Transcript NWTA66 Service Orientation(revision August 11 2012).ppt

We’re about
ready to start –
Please get some coffee
and find your seat
“There are no
dumb questions about
Service Work!”
An Orientation for
Northwest Texas Area 66
Many Thanks
to Oklahoma Area 57
for use of their
presentation
in the preparation of
this workshop
The answers in this presentation
are in NO WAY written in stone.
They are simply generally
agreed upon answers which
reflect our experience.
You’ll find out soon enough, that
if you ask 3 people, you are
liable to get 4 different answers !
Right after I was elected to my service
position, someone said….
“ Now you are a Trusted Servant ”
Here’s the best question I can think of to
start this thing off !
I know that comes from Tradition 2 –
But what exactly does that mean ?
A “Trusted Servant” means the Group
that elected you is trusting you to do
an AA job.
They evidently have confidence in
your sobriety and want you to stay
sober.
What is “Service Work” ?
When people talk about
service work – isn’t that
just like pouring coffee and
emptying the ash trays at
your group ?
That’s one kind of service work …..
The type of service work we’re going to be
talking about today – is sometimes better
described as
General Service Work
service work within & to support
AA’s General Service Structure
Hopefully by the end of this presentation,
you’ll understand that better.
Service … in Bill W.’s words
A.A.’s LEGACY OF SERVICE
“Recovery, Unity, Service – the Three Legacies
given to the whole membership of A.A. by its founders and
their fellow old-timers. When this heritage was announced
at the St. Louis Convention in 1955, celebrating AA’s 20th
birthday, Doctor Bob was already gone. But Bill W. spoke for
him and the other pioneers, as well as for himself, in turning
over to all of us the responsibility for A.A.’s continuation and
growth.”
The A.A. Service Manual , the current version of the
handbook first known as ‘The Third Legacy Manual’,
may seem to be simply a guide to organization and
procedure, and its approach is indeed practical. At
the same time, it is based upon spiritual principles …”
What is G.S.O. ?
Your
GENERAL
SERVICE
OFFICE
is here to
serve
You
475 Riverside Drive
11th Floor
New York, NY 10115
Website: aa.org
212 - 870 - 3400
Fax: 212 - 870 - 3003
GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE
STAFF ASSIGNMENTS











Staff Coordinator
Conference
Literature
Corrections
C.P.C.
Treatment
Public Information
International
Regional Forums
Groups Services
International
Conventions
Sample GSO Services
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Taking and processing orders for Literature
Sending a GSR Packet to each new GSR
Helping AA get started around the world
Operating our AA web site, www.aa.org
Maintain Group Records
Archives to preserve & protect AA History
Answering Group Questions
Providing CPC, PI, Corrections, Treatment and
other services throughout the US and Canada
WHY SERVICE WORK ?
What’s in it for ME ?
Isn’t this a lot of extra work ?
We don’t need
anymore
Geniuses in A.A.
We need People
to do the Work
Inside A.A. - Understanding the Fellowship and its
Service Agencies
“ Since the Fellowship of A.A. was founded, in 1935,
it has grown from two members to over 2,000,000.
There are now more than 106,000 groups, and
members are located in more than 180 countries.
As A.A. has grown, so have its service needs …
Service is our Third Legacy.
Recovery and Unity are the First and Second.
Service to others and to the Fellowship reminds us
that we owe our sobriety to the work of earlier
members – and that our continued sobriety may
depend on the hundreds of thousands who still need
to learn of A.A.
Their participation may well be part of our future ”.
[ From our pamphlet: Inside A.A. 9/2006 ]
Service work has meant several things to me:
1) It repays a debt I owe for my sobriety & survival.
2) It is a means of attaining a degree of happiness and
satisfaction.
3) It gives me a start on humility.
4) It helps me grow spiritually.
5) It helps to encourage our hard-working new people so
that AA will continue to be there for the still suffering
alcoholic in the future.
General Service Work is the best kept secret there
is in Alcoholics Anonymous. We need to stay out of self
to stay sober – and committing to service work helps us
to do that. Remember …
Out of Self =
Out of Trouble
Into Self =
Into TROUBLE
Oh, my GAWD ….. I just got
elected by my home group to
be the GSR.
What exactly does a GSR do ?
What does GSR stand for ??
What do I need to do NOW ???
!!! HELP !!!
G.S.R. stands for General
Service Representative.
