New England Region of Narcotics Anonymous Basic Website

After a long flight and drive I arrived in Orlando around 6:30 AM Saturday 10/30/10.
Saturday morning started off with a Recap of the Background information/Introduction – review of Friday nights session.
Workshop concepts-justify direction of growth.
Facilitators of the Service system workshop are: WB members Muk, Ron H., Ron WB Chair, Indigo. NAWS staff Nick E. and Steve R. and Elaine from the WSO.
Background:
A handpicked workgroup consolidated input and produced the fellowships findings.
Muk- if the fellowship wants to do something about our service system then the WB will carry out the will of the fellowship.
We are currently working out the flaws in the current service system.
Member input-15,000 inmate prison on the outskirts of NJ – Fellowship / Service System puts H&I responsibilities upon an area with only 100 members.

9:30 Nick
Any successful system has four key elements- See slide
Structure, Process, People, Resources.
Process driven structure slide-
Key Process – Planning, Decision making, Communication
Train/Mentor – How do we capture and share service experience?

Foundational Principles – Purpose Driven – Group Focused – Geographically Defined – Flexible.
We have been wandering blindly around in the current service system.
GD – use the “Real World” boundaries.
Currently we are recovering in 130 countries and in 72 languages
-this will help dissolve the delusions …. Disease mentality

PD- clearly define responsibilities practice the “12 Concepts for NA Service”

GSU-
Ever increase our local services
-How do we make service more rewarding?
-How do we improve our reputation?
-Does it happen organically?
Focus our local services better by dividing the group support and local services that exist in the current system.
-this will strengthen and enrich our members in a more attentive environment.
Blanken expression / hard won experience of members first ASC.
-share opinions / concerns / struggles / success / of your group..
-Bring challenges to an arena that is designed to solve those challenges
-head / group count for proper division of time-
-decide who will attend from group
-disease is treated in our service meetings.
OPEN sharing
-“Blame sponsorship” – old ways – what worked still works – new system will only enhance systems that currently work.
MUK – people are drawn to like their peers, happens naturally. The arena exercises ones spirit – allows for God’s will to be seen.
10AM Ron H.
GSU
Relationship to the rest of the structure - limited to NA business
Options-
“Linear” Steamlike GSR goes to both the GSU and LSU service committee meetings
“2-Track” GSR goes to GSU. Group elects a different member to attend the LSU.
Open discussion-
Q: Could the GSU meeting rotate around to different NA groups?
A: Yes. This is where groups could practice flexibility and continue to change and grow at the request of the local fellowship.
The LSU would meet the demands of the local community. This is where we could connect members with different tasks that the local community requests.
LSU - MUK
Where NA service is produced. The workhorse of NA service. Reduce sluggishness of current ASC meeting. Provides an opportunity for tasks to be taken on by local members of the fellowship.
-Political Boundaries = match services to everyday languages – to new people
use yellow page boundaries?
We didn’t think efficiently when developing current services 1970’s.
4-5 LSU meetings a year?
Quarterly Local Service Assembly – all GSU/LSU reps, chairs, project managers, and all NA members may attend.
Reduce Apathy= deprivation of an opportunity for input.

The proposals before us now help better connect our groups in fulfilling our primary purpose and make that path easier to find. A “how to” approach to the local community.
While sharing needs to the local fellowship. One member filling one position.
10:25 NICK

Linear – extends the chain of NA services into the local community.
Sweden has 100 local members meet at the LSA annually.

Steve R.
It’s critical to have a common understanding of the models. Be an agent of the models whether you agree with them or not. (We got the “How” we need the “What”
He explained on how the terms “GSU” and “LSU” are just working titles.

We broke into small groups to work out issues with GSU Linear and 2 track models as well as the LSU model.

How do we maintain what’s good?
Inventory money needs
Relieve time burdens
Take business aspect out of ASC meetings
Concentrate on current struggles
Provide a Group support room at our ASC - RSC meetings for now…

Challenges-
Decide where to meet – How often?
Capture experienced members
Provide resource materials / GSR orientation packets etc.
Harness principle over personality.
Size of GSU could bog down meeting / extend time? How effective would it be?
Compounding time restraints.

11AM
Restructuring will not solve cultural problems
Planning will solve cultural problems and provide better effectiveness.
LSU = FDC “Fellowship Development Committee”
-not the solution to every community
some committees don’t need modifications
only working on concepts
Q: What about the Guide to Local Service?
A: The need may arise to rewrite the GTLS. We are on unchartered territory.
One worldwide fellowships will is unique. Noone has done what we are trying to do.
Look at Minnesota websites- http://www.na.org/?ID=phoneline

Straw poll taken- most support was for the 2 track option
Limited support for Linear
Medium support for more information
Medium support for being against the idea of change altogether.

