District 5 Service Positions

OFFICERS

District Representative (DR): The District Representative (DR) is the first link between the district’s groups and the Northern California World Service Area (NCWSA), the World Service Conference (WSC), and the World Service Office (WSO). The DR helps the groups in the district understand their relationship and responsibility to the worldwide fellowship. The DR is an incoming, outgoing, or active past Group Representative (GR) who is not a member of AA. The DR is elected by GRs in our district to facilitate monthly district business meetings and serve as representative to NCWSA. The DR attends Area Committee meetings and conveys information back to local groups through their GRs. Would also be responsible for the Alateen Safety Coordinator’s duties if that position became open. Expected to become a certified AMIAS (Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service) and attend monthly Alateen Sponsors meetings. Must have 2 years active membership in Al-Anon to become an AMIAS. For more information, see DR detailed description

Alternate District Representative (ADR): 

This person is an Alternate to the District Representative and would be available to fill in for that position when necessary. Also, from time-to-time, the DR may delegate tasks to the ADR to help in fulfillment of their position. According to our D5 By-Laws, this position steps into the position of DR if the current DR is unable to complete their 3-year term. Qualifications would be any Al-Anon member who is not a member of AA and can meet qualifications for an AMIAS (2 years in program, can pass fingerprinting & B-17 Training). The term is 3 years, coinciding with the NCWSA Election Assembly. Time commitment would be 6 – 8 hours monthly and is the District Officer who maintains the District Speaker List that is distributed to GRs upon request. For more information, see ADR position description

Secretary: This position serves as the primary communications interface with Group Reps, Coordinators and Officers about District business.  Documents minutes and meeting attendance of regular District 5 business meetings and maintains an up-to-date D5 contact list. Also serves as an Officer of the D5 non-profit corporation along with the District Representative (DR), Alternate District Representative (ADR) and Treasurer. For more information, see  D5 Secretary Detailed Description

Treasurer: This person maintains the District’s finances in a manner that reflects the District Conscience, creates and submits an annual budget to the District for approval, and manages expenditures within the framework of that budget.  This person receives and deposits all contributions for the District, processes and pays all invoices owed by the District and enters those transactions into QuickBooks.  This person also files annual State non-profit reports, State Corporation reports and works with our tax professional to file the annual State and Federal tax filings, and provides monthly financial statements at the District meeting as well as presenting for approval/denial any proposed expenditures that are outside of the authorized budget. For more information, see Treasurer Detailed Description

ALATEEN COORDINATORS

Alateen Coordinator: Serves as a link between the Area Alateen Coordinator, District 5, and District 5 Alateen Members in Alateen Service (AMIAS) and Alateens. Chairs the District’s monthly Alateen AMIAS meeting and responds to inquiries about Alateen, referring as needed to the appropriate AMIAS and/or Coordinator for follow up. Represents D5 Alateen to NCWSA and assists AMIAS and/or their Alateens to access scholarships for NCWSA activities. Needs to become a certified AMIAS before assuming the role, which requires at least 2 years in Al-Anon, ongoing/regular attendance of Al-Anon meetings (home group), passing a vetting process and fingerprinting. For more information, see Alateen Coordinator Detailed Description

Alateen Safety (DAPP): The acronym DAPP stands for District Alateen Process Person. This coordinator maintains records of Alanon members involved in Alateen service (AMIAS) and new Alanon members wanting to be in service to Alateen who must be vetted by the DAPP. Each year AMIAS must be recertified by the DAPP. The DAPP must be a current AMIAS and take care of administrative records that involve teen safety in our district. For more information, see DAPP Detailed Description

GROUP SERVICE COORDINATORS

Bylaws & Insurance:

This person works to see that the District Bylaws are followed and, if necessary, forms a Bylaws Committee to assist in developing recommendations for updates or revisions to the bylaws for review at District level. In addition, this role is responsible for arranging insurance coverage for special District events. For more information, see Bylaws and Insurance Coordinator detailed description

Newsletter: In the past, District 5 published a monthly Alagram which was specifically about activities in Sonoma and Napa counties and featured written shares from local members of Al-Anon and Alateen. The coordinator oversees publication of this newsletter.

INFORMATION SERVICE COORDINATORS

Archives/Media Librarian: This position is responsible for collecting, preserving, and organizing materials of historical and informational value to Al-Anon District 5, in alignment with Al-Anon traditions. Duties include maintaining district records such as meeting minutes, documenting special events through flyers, photos, and printed materials, and managing archive storage for accessibility and updates. The role also includes recording speakers at select district events, and updating the online media inventory. This position typically requires 2–4 hours per month and involves basic computer skills, along with the ability or willingness to learn current voice recording technology, and catalog management in Google Drive. For more information, see Archives Coordinator Detailed Description

Group Records/Meeting Schedule: This person (1) assists District groups in maintaining up-to-date group records in the WSA/NCWSA database and (2) maintains the downloadable and printable meeting schedule available on the District website. Key points of contact for this service position include GRs/other meeting contacts, the District Representative, Secretary and Website Coordinator. The Area Group Records Coordinator, who is reponsible for maintaining group records across all Districts in the NCWSA (Northern California World Service Area), is another key contact. For more information, see  Group Records_Meeting Schedule Coordinator Detailed Description

