Webinar 2pm EST- Upcoming Changes to Meeting Finder – NA World Services

NAWS Informational Webinar on changes to the na.org Meeting Finder

Saturday November 11th, 2pm – 3:30pm EST

Meeting ID 827 1145 8381 / passcode 1953

This will be a walkthrough of the new approach and an explanation of what is needed from regions / areas regarding changes to the NAWS meeting locator. NAWS will be switching from an interface that lists individual meetings to one that lists local websites and phone lines.

Spanish and Portuguese translation will be provided. Contact nick@na.org if you require other interpretation.

Additional Info

From the World Board:

The most important thing we can do for another addict is let them know where they can find a meeting. We need your help to accomplish that.

Some of you may have heard World Services is changing our meeting finder app and website. Instead of trying to maintain accurate information for the more than 72,000 meetings in over 140 countries around the world, our website and meeting finder app will refer people to local websites and phonelines for meeting information. Local meeting information is typically more accurate and up-to-date.

In order for the new system to work, however, we need to know the town or the city at the geographical center of all local websites and phonelines (area, regional, etc.). We emailed regional delegates to ask for help geotagging websites and phonelines, but website and phoneline service work is typically done by other trusted servants. If you are a local trusted servant who helps post meeting information online or make it available to phonelines, we’re asking you to help us gather the information we need. If you haven’t given your delegate or RCM information to help with the geo-tagging or contacted us, please email nadata@na.org with any information you have to provide.

It may sound boring—geotagging, websites, data, apps—but it really is a life or death matter. Our Fifth Tradition in the Basic Text reminds us “The group is the most powerful vehicle we have for carrying the message.” Help us help addicts find recovery.

We are holding an open web meeting 11 November, 11am–12:30pm, Pacific Standard Time, to walk through the new approach to the meeting finder and explain what information we need from trusted servants. Meeting ID: 827 1145 8381, Passcode: 1953. Anyone is welcome, but it is particularly geared toward trusted servants who help maintain local meeting information via website or phoneline. We will record the web meeting and post the video on http://www.na.org/meetingsearch afterward.

The fact that we, each and every group, focus on carrying the message provides consistency; addicts can count on us. Unity of action and purpose makes possible what seemed impossible for us—recovery.

The Twelfth Step of our personal program also says that we carry the message to the addict who still suffers. Working with others is a powerful tool. “The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel.” For the newcomers, this is how they found Narcotics Anonymous and learned to stay clean. For the members, this reaffirms their commitment to recovery. The group is the most powerful vehicle we have for carrying the message.

-Basic Text, “How it Works,” Tradition Five

Thank you for all you do to carry the message to the addict who still suffers.

With gratitude,

World Board

World Services is changing the way we help members find meetings. We’re holding a webinar 11 November, 2pm–3:30p, EST, to explain the new system and the information we need from regional/area web trusted servants. The meeting is open to anyone but is especially geared toward website and phonelines trusted servants who maintain meeting information. We will record the webinar and post a video to http://www.na.org/meetingsearch afterward for those who are unable to attend.

Instead of trying to maintain information for individual meetings in more than 140 countries, our meeting search page and app will point people to local websites and phonelines. Meeting information maintained by local service bodies is more likely to be accurate and current. To make this change, World Services needs help geotagging local service bodies so that we can map search results and make sure our data for areas, regions, and phonelines is current.

Questions? Email us at wb@na.org or show up to the web meeting!