What does the Region do for Area's
Wed, 01/13/2010 - 8:46pm — PhilA
Outside of overseeing the Convention Committtee and Insurance coverage I know of nothing the Region does for our Area.
When I was in another Region they put on 4 Region activities per year besides a Convention.
Activities seem much more important for a rural area as I am in than the city area I used to be in.
I'd like to know if other Area's feel they are served and how?
Who is region
What does region do for an area? I believe is not the question. Region is US! You, me and any other member of CIRNA that wants to be of service. Without you at region, well then there is no region and obviously not much that can be done. There is no "them" in region, just us. Look forward to you joining us at region and helping us insure our primary purpose.
Good Question:
Region sends a representative to the zone, the CAR assembly and keeps up with the service manuals. They also publish the quarterly meeting directories and maintain this website. They also do some of the public service fairs representing NA.
It is a large region and truthfully we don't comingle our events.
Literature as well as Insurance coverage for all meetings
CIRNA provides a literature distabution officer that networks amongst all the area literature chairs and helps make the literature available.
CIRNA also provides insurance to all meetings on the schedule. Important to keep this info current and snet to the regional meeting directory officer.
As far as I am aware right now there are some open positions. On this site are the CIRNA guidlines and on the back of the Regional Schedules there are numerous contact numbers. Many of the posititions have been open for a while.
Literature & Insurance
Of course literature can be and often is bought through World Services. I mentioned Insurance above and am sure World could purchase cheaper insurance and do the job better.
There is a movement to streamline the Service structure. I continue to wonder about a body that can't get it;s position filled having that kind of money ($18,000 prudent reserve.)
You raise...some interesting questions
The service structure from Region outward defies comprehension in my simple mind. No judgment, just a fact. After region there's zone and then world and I don't know what lies between. There is so much paperwork and conferences and truthfully, I find it complex. I only say that because I don't involve myself beyond the regional level. However, it is the structure that NA follows. Can it change? Why don't you come to the next region meeting on 3/7 in Banning and discuss this?
One question you raise is about funding, and that you can address at that meeting. Also, just my thoughts, if region is to stay, why don't we all get out there are start getting more people involved. There are what, several thousand addicts in the region and we can't get 10 new people to show up at region to take positions? What I see is a lack of service in the region. But I see that at area, and elsewhere. Maybe instead of dissing what is we can work to improve what is. I am the last person to have showed up at region to take a new position and that's been almost a year.
My Questions?
You know more than I do. I've never heard of "zone" as part of NA's service structire until this day.
I didn't bring up the idea of restructoring the service structure. The CAR agenda did and it interests me. I did ask what Region does for Area as I did hear they raised there prudent reserve to $18,000 and that seemed outrageous to me, especially a Region that can't fill positions.
We fill the positions in our new Area. Maybe it's the newness of our Area that's attracts. Maybe it's the do-nuts and coffee? Or, maybe it's that we do things. We have Outreach events, we have H & I events and we have Activities bi-monthly or so. What we could do with $18,000!
We are a program of attraction and that's the way we grow. I'll get to a Regional meeting sometime. I have the Area meeting and the CAR agenda meeting and may have to sub for the convention rep this month. It's a few hours to get to the Regional meeting and the same back. we Were hoping last year that Region would let the Area's host them quarterly and that we could have it on the same day to all meet. That would be a nice thing to do sometimes.
About the Regional finances I presume the is a monthly report and I will ask my RCM to get us one. maybe I can promote Region if it gets around that there is $18,000 at Region, lol!
I've tried to promte this site for a long time. I do hope it gets busier. There are a lot of lookers.
Hey Phil
Excuses my not knowing, what area are you in? I thought all the areas got to host a regional meeting. I'm still new at this. So far I've been to one in the high desert, Hesperia I think; and also one in Morongo and Big Bear. I' really impressed that you're so active, that attracts my attention. I will see you today at convention.
lol
Just got off the phone with a friend who's "in the know" about ways going on World Service wise.
"NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT REGION GOING AWAY!"
The talk at World is of restructuring WSC itself. They are talking of a U.S Service Committeee, a Euro-Service Committee, an "African Service Committee and so on......
Wish we had those "laughing rolling on the floor" emoticons on this site. It would be appropriate!
