Greater Chicago SLAA Intergroup Principles

Statement of Purpose

The Greater Chicago SLAA Intergroup (GCSLAAI) exists to support Chicago area SLAA groups in carrying out the fifth tradition of SLAA – to carry the SLAA message to the sex and love addict who still suffers. Intergroup accomplishes this by:

1. Providing a regular forum for communication among SLAA groups.
2. Facilitating the exchange of information between local groups and fellowship-wide services.
3. Coordinating outreach activities provided to the public by managing the SLAA voice mail system, maintaining the post office box, and forwarding media and other public information requests to Fellowship Wide Services (FWS).
4. Planning and facilitating local SLAA sponsored events.
5. Selecting local delegates and underwriting their participation at the annual business meetings.

Preamble

Intergroup meetings are SLAA meetings. Therefore, they will be conducted as meetings and guided by the twelve steps, twelve traditions and twelve recommended guidelines of SLAA. A spirit of unity and service ought to pervade Intergroup meetings. For our group unity there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as this power may be defined through our group conscience.

Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup Bylaws

I.    Membership and Voting

a.    Any SLAA group duly registered with Fellowship Wide Services and meeting within 100 miles of Chicago (“Intergroup area”) is considered a member.

b.    Each member group is entitled to one voting representative in Intergroup meetings.  In addition, each Intergroup officer is entitled to one vote.  Intergroup officers who also serve as meeting representatives are only entitled to one vote.  Representatives of unregistered SLAA groups within the Intergroup area are encouraged to attend and participate in meetings, but may not vote.

c.    It is recommended but not required that Intergroup officers and representatives meet the following criteria:

i. One year membership in SLAA.

ii. Three months of sobriety from their personal bottom-line behaviors.

d.    Regular attendance at Intergroup meetings is important for continuity.

i.    Officers and member representatives must attend at least 9 of 12 scheduled meetings in one calendar year to remain in good standing.

ii. Absences in excess of 25% without reasonable cause may result in termination of an individual’s position as officer or member representative.

iii. Termination of an individual’s position as an officer or member representative for an excess of 25% absences from scheduled meetings may be accomplished through the majority vote of the Intergroup at a scheduled meeting.

II.    Meetings

a.    Meetings shall be held monthly or as designated by the Intergroup.

b.    A quorum of two officers and two representatives is required for any vote.

c.    Meetings shall be open to any SLAA member with the following limits:

i.    Any SLAA member may bring issues to the meeting for consideration and may participate in discussions.

ii. Voting rights are reserved for officers and member representatives.

iii. Representative of unregistered meetings and other SLAA members who are not officers or representatives are not considered when determining a quorum.

III.    Officers

All Officers will perform their role as set forth herein guided by the SLAA Traditions and Concepts.

a.    Chairperson

The Chairperson is the Officer responsible for the Facilitation of Intergroup function. As part of that responsibility, the Chairperson shall be responsible for:

i. Presiding at Intergroup meetings;

ii. Coordinating with the Communications Officer in responding to public information requests;

iii. Drafting the meeting agenda with input from the fellowship, Intergroup members and facilitates discussion guided by the SLAA Bylaws, Traditions and Concepts;

iv. Serve as a signatory to the checking account - Signing checks drawn on the SLAA Intergroup bank account, although the Chairperson may, from time to time, designate one or more additional Officers as having signatory authority;

v. Facilitating as necessary the Outreach, Inreach, and Fiduciary functions of the Intergroup, as well as the functions of the webmaster; and

vi. Establishing as needed and overseeing committees charged with Facilitation functions as needed.

b.    Vice-Chairperson

The Vice-Chairperson is the trusted servant responsible for Outreach functions of the Intergroup. As part of that responsibility, the Vice-Chairperson shall be responsible for: coordinating efforts to carry the message to those outside the local area SLAA fellowship.

i. Communicating as necessary with the public, newcomers, the media, professionals, clergy, other SLAA intergroups, and other 12-step fellowships;

ii. Assisting the Chairperson in the facilitation functions identified in paragraphs III(A)(1)-(6); and

iii. Establishing as needed and overseeing committees charged with Outreach functions. This officer may oversee a committee responsible for one or more Outreach functions.

c.    Secretary

The Secretary is the trusted servant responsible for Inreach functions of the Intergroup, and should be familiar with the operation of a personal computer. As part of that responsibility, the Secretary shall be responsible for:

i. Collecting and distributing to the Intergroup all documents related to Intergroup functions, including intergroup meeting minutes, Intergroup representatives lists, Intergroup committee reports, Intergroup Bylaws, and other documents needed by the group;

ii. Publishing and distributing information directed to meetings and meeting membership, such as newsletters and meeting lists;

iii. Informing Intergroup representatives and Officers of the Intergroup meeting schedule; and

iv. Establishing as needed and overseeing committees charged with Outreach functions.

d.    Treasurer

The Treasurer is the trusted servant responsible for Fiduciary functions of the Intergroup. The treasurer should be a responsible person with a solid period of sobriety. He or she should be organized enough to keep good records, and some accounting or bookkeeping experience is useful. Otherwise, the person elected may need help in setting up a system, and possibly some clerical assistance. Persuasiveness, firmness, and diplomacy will help the treasurer do the job. *If the committee includes a finance chair, the treasurer is free for record keeping and financial controls. As part of that responsibility, the Treasurer shall be responsible for:

i. Serving as a signatory for and maintaining the Intergroup checking account, including depositing all donations to the Intergroup in the checking account;

ii. Retrieving mail from the Intergroup post office box;

iii. Paying all Intergroup bills;

iv. Preparing monthly financial reports for the Intergroup;

v. In most cases the treasurer is responsible for encouraging contribution support for Intergroup services;

vi. Establishing as needed and overseeing committees charged with Fiduciary functions.

IV.    Nomination and Election of Officers

a.    Elections shall be held in March of each year.

b.    A one-month notice of elections shall be made to all groups through the Intergroup newsletter, web site and e-mail from the Secretary to all representatives and contact persons.

c.    A simple majority of all voting members present shall constitute a candidate’s election.

d.    Terms for all officers shall be for one year.  Officers are limited to three consecutive terms in any one position.

e.    A special election following the above procedure shall be held to fill unexpected vacancies.

V.    Selection of Delegates to the SLAA Annual Business Meeting

a.    The Intergroup is entitled to one delegate for every five groups.  The number delegates to be sent will be decided upon by the Intergroup, based in part on available funds.

b.    Nomination and election shall follow the same procedure as for officers.

c.    The term shall be as required by the World-Wide Fellowship Offfice.

d.    Alternates shall be the “runner ups” in the election.  They will attend if the delegates are unable to do so.

e.    Membership and sobriety requirements are as listed in the SLAA International Bylaws.

VI.    Amendments

a.    Any suggested amendment to the Bylaws must be presented to all groups through email to the representatives or contact persons three months prior to any discussion or vote on that amendment at an Intergroup meeting.