Recovery Anonymous

 

Bylaws and Area Guidelines

Revised March 2021

         

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Statement of Purpose. 3

  1. Area Functions. 3
  2. Standing Committees of the Area include: 3
  3. Meeting Times and Places. 5
  4. Quorum.. 5
  5. Voting Members / Practices for General Business. 5
  6. Area Service Officers. 5
  7. Chairperson Two (2) year commitment 5
  8. Vice Chairperson Two (2) year commitment 7
  9. Treasurer Two (2) year commitment 7
  10. Secretary Two (2) year commitment 7
  11. Senior Area Delegate. 7
  12. Standing Committees. 8
  13. What We Do / Discuss at Area. 8
  14. Area Delegate Responsibilities. 8
  15. Area Alternate Delegate Responsibilities. 9
  16. Area Election Procedures. 9
  17. Purpose. 9
  18. Who Can Vote in Area Elections. 9
  19. Method of Voting. 10
  20. Terms of Positions and Rotation of Election: 10
  21. Voting Procedures for Delegates and the Five Area Officers. 10
  22. Single Candidate (Area Officer or Delegate): 11
  23. Timing of Elections. 11
  24. Area Chair, Area Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary: 11
  25. Delegate / Alternate Delegate: 12
  26. Area Trustee Slate Nominations Guidelines. 12
  27. Suspension / Removal of Elected Trusted Servants. 12
  28. Guidelines for Dispute Resolution. 12
  29. Maintenance of Guidelines. 12
  30. Advisory Board. 13
  31. Advisory Board members. 13
  32. Advisory Board Chair 13
  33. Voting. 13
  34. Purpose. 13
  35. Responsibilities. 13
  36. Standing Rules: 14
  37. The Twelve Traditions: 14

 

 

 

 

Statement of Purpose

The Recovery Anonymous  Bylaws and Area Guidelines are intended to clarify how we operate and the specific procedures we adopt as an area. This Manual is intended to provide guidance for our activity in a spiritual program of recovery. Each group is autonomous and the group conscience is the guiding principle.

 

 

1.                     Area Functions

  1. Maintains ongoing communication with the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous .
  2. Elects Delegates to represent RA to the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous .
  3. Elects Area Officers.
  4. Holds Assemblies and/or monthly Service Meetings.
  5. Maintains a bank account for Area and all Standing Committees.
  6. Maintains local mailing address/P.O. Box.
  7. Encourages adherence to and approves proper use of the R.A. logo and trademark guidelines as set forth in the R.A. World Service Manual.
  8. For the Recovery Anonymous Area bank accounts, the Area shall ensure that applicable checks and balances are in place.

These include, but are not limited to:

  1. Requiring two (2) signatures to endorse all checks.
  2. Provide duplicate bank statements with the account number blacked out; one to the Treasurer and one to the Area Chair. Additionally, it is required that the Area Treasurer provides a report detailing revenues, expenses, and running balance at each Area meeting.
  3. The Treasurer is never a signer on the account.
  4. The Treasurer holds the check book.
  5. Large cash deposits should be made by two (2) people as soon as practicable
  6. Checks are not to be pre-signed. They should be endorsed by two signers at one time.
  7. Please see additional requirements in Section 6(C) regarding Treasurer.
  1. We use "Robert's Rules of Order" as adopted by the Area as a supplement to our bylaws.

2.             Standing Committees of the Area include:

  1. Advisory Board: The Advisory Board consist of the Area steering committee, Delegates, 2 members outside of Area (to be chose at chairs discretion): The advisory board is entrusted with the control of our legal entity,   Recovery Anonymous, a  non-profit corporation. The objective of Advisory Board is to serve the Area, by responsibly revising an annual Area budget, discussing suggestions to improve the spiritual and financial wellbeing of   A..  The Advisory Board must ultimately seek approval from the Area it serves, for actions or decisions to be taken. (See Section 15 for additional information.)
  2. Convention: Convention Chairperson terms (Area or Regional) are from the time of election until the convention is completed, and the convention accounting is finalized (outstanding debts paid and receivables collected or written off). In the case of the Regional convention, all items and monies required to be forwarded to the next Area committee hosting the Regional convention must also be completed. It is possible to have two Area convention chairpersons at one time – the newly elected chairperson for the convention upcoming and the outgoing chairperson for the convention recently ended – their duties and responsibilities do not overlap. Convention chairperson elections are held on an as needed basis depending on when the Area plans to hold conventions.

