CA WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR QUARTERLY
MEETING MINUTES
May 23 – May 29, 2011
Approved
Since this report is a confidential CA document, for members only, it may contain member’s full names. This usage to facilitate communication within the fellowship was approved by the 1990 WS Conference. Such confidential use does not, of course, violate in any way our Tradition on anonymity in public communications media (press, radio, TV, etc.)
Page 1 of 183
Kim S.: It is 7:55 pm, we are getting a little bit of a late start due to technical difficulties, I think we are all good to go. Can we start with a quiet time, followed by the Serenity Prayer? God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thanks everyone. I’m Kim; I’m an addict, happy to be here. Our agenda starts with personal sharing, so at this time we will pause the tape and go into that.
Okay, we are back online, it is 9:40 pm, and we are returning from personal sharing, can we start again with a quiet time and the Serenity Prayer? God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thank you. We will begin roll call.
Peter DeRafaelle, The World Service Trustee.
Randy Groen, Southwest Regional Trustee, WSBT Vice Chair.
Kenny Williams, Atlantic South Regional Trustee.
Robert Lyle, Atlantic North Regional Trustee.
Joy Hutcheson, Pacific South Regional Trustee, TEC Chair.
Terry Marsden, Pacific North Regional Trustee.
Russell Sedman, European Regional Trustee.
Richard Schafer, Trustee at Large, WSBT Secretary.
Kim Sherwan, Midwest Regional Trustee, WSBT Chair.
Thank you, for the record, we would like to note that
Richard Leve, the World Service Office Trustee is unable to be with us this week, due to a family emergency, we extend our thoughts and prayers to him and his family.
Does someone want to read the 12 Traditions?
Peter D.: Fir St T radition: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on CA unity.
Second Tradition: For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
Third radition: The only requirement for CA membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances.
Fourth Tradition: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or CA as a whole.
Fifth Tradition: Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the addict who still suffers.
Sixth Tradition: A CA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the CA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Seventh Tradition: Every CA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Page 2 of 183
Eighth Tra ition: Cocaine Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
Ninth Tradition: CA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
Tenth Tradition: Cocaine Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the CA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
Eleventh Tradition: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
Twelfth Tradition: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Kim S.: Thank you Peter, would someone like to read the long-form of Tradition 4?
Robert L.: With respect to its own affairs, each CA group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. When its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups, also those groups are to be consulted. In no group, regional committee, or intergroup should ever take any action that might greatly affect CA as a whole without conferring with the Trustees or the WSBT, on such issue our common welfare is paramount.
Kim S.: Thanks Robert. I will now entertain some limited discussion on Tradition Four.
Kim S.: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or CA as a whole, that’s the short version. It’s funny, I think that was actually touched upon, I’m not certain if it was during personal sharing. This is the tradition that allows us to make mistakes. What I love about this tradition is the big picture of this tradition, and how we allow the groups to be autonomous and be completely aware of the potential harm it has to any action or motion that is put forward on any other groups or our membership as a whole. We, in the past, have had situations regarding flyers that are specific to holidays or events that have specific words that can potentially be harmful, maybe to only one or two or a dozen members, however, when I explained this in my region, the trickle effect, how one addict talks to another. On the other hand, it is similar, I believe it was mentioned in personal sharing how we talk to our children or even our sponsees, we give them suggestions and direction, and quite frankly, they do what they want to do anyway. This tradition provides for the right to be wrong and the right to learn from it.
That, for me, that is why I love this tradition. Every group goes through the fear and frustration of wanting to do what is passionate and well, we just viewed a video that has a great deal of love and passion behind it, however, it potentially some of what is in there can be harmful to our Fellowship. I feel what is brilliant is there is a desire to bring that video forward to get help from us.
Richard S.: It’s reallyjust the last sentence for me. Our common welfare is paramount. That’s it. Whether it’s a board providing direction, suggestions or a group looking for information, where we meet, our common welfare is paramount, and with that in mind, we always do the right thing. It is nowhere more evident than being supportive in service. I know it is one thing for me to keep in mind. Our common welfare.
Page 3 of 183
Kenny W.: I find that when making decisions that affect or may affect neighboring groups, the Fellowship as a whole, that the process of this particular tradition invokes something like what just happened, the consulting for a group comes up with an idea or a concept that is in an area before they make that part of what they’re doing or make it happen, they should bring it to other groups and consult instead of just doing it, like what you did, and I think that really played out into what Tradition 4 is about. Just don’t take matters into your own hand. In my own eye or in my own group’s own eye, it may be perfectly ok, but when I consult with others, then they can bring other points of view that I couldn’t see. It works, when we work it.
Randy G.: I love it because that’swhere all the ideas come from. Again we talked earlier about stubbing toes and that kind of thing, and the importance of that. Whether it be men’s meetings, candlelight meetings, allowing a group to be autonomous to go and take however they wanted to deliver the message of Cocaine Anonymous to themselves and their group and has started some incredible things that have been extremely positive and made mainstays of areas and regions and workshops and the types of meetings we have all came from these groups’ autonomy individually to deliver this inside of what we call, where it affects other groups. I just think that’s where this growth and excitement comes from, is that we have these groups and sometimes they’re small, five people home groups, and sometimes theyjust want to do something, they got an idea, they’re actually allowed to do it as long as it doesn’t affect another group, and see if it works. If it runs down the road, most of our regions, areas, districts, for that matter, they’ve had groups that have been_____ , we’re going to do a party for the home group with the 7th Tradition and we’ve got the right to do so, and off to the Beavis and Butthead movie they went. You nod and ask if they had a good time. Sobriety and recovery has a way of proving that not to be a successful choice and that group eventually finds its way into a new path or a dark meeting. That’s been my experience, we’ve watched those things happen, we didn’t have to step in all the time, there were some times we could just allow them to find their way. What came from it were all different kinds of meetings that hold an attraction for all kinds of people that would just not go to the normal we do it in a box like this and they get energized with this opportunity to breathe what they think is new life into a format and an idea, and I like it.
Kim S.: Thank you everybody. Next item on our agenda is the discussion topic. Tonight’s topic is Direct Communication; Richard Schafer will take the lead on that.
Richard S.: When Kim posted this. I like direct communication, as most of you know. Out of the Webster’s Dictionary: direct can be, depending on the context, to point out, prescribe, determine a course or procedure, point a way. And, communication, an act or instance of transmitting, something conveyed. So, for me, the buzzwords for this topic were open dialogue, speaking freely, talking through differences and difficulties. For me, one of the most important is always listening. Direct communication means I need to always listen. I have on here for my personal.. .it’s a need, ending with love, and then following up. One of the words is directly out of the Big Book, direct, 9th Step, made direct amends. We’ve all had experience with utilizing in our recovery, doing something directly.. .direct. The best example that I could reflect on, you’ve all seen Randy and I have direct communication, online and in a Board room. We have each share, if you haven’t seen it, we communicate afterwards and follow-up with love. It is what I was taught. It works. I have absolute respect for Randy because of it. Putting the topic into
Page 4 of 183
perspective as this Board, I prefer things be discussed openly, we all talk about the magic that happens in this room when we come together, regardless of our differences. It is because we are all here, we are present, I’m not emailing you or calling you or dragging you off to the side, we are talking. With God’s help, I’m really listening. Joy’s heard me flip, Randy knows I’ve flipped, Kim’s always shocked when I flip, and it’s because I listen. It is the best thing that came out of this topic for me, when I was going through it. I looked up direct, I looked up communication, and I looked up ways of communicating, eye contact. We are in a world of technology, and because I’m in technology, I know one of the drawbacks. One of the drawbacks is I cannot see you, you cannot see me. You cannot see ifl’m emotionally almost in tears, smiling, or emotionally angry over the computer, but when we share our thoughts, feelings, and passions here, we come through to each other. My need is to continue to communicate directly with each and every one of us. The best way I can continue to do that is to continue to be open. Be open, not only to what I say, but how I say it. And listening to that feedback, and sometimes saying wow, I hadn’t thought about that, wow, you’re right. I think every single one of you has heard me say you’re right; I’m changing my point of view because I’m often wrong. It’s not about being right or wrong, I used the wrong word, its about being open, open mind, open ears, open heart, and I have that today.
Kim S.: Thanks Richard. Any additional comments?
Terry M.: I think I liked some of the stuff Richard talked about, and just for myself, communication is probably one of my weakest links. It’s one of those things that I agree that a lot that was said, it’s just one of those things for me that is hard to do. I hate to go back to childhood, but, that’s where it started, you know, iflwant your opinion or something out of you, I’ll slap it out of you. That’s kind of the way I was brought up. Throughout my life I’ve been real good at just keeping it to myself, everything. This program has changed that a lot. Where I am at today and where I was 19 years ago is two totally different places and when I read this topic being put online, then Kim mentioned something earlier, it struck me, where am I lacking still? It’s one of those skills I thought could be gained, but putting it into practical application is where I need personally to go. I enjoy sitting and talking to people more than I enjoy sitting and talking on the phone or sending an IM. Sometimes you can feel the laughter in an IM, but sometimes you can’t see the seriousness in an IM. There was something that happened last week that, somebody was supposed to meet me and I called them and made a smart-ass remark, it was not the first time this person didn’t show up when they said they were going to show up, and I made a remark, and came to find out this person had a medical emergency and had to be somewhere. One thing that I’ve learned being in this position, I’ve got to be careful of what I say sometimes. It made me think about my personal life and maybe I need to be careful on how I respond to situations with people. Me and Russell had a little banter, because we have a lot of banters during the week and talking to each other, he said something in fun, I responded to him, it had nothing to do with the situation, but I have to look at my stuff. I have a hard time coming right out and saying this is what it is. This topic has actually made me look at my life and not just in this room, but in my personal friends and in my communications with them. I want to get better at it. The only thing that I know works is I ask God for some willingness to grow towards that, because that’s what I’ve learned about everything in my recovery, is if I start falling short in some things, maybe I need to talk to God about it. I can actually put sentences together without
Page 5 of 183
cussing now. To some people, that might not be a big deal, but to me that is spiritual growth. Am I perfect at it, no. But I am a lot better. I kind of like that, it’s kind of opened my eyes to something that maybe I need to work on not only in here but maybe in my own personal life a lot more than what I’m doing.
Russell S.: I liked seeing this on the agenda. This is quite a new thing, since my first quarterly, I hope we find the time to continue to have such topics. Direct communication is absolutely essential, and it can be uncomfortable for me at times. Terry taught me the prayer, if you see me closing my eyes, it’s me asking, “God I need a bit of courage here, help me take the sharp edges off this, I really do need to say something.” Funny, cause outside the restaurant earlier, Randy was talking about acceptance, taking some responsibility within that, not just being lazy and letting anything happy, but practicing some courage and speaking out, not just letting anything happen, everything is what God wants it to be. The opportunity to communicate openly and voice concerns openly and respect…sometimes finding the words in this environment, we don’t have the time to sit down and pencil how I am going to respond to you or to you, sometimes it comes out a little bit.. .1 don’t know.. .1 learned a new acronym yesterday, WAIT, why am I talking? I thought it was cool. That is direct communication. Can I listen? Personal sharing, how easy is it for, I’ll share first, I could havejust daydreamed while you were sharing, Communication, talk, but then listen, listen and respect. It’s a great topic, and something I hope to get better at. I’mjust amazed Terry can stream a sentence together without swearing. I feel having a topic each quarterly helps direct communication. I would like to see us have these topics on our agenda.
Randy G.: It’s why we’re here. I believe that our regions, the Office, wherever each of us sitting around this table came from, we were put forward by a group of people that believe we were going to represent them and do so actively. I would only guess that my region would be very disappointed if I didn’t participate in direct communications regarding the issues that were placed in front of this Board and with this group, because I believe that they would like a voice, they have opinions regarding things. Some of those are mine, some of them aren’t. They want to have a voice. We talked about the autonomy of groups. That group, our district, our area, they want a voice in the direction of Cocaine Anonymous is going, that comes from participation and direct communication. The trick, and I’m not very good at it, is sometimes having that uncomfortable conversation. I think Russell did a great job mentioning we don’t always have the time to wait, we have a certain amount of work we need to get done, some things brought forward. I was as guilty or more guilty than anyone, I’m not good at saying that I don’t agree with you without saying I’m right and you’re wrong. There is a big difference, because healthy groups of people trying to represent other groups of people in a common solution to common problems have to be able to say we don’t agree with each other. The trick for me is to make sure that that’s all that that says, is that we don’t agree with each other, it therefore it doesn’t become personal, it becomes debate, it becomes healthy, it becomes a representation of ideas and let’s face it, we don’t get easy ones. We rarely get the easy problems. The easy problems get handled in the groups, they traditionally get handled in the areas and districts, maybe even the regions. We get the ones that have grey areas, that have seven sides to them, and there’s nine or 10 of us that sit around the table, and we might have all seven sides. But as a group, we’ve got to come up
Page 6 of 183
with a position for this Fellowship, and if we don’t hear all of those, and if they’re not shared openly and directly, we got no chance of representing our regions or the Office or wherever.
Peter D.: What I like about this conversation and what I learned in these rooms is how to listen. I’ve been a salesman all my life and what I was taught; it counts more on what you listen to as opposed to what you say. I’ve never had a problem talking. What I’ve learned in these rooms is how to talk nicely, how to respect people, how to listen and really listen, not make like you’re.. .when I was a salesman I listened because, I didn’t give a shit, I pretended because I wanted them to buy what I was selling and I didn’t really care. When I got here, the greatest gift I got was the ability I got was to listen and take direction from other people, because I was told, “you don’t know shit, you dumb ass, you’re homeless, you’re 50 years old. You need to shut up and listen.” I learned to do that. I can talk to anybody about anything, even though I don’t know what I’m talking about, I can talk. Especially in this body, here, I learned how to do more listening than talking, that’s good for me. If I have something to say, I’ll say it. I have to think a lot so it’s nicely said, not how.. .I’m harsh sometimes, I know it’s hard to believe, but I am. I say what I gotta say and I’ve learned how to try and say it nicely and I tell my sponsees to communicate. Sometimes I don’t communicate, I’m a yeller. I used to yell a lot. When I talked to my kids I would yell, scream at them, they would tune me out. When I got here, I learned if I just talk, people hear you. It was something new. It’s a good topic, direct communication. Thank you Richard.
Kenny W.: I don’t believe none of this stuff happens by mistake. I always have been able to hear, but the listen part is what I’m working on. I hear you.. .1 hear you, you’re talking to me, I hear you, but I’m not listening. That’s something that, I’m better at it, thanks to you people. But this topic puts it front and center for me, for me to listen more. To become a better listener. I not only heard that, wow. I always thought I was a good listener because I could talk my way into and out of. I hear you, now I need to listen to you, that’s a big difference, I don’t have the whatever it is you need inside of you to go inside, when you feel like I’m actually listening to you, you take a different stance. I can sense when somebody’s, “I hear you.” They’re on the computer tapping away and I’m talking, Can you stop for a minute, what you’re doing and listen to me? I hear you, keep talking.
Robert L.: Part of direct communication for me is hearing what’s not being said, sometimes things aren’t said. I don’t get, I need to listen to what’s not being talked about, sometimes in direct communication. Hearing what’s being said but not addressed, real issues. Sometimes I get an email, read it, and can take it a zillion ways. What I do, I go to a meeting in between, I feel someone was attacking me, I was able to, instead of emailing it to everybody, I was able to email back that person, this is what’s going on with me, this is why I did what I did, the person realized where I was. It caused our relationship to grow; we talked a few times since. Sometimes we say things; we don’t know how people take them. I could be face-to-face, talking to you; sometimes people don’t hear what’s not being said. A lot of times we don’t say some of those things directly. Communication is there, but sometimes we cannot relate what’s really going on and we have to listen to what’s not being said, if you can understand what I am saying. That’s how our relationships grow too. By being able to listen to what’s not being said as well as listening to what’s being said and being able to confront people and challenge them, it allows us to grow. If I
Page 7 of 183
don’t challenge people and say this is where I am at, where are you at? I take my side of the story to the table. I take my experience, you can be talking to me, I relate to my experiences, where I come from and I have to listen to you to find out where you’re coming from. Those are the things that are not being said. I have to put myself, for lack of a better word, in your shoes, to know what’s going on, I don’t have all of the experience that you have, and you don’t have all of the experiences that I might have. Together we can work out and get.. .Richard talked about flipping, for me it’s not about flipping, it’s about getting the whole picture. I know why I believe what I believe, just because I change my mind over something, it’s not because I flipped, it’s because the knowledge I was looking at was limited, and you have an ability to shape your _____of the same situation and say oh, yeah, I see it now, but I didn’t see it before in that way. Direct communication is important, sometimes we have to listen to what’s not being said and understand where that person’s at. That’s all I got, for now.
