Tara P. at the East Coast Convention – 1997

In 789, we, at first I was kind of hesitant about this topic because I've shared several times in workshops and every time I did a tradition workshop, it's like only a few people, you know. And I think about that and I wonder sometimes, you know, why that is, but sometimes it's not up to me to even wonder about it. You know how the cute topics get an audience, but I ain't, and the main thing is, you know, I ain't here for an audience. They ask me to do something, I want to do it. And, uh. Share my experience, experience, strength, and hope about it. The 7th tradition is very important. One thing I always keep up front when it comes to the 7th tradition, you know, it states that every NA group is fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. You know, and. Being self-supporting, you know, is a very important part, you know, in our new way of life. Uh, I remember for so long, uh, being self-supporting, I mean, I didn't come nowhere near that. I was dependent on other people, places, and things to carry out any needs that I might have. Or any wants, as far as that's concerned. And one of the other things about that was, I lied, I stole, I cheated, uh, just to, uh, get some of those things. You know, and I brought a few pamphlets in here, too, because, uh, it talks about. Uh. The 7th tradition's all about this. Uh. This is our first pamphlet, Hey, What's the Basket For? That was, uh, uh, IP number 24. And. It was sufficient enough for its time, but there, it has been a certain evolvement in our fellowship. And. Anytime something evolves, you know, what used to work is somewhat still working. But. We need to kind of evolve with the times. Now. This, uh, pamphlet now has been replaced with, uh, the new IP number 24, Money Matters, Self-Supporting in N.A. Now. The, uh, uh. The new pamphlet. Points out some, some very. Uh. Important. Questions. Because. You know, when it, when it comes to support. Support means to, to assist. To, to provide. Uh. To, to hold up. And. One thing I'm, I'm starting to realize in this, in, in, in this 7th tradition is that. See, anytime. You depend on something to hold something up. That. Something is only strong as its support. And. If the support is not there. There's no telling what could happen to it. Um. You know, and I was looking, you know, there, there's some information, you know, I, I go elsewhere to get information and there's some, um. In this fellowship. There's some. Um. We have. We have. We have. To be fully self-supported and fully means to, to, it just means completely. You know, we don't ask for handouts, loans, endorsements. And all this other stuff from, from anybody else. Because if we do. We would be, I believe we would be a, a spoiled fellowship. You know, because one thing I, I realize is. When I was. Uh. When I was not very self-supporting. I would always. Depend on somebody else. To a certain extent. And. I don't. And it's just my experience. That. That somebody else. It always runs out. And. Not only does it run out. Before it runs out. It comes with. Some attachments. And some expectations. Uh. If I give you this again. I expect this. In return. And. Our fellowship would lose. It's freedom. If we became. Dependent on. Anybody. But our. Sales. To support us. Now. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. If. If we. If we build this. We live. We fight. Civilians. Our leadership. And everybody. We strive. United. Just like. I believe. In everything. I. I. With pleasure. I. I. Today. Is today. And. Hope. At. Balkans. And. WILL. Meet. People. means of having money at that time was not a means that would be conducive to any type of recovery. But coming into recovery, money means a whole lot different. You know, I don't get money the same way I used to get it. You know, and I think that same tradition is so important because, you know, it kind of helps me along the way because when I came in here, you know, I wasn't brimming with honesty, open mind, and willingness, especially when it came to finances. You know, our literature talks about even now sometimes finances can be a problem for most of us. And this tradition helps us to actually get a grip on you know, the things that we're doing. And I think that's what I'm trying to do. Financials in the long run, I'd say, because it's a process for me. The seventh tradition also, when it talks about being self-supporting because you have a lot of times when we look at our money, I look at some of these questions in this pamphlet. And money matters. And money matters is a very good pamphlet. Some of the questions, it talks about how we contribute financially to NA. And it said, how much did we put in the basket our first 30 days clean? Our first year? Or even now? I mean, for myself, my clean date is March 13, 1995. Now, when I look at it, that was 1995 and now we're in 2012. That same dollar that I put in the basket then, don't carry the same weight. And I have to get out of that mindset. I have to get out of that mindset. I have to get out of that mindset. That every time I walk in a meeting, a dollar is the only thing they're going to get. I mean, this is for me. I hope I ain't stepping on nobody's toes. I mean, I'm talking about myself. It talks about how have our financial circumstances changed since we got clean. For me, when I first got clean, I was working in a nursing home as a CNA. For me, when I first got clean, I was working in a nursing home as a CNA. Wiping people's butts while they cussed