Convention proceeds from Area Conventions shall be divided such that a portion remains in the Area bank Account, line item Convention, for seed money for the next year (up to $5,000).

The forgoing does not pertain to when the Southwest Regional Convention is hosted by the   Area.  The Southwest Regional Convention is subject to a separate apportionment and seed money process (see World Service Convention Guidelines for specifics).

  1. H & I (Hospitals and Institutions): Refer to Recovery Anonymous World Service

Conference Hospitals and Institutions Committee Guidelines and Information (http://ca.org/content/uploads/2015/04/WSC-Hospitals-Institutions-Committee-Guidelines.pdf).  

  1. PI:

Hotline:

Responsibilities: Maintains database of members willing to answer the hotline. Conducts a training for all individuals who are new to answering the hotline. Conducts a quarterly phone call to ensure persons answering hotline are still able and willing. Seeks individuals willing to answer the hotline. Makes a monthly report to chair.

Meeting List:

Updates meeting lists, oversee printing of meeting lists, distributes meeting lists to GSR’s monthly at Area.

Cooperation with the Professional Community:

Outreach to the professional community, to include: Coordinating presentations, providing literature, making professional community aware of R.A..

Public Outreach:

Attends public events related to recovery- setup for event and coordinate volunteers to man booth. Maintains public social media pages, runs ads of PSA’s according to budget allowance.

 

 

  1. Structure and Bylaws: The committee convenes at the request of Area or the Advisory Board to review changes to the World Service Manual in order to make sure the  Area is compliant. The service officers are also elected on an as needed basis. If there is no chair for S&B the Area Vice Chair will serve as the acting chair of the S&B committee.   
  2. Unity: Facilitates events that carry the message of R.A. and support the overall growth and wellbeing of our Fellowship.
  3. Archive Committee: The purpose of the   Area Archive Committee is to collect, organize, categorize, copy, preserve and electronically store Recovery Anonymous of  's historically valued documents, printed materials and historical items. Refer to the WSM for additional information.  
  4. IT: Maintains Area website, updates information including meetings, events, committee meeting time and location.
  5. Literature Chips and Format (LCF): Hold monthly meeting to make items available to the Fellowship. Maintain and purchase product inventory as required. Maintain records of purchases, expenses, sales, and inventory.

3.            Meeting Times and Places

The   Area Service Committee will meet monthly at the time, location, and date designated by the Area Chair. There may be occasions when the standing meeting date / location / time will need to be revised; the Area Chair has the latitude to set the new location / time / date and the responsibility to provide as reasonable a notice of the change as is practical.

4.          Quorum

Quorum for the   Area is the number of voting members present at the time any roll call is made. This allows the Area to conduct business no matter what percentage of the eligible voting body is present. 

5.              Voting Members / Practices for General Business 

Area Officers (with exception of the Chairperson, who may only vote in the event of a tie), each groups' Group Service Representative (GSR) or an alternate, WSC Delegates and Alternate Delegate, and those Chair-people of Area Committees who have requested and received a vote from the Area are all voting members at the   Area level and may receive one vote per person. Voting members may informally proxy (i.e. does not need to be written) their vote to another member who is reporting in their absence. A proxy may not be made by the Chair, Vice Chair, Delegate and Alternate Delegate.  No voting member shall carry more than one vote.

Any item of business voted on at Area passes by simple majority (greater than 50% of the total votes cast).  In matters believed to be of significant importance, it is possible for Area members to make a motion to require a greater majority (e.g. 2/3 or 3/4) to pass an item of business. The vote on such a motion would typically be passed by simple majority unless different percentage otherwise explicitly stated in said motion.

In all its proceedings, the   Recovery Anonymous Area shall observe the spirit of the R.A. Traditions, taking great care that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity. 

6.           Area Service Officers

It is suggested that all Area Service Officers meet the requirements for the position to which they are nominated. 

