The Asia-Pacific Forum meets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Asia Pacific Forum recently met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 23 - 26. Although our focus was mainly on conducting translation workshops, we had many opportunities to discuss a wide range of issues of concern to us all. We received positive feedback from everyone attending. We had in attendance 3 representatives from India, 2 from the Philippines, 5 from Singapore, 2 from Australia and 15 to 20 members from the local fellowship in Malaysia, as well as the 5 members from the World Services.

A lot of the positive impact we have comes not only from what is discussed and shared at our meetings but also just by our presence in a developing NA community. A local NA meeting we attended swelled from its normal attendance to over twice the size. Not only did the entire NA fellowship attend, but also Nar-non, AA and Al-Anon. It was a great experience for all that attended.

The local fellowship also was very gracious in hosting a dinner afterwards for all the visitors and members of the local fellowship.

Some of the more immediate accomplishments from our Forum meeting was the establishment of a new NA recovery meeting in Kuala Lumpur, a new meeting in Singapore, a new connection for NA in Sri Lanka, where there are currently no NA meetings.

Also one of the translations contacts we brought in from India, Nihar from Orissa, had been working in isolation from the rest of the fellowship in India. He met for the first time, at our forum meeting, other addicts working on translations in India, and was very enthused about his new found support network.

Needless to say he was pleased to know he is not alone. He has updated us on translation progress with his committee. They are currently working on the translation of the prayer, glossary of words and terms, I.P. No. 1 and 6. Oriya is a language spoken by 30 million Indians and has its own independent script.

Sunil, from Calcutta and Ivan, from Bombay were welcome additions to the Forum and had a lot of good ideas and direction for us. We also had in attendance at our meeting, a local non-addict representative from a treatment facility in Kuala Lumpur who was impressed with the activities of the meeting, and he will be following up with members of the local NA fellowship to further support the growth of the NA fellowship in Malaysia. As a result of our meeting, the Singapore and Malaysian fellowships will be working together on new translations and evaluations. Every literature translation committee was able to address their specific needs and concerns directly with representatives from the World Service Translations Committee. We distributed literature to regions that have gone without due to lack of funds. We hope to future solicit donations of literature for NA communities in need.

Australia funded their RSR's attendance as well as a representative from their fellowship service office. The FSO in Australia desires to play a larger role in the Asia Pacific Forum. Possibly as a distribution point for literature, providing an Asia Pacific wide meeting schedule and any other services that may be needed.

Malaysia a growing NA community was very enthused about our meeting in Kuala Lumpur. They have only one meeting a week and a young fellowship, but are already working on translations and are doing H&I work. Languages in Malaysia include; Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil, Chinese, and Hindi. Public Relations with the Government are difficult. The Malaysian Government has very strict views on addicts and addiction and possession of relatively small amounts of narcotics can have severe consequences.

Singapore also has a Government with very strict laws and currently they can only hold meetings in the treatment facility there. The Government does not allow them to conduct NA meetings outside of the treatment facility. Representatives from the WSO have said they will assist the local fellowship with ways to get permission to take meetings to the outside. They have 3 meetings a week.

In the Philippines NA is 6 years old and they have 18 meetings per week in the Metro Manila area, 1 on Mindanao and 1 in the Visaya area. NA is supported in the Government Rehabilitation Centre and has become a part of their program. They just recently held their very first convention.

NA in Calcutta started in 1986. The first meeting was in an individual's house who was director of a local rehab. The meeting stopped for two years and then restarted in 1988 with three members who began translating NA literature on their own. There are now 4 regular groups with up to 10-15 members regularly attending and sometimes as many as 30. Their translations committee has just finished IP #1 in Bengali, which is currently being evaluated by the WSTC. 80% of the Calcutta members are Bengali speaking. The Calcutta Area just held their first Convention which was very successful.

The fellowship in Bombay started in 1987 and currently has about 100 members in 13 groups including 1 women's meeting. They are active in public information and H&I work. Their translation of IP #1 in Hindi has been completed and recently approved. Their translations committee is currently working on new projects. The Bombay Area has also just had a Convention.

