinator
Sobriety Requirements- 6 months, and Web Site Maintenance Experience required
SLAA-GDVI Website – Primary Purpose:
The SLAA-GDVI Website shall uphold the 5th Tradition of SLAA: “To carry the message of recovery to the sex and love addict who still suffers.” As such, the Website shall be maintained responsibly and
responsively to meet the needs of the fellowship. The SLAA-GDVI Website shall strive – in its content and its user-friendly layout – to invite the newcomer to feel
welcome and the seasoned member to feel supported. All content ultimately appears as an expression of SLAA-GDVI group conscience as guided by a Higher Power.
Maintaining the Website Responsibly – Basic Content:
{ The SLAA-GDVI Website shall contain pages that share basic
information about sex and love addiction as SLAA understands it. The Website Coordinator develops, prudent information that may be added to assist the still-suffering
addict learn about the disease and the SLAA recovery process
Maintaining the Website Responsively – Events and News Content Management:
{ The Website Coordinator shall update the site as close to immediately as possible when new Intergroup-approved or FWS materials, events, or news becomes available, shall
update the Meetings Mini-List, work with the Website Committee when initiating new content and the Home Page and Inspiration Page may be regularly updated solely by the
Website Coordinator if appropriate.
Website Coordinator – Suggested Qualifications:
– Honesty, open-mindedness, willingness, and a solid understanding of SLAA’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions.
– Several years (3 or more) SLAA
membership and a minimum of six months self-defined sobriety.
– This position is a commitment. The SLAA-GDVI Website Coordinator shall have or make sufficient time
to maintain the Website (occasionally as much as 4 hours per week).
– Experience, 1 year or greater, with desktop publishing or graphics design on a PC
or Mac, or equivalent experience with website design. (Prodigies also welcome.)
– Excellent attention to detail, writing and editing skills; must catch
formatting and design inconsistencies, as well as correct grammar, typos, and punctuation.
– The Website Coordinator shall attend SLAA-GDVI meetings, minimally at
least every other month in person. A written report shall be submitted to the General Chair when attendance is not possible (include number of monthly meeting list
requests, number of new visitors, etc.).
See additional SLAA DVI web site guidelines document.
Social
Sobriety Requirement- 6 months
Plan and organize sober social events throughout the year.
In 2009-2010 the GDVI Social Committee planned one social event per month. These events include
annual ongoing events like the Canoe Trip, or the Game Nights, but also smaller events that were suggested and run by volunteers from the GDVI population. Social
activities included: Trip to a Delaware Science Museum, Hiking up Hawk Mountain, PA, Walk along the Schuylkill River Walk, Rides in the Duck Boat and a night at the Camden
Aquarium. The events have 5-15 participants, so the activity is small and intimate. Do you have a knack for planning events? Do you enjoy socializing or do you need to
work on getting out? Requirements for this position include internet access, creativity and the ability to create fliers for announcing the events. Have questions? Contact the DVI Corresponding Secretary.
Institutional Outreach
Sobriety Requirement: 6 months
Main Purpose: Organize and recruit other SLAA Meetings to join in the opportunity to carry the SLAA message of recovery to sex and love addicts who are still-suffering
while in treatment centers for another addiction. SLAA’s primary purpose is to carry its message of recovery to the sex and love addict who still suffers. In
accordance with that Tradition (5th), the SLAA Greater Delaware Valley Intergroup/Institutions Committee is dedicated to assisting the start of SLAA meetings within area
treatment centers.
It Only Takes Two…
It just two people from any meeting are needed to commit to make a meeting at a treatment
center—and stick to it by running each meeting for a while it gets off the ground—Finding these two people is what the Institutional Committee chairs need to
do.
How is this done? There is a plan and a schedule in place to visit area meetings to spread the word about the Institutions Committee.
Where
are the meetings? Many Delaware Valley treatment centers have already been contacted by the 2009-2010 Institutional Committee chairs. A follow-up contact by these chairs
should regularly notify the treatment centers of the progress of coordinating SLAA meetings at the treatment center.
What Technical Support is there? The
Institutional Committee chairs will help supply the meetings with flyers, pamphlets and books. Also, they are available for technical support to help the volunteering
meetings, so they won’t have to navigate “how to get a meeting started in a treatment center” alone.
Retreat Committee Chairperson:
Sobriety Requirements 6-months,
Event planning experience is suggested. There are two annual retreats, and two separate
committee chair positions that are open. One retreat is in the Spring, called the Daylesford Abbey Spirituality Weekend, and the second is in the fall or winter is called
the Pocono Step Retreat. Each position requires six months of part time (approximately 5-10 hours a week) work to plan develop and execute a retreat. In a separate
document is a description of the planning that goes into a retreat. Each retreat has been in existence for years and has plenty of material documenting the planning
process.
Howto plan the Step Retreat is attached in a separate document.
Headline News Editor:
Sobriety Requirements: 6 months
The
Headline news is a monthly newsletter that is distributed to all members through the internet and snail mail. Currently, there is no chair for this committee, however in
previous years Headline News had been one page, front and back and well received by the members and the members want to see it revived. As such, the Headline News shall be
created responsibly and be responsive to meet the needs of the fellowship. The SLAA-GDVI publication shall strive – in its content and its user-friendly layout – to
invite the newcomer to feel welcome and the seasoned member to feel supported and informed. All content ultimately appears as an expression of SLAA-GDVI group conscience
as guided by a Higher Power.
The Headline News is a synopsis of everything that has happened in the Delaware Valley’s SLAA groups in the past 30 days.
Additionally, the newsletter can discuss sobriety from S & LA, add feature articles about recovery, and promote retreats or events that are happening locally and
nationally. This position is a very creative and autonomous position. This position is a commitment it can take about 10 hours to publish one newsletter. The SLAA-GDVI
Headline News Editor shall have or make sufficient time to develop ideas for columns and stories.. Excellent attention to detail, writing and editing skills; the editor
must catch formatting and design inconsistencies, as well as correct grammar, typos, and punctuation. Experience, 1 year or greater, with desktop publishing or graphics
design on a PC or Mac, or equivalent experience with graphic design. (Prodigies also welcome.) The Editor shall publish the newsletter during the third week of every month
so the corresponding secretary can distribute it to the GDVI members.
