OZARK AREA H&I SUB-COMMITTEE GUIDELINES

 

Purpose

 

The Ozark Area H&I Subcommittee is responsible for carrying the Narcotics Anonymous message of recovery into hospitals and institutions whose residents have restricted access to regular NA meetings.

 

The Hospitals and Institutions Subcommittee initiates, coordinates, and conducts all H&I meetings/presentations in the area, but may use other methods, such as distributing literature and meeting lists, in order to make recovery more available to the addicts in these facilities.  This committee is a subcommittee of the Ozark Area Service Committee and is directly responsible to the committee.

 

Functions of the H&I Subcommittee

 

A.        To carry the message and to disburse literature to all facilities through Our H&I panels.

B.        To conduct a monthly business meeting.

 

Officers

 

A service board of officers shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, and a Secretary (optional).

Any subcommittee officer or member who relapses will automatically be removed from the subcommittee.

Any subcommittee officer can be removed after missing two monthly H&I subcommittee meetings.

In case of resignation be the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall automatically assume the position until the ASC elects a chairperson.  If the Vice Chairperson cannot or will not assume the position, the Area Vice Chairperson will act as H&I chairperson until the ASC fills the position.

In the even of resignation by the Secretary, the position shall be help open until a willing member from the fellowship is found to fill the position.

 

Qualifications and Duties of Officers

 

  1. The Chairperson should have at least 2 years clean time, plus a minimum of 6 months activity in H&I work.  The Chairperson will be elected by the ASC at its annual meeting in May for a term of one year in accordance with their guidelines.

 

Responsibilities include:

    1. Bring before the general meeting of the Subcommittee matters that should be acted upon by the Subcommittee.
    2. Carry out policies and orders for the Subcommittee.
    3. Attend Area Service Committee meetings.
    4. Attend Regional H&I subcommittee meetings.
    5. Order and distribute literature as needed to facilities where presentations are held in the area.

 

 

 

 

B.  The Vice Chair person should have at least 2 years clean time and at least 6 months          experience in H&I work.

 

Responsibilities include:

    1. Assume the responsibilities of the Chairperson in the event of the Chair’s absence.
    2. Help coordinate H&I meetings/presentations by acting as panel Coordinator

     

C.        The Secretary should have at least 1 year of clean time.

 

Responsibilities include:

a.       Record minutes of all subcommittee meetings.

b.       Copy and distribute those minutes.

c.       Keep records of all subcommittee members, including addresses and telephone numbers.

d.       In case of vacancy of the secretary position, the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson will assume the above duties.

 

D.        H&I Panel Leader/Coordinator should have at least 1 year clean time and at least 6 months H&I experience.

 

Responsibilities include:

a.       Invite panel members to the H&I meetings/presentations and in General, do all the things necessary to conduct the meeting.

b.       Communicate regularly with Chairperson/Vice Chairperson informing Him/her of any problems with meetings/presentations.

c.       Make a report on the H&I meeting to the H&I Subcommittee at each monthly meeting.

 

E.         All members must have 3 months (90 days) clean and have H&I Panel Leader/Coordinator approval to attend any H&I presentation.  All members must have no less than 6 months (180 days) clean and H&I Panel Leader/Coordinators approval to share at any H&I presentation, and be cleared by the facility where necessary.

 

      H&I panel members are required to:

a.       Be familiar with the H&I meeting/presentation format.

b.       Be familiar with subcommittee and facility rules.

c.       Be able to share a message of recovery in Narcotics Anonymous.

 

 

In order to quality for any of the above offices, H&I members shall come to the monthly H&I subcommittee meeting and inform the committee of their desire to serve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Information

 

A.                 Any member of the H&I subcommittee is automatically disqualified from further H&I activity upon relapse, but may again become eligible when he or she can conform to the requirements in these guidelines.  Being clean for the purpose of the H&I subcommittee shall be defined as complete abstinence from all drugs.

 

B.                 Any member not conforming to these requirements or any others which might be added later, or who refuses to abide by the rules and regulations of the facility being served, shall automatically be released of any H&I subcommittee assignments.

 

C.                 No Narcotics Anonymous meeting/presentation regularly conducted under the auspices of the H&I subcommittee shall be held in any facility, except when directly supervised by the H&I subcommittee or its delegated leader.  This appointment must be acceptable to the facility being served.

 

D.                 Any NA member who is involved with a given facility on a professional or volunteer basis should not participate in the panel serving the addicts in that facility.  This intended to avoid possible conflict and the resulting damage to:

 

A)     The inmate or patient inside, or

B)     The working ability or privilege of the subcommittee to carry the message inside the facility.

 

For the same reasons, no H&I member will interfere with or use influence in any facility, court or hospital; nor with any judge, doctor, and probation or parole officer.  Further, H&I members will not make any comments or promises regarding employment, parole, probation or medical problems.  We carry only the message of Narcotics Anonymous:  recovery from addiction through our spiritual program.  However, these members may participate on panels going to other facilities.

 

E.                  Length of clean time required by each facility is to be rigidly upheld by all panel leaders.

 

F.                  Excessive use of profanity or the use of vulgar stories in your sharing is strictly prohibited by authorities of all facilities, and strongly discouraged by the H&I Subcommittee.

 

G.                 Any member of the H&I Subcommittee on parole or probation will only be allowed to participate in or attend an H&I meeting in a facility being served by the subcommittee with the express clearance of the authorities of the facility and possible the approval of their Judicial Officer, if applicable.

 

H.                 H&I panel members shall be responsible for their conduct in any facility and they shall take responsibilities to become informed in advance, regarding the regulations of the facilities being served.

 

 

 

 

 

DO’S                                                                           DON’TS

 

Do Make directories of outside meetings                                    Don’t Attend H&I facilities alone.

Available to residents.

 

Do Clarify the rules with whomever you                         Don’t Emphasize “using days” while

Bring into the facility                                                      sharing an NA message of recovery

 

Do Start and end on time!                                              Don’t Give anyone within the facility

                                                                                    Your address or telephone number.

 

Do Emphasize that NA recovery is                                Don’t Use excessive frofanity

Available to all addicts regardless if

Drugs used.

 

Do Clearly state that Narcotics Anonymous                    Don’t Break another persons

Is separate from the facility and from other                     anonymity

Fellowships.

 

Do Involve residents with the meeting,                            Don’t Debate any issues involving

Especially those in long term facilities                             facility rules, regulation, programs, or

(readings, etc.)                                                              other fellowships.

 

Do Obey the dress code, exercise common                     Don’t Get involved in discussions on

Sense.* This is a serious meeting, rather                         outside issues, remember why we are

Than a social event.                                                       There.

 

Do Screen all panel members, speakers, and                   Don’t Discuss conditions within the

Chairpersons.                                                                Facility.

 

Do Attempt to get all agreements in writing                    Don’t Discuss facility staff members

                                                                                    With inmate(s).

 

Do Adhere to the security regulation at all times              Don’t Wear flashy jewelry and don’t

                                                                                    Carry excessive cash.

 

Do Ensure that a clear NA message of recovery                        Don’t Show favoritism to any

Is carried by all panel members.                                     Resident’s

 

Do Arrive together, depart together.                               Don’t Bring an NA member who has

                                                                                    Friends and/or family in the facility

 

                                                                                    Don’t Ask what type of crime an

                                                                                    Inmate has been convicted of, or

                                                                                    Discuss guilt or innocence.

 

                                                                                    Don’t Accept money or gifts from, or

                                                                                    Give money or gifts to any inmate.