Delegate’s Sharing Session: Area Service Committee

As we begin February and await the final Agenda Items, it is important to remember that when you are a general service representative (G.S.R.) “you have an even bigger responsibility: You transmit ideas and opinions, as well as facts; through you, the group conscience becomes a part of “the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship,” as expressed in the General Service Conference. Like everything else in A.A., it works through a series of simple steps.” P19 – G.S.R. General Service Representative

“I am responsible when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help. And for that, I am responsible.”

We often speak about authority and who’s in charge of what, and who reports to whom. Ultimate authority and delegated authority and the like. But who takes responsibility for our work, and its results? If each of us shares a portion of that responsibility, how are we checking in with one another about how we’re doing?

The critical aspect of any role, voluntary or paid, is the responsibility that comes with it. Am I taking ownership of the mission of the organization and its overall success.

What do you think is your primary responsibility within your current role as a trusted servant or paid worker? How does that responsibility manifest itself in our work? How do you think we should gauge success, and by your metric are we succeeding?

Concept 1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

Concept 4. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.”

Concept 6. The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board.

Concept 10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.

Concept 11. While the Trustees hold final responsibility for A.A.’s world service administration, they should always have the assistance of the best possible standing committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Therefore the composition of these underlying committees and service boards, the personal qualifications of their members, the manner of their induction into service, the systems of their rotation, the way in which they are related to each other, the special rights and duties of our executives, staffs, and consultants, together with a proper basis for the financial compensation of these special workers, will always be matters for serious care and concern.

Happenings in Mid-Southern California Area 09

The Final Agenda Items were received from GSO on February 10 and the Area 09 Webmaster Faith B. posted them to msca09aa.org under “General Service Office (GSO) – Conference Materials”. There are 85 final agenda items following the final approval at the January Trustees Meeting from January 2023. Of the 85 agenda items, with a total of 102 line items, I have identified 34 items where area member can comment and thirteen than may be of greater interest.

I registered for the 2023 PRAASA at http://praasa.org. Registration is $25 and there are dinner and lunch meals that can be purchased. PRAASA 2023 is scheduled March 3- 5, 2023, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott, 5855 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045, adjacent to LAX and hosted by Area 05. I am in the process of recruiting Area 09 volunteers for possible speakers, moderators, readers, and Roundtable moderators and scribes.

Activities within (and without) the Pacific Region

NERAASA Northeast U.S. Feb.23-26, 2023. I will be attending the online portion. WERAASA is the Western Service Assembly on March 3-5, 2023, the same weekend as PRAASA.

Getting Ready for the 73rd General Service Conference

I am able to visit Districts, groups, or gatherings between Feb. 19 and April 14 in addition to the Pre-Conference Bootcamps and the Pre-Conference. Distinct 18 has asked for a Saturday pre-conference orientation and I have a pre-conference sharing at District 19 at 1 pm on February 19.

To help reach A.A. members in addition to in-person and District meetings, I will host Zoom meetings on Sundays between Feb.26 and April 16 as town halls and information sessions. They are intended to be Q&A with feedback the Delegate on agenda items or information for GSRs to take back to their groups. The sessions will be one hour 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. to have discussions with the Delegate on agenda items. I propose to have the following dates:

Feb.26

Skipping Mar.5 (PRAASA) and Mar.12 (ASC)

Mar.19

Mar.26

April 2

April 9 (yes, Easter Sunday at 4 pm, for those members that want to attend)

April 16

News from New York:

A statement was read at the January Trustee Meeting with the General Service Board and Delegate Committee Chairs on January 30, 2023:

“At the request of the board Linda C. has tendered her resignation as Class A Trustee and Chair of the GSB Board, effective yesterday, January 29, 2023. We would all like to thank Linda for her service to Alcoholics Anonymous.”

The General Service Board’s quarterly report (with the Pacific Regional Trustee’s digest) is shared with GSRs at the Area meeting; it is meant for A.A. members only and is not reproduced online.

Honored to be of Service!

Mitchell B., MSCA 09 Panel 72 delegate