In Thailand there is 1 meeting a week but it consists of all expatriates with no local members attending. The need for Thai translation is great.

Hong Kong now has 2 meetings a week with mostly expatriates attending. There is great difficulty in reaching out to the local population.

We recently received a letter from Bishnu in Katmandu, Nepal, with an update on the fellowship there. They currently have only one meeting a week. Last September 26th 1995 they celebrated their one-year anniversary of NA in Nepal. They have a need for translated NA literature but are having a difficult time with the necessary financial and human resources necessary.

The Hawaii Region continues to be very supportive of the Asia-Pacific Forum. Two years ago they formed an Asia-Pacific Forum Ad-hoc subcommittee which they continue to support as their first priority after the needs of the Region are met. The Hawaii Region has made direct donations of more than $2,000 and their fund-raising efforts have contributed over $5,000 more.

We also set forth for ourselves some projects and goals for the coming year and committed ourselves to becoming an even more productive part of NA. We feel that we provide much needed services within NA that are not being fully addressed by either the WSO or the WSC. We are going to continue to press for changes to more effectively address the needs of developing NA communities in every part of the world.

Some of these will include trying to increase the translation committee’s budgets at the WSC. Also requesting the Board of Directors to increase staff allocations for translations work at the office.

We continue to support the current resolution group’s proposals for the changing service structure of NA.

We hope to facilitate increased communications between local translations committees and the WSTC to further translation projects. We are looking at current WSTC guidelines and policies for ways to make their operations more efficient. We are exploring ways to speed up the evaluation process in particular with the possibility of taking on some of that responsibility ourselves.

We also feel the need for more flexibility by the WSO and WSC in their use of funds for developing NA communities. We will be asking H&I to set aside or earmark and increase their budget for provision for discounted or free literature to be used by H&I committees in developing communities.

The Asia Pacific Forum has decided to send a representative to the next WSC in Greensboro, North Carolina. We will be writing to the interim committee suggesting that all established forums be invited to this WSC meeting for the purpose of being allowed to be a part of the discussion of the resolutions groups proposals. Proposals which directly impact them we will be requesting that they be given discussion rights on the floor of the conference. They will be discussing issues and making decisions that directly effect forums worldwide and the problems that they are facing and we feel their input is important. We also feel that any developing NA community, even though they may not have the service structure required to be a region, has a voice that deserves to be heard.

As always we stand committed to the further growth and support of the NA communities in the Asia-Pacific Area and will continue to work with World Services in our efforts.

Editor's note

We have been aware of some ongoing discussion regarding the Asia-Pacific Forums intention of sending a representative to the 1996 World Services Conference in Greensboro. Hopefully we may be able to clarify our intentions.

Their are many NA communities in our part of the world that due to size, lack of funds or geographical isolation are not able to input the resolution process or for that matter are sometimes not able to access even the most basic of services that most of us take for granted. We feel that these NA communities are a vital part of NA and we need to hear what they have to say.

Hock Kee, a long time member of the fellowship in Malaysia was chosen at the last Asia-Pacific Forum meeting to attend WSC "96 and carry the input and concerns of those communities. Those NA regions that are able to send their RSR or are funded by the Development Forum to attend will have their individual representation. The Asia-Pacific Forum is not seeking the right to vote and we are not trying to circumvent the due process of the Resolution proposals. He is simply carrying the perspective of those NA communities who are not able to attend the WSC and want to participate.

We are, of course, for the most part, in favour of the resolution proposals. In our part of the world due mainly to the geography of the area and our relative isolation, a World Services system, that includes some type of geographical divisions makes the most sense and is currently working quite well for us.

At the same time, we realise that other parts of the world may have very different needs and thus possibly different solutions. We do not, in any way, want to take away from what others may decide works best for them, but we would like to be allowed to participate in a way that works for us.

This process can be a positive experience for the Conference. We will have the opportunity to hear another voice from the Asia-Pacific area that can share his experience, strength and hope of recovery in emerging NA communities. We desire to participate in the existing structure and we want to walk with the Conference as it goes through the necessary changes to ensure it will better meet the needs of our world wide fellowship.

