GSR ORIENTATION INFORMATION
What is the Area Service Committee (ASC)?
An Area Service Committee (ASC) is a committee made up of group service representatives (GSRs) from home groups within a designated area. Each ASC elects officers yearly. In the Greater Charlotte Area nominations for officers begin in March. Officers are elected at the June ASC and assume their offices at the July ASC. These officers include a Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Area Service Representative (ASR), and all subcommittee chairpersons. These are the only people who conduct business at the ASC.
Area service committees are ultimately responsible to the groups they serve. Narcotics Anonymous groups send GSRs to serve on the area committee. While still maintaining final responsibility and authority for area services, they invest enough delegated authority in the GSRs and through them, in the area committee---for the necessary work to get done.
NA groups also send money to the area committee, money needed to coordinate panels, maintain phone lines, and conduct public information activities. Through their contributions of money and manpower, the groups exercise both their responsibility and their authority for NA services.
How does the area service committee relate in turn to NA’s regional and world services? In much the same way as the group relates to the area committee: through carefully selected representatives who are delegated the authority necessary for effective service.
Any member of NA may attend the ASC. We have set aside time in our agenda call “Group Solutions” where NA members may share their concerns.
The agenda is the format of our business meeting.
12 Traditions
12 Concepts
Page XVI from the Basic Text
Other helpful tools:
Meetings will be conducted according to these rules of order, adapted from Robert’s Rules of Order. This time-honored system for conducting business is the clearest way yet devised for getting a maximum amount of business done in a minimum amount of time, regardless of the degree of disagreement among the participants.
These rules are meant to be used as tools to help us make orderly collective decisions in a cooperative, respectful way in the spirit of our Twelve Concepts; please do not use them as weapons against one another. We encourage all participants to become familiar with these rules of order and conduct themselves accordingly.
Once the meeting is under way, only one matter will be before the committee at any one time and no other discussion is in order. Please respect the chairperson’s right to be in control of the process of this meeting so that you can have maximum benefit of its content.
Debate is the formal exchange of views on an idea. Unless otherwise specified, debate on motions is usually limited to two or three pros and two or three cons (speakers for and against the motion). Speakers addressing a motion in debate usually have two or three minutes in which to speak their minds.
-Pg. 107 GTLS-
There are two basic types of motions. It is important to understand the difference between them. All motions must be submitted in writing before the BREAK which occurs before New Business.
Housekeeping motions can be made by ASC officers, ASR, Subcommittee chairpersons, and GSR’s. Housekeeping motions are motions pertaining to the business of the ASC (example: Time of the business meeting, agenda of the business meeting, budgets, etc.) All members of the ASC may vote on housekeeping motions. If a housekeeping motion obtains more abstentions than yes votes, the motion is sent back to the home groups for discussion and voted on at the next ASC. Only housekeeping motions can be made from the floor but must still be written on a motion form obtained from the secretary.
Motions from Home groups are made by GSR’s representing their home group. GSR’s are the only ones who can vote on Home group motions.
A. The chairperson will:
A motion is a statement of an idea a committee member wants the committee to put into practice. Motions must include an “intent”, the idea about why the motion is important. Motions should include who is to implement the idea and define a timeline for the person(s) to complete the idea. Motions should be as specific and concise as possible. See your policy chair for assistance.
When the motion is seconded several things can happen:
· The chairperson may open the floor for debate by the ASC participants only.
· The following actions may occur as a result of the debate:
TABLE:
An ASC participant may vote to table the motion. (Simple Majority required)
This is done by saying “I move we table this motion until such-and-such a date/meeting OR to such-and-such subcommittee.” This motion is not debatable; if it is made and seconded, it is voted on immediately. If is fails, debate continues on the motion itself. If it passes, the committee moves on to its next item of business. The tabled motion will be included in the committee agenda on the date specified.
