Service Workshop Proposal

Question: I’ve heard NA members talk about how they would like to have a workshop in their area about what a GSR does and the duties and how important the GSR position is. Should we put together a workshop on this topic to encourage NA members to step up and be a GSR?

Answer: I'm not sure filling positions is what Service Bodies ought to concern themselves with as much as we should be concerned with providing service opportunities for those interested in serving. Minnesota’s new project-based structure seems to fit that mission better than the Committee structure. What work needs to be done and what work is the Fellowship willing to support by providing resources?

Here's a lot of blah, blah, blah before I get to my proposal for the workshops. Read or not as you will.

As a consultant, my first task is to determine something simple yet complex, "What problem are we trying to solve?" Workshops for GSRs are indeed needed. Focused, specific nuts and bolts descriptions of this or that service position have their place in the grand scheme of things. I think, however, there's a bigger issue we need to consider.

Are we looking for more people to step into service? I don't think that's the problem needing to be solved.

I don't think the problem is that there are too few people doing service because I don't think any particular number is the right number. I think the problem may be that we're not carrying the message about carrying the message through NA Service. If we carry that message effectively, then we can be assured that the number of people stepping up is exactly the right number. It's my belief that by showing that Service can be part of a robust recovery we'll find people taking those first tentative steps toward a lifetime of NA Service.

"What problem are we trying to solve?"

This question is critical because it's a waste of time and resources solving symptoms rather than the underlying problem. Take an aspirin for your headache. Oh my, your headache is a brain tumor. Too bad we didn't figure that out earlier rather than masking the symptom. Before we present workshops on Service, I think it there's merit in asking ourselves why we do service. After all, those of you reading this are already involved in NA service.

We all, each of us, has a combination of reasons why we do Service, but underneath it all we do service because we're invested in our recovery.  As with most investments, what we get back is related to what and how much we put in. Each day, consciously or unconsciously, I decide how much Recovery I'm willing to work for that day, how much recovery I'm willing to allow HP to bring me that day. I hold that we do service because Step Twelve tells us that carrying the message is part of a program of Recovery. We invest in our Recovery when we carry the message.

Again, extending the investment analogy, people invest their money in real estate, in stocks and bonds, in gold, in fine art, in chicken ranches, and so on. The list is endless. Like the endless list of monetary investment opportunities, there are countless ways for us to carry the message. Some of us choose to carry the message through NA Service.  NA Service works for us, but it's neither better nor worse than any other way to carry the message. Others are most fulfilled focusing on sponsoring people. Some believe that carrying the message for them begins and ends with attending meetings. Some carry the message by being open about their past and recovery via NA in all their interactions with friends, family, and coworkers.

Why do those of us who choose to carry the message through NA Service make that choice? Maybe we choose NA Service because we're hoping to get laid or to find a life mate. Maybe we're lonely and want to find new friends now that we've given up our using friends. Maybe we do it to fill that hole inside by being the center of attention. Maybe we’re applying our sense of order to the chaos we find in any service committee. Maybe we want to learn new skills, skills we can use in my personal life or career. Maybe we just like helping people like we've been helped. Regardless, it's my belief that aside from all the other reasons we do NA Service, we do it because we've invested in our recovery. I'm putting something into my recover because I've been told I'll get something in return.

When we look at our medallion we see the foundation of the pyramid of Recovery. The sides are labeled Self, God, Society, and Service. To me that means that through Service I can repair and enrich my relationships with myself, with my Higher Power, and with Society.

Proposed Workshop Format

I propose that when we present workshops about Service in NA, we keep it simple and brief. Modeling on H&I meetings, I'd like to see panels of three people, maybe with a fourth to introduce and wrap up. The three presenters would each take one of the sides of the pyramid, telling in the first person what kind of service we've done (the investment) and how that service deepened her/his relationship with Self, or with HP, or with Society (the return on the investment). 

We'll be answering everyone's self-centered question, "What's in it for ME?"

I could be dead wrong, but I think it'd be attractive for to people considering Service to hear five minute, first person vignettes of what sort of service I or you do/did and how it changed one of those relationships.

Attraction.

Here's what Service did for me. If you think this is something you may want to try, please contact your local service body. Please consider signing up for an NA Service Mentor through the Region's Service Mentorship program.

We do service because it helps us to grow spiritually. Let's share that.