• National, State, Local and Facility requirements must be followed
• WSO website
• If sick, stay home

• Contact Facility 
• Group Conscience
• Post Guidelines
• Social Distancing
• Masks
• Hand Sanitizers
• Disinfecting Wipes
• Consider keeping virtual meetings active
• Notify webmaster of any changes to meeting
  • Contact Us
• MWR – Suggestions to Move Back To In Person Meetings 200607

Topics

Comments

Members in Crisis

• Call 911 if in danger
• Notebook with numbers for resources kept at meeting, Hand them information after meeting & they decide how to use or not
• Calling police is not always successful
• National line 800-25-ABUSE- directed to communities that have crisis centers
• Only time we give advice is when someone is in danger
• Obtain a list of hotline numbers
• Counselor can help develop a safety plan
• Document/Template on website to share – Bring back to group – possible service project.  (Document:  Crisis Hotlines Generic )

Narcan

• Does not belong in a Nar-Anon Meeting

Topics

Comments

Donations/rent to facility where meeting is held

• 20% of basket
• $20/month set by facility
• No donation to facility – Members of group also members of church.  Sometimes they give an at-will donation for the space
• Meeting held in hospital and use space at no charge
• $15/month given to NA
• No set amount – just donations made to church
• $80/month – group decision, they have 2 meetings per week, they split into 2 separate rooms with 16 or more attendees, plus they normally have a  Step Meeting.

Handling of Money donated

• All cash – various members take some money home
• Open bank account
• GSR keeps money
• Elect a Treasurer to be responsible for money
• Use personal debit/credit card for literature orders then reimburse
• Fairly easy to get an Employee Identification Number to set up business account but WSO discourages groups from having bank accounts
• EIN: Employee Identification Number – File a yearly report
• Credit Unions might be an option – purchase individual checks
• Possibly store in a personal safe

Reporting of Financial info to group

• Reporting given to group once a month at Business/Group Conscience Meeting
• Reported every week during announcements
• No reports given
• Monthly during announcements
• Finances reported every 4 months

Crosstalk

• Read ‘Healthy Meetings’ in Blue Book
• Include in Opening Comments for each meeting
• Make available copies of ‘Appropriate Sharing & Crosstalk’ to members (Document available on Service Literature page of WSO website.)
• Use new meeting format that discusses crosstalk in more detail
• Explain that when a person is sharing, they have the floor – no interruptions
• Question and concerns can be held to end of meeting
• Make up a sign to put on meeting table
• A few stepped up & informed that it was not appropriate
• Felt like I was being attacked
• Must be stopped immediately in a gentle, loving way
• Possibly worse using ‘popcorn’ method of sharing
• Possibly encouraged if members are allowed to ask questions
• Sit down with individual outside of meeting to explain

Giving Advice

• Discuss with the person outside of meeting
• ‘Appropriate Sharing and Crosstalk’ reading (Document available on Service Literature page of WSO website.)
• Start with “This is what I have done….”
• Share what boundaries you have set
• Get a sponsor or talk with sponsor
• Have someone in group with similar circumstances discuss with them

Keeping Shares Focused on Us

• Remind everyone we all have ‘war stories’
• Paragraph on Sharing is read: ‘In addition to an update about our loved one, do try to focus on how you are doing with your recovery.’
• Choose topic by asking a question – forces members to look at themselves
• While sharing, please use ‘I’ statements instead of ‘He, She, or They’ statements.

Long Winded Shares

• Suggest share time in Opening Comments
• Let them talk – they need to get it off their chest
• Remind them they can share after meeting or call someone on member list
• Use new meeting format that suggests members share for 3-5 minutes
• Do a Group Inventory
• (Gently interrupt by saying their name, once you have their attention, say, “we aren’t able to hear your whole story tonight, but know that we care about you and we hope you will come back.  Due to time, we need to move on now to the next share.”)

Low Member Attendance

• Consider changing meeting day, time or location
• Conduct meeting only if 2 members – consistency
• Engage everyone in set-up, clean-up, meeting leader
• Pass a calendar for people to volunteer for different positions each week

Meeting discussion topics

• SESH book has index when searching for a topic
• Use SESH for main topic, can talk about whatever they want
• Never have selected a topic – some talk about addict, others focus on themselves
• Having a topic helps member focus on their recovery rather than addict

Meeting Format

• (It is suggested that the Sample Format for Nar-Anon Meetings  be used in meetings.  Minor adjustments can be made as needed and approved by a Group Conscience.)

