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September 2025 GSR SCHOOL�

“Good Service Leaders” Concept IX

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  • GSR – HIGHLIGHTS, ABOUT THE JOB
  • Concepts and Traditions in action
  • Motions
  • Third Legacy Voting
  • Reports to those you serve
  • Aspects of the General Service Structure

IN THIS SESSION�

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THINGS YOU’LL NEED…

Willingness to do the job

An open mind

Trust and participation in the process!

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THE GSR…inside this pamphlet�

  • Linking your home group with the whole of A.A.
  • Joining with other GSRs
  • Attend Assemblies.
  • Information you will need.
  • Makings of a good GSR.

There may be a quiz!

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You are linking your home group with the whole of A.A.

  • Exchanging up-to-date information
    • Between the groups – Districts, Area and General Service Office
        • Carrying information from your group, gathering information to take to your group
  • Sharing Proposed Agenda Items and Final Conference Report
  • Connecting it all with your Groups members.

Who knows the answer?

What year was the GSR suggested to help in the selection of delegates

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Sources of information …

  • Box 4-5-9
  • DCMs Report
  • Delegates Report
  • “What’s new” button on AA.org or meeting guide app
  • Treasurers Report 
  • Final Conference report
  • Area Newsletter

What is in a Report

Structuring your report

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Tradition 2

For our Group purpose there is but one ultimate authority… a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience .Our leaders are but trusted servants … They do not govern:

  1. We seek an informed group conscience

  • We are servants not senators

  • Remember we serve for the good of all, without authority over any!

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Concept II

  1. We delegate our authority to our trusted servants

  • Your group delegated its authority to each of you to act on their behalf when required

  • “ Ample delegated authority and responsibility to “Trusted Servants” from top to bottom of our service structure” (c6 of service manual)

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“When, in 1955, the A.A. groups confirmed the permanent charter for their General Service Conference, they thereby delegated to the Conference complete authority for the active maintenance of our world services and thereby made the Conference — excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions or in Article 12 of the Conference Charter — the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Society.”

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Join with other GSRs / District Meetings��

  • Vital to your local A.A. community.
  • Both existing A.A. members and those who still suffer
        • Participation in District service committees is vital to their effectiveness
  • Public Information (PI), Cooperation with the Professional Community.(CPC), Corrections, Treatment Facilities (TF) …
  • “We want the hand of A.A. to always be there”

Who knows the answer?

How many Area’s in the U.S. and Canada ?

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Join with others…���

  • Both existing A.A. members and those who still suffer
        • Participation in District service committees is vital to the effectivness
  • Public Information (PI), Cooperation with the e Professional Community.(CPC), Corrections, Treatment Facilities (TF) …
  • “We want the hand of A.A. to always be there”

Who knows the answer?

How many Area’s in the U.S. and Canada ?

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Attending Assemblies

  • Voting Representative of your group
        • Concept III
        • “Right of Decision”
  • Informed group conscience
  • Tradition II.
  • Gathering Information
  • Sharing Information

Who knows the answer?

Where and When is the next assembly?.

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Information you will need

  • The A.A. Service Manual
        • “Inside A.A”, ”Circles of Love and Service”, Final Conference report
  • Understanding of the Traditions
  • 12 and 12
  • Traditions Illustrated
  • A.A. comes of age
  • Group Affairs
    • The A.A. Group
    • Self Support
    • Seventh Tradition long form

Who knows the answer?

When you have been elected who do you need to inform?

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Makings of a good GSR

  • Willingness to learn
        • 2 to 3 years of active membership.
  • Prior A.A. service experience
  • Placing Principles before personalities.

Who knows the answer?

How many future conference delegates come from todays GSRs?

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How we are most effective !

  • Stay in engaged
          • Study Traditions and Concepts
          • Enthusiasm and Energy

        • Share
          • Experience
          • Opportunities to be of service.
          • Information

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Shorter is often better

Enthusiasm is contagious

Reference materials for more infomation

Ask for questions

Cover what has happen as well as proposed actions

Have Fun

Have Fun

Reporting to those we serve

Have Fun

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Home Group Business Meeting

District Meetings

Area Assemblies

Workshops

Roundtables

Regional Events

Fellowship Events

Commitment:

“An agreement or pledge to do something in the future”

Inventory’s

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  • Reports from the General Service Board
  • Finance Report
  • Conference Advisory Actions
  • Literature Distributed
  • A.A. around the world

Much much more

Staying Informed

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Oregon Area �Guidelines

  • Issued Every Other Year
  • Available Online
  • A reference Guide for Trusted Servants conducting Area business
  • Duties & Responsibilities

GUIDELINES

UPDATED September 2025

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bVxaIZvAgCUfmvARGDBdXe9vUrvl47G1/view

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ATTENDING ASSEMBLIES

  • You will become more familiar with things happening in AA. as a whole

  • Your group, district, and local fellowship will benefit.

