Welcome, General Service Representatives!
Our Fourth Tradition says that each group is autonomous. But groups are not isolated. As a General Service Representative (GSR), you give your group a voice in the collective group conscience of A.A. You are a channel through which news, information, opinions and ideas flow in a two-way communication between your group and A.A. as a whole.
To get started, register and get connected.
- Orientation: There is an orientation for new GSRs every month at 7pm before the district meeting.
- Connect with your DCM: DCMs (District Committee Members) represent subdistricts and can help you in your role as a GSR.
- Get a service sponsor: A service sponsor will guide you on your journey to learn, demystify, and understand general service. They will help make the experience fun and rewarding!
To best represent your group, you should:
- Understand your group conscience. An informed group conscience reflects the collective conscience of the group. You will learn how to determine your group’s conscience by reviewing relevant information, sharing individual opinions, and practicing A.A. principles, including a willingness to listen to any minority opinions with an open mind.
- Participate in meetings. A key part of representing is attending general service meetings. See Meetings & Assemblies below for information about what meetings you should plan to attend.
- Report your group conscience. At the Pre-Conference Assembly
- Vote on motions. As a GSR, you have a vote at both District meetings and Area Assemblies. You can also make motions to introduce new items of business for consideration.
Additionally, with your experience in general service, you can help your group conduct effective business meetings, take a group inventory, and handle problems related to the Twelve Traditions, including explaining how the money in the Seventh Tradition basket goes to support A.A. in the world.
There is a LOT of information in general service. The agenda topic season especially can seem overwhelming. But you have resources, and you won’t be alone!
Reporting to Your Group
- What to Report: You know your group best, but most groups prefer reports to be brief. Keep yours short, useful, and focused on what your group cares about. You can be their go-to source for what’s going on in A.A. without lecturing.
- Sharing Sessions: Some topics warrant more time and attention. A sharing session allows you to present a topic more fully, allowing your group to form an informed group conscience.
- Delegate’s Report: A special case of sharing session, the Area delegate reports what happened at the General Service Conference. As a GSR, you should bring this report back to your group.
Staying Informed
It’s been said that you can’t give away what you haven’t got. Keeping your group informed starts with keeping YOURSELF informed. Attending meetings is part of your responsibility, but there are many other resources to help you learn and grow in service.
Meetings & Assemblies
A key part of representing and staying informed is attending meetings. These are essential for keeping two-way communication flowing. As a GSR, you are expected to attend the district meeting and area assemblies.
District 04 Meeting: This hybrid meeting is held monthly at 7:30 pm on the second Wednesday of the month. Information can always be found on this website. You can also subscribe to the district events calendar.
Area Assemblies: Representatives from all 20 districts in CNCA get together 4 times each year. These full-day assemblies are where area-wide business happens. Here are the upcoming assemblies:
District 04 Meeting
Pre-Conference Assembly
When
Apr 11 – 12, 2026
9 am – 5:30 pm
Where
Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building
1094 Petaluma Blvd S
Petaluma, CA 94952
Zoom
632-553-607
Host
District 10
Post-Conference Assembly
May 16,, 2026
Vacaville, CA hosted by D90
Summer Assembly
Aug 8, 2026
Sunnyvale, CA hosted by D04
Fall Election Assembly
Nov 14, 2026
Richmond, CA hosted by D20 & D07
There are some additional events beyond California that you might also be interested in. Attendance at these is not expected, but encouraged, as they are educational and fun!
- PRAASA (Pacific Region Service Assembly): Nine states
- Pacific Regional Forum: December 4-6 Pacific Wyndham San Diego Bayside
- San Diego, CA
GSR Kit
This collection of service literature — which includes the A.A. Service Manual is a primary resource for learning about general service. Some of the contents:
You (the GSR) and your group are the top 2 layers of AA’s upside-down service triangle. When you register, you activate your group’s connection with the layers below:
District 04
District 04 is the northwest part of Santa Clara County, running from Palo Alto through Campbell. (District 40 encompasses San Jose and runs south to Gilroy.)
Area 06
California Northern Coastal Area (CNCA 06) is one of 93 general service areas in the United States and Canada.
General Service Conference
The General Service Conference is the effective heart and conscience of A.A. as a whole.
General Service Office (GSO)
GSO in New York includes the General Service Board, A.A. World Services, and A.A. Grapevine.
Additional Resources
Newsletters
- CNCA Comments
- Box 459 and other GSO reports
- The COIN Santa Clara County Intergroup Newsletter
Podcasts
Apps
District 04 Meeting
Current Motions
View the current motions.