B2BLSC
B2BLSC Mission Statement
The primary purpose of the Back to Basics LSC of Narcotics Anonymous
(B2BLSC) shall be to serve and to support the groups and services common to the welfare of Narcotics Anonymous, by communicating the needs and problems and organizing ourselves so that we may better carry the message to the addict who still suffers. In keeping with the spiritual nature of Narcotics Anonymous, our structure should always be one of service, never of government.
Section 1 – PURPOSE OF THE BACK TO BASICS LOCAL SERVICE CONFERENCE OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS (B2BLSC)
Our purpose is based on NA’s 5th tradition, “Each group has but one primary
purpose—to carry the message to the addict who still suffers,” and the 12th step,” we tried to carry this message to addicts”. Everything we do in NA Service must be motivated by the desire to successfully carry the message of recovery— that an addict, any addict can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live.
The Back to Basics LSC is the point of decision for our combined groups, and it is directly accountable to them in its actions, “The final responsibility and authority for NA Services rests with the NA Groups.” (2nd Concept)
The name of this assembly shall be the Back to Basics LSC of Narcotics
Anonymous, hereafter referred to as the B2BLSC. The geographical boundaries of the B2BLSC include;
Albert Lea, Fairmont, Faribault, Mankato, New Ulm, New Prague, Northfield, Owatonna, St. James, St. Peter, Waseca. Other communities may decide to become a member of the B2BLSC.
The purpose of the B2BLSC is to support the LSC groups in accordance with the Concepts and Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous.
To facilitate the delivery of these services, the B2BLSC has selected a service
structure composed of a Group Support Forum (GSF) and Local Service Conference
(LSC) as defined in the following sections.
B2BLSC GSF’s include:
⦁ Mankato, St. Peter
⦁ Northfield, New Prague, Montgomery
⦁ Owatonna, Faribault
⦁ Albert Lea
Section 2 – GROUP SUPPORT UNIT (GSF)
The Group Service Forum (GSF) is established by the groups to provide a forum to meet with other groups of their respective communities to discuss common areas of interest between the groups and NA as a whole.
The GSF is intended to help groups better carry the message within their meetings by separating out the group support functions from the “business” of NA.
The GSF gives groups the opportunity to share problems they may be encountering and to seek solutions from each other, while avoiding the distraction of discussions about complex services provided outside the group. By functioning as a discussion-based gathering of the local NA communities, the GSF offers an attractive alternative that complements the more business-oriented service meetings.
The GSF is intended to be like a community or neighborhood gathering, not another level of service. Some functions of the GSF meetings include:
⦁ In formal training and mentoring.
⦁ Discussion of group issues through group sharing.
⦁ Welcoming and outreach to new groups and members
⦁ Orientation and introduction to service (recovery and service literature, traditions, concepts, etc.)
⦁ Informal information sharing (upcoming events, LSC activities, new literature items, NAWS issues topics, etc.)
⦁ Sending delegates to the LSC.
⦁ In some instances, the GSF may be asked to be involved in service delivery (such as putting up PR flyers in the community)
GSF shall consist of the Group Support Representatives (GSR) selected by the groups of the LSC and any other interested Narcotics Anonymous members.
The GSF shall meet at a time and location mutually agreed upon by all members.
The GSF shall select a primary and alternate delegate from their members to represent the interests of the GSF at the LSC.
Section 3 – LOCAL SERVICE CONFERENCE (LSC)
The Local Service Conference (LSC) has responsibility for delivering the bulk of local services, and groups will remain responsible for funding services through contributions to the LSC. Attendance at the LSC is open to all, but the LSC is intended to be an efficient service body with a focus on planning and service provision.
The LSC serves as a communication and delegation link between the groups and the rest of the fellowship by sending a delegate to the regional service body. The LSC will utilize a strategic planning process, and services will be delivered through a mix of project-based workgroups and ongoing essential or routine services, each of which will have a coordinator who is a member of the LSC and reports to it.
