The documents included here are personal observations from past or current conference participants about preparing for the WSC. We will post any new letters that we receive to the conference participants area on our website www.na.org/WSC2004 and include them in the next mailing.

 

We hope that you find these helpful and that it will encourage you to share your experience.

 

Re. Orientation material for RDs attending WSC 2004

 

Facilitation of a CAR workshop:

The first 2 years Norway was seated at the WSC we were an area. What I did was that I asked for time at the ASC meeting, and there held a CAR workshop discussing the motions that I thought were interesting for my area. That worked out ok.

Today we have formed a Region, and I have asked for a slot at the RSC meeting to have a CAR workshop there. The reason why it is done this way is that if a separate workshop is being held, it will limit the attendance to only those in the near area, and I do not believe many will attend. Whereas at the Regional meeting members from all the areas are attending, giving us a varied participating at the workshop. Unfortunately there isn’t a very strong interest in the WSC in my region, and I believe that is due to the fact that we haven’t participating for a long time and therefore haven’t had many RDs attending. Still, the CAR workshop will be held, and there is no escaping that at the region.

 

I learned at the WSC that I had to give priorities to taking care of myself. I do have a health problem that results in me getting tired a lot and I had to let go of the feeling of being over responsible and having to participate in everything. The first year was really tough. I even had some WSO members commenting on me being absent at an election, but being without an RD alternate both times I participated, I just had to let that go, even if I felt guilty because I was funded. Today that will be easier. I put myself and my health first, funded or not funded, especially if I do not have an RD alt. again. The schedule at the WSC is pretty tough and taking care of me is my responsibility-

I’ve had roommates that wanted people to crash on the floor of my room, but I politely declined that. I needed peace and quiet. I also had roommates that used to call home late at night, but I sort of accepted that even if I was disturbed. EARPLUGS ARE  FOR ME A MUST AT THE WSC. One year I got a trustee as a roommate, and that was really good, I was quite inexperienced and she was a great person to talk to. We even went out jogging together early in the mornings. She was also very considerate.

 

For me it was very important to attend recovery meetings during the conference. Being an early riser I used to attend the 07 00 o’clock pool meeting. That also gave me an opportunity to get to know people. I also attended recovery meetings outside of the conference. For me it is very important to focus on that I am an addict first and foremost.

 

I also used to attend the women’s lunch, which gave me an opportunity to get to know women. I also found myself a sponsor at the conference.

 

I will bring with me a water boiler this time, cause I love having a cup tea in the morning while I read my Just For Today. I need to remember to bring an adapter for all my electric articles. Maybe also a phone card cause it is very expensive to call home from the hotel, especially from the room.

 

I didn’t have to find a roommate. The facilitators took care of that.

 

As for the shuttle: It was not a very pleasant experience, especially the first time, cause it took forever to get to the hotel. I would have preferred someone to pick me up the first time. The second time I knew it was something I had to put up with.

 

Also I remember it took a while (or so it seemed) to get my reimbursement, cause the cashier was hard to get hold off. I think that that happened on one occasion only

 

The business sessions went ok, I was placed between 2 trustees and had all the help needed. That was very useful, and important particularly for a first time attendant. Those trustees explained what I wanted to know.

 

The business sessions has changes since I last attended the conference, and personally I appreciate the fact that we have discussion groups, cause I believe that would make it a bit easier for especially new delegates that do not have English as their first language to attend.

 

Well, I hope that this could be of some help to you

 

In loving service

 

Monica A.

RD Norway Region

 

 

 

 

22/11/03

Orientación Material

 

Hi. First I’d like to say thank you for letting me participate in this. Assisting the WSC was a big event in my life and I hope some of my experience  will help others.

 

As I come for a small region that is still underdeveloped in some areas I felt a little out of place with all the talk of CAR workshops and Regional assemblies. I think it would be a great help for RDs who come from  smaller developing regions to know that it’s ok not to have these things going on in their communities, that they take time and one day they will get there. They are not less of a community because they haven’t reached that stage. It’s ok  to  be and to have done it differently.

 

Taking care of myself was important. I tried to establish a routine. Get up, go for a walk or run. Meditate, try and have breakfast. The routine helped me feel I wasn’t out of place and put some kind of order back into my perception. There was a nine hour time difference so I tried to fit in with the time in LA. Go to bed at the same time. Take things easy and let my body get use to it all. I tried to find myself a temporary sponsor so I knew I had someone who would listen to me if I wasn’t feeling good. I did have problems with snoring and felt very bad about saying so. I always came prepared for that as I am a light sleeper. I brought earplugs. That didn’t always work and there was a time when I had to share a room with someone who had a serious breathing problem. The best thing for me was to sort it out as soon as possible and not let it ruin my WSC. In that case I asked to change rooms, it was the best thing I could have done and it really worked out. I think it’s very important that the RDS know if they have these type of problems there is someone they can talk to freely about it and that a solution can be found other than putting up with it.

