Finances
Area 79 Finances
The Area 79 Finance Committee
Committee Purpose
The Finance Committee discusses Area 79 self-support and the Seventh Tradition.
- Look for methods to improve carrying the message to groups.
- Review all literature relating to finance.
- Discuss and prepare annual budget for Area 79.
- Send our Delegate to New York for the annual Conference.
- Assure that expenses are in line with level of contributions.
The Area 79 Treasurer
What Does the Treasurer Do?
The Treasurer is responsible for the handling of all Area 79 Contributions and expenses and is one of the members of the Area Service Committee “Finance Committee” which also includes the Chair, Alternate Chair and Alternate Delegate. This Committee meets monthly to discuss all aspects of Area 79 financial matters.
Our 7th Tradition
Resources from A.A.®
Job Descriptions
Area Treasurer
The Treasurer should be a responsible person with a solid period of sobriety. They should be organized enough to keep good records and it is very desirable to have some accounting knowledge and/or bookkeeping experience. The person elected will be helped by the previous treasurer to become familiar with the Area 79 accounting procedures. The treasurer may also seek accounting and clerical assistance from volunteers within the fellowship. Persuasiveness, firmness and diplomacy will help the treasurer do the job.
BC/Yukon Area 79 operates on a calendar year with a budget in excess of $250,000. Currently we are using QuickBooks as our accounting software.
Duties
- Process cheques, electronic and cash contributions.
- Send out receipts by email or mail. When using mail include a new contribution card and self-addressed envelope.
- Make bank deposits regularly.
- Write and distribute expense cheques and other cheques requiring payment.
- Prepare monthly bank reconciliations and financial statements.
- Administrate Square Credit card processing account and work with Literature/Grapevine chairs to keep pricing current in Square inventory.
- Meet with ASC finance committee monthly in advance of the regular ASC meeting.
- Report to the Area Service Committee regarding the area’s financial status.
- Present four financial statements a year to the membership, and report on the financial health of GSB/AAWS/AAGV,
including detailed contribution lists (experience with MS Excel is therefore very useful). - Address any financial questions or concerns of the membership.
- Work with the Area Service Committee finance committee to prepare budgets for approval by the membership.
- Provide and maintain a display at area quarterlies and assemblies, and other A.A. events as required, to inform members of Area 79’s financial status and particulars of where the Seventh Tradition is spent.
- Oversee collection of Seventh Tradition at quarterlies and assemblies.
- Ensure cash is collected from self-support tins and safeguarded at quarterlies and assemblies; report on amounts collected.
- Chair the Area 79 finance committee, which meets at quarterlies and assemblies.
- Facilitate communication between district treasurers through such means as quarterly on-line sharing sessions.
- Correspond with our insurance agent before each quarterly event to ensure our certificate of insurance is correctly completed.
- Communicate with the bank regarding any changes to the account, ordering of supplies, etc.
- Prepare contribution envelopes and contribution cards and ensure adequate supply is kept at office.
- Duties common to all ASC members on the ASC page.
Follow up with guests that share rooms with ASC members to ensure they re-imburse Area when appropriate.
Qualifications
Knowledge of current self-support information (pamphlets, Final Conference Report, Box 459, etc.) is useful when sharing information at committee meetings and workshops.
Money has never been a requirement for A.A. membership or service work, and to keep it that way, all of A.A.’s trusted servants have an ongoing obligation to inform groups and individuals about the value of self-support and the need for voluntary contributions throughout the fellowship.
Finance Chair
(Position usually assigned to the Area 79 Treasurer)
The finance committee discusses self-support and the Seventh Tradition. We look for methods to improve carrying the message to groups and provide information on how to make contributions to BC/Yukon Area 79. We also review related literature and make suggestions on improving it.
Duties
- Assist all members to become familiar with our Seventh Tradition of self-support.
- Encourage groups to fulfill the duties of self-support to all levels of service, including district, area, the General Service Office and intergroup or central office.
- Provide a display at Area 79 assemblies and quarterlies and other AA events as requested, including pamphlets on self-support and information for group treasurers.
- Review the Area 79 financial position, as shown in current financial statements, with members of the committee.
- Encourage all committee members to review the Conference final report, especially the sections on finances and associated reports.
- Encourage members to ask questions on self-support and budgets for our area.
- Conduct workshops on finances and self-support as requested.