The LSC will also consist of meetings on alternating months attended by delegates from the groups and the GSF and an administrative board with the responsibility to organize and facilitate the LSC meetings, one (1) of which will be the annual planning assembly. The meetings may be attended by any interested members and will be guided by the principles of the traditions and concepts. The annual assembly should try to draw from as wide a range of experience as possible.
Some functions of the LSC include:
⦁ Provide training, including orientation, mentoring, and leadership development
⦁ Serve as a communication and accountability link
⦁ Plan, including developing strategic plans and action plans
⦁ Provide GSF support, including support, both personal and/or financial
⦁ Administer its own affairs, such as facilitating meetings, renting space, setting agendas, etc.
⦁ Put on fellowship events such as conventions, learning days, and Conference Agenda Report (CAR) workshops
⦁ Conduct Public Relations, including Institutional liaison Public Information events
⦁ Coordinate human resources, such as a human resource pool
⦁ Oversee financial resources
⦁ Participate in fellowship development and support, including outreach to isolated NA communities
⦁ Maintain a meeting list
⦁ Distribute literature to groups
⦁ Send a delegates to the regional service conference
Section 4 – Local Service Board (LSB)
The Local Service Board (LSB) is the administrative body of the LSC. Board members are elected by the groups of the B2BLSC to provide the services requested by the groups, to be accountable for the funds provided by the groups and to carry out the strategic plan developed by the groups at the annual planning assembly. Board members must always act within the principles of the traditions and concepts, especially the 2nd Tradition – “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” and the 2nd Concept – “The final responsibility and authority for NA services rests with the NA groups.”
By the same token, the LSB service structure depends heavily on the groups abiding by the 3rd Concept; “The NA groups delegate to the service structure the authority necessary to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it”, and trust their trusted servants to serve.
The Local Service Board shall consist of the LSB Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer, Treasurer in Training, Secretary, secretary in training, appointed delegates, Regional Committee Member (RCM) and Regional Committee Member Alternate (RCMA), and the Service Coordinators for essential services/projects.
The LSB shall meet on months alternating the LSC at a time and location mutually agreed upon by all members. Attendance at the LSB meetings shall be open to all members of the B2BLSC. The LSB Secretary shall provide a written report of the activities and decisions of the LSB to all GSR’s of the LSC.
Section 5 – Meetings Every Other Month
The LSB is responsible for holding meetings to receive direction, in the form of the strategic plan, and to report on its performance against the plan to the members of the B2BLSC. One of these meetings shall be the B2BLSC Annual Assembly, where the strategic plan for the next year will be developed. All groups within the B2BLSC are encouraged to have at least one representative present at the LSC, to ensure that their group has a voice in the conscience and decisions of the B2BLSC. All members of the B2BLSC are welcome and encouraged to attend the conferences and shall have equal voice and participation. The Meetings for the B2BLSC shall be held in January, March, May, July, September, and November of each year, with the Annual Assembly to be held at the January meeting. The annual assembly is a planning event that gathers input from everyone to set service priorities. Meetings follow the stages of the planning cycle. They are used to prioritize, approve workgroups and a budget created by the LSB, monitor and report, change direction as necessary and evaluate service delivery.
Section 6 – DECISION MAKING
As a spiritual body, we try to reach all decisions by consensus; “we believe that a loving God’s will is expressed through our group conscience” (2nd Tradition). One of the reasons we try to achieve consensus is it insures that we follow our 9th Concept, “All elements of our service structure have the responsibility to carefully consider all viewpoints in their decision-making process.” By carefully discussing and respectfully listening to all points of view we try to make sure this happens at the LSC. We believe that when a decision is so important it needs to go back to groups for a group conscience, only the groups should participate in that decision. When a decision goes back to groups for guidance, any LSB board member can participate in their home group’s conscience ensuring that their voice is heard through their GSR.
