Resolutions, Straw Polls, World Board Motions & Regional Proposals

Resolutions, Straw Polls, World Board Motions & Regional Proposals

Introduction • The 2012 CAR contains more than the SSP (Service System Proposals). Also for voting at WSC 2012: • 8 Resolutions • 9 Straw Polls (A through I) • 5 World Board Motions • 5 Regional Proposals (A through E) • This presentation was created to provide information & different views about the Resolutions, Straw Polls, World Board Motions & Regional Proposals that were not included in the presentation available from na.org

Objectives Provide an overview & different views (where feasible) of the Resolutions, Straw Polls, World Board Motions & Regional Proposals Help to understand the Resolutions, Straw Polls, World Board Motions & Regional Proposals Answer as many questions as possible

Background The CAR is based on the WB’s point of view, therefore it contains no ‘cons’ A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something & is generally voted on before a project begins in order to get an idea of where it’s going A straw poll is a vote with non-binding results (they don’t have to be followed) to see if there is enough support for an idea NOTE: Robert’s Rules prohibits straw polls because they undermine “the deliberative charge of deliberative bodies” (in this case they don’t give the NA Fellowship as a whole the opportunity for consideration or discussion) A proposal, which the WSC can amend, is an act of putting something forward or stating something for consideration

Resolutions Overview • “These resolutions are the broad-based ideas about which we [the WB] need to reach consensus before we can move forward in the transition to new service system” • “The results of the votes on these resolutions and the straw polls which follow will form the basis upon which we [the WB] will move forward” • “These are resolutions rather than “motions” because they are calling for an agreement in principle, but not for any specific action at this time” NOTE: All quoted text can be found on pages 11 & 12 of the 2012 CAR

Overview • Consensus Based Decision-Making (CBDM) has no voting, is about how to say ‘yes,’ there is no saying ‘no’ & the resolutions will be discussed on the floor of the WSC until “consensus” is reached on how to go forward • There is potential that the WB will continue the SSP even if the Fellowship disagrees • Votes on ‘agreements in principle’ can & will be discussed on the floor of the 2012 WSC, the result of which will be changes to the Resolutions followed by motions (with specific actions) to be voted at the 2014 WSC

Resolutions Overview • “If the conference adopts them, these issues will be “resolved”: The principles outlined in the resolutions will be binding insofar as they will determine the direction we [the WB] will take in transitioning to a new service system” • “Adopting these resolutions does not, however, mean agreeing to any concrete action” • “...the results of the discussions, votes, and straw polls at this conference will help the board develop a set of motions for the 2014 CAR. These 2014 motions will call for specific actions” NOTE: All quoted text can be found on page 12 of the 2012 CAR

Overview • “Resolved” non-binding ‘agreements in principle’ will become binding regarding the direction taken in transitioning to a new service system if adopted without first being returned to the Groups • If a non-binding ‘agreement in principle’ becomes binding when adopted it most assuredly means agreement to a concrete action • Unless the funding in the 2012 CAT is voted down, the WB will develop a set of motions (calling for specific actions) for voting at the 2014 WSC

Resolutions Overview • The ideals described in the resolutions “are important principles we [the WB] feel need to be realized to achieve our vision and be true to the spirit of the Traditions and Concepts” • “At the same time, we [the WB] are attempting to design a system that is flexible and practical; variations in the application of the ideals laid out here are expected” • “Everything that occurs in the course of NA service must be motivated by the desire to more successfully carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers” • “These resolutions are offered in that spirit” NOTE: All quoted text can be found on page 12 of the 2012 CAR

Overview • The “ideals described in the resolutions” were specifically worded to make NA members think they would be voting against those ‘ideals’ by voting ‘no’ to the Resolutions • Flexibility & practicality appear to be sorely lacking in the system the WB designed & it gives no indication that variations are either expected or welcomed • Resolutions offered in the spirit that “everything that occurs in the course of NA service must be motivated by the desire to more successfully carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers” would not totally dismantle our current service structure, undermine Group conscience, remove the autonomy of NA Groups, require changes to member-defined boundaries, cater to outside enterprises, etc.

Resolution 1 “Our service efforts will be carried out through a system that includes structure, process, people, and resources.”

Resolution 1 • Unnecessary, the Fellowship already has a service structure in place that includes structure, process, people & resources • Redundant, describes current & past practice • Violates Concept Two, “The final responsibility and authority for NA services rests with the NA groups” not with ‘a system’

Resolution 2 “The service system is group-focused and includes a local level body dedicated exclusively to addressing group concerns.”

