GUIDELINES
OF THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE AREA
SERVICE
COMMITTEE OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS
Revised October 2008
Contents
ARTICLE VII ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTED SERVANTS
ARTICLE VIII VOTING PROCEDURES
ARTICLE XI FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
ARTICLE XIII ALLOCATION OF MONTHLY GROUP DONATIONS
ARTICLE XIV PROCEDURE FOR FUNDS REQUEST
ARTICLE XV PROCEDURE FOR FUNDS RAISED FOR THE GAASC
FOR THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE AREA SERVICE COMMITTEE
ARTICLE XVI AMENDMENT OF GUIDELINES
The
name of this assembly shall be The Greater Albuquerque Area Service Committee
of Narcotics Anonymous. (Referred to as
the GAASC.)
The
service area shall be the communities in which member groups meet.
The
purpose of this service committee is to unify and be supportive of its member
Groups and of their primary purpose. We
exist to provide services which the Groups alone could not provide. We assist member Groups with situations or
needs which they are unable to handle on their own. We are an extension of our member Groups'
dedication that:
No addict seeking recovery need die without
having had a chance to find a better way of life.
From this day forward may we provide
the necessary services.
Narcotics
Anonymous Groups comprise the membership of this committee. Group members may be active or inactive. To become a member, a Group must send a
Group Service Representative to a GAASC meeting then request membership in the
form of a motion during New Business.
Consideration for membership will be based on[1]:
A.
Will recognition of this group
contribute to the purpose of NA?
B.
Is the GAASC able to provide services
to the Group and its surrounding community?
C.
Are all members of the group drug
addicts and are all drug addicts eligible for membership?
D.
As a group, are they self-supporting?
E.
As a group, is their goal to help drug
addicts recover through application of
The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous?
F.
As a group, do they have any
affiliations outside Narcotics Anonymous?
G.
As a group, do they express opinions on
outside issues?
H.
As a group, is their public relations
policy based on attraction rather than promotion?
A
member group becomes inactive upon missing the third consecutive GAASC
meeting. Any member group becomes active
upon attending any Area Service Committee meeting. The GAASC Vice Chair must
contact groups not represented at the GAASC for three consecutive months.
The
GAASC shall meet once a month. There are
four types of participants at GAASC meetings:
A. Group Service Representatives
or Alternate Group Service
Representatives. These are the
voting participants at a GAASC meeting.
See IP #2 The Group for a full
description of a GSR's responsibilities.
B. Subcommittee Chairpersons. Our subcommittees accomplish most of
the work done toward realizing our
stated purpose. The Chairperson is the
voice of a subcommittee.
C. Administrative Trusted Servants. These include the GAASC Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson; Secretary/Historian and Treasurer (and their assistants if
applicable); Regional Committee Members (RCM1 and RCM2).
D. Observers. GAASC meetings shall be open. At the Chairperson's discretion, any observer
may be called upon to speak.
A. It
is the responsibility of the GAASC to support
and maintain subcommittees.
B. The
GAASC has the responsibility to form additional subcommittees as the need
arises.
C. Proposals
for new standing subcommittees or to dissolve standing subcommittees must be
sent back to the groups then be approved by a two-thirds majority of the
present voting members at the next GAASC.
D. Ad
hoc subcommittees may be created by a simple majority at any GAASC meeting to
fill the immediate needs of a question or special project that does not fit
into any existing subcommittee. Will
follow A Guide to Local Services and
other NA approved Literature. The GAASC
Chairperson may appoint either the entire ad hoc subcommittee or just a
chairperson[2].
E. Subcommittee
chairpersons are responsible for attending all GAASC meetings or sending an
informed representative in their absence.
F. Every
subcommittee Chairperson is responsible for submitting reports at all GAASC
meetings including a detailed listing of all monthly expenditures.
G. Subcommittee
Chairpersons do not vote at GAASC meetings.
H. Standing
GAASC subcommittees are:
1.
Public
Relations: The general mission
of the PR subcommittee is to inform addicts and others in the community of the
availability of recovery in Narcotics Anonymous[3]. Will follow Item # 2103 A Guide to Public Information, A Guide to Local Services, Internal
Subcommittee Guidelines as approved by the GAASC and other NA approved
Literature.
