Special words require our attention. Assuming we know why these terms are special can prevent our going the simple extra step that would give us much more useful knowledge. Organizations are functional systems and they work to preserve these functions. An organization has some beliefs in common, and the means to enforce adherence to its rules and goals. Businesses are organized from the inside out. We are organized from the outside in. Our group conscience processes blend in ideas and suggestions from many sources so that we include a maximum number of viewpoints and people. We don't submit well to authority figures. We can surrender as part of our programs and our service yet it is entirely voluntary. If we are not given trust and respect, we don't have to ask if something has gone wrong, we know.

Narcotics Anonymous is a spiritual program and to put our spiritual purposes first, it is important that we don't get so caught up in our function that we sink to the level of treating our sanctioned events and service efforts as businesses. Those we create are admonished to maintain directly responsibility to the general membership: those we serve. All are addicts seeking recovery at times and all are members who act as resources to those who suffer.

In NA we deal exclusively with disease of addiction. NA "as such" are our meetings where recovery is shared and the atmosphere for said recovery is maintained. All else is "not" NA.

The fellowship creates its service boards and committees. This is important to completely understand because in the course of things it may seem to us that our service efforts `create' the Fellowship. It is one was, and not the other. This keeps our committees and boards service oriented. It helps them to not get so caught up in what they are doing that they forget their allegiance and begin to govern. We create them and they are our creatures. They didn't create us, our desire for recovery did. We are not their creatures.

Direct responsibility is not having to concern ourselves with what other service boards and committees think. If we serve well those who benefit from our efforts and generally support others working to do the same in other ways within NA, all will be well. Addicts make poor legislators, however we may hate to admit this fact. We are frequently tied into our own viewpoint so totally, that others exist only in our peripheral vision. Keeping our service simple and just doing our job takes a lot of surrender and sincerity on our part.

Structurally, this Tradition is a warning to keep faith with the members of NA at large. It is the nature of bureaucracies that much can be made of little. Interactive service boards can pat each other on the back and drift away from being directly responsible without ever noticing it. Like a bull frog in a pan of water, they can boil to death without noticing a difference in the waters temperature. They surely think all the feels warm is good for them. All service positions require a knowledge of the Steps and Traditions. This is because we need to have surrender, faith, morals, and the ability to say we're sorry if we're going to function well with other addicts in service.

What is trusted service? Trusted service may be commitments that we may take on unconditionally on a group, area, or regional level. These commitments may vary, but one thing does not change: The unselfish desire to give back what was so freely given to you. For many of us, this act of unconditional love may take the form of something simple on a group level. Something that allows us to show our gratitude and feel a part of the greater whole. As our understanding of the principle of NA becomes more apparent and our spirituality increases, we may get involved in the committees that are directly responsible to it's members. Not all addicts in recovery choose to get involved in trusted service. Many are content with what they seem to have. Others complain of principles being violated or personalities in conflict. For us, trusted service implies action.

It can be so easy to sit back and complain about how poorly another member may be fulfilling their commitment. It can take the focus off ourselves. Why not get involved and either take on a commitment or help with others. No one commitment is more important than another.

If service were a management system or a corporate effort this might not be as true as it is with us. Service is part of our general giving or a part of our twelfth step. In either case it is important for us to give and to keep faith within the Fellowship's trust. Performing our task well or poorly is almost another matter. If we're clumsy or awkward, someone will notice and find a way to help us, if we are sincere.

One purpose of our ninth tradition is to separate and distinguish NA as such from our service boards and committees. NA as such is groups of addicts holding meetings for the purpose of recovery from the disease of addiction. Their primary purpose is to carry the message to the addict who still suffers. Service boards and committees are created by these groups and are not NA as such. They have many other purposes [and may become besieged with rivalry or competitiveness]. This is an important distinction as many members confuse our service structure with NA. Our structure does not speak for NA but should allow NA to speak through it. Our boards and committees should not lead NA as such, but should be led as outlined in our second tradition.

Separating our service structure and NA is vital to our spiritual growth. When we blur the distinction, service disputes and controversies enter into our recovery meetings and affect our personal recovery. No member should be isolated or feel isolated from the fellowship because of service issues.

This tradition talks about direct responsibility. It is up to NA groups to insist on this. Although our structure is separate from NA as such, we expect it to work within the principles established by our steps and traditions.

Somehow, over they years, our service boards and committees changed direction. They changed from being "not a part of Narcotics Anonymous" to being "solely to serve the fellowship." This cheats the newcomer members from the concept of the Ninth Tradition. This may not be a direct change but indirectly an implication of service boards or committees being NA can confuse people and bring conflict upon ourselves. Service boards or committees serve the fellowship.

No committee should be allowed to govern the fellowship. In selfless service, members may choose to become involved with committees our service boards. But since they are not NA, opinion and manipulation have no place, just group conscience as explained in our second tradition. Members may trust specific members to carry their collective conscience but this does not make this member a leader, governor or an organizer. It simply makes that person a trusted servant. No one has the power of authority to make decisions for NA. NA as a whole make decision for NA as a whole. We must remember we have no chiefs, we are all humble Indians.

I trust in the service boards and committees of NA that they are guided be God in their choices and are always looking for ways to benefit NA as a whole. I believe that organizations that are healthy, such as NA, will naturally weed out and overcome difficulties as they may arise. Individuals may become obsessed and view disenting members as the enemy, but surely our combined love and determined effort for the common good will prevail.

It is not the job of our service boards and committees to provide things we don't need. We don't need people to tell us what to think or approve what information becomes available to us. Responsiveness is the hallmark of genuine service. When member ask questions, they really want to know. Responding to their needs allows them to get past problems others have sucessfully faced and go on to break new recovery ground for NA so that the program grows as the program grows.