11111

JANUARY 2000VOLUME SEVENTEEN

NUMBER ONE

IN TH

IS ISSUE

On serving selflessly 1

Our readers write 2

What I’ve learned aboutbeing of service 3

Growing recovery, rooted in service 4

All kinds of people,all kinds of service 5

Real service 6

Getting God’s gift 6

You’re fired! 7

Finding the right personfor the right position 9

Giving it away 11

On the interdependence ofservice and recovery 11

H&I Slim 12

A tale of two fellowships 13

Interested in speaking? 15

WSO product update 16

Home Group 20

On servingselflessly

“Thank you for allowing me to be of service” punctuates many ofthe reports given by trusted servants at all levels throughout the NAFellowship. Many of us find this phrase kind of strange when we firstcome to NA. We think, why are these people thanking us, the peoplefor whom they take on heavy burdens of responsibility? Shouldn’t itbe the other way around? But after we’ve had the opportunity to be ofservice—in any capacity—and realize what it does for us in terms ofpersonal growth, we no longer find it odd to thank the people we servefor trusting us to do something for them.

It is indeed a privilege to be of service. Not everyone can handle itat first. Some of us serve on committees and are unable to put ourpersonal views aside in favor of what’s best for NA as a whole. Someof us get angry that others are not more helpful or more grateful, andquit in the middle of a commitment.

However, if we keep working on our recovery, most of us do developan ability to serve selflessly. When we do, there are many opportuni-ties, ranging from the group to world, artistic to technical, fast-pacedto low-key.

This issue of The NA Way Magazine is dedicated to NA’s trusted ser-vants. Just because they’re serving selflessly, expecting no reward, itdoesn’t mean they wouldn’t welcome our support and good will, evenour thanks. So try it—the next time the opportunity arises, make atrusted servant’s day—say thanks for being of service. ❖

In the Twelve Steps of NA, we learn to apply principlesto better our lives. Moved by the miracle of personal

recovery, we reach out to share that miracle with others.This is the essence of being of service in NA.

It Works: How and Why

22222

The NA Way Magazine welcomes the participation of its readers.You are invited to share with the NA Fellowship in our quarterlyinternational journal. Send us your experience in recovery, yourviews on NA matters, and feature items. All manuscripts submit-ted become the property of Narcotics Anonymous World Ser-vices, Inc. Subscription, editorial, and business services: PO Box9999, Van Nuys, CA 91409-9099.

The NA Way Magazine presents the experiences and opin-ions of individual members of Narcotics Anonymous. Theopinions expressed are not to be attributed to NarcoticsAnonymous as a whole, nor does publication of any articleimply endorsement by Narcotics Anonymous, The NA WayMagazine, or Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

The NA Way Magazine (ISSN 10465-5421), the NA Way, andNarcotics Anonymous are registered trademarks of NarcoticsAnonymous World Services, Inc. The NA Way Magazine is pub-lished quarterly by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.,19737 Nordhoff Place, Chatsworth, CA 91311. Periodical post-age is paid at Chatsworth, CA, and at additional entry points.POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to The NA WayMagazine, PO Box 9999, Van Nuys, CA 91409-9099.

THE

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

OF

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

EXECUTIVE CODIRECTORS

Anthony EdmondsonGeorge Hollahan

EDITOR

Cynthia Tooredman

COPY EDITORS

David FulkNancy Schenck

TYPOGRAPHY AND DESIGN

David Mizrahi

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Anne Peters

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Bella A, Craig R, Stephan L, Jane N

World Service OfficePO Box 9999

Van Nuys, CA 91409 USATelephone: (818) 773-9999

Fax: (818) 700-0700Web Site: http://www.na.org

The NA Way Magazine welcomes letters from all readers. Letters to the editor canrespond to any article that has appeared in the NA Way, or can simply be a viewpointabout an issue of concern in the NA Fellowship. Letters should be no more than 250words, and we reserve the right to edit. All letters must include a signature, validaddress, and phone number. First name and last initial will be used as the signatureline unless the writer requests anonymity.

The NA Way Magazine, published in English, French, German, Portuguese, andSpanish, belongs to the members of Narcotics Anonymous. Its mission, therefore, is toprovide each member with recovery and service information, as well as recovery-relatedentertainment, which speaks to current issues and events relevant to each of our membersworldwide. In keeping with this mission, the editorial staff is dedicated to providing amagazine which is open to articles and features written by members from around theworld, as well as current service and convention information. Foremost, the journal isdedicated to the celebration of our message of recovery—“that an addict, any addict, canstop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.”

Ourreaders write

Five years in Iran!What we can do together with guidance from our Higher Power, the principles of

Narcotics Anonymous, and the conscience of an informed group of members cannever be done any other way, no matter how we try to will it or force it and no matterhow much money we spend.

Nearly ten years ago, two wealthy brothers here in Iran tried very hard, with out-standing dedication, to start NA in this part of the world. But they weren’t in contactwith the WSO, they didn’t understand the traditions, and they didn’t know that alco-hol is a drug. After one year, a group of twenty members all got drunk.

Five years ago, five members who were familiar with the traditions and had workedthe steps, with the blessing and direction of their Higher Power and guidance fromthe WSO, formed a group and started taking a panel into a rehab center in Tehran.

It is wonderful to inform you that last week we celebrated the fifth anniversary ofour first NA meeting in Iran. It was a moving experience when, at the end of thegathering, a recovering family of four (a father and his two sons in NA, the mother inNaranon) blew out the candles on our fifth anniversary cake. This was a clear mes-sage of recovery and hope.

We had high-ranking guests from interested government agencies, including some-one from the Iranian House of Representatives. For the first time we were able toinvite legislators and decision makers from the Iranian government to see how ourprogram works, and we were able to do this without jeopardizing our members orcompromising our traditions.

It is a miracle to achieve such acceptance and respect in a country that only six yearsago was still whipping and sometimes executing addicts. Today, thank God, several hun-dred members, ranging from one month to five years clean, have proven one more timethat the tired old lie “once an addict, always an addict” no longer applies.

Froohar T, Iran

33333

What I’ve learnedabout being of service

Ever since I decided to write this article, I have been thinking about the topic ofselfless service and what it means to me. At first I thought I would be able to sit downand finish an article in five minutes, since I do so much service. However, my conceptand my perception of selfless service have changed since I’ve been clean, especiallyin these past few weeks when I have given it much more thought than I usually do.

When I came to NA, I knew nothing of service. The only time I served in my addic-tion was when I was going to get something in return such as drugs, money, or friends.When I got my sponsor, the first direction he gave me was to help set up and clean upat meetings. I did that, and I still do that.