Kim S.: Direct communication is, I think, as I grow as a person, something that’s been difficult for me, because basically I don’t like confrontation. In my mind, anything that’s direct has to have a presentation of truth and honesty. There is a fear there of being completely direct and open, it might create a confrontation. I don’t like that; I don’t want to get into that. That is something I’ve had to learn to do in the years I’ve been around. What’s helped with this is service work. Also direct communication means I have to be honest with not just my thoughts, but my feelings. That means I might have to be vulnerable, which means then I am putting myself out there to be hurt or harmed, that’s the personal aspect of this topic. There is a big picture to this; I guess one of the biggest obstacles in direct communication is who I am talking to. I can have all of the components in place, trust, honesty, faith, however, sometimes the person who is hearing or listening is not in the same place and that is a challenge for me. Direct communication is something I talked about in personal sharing, whether we realize it or not, it is wanting to provide as much information, education, as I roll out. I do that. I have daily, weekly conversations with many of you, and I need that so that in a way this group practices Tradition 4, being right or wrong, or dealing with fear and frustrations and moving forward. For the years I have been on the Board, the discussion topic has generally been a tradition or a concept, I had three years of that and I learned a lot from those that came before me. There is a plan. The first topic was partnership, that’s us acting as one, a partnership. The second two topics, if we had five quarterlies I would have broken it down, Respect For Others, I have to tell you, there is nothing more disappointing that looking out at the this group and seeing half of you on your computer or looking at your cellphone. Because, as Kenny referenced in his sharing, that means people aren’t listening. Individual Accountability, I don’t need to say who it was, you all know who you were. I respect all of you, some of you in different ways, however, I am willing to sit here and listen to you all. Listen. Direct communication, here we are. The next topic in three months is excellence. You know me, I have a vision. Partnership, it’s a P, Respect for Others is an R, Individual Accountability is an I, Direct Communications is a D, Excellence is an E. And that spells PRIDE, which is what I am hoping we all have for this Board and that is the direction we are moving in. Whether or not the next chair decides to go back to the concepts or traditions or does away with it altogether, I do not know. I know that when I leave here, I want this to be a group that has a healthy pride in what we are doing. Excellence is the next topic, you all let me know who would like to lead on this throughout this week, I will take volunteers. Direct
Page 8 of 183
communication has a domino effect, it goes back to Individual accountability, respect for others, and how are we working as a partnership, together, how are we moving forward? Anyone else?
Joy H.: I apologize for being on my computer; I was checking for dates for the conference call, I forgot my calendar in the room.
Kim S.: Moving forward, if you could all refrain from texting, Facebooking, mad bird fighting or whatever it is called that would be great.
Moving forward, it is 10:45, beginning with Chair’s opening remarks. First of all, has everyone had an opportunity to review our agenda? Are there any additions or corrections? Has everyone had an opportunity to review the Board-to-Board agenda? Of course, pending the outcome of some of our agenda, as you will see, some of those items have been moved to the Board-to- Board agenda, we will determine whether or not they will be pursued.
Next item CAWS 2011 Schedule. I hope everybody has had an opportunity to review that. Thursday morning at 10:00 am there is a press conference, where Randy and I are required to be there. I ask that, if you are available, to attend, sit in the audience and participate.
Russell S.: I have a question, because it differs from the Public Information guidelines on Press Conferences and Press Areas and who should participate. I am wondering on why it was decided on the named people and why we did not adhere to the Conference Guidelines?
Randy G.: What do the guidelines say?
Russell S.: Guidelines say it must be either the current Public Information Chair, but it is certainly not the list of people set forward.
Randy G.: The current Public Information Chair was Mark, he was uncomfortable.
Russell S.: I’m sorry, the World Service Public Information Chair. Was there any liaison between the World? We have a Public Information Committee, at Conference; it is in their guidelines, as approved by Conference, that they deal with the Public Information around that sort of event or convention.
Randy G.: We can find out if that individual is here. Do we know who that is?
Robert L.: It’s Alan S., he won’t be here.
Joy H.: Yes he will.
Robert L.: No, Alan from Florida will not be here.
Russell S.: For me it’s not necessarily that he’s going to or not going to be here, it’s are we aware that there are these guidelines? We can’tjust, so we’rejust going to do it like this, when the
Page 9 of 183
Conference has said these people will handle Public Information. For next conventions moving forward.
Kim S.: Thank you for bringing this to our attention Russell. Page 8 of the Convention manual, I am looking at that first. It says in the World Service Convention Committee Guidelines, “select a panel member subject to ratification by the host convention committee officers and trustees.”
Russell S.: That differs from the Public Information handbook, which states a different list of people. Again, it is a conflict in our guidelines that we.. .1 do not intend to make an issue of this.
Kim S.: Of course, thank you for bringing it up, if there is an oversight, we need to look at it.
Randy G.: It was brought up to us, and we_____ , who can those individuals be?
Joy H.: It says the only authorized individuals allowed inside the press area are as follows:
World Service Convention Chairperson, World Service Convention Public Information Committee Chairperson, World Service Conference Committees Chairpersons, World Service Trustees, Hotel Liaison.
Kim S.: In addition to the panel members it says it is subject to ratification by the host convention committee officers and the trustees, if you would like to ratify Randy and I to sit on the panel. The only authorized individuals, and Joy just outlined those, to sit in the press area, is inclusive of this Board. That is why I said if you all could be there on Thursday morning that would be great. This is all on page 9 of the Conference Convention Committee Guidelines.
Russell S.: Is this in a closed off area?
Kim S.: Yes.
Joy H.: The PI Workbook is from 2009; there have been changes since then.
Richard S.: The one online, I went there too.
Kim S.: This may be something that can be coordinated at the Conference between the two committees so they have similar verbiage. Going forward, that would be Robert and Peter.
Robert L.: The way I look at the PI Handbook, is that it is talking to local area conventions.
Kim S.: Peter, you’re on Convention?
Peter D.: Yes.
Kim S.: Peter and Robert, can you please communicate about this, so when we are at Conference there is some more clear verbiage?
Page 10 of 183
Joy H.: Do we need to address this in the World Service Manual with respect to press conferences at World Conventions?
Kim S.: World Service Convention has their own guidelines; the rule of thumb is that if it is not in the manual, you go to committee guidelines, and or workbook, etc.
Thursday morning is the press conference, again, it is at 10:00 am, I suggested this time to the host city because it wasn’t too early and my hope was you could all be there. If not, that’s fine. Please find your place of preference during the next four days. Not so much necessarily on Thursday, but at some point, to help out somewhere. Talk with Randy and Evan, find a spot. Whether it’s memorabilia or hospitality, registration, a greeter. We are here to serve, we work for this Fellowship. The best time I ever had was in Salt Lake City, I worked with Earl Henderson, we had a blast. We were there for four hours. It’s a great way to meet our Fellowship and be involved, it certainly helps this committee, who has been working hard, as so many of us working on a World Service Convention Committee know, they could use a little bit of a break too.
Randy G.: I want to second that wholeheartedly. We have what we call Recovery Village. It’s like an indoor hospitality area, where we have an H&I Booth. The office is bringing their trade show booth and it’s set there. I worked that booth in Denver, talking about the contribution program and it was surprising how many different questions you get from people. When you see the booth, it’s kind of a little representation area. That booth will go unmanned for hours at any point in time. I can almost assure you that we most definitely need somebody to post up there in that area as well. That’s just one off the top. There are no committees assigned to man it. It’s being brought and set up.
Russell S.: Would you prefer we liaise through you or just go keep ourselves busy for a slot?
Kim S.: In Denver, Joy and I wanted to work memorabilia, and we were able, not I suppose, the way we wanted to, but we did work there. Later in the week, Joy and I worked the door at one of the special events; we collected tickets and stamped hands. We didn’t take money. There are places at any time you can help.
Peter D.: Explain dress appropriately.
Kim S.: Dress shorts. I am not here to dictate what y’all wear. When we are at the press conference, and they show up, don’t wear the skull t-shirts and cutoffs. We represent the World Service Board of Trustees.
Randy G.: Situation appropriate.
Peter D.: Is it okay to sell memorabilia in jeans or shorts?
Randy G.: Yes.
Page 11 of 183
Kim S.: Certain situations, the press conference, Friday we have TEC interviews, we are representing the Board of Trustees, please dress appropriately. There are certain functions on Saturday, I don’t think you will need to wear a collared shirt and dress pants, however, Meet the Trustees, dress appropriately, as we represent the Trustees. Long Term Planning, dress appropriately. Use your best judgment.
Russell S.: With an upcoming convention next year, where would you suggest I go?
Randy G.: What are you guys doing well already?
Russell S.: All of it.
Richard S.: What are your choices?
Russell S.: I don’t know, Randy’s a trustee at this convention, where would you suggest I go and get some foresight of…
Richard S.: Of what?
Russell S.: Of next year’s convention? Where would you, Randy, suggest I go to volunteer my services to get some experience that would help me next year?
Randy G.: We will talk about it tomorrow.
Russell S.: Thank you.
Kim S.: That goes for Kenny and Joy, as well.
Joy H.: I know already.
Kim S.: I understand, however, everything is constantly evolving, what happened in 2003 in Chicago could be different in 2016 if they were to get the bid then, there is always something new to learn, so it was a great question, Russell, if it means buddy up with Kenny, Joy, and work registration for an hour and go to memorabilia, then maybe hospitality and wear your trustee sign.
Joy H.: Or get people to sign up for the World Contribution Program like Kim and I did in Denver, there are all sorts of things to do.
Kim S.: Please don’t forget the Board-to-Board, we have the Trustee dinner, we are now looking to meet at 4:30 because of the amount of people, so tell everyone. Richard will send an email with the new time on it. Saturday is considered a free day for all of us, except Terry, there is a Unity event. Does anyone know what that event is?
Page 12 of 183
Randy G.: I do. Mike, the vice-chair, has put together a group, of I guess I would call them the younger folks from the Arizona Fellowship, more importantly from the fix, my last communication from him was that he had four individuals that were going to speak for about 10 minutes apiece as to what attracted them to Cocaine Anonymous and what keeps them here in this Fellowship. We have been asked often as to some of the baseline as to some of the success of having a young active Fellowship, and thought what a great opportunity from a Unity perspective would be to have those kids come in and do a short little panel and then field questions and answers and then the rest of the time would be spent fellowshipping in that. That’s the angle they decided to take.
Kim S.: Is it a food event?
Randy G.: They’ve got danish, coffee, tea.
Kim S.: Buffet style.
Randy G.: Yes, just come and hang out. In the program itself, it says “come enjoy some unity in the desert,” so there was no, they stayed away from any real formatted thing in the program, because there was a little bit of confusion as to who and what would happen. It gave us the flexibility to do something.
Kim S.: I have Terry down to attend this event; anyone else that wants to get up between 8-10am and participate that would be great. I know some of us are signed up for some of the special events, so may not be able to, if you can support that event. From 3-5pm is the CAWS World Convention exchange. Just to understand, that is where the committees from 2012, 2013, 2014, and of course most importantly, this year’s Convention committee. I believe there will be some people from the 2010 Convention. Basically, committee’s will share where they have progressed, what’s going on. It is a question and answer period, what worked, what didn’t work. I strongly recommend it to all of you that are able to participate. Randy, Russell, Kenny, and Joy clearly should participate it in as current and upcoming host cities. Sunday morning is your day. Dress up and feel pretty because that’s what we are going to do all day. 8am are the conference committees, until 10am, immediately following that are the Regional Caucuses, we break for lunch. At 1:30pm is Meet Your Trusted Servants, that is this Board as well as…
Kenny W.: Well, I don’t want to interrupt you…
Kim S.: Okay, you can ask any questions when I’m done. .. .members of the World Service Office Board, as well as the Conference Chair, Conference Committee Vice-Chair, and Conference Committee Chair. It is a question and answer period. It will be a short presentation by each of you; you may want to put some notes together. I usually say how many meetings are in my region, what kind of starter kits are going out, who is doing what, just a little blurb about your region. Long-Term Planning, we all need to be there, Richard leads that, he will put on the agenda for that. There will be members there. I anticipate it will be from about 1:30-4pm. Sunday night is the dinner, we like to meet early, in order to greet at the door prior to dinner.
Page 14 of 183
Randy G.: Long-Term Planning ends at 4pm, we have to be inside at 5pm. It is very quick.
Kim S.: It could end in a half-hour, it is currently scheduled until 4pm. I’ve been to Long-Term Planning meetings when the only people present are the Board. I’ve been to other meetings where there are other people with a lot of questions.
Russell S.: Where does the Trustee-at-Large go?
Kim S.: Usually he goes to his regional caucus.
Russell S.: Just for future reference, if ever a Regional Trustee needed a bit of additional support.
Kim S.: Any Trustee can request that from any of three people, that is the Trustee-at-Large, the World Service Trustee, and the World Service Office Trustee.
Peter D.: I go to Convention Committee, I’m on the Conference Committee, and I don’t go… Kim S.: No.
Peter D.: Okay, thank you.
Russell S.: I would like you, Peter, to go to the World Convention Exchange if you are available. Peter D.: I will be there.
Russell S.: There is a valid reason for that Peter, it is going to start getting a bit lively and there are some differences in the way things happen between the UK and our World Services, so if you can be there…
Peter D.: I’ll be there.
Kim S.: Monday morning is the brunch.
Kenny W.: Well, I’m pretty good with having to deal with disappointments and readjusting my schedule and having my expectations not being met, and what have you, but I guess I’m somewhat disappointed that I won’t be able to go to the red rocks of Sedona.
Kim S.: Did you sign up for it?
Kenny W.: It’s not too late.
Joy H.: Have you signed up for it?
Kenny W.: No, I haven’t. I was waiting until I got here to do it. I mean, I am just directly communicating, instead of wearing it on my sleeve.
Page 14 of 183
Kim S.: I appreciate that, believe me. I can only share my experience, this is my fourth convention as a Trustee, and there have been times I haven’t left the hotel except to walk around. In Salt Lake City, I walked around town just to clear my head.
Kenny W.: It’s like, Sunday, free day, except for…
Kim S.: Moving forward, keeping this in mind, nothing really changes so much about the things we have to do at the convention when it happens. Just know that. Typically what they try to do is throw all of those meetings together on one day so that you’re not getting up on Saturday morning at this time and doing something Saturday afternoon and then Sunday morning. That is why everything is pretty much on Sunday. I think it is imperative, Kenny, that you’re at the exchange.
Kenny W.: I understand that, I got over that. It’s no problem. It’s just that I was voicing.. .that’s all I was doing.
Joy H.: Typically this convention put everything in one day for us; usually it’s spread out through the entire weekend. This is the only time I’ve ever seen us actually have a free day. I’m not leaving the property; I knew there would be an exception.
Terry M.: You never know what is going to come up either.
Joy H.: We have already had emergency issues we have had to deal with, Denver for example.
Russell S.: I would like to make you and the rest of the Board aware; I am out of here well before brunch on Monday morning.
Kim S.: It happens. I know there have been times Robert has had to leave really early, I understand. Are there any questions? Be aware, this is what we signed on for; this is what we do. We work for the Fellowship. It allows us to be who we are. Next on the agenda, scheduling of the June and July conference calls.
Joy H.: Motion to table the setting of the June and July conference calls.
Richard S.: Second.
Kim S. Motion to table the setting of the June and July conference calls, made by Joy, seconded by Richard S. From this point forward, I will not indicate Richard’s last name, as Richard Leve is not present. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Next item is dates for the August quarterly at the Conference, many of you have been asking me “what are we going to do, when are we going to start?” The actual Conference begins on Tuesday, August 30, 2010. Tuesday morning, tentatively, we will be doing a TEC interview.
Page 15 of 183
Joy H.: I am not sure yet, I have to speak to our final candidate, and actually schedule a time. It is either going to be Monday night or Tuesday morning. There are going to be people who are going to have to listen to two interviews via recording so when we do get into TEC.
Kim S.: We have at least one interview to do during the quarterly, plus our regular agenda, knowing that the Conference actually begins on Tuesday afternoon. Moving that back, if we start on Sunday at 5:00pm, that is actually one and one-half days for the quarterly. Monday we are probably going to have some sort ofbreak for the BEO’s to be signed. That will take one two Trustees out of our meetings.