We do not come to create controversy, we want to participate.

Yes, forum representation is new, different and a change but the NA regions and communities that make up the APF are of the belief that, in the future, sending forum representatives will better meet the needs of the fellowship. For us, it will be more cost effective, achievable, more inclusive, and will free up more funds and resources to achieve our primary purpose.

For us, the spirit that is NA has always been that we accept into our hearts any addict in need who is reaching out for recovery. The same philosophy applies, whether were dealing with an individual addict in our 12th step work, or in our "group recovery" at any level of our service structure.

The Forum- a brief history

The Asia-Pacific Forum began with a few individuals in the Pacific Rim area having informal talks about how they might be of service to the Fellowship in this part of the world. Simply by the geography of the area, even those who live in countries with a developed NA service structure have often felt very isolated from the rest of the fellowship.

At the 1992 World Service Conference in Dallas, the first informal meeting was held, at which we had several RSR’s R.S.R. Alt.'s and other interested participants from the Asia-Pacific area. We were all greatly excited about the possibilities of what might accomplished if we were to pool our resources, and made a commitment to meet again. That opportunity came at the 2nd Annual Aotearoa New Zealand Regional Convention in October 1992. We had, in attendance, representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii. At that meeting we established goals and priorities which are just as valid today as then.

We join together to discuss issues of mutual concern, address common needs, exchange ideas and share experiences to further our primary purpose of helping the addict in need. Our goals are to develop and support NA in the Asia-Pacific area, to support translations of NA literature into languages in use in the Pacific basin, to support outreach, H&I and public information efforts in our area, to maintain and support communication among NA members, communities and regions in this part of the world, and to work with world services in this effort. Our next meeting wasn't until the next World Service Conference in Los Angeles in April of '93. We were grateful to have Peter, from India, participate with us at that meeting. We were able to review our progress with each other and try to further identify areas that we might be of more help to the fellowship.

Next we met at the WSC meeting in Atlanta, in April of 1994, and our most recent meeting took place this past February in Auckland New Zealand. We were pleased to have in attendance at that meeting two representatives from Malaysia, as well as Garth P. a Board of Trustees member.

The needs of the Asia-Pacific area are just beginning to be addressed. With the growth of the Asia-Pacific Forum, established NA regions are reaching out to developing NA communities in this area and we are all learning from each other. Besides literature and translations we need to further identify other needs in the Asia-Pacific area. It means a lot to fellowships here just to have contact with other NA fellowships, to know they’re not alone in their journey. Many are not even aware of some of the materials available to them, designed to help developing groups. Of course, the largest stumbling block to the development of NA in our area is the lack of translated recovery materials for use by our non-English speaking members.

We are mostly very young fellowships and do not have the resources of some of the larger fellowships. Most Regions have difficulty in sending a R.S.R. or other representative to the WSC and could not do so without Development Forum support. For those not receiving support, the combination of long distances and limited funds makes it a choice between attending the conference and providing much needed services to the local fellowship. We would be in support of some method that might help those in more isolated NA communities attend. In some regions participation is limited only to those fortunate enough to have sufficient funds of there own to attend forums such as the WSC or ours in April. Attending a quarterly is just not possible. Many individuals with much to offer are excluded from service at the world level as a result, and the voices of their fellowships are not fully heard. There was some discussion as to the possibility of having some means by which the members of this forum who do attend the conference might represent those who cannot, yet desire to participate.

NA has grown tremendously over the years. As a result NA's service structure has been increasingly stretched to its limits, made even worse because of a constant shortfall of operating funds. Regional forums such as ours bring the decision-making level down a step closer to where the work is actually done.

Our statement of purpose, written in 1992 at APF Palmerston North, NZ is still very valid.

We, the NA Regions and communities of Asia-Pacific have joined to discuss issues of mutual concern, address our common needs, exchange ideas and share experiences to further our primary purpose. This forum is intended to compliment the existing service structure of NA. Our goal is to develop and support NA in this part of the world.

All Regions and NA communities in the Asia-Pacific area are urged to explore ways in their Regional meetings how they might be of service.

Translations

Our number one priority!!