            A. Chairperson Two (2) year commitment

  1. Two (2) years of continuous sobriety.
  2. One year of service in R.A. at the District or Area Level.
  3. Presides over all Area meetings and arranges agendas and reasonably follows parliamentary procedures.
  4. Assumes responsibilities of coordinating all activities within the Area.
  5. Is the President of Recovery Anonymous, Inc.
  6. The Area Chair is to immediately assume the title and responsibilities as Registered Agent for (“ Recovery Anonymous, Inc.").  This is done by submitting a Statement of Change of Registered Agent on the  Secretary of State website.  The outgoing Chair needs to coordinate with the incoming Chair the automatic and immediate change in the Registered Agent. (Ryan Fitzgerald)
  7. Confirm Recovery Anonymous, Inc principal office address is up to date with the Secretary of State (i.e., the P.O. Box).

 

  1. All Area contracts (i.e., bank, business insurance, IRS, Secretary of State ) use the address of the chair, but mail goes to the Area P.O. Box.
  2. Votes only in the case of a tie.
  3. Carries the Area vote at Regional/World Functions.
  4. Gives a quarterly report to the Regional Trustee regarding meetings (both H & I and regular) and upcoming events.
  5. Timely filings with regulatory agencies (e.g. filing forms with the Secretary of State, completing state /local taxes and nonprofit corporation forms).
  6. Generally, the Area Chairperson does not voice a personal opinion on the matters being discussed at the Area Service meetings. In cases where the Area Chair wishes to participate fully in the discussion surrounding a particular topic, the Area Chair must request someone else (usually the Area Vice-chair) to "act as chair" until the matter is tabled or closed. During this period the Area Chair gains a voice but no vote; the Acting Chair's voting status remains unchanged but they have no voice on the subject. After the matter is tabled or closed, the Area Chair and Acting Chair resume their normal roles. If a tabled matter is re-opened for business the Area Chair repeats the process if they so choose.
  7. Works within the Advisory Board to establish an annual budget in February of each year. Outgoing Chairperson and Treasurer help new incoming

Chairperson and Treasurer create their first budget and ensure they understand the workings of the accounting system and that the books are in order at the time of transfer.

  1. Chair provides the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous with contact information for newly elected Delegates shortly after they are elected to ensure they receive relevant materials in a timely fashion.
  2. Chair completes the required Delegate Registration forms designating the

Delegates / Alternate Delegates that will be attending the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous  per Standing Rule 5 of the R.A. World Service Manual. This form is to be received by the WSO 120 days prior to the Conference. Generally, it is safest to ensure this information is received at the WSO by the end of April. Contact the WSO for the applicable form.

  1. Is one of the three authorized signers on the A. bank account.
  2. Selects two R.A. members to Advisory Board. See Section 15(A).
  3. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

            B. Vice Chairperson Two (2) year commitment

  1. Two (2) years continuous sobriety.
  2. One year of service in R.A. at the District or Area Level.
  3. In the absence of the Chairperson, performs all duties of the Chairperson.
  4. Coordinates general Area Committee activities.
  5. Carries vote by proxy at all Regional/World functions.
  6. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.
  7. Serves as Parliamentarian.
  8. Serves on at least one Standing Committee.

            C. Treasurer Two (2) year commitment

  1. Three years continuous sobriety.
  2. One year of service in R.A. at the Area Level.
  3. Gainfully employed and / or financially solvent.
  4. Maintains bank account with four authorized signers (Area Chair, Chair, and two of the Area Delegates). All checks require two (2) signatures of endorsement.
  5. Keeps an accurate bookkeeping system. Bookkeeping or accounting experience is preferred but not required.
  6. Gives a printed monthly financial report for all members of the area body.
  7. Distributes funds as approved by Area to settle expenses, reimbursements, and make contributions to R.A. World Services.
  8. Reconciles bank account with the account signers on a monthly basis. Provides copies of the monthly bank statements as requested with the account number blacked out.
  9. Timely reporting with regulatory agencies, federal and state. To protect the Area's non-profit status yearly filings are required.
  10. Refers to the R.A. Conference approved "Financial Guidelines for Groups, Districts, and Areas of Recovery Anonymous" for additional insights and guidance.
  11. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

 

            D. Secretary Two (2) year commitment

  1. One (1) year of continuous sobriety.
  2. One year of service in R.A. at the District or Area Level.
  3. Keeps accurate minutes of all Area meetings.
  4. Maintains an updated contact/phone list of all Area officers, Delegates etc.
  5. Maintains general communications within the Area.
  6. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

            F.               Senior Area Delegate

  1. Simply the duly elected Delegate with the longest time in service in that position.
  2. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

