GSR Fundraisers

Funding your GSR

Each DA group is repsonsible for approving a spending plan which covers the GSR's expenses, including attendance at the World Service Conference. Most meetings take a second weekly collection for the GSR fund.

The cost of attending the conference is frequently over $1000 per delegate, particularly after factoring in airfare and hotel costs. (The General Service Office provides a suggested spending plan for delegates in the conference registration package.)

Most meetings can't bring in that much in weekly collections each year, so they hold fundraising events. Here are some suggestions from one of the Northern California DA groups about holding a successful GSR fundraising event.

How to organize a GSR fundraiser

Tasks/jobs involved in fundraisers:

Have a business meeting
Someone just needs to make a proposal for an event and encourage discussion of how it can happen.
Choose a topic or topics you find compelling and ask the group what they think.

Someone to coordinate
Make announcements at meetings, esp. at your home group's business meeting, that you need help with this event.
Try to spread the work out with as many people as possible so everyone gets to participate and you avoid dominance. (People will really pitch in if there is someone coordinating and asking for help).
If several people pitch in it's a lot of fun, pretty easy, great for your personal recovery, a great way to attract more people to your group and good for the whole fellowship.

Person to obtain meeting location
A donated space is fine, however, it's probably a good idea to offer to pay something, however small, for rent.
Take a group conscience, and always consider the 7th Tradition.
This is especially important if you think you would like to use the space again for similar events.

Someone to make a simple flyer
It helps to make 1 plain text flyer that can be e-mailed and
1 flyer with several on a page (i.e. postcard size or wallet size that can be distributed at meetings).
Send a flyer (e-mail is fine) to each group in your area via their contact person.
If you mail documents, estimate postage and ask if someone would like to donate the cost of postage or if the money should come from the GSR fund.

Someone to make sure the flyer gets posted on the DA Website

1 - 2 people to advertise
Call all the groups in your area within 60 miles of your group.
Ask everyone at your group to make announcements at other DA / BDA meetings they attend.
Observe the 12 Tradition by having group discussion before advertising the event outside of DA / BDA.

Someone to find speakers
1 - 2 speakers for an hour long event is fine.
It's always nice to find people who: have several years in DA, who have worked or are working the steps, participate in regular PRGs, go to meetings, use the other tools etc., and who are thriving in the topic they are sharing about.
15 - 30 minutes to share is good, depending on number of speakers and format.

Someone to prepare the format/script
Keep the opening and closing part of the format as brief as possible: 3 - 10 minutes to open, 2 - 5 minutes to close.
Focus on time for Speakers to Share or Planned Activity.
Allow a small amount of time for short personal shares or questions if appropriate (9 - 15 minutes).
If the event will take more than an hour, consider having a short (3 - 5 minute) break.

Secretary
Read the script. Observe the Traditions.
Thank everyone who contributed time, money and energy to the event profusely.

Set Up & Clean Up Person

Thanks to the Sunday Berkeley Steps & Traditions Meeting.