me out for minimum wage. Because I was grateful that I had a job for a change, you know, and getting in some type of income that, you know, would help me be more productive. Now, today that has changed. I was putting a dollar in the basket then. I don't make probably three times as much as I did then. My mindset, sometimes I ain't perfect with it now. Sometimes it's automatic because I know what I do the most is what I become comfortable with. And I have become comfortable with putting a dollar in the basket for years. You know, that other fellowship, I ain't getting into that. But they are funded 80% through the program. They are funded 80% through the program. They are funded 80% through donations and contributions. And 20% through their literature. This fellowship is funded 80% through literature sales and 20% through contributions and donations. That says a lot to me. That says a hell of a lot. That when I become more dependent on literature sales, I'm going to be more productive. But when I become more dependent on literature sales and even when it comes to World Services, they have to make certain rules now that eliminate, because like I say, when things evolve, we're looking at technology now. And you can go online and get most of the stuff that people used to buy books for. You know? So, as technology keeps going, and we'll need, probably have the, less of a need to, for books, that means that our greatest source of income is going to have to be the addicts being self-supporting. And literature is very important. I'm not saying stop buying literature, but by all means, we need to contribute. I think all the stuff that I used to do, in my addiction, and early recovery, and any shortcoming I may have, you know, I still believe that I owe, I owe, I owe, narcotics and non. You know, and the only way I can pay that back, also, and it talks about that, some ways to contribute, show up and welcome the newcomers. Sweep the floor, help stack chairs or empty trash, and when we leave the room, it should be as clean or as cleaner as it was when we arrived. Give time and energy and service to the group, or any goods and supplies to our groups or service committees might need. Give money at the meetings you attend. Remember, whether it's dollars, pounds, euros, or any type of other currency, it probably can't buy as much today as it used to. You know, and that's very important. Make clean date contributions. I have a clean date coming March 13th. I have 17 years. I plan on putting $17 in the basket. I plan on putting $17 in the basket. That is a clean date contribution. And if you imagine if every, I don't know, it's kind of generalized, but, I just say imagine. We'll work with that word. Imagine if every addict did that. How some of that 80% literature and 20% donation would change. You know? It also talks about contributing directly to each level of service. And right now, our groups contribute 50% to the area, 25% to the region, and 25% to world. And that's kind of been the trend. And that's some of the statistics that has been handed to us through funding in a services and money matters and things like that. Also, the, one of the other questions it talks about is, does the way we spend our money reflect what is valuable to us? Now, if, see one thing I learned about value, when I value something, I have trust in it. And, for me, I value Narcox Anonymous. You know, and I have trust in Narcox Anonymous. But, the question says, does the way we spend our money reflect what is valuable to us? I can, I can go out from here, when I leave here and go out to Red Lobster or some other place and blow 40, 50 dollars like it ain't nothing. Because, you know, it just seems like, just by me sitting up in somebody's restaurant and giving them the money, it's valuable to me at the time. When I leave a Narcox Anonymous meeting and put a dollar in the basket, the very thing that's saving my damn life. What's more, why, why are my priorities so mixed up? Because what I do the most is what I become comfortable with. I have to get out that mindset. And I'm just speaking for me, you know. Uh, do our intergroups have the money they need to operate smoothly? Can they? Can our groups contribute to other levels of service? And what more could be done to further our primary purpose at each level of service, if we had the money? Now those are some questions that, you know, I just wanted to put out there. Uh, tradition seven, very important. Because we do need, you know, money to run our groups. Uh, that also goes into, uh, the other pamphlet I was talking about. Uh, it talks about our services are H&I. You know, we need, we need this money to, to, uh, support literature that goes to H&I. Y'all know what H&I is? It's hospitals and institutions. When we go into jails and, and, uh, uh, hospitals and other institutions where people can't come out. And I spend a lot of time on 7th edition because it's, it's kind of the meat and potatoes for me. You know, uh, the, uh, it also talks about literature translations to make our message more available across many culture and geographical boundaries. See, one thing about my mind, I have to take, uh, myself out of not just Indianapolis and Indiana and the United States. What's good for the whole world? What's good for the whole world? You know, and, and, and they need, there's addicts that need literature that needs to be translated so that they can get this message so that we can further carry our primary purpose. Uh, phone lines to help addicts