From the Treasurer:
General Service News
'Bank Accounts & More'
It was a delight to see five new GSRs at last
month’s Nassau General Service Group (NGSG)
Once the basket has been passed, a group
meeting. Thank you, groups/districts, for ensuring you
treasurer needs to hold the collected funds. Many
have an active GSR/DCM representing you at our
options are practiced, ranging from keeping the money
General Service meetings. I cannot stress enough how
in a cigar box under the treasurer’s bed to a bank
important it is for your group/district to have a voice
account. Each group must decide for itself what steps it
through the GSR/DCM connecting you to the rest of the
wants to take to hold its funds. For small group
fellowship. Remember, any decisions made for
treasuries, the cigar box may serve nicely, but for many
Alcoholics Anonymous affect all members, AA’s future,
groups a bank account will be more appropriate and
and the potential alcoholic seeking hope and a way to
lends itself to better record-keeping for those
stop drinking.
suggested periodic treasurer’s reports to the group.
Our friends the Intergroup PI Chair, and the
For bank accounts, experience suggests it is
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Intergroup CPC Chair, had an AA information booth set
usually best to not co-mingle a group’s funds
up at the 2nd Annual Hempstead Health Fair on June
with the personal funds of any group member.
Accounts are best established in the group’s
16th. The SENY Past Delegate and now Intergroup
●
name, rather than the name of a group member,
Treasurer, and I volunteered to help them with this
thereby eliminating confusion about ownership
PI/CPC commitment. We were there for the day, ready
of the funds.
to answer questions from interested visitors to the
Multiple signers (usually two) are suggested to
●
booth. That day the weather was hot and sunny
remove funds from any account.
compared to last year’s high winds and heat. The
Checking accounts may offer the most flexibility,
●
Mayor of Hempstead during his visit to each booth
providing an easy way of moving funds. Free
stopped by for a chat and to take a photograph with us.
checking is possible.
Bill reminded him that he asked us last year, and we
There may also be differences between savings
●
could not oblige him because of our tradition of
and commercial banks in terms of how “friendly”
they are and the range of fees they may charge.
anonymity at the public level. Realizing which booth he
Shop around. Ask other local groups about their
was standing at, he apologized, then moved on.
●
banking experience.
I'm also glad to see Nassau Intergroup is sending
Your banking professional should be able to help
two steering committee members and two Intergroup
you select an appropriate account type, and to walk
Reps to the New York State Informational Workshop
you through his/her institution’s documentation
early next month. This is a worthwhile event for anyone
requirements. Whichever account and bank options are
interested in learning more about AA’s service
selected, the members setting up the account will need
committee activities. NGSG members voted to send
to provide some ID. Since the Patriot Act was
one GSR, and me too – thank you!
established, there is no such thing as being able to
NGSG has two major events coming up. First is a
anonymously move funds through a bank for any
combined NGSG/SENY Service Workshop on
reason.
Saturday, September 8th, in the Intergroup office.
If needed, a group can secure a Federal ID
Watch this space for continued updates. Our other big
event is the Annual Unity Breakfast on Sunday,
and download form SS-4 (fss4.pdf) and its filing
December 9th. Tickets are now on sale, and may be
instructions (iss4.pdf). You also can obtain this ID from
purchased from your group’s GSR or UB committee. If
the IRS over the phone. Having this ID can simplify
your group does not have a GSR and you want tickets,
opening the account, but will not relieve members from
contact the UBC - dcm213@aaseny(dot)org.
providing some personal information.
Together We Can,
Some account types will pay interest. Each group
DCMC Nassau,
must decide for itself how it feels about collecting
nassau@aaseny(dot)org
interest on its funds. Many AA service groups
Service Opportunities:
(including your GSO/AAWS and Nassau Intergroup) do
not see interest-bearing accounts as being in conflict
Help a Homebound Alcoholic
with AA principles.
Homebound Alcoholic: Any Female AA
Also, your group may be called upon to provide by-
interested in bringing a meeting to a homebound
laws to establish itself with some banks. I can provide
female alcoholic, contact Special Needs
sample by-laws upon request.
Chairperson: specialneeds@nassauny-aa(dot)org.
Hope this is helpful. Please get back to me with any
Handicapped Alcoholic: A woman in a
questions.
nursing home in Freeport, would appreciate calls,
In service,
visits, or being taken to meetings.
Treasurer
treasurer@nassauny-aa(dot)org
