I've included the history from the Mountaineer Region web site below. Charleston WV NA is still alive, service is still the same eight or ten members, we are down to a meeting a night, but like everything else, it'll get different. Thanks for being here!
Rob M.

The following is mostly taken from a Service Primer published by the Metro-Valley Area
In our Region the first meeting was the Charleston Central group, on a Thursday night in April of 1979. It is said that there were 3 people present. In the next two years CCG expanded to 4 meetings. An item of note was that meetings in Columbus and Wheeling were started by early CCG members.
In 1982 the Live Clean Or Die Group formed in Morgantown. The LCODG was supported by a couple of locals and some members of the Tri-State Region. In June of 1982, the Logan Group of NA had its first business meeting. The Logan Group was the second meeting south of Wheeling in WV. There was still not any communication between groups that would shortly become the Mountaineer Region.

In 1983 things started happening. From members moving around, and people coming out of treatment or jail and finding no meeting in their community, meetings started springing up. Besides Charleston, Morgantown and Logan, there were meetings in Weston, Fairmont, Clarksburg, Huntington, and Parkersburg. Members of these Groups began traveling and sharing service experiences and fellowship. Soon members became very close.

In a late night discussion at a members house on Cheat Lake, the dream of a State Convention was born. By the next week reservations were made at Jackson's Mill. Our first convention was held there Easter weekend of 1984, and was attended by 68 people. We had members attend from many states and our main speaker was from southern CA.

The following year we moved the Convention to Cedar Lakes. Even though we tried to just break even we made a profit. There was already a committee and Treasury, of sorts, so we decided to form our Region. That was around June of 1985.

A lot has happened in the Mountaineer Region since then. There are over 80 meetings a week in 9 ASC's. The challenges, though, remain the same. Mountain roads and small towns make it harder to reach the addict who still suffers. We must work a little harder but we understand that.

We just recently found the minutes of the first meeting to form the Mountaineer Region.... so here they are. Notice the way the meeting closed... A lot has changed since then, but the nature of the disease...

First Meeting To Discuss Forming
A West Virginia Region

Meeting held at Phil and Tracy K.'s house, Morgantown, WV, on March 24, 1985.
Meeting was arranged for members and groups from West Virginia to talk about forming a region of Narcotics Anonymous.

Groups/areas represented: Kanawha Valley Area Service, Tygart Valley Area Service, Wheeling Area Service; Morgantown, Parkersburg, Fairmont and Charleston groups.

Attendance: Scott H., Tim G., Monica S., Denny S., Danny W., Barry M.,
Sandy M., Mike F., Sandy S., David M., Billie Jean W., John D., Jan, Vicki,
Phil K., Tracy K., Susie, Yvonne, Sandy, Judi S.

Metting opened with the Serenity Prayer. Twelve Traditions read. Danny W. acted as chairperson.

Outline and functions of a Regional Service Committee read from the Service Manual.
Floor opened to discussion. Views expressed on the need for forming a region-- unity for West Virginia regional area, centralization of literature and a NA hotline, representation at World Service Conference, etc. Doubt expressed over the willingness and participation of the concerned areas, groups and members. Also, doubt on the naming of the region.

Yvonne, from Wheeling Area Service and the Tri-State Regional Service Committee, related that the Wheeling Area did not wish to become a part of this region at this time.

Motion #1:
To form a West Virginia region. Motion seconded. Carried.

Motion #2:
To elect temporary officers for the region to serve for the upcoming WSC. Motion seconded. Carried.

Office descriptions read from Service Manual. Election resulted as follows:

Chairperson ...... Phil K.
Vice-Chair ...... Denny S.
Treasurer ...... Tim G.
Secretary ...... Scott H.
RSR ...... Danny W.
RSR Alt. ...... Monica S.

Recess for 10 minutes. Meeting reopened with the Serenity Prayer.

New chairperson asks for outline and agenda of upcoming World Service Conference from RSR. RSR briefly related WSC functions and issues of upcoming WSC (April 29 - May 2, Van Nuys, CA).
Motion #3:
To hold a statewide service conference in Charleston in order to get sentiment on the functions and issues of the upcoming WSC. Motion seconded. Carried. To be held March 31, 1985.

Motion #4:
To adjourn meeting. Motion seconded. Carried.

Meeting closed with Lord's Prayer.

sh/sec

ILS
Robber

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