Bob Stone

by Bo S.

Bob Stone was offered the job at the WSO on 6/11/1983, a Saturday. So, Jimmy was the office manager until that day. Bob Stone went to work on Sunday, 6/12/1983.

This kind of makes the point moot that Stone was around for the various office moves from 1976-1983. Stone was the Parliamentarian of the WSC prior to becoming office manager. He was only present during the World Service Conference held in late April/early May period. There was no hovering about the Office by Bob Stone looking to take over. As perceived successor to Jimmy Kinnon, whatever went wrong at WSO was hung around Bob's neck. Surely the staff played a significant role in this. I can see Bob taking a fall for a staff action or decision. He was that kind of man. Also, just as surely, Bob was mislead by addicts near him to believe the unlikely or the implausible. Remember this if you plan to read his book. It is interesting how the ‘good guys' and ‘bad guys' changed from time to time.

Bob Stone was also an ardent believer in our NA philosophy of inclusion. Allowing members from far away to have a hand in NA issues and decision making is a rare and special quality. I believe for someone to be trustworthy, it helps if they feel trusted. It is harder for an individual to be trustworthy if they know they are going to be treated as badly as someone who is known to be untrustworthy. Perhaps this is simple reciprocity - expect me to steal and I might, treat me with dignity and respect and I'll go hungry before I steal. People in NA long for dignity and respect but can shift gears quickly if they feel betrayed. Therefore, in both WSC Administration and the WSC Sub-Committee for Literature (WLC), we made a point of trusting people and expecting the best. We were careful to arrange backup plans if things were to go badly, but we never advanced these plans as an insult or a threat. Plan A was if everybody did what they said, when they said they'd do it. Plan B was what we would do if Plan A failed. A good Plan B seems to have helped Plan A go well. It was also our announced policy to give applause for doing a good job. If you did a poor job, you were simply passed over. In other words, we gave attention to good performance and ignored non-attendance or incomplete work assignments where the person did not ask for help. If they asked for help, we would get them as much as needed. The WSO had different policies: they had payrolls, job titles and responsibilities and everyday management problems. The slight clash between our volunteer system and the WSO management system made for problems. When staff developed tendencies to treat elected WSC officers and chairpersons like employees, there was an air of superiority among Office workers. Like they were for real and the elected volunteers couldn't be expected to do much. While this may have only shown itself as mild competitiveness, it may be the real source of antagonism and friction.

If Bob Stone's book, My Years with Narcotics Anonymous is accurate, then Bob was not expected to be a big supporter of the policy changes planned by the WSO Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees and the WSC Administration in the late 1980's. You don't subject an executive director to non-renewal if his is in on the planned changes.

I am posting this Open Letter that I was given years ago. It was written after Baby Blues were distributed but before Grateful Dave fought the court case for us. I don't know the author or exact date but it is a great example of the sentiments for that period. It also refers to letters written by the BOT during this same time period attempting to label those involved with the effort as hurting the Fellowship. If anyone has a copy of the BOT letter perhaps we could post both letters to TWPP Baby Blue Chapter.

Love and Respect Ed M

An Open letter to the trustees concerning the printing of the 3rd Edition, revised Basic Text After seeing a copy of the letter put out by the trustees stating violations of Narcotics Anonymous Traditions as a s result of the printing of an altered version of the Basic Text, 3rd Edition, revised, I found it necessary to voice another opinion so that the fellowship as a whole is not misguided by the trustees simply because of the “WSO says so, so it must be true” attitude.

The first thing I felt it was necessary to do was go through some basic facts from the Basic Text, any edition, in this case the WSO’s very own 5th edition. On page 59, we read in the 1st Tradition, about unity, halfway down, “No one can revoke our membership or make us do anything we do not choose to do.” and “…we found that what is best for the group is usually good for us” and on page 60, “This is not to say that we do not have our disagreements and conflicts; we do. Whenever people get together there are differences of opinions. However, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Time and time again, in crisis we have set aside our differences and worked for the common good.” The 2nd tradition talks about the only ultimate authority we have, on page 61. “…we rely on a loving God as He expresses Himself in our group conscience, rather than on personal opinion or ego.” “We must be constantly on guard that our decisions are truly an expression of God’s will” and that “Direction and manipulation fail.

