RCM Orientation
REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER (RCM) ORIENTATION PACKET
This packet was created as an informational resource to help RCMs effectively serve their Areas. It is not meant to be the final word or a complete description of their duties but merely a suggested guide and should not override any group/area autonomy. We hope his will be an inspiration to more effectively serve in the RCM
position.
Regional Committee Members (RCMs)
Regional committee members serve as the core of the regional service Committee, a body that coordinates service forums throughout the region, is responsible for the regional convention, and conducts the regional assembly. The regional committee also serves as a contact point between NA world and local services. Detailed information on the services provided by regional committees can be found in the guide for local
services.
RCMs keep their areas in touch with the larger world of NA by providing information on activities in neighboring areas, functions being sponsored by the regional committee, reports relevant to subcommittee affairs, and important issues being discussed at various levels of service.
Both the region and its areas depend on RCMs to be well-versed in NA service practices and principles. RCMs should be closely acquainted with the
Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts, the fundamentals of service in our fellowship. Familiarity with all published service manuals and bulletins puts the resources of the whole fellowship at the RCM’s fingertips.
RCMs should carefully study the reports from their own areas’ groups, officers, and subcommittee chairs so that they can pass their areas’ experience on to others at the regional meeting. RCMs will be more effective contacts between their areas and the regional committee if they take time to talk personally with
other participants in their area committees. That way, they can get a better idea of what needs and concerns the regional committee should address.
Most areas have one RCM and one alternate that helps the regional conference maintain a balance between experienced members and those just learning the ropes.
-A trusted servant of their Area.
-The voice of their Area at the Regional Service Conference. (RSC)
-The voice of Region at their Area.
-May be financial link between their Area and the Regional Service Conference.
-The Area’s main source of information about service, activities, and events.
-The Area’s source of information on how to get involved in Regional service work.
-An important source of information for the Area about the traditions, area policy and the 12 concepts.
-They serve as part of the core of the RSC along side of their neighboring area R.C.M.’s.
-Attend their home group meeting regularly.
-Attend their entire ASC meeting monthly.
-Attend the entire RSC meeting bi-monthly.
-Report to the RSC the Area status, events, donation, problems, and concerns.
-Could perform a Group Service Representative (GSR) orientation prior to their ASC.
-Bring issues from the RSC to the Area for an Area conscience and report back to the RSC.
-Learn about the subcommittees of the RSC.
-What types of subcommittees?
-What do these subcommittees do?
-When do they meet?
-May attend?
-May attend subcommittee meetings / support in absence of area sub-committee chair
-Learn what the RSC, Zonal Forums, WSC, WSO, etc are.
-Study the Guide to Local Service and the RSC Policy guidelines.
-Help keep meeting information updated for Region and NAWS databases via web contacts /RMD chair
-Is an addict.
-Has a willingness to serve.
-Has three years clean time. (suggested only)
-Has knowledge of the service structure of NA or the willingness to learn it.
-Has an understanding of or the willingness to learn the duties of a RCM.
-It is suggested that members seriously consider holding more than one service position.
-The area or any member may bring concerns to the RCMs attention at the area meeting.
-Members may attend the area meeting. Members may also review the area minutes at their homegroup to read
the RCMs report.
– RCMs makes a report at the monthly ASC meeting.
– RCM makes a report at the bi-monthly RSC meeting.
-An informed vote taken by the area as a whole.
-An expression of God’s will.
-Is the practice of placing principles before personalities. (Tradition 12)
-The area decides how much of a donation they can make to the RSC. A check or money is prepared and the area
determines mode of delivery.
-Number of Areas that attended the RSC.
– All open positions at the RSC.
-Information about RSC sub-committees.
-Time and place for the next RSC meeting.
-Regional events, i.e. GSR Assembly, Conventions, PI H&I presentations, Zonal Forums, CAR Workshop etc.
-When the Regional Elections are held.
-All motions sent back to Areas for a vote with information discussed on the conference floor
-Contents of major discussion/concerns at the RSC
-Any other information regarded as important by the R.C.M.s conscience.
-Events happening in other Areas.
-Events happening around the world. Usually found within the Regional Delegate report.
-Area events, i.e. Learning days, picnics, campouts, sporting events, conventions etc.
-Their donation (if any), problems and concerns.
-The number of groups that are a part of their area.
-The number of groups who have been attending their last two ASC meetings.
-The announcements of the status of their area positions.
-Any new groups that have joined their Area.
-Any address changes to groups who may have moved.
-Any other group information that may affect NA as a whole.
-When the ASC elections are drawing near with time and place of said elections.
-The mailing address for the area.
-Where and when the ASC is held.
-Any other information that may benefit NA as a whole. Ie. A list of facility mailing address’ and contacts for all
H&I commitments.
1.) Step Work
2.) Prayer
3.) Calling Sponsor
4.) A Dictionary
5.) Twelve Concepts for NA Service
6.) Twelve Traditions
7.) A Guide Local Services in NA (Pages 88-102)
8.) Copy of Area and Regional Guidelines / Policy
9.) Area and Regional Minutes
10.) The Group Booklet (Revised)
11.) IP #2 The Group
12.) Trusted Servant Workshops
a) Conference Agenda Report
b) Multi Regional Learning Event
c) Twelve Concepts Workshop
d) GSR Assembly
e) Zonal Forums
13.) Conventions
14.) Learning Days
15.) Networking in the Fellowship
16.) Traveling outside of home area (i.e. Speaker “Jams”, Conventions, WSC. etc.)
17.) Phone Calls
20.) The service prayer of NA, Page xxvi of our Basic text.