Russell S.: The quarterly before the Conference, we only have a day and a half…
Kim S.: Randy is suggesting 5pm on Sunday, I am asking, has anyone looked at the agenda? Typically, we have a Friday night, all day Saturday, and a Sunday morning, when we meet over the weekend.
Russell S.: I make a motion we meet Saturday for breakfast and begin our quarterly thereafter. Peter D.: Second.
Kim S. There is a motion to begin the August quarterly meeting on Saturday at 9am, by Russell, seconded by Peter.
Joy H.: Point of Information. Are we checking in on Friday night if we are starting on Saturday morning?
Kim S.: Yes.
Richard S.: I speak against the motion, that would make Friday a travel day, and we are already committed to being at the Conference for quite a little while. With myself missing work, I would prefer to have Saturday be a travel day and meet for dinner Saturday night.
Peter D.: So we would go from Saturday the 27th to Sunday the 4th, we would need rooms from Saturday night to Saturday night.
Kim S.: The dates have not been set. Anyone else?
Terry M.: Having not done this before, I would really rather listen to some of the Trustees that have tried to squeeze all this work in the amount of time before the Conference. I don’t understand the workload coming into the Conference, because I’ve never been there. I would like to hear more thanjust “I can’t travel because of work,” but what has been the experience the past two or three conferences you have had.
Kim S.: What I am concerned about now is the current agenda in front of us, we have a lot of referrals to do, we have correspondence, we have correspondence that is in our mailbox right now that probably needs to be disbursed within the next 24 hours and anything else that comes
Page 16 of 183
up that needs addressing. We are not even through page 1 and its 11:25. If we get the referrals and all of the correspondence done this weekend, then that’s done. Then it pretty much puts all the work on the Chair and Secretary to put together our opening report, other than the usual suspects that are on our agenda, old business markers. I think what we have to understand that responses to referrals take time. In March, when you all wanted to move the stuff online, well, we’ve only seen one referral response online since March.
Joy H.: Typically, the past couple of years at Conference, we’ve come in on Friday, had dinner, started Friday night, went Saturday, did a car pool to Palm Springs for a day to hear Nicholas speak, but typically, I’ve taken Friday off and gone to the Four Points Sheraton and worked, because our agendas are always 26-27 pages long. My first year as a Trustee, I picked Randy up at the airport, we drove to Palm Springs, we listened to Nicholas speak Saturday at noon, we grabbed Trevor and we drove back to the Four Points Sheraton, we had dinner, and we started our meeting at 7pm. Last year, we started on Friday, no Palm Springs at all.
Peter D.: So, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday is not enough to do the quarterly business? Say you started Saturday, had lunch at 3pm, started at 5pm, worked until 12, got up Monday…
Kim S.: Are you speaking against the motion?
Peter D.: Yes, I am speaking against the motion, like Richard said, I have to…
Randy G.: I am confused as to what he said, can you please re-read the motion?
Richard S.: The motion as I noted: Russell, Motion to start the quarterly Saturday morning, following a 9am breakfast, seconded by Peter.
Robert L.: Motion to table.
Joy H.: Point of Information. Typically we have discussed this towards the end of new business, to see how far through the agenda we’ve gotten. I second the motion.
Kim S.: I set the agenda; I put in the Chair’s opening remarks. There is a motion and a second. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion fails. Let’s set a date and move forward, please.
Joy H.: Motion to amend the main motion of Saturday, August 27 to 5pm.
Kim S.: Is there any discussion to the motion to amend?
Kenny W.: Is that the dinner or the start?
Joy H.: Usually the dinner is the start.
Kim S.: All those in favor? All those opposed? Motion to amend has been accepted. The current motion is to begin our quarterly at 5pm on Saturday, August 27. Is there any additional
Page 17 of 183
discussion? All those in favor? All those opposed? One abstention, so noted. Motion passes. We are set to begin the quarterly August 27 at 5pm.
To clarify my comment, it’s different to have eight of you sitting here and have a split vote and having to participate in that. It was not a reflection on the fact that you all split in general. I, too, am allowed, at times, to have an opinion, whether that opinion is right or wrong.
Peter, we will check in on August 27th, checking out on September 4th. Please note that Russell will arrive on Friday, Robert will let you know if he will arrive on Friday as soon as his travel is clarified. Room assignments will be determined. Thank you everyone for your diligence.
The next item I have is The Importance of Participation, Discussion, and Voting. The reason I put this on here is that, in the recent online motion and discussion, and other motions, I want to emphasize how important it is that you all participate in the discussion and participate in the vote. Even if the discussion is, I really have no opinion one way or the other, however, I’ve read this and I’m good to move forward. I think that’s great. If you have an opportunity, if you have not already, it actually addresses this in our online policy guidelines that everybody should be participating in the discussion. Be current. If at any time you fall behind in the emails that drop into your email box, you can go to the Yahoo group and it actually puts all of the messages in order. So, if you’ve missed a couple of day, which I hope you don’t, instead of reading the very last one that dropped into your email, go back and follow the email loop of those so you remain current and you know what’s going on. Please adhere to requests for voting, requests by others that need information, and this goes to the direct communication that we should be having. Participation, discussion, and voting. I find it to be very relevant and helpful to each and every one of us. It helps, really. I think what Richard was talking about in the direct communication is, if we have that communication, I’ve seen it happen on the Conference floor, you’re mindset is this way, and you are participating and listening, then your thought process may ‘flip,’ as he calls it. I feel it is imperative that we all are participating, I know the guidelines say to drop online every two to four days. I think we need to revisit that, I feel we should be online every day, or at least every other day. Especially if there is a motion and there is discussion. It’s part of thejob we are entrusted to do. Does anyone have any questions or comments regarding this?
With that, we can move on to the approval of the reports. Joy?
Joy H.: I make a motion to approve the WSBT Officer Reports, including the Chair, Vice-Chair, and the Secretary.
Robert L.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to approve the WSBT Officer Reports, including the Chair, ViceChair, and the Secretary, made by Joy, seconded by Robert. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you.
Joy H.: I make a motion to approve the Trustee reports, including Atlantic North Regional Trustee, Atlantic South Regional Trustee, Midwest Regional Trustee, Pacific North Regional
Page 18 of 183
Trustee, Pacific South Regional Trustee, European Regional Trustee, Trustee at Large, World Service Trustee, and World Service Office Trustee.
Robert L.: Second.
Kim S. There is a motion to approve the Trustee reports, including Atlantic North Regional Trustee, Atlantic South Regional Trustee, Midwest Regional Trustee, Pacific North Regional Trustee, Pacific South Regional Trustee, European Regional Trustee, Trustee at Large, World Service Trustee, and World Service Office Trustee, motion by Joy, seconded by Robert. Questions?
Russell S.: My apologies, I haven’t read the World Service Office Trustee, shall we table?
Terry M.: Motion to table until tomorrow.
Russell S.: Second.
Kim S.: Motion by unanimous consent. Motion passes. Thank you.
Joy H.: Point of Information. Since some of these reports just got posted in the last day or two, should we also table the subcommittee reports?
Kim S.: I would be happy to consider that.
Joy H.: I make a motion to table the WSBT subcommittee reports, inclusive of Finance, International Structure and Development, Legal and Long-Term Planning, NewsGram, Orientation, Trustee Election, Trustee Negotiation, Trustee Outreach, and the World Service Conference.
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to table the WSBT subcommittee reports, inclusive of Finance, International Structure and Development, Legal and Long-Term Planning, NewsGram, Orientation, Trustee Election, Trustee Negotiation, Trustee Outreach, and the World Service Conference, made by Joy, seconded by Terry. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Joy H.: I make a motion to table Trustee Conference Committee reports, inclusive of Archives, Conference Committee, Convention, including CAWS 2011, CAWS 2012, CAWS 2013, and CAWS 2014, Finance, Hospitals and Institutions, IT, Literature, Chips and Formats, Public Information, Structure and Bylaws, and Unity.
Robert L.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to table Trustee Conference Committee reports, inclusive of Archives, Conference Committee, Convention, including CAWS 2011, CAWS 2012, CAWS 2013, and
Page 19 of 183
CAWS 2014, Finance, Hospitals and Institutions, IT, Literature, Chips and Formats, Public Information, Structure and Bylaws, and Unity, made by Joy, seconded by Robert L. Is there any opposition to that? By unanimous consent, the motion passes to table.
Joy H.: May I just say we have never done this before, and it disturbs me. I would like to communicate that.
Kim S.: I appreciate that. I would like to say in the four years I’ve been a Trustee, this has never happened. I would like to indicate to you all again that quarterly reports, in the best interest of review by this Board, should be posted 7-10 days prior to the quarterly. If you are not sure.. .Richard Leve, I discussed, and told him his reports with respect to Public Information and Finance, we would approve online due to his circumstances with his family emergency. I can look online, however, there are some missing. We are missing Convention committee. These are Conference Committee reports, if you are the lead trustee; you do the report. You may go to the conference committee chair and ask for their participation. If you are unclear as to what committee you are the lead to, I am happy to provide that information, though I believe I’ve provided that information, and posted it to the Group. Well aware there are situations, Richard Leve’s is an example of where leeway is certainly allowed. When we leave here on Monday, we have quarterly reports coming up in three months.
Joy H.: Additionally, we have conference reports that must be written. We must read these on the Conference Floor.
Kim S.: In addition to the reports you are writing to be approved, you are also writing an At- Conference report. That is the one you deliver at the mike. This group also approves that report.
Peter D.: So, for me that would be the World Service Trustee Report, the Convention Committee Report, the Trustee Negotiating Committee Report.
Kim/Richard: Yes.
Joy H.: You should also send it to your subcommittee before you post it to the group.
Kim S.: When I post the agenda, if you are unclear, I try to post this 10 days to two weeks before, it has for example, International Structure and Development, Russell is the lead on that, however, there is a small subcommittee. Russell is going to write the report, submit it to the subcommittee, just to the individuals for a review. After the subcommittee says it is good, he will post it to the group. In addition to what is on the agenda, you have to have your At-Conference Report.
Randy G.: I thought at Conference we only had two, a Regional and WSBT Subcommittees. I thought the Conference Committee at Conference was given by that Conference Committee Chair.
Page 20 of 183
Kim S.: You make a report for the quarter. Each conference committee has an opening report. We have a report as Trustees to those conference committees. You’ve done them.
Joy H.: Those we don’t speak on the Conference floor
Randy G.: That’s the difference.
Kim S.: These reports are just approved.
Randy G.: I don’t remember sharing the H&I report at Conference.
Kim S.: In addition to the reports we write, we have an At-Conference report, which is a review of the entire year.
Terry M.: And that has to be approved by this body, so we can’t just go off on our own little.. .so this little report needs to be written a week before.
Kim S.: Your At-Conference report is actually attached to our Opening Report.
Terry M.: Someone will edit the grammar?
Kim S.: Yes, Richard and I.
Russell S.: The topic was direct communication. I really find it difficult reading stuff on a laptop, I genuinely do. I like the week before stuff. It seems to be more than one person, it seems like there is stuff posted until the 21st. I’ve got mine up a week before, yes I was pushed because I was getting on a plane, however, I’ve got mine up on time. Yes it was hard work, I was moving at the moment, and things. For my own well-being, I don’t want to get frustrated about it, only to put it out there. I need to put it out there. I’m especially frustrated when some of it is from our more senior trustees. Get a grip, please.
Kim S.: Thank you, Russell. It is now 11:50pm, there is an agenda item that is generally heard out of order, so we may adjourn and go to bed.
Richard S.: I make a motion to hear a piece of business item out of order.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to hear a piece of business item out of order, made by Richard, seconded by Joy. Is there any discussion? All those in favor indicate by aye? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Joy H.: I make a motion to deal with Item 2011.05.01 of New Business, Ratification.
Peter D.: Second.
Page 21 of 183
Kim S.: There is a motion to deal with Item 2011.05.01 of New Business, Ratification, made by Joy, seconded by Peter. Any discussion? All those in favor indicate by aye. Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Peter D.: Ratification of?
Kim S.: Ratifying this group.
Russell S.: When we are doing ratification, if we have a member of this Board who is unable to be here and given notice that he is unable to be here, is he given the opportunity to participate in the ratification process?
Kim S.: Is he given a vote? Unfortunately no, he is not here; there is no provision for proxy at a quarterly meeting.
We are back on line; it is about 12:10am. We have completed a secret ballot for ratification. I just want to refer to the World Service Guidelines, page 67. I will begin reading.
“All Director Trustees shall be ratified by secret ballot no less than onceper year at a quarterly meeting of the WSBT. Such a ratification vote can be called at any of the WSBT quarterly meetings by a simple majority vote. Trustee ratification requires a 2/3-majority vote by the WSBT. If a trustee is not ratified the WSBT shall askfor the trustee’s immediate resignation.”
Two trustees have not been ratified this evening. Robert Lyle and Kenny Williams. According to the guidelines, again, if you are not ratified, again, you are offered an opportunity to resign within 48 hours of such request.
“If the trustee is not ratified and does not resign within 48 hours of such request the WSBT shall immediately ‘vote by secret ballot on whether to remove said trustee.”
Considering the hour, at this time, I would consider that we adjourn for the evening, allow Kenny and Robert the opportunity to, my experience with this, to present a 5th Concept, or resign.
Joy H.: Point of Information (Order?). Out of all of the regions, those are the two that do not have a slate.
Kim S.: Thank you. At this time, I will allow for Robert or Kenny to indicate if they want to resign or sleep on this or come back tomorrow morning and address this.
Randy G.: Point of Order. As there is a Right of Appeal, or a 5th Concept, I think at this late hour I would be more comfortable with not asking for their response, but we know what time we meet tomorrow morning and if either of the individuals felt compelled to come back and give a 5th Concept and execute that Right of Appeal, that would be the time to do so.
Page 22 of 183
Kim S.: For the record, please note that Kenny Williams has left and has not indicated any desire one way or another. Robert, would you like to speak at this time?
Robert L.: I do not know what to say. I do not know what I did or didn’t do. I would like some clarity.
Kim S.: Unfortunately, the process does not indicate in our guidelines that discussion. Again, I just want to say if the Trustees are not ratified, the WSBT shall ask for the Trustee’s immediate resignation. If the Trustee is not ratified and does not resign within 48 hours of such request, the WSBT shall immediately vote by secret ballot on whether to remove said Trustee. Obviously there is a Right of Participation; you have a right to be present and a Right of Appeal.
Robert L.: To appeal the decision?
Kim S.: Concept 5, the Right of Appeal would be a statement made by you, other than ‘I’d like to appeal.’
Randy G.: I would like to ask again that given the hour, both of these men know what time we are meeting in the morning, they will have that opportunity.
Joy H.: What time to we start tomorrow?
Kim S.: 9am. Is there a motion to adjourn for the evening?
Joy H.: I make a motion to adjourn for the evening, and reconvene at 9am tomorrow morning. Peter D.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to adjourn for the evening, and reconvene at 9am tomorrow morning, by Joy, seconded by Peter. Unanimous consent by all, please indicate by aye. Thank you everyone.
Day 2
Kim S.: Good morning, it is Tuesday, May 24, 2011, approximately 9:08am, we are reconvening from our session last night. We ended on the ratification process, Item #2011.05.01.1 don’t believe we need to recap for anyone what transpired. We are, at this point, to clarify from the manual; it requires a 2/3 majority by the WSBT to ratify any one individual. If a trustee is not ratified the WSBT shall ask for the trustee’s immediate resignation. If a trustee that is not ratified does not resign within 48 hours, we go into another vote, according to the Manual. Again, with very little experience with respect to this, I offered to both of the non-ratified Trustees an opportunity to either immediately resign or the Right of Participation and Appeal through the 5th Concept.
At this time, Robert, you are here, is there something you would like to present at this time?
Page 23 of 183
Robert L.: Good morning. I would like to start this by saying I am truly grateful for the experience God has given me to serve as a member of the WSBT. I know I have made a few lifelong friends by serving with you all and it has also allowed me definitely to grow as a person in recovery. I was hurt and surprised by the vote to not ratify me last night. I believe I have served the Fellowship of CA to the best of my ability, which I now realize a number of you do not agree, based on the ratification voting process. When I came to the WSBT Board almost three years ago, I was excited and determined to be the best trustee I could be. I contacted the former trustee of my region and asked for help, he said you will figure it out, no pass it on was given. I leaned on my buddy, Lawrence, for a lot of guidance and support, as well as my trustee roommate. Randy, thank you. The email group that was being used at the time in my region was not providing enough communication for the delegates in the ANR. I made the decision and changed email groups to provide quicker service to the region. I have visited all but two areas in my region in the past three years. Those two areas are Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia areas and the Canadian Maritimes area. I enjoy my visits and times with the local Fellowships of my region. I enjoy the participating in the creation of a new area the Northern New England area and working with the young folks up there and the enthusiasm for growth of CA in the Atlantic North region. I was part of the committee from the WSBT and the WSOB that went to AA for the discussion on How It Works. I was very much involved in writing the report that went out to the Fellowship and extremely proud of the decision we made based on that visit.