All proposals and decisions except elections will be considered using consensus-based decision making. For our purposes, the process for consensus-based decision-making allows for points of view to be heard and fairly considered within the LSC. If at the end of discussion the LSC has not reached agreement, those dissenting from the majority will be given the opportunity to state the reason for their dissent if they choose. If their rationale does not persuade the majority to change their view, the dissenting member(s) may be asked if they can support the majority view, even though they themselves do not agree with it. In matters where the dissenters cannot assent to the majority, an actual vote shall take place. Needing to result in 2/3 majority in order to pass.
⦁ All participating members at the LSC shall have an equal voice in all discussions.
⦁ Any member of B2BLSC may make a proposal and shall have an equal voice in discussions and decisions.
⦁ All proposals must be submitted to the Chairperson in writing to insure accuracy. The Secretary will keep a copy of all passed or failed proposals.
⦁ Proposals may be amended or withdrawn at any time prior to decision.
⦁ Elections will be decided by a simple majority of the GSR’s.
⦁ CAR motion support shall be decided by consensus at the designated planning workshop
Any proposal to change B2BLSC guidelines must refer to the section and line item of the guidelines to be changed.
Section 7 – ELECTIONS
In our election process we use the 4th Concept, “Effective leadership is highly valued in Narcotics Anonymous. Leadership qualities should be carefully considered when selecting trusted servants.” Elections shall be held annually in May for all LSB positions. Nominations for May elections shall be submitted during the preceding March LSC. However, if an appropriate nominee is presented at the May LSC it shall be taken under consideration.
All LSB board members are elected for a term of one year. No B2BLSC member shall hold more than one LSB position or be a coordinator for an LSB routine service while holding an LSB position, except where a member of the LSB (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) may temporarily fill the vacant position until an election can be held and the position filled. The LSB Chair may appoint an interim board member should a vacancy occur prior to elections. No LSB Service Coordinator shall be coordinator for more than one routine service; however, they may be a participant in the delivery of the routine service or serve as a workgroup leader. No LSB board member shall be eligible to serve more than three consecutive full terms in the same LSB position. No service coordinator shall be eligible to serve more than five consecutive full terms in the same service position. A B2BLSC Trusted Servant may be removed from their elected position for non-compliance only after the person has been notified by either letter or phone call from the LSB Chairperson or designee stating that concerns about their fulfillment of service responsibilities have been raised. If a member who is the subject of a proposal to be removed from their position is present, and can address the concerns of their fulfillment of their service responsibilities raised by the maker of the proposal, a letter or phone call will not be required. Non-compliance includes but is not limited to:
⦁ Loss of abstinence from drugs
⦁ Failing to perform the duties of the position
⦁ Misappropriation of NA funds
⦁ Missing three consecutive (LSB/LSC) meetings
The final decision to remove a Trusted Servant from their position shall be through a consensus decision of the LSB.
Section 8 – Services and Workgroups
Just as groups create a service structure to help them fulfill their primary purpose, the LSC creates services or workgroups to do the actual work involved in delivering direct services for the purpose of carrying the message to the addict who still suffers. This is based on the 9th tradition, the creation of “service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.”
The LSC may establish services or workgroups from time to time to meet the needs of B2BLSC. The LSB shall determine the structure by which the services requested by the groups shall be provided. This shall be in the form of either a routine or essential service, requiring a permanent coordinator position to be created on the Board, or as a workgroup, created for a specific purpose and a specific duration, with the work group coordinator being responsible to the board for the duration of the workgroup. Examples of routine or essential services include:
⦁ Hospitals and Institutions
⦁ Public Relations
⦁ Hopefest
⦁ SMARB
⦁ JIMMYPALOOZA
⦁ Wild Game Feed
⦁ Halloween Bash
Examples of workgroups include:
⦁ Conference planning
⦁ Activities
Service coordinators will be responsible for the development of and adherence to guidelines specific to the service provided. All Service Coordinators shall attend and submit a written report at all LSC meetings. In the case where circumstances prevent their attendance, they shall have the responsibility to send their report with an alternative representative.
