There are many ways you can serve the MA community.

MEETING LEVEL POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

SECRETARY

The group secretary, can add vitality and direction to the meeting. MAWS suggests a minimum of six months continuous clean time to serve as secretary.
Length of term is usually six months.
Typical responsibilities of the secretary include:
1. Always be on time (at least 10 minutes before meeting begins).
2. Make sure the meeting begins and ends on time.
3. Pick a leader/speaker/chairperson for the meeting.
4. Make sure all service commitments are filled.
5. Make sure a business meeting is held once a month.
6. Provide time for the GSR, committee reports, and any other MA announcements.
7. Provide GSR with any changes of meeting time, format, etc., to take to DSC
8. Meeting for changes in the schedule.
9. Fill out meeting record sheet (Chapter 4).
10. Keep meeting format notebook and meeting records.

TREASURER

The group treasurer is the custodian and disburser of monies received via group collections, and as indicated in the 7th Tradition, accepting money only from MA members. Suggested clean time is six months to serve. Suggested length of MA SERVICE term is six months.
Typical responsibilities of the treasurer include:
1. Collect the 7th Tradition from the group.
2. Keep a detailed accounting of the group financial position (Chapter 4).
3. Keep the group funds. (Traditionally, groups do not accumulate funds beyond current
expenses and retaining a prudent reserve of one month’s expenses.)
4. Pay the rent for the meeting place. (As indicated by our 7th Tradition, some kind of
rent should be paid, if only a token.)
5. Pay for refreshments and supplies.
6. Disburse money to purchase chips and MA literature.
7. Stay after meeting to collect money from the sale of literature (sold at cost).
8. Keep track of chips needed to be ordered from the DSC, if the meeting has no chip person.
9. Forward contribution to district office. (Local groups generally accept the 75/25 plan as recommended by the DSC, contributing 75% of the excess funds to the local district, and 25% to the World Service organization.)
10. Keep the meeting records, if the secretary does not.

LITERATURE PERSON

The typical responsibilities of the Literature person are:
1. Always be on time (preferably at least 10 minutes before the meeting begins).
2. Keep MA literature available, and separate from non-approved literature.
3. Give literature report telling members what literature is available.
4. Set up “Newcomer Packets” with MA pamphlets, schedules, and flyers, and make sure newcomers get what they need.
5. Replenish the literature as needed.

REFRESHMENTS AND/OR COFFEE PERSON(S)

The typical responsibilities of the Refreshments/Coffee person are:
1. Always be on time (at least 10 minutes before meeting begins).
2. Buy (or make, if desired) and bring refreshments, coffee, etc.
3. Keep refreshment costs within reason.

CHIP PERSON

The typical responsibility of the chip person is to hand out chips at the meeting and replenish the supply as needed.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Many groups feel that a Steering Committee is essential to the welfare and growth of the meeting. The committee is usually made up of past officers and concerned members. The committee represents a cross-section of the group, and its chief function is to advise and aid selected trusted servants in business and policy matters for the meeting.

GROUP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES

Group service refers to all MA service work whose purpose is the maintenance and preservation of MA’s unified identity and presence. Group service necessarily involves activities and decisions that are responsive to the group conscience of all MA groups. To accomplish group service, each MA group chooses a Group Service Representative and an alternate. The GSR represents the voice of the group conscience, reporting the group’s wishes and ideas to the District Service Committee Meeting. The GSR also reports DSC Meeting activities back to the group. The GSR needs the confidence of the group, and should have a good ear for listening. The GSR is in the position to determine the conscience of the group, and is the voice for communicating the group’s conscience to the rest of MA. The GSR has the job of linking his or her group with the local district and MA as a whole. After a few months of service, the GSR should also be on one of the district committees to help serve MA as a whole. It is from this group of trusted servants that the MA Delegates are usually selected. Suggested clean time is six months to serve as a GSR.
Length of term is one year.

