Name: Derek Nichols

Position: Area Alternate Treasurer District number: 15

Date: January 2025

Last quarter, I attended my first ever Area Assembly as an alternate GSR for one of my home groups, The Penthouse Group in District 15. During the elections, when the position of Alternate Treasurer came up and as Lisa was going over the position responsibilities, a burst of inspiration hit me and I thought to myself, “I think I could be effective in that role”. I’m convinced that that burst of inspiration came from my higher power; having never served at the Area level before (or the district level for that matter), only a crazy person would think that they could effectively serve as Alt Treasurer, let alone that they could even win the election. But here we are. And I want to iterate that I don’t take this position lightly and I plan the serve Area 72 to the absolute best of my ability. 

Accomplishments from the past quarter

I believe that there were 4 accomplishments as incoming Alternate Treasurer:

1. Our past delegate, Crystal, agreed to serve on P75’s Finance Committee. She previously served as our Area’s Treasurer and will bring a great perspective and experience to our committee.
2. I did several hours of 1:1 training with the outgoing Alt Treasurer to ensure that I can hit the ground running.
3. I worked with Lisa, Derek and Theresa to create the 2025 Area budget
4. I attended several Panel 73 Finance Committee meetings, which was particularly useful as I will be chairing that committee meeting for the next two years
5. I got a service sponsor whose own personal experience was very similar to mine (getting elected as Alt Treasurer from the floor with no prior Area level service experience). I’m grateful to have Eddie in my corner and will be leaning on him for advice and support.

Challenges faced or currently facing

None

Goals for the next quarter

This next quarter, my primary focus will be establishing our new Finance Committee and having our first committee meeting. I would like to have DCMs from as many different geographical areas as possible within Western Washington to bring a diverse array of perspectives to the table.  I hope by the end of the weekend I will have a good sense about how to bring this committee together.

I also wanted to remind the DCMs that, as the Alt Treasurer, I’m available to come to your district meetings to talk about the 7^th Tradition, explain our regular contribution plan, and to provide information on Area finances. If you are a current DCM and have an interest in either serving on the Finance Committee or a having 7^th Tradition discussion at one of your district meetings, you can email me at alttreasurer@area72aa.org or simply come talk with me during one of our breaks this weekend.

Regarding the Finance Committee, the following is information from our Area Handbook about the finance committee; take a look at it so that you can make an informed decision about whether this committee would be a good fit for you.

Purpose

The WWA72 Finance Committee’s purpose is to be a resource to the Area on financial matters.

Committee Functions

• Assist groups and districts in research of the financial impact of motions and/or the financial background for motions.
• Administer the Area’s 5% variable budget (Motion 10.3).
• Continually look at better ways for the Area to operate with financial prudence. ● Investigates and recommends software for the purpose of Area financial needs. ● Keep minutes of all committee meetings and have them readily available to the assembly and the groups.
• Works with the Area Treasurer and Alternate Treasurer to review estimated budget prior to presentation to the Area Committee at the January Quarterly.
• Supports the evaluation of the working reserve percentage; being annually reviewed and adjusted, as needed, by the finance committee. (Motion 18.1)

Guiding Principles

• The conscience of the Finance Committee operates on the principle of substantial unanimity.
• The groups, having the authority to make financial decisions, have delegated some of that authority to the Area Finance Committee.
• No body of motions can offer perfect guidance in continually changing situations with rapidly changing technology, thus the Area strives for a flexible financial structure.
• Finance Committee members are endowed with the Third Concept “Right of Decision”.
• Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority with the scope of such authority well defined.
• Final authority rests with an informed group conscience.
• According to Warranty Two, “Sufficient operating funds, plus an ample Reserve, should be its prudent financial principle.”
• In the spirit of the Seventh Tradition, the WWA72 should be self-supporting in all its affairs
• Review proposed Area budget and provide input and suggestions prior to budget presentation at the January quarterly.