Will be closed on Thursday & Friday
November 27th & 28th
For The Thanksgiving Holiday
What is Intergroup
The primary purpose of each group is to carry the AA message to the still suffering alcoholic. Intergroups (and Central Offices) exist to provide AA services within a local area, which are not practical for each individual group to provide.
Their most important function by far is to provide the AA listing in local telephone directories and make provision for receiving calls, answering inquiries and discreetly referring requests for help to AA members who have agreed to take 12th-step calls.
Intergroup consists of and is operated by the AA groups in District 8, Area 15, which is defined as Palm Beach County, whose representatives normally meet monthly.
Each group in the District is asked to send both a representative and an alternate to the monthly meetings. From among these representatives, officers are elected and a steering committee is set up to administer the activities of the office.
Is your group represented at Intergroup?
If not, you should consider it so that your group can have the voice it deserves in operating our district’s Intergroup. The Representative typically serves a 1 yr. term, and their service commitment is to attend the monthly Intergroup meeting which is held the 1st Wednesday of each month. The Representatives communicate information and concerns between the Intergroup Association and the groups. Intergroup and its office are supported by the voluntary contributions of the individual AA groups and is operated by the same Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as do other AA entities. Thus, there are no dues or fees for participation, but we are self-supporting.
THE VOICE OF AA This is AA, may we help you?
These may well be the first words of hope a suffering alcoholic ever hears.
Of all the services provided by Intergroup, the answering service is the most important. It is a service that cannot be duplicated by any other means. No one can do this job as well as a recovering alcoholic. Thanks to the help of many volunteer workers, the telephone is answered 24 hours a day by recovering alcoholics. This is 12th step work in action.
LITERATURE
The Intergroup Office stocks literature from AA World Service, Inc. For AA member’s convenience we also stock a limited supply of medallions and other gifts items. NEWSLETTER
The PBC Intergroup “Today” newsletter is a source of information about AA special events, pertinent financial information, Birthday Club Celebrants, group information and more. Subscription to the Today Newsletter is available at request for $5.00 annually and will be mailed to the address that you provide to us. Please contact the PBC Intergroup Office to find out how you can subscribe. EMPLOYEES
AA’s Eighth Tradition states, “…our service centers may employ special workers.” PBC Intergroup has one employee, an Office Manager who provides services too time-consuming or specialized to be handled by volunteers. The Office Manager is responsible to the Board of Officers and directly to the Chairperson.
THE OFFICERS
Palm Beach County Intergroup has 4 Officers, which consist of a Chairperson, Vice-person, Secretary and a Treasurer. The Officers are elected by the Intergroup Representatives annually in April. It is suggested that each elected Officer have at least 2 years of continuous sobriety.
The Chairperson is responsible for the functioning of the Intergroup Office, oversees the monthly Intergroup and Steering Committee meetings, the Vice-Chairperson assists the Chairperson in their many duties and is also responsible for Intergroup’s yearly events, the Potluck Dinner and the Intergroup Picnic. The Treasurer is responsible for Intergroup’s operating report and works closely with Office Manager to obtain the information needed. Intergroup’s Operating Report is posted in the Today Newsletter. The Secretary is responsible for keeping the meeting minutes at both the Intergroup and Steering Committee meetings. The meeting minutes for the monthly Intergroup meetings are also posted in the Today Newsletter. The last Wednesday of each month a Steering Committee meeting is held and is comprised of the Officers, Committee Representatives and the Office Manager. The meeting takes place at the Intergroup office and is somewhat of a pre-Intergroup meeting. This meeting is necessary to communicate certain issues, concerns etc. and is helpful in the organizational process in communicating information to the Intergroup Representatives.
CAN I BE A VOLUNTEER? WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Any AA member can be a phone volunteer. A year of sobriety is recommended but less time is acceptable if your sponsor agrees.
It’s a great experience. It gives you a chance to be personally (though anonymously) helpful to others.
It’s fun to welcome a visitor who called to ask where local meetings are. Many calls are routine questions, but now and then you get to try to allay the fears and awaken the hope of a suffering alcoholic, while telling him an AA member will contact him soon.
When you start, an experienced volunteer will show you the ropes at the office and how to use the book of instructions which also includes meeting lists, 12th-Step work.
If you’re interested in volunteering and want more information, call Intergroup at 655-5700. It is a great opportunity to be helpful, to put our gratitude into action, to carry the message.