find us, uh, public relations to, uh, spread word about it. Hey, you know, letting them, letting them know that we're free and that we're, we're here, we're available if you need us. Uh, rent and literature and supplies for our groups. All of these things is important. Um, and it just doesn't happen by, uh, being willing. You know, we have to have willingness and ability. Uh, the willingness and ability to carry out the services. Uh, Tradition 8, uh, this tradition is, is, is vital to the, uh, stability of Narcotics Anonymous as a whole. It says that Narcotics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. And, you know, uh, service centers are basically explained as a program that, uh, is defined as a place where Narcotics Anonymous, uh, services operate. Um, service centers can be the WSO, World Service Office. That's a service center. It could be, uh, the RSO, which is a regional service office. Um, it could be an ASO, Area Service Office. Um, some of us have area service offices, some, some don't. But, basically, uh, service centers that were Narcotics Anonymous businesses carried out. We don't carry out anybody else's business, and we don't go somewhere else for someone else to carry out our business. Um, that's kind of keeping in line with the tradition just talked about being fully self-supporting. Um, also, uh, talks about service centers may exploit, uh, employ special workers. Um, and, and it, it just means that, you know, these special workers, we can, uh, employ special workers that have special skills in order for us to carry out our business. Uh, such as phone lines, things like that, such as, uh, uh, clerical work or printing. You know, I, and we have, um, a newsletter and a meeting directory every month, uh, every month in our area that we have to get printed. Uh, we used to have, we used to be more self-supporting. We had our own copier, but, uh, a few smart addicts got rid of that, but it, well, now we have to hire other people to do our printing. So that's, uh, you know, that's a special worker at the time. It's carrying out a service for Narcotics Anonymous, you know, and, uh, pay for those services. And that's okay, because it helps us get done what we need to get done. And also, it, it talks about in this tradition that, uh, our, our special workers on the other hand work within our traditions and are always directly responsible to those they serve to the fellowship. See, uh, a special worker that what they're talking about is someone that works, uh, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, is someone that works within our traditions. Now, on the other hand, when it talks about remaining nonprofessional, see, we know that a professional, uh, it talks about the difference between professional and special workers should be defined clearly, because professionals work in specific professions that do not, that are not directly services for Narcotics Anonymous. We go out for personal gain for professionals, and they don't follow our traditions. Now, sometimes we do have to go out and get outside help for different other things, yeah, but it's not NA related. They're not doing it for the name of NA. They're doing it for personal gain. Tradition 9 talks about NA as such ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. Now, this tradition just talks about the way our fellowship functions, and it talks about we must first understand. What Narcotics Anonymous is, and Narcotics Anonymous is addicts who have the desire to stop using and have joined together to do so. Now, in this tradition, it talks about being organized, but it just means having management and control, because we don't ask the groups to be organized. We ask the groups to organize other communities. We ask the groups to organize other communities. And, we don't need committees and service boards, because if we would actually put all the work on the groups, it wouldn't be enough time to carry our message. So, we do need these service boards and committees. It goes on to define the nature of the things that we can do to help NA. And, that means to create these boards and services. This is things that we can do. do and it helps us as a whole to keep our message clear and not bog our groups down with business and and other stuff that these boards and committees could take care of we trust we put our trust in these boards we put our trust in these committees that they carry out their duties as we assigned to them I'm not going to share much longer I just wanted to kind of paraphrase and go over some of these traditions in my experience strength and hope about these traditions and and I think that you know the the more that I keep coming the more of these traditions more I'm able to practice these traditions and usually it talks about you know it usually isn't until we get into service that someone points out to us that you know that personal unity you know I think it's a very it's very important that you know I keep in mind that these traditions are for the group but some of the principles each tradition has a principle our principles that can be carried out not just in our groups in our fellowship but in society the principles are what would organizers I think it's uh very important that we keep these traditions non-negotiable I mean we don't negotiate them we don't say well we're going to work to traditions will will this tradition apply to its tradition applies to us this week and maybe next month we'll let y'all slide no we've had already had our