7.           Standing Committees

The service term for the Chair Person of a Standing Committee is two years.  All other service positions on the Standing Committee are one year.  Some Standing Committees may only meet as needed (e.g. Structure and Bylaws or Convention Committee). The terms for those service positions are either two years or to the conclusion of the event.  At each Area meeting it is expected that a member of each Standing Committee attend and provide a report concerning that Committee's activities. If no member of a committee can attend, a written report (to the Area Chair) is acceptable. Standing Committees that have funds are to turn them into the Area and include that in their written report. Any funds needed the committee may turn in a check request to the Area Treasurer. No committees are to have their own bank account. Committees need to turn in annual budgets to the Advisory Board for approval.  

 

8.            What We Do / Discuss at Area

  1. Maintain ongoing communications with the Region / World.
  2. Receive reports from all Area committees, Officers, and GSR’s.
  3. Receive reports from Delegates about World Conference, Southwest Regional etc.
  4. Make decisions on Area functions based on group conscience.
  5. Elect Area Delegates and Area Officers.
  6. Contributions to the R.A. Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous .
  7. Planning for Area expenses related to Delegate and Area Chair travel as appropriate to represent the Area, sub-committee needs, phone line, internet, and meeting directories etc. The budget is then developed and adjusted by the Advisory Board.

9.                     Area Delegate Responsibilities 

Each delegate is guided by the description of the position as detailed in the R.A. World Service Manual. 

As a supplement to those items the following should be included: 

  1. Each delegate will give a report to the Area at an Area meeting setting forth their activities, impressions, other pertinent information to their World Service Committee work, and matters unresolved.
  2. Each delegate is expected to attend the entire conference and will arrange for adequate transportation accordingly.
  3. Any delegates will appropriately proxy their votes if they are not available for voting due to other Conference business or matters beyond their control.
  4. Each morning of the Conference all delegates will meet briefly to touch base and discuss any issues pertinent to the  Area or R.A. as a whole.
  5. To the extent practicable the delegates will seek to ascertain the conscience of the Area prior the conference on any controversial issues.
  6. New delegates will counsel with the Area as to what committee they should serve on.
  7. A delegate is expected to complete any referral work previously assigned to them by their Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous Committee after the completion of their term.
  8. Delegates whose terms are completed, or who are no longer serving as Delegate, are expected to pass on their Delegate notebook and any pertinent materials to the incoming Delegate.
  9. Keeps Alternate Delegate informed of all Conference issues and materials on an ongoing basis.
  10. Two of the Delegates will be authorized signers on the  A. bank account.
  11. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

10.                    Area Alternate Delegate Responsibilities 

  1. The Alternate Delegate may be required to fill a vacated Delegate's position for the duration of the term (up to four years).
  2. The Alternate Delegate may need to fill in for a Delegate on an interim basis due to emergency or other life issues.
  3. The Alternate Delegate is expected to keep abreast of Delegate materials from the WSO so as to be reasonably informed of current events should they need to fill a vacated position for a short or long term.
  4. Should a Delegate vacancy occur coincident with the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous , the Area should decide by conscience whether to send the Alternate Delegate with one vote or to proxy the vote to one of the Delegates already planning to attend. Should no Area meeting be scheduled after the vacancy occurs and in advance of the Conference, the decision is to be made by the Area Chair or Acting Area Chair.
  5. Alternate Delegates should communicate their thoughts on matters with the other Delegates.
  6. The Alternate Delegate may wish to participate in post Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous committee work that the other Delegates are working on throughout the year.

11.                        Area Election Procedures 

            A.         Purpose 

The   Area of Recovery Anonymous regularly holds elections to determine who will act as its trusted servants. This document contains the procedures that reflect the conscience of the   Area on how elections for its trusted servants are to be conducted.

 

In the spirit of R.A.’s 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts, consideration and adherence to the following is suggested:

 

The Fourth Concept – "Participation" is used because of the spiritual needs of the fellowship, and belonging. There should always be a maximum amount of participation in Fellowship matters, be it individual or group.

 

The Ninth Concept – "Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future function and safety."  We need to give serious consideration to all of our elected leaders.  

 

            B.            Who Can Vote in Area Elections

The following positions comprise the Voting Members of the Area, each of which carries one vote: Area Chairperson (votes only in the event of a tie), Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, World Service Delegates (three), Alternate World Service Delegate, Group Service Representatives (GSRs) and Alternate GSRs filling in for a GSR, and Standing Committee Chairpersons.  

