NA Northern Australia Service Board Extra-Ordinary Meeting minutes held on 15/01/2024

Location:  Virtual Zoom
Meeting ID: 487 569 8440
Pass code 865364
Meeting Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86913016074?pwd=QjVpNFhXektBZUpiTXR3ajU5MFgwUT09
Date:  15/01/2024
Time:  7:00 pm
Facilitator:  John C.
Minutes: Sami
Attendees: Brad; Nate; John C; Michael B; Cameron W; Nina; Sami; Brea; Meredith; Jason T.
Apologies: Jason T. (will be late)
Agenda: To discuss the Narcotics Anonymous Northern Australia Service Area Convention Proposal 2024

1. OPEN

1.1  Service prayer:
God, grant us the knowledge that we may act according to your divine precepts. Instill in us a sense of your purpose, make us servants of your will and grant us a bond of selflessness that this may truly be your work, not ours, so that no addict, anywhere, need die from the horrors of addiction.
1.1. Acknowledgement of Country
Today we stand in footsteps millennia old. May we acknowledge the traditional owners whose cultures and customs have nurtured, and continue to nurture, this land, since men and women awoke from the great dream. We honour the presence of these ancestors who reside in the imagination of this land and whose irrepressible spirituality flows through all creation.
1.2. ID of those present
1.3. Apologies.

2. Narcotics Anonymous Northern Australia Service Area Convention Proposal 2024
Brea gave a summary of the proposal
Meredith asked funding for PR and if it was separate from the funding for the convention; refer to proposal about PR
Brea advised that it will take approximately a week to get the payment schedule for the venue; it was suggested that we wait until we receive that to make the final decision; John put forth that we don’t have the funds to cover the “worst case” assumption and Michael expressed concern that we will put the fellowship in a bad position; Cameron advised that the assumptions have been made based on other conventions and that he has no qualms that the committee would be able to cover the costs; Nina advised that there is a fundraising committee who have already raised several hundred dollars towards the convention and that they are looking for $3,500 to pay the deposit on the venue and that they will be able to pay the rest; John pointed out that there are a lot of groups who have money in sub-accounts that need to be fund flowed which will take the pressure off; Meredith asked if the committee had had a discussion about what happens if the money isn’t raised; John asked the chair of the region what would happen if we couldn’t pay and was advised that there was only one incident of that happening and that the ARSC stepped in to pay outstanding debts; Moving forward, In principal, we approve the venue and the rest of the convention but at this stage we can only commit to funding the deposit for the venue.
It was agreed that the board would fund the cost of the venue (@$6,500); board members are to ask groups to fund flow to help fund the convention; Michael advised that there is currently $6,137.44 in the two convention accounts;

TO DO LIST:
1. Convention committee to finalise booking the venue;
2. Cameron W. following up with Friday night meeting to fund flow;
3. Michael B. following up with Wednesday night west end meeting and the men’s meeting to fund flow;
4. Sami following up with Townsville and Cairns groups to fund flow;
5. John C. following up with Darwin to fund flow;
6. Michael to investigate cashless payment system for the convention
7. Update convention guidelines (long term)
8. Cameron or Jason to email GSF guidelines to Sami who will forward on to everyone

3. CLOSE
3.1. Next meeting: Monday 22nd January, 2024 at 7pm
3.2. Serenity prayer in the plural:
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. The courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.