Brighton Area intergroup is one of 11 intergroups in South East Region.
Our intergroup meetings start at 19:15 at the Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton. Doors open at 18:30. Everybody is welcome. Here are our next meetings:
We have vacancies for the following: archivist; armed forces; Christmas day; convention treasurer; public information; share; regional representatives; Call Alan on 0770 353 7748 if you would like to learn more about any of these roles.
Aims
The aims of our intergroup are to aid our constituent groups in their common purpose of carrying their AA message to the still suffering alcoholic and, by using their combined strength and unity, to improve and maintain good relations with all organisations in our community.
Officers
In the event of a vacancy occurring among the officers before the expiry of their term of office, a member may be co-opted for a limited period of time until the next intergroup meeting. At this meeting the member co-opted could be elected to this post. The officers can co-opt a member or members, either from GSRs or from groups to perform a specific service such as organising a convention or convening a public meeting. The intergroup may establish sub-committees for specific purposes.
Roles
The chair conducts the meetings, approves the agenda and minutes before they are published and carries the executive authority of intergroup but should account for any action taken at the next meeting.The vice chair runs our intergroup workshops. The secretary prepares the agenda and minutes of meetings and distributes them to groups well before meetings. The secretary also keeps in touch with our General Service Office making sure that it promptly has a copy of the minutes and notice of any change of office. The treasurer publishes our accounts on our website.
- our health officer is responsible for establishing links with health professionals and co-ordinating all aspects of carrying the message within the healthcare system
- our employment liaison officer works with local businesses
- our telephone officer recruits responders to answer our helpline. They also maintain a list of our members willing to make 12-step calls.
- our region representatives attend intergroup meetings and region meetings in order to feed information from one to the other.
- our archivist keeps a history of AA in our area.
- our armed services officer establishes and maintains communication between AA, the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force. They also forge links with community welfare officers as well as organisations supporting soldiers, their families and veterans.
- our electronic communications officer updates our website and produces our ‘where to find’ using data provided by our secretary.
- our employment officer carries our message to local employers
- our health officer establishes links with hospitals, detox centres and clinics. They promote an awareness of AA and provide information about it to health organisations and alcoholic patients through visits and by making them aware of AA literature, helplines and websites.
- our homeless officer establishes links with homelessness outreach agencies and charities by promoting an awareness of AA by utilising available literature. They also welcome the homeless alcoholic into the fellowship and encourage service through our service structure.
- our prison officer gathers and collates information about AA groups in Lewes Prison. Our PLO keeps him/herself informed through South East Region and our GSO of Home Office and conference policy about parole and the use of recordings in order to help prison sponsors. Our GSO and our General Service Board maintain contact with the prison department of the Home Office.
- our probation officer establishes links with the probation services in England so that their clients can be introduced to AA.Talks to probation officers may further our primary purpose.
- our public information officer ensures that our message is carried to other organisations. A panel of members complies with requests for speakers. Our PILO also helps local press and radio obtain information about AA.
- our Share officer provides contacts between members, groups and the editorial team. They actively encourage the contribution of articles and letters, and the promotion of the magazine.
- our young peoples officer shares our message with younger people both inside and outside our fellowship.This includes working with public information, health and employment to establish contacts with local schools, colleges, youth organisations and employers.
Conventions
Our convention shows newcomers that it is possible to enjoy life after drinking: it celebrates sobriety.
The convention committee is autonomous in its overall responsibility for the convention but is accountable to our intergroup. Our convenor is elected for four years and must have served at least one term in another position on the committee. The election of a new convenor must be ratified by our intergroup assembly.
Al-Anon and Alateen
In accordance with the Twelve Traditions a convention is either AA or Al-Anon. However most AA convention committees invite Al-Anon to participate by planning their own programmes, and the committee arranges facilities for Al-Anon meetings. If AA invites Al-Anon to join a convention all expenses for the Al-Anon meetings are paid for by AA.
Alateen
These groups are part of Al-Anon Family groups, and their formation and servicing is not an AA function or responsibility.