2.
Hospitals
and Institutions:
The H&I subcommittee conducts panels that carry the NA message to
addicts who often have no other way of hearing our message[4]. Will follow Item # 2101 Hospitals and Institutions Handbook, A Guide to Local Services, Internal Subcommittee Guidelines as
approved by the GAASC and other NA approved Literature.
3.
Activities: The Activities subcommittee coordinates
events including but not limited to dances, picnics, campouts and speaker
meetings. Activities like these can
provide a greater sense of community for the local NA fellowship and produce
additional area income[5]. Will follow A Guide to Local Services, Internal Subcommittee Guidelines as
approved by the GAASC and other NA approved Literature.
4.
Phonelines: The Phonelines subcommittee maintains a
telephone information service for Narcotics Anonymous that helps addicts and
others in the community find us easily and quickly[6]. Will follow Item #2107 A Guide to Phonelines Service, A Guide to Local Services, Internal
Subcommittee Guidelines as approved by the GAASC and other NA approved
Literature.
5.
Literature: The Literature subcommittee maintains a stock
of NA books and pamphlets [and other items available from the WSO] that can be
purchased by local groups [as well as NA Members and subcommittees][7] and may
involve itself in the literature review and approval process. Will follow Item #2105 Literature Committee Handbook, A Guide to Local Services, Internal
Subcommittee Guidelines as approved by the GAASC and other NA approved
Literature.
6.
Communications: Includes Schedules, Newsletter, and Web
Page. Prints meeting lists that show
days, times, locations, and other pertinent information for local NA meetings[8] and
distributes this meeting list at every GAASC meeting. May publish newsletter listing GAASC and
regional events[9]. Maintains and updates the GAASC web
page. Will follow Item #2103 A Guide to Public Information, #2106 A Handbook for NA Newsletters, A Guide to
Local Services, World Internet Guidelines, Internal Subcommittee Guidelines as approved by
the GAASC and other NA approved Literature.
7.
Outreach: The Outreach subcommittee visits
isolated groups and ACS’s; hosts workshops, providing basic service and meeting
information; and sponsors simple fellowship events. Will follow A Guide to Local Services,[10] World
Internet Guidelines, Internal
Subcommittee
Guidelines as approved by the GAASC and other NA approved Literature.
Administrative Trusted Servants are responsible for
attending and submitting reports at all GAASC meetings including a detailed
accounting of any monthly expenditure.
A. Chairperson: The GAASC Chairperson is responsible
for conducting GAASC meetings, preparing the agenda, and various administrative
duties[11]. Cosigner of the GAASC bank account. Responsible for overseeing quarterly audit of
all treasury records and accounts and biannual GAASC inventories. Can vote only in case of a tie. Will follow A Guide to Local Services and other NA
approved Literature. A minimum of five years continuous abstinence from all
drugs and service experience as the Vice Chair is suggested.
B. Vice Chairperson: The Vice Chairperson is responsible for the
coordination of the GAASC subcommittees and other duties as described in A Guide to Local Services, assisting the
Chairperson in conducting GAASC meetings and conducting the meetings in the
Chairperson’s absence[12]. Register
all new groups with NAWS and verify existing groups are registered using the
Area address (GAASCNA,
C. Treasurer: The GAASC Treasurer (and Assistant
Treasurer) receives contributions from the groups, administers the GAASC
checking account, pays GAASC bills, reimburses officers/subcommittees for their
budgeted expenses, keeps careful records of all transactions and reports on the
financial condition of the area committee at each of its meetings[13]. The
Treasurer is responsible for promptly depositing all funds, paying all bills,
and keeping accurate records. Makes a
report of all contributions and expenditures at each regular GAASC meeting as
well as an annual report at the end of the calendar year. Cosigner of the GAASC bank account. Will regularly check the GAASC PO Box. The Treasurer's records shall be reviewed
quarterly by the other cosigners of the GAASC bank account. Will follow Item
#2109 Treasurers Handbook, A Guide to Local Services and other NA
approved Literature. A minimum of five
years continuous abstinence from all drugs is suggested.
