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Getting Ready for GSA's First World Service Conference

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Greetings, Greysheeters...

With the first World Service Conference planned for 2010, Greysheeters Anonymous is coming into its own as an autonomous 12-step fellowship.

Like AA and other groups that have gone before us, GSA is faced with a major challenge during its start-up.  When Tradition 2 tells us that "...our leaders are but trusted servants. They do not govern..."  who takes the initiative to organize a new fellowship? To bring groups together? To organize the first World Service Conference?

The World Service Board of Trustees' role during the start-up of any 12-step fellowship is necessary but temporary leadership.  As in other 12-step fellowships, the GSA WS Board exists to serve, not dictate.  The goal of the Board is to help GSA become a fellowship that is run by members for members through the World Service Conference, growing organically as we execute on our mission to carry our unique message of hope.

Below is an overview of the three ways that the WS Board is providing necessary but temporary leadership until we have a fully-functioning World Service Conference.

Suggesting a Service Structure. The GS World Service Board of Trustees has proposed a service structure that features 19 Intergroup Areas, each consisting of a geographic region with anywhere from five to twenty registered GSA meetings.  Each Intergroup Area elects a Delegate who participates in the WS Conference process.  This proposed structure is posted on the GSA website (http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-areas.html) and suggests one possible way to make sure that GS groups worldwide have representation at the first WS Conference. This initial proposal is not a mandate. It’s only a starting point.  GSA members and groups are welcome to propose alternative Areas to meet their needs. More on how to do that in a moment.

Facilitating Communication. The Board is leading the efforts to create a platform for two-way communication throughout the fellowship. The Pre-Conference Focus Group phone meetings for Delegates and Intergroup organizers on July 27 and 28 were the first of what will be several meetings for Delegates between now and the WS Conference. At those meetings, Delegates and Intergroup organizers from the Southeastern U.S., Northeastern U.S., Pacific U.S. Connecticut, Israel, Iceland, the United Kingdom and the Phone Meetings offered their input on the issues that need to be addressed by the first World Service Conference.

However, not all geographic areas with face-to-face GSA meetings were represented at the Pre-Conference Focus groups.  That's a problem.  Every group deserves to have its voice heard. The only way to do that is to join with other GSA groups in your area to form an intergroup and elect a Delegate.  If your geographic area has more than five registered GSA meetings, you can have your own Intergroup. If you form your intergroup and identify your delegate by September 7, the Delegate from your area will be able to participate in the Pre-Conference Delegate Assemblies set to start in mid-September.  To get help forming your Intergroup, visit http://www.greysheet.org/HowToFormAnAreaIntergroup.pdf and http://www.greysheet.org/InvitationAgendaMinutesExamples.pdf.

Creating Opportunities for Delegate Participation in WS Conference Preparation. Third, the Board is designing the process that gives Delegates opportunities to participate in the preparations for the WS Conference. Delegates will also be playing critical roles in the development of proposals that will address every aspect of our fellowship's operation, including financial issues, technology issues, public information, starting and growing new meetings, how the WS Conference operates, how the Board operates, who serves on the Board and much more. Delegates and Board members will work together on committees to decide how we want to handle all these issues.

Questions?  Contact WS Conference Chair at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

P.S. Service is a great way to strengthen your defense against that first bite.  Getting involved in the WS Conference planning process can help protect your abstinence, teach you new skills, give you new confidence AND give you the chance to participate a historic event. After all, there will only be ONE first GSA WS Conference!  Contact Gayla to sign up.

 

How To Form An Area Intergroup

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If you want your registered GSA group to have a voice during the preparations leading to the first GSA World Service Conference in August 2010, your GSA group must join an intergroup and elect an Area Delegate by September 7, 2009.

Your Area Delegate will represent your Intergroup at the World Service Conference in August 2010. He or she will also serve on one or more Standing Conference Committees that will be developing proposals about how GSA manages every aspect of operation, including finances, public information, meetings, literature, the WS Conference, who will serve on the Board of Trustees and more.

If there are at least five registered GSA meetings operating in your geographical area, you can form your own Area Intergroup. An Area intergroup typically includes between 5 and 20 registered GSA meetings. For more about intergroups, go here http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-areas.html.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Double check to see if there is already a functioning Intergroup in your area.
    1. If you live in the Southeast U.S., Northeast U.S., New York, Iceland, Israel, Connecticut, the United Kingdom or participate in Phone Meetings, you are already served by an intergroup. Contact the Board liaison in your area for more information. http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-areas.html
    2. If you live in the Pacific U.S., an intergroup is forming. Contact the intergroup organizer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
    3. Intergroups need to be formed in the Southwest U.S., Massachusetts, Midwest U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia/Africa/Australia and Japan. For more information, contact the Board liaison for your area or the WS Conference chair at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  2. If there is no functioning Intergroup in your area, consider starting your own. Keep in mind that the intergroup areas listed above and shown on http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-areas.html are merely suggested. If your city or state has at least five registered GSA meetings, consider forming an own intergroup that will serve your city/state and send a Delegate to the WS Conference.
  3. Visit http://www.greysheet.org/cms/face-to-face-meetings.html to see if there are other registered GSA meetings in your geographical area. If you live in an area with less than five registered meetings, consider joining with GSRs from meetings in nearby states to create your intergroup.
  4. Note the contact info on the GSA meeting list for GSRs in the area where you want to start your intergroup.
  5. Invite all GSRs in your area to an intergroup organizational meeting. Hold your meeting either in person or on the phone bridge.
    1. Schedule your phone meetings at www.freeconference.com, a simple and free phone bridge service that takes just a few minutes to master.
    2. To see examples of invitation emails, agendas and minutes for your organizational meetings, go to http://www.greysheet.org/cms/intergroup-areas.html. Use what you like!
  6. Get help with your organizational meetings via phone bridge if you need it. Email Gayla, the WS Conference Committee Chair, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need help planning, conducting or recapping your meeting.
 



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