northern california car assembly sonoma county february 3, 2008

Northern California CAR Assembly

Sonoma County February 3, 2008

Today’s Agenda: Overview of NAWS and the WSC

Explanation of the CAR and Group Conscience Process

World Board Report – “CAT” Issues

“Building Strong Home Groups”

“Our Service System”

Working Lunch - The 6th Edition Basic Text

Youth IP and IP to parents/guardians

Additional “Targeted Literature” Discussion

Today’s Agenda:

Sponsorship Book Discussion

Regional Motions (2) concerning medallion production

Regional Motion concerning NAWS & legal responsibilities

Regional Motion concerning World Board Service IP’s

“Who’s Missing from our Meetings & Why?

Wrap-up; your comments and feedback on today’s process

The NA Service Structure

area area area area

Northern California RSC

World Service ConferenceNAWS

NAWS Overview

Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (NAWS) is a non-profit corporation whose business is to serve addicts. It is a part of the service structure that has been formalized for legal and business reasons

NAWS exists as a unifying element that allows us to work toward achieving our common vision of reaching every addict worldwide with our life-saving message

NAWS Overview

NAWS has four physical offices, called WSOs (World Service Offices) in: California – Chatsworth Canada - Mississauga Belgium - Brussels Iran – Tehran

Special workers are employed by the offices to better serve our needs.

NAWS Overview

The World Service office handles all NA business:

Production, sale and distribution of literature and other products like key tags, chips, and medallions

Preparation and distribution of all NA publications, such as the NA Way Magazine and Conference Agenda Report

Logistics and arrangements for conventions, conferences, workshops and workgroups

NAWS Overview

The office also answers questions and provides assistance to individuals, NA groups, areas, and regions throughout the world.

NAWS Overview

NAWS is supervised by an executive director and by the World Board

In a sense our World Board is a Board of Directors much like that of any other non-profit corporation

In a more important sense, our Board members are recovering addicts who serve like any of us who serve our home groups, areas or regions

NAWS Overview

The World Board:

Supervises the planning and hosting of conventions

Facilitates the production of new literature

Oversees workgroups & projects

Provides the overview and insight that makes strategic planning possible

World Service Conference

The World Service Conference (WSC) meets every two years. Delegates from regions all over the world come together at the conference to discuss matters of importance to the fellowship as a whole.

NAWS Vision Statement

Upon this vision we stand committed:

• Every addict in the world has the chance to experience our message in his or her own language and culture and find the opportunity for a new way of life

• NA communities worldwide and NA world services work together in a spirit of unity and cooperation to carry our message of recovery

NAWS Vision Statement

• Narcotics Anonymous has universal recognition and respect as a viable program of recovery

WSC Mission Statement – RD Responsibility

“The WSC’s Mission is to unify NA worldwide by providing an event at which:

• Participants propose and gain fellowship consensus on initiatives that further the NA World Services Vision”

How do we gain fellowship consensus?

Conference Agenda Report

• CAR is distributed 150 days prior to the WSC in English . It is available for $11 or free download from www.na.org

• CAR is available 120 Days prior to the WSC in French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish

• We will provide Regional ballots to collect your feedback

• We are planning 5 of these assemblies throughout Northern California and at NCCNA in March

• You can also answer the discussion questions online at www.na.org/conference

http://www.na.org/

http://www.na.org/conference

World Board Report

Pages 1 - 17

World Board Report

A Discussion-Based Conference

Conference Approval Track Material• GWSNA Revisions

• CBDM at the WSC

• Moratorium on WSC Seating through 2012

• WCNA Zones

“Major Book-Length Piece ”

Issue Discussion Topics – Taking the Next Steps

Pages 1 - 17

Building Strong Home Groups

Page 11


Developed from the “Atmosphere of Recovery” IDT from 2002-2004 and 2004-2006 Conference Cycles

There is nothing more important we can do in service than strengthening our groups

We all seem to agree on what a strong home group feels like and how it functions. – the problem is how to instill these values more widely throughout the fellowship.

Page 11


“What do you personally see as the difference between a home group, a group, and a meeting?

Is there a difference in your responsibility or behavior with each of these?”

Large Group Discussion

Suggested Ground Rules

Stay OPEN-MINDEDStay OPEN-MINDED

LISTEN and SHARE the timeLISTEN and SHARE the time

Remember to PLAY WELL with Remember to PLAY WELL with othersothers

Don’t forget WHY we’re here!Don’t forget WHY we’re here!

STAY FOCUSED on the subject at STAY FOCUSED on the subject at handhand


Lively CONVERSATION is Lively CONVERSATION is productiveproductive

To AGREE and to DISAGREE… To AGREE and to DISAGREE… that is the process!that is the process!

