2022 WS Conference – WSBT Report

Overview:

This is my 3rd year as ERT as per World Service Manual guidelines (term of Trustee 4 conferences). I continue to be astonished by what God has in store for the WSBT, and how He knows the right people for the job. The decisions the WSBT had to make with regards the re-organisation of the WSO directors was a difficult one, but necessary. We continued to believe that God was in the mix and the right decisions were made for our fellowship when needed. The new Trustee that the TEC voted in last year, are a perfect fit. We are all part of one body making whole collective voice.

I am looking forward to the Trustee Election Committee where we get the opportunity to interview for two new Trustees, Trustee at Large 1 and Atlantic North Regional Trustee. The TEC is an amazing experience which I totally believe God does prevail throughout the process and the right members will once again be voted in as “He reveals himself in our group conscious”.

Over my term as a Trustee, I have seen many different styles of leadership, our current Chair Jason has done a magnificent job and kept the ship sailing, I look forward to seeing what and who God has in store in the next chair.

Page 7of 33

I’d like to thank C.A. for giving me the opportunity to serve Cocaine Anonymous as one of your Trustees, it’s an honour. I’d also like to thank those Trustees, Jason and George who are rotating off the board and look forward to welcoming the new members.

In love and service

Sarah T

European Regional Trustee

Mainland European Regional Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Johan T

MERT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties

• Mainland European Regional Trustee
  • Participated in all WSBT conference calls, emails, and online business
  • Participated in all WSBT Quarterly Meetings
  • Participated in all WSBT/WSOB Board-to-Board Meetings
  • Participated in the Mainland European Regional WhatsApp Group
  • Participated on the 2024 World Service Convention Steering Committee
  • Participated on the 2024 World Service Convention Spending Committee
  • Responded to emails, text messages, and phone calls from members of the Mainland European Region.
  • Chaired the MER assembly held in Portugal may 2022
  • Chaired a call with the MER on zoom Feb 2022
  • Attended the 2022 CAWS Convention, Austin
  • Attended Trustee luncheon at the 2022 CAWS Convention
  • Talked and advised some members of the ME Region regarding traditions, concepts and other raised topics.

• WSBT Sub-Committees
  • LTP (actively participating)
  • IS&D (Lead Trustee)
    • Various subcommittees to IS&D

• WSC Committee responsibilities:
  • IT (lead trustee)
  • S&B (second trustee)

• Other work
  • WSO subcommittee – Translations Committee (WSOTC) newly formed.

Overview:

Getting into the service as a trustee has been daunting and frankly a bit scary. I am thankful that I was unaware of the commitment needed to be a trustee. If I knew a year ago what I know now I might not have had the courage to become a trustee. But with the support, love and understanding from past, sitting and new trustees it has been quite easy to adjust to the pace of the WSBT.

I do understand that we have faced some challenges “right off the bat”, getting out of Covid and addressing other things of big impact to the fellowship. I must say that our fellowship is in great hands. The people I serve with, and the people we are in continuously engaging with are kind, loving and understanding. I believe we are heading to new ground the fellowship re-shape itself to best serve the members of Cocaine Anonymous.

Page 8 of 33

From conference and forward my focus will alter the serve the region of Mainland Europe with translations, regional cooperation and helping new areas become more mature and self-supporting.

We have a lot on our plate, the world is changing with new technologies that facilitates new ways to meet and new ways to spread the message of hope to addicts that still suffers. I strongly believe that we have a strong service body to meet those demands and/or opportunities.

Giving it my best

Johan T

Mainland European Regional Trustee

Midwest Regional Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Clay P

• WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties
• Participated in all WSBT Conference Calls, email and online business
• Participated in WSBT Quarterly Meetings
• Participated in all Board to Board Meetings
• Assisted the Board in Responses to the Fellowship
• Participated in World Service Conference Hospital and Institutions Committee Conference calls and online business
• Participated in World Service Conference Committee Conference Calls and online business
• Addressed any correspondence regarding the Midwest Region received by the World Service Office
• Responded to emails and phone messages
• Attended the 2019 Midwest Regional Convention/Assembly in St. Louis, Missouri
• Attended the Northeast Ohio District Committee of Cocaine Anonymous 2022 Unity Convention
• Attended the Illinois Area of Cocaine Anonymous 2022 Unity Convention
• Attended a reorganization meeting of the Minnesota Area of Cocaine Anonymous in July of 2022 via Zoom Conference call
• Served as the Vice Chair of the Trustee Election Committee

WSBT Sub-Committees

• Trustee Negotiating Committee

• Long Term Planning and Cocaine Anonymous Long Term Planning Advisory Committee (Chair 2022)

World Service Conference Committee Responsibilities

• Conference (Lead in 2022)

• Hospitals and Institutions (Lead in 2022)

Comments

First and foremost, I would like to thank the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous and the members of the Midwest Region of Cocaine Anonymous who selected me for the Trustee slate for allowing me to serve in the capacity of Midwest Regional Trustee.

Page 9 of 33

It has been an interesting year seeing the world and our beloved fellowship open back up after two years of lockdown from the pandemic. I have begun attending more open meetings since the world has opened back up and have enjoyed the camaraderie of the fellowship, I missed during the previous two years. I feel though that the fellowship has taken a hit due to the pandemic that it seems to be slowly coming back from. The meetings I regularly attend seem to have lost the newcomers who once used to pop in and then begin to trudge the road of happy destiny with us. From what I hear in my District and Area some facilities are still not allowing clients to attend outside meetings which could lead to this lack of newcomers. I am hopeful that once things fully return to normal, we will see the return of the newer folk from facilities that are the lifeblood of our fellowship.

I also see a new venue for growth within our fellowship being the on-line meetings that became so prevalent during the pandemic. So many meetings have become either hybrid or remained on-line since the end of the pandemic and it will be interesting to see if they stay around in the future.

The past three years have been nothing if eventful and I think I should be entering my final year as a Trustee but due to the circumstances of the pandemic I picked up the extra year to serve four Conferences. I am hoping the last two years will be far less eventful than the first three, but I will give my all to the fellowship which has become a second family to me just as I always have and always will.

