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Nicotine
Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women helping each other to
live our lives free of nicotine. The only requirement for membership
is the desire to stop using nicotine. Nicotine Anonymous World Services
(NAWS) and the regional Intergroups exist to support all Nicotine
Anonymous groups and individual members. The voluntary staff works
to provide services, undertakes new projects and facilitates ways
to carry the message of recovery to nicotine addicts who still suffer.
NAWS and Intergroups function in a capacity that individual groups
would find difficult, if not impossible.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Nicotine Anonymous World Services has been granted permission from Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. This allows groups and individual members to use the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions for their own recovery from nicotine addiction.
The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions have helped guide groups and free millions of people from various addictions. The spiritual awakening that occurs as a result of working this program of recovery also brings a new joy and serenity into many lives. Becoming nicotine free is just one of the gifts
a member
can receive through this program. |
Providing
Starter Kits
Our World Services organization provides a Starter Kit
to anyone setting up a new meeting. The kit includes a copy of each
pamphlet, meeting format suggestions, and a sample meeting flyer.
In addition to offering this support for new meetings, existing members
benefit by having more meetings available when traveling. World
Services helps provide a continuity and consistency to our Fellowship
so that any member can expect to find familiar words of recovery worldwide.
Literature
NAWS supports all members by publishing the books Nicotine Anonymous:
The Book, and Our Path To Freedom, as well as several pamphlets full
of valuable information and inspiration. These materials have been
written by recovering nicotine users who have volunteered their services.
The path of recovery has shown that when we give of ourselves, we
receive. Offering service is just one of the tools of recovery.
NAWS provides its members with many ways to practice the principle
of service on a worldwide level.
Seven
Minutes
Volunteers for NAWS also organize and publish our quarterly
newsletter, Seven Minutes. Subscribing to Seven Minutes lets you
know about NAWS' activities and the business addressed at NAWS board
meetings. Intergroups can send in news to announce their upcoming
events (such as recovery weekends) and submit stories on what occurred
there. Members also send in their personal recovery stories, poems,
cartoons, etc., so they can be shared. Seven Minutes can be like
receiving a meeting in the mail.
Pen
Pal and Networking Lists
NAWS volunteers organize worldwide Pen Pal and Networking
Lists for people who do not have access to a meeting in their area.
Members are encouraged to use these lists to share their messages
of recovery with the people on these lists.
The
Dipper and Chewer
Nicotine is the addictive drug from which we seek recovery.
NAWS supports all nicotine addicts, including the dipper and chewer
of tobacco. Too often this dangerous method of using nicotine has
been overlooked.
Worldwide
Meeting Directory
Nicotine Anonymous World Services also maintains a Worldwide
Meeting Directory that volunteers continuously update and publish
each year. Fortunate members may discover that there are several
meetings in their area. This list is a valuable tool for members
who are traveling and want the support of the Fellowship. Many members
who use this list report that it is great to meet other recovering
addicts from different regions or cultures.
Online
and Phone Line Services
Our website, http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org, is another
way that NAWS serves and carries the message. The website has NAWS
literature (some available in non-English languages), the Worldwide
Meeting List, and other valuable information for members and groups.
Funding
and Finances
Although there are no dues or fees for members, the Seventh
Tradition of Nicotine Anonymous explains that we are self-supported
through the voluntary contributions of our members. NAWS is funded
through literature sales, Seven Minutes subscriptions, and the donations
of groups, Intergroups and individuals. Please remember when the
basket is passed around during your meeting that you are supporting
your recovery by helping to maintain your home group, Intergroup,
and the World Services Office. This is a "we" program!
How
is Nicotine Anonymous World Services Structured?
Each year, at a selected city, willing members and delegates
meet for a World Service Conference. We discuss the operating business
of the Fellowship, as well as nominate and elect three new officers:
Chairperson-Elect, Secretary-Elect, and Treasurer-Elect. These three
have specific assigned duties and learn from the three current and
three emeritus board members. Last year's Elects become current
officers. The previous acting officers become emeritus officers
before they leave the NAWS board. These nine volunteers work together,
sharing their experience, strength, and hope to maintain the principles
of the Fellowship and to provide or oversee all the services previously
described.
NAWS
board members oversee the efforts of the Staff Coordinators who
work at providing many of these services.
There is also a Traditions Committee. These members provide guidance
to ensure that we stay within the guidelines of our Twelve Traditions.
What
is an Intergroup?
An Intergroup consists of representatives from individual
groups in a local region. Intergroup representatives are volunteers
who meet regularly to exchange ideas, news, and organize Intergroup
events. As of 1998, there are 21 Intergroups that have formed to
support their member meetings. If you are interested in organizing
an Intergroup in your area, please contact NAWS, Attention: Intergroup
Liaison.
What
Services Can an Intergroup Provide?
One of the main priorities for Intergroups is to get the
word out about Nicotine Anonymous. Intergroup
representatives also help get new meetings started and support them
by coming to share their experience at new meetings. They help organize
speaker exchanges between groups to enhance the sense of fellowship
and widen the circle of shared experience, strength and hope.
An
Intergroup can organize an "Info-line." This is a phone
number listed under the Intergroup's name so that anyone looking
for help can call and get the number of a volunteer who, using
a
local meeting list, can tell them where they can find a meeting.
When
donations from the groups are sufficient, an Intergroup may have
the funds to buy literature at a volume discount and provide this
benefit to their local groups. Intergroups can organize special
events. Several Intergroups sponsor annual recovery weekends in
their region. Intergroups also act as a liaison with World Services
Office.
A
Final Note: This is a "We" Program
"Your Impossible Is Our Possible" is one of our
slogans because this is a "we" program. Together, we
change. The strength of the Fellowship gives more strength to each
member.
Recovery and service go hand in hand. We don't look to graduate.
Instead, we look to maintain our gratitude. Service is gratitude
in action. Donations from individuals, groups, or Intergroups are
also important ways to serve, express gratitude, and help carry
our message of hope. If you are interested in getting involved
on
a World Service level, there are many ways to do so. We are always
seeking volunteers to answer telephone calls and e-mails from people
requesting meeting or program information. We need contributors
and editors for our publication Seven Minutes. People can serve
on
various committees such as the Outreach Committee that helps carry
our message of recovery to those who have not heard about Nicotine
Anonymous. Translating literature into other languages is necessary,
especially for our website. If you are interested in any of these
positions, please contact NAWS, Attention: Chairperson.
We
realize the truth of Our Promises and that "we haven't given
up anything at all." By letting go of nicotine we have received
a precious gift. The spiritual awakening we receive as a result
of practicing the Twelve Steps offers us a life that is more joyous,
happy, and free living without nicotine.
Nicotine
Anonymous World Services
419 Main Street, PMB# 370
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Phone: (415) 750-0328
http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org
info@nicotine-anonymous.org
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