AUGIST 15, 2010 posts:

1. Bob Morris to MZFMembers:

Hi all,

Since the official announcement from NAWS regarding the Service System workshop in Detroit on Sept 17 -19, I have been trying to gather some information to help the MZF decide whether to attempt to meet in Detroit and if not, to develop a solution.

Derrick K (for those who are out of the loop, Derrick is the other MZF Co-Facilitator) and I have discussed what we know to date and this is the conclusion we have reached. At this point scheduling an MZF meeting in conjunction with the workshop is not practical for the following reasons:

As of 8/15/10, the following MZF Trusted servants have conflicting commitments on the weekend of the Detroit Workshop and will not be able to attend: Co-Facilitator 1, Co-Facilitator 2, Treasurer, Web Contact. In addition; per John H, as of this writing, the Secretary is also unlikely to be able to attend. This answers the question of funding other MZF trusted servants to the workshop since they will not be in Detroit.

The two available meeting times --after the recovery meeting Sat. night and after the workshop Sunday at 1 PM-- will not leave us time to complete the MZF 2011-12 conference cycle planning session that is scheduled to take place at our next formal meeting.

A consensus began to emerge from our email discussions previous to the official announcement from NAWS. Specifically, the MZF could meet in conjunction with the Greater IL convention the 3rd weekend in November. I will contact the Greater IL RD and Ralph on the GIRCNA Planning Committee to see if this is still an option. Hearing no strenuous objection, Derrick and I will begin working with Greater IL to hash out the details for a November meeting and get them distributed as soon as possible.

Last September we reached the end of a several years-long discussion regarding decision making between meetings in which a consensus developed to have the Co-Facilitators make necessary operational decisions between meetings. Unfortunately this decision did not make it into the current draft guidelines. This places Derrick and myself in a rather uncomfortable position. We have no formal process in place for making decisions between meetings but this is clearly a situation that requires decisive action. Unfortunately this is the most recent in a number of instances where we have needed a process for between-meeting decisions.

As I wrote above, hearing no strenuous objection, we will move ahead with setting up a November meeting in Greater IL. To review our consensus building practices: If a member strongly objects the entire body will not implement a decision. This places a serious responsibility on each member who participates in the process. If a member objects to a proposal but does not object so strongly that he/she wishes to prevent the MZF from acting, the member may voice the objections and then “stand aside” to allow the proposal to move forward. Please keep this in mind when you respond to this post: if you strenuously object to meeting in Greater IL in November and are not willing to stand aside, the MZF will not meet. Since NAWS left us only 45 days to plan before the workshop, our hands are tied. If we do not meet in greater IL in November, we may be well into the new conference cycle before we meet formally.

{{{{HUGS}}}} Bob

2. michael warnsley to mzfmembers

So let me understand i go my per diem for the workshop and not the mzf? well well we will doing a  workshop on the service structure when we getr back in Kokomo at the next region with a HI learning day! oh yea weare also having a dance as well !  oh yea and a lit wokshop too ! sorry for all the oh yeas lol

3. DrLou69@aol.com to mzfmembers

Bob, Derrick,

Thank you for making this very sensible decision. Sorry to learn that you won't be in Detroit.

Louis

3. Sally Jefferson to mzfmembers

I agree we should have the next MZF in November and I will be attending the workshops in Detroit in September.  I have been tenatively making plans for this since May. 

Thanks for clearing some things up,

Sally J./RD Greater IL Region

Keep trudgin!

August 17, 2010 Posts:

1. wigmunke@comcast.net to mzfmembers

Hello everyone. I apologize for seeming invisible as of late. My computer died last May and everything in it as well. I have been feebly trying to stay in the loop on this ongoing saga of when where and how we will meet in Sept. I want to assure everyone that Bob and I have been in fairly regular communication on this and we are both in agreement that the best thing for the MZF is to meet in Nov. and continue our work and mission there. Thanks to everyone for your input and ideas. Regretfully, I won't be able to attend in Detroit but I'm sure that as significant as these workshops are that a loving and caring higher powers' hand will be upon the activities of this fellowship. Hugs, Derreck

2. David Lewis to mzfmembers

Bob,

Thanks for sifting through all of our communication and making plans for us to be able to take care of business.