In love and service,

Clay P

MWRT

Pacific North Regional Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Ruby C

WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties

• Participated in all WSBT Conference Calls and all Email and Online Business of the WSBT

• Participated at all WSBT Quarterly meetings

• Participated at all WSBT/WSOB Board-to-Board meetings

• Addressed correspondence and Starter Kits requests for the PNR that was received by CAWSO

• Assisted the WSBT in responses to the fellowship

• Responded to emails, text messages, and phone calls from members of the PNR and beyond

• Maintained and participated in the Pacific North Regional online communications group

• Attended the Utah Area Recovery in the Rockies 32 Convention, Sept. 2021

• Attended the Illinois Area Convention, Mar. 2022

• Attended and served at the PNRC 2022 hosted by the Utah Area, Apr. 2022

• Coordinated and served at the Pacific North Regional Assembly, Apr. 2022

• Attended the 2022 CAWS Convention, Austin, TX, May 2022

• Assistant Coordinator for and impromptu host of the 2022 Trustee Luncheon

• Attended the Idaho Area Unity Days, June 2022

• Coordinated and presented the first PNR SR-14 Workshop, Virtual, July 2022

• Attended the British Columbia Area Alive at the Lake Campout, July 2022

WSBT Responsibilities:

Page 10 of 33

• WSBT Assistant Secretary

• Keeper of the WSBT Correspondence Tracker and the WSBT Referral Tracker

WSBT Sub-Committees:

• International Structure & Development

• Long Term Planning

WSC Committee Responsibilities:

• Archives Committee (Primary)

• Unity Committee (Secondary)

Overview:

The World Service Board of Trustees has been VERY busy this past year. There were a significant number of outstanding Referrals that we worked through, many incoming correspondences we responded to, some items of business to be worked out with the World Service Office, the first World Convention since the pandemic started, pieces of new literature to review, Long Term Planning project teams . . . you get the idea. The array of topics we touched on while working all of these things was vast. There were some topics and situations that I had little or no prior experience dealing with. When those types of situations came up, one of the committee members in my head would try to tell me that I wasn’t qualified to be in this position, I didn’t have the skills needed, I wasn’t smart enough, blah blah blah. I have to continually remind that committee member in my head that I DON’T have to know something about everything. That is an unreasonable expectation. What I need to be is willing to learn, willing to research, and willing to ask questions. I need to always be looking for the best possible use of the skills and knowledge I do have to be of maximum usefulness to this Board and this fellowship. I am grateful to be part of a team of ten other amazing individuals who all bring a wealth of knowledge, a multitude of skills, and varied life experiences with them to this Board. We have worked well together, leaned on each other’s strengths, and have encouraged each other to shine. I am humbled to have been given this opportunity and to be of service to the Fellowship that I love.

I will be sad to see George M. and Jason L. leave the Board, but I am also excited to welcome two new Trustees at the end of this Conference.

Thank you for allowing me to be of service and to have these opportunities to continue to grow.

Ruby C

Pacific North Regional Trustee

Pacific South Regional Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Aurora L

WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties

• Pacific South Regional Trustee
• Participated in all WSBT conference calls, emails, and online business
• Participated in all WSBT Quarterly Meetings
• Participated in all WSBT/WSOB Board-to-Board Meetings
• Participated in the Pacific South Regional Groups io, What’s App Group, and private Facebook Group
• Responded to any correspondence and Starter Kits for the PSR that was received by CAWSO

Page 11 of 33

• Responded to emails, text messages, and phone calls from members of the Pacific South Region
• Chaired the PSR Caucuses and Assembly
• Participated in World Service Conference Finance Committee conference calls and online business
• Attended the 2022 CAWS Convention
• Attended Trustee luncheon at the 2022 CAWS Convention
• Participated in Meet the Boards at the 2022 CAWS Convention
• Attended meetings and events throughout the region both online and in-person

• WSBT Sub-Committees

• • Finance (second trustee)
  • World Service Conference (second trustee)
  • Long Term Planning

• WSC Committee responsibilities:

• • Finance (second trustee)

Overview:

My first year as a trustee has been filled with a contrast of emotions: fear and excitement; exhaustion and rejuvenation; grief and inspiration. It was a challenging start, as I strived to achieve balance between the enormity of this service commitment and the obligation to my personal recovery. My thanks go out to the veteran trustees who extended all us newbies such grace and guided us with wisdom and patience.

I believe the pandemic put our fellowship through a major stress test that exposed both its strengths and weaknesses. As we find our way back to a new normal, we find the need to be more open -minded and innovative in how we carry the message of recovery. We also find ourselves having to relook at how we can best support both in-person meetings as they open back up, and online/hybrid meetings and their unique needs. I have every confidence that our fellowship will continue to demonstrate its resilience and get through this period of growth wiser and more unified.

The fellowship lost some service giants this year, and their absence is profound. I am eternally grateful for their groundwork and the foundation they built.

It has been my privilege and honour to serve this fellowship as a trustee. I remain in a constant state of gratitude for this humbling experience.

In Love and Service,

Aurora L

Pacific South Regional Trustee

Southwest Regional Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Barry H

WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties

• Southwest Regional Trustee
  • Participated in all WSBT conference calls, emails, and online business
  • Participated in all WSBT Quarterly Meetings
  • Participated in all WSBT/WSOB Board-to-Board Meetings
  • Participated in the Southwest Regional What’s App Group
  • Participated on the 2022 World Service Convention Steering Committee
  • Participated on the 2022 World Service Convention Spending Committee
  • Participated on the 2025 World Service Convention Steering Committee

Page 12 of 33

• • Participated on the 2022 World Service Convention Spending Committee
  • Responded to any correspondence and Starter Kits for the SWR that was received by CAWSO
  • Responded to emails, text messages, and phone calls from members of the Southwest Region
  • Chaired the SWR assembly held on-line in April 2022
  • Attended the 2022 CAWS Convention
  • Attended Trustee luncheon at the 2022 CAWS Convention
  • Attended Meet the Boards at the 2022 CAWS Convention
  • Chaired the SWR caucus meeting at the 2022 CAWS Convention
  • 2021 – 2022 Area visits
    • Kansas Area Convention – October 2021
    • Oklahoma Area Convention – July 2022
    • Arizona Area Convention – August 2022

• WSBT Sub-Committees

• • World Service Conference (lead trustee)
  • LTP (actively participating)

• WSC Committee responsibilities:

• • LCF (second trustee)
  • Legal (second trustee)
  • Hospitals and Institutions (second trustee)

Overview:

Let me start by saying what an incredible honor, privilege, and humbling experience it has been in my first year as a Trustee to serve the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous and to represent the Southwest Region. I am grateful to the God of my understanding for this opportunity to serve the fellowship of C.A.. When I was elected to this service position, I knew I didn’t know what I didn’t know. It has been and continues to be a learning process which I will forever be grateful as I have had to re-examine and sometimes set aside what I know and what I think I know about myself, the steps, the traditions, the concepts, the fellowship of C.A., the service structure of C.A., and God.

Attending my first WSBT board meeting in December of 2021 was an eye opener as I was not aware of the tremendous workload the WSBT is charged with and responsible for conducting on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. 28 hours of WSBT C.A. business conducted over a three-day period left an impression on me I will never forget! What did I sign up for and how will I ever measure up to the expectations of the WSBT, the fellowship of C.A., and the Southwest Region were thoughts I couldn’t escape for the next several weeks?

Attending my second WSBT board meeting in March was quite different. As I stood in line to board an airplane, the feeling of my responsibility to God, to the fellowship of C.A., and to others burst upon me and I knew I was right where God wanted me to be. I knew where I was going and why!