OUT OF ORDER:
1. An ASC participant may call the motion out of order.
A motion may be ruled out of order for any one of a number of reasons: the motion goes against the committee’s standing policy, clearly contradicts one of the Twelve Traditions or Twelve Concepts of NA service, or is inappropriate at the particular point in the meeting at which it is made. Robert’s Rules of Order can be consulted for more specific examples of motions that are out of order at any given time.
AMEND:
This is perhaps the most commonly used parliamentary motion. During debate on a motion, if a member feels that the motion would benefit from a change in its language, that member can say, “I move to amend the motion…” and suggest specific language changes in the motion. Ordinarily, an amendment must be moved and seconded before it can be debated. When debate on the amendment is exhausted, the body votes the amendment. (Simple majority required.) Then, debate resumes on the merits of the motion (as amended, if the amendment has passed). If an amendment if offered and the persons making and seconding the original motion accept it, no second is required, no debate is called for, and no vote need to be taken on the amendment; debate proceeds as if the main motion had been formally amended. This is called making a friendly amendment.
REFER:
Sometimes the committee does not have enough information to make an immediate decision on a main motion. Such motions can be removed from debate and sent to either a standing subcommittee or an ad hoc committee for further study. This can be done by a member saying, “I move to refer the motion to the such-and-such subcommittee.” If the motion to refer is seconded, the body may debate before voting. If the motion to refer passes (simple majority required), the committee moves on to its next item of business. If the motion to refer does not pass, the committee either continues debating the main motion or votes on it.
The subcommittee to which a motion is referred will take it up at its next meeting. The subcommittee will report back on what it has come up with at the next meeting of the full committee.
Once a motion is made and the debate begins, the maker of the motion may ask to withdraw it. The chair asks if there are any objections. If there is even one objection, the motion stays on the floor and debate resumes. If there are no objections, the motion is withdrawn and the body moves on.
Sometimes a member feels that a motion the committee has passed will prove harmful. That member can move to either reconsider (reopen for debate and voting) or rescind (void the effect of) the original motion (simple majority required).
There are a few conditions on motions to reconsider or rescind:
These limits are placed to protect the committee from having to reconsider again and again the motions it passes while still allowing it to examine potentially harmful situations it has created inadvertently. If any of these requirements are not met, the chairperson will declare the motion out of order.
B. Voting on motions.
Yes- you or your home group agrees with this motion
No- you or your home group does not agree with this motion
Abstain- you or your home group are “neither for or against” this motion
Area Service Committee (ASC)
A committee created to provide common services for NA groups in a specific locale. Composed of GSRs, ASC officers, and subcommittee chairpersons. Usually part of a region, to which it sends ASRs.
Group Service Representative (GSR)
Elected by an NA group to participate on the group’s behalf in the ASC and the regional assembly (or GSR assembly).
The group an NA member calls “home”. Home group membership calls for regular attendance of its recovery meetings, financial and voluntary service support, and participation in conscience-building and decision-making processes.
A chronological listing of ASC policy decisions made concerning various responsibilities and fields of service. Maintained by the ASC Policy Chair.
An NA euphemism for “leader”, “official” or “officer”. Derived from NA’s Second Tradition, in which NA leaders are characterized as “trusted servants” as opposed to governors.
One of three bodies of basic NA principle, the concepts apply specifically to the development, coordination, and maintenance of NA services on behalf of the groups.
One of three bodies of basic NA principle, the steps describe NA’s regimen leading to personal recovery and a spiritual awakening.
One of three bodies of basic NA principle, the traditions provide guidance for the behavior of NA groups, helping the groups maintain their independence while nurturing their unity.
Composed of 16 “directors” the BOD acts as a fiduciary in its dealings with and on behalf of the Greater Charlotte Area of Narcotics Anonymous (GCANA).
A specific number of people who have to be in attendance for the ASC to be considered a valid meeting. (1/2 of the home groups of record plus 1)
More than half the people in attendance must agree on an issue.
The rules of order are parliamentary rules an organization follows.
Refer to the specific functions of an organization.