GSR Orientation
General Service Representative
What is General Service?
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.
-Concept II
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General Service Representative?
What am I representing?
“The strength of our whole A.A. service structure starts with the group and with the general service representative (G.S.R.) the group elects. We cannot emphasize too strongly the G.S.R.’s importance.”
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What is an A.A. Home Group?
“Most A.A. members through the years have found it important to belong to one group that they call their “home group.” This is the group where they accept service responsibilities and try to sustain friendships. And although all A.A. members are usually welcome at all groups and feel at home at any of these meetings, the concept of the home group has still remained the strongest bond between the A.A. member and the Fellowship. With membership comes the right to vote on issues that might affect the group and might also affect A.A. as a whole — a process that forms the very cornerstone of A.A.’s service structure. As with all group-conscience matters, each A.A. member has one vote; and this, ideally, is voiced through the home group.” -AA Group Pamphlet p-16 Page 15-16
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The 12 Steps
ARE our message
The 12 Traditions
PROTECT our message
The 12 Concepts
PERPETUATE our message
Three Legacies
The 3rd
Legacy
If your group has an Active GSR, you are connected to A.A. as a whole.
“By choosing its most qualified member as G.S.R., a group helps secure its own future — and the future of A.A. as a whole.”
“Just as you rely on your group for help in your personal recovery, so the A.A. groups of Canada and the U.S. rely on the General
Service Conference in maintaining the unity and strength of our Fellowship —
our obligation to all the alcoholics of today and tomorrow.”
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“It’s up to you to keep two-way communication going between your group and the Conference.”
So how is this done?...
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The 3rd
Legacy
“At District meetings, you join with G.S.R.s from other groups. Perhaps you’ve already worked with an intergroup or central office, where groups band together to help alcoholics just in your locality. But your general service district is the second link in an entirely different chain. which extends much farther.”
What do I report at district meetings?
Some good ideas include:
(These examples of info to report will never be all in the same report as this stuff is spread out throughout the year.)
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What NOT to report at district meetings?
*No one wants to hear how much you are bringing in for 7th Tradition or how many are in attendance at your meetings. That is not useful information to share with the district. Other than asking for shared experience with a situation, do not ask for “support”. Your group should be fully self supported by the voluntary contributions of its own members. If attendance is low or you are not getting new members, you may want to consider a group inventory. This is how your district can support your group.
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The 3rd
Legacy
“Your district is one part of a general service area. With your fellow G.S.R.s, you elect a district committee member, and all the D.C.M.s make up the area committee. Now, do you just sit back and let your D.C.M. take it from there? No! G.S.R.s stay very much in action in each of the 93 areas in the U.S. and Canada.”
There can be four parts to your report back to your group.
1
2
3
4
What do I report back to my group?
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PART 1: GSO/AAWS
(These examples of info to report will never be all in the same report as this stuff is spread out throughout the year. If no to all these questions one month, then in that section simply write: “Nothing to report”)
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PART 2: Area
(These examples of info to report will never be all in the same report as this stuff is spread out throughout the year. If no to all these questions one month, then in that section simply write: “Nothing to report”)
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PART 3: District
(These examples of info to report will never be all in the same report as this stuff is spread out throughout the year. If no to all these questions one month, then in that section simply write: “Nothing to report”)
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PART 4: Home Group
(These examples of info to report will never be all in the same report as this stuff is spread out throughout the year. If no to all these questions one month, then in that section simply write: “Nothing to report”)
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Sometimes called “The Guardians of the Traditions,” G.S.R.s also may assist their groups in solving a variety of problems, especially those related to the Traditions. In serving their groups, they can draw on all the services offered by G.S.O.
-AA Group Pamphlet p-16 Page 15-16, Page 22
Resources to help a GSR acquire a better understanding of the Traditions:
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“A service sponsor is usually someone who is knowledgeable in A.A. history and has a strong background in the service structure. The A.A. member is introduced to a new language: G.S.R., D.C.M., area assembly, minority opinion. They will become familiar with the Traditions, Concepts and Warranties, as well as The A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age and other A.A. literature.”
What Is A Service Sponsor?