11:40 AM Ron. H
Intermediate/State/National Workshop
Northside group in Dallas, TX has 20 meetings a week.
Some Areas have 20 meetings a week.
LSU gives direct services
We will define purpose & scope of each body-
Intermediate bodies will fill the gaps between LSU & State service bodies
We are looking at the whole of NA
Groups don’t need to be “fixed” they need to be supported.
The support system is what we are fixing
-supporting language barriers
NOON – Muk
We are creating a one size fits all structure
State/National will be meeting Societies boundaries!
Appropriate boundaries allowing for Statewide process’ IE. Prison volunteer services / Mass
Find out how to operate a state system
Make it easier for the public to interact with our fellowship…meetings / H&I / PR
Think about multiple States being service bodies due to the infrequencies of NA meetings in those States IE. New Hampshire and Vermont Combined.
Brainstorm Benefits-added value Question 8 -How could an intermediate body be useful?
-expand shared experience with long timers’ presence
-provide more opportunity for growth
meet new people from across old boundaries
New England region is an intermediate body when it’s looked at from a statewide point of view
Question 9 What, if any challenges might using an intermediate body create?
Agreeing on a centralized location to meet
Creating policies
Joining old bodies together to create new. Some due to resentful regional splits
Dissolving politics in NA service
Q.) How will the world board recosile differences with state/intermediate bodies?
A.) concentrate on our primary purpose.
Q.) Have we looked at the AA structure?
A.) Yes. We wouldn’t operate well using their structure.
Comment from floor=Resolution A implied restructuring of local services
Q.) combine LSU’s into intermediate bodies?
A.) We created intermediate bodies when we sent teams to different Service System Workshops fall of 2010
Open- we are developing a commitment to a worldwide fellowship
NAWS is driven by the groups
Q.)Where will we put this to rest one way or the other? (Volunteer Region)
A.) At the WSC. Where we will hear the wellspring of group conscience.

2:30 WSC Seating
Majority of attendees have not been to the WSC.
We currently have 116 regions represented at the WSC.
-Formal participants
Challenges-
Difficult to manage/ Formal participants are funded by NAWS
It costs $400,000 to currently fund the WSC.
We are a growing fellowship increasing in speed each year = more expenses
From floor – Q)growth = compensation for recognition at WSC
A) look at annual financial statement
Muk helped write the criteria on the current heavy handed procedure for recognition at the WSC.
Filter system for seating never worked
It’s easy to manipulate- just need to produce paperwork to qualify to be recognized.
International regions who submitted correct and true paperwork were denied recognition because they didn’t manipulate the paperwork.
A member in India had to take a week long train ride to attend the WSC, then a weeklong train back…lost job to attend the WSC to help addicts in India.
What is the practical reality of our current system in reaching an efficient/prudent operating/service structure.
Existing structure-
Groups, Areas, Regions, Zones, WSC
-usually consensus forums
-Regions-some are in line with state boundaries
China- they register heroin addicts over 1,000,000 – 100% relapse statistics

Ron was sent to Cairo- he was overwhelmed with brain picking. He is eternally grateful for the opportunity.
In 2000 world started paying for WSC participants.
New model encourages regional reunification
Primary Purpose of the restructure proposals
Address’ perceived inequalities
Repository of experience adequately efficient
Without diluting other interested regions
Keep our rich heritage
Just define representation @ the WSC
Reduce pressures at the WSC
Middle model will still leave room for WSC growth if Russia, China, Brazil and other countries seek seating
Zonal Seating
Need to redefine zonal boundaries
IE. Give a zone 5 reps…when the fellowship grows then the zone would be reduced to 4 reps etc. keep WSC size even…and still deliver services at a prudent level.
107 seated regions
WSC inclusion gives the “coming home” feeling
Look at the value of sharing the energy of going back to an emerging country – magic of the WSC convinced in value of growth & value
Change role of seating
EDM = European Delegates Meeting and the APF= Asia Pacific Forum are doing NAWS related work in their local zones.

