GSR Breakout - Regional Service Conference

GSR School -- mail a copy of how to put on a GSR School in District. Ideas on reports for District. Job of GSR. Preparation. Glossary of GSR's terminology. Will have somewhat of a working knowledge. Voting (how to vote). (Rob, Area 40)
Look in the Service Manual and pamphlet. GSR Orientation Session. Talking to past GSR's. Talk to sponsor and ask questions. (Doug, Area 56)
Annual Workshop for GSR's -- Rely on a Higher Power -- get involved -- read the Service Manual -- enjoy comradery. (Dick, Dist 13)
GSR's are here for the groups. Be a positive example for the group. Listen to my group. Bring back knowledge from workshops, assemblies, etc. Ask group what they want. (Mike, Dist 5)
Get an assistant and train them to show them what they learn. Get an alternate GSR -- read the Service Manual (Sunny, Dist 17)
I went to GSR School put on by Past Delegates -- a world of experience. Put on once a year. Job description is in the Service Manual and the GSR pamphlet. We are responsible to bring back to the group what we learned. GSR is a 2-way street, go to and bring back.

It takes patience, tolerance, willingness to carry the message. (Diane - Dist 8)
Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. (Anne)
A woman grabbed her and took her to assemblies. She learned from people involved in service work. (Patty, Dist 18)
Have to have a topic in group in service work. There are a number of people that don't know about service. (Lonny, Area 52)
Tagging along, interested and learning. People that she sponsors . She'll take them along and hopefully they'll learn. If not invited, she wouldn't normally go. (Kim)
She got a sponsor. She mentioned that she went to an Area Conferencewith her sponsor and she came to the conference willing to learn because her sponsor gets her involved. Thru good sponsorship. (Sue, Dist 18)
Sponsors say, "You come with me." Brand new person into service is to take them to places and get involved. (Mark)
The pamphlet, "Questions and Answers on Sponsorship," Page 28, read it! Service sponsor encourages sponsor to get involved. Attend District Meetings and Conferences, Assemblies, Responsible to take them to the next level of service. (BJ)
Set up GSR Orientation Workshop -- Go to workshops before Area Assemblies and help out. Sponsors need to let their sponsees know to go to workshops, read the manual, and talk to others. (Lanette, DCM, Dist 13 -- Home of SPAM)

Final question after meeting, "Are we doing all we can for the alcoholic who still suffers? As a trusted servant he acts in a way that represents their group. Why are we doing this? Group will go to mental health institutions, taking meetings to them. Helping others. (Joe)

Ask sponsor and people who've done it. Ask questions, pay attention, follow along. If you don't understand, ask a question? Ask the group. Go to the microphone and ask for everyone. Lead by example. Ask questions if you don't know. Have fun! I love service work. (Mike, Dist 5)
Lead by example -- hope my example is willingness. Ask other former GSR's. Key is to be willing. Remember to 'Keep it Simple.' Responsible for the effort, not the outcome. Great experience. Ask people to get into service work -- invite them along with you. (Brad, Dist 7)
I was not willing at first, but I did it anyway and was given principles. Patience, tolerance, kindliness, love. Which is more important that the actual service. (Danny, St. Cloud)
Tradition 5 is the key -- to help the alcoholic who still suffers. It is important to keep that in mind. We're all just learning. Who I am and what I'm doing in my life is the best that I can do.
Try to do the best you can. Keep going and things will be alright for you. You're taken care of. Just like we help alcoholics. In any service, God is on my side. As to my Higher Power, strength comes from my Higher Power.
Start with the Big Book. Go thru the history of AA (AA Comes of Age). Learning how it has been built. (Linda, Area 35 - Duluth)

March thru the minutes - verbation -- the entire Area Meeting. Want to inform. Ok, but it's not interesting. Blah! Blah! Grab the most enthrusiastic person you can find-- make information accessible to those interested -- 3 bullets - main topics. See GSR after, if you're interested. Sit down and if there are any questions, they'll ask. Keep it short! (Mark)
Watch home group. Who's regularly attending? You know who's listening. Keep an eye on your audience. Talk more after. Keep it short and sweet. Talk to those interested. (Mike)
At group conscience meeting give a report. Those who show they are interested. Service is a key to sobriety. (Cyndi, Dist 2)
Have a mock business meeting during the workshop. Always summarize highlights, with phone number on the report. Use a list of acronyms and lingo so it's in plain english. Structure diagram. Pick agenda item (something controversial). Inject a little humor too -- it keeps interest. Keep it brief and to the point. (Dick)

People who've been to assemblies before -- get some of them to help out (Read short form) and ask questions. Pick out highlights. Get a copy of background material. Have it available. Have a short version of it. Pick highlights. GSR Schools -- everyone can attend to learn. Alternate GSR goes along with GSR so that they are aware. Make it easy to digest. Look thru material and find stuff that will tick them off. Get them interested. (Bob)
Area and Districts could have a better understanding of formal. Focus on what we are really discussing. What are the pertinent things? (Paul)
Pre-Assemblie in Montana. 4 or 5 around the state, 3 District get-togethers, Area Chairs & Officers. People who can't go to the Assembly go to a pre-assembly to find out. GSR's go to Assembly better informed on the Agenda items and get more accomplished. Good way to get people involved in Service. (Dennis)
At the beginning of a 2-year rotation, new people are confused towards the end . It goes semi-smoothly, then it goes back to the confusion and so on and so on. (Dick)