 

As I was on my own (no alternate) I felt that I could not leave the WSC at all, this was a mistake. When I did get an alternate I found the importance of stepping outside for awhile and letting my head rest from too much information. It was important to go and look around the shops at lunch, do something different and mix with the other NA members. It was important to get to a meeting and just be an addict without service for a while. I also brought some of my favourite music with me and that really helped when I was feeling tired or just a little lonely. Phoning home was important too. The voice of a loved one or a friend outside the program was really helpful.

 

Filling out forms to do with money was a little frightening as I wasn’t really sure what was the right thing for me to spend or not spend. I asked other RDS what they were doing and their confusion helped me see that I was not alone. I tried to look for someone who I knew had experience such as a world board member.

The shuttle was a little confusion at first. I just tried to sit back and enjoy the ride and trust my HP.

 

Motions and the like were complicated to start with. It took me some time to understand what was going on. Luckily I was sitting near WBM and asked them for help. I asked the RDs  who had been before to help me understand things and that really helped.

 

I was at the 2003 WSC and really enjoyed the way it was set out. It was much easier than others I had assisted. For me it was really important to plan ahead and try and understand what was going to be happening in each different part of the WSC. I tried to talk to people about what was going on and if possible sit near people who I knew could help me if I got stuck with things that were happening.

 

I could write a lot more but I think that’s enough.

 

Thanks for your service

 

Hugs

Michael

Spain

 

 

NA’s Conference Agenda Report & The RSC/GSR Assembly

 

What is the CAR?

 

Officially, Narcotics Anonymous World Services (NAWS) says “The Conference Agenda Report (CAR) is a publication that consists of business and issues that will be considered during the biennial World Service Committee (WSC) meeting.  Released a minimum of 150 days prior to the opening of the conference, with translated versions released a minimum of 120 days prior.  The front portion of the CAR, in all the languages in which it is published, is available at no charge on the web at www.na.org”.  Adobe Acrobat software is required to download the CAR, but that is available for free on the Internet and instructions are provided at the na.org site.  Hard copies are also available from the World Service Office (WSO), and those directions are also available at the website above.   

Basically the CAR is the means by which potential changes to Narcotics Anonymous, in the form of Motions, are communicated to the Fellowship.  These Motions are approved, denied, or altered at the World Service Committee (WSC) meeting, which takes place in two-year cycles (the next WSC will be in late April of 2004).  Approval, denial or alteration of Motions occurs via combining the votes of Regional Delegates and World Board Members at WSC.  Florida’s Regional Delegate (RD) or Alternate Delegate (AD) will vote based on the Group Conscience developed at the Group Service Representative (GSR) Assembly in March (votes on “Alterations” will be based on discussions held at the CAR Workshops and the general understanding of the Florida Region’s conscience).  It is generally true that other Regional Delegates vote based upon a Group Conscience arrived at by one means or another, but flowing from and representing the will of the Home Groups in their respective Regions.  World Board Members will make up their own minds individually. 

This cycle’s Motions include creating new literature, modify existing literature and placing moratoriums on certain revisions to the Basic Text.  Other Motions make available new applications and uses for our Copyrighted literature on the Internet, extending “Fellowship Approved” status to various clean-time markers (Keytags etc), and finding ways to reduce the cost for Regional participation in World Service events.  Also, several fairly dramatic policy, procedural, and organizational changes to our Service Structure have been proposed.  This variety of motions will provide something of interest to nearly every recovering addict in the Fellowship.  

 

The heart of this cycle’s CAR is nineteen Motions covered in thirty-three pages of text.  The first six Motions are made by the World Board and the remaining thirteen originate from several Regions.  Each Motion is provided with an Intent, a Financial Impact assessment, the Policy Affected, and a Regional Rational for Regional Motions.  All told this year’s CAR is around 200 pages long.  Included are Four Addendums containing the Sponsorship book and IP.  Two other Addendums outline the changes that might take place in the Guide to World Services and Intellectual Property Trust if certain Motions pass.  Note that he four Addendums pertaining to the Sponsorship material are not down loadable from the website.  

 

This year’s WSC will have potentially more impact on Narcotics Anonymous than any in the last decade.  For that reason it is very important to seek participation from as many members as possible.  The Regional Delegates (RD & AD), the Regional Committee Members (RCMs) and the GSRs have the responsibility and obligation of communicating these Motions to the Fellowship.  The Florida Regional Service Committee (FRSC) will hold CAR Workshops and a GSR Assembly to help facilitate this responsibility.  A Summary of WSC 2004 Motions is included below.   

 

Why Have Workshops?

 

             CAR Workshops are essentially formatted to enhance clarification of the CAR Motions and to begin formation of the Florida Region’s conscience.  Workshops are facilitated by the RD and/or the AD and will be provided for any Area in the Region.  Multi-Area Workshops are preferred not only to ease scheduling but because everyone benefits from the input of a larger group.  Generally a Workshop will consist of reviewing each CAR Motion’s Intent and Impact.  Then discussing the Rationale and any ramifications foreseen.  Straw Polls may be taken to aid in this course of action, but by no means should that be confused with the process of determining the Florida Region’s conscience.  That conscience will be provided  via the expression of Home Group votes.    