As I kept coming around, I began to learn more and more about service and givingback what was so freely given to me. I soon learned that most things that happenedin NA happened because of addicts who were willing to give their time and energy. Ithought this was really wonderful, so I began to get involved—first with my homegroup, then with my area and region. Service soon became very important to me andtook up most of my free time. I didn’t mind, though, because I enjoyed my servicecommitments and I knew my service helped addicts.

Service has been one of the most rewarding things I have done in my recovery. Ihave learned so much about myself, the steps, the traditions, and communicatingwith people. It’s also been fun and exciting. I have met a lot of great and wonderfulpeople—people I would never have gotten to know otherwise.

But there’s another side to service. Today I am learning that many times I ne-glected my friends, my family, and even myself because of all my service commit-ments. I am learning that many of the service commitments I took served my egomore than the fellowship. I remember the first area commitment I took. I had no ideawhat I was doing. I wasn’t even involved with the committee I was asked to chair.Even though I probably helped a lot of people by taking that commitment, I knowtoday that my motives were more about selfishness than selflessness.

My sponsor once told me that the most important person on any committee is thegeneral member. Today that has a whole new meaning. For some reason I find it hardto serve on a committee without taking a position, without having a title in front ofmy name. I have to remind myself that a committee with no chair runs much betterthan a chair with no committee members. I am learning that sometimes it is best tostep aside to give another addict the opportunity to be of service. Today I am learn-ing that it’s okay to be just a member doing a job.

44444

I know that I need Narcotics Anony-mous far more than Narcotics Anony-mous needs me. Narcotics Anonymousgot along just fine before I got clean, andI am sure that it will continue to growand thrive long after I am gone.

This doesn’t mean that I should stopdoing service just because my motivesaren’t always totally pure. None of usare perfect. It just means that I need tohave more balance in my life and take acloser look at why exactly I am takingon this commitment.

I believe that the only way I can betotally sure that my ego is not involvedin my service work is by giving or serv-ing anonymously, by doing good thingsfor people without letting them know,by not bragging about it to my friendsor even to my sponsor, and by keepingit between myself and my Higher Power.

Jason P, Florida

Growingrecovery, rooted

in serviceMy name is Eduardo and I am an ad-

dict. I have some special experiencesto share about service. When I got toNA there were only two recovery groupsin our region, and their only contact withthe WSO was through a few memberswith some clean time. We had only theLittle White Booklet as literature, and theonly service we were doing was PI andH&I group efforts. I remember with hap-piness how those small service experi-ences awakened my dejected spirits,which were just starting to be restored.

In 1990 I received an AA pamphletfrom Colombia, which included the ad-dress and phone number of the NA ser-vice office there. I felt the need to writeto establish contact with the fellowship.I had one year clean in the program andI was attending meetings every day. I felt,for the first time in my life, a commit-ment to something. What happened af-terwards is the wonderful story aboutthe personal and institutional relationsthat led to the growth of the NA Fellow-ship in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.

In 1992 the ASC in Lima was created,and in 1995 the RSC in Peru was formed.Since 1993 we have been present at allthe World Service Conferences, and Ihave participated in all areas of service(secretary, treasurer, GSR, and chairper-son of our PI and H&I committees). Ihave experienced both financial and per-sonal growth, yet this did not make mefeel happy. I became tough and closed-minded. I was not serene. I was com-bative, and I always tried to assert mypoint of view. I didn’t realize that mydistorted social instinct was turning myservice efforts into an extension of mydisease. Hard times came, and throughsome bad management I lost my job,money, home, and everything else that Ihad achieved. What was worse, I becamedistant from NA. But the Higher Power,which is always present in my life, gaveme another opportunity, and in 1996 mywife got a job managing a restaurant ina club. That enabled us to deal with our

most pressing needs, and by God’sgrace the restaurant was right next tothe meeting place of an NA group.

My return to the program made metake stock of my real situation; it alsoreduced my pride and it opened mymind to humility. I hit bottom onceagain, and I understood that I was butanother member of this marvelousgroup of people that God had broughttogether to create service for our fellow-ship. Then I took on the work of regionalPI chair. We worked long hours, and Ibegan to see clearly that the hand of aHigher Power was reaching into myclosed mind. Strange concepts beganto take shape in my life, such as under-standing, tolerance, a passive attitudetoward group decisions, and, especially,love. By respecting the opinions andpoints of view of my fellow members, Iperceived ideas that were much morecoherent and mature. Once again I be-gan to experience the wonderful sensa-tion that allowed me to learn, and I sur-rendered.

I returned to my Fourth Step. I sharedwith my sponsor and sponsees (I learnmore from them than what I give tothem), I appraised my feelings and mymotivations. I accepted my spiritualblockage and the fact that I had becomea strong personality in the fellowship.As a result of this process, I made a diffi-cult decision and faced my anxiety andfears.

I returned to my profession, my train-ing as an engineer in the tropics, and Iasked myself, “What am I doing in thecapital when my knowledge is more use-ful in another area?” I decided to let goof everything that was tying me down inorder to find my hidden inner self that wascrying for attention, and as a result of thatdecision I gave up my request to be alter-nate regional delegate in the RSC in 1997.

At this time I live in the tropics ofPeru, and I work in areas of extreme pov-erty. I am a member of a small recoverygroup called “Abriendo Camino” (“Clear-ing the Way”) which was recently formed.It is immensely gratifying to see that bybeing here, I’ve combined my inner selfwith service to society, I’ve found peace,I’ve returned to my program, and I’m al-lowing the members of my group tolearn from their mistakes. That is theonly way I can offer selfless and lovingservice.

In my active

addiction, I only

served myself. Even

if I did something

that seemed

selfless, it only

seemed that way.

My motives were

always, and only, to

get something in

return for whatever I

did. My service to

NA is just the

opposite, always and

only for the still-

suffering addict.

Barbara G, California

55555

All kinds ofpeople,

all kinds ofservice

Having recently moved to a new area,I wasn’t too surprised when one of theaddicts in my new home group askedme to speak at a meeting at a local treat-ment facility. She was simply followingthe time-honored tradition of ambush-ing the new person in the area whosestory nobody has heard yet. Of courseI agreed to help, but while thinking itover later on, I wondered how I was go-ing to explain to a room full of newcom-ers the fact that I had been pretty muchuninvolved in NA for the past four years.This is not really the message we wantto give newcomers, but it is part of mystory, so I started writing about it.