My only thought/concern (not a substantial objection) about that weekend is a conflict with another local service commitment.  (Grreater Cincinnati Area Service Committee meets at 1 pm on the third Sunday of each month.)  To work around this conflict, do you think it would be possible to take care of all MZF business on Saturday.  Since we won't be facilitating any kind of workshop at GIRCNA it would seem to me that this might be a possible.

In Loving Service,... Dave L., Ohio Region RD

3. Sally Jefferson to mzfmembers

na_rocks1@yahoo.com

This is the email for GIRCNA convention chair, Blaine.  

4. Bryan Sutherland to mzfmembers

hello family  

 I am Bryan S  RCMA from crossroads and trying to get rooms reserved for the upcoming service structure in Detroit and i heard it has to be by tomorrow  please any one with info could please get back with me 

                           thank you and God bless

                                          Bryan s

5. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to mzfmembers

I understand committments. The MZF is important to me and somewhat MN. The

SSWG & NAWS have equal if not slightly more committment at lease during

this cycle.  don't think NAWS would have considered Detroit (I would have

pushed for MPLS). Of the people it is to assist in informing and

developing feedback from aren't going to be there what must  they think.

They are expecting you.

I am almost certain that MN will not send anyone in November perhaps Caleb

can drive on his own dime.

JJ

6. Dave Cracchiolo to mzfmembers

Call the Double tree @1-800-222-8733 mention NAWS Workshop roms are $95.00 plus tax/ dates are Sept 17-19, you also need to register for the event @ www.na.org/servicesystem

Hugs

7. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to mzfmembers

Call the hotel directly.

JJ

8. Bryan Sutherland to mzfmembers

thank you for the quick response

   love ya

  Bryan S

Augist 17 2010 posts:

1. michael warnsley to mzfmembers

u may just be r solution, waiting to hear back from the committee about this trip

2. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to mzfmembers

I think we should meet however we can as originally planned and if we

need to meet again decide that later.

3.We should be going if not because of the brevity of the subject but

because the potential impact it has on the Zones. This is why we wanted it

in Detroit in the first place. As many as can go should go as always. Meet

after the day is over, its not like we haven't done that before.

JJ

4. sallyj92@att.net to mzfmembers

I am a newbie but it has been my understanding since the WSC that we would have a zone meeting the same weekend as the Serv workshop in Detroit so I planned accordingly

5. bob to mzfmembers

JJ,

Are you suggesting we have a formal meeting with no trusted servants

or are you asking for an informal meeting to initiate the planning

process?

If you are asking for a formal meeting, are you willing to stand aside

or do you wish to block the consensus that has developed so far?

For the record, the MZF did not originally plan to meet on the 17th -

19th. The dates we discussed since the topic emerged last fall were

the 12th - 13th. The possibility of the current weekend was raised by

NAWS in mid-July.

ILS,    Bob

6. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to mzfmembers

I am not sure where I am at. I think we can met, yoou must agree that the

MZF asked & Planned to have the Service System Workshop at the MZF

JJ

Formal?....not formal?..... meet together YES

7. sallyj92@att.net to mzfmembers

And it was slotted for Sept, so the weekend changed.  Now we will put off meeting unti Nov - that is if we can meet at GIRCNA

8. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to sallyj92, mzfmembers

Not sure I'll be able to make it in November. I can't speak for Caleb.

9. Duane Teschler to mzfmembers

I haven't made plans  either way

{{{HUGS}}}  Doc T

10. DrLou69@aol.com to mzfmembers

Is there a way we can meet at GIRCNA with a speaker phone that would allow people to call in? It being a weekend, I have unlimited minutes on my phone.

11. Duane Teschler to mzfmembers

Louis' suggestion make t-o-o-o much sense!!!

{{{HUGS}}}  Doc

12. Joseph W. Yoder to mzfmembers

Yes....and we have done that before....joe

13. Bob to mzfmembers

Count me in on Louis' suggestion. I think we all agree that

participation in detroit is immeasurably important. If I was an RD &

could only go one place it would be Detroit. It simply isn't practical

for the zone to try to complete the scope of our post WSC planning

meeting in a couple of hours with everyone tired after an all-day

workshop.