We feel this to be the greatest obstacle to the continued growth of our fellowship in the Asia-Pacific area. We are continuing to assist the WSTC in evaluating the two pamphlet drafts that have been translated in Mandarin. We have a new contact in Hong Kong who will be working on this. Hock Kee and Wagner from the Kuala Lumpur fellowship will be hand carrying to the "96 conference finished drafts of two pamphlets in Bahasa Malaysia. They have been working with the fellowship in Singapore.

The Australian and Hawaiian fellowships are still working on trying to get an evaluation of the Vietnamese pamphlets drafts. Anyone bi-lingual in English and Vietnamese please contact the WSO or us.

The meetings we had with the World Services Translations committee members at our meeting in Kuala Lumpur were very successful. The WSTC members who attended our meeting had similar feelings. Following is an excerpt from their report in the March Conference Report.

"Terima Kasih. It is Malaysian for "thank you," and was expressed most genuinely by the members of the local fellowship for the WSTC's participation at the Asia-Pacific Forum meeting in Kuala Lumpur in November. The term also expresses our gratitude for having had the opportunity to meet and share with them and other participants from that part of the world. This was an exciting opportunity to have direct contact with members representing roughly a third of the language groups with which we have translations projects (Malaysian, Mandarin, Hindi, Oriya, Bengali, Tamil, Manipuri, Thai, Japanese, Tagalog and Maori)."

The WSTC and staff at the WSO have always been very helpful and we appreciate all that they have done to help us in our combined efforts to provide translated literature to the fellowship. Any members with language skills and/or translation experience are urged to call or write them c/o the WSO Translations. The address is on the last page of the newsletter.

1996 WSC Update

Another WSC Conference has come and gone. As is usual it was a Conference with a mixture of experiences for every one involved.

The Conference always provides the Asia-Pacific Forum Members a convenient opportunity to get together and share with each other, which are always a positive experience and this year was no exception.

On the Friday before the Conference began we were able to meet and update each other since we had last met. The APF members in attendance at this years Conference were Aotearoa-New Zealand (Catherine and Hamish), Australia (Simon and Bella), Hawaii (Bob and Larry), Malaysia (Hock Kee and Wagner) India (Simon), and the Philippines (Nina and Tata). We also were blessed with the support of J.J. from Wisconsin (our mid-west connection). We had written reports from Nepal (Bishnu), Singapore (Ibrahim), Hong Kong (Jim), and Korea (Jon).

The Conference officially started on Sunday morning and it began with some controversy, because of the APF's intention of asking for discussion privileges for Hock Kee, the APF's representative from Malaysia. Australia put forward a motion requesting seating for Hock Kee and much lively discussion took place from there. After much discussion, amendments, and a ruling that it would take a two-thirds majority to pass, the motion was defeated.

Although disappointed, we received a lot of support from the other participants and Wagner and Hock Kee were able to interact with the Conference boards and committees and benefited greatly from attending the Conference. I also know that through their attendance the awareness and consciousness of the Conference was raised considerably.

Both motion one and two, which asked for adoption of the vision and mission statements, passed. Resolution A, approving in principle a change in participation at a new WSC passed as did resolution B which approved in principle the adoption of a World Board. Resolution C1 calling for the elimination of standing committees failed, as did resolution D that would have created a system of Ad-Hoc committee's only. Instead resolution C2 passed which recommends a significantly downsized standing committee system. Resolution E passed recommending a unified budget as did resolution G approving the formation of a Human Resources Panel as a means by which the WSC may choose trusted servants for consideration by conference participants. Motion 3 failed, thus ending for now the debate about taking the gender out of the steps and traditions.

Funding

We in the Asia-Pacific area face many problems in funding ourselves to any event we might attend, whether it’s to the annual WSC meeting or our own Asia-Pacific Forum meeting. We are separated by many thousands of miles and must travel by air. Many of our fellowships are not financially able to fund themselves. Many of us belong to developing NA communities that are not even able to take care of their more basic needs. We can help ourselves, with those regions who are able, to hold fund-raisers or to contribute directly to accomplish our common goals, and try to equalise the costs among ourselves.