As a newly elected Trustee in the SWR, I became a member of the 2022 CAWS Convention Steering Committee and Spending Committee as the past SWR Trustee rotated off. I participated on the calls and the WhatsApp forum of both committees and reiterated that I was there to learn, to participate and not to impede the process or the progress already in place. I am serving in the same capacity for the 2025 CAWS Convention in Phoenix, AZ.

I am now one of and will always be a part of the seven new Trustees elected at the 2021 CAWS Conference. We have been dubbed the Magnificent Seven by a former Trustee who is a part of the “Six Pack” of six new Trustees elected at the 2012 CAWS Conference.

In the words of Dr. Bob S during his final remarks to the First International A.A. Convention in 1950 … “Our Twelve Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve

Page 13 of 33

themselves into the words “love” and “service.” We understand what love is, and we understand what service is. So, let’s bear those two things in mind. Let us also remember to guard that erring member the tongue, and if we must use it, let’s use it with kindness and consideration and tolerance.”

In Love and Service

Barry H

Southwest Region Trustee 2021-2025

Trustee at Large 1 & WSBT Chair

Respectfully submitted by Jason L

WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties

• Served as WSBT Chair.

• Liaised on a regular basis with World Service Office Board Chair.

• Participated in all WSBT conference calls, email, and online business.

• Participated at all WSBT Quarterly Meetings.

• Participated at all WSBT to World Service Office Board meetings.

• Participated on and chaired WSBT ad-hoc committees.

• Attended Europe Region Assemblies and Caucuses.

• Carried out online workshops for Areas within the Mainland Europe Region.

• Participated in World Service Conference Literature Chips & Formats conference calls and online business.

• Participated on WSBT Trustee Negotiation Committee contract reviews.

• Participated on WSBT International Structure & Development conference calls and online business.

• Supported Groups and Fledgling Areas in Asia & Oceania.

• Responded to Starter Kit requests.

• Responded to emails and phone messages.

• Assisted the Board in responses to both external and Fellowship correspondence.

• Attended inter fellowship sharing event, hosted by AA’s GSO.

• Participated on and chaired Fellowship Long Term Planning project groups.

WSBT Sub-Committees

• Long Term Planning (LTP)

• Trustee Orientation

• Trustee Negotiating Committee (TNC)

• Trustee International Structure & Development (ISD)

• External Communications

WSC Committee Responsibilities

• Literature Chips & Formats – Lead Trustee

• Finance – Second Trustee 2019-2020

• Structure & Bylaws – Lead Trustee 2020-2021

• Literature Chips & Formats – Second Trustee 2020-2021

Page 14 of 33

Overview

Serving this past year as the WSBT Chair has been an honour and a privilege. It has not been easy and there have been some challenging times. To serve on yet another wonderful Board is something very special. Each year as Trustees rotate off the Board and new Trustees join the dynamics change. I have done my best to instil in the seven new Trustees, that joined the Board this year, as much of the wisdom that was shared with me as possible. There is always a fine balance between standing back or standing up and discharging the responsibilities of any service position. ‘The wisdom to know the difference.’ Therein lies the rub.

As I rotate off the Board, with my good friend George M, I am minded of another good friend who joined the Board with us, the ever so lovely Venessa M-J, who is very much still missed. I have had the honour serving with some wonderful trusted servants and been witness to the creation and growth of a new Region, and the continued spread of our message into China and Australasia. For those things and many others I have immense gratitude.

Thank you for allowing me to be of service,

Jason L

Trustee at Large 1 & WSBT Chair

World Service Office Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Laurie R

WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/ Duties

• Attended all Trustee quarterly conference calls

• Attended all Trustee quarterly meetings.

• Attended all special Trustee meetings.

• Attended all WSOB Meetings.

• Forwarded all minutes, reports, motions, and meeting notes from WSOB meetings to WSBT.

• Forwarded all WSBT motions and items pertaining to the WSO to the WSOB.

• Keep in constant communication between meetings with the Chair and Vice Chair of each Board.

• Participated in all online business via each Board’s email group.

• Served as second Trustee member of the Conference Committee.

• Served as Lead Trustee member of the Finance Committee

• Participated in various Whatsapp groups and email lists in furtherance of above.

• Participated in interviews for new DALs and new treasurer of the WSOB.

WSBT Subcommittees

• Finance

• Long Term Planning

• International Structure & Development

WSC Committees

• Finance – Lead Trustee

• Conference – Second Trustee

Comments:

I am just completing my first year of service as the WSO Trustee. As any trustee or former trustee can tell you, it is a LOT of work! Inspite of the crazy amount of work involved, I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. I have a unique position in that I am a member of

Page 15 of 33

World Service Board of Trustees as a trustee, and I am also the WSO Trustee and a Director of the World Service Office Board. I love being a part of each board. I am humbled by the experience and grateful for the opportunity.

Thank you for letting me be of service,

Laurie R

World Service Office Trustee

World Service Trustee

Respectfully submitted by Joni E

WSBT Service/Activities/Committees/Duties

• Participated in all WSBT conference calls, email and online business

• Participated in all WSBT Quarterly Meetings

• Participated in all WSBT/WSOB Board-to-Board Meetings

• Served as WSBT secretary for 2022

• Regularly attended various WSC committee virtual meetings

• Regularly attended various WSBT subcommittee virtual meetings

• Regularly attended virtual and in-person WSOB monthly meetings

• Responded to C.A. fellowship emails, texts, and phone communications

• Assisted the WSBT in responses to the Fellowship

• Attended the Illinois Area of Cocaine Anonymous 2022 Unity Convention

• Attended CAWS 2022 Convention in Austin, TX

• Reviewed and approved all contracts for Convention and Conference Hotels as well as contracts for other services

• Worked closely with our attorneys to maintain our CA logo/ trademarks

WSBT Sub-Committees

• Trustee Negotiating Committee (Lead)

• Legal Committee (Lead)

• Long Term Planning and Cocaine Anonymous Long Term Planning Advisory Committee

World Service Conference Committee Responsibilities

• Archives (2^nd Trustee)
• WSCIT (2^nd Trustee)

Comments

It has been a year filled with laughter, new friends, many challenges and a lot of time and hard work. I feel so blessed to have served with such an outstanding Board of Trustees. Such a diverse group with so many different perspectives and varied life experience, all coming together for the Fellowship we all love so much. I have so much respect for all our members and am eternally grateful to be a part of it.

The world is a changing place, so many opportunities for growth as our Fellowship continues to expand across the globe. The challenges are real but I believe we are up to the challenge. Equally important is the support of all our existing areas that have stood the test of time.

I want to thank Jason, Sarah, Clay and George for showing us the ropes and for allowing us newbies to find our voices. To the other members of the Magnificent Seven, here we go on our second year of service. Let’s do this!