Four years ago I moved across thecountry in order to attend college. I didall the things that were suggested to meto prepare for my move away from theplace where I had gotten clean 5½ yearsearlier. I contacted a friend in the newstate who agreed to be my sponsor eventhough she lived several hours north ofwhere I was going to be. I figured I wouldbe able to find a sponsor locally once Igot settled. I got a meeting schedulesent to me, and made sure that I was asready as I could be to leave my homegroup, my sponsorship family, and myservice commitments. I had huge ex-pectations of NA being even betterwhere I was going, since it had been es-

tablished there many years before it wasin my home state. When I arrived in mynew home, I was reminded that “expec-tations are premeditated resentments.”Nothing seemed the same except thereadings at the beginning of the meet-ings. I had a hard time getting womento give me their phone numbers. Every-one I asked to sponsor me turned medown. The service junkies acted like aclosed community. I was completelyfrustrated and couldn’t understand whatI was doing wrong. Both my new spon-sor and my old sponsor back home kepttelling me that I was right where I wassupposed to be; of course, I didn’t wantto hear that. I never want to hear that.So, for four years I went to live meetingssporadically, cyber-meetings pretty regu-larly, and threw myself into my studiesand campus activities.

When I started school, I found it verydifficult to deal with “earth people”—that is, nonaddicts. My friends were allin recovery, I had a job in a rehab, and Ispent all my “spare time” on servicecommitments and sponsorship. To becompletely honest, I didn’t want any-thing to do with “earth people.” Ithought they had nothing to offer me. Iwas incredibly closed-minded on thetopic. I could not imagine ever havingclose friends who were not addicts, yetthat is exactly what happened in college.

Some of my new friends were in re-covery, but most of them were about asnormal as humans get. In my junior year,I even joined a sorority, although I wasmore than twenty-five years older thanthe rest of the women involved. Beforegoing to school I didn’t understand thatit’s possible to be of service outside the

fellowship, but I soon found myself im-mersed in service commitments atschool. I was so involved that at gradu-ation I was given an award for outstand-ing service to the community. Of course,I served because I am a service junkie,not to get an award. Service is simplywhat I do.

After graduation, I had to move to atotally new area again in order to attendgraduate school. I had sorority sistershere, and friends who had attended col-lege with me, so I knew I had people toconnect with no matter what. This time,I had no expectations whatsoever ofwhat I would find in Narcotics Anony-mous. When we had been in our newhome for a week, my husband suggestedthat we try to get to a meeting. I agreed,but not enthusiastically. He called thelocal helpline, and within the next hourwe had three calls back to make sure weknew we would have a ride to the meet-ing that night. At the meeting, theypassed around meeting schedules andpeople wrote down their phone num-bers for us. We used the phone numbersright away. People began calling to offerus rides. I got a sponsor. Hooray! We hadfound the kind of NA we were used to.

Which brings me back to being askedto speak at the treatment center. I real-ize that God makes no mistakes (duh!).Because I am going to need to work withall kinds of people in my chosen career,not just addicts, my Higher Power hadgiven me the opportunity to learn howto do that. If I had become involved withNA during college the way I had been athome, this would never have happened.I learned through daily application howto practice the principles of recovery inall my affairs, with all kinds of people, in

66666

Real serviceWhen I came to NA, I felt that I had stumbled into the real world at last. Real

people talking about real things in little beaten-up church halls and smoky rooms,drinking cups of tea, and caring about each other. It was wonderful and warm andreassuring.

When I had five weeks clean, I went to an ASC where two people I really admiredstarted yelling at each other. This might have turned me off, but I was still so shutdown and confused that I was willing to go to another one.

When I had six months clean, I went to an RSC as the newly elected ASR and wasimpressed by the length of clean time in the room and the knowledge of the participants.

By the time I went to my third RSC, I realized that I had stumbled upon another levelof identification. I had found my home in this new world. I was a service junkie amongservice junkies. My new home was full of new words, new projects, and cooperation.

I was on fire about NA language, H&I meetings, literature development, and con-vention committee work.

I found a place for my energy and my willingness to help. I actually found a placefor myself in the committee structure and was enjoying my new awareness of theworldwide nature of NA.

Where else could I learn to have a different opinion from people I loved and stilllike myself? Where else could I learn that a mistake is just a mistake and not the endof the world as we know it? Where else could I learn from and admire people whowere different from me? Where else could I learn to let go and let go and let go and letgo?

Where else could I be taught to be a teacher? Where else could I be shown thatleadership is a great thing and not to be distrusted? And where else could I makedeep and true friends from all over the world—one passion, one fellowship?

Thank god for NA and thank god for the opportunity to be a part of NA service.In service I have explored and extended my deep love for this fellowship and have

exercised my passion to be a part of something genuinely good.Bella B, Australia

GettingGod’s gift

About a year ago I told my sponsorabout a thirst I was feeling, an existen-tial thirst that had tormented me for along time and which made me feelempty. I had been clean for almost ayear after about twenty years of usingand surviving in solitude, fear, and de-spair.

“If only you knew about God’s gift”,said my sponsor. I had spent my wholelife destroying myself and asking for theimpossible. I had forgotten about ornever knew that God’s goodness andlove followed me everywhere and at alltimes in my life. I had forgotten thatGod wants to live with me and that whenI open the door to God, my life takes onnew meaning, which is brighter and al-ways more gratifying.

Strangely enough, when I tried to de-velop a relationship with God it was inorder to reproach God when thingsweren’t going well for me. I didn’t wantto acknowledge that I had made a mis-take and had turned away from God’splans.

There were times when I thought Iknew more than God. I was so arrogantthat I thought I could find fault with God,so I just kept on making more mistakes.

Today, after praying for humility, I be-lieve that it is a gift to know how to ac-cept and carry out God’s will. God’splans are wise even though they may atfirst seem incomprehensible. For me,God’s will is shown in a personal andunique way.

I have started to lose my paralyzingfear, my despair, and my loneliness. Mylife has changed, and I now believe it’sworth living. The greatest thing is thatGod’s gift is given to me freely on a dailybasis. I only need to ask for it regularly.

Gonzalo M, Mexico

all kinds of service to humanity. Al-though I was still uncomfortable with thefact that I had not been as involved inNA for the past four years as I wouldhave liked, I had something to shareabout applying recovery to all parts ofmy life, and learning how to live life onlife’s terms outside the rooms.

Now—a couple of weeks, a lot ofmeetings, and many journal entrieslater—I find myself being grateful for thediscomfort I experienced while I was incollege. I had a wonderful time there. Ilearned much more than just what goeson in the classroom, and I grew spiritu-ally and emotionally through my expe-riences. Still, it is really great to be backhome in NA. Although I wouldn’t tradethe last four years for anything, I am veryhappy to be back home in a new statewith my new NA family.

Maria T, Indiana

77777

You’re fired!When and how should an ASC

remove a trusted servant from office?by Kit E, Minnesota

I don’t know why so many discussions in NA seem to generate more heat thanlight, but at least they’re entertaining most of the time. The question of when toremove a trusted servant from office is no exception.