D. Secretary: The Secretary (and Assistant Secretary)
is responsible for all GAASC correspondence including taking accurate minutes
of all GAASC meetings and distributing minutes to all participants within ten
days[14]. In the
absence of a Historian, the Secretary maintains records of changes to
Guidelines and Major Motions, providing a complete updated version at the end
of the term. Cosigner of the GAASC bank account. Participates in the quarterly audit of all
Treasury records and accounts. Will follow A
Guide to Local Services and other NA approved Literature. A minimum one-year continuous abstinence from
all drugs is suggested.
E. Historian: The Historian is responsible for
maintaining GAASC files and archives as well as maintaining and understanding
the documents listed in Article X.
Maintains records of changes to Guidelines and Major Motions, providing
a complete updated version at the end of the term. Cosigner of the GAASC bank
account Participates in the quarterly audit of all treasury records and
accounts. Will follow A Guide to Local Services and other NA
approved Literature. A minimum three years of continuous abstinence from all
drugs is suggested.
F. Regional
Committee Member 1 (RCM1): The RCM1 keeps the GAASC in touch with
the larger world of NA by providing information on activities in neighboring
areas, functions being sponsored by the regional committee, reports relevant to
subcommittee affairs, and important issues being discussed at various levels of
service[15]. An RCM is to the GAASC what a GSR is to a
Group. The primary responsibility of the
RCM is to work for the good of NA, providing two-way communication between the
GAASC and the rest of NA, particularly with neighboring Areas. The RCM represents the GAASC group conscience
at the Regional level and provides the GAASC with the agenda of the upcoming
RSC meetings. Will follow A Guide to
Local Services and other NA approved literature. A minimum of three years continuous
abstinence from all drugs and service experience as RCM2 is suggested.
G. Regional
Committee Member 2 (RCM2): This is a two-year commitment with the
first year spent becoming familiar with the position while attending all GAASC
and Regional Service Committee meetings and the second year spent as RCM1. Will follow A Guide to Local Services and
other NA approved literature. A minimum
of two years continuous abstinence from all drugs is suggested.
Voting on all matters other than elections shall take place
in the following manner:
A. A quorum is needed for business to
commence. A
quorum is more than ˝ of all active groups.
B. Any
participant may introduce a motion at any GAASC meeting.
1.
Group Service Representative must
second all motions.
2.
Both the maker and second of a motion
must be present for the motion to be considered.
C. Voting
on all matters shall take place on a "one Group, one vote" basis.
1.
Only Group appointed representatives
(usually a GSR or Alternate GSR) may vote.
2.
In the event of a tie vote, the GAASC
Chair may vote to break the tie.
3.
If the Chair declines to vote, the
motion fails for lack of a majority.
4.
No other GAASC Administrative Trusted
Servant, including subcommittee chairpersons, have voting ability at the GAASC
meetings.
5.
A vote of “abstain” is considered a
vote “against” for majority counts.
D. Any
participant may vote the conscience of one group only.
E. A
simple majority of those present and voting shall be sufficient to carry any
motion unless noted.
F. The
following items must be sent to the member Groups for consideration. They will be included in the Minutes and the
GSR’s will vote their Groups' Conscience at the following GAASC meeting:
1.
Amending or suspending these guidelines
for any reason.
2.
Any actions that the voting
participants agree to send to the Groups.
3.
The creation or dissolution of any
standing subcommittee.
A. A
service member is defined as a GAASC Administrative Trusted Servant or
Subcommittee Chair.
B. Notification
of upcoming elections and the position’s duties and requirements are to be
announced and discussed at the GAASC meeting the month prior to the election
and sent out in the minutes.
C. Any
NA member may make nominations for a GAASC service member position.
D. Nominees
must be present to be elected.
E. Subcommittees
will present their nomination first.
F. A
simple majority of voting GSR’s present is required to elect these service
members
G. Upon
election, service members must resign any GSR positions if held. If elected to a GSR position during their
term of service they must resign their GAASC service member position at the
beginning of the next GAASC meeting.
H. An
elected service member shall assume the duties of office at the end of the
election meeting.
I. No
elected member shall hold more than one regular GAASC service member position
at one time.
J. No
member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same
position.
K. Regular
terms of office are one year.
L. Suggested
clean time requirements are two years unless otherwise stated.
