Public Information / Phone Lines Subcommittee General Guidelines 1. Definition To fulfill our fellowship s primary purpose, the NA groups have joined together to create a structure which develops, coordinates, and maintains services on behalf of NA as a whole. We are an operating subcommittee for the Santa Clarita Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous (SCASCNA or SCASC). We are therefore responsible to the groups, the committee, as well as the Southern California Regional Public Information and Phone Lines Committees. 2. Purpose The purpose of this subcommittee is to inform the public that Narcotics Anonymous (NA) exists, and offers recovery, by opening and maintaining lines of communication. This Sub- Committee offers information about how and where to find NA meetings. All Public Information / Phone Line (PI/PL) activities will be carried out in accordance with the Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous, the Twelve Concepts for NA Service, and any Region / World level guidelines for our subcommittee. 3. Geographic Boundaries As defined in the Santa Clarita Area of Narcotics Anonymous (SCANA) guidelines. 4. Functions & Responsibilities 4.1 To act as the resource and coordinating body for area PI/PL efforts. To advise, implement, and administer PI/PL services in the Santa Clarita Area. 4.2 To open and maintain lines of communication between NA, the public, our Area Service Committee, and the Regional PI/PL subcommittees. 4.3 To respond to all requests for information about Narcotics Anonymous in a timely and effective manner, keeping our primary purpose in mind, and ensuring that those requests are forwarded to the appropriate service structure. 5. Subcommittee Members and Officers 5.1 The PI/PL subcommittee consists of recovering addicts who carry the NA message of recovery to the addict who still suffers and to the public at large. 5.2 Elections are held at the October meeting to elect officers for the coming year. Vice Chair, Phone-Line Coordinator, Public Information Project Coordinator, Community Liaison, PSA Coordinator, Outreach Panel Coordinator, Website Coordinator, Phone-Line Update Coordinator, Meeting Directory Update Coordinator, and Secretary. Last Amended September 28, 2008 1
5.3 The candidate for Chairs are is recommended by this committee but must be nominated and elected by the Santa Clarita Area Service Committee of NA. 5.4 This subcommittee will meet at least once a month at a designated time and place. All clean NA members are encouraged to attend. Meetings are published in the SCANA Directory and hopefully announced at Area and Group level. 6. Requirements of Members 6.1 Continuous maintenance of clean time throughout term of office or participation. 6.2 Subcommittee members should have an NA Sponsor, a desire to achieve a working knowledge of the Narcotics Anonymous Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, & Twelve Concepts for NA Service. Exhibit a willingness to serve the fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous. 6.4 Suggested requirements: PI/PL Chair PI/PL Vice Chair PI Project Coordinator PI Community Liaison PSA Coordinator Website Coordinator Phone-Line Coordinator Outreach Panel Coordinator 3 yrs. clean 2 yrs. clean 2 yrs. clean 1 yr. clean 1 yr. service in NA 2 yrs. clean 18 mo. clean Some level of knowledge and/or willingness to learn the technical expertise required for this position 1 yr. clean 6 mo. service in NA 1 yr. clean 6 mo. service in NA Last Amended September 28, 2008 2
Secretary Phone-Line Personnel Meeting Directory Update Coordinator Phone-Line Update Coordinator PI/PL Member 1 yr. clean 6 mo. service in NA 6 mo. clean 3 mo. service in NA 6 mo. clean 3 mo. service in NA 6 mo. clean 3 mo. service in NA 10 days clean 7. Voting Members All subcommittee members (as defined by article 6.1) at their initial second consecutive PI / PL meeting are eligible to vote. The Chair can only vote in the case of a tie. If a member does not attend for a 6 mo. Period he or she must reestablish voting eligibility by attending 2 consecutive meetings. 8. Duties of Members 8.1PI/PL Chair 8.1.a Arranges an agenda and coordinates discussion and training activities with the vice chair, presides over the subcommittee meetings. Receives and initiates all correspondence and coordinates the collective response with the secretary and the committee. May delegate responsibility. 8.1.b Is responsible for Public Information and Phone Lines correspondence to and from the Area. 8.1.c Is responsible for overall facilitation of the Subcommittee. 8.1.d Submit the annual sub-committee budget to the SCASC. 8.1.e Is responsible for all financial matters. 8.1.f Attends all SCASC meeting. 8.1.g Attends all SCASC PI/PL Subcommittee meeting. 8.1.h Attends a minimum of three Regional PI/PL Quarterly meetings per year. 8.1.i Attends all Regional PI/PL Subcommittee meetings. 8.1.j Contact all PI/PL Members (except PL Personnel) prior to removal 8.1.k Designates Ad Hoc meetings/members as needed. Last Amended September 28, 2008 3