I have actively participated with PI and encouraged the committee to stay on task. They have had some distractions and infighting, but have continued to work to provide the best available public information available to the Fellowship. I was going to continue to say what I have done, but I’m not going to ask you to change your vote. I am just participating in the process as my sponsor and another dear friend suggested last night. So here I am, doing that, as I am a person of honor and dignity. Most importantly, I am fulfilling my commitment to my God, to myself, and to the entire Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous, which I love. Lastly, the discussion was on direct communication. Okay, I failed. But who among you said Robert you’re slacking, you need to do this or that. Who among you reached out and said you need to make some improvements? Yes, this quarter I was late with my reports, yes I own that. I am sorry for that, but how many of you had your reports in seven days before we met here, yesterday? Just two, based on dates in the Yahoo group. Yes, we all have life stuff. I am truly responsible for my side of the street; I have also tried to help folks that need it. I try not hurting others. The truth is not meant to use to hurt others, but to show love and guidance. In closing, a few comments. Randy, I enjoyed the time we’ve shared as roommates, I value your wisdom and love for the Fellowship. Richard, I enjoyed our time at Drug Court last year, watching you eat “lobsta” the easy way, having someone else break it apart. I appreciate and love your dedication to your family. Russell, I enjoyed meeting you first at CAUK a few years ago and enjoyed serving with you on PI, I enjoy your passion as well as the passion of your mates in the UK for the Fellowship. Terry, thank you for reaching out to me and being a good friend, especially the past month. Peter, thank you for being here and sharing your Italian enthusiasm. Kenny, we just started getting to know each other, I wish you well. Richard, my new buddy and roomie, you are much in my thoughts and prayers. Kim, thanks for believing in me early on in this process as a dear friend, I truly appreciate your love and dedication to the Fellowship. And finally, Joy thanks for being you… Someone to vent with, you are and always will be a special friend. I am a better person because of each and every one
Page 24 of 183
of you. I wish you all well as you continue to trudge this road of happy destiny. With much love in service. Robert Lyle, addict.
Group: Thanks Robert.
Kim S.: As most of you may have imagined, I have gone over most of this paragraph in the manual numerous times since last night, in informal discussion, just to clarify, Robert, right now we are in a 48 hour process. Thank you for making your statement, thank you all for being here to respect his Right of Participation. At this time we are going to table the continued process of this.
Robert L.: I would like vote, for me. It’s up to 48 hours. I would like it to be done. So I can move on, and the WSBT can move on as a committee.
Joy H.: Point of Information. Do we go into secret ballot?
Peter D.: Can we waive the 48 hours?
Kim S.: He just did. Please allow me to confer with Randy….
Thank you everybody. Randy and I had a brief discussion regarding this process.
Kim S.: At this point, as I was indicated prior to the discussion, we are in a 48 hour period, where the trustee can resign or present a 5th Concept Right of Appeal. Robert has requested, based on his non-ratification, an immediate vote. Is that correct Robert?
Robert L.: Yes.
Kim S.: At this time, I will honor that request for Robert’s second vote. If there is not a 2/3 majority in favor of removal, the trustee, Robert will remain on the Board. Does everyone understand? Vote for non-ratification. A NO will keep Robert on the Board. That is 2/3 of 7. Robert does not vote on this. 5 NO votes will keep Robert on the Board. Let us pause for a moment.
Thanks everybody, we are back online at 10:15am. The vote reflects that Robert was ratified to remain in the position. Nevertheless, based on his inquiry to the outcome of the vote, Robert chose to resign his position as Atlantic North trustee. At this time, we are now waiting either a 5th Concept Right of Appeal from Kenny Williams or a resignation and I have not heard from him either by email or by phone as to his participation at this point. With that, for the record, let me state that we have all been through a difficult 12 hours; we are trying to regroup and move forward as a unified Board. I would just like to take a moment to have a quiet time, followed by the we version of the Serenity Prayer.
God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
The courage to change the things we can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.
Page 25 of 183
Thanks everyone. We are now at place marker, Business Items.
Russell S.: The reports, what was our conclusion with that?
Kim S.: They are currently tabled, until they are brought back on the table, we will address them at that time. Based on the chain of events that occurred last night and this morning, I have not been able to sit down with Richard to review the reports we have, and that we are missing, I know you wanted to take an opportunity to read the ones you hadn’t. I do not know if you have or not. I see you are nodding you have read them.
Joy H.: I have not.
Kim S.: Okay, Joy has not had an opportunity, again I want to review with Richard that we’ve received everything and that we make specific note of those currently not on our Yahoo group to make certain they get written such as Convention Committee, and noted that we approve those reports online as soon as possible. That will be revisited as soon as possible. We are at place marker business item 2006.02.20 Copyright and trademark protection, I believe at this point we have moved forward, let me turn the floor over to Peter.
Peter D.: The check has been sent, they are in the first phase of doing whatever they have to do, he did say whenever that is completed they will contact us and then, probably in a year, maybe less then we give them the balance of the $2,000 and then, but it’s going take a year to get all the legality and all of the paperwork in and done and get this all started, but it’s all in process right now. But he said once they start that kind of covers the logo until it’s finalized. So if somebody was to start using it, then we have an application in, so they would have to discontinue using it once it’s all in place, it’s ours, we put the little r next to it, whatever we put it on, so people know that it’s registered.
Kim S.: Just to clarify, that’s the motion we had requested, the block letters CA be registered in Europe, over a two year period it was $5,000, we split it, $3,000 and $2,000, to cover Australia, Denmark, European communities, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, and it will be good. Anybody have any questions for Peter?
Richard S.: Can you please send me the specifics so I can add that to the place marker?
Peter D.: Yes.
Richard S.: Thank you.
Kim S.: Place marker 2006.08.13, signature of annual corporation documents; that is done at the fall quarterly meeting. Joy?
Joy H.: Under chair opening remarks, we tabled the June and July conference call dates, I asked to table that because I did not have my calendar on me. Do you want to take care of that now, or take care of this other stuff?
Page 26 of 183
Kim S.: Let’s take care of these markers right now and then we can get back to that.
Joy H.: That’s fine, thank you.
Kim S.: So, again, marker regarding annual corporate documents needs to be completed at the annual fall quarterly. Marker 2009.05.09, financial status of CAWS, Inc. We did receive the financials and bank statements, Richard Leve did put those online, so everyone’s had a moment to review them and I will turn the floor over to Joy if anyone has any questions, or if Joy has any additional statements, comments.
Joy H.: I can tell you the difference between last year’s and this year’s, because he did send out a previous year’s comparison, Linda is bringing budget versus actual financials for us so we will have those physically at the Board-to-Board. There is the budget versus actual where this year’s budget, which is good until June 30, 2011, that tells whether we are on budget or not. Linda is bringing copies for all of us. There is only a $6,000 difference between last year at this time and this year at this time, the expenses are higher by $34,000 this year, because this convention is spending and creating income, as opposed to Milwaukee. Milwaukee was very budget conscious, not saying Phoenix is not, Milwaukee spent a lot less, they had a feeling they weren’t going to make the same amount, CAWS 2011 is working and right on target, by the time this thing is done, we will be in really good shape and our numbers will go from negatives to positives. This is normal for us every year; we are normally between $30-40,000 in the red until after the convention. Plus with the hiring of a new DOO and office consultant, our payroll is a littler higher than normal, but that’s through the training process, and typical. Thank you Russell, I love the fact that we have financials for CAWS 2012. I print that out and try to match it to what it would be in US versus UK.
Kim S.: Thank you Joy. Does anyone have any questions?
Richard S.: I don’t know if you are going to wait until the Board-to-Board, the Current Office board is scheduled to attend the conventions now, I didn’t see a specific line item in the budget for that, I have concerns regarding the 2012 convention. I would like to know where that is in the line item for the budget and make sure we look forward and not wait until a month before 2012.
Randy G.: In discussions regarding even the Internet access to this room for the quarterly, I was confused as to where the trustee quarterly of the convention, is that a convention expense or a separate office trustee expense?
Joy H.: It is the 4th meeting. In our financials we have meeting 1, 2, 3, & 4. Meeting 1 is the conference.
Randy G.: The reason I bring that up, and I will take it back to finance on Sunday, is that the decision regarding the additional internet connections necessary to get our, because the internet connections were part of the hotel negotiation of the convention, the decision regarding the quantity of internet connections for our quarterly were financially viewed by the steering and general committees of the convention as being their responsibility to address. If in fact, this quarterly was a trustee budget and not a convention budget, the decision as to how to handle the
Page 27 of 183
Internet connections for these three days should have been solely ours, or the offices. There needs to be a little clarification in that because essentially you’ve got a convention committee, negotiators working on contracts that I’m not sure the money is being.. .The other thing regarding the financials I did note, I think it should be on record that we do recognize that our 7th Tradition to date, % into this year is off about $38,000. We do have some events in some areas and regions that are traditionally high participants in that third quarter that have either not yet sent money we traditionally see from them during that March-May time period, but it was recognized that pure 7th Tradition is down to a large percentage that we should note. Looking at an expectation last year of $100,000 and we are around $60,000, that’s a 30% change.
Russell S.: I don’t want to steer into an item of new business here, but the points Randy was noting about some clarity of what is an expense within our budget as trustees, there will be higher costs around 2012 that is going to warrant discussion, because it’s.. .I’m not sure how that changes a budget, but as I understand it, it’s already in place?
Randy G.: It may need to be amended for approval at this conference.
Russell S.: The 2012 committee have slashed their budget they are ready to present their new budget to the conference, reducing their expenditure and still finding a way to generate revenue. There will be some extra costs incurred by this Board.
Joy H.: We will have to definitely look at the 4th meeting budget for next year. It was brought up three years ago by Earl on the conference floor to increase the trustee travel budget. I don’t if I ever actually saw it put into the budget. I know it was brought to the conference floor, the 2012 budget, and the cost to fly the US trustees to the UK, as opposed to the one European trustee to the United States.
Kim S.: This is under new business, it is definitely something we need to be open-minded to different options, different ways of reducing this board’s budget so we can get our business done. Whether it is to up the budget, take a quarterly out of the budget, which we have done before, there are options to discuss, definitely. Anything else? Next marker, NADCP, Drug Court, both domestic and international.
Richard S.: Linda, the DOO has done our registration, has our hotel reservations made, and I’m taking it on myself as having the task of making sure I review the list of items that go to the Drug Court event to assist her as to what I know has been there in prior years. We are on track and looking forward to this year’s Drug Court.
Peter D.: Does anyone replace Robert on that?
Kim S.: We can certainly consider that. According to Linda’s report regarding Drug Court, the third attendee, those costs have been waived.
Richard S.: I saw that in the report, I was actually waiting for that response, I did not get that information directly from Linda, I was waiting for that, but I did read it when it was submitted.
Page 28 of 183
Kim S.: Maybe then, a discussion for the Board-to-Board as to how we want to move forward. Do we want to continue to send a third member and who that might be? Again, the first two attendees, there is no registration; the third person is a $600 fee. Again, Linda indicated in her report, this has been waived; the room reservations have been made accordingly for two rooms.
Peter D.: Do you need three people?
Richard S.: Yes. My experience is that you are on your feet, there are no seats, so we’re not sitting, if there is a chair, sometimes there is one. You are on your feet, interacting with people, it’s a long stretch so that one person doesn’t get swamped while the other person goes to the bathroom, takes any kind of a break for the ten hours you’re on the floor, well 7-10 depending on the day and the flow. It’s a long day and three is helpful.
Russell S.: There is another benefit of sending a third member; that is our diversity. It is just another member to demonstrate our Fellowship’s makeup. I believe it is helpful.
Peter D.: I’m looking at the financial end.
Kim S.: Either way, we have two rooms, so it can work both ways. We can look at the possibility of a local attendee as well. Is there any update regarding International Drug Court?
Richard S.: No, I did not have the schedule for this year’s International Drug Court? I just checked, it is still not posted.
Kim S.: Any other questions or comments regarding Drug Court? Let me remind everyone that the mikes are super-sensitive, so any noises around the mikes, including the consumption of food is picked up by the transcribing secretary. Marker TEC, Trustee Election Committee, Joy?
Joy H.: We have two interviews on Friday, beginning at 10am. From 10am-10:45am, and one from 11am-11:45am. We will not go into voting, of course, until Conference. There will probably be four TEC delegates here. Before the Board-to-Board, then after Wednesday night, we will be in a holding position right now, of whether or not I am going to have to collect resumes from everyone’s top two vote-getters to create another TAL.
Kim S.: Let me clarify, due to the ratification and potential loss of two trustees, those particular regions have no slate, there has been offline discussion of bringing back TAL 2. I want that on record that some of you have brought that up, it’s something potentially to lighten the load of the current TAL covering those two regions, potentially.
Joy H.: This is just a potential emergency motion, something we might have to deal with. With me having no vice-chair, I personally have asked Kim to help me with this process, because she was the previous chair of TEC, and everything I have, I got from her. If that is acceptable to the rest of the board, that I go to our prior TEC chair for help with this process.
Russell S.: The process of electing TAL, doesn’t that, isn’t there something that says that people come from a regional slate are also considered for TAL?
Page 29 of 183
Joy H.: The top two vote getters from the regional slates are automatically put on the Trustee at Large slate, so there are two from every region. The issue is, neither the Atlantic North nor Atlantic South has any slate whatsoever. No names, no resumes, nothing. So the Midwest Region, the European Region, the Pacific South Region, the Pacific North Region, the Southwest, the top two vote-getters from each region, they are all on the TAL slate. There are approximately names on the TAL slate. The guidelines state that there should actually be two TAL positions, Trustee at Large One and Trustee at Large Two. Potentially, we, as the Board of Trustees might have to make an emergency motion to reactivate Trustee at Large Two in an emergency situation to cover a second region because there are potentially two regions without trustees. It’s too much, in my opinion, a lot of work for one Trustee at Large to handle. With no slates, it makes it even more difficult. If we had slates for those two regions, I would be calling those candidates and asking them to submit their resumes, please come to the Conference and be interviewed.
Kim S.: In light of that possibly happening, if you have the resumes of your two top vote-getters at your assemblies, could you forward those to Joy so she has those in the event of this occurrence.
Richard S.: TEC Vice-Chair is a nominated and voted on position by the WSBT, so I would at least like a vote by unanimous consent for the Vice-Chair,just so it’s on the record and we’re staying within the process of what we’re supposed to be doing.
Joy H.: It doesn’t matter to me if you want to elect a new Vice-Chair. I am asking Kim for help because of her previous experience.
Kim S.: I am more than happy to assist, this body might want to entertain a new Vice-Chair. Richard S.: Or leave it as it is and she’sjust assisting you?
Joy H.: It’s up to the group.
Richard S.: I’m just mentioning it, because it’s a voted on position, I want to make sure we discuss it.
Russell S.:I think it’s healthy to consider the Vice-Chair of the TEC, with rotation happening it is more experience gained by members of this committee.
Joy H.: Does anybody want to be the Vice-Chair?
Terry M.: I would be willing to step up.
Joy H.: I would like to nominate Terry to be the TEC Vice-Chair.
Kim S.: Terry, do you accept?
Page 30 of 183
Terry M.: Yes.
Kim S.: Is there any discussion?
Terry M.: I am willing to learn.
Kim S.: A vote of unanimous consent by saying aye. With no opposition, Terry is the new TEC Vice-Chair. Joy, if you can bring Terry up to speed with regard to the documents and procedure.
I continue to be happy to assist in any way I can.
Joy H.: Thank you Terry.
Russell S.: Iam pretty sure I’ve let you know a couple of times the European Regional Assembly is not until July, as soon as I come out of that meeting I will forward you the information that is needed.
Joy H.: That information will be very important, thank you Russell.
Kim S.: To clarify, those slates, for each and every region, as well as the TAL slate, the WSOT, and the WST slates are ratified on the Conference floor. It is very important you get all of that information to Joy. Any other questions for Joy? Thank you Joy, thank you Terry. Old business. Approval of minutes.
