Service Matters - October 2023

New GSA Literature

It’s always exciting when the Literature Committee launches something new. This week, we are so proud to introduce you to our latest pamphlet, “Tips for Dining Out and Traveling in Abstinence.” You can get your copy from the GSA website. If you are in the US, you will want to download the letter size pdf. In Europe and other areas, download the A4 version.

For those of you who have been waiting patiently for the completion of this pamphlet, thank you! The subcommittees of the Literature Committee are very careful to get everything just right. We know that GSA members will be reading our books and pamphlets for a long, long time. For that reason, each of our offerings go through an extensive writing and editing process before we are ready to give it to you—our beloved community.

It is up to each Intergroup how they want to distribute the printed pamphlets. For example, here in Paris, we are giving each registrant of the Paris Round Up a copy. Then we are asking one euro for each additional copy, for those who want extras to share with other GreySheeters. That money will go to the venue that is hosting our Round Up.

Every time we have new literature to launch to the Fellowship, we will announce it here.

Thank you for supporting us with your 7th tradition donations so that we can keep producing GSA conference approved literature for you. And thank you to Terry M and her subcommittee for making this happen.

NMW,
Sara S.
Managing Editor, Literature Committee

Board of Trustees Column

How GSA Came to Be

I am Marvin A. I have been abstinent since 03/17/1992. I was in Grey Sheet for about 90 days and lost 110 lbs. I started looking around in the meetings for literature and started talking to older members who were in the GreySheet rooms before me. Asked where the literature was. I was told they did not have any. I was told that at one time we were a part of Overeaters Anonymous. I was also told that they no longer used food plans. OA said, get spiritual first and deal with the eating disorder second.

That’s when I realized that the GreySheet meetings in NYC were renegade. I did not know about any other place in the United States or the world. So, in 1994, a few GreySheeters and I met up in a meeting at 86^th and Amsterdam Ave. to create a survey. We created a committee that day. I did not want to be the Chairperson of that committee. The members told me I had to be. I took the commitment, and we worked on a survey to bring to the NYC roundup that year. People took the survey.

One of the survey questions was “Do we want to be an Intergroup under Overeaters Anonymous?” The majority agreed.

At that time, I lived in New Jersey, so we sent a letter to Overeaters Anonymous World Service, Inc. in California asking to create an Intergroup for GreySheet. OA sent a letter back stating it was against several of their traditions. We were denied the Intergroup status.

That's how GSA was born. We are now called GreySheeters Anonymous. So, Service does Matter. April of this year marked the 25^th year of GSA, Inc.

Presently, I am doing service as a trustee on the World Service Board. I am also on the NYC Round-Up Committee and The Men’s Spiritual Retreat Committee.

I have stayed away from high level-service commitments for at least 10 years. I have been doing service like this for 3 decades. Hopefully I can bring something in the years going forward.

This is the first part of my story. I am grateful to be abstinent. It’s the most Spiritual thing I can do. Within a day, three times a day I weigh and measure my food.

Thank you all for allowing me to do service.

Marvin A.
NMW

Board of Trustees

Secretary

The GSA Secretary records the minutes of the monthly Board of Trustees and the Chairs/ISRs meetings as well as the minutes of the World Service Conference.

Assistant Secretary

The GSA Assistant Secretary supports the secretary and manages GSAWS records in the GSAWS Google Drive.

Trustees: Iceland, Europe

Represent your area on the Board of Trustees. Ensure that your community is heard.

Board Requirements: Five years abstinence. Three-year term. 2-4 hours a month. Chair@greysheet.org or Nominating@greysheet.org

Communication Committee

GSAWS Facebook Admins

• Duties: Moderate the GSA World Services Facebook group to ensure posts meet criteria and that only existing GSA members join the group. Current trusted servant will train.
• Abstinence: 1 year.
• Term: 1 year.
• Time required: Few minutes daily.
• InternalFacebook@greysheet.org

Service Matters Publisher

• Duties: Receives newsletter content in Word from Communication Committee by last day of the month. Copies, pastes, and formats in MailChimp Service Matters template. Posts same content into website blog. Publishes MailChimp newsletter by 7th of the next month. Current trusted servant will train.
• Time Required: 3+ hours a month.
• Abstinence: 1 year. Term: 1 year.
• Communication@greysheet.org

Service Matters Subscription Manager

• Duties: Once a quarter, receive a spreadsheet of new trusted servants to subscribe to Service Matters from the registrar. Load the new subscribers into MailChimp.
• Abstinence: 1 year.
• Term: 1 year. 1-2 hours a quarter.
• Communication@greysheet.org

Area Contacts List Coordinator

• Duties: Add new contacts to the online list quarterly. Annually email all contacts to verify that they respond within 24 hours.
• Time Required: 2-3 hours a month.
• Abstinence: 1 year.
• Term: 1 year.
• Communication@greysheet.org

Start-Up Sponsor Team

Want to get newcomers started in their GreySheet abstinence and help them get connected? The Start Up Sponsor Team needs more women living in North America, especially those available during the day. Training and mentoring provided.

• Duties: Respond to Coordinator’s WhatsApp text within two hours with your availability; start off your share of newcomers.
• Abstinence: 1 year.
• Term: 1 year.
• SUS@greysheet.org

2023 GreySheeters Anonymous World Service Conference Meeting

October 22nd, 2023

9:30am to 2:30pm ET, via Zoom

Registration for our 8th World Service Conference meeting will open the first week in March 2023. It is a very powerful time for the growth of GreySheeters Anonymous. The World Service conference committees are working diligently on guidelines and policies to support our fellowship. 

If you are an ISR or represent a group as a GSR, please consider registering as a delegate for our World Service Conference meeting so your group will have input on the proposals presented at the WSC.  All of the information will be in the link below. We will update the information regularly! There will also be delegate training as we get closer.

https://greysheet.org/world-service-conference/upcoming-conference

We have made some exciting changes for 2023. World Service Specialists, i.e. the Service Matters Coordinator, can be voting members at the World Service Conference. The total number of registrants will determine the number of specialists spaces available. Those elected by the board or a committee as a specialist should register as well. 

We are working diligently as a committee and would welcome 1 or 2 new members. 

This will be our third Zoom WSC meeting! It is very exciting to see your fellow abstinent service-mongers and communicate the information to your groups or intergroups!

SAVE the DATE and we’ll see you then!