We choose not to have presidents, master or directors. Instead we have secretaries, treasurers and representatives. These titles imply service rather than control.” 3rd tradition states that “Desire is our only requirement. Addiction does not discriminate. This tradition is to endure that any addict, regardless of drugs used, race, religious beliefs, sex, sexual preference, or financial condition is free to practice the N.A. way of life.” Tradition 4 asks, “Are we truly autonomous? Don’t we have service committees, offices, activites, hot lines, and other activities in N.A.?” The answer is that these things are not N.A. “They are services we use to help us in our recovery and to further the primary purpose of our groups”. The 5th Tradition then tells us about or primary purpose, but not before adding that “…if we do not dictate to other groups or force anything upon them… then all will be well.” “I thought our primary purpose was to recover from drug addiction? For the individual this is certainly true; our members are here to find freedom from addiction and a new way of life. However, groups aren’t addicted and don’t recover. All our groups can do is plant the seed of recovery and bring addicts together so that the magic of empathy, honesty, caring, sharing, and service can do their work.” “What would happen if our groups had another primary purpose? We feel that our message would be diluted and then lost. If we concentrate on making money, many might get rich… If our group purpose was anything other than to carry the message, many would die…” And Tradition six talks about the money, property and prestige issue by saying on page 66, that this traditions “is extremely important to the continuation and growth of Narcotics Anonymous.” It “goes on to warn us what may happen: ‘lest problems of money property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose’.

The problems often become obsessions and cut us off from our spiritual aim. For the individual, this type of abuse can be devastating; for the group it can be disastrous. When we as a group waver from our primary purpose, addicts who might have found recover die.” The 7th Tradition tells us how we get our money and why, on page 68. “…members who can afford it give a little extra to help. N.A. services remain in need of money, and even though it is sometimes frustrating, we really would not have it any other way; we know the price would be too high.” Tradition 8 warns us about professionals on page 69 of the 5th Edition Basic Text. “ If we employed professionals in NA groups, we would destroy our unity” and on page 70 as hypocritical as it is, “our special workers on the other hand , work within our traditions and are always responsible to those they serve, to the Fellowship.” The 9th says,”…that we may create service boards or committees to serve the Fellowship. This is the nature of our service structure as it has evolved and been defined on the N.A. Service Manual.” Tradition 10 says that “One of the most important things we can do to further our primary purpose is to let people know who, what and where we are.” Tradition 11 says, “…it is important to reach as many people as possible…” and on page 72, the 12th Tradition says that, “The spiritual foundation becomes more important than any one group or individual.”

I first quote these traditions to show that the Board of Trustees is totally and completely hypocritical solely to their own means. As long as the end result suits their personal desires the BOT will say anything they want to and because the letterhead reads “World Service” most people think that it must then be so. The true hypocrisy comes through in the latest letter from the trustees. At the top of the page, by using the copyrighted symbol of NA they have violated their own definition of the fourth tradition which says that if it is not a meeting than it is not NA. The letter goes on that, “This action contradicts, our 12 Traditions “Not the 12 Traditions that I just read. Whose traditions is it violating? Maybe the boards tradition of using the NA funds to travel around the country, depleting the cash flow from the services we really need. The letter goes on about how the book is not conference approved. I remember having bought a 3rd edition revised text straight from WSO in 1986, and the other parts in approved literature before that. So what, the stories were left out in this version. The “Fat Addict” didn’t do a thing for me anyway. I’m trying, also to figure out how the Trustees had the audacity to write “as a result of broad consideration within the NA Fellowship” when the 5th Edition was a quick cover up for the riff-raff 4th Edition that was spit out.

This was WSC approved, but not “Fellowship as a whole” approved as is our structure as it has evolved and been defined in the service manual. “Without consulting any of N.A.’s worldwide decision making bodies” is a scary thought and an insult since reading the Traditions which say that the Fellowship is the decision making body not the other way around. The services are set up to serve the Fellowship, not to “rule, censor, decide or dictate” as it reads in previous editions of the Basic Text.

Yes, there is truth in the Trustees letter. The Text is sold by the WSO for $8. $8 that newcomers and prisoners don’t have, and it comes in a hard-cover which prisoners aren’t allowed to have and even the limited soft-cover copies is dtill large enough that most prisons won’t allow them anyway, because they “can be used as weapons”. Do we keep what we have only by selling it, or by giving it away? Would we have it any other way? I make a donation to the basket weather I buy a 5th Edition, a 4th Edition or any other Edition. I can give this light blue soft cover book to prisoners and newcomers who otherwise may be unable to get this message in print. I can reach as many people as possible by spending $2 instead of $8. Four times as many prisoners and newcomers. Four times as many suffering addicts. Our primary purpose. Four times as many, minimum.

The only “support of worldwide services” that sales of “the unauthorized text” will take away is that of the free travel by King George and the boys in the future. As long as I continue to give books away, whatever Edition, no sales are made by those people anyway. According to the 7th tradition support comes from donations and fundraisers, not sales. “The price would be too high”. By telling members, groups and committees to, “just say no “the BOT is in violation of the 4th Tradition of not dictating.

Our Fellowship hasn’t been spending that much time over the last fifteen years making the WSC what it is today; they’ve been doing that themselves by consistently allowing people who don’t represent groups to vote. A full 1/3 of the decision making practice is voted by the people representing their own opinion. The Fellowship still believes that the decisions should be made by the Fellowship. That is why every year they ask that RSR’s only vote. This could never happen though, because then those who represent themselves alone and no region would lose their “importance” and there’s too many of them to allow that.

