Area 15 Chairperson responsibilities:

• Receives motions from members of the Area Committee for placement on the agenda for Area 15 business meetings.
• Creates scrubbed versions of agenda, making updates where necessary and placing motions under New Business, and provides both documents to Area Recording Secretary immediately following motion deadline.
• Attends South Florida Area 15 Assemblies and chairs Area 15 business meetings.
• Provides Area 15 body a physical and digital cheat sheet for how Area 15 observes Robert’s Rules of Order.
• Presents an oral report at Area 15 business meetings on service activities performed during the preceding quarter and provides a written report to the Area Recording Secretary for inclusion in the minutes.
• Receives registration numbers from the host district at area assemblies, reports them to the body at the Area 15 business meetings, and provides them to the Area Recording Secretary for inclusion in the minutes.
• Receives votes by district at Area 15 business meetings from the Area Registrar and reports them to the body.
• Creates agenda and chairs District Chairpersons’/Alternate District Chairpersons’ meeting at Area 15 assemblies.
• Assists District Chairpersons with questions and concerns when called upon.
• Attends and participates in District events throughout Area 15 at the invitation of District Chairpersons.
• Provides Area Registrar with updates to roll call for Area business meetings.
• Appoints the Finance Committee Chairperson, the Quarterly Coordinator Committee Chairperson, the Current Practice Committee chairperson, the Technology Committee Chairperson and the Outreach Committee Chairperson ahead of the January Area 15 assembly in odd-numbered years and presents these appointments for disapproval at the first business meeting of each panel.
• Creates subcommittees as needed and appoints chairperson for any that are formed.
• Serves as ex-officio member of the Area 15 Finance Committee and the Area 15 Current Practice Committee.
• Coordinates with vendors and signs contracts for services including Spanish and American Sign Language translation/interpretation, audio services for area assemblies, etc.
• Signs hotel contracts for Area 15 assemblies as approved by the body and shares contracts with Area Officers and Finance Chair.
• Annually reviews with Area 15 Finance Committee Chairperson and Area 15 Quarterly Coordinator Committee Chairperson all assets of South Florida Area 15.
• Assists Quarterly Coordinator Committee with proofreading Assembly fliers and Assembly programs.
• Keeps Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Area Treasurer, Area Registrar and Area Recording Secretary informed about what’s happening in the area.
• Hosts a monthly virtual meeting with Area Officers to keep them informed and up to date.
• Hosts an online monthly meeting with District Chairpersons/Alternate Chairpersons, offering them an opportunity to share experiences and challenges and to exchange information.
• Regularly updates contact list of District Chairpersons and Area Committee officers; forwards updated lists to Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Area Treasurer, Area Registrar, Area Recording Secretary and Quarterly Coordinator Committee.
• Is a signer, along with other Area Officers, on the Area 15 bank account.
• Maintains read-only access to the online Area 15 bank account.
• Facilitates communication between outgoing and incoming Area Committee chairs at rotation to assist with a smooth transition between panels.
• Collaborates with Area 15 Current Practice Committee in assisting Area Committee chairs with updates to position descriptions for Area 15 Legacy of Service.
• Provides a request for funding to the Area 15 Finance Committee by July 31 of each year.
• Submits a quarterly expense report, including all receipts, to the Area Treasurer.
• Returns all unspent budgeted funds to the Area Treasurer prior to Dec. 31 of each year.
• Updates Area Chairperson’s position description by July 31 of even-numbered years to ensure a smooth transition from panel to panel.
• Presents Area Chairperson’s responsibilities at Third Legacy Review session at Area 15 assemblies in October of even-numbered years.
• Reviews responsibilities of Area Chairperson with incoming Area Chairperson following Area 15 elections in even-numbered years and hands off relevant materials prior to the start of the new panel.
• Attends the Southeast Regional Forum in even-numbered years.
• Attends the Southeast States Service Assembly of Alcoholics Anonymous in odd-numbered years.
• Attends and represents South Florida Area 15 at the General Service Conference if neither the Delegate nor Alternate Delegate is able to attend.
• Optional: Hosts a welcome session at the beginning of Area Assembly weekends and encourages the hosting District(s) to participate in hosting this event.
• Optional: Hosts a welcome breakfast for Area Officers and Area Committee Chairpersons at the January assembly following elections.
• Optional: Participates in monthly U.S./Canada Area Chairs zoom call to share and learn with fellow Area Chairpersons.
• Optional: Creates slidedeck for Area business meeting including key points, fliers and announcements for all reports provided (if submitted by Area members) and includes the motions and when applicable, any amendments so that they are shown on the screen.
• Optional: Works closely with Recording Secretary to create Early Bird Minutes which include a link to the business meeting slidedeck as well as the motion dispositions.

 

Suggested qualifications for Area 15 Chairperson from Area 15 current practice and the A.A. Service Manual:

• Present or past District Committee Member.
• Five years of continuous sobriety.
• Has an A.A. homegroup and A.A. recovery program outside of Area duties.
• Experience in group, district, and area affairs.
• A sound understanding and appreciation of the Steps, Traditions and Concepts, along with experience gained through applying these guiding principles successfully to local problems.
• Working knowledge or willingness to learn Robert’s Rules of Order as utilized by Area 15 to facilitate area business meetings.
• Familiarity with Area 15 Current Practice, Book of Motions, and Legacy of Service.
• Good communication skills.
• Leadership qualities.
• Sensitivity to the needs and wishes of Area 15.

 

Email Chairperson:
chair@area15aa.org