21.) Any other spiritual, creative action you can think of.
Motion Table
TYPE OF MOTION | PURPOSE | INTERRUPT | SECOND | DEBATABLE | VOTE |
Adjourn | To end the committee meeting. | No | Yes | No | Simple |
Amend | To change part of the language in a main motion | No | Yes | Yes | Simple |
Amend by substitution | To alter a main motion by completely rewriting it, while preserving its intent. | No | Yes | Yes | Simple |
Appeal ruling of chair | To challenge a decision the chair has made about the rules or order. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Simple |
Information, point of | To be allowed to ask a question about a motion being discussed, not to offer information | Yes | No | No | None |
Main Motion | An idea a committee member wants the committee to put into practice. | No | Yes | Yes | Varies |
Order of the day | To make the committee return to its agenda if it gets onto another track | Yes | No | No | None |
Order, point of | To request clarification of rules of order when it appears they are being broken. | Yes | No | No | None |
Parliamentary inquiry | To ask the chair about how to do something according to rules of order | Yes | No | No | None |
Previous question | To stop debate and vote right now on whatever motion is at hand | No | Yes | No | Two- thirds |
Privilege, personal | To make a personal request of the chair or the committee | If urgent | No | No | None |
Reconsider | To reopen for debate a motion previously passed. | No | Yes | Yes | Simple |
Refer, commit | To halt debate, send motion to subcommittee or ad hoc committee before vote | No | Yes | Yes | Simple |
Remove from the table | To resume consideration of a motion previously tabled before the time set. | No | Yes | No | Simple |
Rescind, repeal | To void the effect of a motion previously passed. | No | Yes | Yes | Two- thirds |
Table | To put off further consideration of a motion until a later date and time. | No | Yes | No | Simple |
Withdraw a motion | To allow a motion’s maker to take back that motion after debate has begun. | Yes | No | No | Unani- mous |
SUBCOMMITTEES
In some ways, the relationship between an ASC and its subcommittees is very similar to the relationship between NA groups and their ASC; in others, it is quite different. Just as groups create an area committee to help them fulfill their primary purpose, so the ASC creates subcommittees to do the actual work involved in delivering its direct services—H&I, PI, phone lines, activities, and the rest. If area subcommittees are to serve effectively, the ASC must delegate them sufficient authority to exercise their best judgment in fulfilling their duties. However, because an area committee must account to the groups for the actions of its subcommittees, ASCs generally maintain a somewhat tighter rein on their subcommittees than groups do on their area committees.
The balance between accountability and delegation is a delicate one. If an area committee exerts too much control over its subcommittees, those subcommittees will not be able to serve well. If the ASC delegates too much authority to its subcommittees, on the other hand, the area committee will not be able to account fully for itself to the groups it serves. An ASC should pay careful attention to the Twelve Concepts, especially Concept Five, when creating subcommittees, giving them sufficient liberty to serve freely while still maintaining their accountability.
The ASC is responsible not only to develop and maintain subcommittees in each field of service but also to coordinate the work of each of those subcommittees with the work of the others. For these reasons, all area committee participants need to become as informed as they can possibly be about subcommittee activities. Area committees devote significant portions of their meetings to reports from subcommittee chairpersons and discussions of subcommittee activities. Handbooks are available from the World Service Office for most of the subcommittees listed below. Specific directions for subcommittees in your area can be found in your log of policy actions and (if applicable) your area guidelines.
Most newly formed area service committees will probably not be able to support the same wide range of subcommittee services as a longer-established committee. Rather than attempt to set up all their subcommittees at once, it’s recommended that new area committees take their time. Make sure the responsibilities of new subcommittees are well coordinated with those of existing ones. Bring subcommittees on line one at a time and give a great deal of attention to developing each subcommittee before bringing on another.
VARIATIONS ON THE
BASIC REGIONAL MODEL
REGIONAL SUBCOMMITTEES
The regional service committee is a resource pool, gathering service information and experience to guide and strengthen the areas it serves. To do this, each regional committee organizes itself and performs its duties differently, according to the needs of its member-areas.
At least once a year, the group service representative attends the regional assembly. Each group is encouraged, if at all possible, to take the necessary steps to cover the expenses associated with its GSR’s attendance at the regional assembly. Some groups will choose to set aside money each month toward this expense.
After paying expenses and setting aside a small emergency reserve, most groups contribute their surplus funds directly to the area committee, the regional committee, and Narcotics Anonymous World Services. For more discussion of the principles underlying group contributions to the rest of the service structure, see the essay on our fellowship’s Eleventh Concept for NA Service elsewhere in this guide. For assistance in managing the details of direct contributions, see the Treasurer’s Handbook, available from your area committee or by writing our World Service Office.
Good Questions To Discuss With Others
1.) Why do we have suggested clean time with positions?
2.) If you were asked to express your feeling of what area conscience means to you, what would you say?
3.) What are your priorities at a meeting of the Regional Service Committee?
4.) What is the open forum for? And is it just for RCMs?
5.) Do you understand what discussion on a motion is for? If yes, write it out.
6.) How do your principles influence your voting?
7.) What are the reasons for abstentions? List them.
8.) What are my expectations before, during, and after an RSC meeting? List them.
9.) Is policy important? Why?
10.) Do I get confused at a regional meeting? If so, how can we change that?
11.) What is the purpose of having a Regional Service Committee?
12.) What is the CAR and how are you involved as a member of NA?
13.) What is the role of the 7th tradition in the area and NA as a whole?
14.) What are the responsibilities of your position? List them.
15.) Where do spiritual principles play a part in service?