Typical responsibilities of the GSR include:
1. Report the group’s wishes to the monthly DSC Meeting and to the Delegates to the MAWS Conference.
2. Should attend the monthly DSC Meeting, take notes, and report back to the group, keeping the group well informed about MA.
3. Report to the group the minutes of trustee conference calls, MAWS financial reports and minutes of the Conference, as well as district business and activities.
4. Keep report concise. This is not the place for opinions, those should be discussed at the group’s business meetings.
5. Confirm and/or take the group donations from the group’s treasurer to the DSC Meeting.
6. Confirm that adequate supplies of chips and MA literature are available for the group.
7. Act as a “service sponsor” for the incoming GSRs when term is done.
8. Make certain that the alternate GSR attends the DSC Meeting in the event the GSR can not attend.

DISTRICT LEVEL POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

THE DISTRICT SERVICE COMMITTEE MEETING

The District Service Committee Meeting is where all the business of the district is discussed, all subcommittee reports are given, and all group problems are addressed. The meeting is open to all MA members. There are three levels of participants at most District Service Committee Meetings: GSRs, which have been previously discussed in this Service Manual; District Officers, which include the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and subcommittee Chairpersons; and individual MA members that wish to attend.

DISTRICT OFFICERS

The District Officers are responsible for administering the general business of the district. Great care should be taken in selecting the people who serve in the capacity of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. Our trusted servants should demonstrate the ability to serve as an example to others. The district officers should have at least one year clean and sober time, significant District Service Committee background, and a working knowledge of the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts. The suggested length of term is one year.

CHAIRPERSON

The Chairperson’s primary responsibility is conducting the District Service Committee Meeting. This includes preparing the agenda, rationing the time for the various reports, and keeping order. A copy of a suggested District Service Committee Meeting Format (Chapter 15) and the short-form of “Rules of Order as adapted for Marijuana Anonymous” (Chapter 16) can be found in this manual. Both of these documents can be of great assistance to the district Chairperson.
Typical responsibilities of the Chairperson include:
1. Make sure the meeting begins and ends on time.
2. Make sure all District Service Committee commitments are filled.
3. Make sure the next District Service Committee Meeting is scheduled and all participants are aware of the time and location.
4. Keep meeting format and minutes of all past District Service Committee Meetings.

VICE CHAIRPERSON

The Vice Chairperson is responsible for assisting the Chairperson in conducting the District Service Committee Meetings, and for conducting the meeting in the Chairperson’s absence. The Vice Chairperson can also be of assistance in helping to administer the business of the District outside of the District Service Committee Meeting by assisting the subcommittee chairpersons with their responsibilities, and by informing the group secretaries of the chronic absence of their group’s GSR. This ensures that all meetings are properly represented and that the individual groups are up to date on the business in their districts.

TREASURER

The Treasurer’s job is to handle all the district’s money. It is therefore important that the districts select their treasurer with care. The Treasurer should be someone who is financially secure, good at managing finances, and has a suggested minimum of one year clean and sober. Experience in business, bookkeeping, banking, or accounting is also helpful but not required. In administering the district checking account, two signatures are suggested to issue a check. This precaution protects the district from theft, and the Treasurer from controversy. It is also suggested that three signatures be on the signature card in the event that one person becomes unavailable for any reason.
Typical duties of the Treasurer include:
1. Receive contributions from the groups.
2. Administer the district’s checking account.
3. Pay the rent for the District Service Committee Meeting location.
4. Reimburse approved expenses to officers and subcommittee chairpersons.
5. Keep records of all transactions and promptly make out receipts whenever necessary.
6. Report on the financial condition of the district at each meeting.
7. Comply with all MAWS requirements.
8. Create and organize a Budget and Finance Subcommittee with regular meetings as needed.
A more detailed description of the Treasurer’s job can be found in the “Guidelines for District Treasurer”, located in Chapter 9.

LITERATURE

The Literature subcommittee maintains a stock of MA literature that is distributed to the groups at the District Service Committee Meeting. The literature subcommittee also creates new literature to be presented to the District Service Committee Meeting participants for approval. The literature can also be submitted to the literature committee of MAWS for their review, and ultimately for submission to the members of MAWS for approval.

