Why Public Relations is Important to the NA member

The Narcotics Anonymous message is “that an addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use and find a new way to live.” Our relations with the public enable us to share this message broadly so that those who might benefit from our program of recovery can find us. We perform public relations service to increase the awareness and credibility of the NA program. We share our message openly with the public at large, with prospective members, and with professionals. Maintaining an open, attractive attitude in these efforts helps us to create and improve relationships with those outside the fellowship. Establishing and maintaining a commitment to these relationships can help us to further our primary purpose.

The spiritual principles of our steps, traditions, and concepts guide us in pursuing our public relations aims and our efforts to enhance NA’s public image and reputation. These principles apply to our community and service efforts as well as to the personal behavior and attitude of individual NA members.

Public Relations (PR) is the Subcommittee that is often the first time someone hears about Narcotics Anonymous. The role of the PR committee is to ensure that clear and accurate information about NA is available to the public. The demand for information about our fellowship is greater than ever. Being part of a committee that brings suffering addicts to our fellowship is a reward that cannot be expressed, only experienced. PR duties and responsibilities are:

  • PR is responsible for ensuring the phone line is staffed.
    • Maintains an ongoing telephone contact system (helpline) for the WNC Area.
    • Deals with addicts seeking more information about NA, where meetings are, and the time of meetings.
  • PR works as a liaison for NA and deals with professional and non-professional inquiries about NA,  for those wanting information about what NA is and isn’t.
  • PR develops posters that explain WNCNA and in teams distribute the posters in our area.
  • PR Coordinates a Poster Day

How to get involved with PR:

  • There are lots of opportunities for service in PR
    • No clean time requirement for participation in poster days
    • 6 months clean time requirement for  Phone line volunteers
    • 6 months clean time requirement for PR Secretary
    • 1-year helpline orientation coordinator

If you are interested in getting involved or just curious about the PR subcommittee  For more information email  pr.wncna@gmail.com

PURPOSE 

To effectively carry the message of recovery to the still sick and suffering addict. The Public Relations Subcommittee accomplishes this by informing the public that Narcotics Anonymous exists, offering recovery from addiction, and providing information about how and where to find it. The Area’s PR subcommittee should adequately inform the fellowship about PR efforts and what to do when someone outside of NA requests information. PR provides Helpline services to maintain and coordinate an effective 24-hour/7 days a week answering service. Through our volunteers, we form a link between Narcotics Anonymous and the general public.  

SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

A. GENERAL MEMBERS 

  1.  One day clean time
  2. The willingness to serve. 

DUTIES: Active participation in the service subcommittee. 

B. VOTING PRIVILEGES 

  1. Voting privileges are granted to members who have attended two consecutive meetings; privilege is established at the start of the third meeting. 
  2. Any member who is absent from two consecutive meetings without contacting the PR 

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and/or Secretary will forfeit voting privileges. 

  1. Privilege is reestablished after attending two consecutive meetings at the start of the next meeting

C. MEMBERSHIP 

  1. Chairperson
  2. Vice-Chairperson
  3. Secretary
  4. Helpline Volunteer Coordinator
  5. Helpline Shift Volunteers

D. SUBCOMMITTEE TRUSTED SERVANTS 

  1. CHAIRPERSON
    1. Nominated by the subcommittee
    2. Elected/confirmed by the ASC. 
    3. Qualifications
      1. Three years of clean time. 
      2. Two years prior ASC experience.  
      3. One year prior involvement in the Public Relations Subcommittee. 
      4. Have read and understood the PR Subcommittee Guidelines, duties, and responsibilities.  Willing to perform those duties and responsibilities.
      5. An understanding of the service structure of Narcotics Anonymous. 
      6. An example of living recovery through the application of the Twelve Steps and Twelve        Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous. 

