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  • Meeting ID: 891 0285 9494
  • Passcode: 621853

At the May Group Conscience Meeting, elections will be held for remaining Open Positions

4th Concept Readings (Before Elections)

Fourth Concept

Effective leadership is highly valued in Narcotics Anonymous. Leadership qualities should be carefully considered when selecting trusted servants.

Effective leadership is highly valued in NA, and the Fourth Concept speaks of the qualities we should consider when selecting leaders for ourselves. However, we should remember that the fulfillment of many service responsibilities requires nothing more than the willingness to serve. Other responsibilities, while requiring certain specific skills, depend for their fulfillment far more heavily on the trusted servant’s spiritual maturity and personal integrity. Willingness, spiritual depth, and trustworthiness are strong demonstrations of the kind of leadership valued most highly in Narcotics Anonymous.

From the Service Pamphlet – Principles and Leadership in NA Service

On Selecting Trusted Servants

The task of selecting leaders in our service bodies can be difficult at times. It might seem unkind to subject a member to intense scrutiny simply because that member has expressed a willingness to serve. In keeping with our Twelfth Tradition, our Fourth Concept calls upon us to consider leadership qualities carefully even if it feels uncomfortable to do so. We need to keep in mind that we are not judging our fellow recovering addicts’ value as NA members or as people; we are simply evaluating their potential to be effective in a given trusted servant position. Many members in our fellowship are wonderful living examples of the principles of our program and have a variety of leadership qualities. If their particular skills and experience do not match those necessary for an open position, we should strive to help them find other ways to serve. To put a member in a position for which he or she is not well-suited does a disservice both to that member and to our service efforts.

To put principles before personalities, we match talent to task and leave our feelings out of it. That might mean making ourselves available for a position, even when we fear rejection. Or it could mean electing someone we don’t like because we know he or she can do the job well. Even more challenging for most of us, putting principles before personalities may mean not electing someone who is our friend because we know he or she is unsuited for a position. We practice anonymity by focusing solely on the job at hand and the qualifications of each candidate, and choosing the person who fits best to do the job. These sometimes-challenging acts of conscience by each of us as individuals are the very building blocks of true group conscience.

Elections

General Requirements (for all elected positions)

  1. Willingness, time and desire to serve.
  2. Familiar with the Twelve Steps and Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous.
  3. Active participation in the group they serve.
  4. Attends all group conscience meetings.
  5. Complete abstinence as defined by NA is a requirement. Anything other than complete abstinence constitutes an automatic resignation from any elected position.
  6. All reports are due no less than 48 hours in advance of any group conscience meeting.
  7. Further requirements are stipulated under each description.
  • Vice Chairperson
    • Requirements:
      1. Fulfills all general requirements.
      2. Minimum of 1 year clean
      3. Ability to effectively perform orientation for secretaries after elections.
      4. Ability to effectively direct the group conscience meeting, keeping it focused and flowing.
    • Duties:
      1. Attends all group conscience meetings.
      2. Arranges and conducts new secretary orientations. (Orientations to follow group conscience meetings after any election.)
      3. Performs Group Chairperson duties in the absence of the Chairperson.
      4. Secretaries meetings should the group be unable to fill a position. 
      5. Prior to the group conscience meeting in January and in July, leads the audit of the treasury records and presents the audit reports to the respective group conscience meetings (see Financial Operations).
  • Assistant Recording Secretary
    • Requirements:
      1. Fulfills all general requirements.
      2. Minimum of 6 months clean.
      3. Access to a computer and internet in order to maintain and provide copy records. 
      4. Proficient in pertinent software (Google Drive and related apps).
    • Duties:
      1. Attends all group conscience meetings.
      2. Assists the Recording Secretary with tasks at their direction.
      3. Backs up the Recording Secretary when absent. 
      4. Prepares the group announcements.
      5. Ensures the Meeting Secretary materials (such as blank treasury reports, announcements, updated secretary procedures, and a trusted servant list) are available in the Google Drive.
    • See Appendix E – LGHG Assistant Recording Secretary Checklist
  • LGHG Online Phone List Coordinator
    • Requirements:
      • Fulfill all general requirements.
      • Minimum of 1 year clean.
      • Access to a computer.
      • Proficient in spreadsheet software.
    • Duties
      • Updates online phone list quarterly (every 3 months from inception of online phone list).
      • Contacts all members on the LGHG in person phone list (one time at inception of online list) to offer opportunity to have name, clean date and telephone number added to online phone list.
      • Creates the online phone list. Reviews online phone list quarterly to add new names, review for
        accuracy of phone number and clean date (must have at least six months clean to be on the online
        phone list). If relapse is reported, remove name and telephone from online phone list.
      • Distributes online phone list to members as requested.
      • Provides the GC recording secretary with a soft copy of the online phone list for archives.
      • Provides Online Phone List Coordinator report monthly at GC meeting.
      • Provides training to incoming (Newly Elected) Online Phone List Coordinator.
      • Creates and maintains Online Phone List with member’s first name, last name initial, clean date and telephone number using the following categories: Women’s Contact Info & Men’s Contact Info
  • Meeting Secretaries for In Person Meetings (1) - Saturday, 9AM - JFT/SPAD
    • Requirements:
      1. Fulfills all general requirements.
      2. Minimum of 6 months clean.
      3. Ability to effectively facilitate the regular meetings.
    • Duties:
      1. Follows the LGHG Meeting Secretary Procedures for in-person and online meetings, and follows the secretary procedure at lghg.org for online meetings. 
      2. Maintains an atmosphere of recovery and order during the meeting, keeping it focused and flowing.
      3. Attends all group conscience meetings and arrives one half hour early in order to turn in 7th tradition and literature money to the treasurer. Trusted Servants are responsible for making arrangements to turn in the 7th tradition before the group conscience meeting.
      4. Takes direction from the group conscience meeting concerning changes to the regular meeting formats.
      5. Find chairpersons (when applicable) who carry a clear message of recovery in Narcotics Anonymous, preferably someone who does not regularly attend LGHG.
      6. Maintains the Group Treasurer’s Report.
    • See Appendix A – LGHG Meeting Secretary Procedures,
    • Appendix B - LGHG Meeting Format, and
    • Appendix D – LGHG Meeting Secretary Report
  • Meeting Secretaries for Online Meetings (1) - Saturday 9am JFT
    • Requirements:
    • Duties:
      1. Follows the LGHG Meeting Secretary Procedures for in-person and online meetings, and follows the secretary procedure at lghg.org for online meetings. 
      2. Maintains an atmosphere of recovery and order during the meeting, keeping it focused and flowing.
      3. Attends all group conscience meetings and arrives one half hour early in order to turn in 7th tradition and literature money to the treasurer. Trusted Servants are responsible for making arrangements to turn in the 7th tradition before the group conscience meeting.
      4. Takes direction from the group conscience meeting concerning changes to the regular meeting formats.
      5. Find chairpersons (when applicable) who carry a clear message of recovery in Narcotics Anonymous, preferably someone who does not regularly attend LGHG.
      6. Maintains the Group Treasurer’s Report.
    • See Appendix A – LGHG Meeting Secretary Procedures,
    • Appendix B - LGHG Meeting Format, and
    • Appendix D – LGHG Meeting Secretary Report