The AA Service Structure in Europe (English-speaking)

1. The AA Service Structure in Europe (English-speaking) March 2019

2. AA Service “Our Twelfth Step – carrying the message – is the basic service that the AA Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence” • Bill W. in AA’s Legacy of Service

3. AA’s Three Legacies

4. AA’s Three Legacies • The chief inheritances of the first twenty years of Alcoholics Anonymous are the Legacies of Recovery, of Unity, and of Service. By the first we recover from alcoholism; by the second we stay together in unity; and by the third our society functions and serves its primary purpose of carrying the A.A. message to all who need it and want it. • The Twelve Traditions are to group survival and harmony what A.A.’s Twelve Steps are to each member’s sobriety and peace of mind. • While A.A. has to function, it must at the same time avoid wealth, prestige, and power, three great dangers which necessarily tempt nearly all human societies.

5. AA in Europe • Our service structure is formed as a result of our 12th Step • It all begins (and ends) with the AA Group • Sustaining the groups in unity is of paramount importance • We are guided by our 12 Traditions & 12 Concepts • Unique situation in Europe, in that each European country has its own structure (host nation)… • Plus, there is an English-speaking region of AA Great Britain that covers Continental Europe • There are also other language groups around Europe, i.e. Polish AA, Russian AA, Spanish AA, etc.

6. Refer to the “The Structure of AA in Great Britain” handbook for more info

8. Refer to the AA pamphlet “The AA Group” for more info 1. AA Groups • Any two or more alcoholics gathered together may call themselves an AA Group • Each group can choose which structure to belong to • Does all the jobs that keep AA going • Provide a meeting place • Make available AA literature • Collect Seventh Tradition • Carry the message! • Lots of service opportunities - the Home Group is the heartbeat of AA • Represented by the “Group Service Representative” (GSR)

9. Refer to the “IG Bavaria” pamphlet for more info 2. Intergroups • Made up of GSRs and Intergroup Service Officers • Aim to serve all AA groups in a small geographical area • Services may include: • Co-ordinating public information, facilitating best practice between groups, organising workshops, linking groups to Region, providing opportunities for AA service, co-operation with Host Nation AA, sponsoring annual round-ups • Meets ideally at least six times a year • Represented by the “Region Reps”

10. Refer to the “About CER” pamphlet for more info 3. Regions • Assembly is made up of Region Reps/GSRs & Region Service Officers • Aim to serve all AA Intergroups (and groups without an Intergroup) in a large geographical area • Services may include: • Representing AA at professional community conferences, linking Intergroups to Conference, managing their own websites with meeting lists, manning 24 hour helplines, publishing newsletters … • Meets at least four times a year • Represented by “Delegates to Conference”

11. 5. The General Service Board (GSB) • The GSB consists of Trustees from each of the 16 Regions, as well as non-alcoholic Trustees, all of whom go through a nomination and ratification process • The GSB executes the decisions of Conference, and carries out those tasks necessary as a consequence of the Boards charitable status • The Trustees chair the various GSB Sub-committees: • AA Service News, Archives, Armed Services, Electronic Communications, Employment, Health, Literature, Prisons, Probation / Criminal Justice Services, Public Information, SHARE, Roundabout and Telephone Service. Refer to the “The Structure of AA in Great Britain” handbook for more info

12. 5. The General Service Office (GSO) • The General Service Office (GSO) of AA GB provides administrative support to the General Service Board and the General Service Conference. • GSO also provides central support for the Fellowship as a whole with such services as literature distribution and the answering of day-to-day enquiries from the fellowship, health professionals, media, and the public. • The GSO is located York, United Kingdom. • There are also two satellite offices; the Northern Service Office in Glasgow and the Southern Service Office in London. Refer to the “The Structure of AA in Great Britain” handbook for more info

13. 4. The General Service Conference (GSC)

14. 4. The General Service Conference (GSC) Conference Recommendations published in AASN Conference Questions (Agenda) published in AASN Deadline for next years questions for Conference 2. 3. 4. 1. Conference Starts  Repeats Annually Group Conscience Formulate response to Questions Group Conscience Recommend- ations & new Questions • AA Groups GSRs AA Service News AA Service News GSRs Group Conscience Recommend- ations & new Questions Group Conscience Formulate response to Questions Conference Recommend- ations Conference Questions • Intergroups Region Reps. Region Reps. Group Conscience Formulate response to Questions Group Conscience Recommend- ations & new Questions • Regions Delegates Delegates Group Conscience Present response to Questions & formulate Recommendations General Service Conference • GSC Refer to the “General Service Conference” pamphlet for more info Note: Questions for Conference can be submitted at anytime throughout the year General Service Board • GSB

15. Thank you