Duties: 

  1. Arranges times and agendas for all PR subcommittee meetings, 
  2. Ultimately responsible for the functioning of the subcommittee
  3. Maintenance of files and records.
  4. Update Guidelines yearly, with the help of the Policy Committee, submit in April
  5. Develops the yearly Budget with the help of the Area Treasurer, submit in March
  6. Mentors the Vice-Chairperson on the PR Chair Duties

  Responsibilities: 

  1. Acts as liaison between the area and the Regional answering service. 
  2. Must attend all ASC PR subcommittee meetings,
    1. ASC monthly meetings
    2. All Trusted Servants Monthly Meetings
  3. Attends Regional PR meeting not in conflict with ASC meetings (minimum of once per year)
  4. Responsible for all money transactions.
    1. Reports monthly all expenditures 
    2. Ensures all expenditures are within the PR Budget
    3. When Expenses are over the allotted budget will go to the ASC to request additional funding.
  5. Provides a written monthly report 24 hours in advance of Monthly ASC meeting
    1. Presented at the monthly ASC
      1. All activities PR performed during the month
        1. Report the results of last month’s plan
        2. The successes and the learning experiences
      2. Plans for the upcoming month
      3. Help needed from the ASC
      4. Expenses
  6. Will update and submit the PR Subcommittee Budget in March
  7. Will update and submit the PR Subcommittee Guidelines in April
  8. Can only serve two consecutive terms.   

  1. VICE-CHAIRPERSON
    1. Nominated and elected by the Public Relations subcommittee. 
    2. Qualifications
      1. Two year clean time. 
      2. Three months prior ASC PR experience.  
      3. An understanding of the service structure of Narcotics Anonymous. 
      4. Have read and understood the PR Subcommittee guidelines, duties, and responsibilities.  Willing to perform those duties and responsibilities.
      5. An example of living recovery through the application of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous. 

Duties:

  1. Learns the duties and responsibilities of the PR Chairperson
  2. Keeps apprised of all changes and updates to PR policy
  3. Works closely with the Helpline Coordinator, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Professional Outreach Coordinator.
  4. Attend ASC meetings with the PR Chairperson
  5. In the absence of any of the Coordinators, the Vice-Chairperson will serve in that position.
  6. When needed, assumes the position as PR Chair (Pro-tem)
    1. Until the PR Chair assumes the position again
    2. In case of the PR Chair position becomes vacant during the year.
    3. To be made permanent upon affirmation by the ASC

Responsibilities:

  1. The aid the PR Chairperson ensure that PR is running smoothly
  2. Take directions from the Chairperson as to which projects to be working on.
  3. To work with all the PR coordinators to ensure the success of their projects.

3. SECRETARY 

  1. Nominated and elected by the Public Relations Subcommittee annually. 
  2. Qualifications

  1. Six months clean time. 
  2. Secretarial experience. 
  3. Have read the PR Subcommittee guidelines, duties, and responsibilities. Willing to perform those duties and responsibilities.
  4. An example of living recovery through the application of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous.

Duties: 

  1. Takes roll call 
  2. Establishes voting membership 
  3. Records and distributes subcommittee minutes 
  4. Uploads the minutes to the PR Google drive. 
  5. Prepares and circulates draft minutes in advance of the next monthly meeting to subcommittee members. 
  6. Handles all correspondence on behalf of the subcommittee and maintains contact with all subcommittee members. 
  7. Should email a copy of subcommittee minutes to all subcommittee members within seven days of each past subcommittee meeting.  

Responsibilities:

  1. To work closely with the PR Chair to establish the monthly agenda
  2. To forward the monthly meeting to the chairperson prior to posting them
  3. Minutes will be uploaded no later than two weeks after the monthly meeting
  4. Will check the PR email daily and will forward all correspondence to the Chairperson.
  5. Will work closely with the PR Chairperson to ensure that the new yearly Budget is ready to be included in the March minutes to be presented at the March Area meeting.
  6. Will work with the PR Chair to update the Subcommittee Guidelines to be forwarded to the Area in the April Area minutes.

4. HELPLINE COORDINATOR 

  1. Nominated and elected by the Public Relations Subcommittee annually.
  2. Qualifications

  1. One year of clean time. 
  2. Six months prior involvement in the Public Relations Subcommittee. 
  3. Six months prior involvement as a Public Relations Helpline Volunteer. 
  4. Have read the PR Subcommittee Guidelines, duties, and responsibilities. Willing to perform those duties and responsibilities.
  5. An example of living recovery through the application of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous. 
  6. Ability to convey the phone shift guidelines, requirements, and responsibilities to new volunteers. 

