AA MINORITY REPORT 2017 (revised)

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Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Conference questions not quite up to par! (contd)


22. 
Would Conference consider reverting to the original meaning of the term ‘GSR’, i.e. ‘General Service Representative’? 

Background 

The term ‘GSR’ in the UK service structure stands for ‘Group Service Representative’. However, the term originally stood for ‘General Service Representative’. The word ‘general’ intends a more expansive and important role for the GSR; instead of the current role, which is largely concerned with organising service within the Home Group, and which is inward‐looking. A general service rep is someone who plays an integral role in weaving together the ‘grass roots’ of AA into an effective group conscience. The current, inward-looking role of the GSR is ineffective – Intergroups seem distant from Regional Assemblies, which in turn appear distant from the General Service Conference, which is supposed to be the active voice and effective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

The World Service Manual states that the General Service Representative represents the voice of the group conscience, and that the GSR has the job of linking their group with AA as a whole, reporting the group’s thoughts to the (Conference) Delegate. It goes on to say that only when the GSR communicates the group conscience can the Conference truly act for AA as a whole. The World Service Manual states that the qualifications of a GSR should include activity in a group, Intergroup or other service, i.e. doing service at Intergroup is background work to being a GSR. The GSR’s real and substantive role is seen to be one that includes participation at meetings where the Delegates are elected. In this way the role of the General Service Representative is seen to link the grass roots of AA to the General Service Conference, which really would make it the ‘most important job in AA’.
 
Terms of Reference No. 7 Group Service Representative is used in the Service Handbook approved at Conference 2013. Also cost implications.

Comment: Anything which introduces even a modicum of democracy into the running of AA would be helpful. Do you even know who your conference delegate is? No. Nor do we!

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS For AA Minority Report 2013 click here

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