Section 9 – FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The basis of this section is the 11th concept which states “NA funds are to be used to further our primary purpose, and must be managed responsibly.” We believe that to manage our money responsibly we must have safeguards and financial controls in place to insure that the funds we are entrusted with are used to further our primary purpose. We also recognize that it is impossible to protect all our money in every circumstance, so we must trust that the people we have carefully selected to handle our money will do so responsibly. The B2BLSC will establish checking accounts as needed to effectively manage all funds. The B2BLSC fiscal year will be from July 1st to June 30th. All monies accumulated from group contributions, activities and all other sources shall be maintained and deposited in the appropriate B2BLSC checking accounts.
All disbursements shall be made by a check issued by the Treasurer following receipt of an approved check request. Whenever B2BLSC funds in excess of $100 are expected to be received, (such as a dance) two trusted servants should be present to receive the money. The authorized signers for the B2BLSC checking accounts shall be the LSB Treasurer, LSB Chairperson, LSB Vice Chairperson and the LSB Treasurer in Training. All bank statements for the B2BLSC are to be in form of paperless statements. The LSB Treasurer shall make available any accounting records as soon as practical upon request.
A minimum of $500 shall be maintained in the accounts at all time, unless in the case of an emergency as deemed so by the unanimous decision of all LSB board members. The B2BLSC checking account will be audited annually with a report to be prepared by the LSB Chair/Vice Chair and presented at the February LSB meeting. The Treasurer shall utilize the following spending guidelines and pay expenses as prioritized below:
⦁ Payment of B2BLSC debts or expenses outside the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous.
⦁ Payment of B2BLSC debts or expenses within the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous.
⦁ Approved B2BLSC budget items.
⦁ All other approved expenses.
The Treasurer shall reconcile all accounts monthly and submit a written monthly statement itemizing all income and expenses from the preceding month and providing all current balances. The Treasurer shall also submit an annual financial statement for the preceding year at the July LSC summarizing all income and expenses from the previous fiscal year.
The Treasurer shall provide a receipt for all donations made to B2BLSC.
The LSB shall develop a proposed budget to meet the goals of the Annual Assembly to be presented for approval at the May LSC meeting. The Treasurer shall review the B2BLSC financial records in December, March, June, and September to determine the amount of excess funds available in the B2BLSC checking accounts. Excess funds are those funds available after the prudent reserve, one month’s budgeted funds and other encumbered funds are deducted from the total available in the accounts. All excess funds shall be passed on to region and world. Seventy-Five percent of excess funds shall be passed to the Minnesota Region of Narcotics Anonymous and Twenty-Five percent of excess funds shall be passed on to Narcotics Anonymous World Services. All receipts or unspent monies must be turned in to the Treasurer within 75 days of the receipt of funds. TheTreasurer shall report to the LSB on any outstanding balances.
Section 10 – TRUSTED SERVANTS
“For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.” (2nd tradition). Being of service to the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous is recognized as a valuable tool for the addict seeking recovery. This section lists many of the basic responsibilities for those members who serve as a trusted servant. Our groups have shown their trust in these individuals by, “delegating to the service structure the authority necessary to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it.” (3rd Concept). We trust our trusted servants. All Local Service Board trusted servants should meet these minimum requirements:
⦁ Working knowledge of the Twelve Traditions.
⦁ Working knowledge of the Twelve Concepts.
⦁ Working knowledge of the B2BLSC Guidelines.
⦁ Have an NA sponsor.
⦁ Have a general knowledge of consensus based decision making.
⦁ Must attend LSB meetings, LSC meetings, and the annual planning assembly.
⦁ Provide a verbal report of activities at the LSB and LSC.
⦁ Provide an electronic copy of the monthly report to the LSB Secretary for inclusion in minutes.
LSB Chairperson:
⦁ Have a demonstrated ability to run a business meeting using consensus-based decision making.