Our G.S.R. pamphlet states
“May be the most important job in A.A.”
You can read about the position in that pamphlet and in
our Service Manual.
You, as GSR, are the link between your group
and A.A. as a whole. Each group is different -- as to
what they expect from their GSR – but generally the
GSR goes to District & Area Meetings – to relay the
“voice” of your group to the District & Area.
The GSR then brings the information -- given at
District & Area Meetings -- back to the group to keep
the group informed.
It’s just 2-way communication
GSRs should attend all local District Meetings, Area 66
Assemblies, Workshops & Mini-Forums.
What are the
requirements for a GSR ?
GENERAL SERVICE
REPRESENTATIVE
Usually prospective GSRs have at least two
years of continuous sobriety
 Time available for District Meetings, Area
Assemblies and Workshops
 Have the confidence of the Group and an
ability to listen to all points of view
 Encountered situations in which the Twelve
Traditions have been called upon to solve
problems

Group Duties of the GSR
Attends Home Group Meetings Regularly
 Sits in as member of Group Steering
Committee
 Regularly reports to Group on all service
meetings and service activities
 Assists Group in conducting Group
Inventory

Group Duties of the GSR
Attends District Meetings regularly
 Encourages Financial Contributions to
District, Area & Headquarters
 Returns Group Registration info to GSO &
Area Registrar

District Duties of the GSR
Reports to District on their Group’s
activities - shares with other GSRs
 Attends all Assemblies and
participates in preparation for
General Service Conference
 Home Group’s Voice in AA as a whole

First update your Group Contact info
Forms available: www.elptx.com/aanwtx or from Your DCM.
New Group
First Time Registration
Existing Group
Change
OOPS !
What if you have been elected
GSR ….
and you don’t have all of those
requirements?
Relax – like most of AA, this is
“suggestion only”
If your group has entrusted you
with the position, then my
“suggestion” is that you keep an
open mind and give it your best.
Honest, Open-Minded & Willing
Now I can handle that !
Since I’ve now gotten a
service position outside of
my group …. Are there –
like – any “spiritual tools”
that I’m gonna to need
to do service work?
That I’m getting myself
into a WHOLE LOT
of the kind of stuff that
sometimes happens at our
Group Conscience
Meetings …. All that
fighting and stuff …
Because … my biggest
fear about doing service
work is ….
I don’t like that at all.
If that’s what this is all
about … I’m NOT
INTERESTED !!!
Okay, Okay ….
I
want to talk now
I want to know what to do when you
hear someone (like an old-timer in
your group) say really negative
things about Service Work, Districts
or the Area ?
You mean LIKE
THIS ?
Don’t know why
anyone would want to
do Service Work at
the District or Area
All they
EVER do is
argue for HOURS
about coffee….
YES …. Exactly
like that !!!
That question can probably be most
graciously answered by just IGNORING IT.
(And you might want to avoid talking about coffee.)
AND …You may want to say a little prayer
for that person also that hopefully
someday that resentment will go away.
Perhaps that person had a bad experience
with service work. I’m always sad to hear
when that happens.
First of all …. We all know …
the Ultimate Authority in everything we do in AA and
for AA …. is the
God of our Understanding.
Remember …
YOU
are not in charge.
In fact the best spiritual tool for any job in AA is ….
from Tradition 4 in the Twelve & Twelve …
Remember?
RULE 62
Don’t take yourself
too seriously !!!
What is a D.C.M. ?
? Is there anything in General Service
not named with Alphabet Soup ?
D.C.M.
District Committee Member.
Each District has 1 DCM elected by the GSRs & District
Officers. DCMs play a varied - but central role in AA,
including visiting the groups they are responsible to.
They are the District's representatives to the
Area Committee.
Your DCM serves as a resource of information for the
groups, keeps the Delegate and the groups informed.
Please feel free to contact your local DCM
whenever you have any questions about what’s
going on in AA as a whole - or if you have
something going on at your group that you’d like
to get help with. You may want to invite him or
her to your group conscience meetings.
Okay… My questions are:
What is an Area ?
Why Area 66 & not Area 51 ?
District what ?
