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IAC-AA Charter and Bylaws

Charter and Bylaws of the International Advisory Council

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous, set forth this day to establish and preserve, by the following principles, the experience of our predecessors. At the Capitol Round-Up (Washington D. C., August 1980) it was suggested that Advisory Council be formed. At the Big Apple Round-Up (New York, November 1980) a temporary council was established to serve the Homosexual Members in A.A. As of January 1981, the International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous has been listed in the Eastern U.S., Western U.S., Canadian, and International AA directories. The GPAA Round-Up (Boston) in May 1981 brought the temporary council together to adopt the Charter and to elect officers.

The International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous was established to serve and have the involvement of the Lesbians, gay Men, and Gay People in Alcoholics Anonymous, regardless of how they chose to identify themselves. In selecting the name, careful consideration was given to a variety of combinations of the above. So as not to alienate any of our membership, the all-inclusive term “Homosexuals” was arrived at through group conscience.

NAME

The International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous.

PURPOSE

Operating within the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, the purpose of the International Advisory Council is to serve the Homosexual Members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our function is not that of a policy/decision making board in matters affecting the Homosexual Members of Alcoholics Anonymous, nor is our function to isolate or separate ourselves from the mainstream of Alcoholics Anonymous. Rather, our sole purpose for existing is to provide our experience, strength, and hope to any arm of Alcoholics Anonymous when called upon to do so, and to work in the spirit of UNITY and SERVICE with Alcoholics Anonymous for the betterment of the Homosexual Members, and Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole.

OBJECTIVES

Operating within the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, the objectives of the International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous are as follows:

1. To maintain the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
2. To encourage our members to share experience with AA as a whole through the General Service structure as described in the AA Service Manual.
3. To provide an international service network to the Homosexual Members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

In order to accomplish our purpose and objectives, the following Structure of Organization is established.

OFFICES OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

• Chairperson
• Deputy Chairperson
• Secretary
• Treasurer

DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Those individuals wishing to be Officers of the International Advisory Council will have a minimum of two years of continuous sobriety.

CHAIRPERSON

1. Preside over the meeting of the International Advisory Council.
2. Coordinate efforts of the International Advisory Council Committees along existing AA channels.
3. Dispenser/receiver of information to/from regional Representatives.
4. Assist in establishing International Advisory Council budget.
5. Co-sign for International Advisory Council.

DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON

1. Replace Chairperson in the event of Chairperson=s absence or inability to execute position.
2. An ex-officio member of all committees.
3. Coordinate disbursement of material to/from International Advisory Council.
4. Assist in development of agenda.

SECRETARY

1. Maintain Post Office Box.
2. Take minutes of International Advisory Council meetings.
3. Responsible for mailing of minutes to the International Advisory Council members.
4. Maintains a list of persons involved on the International Advisory Council.
5. Co-Signature authority for the International Advisory Council checking/savings account.

TREASURER

1. Establishes and maintains International Advisory Council checking/saving account.
2. Distribute quarterly financial report to the International Advisory Council members.
3. Collect and disperse of funds specifically involved for International Advisory Council use.
4. Assist in establishing a budget.
5. Co-signature authority for Council account.

DUTIES OF REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

1. Responsible for collecting information from their Region to distribute to the International Advisory Council.
2. Responsible for distributing information from the International Advisory Council to the people in their Region.
3. Active participant in committees established or determined by the International Advisory Council.
4. Report on Committees to the International Advisory Council members at meeting.
5. Report on Region represented at International Advisory Council meetings.
6. Responsible for establishing committees on the Regional Level to carry through with services established by the International Advisory Council.
7. Responsible for scheduling quarterly/semiannual meeting of Group Representatives in their Respective Region.

SELECTION OF INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Recognizing the benefits of participation of both men and women on such a Council, every effort will be made to encourage full, active and equal participation by both. Tradition 12 will guide us in remembering to place principles before personalities.

A group/meeting serving recovering Homosexual Alcoholics ought to use their existing structure of service for electing/appointing an individual to serve as their GROUP REPRESENTATIVE to their respective Region.

Each Region, at a regularly scheduled meeting, is encouraged and entitled to select a male and female Regional Representative, and one Alternate Regional Representative from those groups sending Group Representatives, to act as their Voice on the International Advisory Council.

