Tempe Bloopers Bylaws
Approved by the body 12.12.2021
The Service Board of Tempe Bloopers A.A. group located in Tempe, Arizona, hereafter referred to as the "Board" has but one purpose: that of serving the fellowship of Tempe Bloopers group of Alcoholics Anonymous, hereafter referred to as “Bloopers.” The Board is an agency created and designated by the fellowship to maintain services for individuals seeking, through Alcoholics Anonymous, the means for arresting the disease of alcoholism through the application in their own lives, in whole or in part, of the Twelve Steps which constitute the recovery program upon which the fellowship is founded:
The Board in its deliberations and decision shall be guided by the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, hereinafter referred to as the "Traditions”:
The Board shall use its best efforts to ensure that these Twelve Traditions are followed accordingly, and it shall not permit others to modify, alter, or amplify these Traditions.
The Board shall also be guided by the spirit of the Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous hereinafter referred to as the "Concepts":
The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience. The short form of the Concepts reads:
Members of the Board hereinafter shall be referred to as "Trusted Servants" and shall be elected or re-elected at the annual meeting of the Board. All eligible home group members of Bloopers may be nominated to serve as Trusted Servants subject to these bylaws.
Membership in the Group shall consist of any alcoholic who registers his/her name and sobriety date with the group secretary. All information will always be held in strict confidence and shall be used by the secretary to validate voting participation at the regular business meetings. Voting participation is limited to Group members who have registered prior to the business meeting in which they will be voting.
Qualifications of a Trusted Servant:
Must be an alcoholic in recovery.
All trusted servants, whether elected or appointed, should meet the minimum sobriety requirements as follows:
· The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson must have a minimum five years of continuous sobriety.
· The following Trusted Servants must have a minimum of two years of continuous sobriety:
Any lapse in sobriety is cause for immediate removal of a trusted servant.
In accordance with A.A.'s belief in the spirit of rotation, no trusted servant shall be elected nor serve more than four (4) consecutive terms.
As a condition of nomination to the Board, a trusted servant agrees to be bound to, and comply with, all terms and provisions of these bylaws.
Notwithstanding the foregoing a trusted servants is expected, subject only to the laws of the state of Arizona and to these bylaws, at the request of 2/3 (two-thirds) of the Group members voting at two consecutive business meetings of the Group to resign their position, even though their terms of office as trusted servants may not have expired.
The Board shall have all the powers provided for in these bylaws and as are vested in a Board of Directors under the laws of the state of Arizona.
The Board may, by General Resolution, delegate to committees or members of the Board such powers as they deem appropriate in the service of the purpose to which the Board is dedicated.
The Board, subject to the laws of the state of Arizona, are expected to exercise the powers vested in them by law in a manner that guides our Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous as inspired by the Twelve steps of A.A. and in accordance with the Traditions and in keeping with the Concepts of A.A.
Other than the right to participate in the disposition thereof during their term of office, no trusted servant shall have any rights, title, or interest in the property or assets of the Board and his/her right to vote or otherwise participate in the disposition of property of the board shall cease on the termination of his/her ceasing to be a trusted servant.
The Board, at its annual election meeting, or other business meeting if a vacancy shall occur, shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, General Service Representative(s), Intergroup Representative(s), Literature person, and other service position deemed necessary by the Board and Fellowship of Bloopers.
In situations where the law requires, the Chairperson shall be considered ‘President’ and shall have those duties generally attributable by law and custom to a President under the laws of the state of Arizona with such greater and lessor duties as may from time to time be determined by the Board. But at no time shall he/she employ such title, except as may be required for execution of legal documents or by reason of other provisions of the law.
The Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer shall similarly perform those duties generally attributable by law and custom to such offices with such greater or lessor duties as may from time to time be determined by the Board.
The Board shall meet at our business meeting, also known as Group Conscience, which shall be held on the second Sunday of each month. Home group members are welcomed and encouraged to attend the monthly business meetings.
Should a trusted servant, during any elected term, not attend the monthly Group Conscience business meeting by either two (2) consecutive or three (3) absences total during the year, it shall constitute a cause for removal and the position should be filled, by a nomination and vote of the governing body, according to these bylaws no later than the next business meeting.
The fiscal policy of the Board shall be that of pay as you go in accordance with the Seventh Tradition, and guidelines for a prudent reserve and sufficient operating capital as set and approved by the Group.
No member of the Board shall at any time have any right, title, or interest in and to the funds or property of the Board. In the event in the Board is dissolved, the trusted servants shall distribute the funds and property of the Board in accordance with the “Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix” pamphlet (F-3), of Alcoholics Anonymous.
These bylaws of the Service Board of the Tempe Bloopers may be amended by affirmative vote of 75% of the voting members of the Board and home group members. In addition, it is recommended that the bylaws are reviewed every five years by a specially appointed ad hoc committee. Changes to the bylaws require substantial unanimity (2/3 vote) to be implemented.