experience with not having traditions so those hard-won experiences will help us today you know our message is an addict any addict can stop using drugs lose the desire to use and find a way to live thankfully me sure thanks Mike second speaker is a therapy Fort Wayne Indiana I'm an addict named Tara thanks everybody for being here and supporting a workshop on traditions I want to thank the programming committee for thinking of me to share my experience strength and hope one of the things that I learned early on from my sponsor was that once I had been working in applying steps in my life that there was more work to do I'm so grateful for narcotics anonymous in the life that it's given me that I want to be a responsible member of narcotics anonymous and that means that I need to study traditions and understand how this works and how to be of service and I couldn't move on to service concepts and still until I understood the traditions and the practices that I had to follow and I was able to learn from them and I spiritual principles contained within them and how that makes everything work as a whole in harmony you know so she got me started studying on traditions and understanding how to apply those spiritual principles in the group and in my service work and then it was later on after learning that about traditions that like Michael J. said that that I learned to apply these things in my life you know at my house we have a group conscience you know we don't just make decisions and say deal with it live with it we we talk in and we have a group conscience in my house about some things we are parents the kids input doesn't always have a lot but have a lot to do with it but the fact of the matter is as those spiritual principles are applied at home we are not just doing it to make a living we are absolutely different than it is to get rid of metropolitan baş��...?) By industry or citizens and specialist community not only a poor economy in Michael Joseph's family but even the big businesses may not have what check miyes but even commercial companies you know the big effort to develop the financial system is to understand the tremend rip of this meeting and commit to showing up setting up a meeting making sure it's open so that the newcomer can find them and carrying the message as our primary purpose it wouldn't matter if we had the money to make all that happen or not you know tradition seven talks about fully self-supporting we can't depend on the custodian of whatever festility we're at to make sure that meetings open and set up and that it goes on according to the rest of our traditions so we have to have members that get committed to supporting the groups because then the groups when they're supported it goes on to further support our area it goes on to support then our region and our zone and ultimately the community and the community as a whole and the community as a whole and the world services Michael J touched on then it was talking about how how it it starts at the group level in this tradition lets us know yeah I need to put money in the basket now because I've been around narcotics anonymous for a while I celebrated nine years this past December and I'm in a different place than I was then and if if I have the ability fully self-supporting as a member means I know the groups in my area that need a little more support you know I support my home group but I'm a member of narcotics anonymous so if I go to another group and I know that it's its members support it well I don't feel obligated to put money in the basket but I might go to a group that's struggling has a lot of newcomers and they can hardly pay their rent so I might put a dollar or two in the basket if I have a group that's struggling with the have it because I have to go on faith. You know, one of the spiritual principles contained in steps or in tradition seven is faith. We put faith in the God of our understanding that if we carry the message and fulfill the primary purpose and remain committed to this group, that our needs will be met. So it's really important to me to understand that I'm not just a member of one group. I'm a member of Narcotics Anonymous today. You know, when I go somewhere, it's just like coming to this convention. You know, thank God for conventions. This is where I come to celebrate my recovery, get with other people that are excited about it, to see newcomers that under starters starting to understand how to do it. And I'm not just a member of one group. I'm a member of Narcotics Anonymous today. You know, when I go somewhere, it's just like coming to this convention. You know, thank God for how exciting recovery can be, how fun it can be. And we register now. We register. We pay for registration in advance. We try to get a room at the hotel so that they can meet their block so that next year we can have another Narcotics Anonymous convention. You know, it doesn't, Seventh Tradition does not just contain me to one group. It, in, beyond the money, I support my home group. Getting a home group is so important because then those members, you know, when it goes on our meeting schedule, addicts look at that, the phone line, give out those addresses and times. And because of home group members that remain committed, that meeting is there. It's open. Somebody's welcoming them. There might be some IP, that they can get to get the information that they need to keep coming back, to have that seed planted. But I also have to understand that beyond my home group, there