St. Paul Al-Anon Intergroup By-Laws
Preliminary Draft of 2015 Revision

This is a revised version of the 2012 Bylaws, approved January 2013. A completed draft was given preliminary approval at the June 11, 2015 Intergroup meeting. The bylaws require that the final approval must be by a 2/3 majority “following a written notification to all groups of pending changes.” The notice in the July Newsleter constitutes this notification. The final vote on the changes will be at the August 11, 2015 meeting.

Any text to be eliminated or changed will look like this. New text will look like this. The only proposed change is to Part B of Article VII Section 3.

Article I NAME
The name of this organization is “St. Paul Al-Anon/Alateen Intergroup.”
Throughout these By-Laws, Al-Anon shall always be taken to include Alateen
Article II OBJECTIVES
Section 1
The purpose of Intergroup is to aid Al-Anon Groups, serving the common purpose of carrying the Al-Anon message to the suffering families and friends of alcoholics.
Section 2
Among the principal functions of Intergroup are maintaining an office that is open on a regular schedule for the sale of literature and providing telephone and internet information about Al-Anon and about meeting times. A professional answering service may be engaged to answer the phone when volunteers are not available.
Section 3
The guiding principles of Intergroup are the Al-Anon/Alateen Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts, together with the policies set forth in the Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual.
Article III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
Membership in Intergroup is open to all Al-Anon Groups in the Greater St. Paul area (Ramsey, Washington and Dakota Counties).
Section 2
Each group may select one Intergroup Representative (IR) and one Alternate IR whose term will be for one year starting January 1. Any group may select a replacement IR or Alternate IR at any time to serve the remainder of the year.
Article IV OFFICERS
Section 1
The officers are Chair, Vice-chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. They must be active Al-Anon members and preferably be present or past IR’s. Their responsibilities are set forth in in a notebook to be updated and maintained in the office.
Section 2
Officers shall serve a term of one year starting January 1 and may serve no more than two consecutive terms in a single office.
Section 3
Officers for the coming year shall be nominated at the November and December meetings and elected at the December meeting. Elections shall be in the following order – Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Treasurer.
Section 4
Officer vacancies shall be filled by special election. Replacement officers who are elected in January, February or March of any year shall be considered full term officers.
Article V MEETINGS
Section 1
Meetings shall be held once a month unless a motion to omit a meeting is carried by substantial unanimity at the preceding meeting.
Section 2
Groups shall be notified as to the date, time and place of Intergroup meetings.
Section 3
Each Group shall have one vote. In the absence of a group’s IR, the Alternate IR may vote. No IR, Alternate IR, or individual may represent / vote for more than one group.
Section 4
All important decisions shall be made in accordance with the principle of Substantial Unanimity (2/3 majority or greater as may be decided by majority vote).
Section 5
Additional meetings may be called by the Chair or by the Vice Chair. Groups shall be notified of such meetings at least two weeks in advance.
Section 6
The regular monthly meetings shall include but are not limited to the following:
  1. Summary of the minutes of the last meeting
  2. Report of the Treasurer
  3. Other reports from Committees and liaisons
  4. Unfinished business
  5. New business
Section 7
No important decision shall be made without a quorum consisting of representatives from at least 5 percent of the Greater St. Paul Area Al-Anon Groups.
Section 8
Both incoming and outgoing IRs are to attend the December meeting. The outgoing officers shall preside.
Article VI COMMITTEES and LIAISONS
Section 1
Whenever possible, the functions of Intergroup are carried out by Standing Committees and other Committees as may be established for particular purposes.
Section 2
Committee Chairs, with the exception of the chair of the Program Committee (Intergroup Vice-Chair), shall be appointed by the Intergroup Chair.
Committees may have Co-chairs. In particular, this may be advantageous for the Volunteer and Literature Committees.
Committee chairs and co-chairs should be IRs or Alternate IRs, whenever possible. All committee members should be active Al-Anon members.
Section 3
Standing Committees shall be as follows:
Alateen Archives Directory Event Sales Group Liaison
Institutions Liaison MN South Area Literature Newsletter Office Manager
Program Public Outreach Speakers Volunteer Website
Section 4
The Chair of Intergroup shall be an ex-officio non-voting member of all committees.
Section 5
Liaisons to other Al-Anon service organizations such as Minneapolis Information Service, the Minnesota South Area Assembly and conference planning committees may be appointed when appropriate.
Section 6
Committees shall follow World Service Office guidelines, where appropriate. Their responsibilities and guidelines are set forth in a notebook to be updated and maintained in the office.
Article VII FINANCES
Section 1
Intergroup shall be a non-profit organization, undertaking no activities or assuming any obligations which might result in financial deficits unless offset by receipts from contributions or Al-Anon activities such as open meetings.
Section 2
In accordance with Tradition 7, Intergroup is self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Appeals may be made to groups and individuals for financial support. Contributions may be accepted from Alcoholics Anonymous conferences and roundups that have substantial Al-Anon participation.
Section 3
Intergroup shall maintain its funds in an insured checking account subject to the following policies.
  1. There shall be at least three officers who can sign checks, including but not limited to the Chair, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer; all may be bonded.
  2. Checks and other withdrawals shall require two signatures. Under no circumstances should a blank check ever be signed.

    Bills may be paid by check or electronically. Oversight shall be achieved by using an effective method for at least one officer to monitor the debit activity on the account independent of the officer conducting the debiting actions. The same person shall not make debits and reconcile accounts.

  3. The Treasurer shall make monthly written financial reports to Intergroup
  4. An Audit Committee composed of three IRs shall be appointed by the Intergroup Chair each December for the purpose of reconciling bank statements, journals and treasurer’s reports and reviewing sales invoices, orders and inventory.
Section 4
Office equipment and literature inventory shall be insured up to value each year.
Article VIII AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular business meeting by a vote of two thirds of all groups represented, following a written notification to all groups of pending changes. The By-Laws shall be reviewed and any necessary revisions recommended to Intergroup every three years by an appointed committee. Next review (January 2015) to be read at the March 2015 meeting.
Copies of these by-laws shall be available at all Intergroup meetings. The Chair shall summarize the by-laws at the first regular meeting in January. By-Laws shall be given to new IRs.

Twin Cities Al-Anon/Alateen Home | St. Paul Al-Anon/Alateen Intergroup Home
Index of earlier bylaws

Updated July 8, 2015