Service Structure in GAA
Tradition 9: GAA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
We use an upside-down pyramid to show where the power of decision-making lies in the GAA service structure. Groups are at the top. No one compels them to do anything, and they have the power to direct the service structure beneath them.
GAA International Services (GAAIS) is at the bottom of the pyramid. It holds no power over the fellowship of GAA. GAAIS is a non-profit service organization that handles publishing literature, maintaining the GAA website, answering inquiries, paying the bills, managing volunteer staff, and meeting legal requirements. Delegates from the groups direct GAAIS through the General Service Conference.
The General Service Conference is a meeting of group delegates and GAAIS trustees who together decide on the overall direction of GAAIS and decide matters such as the content of GAA literature and the website, how to answer inquiries, the wording of steps, traditions, GSC charter, and GAAIS bylaws, and public outreach.
For agendas, meeting notes, and other materials, see the GSC folder in the GAA repository.
| Who can attend? | Who has a vote? | What do they do? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group business | Anyone with a desire to not game | All group members | Run their own meetings and send a Delegate to GSC |
| General Service Conference | Anyone with a desire to not game | Trustees, Delegates from groups, staff of GAAIS | Make decisions on literature, website, legal matters, nonprofit finances |
| Trustees meeting | Anyone with a desire to not game | Those elected as trustees to the board of GAAIS | Carry out GSC decisions and manage GAAIS |
| Literature Committee | Anyone with a desire to not game | Members with six months off games and attendance at three committee meetings | Gather, organize, write, and edit material for GAA literature |
Literature Committee
Meeting directions are shown on the calendar. The agendas, notes, and latest news are posted in the GAA repository.
EXISTING PROJECTS and SUBCOMMITTEES
Service handbook. A guide to group conscience decision making, service positions, and the GAA service structure.
Stories of Recovery. A collection of stories about gaming addiction and recovery in GAA.
COMING-SOON SUBCOMMITTEES
Basic Text. A guide to recovery in Gaming Addicts Anonymous for newcomers and members. Focuses include overcoming denial, fellowship, Twelve Steps, and personal stories.
FUTURE PROJECTS
Twelve Step Guides. Guides to working the Twelve Steps written by various members using various approaches.
Twelve Traditions
While GAA has no rules, we do have Twelve Traditions that guide our fellowship toward unity. The Traditions keep us focused on our single purpose and guide us away from controversies and power struggles that might tear our fellowship apart.
- Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon GAA unity.
- For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—our group conscience as guided by power greater than ourselves. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
- The only requirement for GAA membership is a desire to stop computer/video gaming.
- Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or GAA as a whole.
- Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the gaming addict who still suffers.
- A GAA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the GAA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
- Every GAA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- Gaming Addicts Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
- GAA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
- Gaming Addicts Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the GAA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
- Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films and internet.
- Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
