Frequently Asked Questions

Below there are frequently asked questions arranged by category.

Service material differs from Conference-approved literature in that it has not come about through Conference Advisory Action. It is produced when…
The term “Conference-approved” describes written or audiovisual material approved by the General Service Conference for publication by GSO. This…
The "group conscience" is the collective conscience of the group membership and thus represents substantial unanimity on an issue before definitive…
Archivists are responsible for collecting, arranging, preserving and providing access to permanent historical records of enduring value, not writing…
We publish 3 newsletters. You can read current and past issues on this website and subscribe on their individual pages.Box 4-5-9: GSO’s quarterly…
There are many different ideas about what alcoholism really is. The explanation that seems to make sense to most A.A. members is that alcoholism is a…
Occasionally a person who has been sober through A.A. will get drunk. In A.A. a relapse of this type is commonly known as a “slip.” It may occur…
Every two years each of the 93 Areas elects a representative who votes on behalf of the Area at the annual General Service Confence. This…
The District Committee Member (DCM) is the elected leader of the district committee which is made up of all GSRs in the district. The DCM reports…
The general service representative (GSR) is an elected member of your home group. It is a two-year service commitment. The GSR is your home group’s…
The Fellowship has four books that are generally accepted as “textbooks.” The first is Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as “the Big Book,” originally…
An open meeting of A.A. is a group meeting that any member of the community, alcoholic or nonalcoholic, may attend. Nonalcoholics may attend opens…