Furthermore, for the BOT to say that the WSO, which holds the copyright intrust for the Fellowship, is going to sue a member of the Fellowship is appalling. That would be like the trustee of a will suing one of the heirs for spending his inheritance! Boys, I think there is a slight control issue problem here based on a false pride and image thing. If N.A. world services were deprived of income from basic text sales only the “travelers” would suffer. Not the Fellowship. They might have to miss a convention or two.

Likewise, to say that the people who are publishing this book are running on self-will is like the pot calling the kettle black for the BOT. That is what World Service has been doing with our literature for years. The only misinformation and misguiding is being done by the BOT. To say “we have allowed a vocal few to divert us from our primary purpose far too long” is interesting. “Its time to say, ‘enough’” is true. Let’s dissolve this world structure and start again. It seems to be a shame to have to right this letter but the “World” has brought it upon themselves. When I was approached by someone who had two boxes of the light blue books, I asked him what he used them for since I knew they were not sold in meetings. He said,” I give them away to prisoners, newcomers, and people that I sponsor.” I said, “Give me a box!” My donation still goes in the basket. Now I have a few more dollars with which to do it. These books go where they are needed. To people who otherwise may never get a chance to read the book. What is best for the whole is good for the individual. Let’s set aside our differences and work for the common good. Now addicts are assured, too, that financial condition won’t hinder their chance at a new way to live. Let’s not dilute our message by letting money interfere with our primary purpose. My conscience tells me that the God of my understanding wants me to reach out to as many people as possible and give away what was so freely given to me Recovery and Recovery Texts regardless of what Edition, stories or not. The Who, What, How, and Why remain the basis of my recovery and remain unchanged.

To: [Trusted Servant's Name] From: Wagner & Middlebrook, Attorneys Date: July 10,1990 Re: FELLOWSHIP OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Worid Service Office Our Docket No.: 03-9545-15.XX This office represents WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, INC., the service office for the Fellowship of Narcotics.Anonymous. My client is the owner of United States Trademark and Service Mark Registration Nos. 1,450,681, and 1,476,774, for the marks NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS and NA logo. My client is also the owner of United States copyright Registration Nos. TX 2 112 598, TX 2 250 589, TX 2 342 402, TX 2 250 588 and TX 2 254 607, covering the First through Fourth editions of the NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Basic Text. The registration for the Fifth Edition is now pending. It has come to our attention that you may have been printing and/or distributing a version of the copyrighted Basic Text, including unauthorized duplications of the NA Fellowship's trademark to include the totally false legend that the version being distributed is "Fellowship" approved. These actions violate the NA Fellowship's rights under both Title 35 and Titie 17 of the United States Code, as well as constitutes consumer fraud on the members of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, and unfair and diluting use of the registered marks. IF YOU ARE OR HAVE AT ANY TIME ENGAGED IN THESE ACTIVITIES, YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE AND DESIST IN ALL SUCH ACTIVITIES, as well as any other infringements that may have not yet been discovered. Please confirm by return letter that each and every infringement has ceased, and surrender the remaining infringements to this office. Simply being a member of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous does not give you, or any other member, the right to engage in unauthorized use of the marks or copyrights of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous, or to falsely represent that approval has been granted to these materials. We ask that you accurately complete, sign, date and return the enclosed response in the postage paid envelope provided. If we are in receipt of your immediate agreement in wnting that all further infringement and distribution of infringing items has ceased, we will consider this matter closed. If we do not receive your immediate and full cooperation, my client is prepared to institute litigation against you and your company to protect these properties from your misuse, as well as costs and attorneys lees. May I have your response within ten days of the date of this letter. Very truly yours, Theresa Wagner Middlebrook, for WAGNER & MIDDLEBROOK Response to cease and desist letter This response is made by the following person or company: Name _______________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Please check the correct response: ________ We have never printed any copies of the Basic Text. ________ We have never distributed any copies of the Basic Text that consist of the following: a light-blue paperback cover containing the first ten chapters of the Third Edition of N.A.'s Basic Text, replacing the material on Traditions Four and Nine with material from the Second Edition text ________ We have printed copies of the Basic Text consisting of a light-blue paperback cover containing the first ten chapters of the Third Edition of N.A.'s Basic Text, replacing the material on Traditions Four and Nine with material from the Second Edition text, and agree to print or distribute this NO LONGER. Our inventory is _______ books at this time. ________ We have sold, given away, or otherwise distributed printed copies of the Basic Text consisting of a light-blue paperback cover containing the first ten chapters of the Third Edition of N.A.'s Basic Text, replacing the material on Traditions Four and Nine with material from the Second Edition text, and agree to print or distribute this NO LONGER. Our inventory is ______ books at this time. ________ Other response: ________________________________________ I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Signature and date Printed name