In love and service,

Page 16 of 33

Joni E

World Service Trustee

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE MOTIONS:

Referral number: WSBT 2016-05

Referral Maker: WSC Structure & Bylaws Committee

Information contained in original referral:

This is a referral for the consideration to amend our 11th Tradition.

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films.

The amended version would be:

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television, films and internet.

I think it’s important to recognize that when Bill W , wrote the 11th Tradition it was before the widespread use of television, and yet the language of the tradition is flexible enough to cover that form of media. I believe that if the Internet would have existed then, it would have been included in the 11th Tradition as well.

CA will continue to grow and change with the years. The “Principal of Anonymity” must remain our primary and enduring safeguard. This change will ensure that we recognize the ever emerging technology around us and adapt to these changes.

Referral number: WSBT.LCF 2017-02 (referral number type used in 2017 for transfers)

Referral Maker: Stu E. Southern Nevada Area. LCF 2017-02 Transferred to WSBT from WSC Literature Chips & Fortmats Committee

This has been an ongoing discussion at conference for the last few years. I would like to see the 11th tradition state “our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, and social media”. Just because the other fellowships haven’t done this yet doesn’t mean that it is not the right time to do it. Any of our members who view social media on a daily basis can verify that breaking of anonymity is very common on the various social media venues. If we change the wording of this tradition that is commonly read at meetings if will receive the reinforcement that this needs to have a greater impact on our members, especially the newer ones who are just learning about this tradition.

Information contained in original referral:

Amend Tradition 11 to include social media.

Referral number: WSBT.LCF 2017-08 (referral number type used in 2017 for transfers)

Referral Maker: Maya B. Utah Area. LCF 2017-08 Transferred to WSBT from WSC Literature

Page 17 of 33

Chips & Formats Committee

Information contained in original referral:

I think we need to include “social media” in the 11th Tradition. This was not around when they were originally written, but should be added due to the potential issues that can arise concerning anonymity. I believe the term “social media” is universal and would encompass all the potential apps (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) in all countries.

A. MOTION: Change the wording of Tradition 11.

In response to the three referrals as above. The WSBT is proposing that Conference start the process for polling all C.A. groups as described on pg. 56 in the CAWS 2022 WSM for revising Tradition 11 from its current form:

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films.

To read as follows:

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films all public media.

Here is the process approved during the 2021 CAWS Conference for changing the C.A.

Conference Charter:

PROCESS TO POLL ALL C.A. GROUPS AS PER CONFERENCE CHARTER / ARTICLE 3 (pg. 56 CAWS Manual)

1. Upon authorization by a 2/3rds vote of the World Service Conference (WSC), the Structure and Bylaws Committee (S&B) shall prepare a ballot describing any such change to the 12 Traditions of C.A., the 12 Steps of C.A. or Article 10 of the Charter, along with such arguments for and against that it deems proper, along with instructions for Areas and Groups, and present these to the World Service Board of Trustees (WSBT).

2. The WSBT will review this material and may return it to S&B for revision.
3. Upon WSBT approval, the ballot question and all related materials will be submitted to the next WSC for final approval by a 2/3rds vote. This submittal must conform to the Standing Rules of the WSC.

4. Upon WSC approval, the ballots will be disseminated by a Delegate mailing from the World Service Office (WSO) to all known Areas in such a time and manner that every Group therein could expect to have 6 months to consider the requested changes.

5. Groups not yet within an Area, but known to the WSO, shall be sent a ballot directly.
6. Areas (or Districts) shall disseminate a ballot to each and every Group therein, previously validating each ballot with the Area Chair’s signature.

7. Groups shall return their ballots as per the instructions provided.
8. Upon the conclusion of the voting period, the WSO will tabulate the votes, resolve any ballot defects by contacting the Area’s Delegates or Chair, and report the vote totals, along with the estimated Group response rate, to the WSC S&B Committee and the WSBT. Abstentions received do not affect the percentages for and against but are reported in the response rate.

9. Should 3/4ths of the ballots returned, not counting Abstentions, be in the affirmative, the question, along with the vote counts and estimated percentage the Groups responding will be presented to the WSC for final approval. The WSC may, but is not required to, consider the percentage response rate in its deliberations.

Page 18 of 33

10. A final 2/3rd ratification vote by the WSC causes the change to be put into effect.

This motion is made based on communications with A.A. asking for clarity and guidance. The following is a communication between the C.A. WSBT and the General Service Office (GSO) of A.A.

AA GSO

Firstly, I would like to thank you for hosting a wonderful day of sharing. It was a great experience to meet with the leadership of our sister fellowships. The similarity of challenges and opportunities were striking. It was very helpful to hear the experience of others.

As I mentioned on the call C.A. has for some time been considering a change to Tradition Eleven. The proposal was first put forward in 2016 and following some work on developing a process to engage all our Groups in the decision-making process we now find ourselves looking to move forward with rewording.

Before we do take anything to the Groups, we want to make sure that we have the right to do so, hence this correspondence.

Whenever we publish the adapted, for C.A., Twelve Traditions, whether in our literature, service manuals, or Group posters etc. we always credit A.A. and add an explanation of non-affiliation. This reads as follows:

The Twelve Traditions are reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Traditions does not mean that A.A. is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism. Use of the Traditions in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A. but which address other problems does not imply otherwise. (We then print, in full, the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.)

The adaption we use simply changes the A.A. to read C.A. throughout and revises Tradition Three to give our requirement for membership, and revises Tradition Five to read ‘addict’ rather than ‘alcoholic.’

What we are proposing is to change Tradition Eleven in a way that isn’t driven by specificity of substance, like the other adaptations are. We are finding that as the number of social media platforms and their use keeps on increasing our membership is straying away from an understanding of Tradition Eleven and the attention to humility that it embodies. We are hoping to revise the Tradition to make it all encompassing and therefore easier for our members to understand and relate to.

We are proposing that the Tradition is revised from its current form:

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films. To read as follows:

Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of all public media.

It was heartening to hear you describe A.A.s ownership of the Steps & Traditions in a custodial sense such that they are available to all those who would find recovery irrespective of the issue that is affecting them. We do however very much respect and appreciate that as the creators of the Traditions it is our responsibility to request your approval before making any changes to the language.

We would like to move forward with the change to Tradition Eleven, as described above, and would appreciate your consideration of our request to do so.

If you would like to ask any questions or would like to seek further explanation of our motivation, please don’t hesitate to either write back to us or call me at the number below. If you would like to arrange a Zoom meeting to discuss this matter it would be our pleasure to participate in that discussion.

We look forward to your response in due course.

On behalf of the Cocaine Anonymous World Service Board of Trustees.

Page 19 of 33

The following statement was received by the C.A. WSBT from the GSO of A.A. which only indicated the process to change the tradition. The response did not state A.A. granted or denied C.A. permission from further pursuing such changes to the C.A. Charter.

Greetings from G.S.O.