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“The same impulse that drives some new people to try to “do A.A.” alone drives some new GSRs to try to “do general service” alone. There’s no reason to. In fact, there’s every reason not to. As rewarding and enjoyable as general service can be, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed at times. A service sponsor can make the difference between struggling in your service position and feeling a sense of purpose and accomplishment (and having some fun along the way!). A service sponsor is there to answer your questions about your responsibilities, the structure of general service, the Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts and how to apply them”
Service Sponsor continued…
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“Because you’ve made a special point of studying the information listed below, you can help when your group faces a problem involving one of the Traditions. You don’t have to know all the answers — no one member possibly could — but you learn where to look for good suggestions, drawn from broad A.A. experience.” -GSR Pamphlet p-19
How do I help with group problems?
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“The two-year terms of an area’s G.S.R.s coincide with those of its D.C.M.s and Conference delegate. So a group usually elects its G.S.R. before the assembly meeting at which the delegate is elected. September is a good month, since that gives the new G.S.R. time to study the responsibilities of the job before taking office — most often on January 1, along with the new D.C.M.s and the new delegate.”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 4
When?
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“An informed group enjoys a special election meeting, where a member with a solid background in service work explains the function of the G.S.R.”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 4
“The strength of our whole A.A. service structure starts with the group and with the general service representative (G.S.R.) the group elects. We cannot emphasize too strongly the G.S.R.’s importance.”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 6
How?
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“Most future Conference delegates will come from the ranks of today’s G.S.R.s. So your choice now can help to insure good representation for your whole area in years to come and continuing vitality for our General Service Conference — the heart of our co-founders’ Third Legacy to all of A.A.”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 5
“Great care needs to be taken by the groups as they choose their representatives. Hit-or-miss methods should be avoided.”
“Personal ambitions should be cast aside; feuds and controversies forgotten. “Who are the best qualified people?” should be the thought of all.”
How important is it to elect someone qualified?
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“At the same election meeting, it is important also to elect an alternate G.S.R. (by the same voting procedure). The two will work together closely, so that the alternate can be a knowledgeable replacement if the G.S.R. is unable to attend a district or area meeting.”
“What happens if your group’s G.S.R. is elected committee member for your district? Then the alternate automatically becomes your G.S.R.”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 5
Alternate GSR
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“The home group affords individual A.A.s the privilege of voting on issues that affect the Fellowship as a whole; it is the very basis of the service structure. While many A.A. members attend other groups as well, the home group is where they participate in business meetings and cast their vote as part of the group conscience of the Fellowship as a whole. As with all group conscience matters, each member has one vote.”
Sobriety and other Requirements
Two or three years’ sobriety is generally the required minimum. Active membership in a home group — yours — is also important,
and your G.S.R. should hold no other offices in any other group.
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 5
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Other Qualifications for G.S.R.
Experience of the Fellowship suggests that the most effective GSRs:
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“Current experience indicates that many groups provide financial support for their general service representatives to attend service functions.”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 5
Financial Support:
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“Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (for example, rent, refreshments, A.A. literature, local meeting lists, G.S.R. travel expenses to attend service functions) and a “prudent reserve” has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the A.A. service entities.” -Where Money & Spirituality Mix (F-3) Page 7
-7th Tradition Responsibilities, in order. By Past Delegate Wayne H.
Financial Support, continued…
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“Does your group include people who already have a keen interest in the Twelve Traditions and the service structure? If so, you’re in luck!”
-GSR Pamphlet p-19, Page 5
If not, where can we start?
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“There is more than one way for GSRs to express their group’s thoughts and wishes — their conscience — in general service.
What’s important is to participate!”
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FAQ
Q. If I can’t make the next district meeting or area assembly, can I ask someone from my group to go in my place?
A. All A.A. members may attend district meetings and area assemblies. In most areas, only elected GSRs and alternates (when the GSR is absent) may vote.
Q. If no one in my group is interested in taking my place as GSR when my term is up, should I continue until they find someone, or even serve another two-year term?
A. The Traditions and Concepts encourage rotation of service, even when it appears the position will be left unfilled. Perhaps consider taking on a different role in general service; your interest and commitment is always needed.
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