WESTERN NEW YORK REGIONAL SERVICE
COMMITTEE/RD REPORT
May 19, 2001

This is usually the meeting where I read my lengthy reports detailing the World Service Conference. Now that we are on a two-year conference cycle - with the next conference set for Spring 2002 - it seems like there is a great void! Information from world services has been somewhat sparse.

Major World Service Issues:

-The Worldwide Workshop System is beginning. 5 workshops will be held throughout the world between now and 2002. The first workshop will be held in British Columbia, June 29 - July 1, 2001. The purpose of the workshops are to facilitate communication between world services and the local fellowship in non-conference years.

-World Pool - Application can be found at www.na.org. They continue to look for
people to serve on special projects.

-Sponsorship Project is moving forward. Input is still being sought - and lo and behold!
We have a workshop today!

-Literature Distribution & Convention Workshops will be held on August 3 & 4, 2001 in
Woodland Hills, California.

-World Service Meeting and Unity Day will be held August 31 - September 2, 2001 in Vienna, Virginia. Issues that will be discussed are the literature development project, the Communications Task Force and motions to be presented in the 2002 Conference Agenda Report. Today we should discuss our attendance at this event. We should also discuss having a Unity Day event.

-Issue Discussion Topics - Our region has already held a workshop on one topic: "How can we continue to provide services to our fellowship and at the same time decrease our reliance on funds from events and conventions?" and needs to hold another workshop on this topic: "How can we create a bridge that builds and maintains a connection to service for home group members?" before October. More on this later . . .

RD/RCM Meeting-April 21, 2001
Attendance: Tracy-RD/Freddy-RD Alternate/Art-Chautauqua RCM/Nelson-NiO RCM

This was a landmark moment in our region's history-the first-ever RD/RCM meeting! Although the turnout was small, it was a very successful meeting. It should also be stressed that ANYONE may attend these meetings which are held on the third Saturdays of months that the WNY Region doesn't meet.

Items Discussed:

· May 19th regional meeting and Literature Workshop. Everyone was asked to spread the word vigorously.
· 800 # was discussed at length. We all seem to want to move forward with this idea and decided it was a top priority. A proposal comparing prices of different services will be presented soon. Three of our five areas currently have 800#s. Freddy and Tracy will take the lead here but need assistance.
· Voting rights-why do subcommittee chairs vote? Is this in violation to our by-laws?
· World Unity Day-9/1/01-should our region hold an event to coincide with this worldwide event?
· Issue Discussion workshops-we would all like to have a workshop to discuss the two world issue discussion topics and also fund flow
· We would like to have time on the agenda at our regional meetings to report on these meetings. The idea of sharing ASC minutes was also discussed.

NEXT MEETING: June 16th--we need to discuss this!

NEZF

The next meeting of the Northeast Zonal Forum will be June 22 - 24, 2001 in Meriden, Connecticut. Topics to be discussed include: Improving communications within areas, groups and regions within our zone as well as a report from the Ad Hoc Committee who will present ideas about the direction of our zone - mission, vision, purpose, funding, etc. I think everyone knows that I left the last zonal forum with a bad taste in my mouth based on the frustration experienced from a series of zonal forums where we were seemingly stymied in our collective movement. Admittedly, my own ego is also in the way. Today we need to determine whether our region will be represented at the next NEZF. If we attend, costs will be:

$200 - Approximately Hotel costs (if Freddy & I share a room)
$105 - Per diem - Tracy
$105 - Per diem - Freddy
$ 80 - Approximately gas + tolls
$490 - Approximately

Other Ideas

-Annual Report to our groups
--Events calendar

E-Mail Distribution List

Please forward any e-mails that you receive from our region (minutes etc.) to interested parties. Please also provide me with any e-mail addresses so that I can begin to develop an e-mail newsletter.