Thank you for being in touch with us. The only thing I can think to share with you is part of our “Conference Charter” and “The Resolution” which authorized the General Service Conference to act for Alcoholics Anonymous and to become the successor to its Co-Founders. Here it is…

AND IT IS UNDERSTOOD: That neither the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous nor the warranties of Article XII of the Conference Charter shall ever be changed or amended by the General Service Conference except by first asking the consent of the registered A.A. groups of the world. [This would include all A.A. groups known to the general service offices around the world.] These groups shall be suitably notified of any proposal for change and shall be allowed no less than six months for consideration thereof. And before any such Conference action can be taken, there must first be received in writing within the time allotted the consent of at least three-quarters of all those registered groups who respond to such proposal.

It may be helpful for you to see the entire A.A. Service Manual:

https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/en_bm-31_3.pdf

We did have a discussion like yours in 2011 I believe, regarding social media and the Eleventh Tradition. Obviously we did not change anything, but we of course have unofficially added verbiage to local sharing and in some cases literature the idea that “public” also means social media, internet, etc. Here is our understanding anonymity pamphlet: https://www.aa.org/sites/default/files/literature/assets/p-47_understandinganonymity.pdf

I hope this helps. Please stay connected.

Having reviewed the email from A.A., the WSBT discussed and concluded that A.A. granted C.A. permission to use their steps and traditions, and with this grant, C.A. has changed the applicable C.A. Steps, Traditions, and Concepts accordingly and the conference has approved such changes and made them a part of the conference charter.

B. MOTION: That the Conference be hybrid, allowing virtual attendance to all sessions. This to be facilitated as soon as possible, taking into account current contractual obligations.

Supporting Comments:

C.A. Is a global fellowship and is currently growing at a fast pace to new parts of the world, nation by nation, area by area. We have seen healthy, stable new local fellowships grow up spreading the message of hope and recovery to newcomers everywhere.

The World Service Conference is both a guarantee of right of participation along the opportunity for smaller areas to make their voice heard, at all. They will get a possibility to address the fellowship with their ideas and their experience. This is also a crucial moment for the full fellowship to be inspired and get new perspectives from around the world.

Page 20 of 33

Smaller, new areas have a problem funding travels to the USA, hotel, registration and food – some new areas might never be able to afford sending delegates to conference. There is also disabilities preventing members travels alongside the ethics of flying from an environmental perspective.

We suggest that including all voices in our main narrative is beneficial to our fellowship. We can achieve this if we allow conference participation through digital channels, making the conference hybrid.

Please note:

1. Referral WSBT 2021-07 received from Justine k. ‘Can an-online or virtual World Service Conference be looked into for future years,’ was transferred to the WSC Conference Committee, becoming CONF 2021-07, and was noted ‘Still In Committee’ in their 2021 Closing Report.

2. Referral WSBT 2022-03 received from Cameron F. ‘Referral: With the current state of world affairs and COVID-19 rolling pandemics… and in lieu of Concept Four: Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional “Right of Participation”, taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge. I think the time has come that every World Service Conference, commencing with the 2022 World Service Conference, be at minimum a “hybrid” conference giving delegates, committee chairs and trustee, both in-person and virtual access and attendance.

This was transferred to the WSC Conference Committee, becoming CONF 2022-06. The response from the Conference Committee, brought back to us by the Lead Trustee, is ‘No Action Taken,’ as the Conference Committee believe this should be brought to the Conference to decide.

Therefore, having, in accordance with SR13, transferred the referral to the ‘appropriate committee’ we now bring a motion to the Conference floor.

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE RESTRUCTURING OF REGIONS

The Long-Term Planning Sub-Committee of the WSBT would first like to thank the Conference Committee for affording us this opportunity to inform the Fellowship of this ongoing project.

Why Restructure?

Pro’s

1. To facilitate the geographical growth of the Fellowship.
2. Proportionate representation to better reflect the Fellowship of C.A.
3. Reduce the number of Trustees by 3 to reduce costs of the Board.
4. By reducing number of Trustees, it also allows space for additional Regions to be added with our continued growth.
5. Doing away with current naming of regional identity to allow for future growth.

Con’s

1. Possible reduction in diversity.
2. Increased workload with a reduced number of Trustees.

Page 21 of 33

3. Larger travel distances for assemblies and conventions.

4. Number of delegates at caucuses and assemblies.

5. Resistance to regional identity being lost.

Please be aware this is just a presentation to inform the Fellowship of this project. We are hoping you will take this information back to your Area’s and Regions. We are not bringing forth any motions currently therefore we are not expecting any debate, as such. Our intention is to gather informed feedback prior to bringing a motion next year. I believe the Chair has allotted some time for questions which we will try to answer as this is still a work in progress. What follows is a report submitted by the Regional Restructuring sub-committee of Long-Term Planning Advisory Committee.

ILAS

WSBT

Report for the Creation/Restructure of Regions

This subcommittee of long-term planning recommends restructuring the current Cocaine Anonymous World Service Regions to six total Regions to support the continued global expansion of the Cocaine Anonymous (C.A.) Fellowship.

We recognize that the Regions are heavily weighted towards North America. Additionally, this US-centric structure does not support the rapid Fellowship growth in the United Kingdom and Europe. The number and balance of Trustees could better reflect the future of our Fellowship.

The following proposals we believe would redress this imbalance by restructuring to better support a global Fellowship. The divisions outlined in Illustration 1 would reduce the number of regions back to six in the short term. The Fellowship would still have the WST, WSOT, TAL1 and TAL2. The WSBT would have 10 members to carry out its responsibilities.

Current recommendations/motions from the committee:

1. Realign North American Regions from 6 regions to 3 (see Illustration 1)
   1. Region P – Pacific
   2. Region C – Central
   3. Region A – Atlantic

2. Realign 2 European Regions to 3 Regions
   1. Region B – British Isles (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland)
   2. Region E – Europe (Mainland European countries)
   3. Region O – Open Region (Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Indonesia, China)

3. Recommend the WST is no longer required to reside in the Pacific Region.

4. Recommend the Board assign a Trustee to look after the Open Region until in a position to put forward its own slate.

The organic growth of the Fellowship is more readily witnessed by the WSBT than any other body. With this overview the WSBT is best positioned to address the needs of time tabling the restructuring process. The workload of the board must be considered, and the re-alignments coordinated with the rotation of outgoing Trustees. We are all volunteers, no

Page 22 of 33

one member should bare an unmanageable burden of duties. To that end a program will be presented in advance of next year’s Conference, along with the motions to be considered. As the attached report notes, the restructuring would support continued global expansion of our Fellowship and improve Trustee representation from the Areas. These changes reflect a new vision for the future of the Fellowship. The Open region will be able to grow to support long-term expansion, and sub-divide in due course.

