In some NA communities, it has become customary for members of the fellowship to make a personal commitment to support one particular group their home group. Though this custom is not universal, many believe its practice can benefit the individual member as well as the group. For the individual member, it can provide a stable recovery base, a place to call home, a place to know and be known by other recovering addicts. For the group, it ensures the support of a core of regular, committed members. A strong home group can also foster a spirit of camaraderie among its members that makes the group more attractive to and more supportive of newcomers.
The home group provides many opportunities for us to involve ourselves in the NA Fellowship, making it a great place for us to start giving back what Narcotics Anonymous has so freely given us. In committing to our home group, we make a personal commitment to NA unity. That commitment not only enhances our own recovery, it helps ensure recovery is available for others. Our home group also gives us a place in which to participate in NA's decision-making processes.
Choosing and supporting a home group is an important part of recovery. A home group is a meeting where you are comfortable and one you will attend regularly. We call this our home group because it suggests a place where we fit in and belong. Having a home group allows us to have an anchor each week where we can get to know the people and they can really get to know us. We develop a bond with each other as we grow together.
We make a commitment to our home group, and if we are absent for some reason, we will be missed. Our home group is also the place where we celebrate each new year of clean time. We develop true friends, often for the first time in our lives, and learn to respect each other. This can be very important in our recovery.
As the members mature, so does the group. We learn to practice the spiritual principles of Narcotics Anonymous in all our affairs. We also learn to divide and share the responsibilities for the growth and well-being of the group.
Home group members should try to remain aware of problems or difficulties their group faces and be willing to help. A home group is where you vote as a member of the group conscience on matters affecting NA as a whole as well as matters concerning your home group's well-being. Home groups also participate in carrying the message of recovery at an area level.
In the spirit of unity, oneness of purpose, for the good of NA as a whole, it is important that we all do our part.
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