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Sunday, May 23, 2004
Concept Eleven:
NA funds are to be
used to further our primary purpose, and must be managed
responsibly.
The eleventh
concept ties together many of the previous concepts. It requires
that all financial resources be used to further the primary
purpose, whether it directly or indirectly affects the addict
who still suffers.
It is important to remember that it is the work, not the
resources, which is important. Simply put: just because a
committee has a lot of money, that doesn't mean it should take
on the largest project it can imagine.
Responsible management of resources, both financial and human,
requires us to follow the direction of the groups and our own
collective consciences when assigning priorities to service
projects and tasks. Responsible management also requires that we
practice regular reporting to ensure complete accountability for
our financial resources.
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Financial responsibility can be a difficult
subject. Funds should be managed by the committee with periodic
comprehensive review procedures, as well as safeguards designed
to protect the individual trusted servants. Financial reports
and written documentation should be kept and available for
others to review. Reports to the respective Area Service
Committee, Regional Service Committee, and World Services should
include detailed financial statements as requested those
committees.
The committee’s decisions concerning how to spend the money
allocated to it should always keep in mind the necessarily
limited nature of our financial resources; it should also
frequently monitor the effectiveness of its expenditures in
furthering the primary purpose. We have found that making
realistic budgets, and then living within them, is a laudable
enterprise, both within the NA Fellowship, and in life in
general.
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