Starting and running a DRA Intergroup in some ways is like starting and running a small business. Many of the same considerations must be made in order for an Intergroup to be useful to the local DRA Fellowship. Good records must be kept, costs must be covered, and adequate personnel is needed to share and rotate the service positions,

DRA Intergroups need adequate local resources. This includes not only 7th Tradition funding but enough interested members who have the time, personal recovery experience, and willingness to serve. A DRA Intergroup may appear to non-members and newcomers in the community as a representation of the DRA Fellowship as a whole. It could be said that an Intergroup is the “face of DRA” within a local community. If an Intergroup were to be run by only one or two people, careful planning and consideration must be given to what happens to the Intergroup, and its image in the community, should one or two of those Intergroup staffers relapse or have a serious flare-up of psychiatric symptoms. Who will answer the phones, make call-backs, or be available to answer questions about our Fellowship, offer support to a newcomer. Also, can so few individuals justify a Group Conscience taking on issues that potentially may affect all the Groups in their service area?

It is ok to start small with limited resources. However one needs to carefully consider whether the DRA Fellowship and the local community might actually be better served by putting the energy that would be required to start and run a fledgling Intergroup, into service work at the group level. For instance, sponsorship can play a significant role in the recovery, growth, and healing of newer members. Is the need for sponsorship in your area getting met? Are there enough experienced members to help newcomers understand the Steps and Traditions? Does your area have or need any Step or Book Study meetings? Members should have a serious discussion as to whether these needs are best met through the service structure of an Intergroup, or at the level of the local groups.

Before starting an Intergroup, several DRA members from local area groups should get together and assess the real need for such an organization. They may ask themselves if there are enough local Groups who are willing and able to support the Intergroup. Would it be a drain or an asset to the local group’s service work committees. How will it be financed and what services will it be able to provide based upon the resources that are available. They may want to draw up plans and organizational charts. They may want to apply with the IRS for a Tax Identification Number for banking purposes and ask for advice from a knowledgeable accountant or tax professional in regards to matters of money, record-keeping, and any possible tax issues. In some areas, a telephone answering service or an area meeting schedule committee to print and distribute area meeting schedules may be all that is needed for now. It is important to make sure that there is enough interested parties so that all of the service positions and responsibilities do not rest on the shoulders of too few. Enough local groups need to be represented at the Intergroup business meetings so an Intergroup’s group conscience accurately represents the desires and needs of the DRA community it serves.

Members may wish to write a set of bylaws or guidelines that are agreed upon by all Group Representatives before actually committing resources and spending money to start an Intergroup. An Intergroup may wish to define service work committee positions and officers. It may wish to have certain set requirements for positions of responsibility in terms of recovery or clean time. How will those position be filled should they become vacant. Is there a limit on how many service positions any one member can hold at a given time or for how long.

It is clear that an Intergroup will face issues and make commitments for service work projects beyond the normal scope of a regular DRA 12 Step Group. Issues may arise such as finding office space; paying phone bills, printing costs for area meeting schedules, and getting office supplies. Intergroups require money and careful management to maintain their usefulness.