Purpose

The Hill Country Intergroup Deaf Access Committee (DAC) is a group of Deaf, hard-of-hearing (HH) and hearing members of Alcoholics Anonymous who work together to provide ASL/Voice Interpretation services at Austin Metro Area AA meetings. DAC increases accessibility to AA meetings for Deaf people in recovery.

By Laws

The Deaf Access Committee serves Hearing, Deaf and Hard-of Hearing Members of AA by:

  1. Providing ASL/English Interpreting at selected AA meetings • Paying for Interpreting services by collecting contributions from individual AA members and AA groups. We do not accept money from outside of AA, in keeping with Traditions.
  2. Providing monthly treasury reports of monies collected and spent (available on request or through the monthly meeting).
  3. Developing and maintaining a pool of qualified interpreters familiar with AA concepts who work for us at discounted rates.
  4. Cooperating and communicating with AA as a whole through Hill Country Intergroup liaison who attends DAC monthly meetings and by providing information to those wishing to have AA get togethers such as conferences, round-ups, or conventions interpreted.DAC does not provide interpreters for these events, we provide interpreters for AA meetings only and only those listed with Hill Country Intergroup Association.
  5. Responding to requests from individual AA members for ASL/ English Interpreting services.
  6. Maintaining a schedule of ASL interpreted meetings in the Greater Austin area and communicating that schedule within the AA fellowship via the HCIA website.
  7. Welcoming AA members who wish to participate in DAC’s ongoing service.

Before attending the DAC committee meeting, we ask that AA members read our guidelines, bylaws, and “Frequently Asked Questions.” to become familiar with our policies and procedures. Any AA member who wishes to make a presentation to the HCIA DAC may do so provided the committee chairperson is given notice at least a week prior to the visit.

Chairperson

Qualifications:

  1. Minimum 5 years sobriety
  2. Has the time and energy to serve DAC
  3. Well grounded in the Twelve Traditions.
  4. Chairperson is voted in by a majority vote of DAC members previously participating on committee.

Duties:

  1. Facilitates regular monthly meeting of DAC using Robert’s Rules of Order as a guideline
  2. Attends Intergroup quarterly, disseminates information about DAC to AA groups,District,Area, and other service events as the voice and/or representative of DAC.
  3. Receives reports from DAC members • Provides a monthly Chairperson Report to DAC
  4. Failure to meet qualifications or report at or attend 3 DAC meetings will be reviewed by committee and may result in an open position

Term:

  1. 2 years in office
  2. Elected in February by Third Legacy requiring a two thirds
    majority

Recording Secretary

Qualifications:

  1. 6 months continuous sobriety
  2. Ability to keep written records
  3. Familiar with the principles and practices of Deaf Access Committee

Duties:

  1. Attends monthly DAC meeting, arriving early with copies of minutes from previous meeting (Ten (10) copies recommended)
  2. Records minutes of the DAC meeting.
  3. The record of the minutes of DAC meeting is not intended to report discussion. The minutes should show:
    • a. Date and time of meeting
    • b. The record of those in attendance
    • c. All passed and tabled motions (a record of withdrawn or defeated motions is not included)
    • d. Time of adjournment
  4. Distributes minutes as follows:
    • a. Maintains an original copy in the Recording Secretary’s file
    • b. Electronic Copies are made available to the DAC members
    • c. At the end of term, all records will be turned over to incoming Recording Secretary
  5. Secretary may concurrently hold other DAC positions
  6. Failure to meet qualifications or report at or attend 3 consecutive DAC meetings will be reviewed by committee and may result in an open position

Term:

  1. 1 year in office
  2. Elected in February by Third Legacy requiring a two thirds majority

Voting Status:

  1. The Secretary has the right of participation, is empowered to make motions and vote

Treasurer

Qualifications:

  1. 2 years minimum sobriety
  2. Familiar with the principles and practices of Deaf Access Committee and twelve traditions
  3. Should have some business and/or accounting experience preferred
  4. Employed
  5. Should be organized enough to keep good records

Duties:

  1. Attends monthly DAC meeting
  2. Maintains an electronically accessible report.
  3. Provides monthly report of contributions and expenses at each monthly DAC Meeting
  4. Shall be in communication with HICA bookkeeper involved in transacting funds
  5. Insures financial reports are posted on website
  6. Treasurer will work with the Chairperson, Interpreter Coordinator and other Committee Members to determine financial goals, verify invoices, and arrange for payment
  7. A written itemized budget is to be submitted by the Treasurer to the Committee in February for the following year.
  8. Failure to meet qualifications or report at or attend 3 consecutive DAC meetings will be reviewed by committee and may result in an open position

Term:

    1. 2 years in office
    2. Elected in February by Third Legacy requiring a two thirds majority

Voting Status:

  1. The Treasurer has the right of participation, is empowered to make motions and vote

 

Interpreter Liaison

Qualifications:

  1. One (1) year sobriety
  2. Familiar with the Twelve Traditions and with the principles and practices of DAC
  3. Advanced certified interpreter familiar with Deaf culture

Duties:

  1. Attends Monthly DAC Meetings
  2. Works with Interpreter Coordinator to Maintain a list of qualified ASL Interpreters available for Interpretation Services at AA meetings
  3. Verifies certification of Interpreters
  4. Failure to meet qualifications or report at or attend 3 consecutive DAC meetings will be reviewed by committee and may result in an open position

Term:

  1. 1 year in office
  2. Elected in February by Third Legacy requiring a two thirds majority

Voting Status:

  1. The ASL Interpreter Liason has the right of participation, is empowered to make motions and vote.

Interpreter Coordinator

Qualifications:

  1. One (1) year sobriety
  2. Familiar with the Twelve Traditions and with the principles and practices of DAC ,Deaf Culture, and related technology

Duties:

  1. Attends Monthly DAC Meetings
  2. Works with Interpreter Liaison to Maintain a list of qualified ASL Interpreters available for Interpretation Services at AA meetings
  3. Schedules Interpreters
  4. Maintains current monthly interpreted AA meetings schedule, adjusted as necessary ,and has posted on web page
  5. Works with Treasurer to ensure accuracy of invoices.

Term:

    1. 1 year in office
    2. Elected in February by Third Legacy requiring a two thirds majority

Voting Status:

  1. The ASL Interpreter Coordinator has the right of participation, is empowered to make motions and vote.

Elections/Rotation:

  • Elections will be held by Third Legacy, as outlined in the AA Service Manual, at the regular monthly DAC meeting in February. Newly elected officers will begin their positions at the regular monthly meeting in March.
  • During elections, absentee members may be elected to a specific position or office provided that they have communicated a stated an interest in a specific position
  • Positions that become open during a term will be announced at the next business meeting with elections at the following business meeting. All new members should have read available information on website about DAC guidelines, by-laws, history, and “Frequently Asked Questions.”

Operations:

DAC will provide on an annual basis:

  1. DAC Financial Goals
  2. Year End Operations and Financial Report
  3. DAC shall hold regular Monthly Meetings on the second Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7PM and lasting until 8:00 PM: Additional meetings can be added or deleted as necessary by consensus of the committee.
  4. DAC Standardized Meeting Format will be as follows:
    • Open meeting with moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer (Chair)
    • DAC Committee Position Reports Motion to accept or amend the minutes of the previous meeting.
    • Committee reports (Committee chairs) Old business Tabled Motions.
    • New business -scheduled prior to the meeting by notifying Chairperson and Secretary.
    • Motions from the body Announce next meeting
    • Close meeting with Responsibility Statement