Last Updated on January 15, 2013 by Area 53 Web Team
The GSR Preamble
We are the General Service Representatives. We are the link in the chain of communication for our groups with the General Service Conference and the world of A.A.
We realize the ultimate authority is a loving God as he may express Himself in our Group Conscience. As trusted servants, our job is to bring information to our groups in order that they can reach an informed group conscience. In passing along this group conscience, we are helping to maintain the unity and strength so vital to our fellowship.
Let us, therefore, have the patience and tolerance to listen while others share, the courage to speak up when we have something to share, and the wisdom to do what is right for our group and A.A. as a whole.
History:
The GSR Preamble as stated above, got its start here in Southern California and Area 9 in particular. During the time that Genevieve L. was the Panel 24 (1974-75) Delegate of California Mid-Southern Area 9, someone came up with a Preamble to read at Area meetings which was quite a strong directive to GSRs making them the ultimate authority over Alcoholics Anonymous. Gene asked Goldene L., who was the Area Treasurer at the time, to come up with something to soften this Preamble. She did and she came up with the one they are still using today. Goldene L. would later go on and serve as Area 9 Panel 28 (1978-79) Delegate.
The Central Intergroup Office of the Desert, Palm Springs, California printed the G.S.R. Preamble in its May 1988 issue of their newsletter. The GSO staff picks up on it and ran short article and reprinted the preamble in the August/September 1989 issue of Box 459. This preamble is being used in many of the Areas throughout the United States and Canada today.
(source: Goldene L. interview, March 2, 2004 & Box 459 )