Russell S.: I make a motion to hear an item of business out of order.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: So called by Russell, seconded by Joy. Is there any opposition to that? Hearing none, prepare yourselves to vote. All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes. Russell?
Russell S.: It’s out of courtesy, in new business we have a meeting with committee chair for 2012 for Jackie so she can schedule days and not just be sat there waiting to be called on by the trustees. Could we consider setting a time and a day, and are we all good with meeting with the current circumstances or should it be an informal, those of us interested in having a chat with her. I would personally like if she came here to meet the World Service Board of Trustees.
Kim S.: Based on previous experience this Board has honored a request by a member wanting some time or a trustee requesting the time for a member to come and speak to us, we would do it off the record and, again, this is directly focused on CAWS 2012 and Jackie as the chair, some of her concerns, and our input and guidance to her. If we can set a date and a time out of courtesy to not only Jackie, but to our board, that would be great.
Randy G.: You said kind of said off the record, if we meet off the record, could we invite her to join us for lunch tomorrow or dinner this evening and do it in that kind of a setting if it’s truly going to be off the record?
Page 31 of 183
Russell S.: I would feel uncomfortable with in that, in there’s a likelihood that we’ll be chatting about other stuff or…
Randy G.: Okay.
Russell S.: I feel in here, 15 minutes to a half hour.
Kim S.: We could schedule it for tomorrow morning right at 9am, and get it taken care of and move on with our agenda.
Randy G.: Have they moved into the hotel?
Kim S.: Yes.
Randy G.: Okay, I just didn’t want to have people driving from Terry’s or…
Kim S.: Yes, she is here.
Richard S.: For the record, we are discussing new business item #2011.05.02, meeting with CAWS 2012 committee chair. I have a question. This is an item of business that was asked to be put on our agenda, why is it off record?
Kim S.: The verbiage is to discuss the potential meeting with the CAWS committee chairperson, not necessarily the content or discussion to be of our agenda, correct Russell?
Russell S.: If I may expand, there is, I believe, the chair and treasurer have been invited to the Board-to-Board meeting? I believe I saw an email this morning, from Jackie to Nick: We have been invited to meet with the World Service Board of Trustees/World Service Office Board on Friday afternoon. I don’t know who has extended that invitation.. .1 was unaware of it.
Kim S.: We will have to follow up on that, and have a conversation with Tom and a conversation with Jackie.
Peter D.: Maybe the WSOB, they would have more business with that board than us, because of the checking accounts and that kind of thing, I would imagine.
Russell S.: Without presuming, it may have been mistyped, and Jackie and Nick are having a coffee with Tom or with Barry.
Kim S.: Let’s just follow up on that.
Russell S.: Do we need to put a formal motion for 9am tomorrow?
Kim S.: Is that a unanimous consent, we will ask Jackie to come here, we will address that prior to going on record and addressing our agenda.
Page 32 of 183
Richard S.: So, 9am tomorrow morning there is a meeting with the WSBT and the CAWS 2012 convention chair. Is anyone else in attendance?
Joy H.: Going back to old business, for some reason I don’t remember if we finalized the 1012 minutes. Before I make a motion to remove them from the table…
Kim S.: Let’s stay with what’s in front of us, I haven’t brought that agenda item up yet. Russell, you will express our invitation to Jackie?
Russell S.: Yes.
Kim S: Thank you. Old business, approval of minutes, currently we have the December quarterly board minutes and Board-to-Board minutes tabled, as well as the January conference call, February conference call minutes tabled, the March quarterly board minutes and Board-to-Board have not been distributed, nor has the April conference call been distributed. Is that correct?
Joy H.: I think the April conference call has been distributed.
Kim S.: You are correct. What is the current status as far as receiving edits, corrections, and reviews?
Richard S.: I have received the edits from Joy, Terry, they were pre-edited by you. That is what I have received.
Kim S.: Here’s the deal folks. If you do not have any edits for the minutes, please send an email to Richard saying I have no edits, I’m good with what is in the minutes, I’m good with the minutes, I like the minutes, awesome job on the minutes, etc. If you have edits, please, if at all possible, use track changes. If you don’t know how to do that, Richard will show you how. Track changes, save as, save the tracked changes to Richard so he can incorporate them into the original document.
Richard S.: Or call me on the phone, we can do them over the phone, and I will type them.
Kim S.: I kind of have an issue with the fact that all of these are tabled and sitting out there. I would like this board to complete their edits and reviews within the next two weeks to get them to Richard Schafer so he can complete that. Then these minutes, all of them, with the exception of maybe the March quarterly, to be in the June mailing.
Richard S.: Aside from Kim, Joy is the first one to review and resubmit. It would be helpful if I can get them. Or, like Kim suggested, an email saying I’m good.
Kim S.: From my previous experience, it’s important. I know some of you really just don’t care what they say, you send off these notes that say I’m good with them, and that’s the end of it. It is a record of the business that’s done here, and sometimes what is transcribed is not exactly what we meant, so it may be just a small edit. My biggest concern is that something is not picked up
Page 33 of 183
clearly when you’re speaking. So, it’s going on, someone said this and this, then there’s a long line in the middle. That means the transcriber can’t understand you. If you do nothing else but search your name in those minutes to see what you said about any one particular agenda item, it’s to clarify any blanks, more than anything. The transcripts are there, we all have pretty distinctive voices, please review the minutes for accuracy, anything that might need to be filled in.
At this time I would entertain a motion to table all minutes on our agenda.
Joy H.: So moved.
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: Any further discussion? Please review and respond to Richard within the next 10-14 days with a response. All those in favor? All those opposed? Motion passes. Item #2008.04.14 CA Helpdesk site, on the agenda I put the verbiage of what Richard Leve was able to supply to us regarding the last WSOB meeting. It is being reported on the progress of converting our website to another management company, trying to find a host and place that will meet the growth and needs of the Fellowship. The Helpdesk is a still a project that needs to be more defined with regards to needs. Discussion ensued, who will have access to this, how it will be protected, who will be able to add and change information. This is a huge project and we do not have the resources to handle this right now. There are other projects already in process. Additionally the director who will be in charge of the project development has been suspended. Therefore, the project is suspended at this time. We could reconsider once they remake of the entire website is completed.
My understanding of my discussion with Linda was that the current Webmaster was contemplating a change of our website. I don’t know if either Peter or Richard Schafer wants to expand on this with their discussions regarding this or any additional information. The Helpdesk, from what I know, was going to be a site where our Fellowship could go to and basically look at potentially frequently asked questions, prior to their sending an email to the WSBT. It was going to be categorized by, whether it was traditions, area discussion, or group level discussion. There was a site; we were able to access it, the WSBT, not the Fellowship. It was quite helpful to this board to address previously asked questions. As the secretary for two years, I compiled all of our responses to the developer of this site to load those. It seems to have hit a roadblock.
Peter D.: From what I understand, Ryan, our webservant thinks before we work on the Helpdesk, they should work mainly on the main website. There are changes that need to be done, finding a new host. Once they find a new host and changes are made to make the website more efficient, then they will make other changes. It takes a lot of time, a lot of work. They did not think this was necessary as opposed to getting the website and hosting current and up to date and make those changes and add a Helpdesk that was going to have to be changed too.
Richard S.: I have been in communications with Ryan regarding the hosting and we are putting it out to more than just Ryan’s decision and more than just my decision. Ryan was relieved at that
Page 34 of 183
discussion, and I had found three, Ryan’s found two, we are going to submit, we’ve included the IT committee on this and everyone will come together for a selection. The requirements for it, we’re going to follow the Webservant’s recommendation as far as the hosting company and the requirements for the website that are needed. I definitely agree that we have to move the cart before we can put a horse on it, for lack of a better term. We have to move the website before we go back into the current topic of our CA Helpdesk. It’s a segue on this; I didn’t hear anything on this discussion or anything about this until the quarterly. If this was discussed at this office board, it definitely should have been something that was brought to us, because it’s the Helpdesk and it was up and running prior. It’s not that it was suspended because the position was suspended; it was suspended because of technical difficulties. Initially we were told it would be brought back up. I’m concerned that this is the report we’re getting at this juncture.
Kim S.: I certainly could be confused; however, three years ago there was a change in the website, that’s what facilitated this suspending of the Helpdesk site. My concern is that this board recognized the fact that if we go back to the “cart,” it may push back this very useful tool.
I cannot speak for the Fellowship, because it has never been available to the Fellowship. It was available to this board, and a very useful site to go to with respect to addressing correspondence, referrals, questions that came to regional trustees. I do not want to see it pushed back because of a new system or the cart before the horse again, to quote Mr. Schafer.
Joy H.: I know LCF was hoping at some point that the site would be back up and running so that they could also use it for when they are drafting literature. They wanted to be able to go back and read prior responses in relation to our literature from the WSBT and different questions from the Fellowship, because I think there was a reason. Cynthia has asked me more than once when is the Helpdesk going to come back, there are always tradition questions we respond to. LCF thought that would be helpful for them when they do different pamphlets related to the traditions, steps, and concepts. It was a very helpful tool, to me in writing responses, we can go back and utilize those responses.
Richard S.: From a technology standpoint, the Office needs our support and help, because if we wait nine months, as technology changes and evolves, which is what happened. The prior website was developed in a very heavy application. Not by anyone’s choice or fault, it was the best available at the time. This is what’s currently available, so the two Boards need to work together in support of getting the cart moving so that whatever ideas and desires are to be executed, they can be done. If we wait nine months, in a year we are going to be behind, we will possibly be behind the technology ball again.
Peter D.: Did the site go down because it couldn’t function anymore because of some website or some old software? Was it the person keeping the site up’s error? Because they didn’t keep up the site?
Richard S.: The history is the scripting that is used and the type of language that’s used for that function was able to be broken by people spamming outside. It broke it. There were other security issues more important, like our store.
Page 35 of 183
Kim S.: We will leave the Helpdesk on our agenda for further updates and strongly recommend that it is addressed by Richard Leve, Peter, and Richard Schafer. Item #2009.12.03, Facebook pages reflecting tradition violations and policies. We will continue to be diligent about this within our regions and when we find anything, we can forward it to this Board and hope it can be dealt with appropriately. I will open it to the board, do you want this item to remain on our agenda, or do we have individual accountability to due diligence to continue to research this and send any concerns to this Board that surface.
Terry M.: I have a question. Richard, I did send links a couple of weeks ago that popped up Cocaine Anonymous with addresses and stuff. Has the IT committee looked into that?
Richard S.: Those links on those sites were reviewed by the IT committee and to be looked at the communications with Facebook by Kenny were needed.
Terry M.: There was one in a city that is actually at somebody’s house.
Kim S.: I was copied on that as well. In my discussion with Richard Schafer regarding the address that was in the Illinois area CA office came up on Facebook. You and I discussed it because I don’t know if an individual generated that. I don’t know if it is something new with Facebook and somehow the address is Cocaine Anonymous Illinois Area on Pulaski in Chicago.
I don’t know how, Richard and I discussed it, and what is the process now of us recognizing that particular link is merely a MapQuest or Google-type entry that Facebook is linking onto.
Terry M.: I know exactly what is happening. They have a thing on Facebook called Places. People show up there and they hit “this is where I’m at.” So I can show up at this hotel and type in that I’m at Joe’s Crab Shack, not endorsing Joe’s Crab Shack, what it will do on Facebook is it automatically link if somebody was on there and said find where I’m at, Joe’s Crab Shack would pop up. Even though there isn’t a Joe’s Crab Shack right here, because I put it on there and put a public place, it will say that’s where I’m at. That’s evidentially what’s going on now where, there’s actually 15 different links now I think.
Kim S.: The address that came up on Facebook on Pulaski in Illinois is the CA area office.
Terry M.: Ifl decide to pull out on the street next to somebody’s house and type in whatever I want to type in, that’s what’s going to pull up. I think that’s what’s happening. There’s all these links that never used to be there is because of something people put on there.
Kim S.: I might suggest opposed to this being an agenda item number, we move this as a marker and continue to review it as old business. And all of us, please be diligent. I appreciate you researching that, thank you. My discussion with Richard was, it’s some sort of application that Facebook is somehow pulling these addresses.
Richard S.: They’re building a search, similar to Google.
Page 36 of 183
Terry M.: I realized that the other day when I was at Randy’s house, I was messing around, it said “are you sure you want to add this place?” I’ve done that a couple of different times in the past couple of day,just where I’m at, it allows me to add.
Kim S.: Does anyone have any objection to moving this to an old business marker as opposed to an agenda item? No objections, so noted.
Peter D.: I have a question. At our last office board meeting I brought up our website guy from San Diego, his question was, he took it from the guidelines, it says that areas and districts are not allowed to link any outside to Cocaine Anonymous. But, he said when you go onto CA.org and go to convention, it hooks you up automatically to outside registration. He said why could they do it, why can areas not do it?
Richard S.: In order to be linked to CA.org, which is monitored by two boards, the WSOB and the WSBT for traditions violations, it would be impossible to monitor all of the websites that connect to it. So the restriction, so that they do not link to an outside website, is that any outside websites we link to are servicing the Fellowship, our events.
Peter D.: So the guidelines have to be changed?
Richard S.: They should be modified. This has come up over the last two years, it is something that should be brought to the IT committee.
Peter D.: He wants to hook up our events, and do registration online, he said I can’t do it because they say I can’t do it, he was kind of confused as to how to do it without violating the guidelines.
Richard S.: I would thank him very much for his prudence and ask that he either join the IT committee or stay in that group, because everyone is welcome so that both as those changes are made or decided upon. He’s not the only area.
Peter D.: He should write a referral for it.
Richard S.: Good. CALAI know wanted to be using Reg Online for an event, if it’s being used the office, they would like some guidance for it. Those items are currently being discussed at the IT committee, they were on the last conference call. Hopefully they will be addressed at the Conference. Please follow up with the committee and me and see where it leads.
Kim S. For our next agenda, this item will be moved to old business as a marker. Next item 2010.09.01, status of the WSO. From my overall discussions with the World Service Office DOO and with John, the Consulting Manager, the office is moving forward and attempting to, and somewhat successfully operating. Newcomer packets and starter kits are going our, chips and literature is going out. There continue to be certain items of concern with respect to publication of HFC 2 in French. We had a very lengthy motion and discussion regarding that, which I tried to update as best as possible. Most of my discussion on a weekly basis and by email on a regular basis is now directly with Linda as opposed to both Linda and John other than some
Page 37 of 183
small items that obviously John has a little bit more experience with, he is assisting, educating and moving forward with Linda in grasping that. The overall status of the WSO, Sheila is doing great, I find her to be delightful when I call, Andrew on occasion has answered the phone and I appreciate his work there as well. If everyone read Linda’s report regarding the status of the office, things are status quo. My discussions with John, Linda, and briefly with Tom is that the policy regarding the employee’s with respect to them doing local service work, I don’t believe has been addressed at the WSOB meetings. Linda is in the process of taking every bit of information previously known, applications for the employee policy book and trying to get all of that compiled. I would like this item to remain on the agenda, so we can continue to monitor where the office is with policy and status of the office and employees. Peter, do you have anything more to add?
Peter D.: No, you’ve covered it all.
Richard S.: The TAL has again fallen off the list of receiving emails for new area requests and things like that. It seems it goes for three weeks following a quarterly, and then falls off again. Whenever I catch wind, I don’t wait for a quarterly, whenever I catch wind, I don’t wait for a quarterly, because when I have caught wind that something else is going on I’ve requested to be included in the loop, then I’m not included in any other loops. I would request that…
Kim S.: You said new area requests?
Richard S.: No, for communications with areas not represented by a region.
Kim S.: Meeting starter kits?
Richard S.: Yes.
Joy H.: Were there more than the ones we were talking about? New Guinea?
Richard S.: There was another one in another area of Spain, I was told there was another one by Russell.
Russell S.: Just to clarify, I’m notified by the office, it’s considered within my region, Spain. I could understand the TAL needing to know if it was in Argentina, why do you need to know about a new meeting in Spain?
Richard S.: Before they were represented by you, that’s when that went on. There was one in South America recently.
Russell S.: There is one in Kenya.
Richard S.: Just because it’s out of the United States, it doesn’t go to the European Regional Trustee, that’s been the mindset sometimes.
Page 38 of 183
Russell S.: I don’t think it’s as black and white as if it’s not represented, Northern Spain, it seems common sense would say let the European Trustee know about that.