Speaker Meetings

• Review Speaker Meeting Considerations on MWR website (Go to Speaker Meeting Considerations)

Literature sales to group members

• Sell for same price as WSO – Group to cover shipping cost
• Combine orders with other area groups to reduce shipping cost
• Service and Outreach items can be copied and given away or at a reduced price
• Develop a notebook that shows most literature to be shared with group
• Groups include shipping cost in price of literature sold to members, $20 for SESH
• Allow for sharing of SESH books if members do not want or can’t purchase
• Groups can order larger quantity to reduce shipping cost per item
• Order SESH books by case, 24 for $270 or $11.25/book without shipping
• Old yellow 12-Step book superseded by Nar-Anon 36
• Fourth Step book available in ~2 years

Outreach Literature that can be copied

• Outreach page on WSO website lists items that can be copied.  If not on this list, then it should not be copied.  (Go to Outreach on WSO website.)

Getting Newcomers involved in Meeting

• Have regular members share first so newer member see how the meetings are conducted
• Offer newcomers a one on one meeting
• Let newcomers know that conversations can continue after meeting or by calling someone on member list
• Get newcomer into the group & service started early in recovery

Material given to Newcomers

• Some groups give Newcomer Packet and small Blue Book
• Some groups charge for Blue Books
• Some groups have ‘Group Copy’ Blue Books available to use during the meeting
• Blue Books are copyright protected and should not be copied
• Hand out a coin to newcomers – coin purchased at WSO Store
• Newcomer Packet, Blue Book, tissue, highlighter, pamphlets, 12 Steps, notepad & pen
• Assorted various pamphlets which could include some of the following:
  • Guidelines for Healthy Meetings
  • Let’s Talk About Anonymity
  • Appropriate Sharing & Crosstalk
  • Boundaries and Consequences
  • Group developed Welcome Pamphlet or Flyer

Retaining Newcomers

• Give newcomers a chip, key tag, bookmark
• Give newcomers a call sheet or business card
• Pass out various handouts each week, give special items for yearly anniversaries
• Met individual in need outside meeting so kids could play while we talked
• Send encouraging and inspirational text messages
• Talk with them after a meeting
• Provide them with phone lists of members willing to talk
• Check in with them via texts, emails, phone calls – nothing pushy

Topics

Comments

How to reach out to people in need – Outreach

• Work directly with local rehab facility, Nar-Anon pamphlets, Held meeting at their facility
• Dropped off material at hospitals – doctors – rehabs
• Find us on-line
• (Go to Outreach on WSO website or Outreach on Midwest Region website.)

Reaching out to attendees who have not come back

• Possibly send them an email showing concern
• Do not reach out to anyone except if meeting is canceled
• One person can send an inspirational text
• Reached out to attendees and received valuable info that was used to change meeting
• Ask newcomer if this is OK after the meeting
• Emails are sent to everyone on list with an opton to opt out if they no longer wish to receive the emails
• Was taught we do not contact people who have left our group

NA group not wanting to share Nar-Anon literature

• Can’t dictate what other organizations will share at their meetings.  Don’t take it personally – many other NA groups will allow

Hurdles to Volunteering for Service

• Individuals thinking they aren’t good enough Lacking in technical skills
• Scared they will have position longer than they desire
• Get them started by leading a meeting
• Don’t want to serve on RSC because no one will step in as GSR
• Afraid of time commitments

Topics

Comments

Use of 12 Steps, 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts

• Read 12 Steps or 12 Traditions on alternate weeks
• Read 12 Steps every week, Tradition & Concept for that month
• Use Traditions that have been supplied by Delegate
• One week SESH reading, next Step for month, next Tradition for month

Working the Steps

• One cycle lasts about 1 year
• Hold meetings 90 minutes prior to regular meeting
• Participants are given homework and come prepared
• Helps participants focus recovery on themselves – not addicts
• (Go to How to Work the Steps on MWR website)

Topics

Comments

Attendees in wrong meeting

• OK to ask why they are there
• Become informed of other meetings at facility or nearby

Does Meeting location matter?

• Definitely helped the Maryville, IL group after they moved to a location close to freeway and with NA meeting in the same building

How are CAR/CAT motions discussed/votes done

• Get together with other groups in the area to discuss items
• Regular meeting is not the place to discuss – before or after meeting is better
• Some groups have no desire to participate
• Participate in Regional conference calls to discuss motions

Meeting cancellation

• Follow school schedule in area or church cancellation policy
• If aware ahead of time, these can be posted on MWR website
• WSO has a form that can be used to update their website