District Service Positions
The following descriptions are designed to provide a sense of the responsibilities and requirements for service positions within District 25.
District Officers
District Committee Member
email: d25dcm@aaworcester.org
District committee members (D.C.M.s) are essential links between the group G.S.R.s and the area delegate to the General Service Conference. D.C.M.s pass on their district’s thinking to area committees and service workers. They carry information back to local G.S.R.s, who in turn keep their group members informed on various A.A. issues.
(From Participating in A.A. on aa.org)
The DCM is responsible for attending the monthly Area 30 committee meetings in Belmont the fourth Wednesday of each month, as well as each of the five Area 30 assemblies each year.
The DCM is the essential link between the District 25 committee, and the Area 30 committee, representing the group conscience to the Area, and carrying critical information back into the District from Area 30.
Chairperson
email: d25chair@aaworcester.org
email: d25altchair@aaworcester.org
The chairperson is responsible for the smooth running of District 25 committee meetings, consulting with the committee before setting the date and time, making sure that all groups are notified, consulting with officers and committee members on the program, and chairing the D25 committee meetings. The chairperson, more than any other officer, keeps the DCM informed about what is going on in the District, and makes sure that committee members are aware of what goes on in world services.
(Modified from page 26 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Recording Secretary
email: d25secretary@aaworcester.org
email: d25altsecretary@aaworcester.org
The secretary records and distributes minutes and agendas of District 25 committee meetings; keeps mailing lists up to date and sends out District mailings; sometimes the secretary is responsible for preparing lively bulletins that will encourage attendance at committee meetings. The secretary is in a good position to act as liaison between officers and committee members.
(Modified from page 27 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Registrar
email: d25registrar@aaworcester.org
In many Districts, registrars now develop and maintain records of all groups in the District, including group name, meeting location, time, and G.S.R. or group contact. Registrars may also be responsible for names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of the G.S.R.s, D.C.M.s, district officers and District committee members. They may provide mailing labels for District publications such as a monthly newsletter or a mailing of minutes. District registrars also assist Area 30 and G.S.O. Records Department to keep their records up-to-date.
(Modified from pages 27 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Treasurer
email: d25treasurer@aaworcester.org
The treasurer keeps financial records for the District and reports regularly to the District 25 committee. In most cases, the treasurer is responsible for encouraging contribution support for District services.
(Modified from page 28 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
The D25 Treasurer is responsible for:
Retrieving contributions from the D25 P.O. box at least once a month.
Recording contributions from the groups, and sending out acknowledgements to group treasurers upon receipt of donations.
Updating contact records of elected group treasurers, as well as contributions from each group in the District.
Recommending an annual operating budget to the District committee, as well as tracking and reporting progress against that budget.
Paying District 25 bills in a timely fashion.
Working with the Worcester Area Intergroup to cover costs of joint events (suchs as annual alcathons).
Alternate Committee Officers
Many Districts find it helpful to select alternates for all committee officers, especially for the chairperson. The alternates can provide continuity at the District level; they are seated as voting members. In this as in all other levels of service, alternates should be encouraged to participate in committee activities as fully as possible. Qualifications of alternates are generally the same as the qualifications for the positions they may be called upon to assume.
(Modified from page 29 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Standing Conference Committees
Archives
email: d25archives@aaworcester.org
The Archives chair leads the committee engaged in the work of collecting and preserving District history. Written materials (books, pamphlets, newsletters, written histories), photographs, and audiotapes are the foundations of a collection. Local A.A. historical material is sought out from groups, oldtimers, committee members, and others with experience to share. Guidelines on archives are available from the General Service Office.
(Modified from pages 47 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC)
email: d25cpc@aaworcester.org
Responsible for suggesting policies and recommending activities that will help carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic through sharing information about the A.A. program with professional groups and individuals who have contact with alcoholics, furthering mutual understanding and cooperation between A.A. and professionals, and increasing awareness of members and outside groups and organizations on ways of cooperating with others without affiliating.
(Modified from page 45 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Grapevine
email: d25grapevine@aaworcester.org
Responsible for encouraging and supporting activities related to the distribution of the Grapevine Magazine. The Grapevine Magazine is published by AA Grapevine Inc. and is also available on a bi-monthly basis in Spanish.
Encourages members to subscribe to the Grapevine and La Viña magazines, and informs them of related books and other special items available.
Takes Grapevines literature displays to events around the District.
(Modified from page 45 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Corrections
email: d25corrections@aaworcester.org
Encourages A.A. members to assume responsibility for carrying the message to alcoholics behind the walls, reviews all aspects of service to A.A. groups in correctional facilities, and makes recommendations for changes and/or improvements. It is also concerned with clarifying what A.A. can and cannot do, within the Traditions, to help inmate alcoholics both inside and upon release.
(Modified from page 45 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Public Information (P.I.)
email: d25publicinfo@aaworcester.org
Responsible for creating greater understanding of — and preventing misunderstandings of — the A.A. program through the public media, electronic media, P.I. meetings, and speaking to community groups.
(Modified from page 46 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Treatment Facilities (Joint with Worcester Area Intergroup)
email: d25treatment@aaworcester.org
Coordinates the work of individual A.A. members and groups who carry the A.A. message of recovery to alcoholics in treatment facilities, and sets up means of bridging the gap from treatment to A.A. This committee works with the joint committee elected by the Worcester Area Intergroup to review all aspects of service to A.A. groups/meetings in treatment facilities and other non-correctional institutional environments.
(Modified from page 46 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Literature
email: d25literature@aaworcester.org
This committee is primarily concerned with recovery literature; material related to specific areas of service, e.g., Corrections material, is developed by the relevant committee. Reviews literature and audiovisual needs, and makes recommendations for their use across the District.
(Modified from page 46 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2021-2023 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
Ad-hoc Committees
Alcathon (Joint with Worcester Area Intergroup)
Responsible for working with the joint committee chair elected by the Worcester Area Intergroup to plan, coordinate and execute the three “holiday” alcathons offered each year at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
Events (Joint with Worcester Area Intergroup)
email: d25events@aaworcester.org
Leads the effort to offer district-sponsored events for general A.A. members to participate in. Events can be both in-person and virtual (the latter is particularly useful during quarantine as dictated by federal, state and local requirements).
Website
email: d25website@aaworcester.org
Many A.A. entities now use websites as a way to communicate meeting and service information within the Fellowship. An A.A. website can serve as a public information tool, providing information about A.A. to the public as well.
(From page S41 of the “AA Service Manual,” 2018-2020 ed., with permission of AA World Services, Inc.)
This role works toward two goals:
Primary goal: Capture information from across the District in order to better inform the District committee so that it may better execute its responsibility to help members of the Fellowship, as well as the still sick and suffering alcoholic.
Secondary goal: To share information to better inform the general public as well as individuals and groups with whom the District is likely to work with.
Responsibilities:
Research and make recommendations regarding technology for use in realizing the goals of the role.
Work with the Treasurer to establish a budget that supports the technology infrastructure necessary to achieve the goals of the role.
Maintain the website in service of the goals.
“… we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We absolutely insist on enjoying life."
- Page 132, Alcoholics Anonymous