Document 7a: Sample Business Meeting Format

Date:                                                           

[Note to Secretary: Text in bold-faced type should be read aloud at each business meeting. Text in italics is not to be read aloud. It is intended for the secretary or the people making reports. 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. FA 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

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

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

connection Representative

• Report on any upcoming connection writing/art workshops or other communications

Meeting Contact

• Report on current status of the meeting information on the FA website. (Meeting contacts periodically review the Meeting Service Position Roster found in the meeting contact’s profile under Manage My Meetings on the FA website to verify that the service positions are correctly filled in and make updates to the information when needed.)

Treasurer

A Starting Balance $____

B Previous Month’s Income $____

C Previous Month’s Expenses $____

D New Balance $____ (A+B-C)

E Upcoming Expenses $____

F Balance on Hand $___ (D-E)

G Seventh Tradition Donations to Chapter or Intergroup*

H Seventh Tradition Donations to World Service Inc (WSI)* $____

I Ending Balance (Excludes today’s collection & Prudent Reserve)* $____ (F-G-H)

J Prudent Reserve (for rent and other upcoming expenses)*** $____

   * Amounts to be voted on during the business meeting.

 ** Line I. (ending balance) should be $0.

*** Each meeting typically keeps one or two months’ expenses in its prudent reserve.

Old Business

Items/motions from previous meeting

New Business

Items/motions from today's meeting

Serenity Prayer

MEETING SERVICE POSITIONS

Positions updated:

Note your meeting’s agreed upon abstinence requirements, terms of service, and start and end dates for positions. Suggested periods of service and abstinence requirements are listed for some positions. The 5-year abstinence requirement and the 1-year term of service for WSC Member are not just suggestions; they are required by the WSI bylaws. Positions marked with an asterisk (*) are required positions for every meeting. A connection Representative is only required for meetings that have subscriptions to the magazine.

Revised 2023 0327