⦁ Facilitates all LSB and LSC meetings and the annual planning assembly.
⦁ Prepares agendas for LSB and LSC meetings.
⦁ Coordinate annual guideline review for presentation at June planning conference.
⦁ Minimum 2 years NA service experience with at least one year serving on the LSB.
⦁ Minimum 3 years continuous clean time.
LSB Vice-Chairperson:
⦁ Fills in the absence of a service coordinator or the LSB chair.
⦁ Conduct annual financial audit in accordance with section 9 of these guidelines
⦁ Coordinates B2B human resource pool to provide resources to the service coordinators as necessary (getting volunteers).
⦁ Minimum of 1 years NA service experience with at least one year serving on the LSB.
⦁ Minimum 2 years continuous clean time.
LSB Treasurer:
⦁ Demonstrated ability to perform basic bookkeeping functions.
⦁ Perform all Treasurer duties as listed in section 7 – Financial Responsibility.
⦁ Maintain possession of primary PO Box key and check for new mail regularly and distribute as appropriate.
⦁ Minimum of 2 years NA service experience.
⦁ Minimum 3 years continuous clean time.
Treasurer in Training:
⦁ Demonstrated ability to perform basic bookkeeping functions.
⦁ Capable of performing all Treasurer duties in the Treasurer’s absence.
⦁ Minimum of 1 year NA service experience.
⦁ Minimum of 2 years continuous clean time.
Secretary:
⦁ Demonstrated ability to take accurate notes.
⦁ Shall provide a written report of the activities and decisions of the LSB to all GSRs and LSB Member, within two weeks after the LSC or LSB meeting.
⦁ Maintain an up-to-date list of LSB members and GSR e-mail addresses.
⦁ Provide an electronic copy of all minutes to the PR Web Publisher for archiving on B2BLSC website.
⦁ Maintain possession of the second PO Box key.
⦁ Must have access to a personal computer with internet access.
⦁ Minimum of 6 months continuous clean time.
Secretary in Training:
⦁ Demonstrated ability to take accurate notes.
⦁ Capable of performing all Secretary duties in the Secretary’s absence.
⦁ Minimum 30 days continuous clean time.
Regional Committee Member:
⦁ Ability to clearly communicate information orally and in writing from Region and World Services.
⦁ Attend and represent B2BLSC at the Regional Service Committee meetings.
⦁ Have a general knowledge of all areas of service being provided by B2BLSC.
⦁ Facilitate the biannual CAR workshop for the B2BLSC.
⦁ Represent service coordinators at regional service committee meetings if necessary.
⦁ Minimum 6 months NA service experience with at least one year serving on the LSC.
⦁ Minimum 1 year continuous clean time.
Regional Committee Member Alternate:
⦁ Ability to clearly communicate information orally and in writing from Regional and World Services.
⦁ Capable of fulfilling the duties of the RCM in the RCM’s absence.
⦁ Have a general knowledge of all areas of service being provided by the B2BLSC.
⦁ Represent service coordinators at regional service committee meetings if necessary.
⦁ Minimum of 6 months NA service experience with at least one year serving on the LSC.
⦁ Minimum 1 year continuous clean time.
Hospital & Institutions Service Coordinator:
⦁ Working knowledge H&I Guidelines of B2BLSC and current approved H&I Handbook.
⦁ Coordinate H&I services for the B2BLSC.
⦁ Minimum of 1 year service experience with B2BLSC H&I.
⦁ Minimum 2 years continuous clean time.
**********All service position guidelines are recommended minimum requirements for serving in that position. *********
Glossary
Conference Agenda Report (CAR) Workshop
The NA World Service Conference (WSC) is a bi-annual service meeting made up of the Regional Delegates of the seated Regions of the world and the members of the NA World Board. Prior to this meeting, the WSC publishes the Conference Agenda Report (CAR) for distribution to the fellowship. The CAR contains the motions and proposals to be up for decision at the WSC meeting. CAR workshops are held at LSC, Area, and Region levels to acquaint the membership with the decisions to be made and to gather a group conscience to be carried by the regional delegate to the WSC.