Richard S.: But we’ve discussed this, it should be cc’d.
Kim S.: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. There is a starter kit requested sent to me, you should be copied?
Richard S.: If they’re not represented, yes.
Kim S.: Even though they are in my region.
Richard S.: That’s the way the guidelines read.
Kim S.: So it should go to Russell, speaking to the ones you were mentioning previously, you should be happy.
Richard S.: Yes.
Russell S.: I think it’s healthy for the TAL to get copied, we are moving around the world.
Richard S.: It happens when it comes up later, that it ends up being discussion with a Spanish speaking member rather than the TAL and no other trustee interaction, and that’s happened.
Kim S.: Please everyone, make a note of that. If you’re receiving something that is obviously not a recognized area within your region and see that Richard hasn’t been copied, or whomever the current TAL is, forward that on to him and maybe just make a friendly note of that to Linda so that she is aware of it moving forward. She has a lot of things on her radar and we want to make sure everything is addressed. Next agenda item #2010.12.02, Ad Hoc Committee regarding HFC 2. Joy?
Joy H.: I know the office is currently working on what they consider the 3rd Edition of HFC 2 without How It Works in it. They have obtained the most recent printed pdf file from RR Donnelly & Sons. I believe Terry and Cynthia are also going through it; they are applying the changes that need to go through for the reprinting. My hope and dream is that the UK and Canada would get the first printing of that, before the US, so that the US could deplete the current stock of HFC 2. The European region and Canada would get the first printing of the new version until our current inventory is gone. I’m not sure what the timeline is yet for the updated and corrected version, Terry might be able to give us more information on that; so I would like to yield the floor to Terry.
Terry M.: In conversations with Cynthia and with John, I believe Linda was also on the call, I currently received the new, updated, corrections, current pamphlets that need to be done, the edits to that. Also I had a talk with John concerning myself as an individual and being a member of the WSBT I did not move forward on doing anything until I got approval from the WSOB to
Page 39 of 183
basically start manipulating the thing to show that it can be done without going to a typesetter and incurring a whole lot of fees. My talk with Cynthia was, the software in order to change the pdf is maybe something we might want to look into purchase and buying instead of incurring all of those costs all over again in getting it re-typesetter, simple copy and paste, you can go into Adobe pdf in a professional version and actually make changes without doing that, which would be really cost saving. I did not do anything, mostly because being a trustee I didn’t know what, I don’t want the responsibility to fall back on me if something goes awry, so currently here are some options. I was going to make some changes to the pdf’s under a different namejust to show they can be done and how simple it can be done. It’s not a complicated process and that’s kind of where we’re at.
Joy H.: I have a question. How much is the program?
Terry M.: Around $200.
Richard S.: $350.
Joy H.: How much is the typesetter, what are the savings?
Terry M.: It would probably save us $3-5,000.
Joy H.: That is a considerable savings.
Randy G.: I understand some of your comments to be regarding pamphlets and that kind of stuff or HFC 2 as well. As controversial or important as the decision was by the Board-to-Board regarding HFC 2 and the non-stickering of the books in the US, there was much discussion during that time regarding the formation of the ad hoc committee and their successful resolution as being timely regarding HFC 2 that, in my opinion, played into the vote regarding that stickering of the book, or non-stickering of the books to be here in May at this May quarterly concerns me that the ad hoc committee does not yet have a timeline, has not yet established any accountable resolution to the resolution of their commitment that was made at that Board-to- Board. I have strong concerns that that commitment from the formation of that committee was very influential in the decision that was made there, and to not have anything more than “we’re still working on it” is very concerning to me. I would ask that the ad hoc committee establish some timeframes that we could at least track as accountability towards the completion and resolution of the issue.
Richard S.: The office put in a request to their IT support being Richard Schafer for Acrobat Pro probably almost a month ago. I have not been able to supply that financially yet. If the office is waiting for that, it would be on me personally as IT support, I wanted to make sure that was clear. The request was put in for Acrobat Pro and I told them I would look into supplying it for them.
Peter D.: Where do we stand on that?
Page 40 of 183
Richard S.: The licensing that I tried to perform an installation on, that would be licensing under my own personal name, I did not have a licensee available when I went out to register it. I am waiting on another one, and it is 50% financial and 50% dropping the ball.
Peter D.: That is basically just for the pamphlets?
Richard S.: No, both pamphlets and book. May I ask, would you follow up with me and keep me on task with it? It would help me. I have completed the work on their other requests for their IT support, that one is outstanding.
Peter D.: Yes.
Terry M.: If I would have known that, I would have followed up with you, all I did was talk and say this is what we need. Now that I know, I will definitely follow up also.
Richard S.: I provide the office IT support, I want to make sure that if they paid for it, if you didn’t have the information they were waiting for, if that’s the only piece they’re waiting for, then it would be on me.
Terry M.: That software is also beneficial in a lot of other stuff. It’s notjust for doing that, it’s beneficial for alotof web stuff…
Richard S.: I can say that one week of it was me going through prior archives I had made for the office when I used to support them, and the prior archives for the Pro was not available so it was not an update that I can use, I have to buy a new version, which is why it’s $350.
Kim S.: With respect to Randy’s concerns regarding the publication of the International books, obviously we had a motion online to address some of that. I am hopeful the outcome of that motion was expressed to the WSOB. In my discussions with Linda and John regarding the Canadian book, I think I shared all of that with you online, which will be part of the minutes. Has the subcommittee actually had conference calls in the last three months? So there has been no discussion in regard to the sale. Initially, the agenda item was addressing HFC 2 and the books. So we have no account as to the non-stickering the books and how it’s increased the sales to Hazelden at all? Has there been an increase by the H&I committees or PI committees because they’re no longer being stickered?
Joy H.: I do not have that information, I will get that for us.
Kim S.: Overall, has there been any substantial movement of books to any part of our Fellowship with the fact that we continue to have the book sale, where the books are reduced in price in general, but now that they’re not being stickered are they.. .1 know that we’ve had some publication to the Fellowship in our Delegate mailing as well as in the NewsGram so I am concerned as well, that the subcommittee has not addressed some of the concerns that ultimately came out of the December quarterly meeting and the reason it was put into place, to do some of this work.
Page 41 of 183
Peter D.: The guy from England, how many did he buy? A pallet?
Russell S.: A pallet and a half, 38 boxes, I don’t know.
Peter D.: He didn’t want us involved, he wanted tojust deal with John. He got a pallet and a half or something, and wanted another one or two pallets. The first one went. When Russell and I got involved, the guy said he did not want to deal with anyone but John. So John got the deal done and I think he is coming back for more. I don’t know how it’s going to be without John there, but he’s definitely going to buy a couple of pallets of books.
Kim S.: I am aware of an area in my region that bought a large quantity of books recently as well.
Randy G.: I am extremely concerned regarding this special deal that a member from the UK received that is not offered to the general Fellowship. The Conference was extremely loud and aggressive regarding special pricing for any of our literature that’s not available to all. Committee’s were no longer allowed to have special pricing, it was felt that in the best interest of all that there would be a volume discount that would be offered and the negotiation of that sale and what possibly will be another sale by an individual at the office doesn’t seem to sit within the group conscience of the Conference regarding the opportunity to change the price because someone wants to buy a large quantity. The Conference was very clear that those kinds of deals were not available to our members.
Joy H.: Did we do a special pricing for those international books? I thought we decided that we would sell them at the price less the normal mass quantity discount we offer.
Kim S.: I would have to go through the March minutes to clarify the ultimate decision by this Board, I believe Richard Leve gave us a snapshot of that, or we got an email regarding the process of those books being distributed.
Joy H.: This is the first time I’ve heard of an actual pallet and a half going, right now. I read every email, so…
Kim S.: I would have to take a break and look through the emails and minutes to get those answers.
Peter D.: Who set the $4.75 price on the books?
Joy H.: We did.
Peter D.: So the Conference didn’t. You said something about the Conference?
Randy G.: The Conference’s position, this was back when H&I had a discount, and that the Conference spoke very strongly towards the fact that there would be no special pricing for any committee, subcommittee or members that essentially there would be a price and there would be
Page 42 of 183
a volume discount offered to all members and all subcommittees. That way there would be no favoritism or special consideration regarding the distribution of our literature. There would be a unit price available to all and a volume discount.
Richard S.: The opening remarks on the topic concern me regarding selling the books separately to the UK and to Canada in order to deplete the stock of the US. I have concern about dividing up the book.
Joy H.: My comment was not about dividing the book, it was about the UK and Canada getting it first. That was the hope, because they are getting stickered books now, and for once, in 29 years, the UK and Canada would get the new version first, before the US, the US usually gets the book in mass quantity before them. Typically, that’s how it’s been.
Richard S.: I don’t know. I don’t know why that would be. We had HFC 2 and it was able to be distributed, I did not know there was anything, I don’t think there should be favoritism.
Joy H.: I don’t think so either. Some of the subcommittee members were discussing that we should honor the UK and Canada and get them the books as quickly as possible, because right now they’re getting stickered books, however we are not. To honor them was to get them the revisions first. That was in the spirit of…
Richard S.: But I still hear that as two separate books being sold.
Joy H.: I understand. I will tell you, I will not destroy the current version of HFC 2 in stock, it is wrong and unspiritual. Defacing a book is wrong. Stickering is defacing, that’s just my opinion. I believe we need to honor our non-US brothers and sisters with getting them non-stickered books, in my opinion. If they get the first printing of the first cases that come off the press, that to me is honoring them. I still don’t know how long it’s going to take to go through HFC 2, make the corrections, delete; then we have what happened at Conference last year, they changed the literature that needs to be in HFC 2, so they’ve added literature, we need to make sure that is put in there.
Randy G.: I believe that LCF’s position that new pamphlet’s have to be put into HFC 2 is incorrect. HFC 2 is HFC 2. The removal of How It Works and any minor housekeeping is fine but the additional pamphlets the kind of communication, we need to go.
Joy H.: I agree with you. It needs to be the front burner at the office, to get HFC 2 the way it’s supposed to be.
Randy G.: I just don’t believe that adding pamphlets to HFC 2isa decision that’s theirs.
Joy H.: I agree.
Terry M.: There are a couple of things, one is I know that the changes that came to me on the pamphlets are the ones that are already included in the book, there are no additional pamphlets.
Page 43 of 183
I’ve got a zip file that’s got all of that, Cynthia sent me all of that. The second thing, when you’re talking about volume discounts, I haven’t purchased chips and literature for probably 12-13 years, what is considered volume? To me a volume discount is a few cases, a pallet and a half would constitute a volume discount. I’m not sure what the chips and literature policy is in the office and what constitutes volume.
Randy G.: And just again, because I brought it up and we’re talking about it, I don’t even have an issue with a second layer of volume discounts offered to everyone. I’ve got huge H&I resources in certain locations and funds and those kinds of things that people make decisions that, if it’s a pallet and a half, and it’s available at that number, put it out there to everybody. From what I, my understanding of the communication I’ve had is that there was a special price for that one time sale, that’s where my issue comes from is that if we want to do another layer that if your volume is 4 times x of whatever that is, to our members pricing is consistent and published.
Russell S.: I wanted to come back to Richard’s response to Joy when she mentioned forwarding the books, the newer books to two specific areas. Heard how I believe you heard it I would also have concerns, I think the intention is a good one, and not making these guys special and they can have these books first. It’s not sending them books. I’m seeing these stickered books on meeting tables, they’re horrendous. The PI committees won’t send them out to libraries anymore, they’re appalling. By allowing them to have a version that is without having to meet these copyright issues is, I believe it is fair. It doesn’t make them special, it keeps them in line with the same respect that we’re giving the US groups. It’s not specific to Canada and England, it’s anywhere outside of the USA. Personally, I don’t see it as a treat, where ‘you can have the good stuff I see it as a level playing field, where we can have a current version, without a sticker and creases on the pages, where they won’t close.
Richard S.: I’m going to come back to your original plea of stickers or not, please get us books. Now to change it to say, well, we’re being granted these newer books.
Russell S.: At the moment, stickers no stickers, send us books. If there are new books ready to be published, if there are new books, don’t send the stickered ones.
Richard S.: It is special treatment. It is a special delivery. Why not wait until the whole inventory is depleted and…
Peter D.: I was under the impression that the books are on sale for $4.75 and anybody could come in and buy a quantity, make an offer, and it’s up to us to accept it or not. Anybody. There were some H&I in San Diego that bought four cases of book because they heard they were $4.75, that’s what I was under the impression of. If you want books, buy books. We want to get rid of them.
Russell S.: My recollection, and I did look it up when we had our last Board meeting, discount is orders over $200?
Page 44 of 183
Joy H.: 10% over $200, 20% over $500. Discounts exclude books by the case as they are discounted already. I don’t recall approving that.
Randy G.: I think that been ever since they got rid of the H&I discount.
Joy H.: I think that line is new.
Randy G.: Maybe we can ask them at the Board-to-Board how that went down. I would just be concerned, it is not let’s make a deal for our members, we offer everything to everybody.
Richard S.: I would like to state for the record, I agree with Randy.
Joy H.: I am looking at an order form. There is no discount for mass quantity of books as they are already discounted, I am trying to figure out. There is no discount whatsoever if you buy 20 cases, you are paying $133 a case, which is $4.75 per book. Even if your order is $500 or more you’re not getting that 20% off because you’ve bought $3,000 worth ofbooks, there is no discount because the books are already discounted. So this order form was changed when we discounted the books, and the asterisk was included in that. I don’t remember us, as a board of trustees, doing that. I don’t recall in any discussions, emails, that at all. Did we say, sorry you cannot have 20% off if you spend $3,000 with us?
Randy G.: It’s a different subject.
Joy H.: It’s saying it’s excluding books, I don’t remember us talking to the office.. .1 have emailed the HFC 2 subcommittee and put a fire on them, hopefully this will move forward for us and we can get this taken care of and report back. I will work diligently on this until Conference.
Kim S.: Let’s break for lunch.
Kim S.: We are back online following our lunch break, it is approximately 2:06pm, May 24. We are at agenda item #2011.03.01 European Fulfillment Facility.
Russell S.: At the last quarterly, I was going to liaise with the office with regard to total literature sales over the last 18 month to two years and total shipping costs incurred. I have been working with Linda, she sent me all of the literature sales total, but hadn’t had the opportunity to forward me the total shipping cost, so I did speak to her a couple of weeks ago and with the Convention coming up and it’s her first time, I was happy enough to get onto it when we get back from here.
I did speak briefly with Richard about it. There is some additional information with fulfillment in Europe and some technicalities that, there are certain embargos in place with countries, and CAWSO, Inc. is an American company, as such America has trade embargos with various countries and cannot, unless they get a special license, do business. It’s all quite new on the radar but it would be interesting to know how other Fellowships deal with it, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous deal with it. I don’t know if it ties in with additional reasoning and information, to want us looking at hub fulfillment facility, although with the brief amount of time I’ve just had to look at it, I don’t know how it would be much different if it was still CAWSO,
Page 45 of 183
Inc. and it’s in Belgium or London if it would be different from CAWSO, Inc. in Los Angeles. Something I’m going to be bringing back to this table because it is an issue, that could possibly bring controversy and maybe it’s out of the realm of this particular project or International Structure and Development, though I don’t think it is. It certainly needs some additional information, and I will be looking at that to bring into the European lit supply research. We will be getting the information from the Office on an excel sheet so it will be easy to read, that is our next step forward in researching whether or not this moves forward.
Peter D.: There was a question that arose at the last office meeting about sending stuff to Iran, that you had requested, there was a consensus, someone looked up on the Internet, we cannot do any trading, anything with Iran. Would it be illegal if we sent stuff over there through you from us? Are we not allowed to do that? If we give it to you and it comes from us, it is illegal. Did you find out anything since it’s not going to be sold over there, can we do that? There are really strict, especially with Iran, we’re not allowed to bring anything over there. How does that work when it comes to recovery stuff?
Russell S.: From my understanding and my research, which has only been in the last week, unless there is a special license in place, an American company cannot trade with a company in Iran.
Peter D.: What if the office sent you the stuff and you brought it in there, can you do that? It’s not a company, but it’s coming from us.
Russell S.: I would rather not put anything further on the record, because I simply do not know. Peter D.: Are meetings over there illegal?
Russell S.: No. . It is a US embargo. The US government does grant licenses for humanitarian reasons and other. There are approximately 27,000 that have been issued since the embargo has been put in place. I would like to go off record.