  • You will learn a great deal along the way that may make you more useful and effective

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WHAT WE DO AT ASSEMBLIES

Presentations, Training or Orientation sessions for new GSRs and short classes on the Twelve Traditions of Unity and the Twelve Concepts of Service, Service Committee Roundtables

Discussion or sharing sessions for GSR's and DCM’s.

Elections of Officers

Conduct Business

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? Motions ?

Second

Call the question

Motion to Reconsider

Two/ Thirds

Simple Majority

Prevailing side

Minority Opinion

Point of Order

Friendly Amendment

Tabled

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Motion Procedures

  • The area uses Digital Voting whenever possible
    • Digital Joy www.digitaljoy.media

  • Process
    1. Motion – Requires a second to open discussion
    2. Discussion – Ends two ways
    3. “We are done” with are discussion
    4. “Call the question” = a vote to end discussion
    5. Urgent and /or Administrative ?
    6. Or “Do we have to vote on this now?”
    7. If No it is tabled until the next assembly
    8. If yes we Vote
    9. 2/3 to pass

Minority opinion =

  1. Only the Non Prevailing side is heard
  2. If someone wants to change their vote
  3. “Motion to reconsider” needs a second
  4. Should we reconsider previous vote Yes or No
  5. If Yes we reopen discussion - if No the matter is decided

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? Elections ?

Second Ballot

Go to the hat !

Third Ballot

Two/ Thirds

Simple Majority

Candidates

2/3

First Ballott

1/5

Fourth Ballot

Fifth Ballot

Service Resume

Available

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Third Legacy Procedure

“Society of Alcoholics Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always

remain democratic in thought and action.”

A.A.’s Third Legacy Procedure is a special type of electoral procedure

It is considered to be unique to A.A., and at first glance, appears to introduce a strong element of chance into a matter that should depend solely on the judgment of the majority.

In practice, however, it has proved highly successful in eliminating

the influence of factions or parties that seem to thrive on most political scenes.

The railroading of a candidate for election is made difficult, if not impossible.

More importantly, a second-place candidate who may be extremely well qualified but without early popular support is encouraged to stay in the balloting rather than withdraw.

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Elections

  • Qualifications
    • Polling of Availability
    • Service Resume
  • First Ballot
  • If one candidate receives 2/3 they are elected
  • If not we go to second ballot
  • Second Ballot
  • If one candidate receives 2/3 they are elected
  • If not, candidates receiving less than 1/5 of the total votes are withdrawn
  • Third Ballot
  • If one candidate receives 2/3 they are elected
  • If not, candidates receiving less than 1/3 of the total votes are withdrawn

“Society of Alcoholics Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always

remain democratic in thought and action.”

  • Fourth Ballot
  • If one candidate receives 2/3 they are elected
  • If not, candidate receiving least number of votes is withdrawn

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Elections - Continued

Chairperson asks for a motion to conduct a Fifth Ballot

    • If Passed by simple majority
    • We go to a Fifth Ballot
    • If not passed, we go to the hat
  • Fifth Ballot
  • If one candidate receives 2/3 they are elected
  • If not, we go to the hat
  • The Hat
  • All remaining candidates' names are placed in a “Hat
  • If not, we go to the hat
  • The position is filled by the name drawn

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Virtual33

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Area 58

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ASSEMBLY VOTING - WHO VOTES?

GSR’s

DCM’s

Area Service Committees.

Area Officers

Proxy voters from facilities

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YOUR HOME GROUP…

The relationship between the GSR and the Group is important.

Participate in group functions… 

Encourage the group to take inventory.

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

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How we doing

Any questions

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Area ASSEMBLIES

Quarterly Assemblies

3rd Full weekend of:

    • May
    • November

2nd Full weekend of:

    • March

General Service Assembly

3rd Full weekend of:

    • September

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SEPTEMBER Area 58 �General Service Assembly�

  • Elections of Area Officers

  • Business Meeting

  • Sharing Sessions: GSR, DCM, Area Committee

  • Reports from Districts, Area Officers, Service Committees , Intergroups

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November Assembly

Welches – 14th-16th

  • Area Service Committees Roundtables
  • Business Meeting

  • Sharing Sessions: GSR, DCM, Area Committee

  • Reports from Districts, Area Officers, Service Committees , Intergroups

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March Assembly�Portland 14th-16th

  • Pre Conference: Proposed Agenda Items

  • Business Meeting

  • Sharing Sessions: GSR, DCM, Area Committee

  • Reports from Districts, Area Officers, Service Committees , Intergroups

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May Assembly�Eugne/Springfield�15th-17th

  • Post Conference Report – What happened at the General Service Conference

  • Business Meeting

  • Sharing Sessions: GSR, DCM, Area Committee

  • Reports from Districts, Area Officers, Service Committees , Intergroups

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THE AA GROUP AT THE TOP!