Trusted Servant Positions:
Chairperson
– minimum 5 years of continuous sobriety
– 2-year suggested commitment
• Facilitate monthly group conscience meeting utilizing the guidelines given in the format binder
• Act as a point of contact for members having questions and/or problems
• Inform the group of current issues and concerns expressed by the group and/or issues pertaining to the group
• Sign off on all motions posted in the action log
• Be responsible for the keys to the thermostat (adjust temp when necessary), safe, supply room and extra keys
• Acts as the 2nd signature on all checks requiring two signatures
Vice Chairperson
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Assist the Chairperson with the monthly group conscience as needed
• Act as a point of contact for members having questions and/or problems
• Schedule speakers & chair the Saturday 8:30pm speaker meeting
• Create and post flyers of monthly speakers to include in format binder and bulletin boards
• Provide electronic copy of monthly speaker schedule to Web Servant for posting on www.tempebloopers.com
• Alternate 2nd cosigner in absence of the Chairperson
• Updates the group conscience member board when changes occur
Treasurer
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
– 2-year suggested commitment
• Collects the 7th Tradition and literature sale(s) envelopes from the safe
• Compares the 7th Tradition contributions with the ledger book to ensure accuracy; reports any discrepancies to the members of the Board
• Tallies and deposits all monies to Tempe Bloopers bank account
• Prepares checks for all monthly expenses
• Reconcile all accounts with the monthly bank statements
• Prepares report of reconciled bank balance, including receipts, disbursements, and reserve funds to present at monthly Group Conscience business meetings
• Posts the month’s treasurer report, after approval by the body, on the Bloopers business bulletin board
• Act as a liaison with the bank for completing any necessary documentation related to the bank account
Secretary
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Should have access to a computer and printer
• Record meeting minutes during the monthly group conscience business meetings
• Maintain the action log (old and new business), recording motions and decisions presented at the monthly group conscience meeting
• Report the previous month’s business meeting minutes at the monthly group conscience meetings
• Posts the prior month’s group conscience meeting report, after approval by the body, on the Bloopers business bulletin board
• Maintain our home group member list; to be updated monthly
• Maintain the “spirit of rotation" binder with updated copies available meeting service opportunities
• Supply a new meeting logbook when necessary (annually)
• Print copies of the Bloopers meeting and newcomer lists (meetings / phone # list) and ensures adequate copies are available
• Updates Group Conscience Member Board responsibilities as needed and posts on the Bloopers business bulletin board
• Create and provide flyers regarding upcoming group conscience members for the format binder and Bloopers business bulletin board
• Print and post agenda template for home group members’ suggestions, concerns, considerations, or requests to be discussed during the upcoming group conscience meeting
• Post flyers for AA phones activities, Birthday meeting, one to two weeks in advance
• Create and post new flyers pertaining to any group business, functions, special events as needed
• Provides receipts for any printing related costs to Treasurer for reimbursement
Literature:
• Inventories current supply of books, pamphlets, and other AAWS literature monthly
• Itemizes list of supplies necessary to purchase and restock monthly or as needed
• Purchases, on Tempe Bloopers account, all necessary literature from the East Valley Intergroup (EVI) office located at 1855 E Southern Ave, Suite 103, Mesa 85204
(EVI office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, closed holidays)
• Submits itemized list / receipts of literature obtained to Treasurer for payment to EVI
• Writes – in pencil – pricing in front cover of all books for sale prior to stocking the literature shelf
• Ensures literature shelves are stocked with books and newcomer packets
• Secures excess materials in the literature cabinet and maintains possession of the key and restocks shelves as needed
• Ensures pamphlet racks are well-stocked and organized
• Inventories Bloopers books for group use on a quarterly basis; ensures all books are in good condition, makes recommendations to the Group when new books are needed
GSR (General Service Rep.)
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
– 2-year commitment
• Carries the voice and vote of Bloopers as expressed in the group conscience
• Attends monthly Sub-District 08-818 GSR meeting held at Bloopers, 7pm - 8pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month
• Willing to travel to Area Assemblies, which take place four times per year (out of town events will need group approval for travel expenses)
• Keeps group members informed about General Service topics and activities pertinent to the local area
• Report all business and/or information from the district meeting or events to our group conscience
• Gather and post business and event flyers on Bloopers and Events bulletin boards (maintains bulletin boards as needed)
• Visits www.area03.org for additional resources and news
Alternate GSR Rep.
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers when GSR cannot attend Sub-district, District and/or Area Assemblies
• The alternate GSR is encouraged to attend Sub-district and District meetings and/or Assemblies along with the GSR, when possible
EVI (East Valley Intergroup) Rep.