8.2 Vice Chairperson 8.2.a Assists the Chair as needed and assumes the role of any officers, if needed, in their absence. 8.2.b Regularly Attends Regional PI/PL meetings, and attends in the absence of the Chair. 8.2.c Attends a minimum of three Regional PI/PL Quarterly meetings per year. 8.2.d Attends all ASC meetings and acts as Chair when needed. 8.2.e Attends all SCASC PI/PL Subcommittee meetings. 8.3 Secretary 8.3a Attends all monthly subcommittee meetings. 8.3b Records, types and distributes the PI/PL subcommittee minutes to all subcommittee members. 8.3c Maintains an archive for all files and records of the committee. 8.3d Transfers archival material to the area archive liaison for storage. 8.3e Helps the chair and project coordinator with all committee correspondence. 8.4f Transfer a copy of the last 3 months records to the incoming secretary upon end of term. 8.Phone-Line Coordinator 8.4a Is responsible for the scheduling of Phone-Line Personnel. 8.4b Makes sure that all Phone-Line Personnel have a Phone-Line package and any/all NA literature that they might need to fulfill the commitment. 8.4c Prepare and present a phone slot schedule to the PI/PL Subcommittee meetings monthly. 8.4d Coordinate and initiate established training methods for new Phone-Line Personnel. 8.4e Is responsible for monitoring the phone line slots and contacting P/L Personnel prior to removal. 8.4f Attends all monthly subcommittee meetings and any special training opportunities. 8.5 Public Information Project Coordinator 8.5a Is responsible for coordinating volunteer activities, distributing pertinent materials relevant to each project, tracks the progress of each project and provides records for archival purposes. 8.5b Transfers archival material to the area archive liaison for storage. 8.5c Acts as a liaison between the sub-committee and relevant organizations. Last Amended September 28, 2008 4
8.5d Attends all monthly subcommittee meetings and any special training opportunities. 8.6 Community Liaison 8.6a Ensures that the local newspaper and other media sources have the most current meeting directory updates. 8.6b Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of this subcommittee and any 8.7 PSA Coordinator 8.7a Provides creative input with regard to establishing and presenting all Public Service Announcements (PSA s). 8.7b In regard to approved PSA s, initiate and maintain contact with all levels of press, radio and television (keeping in mind the personal anonymity of Tradition 11).. 8.7c Attend all regularly scheduled meetings of this sub-committee and any 8.7d Report to this sub-committee the status of current PSA s on a monthly basis. 8.7e Attend the regularly scheduled monthly Regional PSA meetings as often as possible. 8.7f Public Service Announcements (PSA s) should be targeted to media covering the Santa Clarita Area. In the event that the media extend over other areas of Southern California, the coordinator we shall inform the relevant local PI/PL subcommittees, as well as the Southern California Regional Public Information and Regional Phone Lines Committee. 8.8 Phone-Line Update Coordinator 8.8a Is responsible for updating the phone-line outgoing message as often as necessary to maintain current and accurate information. 8.8b Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of this subcommittee. 8.9 Meeting Directory Update Coordinator 8.9a Is responsible for providing monthly updated directory information in a format suitable to the printer. 8.9b Arranges for pick up and delivery of directories to the monthly ASC meeting. 8.9c Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of this subcommittee. Last Amended September 28, 2008 5
8.10 Website Coordinator 8.10a Is responsible for updating the regional and world database in regard to meeting directory information. 8.10b Maintains the area website in accordance with the Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts for NA service. 8.10c Attends all monthly meetings of the Regional Website subcommittee. 8.10d Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of this subcommittee and any 8.11 Outreach Panel Coordinator 8.11a Is responsible for coordinating outside PI Panels. 8.11b Is responsible for serving as liaison to the facility(s) 8.11c Oversees and assists any Panel Leader(s). 8.11d Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of this subcommittee and any 8.11e Reports monthly to the subcommittee meeting. 8.12 Outreach Panel Leader 8.12a Is responsible for conducting outside PI Panels. 8.12b Ensures that Panel Members carry a clear NA message. 