For maps of proposed Regional layouts please see Appendix A

REFERRALS THAT WERE FORWARDED (TRANSFERRED) TO OTHER COMMITTEES:

Referral number: WSBT 2021-03 (Originally transferred from WSC Structure & Bylaws, original referral number: S&B 2021-12)

Referral Maker: Russell S. WSC Conf Comm

Information contained in original referral:

Please consider changing language WSM, p. 70, item 7:

old: “The Conference may also render advisory opinions at any time by mail or telephone poll in aid of the World Service Board of Trustees or its related services.”

new: “The Conference may also render advisory opinions at any time by mail, email, or poll in aid of the World Service Board of Trustees or its related services.”

Reasoning: The reference to telephone polling is dated, more reliable methods of polling are constantly evolving. Physical and/or electronic mails are both currently accepted business practices.

Thank you for considering this referral. ILAS – Claudia

Transferred back to WSC Structure & Bylaws with the following proposal:

The revised language to read as follows:

The Conference may also render advisory opinions at any time by mail or telephone email or online poll in aid of the World Service Board of Trustees or its related services.

Referral number: WSBT 2021-08 (Originally transferred from WSC Literature Chips &

Formats, original referral number: LCF 2021-06)

Referral Maker: Liv W. CA London Area.

Information contained in original referral:

Proposal to change ‘men and women’ to ‘people’, in the Preamble.

Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem, and help others to recover from their addiction.

Transferred back to WSC Literature Chips & Formats with the following:

Page 23 of 33

This referral was originally transferred from LCF to WSBT, original referral number LCF 2021-06, please see copy attached. We have liaised with LCF and their concern was that C.A. might not have the right to revise the preamble, which is a piece of AA writing. The WSBT have spoken with AA during a sharing day 07-12-2021 at which time AA advised that they were happy for materials to be made gender neutral. Also AA have revised their version of the preamble in the fashion that is proposed by the referral maker. We are therefore happy that LCF can, if they wish, move ahead with the proposal. A copy of AA’s preamble, revised 23-06-2021, which is available on their website, is inserted here.

Referral number: WSBT 2021-09 (Originally transferred from WSC Literature Chips & Formats, original referral number: LCF 2021-09)

Referral Maker: Wesley B. CA New York Area.

Information contained in original referral:

Per our NY member Becca, CANY voted to bring this to WSC:

AA has changed the Preamble to the gender neutral “people” from “men and women.” We propose that CA follow suit and change the CA preamble to the gender neutral people” as well.

Transferred back to WSC Literature Chips & Formats with the following:

This referral was originally transferred from LCF to WSBT, original referral number LCF 2021-09, please see copy attached. We have liaised with LCF and their concern was that C.A. might not have the right to revise the preamble, which is a piece of AA writing. The WSBT have spoken with AA during a sharing day 07-12-2021 at which time AA advised that they were happy for materials to be made gender neutral. Also AA have revised their version of the preamble in the fashion that is proposed by the referral maker. We are therefore happy that LCF can, if they wish, move ahead with the proposal. A copy of AA’s preamble, revised 23-06-2021, which is available on their website, is inserted here.

Referral number: WSBT 2022-02 (Transferred to WSC Structure & Bylaws 29^th July 2022)

Referral Maker: Kevin M. New Mexico Area

Information contained in original referral:

New Standing Rule:

Any ruling by the Conference Chair affects the matter at hand only. It does not create a standing precedent or rule. All rules that affect future conference activities should be passed in the form of a new Standing Rule, by the established procedures.

Reasons: A number of times in the last decade or so, Conference Chairs (myself included) have applied past (but unwritten) rulings to conference questions, sometimes in ways that ignored the letter or written Standing Rules.

The problem here is that the body can change a written Standing Rule by amendment or repeal, but these precedential rulings are hard for new members to know about, can lead to

Page 24 of 33

frustration with the process, and difficult for the Conference to change. On several occasions, a Standing Rule that was subject to one of these precedential interpretations was amended by a 2/3rds vote and the Chair continued to apply the precedent nonetheless.

The solution to this is to allow rulings when necessary, but require that all persistent changes of this sort be reduced to a new or amended Standing Rule and passed as such in regular order.

Here are a few such rules, that appear nowhere in our manual:

1. You cannot edit literature pieces (or other publications) on the floor.

2. Only the committee managing a document (e.g. the WSM) may make a motion to change it, although other committees of late have been allowed to do so with the owning committee’s OK.

3. Standing Rule 13 requires all “affected” committees to be notified “in advance.” Not only does SR13 have no such language, but “affected” and “in advance” are totally undefined.

Note: I expect this to be referred to S&B, but I think that the Trustees need to examine this with respect to the general warranties of Concept 12.

Details why we are making this referral transfer:

The referral maker, and we agree, believes that this referral should be dealt with by S&B. It was only sent to the WSBT for us to review first in relation to the warranties of Concept 12. This we have done and voted unanimously to transfer to S&B with slightly modified language as per our motion that follows.

‘Motion to transfer referral WSBT 2022-02 to S&B with recommended language as follows:

‘Only standing rules passed in accordance with established procedures shall effect future conference activities.’

S&B may wish to use the original referral makers language or an alternate modification. We see no problem with this.

Referral number: WSBT 2022-03 (Transferred to WSC Structure & Bylaws 29^th July 2022)

Referral Maker: Cameron F, Online Service Area Information contained in original referral:

Referral: With the current state of world affairs and COVID-19 rolling pandemics… and in lieu of Concept Four: Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional “Right of Participation”, taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge. I think the time has come that every World Service Conference, commencing with the 2022 World Service Conference, be at minimum a “hybrid” conference giving delegates, committee chairs and trustee, both in-person and virtual access and attendance.

Details why we are making this referral transfer:

Page 25 of 33

The WSB believe that the appropriate committee to deal with this matter would be the WSC Conference Committee and therefore, in accordance with SR13, we have transferred the referral to that committee.

REFERRALS STILL IN COMMITTEE:

Referral number: WSBT 2019-07 (Transferred from WSC Conf Comm, original referral number: Conf 2019-07)

Referral Maker: Tom P. Orange County Area.

Information contained in original referral:

Consider researching validity of statement being repeatedly made by conference officers during roll call and occasionally when conference members introduce themselves, that full names are necessary due to California state law. The conference is not a formal meeting of either CAWS, Inc. or CAWSO, Inc.

Referral number: WSBT 2022-04 (Transferred from WSC Literature Chips & Formats, original referral number: LCF 2022-01)

Referral Maker: Edward W. San Diego Area.

Information contained in original referral:

To remove gender-specific terms when referring to God in the 12 Steps of Cocaine Anonymous and the 12 Traditions of Cocaine Anonymous.

CLOSED REFERRALS:

Referral number: WSBT 2017-05

Referral Maker: Dawn M. CAUK Area.

Information contained in original referral:

Motion: that the WSBT quarterly minutes are published with the reports submit to them on a quarterly by the standing committees of conference as unedited attachments with a naming convention including date received and which WSBT assigned to.