We feel that World Services need to re-examine the way in which it allocates funds. We feel that sometimes instead of using funds to send WSC members to events, better to use some of those moneys to help fund participants of those events themselves. Instead of spending three to five thousand dollars sending two or three world members from the Mainland, send one a let the rest be used to bring in participants who would not otherwise be able to attend. Or instead of funding people at all, fund the event itself, and let them participate in the decision making process of how the money is used. Or possibly include Forums into the budget process at the WSC conference, allocating funds with conference approval, to be used by Forums to conduct service oriented events.

F.S.O. Australia

We wish to thank the Australian Fellowship Service Office for voting to allocate A$2,000 for assistance to the Forum in their translations efforts. We hope, in time to develop more and closer contacts with the F.S.O. and look forward to working with them in the future.

New Contacts

The newest addition to the Hong Kong fellowship is Jim C. Originally from the eastern United States, he and his wife are now living in Hong Kong and he has been getting more and more actively involved with the fellowship there. Not only has he started a second meeting, he has also established Hong Kong's first N.A. phone hotline. The number is 852 2813-7343. He will also be assisting us with getting the recent Mandarin translations evaluated.

We also have a new contact in Korea. Jon H. has updated us on the fellowship there. Currently there is one meeting a week on Saturday afternoon. They are just getting started sending a NA panel to the treatment facility located on the army base in Seoul. He is looking for support with their H&I efforts and can be written at the following address.

Jon Henry Halberg

Sogang Language Program Institute (Mokdong)

7F, Whasung Plaza BL 909-5

Mok6Dong Yangchun-gu

Seoul, South Korea

My gratitude speaks...

When I care

and when I share with others

The N.A. way.

Letters

July 13, 1995

Asia-Pacific Newsletter

P.O. Box 90397

Honolulu, Hi. 96835-0397

To Whom It May Concern:

Would you please add me to the mailing list to receive the Asia Pacific Newsletter. Also would you add my name and (above) address to "Share Your Experience" in upcoming Newsletters.

I very much enjoy communicating with other recovering addicts - from everywhere. Sharing experience, strength and hope whether at a meeting - on the phone - or in a letter can only strengthen my recovery.

Thank you.

Yours in Recovery

Robert O.

Dear APF

RE; UPDATE ON LOCAL TRANSLATIONS WORKS

Hoping that you are well and abound with joy, I am please to inform you that the Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Fellowship have finished with our pilot translation of the I.P. #1 and the glossary that are hereby enclosed. I understand that Hock Kee will bring a copy to the Conference sometime in mid-May. It is inspiring for me to learn that the Kuala Lumpur Fellowship has started their H&I program and to me that is progress towards recovery. For your info we had a meeting with people from the Ministry of Home Affairs about the possibility of meetings outside the treatment facility. How ever there seems to be a discrepancy of interest and we decided to abide by the traditions thus ending any affiliations.

I am also very happy to inform you that there is an N.A. meeting here in Singapore every Monday night at the American Club. I came to know about it when I attended the AA meeting last night. I have not yet attended it as yet but I am very much looking forward to it. It is what I've been hoping for and I guess for many others.

With all these encouraging developments I like to thank you for the kind support that is readily given. I'll be keeping in touch. Until we meet again sometime.

TERIMA KASIH

Yours in recovery,

Shuradi

HOPE-FIEND

With regards from brother Ibrahim

Dear APF 26/7/95

My name is Peter Parkins and I am the Area Service Representative of the Northern Area Service Committee. We are one of the four areas that make up the Sydney metropolitan fellowship in New South Wales, Australia. Our RSR, Libby and Alternate, Simon informed us about the Asia Pacific Forum Newsletter you are producing and distributing. On behalf of the Northern Area, I would like to be added to your mailing list for the newsletter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours in service, Peter P.

Regional Forum of India 15th May 1995

To: Asia Pacific Forum,

Namaskar. Thank you for your letter and the copy of the Minutes of the Forum Meeting in February 1995. We have circulated copies of your letter and the minutes of the Asia Pacific Forum Meeting to all the Area Service Committees in India. We are awaiting their reply.

