Hello North Carolina Region,
This report contains updates from the service bodies that serve our region, as well as important information about World Service Conference 2026. See the summary section for an overview, and use the quick links below to skip to specific sections.
Quick Links:
Summary
The Southeastern Zonal Forum has several upcoming meetings, and several workgroups and task teams you can get involved with. Click for more.
The US Collaboration of Zones had its annual planning session, forming the “Mentorship/Training” and “Rural and Marginalized Communities” task teams. Click for more.
NA World Services is hosting a World Unity Day event, needs input on literature revision projects, and is undergoing a change in leadership. Click for more.
The next World Service Conference is scheduled for April 2026, with the Conference Agenda Report (CAR) releasing in November 2025. We’ll be hosting CAR workshops, and members and groups will be directly involved in the decision-making process. This conference cycle is different for a number of reasons, and we’re excited about what’s ahead. Click for more.
Southeastern Zonal Forum (SEZF)
The SEZF hasn’t met since our last report, so there are few updates, but we wanted to share upcoming meeting dates and highlight the SEZF’s active workgroups and task teams. All meetings are hybrid, and the November meeting will include a CAR Workshop from the World Board.
Upcoming Meetings
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- July 26-27 in Lexington, KY
- Nov 7-8 in Atlanta, GA
- Feb 7-8 in Orlando, FL
Current Workgroups and Task Teams
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- The Service Symposium Workgroup has been tasked to explore whether SEZF can take over the now-folded Florida Service Symposium. At this time, we don’t expect this to move forward, but we’ll provide an update at the next RSC.
- The Fellowship Development Workgroup is newly formed and will begin open meetings after the July SEZF meeting.
- The Public Relations Task Team manages several ongoing projects and holds monthly meetings open to all.
- The BMLT Task Team maintains the BMLT (meeting list) and Yap (helpline) servers for all member regions, including ours.
To join upcoming SEZF meetings or workgroup/task team meetings, visit sezf.org/events.
US Collaboration of Zones
The US Collaboration of Zones recently held its annual planning session, resulting in the creation of two new task teams: “Mentorship/Training” and “Rural and Marginalized Communities”. While they have not yet requested funding from member zones, we anticipate this may be needed in the future.
Current Workgroups and Task Teams
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- Communications Workgroup
- Public Relations Workgroup
- IT/Technology Workgroup
- Mentorship/Training Task Team
- Rural and Marginalized Communities Task Team
For more details or to get involved, visit usa-na.org/about-us.
NA World Services (NAWS)
World Unity Day
NAWS will be hosting World Unity Day on September 5, 2025. This is a 24 hour virtual event beginning at 12pm Eastern. It will feature speakers, videos, and workshops from around the world. Visit na.org/annualevents for information about how to attend.
Ongoing Literature Projects
H&I Basics
Revising the H&I Basics Service Pamphlet was prioritized at WSC 2023, and an input and review draft has been made available. These types of drafts typically do not get a lot of input, so your help is greatly appreciated. This is your chance to impact service literature that will guide H&I service efforts worldwide. Please review it, and provide input using the form on the website. Visit na.org/projects to access the draft and associated survey.
IP 21 The Loner – Staying Clean in Isolation
Revising “IP 21 The Loner – Staying Clean in Isolation” was prioritized at WSC 2023. The input and review draft was released earlier this year, and input was accepted until May 15. While the time for input has closed, it’s still quite interesting to read through the draft. You can find it at na.org/projects.
You can expect to see an approval draft in the Conference Agenda Report this year.
Leadership Change
A significant leadership transition at NAWS was announced at WSC 2023. After serving as Executive Director since the 1990s, Anthony E. will be retiring later this year. Becky M., our long-time Assistant Executive Director, will step into the role. We are deeply grateful to Anthony for guiding the Fellowship through its greatest period of growth and are confident in Becky’s ability to lead us into the future.
World Service Conference 2026
We are quite optimistic about WSC 2026, as several positive changes have been made. First, we’ll leave you with some important dates and expectations for how you and your groups will participate in the upcoming Conference. Then, we’ll outline what’s different about this Conference.