are a whole lot of other meetings in my area. There might be meetings in the outlying areas of my greater area that need some support. There might be some meetings that we have a late night Saturday night. There might be meetings that we have a late night Saturday night. There might be meetings that we have a late night Saturday night. I have a Saturday meeting that we started because some addicts wanted it. And it struggles. So when I'm up at 1030 on Saturday night and I have the time, I make a commitment to myself as part of my recovery to go and support that so that it continues to go on and that those addicts that are like struggling because they don't know what to do on Saturday night, besides get high, that makes a lot of sense. That makes a lot of sense. That makes a lot of sense. That meeting's open when they get there and they've got someone, someone that's telling them, you know, you don't have to get high again, no matter what. You got a place to go. This meeting's here and it's open. So the seventh tradition to me means a whole lot more than just putting money in the basket at my home group. I'm kind of funny about the dollar too. You kind of get used to that. But we give anonymously. So when I give a little bit more to the groups that need more or I pay for my registration and maybe give five extra dollars for the newcomers fund, you know, I do those things anonymously without recognition. You know, anonymously is without recognition just because I want to further Narcotics Anonymous and help to, you know, carry the message at a greater level. I don't do it to say, see me, because sometimes we don't always have the money. But I have faith in the God of my understanding that if I continue, he brought me here to Narcotics Anonymous and he gave me a new way of life. And I owe my life to Narcotics Anonymous and I love and respect this program. So when I can give anonymously to know that it continues in all areas from my home group to the all the groups in my area to the region and the zone and to world, you know, I understand that other addicts out there just like me, when God finally brings them to this program, it's going to be available. That this literature that we have as a group of addicts over many years have worked so hard to develop, you know, as a group conscience Narcotics Anonymous and help to develop, you know, as a group conscience is made available to me. And I know that's not the case. To those addicts that need it. I love the literature. I I've worn these books out and and I have more books, but I love this book because I've studied it and I've learned from it and the things that I need are in it because somebody made this available to me. You know, my my first book came from my story. It's kind of funny and it's not the way they recognize it. But it's not the way they recognize it. It's not the way they recognize it. I don't know if you guys know, but I don't know if you guys know, but I don't know if you guys know, but I don't know if you guys know, but I don't know if you guys know, but I don't know if you guys know, the old timers recommend, but my first sponsor was a man from AA who brought me a basic text in jail because they didn't have Narcotics Anonymous in there. And I'm so grateful that the literature was made available that someone from the other fellowship could find it and bring it to me because that's what he knew I needed. You know, that he didn't bring me their literature, knowing that's not what I needed because ours was available. That's because we put a dollar in the basket because we contribute to events like this. You know, I'm really, I'm always really nervous about, you know, sharing, let alone on traditions because traditions are so important and understanding comes over a period of time. But it says, if you want what we have and you are willing to make the effort to get it, you know, it goes on to say these are the principles that made our recovery possible. And so, it's real important to me to share a clear message about what the spiritual principles are in the traditions because in the It Works How and Why, unlike with the steps, it clearly states these are the spirit in here. It has a section in every one of these that says applying spiritual principles in every tradition. That's how important they are. In every tradition, they get their own section. They're really important. You know, this is how I live my life is by applying spiritual principles that I've learned in this program. Excuse me. I was taking a nap before I got here, so now I'm kind of hoarse. You talked about how you put more into Tradition 7 than the others because it's really important, and it is. And I'm really grateful for the fact that some people do understand. You're right. These aren't the cute topics that a lot of people come to because, you know, it's usually those of us that have been in the program a little longer that understand how important this is and want that information. You know, but my sponsor told me to be of service, you've got to understand some traditions. You know, and she said, we've got 12 service concepts, and you'll get to those because if you're going to remain in these service areas, you're going to need those. But the fact of the matter is, is when you go into service, this is what you're going to need. You're going to need those. But the fact of the matter is, is when you go into service, this is what you're going to need. This is when you learn how to apply traditions. Because I've been a member of