regionaldelegatereport03-00

WESTERN NEW YORK REGIONAL DELEGATE REPORT
MARCH 18, 2000

Tis the season!!! It's crunch time for the RD and RD Alternate…Zonal Forum in January, MARLCNA in February, Regional Assembly in April, plowing through the thick Conference Agenda Report…it's like a full time job! I LOVE NA SERVICE!!

Some brief notes: You will be given many handouts today. I have tried to streamline this information to make it more tolerable J but there is still quite a bit. Please use this information! Of particular importance is the WNY Region version of the "CAR Lite", a guide to the Conference Agenda Report. The purpose is to make the CAR less lengthy and more understandable. IT IS OUR DUTY TO SPREAD THIS DOCUMENT! There will be handouts at the Regional Assembly on March 8, 2000 but all of our groups may find this useful. So let's spread the good word!

On that note, I am deeply concerned about participation at our Regional Assembly. Due to a snafu, a flier was not created to submit to the areas. IT IS UP TO US AS REGIONAL TRUSTED SERVANTS to ensure widespread participation. Last year, only 17 groups submitted tally sheets. While this level of participation is in line with other regions (10-15% participation), it is deplorable. If our region fails to dramatically improve this number, as the RD, I will make a recommendation that we cease attending the WSC. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this action as a prudent expenditure of regional funds. Of course I will continue to voraciously fulfill my duties but needed to express myself.

This year, we funded four people to attend MARLCNA to enlist their aid in increasing participation. It's time to put this into action!

One further wild idea: I am sponsoring a CONTEST!!! The area that submits the highest percentage of tally sheets based on their overall number of groups will win a fabulous prize to be announced!!!

ZONAL FORUM

Freddy and I attended the NEZF in Albany on January 22nd and 23rd.

The two topics we workshopped were

Theft of NA funds

How do we define abstinence? And how does this apply to members who need medication in recovery?

Once again, the WNY Region was one of very few who submitted a written report. (See attached).

Some of the thoughts that came out of the theft discussion: put safeguards in place beforehand; the issue goes to effective leadership; more $$$, more problems; educate our members what the $$$ is for; check signatory policies with the bank as many banks disregard the double signatory policy; put policies in place to take personalities out of the equation; define our goal: is it to get the $$$ back or to punish the offender?; review Trustee Bulletin #30.

The WNY Region policy was noted for its no-nonsense approach.

The input from the NEZF will be submitted to the World Board for input into the Treasurer's Handbook.

Some thoughts from the abstinence discussion: NA should show compassion; this is an outside issue; don't exclude segments of our population; educate our members; NA should have no set policy; stop being judgmental-we bash people who share about this at meetings; this is a personal issue; there is no end to this topic and the issue keeps re-surfacing; create an IP to deal with the subject-take all the literature we have on this issue and combine it with input from the fellowship

Zonal Funding

In August 1999, an Ad Hoc committee was established. I serve on this group. This was a heated and contentious issue at the NEZF. The WNY region needs to discuss the potential of voluntary collaborative funding much more fully than we have, as discussion on this topic will be a major part of the NEZF in July 2000. I need to go on the record as stating that while our region-in a very informal straw poll-voted against this idea, I am in a predicament. I see the merits to voluntary collaborative funding and although I stated very clearly that our region was opposed, I still spoke favorably based on my work with the Ad Hoc Committee. We, as a region, must discuss this issue in the months prior to the next NEZF.

Topics for next Zonal Forum meeting

1. Function and purpose of our Zonal Forum: Where are we going?
2. Strengthening our ASCs
3. Discussion of the Ad Hoc Committee
--Do we allow non-RD/RDAs to serve as Trusted Servants at the NEZF?
--Should the NEZF accept voluntary collaborative funding?

Next Zonal Forum meetings
July 22-23, Harrisburg, PA/Mid-Atlantic Region ***begins at 9:00 am
January 13-14, New Jersey

WORLD POOL RESUMES
Have you filled yours out??? NA needs you!!!

MARLCNA (Mid-Atlantic Regional Learning Convenference)

February 11-13, 2000…. We had a large contingent from Western New York. There was ample discussion on the 2000 Conference Agenda Report (CAR). Major topics are in the forefront: Do we want to revise or add to our Basic Text? (Use this as a hook to increase participation!); Do we want to fund all RDs to the World Service Conference?; Do we want to limit regional seating?; Do we ant to capitalize the "S" and "T" in "Steps" and "Traditions"? Do we want to eliminate voting by the World Board? All this and more!!! Come to the Regional Assembly on April 8, 2000 and find out more!

MINNESOTA REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
Yes, I am a service geek. On March 3, 2000, I traveled to Minneapolis for the Minnesota Regional Assembly. It was awesome! They even let me present three motions. I brought many handouts. Please take the time to examine. I plan to use many of these for our assembly.

Some ideas generated by attending their assembly:

1. Create a packet for the GSRs
2. Mailing to push the event
3. Phonecalls to all GSRs to push the event
4. Combine with dance and speaker
5. Food and frequent breaks
6. Create an agenda
7. Discuss the issue discussion topics in this year's CAR mid-way

We need to pitch in and implement some of these ideas.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLY

To be held April 8, 2000 from 12:00-5:00 at the Masten CAO, corner of Humboldt and Ferry. Ideally, we will make this a fun event so that we get a good turn out. Now that we have a thriving activities committee, we should make this a BIG FUN EVENT!

Verbal discussion should ensue. Some needs:

Food/Drink
Mailing
Phone calls
CAR reports to be sold at the event

BUDGET

Please refer to verbal report. WSC expenses…