Being inclusive, however, is always preferable to being exclusive. Committees often work by consensus and vote only when consensus is not reached. The groups have joined together to create a service structure which develops, coordinates, and maintains services on behalf of NA. Our sponsors can only be effective in helping us if we honestly tell them who we are and what our experiences have been.
Similarly, in Public Information work, our services are only as effective as the communications which support and guide them. Full, honest reporting to those we serve ensures that the flow of information will support our continued growth as a Fellowship, since true group conscience comes best from having all available information on hand, and then from open-mindedly listening to it all.
Clear, frequent communication helps ensure that our services will be effective because they will more fully represent the collective conscience of our groups. This concept is directly important to our service committees as they communicate within themselves and with each other. Honest, effective, and complete internal communications paves the way for unity of purpose in developing, coordinating, and maintaining services on behalf of NA. A good part of communications involves listening to what others are saying, and the committee should always operate with an attitude of respect and attention to all participants.
Clear and effective communication is equally essential within the committee itself, other parts of the service structure, and with the public. For example, within the committee, new members should be guided by those with experience in making reports which are both inclusive and concise. The ninth concept reminds us that our selfless service to others requires that all viewpoints be considered. We need to seek out and listen open-mindedly to all available viewpoints during our decision-making processes in order to make a true group conscience decision.
Although NA is a spiritual fellowship, its members are human. We have strong opinions and attitudes, and the free expression of those attitudes is our responsibility and right during the course of contributing to the decision-making process.
We learned the value of considering all viewpoints in the Ninth concept. When we have been the minority voice ourselves, however, and have challenged the status-quo with our ideas and input, sometimes our freedom imprisons us. Occasionally we might become stereotyped and judged rather than listened to and understood. If we suffer hurt during the process, the Tenth Concept allows us a vehicle by which we might address our grievance without fear of reprisal.
A process for considering a Tenth Concept petition is an essential item for each service committee. As a guiding principle, the Tenth Concept is not designed to be used as a weapon against those who disagree with us.
It is intended, rather, as a balance mechanism which can protect the integrity of our personal involvement in the delivery of Public Information services. The eleventh concept ties together many of the previous concepts. It requires that all financial resources be used to further the primary purpose, whether it directly or indirectly affects the addict who still suffers.
It is important to remember that it is the work, not the resources, which is important. Responsible management of resources, both financial and human, requires us to follow the direction of the groups and our own collective consciences when assigning priorities to service projects and tasks.
Responsible management also requires that we practice regular reporting to ensure complete accountability for our financial resources. Financial responsibility can be a difficult subject. Funds should be managed by the committee with periodic comprehensive review procedures, as well as safeguards designed to protect the individual trusted servants. Financial reports and written documentation should be kept and available for others to review. Reports to the respective Area Service Committee, Regional Service Committee, and World Services should include detailed financial statements as requested those committees.
We have found that making realistic budgets, and then living within them, is a laudable enterprise, both within the NA Fellowship, and in life in general. As a guiding principle, the Twelfth Concept teaches us that Public Information services should be kept within the spiritual boundaries which nurture our personal growth, and the growth of the NA fellowship.
When working with one another on a committee or task team, we should express attitudes of cooperation, not dictation. As PI committees, we seek to cooperate and facilitate our public information efforts with other PI and other service committees whenever service boundaries are crossed. These principles apply to our community and service efforts as well as to the personal behavior and attitude of individual NA members.
Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization with a multi-lingual and multicultural membership. NA was founded in , and our membership growth was minimal during our initial twenty years as an organization. Since the publication of our Basic Text in , the number of members and meetings has increased dramatically.
Today 1 , NA members hold more than 43, meetings weekly in countries. We offer recovery from the effects of addiction through working a twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
Membership is free, and we have no affiliation with any organizations outside of NA including governments, religions, law enforcement groups, or medical and psychiatric associations.
Through all of our service efforts and our cooperation with others seeking to help addicts, we strive to reach a day when every addict in the world has an opportunity to experience our message of recovery in his or her own language and culture. Our spiritual foundation of anonymity can be seriously damaged by members acting independently. We do not give our last names nor appear in the media as members of Narcotics Anonymous. As part of our spiritual program of recovery, we avoid self-promotion in favor of a more humble style of service.
We need to accept responsibility for our behavior in public when we identify ourselves as NA members. Since the publication of our Basic Text in , the number of members and meetings has increased dramatically. Today, NA members hold more than 43, meetings weekly in countries. We offer recovery from the effects of addiction through working a twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings.
The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.
Membership is free, and we have no affiliation with any organizations outside of NA including governments, religions, law enforcement groups, or medical and psychiatric associations. Through all of our service efforts and our cooperation with others seeking to help addicts, we strive to reach a day when every addict in the world has an opportunity to experience our message of recovery in his or her own language and culture.
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