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Carries the voice and vote of Bloopers as expressed in the group conscience at EVI Business meetings
• Attends monthly EVI meeting held at 7pm - 8pm on the 3rd Friday of each month
*Location: Hybrid – Zoom and Church of the Epiphany, 2222 S Price Rd, Tempe, 85282 (*subject to change)
• Report any business, information, and/or events to our group conscience along with any questions EVI asks the group to vote on
• Keeps group members informed about EVI activities and local service opportunities; EVI Monthly Speaker Meeting, Sponsorship Workshop, Phone Volunteer Training Workshop, etc.
• Gather and post business and event flyers on EVI and Events bulletin boards (maintains bulletin boards as needed)
• Collaborates with the EVI Phone Coord. for the monthly AA phone hotline, held on the 2nd Saturday 8am – 8pm, sign-up sheet with volunteers’ names and phone numbers
• Visits https://aamesaaz.org/ for additional resources and news
EVI Alternate Rep.
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers when EVI Rep. cannot attend monthly EVI Business meetings
• The alternate EVI is encouraged to attend EVI meetings along with the EVI Rep., when possible
EVI Phone Coordinator
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Upon election, the coordinator will attend the next upcoming EVI monthly phone training workshop, unless they have done so previously, held 3rd Friday at 6:15pm – 7pm
*Location: Hybrid – Zoom and Church of the Epiphany, 2222 S Price Rd, Tempe, 85282 (*subject to change)
• Posts information and sign-up sheet for Bloopers monthly AA phone hotline, held on the 2nd Saturday 8am – 8pm, sign-up sheet with volunteers’ names and phone numbers
• Ensures volunteers have attended EVI monthly phone training and current phone hotline information packet
H&I (Hospitals & Institutions) Rep.
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers at the monthly Valleywide H&I (VWHI) Business meetings held at 7pm – 8:30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month
*Location: Currently via Zoom, return to in-person meetings TBD, Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (*subject to change)
• Report any business, information, and/or events to our group conscience along with any questions VWHI asks the group to vote on
• Encourages Group members to participate in VWHI activities and/or service work
• Gathers and posts VWHI business and event flyers on H&I and Events bulletin boards (maintains bulletin boards as needed)
• Reports VWHI income and expenses report to the Board in his/her report at the monthly group conscience meeting
• Ensures that the Pink Can is available to members so they can make contributions for AAWS literature going to the confined alcoholic in hospitals and institutions and distributed by VWHI
• Collects monies from Pink Can donations and reports amount to Treasurer prior to turning in donations to WVHI
• Delivers Pink Can donations to the monthly VWHI Business meeting, returns donation receipt issued to the Treasurer
Pink Can donations may be given to the Treasurer for electronic donation to VWHI as an alternative
• Visits www.vwhi.org for additional resources and news
H&I Alternate Rep.
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers when H&I Rep. cannot attend monthly VWHI Business meetings represented
• The alternate H&I Rep. is encouraged to attend monthly VWHI Business meetings along with the H&I Rep., when possible
AA Grapevine Rep. (GVR)
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Makes Grapevine-related announcements, maintains the group’s magazine library
• Ensures that the Grapevine donation container is available to members so they can make contributions to purchase Grapevine / La Viña subscriptions for the Group in accordance with the 7th Tradition
• Collects monies from the Grapevine donations container; deposits into the safe in a dated envelope marked ‘Grapevine’
• Obtains subscriptions / bills from the mail / file cabinet to deliver Treasurer for payment
• Ensures the Group has adequate copies of the current magazine for the weekly Grapevine meetings and places them in a secured area in the file cabinet
• Coordinates with the H&I Rep. to donate older magazines to VWHI for distribution
• Visits www.aagrapevine.org/gvr for additional resources and news and contacts the Area 03 Grapevine / La Viña Coordinator for guidance at grapevine@area03.org
PI/CPC (Public Info and Cooperation with the Professional Community) Rep.