Unfortunately, removing trusted servants from office seems to happen most oftenat what is usually the least-experienced service body in NA: the area service commit-tee. ASCs are strange things. People who participate feel the weight of a burdenthat’s essentially weightless because it’s not something they need to carry (responsi-bility for the very survival of NA), yet the mountain of services that a typical ASC isexpected to provide is somehow reduced to a molehill in the minds of most members.

I believe that area service committees serve a number of functions simultaneously,both explicit and implicit. At times one function or another will dominate the pro-ceedings, but they are all in play at all times.

Explicitly, A Guide to Local Services describes an ASC as the “workhorse” of the ser-vice structure. Maybe that’s the best way to describe the area service committee.Most of the hands-on work of delivering NA services to the groups and the commu-nity occurs at the area level.

Implicitly, you’ll have to agree, there’s another whole thing going on.Being the delicate creature I am, I had to have ten years clean before I could attend

two consecutive ASCs. I mean, the pathos, the bathos, the drama, the personalities,the breathtaking rudeness, the bottomless incompetence, the irrepressible arrogance,the showboating, the whining victimhood, the malicious interruptions, the constantbattle for attention. A boatload of passion leavened with a pinch of humility.

Perhaps your ASCs are places where people arrive prepared to respectfully con-duct the area’s business in muted tones.

Mine wasn’t.Mine isn’t.No way. Nohow. Not by a long shot.An example: One day an incensed young man showed up shortly after an ASC-

sponsored dance and demanded that all future dances feature a “diversity” of music.I asked if he was insisting that the DJ play a diversity of music or he was really

looking to compel the DJ to play music with particular appeal to African-Americans.He assured me he was reasonably requesting a diversity of music.“Really? So you’re proposing that the ASC direct all future DJs to play a yet-to-be-

determined number of homosexual love songs?”Believe me when I tell you the expression on his face was priceless as he envi-

sioned a dance with so many classical cuts, so many bluegrass, so many rap, so manyhard rock, so many country/western, and so forth.

Yes, my friends, it’s possible at an ASC to discover that there’s diversity and thenthere’s “diversity.”

88888

Another example: At one time, the PIcommittee proposed placing four-by-six- foot backlit posters in bus sheltersthroughout Minneapolis and St. Paul.The proposal took a year to wend its wayfrom the PI committee’s brainstormingsession to installation.

Each and every month, as faithfullyas day follows night, we’d get a new-comer at the ASC who’d stop the pro-ceedings to indignantly inform us thatthe posters constituted a hideously foultradition violation of the highest or-der. Patiently, each month westopped the meeting to helpthe newcomer gain adeeper appreciation ofthe tradition in ques-tion.

What doesany of this haveto do with elect-ing the rightpeople to theright service po-sitions or givinga trusted servantthe boot whenhe or she provesto be unworthy?

I’m getting tothat.

While it’s truethat an ASC isthe workhorse ofthe service structure,that’s but a tiny part ofthe whole picture.

An ASC is a place wherewe learn what the traditions re-ally mean.

We learn the difference betweenthe Twelve Traditions (our own particu-lar ones) and traditions (things that wedo out of habit or to reinforce ameeting’s atmosphere, identity, etc.).

We bring our ideas of who we are andgive those ideas a reality check. We’veall seen people who enjoy being the bigfrog in the group pond come to an ASCand realize they aren’t temperamentallysuited to hanging with other strongpersonalities.

The ASC was one of the places whereI learned to cooperate with others andtreat those who disagree with me withrespect. Sort of.

I didn’t have to be perfect. Peoplewere willing to very gently tell me to sitdown and shut up. I like getting my ownway. I like being in charge. I don’t likepeople considering me just one more jerkin the room.

The ASC helped me learn that I haveskills I didn’t think I had by supportingme when I took on service commitmentsI wasn’t sure I could do. They were there

with armfuls of advice and shovelfuls ofcriticism. They were there begging forsomeone to raise his hand to fill a posi-tion, then breathing down my neck whenI didn’t take the commitment as seriouslyas they did.

Some people who never consideredthemselves leaders come to ASCs andblossom. Some people who thoughttheir leadership ranks up there withHannibal come to an ASC only to dis-cover to their chagrin that they’re allsizzle and no steak. In public, no less.

I don’t know about you, but many,many of the tasks I’ve taken on havehelped me hone the skill of developingconsensus from people predisposed toopposing such a thing. Today I earn myliving as a project manager. My serviceactivities, especially those at the ASC,have helped me learn to focus on thebig picture while not letting the gnatsof negativity buzzing around my headdivert me from my ultimate goal.

What we as individuals gain throughservice at an ASC is incalculable. It’s

also not a pretty sight. Peopleflounder and fail. People floun-

der and succeed. People lieto us. They steal from us.

They surprise us byexceeding our

expectations.All this comes

from people whoare best knownas drug addicts,losers, peoplewho’re guilty ofevery sort of mis-chief. We cometogether at anASC and, if wehang around longenough, by rub-bing one hugep e r s o n a l i t y

against another, wepolish one another to

incredible beauty.What we come with to an

ASC is a propensity to teardown rather than build up, a pro-

pensity to over-promise and under-deliver. The ASC is the crucible wherewe learn how to get along better in thelarger community, where we mold thefellowship’s future leaders.

ASCs are as messy as an infant’s cribafter he redecorates with the detritusfrom his diaper. Feelings get hurt andthe message gets carried. It’s a miraclein action.

Removing a trusted servant?If done at all, it should proceed with

sound judgment and caution, not thetypical high drama of an ASC. If an ASCtruly wants to pursue the removal, I sug-gest that the GSRs be required to goback to the groups for direction. Since

99999

Finding theright person

for the right positionby Jeff S, World ServicesHuman Resource Panel

Just like a lot of people, I came to this fellowship because I didn’t have anywhereelse to go. I didn’t “fit” in life, and NA was the last exit on the road to oblivion. WhenI got here I found a whole bunch of other people just like me, trying to build a life thatwas more beautiful than any of us had ever imagined. Now that I’m here, it’s onlynatural that I want to help. The question is, “What can I do?” If you’re anything likeme, and I suspect you are, then you’re asking yourself the same question.

There have been several times in my recovery when I’ve been uncomfortable withmy life situation. Sometimes my life experience has been downright painful. As I’veshared these feelings with my sponsor and at NA meetings, I’ve often heard the samereply: “You’re right where you’re supposed to be.” Serving NA can often be just asuncomfortable. I’ve tried to serve in lots of ways. In some positions I didn’t have aclue about what I was supposed to be doing, but in service, just as in recovery, to-gether we can do what we can’t do alone. My fellow NA members have always beenthere to answer my questions and guide me through my little part of fulfilling ourFifth Tradition—each group’s primary purpose is to carry the message to the addictwho still suffers. Whether the guidance has been gentle or “less than amiable,” in theend I have always appreciated the help. In every situation I learned about the job andI learned about myself. I was right where I was supposed to be.