Kim S.: We are back on record after a brief executive session discussion regarding agenda item regarding future travel of our European Trustee in his region. It was felt in the best interest of all to have that executive session discussion. Is there any additional discussion, are we good Russell? Thank you. We will leave this on the agenda for further update. Next item is #2011.04.02, secretary in training. This was tabled from our last discussion, last agenda. If there is no objection, we will leave this here for discussion. Should the item be removed, is there any discussion?
Richard S.: I am in favor of more support in the secretary position.
Joy H.: I know we have had major discussion about this at the last quarterly and there was no real resolution to how everyone was feeling about secretary in training. I think it’s a great idea, because the secretary’s job is huge, a lot of work, and one person cannot do it without assistance or help. Sometimes these quarterlies go on forever, fingers get tired. Kim, you were the perfect
Page 46 of 183
secretary of the universe, nobody will ever replace you or be able to follow in your footsteps, however, I think a secretary in training is a great idea to help with, to learn, to know what to do. I know there is a concern that a secretary in training would then, if memory serves me, from the last quarterly that they would supposedly automatically move into the secretary position. We never decided on that, they could be open to any position on this Board, whether they are a secretary in training or not, correct? My question is to everyone.
Richard S.: Yes. It was evident that Randy was in that secretary in training and did not go for secretary. So, you know, it’s open, it’s not a pigeonhole.
Terry M.: I’m kind of in favor of that, seeing events this weekend and how quickly things can change. I was looking around the room earlier when all of a sudden we have to fill one other spot and a lot of us this year are new and have never been in, I think it’s important we have a. I mean if Richard would have had a family emergency at this quarterly, who would have stepped up and done it and been trained enough to at least accomplish what we needed accomplished here? I kind of like the idea, my only concern is that something in the area that I come from is it’s not an automatic rotating position. There was a lot of talk in my area when it was like when an alternate delegate automatically rotated. That had to be changed, some of the people weren’t doing what, you know what I mean. I kind of like the idea that at least somebody else knows the job.
Russell S.: I think it’s a good thing. I agree with Terry, it doesn’t automatically mean by default that member steps into the secretary position. It gives another member of the Board some experience, should our secretary be ill or not makes it to the quarterly or is involved in a debate that requires full attention and just needs a bit of a rest for half an hour. I offered to help Richard and myself have stepped back a little bit because I haven’t actually been charged with the authority to do that work, I’m caught between just wanting to be of service and not wanting to overstep any marks. From a personal point of view, I’m what I’ve been shown to do and help. I think it’s good, it allows people to work, the opportunity to be trained into a commitment, but not necessarily set up for the commitment. I think it’s just a good reserve, a good substitute, a good bit of support for the secretary.
Randy G.: I just go [cringe] with the in-training thing. It’s a vice-secretary and we can conceptually talk about how important it is, and it is. And how it would be nice to have some get your feet wet to a certain degree, have certain roles and responsibilities that would allow some backup, maybe allow some correspondence, I mean, outside of defining the description of the position, whatever we believe we’re going to take forward as a secretary in training idea, if not identified, will not be the next group’s idea of what we meant. And then the next groups and then the next groups. The concept and the idea that this would allow a person to be elected in any spirit of any opportunities.. .is what we believe but if not put inside of a job description like all the rest of our elected positions are, just leaves it to be interpreted by a whole bunch of people in the future that we can’t guarantee how it goes or where it goes. We have some roles that as a secretary that could be defined and set aside to relieve some of the opportunity of time, stress, just think of the correspondence a first year trustee could truly be in charge of correspondence. This is where you get it off the email, this is where you send them to everyone for it, and work with the Chair to assign it. But I mean we could just identify what a vice-secretary role. But
Page 47 of 183
without a job description, I mean unless we’re just talking conceptually about going forward somehow, I don’t know what we can do if, I would be happy to work with the past two secretaries and see if we can take that position’s job description and break it down and overlap it a little or however we need to do it. So the concept’s fine, but I just don’t know of an action item outside of, until we actually have it in black and white, what it means.
Joy H.: Are you willing to work with the past two secretaries to come up with a job description? Randy G.: Yeah, I am willing to do that.
Joy H.: Then let’s do that, I think it’s important for the secretary to have some backup, if you’re concern is the black and white, and what it looks like in the future, let’s get with the current and prior secretary and come up with a job description for an assistant secretary, not a vice-secretary, that’s a legal term.
Russell S.: For the record, I agree with it being called something else as well.
Peter D.: I think it’s always a good idea to have a backup on anything.
Richard S.: I think assistant is important because we have to maintain the Executive Committee as the Secretary, Vice-Chair and Chair and not a Vice-Secretary. Assistant to Secretary would be appropriate.
Joy H.: Because we are considered a corporation, that’s what it is, an Assistant Secretary.
Kim S.: Regardless of the title of this agenda item, it does not matter what you call it, the intent, the motive, the desire, the passion behind me putting this originally on new business was not to conclude that past, current, or future secretaries didn’t have the complete ability, desire and willingness to fulfill the job description of secretary. What my experience has been, rolling into it, there is a job description, there is minimal on the job training and from our past experience with attempting this, I would say strike it all together, if you have an interest to be a nonparticipant on the Officer Board or something other than the Secretary on the Officer Board, then, I will be honest, part of the intent behind this is that someone who is an assistant or learning or participating and backing up the current secretary is that there would be that potential of that person being nominated and elected to that position. It does not, as it has been said, nor did I suggest, that anyone would be eliminated from participating in any other position. It goes along with what was previously said, sort of, invite that accountability, if you were the assistant or the secretary in training, have a desire and a willingness to learn a job and potentially be the future secretary. It can continue on as it is or there potentially could be someone who is backing up and learning the job description. The job description is simply someone who participates in learning and backing up the current secretary with respect to the current job description. I also put this item on the agenda because I am still available to assist Richard and anyone else who wants to learn the job description and the process that works and certainly what worked for me that is only expanded on by everyone’s experience as we move forward. The experience Richard
Page 48 of 183
has computer-wise or anyone else has experience that simplifies the job, streamlines it and makes it a lot easier. It’s up to you all how you want to move forward.
Russell S.: I believe I’ve just heard full support for moving forward here. Whilst I hear the simplicity of what you believe the job description to be, would it need to be a motion to ask the vice-chair to just put together a brief description just so it’s formal somewhere so that we have. I think we’re all for it, I think we see from my perspective.
Kim S.: For the record, what I said on the conference call, which was not recorded, is that I think it’s not as complicated as potentially people had indicated it is. It wasn’t meant to be complicated. We can add writing a job description to our agenda if it so moved.
Terry M.: Since we’re not voting an executive body chair, vice-chair or secretary, does this really have to go before all of us to be an assistant secretary. All our other subcommittee titles were all just appointed to us, the other thing is why can’t we start while the job description is being fulfilled. All we’re doing is we’re going to spread it out a little bit longer. I think trying to, I just got thrown into something that I know nothing about and I have, well I volunteered, I took a position I know nothing about and I have to learn it quickly. Moving forward and learning while a job description is created, I don’t believe there’s any toes that are going to be stepped on, I think Richard, our current WSBT secretary will ask for help in areas he needs help while this is being generated. I would like to see us just move forward.
Richard S.: Motion to accept Russell as the assistant secretary.
Peter D.: Second.
Kim S. There is a motion to accept Russell as an assistant secretary, made by Richard, seconded by Peter. Is there any further discussion or opposition to this motion? Seeing none, please prepare yourselves to vote. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? The motion passes. What does this body want to do regarding a job description?
Joy H.: I nominate Randy to create a job description.
Terry M.: I will second that.
Kim S.: By unanimous consent, everyone in favor of Randy writing a job description, confirm by yes. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Would we be able to review this description this week or shall we review it online?
Randy G.: I guess I could always pull it back if there’s not time. In light of what with what Kim’s talking about, I literally took the secretary’s position, saved it down as a WSBT assistant secretary guidelines, you go through there and adapt it to assist instead of responsible for, maybe leave some of the responsibilities with the assistant and remove some of those whether it be correspondence, we can talk about some of that. You can modify them very quickly.
Page 49 of 183
Kim S.: You’re changing the secretary’s job description?
Randy G.: It potentially could affect it, absolutely.
Kim S.: I would not be in favor of that.
Richard S.: I wouldn’t either; I think that the strong points of…
Randy G.: What happens is I get to do it, we look at it, we get to decide.
Kim S.: We leave the job description on the agenda and hopefully try to revisit that this week.
Russell S.:If nobody objects, I’m just going to make my services available to Richard.
Kim S.: Agenda Item #2011.04.03, assembly and the Edmonton Hope, Faith and Courage Society. This was brought to our attention by Terry, tabled from new business, moved to old business. Terry, do you have an update?
Terry M.: No Peter was supposed to look into the trademark stuff. We talked about it on the conference call. Remember it had to do with using Hope, Faith and Courage and all that stuff together? In the conference call minutes.
Kim S.: It was a motion to table, seconded by Kenny, Richard, it is an understanding of the board that we are tasking Peter with an expenditure because we were going to have him research that with the attorney. Last discussion with our attorney was $250, Peter will research it hopefully without any expenditure. Do we want to leave this on the agenda?
Peter D.: Yes please.
Kim S.: We will leave this on the agenda. Peter, please talk to Terry so you can get a better understanding of it. We will follow-up. Next item is correspondence to and from the Fellowship. Correspondence #2010-05-18, correspondence to Quin. We have a response that Joy had posted,
I attached it to some emails. Joy do you want to read that response?
Joy H.: I make a motion to approve response #C2010-05-18 , response to Quin regarding CAWS 2010 logos.
Russell S.: Second.
Joy H.: Proposed response: Quin. Thank you for your follow-up question “Is the CAWS 2010 logo copyrighted?” First, we do regret the confusion that you and other members have experienced due to the verbiage in the convention guidelines. We are hopeful that you and/or members of the CAWS 2010 committee can share your experience in a helpful way and provide the Convention Conference Committee with referrals that may be reflected in future issues of the Convention Committee Guidelines. In regard to your question, we have contacted the attorney
Page 50 of 183
representing CAWSO, Inc. There is only one logo that is copy written by CAWSO, Inc.. that is the official logo. Artworks for the conventions become the property of CAWSO, Inc. once submitted to and approved by the WSBT, WSOB, and/or the Conference floor for use by CAWSO, Inc. Artwork submitted to CAWSO, Inc. is accompanied with a release form providing CAWSO, Inc. ownership of that artwork. In closing, to further expound on the use of our logo and divert any confusion in the future regarding our statement of policy, use of name, logo, variations, block letters, and motto, please see the following on page 13 of the World Service Manual. No other individual or entity may use the name Cocaine Anonymous, the block letters CA, the official Cocaine Anonymous logo (hereinafter “logo”), future variations of the logo, the book titled Hope, Faith & Courage, Stories from the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous, Hope, Faith and Courage, Volume II, Stories and Literature from the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous and/or the motto “We’re Here and We’re Free” without the written permission of Cocaine Anonymous World Service Board of Trustees.
Kim S.: Thank you Joy. Motion to accept by Joy, seconded by Russell. Is there any discussion other than minor housekeeping? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Correspondence 2011-01-10, correspondence from Eric T. in regards to trustee submittal. Randy, you’re the lead on that.
Randy G.:__________________________
Kim S.: We will move this to online board work. Correspondence 2011-03-04, correspondence from John Mark, Robert was the lead on this, which now falls to Randy. I know there has been quite a bit of conversation about this, I believe Randy and Russell are working on this.
Randy G.: Yes, we are, we kind of tossed some stuff back and forth last quarterly.
Kim S.: We will work on that here during board work and present it for approval?
Russell S.: When a correspondence comes from the Fellowship and we send an email saying thank you very much… and we talked in the last conference call that this has gone on for a bit, would a secondary email be sent?
Richard S.: Any of the ones I was asked to regarding the last one, a secondary follow-up email was delayed. The one Joy requested, she took care of the one to Quin, and I think there were two others that I sent. There was only a couple.
Kim S.: With respect to correspondence, I have discussed the tardiness and lack of attention to the WSBT email box with Richard and others. I have access to that, I have completed cleaning it out, and hope that when we go off this, and do board work, Richard will address the mailbox, Russell if you can assist at some point, there are several pieces in there that need to be addressed. I want to indicate that I was recently contacted by one of you with respect to the response to Trevor, I have affirmative emails between Terry and I regarding that. Terry did send that to Trevor, the same day Trevor did respond that he received that and noted that he had read it. I have record of that. That does not negate the fact that we need to follow a procedure we have in
Page 51 of 183
our policy, however, I do want to be on record that Trevor has indicated that he is extremely upset that he hasn’t received our response, and he has. And he wrote back that he received that response.
Terry M.: Since we’re talking about correspondence, I got an email the day I landed here in Phoenix from a member that I have been having conversations with, and a response to an email she sent me. When I landed here Saturday, I got a very strong email about correspondence that was sent to the box six months ago and has not been addressed and has not even had an acknowledgment of receipt. I replied thinking this person was talking about this other thing that had been going on, she told me it was not that, it was something else that was submitted concerning ca.org and I actually felt stupid. I still don’t know exactly what it is, this is one of the reasons I’m totally okay with getting a little bit of help, I think, what kept getting brought up is we need to send an acknowledgment that we received the email and all that stuff.
Richard S.: May I ask whom it was from?
Terry M.: It was from Cynthia, it was concerning ca.org. I didn’t ask for a copy of the email.
Joy H.: Did she send it to the WSOB or the WSBT?
Kim S.: I went through the mailbox the other day, the oldest correspondence that has not been addressed is from February. There are two in the mailbox from Cynthia, one is in regard to asking when the minutes from the Board-to-Board will go out. I instructed Richard to address that by simply saying that all of our minutes from this point to this point should be included in the June mailing. The other email from Cynthia is actually a forward of an email sent directly to you (Terry), and is in reference to HFC 2. Those are the only piece of mail in the mailbox from her.
Terry M.: The thing that came back from her is that it wasn’t about the HFC 2, because that’s what I originally thought it was about. She said it has to do with an email from before then that had to do with ca.org.
Kim S.: We had a transition from one network company to another, we went through those and made sure everything was addressed before the transition.
Terry M.: Here it is, it is after I had talked to her. “I did not mean to cause you any grief, I realize we had been communicating about this, which was the HFC 2 stuff, my issue is it continues to be that send a message to that website and heard nothing through the usual protocol. I know that our chair this year was the secretary last year so she is well aware that the present secretary is supposed to send out a quick response saying something like thank you for contacting us, we will get back with a written response. So far, nothing.” That’s what I received about ca.org about six months ago.
Kim S.: Did she send you a copy of the email that she sent to us?
Page 52 of 183
Terry M.: I did not ask for it, I will send her an email and ask for her to send it to us with the day and time of the sent email, that’s only fair.
Kim S.: There are only two waiting, pending responses. One was to Quin, and we have the response to the other.
Richard S.: I will say I apologize for lack, for irritations any of you are receiving with my failing of correspondence.
Kim S.: When we set up folders, we have the “done” folder. It has all of the responses we’ve sent. We have new meetings, pending responses, minutes from Nick, Michelle. The stuff is all there, and more organized with the new folders than the old networking was, and we can still get on the old network, right?
Richard S.: You cannot get on it, but everything’s saved.
Russell S.: With that then, if stuff is sent to WSBT@ca.org, are they then forwarded to the Board of Trustees?
Kim S.: They should be.
Richard S.: They haven’t.
Kim S.: They are sitting in the inbox, because I’ve gone through the mailbox, I’ve taken out the 10,000 pieces of spam we get, Richard has cleaned it out, and we are down to about 66. The majority are minutes, there is some correspondence that needs to be addressed. I mean by that, there are probably less than 10 that actually require addressing, we also get the WSBT updates, so every time you post a report it goes to this mailbox. A lot of this consists of minutes from the UK, they are very consistent about sending everything, committee reports to steering committee, and these updates. This has been going on since before March. Every time you update a report, everyone gets an update. So we can disburse the minutes, the correspondence, and add that to our general work.
Randy G.: You think there are about ten more correspondence besides the referrals?
Kim S.: Yes, but some of them are, for example, I understand there are job openings at the World Service Office. There are some that are to be distributed to the Regional Trustees and handled just by one, as opposed to the involvement of the entire WSBT.
Richard S.: There are still items that I did not disburse. The chair tried to remain out of it and not do the secretary’s job along with her own.
Kim S.: Here is somebody looking for somebody else from one region to another, how can we find them, so that’s what I meant. Correspondence from Cynthia, the NewsGram editor, and Quin was attached.