M. Regular Elections:
December: Area Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer
January: Activities Chair, H&I Chair,
Communications Chair
May:
Phonelines Chair, Literature Chair
August:
Secretary, Historian, Outreach Chair
September: Public Relations Chair, RCM 2 (current RCM 2
moves into the RCM 1 position)
N. Special Elections:
1.
When a position is vacant the GAASC
Chair will appoint an interim person to fulfill the duties until an election
may be held and a service member elected as outlined in Article IX.
2.
An Interim or Ad Hoc service member
need not resign any GSR position in order to serve.
3.
Service members shall assume the duties
of office at the end of the meeting at which elected.
4.
Term of office is until the next
regular election for that position.
5.
A simple majority at any GAASC meeting
may create ad hoc subcommittees.
6.
The GAASC Chair may appoint either the
entire ad hoc committee or just a chairperson[16].
O. Removal
from office
1.
The GAASC must review the suitability
or availability of any trusted servant when any of the following occur:
a)
Loss of clean time.
b)
Failure to attend, send representation
or send a written report two consecutive GAASC meetings.
c)
Failure to perform the responsibilities
of the position.
2.
A motion to remove must be made and
seconded according to the procedures outlined in Article VIII, "Voting
Procedures.'' A two-thirds majority of the voting members present is required
to carry such a motion.
3.
A six-month moratorium on that
individual holding another GAASC level service position shall be required of
any service member resigning or removed from their position prior to the
completion of their term. The only
exception will be when their resignation is to fill a newly elected position of
the GAASC.
The GAASC will operate upon the principles as outlined in
the following documents. If the question
of which document takes precedence should arise, then the document first listed
shall prevail.
A. The
Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous
B. The
Guidelines of the GAASC of Narcotics Anonymous
C. A
Guide to Local Services in Narcotics Anonymous (ITEM #2111)
D. The
12 Concepts of NA Service (ITEM #1164)
E. The
current publication of all NA handbooks including but not limited to:
A
Guide to Public Information (ITEM #2103)
Hospitals
and Institutions Handbook (ITEM #2101)
A
Guide to Phoneline Service (ITEM #2107)
Handbook
for NA Newsletters (ITEM #2106)
Literature
Committee Handbook (ITEM #2105)
Group
Booklet (ITEM #1600)
Treasurer’s
Handbook (ITEM #2109)
Self-Support: Principle and Practice (ITEM #3125)
World
Service Board of Trustee Bulletins
F. The
WSC "Rules of Order" as adopted from Robert's Rules of Order.
A. All
moneys shall be kept in a checking account requiring two authorized
signatures.
B. All
expenditures are to be paid by check using vendor’s name whenever possible.
C. No
one shall sign a check made payable to themselves.
D. Anyone
requesting GAASC funds is personally responsible for:
1.
Spending the money as intended.
2.
Providing receipts of expenditures.
3.
Returning otherwise unaccounted for
funds.
4.
If receipts are unavailable, the GSR’s
may vote to approve reimbursement based on suitable evidence of the
expenditure.
E. Administrative
Trusted Servants and Subcommittee Chairs are required to submit in their report
any anticipated and all actual expenses.
F. In
the absence of the Treasurer, the other signers of the account shall perform
the Treasurer's duties.
G. The
GAASC will forward money to the Region and World on a monthly and quarterly
basis as outlined in Article XIII.
A. The
prudent reserve of the GAASC will consist of two month’s recurring contractual
fixed expenses to entities outside the fellowship and one month’s recurring
administrative and subcommittee non-contractual budget expenses.
CURRENT
EXAMPLE ONLY:
RECURRING
CONTRACTUAL EXPENSES (two months worth kept in reserve):
Monthly x 2 Months
GAASC rent: $10.00
$20.00
GAASC PO Box: $
5.42 $10.84
Pager/Service: $168.91
$387.82
Website: $40.00
$80.00
Newspaper Ads: $9.90
$19.80
Bus Signs: N/A
N/A
$234.23 $468.46
RECURRING
ADMIN/SUBCOMMITTEE NON-CONTRACTUAL BUDGET EXPENSES:
(One
months worth kept in reserve):
Purpose
Chair: $10.00
administrative
Vice Chair: $10.00
administrative
Treasurer: $10.00 administrative
Secretary: $80.00
copies of minutes, stamps,
envelopes, administrative
Historian: $10.00
administrative
RCM & Alt.: $10.00 administrative
H&I: $220.00 literature, administrative, rent
PR: $150.00 literature, administrative
Communications: $250.00 schedules, newsletter, administrative
Phonelines: $10.00
administrative
Literature: $25.00
administrative
Outreach: $50.00 literature, administrative
Activities: $200.00
deposits, events,
administrative
(administrative expenses = copies, phone calls, etc.)