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Provides information about Alcoholics Anonymous to a wide variety of individuals and groups, to help carry the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers including the general public and local media, and those who have contact with alcoholics through their profession
• Attends monthly PI/CPC meetings held at 7pm - 8pm on the 3rd Friday of each month
*Location: Hybrid – Zoom and EVI Office, 1855 E Southern Ave, Suite 103, Mesa 85204 (*subject to change)
• Reports and communicates PI/CPC service opportunities for group members at the business meeting and during announcements, as necessary
• Visits www.aamesaaz.org/picpc for additional resources and news and contacts the Area 03 PI and CPC Coordinators for guidance at pi@area03.org and cpc@area03.org
Meeting Coordinator:
• Responsible for ensuring all meetings have chairpersons
• Creates and posts flyer for quarterly Spirit of Rotation Chairperson’s workshop
• Chairs Chairperson’s workshop held on the last Sunday of the monthly at 1pm at Bloopers
• Provides guidelines for chairing at meeting at Bloopers; more information found at www.tempebloopers.com
• Point of contact for all meeting chairpersons for issues, questions, or concerns
• Reports at the monthly group conscience meeting any recommendations and/or concerns
• Updates chalk Meeting board with current chairperson’s name and phone number as needed
Zoom Meeting Coordinator:
• Responsible for ensuring all Bloopers Zoom meetings have chairpersons
• Provides guidelines for chairing a Zoom meeting and ensures chairpersons follow group conscience approved format, Singleness of Purpose, and use of Conference Approved literature in meetings
• Point of contact for all meeting chairpersons for issues, questions, or concerns
• Reports at the monthly group conscience meeting any recommendations and/or concerns
• Collaborates with Web Servant to ensure Zoom meeting information is current
Web Servant:
• Should have working knowledge of Web site programming, design, and/or management
• Understands and adheres to AA Guidelines for the Internet https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/mg-18_internet.pdf
• Maintain and update www.tempebloopers.com as needed with upcoming Bloopers and local activities, announcements, etc. including links to additional resources such as AA, Grapevine, Area, Intergroups, VWHI, etc.
• Monitors and reports online contributions to the group Treasurer
• Post Bloopers Saturday night Speaker Meeting information on monthly calendar page
• Updates Bloopers Zoom meeting information as needed
• Monitor group email address tempebloopers@gmail.com and address accordingly, to Chairperson and/or Board
• Collaborates with Area 03 and each Valley Intergroup regarding any updates to Bloopers (meeting changes, events, announcements, etc.) as needed to maintain their respective websites with our current information and/or announcements
• Reports at the monthly group conscience meeting any recommendations and/or concerns
• Coordinates with Treasurer to pay hosting fees and domain registration fees
Birthday Coordinator:
• Chairs the Bloopers Monthly Birthday speaker meeting held on the last Saturday of the month at 8:30pm
• Collaborates with the Treasurer to purchase birthday cake or alternative for the celebration
• Collaborates with the Supplies Coord. to ensure that supplies for monthly Birthday meeting and potluck are sufficient
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
• Prepares Birthday cards and deposits them in the Birthday basket for distribution and signatures
• Assists Events Coord. with the potluck dinner held at prior to the Birthday meeting 7pm
• Inventories chips and coins; order chips and coins as needed – funding provided by the Treasurer
Events Coordinator:
• Coordinates all special events: holiday alcathons, Halloween party, potlucks, outside events, etc.
• Forms an Events Committee to assist with the planning and execution of all events
• Collaborates with the Treasurer to purchase food and other necessary items for each event
• Collaborates with the Supplies Coord. to ensure that supplies for events are sufficient
• Ensures that the Events donation container is available to members so they can make contributions for upcoming events in accordance with the 7th Tradition
• Collects monies from the Events donations container; deposits to the safe into a dated envelope marked ‘Events’
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
Cleaning Coordinator:
• Coordinates thorough cleaning of Bloopers weekly at 6am Sunday
o Bathrooms – cleaning / sanitation and restocking paper products
o Kitchen areas – cleaning / sanitation and restocking of supplies
o Floors – sweeping and mopping
o Emptying of all trash cans and depositing waste in dumpsters
o General dusting / tidying of all areas
• Forms a Cleaning Committee to assist with all aspects of keeping Bloopers clean and sanitary
• Collaborates with the Supply Coord. and reports any recommendations to the Group at the monthly group conscience meeting for necessary supplies and/or volunteers needed
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
• Chairs 7am Sunday Daily Reflections meeting after clean-up
Supplies / Recycling:
• Should have a truck or SUV and Costco/Sam’s Club membership card
• Ensures Bloopers has any supplies necessary to function and provide a clean, safe environment for all members (paper products, air filters, cleaning equipment, etc.)
• Collects cash purchases for water / soda from money box container mounted in kitchen
• Documents monies collected and reports amount to the monthly group conscience
• Purchases and stocks water, soda, and coffee, including necessary supplies (filters, creamer, sugar, etc.)
• Makes recommendations to the Group at the monthly group conscience meeting for maintenance and/or purchases to keep Bloopers operating efficiently
• Collects all recycling from containers and delivers to local recycling center
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
Plants Caretaker:
• Responsible for watering and maintaining condition of live and silk plants (dusting)
• Makes recommendations to the Group at the monthly group conscience meeting for disposal and/or purchasing of plants – both live and silk
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
Approved by the body 12.12.2021
The Service Board of Tempe Bloopers A.A. group located in Tempe, Arizona, hereafter referred to as the "Board" has but one purpose: that of serving the fellowship of Tempe Bloopers group of Alcoholics Anonymous, hereafter referred to as “Bloopers.” The Board is an agency created and designated by the fellowship to maintain services for individuals seeking, through Alcoholics Anonymous, the means for arresting the disease of alcoholism through the application in their own lives, in whole or in part, of the Twelve Steps which constitute the recovery program upon which the fellowship is founded:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The Board in its deliberations and decision shall be guided by the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, hereinafter referred to as the "Traditions”:
- Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
- 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.