One more time – AVOID One more time – AVOID REPETITIONREPETITION

It’s important to It’s important to START START and and STOPSTOP on timeon time


No KICKING, BITING, or SCRATCHING No KICKING, BITING, or SCRATCHING allowed!allowed!

Brainstorming Guidelines

• One good idea leads to another… good idea

• “NO” and “CAN’T” do not exist!

• Creativity has no limits

• Be part of – PARTICIPATE

• Think fast, analyze later… judging, evaluating, and criticizing are not brainstorming

Brainstorming Guidelines

• Above all…

HAVE FUN!


1. How do we build strong home groups?

2. What do we need to do to encourage members to join a home group?

Small Group Exercise:


Q1. If you have used the Building Strong Home Groups worksheet, how has it helped and

how can it be improved?

Q2. If you have not, what would convince you to use the worksheet?

Page 12


Group Worksheet Overview

1. Identify areas for improvement• Members “vote” for issues of importance

2. State the issues• Votes are tallied, top issue to be discussed

3. Brainstorm solutions• Consider new and not-so-new ideas

Addendum A Page 57

Group Worksheet Overview

4. Choose a solution• Select the best idea, vote if necessary

5. Make decisions• Develop an action, including “who” and “how”

Addendum A Page 57

Our Service System

Pages 12-14

Our Service System

• Evolved from 2004-2006 IDT on “Infrastructure”

• Repeated themes over the past 4 years:• Need better communication

• Less duplication of efforts

• More training

• Make service more attractive, accessible, and supportive

• These same observations were made about World Services in the late 80’s and early 90’s!

Pages 12-14

Our Service System

• In 1993 World Services ceased all but essential services to engage in a comprehensive inventory

• Inventory led to massive restructuring of World Services in 1998 and a much better system

• Local services have never undergone this type of comprehensive review in our fellowships history and may also benefit from restructuring

Pages 12-14

Our Service System

1. How can our service system better allow for new ideas and creative approaches?

2. What steps can be taken to help build a more productive and responsive service structure?

3. What actions could our service committees take to promote an atmosphere of recovery?

Small Group Exercise

Our Service System

Q3: If you are using the Area Planning Tool, how has it helped, and how can it be improved?

Q4: If you are not, is there a reason why? What would convince you to use the APT?


Pages 12-14

Area Planning Tool

Area Planning Tool – Why Plan?

• Planning helps us better carry the message to the addict who still suffers.

• If there is no planning, often a service body will move forward in a status quo fashion – staying stuck on “this is the way we have always done it”

• ASC planning is how groups join together to further NA’s primary purpose in their community.

Area Planning Tool – Benefits of Planning

• To fulfill our primary purpose, the NA groups have joined together to create a structure which develops, coordinates, and maintains services on behalf of NA as a whole

• Planning helps us focus and coordinate services on behalf of the groups to ensure that no addict seeking recovery need die from the horrors of addiction.

Area Planning Tool – Who Plans?

• All trusted servants of an area should be involved in planning

• The regional delegate may be used so the area chairperson can fully participate

• Once the inventory and planning process takes place, the administrative body may be given the task to ensure implementation of the action plan

Area Planning Tool Seven Steps

1. Gathering information2. Listing the issues3. Developing goals (“what” not “how”)4. Prioritizing goals5. Creating approaches (actions to reach goals)6. Prioritizing approaches (a second look)7. Developing an action plan

Step 1: Gathering Information

1. How well has the area done this year in serving the groups, and how can it better serve them in the coming year?

2. How well has the area served the larger community, and how can it improve?

3. How well has the ASC supported and collaborated with NA’s regional and world services? How can the area provide better support for these services?

Step 2: Listing the issues

Possible Broad Categories:

• Training and Mentoring

• Relationships with the Community

• Financial Issues

• Cooperation Among Subcommittees

• Relationships with other levels of service

Step 3: Developing Goals

• Small groups will create goals for the broad categories

• Identify “WHAT” not “HOW”

• Goals are clear and concise statements that identify a desired outcome without stating how to get to the outcome.

Step 4: Prioritizing Goals

• The entire group looks over the list of goals and prioritizes the list.

