LSC Minutes 24th November 2024 NANASA

LSC Meeting – Zoom

Date: Sunday 24^th November 2024

Times: 10am to 2pm

Venue: Zoom only

Bruce G; Sami; Krissy; Meredith; Nathanel; John C; Joymaree; David T; Brad; Alan P; Annabelle; Cameron W; Kaye (Cairns); Michael B; Kandis; Sonya M; Nina S; Jacki; Kristian (Brisbane); Johnny P; Brea C; Peter (Observer); Teresa L; Bob (Harbey Bay); Peter B (Observer)

Objectives:

To discuss the different activities of the Board and their plans for the next 3 months.

To discuss the different activities of the GSF and their plans for the next 3 months

MINUTES

10.00 – 10.25am (25 minutes)

1. Chairperson’s Welcome (Meredith C)
2. Acknowledgement of Country
   • We acknowledge that we meet on Aboriginal Land. We recognize the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people. Australia comprises many Aboriginal and Torres Strait nations.  We would like to acknowledge all of the traditional custodians of the land within Australia.  We pay respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Elders past, present and emerging.
3. 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 bondage of selflessness, that this may truly be your work, not ours – in order that no addict, anywhere, need die from the horrors of addiction.
4. 12 Traditions read by participants
5. 12 Concepts of NA Service read by participants
6. Maintaining an Atmosphere of Recovery

To ensure we maintain an atmosphere of recovery, the Board asks that all participants share their views and speak respectfully to one another throughout this meeting.

If required, the Chairperson will pause the meeting to remind members of their responsibility to communicate respectfully.  Meeting participants are asked to use the Raise Hand function to share their views or make comment.

7. Housekeeping including information on the LSC, its role and processes
8. Nominate Timekeeper
9. Board Reports are available online

10.25-11.15am (40 minutes)

NANASA Policy Guidelines (Nathanael M)

1. Draft Policy Guidelines PowerPoint Presentation (presented by Krissy)
2. Draft NANASA Policy Guidelines Discussion:

• David T: clarified the need for the guidelines; he supports the policy guidelines; believes they are a good start.
• Cameron W; has serious concerns because he feels that this has not been directed by the groups; people from certain areas are pushing their own agenda with the guidelines; LSC has not driven the guidelines; convention guidelines cause disunity and confusion; LSC agenda had no planning assembly included; LSCs have not been running for a while;  LSB should take direction from LSC;  LSB have been getting consensus from monthly board meetings and this needs to stop now; suggests work with the LSB and set up nominations and start process against; set it up from the LSC; feels there is not enough time to go into all his grievances;
• Joymaree: doesn’t need to be rectified today, this is a starting point.
• John C: the amount of time given to address this is insignificant; not enough discussion about certain positions.
• Kaye: thanks people who did the draft guidelines; advised it has helped the Cairn’s fellowship, but the feedback was to shelf it but now realises that it was about introducing the guidelines for further review.
• Teresa: supports policy and understands it is an open document for every member to review.
• Meredith: pointed out difficulties on being board member with no guidelines; addressed Cameron’s concern about not following procedure.
• Sami: advised that LSB minutes are online and advised about the generic way the policy work group came about; it was with good intentions.
• Nina: reiterated what Sami said about the generic nature of how it came to be.
• Brea: wants clarification about what we are agreeing to.
• Meredith: advised that this is a starting point for us and is open to continuous changes over time.
• David: pointed out that we are in this position because there are no guidelines.
• Cameron: feels there are way too many issues to accept the guidelines as is and we need to try to fix them, there has been no planning; he also suggested that we adopt the service position descriptions to facilitate the elections to the board.

Nathanel called a poll – 65% said yes and 35% said no

There were several members who were unable to vote due to settings on the Zoom meeting.  Another poll was held to accommodate everyone – 72% said yes 28% said no

Not carried by consensus

Consensus is to wait till the next LSC before ratifying the Policy Guidelines

3. NANASA Policy Guidelines proposal

• Consensus is to adopt the position descriptions in the guidelines to facilitate elections.
• Consensus is to remove timeline in proposal and future amendments will be made as needed in consultation with the LSC on an ongoing basis.

11.15-11.25am (10 minutes) Break

11.25am-12.25pm (60 minutes)

GSR & GSF Discussion (John & Brad)

• David: offered support and let everyone know how helpful the website is and encouraged people to visit it.
• Alan P: wanted guidance around drug replacement therapy (DRT) including the question around clean time when on DRT; also wanted information about pets at NA meetings; Bruce shared links to information.
• Kaye: wanted guidance around being self-supporting if their venue does not pay rent; there were lots of creative ideas from members on how to address this, e.g. donate literature, supply coffee, mow lawns, keep kitchen stocked
• Annabelle:
• Bruce: explained the difference between cooperation and affiliation.
• Joymaree: phoneline chair for NANASA and how to do service on phonelines – need to contact Bruce G;

12.25-12.35pm (10 minutes) Break

12.35 – 1.35pm (60 minutes)

Elections (Nathanael M)

1. Service resumes:
   1. Nina nominated for ARCM
   2. Sonya nominated for H&I
   3. Daivd withdrew his nomination for Policy Coordinator
   4. Joymaree nominated for PR
   5. Alan P. withdrew his nomination for PR stating he was happy to support Joymaree in that role
2. Secret ballot process explained
3. Elections held:
   1. Nina was elected as the new ALT RCM
   2. Sonya was elected as the new H&I Coordinator
   3. Joymaree was elected as the new PR Coordinator

1.35-1.50pm (15 minutes)

New Business (Michael B)

1. Items of business that require discussion and/or a decision:
   1. Kaye asked what happens to positions not filled; the consensus is that whoever is in the position currently will continue until the next LSC; Sami advised that due to her ill health that she would not be continuing as secretary and was happy to keep an eye on the emails and zoom meetings but would not be attending meetings or taking minutes; the other board members will divide the other duties amongst themselves;
   2. Cameron requested that it be placed on the agenda for the next LSB about creating a small workgroup.
   3. Brad wanted to know about fund flowing to region; the consensus was that we needed to work out what the convention float should be prior to doing this; Michael advised that we had $8,630 in the convention account, $11,056 in the secondary account and $4,556 in the main operating account;  Brea asked how much was spent on the convention as we need this information to make a decision;  it was agreed by consensus that we would fund flow $10,000.00 to region

1.50-2.00pm (10 minutes)

Wrap-up (Meredith C)

1. Action list – items to be undertaken before next meeting by members
2. Date of next LSC Sunday 2 February 2025
3. Thank you
4. Serenity Prayer

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.