Below is useful, high-level information and resources for New General Service Representatives. We recommend you download and read the District 08 Handbook. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Service Sponsor or attend the New GSR Orientation and Discussion meeting before each District meeting.

District 08 Handbook

You can download the District 08 Handbook here.

General Service Introduction

“From the beginning, communication in A.A. has been no ordinary transmission of helpful ideas and attitudes. Because our kinship in suffering, and because our common means of deliverance are effective for ourselves only when constantly carried to others, our channels of contact have always been charged with the language of the heart.”

As Bill Sees It, p. 195

Essentially everything we do in General Service centers around communication, from the GSR’s report at a District Business Meeting to the still suffering alcoholic picking up a pamphlet and knowing that they are not alone. Each group has a say in worldwide A.A. through its General Service Representative (GSR). The GSR represents the voice of the group conscience and links his or her group with A.A. as a whole. GSRs attend the District Business meeting and Area Assemblies. We are located in District 08 of Area 06.

What is General Service?

“All parts of our Fellowship – group meetings, committees, offices, Conferences, and group jobs – share one common purpose: to help the alcoholic who still suffers.

A.A. is made up of interconnected circles of people within the Fellowship, who work together to carry A.A.’s message of hope. But in order for A.A. to run itself without bosses or rules, in accordance with our Twelve Traditions, we need a system of communication for finding out how A.A. as a whole feels about its world affairs, and how it wants to operate.

For A.A. to run its own affairs, each A.A. group needs to make its voice heard on overall A.A. policies. This starts with a group’s general service representative (G.S.R.), who represents the voice of the group conscience and has the job of linking his or her group with A.A. as a whole. G.S.R.s make sure their groups receive services from the U.S. and Canada General Service Office (G.S.O) and help groups stay informed about worldwide A.A.”

Circles of Love and Service

Structure of the Conference

Alcoholics Anonymous has been called an upside-down organization because, as the structure chart show [below], the groups are on top and the trustees at the bottom.

The A.A. Service Manual, 2018-2020 Edition, Page S15

This structure gives the groups the ultimate authority in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Structure of the AA Conference

Suggested Readings

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A.A. Group Pamphlet

Informal guide tells how a group works most effectively, how a new group can be started, and how each group can be linked to A.A. as a whole.

It can be found here: https://aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/p-16-the-aa-group

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A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Services

Both in a single booklet. The manual opens with a history of A.A. services; explains the Conference structure and its year-round importance; includes the Conference Charter and General Service Board Bylaws. The Concepts—principles of service that have emerged from A.A.’s service accomplishments and mistakes since its beginning— are set forth by Bill W.

It can be found here: https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/bm-31-aa-service-manual-combined-with-twelve-concepts-for-world-services

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Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age

Bill W. tells how A.A. started, how the Steps and Traditions evolved, and how the A.A. Fellowship grew and spread overseas.

It can be found here: https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/b-3-alcoholics-anonymous-comes-of-age

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Box 459 Newsletter & Makings Archive

AA’s GSO’s quarterly newsletter. It can be found here: https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/box-4-5-9-news-and-notes-from-gso.

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CNCA Comments

Area 06’s monthly newsletter. If you are not receiving this, please Contact Us.

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District 08 Handbook

Our District Handbook.

It can be found here: https://district08cnca.org/download/gsr-handbook/

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District 08 News

Our district’s monthly bulletin. If you are not receiving this, please Contact Us and request to be added to the mailing list.

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G.S.R. Your Group’s Link to A.A. as a Whole Pamphlet

For a new general service representative, this leaflet outlines responsibilities and useful sources of information; for a group, what to keep in mind when electing a G.S.R.

It can be found here: https://aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/p-19-gsr-may-be-the-most-important-job-in-aa

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General Service Conference Report

Please Contact Us for the most recent report.

General Service Representative Checklist

Getting Started

  1. Register with the District 08 Registrar. Let the Registrar know when you have finished my commitment too.
  2. Sign up to receive the District Bulletin and other emails from the District. This is in addition to registering with the District Registrar.
  3. It’s helpful to find a Service Sponsor who has experience with the specific type of service we are doing.
  4. Attend the New GSR Orientation and Discussion, and review the District 08 Handbook.
  5. Make sure I know which Sub-District my group is in, and check-in with my DCM (District Committee Member).
  6. Review and save the dates for the District Business Meetings, other District events, and the four Area Assemblies.
  7. Ask questions! It is a lot to learn at first and all District Officers are happy to help.

Monthly Activities

  1. Attend the District 08 Business Meeting in Martinez or on Zoom.
  2. Attend the Sub-District Meeting.
  3. Review the District 08 Bulletin (including minutes of the previous meeting) prior to the beginning of the District Business Meeting.
  4. Review the CNCA (Area 06) Comments (Our Area’s newsletter).
  5. Review the previous Area Assembly Business Meeting Minutes prior to the next Area Assembly Business Meeting.
  6. Communicate General Service information to my group (District, Sub-District, Area, GSO information). Including printed information and information about events.
  7. Take a group conscience on any items when needed.
  8. Carry my group’s conscience back to the District, Sub-District, and/or Area Assembly when needed.

Regular Activities

  1. Review the Service Manual/Concepts, and Traditions.
  2. Review the District 08 Handbook.
  3. Check-in with my service sponsor.
  4. Communicate to my group accurate information about the purpose of General Service.
  5. Provide up-to-date group information to my DCM and the District Registrar.
  6. Attend our Area Assemblies (four per year).
  7. Participate in the Agenda Topic process and share my group’s conscience at the Pre-Conference Assembly.
  8. Attend the Post-Conference Assembly and inform my group about what happened at the Conference.
  9. Attend and participate in other General Service events (Unity Day, Agenda Topics Workshop, etc.).
  10. Read correspondence from GSO (Box 459, Quarterly Reports, etc.) and share with the group.
  11. Communicate to my group up-to-date information regarding the AA Grapevine.
  12. Communicate to my group requests for sharing from the fellowship (i.e. AA Literature requests).
  13. Include Alternate GSR whenever possible so they are informed and able to take over if necessary. This also helps them get started if they become the GSR next panel.
  14. Always let the Registrar know about any changes to my groups’ information. Also, make sure to let the Registrar know when I have finished my commitment if a new GSR has not yet been elected.
  15. When rotating out as GSR it can be very helpful for the new GSR if you do what we call a “Pass It On”. This is where we share information as well as our experience with the new GSR to help them get started. This process can go on some time into their term as GSR.

Annual, Biennial, and One-Time Optional Activities

  1. Attend Pacific Regional A.A. Service Assembly if possible. This is an annual event.
  2. Attend the Pacific Regional forum if possible. This is a biennial (every other year) event.
  3. Attend General Service events hosted by our Area such as the Bridging the Gap Forum, the Area Archives Workshop, Archives Workshop Day, etc.
  4. Attend Service Workshops and events such as the National AA Archives Workshop, National AA Technology Workshop, Bridging the Gap Workshop Weekend, La Viña Anniversary Celebration etc.

Who can Vote?

  • GSRs – A group’s GSR or their Alternate if the group’s GSR is not present
  • District Officers:
    • District Committee Member Chair
    • Alt District Committee Member Chair
    • DCMs – District Committee Members
    • Archives Chair
    • Bridging the Gap Chair
    • Coffee & Set-Up
    • Cooperation with the Professional Community Chair
    • District 20 Liaison
    • Grapevine Chair
    • Literature Chair
    • Recording Secretary
    • Registrar
    • Service Manual and Concepts Study Chair
    • Special Events Chair
    • Treasurer
    • Web Chair
    • Tech Chair