Consensus Based Decision Making
Consensus Based Decision Making is a process of using consensus for decision making, rather than basing decisions on majority voting. Consensus is a group process where the input of everyone is carefully considered and an outcome is crafted that best meets the needs of the group. It is a process of synthesizing the wisdom of all the participants into the best decision possible at the time. Consensus is based on faith, that each person has some part of the truth and no one has all of it. When you consent to a decision, you are giving your permission to the group to go ahead with the decision. You may disagree with the decision, but based on listening to everyone else’s input, all the individuals agree to let the decision go forward, because the decision is the best one the entire group can achieve at the current time. Consensus needs four ingredients – a group of people willing to work together, a problem or issue that requires a decision by the group, trust that there is a solution and perseverance to find the truth.
The heart of consensus is a cooperative intent, where the members are willing to work together to find the solution that meets the needs of the group. The cooperative nature of consensus is a different mindset from the competitive nature of majority voting. In a consensus process the members come together to find or create the best solutions by working together. Key attributes to successful participation include humility, willingness to listen to other and see their perspectives, and willingness to share your own ideas but not insist that they are the best ones. The consensus process is a search for the very best solution, whatever the problem.
Consensus is not unanimous agreement. Participants may consent to a decision they disagree with, but recognize that it meets the needs of the group and therefore give permission to move forward.
Delegate
For the purposes of these guidelines, a delegate is a member of the Group Support Unit (GSF) selected by the participating GSR’s to represent the GSF’s interest on the Local Service Board (LSB) and to be a conduit of information back to the GSF on the activities and performance of the LSB, especially in relation to its representing and supporting the groups of B2BLSC.
Facilitator
One that facilitates; especially one that helps to bring about an outcome (as learning, productivity, or communication) by providing indirect or unobtrusive assistance, guidance, or supervision <the workshop’s facilitator kept discussion flowing smoothly>.
Group Conscience
Group conscience reflects a collective awareness of, understanding of, and surrender to spiritual principles. The conscience of a group takes shape and is revealed when its member take the time to talk to each other about their personal needs, the needs of the group, and the needs of NA as a whole. Each member draws upon his or her relationship with a Higher Power when sharing with the group. As members listen carefully to each other and consult their personal understanding of a loving God, something happens: Solutions to problems become apparent, solutions that take into consideration the needs of everyone concerned. In developing a group conscience, a clear mutual understanding of consensus arises.
Group conscience is not fixed and inflexible. Group conscience is a process that may work differently under differing circumstances. It’s not reasonable to expect that today’s solution to the group’s needs will always be sufficient for every group at every time. The principles involved in group conscience are always the same, but the times and conditions our conscience guides us through are constantly changing, requiring our conscience to tell us different things in different settings.
A surrender to group conscience means we allow our fellowship to be shaped by a loving Higher Power.
Group Support Forum (GSF)
The Group Support Forum (GSF) is established by the groups to provide a forum to meet with other groups of B2BLSC to discuss common areas of interest between the groups and NA as a whole. The GSF is intended to help groups better carry the message within their meetings by separating out the group support functions from the “business” of NA. The GSF gives groups the opportunity to share problems they may be encountering and to seek solutions from each other, while avoiding the distraction of discussions about complex services provided outside the group. By functioning as a discussion-based gathering of the local NA community, the GSF offers an attractive alternative that complements the more business-oriented service meetings.
The GSF is intended to be like a community or neighborhood gathering, not another level of service.
Local Service Board (LSB)
The Local Service Board (LSB) is the administrative body of the LSC. Board members are elected by the groups of the B2BLSC to provide the services requested by the groups, to be accountable for the funds provided by the groups and to carry out the strategic plan developed by the groups at the annual planning assembly. Board members must always act within the principles of the traditions and concepts, especially the 2nd Tradition – “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.” and the 2nd Concept – “The final responsibility and authority for NA services rests with the NA groups.”