SECRETARY

The Secretary’s primary responsibility is to handle all of the district’s non-financial paperwork. The most important task is to record clear and accurate minutes of each District Service Committee Meeting. Some District Service Committees distribute copies of the minutes to all the participants, while other districts may choose to merely read the minutes of the last meeting at the beginning of each District Service Committee Meeting. It is also suggested that each secretary compile a log of all motions that have passed at all District Service Committee Meetings. These motions should be listed in chronological order under a heading for each officer, subcommittee, or other topic they affect.

HOSPITALS AND INSTITUTIONS

The Hospitals and Institutions subcommittee conducts panels and meetings that carry the MA message to marijuana addicts who have no other way of hearing our message. These addicts may be located at treatment centers, recovery houses, mental health facilities, chemical dependency units, prisons, or other institutions. The amount of work a Hospital and Institutions subcommittee does will depend on a variety of factors, including: the number of treatment facilities in the district, the number of MA members interested in participating in H&I service, and the amount of collective experience of those members. H&I responsibilities often overlap those of the Public Information subcommittee. H&I and PI should closely cooperate with one another, and a liaison of each subcommittee should attend the other subcommittee’s meetings. The H&I manual explains more about how to conduct panels, interact with facility administrators, and organize subcommittee work. This manual can be found in Chapter 10.

PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Public Information subcommittee informs addicts and others in the community about the MA program of recovery. Many PI projects serve primarily to encourage people to write or call MA for more information about meetings. Dispersing this information can take on various forms, such as: distributing flyers, mass mailings, announcements in the self-help sections of local newspapers, and public service radio announcements, to name a few. The PI manual can be found in Chapter 11.

CORRESPONDENCE (P.O. BOX & PHONE LINE)

The Correspondence subcommittee maintains the district phone lines and P.O. Box by responding to communications from other addicts, or the community at large. It must be remembered that the first contact the outside world has with MA is often with a member of the correspondence subcommittee.

EVENTS

Dances, picnics, campouts, and special speaker meetings are but a few of the events put on by this subcommittee. Activities like these both provide a greater sense of belonging and camaraderie among MA members, and produce additional district income. It should be kept in mind that these activities are designed to enhance MA’s primary purpose of carrying the message to the marijuana addict who still suffers, and do not replace meetings. Fund raising should not take the place of group contributions in funding the District, but rather supplement these contributions. For MAWS policy regarding events and fund-raising, see Chapter 13.

CHIPS

This subcommittee usually consists of one person. The responsibility of this person is to maintain an accurate inventory of chips possessed by the district, as well as to distribute chips to the groups. The Chips person must remember to order chips so that the district will always have a sufficient supply for its meetings.

