E. STRUCTURE AND LEADERSHIP OF THE RE-EVALUATION COUNSELING COMMUNITY
E.6. Functions of the Area Reference Person
Responsibilities of the Area Reference Person
All leaders, including the ARP, and, in fact, all Co-Counselors, are encouraged to be in complete charge of everything. This includes the entire RC Community and its growth. The basic job of an ARP is to think about the Area as a whole and to exercise judgment on which activities are consistent with RC theory and policy.
The ARP’s particular responsibilities are to
- develop and think about Co-Counselors, leaders, and leadership in the Area;
- participate in the certification and de-certification of RC teachers (see Guideline D.1. Certification of RC Teachers);
- approve Area activities that involve Co-Counselors from more than one teacher’s class;
- approve, in consultation with the Area teachers, the attendance of an Area’s Co-Counselors at Regional and International workshops, or at any RC event outside of the Area;
- approve new kinds of RC activities in the Area;
- give final approval to proposed uses of Area Outreach Funds[73] (see Guideline H.14. Outreach to All Groups Targeted by Oppression) and Area Maintenance Funds[74] (see Guideline H.10. Maintenance Funds);
- approve, in consultation with the RRP, presentations to local media (see Guideline I.3. Communicating about RC Outside the RC Community);
- make decisions for the Area in the rare cases when consensus cannot be reached quickly enough through discussion, discharge, and communication;
- receive reports under Guideline M.5. (Handling Oppressor Patterns, including Sexual Misconduct, and Addressing Mistakes, Disagreements, and Criticism) and communicate them to the RRP and/or the Complaint Review Committee, as appropriate;
- submit an annual Area Finance Report to the IRP if Area Outreach Funds are kept locally as described in Guideline H.7. Outreach Finances: Communities Outside the United States;
- consult on and approve plans for class and Area workshops (see Guidelines G.2. Interpreting at Workshops and G.3. Class Workshops);
- approve material to be published that represents RC on the Area level;
- oversee any local RC website or email list (see Guideline K.3. Local RC Community Websites); and
- become familiar with the Re-evaluation Foundation[75] (see Guideline H.13. Assisting the Re-evaluation Foundation’s Outreach Efforts).
The last five responsibilities can be delegated by the ARP to another RC leader.
The ARP is to be in good contact with the RRP and with the IRP where there is no RRP. The ARP is to check any judgments on proposed activities with the Area’s leaders, who will give the ARP information and suggestions.
The ARP is to be a certified RC teacher (see Guideline D.2. Requirements of RC Teachers).
Alternate Area Reference Person
The AARP is someone who can immediately take over all the functions of the ARP if the ARP is unable to function. Additional activities in relationship to the ARP and the Area are optional and can develop with experience in the AARP role.
REASON
Groups need leadership to function well. The role of ARP for local RC Communities has served us well.
The Community will grow solidly when many Community members share in the work of the Area instead of expecting the ARP to do more than carry out an ARP’s particular responsibilities. An ARP who is successfully teaching RC can support and counsel other RC teachers better and be a good example of leadership.
[73] Area Outreach Funds are kept in many individual Area accounts. They are used to help individuals pay for workshop fees, transportation expenses, and RC literature. They come from fees paid for classes, workshops, and other Area events as well as from voluntary donations (not tax-deductible). The use of Area Outreach Funds must be authorized by the Area Reference Person (ARP), or a designated account signer for a Developing Community account. Area Outreach Funds are either held and managed by RCCR or kept locally by Areas outside of the United States, with the agreement of the International Reference Person (IRP). (See Guideline H. Re-evaluation Counseling Community Finances.)
[74] Area Maintenance Funds support the functioning of a local Area and are used for expenses, such as printing and mailing; and purchasing items for Community use, such as mats, assistive hearing devices, and RC audio and video recordings. Maintenance Funds are typically raised from donations or by taking a percentage of local class fees. Maintenance Funds are optional and are handled by the Area Reference Person (ARP) and/or other Area leaders. (See Guideline H.10. Maintenance Funds.)
[75] The Re-evaluation Foundation provides financial resources to help disseminate RC ideas, skills, and leadership training to people whose circumstances limit their access to RC. Established in 1972, it is a completely separate entity from the RC Community. It is registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation under the jurisdiction of its board of directors. (See Guideline H.13. Assisting the Re-evaluation Foundation’s Outreach Efforts.)