Purpose

The purpose of the Finance Committee is to assist and help guide the Area Assembly in applying the Seventh Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous to Maryland General Service business activities.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Finance Chairperson

  • appointed by the Area Chairperson for a term of two years, beginning in January of the even-numbered years.
    • Attends the Area Assembly and Area Committee meetings.
    • Chairs Finance Committee meetings and reports back to the Area Assembly.
    • Provides financial leadership to the Area.
    • Assists the Treasurer in the performance of the Treasurer’s duties.
    • Works with the Finance Committee to prepare s financial guidelines to facilitate Area decision- making to eliminate the need for the Area Assembly to approve every detailed expenditure.
    • Documents the financial policy and procedure decisions, including their rationale, for inclusion in the Area Handbook.
    • Initiates changes in financial policies and procedures when necessary.
    • Assists in the preparation, presentation, and management of Area budgets.
    • Works with Area Treasurer to select qualified individuals to perform the annual tax filings of the financial records and communicates with the Treasurer and the CPA to ensure that all state and federal tax returns are filed on time.
    • As requested, attends group, Intergroup, District or other Area A.A. events to share information, knowledge, and archives materials of the A.A. fellowship.
    • Prepares the annual Finance Committee budget request to be submitted to the Finance Committee in the fall of each year and is prepared with supporting documentation to answer any questions which may be asked during the budget approval process.
    • May attend service functions or events as listed on the page entitled “Expense Reimbursement for Area Officers and Committee Chairs” at the end of this Handbook and request reimbursement as provided in the Area 29 Budget for this committee and approved by the Area Assembly each year.
    • Attends one or more Conference Agenda Review Committee (“CARC”) meetings, the Area Mini Conference and is responsible to review the F-19, Self-Support Packet to make any recommendations for changes to the Area and/or the General Service Conference Coordinator
    • Is encouraged to write and submit service-related articles for the quarterly Maryland General Service Newsletter, the MARGENSER
    • Forms a working committee of A.A. members to assist in carrying out the performance of these responsibilities.

    Reprinted from MGS Area 29 Assembly Handbook, March 2024, P.39.

    For further information contact the Finance Chair at finance@marylandaa.org