Service

Responsibility Pledge

I am Responsible…
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there.
And for that: I am responsible.

From: 1965 A.A. International Convention in Toronto, Canada

What is A.A. Service Work?

Around 1951, Bill W. defined service as the Third Legacy in the following excerpt;

“Our Twelfth Step – carrying the message – is the basic service that A.A.’s Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence.  Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a Society of Alcoholics in action.  We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven’t been given the truth will die. Hence, an A.A. service is anything whatever that helps us to reach a fellow sufferer – ranging all the way from the Twelfth Step itself to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.’s General Service Headquarters for national and international action.  The sum total of all these services is our Third Legacy.
Services include meeting places, clubs, hospitals, and intergroup offices; they mean pamphlets, books, and good publicity of almost every description.  They require committees, delegates, trustees, and Conferences. And, not to be forgotten, they need voluntary money contributions. These services, whether performed by individuals, groups, areas, or A.A. as a whole, are utterly vital to our existence and growth.  Nor can we make A.A. simple by abolishing such services.  We would only be asking for complication and confusion. Concerning any given service, we therefore pose but one question: “Is this service really needed?” If it is, then maintain it we must, or fail in our mission to those who seek A.A.”

From: the A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Services

There are always opportunities to be of service, here are but a few:

  • Making coffee
  • Chairing a meeting
  • Greeting at the door
  • Being a sponsor
  • Giving rides to those in need
  • Holding a group position (examples:  G.S.R., Treasurer, Secretary, Greeter)
  • Serving on District Committees (examples: PI/CPC, Corrections, Treatment Facilities, Grapevine)
  • Volunteering for A.A. Events (examples: Service Workshops,  Big Book Conferences)

Serving your Group as a General Service Representative (G.S.R.)

The G.S.R. represents the voice of the group conscience, reporting the group’s thoughts to the district committee member and to the delegate, who passes them on to the conference.  This communication is a two-way street, making the G.S.R. responsible for bringing back to the group Conference Actions that affect A.A. unity, health, and growth. Only when a G.S.R. keeps the group informed, and communicates the group conscience, can the Conference truly act for A.A. as a whole.

District 62 G.S.R. Meetings

Come and learn, participate in, and volunteer for District service work every 2nd Wednesday of the Month at 7:30 p.m. at Church of the Brethren in Boulder Hill.

More Information About Service