- The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
- Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
- Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
- 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, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
- Every A.A. group ought to be self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
- A.A. as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
- Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
- 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.
- Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
The Board shall use its best efforts to ensure that these Twelve Traditions are followed accordingly, and it shall not permit others to modify, alter, or amplify these Traditions.
The Board shall also be guided by the spirit of the Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous hereinafter referred to as the "Concepts":
The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience. The short form of the Concepts reads:
- Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
- The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole society in its world affairs.
- To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A.—the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives—with a traditional “Right of Decision.”
- 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.
- Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
- The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board.
- The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness.
- The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of over-all 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.
- 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 trustees.
- Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
- 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.
- The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve 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, substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.
Members of the Board hereinafter shall be referred to as "Trusted Servants" and shall be elected or re-elected at the annual meeting of the Board. All eligible home group members of Bloopers may be nominated to serve as Trusted Servants subject to these bylaws.
Membership in the Group shall consist of any alcoholic who registers his/her name and sobriety date with the group secretary. All information will always be held in strict confidence and shall be used by the secretary to validate voting participation at the regular business meetings. Voting participation is limited to Group members who have registered prior to the business meeting in which they will be voting.
Qualifications of a Trusted Servant:
Must be an alcoholic in recovery.
All trusted servants, whether elected or appointed, should meet the minimum sobriety requirements as follows:
· The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson must have a minimum five years of continuous sobriety.
· The following Trusted Servants must have a minimum of two years of continuous sobriety:
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- General service representative(s)
- Intergroup representative(s)
Any lapse in sobriety is cause for immediate removal of a trusted servant.
In accordance with A.A.'s belief in the spirit of rotation, no trusted servant shall be elected nor serve more than four (4) consecutive terms.
As a condition of nomination to the Board, a trusted servant agrees to be bound to, and comply with, all terms and provisions of these bylaws.
Notwithstanding the foregoing a trusted servants is expected, subject only to the laws of the state of Arizona and to these bylaws, at the request of 2/3 (two-thirds) of the Group members voting at two consecutive business meetings of the Group to resign their position, even though their terms of office as trusted servants may not have expired.
The Board shall have all the powers provided for in these bylaws and as are vested in a Board of Directors under the laws of the state of Arizona.
The Board may, by General Resolution, delegate to committees or members of the Board such powers as they deem appropriate in the service of the purpose to which the Board is dedicated.
The Board, subject to the laws of the state of Arizona, are expected to exercise the powers vested in them by law in a manner that guides our Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous as inspired by the Twelve steps of A.A. and in accordance with the Traditions and in keeping with the Concepts of A.A.
Other than the right to participate in the disposition thereof during their term of office, no trusted servant shall have any rights, title, or interest in the property or assets of the Board and his/her right to vote or otherwise participate in the disposition of property of the board shall cease on the termination of his/her ceasing to be a trusted servant.
The Board, at its annual election meeting, or other business meeting if a vacancy shall occur, shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, General Service Representative(s), Intergroup Representative(s), Literature person, and other service position deemed necessary by the Board and Fellowship of Bloopers.
In situations where the law requires, the Chairperson shall be considered ‘President’ and shall have those duties generally attributable by law and custom to a President under the laws of the state of Arizona with such greater and lessor duties as may from time to time be determined by the Board. But at no time shall he/she employ such title, except as may be required for execution of legal documents or by reason of other provisions of the law.
The Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer shall similarly perform those duties generally attributable by law and custom to such offices with such greater or lessor duties as may from time to time be determined by the Board.
The Board shall meet at our business meeting, also known as Group Conscience, which shall be held on the second Sunday of each month. Home group members are welcomed and encouraged to attend the monthly business meetings.
Should a trusted servant, during any elected term, not attend the monthly Group Conscience business meeting by either two (2) consecutive or three (3) absences total during the year, it shall constitute a cause for removal and the position should be filled, by a nomination and vote of the governing body, according to these bylaws no later than the next business meeting.
The fiscal policy of the Board shall be that of pay as you go in accordance with the Seventh Tradition, and guidelines for a prudent reserve and sufficient operating capital as set and approved by the Group.
No member of the Board shall at any time have any right, title, or interest in and to the funds or property of the Board. In the event in the Board is dissolved, the trusted servants shall distribute the funds and property of the Board in accordance with the “Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix” pamphlet (F-3), of Alcoholics Anonymous.