area service, service boards and committees, and addicts, as addicts, we are very strong-minded, strong-willed people. And you put us together to try and have group conscience about how we use money and what we do in our fundraising and events. And you put us together to try and have group conscience about how we use money and what we do in our fundraising and events. It can get a little tense. So we have to learn how to apply spiritual principles in there. You know, I've said before how funny it is that we can all get along and we can apply these spiritual principles in the meetings and get-togethers and events. And then for one day a month, we get together and we clash. Oh my gosh. When we need these principles the most. When we need these principles the most is when it's the hardest to apply them. So it is really important. And I'm glad to see the people that we do have in here, you know, getting more information. Because we need more people to step up. Unfortunately, it tends to be the few that serve the many. And it's because those few decided that these things are that important that they're willing to step up and do a little bit more. We go on to Tradition 8. Tradition 8. That we should remain forever nonprofessional and that we may employ special workers. This one for me is, gives us the freedom to apply the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. If I was to come in and say, I'm this professional. I studied accounting. I'm this professional. I'm this professional. I'm this professional. I'm this professional. I'm going to come in and I'm going to be the treasurer of my home group. I'm going to run to be the treasurer of our area. And that's how I'm going to serve Narcotics Anonymous. I am going against the true will of my God. The God of my understanding had for me to get this program, go through some things, develop some faith and a relationship with the God of my understanding. And understand that I can't self-will how we spend the money we got in the Seventh Tradition. The primary purpose is to carry the message. The primary purpose is to carry the message. The primary purpose is to carry the message. To the still suffering addict. I went through everything I went through and all those things without getting high so that I could come in here as an addict and share my experience in how I figured out how to live this new way of life. You know, how I came in and I stopped using drugs and lost the desire to use and found a new way to live. That's what the addict needs. The addict doesn't need me to come in here and say this is what I studied and this is what we're going to do and this is how we're going to spend your money. I don't need somebody who works, you know, it was really hard for me. I went to those places with outside professionals for addiction counseling. Just because you have a degree on the wall does not make you, you know, qualified to understand the life I've lived. And how I've lived. And how I think. I've been through that. If they've not been addicts, I found they couldn't help me. So what makes me think that if they came in here to a meeting and said, yes, I studied this for four years and this is your problem and this is how you should fix it. I'm not hearing what they say. They haven't walked a mile in my shoes. They don't know what it's like to lose their kids and become totally hopeless. Hopeless. In the process of active addiction. To the point where I was ready to die. And then understand that the God of my understanding performed some miracles and brought me to a program where other addicts have been there. Where they took me in and they loved me. Somebody with a degree doesn't take me in for 40 minutes at $150 for that session and love me unconditionally. Not judge me for it. Not judge me for the things that I've done. So in here we must stay nonprofessional. It's the therapeutic value of one addict helping another. That's what that's about. You know, I didn't understand that at first. Because I'd see people in here and I'd see them in their nurses outfits or in their suits. And I'd think, what have they got in common with me? You know, I understood because I used to be a professional. I was very functioning for a long time. As a professional. I was also their dope dealer. I come from a small town. The same people I did their books. I sold them dope. You know. But I come in here and I see those professionals. And I still disqualified myself sometimes. Looking at them all dressed up. Because in the end, I didn't have a business. I didn't go to work. You know. And so when I see them coming in here and I see them dressed. In the clothes they wear as a professional outside. It gave me. It gave the addiction that I live with. A foothold on disqualifying me. But I had to remember, you know. Anonymity. This tradition. One of the spiritual principles is anonymity. As long as we're non-professional and we apply anonymity. Anonymity. I can understand that addiction levels the playing field. When I walk into a meeting. I'm just like every other addict in here. I have today clean. And I'm just like you. I'm just like every other addict in this room. No matter what I did or didn't do. No matter what they did or didn't do. We're in here trying to help one another. Just to stay clean. We're non-professional. We're just sharing our experience, strength and hope with one another. And so I'm really grateful for that. You know special workers. Prudence is another one of those in this one. And special workers sometimes