What does ‘being of service’ mean in NA



What does ‘being of service’ mean in NA?

Often times NA members will discuss ‘being of service’ when they share in our regular meetings. When we are new, it’s easy to wonder what, exactly, that means.

Though some Narcotics Anonymous service centers (such as the Regional or World Service offices) do have special workers who are paid, the majority of tasks completed for NA are completed by individual members who volunteer their time.

Therefore, ‘being of service’ in NA simply means volunteering your time for NA.

Why should I get involved in NA service?

Another thing you’ve probably heard NA members share about being involved in service is that they feel good about it.

One of the things we learn in our recovery is that the core of our disease is self centeredness. Another thing we learn is that providing selfless service to NA is one of the ways to combat the disease of addiction. Therefore, we often hear members share about the positive feelings they have as a result of volunteering their time to be of service to NA.

Ultimately, being of service to NA is one way many of our members choose to demonstrate their gratitude for all that NA has given to them.

Getting started with a home group

One of the best ways to get started in NA service is to decide which meeting you would most like to give back to. A lot of members will call this their ‘home group’.

Some of the ways NA members will be of service to their home group are:

• Showing up early to help set up the meeting

• Greeting members as they arrive to the meeting

• Making coffee

• Volunteering to chair the meeting

• Staying after the meeting to help clean up

What is a ‘group conscience’ meeting?

Most NA groups have a monthly meeting that is called a group conscience meeting. Some groups also call this their business meeting. This monthly meeting is a time for home group members to discuss anything that is important for being able to fulfill the primary purpose of any NA group…”To carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers.”

Discussions during group conscience usually include simple items such as making sure there is a good supply of NA books and other literature on hand for regular meetings. It is also a time for groups to discuss well their home group is carrying the message of recovery to the still suffering addict. This may include discussion of the group’s meeting format, any regular distractions that need to be addressed, and which group members will be taking on specific tasks.

Since NA groups are the final authority on all issues relating to NA, this is also a time when members discuss the actions and activities of the Southwest Missouri Area of NA. Following is a description of the area and some of it’s duties.

What is an NA area?

The Southwest Missouri Area of Narcotics Anonymous is one of thousands of NA areas throughout our worldwide fellowship.

The area covers part of southwestern Missouri. Throughout this territory, there are many individual NA groups. Those individual groups come together to form what is called the area.

What is the area all about?

The purpose of the area is to provide services for the groups that it would be difficult for those groups to provide without taking away from the time and resources they need to focus on carrying the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers. For instance, one part of the area is the Phoneline Subcommittee. This committee manages a rather extensive list of NA volunteers who field calls that come into the area helpline and works closely with the answering service that routes these calls. As you can see, this is a big task that could take away from the time and resources of one NA group.

It is also important to know that the area is accountable to the groups when it comes to all of the services it provides. Following is more in-depth information about the area and how it works.

What does the area ‘look’ like?

The area looks like many other volunteer committees you may be familiar with. Though you may be familiar with the term “officers” when it comes to elected members of committees, these are called “trusted servants” in NA.

One trusted servant position you will become familiar with as soon as you get a home group is a GSR (Group Service Representative). This is the NA member that your home group will have elected to represent you at the monthly ASC (Area Service Committee) meeting. GSR’s carry the will and conscience of their home group to each ASC. They are also responsible for reporting the actions and activities of the area to other members of their home group during their monthly group conscience meeting.

The area has a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, all of which have specific tasks. Some of the tasks they carry out are as follows:

Chair – Leads each monthly meeting

Vice Chair – Coordinates all subcommittees

Secretary – Records each meeting of the area and then distributes minutes

Treasurer – Keeps track of all area money and budgets

What is an area subcommittee?

The area also has several subcommittees that have specific tasks. Each subcommittee has one Chair that is elected by the home groups.

Following is a brief description of each subcommittee:

Hospitals & Institutions (H&I)

Carries NA meetings into institutions such as treatment centers, jails, prisons and hospitals

Public Information (PI)

Shares information with the public, professionals and schools about NA. Maintains and distributes meeting schedules

Phoneline

Manages the helpline and members who volunteer to take calls

Activities

Manages celebrations of recovery such as picnics and dances

Outreach

Provides communication between the area and any NA group that is isolated for any reason

Newsletter

Creates and distributes a newsletter that includes information about upcoming events, poetry, artwork, personal stories, etc…

Pig Roast

Manages the annual Pig Roast campout that is held each May in Stockton Lake, Missouri

Literature

Reviews new NA literature that is being proposed for distribution to the entire NA fellowship

Should I get involved?

Absolutely! We encourage you to choose a home group and become involved immediately. Many of us have found that our home group is the beginning of our path of service to NA. Many of us have also discussed being of service with our sponsor and found he or she is encouraging and may have some additional suggestions for our involvement.

We also encourage you to attend a subcommittee meeting of the SWMO area as soon as you can to discover what is most interesting to you. Unity is the principle of our First Tradition, and we welcome you to experience the unity of Narcotics Anonymous through service!

When & Where

The Southwest Missouri Area of NA meets on the last Sunday of each month.

All subcommittee meetings begin at 1:00pm, and the area meetings follows at 2:00pm.

These meetings are held at the Library Center on South Campbell Avenue just south of the James River Freeway in Springfield, Missouri.

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Being of Service

[pic]

in

Southwest Missouri

Narcotics Anonymous

“Service...where the steps meet the traditions on the road of recovery.”

Mailing & Website Information

SWMO NA

PO Box 3902

Springfield, Missouri 65808

(417) XXX – XXXX

This is SWMO Area of Narcotics Anonymous unapproved literature.

2006

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