AA Group to GSO
The Goal of General Service is to Assist the Groups in Carrying the Message
LOCAL AA GROUPS
DISTRICTS
AREAS
GSO
AA Home Group
AA MEMBER
AA MEMBER
AA MEMBER
AA MEMBER
LOCAL AA GROUP
GROUP OFFICERS
GROUP COMMITTEES
GSR
ALT GSR
TREASURER
SECRETARY
The Heartbeat of AA
OTHER, AD HOC
CPC
PI
CORRECTIONS
TREATMENT
GRAPEVINE
LITERATURE
ARCHIVES
GROUP RELATIONS
Group
AA MEMBER
District
LOCAL GROUPS
DISTRICT
6-20 GROUPS APPROX.
DISTRICT COMMITTEE
GROUP
GSR's
DISTRICT
SECRETARY
DISTRICT
TREASURER
ALT DISTRICT
COM M ITTEE
M EM BER
DISTRICT
COM M ITTEE
MEMBER
(DCM )
PERMANENT COMMITTEES
OTHER, AD HOC
CPC
PI
CORRECTIONS
TREATMENT
GRAPEVINE
LITERATURE
ARCHIVES
GRP RELATIONS
Group
District
Groups organize into Districts
Area
LOCAL GROUPS
DISTRICT STRUCTURE
AREA ASSEMBLY
AREA
OFFICERS
DCM's
GSR's
PERMANENT
COMMITTEES
CHAIRMAN
CPC
CO-CHAIRMAN
PI
SECRETARY
CORRECTIONS
TREASURER
Every Area Elects 1 Delegate
REGISTRAR
TREATMENT
LITERATURE
DELEGATE TO
GEN'L SERVICE CONFERENCE
GRAPEVINE
GRP RELATIONS
ARCHIVES
Group
District
Area
Multiple Districts form an Area
There are 93 Delegate Areas in the United
States & Canada that participate in the
General Service Conference each year.
Each Delegate Area elects 1 Delegate to
the General Service Conference in NYC
The State of Texas is divided into 4
Delegate Areas. Our area is designated
as “Northwest Texas Area 66”.
66
65
Texas
67
68
Texas has 4
Delegate
Areas
Now about a District :
Our service manual says …
“A district is a geographical unit containing the right
number of groups – right in terms of the committee
member’s ability to keep in frequent touch with
them, to learn their problems, and to find ways to
contribute to their growth and well-being. The
number of groups per district varies widely … ”.
Each Area is divided into multiple Districts
Area 66 currently is divided into 11 Districts
Area 66 has 11 Districts
3 of them are Linguistic
Districts designed to
serve the needs of the
Spanish-speaking
population
Some districts are
currently inactive
or “Dark Districts”
What are some ways we can motivate “Dark Districts” to become involved again?
As I read through the
literature, it mentions many
different types of
Service Meetings
What is a District Meeting ?
What is an Area Committee Meeting ?
What is an Area Assembly ?
Each Area (just like each Group) is
Autonomous (self-governing).
The General Service Structure of AA in each
Area has evolved differently.
The Service Manual is meant to be a guide
for all 93 Areas in the US and Canada. As
such -- it is meant to be a broad guideline.
Area 66 has adopted its own set of
procedures to supplement the Service
Manual known as Area Guidelines
Area 66
Guidelines
for
The
Assembly
District Meeting – is usually chaired by the District Committee Member
(DCM). People who attend District Meetings include GSRs, Alt. GSRs, DCMs, Alt.
DCMs, District Service Chairs, and any AA members interested in service work.
Any meeting of area GSRs and the Area Committee is an
assembly. The Area Assembly is the mainspring of the Conference structure - the
democratic voice of the movement expressing itself. Assemblies are the
responsibility of the Area Committee, and are conducted by its Chairperson.
Area Assemblies consider a variety of issues, from General Service Conference
business to area problems and solutions and financial affairs. Sharing sessions,
public information programs, workshops, mini-forums and video programs keep
A.A. strong and participation in service growing.
Area Assembly –
An election assembly is held once every two years to choose a Delegate and Area
Officers. Area 66 holds its elections on the 2nd weekend of November each oddnumbered year. The newly elected Delegate and officers take office as of the
following January 1.
Non-election assemblies or meetings may be held at any interval the area wishes.
Here’s what our current schedule of Area meetings looks like:
Do I need to know Robert’s
Rules of Order to go to these
Service Meetings ?
NO. Roberts’ Rules of Order are parliamentary
procedures for conducting meetings.
Each Area is free to adopt its own rules for
conducting meetings.
You’ll learn as you go.
You can certainly pick up a book on Roberts’ Rules
of Order at any bookstore.