We were also happy to receive copies of the APF newsletter, and welcome members in China into the N.A. Community. We have sent copies of the newsletter to all ASC’s in India.

The WSC 95 must have ended and it was unfortunate that India could not participate. However we hope that APF has participated in WSC 95. Especially in the development forum. India being a newly developing region has a great interest in learning from other regions how to more effectively support N.A. Services and better carry the message to the suffering addicts. We hope that the APF will address this interest of India. We are eagerly awaiting the results of the inventory process from the composite team. It would have been nice if a representative from India was present at the Conference to take part in discussion relating to the composite team reports, problem identification and prioritisation and the resolution process. However we trust that the members of other regions and APF must have discussed matters thoroughly keeping the primary purpose and common welfare in mind. We hope to hear from you in this regard. We are especially interested in learning what role India and APF have in this resolution process and how best we can do it.

Hoping to hear from you,

In loving service,

Haripal V.

To; APF

From: Haripal V.-Chairperson Indian Regional Forum

Date: 13 October ‘95

Namaste

Greetings to you from India. It is nice to be in touch with you again. Recently we had an Indian Regional Forum Meeting at Madras which we would like to share our thoughts and ideas with the Asia-Pacific Forum.

The meeting was held on 15th, 16th, & 17th of September "95. It was attended by ASR's from Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. Two other areas ie. Delhi and Imphal as they could not attend the meeting, they sent in their reports.

The following topics was discussed and decided upon.

1. The India Region has decided to be a part of the Asia-Pacific Forum. (APF). We feel that the APF should become a formal body and we will extend whatever assistance we can to the APF.
2. We strongly second the proposal for a translation workshop at Kuala Lumpur, along with the WSCTC in attendance. In India, 3 areas have a functioning Local Translations Committee. The Bombay LTC is working on Hindi translation, Calcutta on Bengali and Imphal on Manipuri. Madras will soon be forming a LTC. The Indian Region strongly feels the need of translated literature to carry the message effectively.
3. The Indian Region invites the APF to have a meeting in India. We would be glad to host a meeting in India.
4. We would like to participate in fund-raising activities for the APF as best we can. As we are new Regional Forum, we request other Regions in the APF to share their growing experience with us.

The Indian Regional Forum will be meeting at Calcutta on the 10th & 11th of Jan. "96. The Calcutta convention is on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of Jan."96. The Bombay Convention is on the 26th, 27th, & 28th of Jan. "96.

We invite you and other members of the APF to participate at our Indian Regional Forum meeting at Calcutta. We need your experience, strength, and hope.

We thank you for all the good work you have been doing and we send our best wishes to all the APF members.

We look forward to your reply.

In service,

Haripal V.

Chairperson,

Indian Regional Forum

Share your Experience, Strength and Hope

The Asia-Pacific Forum Newsletter welcomes letters and articles from members worldwide. Share your support and inspiration.

India Region

The Bombay ASC is busy organising their next Area Convention with the theme of "...And Life Changes." The cost of registration is $20 for the three days, which includes food and lodging. Cheques can be made out to "BACNA" and sent to the address listed on the last page of this newsletter. They have also just held their Area elections with the following positions being filled.

Chairperson- Hormazd I.

Ph. (9122) 2183204

Secretary- Imtiaz K.

Ph. (9122) 2182585

P.I. Chairperson- Pritam D.

Ph. (9122) 7651905

Translation Chairperson- Gautam D.

Ph. (9122) 4094128

Convention Chairperson- Gopal I.

Ph. (9122) 4461709

The number of groups has increased to 13 with 25 meetings a week, one of which is a women's meeting. Public Information presentations were made to the city police and they have begun sending addicts to the meetings. At present they have translated five IP’s. The Bombay ASC is in the process of registering itself with the government.

Many thanks to Ivan and others in the Bombay Area for all the support they have given the Asia-Pacific Forum.

The Calcutta Area also will be hosting a Convention in January. The details are listed at the back of the Newsletter.

This September 1st they are also celebrating the Calcutta Area's 8th anniversary. Congratulations! Their Area has also just voted to make a donation to the Asia-Pacific Forum. We appreciate their support.