Important Dates
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- November 3, 2025: Conference Agenda Report is available.
- February 3, 2026: Conference Approval Track is available.
- April 18, 2026: Electronic straw polls take place.
- May 3-9, 2026: World Service Conference 2026 occurs.
How Can I Participate?
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- Conference Agenda Report (CAR): Contains motions that go back to groups for a vote, along with key updates from the World Board. Every group in our region can vote, and we’ll hold CAR workshops in-person or virtually upon request.
- CAR Survey: Released with the CAR, this survey contains a list of new and revised recovery and service literature projects for you to prioritize. Every member, group, and service body is encouraged to take this survey.
- Conference Approval Track (CAT): These are motions that are generally of less interest to the groups, such as project plans, budgets, and reimbursement policies. These are voted on by Regional Delegates at the Conference. While we do solicit group input, time is limited and interest is typically lower.
What’s different about WSC 2026?
Three-Year Cycle
The most significant change in the 2023–2026 cycle compared to previous ones is the shift to holding the in-person WSC every three years instead of every two. In the second year of the cycle, a smaller Interim WSC is held via Zoom. This change was made for two key reasons: first, to reduce the substantial costs of travel and facilities associated with in-person meetings; and second, to give the World Board and NAWS staff more time and flexibility to carry out delegated projects. This longer cycle has also made it easier to involve the Fellowship more fully in the planning process—an outcome we see as a major step forward.
Inclusive Strategic Plan
The development of the NAWS strategic plan is now more inclusive than ever before. Healthy organizations are guided by a plan, and NAWS has followed this practice since its restructuring in 1998/2000. Traditionally, creating the strategic plan has been the responsibility of the World Board. While they have always considered the needs of the broader Fellowship, Regional Delegates were not directly involved. In the 2023–2026 cycle, that changed. Since WSC 2023, Regional Delegates have played an active role in shaping the new strategic plan, contributing through multiple surveys and small group sessions over the past two years. The result is the most collaborative and representative NAWS strategic plan to date, which we expect to appear in this year’s Conference Agenda Report for your approval.
CAR Survey Instead of CAR Motions for Literature Projects
At past Conferences, the process for prioritizing new and revised literature projects has caused confusion, culminating at WSC 2023 where it became clear there were two competing paths: regional CAR motions and the CAR Survey. Regional motions proved problematic because no single region reflects the global Fellowship’s needs, while the CAR Survey—though more inclusive—lacked a process to group similar ideas and align them with the strategic plan.
To resolve this, we proposed creating a single, clear process, which was prioritized at WSC 2023. At Interim WSC 2025, we agreed on a one-cycle trial with two key changes for WSC 2026:
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- Regional CAR motions for literature projects will no longer be considered. All prioritization will happen through the CAR Survey.
- The CAR Survey is being revamped to solicit broader input, involve Regional Delegates in curating and grouping items, and ensure alignment with the strategic plan.
We’ve been actively involved in shaping the new survey and expect to finalize it in August. It will be released with the Conference Agenda Report in November, and all members, groups, and service bodies are encouraged to participate. We believe this will be the most inclusive and effective prioritization process yet.
Using Electronic Straw Polls to Make Decisions
At previous WSCs, over half the time was spent in business sessions voting on CAR and CAT motions—often with little discussion value since many Delegates arrived with predetermined votes. At WSC 2023, we tested an electronic straw poll before the Conference: motions with consensus support (80%) were passed if that support held during the first in-person straw poll. At WSC 2026, we’re taking this further: motions with consensus support in the electronic straw poll will automatically pass, and only those without consensus support will be discussed. This change is expected to save days of debate and free up time for more meaningful conversations about our Fellowship’s future.
Thank You!
We appreciate you allowing us to serve, and please feel free to reach out with thoughts, questions, or concerns. You can reach us via email at wsc@ncregion-na.org.
Jacob S (Regional Delegate) and Jonathan B (Alternate Delegate)