Dear Todd,
It seems you are unwilling to notice the frustration or to hear the pleas of those of us who have worked so hard to bring the message of hope and recovery to suffering addicts, and who wish to preserve it for future generations. At Wednesday's step meeting 9 people, all with double digit clean time, walked out exasperated yet again over a speaker, who was clearly an AA member, who gave a 13 min qualification or war story and dedicated only 3 min to the discussion of a step.
During that meeting the speaker and you, blatantly disregarded and violated a number of NA principles including Tradition #1, 3 and 5. For more on exactly how 2 of these were violated please see this letter I distributed at our home group two weeks ago. Our group being violated is how it felt to the 9 of us who walked out of the meeting. NA step meetings are where people learn the mechanics of how to work steps, not how other people use. If you need help finding NA speakers please let me, or any of our long standing members know, we are very happy to help. Not only can we give you phone numbers, we can call the speakers and book them to speak at our meeting.
But just so that you will understand the magnitude of what you did, please read the excerpt below from IP #2: The Group which states clearly the role and responsibilities of speakers and trusted servants:
Speaker
"The NA member chosen to speak at a meeting needs to be someone who is working and living the NA program of recovery, which is the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. In areas where there is not an abundance of NA members with substantial clean time or experience with the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, there is the possibility that a group inexperienced in Narcotics Anonymous may misunderstand NA traditions and invite speakers from outside the NA Fellowship. There are several ways to avoid this situation. Our Basic Text, for instance, reminds us that NA members from other areas are willing to drive long distances to support new groups. The speaker helps fulfill the group’s primary purpose, carrying the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers. When speaking at an NA meeting, we should be careful to deliver a clear message of recovery by identifying ourselves as addicts recovering from the disease of addiction. It is not necessary to dwell excessively on our active addiction or “war stories,” because we all know what it was like to use. We came to Narcotics Anonymous to stop using and we are here to share our experience, strength, and hope of recovery."
Trusted servants
"Our Second Tradition tells us, “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are servants; they do not govern.” Our trusted servants, therefore, are the backbone of and their regular attendance at all meetings is extremely important. One of the pitfalls that has caused many NA groups to suffer or even fold has been the election of officers that are unqualified to serve or that do not have a long history of recovery in our fellowship. Often NA has seemed to be popularity contests rather than the selection of trusted servants. The trusted servants of a group must be chosen with great care because of the responsibilities that their offices hold and the potential effect bad officers can have on the group. Fulfilling the commitment is important. The following paragraphs contain a brief description of the group’s responsibilities. For a more comprehensive description, refer to the approved NA service manual."
Todd, this is a final appeal to you, as someone who is in our midst trying to recover as we are: Step meetings are where people with double digit clean continue to stay clean a day at a time. So only people who have an NA sponsor, who have worked through the steps, either using the Basic Text or one of our step working guides or sheets are the only individuals who should be invited into our group.
Please do not continue to let your Ego lead you astray. Please make time to call either me, your sponsor, your grand sponsor or anyone who is a long standing member of our group, if you need to gain an understanding of how you are negatively affecting not only the 9 of us who walked out, but many others and NA as a whole!
It seems you are unwilling to notice the frustration or to hear the pleas of those of us who have worked so hard to bring the message of hope and recovery to suffering addicts, and who wish to preserve it for future generations. At Wednesday's step meeting 9 people, all with double digit clean time, walked out exasperated yet again over a speaker, who was clearly an AA member, who gave a 13 min qualification or war story and dedicated only 3 min to the discussion of a step.
During that meeting the speaker and you, blatantly disregarded and violated a number of NA principles including Tradition #1, 3 and 5. For more on exactly how 2 of these were violated please see this letter I distributed at our home group two weeks ago. Our group being violated is how it felt to the 9 of us who walked out of the meeting. NA step meetings are where people learn the mechanics of how to work steps, not how other people use. If you need help finding NA speakers please let me, or any of our long standing members know, we are very happy to help. Not only can we give you phone numbers, we can call the speakers and book them to speak at our meeting.
But just so that you will understand the magnitude of what you did, please read the excerpt below from IP #2: The Group which states clearly the role and responsibilities of speakers and trusted servants:
Speaker
"The NA member chosen to speak at a meeting needs to be someone who is working and living the NA program of recovery, which is the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. In areas where there is not an abundance of NA members with substantial clean time or experience with the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, there is the possibility that a group inexperienced in Narcotics Anonymous may misunderstand NA traditions and invite speakers from outside the NA Fellowship. There are several ways to avoid this situation. Our Basic Text, for instance, reminds us that NA members from other areas are willing to drive long distances to support new groups. The speaker helps fulfill the group’s primary purpose, carrying the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers. When speaking at an NA meeting, we should be careful to deliver a clear message of recovery by identifying ourselves as addicts recovering from the disease of addiction. It is not necessary to dwell excessively on our active addiction or “war stories,” because we all know what it was like to use. We came to Narcotics Anonymous to stop using and we are here to share our experience, strength, and hope of recovery."
Trusted servants
"Our Second Tradition tells us, “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are servants; they do not govern.” Our trusted servants, therefore, are the backbone of and their regular attendance at all meetings is extremely important. One of the pitfalls that has caused many NA groups to suffer or even fold has been the election of officers that are unqualified to serve or that do not have a long history of recovery in our fellowship. Often NA has seemed to be popularity contests rather than the selection of trusted servants. The trusted servants of a group must be chosen with great care because of the responsibilities that their offices hold and the potential effect bad officers can have on the group. Fulfilling the commitment is important. The following paragraphs contain a brief description of the group’s responsibilities. For a more comprehensive description, refer to the approved NA service manual."
Todd, this is a final appeal to you, as someone who is in our midst trying to recover as we are: Step meetings are where people with double digit clean continue to stay clean a day at a time. So only people who have an NA sponsor, who have worked through the steps, either using the Basic Text or one of our step working guides or sheets are the only individuals who should be invited into our group.
Please do not continue to let your Ego lead you astray. Please make time to call either me, your sponsor, your grand sponsor or anyone who is a long standing member of our group, if you need to gain an understanding of how you are negatively affecting not only the 9 of us who walked out, but many others and NA as a whole!
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