That no addict seeking recovery need ever die.

Meetings in Malaysia

Open Meeting

Friday- 8 p.m. at St. Andrews Church, No. 29, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur. (open meeting)

H&I Meetings

Tuesday- 9 p.m. at Rumah Pengasih, Jalan Syers, Kuala Lumper.

Wednesday- 9 p.m. at Sea Park, P. Jaya

Contact persons:

Wagner Ng Tel. 03-298-1619 (office)

Tel. 03-291-4639 (office)

Robert Hon Tel. 03-756-3524 (home)

Hock Kee Tel. 06-731-097

We would like to develop an Asia-Pacific wide meeting list. All Regions and NA communities should send their schedules to us c/o this newsletter.

Additional Resources

The World Service Office also provides a variety of services to addicts who are geographically isolated. They will send out a free Group Starter Kit and informational packets upon request. You can write or call to find out where the nearest NA meeting or office is. There is a WSC Ad-hoc Outreach committee that will provide useful information for you. They can be contacted through the office and if you have an existing Outreach committee they would like you to register with them. You might also find the Narcotics Anonymous Loner Group helpful. It is a means by which geographically isolated addicts can communicate with one another by mail. This "Meeting by Mail" allows recovering addicts to share their experience, strength, and hope through regular correspondence. The "Meeting by Mail" is a bi-monthly newsletter published by the Loner Group. If you wish to receive this newsletter write to; Loner Group, PO box 9999, Van Nuys, CA. 91409-9999, USA.

There are two other publications that you might find helpful. One is the Newsline that you can have sent to you free of charge. NA groups, registered with the WSO, are sent this publication automatically. It contains notices of up-coming NA conventions and events, as well as a lot of useful information about the Office and the many services they provide. The NA Way Magazine is another helpful publication. This fellowship magazine contains many articles of recovery written by addicts for addicts. We suggest you or your group subscribe to the magazine so that you can receive issues on a monthly basis. The most important service NA offers is the experience, strength, and hope of the recovering addict. Remember, the "therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel." So if it's possible, contact another recovering addict either by phone or mail. If you contact the NA World Service Office they will assist you in reaching the nearest recovering addicts. Remember that you don't have to be lonely, even though you might be alone.

You may write for further information

WORLD SERVICE OFFICE

PO Box 9999

Van Nuys, CA. 91409

USA

Ph. (818) 773-9999

Fax (818) 700-0700

The 1996 Asia-Pacific Forum meeting will be held in Manila January 16th & 17th, 1997. We had such great success with our last meeting, focusing on providing translations workshops, we plan to also make translations a priority at this years meeting. We will be inviting and hope to have the attendance of members from Japan who are working on translations projects.

Our Forum meeting will take place just prior to the Philippine Convention and we will be conducting many of our service workshops during the Convention itself to involve as many members of the fellowship as possible.

Tata M. may be contacted for further information regarding lodging information for either the Forum meeting or the Philippine convention. His address and phone number is listed under the upcoming convention information on the next page.

If you have any suggestions for workshops or agenda items you would like to see addressed at the Forum meeting contact Larry R. Bob B. Simon T. or Lib E. We are here to help provide the services you need most, so please give us your input. We look forward to seeing you there.

For more information on the Asia-Pacific Forum contact

ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM

PO BOX 90397

HONOLULU, HAWAII, 96835

USA

Bob B

PO Box 5284

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745

U.S.A.

Ph (808) 326-2583

Simon T

582 Burwood Road

Hawthorn, Victoria 3122

Australia

Ph. 61 (3) 9818 5822

Fax 61 (3) 9819 6176

simont@werple.net.au

Lib E

7 Windham

Alexandria, N.S.W. 2015

Australia

Ph. 61 2 698-2240

Larry R

6312 Kaiwiki Pl.

Honolulu, Hawaii 96825

U.S.A.

Ph. (808) 396-2316

Fax (808) 395-6809

Many Thanks !!