Nick 3:16 small group discussions
State/national
Good public relations with external bodies-more cost effective
Question 12 How would these proposals help you to maintain what is positive in our current system about zones or improve functioning of your zone?
Is to help clearly define the zonal forums duties and responsibilities
Consolidate resources
Provide a better training ground
Formalize the ZF
Question 13 What exites you or concerns you about the effects these changes would have on the functioning of your zone?
Decrease the splitting of regions
Concerns of unequal geopolitical representation
Lose the advantage we have – balance tipping
Question 14 In what ways do you see this model providing a more effective voice or pipeline of communication between your community between your community and world services?
Service would be more personal and draw more participation.
Starw poll was even at 20 per State national vs. zonal seating and neither. Strong support for not enough information

If we don’t change the way we currently provide services to the world we will bankrupt the fellowship. We as a fellowship must act now.
We must follow the group conscience on the structural proposal CAR results
Delegating authority to carry out leadership functions…no one else is in the position to do the changes and make the decision and articulate proposals
Richer US = better able to send services to more needed NA communities

Q.) How would a group direct activity at the world level?
A.) Delegate through your RD.
Q.) Could we have both Linear and 2 track options?
A.) Of course
LSU = accountable to groups (attend scanning meetings) see worksheet

We have the rubber stamp of approval from the fellowship and have implemented their suggestions and direction
Plan driven system / leadership development / identification system / match talent to task
Currently we continue to bring disturbed, miserable barely exited people into the service arena… others will help me understand if I am in over my head
Tradition 2 by having to deal with such people
We constantly misjudge electing people
We have the clean time and recovery to do more
Muk cried for over a minute…
Q.) How do we integrate the minority? (snipers from the side)

Wrap up Sat. night
Open from floor
Political caucus for your agenda
Dance with the one who shows up
Based on ignorance or choice
System that is clearly understood will allow for participation
Dangerous and scary proposals? Will they distract us as a fellowship and lessen our ability to carry the message?
Forced extradition of a fellowships conscience
Narrow viewpoint-which everything has to go back to groups-then find out that the groups don’t really care.
Try these proposals locally-
This is one step in the conversation
We are reforming the base of our structure to strengthen and broaden the sides to bring the point of freedom higher then it’s ever been for the world we live in!
We are facilitating a conversation with 58,000 groups in 130 countries and in 72 languages.

Sunday
10AM
We watched the growth of NA movie
Integrity / communication issues
Comment – fear of change
-get more into history of service
-the new structure proposals point out the changes we are facing are positive enhancements
we are keeping group conscience – delegating
Look at the 2010 CAR
Are you helping row the boat or weighting it down?
How do large Metro areas build their GSU’s?
How will WB members voting be affected if the Zonal seating option is voted in?
7th concept – roll of board has difficult perspective
valid conscience = possible participation
moral compass – collective pooling of resources

10:30AM
How do we keep service flexible for people who grow in recovery? When they have a passion for recovery?
Breakthrough the group and to the person-with personality.
Muk- about India- “I want to do service…” while being totally illiterate…”you’ll find a friend who will help you in recovery” “make it happen” bring them the information
Process problems must have process solutions / Structural problems must have structural solutions
Ron- we must raise consciousness that our current structure has issues and we need to do something. These models are a result of a decade of work the fellowship has produced.
We are all doing this for our Home Groups.
We are experiencing unfortunate dialog with people who feel somehow excluded. People who are sniping from the bush so to speak. Driven by fear of change.
GSR experience-complaining about Area circus. We want the groupos perspective on these models.
11AM Steve-
What challenges will we face presenting this information to the fellowship?
Agents of the message-we know more now then when we got here
A challenge is that some don’t even know what our current structure is
How do we overcome the apathy we experience from the same people year after year with the CAR motions?
-the people they influence that the CAR doesn’t matter and they don’t need to be involved with it.
-live in my disbelief of their lack of caring
-How important is it?
Comments from floor-
Don’t put boards opinion in the CAR.
?Why not share the boards experience and educated opinion?
How can we better deliver the information back home?
-and keep it spiritually based
-keep misconceptions of hidden agendas from being plausible
11:45
please stand up and express your viewpoints whether you like the popular side of an issue or not (especially not)
Muk-I must be aware of my deeply held opinions “when I know I’m right” the discussion ends. Entrenched bureaucracy
How do we avoid the “I’m right and your wrong” attitude?
=listening ends
Are we looking for centralized services in the zonal seating option?
Ron
These models have no fixed position = flexible
We examine nature of trip requests to keep costs minimal
New models siphon experience and localize it.
Lets us not isolate ourselves and experience from developing communities.
Medium is the message / pray for the words
Being right is not needed
CBDM (Consensus Based Decision Making) =more spiritually connected
Muk
Given a structure with process’ in it
-orientation with purpose
-progress with purpose
- people for purpose
effective/efficient/goal orientation/setting
share experience to help others in this world
$1.00 in basket does not go far
combative mentality
-need for training is what the fellowship has submitted

