Articles

My Journey as a GSR: Understanding General Service in AA By Doug W. webservant@aascv.org I was attending many Experience, Strength and Hope meetings and felt secure in my recovery, but I started to think there must be more to my maturity as a member of AA? What was General Service? I ventured out...

2025 General Service Conference Was Your Voice Heard By Judy F. In the April 2024 volume of the Gratitude Gazette I wrote an article on the 2024 General Service Conference that was being held in New York the week of April 13th, 2024. At the 2024 Conference the final vote was delivered on moving...

AA’s Legacy of Service By Doug W. webservant@aascv.org This is an article on the General Service Conference-approved pamphlet (P-44), which you can obtain from your Central Office. The article relays some of the important information that this pamphlet offers the reader. The AA pamphlets: While...

Carry the Message By Judy F. “Remembering to observe the Traditions of anonymity and non-endorsement, the AA member can carry AA’s message into every troubled area of this very troubled world.” The above quote was from Bill W in February 1958 in an article he wrote, “Problems Other Than Alcohol.”...

Problems Other Than Alcohol By Doug W. webservant@aascv.org Problems Other Than Alcohol (P-35) is a Conference Approved Pamphlet which is written from Bill W. articles on the subject. It is a short in length at 8 pages from cover to cover.  Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has the Traditions which were...

I Am Responsible By Judy F. I AM RESPONSIBLE…when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA to always be there. And for that: I Am Responsible. First introduced at the 1965 International Convention in Toronto, “A.A.’s Responsibility”, was announced as the theme. By this time AA...

Meetings Update Process by Doug W. webservant@aascv.org The Santa Clarita Valley Central Office maintains 165 in-person and on-line meetings. To keep meeting information accurate, we need help from your meetings, Trusted Servants. If you are a Trusted Servant for your meeting, please help the...

Questions & Answers on Sponsorship (P-15) This month, we’ll review “Questions & Answers on Sponsorship” (P-15). Becoming a sponsor is one of the most rewarding ways to strengthen your recovery while helping others navigate their journey. This short article explains what sponsorship means,...

The A.A. Group …where it all begins (P-16) By Douglas W. I want to focus on a new direction as the New Year begins. This past year, my writings have centered mainly on the Steps and Traditions. This year, I’ll focus on AA Conference-approved literature, primarily the AA pamphlets. Pamphlets are a...

AA’s Tradition 12 and Step 12: The Spiritual Foundation By Doug W. Tradition Twelve, with its emphasis on anonymity, embodies all previous traditions. The Twelve Traditions apply the spiritual principles of the Steps to our group interactions and relationships with society. Tradition 12 - The Long...

Your Third Legacy By Judy F. December 1950 “We, who are the older members of AA, bequeath to you who are younger, these three Legacies – the Twelve Steps of recovery, the Twelve Traditions, and now the general services of Alcoholics Anonymous. Two of these Legacies have long been in your keeping....

2024 Santa Clarita Valley Convention by Judy F. Another year and another Santa Clarita Valley Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous has passed. Another weekend of fellowship, speakers, and hotel banquet food – did everyone who had an opportunity to attend have a good time? Did you come away excited...

The History of Gratitude Month by Judy F. “The idea is in the air that A.A. might adopt Thanksgiving week as a time for meetings and meditation on the Traditions,” A.A. co-founder Bill W. wrote in the November 1949 issue of the Grapevine (Language of the Heart, p. 95). The first official...

12 Traditions at Home and Work by Doug W. This article explores the application of A.A.’s 12 Traditions to our personal and professional lives, reflecting on our step work “… to practice these principles in all our affairs” (Step 12, pg. 60). We also strive to “… place principles before...

Step 7–“Humbly asked Him...” by Doug W. “My Humility Can Kick Your Humility’s Ass” — some silly little humor about humility. What makes the joke funny is that humility is a subject that one cannot obtain and then talk about obtaining, at least about talking in the first person. However, we do want...

History of Women in A.A. by Judy F. “I asked, ‘Is this AA?’ One man said, ‘Yes, but we ain’t got no women.’ I said, ‘You do now,’ and sat down on the couch in the front of the room.” — Grapevine Daily Quote July 5, 2024 “The Seven-Day Test,” Lexington, KY; November 2001, Voices of Long-Term...

IGR? by Doug W. What is an IGR, and what? Another TLA (Three Letter Acronym)? Yes. It means an InterGroup Representative, shortened to IGR. It is a separate role from a GSR (General Service Representative). Working with Your Local Central Office The A.A. Service Manual, combined with Twelve...

Where Money and Spirituality Mix by Doug W. As I grow into my sobriety, I believe that A.A. saved me from an ugly alcoholic death. I owe A.A. my life. How can I repay my indebtedness to the organization that saved my life? What can I do? To help me stay sober, I give of my time and money. When I...

Back To Basics by Judy F. If you have been sober for a while you are now familiar with the “foreign language” that is spoken in Alcoholics Anonymous. Today I want you to go back to those first few meetings you went to in the beginning and try to remember the confusion you experienced with the...

The Home Group by Doug W. “Home groups are so very important to Alcoholics Anonymous. This is where people begin. This is where the spark of service work is first ignited. This is where the A.A. member begins to learn about the how of Alcoholics Anonymous. By selecting a home group, the newcomer...

Paradoxes by Doug W. I love paradoxes— at one level it is a puzzle at another level wisdom, it may be a truth where I cannot see it, or at the first look it may appear to be false. In AA, the Big Book has many paradoxes. In the story that was in the Big Book from Second Edition. The story of The...

2024 General Service Conference Judy F. How exciting is this…. the 74th General Service Conference will be taking place in New York the week of April 13th – the 20th with participation by our elected Delegate from Area 93. The theme of this year’s conference is Connecting With Love, Unity and...