So I need to be an
expert on the Traditions
& Service Manual to do
General Service Work ?
No, but you need to be willing
to learn. As in your recovery –
you need the willingness to
learn and sometimes be a
good teacher. It’s the same
for service work.
But what if …
someone asks me a
question & I don’t
know the answer ?
Here’s your choices:
a)
b)
c)
d)
Pretend you didn’t hear them
Change the Subject
Ask them another Question
Answer your Cellphone
Take a Ride
to Elvis’s
House
see if he knows
the Answer
NO DOUBT
that WILL Happen !
None of us are experts.
We are all still learning.
But … by attending District Meetings and
Area Meetings – you’ll meet a lot of
people. Someone will know the answer.
We just need to ask …
Tell me more about this
“General Service Conference”
Each of the 93 Areas in the US and Canada send an AREA
DELEGATE to the General Service Conference – so that
the voice of the groups in that Area are heard.
That’s why, if you are a GSR, it is important that you
communicate your group’s wishes and needs to our
Delegate and keep your group informed about the items
under consideration by the Conference.
Remember – 2 way communication
Items that are discussed and voted on at the General
Service Conference include:
changes or updates in our Literature, what Public Service
Announcements are to be used by TV & radio, what
information is in the Service Committee Workbooks, and
other items of importance to AA as a whole.
General Service Conference
(U.S. & CANADA)
AA GROUPS
GROUP G.S.R.'s
DISTRICT
COMMITTEES
Committees
AREA
ASSEMBLIES
DELEGATES TO THE
GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE
Delegate
GENERAL SERVICE BOARD
AA WORLD SERVICES
BOARD
GRAPEVINE CORP.
BOARD
GENERAL
MANAGER
EXECUTIVE
EDITOR
BUSINESS ADMIN./
FINANCE DIRECTOR
SUPPORTING
DEPT's
SERVICES
DIRECTOR
BUSINESS
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL
BOARD
G.S.O. STAFF
FINANCE
ARCHIVES
PERSONNEL
STAFF SUPP.
PUBLISHING
General Service Supports
Conference Delegates & GSO
GROUP
DISTRICT
AREA
GSO
The Conference comes closer to Government than anything
else in AA. But as Bill W. states in the first edition of the
Service Manual “Of course, it can not be too often said, that
while the Conference can issue orders to the General Service
Office, it can never mandate or govern the Society of
Alcoholics Anonymous, which it serves.
The Conference represents us – but cannot rule us”.
Did you know …
G.S.O.
used to be called
Headquarters
Each Delegate serves on one of the standing Conference
Committees. The Committees can bring recommendations
to the full Conference for consideration as possible Advisory
Actions.
Here is how the Conference Committees are organized
General Service
Conference & Trustees’
Committees
DELEGATES TO THE
GEN'L SERVICE
CONFERENCE
(93)
(CONFERENCE COMMITTEES)
GENERAL SERVICE
BOARD
21 TRUSTEES
(TRUSTEE'S COMMITTEES)
AGENDA
CONFERENCE
FINANCE
FINANCE &
BUDGETARY
CORRECTIONS
CORRECTIONS
LITERATURE
LITERATURE
TRUSTEE S
NOMINATING
CPC
TREATMENT
(2 COMMITTEES)
CPC /
TREATMENT
( 1 COMMITTEE )
PI
PI
POLICY/ADMISNS
GEN'L SHARING
ARCHIVES
ARCHIVES
INT'L CONVENTION
REGIONAL FORUMS
INT'L CONVENTION
REGIONAL FORUMS
GRAPEVINE
INTERNATIONAL
Each Delegate serves
on at least One Committee
REPORT &
CHARTER
The Advisory Actions each year are
published in the Final Conference Report
Our Delegate or
your DCM have
these available
for members
every year.
What are
Service
Committees ?
In Area 66 there are 12 Service Committees
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Archives
Bilingual
Cooperation with the
Professional Community
Correctional Facilities
Finance
Grapevine & La Vina
In Area 66 there are 12 Service Committees
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Literature
Newsletter
Public Information
Treatment Facilities
Website
Texas State Convention
An Area Service Committee consists of an Area
Service Chair and any members interested in
carrying the message on a particular topic.
Their job is to provide information about,
assist, support, and generally encourage
individuals and groups to carry the message.
Find a topic that interests you &
become part of a Committee today
What do GSRs
do at Area Meetings ?