Step 5: Creating Approaches

• An approach describes HOW to reach a specific goal

• Already existing approaches may be working, or new approaches may be needed

• A small group will be assigned for each goal to develop ways to reach that goal

Step 6: Prioritizing Approaches

• The planning body now takes a second look

• This process is deliberate and decisive…members simply rank the approaches using a number ordering system of 1, 2, and 3

Step 7: Developing an Action Plan

The administrative body or area planning ad-hoc committee will develop an action plan for each approach and will identify :

• Tasks that need to be done• Time frames for accomplishing these tasks• Trusted servants who are responsible for completing

the tasks• Resources that are needed• Completion dates

Maintaining the Plan

• The administrative body or an ad-hoc committee are given this responsibility because they represent a single point of accountability for the ASC

• When the planning process is completed, it is approved by the area and put into action

• Goals and plans are usually given to subcommittees for completion

• Subcommittees should report their progress to the ASC regularly

The Planning Cycle

• Area inventory and planning should take place annually

• A planning session should take place upon elections of the new ASC body

• An area inventory should be sent out to all groups prior to the area planning meeting, or all members should be encouraged to attend the planning session

Break Time!

Remember: There is value in being back on-time!!!

Tehran, Iran

Working Lunch - Basic Text 6th

Edition

WSC 2004 Motion #4:“To approve work on revisions to the Basic Text, Narcotics Anonymous, that

includes:

• No changes made to Chapters One through Ten

• The addition of a new preface to the Sixth Edition preceding the current preface (the current preface will remain the same and be titled “Preface to the First Edition”),

• The replacement of some or all of the current personal stories, in order to better reflect the broad diversity of our fellowship, and

• A brief introduction to the revised personal stories section.

Page 18

WSC 2004 Motion #4:

The timeframe for this work will be two conference cycles, from 2004to 2008, including a six month review and input period. The approval form of the Sixth Edition Basic Text will be distributed as an appendix to the 2008 Conference Agenda Report for a minim mum of 150 days.”

Page 18

• BT working group consisted of 10 members from 6 countries (4 continents)

• Solicitations for stories went out in February 2005 in 9 languages

• Distributed through The NA Way, na.org, World Convention, workshops and forums - input accepted up until December 2005

• Over 700 submissions received; more than 20% came from outside the U.S.

Page 18

Basic Text 6th Edition

Basic Text – Story submissions by Locale

Argentina

Australia

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Colombia

France

Germany

Greece

India

Ireland

Israel

Page 20

ItalyJapanMexicoNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNorwayPortugalPuerto RicoRussiaSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth AfricaSpainSweden

SwitzerlandTrinidadTurkeyUnited KingdomUnited StatesVenezuelaWest Indies

Basic Text 6th Edition – Input by Clean Time

Over 30 years clean: 6

Over 20 years clean: 79

Between 10 and 20 years: 204



Less than 1 year: 39

Unknown : 41Page 20


• Input was read using an anonymous “blind process”; grading stories on: recovery content, quality, style , structure, and how it fits with the rest of the work.

• Existing stories with historical value were kept in a new “Beginnings” section

• Review Draft was distributed to the fellowship September 1, 2006 with input received through February 2007. 7,500 copies (paper and e-copies) were distributed.

• Approximately 350 pieces of input received ; 60% from individuals, 17% from groups, and 23% from committees

Page 21

Review Draft input by Locale:

Brazil Greece New Zealand Turkey

UK Canada Ireland Norway

Uganda Gibraltar Kuwait Russia

United States

Page 21

Basic Text – Filing the Gaps

• “The Only Requirement” – From a member who was on drug replacement

• “Sowing the Seed” – from an Israeli member

• “The Spirit of Service” – from a male Iranian member

• “Another Chance to Live” – from an Australian member

• “A Serene Heart” – from a member with mental illness who is on medication

Page 22

Basic Text – Filing the Gaps

• “Just Say Yes” – from an Indian member now in the Middle East

• “Mosaic” – from a Russian member

• “It is worth it” – from a Columbian Member

• “Sacred Places Inside” – from a female Iranian member

• “NA is a Roadmap”- from a Portuguese member

Page 22

Australia Iran Mexico Russia

Brazil Ireland Netherlands Saudi Arabia

Canada Israel New Zealand United States

Columbia Japan Norway *US/Italy

*India/Bahrain Kenya Portugal United Kingdom

Basic Text Stories:

Page 23 *got clean/now resides

Basic Text Approval Draft changes:

Page 24

1. “Introduction” to personal stories renamed “Introduction to Our Members Share”

2. Change to “Sacred Places Inside” to clarify member was “One of the first women” to get clean in her city/country.

Basic Text Production and Pricing

Page count will increase from 286 to 416 pages

Book will be 6 x 9 instead of 51/2 x 81/2

Price will increase from US $9.70 to $11.00

Page 28

Basic Text Currently Approved Version – Language adopted in 1991

“The Basic Text, Fifth Edition, is the only edition of the Basic Text that is currently approved by the World Service Conference of Narcotics Anonymous for publication and sale. The World Service Office Board of Directors is entrusted with the responsibility for protecting the fellowship’s physical and intellectual properties, including the Basic Text, as at the board of director’s discretion, shall take legal action to protect those rights against any and all persons who choose to infringe upon this literature trust.”