$1035.00
=
TOTAL PRUDENT RESERVE: $468.46 +
$1035.00 = $1503.46 (current example only)
B. GSR’s
present at the GAASC meeting must approve by a 2/3 majority all new contractual
obligations.
C. GSR’s
present at the GAASC meeting must approve by a simple majority the raising of
administrative or subcommittee budgets.
D. No
motion is required to reimburse expenditures within given budget.
E. GSR’s
present at the GAASC meeting must approve by a simple majority the
reimbursement of expenditures exceeding given budget.
A. Cover
monthly operational expenses.
B. Replenish
the prudent reserve (if necessary).
C. 15%
of the remainder will be allocated, split 10% to the Rio Grande Region and 5%
to World[17].
D. The
balance after allocation will be available for project based spending
(non-recurring special Subcommittee requests).
Example: PI banners; H&I T-shirts.
E. Motions
will be made for project based spending during new business following the
voting procedures in Article VIII with a simple majority needed to
approve. All monetary motions on the
table are to be read in their entirety before discussion of any one motion
begins.
F. At
the end of the quarter, any funds remaining over the prudent reserve are
donated, split 70% to the Rio Grande Region and 30% to World.
A. No
standing GAASC subcommittee will have a petty cash fund or checking account
separate from the GAASC treasury.
B. All
approved expenses will be paid by GAASC check.
C. At
least three bids must be obtained from vendors or service providers prior to
motion approval on expenses over $50.00.
D. A
full accounting of funds used including receipts must be turned over to the
Treasurer.
A. Two
Trusted Servants of the hosting subcommittee will be present at all times
during events and are responsible for the funds raised.
B. Event
and raffle tickets will be purchased by the GAASC Treasurer and checked out to
the subcommittee. (Tickets must be
accounted for as cash.)
1.
Treasurer will issue a receipt to
person(s) responsible for tickets.
2.
Missing tickets must be accounted for
by the person signing receipt.
C. Immediately
following event, the two subcommittee Trusted Servants responsible for funds,
tickets and/or merchandise will provide an accounting and will turn all
items/funds over to a member of the GAASC Administrative Committee. The GAASC Administrative Committee Member
will issue a receipt at that time to the subcommittee.
D. All
funds should be deposited into the GAASC checking account as soon as reasonably
possible preferably within the next business day.
E. T-shirts
or other merchandise will be accounted for like cash.
1.
Invoices for merchandise purchased must
be turned over to the GAASC Treasurer.
2.
Treasurer will issue receipts for
merchandise listed on invoices to the person responsible for the merchandise.
3.
Missing merchandise must be accounted
for by the person signing the receipt.
4.
Every effort will be made to recover
any misappropriation of GAASC funds or merchandise up to and including legal
action.
F. All
funds raised by any GAASC subcommittee will be turned over to the GAASC as a
donation.
Any participant may propose an amendment to these guidelines
at any GAASC meeting by following the voting procedures listed in Article
VIII. The proposal motion must be sent
to the member Groups for consideration.
A two-thirds majority of the GSR's present and voting will be required
to amend the guidelines at the next meeting.
An amendment goes into effect immediately upon approval unless otherwise
stated in the motion to adopt.
[1] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 26
[2] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 59
[3] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 56
[4] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 55
[5] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 57
[6] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 56
[7] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 57
[8] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 58
[9] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 57
[10] A Guide to Local Services
in Narcotics Anonymous pg. 56
[11] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 50
[12] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 50
[13] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 51
[14] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 50
[15] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 52
[16] A Guide to Local Services in Narcotics
Anonymous pg. 56
[17] IP:XXXXXSelf-Support Principle and
Practice