Duties: 

  1. Responsible for conveying phone shift guidelines to new PR Helpline Volunteers
  2.  Explains the requirements and responsibilities of the position to new volunteers
  3.  A link to the PR orientation packet or a printed copy will be made available to each new PR Helpline Volunteer. 
  4. Contact all Helpline volunteers monthly.
    1. Get updates about all shifts
    2. Inform them of any upcoming events or trainings.
  5. The Helpline Orientation Coordinator will attend each PR monthly meeting.
    1. If they are unable to attend they will contact the PR Chair to explain their absences.
    2. They will forward a monthly report 

Responsibilities:

  1. Ensure that all phone line shifts are covered
  2. Work closely with the Helpline Shift Volunteer
  3. Assumes the position of Helpline Shift Volunteer in the absence of a/the Helpline Shift Volunteer.

5. HELPLINE SHIFT VOLUNTEERS 

  1. Qualifications

  1. Six months clean time. 
  2. Knowledge of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous. 
  3. Have read the PR Subcommittee Guidelines, duties and responsibilities. Willing to perform those duties and responsibilities 

Duties: 

  1. All Helpline Shift Volunteers must complete orientation before being placed on a shift.
  2. All Volunteers are required to cover the shift they were assigned.
  3. All Volunteers are required to attend all Helpline meetings and updated training.
    1.  If unable to attend, must contact the Helpline Coordinator to report how their shift is going and to confirm that you want to keep the shift. 
    2. If they do not call or attend the PR Subcommittee meeting for two consecutive meetings, they may lose their phone shift

Responsibilities:

  1. To cover their assigned shift
  2. To immediately report any problems to the Helpline Coordinator or PR Chairperson.
  3. If they cannot cover their shift immediately report it to the Helpline Coordinator or PR Chairperson.
  4. Keep apprised of all changes in Helpline policies and procedures and attend all update trainings.

General Policies

  • Waiving Clean Time Requirements: 
    • To elect a Chair candidate who does not meet the clean time requirement
    • There must be no candidates that have the requirements and are willing to serve.
    • The position will remain open for one month to allow qualified candidates to be nominated.
    • The vacant position will be announced at ASC, put on the Website, and announced at meetings.
    • If after one month there is still no candidate with the required clean-time, then a 50%+1 vote must be in favor to waive the clean-time requirement. The candidate should also have sufficient service experience in Narcotics Anonymous.
  • Terms of Office:
    • The Chairperson may serve no more than two consecutive terms. If the Chairperson takes over before being elected, i.e. in case the last chair left during their term, that time will not count as a full term.  In that situation, the Chair may still serve two consecutive terms. 
    • The Vice Chair may serve no more than two consecutive terms as Vice chair, and two consecutive terms as Chairperson.
    • There is no term limit for Secretary or Member.

  • Dismissal and Resignation:
    • Dismissal of Officers
      • Officers may be dismissed from their positions at any time for relapse, gross neglect of responsibilities, continuous absenteeism of two consecutive PR  meetings (except for humanitarian/compassionate reasons), sporadic attendance at Subcommittee meetings, inability to perform responsibilities, or refusal to comply with this document, their duties, and responsibilities, abuse of power, or mistreating other committee members.
    • In cases of dismissal
      • A written motion for dismissal, with due cause stated, must be entered and seconded at the monthly PR subcommittee. The person must be duly notified and shall be allowed to speak on their behalf before any vote is taken, at or before the next PR meeting. (unless the whereabouts of the person are not known)
      • If the person objects, it is then taken to ASC as a Proposal and voted on at that venue.
      • Any member of this committee has the right to go before the ASC to redress any grievance they have.
    • Officers may resign
      • Voluntary resignation should be submitted in writing to the PR Chair or Vice-Chair.
      • In case of the Chair’s resignation, it should be sent to ASC and ASC Chair can appoint an interim PR chair.  That person will serve until the next election.

Adopted:

Revised: May 2023

Revised: July 2024 (alignment with ASC Policy)