Response:

We have reviewed the suggestion in the referral and have worked up a standard formatting for the WSBT minutes which addresses the concerns raised. This will be in place from 2022 Q2 meeting. The minutes for this meeting with the new formatting will be issued via a Delegate mailing shortly after Conference.

Referral number: WSBT 2019-01

Referral Maker: Stuart J, WSC Public Information Committee

Page 26 of 33

Information contained in original referral:

Please can each Regional Trustee provide details of each Area’s Helpline number and website address in their quarterly reports so as to allow the WSCPI Committee to collate and make available to the World Service Office? This is to allow for this information to be available when the World Hotline is back up and running.

Response:

Both pieces of info are now being collected on the Area Questionnaire.

Referral number: WSBT 2019-05 (Mistakenly sent to WSBT from Conv Comm, original referral number CONV 2019-08)

Referral Maker: Convention Committee

Information contained in original referral:

Consider, with the costs of telecommunications down to next to nothing, having a live broadcast of World Convention Events of at least the main speaker, events of potential universal appeal (upcoming convention meetings, other planning events) that take place at the World Services Convention in the upcoming years.

Response:

The WSBT believe that this referral was actually transferred to the World Service Office Board, as per the Conference Closing Report of the WSC Convention Committee 2019.

Referral number: WSBT 2019-06 (Transferred from WSC Structure & Bylaws, original referral number: Conf 2019-11)

Referral Maker: Jay F. Colorado Area

Information contained in original referral:

Proposal for the creation of a new standing Conference Committee – Long Term Planning and International Development

Discussion: This proposed committee has been discussed for many years now as a logical expansion of the Trustee’s similar committees. There currently is a Long Term Planning meeting at the CAWS Conventions each year and there was a Long Term Planning meeting at the recent European Regional Convention in Birmingham UK in April, 2018. I brought this to S&B last year and the Committee decided to not bring it to the floor. Since then I have watched what has occurred at the Trustee level and there is now a active Long Term Planning Committee which had its first call/meeting in May, 2019, another call is scheduled for early June. Given the keen interest in this it is clear to me that there is a strong sincere interest in the future of our fellowship. This new Committee would be intended to serve as a resource of the requisite planning to identify future goals both in the US and Internationally and then to help facilitate, with the help, planning and support of the WSBT and the WSOB and of course the two TAL’s. It is time to allow more people including delegates to be involved in this on an ongoing basis.

Page 27 of 33

Motion: to create a new standing Conference Committee named Long Term Planning and International Development, with the following committee description, to be created effective at the close of the 2019 World Service Conference:

The purpose of the Long-Term Planning and International Development Committee is to study of the long-term needs and goals of the CA fellowship throughout the world.

The responsibilities of the Committee shall be to:

1. Develop an analysis of long-term fellowship needs, goals and structure.
2. Recommend long-term goals and strategies to the Conference, the WSBT and to the WSOB, as appropriate.
3. Evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the many programs of the fellowship.
4. Work to create and then update, as appropriate, a comprehensive long-term plan and present a report to the Conference for adoption. Any such plan shall be based upon input from the fellowship at large, from current Conference delegates, the WSBT, the WSOB and past trusted servants of the Conference.
5. Work to craft updates to the process of how Regions are created and new areas also. Note: the passage of this Motion would cause amendment to the chart on page 12 of the WSM, the list on page 38 of the WSM and also in the Conference Committee Guidelines for meeting space allocations.

Thank you.

Response:

We have kept this referral under review while the various ongoing long term planning (LTP) projects have been worked on. In particular the project to develop the LTP Procedures, which are now completed. These procedures were worked up by the LTP Advisory Committee which is open to participation by all members of the Fellowship.

We concur with the outcome of Structure & Bylaws deliberations in 2018. LTP is a function of the World Service Board of Trustees, as is International Structure and Development. The WSBT has the greatest insight of any committee, with connection to the Areas as well as the World Service Office and Conference Committees.

The terms of reference for LTP are; To plan and guide the future of Cocaine Anonymous to insure that the addict that still suffers can receive the message of recovery. This committee is not limited in participation by current WSBT members and it is suggested that former Trustees be included in this committee.

The Concept 11 essay in Alcoholics Anonymous World Service Manual speaks to the role of The General Policy Committee and talks specifically to the devising of ‘a committee that could filter all these matters, disposing of the lesser and fully examining the larger. The object was to break the jam at Trustees meetings and to present the Board with carefully discussed recommendations, including minority reports, on more serious issues.’ The WSBT Advisory Committee, as mentioned above, is efficiently and transparently providing this service. There are however some issues that need to be dealt with, at least in the first instance, by the Trustees.

One such project is the proposed restructuring of our Regions, so as to accommodate our future growth and afford proportional representation. This is by its very nature a controversial issue and was discussed for some time by the WSBT before being opened up

Page 28 of 33

for input by the Advisory Committee. A presentation on this matter will be made at the coming Conference.

In summary; we believe that LTP is functioning very well at this time and is in good shape to deal with matters, as they arise, into the foreseeable future.

Referral number: WSBT 2021-02 (Transferred from WSC Structure & Bylaws, original referral number: S&B 2021-06)

Referral Maker: World Service Board of Trustees Information contained in original referral:

“Please remove all references to a Non-addict Trustee from the Cocaine Anonymous World Service Manual (WSM).

We do not believe there is, any longer, the need for a Non-addict Trustee and whilst the position remains in the WSM then Regions may put forward candidates that the Trustee Election Committee will be obliged to interview.

As a Board we have considered the requirement for a Non-addict Trustee and also consulted a large number of previous Trustees. We note that the position has not been filled for many years and that in that time our Fellowship has matured to the point that we no longer require a moderating influence as a member of the World Service board of Trustees. We believe that the skills sets afforded by our addict Trustee candidates adequately provides for the needs of our Fellowship.

With two new Regions having formed since the last Non-addict Trustee was in place we now have a larger Board. We do not believe that the cost of an additional Trustee, without portfolio, can be reasonably justified.”

Yours sincerely,

C.A. World Service Board of Trustees

Response:

The WSBT requested that this referral be returned as a motion would have to be brought to the Conference floor prior to the position being removed from the World service Manual. It was considered more appropriate for such a motion to be brought by the WSBT. Upon further consideration it was decided that the position of Non-addict Trustee offered opportunities to our Fellowship that might prove useful in the future. The WSBT therefore decided not to pursue the removal of the Non-Addict Trustee position.

Referral number: WSBT 2021-04 (Transferred from WSC Structure & Bylaws, original referral number: S&B 2021-17)

Referral Maker: Russell S. WSC Conference Committee

Information contained in original referral:

Revision to Page 77 World Service Manual to support and assist any requirements for mail/online vote scenario

Page 29 of 33

Page 77 – WSM

Whenever, in the judgment of one-third of the Director Trustees present at a meeting, a decision to take any action involves a matter of principal or basic policy and in the judgment of at least one-third of the Director Trustees a delay in arriving at a decision will not adversely affect the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous, the matter shall be submitted to a mail vote of Conference Delegates, and if a majority of the Conference Delegates votes against the taking of such action, then the Board of Directors Board of Trustees will be expected to refrain from deciding to take such action.