Information Line: This person collaborates with Alternate Coordinators to assure D5 information line phone and text are accessible to the community.  Attends monthly district meetings and bi-annual assemblies to share information as needed. Works with the Email Coordinator to assure information line volunteers can access Google Voice. The Information Line Coordinator shares the following responsibilities with the 

Alternate Information Line Coordinators:

1. Actively provides coverage for incoming messages. Responds to inquiries from the community and encourages use of the D5 website.
2. Spanish Speaking Information Line Coordinator or Alternate Information Line Coordinator responds to community members who wish to communicate in Spanish.
3. Communicates with District Representative (DR), Alternate DR or another Coordinator if follow up with community member is needed (example: meeting found to be not active, a professional needs Al-Anon informational materials, etc.). 
4. For more information, see Info Line Coordinator Detailed Description

Literature Coordinator:  This position provides guidance to District 5 Al-Anon groups about how to acquire and provide Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature (CAL) to meeting attendees. Getting comfortable with navigating the Al-Anon Online Store in order to educate others about how to order literature will be important. Familiarity with English and Spanish-language Al-Anon CAL, as well as digital options, would be helpful. For more information see Literature Coordinator detailed description

Website:  This position is responsible to keep listings of our local meetings and event information current on the website, and answer occasional email inquiries from those needing information. This position can be what you make it because there’s always room for improvements and creative ideas to make our District’s website an even more effective outreach tool that better serves our members. The requirements are that one be an Al-Anon member with access to the web and willingness to abide by guidelines for Al-Anon websites as explained in World Service documents. Resources to assist in the job are the Alternate Website Coordinator and our WSO guidelines which outline general do’s and don’ts. Also our service provider maintains a 24-7 support line and the past Coordinator is available to answer specific questions. There are also Website Coordinators to talk to at both the Northern CA Area and World Service levels. Website Coordinator detailed description.

Email/Google Workspace: This role is responsible for basic administration and maintenance of District 5’s Google Workspace environment. The person in this role ensures that the email accounts, access permissions, and communication systems function smoothly and reliably so that Officers and Coordinators can send and receive important communications. The role also includes basic Google Voice administration for the District’s Information Line for the community. For more information, see Email/Google Workspace Coordinator position description

PUBLIC OUTREACH

AA Liaison:This person maintains contact with the AA Intergroup for Sonoma County via email and occasional Intergroup business meetings. The purpose is to be advised of the need for Al-Anon cooperation in AA events, where an invitation to participate is issued by AA. Also, to answer general questions from the AA intergroup to Al-Anon District 5. For more information, see AA Liaison detailed description

Alateen Outreach: This member helps get out the message about Alateen to the general public. They may distribute pamphlets or flyers to various professionals or sit at informational tables at public outreach events such as health fairs, etc. The member in this position makes independent decisions about participation and can call on the Alateen Coordinator for guidance as needed. They need not be AMIAS certified. This Coordinator may also partner with other Outreach Coordinators including AA Liaison, Cooperating with the Professional Community (CPC), Diversity, Institutions and Public Information.  For more information, see Alateen Outreach Coordinator position description

Diversity: The purpose of this position is to encourage the welcoming of all who seek help (based on Al-Anon’s declaration “When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help the hand of Al-Anon and Alateen is there and let it begin with me”), with the understanding that the family disease of alcoholism knows no boundaries: Religion, Sexual Orientation, Ethnicity, Age, Gender, Language, Physical Ability, etc. This coordinator may partner with other Outreach Coordinators including Alateen, AA Liaison, Cooperating with the Professional Community (CPC), Institutions and Public Information. Because District 5 has a significant Spanish-speaking population, having a Coordinator or Alternate with Spanish-language proficiency is helpful. 

Special Events: Serving as a lead person who plans and carries out our District events, our Events Coordinator may form committees and work with other volunteers to arrange workshops, speaker meetings, fellowship activities, facilities, food, etc. Experience in event planning would be very helpful but is not required. For more information, see Events Coordinator Detailed Description

Cooperating with the Professional Community: Informs a variety of professionals of what Al‑Anon is and how to find us, so that they can refer their clients/patients to us.  Many Al‑Anon members attend their first meeting as the result of a professional referral. Professionals include doctors, therapists, religious leaders, nurses, attorneys, police, educators, judges, etc.  Professionals also work in various facilities and institutions. This Coordinator may partner with other Outreach Coordinators including Alateen, AA Liaison, Diversity, Institutions and Public Information. This partnership has been valuable for previous CPC Coordinators. For more information, see CPC Coordinator Position Description

Institutions: This position helps introduce Al‑Anon to the families and friends of alcoholics at organizations with residential or non‑residential (in‑ or out‑patient) services. Such facilities may have limited access to the public and include treatment/rehab centers; jails or detention centers; group homes, halfway or “sober” houses; domestic violence shelters, etc. This Coordinator may partner with other Outreach Coordinators including Alateen, AA Liaison, Cooperating with the Professional Community (CPC), Diversity, and Public Information.  For more information, see Institutions Coordinator position description

Public Information: This position informs the general public through the media, events, and organizations about Al-Anon: who we are, what we do, and how to get in touch with us.  The goal is to attract to Al-Anon those whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking, so that those who need it can find the help and hope we offer. We also strive for name recognition and credibility as a community resource. This coordinator may partner with other Outreach Coordinators including Alateen, AA Liaison, Cooperating with the Professional Community (CPC), Diversity, and Institutions. For more information, see PI Coordinator position descriptio