Our Twelfth Step — carrying the message — is the basic service that the A.A. Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence. Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven’t been given the truth may die.
(from A.A.’s Legacy of Service by Bill W.)
A great resource for A.A. General Service at the GSO website: https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/getting-involved-in-aa-general-service
Here is the online AA Service Manual.
Open Positions at the District Level:
Cooperation with the Professional Community ( CPC)
For more info on these positions, Contact Us or read more in our District 23 Guidelines.
To stand for a District Level open position, please attend the next District 23 Business Meeting.
Quick Links To Service Opportunities
Local Group
Jails
Treatment Facilities
Hotline
District Level
Area Level
Sponsorship
Individual Responsibility
Local Group Opportunities
There are many opportunities at the group level. It is recommended to find a group or two that you are comfortable and volunteering for open positions. Some examples are:
- Meeting Leader
- Online meeting assistant
- Set up/clean up
- Group Service Representative (GSR) – The primary group representative to District 23 and Area 25
Jail Meetings
The District hosts 12 step AA meetings in area correctional facilities — both Men’s and Women’s. Currently, due to novel coronavirus, there are no opportunities to carry meetings to correctional facilities in our area. Check back at a later date for more information, as the opportunity arises again. For information, contact us.
Treatment Meetings
The District hosts 12 step AA meetings in area treatment facilities for women. Due to novel coronavirus, there are currently no opportunities to carry meetings to treatment facilities in our area. Check back at a later date for more information, as the opportunity arises again. For information, contact us.
Hotline
We provide a much needed service to newcomers and members of the public seeking information – answering calls. Our Hotline is available to anyone – 24/7. This is an important and welcome service position, if you have the ability to answer phone calls for the District. For more information, contact the Hotline Chairperson at hotline@aa-ksdist23.org.
District 23
Generally, if you have 6 months or more of sobriety, and are interested in serving at the District level, it is recommended that you attend the District 23 business meeting. Some opportunities include:
- Chairperson for various committees, which include Web/Technology, Hotline, Grapevine, Literature, Public Information, Accessibilities and many more.
- Committee assistance – You can help a committee Chairperson to accomplish needed tasks for an area you are interested in.
- Treasurer
- District Committee Member (DCM)
Area 25
If you have at least 2 years of sobriety, and are interested in serving at the Area level, it is recommended that you participate in the Area Assembly and conferences. These are held quarterly in various locations and online. For more information, contact Area 25. Some opportunities include:
- Committee Chairperson
- Delegate
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a valuable service in AA. It requires skills which are typically passed down from sponsor to sponsee. As we learn to practice the 12 steps, we become able to help others do the same. This is one of the cornerstones of modern AA. If you have questions about sponsorship, feel free to contact us.
More info from AA.org: Questions and Answers on Sponsorship
Participate In AA Meetings
One of the most overlooked and valuable services that you can offer is to attend AA meetings. What you have to offer as an individual is priceless to the group. What you share helps others, whether you realize it or not. AA is also built upon a shared responsibility to be available to those who are still suffering. Simply being present is a great service opportunity for all of us as individual AAs.