DELEGATES

Each district elects two Delegates and an alternate(s) whose primary responsibility is to represent the conscience of the district’s groups to MA World Services. The Third Legacy Procedure (Chapter 20) should be used to elect Delegates. Delegates should be elected at least 90 days prior to the Conference to allow them sufficient time to become familiar with the Conference Agenda. Outgoing Delegates may serve as “service sponsors” to the incoming Delegates. The Delegate’s primary responsibility is to attend the MAWS Conference and vote on all matters that are to be decided according to the conscience of the district’s groups. The Delegate votes on policies affecting MA as a whole, and participates in the selection of Trustees and Service Committee chairs. The Delegate also serves as a voting member in the nonprofit corporation, MAWS, Inc., and as such must meet all legal requirements as stated in the Bylaws of MAWS, Inc., including the sobriety requirements stated in Article V (Chapter 28, p 82). The Delegate thus participates in decisions that are necessary for carrying out the business and legal affairs of MA. The Delegate has an important responsibility to report the conscience of the groups for which he or she speaks. An essential part of the service of the Delegate is to attend the MAWS World Conference. The Delegate should be prepared to work in a cooperative and helpful manner over long hours and sometimes trying circumstances. The Delegate should forever strive to place principles before personalities. He or she ought to listen carefully and respectfully to differing opinions and tolerate fairness of debate. The Delegate should seek to streamline and further the fair decision-making process, and seek to avoid unnecessary disruption of the process of debate and decision. The debate and decision process involving scores of Delegates meeting in a short period of time can be confusing and difficult. MA has adopted an abbreviated and modified set of rules based on Robert’s Rules of Order (Chapter 16). The Delegate should read and understand these rules and be prepared to follow them. Delegates should strive to avoid issues of personality and prestige. Our Third Legacy (Chapter 20) procedure is designed to remove issues of politics and prestige from the process of selecting persons to serve in service positions such as Trustee or Delegate. The Delegate should seek to avoid engaging in a campaign or political process, and should seek to avoid ego and disappointment concerning the Delegate’s own role in the MA service structure. After the Conference, the Delegate returns home to report on the Conference. This is an important step in preserving the unity of MA as a whole. At least one Delegate should attend each DSC Meeting to assure that all members have an opportunity to know what is being done at the MAWS level to further the purposes of MA. The Delegate should provide a copy of the final Conference report to the district and the district should make this report available to all members. Regular communication with the groups’ GSRs helps assure that the Delegate is speaking for the groups. When the Delegate casts a vote at the Conference, he or she should have in mind that this decision must soon be explained back home. This is an essential part of the democratic process. During the year, the Delegate’s responsibilities include ensuring that their District provides an updated meeting schedule to the Office Manager of MAWS on a quarterly basis and serving as the Convention liaison between their district and the host district(s). Also, Delegates may need to be polled between MAWS Conferences in accordance with Article 9 of the Conference Charter (Chapter 26). The Delegate should provide Trustee call minutes and MAWS financial reports to the District Service Committee on a regular basis. The Delegate’s term of office is one year. A Delegate may serve no more than two consecutive terms. The suggested clean and sober time to serve as a Delegate is one year. “Clean and sober” is defined as abstinence from marijuana and all mind altering substances including alcohol.

CONFERENCE DELEGATE RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Report the group’s and district’s conscience to MAWS in setting the Conference agenda by a date that is 90 days prior to the Conference and at the Conference.
2. Voting member at MAWS Conference.
3. Present report on status of their district and meetings at the Conference.
4. Report Conference information to meetings and district at DSC meetings.
5. Report minutes from quarterly trustee meetings at DSC meetings.
6. Report quarterly MAWS financial statement at DSC meetings.
7. Liaison for district to annual Convention.
8. Inform MAWS Office Manager of meeting changes.
9. Find persons in districts to answer #800 line when it is their district’s turn.
10. Be available to be polled during the year.
11. Be service sponsor to next year’s delegates informing them of their duties and what to expect at the conference.
12. Be liaison between MAWS Treasurer and District Treasurer

MAWS TRUSTEE POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

PRESIDENT

Pre-requisite: 1 year Trustee experience recommended.

Duties:

• Facilitate regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication amongst Trustees.
• Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner whenever possible.
• Encourage and support all other Trustees, The Office Manager, ANLP Volunteers, and Delegates to give their best effort in service to MA.
• Chair Trustee Meetings and Conference or ensure suitable chairperson is available.
• Organize Conference Agenda Committee and ensure agenda is drafted 90 days prior to Conference.
• Facilitate group conscience of Conference and Trustee Meetings.
• Schedule three (if necessary) interim Trustee meetings, draft and distribute agenda 15 days prior to each Trustee Meeting and ensure meeting time and place is arranged.
• Facilitate dispute resolution amongst Trustees if they arise.
• Be available as a resource to the MAWS Office Manager, Trustees, and MA in general.
• Liaison (along with Literature trustee) to A New Leaf Publications.
• Take reasonable action to ensure MAWS commitments are met.

Proactively plan for MAWS growth.