These bylaws of the Service Board of the Tempe Bloopers may be amended by affirmative vote of 75% of the voting members of the Board and home group members. In addition, it is recommended that the bylaws are reviewed every five years by a specially appointed ad hoc committee. Changes to the bylaws require substantial unanimity (2/3 vote) to be implemented.
Trusted Servant Positions:
Chairperson
– minimum 5 years of continuous sobriety
– 2-year suggested commitment
• Facilitate monthly group conscience meeting utilizing the guidelines given in the format binder
• Act as a point of contact for members having questions and/or problems
• Inform the group of current issues and concerns expressed by the group and/or issues pertaining to the group
• Sign off on all motions posted in the action log
• Be responsible for the keys to the thermostat (adjust temp when necessary), safe, supply room and extra keys
• Acts as the 2nd signature on all checks requiring two signatures
Vice Chairperson
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Assist the Chairperson with the monthly group conscience as needed
• Act as a point of contact for members having questions and/or problems
• Schedule speakers & chair the Saturday 8:30pm speaker meeting
• Create and post flyers of monthly speakers to include in format binder and bulletin boards
• Provide electronic copy of monthly speaker schedule to Web Servant for posting on www.tempebloopers.com
• Alternate 2nd cosigner in absence of the Chairperson
• Updates the group conscience member board when changes occur
Treasurer
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
– 2-year suggested commitment
• Collects the 7th Tradition and literature sale(s) envelopes from the safe
• Compares the 7th Tradition contributions with the ledger book to ensure accuracy; reports any discrepancies to the members of the Board
• Tallies and deposits all monies to Tempe Bloopers bank account
• Prepares checks for all monthly expenses
• Reconcile all accounts with the monthly bank statements
• Prepares report of reconciled bank balance, including receipts, disbursements, and reserve funds to present at monthly Group Conscience business meetings
• Posts the month’s treasurer report, after approval by the body, on the Bloopers business bulletin board
• Act as a liaison with the bank for completing any necessary documentation related to the bank account
Secretary
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Should have access to a computer and printer
• Record meeting minutes during the monthly group conscience business meetings
• Maintain the action log (old and new business), recording motions and decisions presented at the monthly group conscience meeting
• Report the previous month’s business meeting minutes at the monthly group conscience meetings
• Posts the prior month’s group conscience meeting report, after approval by the body, on the Bloopers business bulletin board
• Maintain our home group member list; to be updated monthly
• Maintain the “spirit of rotation" binder with updated copies available meeting service opportunities
• Supply a new meeting logbook when necessary (annually)
• Print copies of the Bloopers meeting and newcomer lists (meetings / phone # list) and ensures adequate copies are available
• Updates Group Conscience Member Board responsibilities as needed and posts on the Bloopers business bulletin board
• Create and provide flyers regarding upcoming group conscience members for the format binder and Bloopers business bulletin board
• Print and post agenda template for home group members’ suggestions, concerns, considerations, or requests to be discussed during the upcoming group conscience meeting
• Post flyers for AA phones activities, Birthday meeting, one to two weeks in advance
• Create and post new flyers pertaining to any group business, functions, special events as needed
• Provides receipts for any printing related costs to Treasurer for reimbursement
Literature:
• Inventories current supply of books, pamphlets, and other AAWS literature monthly
• Itemizes list of supplies necessary to purchase and restock monthly or as needed
• Purchases, on Tempe Bloopers account, all necessary literature from the East Valley Intergroup (EVI) office located at 1855 E Southern Ave, Suite 103, Mesa 85204
(EVI office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, closed holidays)
• Submits itemized list / receipts of literature obtained to Treasurer for payment to EVI
• Writes – in pencil – pricing in front cover of all books for sale prior to stocking the literature shelf
• Ensures literature shelves are stocked with books and newcomer packets
• Secures excess materials in the literature cabinet and maintains possession of the key and restocks shelves as needed
• Ensures pamphlet racks are well-stocked and organized
• Inventories Bloopers books for group use on a quarterly basis; ensures all books are in good condition, makes recommendations to the Group when new books are needed
GSR (General Service Rep.)
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
– 2-year commitment
• Carries the voice and vote of Bloopers as expressed in the group conscience
• Attends monthly Sub-District 08-818 GSR meeting held at Bloopers, 7pm - 8pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month
• Willing to travel to Area Assemblies, which take place four times per year (out of town events will need group approval for travel expenses)
• Keeps group members informed about General Service topics and activities pertinent to the local area
• Report all business and/or information from the district meeting or events to our group conscience
• Gather and post business and event flyers on Bloopers and Events bulletin boards (maintains bulletin boards as needed)
• Visits www.area03.org for additional resources and news
Alternate GSR Rep.
