The operation of Fellowship Service Office (FSO) is the responsibility of the Aotearoa New Zealand Regional Service Committee (RSC) through delegated authority to the FSO Committee. Historically the office was managed as a branch office of the Australia Region FSO, but has operated independently since January 2000.

Supply of Literature

The primary purpose of FSO is to import a select range of literature from NA World Services and supply it to the New Zealand Fellowship, any individual or organisation wishing to purchase it. FSO does not sell or distribute non-NA Fellowship approved literature or merchandise without the approval of the RSC. FSO is a non-profit body, any surplus created by the operation of the office will be used to further this primary purpose of FSO.

FSO operates a small office in Auckland for the purpose of storage and dispatching of literature. Literature items are not supplied on credit. The office is required to process 90% of received orders within two weeks of the order being placed.

Special Worker

FSO employs a Special Worker, whose main responsibility is the dispatching of literature orders. The Special Worker generally attends the office once a week for 3 to 4 hours, receives electronic literature orders, packages and mails the filled order to the purchaser.

FSO Committee

The FSO committee comprises members of the NA fellowship, who have the responsibility to oversee the effective and prudent functioning of the FSO Office. Their functioning is similar to the management team in a small company since FSO is a commercial endeavour – albeit a non-profit one. The members of the committee are required to give of their personal time and effort for no monetary reward.

The committee comprises of the Director, who has additional responsibilities, and three working committee members. Since the FSO office is based in Auckland at least one of the committee members must live in the Auckland area so that they can support and fill in for the Special Worker in day to day affairs of FSO should the Special Worker be unavailable. At least one of the Committee members has experience with business and finance. Generally the committee members are familiar with typical small business matters that may need to be attended to, while meeting all of its legal requirements and behaving in an ethical manner and in accordance with the spirit of the Traditions.

The FSO Committee is required to maintain balanced books showing stock in hand, bank balances, turnover, surplus and operational expenditure.

The FSO Committee will operate guided by the Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts, and where ever possible work by a consensus based decision making process.

Relationship with the RSC

FSO works in close co-operation with the RSC with a process of consensus based decision making between the FSO and the RSC. The Director is a voting member of the RSC. Reports are furnished to all RSC’s, and an annual budget is presented to the RSC for their approval.

The committee are directly accountable to the RSC and are elected for two-year terms. The Director is ultimately responsible for the operation of FSO to the RSC. The RSC may elect additional committee members who remain in a pool until either the term of the working members is completed or in the event of a resignation. This enables committee members to learn the requirements of the job before filling the position.