I’ve been reflecting on the standards we set for our conventions. Conventions aren’t NA, this we know and have been told. There’s an uproar recently regarding the registration for the World Convention in D.C., but regarding the price of a convention alone there isn’t a lot of merit for discussing any other tradition besides our Fifth Tradition. As someone who has registered to go, I will say there’s a virtual newcomers’ bucket to donate to.
Last year I went to a convention where the convention committee announced that they struck deals with restaurants and cafés to get a discount, while another convention committee for a separate convention refused a ‘good deal’ because the organization said they could have the convention space for a discounted price if they let them do a presentation for our members about why they should become members of their organization. The second seems like something to obviously refuse, but why not the first? Because it’s saving us money and clearly benefiting our members?
Seeking experience on this subject I was referred to our PR Handbook. The PR Handbook states: “When both parties are benefiting from the cooperative interaction, and are closer to reaching their mutual goals, then both parties involved equally support the relationship. NA is not to be given any special treatment by accepting this volunteer service from a nonmember.” I’d like to compare this to our Sixth Tradition: “An NA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the NA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.” To give another line of comparison, I’ll add the dictionary definition of ‘endorse’: “to make a public statement of your approval or support for something or someone.” The other word to look into in that sentence is the word ‘public’, as well. The PR Handbook, in this instance, feels clumsily formulated and unnecessarily open to interpretation. A relationship can be mutually beneficial while in other ways being unhealthy for you, like your job that also stresses you out. We’re not necessarily harming anyone, it’s mutually beneficial, but each member who enters that restaurant with a discount will be representing NA as we live our Eleventh Tradition in our everyday lives. Will our behavior be attractive?
It’s also worth noting that the Sixth Tradition talks specifically about an NA group. But, if we say NA conventions aren’t NA as such and aren’t bound by the traditions, then conventions become a free-for-all. Where do we draw the line? If conventions aren’t NA – only the meetings within them – what standards do we set?
Discussing this with another member, they pointed out that it’s in discussing and thinking about the traditions that they come alive. An old sponsor of mine also once pointed out to me when I was stressing about the outcome of a group conscience meeting that there’s no reason to worry because we always invite God into the room. As a member I can always apply that same trust to the committee meetings, knowing that God is with us all.