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers when GSR cannot attend Sub-district, District and/or Area Assemblies
• The alternate GSR is encouraged to attend Sub-district and District meetings and/or Assemblies along with the GSR, when possible
EVI (East Valley Intergroup) Rep.
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Carries the voice and vote of Bloopers as expressed in the group conscience at EVI Business meetings
• Attends monthly EVI meeting held at 7pm - 8pm on the 3rd Friday of each month
*Location: Hybrid – Zoom and Church of the Epiphany, 2222 S Price Rd, Tempe, 85282 (*subject to change)
• Report any business, information, and/or events to our group conscience along with any questions EVI asks the group to vote on
• Keeps group members informed about EVI activities and local service opportunities; EVI Monthly Speaker Meeting, Sponsorship Workshop, Phone Volunteer Training Workshop, etc.
• Gather and post business and event flyers on EVI and Events bulletin boards (maintains bulletin boards as needed)
• Collaborates with the EVI Phone Coord. for the monthly AA phone hotline, held on the 2nd Saturday 8am – 8pm, sign-up sheet with volunteers’ names and phone numbers
• Visits https://aamesaaz.org/ for additional resources and news
EVI Alternate Rep.
– minimum 2 years of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers when EVI Rep. cannot attend monthly EVI Business meetings
• The alternate EVI is encouraged to attend EVI meetings along with the EVI Rep., when possible
EVI Phone Coordinator
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Upon election, the coordinator will attend the next upcoming EVI monthly phone training workshop, unless they have done so previously, held 3rd Friday at 6:15pm – 7pm
*Location: Hybrid – Zoom and Church of the Epiphany, 2222 S Price Rd, Tempe, 85282 (*subject to change)
• Posts information and sign-up sheet for Bloopers monthly AA phone hotline, held on the 2nd Saturday 8am – 8pm, sign-up sheet with volunteers’ names and phone numbers
• Ensures volunteers have attended EVI monthly phone training and current phone hotline information packet
H&I (Hospitals & Institutions) Rep.
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers at the monthly Valleywide H&I (VWHI) Business meetings held at 7pm – 8:30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month
*Location: Currently via Zoom, return to in-person meetings TBD, Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (*subject to change)
• Report any business, information, and/or events to our group conscience along with any questions VWHI asks the group to vote on
• Encourages Group members to participate in VWHI activities and/or service work
• Gathers and posts VWHI business and event flyers on H&I and Events bulletin boards (maintains bulletin boards as needed)
• Reports VWHI income and expenses report to the Board in his/her report at the monthly group conscience meeting
• Ensures that the Pink Can is available to members so they can make contributions for AAWS literature going to the confined alcoholic in hospitals and institutions and distributed by VWHI
• Collects monies from Pink Can donations and reports amount to Treasurer prior to turning in donations to WVHI
• Delivers Pink Can donations to the monthly VWHI Business meeting, returns donation receipt issued to the Treasurer
Pink Can donations may be given to the Treasurer for electronic donation to VWHI as an alternative
• Visits www.vwhi.org for additional resources and news
H&I Alternate Rep.
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Represents Bloopers when H&I Rep. cannot attend monthly VWHI Business meetings represented
• The alternate H&I Rep. is encouraged to attend monthly VWHI Business meetings along with the H&I Rep., when possible
AA Grapevine Rep. (GVR)
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Makes Grapevine-related announcements, maintains the group’s magazine library
• Ensures that the Grapevine donation container is available to members so they can make contributions to purchase Grapevine / La Viña subscriptions for the Group in accordance with the 7th Tradition
• Collects monies from the Grapevine donations container; deposits into the safe in a dated envelope marked ‘Grapevine’
• Obtains subscriptions / bills from the mail / file cabinet to deliver Treasurer for payment
• Ensures the Group has adequate copies of the current magazine for the weekly Grapevine meetings and places them in a secured area in the file cabinet
• Coordinates with the H&I Rep. to donate older magazines to VWHI for distribution
• Visits www.aagrapevine.org/gvr for additional resources and news and contacts the Area 03 Grapevine / La Viña Coordinator for guidance at grapevine@area03.org
PI/CPC (Public Info and Cooperation with the Professional Community) Rep.
