Service System Proposals

1. Service System Proposals

2. Workshop Objectives • Provide an overview of the latest draft of the Service System Proposals • Answer as many questions as possible • Help to understand the resolutions and the straw polls

3. Project Background • Workshop feedback for many years reports apathy towards service as our main challenge • PR roundtables indicate problems with NA services • IDTs also report many of the same issues • Service System Project is designed to address these reported issues

5. Elements of an Effective System

6. Foundational Principles Purpose-Driven Group-Focused Defined by Geographic Boundaries Collaborative Flexible

7. Focus of Local Services Our current ASCs are tasked with group support and local service delivery. In these proposals, local efforts would be divided: • Group Support Unit (GSU): devoted entirely to providing support to groups • Local Service Unit (LSU): devoted entirely to providing local services. Where possible, geographically defined (e.g., city, town, county)

8. Group Support Both structure and process changes to support groups: • Group Support Units: discussion and support forums for group issues • Usually multiple GSUs for a single Local Service Unit • GSUs are neighborhood based

9. Group Support What happens at the GSU: • Welcome & outreach to new groups & members • Informal information sharing – group to group • Orientation & introduction to service • Informal training & mentoring • Limited, informal service if necessary • Open attendance

10. GSU/LSU Options

11. Local Services The Local Service Unit: • Delivers bulk of local services • Conforms to a recognized geographic boundary • Is purpose- and vision-driven • Uses planning

12. Local Services Local Planning Conference • Meets 3 or 4 times yearly including Annual Assembly • Other meetings follow planning cycle • Consists of group delegates, project and workgroup leaders, LSB, state/national delegates, interested members • Uses consensus-based decision making

13. Local Services Annual Assembly • Planning event to gather input and set service priorities • Wide attendance consisting of Local Planning Conference attendees and any other interested members • Uses consensus-based decision making

14. Local Services Local Service Board • Meets monthly (or as needed) • Consists of admin officers, delegates to next level of service, coordinators for essential services • Oversees workgroups and essential services • Coordinates planning assembly • Develops budgets and plans • Maintains external relationships

15. Delegation & Communication • On a local level—more administrative details are delegated • Discussion and decisions at the LSU are more focused on planning, priorities, setting direction, etc. • No intention to change how a conscience is gathered locally to take to the WSC • Still need to work on bridging some of the disconnect, improving communication (e.g., between world & local services). • We are open to all ideas!

16. Intermediate Bodies • Occupies space between service bodies like an accordion, when needed due to density, distance or language • Based upon need • Could be useful in large countries or states • Communication is main task

17. State/National Service Bodies • More change for parts of the US where regional boundaries are not always state boundaries • No structural change for many, though possibly process changes for all • Still working on ideas for large states and non-US countries consisting of multiple regions

18. State/National Service Bodies State/National services include: • Interaction with statewide/national government and professionals • Assemblies and conventions • Centralized service resources • Communication link between WSC and local NA communities

19. Zonal Service Bodies Discussion points around zones include: • Zones offer opportunities for communication • Zones may need common standards • Zonal boundaries could be collaboratively reexamined

20. Zonal Service Bodies Possible roles of zones include: • Fellowship development • Leadership development • Planning • Fund-flow • Sharing best practices • Point of connection • Communication link

21. WSC Seating • State/national/province service bodies seated at the conference • Other seating criteria will be needed • Some regions will have to unify • Arrangements for large states and countries are still being discussed • Small countries or states may choose to group together for seating purposes

22. Process Examples Communication Sharing information & ideas with each other. Better use of tools and tying communication to planning Leadership Identifying leadership potential, training, mentoring, making effective use of veteran leaders Planning Determining actual needs, setting specific goals, assessing and assigning resources, monitoring and making adjustments Decision Making Working together to make decisions through consensus where possible, exercise delegation and accountability Information Management Capturing, preserving, and delivering information as needed

23. Wrap-Up • Current 4-year project to end at WSC 2012 • Offering 8 resolutions at WSC 2012 to be voted on at WSC 2012 • Project will be proposed for the 2012-2014 cycle to work on transition plans

24. Service System Webpage More information is available here: www.na.org/servicesystem