are other. Are addicts within this program. They have some skills. You know we don't always have to go outside. Because we do need to have them apply the traditions. We don't always have to go outside the fellowship. To have some of this done. You know. But we have to understand. The difference between fulfilling our primary purpose. And fulfilling a need as a service to this group. To help it fulfill its primary purpose. I don't know if that makes sense. Because I've studied that. And I'm like. So aren't you helping carry the message if you're doing that? You're not. You're fulfilling a service that helps them fulfill that need. So we have to practice prudence. If we can get addicts that have these skills to do these things. And understand how to apply these traditions. Then we are. We don't have to go outside to pay them. Because sometimes members are willing to volunteer that skill. Volunteer that help. I know that in my experience. When I was a part of registration. I was a part of the registration. I knew how to use Microsoft publishing or whatever. I'm not trying to promote any other. Because we don't endorse outside things. But I knew how to use some computer programs. And so because it was our first convention. I offered what skills I had as a member. Because I had that to offer. So that we didn't have to go outside to publish. All they did was pay for the paper and the ink. And I did those things. I presented it to the committee. We had a group conscience. We accepted the brochure. And then I printed them at home. And I had other addicts volunteer their time and come in. And we folded them. And then we passed them out and used them. That was something we could have sent off to a special worker. To printing. To have someone develop this for us. And then you know have it presented and voted on. And then have someone else print it. And then have someone else print them for us. And fold them for us. But we didn't. Because we wanted to apply prudence. With the reserves we had from the money we had collected in the 7th tradition. So that we could put on this event that we put on in our area. To further carry the message and fulfill our primary purpose. These are some things that in my experience we can do. You know so that we can pass more money on. To area and region and zone and world at large. So that everybody has the opportunity. We go into tradition 9. That it says N.A. as such. Ought never be organized. But we may create service boards and committees directly responsible to those they serve. It says N.A. as such. Starts off right there talking about Narcotics Anonymous. Narcotics Anonymous. N.A. as such. It says a simple fellowship using a non-professional addict to addict approach to the disease of addiction. So right there in the beginning of this tradition it talks about just what we do. As such. You know so we need to have dictionaries. I hope that people that sponsor other people talk about having a dictionary. Because there's some language in here. That we need to understand in order to be able to have a good understanding. So that we can apply these things. You know I love my dictionary. I have a strong vocabulary. But sometimes the way the words are put together. And what their meaning is pertaining to these things. I need a dictionary to be able to make sure I'm not just assuming that it means the same thing as it did in that book. Or that book. Or in that context. So N.A. as such. The non-professional addict to addict value there. And it talks about again about our primary purpose to carry the message. But it says we ought never be organized. That doesn't say. That doesn't mean that we don't have any organization. Because we have to have. Like you talked about Michael J. Uh. People do not understand. The group's purpose. This is the vehicle. The most powerful vehicle for carrying the message. We need to be organized enough to create these service boards. Area service. To take care of phone lines. Getting information out to the public. So that they know that we're available. Hospitals and institutions. I love hospitals and institutions. To carry that message to those in need. To carry that message to those addicts in there. That need it the most. And to make sure that. That the things. That the outer workings. Of the group. Continue to go on. That we have. Boards that look over new literature. That will be made available to groups and individual addicts. You know. If the group had to take care of these things. You're not going to be able to. You were so right Michael. We wouldn't have time to carry the message. You know that's why. We have our business meetings. Outside of. The time of the group. Meeting time. You know when the newcomer comes in. I know when I got here. I didn't want to know. What we were voting on at area. I didn't know what area was. I didn't want to. You know I didn't want to talk about how you were spending that money. I wasn't putting any money in. The basket. Because I you know. I needed to know. How do I not get high. When I feel like getting high. What are you talking about when you say. A new way to live. My mother got me high from the time I was 12. I would go to jail. She would pick me up and get me high all the way home. I didn't know anything else. You're talking about a new way to live. This is what I needed as a newcomer. Talk about a new way to live. Talk about unconditional love. You know empathy and compassion. Understanding. These are the things that I needed when I first came in. I didn't need to