 

In the event that any of the aforementioned voting members hold more than one position which would normally carry one vote, that voting member will be limited to a single vote. Also, a voting member's vote cannot proxy to another voting member so that any voting member has more than one vote. For this reason, it is suggested that one person not hold more than one voting position at area. 

            C.          Method of Voting

The elections for Area trusted servant positions shall be done by secret ballot. The total number of ballots shall be counted to ensure there are not more ballots cast than there are voting members established by the quorum. The votes for individual candidates will then be tallied. Individual vote tallies will not be shared with anyone else at any time.

            D.            Terms of Positions and Rotation of Election: 

The Area Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary, are Area Service Committee Officers and are elected for two year terms. The Area Delegates are elected to four year terms. The Alternate Delegate is elected to a one year term.

 

Regular elections for the Area Chairperson and Treasurer shall take place such that their term begins in January of odd years. Regular elections for the Area Vice-Chair, and Secretary shall take place such that their term begins in January of even years. 

 

If any Area positions are vacated before the regular terms expire, elections may be held as follows:

 

  1. Nominations and election would be again held via the R.A.Area Fellowship as if it were a new election. This should be accomplished in an expedient manner, 1-2 months using Right of Decision if necessary. The new chair would serve the remainder of the original Term. Vice Chair assumes duties until election complete.
  2. If Chairperson has less than 3 months remaining in Term, the Vice-Chair assumes the duties until the next regularly scheduled Election for Chairperson. If the Vice chairperson should be absent at Area, the Secretary of Area is next in line to facilitate the Area proceedings.

 

 

For absences at Area Meeting, the next facilitator after Chair is Vice-Chair, then Secretary and fourth, Treasurer.

 

The timing of elections for Standing Committees is at their discretion, but the service term is as previously defined in Section 7 above.

            E.    Voting Procedures for Delegates and the Five Area Officers

The Delegate and the Alternate Delegate are elected separately, and both must be elected by the Third Legacy Procedure referenced below. To facilitate this process, it is expected that the GSRs bring their groups' conscience for delegate and alternate delegate. After the Delegate is elected, a second election is held for the Alternate Delegate using the remaining pool of nominees. It is possible that GSRs could use their right of decision for the Alternate Delegate election. For example, a GSR may wish to use his or her right of decision if (1) the group's second choice for Delegate is elected Delegate, or (2) neither the first nor second choice of the group is elected Delegate. In such cases, the GSR may decide to vote the group's original first choice for Delegate as Alternate Delegate. 

 

The four Area Officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) are elected by a simple majority.

 

Voting members cast written ballots, one choice to a ballot. 

F.    Single Candidate (Area Officer or Delegate):

If there is only one candidate a vote to elect that candidate still takes place.

   G.  Timing of Elections

Positions not explicitly addressed below are elected on an as needed basis.

i.    Area Chair, Area Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary:

  1. August & September: Nominations are opened.
  2. October: Close nominations and announce final slate of candidates. GSRs take slate of candidates to group for consciences in advance of December Area Service Meeting. Candidates should have enough service resumes available at the November Area meeting so that GSRs may take one to each Group for reference during their Group conscience.
  3. November: Hold elections.
  4. January: New trusted servants take office on January 1st following the election.

                    ii.    Delegate / Alternate Delegate:

  1. November & December: Nominations are Accepting a

nomination for Delegate is also accepting to stand as an Alternate Delegate and vice versa.

  1. January: Close nominations and announce final slate of candidates.
  2. February: Candidates are encouraged to be present at this meeting with enough service resumes available so that GSRs may take one to each Group for reference during their Group conscience. GSRs take slate of candidates to Groups for consciences in advance of March area meeting.
  3. March: Hold election(s).
  4. April: Delegate / Alternate Delegate takes office.

            H.     Area Trustee Slate Nominations Guidelines

Nominations will be made at the Area meeting held in January with the election taking place at the next area meeting in September. Any R.A. member meeting the requirements in the R.A. World Service Manual who desires to serve as a Trustee and who completes the service resume form applicable for that year shall so inform the Area. Any qualifying R.A. member nominated by the Area must also complete the service resume form applicable for that year (contact World Services for the form). The Area shall vote to affirm or not affirm that it will offer that candidate for the Trustee slate at the subsequent Southwest Regional Assembly. A simple majority vote of the voting members of the Area is sufficient to have the nominee's name go forward. Please see the "Qualifications of Addict Trustees" section of the World Service Manual (as revised annually) to verify that candidates meet the requirements.