SECRETARY

Duties:

• Act as 1st point of contact to Office Manager for operational concerns.
• Make teleconference meeting arrangements for Trustee meetings outside of Conference & provide instructions for participation to Trustees and meeting participants.
• Take Minutes of Trustee meetings, and forward a draft to Trustees for approval following the meeting
• Send approved Minutes to Delegates, Office Manager, ANLP, and Trustees.
• Following the approval of the previous meeting’s Minutes, prepare a summary bullet point list of items, for approval by the Trustees, to be provided to ANLP for publication in the New Leaf newsletter. This approved Minute summary list is forwarded to ANLP and Delegate list after approval by the Trustees (10 days after original submission).
• Ensure that all Trustee meeting minutes are archived.
• Make every effort to attend and participate in all Trustee meetings.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees. Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner whenever possible.

TREASURER

Duties:

• Make MAWS deposit and pays bills.
• Liaison to/from MAWS bookkeeper.
• Liaison to/from district treasurers and oversee monthly district financial reports.
• Send Quarterly Income and Expense Statement to trustees, delegates, and ANLP.
• Keep records for MAWS bank accounts.
• Enter tax information on spreadsheet for accountant.
• Make every effort to attend and participate in all trustee meetings.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees. Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner when ever possible.

LITERATURE

Duties:

• Oversee the creation of new literature including foreign language translations.
• Oversee the maintenance and preservation of existing MAWS literature.
• Liaison to/from ANLP and MA Districts for all matters concerning MAWS literature.
• Make every effort to attend and participate in all Trustee meetings.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees. Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner when ever possible.

HOSPITALS AND INSTITUTIONS / PUBLIC INFORMATION

Duties:

• Maintain keen awareness of MA’s 12 traditions.
• Respond to inquiries from the public, explain MA’s “position” (no opinion) and MA’s reason for existence according to the 12 traditions.
• Proactively work to inform groups and organizations about MA and what we do.
• Explore and develop Public Service Announcements in assorted mediums.
• Be resource for district and orphan inquiries about carrying out PI work on their level.
• Update outside organizations with info about how to reach us and design and facilitate mass mailings in areas not presently covered by MA Districts
• Make every effort to attend and participate in all trustee meetings.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees. Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely manner.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Pre-requisite: 1 year Trustee experience recommended.

Duties:

• Ensure Service Manual is updated.
• Proactively explore and present ideas to improve upon the Service Manual.
• Proactively work to understand and ensure that MAWS adheres to the 12 Traditions of MA.
• Address issues that need clarification of MAWS policy
• Make every effort to attend and participate in all trustee meetings.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees. Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner when ever possible.

INTERNET TRUSTEE

Pre-requisite: Easy access to World Wide Web and e-mail.

Duties:

• Assist Office Manager in answering website inquiries.
• Oversee MAWS World Wide Web presence and develop strategies for creating unity among MA’s online fellowship.
• Facilitate Online Penpal (e-mail) Service.
• Field questions from online meeting members.
• Field questions or solve problems related to MAWS website.
• Proactively develop new ways to use the MAWS website to carry the message to the addict who still suffers and reduce the cost of providing services to the fellowship.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees.
• Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner when ever possible.

GLOBAL OUTREACH TRUSTEE

Pre-requisite: Easy access to World Wide Web and e-mail.

Duties:

• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees.
• Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner when ever possible.

NEW MEETING OUTREACH

Duties:

• Phone and e mail follow up with people requesting starter packets.
• Send starter kits to new meetings upon receipt of application.
• Track new “Orphan” (meetings outside established districts) meetings.
• Assist Office Manager in gathering Orphan meeting information for quarterly International Directory updates.
• Maintain a minimum of quarterly correspondence / contact with orphan meetings.
• Act as liaison to/from Orphan meetings to MAWS.
• Make every effort to attend and participate in all trustee meetings.
• Maintain regular (1-2 times / month minimum) communication with other Trustees. Respond to questions and requests for help in a timely (10 calendar days or less) manner when ever possible.