The Group

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SVA Learning Day

• 2008
• Group Services Orientation Session

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Group Service Orientation

An overview of group services based on
observation and research. NOT THE OFFICIAL NA
WAY OF DOING THINGS.
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The Group From The Group Booklet
What is an NA group? When two or more addicts
come together to help each other stay clean, they
may form a Narcotics Anonymous group. Following
are six points based on our traditions which
describe an NA group
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Points of being an NA group

• All members of a group are drug addicts, and all
  drug addicts are eligible for membership.

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Points of being an NA group
2. As a group, they are self-supporting.
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Points of being an NA group
3. As a group, their single goal is to help
drug addicts recover through application of the
Twelve Steps of Narcotics Anonymous.
Emphasis added - BJ
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Points of being an NA group
4. As a group, they have no affiliation outside
Narcotics Anonymous.
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Points of being an NA group
5. As a group, they express no opinion on
outside issues.
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Points of being an NA group
6. As a group, their public relations policy
is based on attraction rather than promotion.
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In stating the six points that differentiate an
NA group from other kinds of groups, we place
greater emphasis on drug addiction than almost
anywhere else in our service literature. This is
because Narcotics Anonymous groups cannot be all
things to all people and still provide the
identification drug addicts need to find their
way to recovery.
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The Basics
Open or Closed Meetings Group Autonomy regarding
type of meeting, readings, length of meeting,
etc. Participation Meetings Topic Discussion
Meetings Study Meetings (Book, Step, Tradition,
etc.) Speaker Meetings Newcomer
Meetings Question-and-Answer Meetings/ Ask It
Basket
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A meeting is not a group.

• NA meetings are events at which addicts share
  with one another their experience in recovery and
  in the application of the Twelve Steps.
• While many if not mostNA meetings are in fact
  hosted by an NA group, other NA meetings occur
  all the time informally among friends, at large
  area or regional speaker meetings, at
  conventions, in schools, institutions, and so
  forth.

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A meeting is not a group.
The NA group is an entity the NA meeting is an
event and NA meetings may be held without the
sponsorship of an NA group.
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What IS a Group?
What are your thoughts?
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Serving the group
Every group needs people to ensure the group
functions we call them Trusted Servants. Most
often those servants are Secretary, Treasurer
and Group Service Representative (and Alternate
GSR).
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Secretary

• Usually the person responsible to ensure the
  meeting place is opened on time, there is
  literature displayed, selecting a chairperson
  and, if needed, making coffee.
• This person is vital to the functioning of the
  group.

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Secretary

• What kind of qualities would be beneficial for
  this trusted servant?

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Treasurer

• This person has the responsibility of accounting
  for the funds collected from the meeting and
  making sure that the moneys are spent on group
  related expenses (literature, rent, supplies,
  donations to ASC/RSC/WSC).

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Treasurer

• What kind of qualities would be beneficial for
  this trusted servant?

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Group Service Representative
Able to leap to conclusions in a single bound,
faster than a speeding Galapagos tortoise, can
recite the steps, traditions and concepts
backwards IN ZULU!!!
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Group Service Representative

• This person acts as the connection between the
  group and the Area Service Committee (ASC)
  representing the group and serving the members of
  the area.

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Group Service Representative

• What kind of qualities would be beneficial for
  this trusted servant?

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Group Area Interactions

• Groups coming together to serve our primary
  purpose and to more effectively/efficiently
  fulfill that goal.
• Ideally, all of the elements of the ASC work
  together in a spirit of cooperation to reach
  common goals.