*This will be updated in GWSNA to clarify approval of 6th Edition in 2008

Page 29

Basic Text Current Translations Policy

4 Options for Local Translation Committees:

1. Just translate Chapters 1 through 10

2. Translate entire 5th Edition Personal Stories

3. Write their own local stories

4. Mix of English –language stories and local stories

Page 30

Basic Text Proposed Translations Policy

Local Translation Committees will be encouraged to translate some or all of the personal stories in the 6th Edition, as these reflect the global diversity of the fellowship

Local stories could be developed for translations of the Little White Book

Possible “grandfather” clause for existing translations

Page 30


Motion 1: To replace the existing stories in the Fifth Edition Basic Text Narcotics Anonymous with those contained in Addendum B.

Maker: World Board

Page 24


Motion 2: To approve the remaining revisions to the Fifth Edition Basic Text Narcotics Anonymous as represented in Addendum B. This includes• the Preface to the Sixth Edition,• the titles "Our Program' and "Our Members Share," which

would replace the titles "Book One" and "Book Two" respectively,

• the Introduction to Our Members Share,• the abstracts,• the reflections, and• the titles and descriptions for the sections "Beginnings,"

"Coming Home," "Regardless of...," and "Life on Life's Terms.“

Maker: World BoardPage 25


Motion 3: To allow the World Board to approve updates to the statistical information (the numbers of meetings, countries, and so on) in the Preface to the Sixth Edition Basic Text Narcotics Anonymous regularly with an "as of" date in the footnote.

Maker: World Board

Page 26

Basic Text and Just for Today

13 Quotations from personal stories in JFT

1 Quote from new Youth IP

Plan is to remove all citations and explain at beginning of book that these passages are from literature no longer in print

Forward from 1991 WSC Lit Committee references 5th Edition BT - A footnote will be added to the forward

Similar process used for translated versions of JFT references to Literature not yet available in that language.

Page 26


Motion 4: To approve the removal of the specific source citations in Just for Today for versions of literature no longer in print and to include, at the beginning of the book, an explanation that quotes without a citation are from previous versions of NA literature. Also to approve the use of a footnote in the foreword to Just for Today to update the reference to the Fifth Edition of the Basic Text.

Maker: World Board

Page 27


Motion 5: To approve the inclusion of an updated and revised index in the Sixth Edition of the Basic Text, Narcotics Anonymous.

Maker: World Board

Page 27


Motion 6: To approve two specific copyedits to the Basic Text Narcotics Anonymous: First, to replace the name "N.A." (with periods after the two capital letters) with "NA" (with no periods). Second, to remove the footnote in Tradition Eleven that mentions A Guide to Public Information Newly Revised.

Maker: World Board

Page 28

Youth & Parent/Guardian

IP’s

Youth & Parent/Guardian IP’s

WSC 2006 participants overwhelmingly selected youth for first targeted literature project

Workgroup consisted of 8 members of between 18 and 30 years old with lengths of clean time from 18 months to 10 years

2200 drafts of youth and parent/guardian piece were distributed for review between March and May 2007

200 pieces of input received from 7 countries and 30 US States

Workgroup factored in input in July 2007 meeting to create approval draft

Page 31

Youth IP

Motion 7: To replace the existing IP #13, Youth and Recovery, with the revised draft contained in Addendum C and change the title of this IP to By Young Addicts, For Young Addicts.

Maker: World Board

Page 32

Parents & Guardians

Motion 8: To approve the draft of For the Parents or Guardians of Young People in NA contained in Addendum E as IP#27.

Maker: World Board

Page 33

Regional Motions

Pages 41- 45

Medallion Production

Participants at WSC 2006 concurred with WB proposal to discontinue production of Roman Numeral Medallions

Decision was in large part due to production issues related to putting long clean time in center of small medallions. Also, Arabic numerals are more universally recognized

For NAWS to produce both Roman and Arabic numeral medallions would mean managing 312 inventory items just for English-speaking NA members

Pages 8, 41 - 42


Vote online Before March 1: http://naws.org/surveys/index.php?sid=3


Motion 9: To add English Roman Numeral Medallions in Bronze to NAWS inventory as a specialty item and direct the World Board to price them accordingly.