((((HUGS))))     Bob

14. Jason Frye to mzfmembers

There are plenty of free conference call websites out there. We can easily setup an account to have a call-in number for a six hour time period or so...longer if we pay.

15. Dianne to mzfmembers

Hello everyone.

The company I currently work for is going out of business, which means I will be losing my job sometime in the new few weeks.  Finances are going to be very tight until I find another job.

I appreciate everyone's effort to resolve a new meeting time.  I am not opposed to the November meeting at GIRNA.  Whatever is decided, I will do my best to serve the MZF as I committed to do.

Peace, joy, and hugs to all of you from all of me.

Dianne

16. michael warnsley to mzfmembers

Well let me just say whats the importance of meeting at a convention verses meeting at the first of Dec where we can all meet uninterrupted and no distractions? no naws or coonvention! hummmmmmm

17. Jason Frye to mzfmembers

The convention would not be a distraction, just as it was not in Indiana or any other time the MZF has met during a convention weekend. The option for the GIRCNA convention meeting would actually help the Greater Illinois Region, as opposed to hosting a meeting during Feb or Mar of 2011 without any event to help support the weekend.

18. michael warnsley to mzfmembers

Heres my delima. i want to attend Both i was given my per diem for MZF in Dertroit but didn,t find out till i got back MZF wont be meeting in Dertroit , Now MZF is meeting in GIRCNA want to go there too! maybe i can give it back and cancel the trip to Detroit and come to the MZF in GIRCNA!

19. even better send my RDA to Detroit and i come to GIRCNA! Hummmmm

20. Duane Teschler to mzfmembers

show details Aug 17 (4 days ago)

Duane Teschler (Doc T) has changed his e-address.

New address: napeacefulwarior@gmail.com

Diane H., will you please make the proper changes?

{{{UHGS}}} to all.  Doc

21. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to mzfmembers

Again, I didn't see consensus. I see that the "trustaed Servants" wern't

going to be there or don't want to come. What about RD's and RDA's are

they coming? Who then are all the people coming?

I am ok with some sort of digesting/planing meeting. I thought this is

what we wanted?

Informal is good enough for me. Not sure if I'll get to GIRCNA.

JJ

22.Mr Yow to mzfmembers

We won’t complete the scope but any time we get together we make decisions.

23. Are we miss representing our meeting are the Regions funding to a NAWS workshop or to the MZF that will not happen. Bait and switch again?

Not judg'in just saying!

(((hugs)))

John H

1. gr8fulj@newulmtel.net to mzfmembers

2. exactly, even if it is discuss any consensus on the NAWS proposals.

There is an controversary in MN about exactly that. I have understood it

was the MZF that requested not only NAWS but the Service System workshop

specifically.  I have been standing firm on the notion that informal or

formal the MZF will meet. Even if its a group of RD's & RCMs from the MZF.

There are 2 people at my Region that think I did a bait and switch. I have

not. I fully informed the Region about the MZF=NAWS Service System

workshop being combined. The attendees did seem to come to a consensus to

cut back on certain expenditures to allow both Delegates to attend this

meeting and Now 2 are saying there wasn't a vote,amd I should not be

advanced the money ( I already made arrangements and paid for them after

our Regional meeting on Saturda). There sre seversl oyjrts who feel yhe

dame way I do.  I did not see in the MZF discussion that there was a

consensus. Regardless many of us will be there and do have opprotunities

to meet as we should. It is likely that I woukd have cime anyway but heard

what I believed to be confidence in the Region supporting ny attendace.

3. Marc Gartler to mzfmembers

35 emails over two days. I might be lost. Is this a pretty good

summary of where things stand?:

1) The MZF co-facilitators concluded that the MZF should meet at

GIRCNA, not in Detroit.

2) In 2009, consensus was reached that MZF leaders could make

operational decisions between meetings.

3) But, the MZF guidelines were not updated to reflect that consensus,

so the co-facilitators aren't comfortable acting with the authority

suggested by that consensus.

4) Instead, they've given all of us the opportunity to decide whether

or not we'll meet at GIRCNA, and 35 emails later, a decision still

needs to be made.

Please correct me if I've gotten any of that wrong.

