WEST CENTRAL
REGIONAL AA SERVICE CONFERENCE
Bemidji, MN
MARCH 7-8-9, 2003
GSR BREAKOUT SESSION -- Rick R., Area 35
Topic 1 -- What is a GSR supposed to do? To get a
better idea. (Mike, Dist 5)
- 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.
Topic 2 Structure service work. Talk about service
positions needed: GSR's Treasurer, Delegate.
- 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)
Topic 3 -- Tradition 5
- 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)
Topic 4 -- (Tim)
- 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)
Topic 5 (Paul)
- 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)
Topic 6 (Beth, Dist 11)
- 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)