Maker: Tri-State Region

Page 41


Motion 10: To direct the World Board to add to NAWS inventory Roman numeral medallions in all current finishes and languages produced by NAWS. Whether these medallions are an addition to inventory or a replacement for the current Arabic numbered medallions is left to NAWS discretion.

Maker: Region of the Virginians

Page 42

Legal Fees

Motion 11: To direct the World Board to provide financial support to the Northern New Jersey Region in the amount of $36,000.

Maker: Northern New Jersey Region, page 43

Page 43

WB Service Pamphlets – WSC 2006

It was M/S/C by 2/3 majority Greg W (RD, Arizona) / Rick W (RD, Region 51), Motion #28:

“To allow the World Board to develop and approve service related information pamphlets and tools for distribution to the fellowship.”

Pages 37 - 39

WB Service Pamphlets:

In September 2007, the following IPs were distributed:

Disruptive and Violent Behavior NA Groups and Medication An Introduction to NA Meetings Group Business Meetings Group Trusted Servants: Roles and Responsibilities

Pages 37 - 39

WB Service Pamphlets:

An Introduction to NA Meetings contained a glossary of “Helpful NA Terms” that defined “Clean” as “Abstinent from drugs (not including prescription medication).”

As a result of fellowship reaction to this terminology, the Board voted at their October 2007 meeting to suspend distribution of this piece

Questions about Process: “What is the audience of ‘service’ literature? Should there be a delegate review period?

Pages 37 - 39

WB-Approved Service Pamphlets

Motion 12: To require that all NA Service pamphlets intended for group and individual use be included in the Conference Agenda Report for approval.

Maker: New Jersey Region, page 44

Pages 44 - 45

Break Time!

Remember: There is value in being back on-time!!!

Philippines

Sponsorship Book

Page 34

Sponsorship Book Project

First Book-Length Piece created by World Board

Topic given highest priority by fellowship in 1999 literature survey

2000 CAR contained a WB motion asking for area/regional lit committees to begin developing source material

NAWS “News Flash” sent out in 2001 to gather additional input

Approval draft overwhelmingly approved at WSC 2004

Page 34

Sponsorship Book Sales 2005- 2007

Page 35

Sponsorship

Q10: “What is it about the Sponsorship book that members are finding useful or not useful? If you didn't find it helpful, why didn't you find it helpful?”

Page 36

Large Group Exercise

Who’s Missing From our Meetings

and Why?

Pages 14 - 16

Who is missing from our meetingsand why?

• Also grew out of 2002-2004 and 2004-2006 “Atmosphere of Recovery” Topic

• Also arose from PR Roundtable discussions with professionals on “Our Public Image” – Public perceptions that certain demographics may be best served by other programs

• Challenge is how to demonstrate to the public that we are a “Big Tent” and how to make all addicts feel comfortable in our rooms

Pages 14 - 16


Identify Who is Missing from our Meetings

Page 16

Large Group Exercise:


1. Pick your top Group from the previous list

2. What can our Service structure do to help reach this population?

Page 16

Small Group Exercise:


Q8: Have you discussed this issue in your group, area, or region? Please share your

experience with work shopping the topic—or even better, your successes reaching those who are missing.

Page 16


Who is missing – Main Points:

• It is clear that not every NA meeting will be equally comfortable to all members. The important concern is that all addicts in our community have meetings where they can feel comfortable

• As members trying to carry the message, it is our responsibility to try to identify and overcome barriers to recovery in our communities . It is part of giving away what was so freely given to us


• The answer to “who is missing” varies from one community to the next, so each community will have to seek its own solutions

• Common needs meetings and targeted literature may play a part in the solution, but there seems to be a lot more we can do


• If our service system can reach these addicts, and our members and groups can welcome them, we must do everything we can to do so

• It’s about our Twelfth step, Fifth tradition, First Concept, and NAWS Vision statement. It’s about carrying the message

Targeted Literature

Targeted Literature Identified in 2006 CAR

Youth and Recovery (New Youth IP created)

Medication and Recovery(Medication and the NA Group created; revision to In Times of Illness proposed)

The benefit of service to personal recovery (Benefit’s of Service and Leadership service IPs Proposed)

The spiritual development of members with longer clean time, and how to continue to engage them in the fellowship of NA

Older members and recovery

Issues regarding Gender

Page 33

Additional Targeted Literature

Q9: “The 2008 World Service Conference will vote on an IP for young people and another for their parents or guardians. What do you think the

next targeted literature project should focus on; what population should we target?”

Page 34

Large Group Exercise:

Your Thoughts & Comments on the Process:

• _________________________________• _________________________________• _________________________________

From those of us in service to those of us in service, Our Work Is A Gift.

Thank You.

northern california car assembly sonoma county february 3, 2008

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