Thank you to all those groups and individuals who have contributed funds or sent literature directly to groups in need. In many parts of the world addicts simply are not able to purchase a basic text or other recovery materials that we in more "developed NA communities" take for granted. We feel it one of our main priorities to have available the basic tools of recovery.

We also wish to give a belated thank you to the New York Regional Committee and the New York Convention Committee for allowing the auction of a "collectors item" T-Shirt which went for $549. This money helped us to fund our translation workshop in Kuala Lumpur and was greatly appreciated. Thanks to Fran O. for her donation of the 1983 New York Convention T-Shirt that was auctioned, and to Donald G. for his help in making the arrangements.

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

AOTEAROA New Zealand

Aotearoa NZ RCNA 5

"HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED N.A.?"

September 20-22 1996

Flock House Estate,

Bulls, Box 133

Palmerston North, New Zealand

Chris Moore - Chairperson

Box 133

Palmerston North, Manawatu

New Zealand

Fax 64 6 356 4657

Voice 64 6 356 4657

AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY - THE BONDI BANQUET

Thurs. 29 Aug. 1996

Birdmans Restaurant, 82 Hall St. Bondi

Full price $16 Meat or Veg Pasta plus Entertainment. Call Becci (02) 30 4599

or John J. (02) 30 4061 (018) 119 423

SYDNEY - TALENT QUEST

Sat. 21 Sept. 1996

St. Cancies Hall, Roslyn St. Elizabeth Bay

John J. (02) 30 4321 (018) 119 423

John L. 0419 298 824

SYDNEY COMBINED AREAS CONVENTION

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?

Fri 4 - Sun 6 Oct. 1996

Glebe High School, Taylor St. Glebe

John (02) 30 4061 (018) 119 423

FORSTER NSW - 10TH ANNUAL SPIRIT OF UNITY WEEKEND Tiona Park, The Lakes Way, Forster, NSW

Fri. 22 - Sun 24 Now 1996

$70 (Includes accommodation, all meals & T-Shirt) John (02) 740 8689, Tony & Colleen (02) 891 3800, Roy (02) 810 3195, Jane (02) 569 6856

SYDNEY WESTERN AREA CONVENTION

Fri. 6 Dec - Sun 8 Dec 1996

St Josephs Hall, Enfield

Julia (02) 744 8316 Athol (02) 744 8316 or 019 980 598

PERTH - WESTERN AUSTRALIA AREA CONVENTION

Fri 14 - Sun 16 March 1997

Commonwealth Royal Society Hall

183 Roberts Road, Subiaco

Julie (09) 272 4508

INDIA

Calcutta Area Convention

CACNA II

Post Box-9146

Park Street, Calcutta-700 016 India

January 10th, 11th, 12th 1997

For information call

Sunil J. 440-7793

Abhirup 244-0892

Bobby 244-9639

Joydeep 27-9844

Bappa 74-8925

Sumit 440-8528

Or fax Sunil at 0091-033-294948

Bombay Area Convention

"...And life changes"

BACNA,

P.O. Box 1953

GPO, Mumbai-400001 India

January 25th, 26th, 27th, 1997

For information call

Ivan Ph. (9122) 2619195

Fax (9122) 2624959

Imphal Area 1st Convention

"Alone No More"

March 1st - 3rd 1997

Write the newsletter for more information

HAWAII

Hawaii Regional Convention

PO Box 1212

Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii 96756-1212

November 14-17, 1996

Kauai, Hawaii

For information call

Shelley C. (808) 822-0387

Sharon P. (808) 639-7645

10th Annual Western States Public Information Learning Days

WSPILD X

PO Box 30711

Honolulu, Hawaii 96820-0711

Nov. 8, 9 & 10, 1996

For information call

Erik R. (808) 833-1845

Alan L. (808) 834-4867

PHILIPPINES

Philippine Regional Convention

P.O. Box 8535 Dasmarinas Village

Makati, Metro Manila

Philippines

January 17, 18 & 19, 1997

For Information Contact

Tata M. Fax 632 810-0279

E-Mail tat@epic.net

Nina M. Fax 632 521-0592

Jun Jun A. Fax 632 819-7488

Jovi E. Fax 632 823-3133