MINNESOTA REGION OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Restructuring Discussion

Strategic Planning  The Region passed a motion last April (2007) to begin a discussion on how to have our Region become more effective. Many regions across the globe are changing how they do business. They are becoming more project-based as opposed to a place to come and give reports. Some regions are using one printer vendor for all of the areas enabling them to get the best price for all; some have created a database where all can update their meeting lists online. There was more discussion as to how this would look, but this type of change will require hours of discussion so it was decided to begin to set aside time at the June and August Regional meetings to begin the process. On these days business will be held between 12:00- 1:00 and the planning discussion between 1:00 -4:00. It is also becomes vitally important for our Area to continue to be represented so the groups we serve have a voice in how or even if any changes happen. Remember the groups always have the final say. As your RCM I must add that most of what I heard had the tone of how can we better serve the addict that still suffers. The bottom line is NA is growing and with growth comes change and as much as we may dislike change we all know it’s most often for the better. Lynn – TCASC RCM – from the December 2007 TCASC Minutes

What services are being provided by the Region to your Area?

What We Could be doing…  Updated Web Page  Centralized Databases  Online Discussion forums to increase participation  Alternative ways for members to participate at the region who are unable to travel to the region.  One on One orientation for new RSC participants  Newcomer packets  Position Mentorship

What we Could be doing…  Improved PR and H&I services  Indentifying and implementing ways to reach out to people who are missing from our meetings (Spanish, hard of hearing/deaf, Somali, Veterans, Elderly, Native Americans, long-timers….)  Increased Regional support to the Areas  Increased participation at the Region  Decreasing duplication of services in order to increase efficiency.  Unifying phoneline services

RSC Orientation

Service Position Mentorship

Web Page Development Iran

Columbia

Newcomer Workshops

PUBLIC SERVICE/RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS

6 th Edition Basic Texts in MN Libraries

Insurance

Centralized Databases

PROJECT BASED RE-STRUCTURING In the Minnesota Region of Narcotics Anonymous June 20, 2008

Why Project Based?  30,000 foot level – stay at the 30,000 foot level  Understanding of our resources  Resources are limited and precious  More effective means of utilizing our limited and precious resources  Focus on what needs to get done in the here and now  More involvement, more participation  Reach more addicts still suffering

Project Based Structure Draft

How Do We Develop Effective and Strategic Projects?

 Fellowship Development Attract, develop, retain, and rotate trusted servants Improve our Public Relations and our Public Relations’ efforts Improve our H & I Reach Assist in developing “under-developed” Areas Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of regional service communication, using techniques and technology that will enhance our efforts. Enhance the perception of NA as a credible program of recovery through implementation of a PR strategy and strengthening of targeted relationships. Objectives Our strategic objectives outline what we hope to accomplish within each “key result area” in order to move toward achieving our long-term goals. Given our possible key areas, then here are some possible objectives:

What is a Project Plan? Project Plan At a minimum, a project plan answers these basic questions about the project:  Why? - Why is it being proposed? What problem are we trying to solve?  What? - What are the key deliverables and cost? How are we going to solve the problem? How are we going to deliver the proposal and what’s it going to cost?  Who? - Who will be involved and what will be their responsibilities within the project? How will they be organized? Who’s doing what?  When? - What is the project timeline and when will particularly meaningful points, or milestones, be complete? What are the steps and when will they be completed?

Increased Accessibility to NA Meetings

Prioritizing Projects  Create a Planning Cycle – possibly every two years at the Regional Assembly  Think about how does the project relates to our purpose, mission, vision, long-term goals, key result areas?  Think about what resources will it take to complete the project?  Ask yourself, “Is the project achievable?”  Go through the difficult task of ranking.

Project Based Structure Draft