The Area should encourage its members to serve at the World level as it is important to the vitality of our Area.

12.     Suspension / Removal of Elected Trusted Servants

The members of the service body may vote to suspend or remove an elected Trusted Servant for broken sobriety; actions involving a serious breach of the Traditions, Concepts or principles of Recovery Anonymous; missing three consecutive Area business meetings; or, disability to the extent that it causes the Trusted Servant to be functionally incapable of exercising his or her voting rights or reasonably fulfilling the requirements of the position. 

Prior to initiating any formal action to suspend or terminate a trusted servant, the service body shall exercise all reasonable efforts to seek the trusted servant's re-commitment, if appropriate, or voluntary resignation.

13.           Guidelines for Dispute Resolution

In any dispute between members relating to the activities of the service board, all parties involved shall cooperate in good faith to resolve the dispute. If the parties cannot resolve the dispute between themselves, they shall bring the matter to the attention of the applicable service board. If the service board determines that the matter is such that it affects the purposes of the service board, the board may choose to submit the matter to a vote by the members.

14.          Maintenance of Guidelines

These guidelines may be updated from time to time to address the needs of the Area.

15.          Advisory Board

            A.    Advisory Board members

The Area has an 'Advisory Board' consisting of the following members:

  1. Area Chair
  2. Area Vice Chair
  3. Area Treasurer
  4. Area Secretary
  5. Area Delegates, including Alternate Delegate.

 

            B.     Advisory Board Chair

One of the two R.A. members serving on the Advisory Board could be selected to serve as the Chairperson at the Advisory Board meeting.

            C.         Voting

All members of the Advisory Board listed in Section 15(A) above have a vote except for the Advisory Board Chairperson, who votes only in the event of a tie. In general, voting methods at the Advisory Board are at its own discretion.  

            D.         Purpose

  1. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to consider matters that are fundamental to R.A. of  Spiritual and functional wellbeing as well as issues that may be too complex to be readily solved at the regular Area meeting without some preliminary research having been conducted.
  2. The Advisory Board may consider and discuss topics of its own choosing at its own volition. R.A. members are encouraged to bring matters to the Advisory Board for consideration.
  3. The Advisory Board, from time to time, shall update the R.A. , Inc. Area Guidelines. If the Advisory Board deems it necessary, the Structure and Bylaws committee may be activated to make review and propose changes to the Area.
  4. Except as noted below, the Advisory Board's conclusions on matters considered by the board are simply suggestions or opinions as to what might be appropriate or in the best interests of R.A. in . As such these opinions need to be ratified by a majority vote of the Area Service Committee to have any effect.

            G.         Responsibilities

These items are the responsibility of the Advisory Board and require a 2/3 majority vote of the Area to be recalled or overturned. This is intended to be largely consistent with article 5 of the R.A. Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous  Charter as addressed in the R.A. World Service Manual.

  1. The Advisory Board is entrusted with governance and control of our legal entity, Recovery Anonymous , Inc., a non-profit corporation. They shall ensure the Area Chair has timely filed any required documents necessary to safeguard and maintain our  Non-profit Corporate status. See Section 6(A)(13).
  2. The Advisory Board shall create an Area operating budget for use in guiding and planning Area financial matters. The budget is not exact but is a planning tool and, as such, may be amended as often as is necessary based upon the actual and/or projected state of the Area's finances. The Advisory Board relies on input from the Area subcommittees as to their needs. It should be noted here that simply because an item is budgeted does not mean there is necessarily money to spend on that item at any given time.
  3. The Advisory Board shall establish, review and adjust the 'prudent reserve' level as necessary to best achieve the budgeted financial goals for the Area.
  4. Area R.A. members are free to attend the Advisory Board meetings and to have a voice in any discussions; they will not, however, have a vote. There may be circumstances of sufficient gravity to require the Advisory

Board meeting to be closed to Advisory Board members only; this is decided at the discretion of the Advisory Board Chairperson.