Ron H does the NAWS Update
Like everyone else, NAWS is experiencing financial pressure as the amount of literature sales and contributions continue to decrease and our expenses continue to rise. The operating reserve has dropped to under 2 months. . (Explain that operating reserve is similar to a prudent reserve and consists of the total expenses of operating NAWS for one working day, multiplied by the desired number of days in the reserve. The long range financial plan called for an operating reserve of one year which we were close to achieving before the economic downturn.)
In an attempt to cope with our decreased income we have:
• Reduced expenses across the board at the WSO including a hiring and wage freeze, raising shipping charges so they reflect actual cost, and adjusting literature prices in Europe so that the WSO branch office in Belgium is financially self-supporting,
• Reduced NAWS attendance at fellowship workshops and conventions, as well as sending the closest Board member to attend in order to reduce expenses, and combining trips where possible such as the EDM and a workshop in Italy
• Reduced NAWS attendance at professional events, along with most of the other PR work we do
• Reduced the number of translation projects
• Reduced free literature distribution from $700,000 to $400,000 per year
• Made changes to the subscription process for The NA Way and encouraged e-subs wherever possible
• Created a contributions portal and made it possible for non-US members to donate
Slide for Financial Year 2008-2009 figures: Income $7,951,841 Expenditure $8,167,426 with charts
Slide for Financial Year 2009-2010 figures: Income $7,393,010 Expenditure $7,949,583 with charts
We have chosen to hold this series of workshops in place of the US worldwide workshops and some of the zonal forum attendance we budgeted for during this cycle. We believe that helping to promote a fellowship-wide discussion of the service system proposals is the most pressing task before us; therefore we have prioritized the allocation of resources to it. By doing so we hope we can get as many people talking about ideas for change as possible and together forge a system that will better help us achieve our primary purpose and fulfill our vision.
The NA Way Magazine:
NA Way changes:
• Ceasing automatic distribution to groups, trusted servants and service bodies in October 2010
• Purging the paper subscription database after October issue is mailed, and members must re-subscribe or e-subscribe. We are not encouraging paper subscriptions and we’re emphasizing e-subs as the preferred, cost-effective choice.
• Members, groups, areas and regions can request multiple-copy subscriptions for their groups and service bodies thereby allowing us to send a bulk mailing to one address instead of several individual mailings.
• Existing e-subs are unaffected
• Electronic version contains enhancements unavailable in the print copy like an ongoing series of articles from members active in the newly formed NArkoslavia region, additional photo collages, and links to related and supportive info.
• Electronic subscription in Russian is now available and the magazine is being translated to Japanese by the Japanese NA community
New Literature:
Approved at the WSC:
• In Times of Illness
• 2 new Self-support IPs
New Board approved material:
• PR Basics
• H&I Basics
Literature Survey in October NA Way - October 2010 to April 2011. Please take part and spread the word to help with ideas for new pieces of literature
New literature:
• Spanish Sixth Edition to be released in December
• Spanish commemorative Sixth Edition to be released late December (hopefully)
• Large-print Basic Text (available in October)
New PR material available:
• Updated Membership Survey from 2009 and Info About NA
• PR tote bags and pens
Living Clean – The Journey Continues:
Last batch of R&I material release date October 1 till December 31, approval form available late April 2011. This batch consists of Chapters Six and Seven and the Preface to the book
Coming Soon:
We are working on “Planning Basics” – a tool to guide service bodies through the process of planning services
Issue Discussion Topics coming for:
• Self-support
• A Vision for NA Service
• In Times of Illness
• A group topic
Your Ideas Needed:
The WSC discussed the idea of having no regional motions in the CAR or new business – this is being discussed by the board and we need your thoughts and ideas
New from the WSO:
• New gift edition of It Works: How and Why available soon along with a special numbered edition (available in November – tentative date)
• New color medallions, black and silver, and pink and pearl (available in October)
• Also available - acrylic medallion holder with WCNA or Basic Text artwork, keychain holder and necklace holder in silver or gold finishes
• Heat-sensitive mug depicting the commemorative Sixth Edition title page (late November– tentative date)
WCNA:
WCNA 34 in San Diego will be on sale “late 2010.” It is a security requirement of the convention center that members wear registration badges when in the convention center. Requiring members to register to enter the convention center will also help us to plan only for those we know are going to attend. This will assist us in avoiding the same financial short fall we experienced in San Antonio.
Currently our capacity is set at 16,000, although we do have the option to increase this if pre-registration figures indicate we should do so. Be aware that we plan to sell out of registrations at this convention. If our capacity remains at 16,000 for instance, we will not register more than 16,000 members, and you will need to be registered to attend events in the convention center. Please help with the planning of your world convention by pre-registering.
Registration for WCNA 35 in Philadelphia in 2013 will function the same way.