PURPOSE: The Mid-Southern California Area 09 (herein “M.S.C.A.” and “Area 09”) Communications Committee (herein “Committee”) has the purpose of facilitating written communication within M.S.C.A and the fellowship at large. The result is that the Committee is interconnected with mutual resources and a common voice to other Area 09 service entities.
SCOPE: The current, May 2023 Committee Guidelines revise the latest version dated January 11, 2009 in a significant manner, eliminating four previous subcommittees, as their primary functions are fulfilled by other Standing Committees (particularly the new, 2022 Technologies Committee).
OFFICERS: Identified officers include chair, alternate chair, lead translator, secretary, and newsletter editor. All Area 09 members have the right of participation during Area Service Committee meetings, Area Service Assemblies, and announced meetings of the Committee.
- The Committee Chairperson is elected biannually in January of even-numbered years, from a list of members willing to stand, in conformance with our Third Legacy Voting Procedure. The Chairperson prepares an agenda and presides over Committee meetings; reports to Area 09 at Area Service Assemblies and Area Service Committee meetings; coordinates committee activities; and uses all available resources to assure Committee responsibilities are fulfilled.
- The Alternate Chairperson shall be elected internally by the Committee by simple majority, assuming the duties and responsibilities of the Chairperson in their absence, and will only have a vote at Area Service Assemblies and Area Service Committee meetings in the absence of the Chairperson.
- The Secretary shall be elected internally by the Committee by simple majority, taking attendance at Committee meetings, keeps a roster, records and archives minutes of Committee meetings, and makes them available as requested by the Chairperson and other Committee members. In addition, the Secretary records and archives minutes of email or conference call meetings, particularly where votes are taken.
- The Newsletter Editor (also “Editor“) is internally elected and responsible for producing the Area 09 Newsletter. Although not a hard-and-fast rule, historically the Past Delegate is invited to serve as the Editor. If after inviting the Past Delegate to serve as the Editor, they decline, then the Committee will internally elect a Newsletter Editor by simple majority.
- The Lead Translator shall be assigned the responsibility of translating all materials, working in close association with the Committee Chairperson and for Newsletter materials, with the Editor.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: The two primary purposes of the Committee are (1) to provide translation of written materials between English and Spanish and (2) to produce a monthly Newsletter.
- Translated materials may be submitted by (i) Any Area Officer; (ii) The Chair or Cochair of any Area Standing Committee or Subcommittee; (iii) Any Area 09 member providing materials to be included in the Newsletter; and, (iv) When identified by an Area 09 member, the Committee would facilitate translation of any historical, archived documents that occur only in English that need to be translated into Spanish to ensure equity within our Hispanic community.
- The types of materials to be translated include (i) Final agendas of monthly Area Service Committee meetings and Area Service Assemblies prepared by the Area Secretary; (ii) Draft and final minutes of monthly Area Service Committee meetings and Area Service Assemblies prepared by the Area Secretary; (iii) Draft and final minutes of monthly Board meetings, noting that final minutes are distributed to District Committee Members and District Committee Member Chairs by the Area Secretary; (iv) Flyers and announcements of Area-sponsored events, such as the FORO and Pre Conference Boot Camp; and, (v) Monthly Newsletter.
- The monthly Newsletter is to be published for the benefit of Area 09 members and may include but is not limited to the following, with a preference that the contents are provided by Area 09 members and pertains to service in our Area: (i) Local A.A. news and information about groups and committees; (ii) Reprinted material from A.A. literature; (iii) Sharing of experience in recovery, unity, and service; (iv) Information pertaining to Area actions, finances, and meetings; and (v) Information regarding A.A. service, events, and announcements. In keeping with A.A.’s tradition of cooperation without affiliation, no events exclusively planned as fund-raising events will be listed the Newsletter.
- Given the time sensitive nature of the Newsletter, it is desirable that the Newsletter is published monthly, allowingfor flexibility when, for unforeseeable reasons, the Newsletter Editor is unable to produce it. A draft Newsletter shall beproduced by the Editor approximately mid-month prior to the month of distribution (e.g., on October 15 for the November newsletter).
- The primary distribution of the Newsletter shall be via email and the Area 09 website (msca09aa.org). It is desirable that final versions of the Newsletter, in both English and Spanish, be delivered to the Area Secretary near the endof the month prior to the monthly volume (e.g., by about October 31 for the November Newsletter), which will allow the Area Secretary to electronically distribute the Newsletter to all Area 09 members on the email distribution list.