know about no traditions. I didn't want to know about. You know who was going to be chair. Or treasurer. Or policy and administration. I didn't know anything about that. So if we had our business meetings. Or we were taking care of area business. Within those times that were set. For carrying the message. I think the newcomers. I'll speak personally for myself. I would not have stayed. I would not have gotten that message. That this is about. Just not getting high. Just for today. Until you lose the desire to use. And then develop a desire. To change. To live differently. So thank God for today. So thank God for tradition nine. That we have service boards. And committees. To take care of those things. You know it's just like. The committees. For these conventions. And finding people. To share. Their experience. I have to say. And I wasn't sure I was going to bring this up. And my husband told me to. And I said well then it sounds like I'm being a puppet. Because you know my husband said. He might have a little mental illness. Because he gets ready to get Say that. You can think there's a Rabbi. Wouldn't he just make something. That he knew for himself. And you know. Why? It started with just saying My name is a另外 Speaker or something. Why? Because I was wrong. Now that I look up. I found right up sometimes but I was like you know what I got over nine years in this process I've worked steps I apply them daily in my life I've studied traditions and I apply those principles in all my affairs I study service concepts and I am of service not just to my sponsees in my home group and my area but to narcotics anonymous at large last night when they after the main or the opening speaker when they needed somebody to help with registrations I'm a trusted servants of narcotics anonymous I'm not on the board but when they said can you sit down and write some receipts and take some money and pass out registrations no problem and I did until they were until they didn't need me anymore that's why I want to be asked to share my experience strength and power with you and I want to be asked to share my experience strength and power with you and hope not because of the color of my skin because you know what is somebody who's who's sight impaired blind walks in here they're probably not going to know what color I am well maybe until they open my mouth because I'm a country girl but you know we all got our own way of speaking but the fact of the matter is is all they're trying to hear is the message they're not seeing that I'm a different color speaker you know when I wasn't sure I was going to bring that up but see in here I want to be I want to be respected for the things that I've done in narcotics anonymous just like I respect those that have done before me because I respect the people in narcotics anonymous that respect these traditions they continue to say okay maybe that's not the way that I wanted it done but our committee took a group conscience because that's what our service boards and committees do it's a guide it's a God guided service board and committees do it's a guide it's a God guided group conscience and I'm so grateful that that is the way it goes because our diversity I'm sorry look I'm all distracted okay our diversity as a group of people goes into that group conscience so that it's not self-willed so that we don't feel like well it's because it's the way they wanted it or that group wanted it I know it happens sometimes because we're a society within a society and unfortunately you know that's how things work sometimes but I have faith in the God of my understanding that this has been going on for a long time what almost 60 years narcotics anonymous has been established so just because I might be trying to self-will something and it doesn't work my way I know how to get out of the way and let the group conscience how to stand behind that and understand that that's God's will because this is narcotics anonymous this ain't terrorist anonymous you know this is narcotics anonymous and as long as we follow the traditions and we go by a group conscience guided by the God of our understanding then it's going to continue to go on you know for the new comers I show up because nine years clean I still show up when narcotics anonymous calls because the predecessors were there for me thank God you know I've seen a lot of people come and go and I've seen the ones that they get some time and they quit showing up I make no less than three meetings a week and a lot of weeks I make more than that it's because I have some experience in some step-by-step some traditions and some service concepts and how can we develop an understanding over time of how to apply these things if those of us that have studied it and and practice them don't show up to share them and help guide the newcomers so that they can be come predecessors to those to come those that we get in a circle and pray for you know so I'm really grateful to all you being here and listening I hope that wasn't too off-topic I write things down and looks with traditions I I do study because I don't want to give a mixed message I don't want to carry a mess I want to give good information that's narcotics anonymous but I do just pray in and allow the God of my understanding to carry the message that he has to carry so I'm really grateful you're all here and thanks for allowing me share yeah all right thanks both the speakers Sharon Michael J therapy closing me know the hug circle followed by the serenity prayer you