Public Relations Handbook - Narcotics Anonymous

How do we demonstrate an atmosphere of recovery in our meetings? Are we open and welcoming to all those who attend our meetings? In our service committees, are we receptive to members in the fellowshipand attractive to the public?We are the ones who bring to life Narcotics Anonymous’ simple message ofrecovery from addiction—a message that ensures freedom for any addict, from anybackground or age group, to experience recovery from active addiction.In our efforts to fulfill the all-encompassing goal of remaining open to and inclusiveof all addicts, members may want to take time to identify groups that reside in theirlocal community and that are missing from NA meetings. Addiction crosses allcultural boundaries; the absence at our meetings of individuals from a certain culturalgroup doesn’t mean that no one from that culture suffers from addiction or needswhat we have to offer. Asking questions like Who in our community is missing from ourmeetings? and Who in our community does NA need to reach? will help to focus serviceefforts where they are needed the most. Having group discussions about the area’sgoals will help to focus PR efforts.One approach for attracting potential members to NA is to create serviceprojects specifically designed to reach those potential members. If members live in acommunity where the largest population is made up of retired citizens or thoseconfined to convalescent homes, members of the area might consider creating apresentation that would show two important realities about NA: that there areolder people clean and recovering in NA, and that those members participate in afellowship with a diverse membership. This could be accomplished by asking someolder members in the local area to participate in a presentation with a diverse groupof NA members. These steps can illustrate both the diversity and the unity of ourfellowship. Our public relations efforts are likely to be more valuable and effectivewhen we take some time to plan the best ways to approach potential members.Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery dependson NA unity.Tradition OneUnity is the spirit that joins thousands of members around the worldin a spiritual fellowship that has the power to change lives.It Works: How and WhyOur collective service efforts help other addicts find recovery. NA has beengrowing since the 1950s because of members working together to further NA’sprimary purpose. Many of us are familiar with the group’s power to carry themessage of recovery to addicts coming to our meetings, and we use groups ofmembers in service in the same way. We can see our First Tradition at work whenmembers put their individual wants and needs aside for NA’s common good.Working together to make NA more visible and viable in our local communitiesnot only helps addicts find our program, it is also a powerful way of practicing theunity described in the First Tradition.10 | Chapter 2 | Core PR Principles