If I'm on track, then let me weigh in by saying that the conscience of

the MZF as expressed in the consensus reached last year means a lot

more to me than do guidelines that everyone would agree are out of

date and simply have not yet been updated to reflect decisions that

were made. No further deliberation or decision by the MZF should be

required in order to update those guidelines, and the new consensus

should have been in effect immediately or at the close of the meeting

last fall.

In other words, I don't see why the MZF leadership can't just exert

the authority the MZF agreed to give them in order to make a decision

such as "The MZF is meeting at GIRCNA."

ILS,

Marc G.,

4. terry littleton to mzfmembers

I like Marc's thoughts as prudent and decisive...do it.

Sincerely, Terry Littleton 312-307-4857

5. blynn to mzfmembers

The Indiana Region is not confused about what they are funding the RD and RDA to attend in Detroit in September (only the Indiana RD is confused).  Last weekend the Indiana Region agreed to fund the RD and RDA to attend the NAWS workshop on the service system for 3 days and 2 nights, as well they should have since this discussion and information is probably more important than anything that happened at the conference in April.  There was no discussion about the MZF meeting or otherwise, per my Area's RCM, and the Indiana Region will meet again before GIRCNA so they can decide at that time about funding for the MZF (although it is policy).

No one is saying there isn't going to be discussion, suggestions, gathering, etc happening in Detroit there always is-but there will not be a formal meeting of the MZF, which is all the co-facilitators are saying.  RD and RDA attendance at the workshop is far more important than their attendance at the formal MZF meeting and hopefully at least some will be able to attend both.  I REALLY wish I were attending both!!!  The MZF is NOT a body of RDs and RDAs, nor is it the MZF trusted servants, it is a body of ANYBODY who wants to attend and/or participate and we have limited our meeting rotation to a few Regions in the midwest and I really wish we would all remember that. 

The MZF as a body decided before the 2008 conference (and I believe this is in the new policy draft) that the first MZF meeting after each conference would be a formal planning session for the conference cycle.  This didn't happen in 2008 because the Minnesota workshop was already planned.  At the MZF meeting in Chicago MetroDetroit said they wanted to have a NAWS workshop and we (the MZF body, i.e the people who were there at the time) said ok but they can't have the whole weekend - and we gave them a specific weekend.  As is often the case neither of those things worked out so the co-facilitators have tried to take into consideration all the discussion and make a practical, reasonable decision.

Unless I have missed several posts I only saw one objection and it wasn't substantial so I'm pretty sure that is consensus and the bottom line is Marc and Terry are right - we told the co-facilitators to make decisions when things like this happen and they have. END of STORY - please!!!  Love ya all, Blynn

6. michael warnsley to mzfmembers

Let me make clear I was confussed about the going to the service system or going to MZF i have my solution can we all get along lol, no really i was the only trying to get to both places cause our policy state im am to go to MZF but my region gave me money to go to the MZF / Service  system, now MZF won,t be there! I just might pay my on way if i can, but if not im hang with

Bob and Blynn so they can teach me how to be prudent and be fugal which i need i been watching them a long time ! smiling hope i cleared this up?

7. Oh yea throw me under the bus anytime Blynn

8. just kidding Blynn

9. Mike Tilbury to mzfmembers

Can someone inform me how I can get removed from the mailing list? I believe this is a better discussion for the discussion boards on the website than an email frenzy.

Mike

10. Jason Frye to mzfmembers

I've removed Mike from the list. If anyone wants to be removed from the email discussion list simply send an email to mzfmembers-unsubscribe@mzfna.org from the email address that is subscribed. It will remove you from any future email discussions.

Jason

11. w.hammac@comcast.net to mzfmembers

The Indiana region funds the RD and RDA for one world wide workshop a conference cycle and all the MZF meetings. If I remeber right the service structure workshops are what the World is doing in the United States for the world wide workshops. So the Delegate team will be funded for both. In Loveing Service Wendy H.

12. michael warnsley to mzfmembers

Well Wendy a lot has changed since u retired!  in 2 months they will be making a choose for me and the RDA as to which one they want us to go to, based on the funding. 

August 20 Post:

1. Brian Hughes to mzfmembers

My phone line has been down sense Monday.  46 e-mails (ridiculous)!  See you in Detroit, or not?

Brian H