The Gratitude Group of Alcoholics Anonymous By-Laws.
Definitions:
· GROUP shall mean the Gratitude group of Alcoholics Anonymous
· TERM (office holding) shall mean a calendar year (January through December) unless otherwise stated. QUARTERLY shall mean the four divisions of the year (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December).
· POST/POSTED shall mean clearly and conspicuously displayed on the group bulletin board at the facility.
· FACILITY shall mean the location at which the group conducts its meetings, including a permanent or temporary meeting place.
· PLURALITY shall mean a number of votes cast for a candidate in a contest that is greater than the number cast for any other candidate, but not more than half the total votes cast.
ARTICLE I NAME: The Gratitude Group, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE: To maintain our sobriety and to carry the A.A. message to alcoholics who still suffer.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP: The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
ARTICLE IV DUES AND COLLECTIONS: The group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
ARTICLE V GROUP GUIDELINES:
A. The twelve traditions of A.A. shall be the guiding principles for the group.
B. Guidelines are determined by the membership through this instrument and expression of the group conscience at regular or special meetings.
C. The steering committee shall meet at 600pm at the facility on all months to conduct the business of the group.
D. Special group conscience meetings must be called by the chairperson of the steering committee within three (3) days of receipt of written request by fifteen (15) members. Such special meetings shall be held after notice is posted one (1) week prior to the meeting stating the time of such meeting and the purpose for which it is called. At special meetings of Gratitude group the members may act only on such matters that are posted for the meeting.
E. Regular business meetings will be held monthly on the first Wednesday of the month at 600 central time, unless seven days notice has been given for a change of date and time.
F. All business and general membership meetings shall be held using a hybrid format - simultaneously using video conferencing and in-person in the group meeting facility unless otherwise noted in the monthly program. Unless otherwise stated herein, no action of the membership shall be effective unless supported by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the members present as specified herein.
G. A voting member must have at least thirty (30) days of continuous, current sobriety and consider the Gratitude group as their home group for at least thirty (30) days immediately preceding any Gratitude group business meeting to be eligible to vote. Any Gratitude group member with six (6) months or more of continuous, current sobriety and group membership qualifies to be a representative committee member or officer unless otherwise stated.
H. QUORUM: A quorum will consist of any combination of officers and meeting representatives that meets a minimum of four participants if the meeting has been given a three day notice.
I.
A copy of this document and amendments must be displayed in the facility at all times.
ARTICLE VI STEERING COMMITTEE AND ELECTIONS:
The business of the Gratitude group of Alcoholics Anonymous shall be conducted by a majority vote of the members present at the group conscience meetings held quarterly and by the elected steering committee during the interim, unless otherwise stated herein. Members of Gratitude group who are not members of the steering committee may attend meetings of the steering committee, but shall no voice or vote. No voting by proxy shall be allowed. The purpose of the December quarterly meeting of the Gratitude group conscience shall be the election of all officers from the qualified membership to serve on the steering committee for the upcoming year and to conduct any business before the group.
STEERING COMMITTEE COMPOSITION: The steering committee, all with voting privileges, shall consist of the following positions:
A. OFFICERS
a. CHAIRPERSON (President)
b. VICE CHAIRPERSON (Vice-President)
c. SECRETARY
d. TREASURER
B. AA MEETING REPRESENTATIVES consist of any active trusted servant at the facility and Gratitude Group sanctioned video conference meetings.
C. GROUP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. The G.S.R. is elected by the Steering Committee. The G.S.R shall serve a two (2) year term. The G.S.R. shall represent the Gratitude group at the AA District 18 meetings.
C. INTERGROUP REPRESENTATIVE. The IR is elected by the Steering Committee.The Intergroup Representative or IR shall serve a two (2) year term. The IR shall represent the Gratitude group at Minneapolis Intergroup meetings.
D. WEBMASTER. The Webmaster is elected by the Steering Committee.
E. AT-LARGE MEMBERS are elected by the Steering Committee to serve on the committee. These may be service professionals, clergy, general supporters, or former members who may no longer live in the area or attend Gratitude Group meetings. There shall be no more than three At-Large Members.
D. MEMBERS. Any member in good standing is permitted to vote on Steering Committee decisions at the discretion of majority of the other members of the Steering Committee present at that meeting.
ARTICLE VII OFFICER REQUIREMENTS:
A. GENERAL ELGIBILITY: One (1) year continuous, current sobriety as a member of the Gratitude group. B. TERM OF OFFICE: All officers shall serve a term of one (1) year.
C. ELECTION: each officer shall be elected at the group conscience meeting by a majority vote of the members present, provided that if no candidate for an office receives a majority of the votes cast, then the candidate for that office who receives a plurality of the votes cast shall be elected.
D. VACANCY: A vacancy shall be filled by the steering committee to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of an officer. Vacancies in the meeting representatives shall be filled by the meeting they represent.
E. OFFICERS AND OTHERS DUTIES:
1. CHAIRPERSON
a. Coordinate activities with other officers, representatives, and committees.
b. Assume, when necessary, the responsibilities of other officers to ensure continuity and smooth operation of the group.
c. Act as a liaison for the group to outside entities not covered by representative, including the Landlord.
2. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
a. Assume the duties of the Chairperson as needed.
3. SECRETARY
a. Record and post minutes of all meetings.
b. Functions as group historian.
c. Perform other tasks as required.
4. TREASURER
a. Maintain a register of all group financial transactions.
b. Receive monies from the group. Count and properly record such sums in the treasurer’s register. Deposit monies received into the group checking account.
c. Maintain the group bank account, and sign checks for expenditures approved by the steering committee.
d. Prepare and submit a monthly financial report to the steering committee.
5. MEETING REPRESENTATIVES
a. Serve as members of the steering committee and select chairpersons and speakers for the meetings they represent.
b. Provide the program chairman with a list of the chairpersons and/or speakers for those meetings each month. This list should be delivered by the fifteenth of each month for the following month.
ARTICLE VIII SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES:
A. General Service Representative (G.S.R.) and alternate(s): Elected by the Group every year for overlapping two (2) year terms as described in “The A.A. Service Manual”.
B. Intergroup Representative (IR) represents the group at Minneapolis Intergroup committee meetings and reports to the group on their activities.
ARTICLE IX NOMINATING COMMITTEE: The Chairperson shall appoint a nominating committee to submit names of those to be nominated for each office at least thirty (30) days prior to the regular group conscience meeting in December. The names shall be posted at least fifteen (15) days prior to meeting.
ARTICLE X POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: The steering committee
may adopt such policies and procedures, including the creation of committees
and appointment of committee members, as they deem necessary for the steering
committee to carry out its duties of service to the group. The policies and
procedures shall not be in conflict with these
By-Laws. The policies and procedures may be amended by majority vote of
steering committee members. A copy of the policies and procedures and
amendments thereto must by displayed
in the facility at all times.
Examples include the Safety Policies and Procedures and the Trusted Servant’s
Operating Guide.
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS: This document, the approved By-Laws of the Gratitude Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, may be amended provided that any such proposed change is approved for consideration by a simple majority at a regular meeting, posted for one (1) month, and approved at the next regular meeting by an affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths (3/4) of the vote eligible members present.
REVISION HISTORY: The foregoing By-Laws were amended and approved as amended at a Group Conscience Meeting held on June 5, 2023.
Recorded by John McCarten, Secretary
Acknowledged by John Dagit Pettingill, President and Chairperson