More Than a Service Position
When I was about 3.5 years sober (I think!) I attended my first in person GSR night for my home group where we voted on our next GSR. I immediately remember thinking that I wanted to be one of these people. They had the recovery I wanted and they seemed so confident and knowledgeable about our fellowship. I spoke to my sponsor about it and she guided me to find out more about the role and give me experience of other service to increase my overview of AA as a whole – with her guidance I felt as prepared as I could be to throw my name in the hat when the chance came around again 2 years later.
In October 2023 I was honoured to be voted in as the next GSR of the Road to Recovery Group, Plymouth, what a ride! The next 2 years that passed were the most transformative in my life so far, in my personal life, in my recovery, in my spiritual life and my relationship with my sponsor and my fellows.
Being the GSR of our incredible group means many things, it means accountability, spiritual growth, it means practising what we say in our meeting and putting this above all else, being inconvenienced. But it also means growing closer to my higher power, gratitude like I’ve never known, for our group, for AA, for the old-timers who lead us, feeling closer to my fellows, and learning more about the principals we are guided by and AA as a whole. In my outside life, this has allowed me to grow into being a mother, it’s given me skills which were key in me being promoted at work and gaining an acclaimed professional designation and it’s made me a better person.
During my time as GSR I felt even more so than throughout my recovery so far, the grace and power of my higher power. When I wasn’t sure what to do, or which direction I needed to go, felt that my gaze was shifted in the right direction by my sponsor and the old-timers and then God focused my vision to give me the courage and confidence to move forward as needed. Sometimes this meant just staying quiet, picking my battles, standing up for our group and the old-school AA attitude – giving me a further gratitude for what RtR has been steadfastly protecting for almost 33 years.
My hope for anyone reading this is that you see the incredible blessings that service brings and you throw yourself into service at all levels. I don’t have the words (or the ability to write..) how wide reaching the spiritual and personal benefits of being your GSR were and I implore any home group member to speak to your sponsor if you’re interested in joining the most wonderful group that is the GSR Omnium.
Caitlin M, Road to Recovery Group, Plymouth, March 2026