LISTEN AND LEARN
Don’t forget
there are NO DUMB QUESTIONS
in Service Work
as GSR you are your Group’s voice
Remember, you are there to bring your Group’s
voice to the Area, and to bring information from
the Area back to your Group. So you’ll want to
participate in the discussions and take notes to
take back to your group.
Breaks will be your chance to share experiences
with others from all around the Area.
You can also have informal talks with YOUR trusted
servants – to ask questions and provide your
perspective on things.
Is my Home Group supposed to have a
representative for ..
Grapevine, PI, CPC,
Corrections, etc. ?
It looks like it is – based on the chart I
saw in the pamphlet “The AA GROUP”
YES (if possible). It
would be to your
group’s benefit.
If your Group has
Service Committees,
the Area Service
Committees would be
happy
to hear from you.
Maybe we can help
your Group
Carry the Message
I guess I’m supposed
to be getting a
“GSR Packet”
from GSO.
What’s in it ?
What do I do
when I get it ?
Your GSR Packet – will be mailed to you from our
General Service Office (GSO) in New York.
It will contain these things:
Keep your Group Contact info up-to-date
Forms available: www.nwta66.org or from Your DCM.
If we don’t know our
Group Service Number
… how do we find out what it is ?
What does it represent ?
If you don’t know your group’s GSO service number, ask your
DCM or the Area Registrar.
The Group Service Number is simply an identifying number
assigned by GSO in New York to each registered group in
order to keep track of the group’s information.
Your group would reference this number if your group orders
literature directly from GSO in New York - and
MOST IMPORTANTLY… it should be on each group
contribution check to GSO, your District or Area 66.
Hint – Each Group is only assigned one Group Service Number
when it first registers with GSO. You should use this number
if you file a Group Change Form.
I got some “Guidelines” in my
GSR packet.
I’ve never seen these before.
Where did they come from ?
They are service pieces put
out by G.S.O. in NY
There are 17 of them:
Archives
Serving Alcoholics with Special Needs
Finance
Treatment Facilities Committees
Carrying the AA message to the Deaf Alcoholic
A.A. Answering Services
Cooperation With the Professional Community
For A.A. Members Employed in the Alcoholism Field
Literature Committees
Relationship Between AA and Al-Anon
Public information
Correctional Facilities Committees
Conference, Conventions and Roundups
Clubs
Central or Intergroup Offices
Cooperating with Court, D.W.I. and Similar Programs
A friend asked me to go with
them to a Area Meeting.
Can you go to a District or
an Area Meeting if you
don’t hold a service
position ?
Of course you can!
All AA members are
When people say
“check the web page”
What do they mean ?
What’s it for ?
? www – dot – what ?
www.aa.org
Official website for AA maintained by GSO in New York.
Contains much information about AA for members and
the public. Most of AA’s pamphlets, guidelines and other
service pieces are available here. Stay tuned here for
info on International 2010 in San Antonio.
www.aagrapevine.org
Read, research topics or listen to Grapevine articles.
Here’s a sample of a
“service piece”
available on
www.aa.org
you may never have
seen it - since it’s not
a published pamphlet
www.nwta66.org
Northwest Texas Area 66 website
 Meeting Schedules for all known Groups in Area 66
 All DCMs should verify meeting info often
 Information about upcoming assemblies & workshops
 Group Change & New Group Registration Forms
 Try www.elptx.com/aanwtx/forms for a surprise
Here’s my Concern ….
The guy who did the service position
I’m considering – before me – did
SUCH an excellent job. I don’t think
there’s ANY WAY that I can ever fill
his shoes. What if I can’t ?
SERVICE WORK …
Is NOT about filling someone
else’s shoes …
It’s about filling
YOUR OWN !!
To YOU who are eligible for any service offices,
I hope you will give serious thought
to what AA has given to you.
The importance of our General Service Structure
to how We function as a Fellowship
How much you owe A.A.
&
How VITAL your SERVICE WORK
is to OUR FUTURE.
I hope you will be willing
to continue serving AA and
allow God, through the process of
election & group conscience
-- to decide –
if, when, and where you serve as a
trusted servant.
This is just an opinion, but…
I believe that any time we are asked to do a
service position in AA, it’s an honor.
I was taught that getting elected by your
group for a position meant that my group
trusted my sobriety.
Now that I’ve gotten my ego out of the way
(most of the time), I’ve discovered that
service work is where I continue to learn …
and to grow spiritually.