            

            CAR Workshops are of tremendous benefit to the RD/AD Team.  Ultimately it will be the RD (or the AD in the RD’s absence) who will be called upon to express the Florida Region’s conscience at WSC.  The preparation required for CAR Workshops results in a solid knowledge foundation for the Delegates.  Subsequent participation in each CAR Workshop leads to a deeper understanding of the Motions and their potential effects.  As mentioned above, Motions are often altered on the WSC floor.  When that occurs the Delegates are placed in the position of having to vote on a Motion that may be quite different from the original.  They must then be able to decide how best to express the Florida Region’s conscience on that altered Motion.  The hours spent discussing Motions at Workshops and at the GSR Assembly become immeasurably valuable as the Delegates strive to make the best decision.

         

            The most important reason for holding CAR Workshops is to help GSRs gain the insight required to optimally facilitate their Home Group’s votes on the CAR Motions.  For that reason it is most essential that the RCMs communicate with GSRs about the importance of attendance at the Workshops.  Scheduling convenient times and places for the Workshop is important.  Also providing food and refreshment allows for a more comfortable and conducive atmosphere.  A GSR who has gathered all the information available, and cleared up their own uncertainties, will be well equipped to answer questions at the Home Group.  And they will be prepared to carry the Group’s conscience to the GSR Assembly.           

 

 What is the Process Leading to the GSR Assembly?

 

Technically the CAR process begins as soon as the previous WSC concludes.  Delegates and other interested NA Members commence addressing issues that arose during the WSC, with concept papers and trial Motions appearing via e-mail across the World.  Those, and other ideas, firm up through discussion and may, once they receive the approval of a Region or the World Board, be submitted as a Motion in the CAR.  However, the formal process begins when the CAR is printed and released in late fall prior to the next WSC.  

Any interested person can order a hard-copy CAR, or download it on-line for free.  Through the Regional Service Office (RSO) the FRSC orders a hard copy for each RCM and Sub-Committee Chair, and will also place orders for Area Service Committees (ASC) as requested via the RCMs.  Many ASCs order at least one CAR for every GSR.  The FRSC Delegate Team will generate an abbreviated version of the CAR (CAR-Lite), and the foundation of that document for this cycle is attached below as the “Summary of WSC 2004 Motions”.

Once all interested NA Members have access to the Motions the process truly begins.  The South-East Zonal Forum (SEZF) sponsors a Multi-Regional CAR Workshop in January.  For the 2004 cycle that Workshop will take place on January 2nd & 3rd at the Crowne Plaza Hotel 108 First St. Macon, Ga. (478) 746-1461.  Everyone is welcome and the FRSC will be financing the trip for many RCMs and other Regional trusted servants.  The Workshop is facilitated by World Board (WB) Members and includes participants from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and both Regions in Florida.  With the knowledge and insight gained at the SEZF Workshop the RD/AD Team     and the RCMs are well prepared to conduct the FRSC Workshops throughout Florida.

As mentioned above, the RD and the AD will facilitate Area Workshops as scheduled by the RCMs, beginning in January after the SEZF Workshop and running through the first week of March.  Again, it is extremely important for the GSRs to attend these Workshops.  However, any and all NA Members are also encouraged to attend since we all will make the final decisions as members of NA Home Groups.  It is the primary responsibility of GSRs to learn all they can at the Workshops so they will be able to take the information back to their Home Group business meeting where the ultimate votes will be cast.  

Many Home Groups schedule extra time over a couple weeks after their regularly scheduled meeting to make sure they are able to devote adequate time to each Motion.  Other Groups allow their Members to review the Motions on their own and come together for a short voting session.  Still other Groups allow their GSR to carry a “Vote of Confidence” to the GSR Assembly, meaning the GSR will vote as he or she sees fit.     

In any case, all GSRs should attend the GSR Assembly, which is held RSC weekend in March.  This cycle the GSR Assembly will be held on Saturday March 20, at the Best Western Diplomat Inn located at 3311 US Highway 98 North Lakeland, Florida 33805; (863) 688-7972, Room Rate $79.99.  The FRSC will pay for two Room Nights for each Area in the Florida Region (note this means each Area may have two rooms on Friday, or two rooms on Saturday, or one room Friday and one Saturday).  These rooms are to be coordinated through the Area’s RCM who will then be in contact with the AD.  Many Areas also provide additional rooms to ease overcrowding.

As mentioned above, the GSR Assembly is held simultaneously with the March RSC.  On Friday night there will be a Welcoming and Recovery Meeting as usual.  The regular Regional Service Committee meeting will be on Sunday in its regular format.  However, the normal RSC Saturday schedule (Subcommittee and Service Board meetings) is curtailed with most of the day being dedicated to the GSR Assembly.  On Saturday night there will be a Speaker Meeting followed by a Dance.  For GSRs this weekend provides not only an opportunity to carry the HomeGroups conscience it’s a chance to meet and fellowship with recovering addicts from all over the State of Florida.   

 In Fellowship,

Florida Regional Delegate Team

Ron M. and John S. 

(A summary of WSC 2004 Motions follows in the original document.)

 

 

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