Regional Representatives will elect from its membership the persons to fill the positions of International Advisory Council Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson:

1. The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson positions will be filled by people of the opposite sex when possible.
2. The terms of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are limited to one 2-year term.
3. The deputy Chairperson will prepare to succeed the Chairperson at the end of the term of office of the Chairperson with the approval of the International Advisory Council.
4. The retiring Chairperson becomes Past Chairperson with voting rights for one year.
5. Delegates will serve two-year terms. Council officers may not serve two consecutive terms in any one position.

Suggested guidelines to hold position of trusted servants on the International Advisory Council:

1. Minimum two years of continuous sobriety.
2. Having had prior service experience within AA’s General Service Structure.
3. Willing to serve.
4. Able to serve.

A member who drinks or used drugs while in office will be dropped from the International Advisory Council.

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS

The full International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous will meet on a twice-yearly basis for the purposes of ensuring that we are meeting the needs of the people we are serving. Co-coordinating and publicizing the meeting date and place will be the responsibility of the Officers of the International Advisory Council. All attempts will be made to move the International Advisory Council from region to region, and try to co-ordinate the meeting with an existing conference until such time that an International Conference for recovering Homosexual Alcoholics is established. International Advisory Council meetings will not be held in the same regional area two meetings in a row. Additional meetings of the International Advisory Council may be scheduled provided consensus or majority approval is reached by the Regional Representatives and three months notice is given.

REGIONAL MEETINGS

Regional Representatives may schedule quarterly or semi-annual meetings in their respective areas with Group Representatives to ensure that an information flow is continued. These meetings should be moved around the Regional area to assist in keeping the travel costs minimal for the Group Representatives.

AREAS OF SERVICE

The areas of service (committees) the International Advisory Council may provide, although not limited to, are as follows:

LIAISON TO GSO—assisting Alcoholics Anonymous General Service Office with input regarding requests for information concerning Homosexual issues in Alcoholics Anonymous.

LITERATURE—submit for Conference Approval and assists in the preparation of literature for the Homosexual Alcoholic.

MEETING LISTS—co-ordinate and publish a list of groups/meetings that serve the recovering Homosexual alcoholics in AA and/or contact persons.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS—co-ordinate listing of events that pertain to the recovering Homosexual alcoholics in AA.

LONERS—a correspondence program for recovering Homosexual AA loners in isolated areas with other AA’s who wish to write to them.

NEWSLETTER—publishing and distributing internationally a periodic newsletter featuring information of the International Advisory Council activities, and (hopefully) a forum for recovering Homosexual AA members to share their experience, strength, and hope.

LESBIAN OUTREACH—create Lesbian visibility on the International Advisory Council by encouraging participation of women on all committees, and sponsoring a Third World Lesbian outreach geared toward attracting the participation on the Council of Lesbians from minority groups.

GROUP NEEDS—make information available to new groups of recovering Homosexual alcoholics and assist established groups with any problems they may have.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE—co-ordinate yearly conference. Regional Representatives shall chair or co-chair committees, drawing from their respective regions individuals to discharge responsibility of service.

FUNDING

In order to provide a communications network, it will be necessary to request monies from our membership. It is our intent to fund the International Advisory Council and its services thereby not disturbing the 60/30/10 plan, as suggested to groups. Possible supplemental funding suggestions are:

DONATIONS—to help keep this network alive! Please send ($10.00) per year to offset our expenses. This could be done on an individual basis through newsletters/mailing lists; individual donations will follow Traditions guidelines.

SALE OF DIRECTORY—to offset cost of publication and mailing, a nominal charge will be established for the directory.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CONFERENCES—either a special passing of the hat or a portion of the profit after expenses are met. When an International Conference is established, monies to offset International Advisory Council expenses should come from the profits of this event.

All monies donated or received by the International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous are the property of the International Advisory Council, the use of which will be determined by the Council. Any monies remaining after expenses and a prudent balance is maintained will be forwarded to the General Service Office for use for Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole.

CHARTER AMENDMENT ADOPTED FEBRUARY 19, 2005 BY THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP AT THE SPRING MEETING AT THE SEMA ROUNDUP:

Amendment to the Charter of The International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous.

We are adding new positions to the Executive Committee, which will be called advisors. The number will be at-least one but more if the committee feels the need for and trying to keep the number odd as to keep from having a tie vote and not being able to conduct business as needed.

CHARTER AMENDMENT ADOPTED JUNE 2, 2005 BY THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN TOTONTO:

Amendment to the Charter of The International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous

Voting power extended to include along with the Executive Committee the following: Standing Committees, Regional Representatives, State Representatives and International Country Representatives.

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