8.12c Attends all regularly scheduled meetings of this subcommittee and any 8.12d Reports monthly to the Outreach Panel Coordinator. 8.13 Phone-Line Personnel 8.13a Is responsible for answering assigned Phone-Line slot. 8.13b Is responsible for (receiving training) learning how to carry a clear NA message and other NA Phone-Line techniques. 8.13c Is responsible for (receiving training) learning necessary Phone-Line technology. 8.13d Is responsible for reporting any relevant Phone-Line issues to the Phone- Line Coordinator. 8.13e Is responsible for initial attendance at Area Subcommittee meetings and periodic attendance at Area Subcommittee meetings or special meetings, as requested, for Quarterly and/or special training meetings. Last Amended September 28, 2008 6
8.14 P/I P/L Members 8.14a Helps with Public Information/Phone-Line projects as needed. 8.14b Fill voluntary positions as needed. 9. Removal of trusted servants 9.1 Only the Santa Clarita Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous can vote to remove the Chairperson, but the subcommittee can make a written motion to recommend dismissal to the Area Service Committee. 9.2 Prior to removal, the trusted servant(s) will be notified and encouraged to attend the next regularly scheduled subcommittee meeting to address the issues (as provided in our tenth concept). 9.3 Any motion to remove a trusted servant must pass with a two-thirds majority vote of the subcommittee. Removal of PL Personnel can be decided on a case-by case basis. 9.4 Cause for removal includes but is not limited to: Failure to maintain abstinence. Failure to adhere to the guidelines set forth. Failure to fulfill his or her commitment. 10. Operational Guidelines 10.1 The Project Coordinator can initiate projects to accomplish certain tasks, with the approval of the PI/PL Subcommittee and the SCASC before being implemented. 10.2 In accordance with our Traditions, PI/PL printed materials of any form are aimed at letting the addict know that Narcotics Anonymous exists and how we can be reached. ALL displays avoid making any claims about the effectiveness of Narcotics Anonymous and do not mention any other organizations or programs. 10.3 Public Service Announcements (PSA s) should be targeted to media covering the Santa Clarita Area. In the event that the media extend over other areas of Southern California, we shall inform the relevant local PI/PL subcommittees, as well as the Southern California Regional Public Information and Regional Phone Lines Committee. 10.4 Suggested correspondence package for professionals (i.e. school administrators, clergymen, employers, etc.) who work with potential addicts includes, but is not limited to: Cover letter briefly describing Narcotics Anonymous. Meeting Directory. Last Amended September 28, 2008 7
Sample literature. Information for obtaining Narcotics Anonymous speakers. Information about ordering more literature. Contact number for further information. 10.5 Speakers who address non-narcotics Anonymous organizations should have an understanding and practical experience of the Twelve Steps, and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous, with a suggested clean time requirement of five years, or prior approval of the subcommittee. 10.6 Speakers should always be accompanied by a PI/PL Subcommittee member and properly versed on Public Information speaking. 10.7 Selection of speakers will be based solely on the group conscience of the Subcommittee. 10.8 Subcommittee officers serve for a one-year term. They may succeed themselves in office, but none may serve for more than two consecutive terms in a particular office. 10.9 The PI/PL Subcommittee holds monthly meetings. Special meetings may be called by a majority vote of subcommittee members or by the Subcommittee Chair. Reasonable notice of such special meetings must be given to all subcommittee members. 10.10 All PI/PL Subcommittee meetings are open to any Narcotics Anonymous members, but are closed to the general public unless approved by a group conscience. 10.11 The PI/PL Subcommittee shall hold a Group Inventory meeting once a year to review what the subcommittee has done in the past year. 10.12 These guidelines may be amended at any time by a two-thirds vote of the PI/PL Subcommittee and with the approval of the SCASC.10.13 The Subcommittee shall create an annual budget to be approved by the SCASC in November. 10.13 The Subcommittee shall create an annual budget to be approved by the SCASC in November. 10.14 As an additional source of operational information, refer to Public Information, Phone Line materials, and the PR Handbook from Narcotics Anonymous World Service and/or the Southern California Region of NA. 10.15 The subcommittee shall maintain records, both electronic and hard copy, of all business and correspondence. Last Amended September 28, 2008 8