Resolution 2 • Unnecessary, current ASCs (Area Service Committees) already provide an effective means to address Group concerns of participating Groups • Removes Groups from the decision-making process by isolating them from the information & decisions LSUs (Local Service Units) will address • Removes the current power, authority & flexibility for Groups to decide the best way their needs can be met

Resolution 3 “Training and mentoring of trusted servants are essential functions of the service system.”

Resolution 3 • Training & mentoring trusted servants are the responsibilities of sponsors, Areas, Regions & current trusted servants, not a ‘service system’ • Doesn’t establish any boundaries for how this will happen, which are needed before a decision can be made • Violates Concepts Two, Three & Five

Resolution 4 “Service bodies are purpose- and vision-driven.”

Resolution 4 • Current service bodies were created by Groups to “fulfill our fellowship’s primary purpose” (Concept 1) • Groups “create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve” (Tradition 9) • If ‘vision-driven’ is referring to “A Vision for NA Service,” service bodies already do this & the SSP creates more barriers to the vision statement than already exist

Resolution 5 “Service bodies work together to utilize planning processes to organize and coordinate their efforts.”

Resolution 5 • Our existing service bodies (Areas & Regions) currently operate this way (Concept 1) • Limits “the responsibility to carefully consider all viewpoints in their decision-making processes” • Doesn’t include Groups as a necessary part of the process (Concept 9)

Resolution 6 “Service bodies make decisions by consensus.”

Resolution 6 • Consensus Based Decision-Making (CBDM) allows for a minority opinion to take the process hostage • Current services bodies have decision-making processes in effect, what works for one may not work for another • Decision-making processes should not be dictated by a service system

Resolution 7 “The service structure includes local service bodies, state/nation/province service bodies, and intermediate bodies if needed. Service bodies follow established geographic boundaries. They are not self-determined, but are formed, based on need, through a collaborative planning process and agreement with other affected service bodies at the next level of service.”

Resolution 7 • Existing Areas & Regions were established locally by the members • Seems to make outside entities more important than NA members • We’re supposed to work from the base of the inverted pyramid, many NA members for few WB members, & this Resolution changes that

Resolution 8 “State/national/province boundaries are the primary criterion for seating consideration at the World Service Conference.”

Resolution 8 • Some Regions will lose their seat at the World Service Conference (WSC) • Limiting the representation of Groups’ consciences is opposed to our primary purpose • Doesn’t address the number of votes the WB has at the WSC on new business; the WB should remain a small minority voice at the conference

Straw Polls Overview • “In order to create a proposal for a transition plan...we [the WB] plan to take a number of straw polls on more concrete ideas” • “...we [the WB] have not yet worked out all of the detail of how a transition to a new system might actually take place” • “We’ve [the WB] already spent several years (two conference cycles) and thousands of dollars on the work to date...” • “The results...will “guide the board in the next steps in the process of developing and transitioning to a new service system” NOTE: All quoted text can be found on page 14 of the 2012 CAR

Straw Polls Overview • The Straw Polls contain very few “concrete ideas” regarding the creation of a transition plan proposal yet the WB notes their attempt to design a system that is flexible & practical when flexibility & practicality are anything but concrete • Details are a necessity before any truly informed Group conscience decisions can be made • Time & money already spent aren’t valid reasons to continue if the Fellowship doesn’t agree or want to continue • The WB has had its say & it’s time for more Fellowship experience, strength & hope

Straw Poll A “There is a small, neighborhood-sized body devoted to group needs. This group forum, which is typically not part of the delegation stream, is informal in nature and operates through conversation not formal decision-making. (See page 56 for a detailed explanation of the body devoted to group support.)”

Straw Poll A • With problems of attendance & vacancies being widespread, MORE meetings, trusted servant positions, etc. are being proposed • Directly conflicts with Resolution 2 (“...system is group-focused...”) • The current structure allows each Group & Area to determine for themselves the best way to address their needs

Straw Poll B “Groups send a delegate quarterly to a local service planning meeting. One of those quarterly meetings is a general assembly where all interested members are encouraged to attend and input is given to help plan service activities for the cycle. (See page 61 for a detailed explanation of the local service body.)”

Straw Poll B • Instead of monthly oversight, direction & decision-making meetings, Groups are limited to quarterly ‘planning’ sessions • In direct conflict with Resolution 2 (“...system is group-focused...”) • Requires another trusted servant position to be added

Straw Poll C “Services are coordinated by a local service board and carried out by members, committees, and project workgroups who report to that board.”

