Document 7a: Business Meeting Format

[Note to Secretary: Text in bold-faced type should be read aloud at each business meeting. Text in italics does not need to be read aloud; they are instructions for the secretary or examples of topics that may be relevant to each report. Please send this Agenda ahead of the monthly meeting to people who will be making reports.]

Introduction

We typically have a business meeting each month, even if there is no apparent pressing business. Business meetings provide an opportunity to consider how effectively our meeting is reaching newcomers. 

All FA members are welcome to attend these business meetings. Members with 90 days of continuous abstinence in FA who are working with an FA sponsor and who regularly attend this meeting are welcome to speak and to vote.

Let’s begin with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer.

Reports

Ask each representative/contact to share your report. Some reps/contacts might answer with “No report,” if they have not received anything that month from WSI or their intergroup or chapter.

Literature Representative

• Does literature need to be ordered? If so, a motion/vote will be needed to spend the funds

• Other updates regarding literature

Public Information Representative

• Announcements regarding WSI weblinks, media watch, and healthcare watch

• Discussion about upcoming PI initiatives, such as information sessions or health fairs

World Service Incorporated (WSI) Contact

• Reading of WSI annual/quarterly reports or other WSI communications

• Announcements of upcoming events sponsored by WSI

Intergroup and/or Chapter Contact

• Reading of intergroup/chapter reports or other communications

• Announcements of upcoming events sponsored by intergroup/chapter

MESA Representative (Meeting Effectiveness Support and Assistance)

• MESA Resource Calls – report on previous topic and announce upcoming topic

• Ask for any meeting concerns and lead the discussion

• Pose a question from the Meeting Inventory section of the Meeting Effectiveness Questions (Document 9 of the Meeting Guidelines) and lead a brief discussion. Alternatively, a meeting may choose to have the MESA Rep may pose a question during meeting announcements (see Document 7) and forgo this discussion. This should be decided by group conscience at the business meeting.

Connection Representative

• Report any upcoming Connection writing/art workshops or other communications

Meeting Contact

• Report current status of the meeting information on the FA website. (Meeting contacts periodically review the meeting information on the FA website to verify that the service positions are filled and make updates to the contact/rep information when needed.)

Treasurer

1. Starting Balance $

2. Income over the last month (not including today’s collection) $

3. Rent paid $

4. Other expenses over the last month. Itemize below (if helpful): $

5. New Balance $________ [A+B-C-D]

Once a prudent reserve has been set aside, use the new balance to consider upcoming expenses (e.g., rent, videoconference license, literature, PI efforts, etc) when deciding how much to donate to WSI, IG, or Chapter.) Estimate here:  $_____

6. Seventh Tradition Donations to chapter or intergroup* $

7. Seventh Tradition Donations to World Service Inc.* $

8. Ending Balance (should match the estimate above) $____ [E-F-G]

(Do not include prudent reserve**)

• Amounts to be voted on during the business meeting.

** Each meeting typically keeps one or two months’ expenses in its prudent reserve as determined by

group conscience. The prudent reserve is not a factor in tallying monthly balances. It is held aside 

for emergencies.

Old Business

Items/motions from previous meeting

New Business

Items/motions from today's meeting

Serenity Prayer

Revised June 2024