Whenever a mail vote is taken of Conference Delegates, at least two-week’s notice shall be given, and the vote shall be determined in keeping with an analysis of such vote by the President and Secretary, or in their absence, by the Vice President and Treasurer, at the end of such two-week period. An announcement of the result of such vote shall thereupon be mailed by the Secretary or Treasurer to Conference Delegates and to Director Trustees.

Proposed language to replace paragraph above:

When, in the opinion of the WSBT, such a vote be needed, all credentialed Conference Delegates (to include all voting members), are to be presented with a motion for consideration. A period of not less than 1 week, and not more than 3 weeks, for consideration and discussion must be observed. After the discussion period has ended, voting shall take place as directed by the WSC Chair. All votes will be tabulated by the Conference Chair and Vice Chair. A result will be announced following confirmation of the vote totals.

Response:

No action taken. We believe that the current language is fit for purpose. Also that any decision to take action involving a matter of principle or basic policy, where a delay in arriving at a decision will not adversely affect the Fellowship should, in virtually all cases, be brought as a motion to the next sitting of Conference, in accordance with Standing Rule 14, as required.

Referral number: WSBT 2021-05 (Transferred from WSC Structure & Bylaws, original referral number: Unknown, Formsite Reference: 8139642)

Referral Maker: World Service Board of Trustees

Information contained in original referral:

Revision to Bylaws section, pages 72 through 80, of the World Service Manual to limit confusion and clarify the WSBT and its Trustee members withing the scope of this document.

(The proposed changes to 9 pages of the World Service Manual were not provided as a .doc and therefore cannot be included here. The proposed changes were to take out Directors and insert Trustees and also to change the World Service Board to World Service Board of Trustees.)

Response:

Page 30 of 33

No action taken. We find that the suggested changes would be in contradiction to the language of Concepts 6, 7, & 8. Furthermore we believe that clarity is afforded by the current language.

Referral number: WSBT 2021-10

Referral Maker: Jay F. Colorado Area

Information contained in original referral:

I remain concerned that in the translation of our approved literature, in this instance, A Quiet Peace, into another language that there were changes made to that work without any involvement by LCF or sign off. The changes made on at least one meditation were a complete rewrite of one day’s meditation.

As a member of LCF involved in the authoring and assembly of this book, where we struggled with every comma and quote, this practice seems not aligned with LCF’s or the Conference’s charge. Plus it sets a really bad precedent for future translations. I am concerned that LCF and its book approval process is being avoided/ignored by the WSOB currently. To me, literature translation and the sales of that product/publication needs to be about preserving the piece and its copyright, not making money. I’d like to see the LCF work with WSOB and the WSBT to come up with an agreeable solution please. Perhaps the Book Approval Process needs to be modified to include further clarity on translations. Thank you so much

Response:

Take no action as the WSBT IS&D Subcommittee is in the process of drafting a revised translation procedure in coordination with David Crossland, WSOB DAL, which incorporates steps to address the conceptual fidelity and accuracy of all literature translations.

Referral number: WSBT 2022-01

Referral Maker: Henry A. San Gabriel & Pomona Valley

Information contained in original referral:

Referral to the World Service Board of Trustees:

Please modify the wording of WSM page 13, bullet point “B”, in some way, to make clear that “memorabilia” is not to be created that promotes “Cocaine Anonymous” as a brand. My issue is that this page seems to have been used to justify the sale of 2021 WS Conference t-shirts with the words “Cocaine Anonymous” printed on them.

Memorabilia is something that “stirs a recollection”; in our case, a “memento” that “is kept in memory of a person or event”. A key chain, or coffee mug, which has the date and full name of a CA convention, might be memorabilia without rising to the level of promotion. A bumper sticker, hat, t-shirt, or any other item that is designed to carry a written message into a public space, and whose written message names an organization, is quite clearly an advertisement for that organization’s brand. It is a promotion. That is, the “active furtherance of sale of merchandise through advertising or other publicity”. To promote is “to present for public acceptance through advertising and publicity”. It may be noted that the there is no signage outside the World Service Office with the words ‘Cocaine

Page 31 of 33

Anonymous’.

I have attached a 1012 word document to this online referral form. It contains complete definitions from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary Online, and short excerpts from The Twelve Steps And Twelve Traditions. These sources form, in large part, the basis of my opinion presented above.

It is also my personal opinion that T-shirts with the trademarked CA logo do not necessarily create as serious a problem. They might be troubling to some of us in light of the 11th and 12th traditions, but they do not present the name of our fellowship as a brand to the those innocent of, or uninitiated in, it’s meanings. They are a rather poor ‘promotion’ as the person wearing one would have to explain the meaning to most people in order to either ‘promote’ our brand or ‘break’ anyone’s anonymity. —————–

I first brought this up with the 2021 Conference Committee. Then I sent this referral to the Structure and By-laws committee. They both had a similar response. I believe they missed my point. S&B answered this referral in their 2021 closing report with the words “Each member is free to choose their own level of anonymity”.

I am sending this matter to you as the legal guardians of the CA brand. It is my hope you might agree with me that, like the 1st step which carries the confessions of both powerlessness over substance And unmanageability of our lives, the 11th tradition carries both an encouragement to anonymity in the public eye And a repudiation of promotion in carrying our message.

I will accept any action or inaction the board chooses. However, I beg that at least one of you take a look at the supporting sources (Merriam-Webster, and Twelve Steps & Twelve traditions) that I have attached.

Thank you all for your service.

Response:

It is the opinion of the World Service Board of Trustees that we take no action on this referral. We feel that it is not our place to determine another’s anonymity or to define what specific mementos would stir a recollection of an event. The branding of C.A., as stated in the Statement of Policy on page 14 in the 2022 CAWS Manual, leaves the authority to the Areas/Districts of C.A

CLOSING COMMENTS:

In closing I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all those who are of service to our Fellowship, at whatever level. In particular I would like to express my admiration and trust in the Board of Trustees that I leave. No doubt by the time the Trustee Election Committee has finished its work the current Trustees will be bolstered by two new members, who will serve admirably with them.

I look forward to our new format Conference, in its new home. I am always raised up and inspired by the level of dedication and gratitude displayed by such a bunch ex delinquents.

I am sure, as ever, that god will join us and express himself in our group conscience.

Page 32 of 33

Respectfully Submitted

Jason L

TAL1/WSBT-Chair

Page 33 of 33

For attachments see: https://documents.historyofca.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-08-31-09-05-WSC-WSBT-Report-Redacted.pdf