I will do all I can to promote the filling of the open spots. What positions are open btw?
According to my notes
Open Positions: Secretary, Activities Resource Officer, H&I Rresource Officer, Literature Distribution Officer Alt, Outreach Resource Officer, and Insurance Resource Officer. With a few of those being open, it might be why region has not sponsored a regional activity. It would be cool to have a big get together besides the convention.
Thanks
I will make sure the open positions are announced at our Area meeting and make a post today on the Morongo Basin Forum. We have a Valentines Day activity and the CAR meeting these next two months, plus some other events. But, after that I will come to Region and bring with me as many people as I can. Maybe a few will take positions.
I usually post our Area minutes on the Morongo Basin Forum so the GSR's can use them to do there report to groups. Could Region do that with their minutes? It would let us all know what's going on better I think.
Thanks again..
Also...
I found out we have a World Trustee asigned to our Region. But, knowbody can tell me who it is or even who their's is!
Oh well, we are a work in progress. :)
Thank you
I have heard that Region has an $18,000 prudent reserve. Traditionally prudent reserves are 3 months operating costs which would translate into the Regions monthly expenses to be $6000. That sounded excessive to me.
Our Area is a bit over 3 years old and I couldn't remember anything related to Region happening here. Region had it's meeting one time at Morongo Basin Counseling & Recovery Center in Yucca Valley and the CAR assembly is to happen there Feb. 6th this year. But, that's it.
I appreciate your answer and it helps me a little, but an $18,000 prudent reserve still puzzles me?
I'm sure there is a justification. Inquiring minds want to know :)
good topic
as the former RD i have wondered about this question and discussed it with other members for some time now. i am of the mind that the whole state of california has waaay to many regions. northern, midstate and a portion of central could merge. southern, part of central and part of inland could merge. and san diego imperial and the other portion of inland could merge. leaving us with 3 regions instead of 6. the lower desert area could continue with a convention in palm springs (they think it is theirs anyway). i was unaware that our region increased the reserve acount to $18,000 i am going to do some asking around. we traditionally kept enough in the reserve to cover costs in the event that something happened to the convention like it did several years ago when the riviera hotel shut down on us. i am still wondering if the books on last years convention have been closed yet? i know the old guidlines required a donation to world be sentto naws in january. our region has had trouble getting warm bodies over the years to step up and fullfill commitments such as activities. years ago we had a very active activities committee with new years eve dances. we also had joint avtivities with socal, a campout and a winter retreat. we were also very active in the orange show and the san bernadino county fair every year. i don't know what the answer is. maybe this would be a good topic to discuss in a time slot at the "regional assembly" being held in feb. by definition an assembly is a place were the gsr's can meet and have discussions like that.
Thank you Michael
Good to hear someone is familiar with the situation and will look into it. I'd appreciate hearing here how your discussions go.
best regards
michaels post
I like the idea of streamlining the service structure suggested in your post and the CAR publication has that on the agenda as a topic of discussion.
I think we may do better without Regions. World would do better providing insurance and they already do the literature better, imo. Groups and Areas would feel closer to World. World would be more subject to groups.
Just speculating on this, not my rock solid opinion.
interesting
Interesting idea phil. I'm not sure but I think the zonal forums might fit into that structure. My only fear is loosing touch with the groups. if regions were gone im not sure how our voice would be carried to the world level.What would the world service conference look like? some of us with knowledge of how world works may end up with a closer relationship but I am afraid that there are many more groups that would probably drift further away and as i sit here thinking about it i get a very scary picture of what the fellowship could turn into. but then again i have a pretty sick mind. like you said one of the topics is the service structure and i am sure there will be many ideas to look at.
You have raised some
You have raised some interesting points.
Loosing touch with the groups, World service conference look like a get together for those with a knowledge of how world works, many more groups would probably drift away, a scary picture of what the fellowship could turn into.
Could service be done better? Could more get involved in the service structure? Is there room for improvement? Yes, yes and yes. Seems to me getting involved in the solution would be the best bet. Seems there is a need and it has been pretty clearly stated. Open positions----
As far as how the service structure works, the guide to local service has a pretty clear service structure. Mine is a little old, but i m pretty sure it has not changed...Ill check.
Hoping to see all with concern coming out to region, soon, and show thier consern and hopefully a willingness to get involved.