17.    Standing Rules:

  1. The Area’s prudent reserve is $1,000.
  2. Seed money for the State Convention is in the amount of up to $5,000.

 

18.    The Twelve Traditions:

 

The Twelve Traditions of Recovery Anonymous
The Twelve Traditions comprise the organizational guidelines under which the autonomous groups of R.A. function

  1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon R.A. unity.
    2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
    3. The only requirement for R.A. membership is a desire to stop using Recovery and all other mind-altering substances.
    4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or R.A. as a whole.
    5. Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the addict who still suffers.
    6. A R.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the R.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
    7. Every R.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
    8. Recovery Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
    9. R.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
    10. Recovery Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the R.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
    11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films.
    12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

The Twelve Traditions are reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Traditions does not mean that A.A. is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism. Use of the Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A. but which address other problems does not imply otherwise. THE TWELVE TRADITIONS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. 2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. 3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. 6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. 10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. 11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films. 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

 

  1. Concepts (short form):

The Twelve Concepts of Recovery Anonymous

As the Twelve Steps of Recovery Anonymous are our recipe for individual recovery, the Twelve Traditions of Recovery Anonymous are our recipe for group unity and the Twelve Concepts are our recipe for world service.

  1. The final responsibility and the ultimate authorityfor R.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
  2. The R.A. Groups delegate to the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous the complete authority for the active maintenance of our world services and thereby make the Conference — excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions — the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Fellowship.
  3. As a traditional means of creating and maintaining a clearly defined working relation between the Groups, the Conference, the World Service Board of Trusteesand its service corporation, staffs, and committees, and of thus insuring their effective leadership, it is here suggested that we endow each of these elements of World Service with a traditional “Right of Decision.”
  4. Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional “Right of Participation,”taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
  5. Throughout our World Service structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal”ought to prevail, thus assuring us that minority opinion will be heard and that petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered.
  6. On behalf of R.A. as a whole, our Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous has the principal responsibility for the maintenance of our world services, and it traditionally has the final decision respecting large matters of general policy and finance. But the Conference also recognizes that the chief initiative and the active responsibility in most of these matters should be exercised primarily by the Trustee members of the Conference when they act among themselves as the World Service Board of Recovery Anonymous.
  7. The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the World Service Board are legal instruments;that the Trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Recovery Anonymous. It is further understood that the Conference Charter itself is not a legal document; that it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the R.A. purse for its final effectiveness.
  8. The Trustees of the World Service Board act in two primary capacities:(a) With respect to the larger matters of overall policy and finance, they are the principal planners and administrators. They and their primary committees directly manage these affairs. (b) But with respect to our separately incorporated and constantly active services, the relation of the Trustees is mainly that of custodial oversight which they exercise through their ability to elect all Directors of these entities.
  9. Good service leaders, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing themare at all levels indispensable for our future functioning and safety.
  10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority— the scope of such authority to be always well defined whether by tradition, by resolution, by specific job description or by appropriate charters and bylaws.
  11. While the Trustees hold final responsibility for R.A.’s world service administration, they should always have the assistance of the best possible standing committees and service boards, staffs and consultants.Therefore the composition of these underlying committees and service boards, the personal qualifications of their members, the manner of their induction into service, the system of their rotation, the way in which they are related to each other, the special rights and duties of our staffs and consultants, together with a proper basis for the financial compensation of these special workers will always be matters for serious care and concern.
  12. General Warranties of the Conference:In all its proceedings, the Other Areas of Recovery Anonymous  shall observe the spirit of the R.A. Tradition, taking great care that the Conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that the sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the Conference members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the Conference may act for the service of Recovery Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the Fellowship of Recovery Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.

*The Twelve Concepts are reprinted and adapted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Concepts does not mean that A.A. is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism. Use of the Concepts in connection with program and activities, which are patterned after A.A. but which address other problems, does not imply otherwise. THE TWELVE CONCEPTS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. world services shall always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship. 2. The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Society in its world affairs. 3. To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A. – the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporation, staffs, committees, and executives with traditional “Right of Decision.” 4. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge. 5. Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration. 6. The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised primarily by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board. 7. The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness. 8. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities. 9. Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustee. 10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority always well defined. 11. The Trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs and consultants. Composition, qualifications induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern. 12. The Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth and power; that the sufficient operating funds and reserves be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government, and that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.