It’s interesting how we judge each other sometimes. With all the work that needsto get done and the overwhelming lack of trusted servants to do it, you’d think wewould welcome anyone willing to help. But instead I often hear NA members talkingabout another’s motivations. “They just want the glory jobs,” or, “They have service-based recovery, not recovery-based service.” Such gossip is simply bunk. It’s notpossible for anyone to get inside someone else’s head and determine their motiva-tions. If people say they are willing, all I can do is take them at their word and helpthem along when they need some experience, strength, and hope.

We all serve for different reasons at different times in our recovery. It’s not impor-tant what motivates us to serve, only that we do. As we each travel our individualpaths of recovery, our motivations will change anyway. I remember the first time thatI set up a meeting. I got there early, opened the doors, and started the coffee. As I wasfilling the pot with water I started thinking. In third grade when my teacher asked me whatI wanted to do when I grew up, making coffee at an NA meeting was not at the top of thelist. But right then, it was the most important job in my world. I was part of somethinglarger than myself. People were depending on me. I was making a difference.

ASCs typically consider the failure of anRCM to return to them for direction anunpardonable sin, they should have toexperience the cutting edge of the “di-rectly accountable to those they serve”knife.

At their groups, I would ask thatstatements from both the ASC and thetrusted servant it wants to remove beread.

I would ask that the GSRs tell thegroups what their part in the situationwas. For instance, if someone ran off withthe money, what safeguards had the GSRsfailed to put in place to prevent it?

If the GSRs are compelled to bringthe issue of removing a trusted servantback to the groups, enough time willpass so that the passion of the momentwill evaporate.

If the ASC acts on the passion of themoment, well, it’s just doing what ASCsdo best. Hopefully, the removed trustedservant will continue to find recovery inNA. That, after all, is really what’s mostimportant.

1010101010

As I grew in recovery, I wanted to bemore “important.” Group treasurer, ASCtreasurer, area service representative,and then regional policy work filled myplate. I was honored to play a part inorganizing the first GSR assembly in theUpper Midwest Region. Since that timeI’ve contributed in public informationefforts and found a special talent inmerchandising. In each and every situ-ation, I was right where I was supposedto be. Now I really enjoy working in thebackground, helping to train others inhow to be effective in service. I don’tneed the limelight anymore.

We all have special abilities. None ofthem are bigger or more notable thanany other. Each plays an important rolein carrying the message, from openingthe doors at the home group to trans-lating literature into various languages.In a worldwide fellowship we can’t haveone without the other. Some of us aregood at keeping track of money. Othersare good at speaking in front of largeaudiences. Some of us are interested incarrying the message through public in-formation. Some have a passion forleading meetings in hospitals and insti-tutions. Still others want nothing morethan to work on conventions and activi-ties. There is a place for everyone whowants to help. If you stick around andoffer to help, you’ll naturally find yourpassion and your fellow NA memberswill recognize it easily.

My current commitment is on theWorld Services Human Resource Panel.This is the group of trusted servants whoadminister the world pool, facilitate WSCelections, and find people from all overthe world to work on committees andproject workgroups. The HRP contin-ues to search out individuals who havespecific talents and skills to meet theongoing needs of world services. Theseneeds are many and varied. The NAWorld Services Vision Statement says itbest: “Our vision is that one day everyaddict in the world has the chance toexperience our message in his or herown language and culture and find theopportunity for a new way of life…”

It’s a difficult job for a lot of reasons.Some of the world pool members don’tspeak English at all, so their entire re-sume must be translated. We don’t get

the luxury of going to meetings with thecandidates, so we have to do telephoneinterviews and reference checks. Wehave to provide lists of qualified candi-dates to the WSC for elections and tothe World Board for project workgroupsand committees. Obviously, particularskills and talents are required, but inevery position that we seek to fill, welook for one common attribute in everycandidate.

Whether serving at the group, thearea, the region, or the world, the mostimportant quality that we seek in anyprospective trusted servant is commit-ment. Willingness is fleeting. Some dayswe’re a lot more willing than others, andwhen we’re less than enthusiastic forservice, it’s commitment that carries usthrough. We depend on each other todo our parts in carrying the message toaddicts who still suffer. This is a heavyburden because it is literally a matter oflife and death. Sometimes we just haveto do whatever comes next. It may beuncomfortable at times, but we just pickup one more foot, take that next step,and do it again. We just have to remem-ber that we’re never alone.

I’ve met a lot of people in my recov-ery, many of them in service to NA. Ican’t say that I like everyone I’ve met,and I’m sure that not everyone I’ve methas liked me. That’s not a requirement.Like them or not, I have the utmost re-spect for them, because, through thickand thin, good times and bad, they’vealways been there. We don’t alwaysagree, but we get the work done, andthe message gets carried. It takes allkinds. It is the commitment that im-presses me. That sense of obligation togive back what was freely given over-comes almost any obstacle. Skills canbe taught. Jobs can be learned. Butwhen someone is committed to servingthe fellowship of NA, they are alwaysright where they’re supposed to be. ❖

So many times I haveheard it said that this is

a selfish program. Ihappen to feel and be-

lieve differently. Being inand of service renders

that statement false.

I came to NA selfish andself-centered, and I canstill go there. However,

the program teaches me,a selfish individual, about

the joys of giving ofmyself, my experience,

my hopes, and my love.I do this not because Iexpect an award, merit

badge, or fame, butbecause of the sheer

gratitude I have for whatwas so freely given tome. The principles of

goodwill and anonymityare both reflected by myactions. Selfless serviceis the gift that keeps on

giving as I grow emotion-ally and spiritually

through working thesteps. Selfless service

leads me toward findingthe true meaning ofself-worth, self-love,

and self-respect.Craig R, North Carolina

1111111111

Givingit away

by Richard C, New York

I once had the opportunity to startan NA meeting at a neighborhood com-munity center and the privilege of at-tending the PI committee’s presentationto the community center’s advisoryboard. That was the first time I heardthe expression “five percent of thepeople do one hundred percent of thework.” From that point on, I decided tobe one of the five percent.

In the past I’ve held such positionsas area vice chairperson, area treasurer,GSR, newsletter committee vice chair,speaker exchange representative, out-reach committee representative, andmany group positions. I am still co-chair-ing a meeting and doing service work out-side of NA.

They say you can’t keep what youhave unless you give it away. This is justone of the paradoxes of this program.To anyone outside of recovery, itwouldn’t make any sense. For those ofus in NA, we give away our knowledgeabout recovery. We give away our expe-rience about how to get and stay clean.We empathize with newcomers by tell-ing them how we got through our ownpainful situations when we were new. Wegive encouragement. We give our expe-rience, strength, and hope. We give ofourselves and our time, when and whereit is needed. We give unconditional love.