The fundamental unit in alcoholics anonymous is the group…

The group is the final responsibility and the ultimate authority in AA… 

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The”Upside-Down Triangle”

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An Area is comprised of Districts�

Virtual33

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The Areas

93 Areas in U.S. and Canada

We are Area 58

Covering most of the State

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The Regions

Eight Regions in U.S. and Canada

Two in Canada

Six in the U.S.

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US Regions

Six in the United States:

  1. Northeast
  2. Southeast
  3. East Central
  4. West Central
  5. Southwest
  6. Pacific Regions: Alaska, Arizona, California(6), Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

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General Service Conference

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13 Committees

&

13 Boxes of Background Material

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The Voting Body of the Conference

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93

Area Delegates

22

Trustees of the General Service Board

9

Staff of the General Service Office

(Approx.)

9

Directors of Grapevine

La Vinia

3

Non-Trustee Directors on each Corporate Board

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The Area Delegate�

Area Delegate attends the General Service Conference each year and represents AA as a whole.

93 Area Delegates.  About half of the areas have an election each year.

Serves a two-year term.

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Proposed Agenda Item (PAI) arrives from the Area

  • General Service Office (GSO) staff member serving as Conference coordinator passes PAI on to appropriate committee (s)
  • GSO staff researches in light of previous conference actions
  • Normally Trustees committee determines the way
  • Item has become a PAI (sometimes)
  • Background and history is sent to conference members as Pre- conference material

General Service Office

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Delegate seeks help in preparing

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After receiving background info on all Agenda items, the Delegate brings it to the next Area Assembly to gets input from the GSRs & DCMs

Area GSRs and DCMs help their Delegate process the 100 -150 Conference Agenda Items

Background Info

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Delegate gets help from the Area

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After learning the Committee Assignment for the upcoming Conference, the Delegate receives background material on all 13 committees!

This background comprises all of the ideas that have been passed through the Fellowship

A.A. members provide feedback on proposed agenda items before the conference

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Delegates Gather at General Service Conference

  • All 93 Area Delegates are split into 13 Conference Committees.
  • Each committee will focus on their agenda items over next several day.
  • After the Committee Sessions, there is one BIG meeting.
  • Literature Committee Recommends Creating the new Pamphlet.
  • Conference voters agree!

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Once the Conference is over, The Delegate will report back to the Districts and Groups

After lots of coffee, and meeting time……

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2025 Conference

  • Reviewed, Discussed over 139 items
  • Passed 41 Advisory actions
  • Sent 35 items to Trustees for review

  • Took no action on 8
  • Had 12 more actions come from the conference floor
  • 11 were declined consideration

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2026 Conference �Friday April 24th- Saturday May 2nd 2026�

None of this happens without a loving god expressing himself in our group conscience

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Page 5

Three Legacies

  • Recovery
    • As outlined in the Twelve Steps
  • Unity
  • As outlined in our Twelve Traditions
  • Service
  • As outlined in our Twelve Concepts

Tools

The book: Alcoholics Anonymous

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

The A.A. Service Manual

A Service Sponsor

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Page 18

The Home Group

  • Guardians of our Traditions
    • Study and apply our Twelve Traditions
  • Steering Committees
  • Page 23 of The A.A. Group (p-16)
  • Group Inventory
  • A regular check up on group health

Tools

A.A. Group pamphlet

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

The A.A. Service Manual

A Service Sponsor

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Table of Contents

Three Legacies

Area Voting Procedures

District – Attending Meetings

Your Home Group

Duties of the GSR

Reports

Rotation

A Word about Commitment

Regional Assemblies

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Service Sponsorship

Co-founder Dr. Bob said,

“I spend a great deal of time passing on what I learned to others who want and need it badly. I do it for four reasons:

  1. Sense of duty.
  2. It is a pleasure.
  3. Because in doing so I am paying my debt to the man who took time to pass it on to me.
  4. Because every time I do it, I take out a little more insurance for myself against a possible slip.”

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Final Questions, Ideas or General Comments ?

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Thank you all for your time and consideration

CHRIS H.

AREA 58 ALTERNATE DELEGATE

DELEGATE-ALT@AA-OREGON.ORG

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Area ASSEMBLIES

Quarterly Assemblies

3rd Full weekend of:

    • May
    • November

2nd Full weekend of:

    • March

General Service Assembly

3rd Full weekend of:

    • September

E l e c t I o n s

Odd Numbered Years Elect:

    • Delegate
    • Alternate Delegate
    • Chair
    • Alternate Chair

Even Numbered Years – Elect:

  1. Secretary
  2. Registrar
  3. Treasurer
  4. Alternate Treasurer