AA's general service structure is discussed below and in the pamphlet Circles of Love and Service.

Alcoholics Anonymous' general service structure is often depicted as an inverted triangle. At the bottom of the triangle are two corporate entities: A.A. World Services and A.A. Grapevine, each governed by a corporate board but collectively referred to as the General Service Office (GSO). GSO is governed by the regional trustees and directors that comprise the General Service Board (GSB).

North America is partitioned into eight geographic Regions, each with an elected regional trustee who sits on the GSB. Each region is subdivided into a geographic Area. Each of the 93 areas is subdivided into Districts, and within each district—at the top of the triangle—are A.A. groups.

          

A District is a geographic area that gives local A.A. groups a voice in matters affecting them or A.A. as a whole. Each District has a District Committee composed of A.A. members, called General Service Representatives (GSRs). Each group can elect one GSR who serves as the link between the group and the A.A. service structure. The GSR attends district committee meetings, area assemblies and regional assemblies to connect and represent their group’s conscience to the AA fellowship.

The District Committee elects at least one representative, a District Committee Member (DCM) to serve as an essential link between the district and its Area. As a member of the Area committee, a DCM represents the District's conscience to the Area Delegate who, in turn, represents the Area's conscience at an annual General Service Conference (GSC) attended by the Trustees and directors of the GSB, GSO staff members. and the 93 Area Delegates of the U.S. and Canada.

The structure of the GSC is depicted in the diagram below. For a review of how the GSC functions: click here.

Massachusetts is split into two areas: Area 30 (map, website) and Area 31 (map, website). Within the AA general service structure, Massachusetts is part of the Northeast Region and is represented by a delegate at the General Service Conference and by the Northeast Regional Trustee on the General Service Board.

Each area may also have Central Offices or Intergroups that support local A.A. groups. For central and metrowest Massachusetts, the Worcester Area Intergroup is located in Worcester. For eastern and western Massachusetts, the Boston Central Service Office is located in Boston and the Western MA Intergroup Office is located in Holyoke. There is also a Berkshire Intergroup, a Cape Cod Intergroup, a Martha's Vineyard Intergroup and a Nantucket Intergroup. Areas 30 & 31 also jointly plan and host a Mass State Convention annually.

The A.A. Service Manual describes Alcoholics Anonymous general service in detail, and the Area 30 Service Handbook describes Area 30 general service in detail.