Straw Poll C • Further removes Groups from direct oversight, responsibility, authority & opportunities to provide direction to service bodies • Includes & says nothing about current Area & Regional Subcommittees • Changes the focus from a committee or workgroup, which imply a collaboration of people, to a board, which implies a group that directs or governs, the change in semantics is deliberate

Straw Poll D “Local service bodies follow county, city, or town boundaries, where practical. (They are much larger than the group forums mentioned above and in many cases larger than the current ASCs.)”

Straw Poll D • Current service bodies follow boundaries as determined by the NA members who know their Area & what works for them • Many current ASCs are big enough already & making them bigger is likely to create the same ‘unmanageability’ problem the SSP is supposed to solve • Group conscience & autonomy are the determining factors, not a rule

Straw Poll E “The boundaries of those local service bodies are agreed to at the state or national level.”

Straw Poll E • Violates the autonomy in Tradition 4, the accountability in Tradition 9, the responsibility in Concept 7 & the spirit of NA service in Concept 12 • Transferring authority away from the Groups (against the inverted pyramid) with their collective superior knowledge of local facts-on-the-ground is generally a bad idea, leading to planning in the abstract rather than based in current, direct experience • Local service bodies already have boundaries as determined by the NA members who know the Area & have come together out of common needs & goals

Straw Poll F “Planning cycles are synchronized from level to level (local to state to global) as well as across each level.”

Straw Poll F • This is already implemented & carried out through our current service structure based on the inverted pyramid (NA members to Groups, Groups to Areas, Areas to Regions & Regions to World) • Conflicts with Concept 5 (no single point of accountability) • Conflicts with Tradition 4 (no Group autonomy)

Straw Poll G “When service needs cannot be accomplished effectively by local service bodies and state/ national/province bodies, an intermediate level of service can be added. (See page 64 for a detailed explanation of an intermediate service body.)”

Straw Poll G • Further distances the Groups from authority & responsibility over & for services • Adds the need for more trusted servants when many Areas are already having a hard time filling positions • GTLS, p 65, “Area Committees in Rural Communities,” already provides for the formation of “Co-ops,” which are intermediate bodies

Straw Poll H “Most states, provinces, or countries have one state-, province- or nationwide service body that is responsible for state- or national-level public relations and coordinating efforts such as training across local service bodies. (See page 67 for a detailed explanation of state-, province-, and nationwide service bodies.)”

Straw Poll H • One State/Province/Nationwide service body for large states or states with isolated Groups is totally impractical • Will put unnecessary financial burden on trusted servants & service bodies who would have to travel extensive distances in order to attend • Could easily be reworded to fit the current service structure

Straw Poll I “Zonal boundaries are decided through a collaborative process with neighboring NA communities, other zones, and the WSC.”

Straw Poll I • Throws Concept 1 out the window, the Groups join together • The WB &/or WSC shouldn’t have a say in setting up ‘boundaries’ anywhere in the NA Fellowship • There is no indication of where or how zones/zonals even fit into the SSP

Motions Overview • These are to be voted ‘yes’ or ‘no’ • Amendments are discouraged but not prohibited – RD makes an amendment & has 3 minutes to discuss, WB has unlimited time to rebut & discourage • Only the WB can make motions • Motions 2, 3 & 4 all start with “To allow the World Board” (in other words, give the WB authority) & end with “The World Board will announce” (tell, not ask, the Fellowship)

World Board Motion 1 “To approve the book Living Clean: The Journey Continues contained in Addendum B [of the CAR].”

World Board Motion 1 • It’s Fellowship-written literature, which seems to have captured a lot of the feelings & ideas members wished was in other literature • Low amount of input received from the Fellowship as a whole (less than 500 posts on the Discussion Board, which some felt was difficult to locate on na.org & thereby limited participation) • Voting seems to be more of a personal preference (some like it, others don’t)

FIPT Motions 2, 3 & 4According to the Fellowship Intellectual Property Trust (FIPT), the Fellowship of NA is the Trustor & • May add to, modify or delete property from the Trust (Instrument, Article III) • Is responsible for the creation, approval, revision & decommissioning of NA recovery literature, trademarks, service marks & other intellectual properties (Operational Rules, Article I, Section 3) • Has sole authority to commission, direct & approve the creation & revision of books, booklets & informational pamphlets for & on behalf of the NA Fellowship (Operational Rules, Article III, Section 1) • Has sole authority to create or revise trademarks & service marks for & on behalf of the NA Fellowship (Operational Rules, Article III, Section 1) NOTE: The complete FIPT can be found at http://www.na.org/?ID=legal-fipt03rv

Resolutions, Straw Polls, World Board Motions & Regional Proposals