By the same token, the LSC service structure depends heavily on the groups abiding by the 3rd Concept; “The NA groups delegate to the service structure the authority necessary to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to it”, and trust their trusted servants to serve.
Local Service Conference (LSC)
The Local Service Conference (LSC) has responsibility for delivering the bulk of local services, and groups will remain responsible for funding services through contributions to the LSC. Attendance at the LSC is open to all, but the LSC is intended to be an efficient service body with a focus on planning and service provision. The LSC serves as a communication and delegation link between the groups and the rest of the fellowship by sending a delegate to the regional service body. The LSC will utilize a strategic planning process, and services will be delivered through a mix of project-based workgroups and ongoing essential or routine services, each of which will have a coordinator who is a member of the LSC and reports to it. The LSC will also consist of Bi-Monthly Meetings attended by delegates from the groups and the GSF and an administrative board with the responsibility to organize and facilitate the LSC meeting. The Bi-Monthly Meetings may be attended by any interested members and will be guided by the principles of the traditions and concepts. The annual assembly should try to draw from as wide a range of experience as possible.
Narcotics Anonymous World Services (NAWS)
See World Service Office (WSO).
Meetings Every Other Month
The meetings every other month are conferences put on by the LSB to solicit the fellowship’s direction in the development and implementation of the strategic plan for the delivery of services to B2BLSC during the planning cycle. An Annual Assembly is held in May of each year at which time the services and budget for the next planning cycle (June – April) is developed and prioritized. Subsequent every other month meetings are held in July, September, November, January and March to report back to the fellowship on the progress made against the strategic plan and to reassess priorities and change strategy as required.
Planning Cycle
The Planning Cycle is how we schedule and coordinate the services being provided to B2BLSC by the LSB. We have limited financial and human resources available to us and service priorities that vary over time. The planning cycle provides a means to identify the services that we will provide in a given cycle, prioritize and align these services with resources and a process to check on our progress against the plan. This is done through the meetings every other month.
Routine and Essential Services
A Routine or Essential Service is a service that the membership has decided is a basic service to be provided by the LSB to support the groups of B2BLSC and NA as a whole. These services shall be coordinated by a service coordinator elected by the membership to serve on the LSB. Examples of routine or essential services include:
⦁ Hospitals and Institutions
⦁ Public Relations
⦁ Hopefest
⦁ SMARB
⦁ Wild Game Feed
⦁ Halloween Bash
Work Group
A Work Group is a group formed by the LSB to perform a specific task identified in the strategic plan to provide a service to B2BLSC. These tasks have a specific deliverable and duration that is not covered by routine or essential services. Members of the Work Group are appointed by the LSB and are accountable to that body and B2BLSC as a whole. The tasks assigned to a work group must be sufficiently defined and have an identified budget to allow that group to perform their task with a firm understanding of the expectations of the Board.
World Service Conference (WSC)
The NA World Service Conference (WSC) is a bi-annual service meeting made up of the Regional Delegates of the seated Regions of the world and the members of the NA World Board. This service conference has the executive right to make decisions for the entire NA Fellowship. This includes electing members to serve on the World Board, approving all new NA Literature, service material and making policy decisions that affect the fellowship including the organizational structure. This responsibility has been executed as recently as the late 90’s when the World Service Conference voted to re-structure the NA Service structure including the removal of the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and several other World Service level committees (Public Information, Hospitals & Institutions, Literature and Translations) replacing them with a single board elected by the conference.
World Service Office (WSO)
The WSC through the World Board is responsible for the NA World Service Office. This office handles the production of all approved literature, provides resources for projects approved by the WSC and also provides limited services to the fellowship as a whole. The office also administers the legal responsibilities of the fellowship with respect to copyrights, intellectual property and accounting.