What do we keep? We keep our re-covery intact. We keep our memoriesfresh of what our lives used to be like.We keep up our connection with andcommitment to the NA program and thefellowship. We keep our confidence inourselves and know that we’re doing theright things for the right reasons. Wekeep in touch with our feelings and thethings that challenge our recovery.

Part of doing selfless service is shar-ing unconditional love. When I was us-ing, I never did anything helpful withoutsome kind of ulterior motive. I had toget something back sooner or later. To-day I can practice humility and put otherpeople before my own wants and de-

On theinterdependence

of service andrecovery

by Roger W,area H&I committee member

When I attended my first H&I com-mittee meeting in my area, I, like mostof us, had no clue that this group of NAmembers would come to mean so muchto my recovery and my life in general.This was a small committee, and itsmembers had a lot of clean time andwere very opinionated, even militant.There was a lot of controversy over NAmembers taking H&I commitments andnot showing up at the monthly area sub-committee meetings. There were otherissues flying around the table: speakersfrom other fellowships speaking on H&Ipanels and possibly carrying a mixedmessage; facility staff using our NAmeetings for their own purposes; speak-ers on H&I panels giving their phonenumbers to inmates.

This was very confusing to me, be-cause most of these practices were doneat the treatment center I had gonethrough. I felt that the NA members inH&I were so caught up in “regulations”that they had lost sight of what was mostimportant: the therapeutic value of oneaddict helping another.

Some time has passed and I’ve hadall kinds of H&I commitments, detoxes,rehabs, adolescent facilities, jails, andcommittee service positions. I’ve

sires. I’ve learned that in recovery, themore I help others, the more I will beblessed. The more I put into my recov-ery, the more I get out of it. I’m not talk-ing about the physical things. I’m talk-ing about spiritual rewards like happi-ness, satisfaction, and tranquility thatthis God-given program has to offer. ❖

learned so much from all of these com-mitments, and what I’ve learned has af-fected my understanding of the TwelveSteps, as well as the Twelve Traditions.I may have started doing service-basedrecovery, but that led me to work harderto apply the steps in all areas of my life.Doing H&I service and learning aboutthe traditions have filled the void I feltin my early recovery.

While we keep working to carry a mes-sage of hope to the addict who suffers,we refine our ideas about what thephrase “the newcomer is the most im-portant person at any meeting” means.We learn more about how we can bestdeliver the message of recovery and ourresponsibilities to NA as a whole. Wewelcome—with smiles and hugs, openears and hearts—the addicts who willbe here in the future, ensuring that NAhas a future.

I’m still involved in the area H&I com-mittee. At the last committee meetingthere was a group of members who werevery opinionated, even militant, but theydidn’t seem to be engaged in contro-versy. Instead, they were lovingly con-cerned with how best to share and carethe NA way. ❖

1212121212

H&I SlimFor those of you who haven’t had

the pleasure of meeting him, H&I Slimis the ultimate “H&I kinda guy.” Hehangs out in hospitals and jails allover the world. You might say he’salways in the know and always on thego. Got a question about H&I? Needsome help? Write H&I Slim in care ofthe WSO.

Dear H&I Slim,I’m the chairperson of an area H&I committee. I need help. One of the facilities

we serve blurs the line between an H&I presentation and a regular NA meeting. Dur-ing our presentation (1½ hours), they have a break, take up a collection, and have araffle.

This was brought to my attention at our last committee meeting, and I’m not surehow I should address this matter. The facility is state-run and will treat addicts whohave no ability to pay. They take up the collection so the residents can have coffeeat the meeting. The raffle is an incentive to give at the collection.

Is this something we as the H&I committee should accept, or should we changethe way our meeting is conducted?

In loving service,Frank B, Massachusetts

Dear Frank,First and foremost, an H&I meeting is different from a regularly scheduled NA

meeting. An H&I meeting is conducted under the auspices and with the direction ofthe local H&I committee. The committee utilizes one of the suggested formats foundin the Hospitals and Institutions Handbook. In these formats the Seventh Tradition isnot observed. Whichever meeting format you choose, it is important for the H&Ipanel to maintain control of the meeting or presentation.

The clients are more than welcome to have a raffle or take up a collection, as longas they do it outside the H&I meeting. So, yes, you should change the manner inwhich your presentation is conducted.

H&I Slim

I don’t know if any of

us can claim to serve

in a truly selfless way

all the time. I have to

say, I’m sometimes

surprised by how

often my motives are

selfless when I’m of

service in NA.

Recovery is truly a

miracle. I don’t

believe that we should

put off being of

service until our

motives are as pure

as the driven snow. If

a suffering addict

calls me on the

phoneline, what am I

gonna do, check my

spiritual condition

before I agree to

share my recovery? I

don’t think so. I’m

going to take that

call, and count on my

HP to help me say

what will best carry

the message. And I

might even feel

pretty pleased with

myself when I hang up.

Dan, Illinois

1313131313

A tale oftwo fellowships

I owe an amends to Charles Dickens. You may think that my writing an article for TheNA Way Magazine is an odd way to make amends to a long-dead novelist with whom Inever had any personal interaction, but you’ll have to trust me. Only this will do.

My seventh-grade English teacher had on her reading list A Tale of Two Cities. I readthe famous first line, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times,” and slammedthe book shut. I told my teacher that if we were going to read a book written bysomeone who was stoned, couldn’t we at least read something by Ken Kesey or TimothyLeary? I ended up circulating a petition and getting the reading list changed. I never,until last year, read anything by Mr. Dickens.

So that’s why I owe the amends. What does this have to do with NA? You must beshaking your head and wondering why the NA Way published this nonsense—talkabout outside issues, or at least some very strange experience, strength, and hopeabout the Ninth Step!

So here goes. What this has to do with NA is that I finally understand how some-thing can simultaneously be the best and the worst. Right now, at the beginning ofthe new millennium, in NA, it is indeed the best of times; it is also the worst of times.

On one hand, we’re in an enviable position compared to many other programsand fellowships that help people with problems. We are well known, at least in mycommunity. When I mention Narcotics Anonymous to people outside the program, Ialmost never have to add, “It’s one of those twelve-step programs, you know, likeAlcoholics Anonymous.” Ten years ago, I not only had to add the reference to AA, Iusually hesitated to mention NA because the stigma attached to drug addition wasmuch worse than now, and, if the person I was talking to knew anything at all abouttwelve-step fellowships, he or she believed that NA meant street people with badattitudes, temporarily reformed junkies, and moldy bikers. At best, nonaddicts seemedto think of NA members as helpless, deserving of extreme pity, and doomed to amarginal existence no matter how long the term of abstinence from drugs. To me, it’snothing short of miraculous that in just ten years our fellowship has gained profoundrespect in the judicial and correctional communities and has taken root in dozens ofnew countries, even in places where democracy is considered some virulent Westerndisease.