– minimum 1 year of continuous sobriety
• Provides information about Alcoholics Anonymous to a wide variety of individuals and groups, to help carry the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers including the general public and local media, and those who have contact with alcoholics through their profession
• Attends monthly PI/CPC meetings held at 7pm - 8pm on the 3rd Friday of each month
*Location: Hybrid – Zoom and EVI Office, 1855 E Southern Ave, Suite 103, Mesa 85204 (*subject to change)
• Reports and communicates PI/CPC service opportunities for group members at the business meeting and during announcements, as necessary
• Visits www.aamesaaz.org/picpc for additional resources and news and contacts the Area 03 PI and CPC Coordinators for guidance at pi@area03.org and cpc@area03.org
Meeting Coordinator:
• Responsible for ensuring all meetings have chairpersons
• Creates and posts flyer for quarterly Spirit of Rotation Chairperson’s workshop
• Chairs Chairperson’s workshop held on the last Sunday of the monthly at 1pm at Bloopers
• Provides guidelines for chairing at meeting at Bloopers; more information found at www.tempebloopers.com
• Point of contact for all meeting chairpersons for issues, questions, or concerns
• Reports at the monthly group conscience meeting any recommendations and/or concerns
• Updates chalk Meeting board with current chairperson’s name and phone number as needed
Zoom Meeting Coordinator:
• Responsible for ensuring all Bloopers Zoom meetings have chairpersons
• Provides guidelines for chairing a Zoom meeting and ensures chairpersons follow group conscience approved format, Singleness of Purpose, and use of Conference Approved literature in meetings
• Point of contact for all meeting chairpersons for issues, questions, or concerns
• Reports at the monthly group conscience meeting any recommendations and/or concerns
• Collaborates with Web Servant to ensure Zoom meeting information is current
Web Servant:
• Should have working knowledge of Web site programming, design, and/or management
• Understands and adheres to AA Guidelines for the Internet https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/mg-18_internet.pdf
• Maintain and update www.tempebloopers.com as needed with upcoming Bloopers and local activities, announcements, etc. including links to additional resources such as AA, Grapevine, Area, Intergroups, VWHI, etc.
• Monitors and reports online contributions to the group Treasurer
• Post Bloopers Saturday night Speaker Meeting information on monthly calendar page
• Updates Bloopers Zoom meeting information as needed
• Monitor group email address tempebloopers@gmail.com and address accordingly, to Chairperson and/or Board
• Collaborates with Area 03 and each Valley Intergroup regarding any updates to Bloopers (meeting changes, events, announcements, etc.) as needed to maintain their respective websites with our current information and/or announcements
• Reports at the monthly group conscience meeting any recommendations and/or concerns
• Coordinates with Treasurer to pay hosting fees and domain registration fees
Birthday Coordinator:
• Chairs the Bloopers Monthly Birthday speaker meeting held on the last Saturday of the month at 8:30pm
• Collaborates with the Treasurer to purchase birthday cake or alternative for the celebration
• Collaborates with the Supplies Coord. to ensure that supplies for monthly Birthday meeting and potluck are sufficient
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
• Prepares Birthday cards and deposits them in the Birthday basket for distribution and signatures
• Assists Events Coord. with the potluck dinner held at prior to the Birthday meeting 7pm
• Inventories chips and coins; order chips and coins as needed – funding provided by the Treasurer
Events Coordinator:
• Coordinates all special events: holiday alcathons, Halloween party, potlucks, outside events, etc.
• Forms an Events Committee to assist with the planning and execution of all events
• Collaborates with the Treasurer to purchase food and other necessary items for each event
• Collaborates with the Supplies Coord. to ensure that supplies for events are sufficient
• Ensures that the Events donation container is available to members so they can make contributions for upcoming events in accordance with the 7th Tradition
• Collects monies from the Events donations container; deposits to the safe into a dated envelope marked ‘Events’
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
Cleaning Coordinator:
• Coordinates thorough cleaning of Bloopers weekly at 6am Sunday
o Bathrooms – cleaning / sanitation and restocking paper products
o Kitchen areas – cleaning / sanitation and restocking of supplies
o Floors – sweeping and mopping
o Emptying of all trash cans and depositing waste in dumpsters
o General dusting / tidying of all areas
• Forms a Cleaning Committee to assist with all aspects of keeping Bloopers clean and sanitary
• Collaborates with the Supply Coord. and reports any recommendations to the Group at the monthly group conscience meeting for necessary supplies and/or volunteers needed
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
• Chairs 7am Sunday Daily Reflections meeting after clean-up
Supplies / Recycling:
• Should have a truck or SUV and Costco/Sam’s Club membership card
• Ensures Bloopers has any supplies necessary to function and provide a clean, safe environment for all members (paper products, air filters, cleaning equipment, etc.)
• Collects cash purchases for water / soda from money box container mounted in kitchen
• Documents monies collected and reports amount to the monthly group conscience
• Purchases and stocks water, soda, and coffee, including necessary supplies (filters, creamer, sugar, etc.)
• Makes recommendations to the Group at the monthly group conscience meeting for maintenance and/or purchases to keep Bloopers operating efficiently
• Collects all recycling from containers and delivers to local recycling center
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement
Plants Caretaker:
• Responsible for watering and maintaining condition of live and silk plants (dusting)
• Makes recommendations to the Group at the monthly group conscience meeting for disposal and/or purchasing of plants – both live and silk
• Submits all receipts to the Treasurer for reconciliation and/or reimbursement