In my community we can easily find affordable meeting space. Our meetings nolonger look like gatherings of outlaws or the waiting room of the local parole office;the people in our meetings represent everybody you might find in the larger commu-nity. We also have one of the largest drug courts in the country, and the judges sen-tence addicts to combinations of incarceration, treatment, and Narcotics Anony-mous—not some other program, even when there’s a specific twelve-step program

1414141414

for the particular drug that broughtsomeone to drug court.

Though the full impact of the Internethas yet to be realized, and much thathas been realized hasn’t yet been ac-knowledged and articulated, one factindisputable: People can find recoveryon their personal computers. Thinkabout that. Ten years ago, we consid-ered it a major accomplishment to putup a billboard with a local helpline num-ber that thousands might see. Gettinginformation about NA into the hands ofa small, local group of professionalstook a lot of money and even morework-hours. Today, even if we only hadone web site for all of NA (and we havemany more), we would be accessible tothe entire online world. Even if everysuffering addict in the world sold his orher personal computer to pay for moredrugs, chances are that he or she wouldstill hear about NA from somebody—because we’re global; we’re on the web.

As for the program itself—our TwelveSteps, I believe with all my heart that ifyou wanted to create a plan for indi-vidual living that could solve all theworld’s problems, you couldn’t do anybetter than what we’ve got in the TwelveSteps. (I say this with a background thatshould give me some credibility. I ma-jored in religious studies and have stud-ied most of the world’s religions, bothin principle and in practice.) Think aboutit. All the world’s problems stem fromselfishness and dishonesty. Nationalselfishness leads to war, poverty, andxenophobia. Individual selfishness leadsto crime, broken families, and spiritualbankruptcy. Dishonesty keeps us fromever seeing our problems for what theyare and accepting responsibility forthem. The steps, if practiced, addressthose very problems—they make usmore honest and less selfish.

With so much going for us, how couldanything be wrong? How could it be theworst of times for NA?

Even if we got through Y2K withoutthe World Service Office or any of ourarea or regional offices melting down,we’ve got problems, huge ones thatcould destroy us. Ironically, our problemsare based on the same things that havebrought us to our current “golden age.”

The stigma of being a drug addict has

lessened. Between celebrities and pro-fessional athletes, it seems like all ourheroes go to rehab at some point in theircareers. These “vacations” are widelypublicized; unfortunately, so are the re-lapses that follow. The objectivity that’sheld as a sacred principle by the mediatreats these people with the utmostcompassion, even when they’ve beatentheir spouses, risked their children’slives, or gone on some binge of de-bauchery that included the sexual ex-ploitation of minors. There are otherfactors that have contributed, of course,but the reality is that the media, and allwho pay attention to them, are in manycases enabling us to death with theirboundless compassion. The agonizingguilt (the most priceless gift ever givenme) that compelled me to seek recov-ery seems to be absent in every new-comer I’ve worked with in the past fewyears. People still get clean and stayclean, but many of them get jobs intreatment and spend the next five (ormore) years bragging about their activeaddiction. Society doesn’t exert any se-rious pressure for them to change (getan education, stop swearing, model re-sponsible behavior for their children),and working in treatment exacerbatesthis.

We’re well known. In fact, most ofthe professionals working with addictstoday know all about us. As far asthey’re concerned, we’ve been aroundforever. But addicts are still floodingtheir agencies, many who have “triedNA.” Some professionals have con-cluded that since so many addicts “fail”in NA, maybe something else is needed.They are wide open to trying somethingelse: new drugs that promise to controlevery inappropriate behavior from pe-dophilia to obsessive-compulsive disor-der (this is not an opinion against usingmedication in recovery); every kind ofpop psychology that some con artistconsultant dreams up (this is an opin-ion); revived practices such as psycho-surgery and electro-shock therapy; andyou name it. God only knows what’s instore for the next generation of addicts.

We’re on the Internet. Addicts canlog on, go to an online meeting or chatroom, and relieve just enough of the painof their addiction by getting attention

and encouragement from others onlineto go out and use some more. Peoplecan and do lie about their age, their gen-der, and everything else. We may evenfind ourselves reaching out to someonein an online meeting who isn’t an ad-dict at all, just another one of those per-verse creeps who has nothing better todo than email hoaxes about computerviruses and terminally ill children to ev-erybody. Our online discussion boardsabout service are open to anyone whosubscribes, and I have never in my liferead anything that disgusted me morethan the paranoid, mean-spirited, andbarely literate ravings that make up thebulk of the posts on our messageboards. I pray that the people we’re try-ing to reach don’t have the time or pa-tience to read our online messageboards on a regular basis.

The final irony is that so many of ourmembers use every beautiful and poten-tially uplifting principle of our programas justification for every sick behaviorthey want to act on. We are simulta-neously the most insanely judgmentaland the most morally retarded people Ihave ever spent time with.

The first of our sacred cows I’d liketo slaughter is the so-called principle ofunconditional love. Why do we placethis “value” higher than our responsibil-ity to protect children from abuse andneglect, higher than protecting emotion-ally vulnerable newcomers, and higherthan making commonsense decisionswhen we elect people to handle ourbusiness and financial affairs? I don’tknow, but I suspect that it’s becausewhat we call unconditional love isn’t thatat all. It’s actually moral confusion andcowardice. I know some people whowould never in a million years sponsorsomeone who’s taking antidepressantsfor diagnosed clinical depression, butwho will drop everything to flock to sup-port someone who’s been clean a longtime but somehow found himself unableto stop beating his wife and molestinghis niece. “Unconditional love” seemsto require posting bond, writing lettersto the judge vouching for the characterof this wife-beater/child-molester andthe effectiveness of NA (as exemplifiedby the sterling character of the wife-beater/child-molester), providing a guest

1515151515

}

{ {

}

room to live in after his bruised wife fi-nally gets a restraining order, and so on.

We’re so morally confused that wecan’t tell what’s good from what’s badfrom what’s evil. In fact, I am sure thatmost of us have gotten so politicallycorrect that we squirm at hearing theword “moral” used in NA. Even thoughour Fourth Step tells us to take a moralinventory, most of us just think of it asan inventory of “bad choices” and “theconsequences of our addiction,” whichwaters down the unlimited potential of theFourth Step to make changes in our lives.

We tolerate a great deal of truly de-structive behavior in and around our fel-lowship. I have never, in fifteen years,heard anyone share about their respon-sibility to their family outweighing theirdesire to be at meetings or doing NAservice more than, let’s say, two nightsa week. I have heard a few (not many)men talk about how the self-respect andrecovery of newcomer women is waymore important than their own desirefor sexual gratification. Lest you thinkI’m male-bashing, let me add that I havenever heard one young woman take re-sponsibility for using men to avoid hav-ing to grow up and make decisions abouta career, a relationship, or anything else.

Even with our penchant for “uncon-ditional love” and “tolerance,” we’re stillunbelievably cruel. Anybody want toknow where all the oldtimers have gone?I’ll tell you. Someplace, any place, wherewe’re valued for our experience, wherewe can help people without having ourmotives judged and criticized. A placewhere we can have a discussion aboutideas instead of other people. A placewhere we can go through a divorce with-out everyone we know feeling obligatedto demonstrate their lack of bias bykeeping their distance and leaving usalone with our grief. A place where wecan have and express an originalthought without somebody telling uswe’re “in the disease.”

These times, at their best and at theirworst, will be for us a crucible that will testwhat we’re made of and what we’re trulycommitted to. I pray that we, as individu-als and as a fellowship, will rise to the chal-lenge of living in God’s will for us. I havehigh hopes for our two fellowships.

Anonymous

INTERESTED IN SPEAKING?

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!

28TH WORLDCONVENTION OF NANA IS A HOPE FOR LIFE

Cartagena, Colombia

31 August - 3 September 2000

QUALIFICATIONS:

Main Meeting Speakers must have 8 years clean

Workshop Speakers must have 5 years clean

HOW TO BE CONSIDERED:

To be considered as a speaker you must either

submit a tape recorded within the last 3 years, or

the individual must be recommended

by their area or regional service committee

and submitted in writing.

ALL RECOMMENDATIONS OR TAPES

MUST INCLUDE:

The name, address, clean date, and phone number

of the potential speaker, and the name and phone

number of the person submitting the tape or

recommendation.

DEADLINE:

Recommendations and tapes must be

received no later than 1 March 2000.

Please mail to:

WCNA-28 Program Committee

c/o NA World Services

PO Box 9999

Van Nuys, CA 91409-9099 USA

1616161616

German

Eine Hilfe in lhrer GemeindeItem No. GE-1604 Price US$0.30In quantity of 100 or more, US$0.28

Die GruppeItem No. GE-3102 Price US$0.25

Für Süchtige in TherapieeinrichtungenItem No. GE-3117 Price US$0.25

Loner—In der Isolation clean bleibenItem No. GE-3121 Price US$0.25In quantity of 100 or more, US$0.23

Wer, was, wie, und warumItem No. GE-3101*

Eine andere SichtweiseItem No. GE-3105*

Genesung und RückfallItem No. GE-3106*

Bin ich süchtig?Item No. GE-3107*

Nur für HeuteItem No. GE-3108*

Nach dem Programm lebenItem No. GE-3109*

SponsorschaftItem No. GE-3111*

Das Dreieck der SelbstbesessenheitItem No. GE-3112*

Jugend und GenesungItem No. GE-3113*

BrazilianPI & the NA Member — Item No. BR-3115*

IP e o membro de NA

Bahasa MelayuWelcome to Narcotics Anonymous — Item No. BM-3122*

Selamat datang ke Narcotics Anonymous

Group Reading CardsItem No. BM-9130 Price US$2.10

PostersSerenity Prayer Item No. BM-9072 Price US$0.75Twelve Steps Item No. BM-9073 Price US$2.30Twelve Traditions Item No. BM-9074 Price US$2.30

FinnishLiving the Program — Item No. FI-3109*

Eläminen ohjelmassa

German

Eine Einführung in Narcotics AnonymousItem No. GE-1200 Price US$1.60

Weißes BüchleinItem No. GE-1500 Price US$0.60

Arbeitshilfe für Schritt Vier in NAItem No. GE-3110 Price US$0.62In quantity of 100 or more, US$0.51

Hinter GitternItem No. GE-1601 Price US$0.60

In Zeiten von KrankheitItem No. GE-1603 Price US$0.60In quantity of 100 or more, US$0.49

WSO PRODUCT UPDATE

1717171717

German

Eine persönliche ErfahrungItem No. GE-3114*

ÖA und das NA-MitgliedItem No. GE-3115*

Für die NeuhinzukommendenItem No. GE-3116*

SelbstannahmeItem No. GE-3119*

Dienst in Krankenhäusern &Einrichtungen und das NA-Mitglied

Item No. GE-3120*

Willkommen bei NAItem No. GE-3122*

Draußen clean bleibenItem No. GE-3123*

Hey, wofür ist der Spendenkorb?Item No. GE-3124*

ManipuriRecovery & Relapse — Item No. MP-3106*

The Triangle of Self-Obsession — Item No. MP-3112*

One Addict’s Experience — Item No. MP-3114*

PI & the NA Member — Item No. MP-3115*

Nederlands/DutchIntroductory Guide to NA

Een Introductie totNA-Anonieme Verslaafden

Item No. NL-1200 Price US$1.60

NorwegianYouth & Recovery — Item No. NR-3113*

Ungdom og tilfriskning

RussianWho, What, How, and Why — Item No. RU-3101*

SwedishTwelve Concepts for NA Service

Tolv koncept för NA-serviceItem No. SW-1164 Price US$1.05

TurkishAm I an Addict? — Item No. TU-3107*

Ben Baðýmlý mýyým?

Just for Today — Item No. TU-3108*

Yalnýzca Bugün Ýçin

Sponsorship — Item No. TU-3111*

Rehberlik

Welcome to Narcotics Anonymous — Item No. TU-3122*

Adsýz Narkotik'e Hoþgeldiniz

Items marked with this * symbolare priced US$0.20 each.

In quantity of 100 or more, US$0.18

1818181818

Statement of Ownership, Management, and CirculationThe NA Way Magazine (ISSN 104655421) is published quarterly. There is no subscription charge for this publication. The office of

publication is at 19737 Nordhoff Place, Chatsworth, CA 91311. Mailing address is PO Box 9999, Van Nuys, CA 91409. The managingeditor is Cynthia Tooredman. The NA Way Magazine is owned by the NAWS, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, and there are no other bond-holders, mortgagees, or security holders. The status of this corporation has not changed during the twelve months preceding this filing.

At the time of filingExtent and nature of circulation Average no. of copies Actual copies as of 10.1.99

In preceding 12 monthsTotal 28,500 29,000Requested circulation 28,144 28,343Dealer sales 0 0Free distribution 100 109Total distribution 28,244 28,452Undistributed copies (office uses) 356 548Total 28,500 29,000Percent requested circulation 99.65% 99.6%

Certified, correct, complete ___________________________________________________________________________________