Page 53 of 183
Terry M.: Did the network switch happen six months ago?
Richard S.: No, seven, maybe eight.
Terry M.: I just asked her to forward that email to me. It seemed like every time I responded, I knew less.
Kim S.: Here is an email that asks to be sent a copy of Hope, Faith & Courage. There are three in the email from Cynthia, one where she reflected that she had read the minutes regarding Sheila, and was thanking us. Again, there should be a thank you for your email, it’s not necessarily an action item. There are a couple from my region that I addressed. Next item, In-Conference Referrals to be addressed. I would suggest that any of those that have not been completed, take a look at them and move them to board work. There is one response to approve, Joy?
Joy H.: Motion to approve the response to Referral #6640 TEC questions.
Richard S.: Second.
Kim S.: Motion to approval the response to Referral #6640 TEC questions in regards to increasing the number of questions and rotate each year. It will also allow each Trustee and Delegate to ask one question not on that year’s list. The motion is by Joy, seconded by Richard. The responses will be a part of our opening report, it will not be read into the record. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. We are moving all remaining correspondence currently on the agenda and all in-conference and post-conference referrals to board work once we complete our agenda and have the opportunity to break off into groups and do board work. We are now at new business. Item #2011.05.01 has been completed and can be removed from the agenda. Item #2011.05.02 has also been addressed and can be removed from the agenda. Item #2011.05.03 is the WSBT reimbursement policy regarding gas and mileage. I added this after several discussions with different individuals as well as myself regarding our current gas mileage reimbursement and that we need to have more of a solid policy on this and how we want to move forward. Currently, not for profit volunteer reimbursement for gas is 14 cents a mile domestically, U.S., per the IRS code. We really don’t have a provision for gas and mileage for the European Trustee and recently we worked something out in regards to reimbursement for Russell. I think we need to craft a more thorough policy regarding this. Several years ago it was brought to our attention there was potentially another way to do that in regards to filling, prior to your road trip, fill up your gas tank, make your trip, upon your return, fill up your gas tank and that particular receipt is reimbursable. Unfortunately, anyone who is driving over two or three day period potentially could have more than one gas receipt. It comes into discussion, one of the expense reports I had included three gas receipts, and indicated that there was not a clear time frame as to when those occurred. It makes it difficult to approve that and have it reimbursed. We potentially want to discuss this and certainly I have it on the Board-to-Board agenda for potentially, their input as well. Does anyone have any discussion regarding that at this point.
Joy H.: I am willing to help craft the gas receipt policy to try and lay it out the most simplistic form possible.
Page 54 of 183
Peter D.: Driving from San Diego to here and back is roughly six hours plus miles, say 600 miles at 14 cents, that’s $84.1 spent $70 to fill up to get here. I will have to fill up again, I’ll probably spend $140 for gas and I’m going to get $84 back.
Joy H.: Are you talking about round-trip?
Peter D.:_____ or just miles for this expense trip?
Kim S.: At this time it is based on mileage. I think one of my discussions with you Peter, if you are aware of a situation similar to this, please have a discussion prior to actually executing the trip.
Russell S.: I appreciate the help last time, just since the last agreement we made, based on the price of petrol, we agreed to 30 cents, if I go by gas prices in that short time, we are paying $11.50 a gallon, which I’ve just done the mileage per gallon in my car, it’s 43 cents a mile. I like the tanking it up and refilling at the other end at the moment.
Joy H.: Do you want to help me craft it?
Unknown: Yeah.
Joy H.: Okay.
Randy G.: The crafting of this is only on the excel spreadsheet. The word document of our expense reimbursement would allow for some chair discretion in receiving receipts currently. Nothing would have to be changed in our WSBT expense reimbursement policy. Nowhere in that, I just kind of went through, talks about 14 cents a mile, or anything else. It talks about expenses incurred on official CA business including meals and travel will be reimbursed upon presentation of approved expense reimbursement form, which includes documentation, receipts of the qualified business expense incurred. So the only change would have to be on the expense reimbursement form itself.
Kim S.: I don’t agree with you. The loose verbiage in our policy, although you think that it’s sufficient moving forward, may not be sufficient for any incoming chair without a complete understanding of the description of the actual gas reimbursement and allowing it to be at the discretion of the chair without some sort of policy or direction is not helpful.
Randy G.: I’m just saying it’s not there now.
Kim S.: I thought you said it was sufficient and left to the discretion of the chair, and you didn’t therefore see any need for change.
Randy G.: The way it’s worded, there’s nothing regarding gas reimbursement in our expense reimbursement policy.
Page 55 of 183
Kim S.: Exactly, it doesn’t say 14 cents anywhere in the policy.
Randy G.: It doesn’t mention gas reimbursement at all. Or mileage, it talks about travel expenses, reimbursed upon an approved reimbursement expense form, including documentation, receipts and everything else.
Richard S.: Is the purpose of this item to truly discuss all travel reimbursement policies? Or mainly to address a European Regional reimbursement?
Kim S.: Given the cost of gas, not just in Europe, but in the United States, anyone that is driving regionally at 14 cents a mile obviously is not getting fully reimbursed for their fuel.
Richard S.: I understand, I’m just trying to figure out where we’re…so it changed in the…
Kim S.: What I am suggesting is exactly what Joy is saying. That we craft some sort of verbiage for our policy that indicates that we adhere to the not for profit volunteer current IRS reimbursement code and/or have a very clear verbiage of how the gas can be reimbursed.
Randy G.: Because they have this 14-cent number which is obviously less than reimbursement.
Joy H.: If you are a paid employee and you drive, the IRS reimbursable amount is 55 cents, it was just increased. But, the non-profit volunteer has not been increased in years, I cannot tell you how long. At one point we were getting 17 cents a mile, and we found out the IRS code said it was 14 cents a mile so we lost that money. If you work for a not for profit, it is still 17 cents.
Randy G.: Because this is a not for profit expense, do we even have the right to pay the whole gas bill?
Joy H.: Yes. There are two ways to reimburse for fuel. By mileage or actual expense.
Randy G.:We’re sure of that?
Joy H.: Yes we are. There is not a clear policy.
Kim S.: The problem is you don’t start at point A and fill up, go to B, drive around all in B, and then drive home and fill up again and then support that with three different receipts. I think we need to make the verbiage clear, you fill up your tank, do the trip, and again, if you have to fill up during you trip or at your destination, those would be included. The first receipt is not. It’s okay to say that to the six of you, and say do you understand that, because whoever’s the next chair is going to have to not just shoot through every expense report and approve, they have to be reviewed. Without a policy and verbiage moving forward there could be problems.
Randy G.: So you’re not looking to change anything, you’re only looking to address…
Kim S.: At this point. I also think that inclusive of this policy there has to be something that offsets the cost of fuel.
Page 56 of 183
Joy H.: That’s why the gas receipts, the actual gas receipts…
Randy G.: You can use the gas receipt policy can’t you?
Peter D.: So, when I fill up now, that would be the receipt I use, when I get home and fill up, that’s the other receipt I send it?
Randy G.: As long as you left with a full tank.
Joy H.: You filled up before you left? So that receipt doesn’t count.
Peter D.: The receipt today when I fill up again here, and when I get home and fill up again. That makes sense. I like that.
Randy G.: What this policy will do is it will keep whatever Kim or any chair in the future from catching a receipt for your first fill. Its like the convention started on the 2rd, here’s your gas tank, well I spent that the entire time, or something that’s dated a week and a half after they got back.
Richard S.: If that’s not the way it’s submitted, it reverts back to the 14 cents.
Joy H.: Yes, correct. That’s the verbiage, so it’s understood. Clear and concise.
Peter D.: Does this start after this convention?
Kim S.: This is an internal policy. If we get something crafted and approved, we certainly can do something for you retroactively, for this event, not going back. Joy and Russell, thank you. Next item 2011.05.04, WSOB in the delegate mailing. This is on the agenda for a matter of the record. The WSOB minutes, and Peter, you can make a note of this since Richard is not here. Any WSOB minutes should be part of the delegate mailing and we can address this at the Board-to- Board meeting as well. Richard Leve is trying to keep it current in regards to getting us those minutes and getting them into the delegate mailing.
Russell S.: For clarification, I was looking at this, the verbiage in the World Service Manual is that minutes of the WSOB meeting are made available to the Trustees and our members on request. I am wondering as to why we’re sending them out in the mailing?
Kim S.: Where is that in the Manual?
Russell S.: Page 55, under the secretary. Make minutes and records available to CAWSO Board and World Service Board Trustee members on request.
Kim S.: That’s under the job description of the secretary, which means the secretary is making them available. I don’t know why we wouldn’t.. .1 would be in favor of pursuing this further to have them included in the delegate mailing. I don’t know why we would not submit those
Page 57 of 183
minutes of business that the WSOB are tasking every two weeks into our delegate mailing and made available to our Fellowship.
Russell S.: I am not trying to hide anything from any members of the Fellowship, but looking at the other side of this we have a World Service Office Trustee and within our mailing there’s also a report, our minutes go out to the Fellowship, is that how we report to the Fellowship on the office activity? I am only asking the question because at what point do we go with these minutes, do we start having minutes of the subcommittees within the WSOB, do we…
Kim S.: Actually, all of the reports that are approved at this board are attached to our minutes, I have expressed, going back to prior to being the chair of this board, that any time in their minutes when it says written report submitted, there is nothing attached. So, written report read from on the WSOB, yes, any reports submitted or approved during the agenda that are inclusive of the minutes I think should be included.
Russell S.: I am only asking the question. Unless somebody can show me where it says they go out, it’s still just a matter of do they or don’t they.
Kim S.:It’s not necessarily a matter of having to be in our manual, it could be in the WSO policy, their office policy. I do not have that policy.
Joy H.: I can tell you under California State Law for corporations, they are supposed to keep a minute book with all of the minutes plus all of the attached reports that relate to it and available on hand. Maintain the record books in which the bylaws special rules of order, standing rules and minutes are entered with any amendments to these documents properly recorded and have to have their record books on hand at every meeting. Per California law, cause I keep all of my office corporate minute books, it has any amendments to the bylaws, amendments to the articles of incorporation and any all board minutes. They are the board to CAWSO, Inc., we are the board to CAWS, Inc. They shouldn’t just say report attached, it should actually be attached or it should be copied and pasted in like we do ours.
Kim S. There are two ways of looking at this for me. Either we simplify our process and say our minutes are available upon request and be consistent with what the WSOB does and/or the WSOB be consistent with we are currently doing a process and tasked with supplying the office for distribution of the minutes.
Randy G.: So if that’s how you feel or we feel, wejust do a referral.
Kim S.: I am trying to get some consensus here, if no one else feels that way, if no one else, in my opinion, across the board, a two corporation board which I have questioned myself during the last two years, why we aren’t consistent with providing the process of what we do, our minutes, to the Fellowship. If there’s not a consensus here, I won’t pursue it. There is a concern when a member of the Fellowship stands at the mike and shakes their hand at the WSBT secretary and says “where are the minutes… why aren’t the minutes included” and no one questions the WSOB secretary. Their minutes, up until recently, haven’t been included for years.
Page 58 of 183
Russell S.: My understanding is, there is reference to the Board of Trustee being sent out to the Fellowship. The office is accountable to us as I understand it. The reporting from the office comes within what we send out in our reports in our minutes. That’s not saying I don’t agree, of course the minutes to the office need to be on hand and kept, but it doesn’t say in here, from what I’ve researched, that we must send out the WSOB in the mailings.
Kim S.: I will submit, as an individual, a referral. If there is no consensus from this Board that would be consistent with providing complete disclosure of minutes as opposed to reports of this Board regarding the task and the business of the WSOB to the Fellowship. Is that how everyone feels?
Randy G.: I would like to make a motion that the WSBT requests the WSOB to make the minutes available for the delegate mailing
Joy H.: Second.
Randy G.: Please read the motion back.
Richard S.: The WSBT requests the WSOB to make the minutes available for the delegate mailing, seconded by Joy.
Randy G.: Add and distributed in.
Richard S.: The WSBT requests the WSOB make the minutes available and distribute them in the delegate mailing.
Randy G.: Do we now want to go into the time frame?
Richard S.: No, time frames change on delegate mailings.
Richard S.: The WSBT requests the WSOB make the minutes available and distribute them in the delegate mailing. Point of information, does this satisfy what this agenda item was on here to discuss?
Kim S.: Yes, during the motion there was some debate, I feel can yield to their discretion as opposed to it inviting accountability to our Fellowship regarding distribution of the minutes.
Peter D.: Have these minutes from the WSOB ever gone out in the delegate mailings?
Kim S.: I recall when I was a delegate, they went out.
Peter D.: Did they stop for some reason?
Kim S.: I don’t know why it stopped. Changes at the WSOB level, the office, consistency, follow-through.
Page 59 of 183
Peter D.: Shouldn’t we change this (manual)?
Randy G.: Any change in the manual needs to go to the Conference floor. Right now we are just asking the WSOB to put it out in the delegate mailing. As the WSBT, we are asking the WSOB to put their minutes out in the delegate mailing. If they ask why, because we want our Fellowship to have as much information as possible. If they begin to do that, it becomes very easy to say, we would like you now to take your new procedure and put it in as a change to the manual. But at the current time, the motion is stated as a request from this board to that board and doesn’t affect the manual until they begin doing it or come back with a reason why they don’t or blah blah blah. They way I view it, because it says what it says, if we put the motion out any differently, the motion would be to change the manual, and we have to wait for the conference to do so.
Richard S.: I speak in favor of the motion. There’s a lot of business that goes on, that’s why they meet every two weeks, conventions, there’s a lot of information that would be helpful to our Fellowship and things that go on in the office, I think it would be very beneficial to be able to have these in the mailings for our Fellowship.
Randy G.: I made the motion, but I will speak against the motion for a point. I do feel people in my Fellowship will look at the internal operations of the WSOB_____ the WSOB minutes to be potentially inclusive of information that may or may not be, how do I say it? They deal with contracts, they deal with this, they deal with, I mean there’s a lot of stuff involved with just the workings of the distribution of chips and literature; there is Joe Blow is showing up late three times last week, we need to address his.. .is that necessary to be public information, those kind of issues regarding the actual.
Kim S.: Employment issues are done in executive session by the WSOB …
Randy G.: I’m just tossing it out there…
Kim S.: Do you read the minutes when they come through Randy, the WSOB minutes?
Randy G.: Rarely.
Kim S.: We should read them because we’re the Board ofTrustees. What the WSOB is directly responsible to the WSBT.
Russell S.: I speak against the motion. There is no inclination or desire to deny our membership information. I believe the structure as I believe it to be in place is the WSOB are accountable and responsible to us and within the World Service Office Trustee, they should submit bi-monthly reports, quarterly reports, annual reports, monthly updates. That is included within our reporting and that’s given out to the Fellowship. From a legal stand point, they need to be keeping minutes and those minutes need to be kept for the legal purpose. I don’t see any benefit in just sending out minutes from the WSOB when if we do what we should be doing, we should be compiling these reports anyway. It’s our responsibility to inform the Fellowship what’s going on at the office as much as it is the office’s responsibility to send their minutes, I’m against it.
Page 60 of 183
Peter D.: I speak against the motion. They send them to us, we are in touch with all of them. If we put that out in there and people start questioning what’s going on in the office and start calling the office and asking a million questions, it will slow down productivity. If we get it from them, and we have something in there that we need to tell the Fellowship, as opposed to everything we do, twice a month in that meeting, is it necessary that they know every single thing that goes on, how we conduct business in that office? We leased a new copier—you got no money how you leasing a new copier? We have to answer that, it’s less and does more. But that’s only one question. Is too much information bad? Little, minute things that people might tear apart? I don’t know. The phone calls start coming in…
Kim S.: They work for this Fellowship.
Peter D.: Well, whatever they do, comes to us, then we send out what needs to be sent out. Just a thought on how much stuff we put out there.
Richard S.: Point of information, are we discussing this because of the lack of minutes available to be distributed to the Fellowship? There has been a lapse in the available minutes to be provided to the Fellowship, is that why this is being discussed and a motion was brought forth today?
Kim S.: I have had people in my region, within my area, ask why there are no WSOB minutes when previously they were included in the delegate mailing.
Richard S.: Point of information, per the current duties and responsibilities of the WSOT, those minutes should be provided to us and then attached to our minutes that are being distributed to the Fellowship, correct?
Kim S.: No.
Randy G.: They are made available to us upon request.
Terry M.: I think I am against this motion. I really believe if we’re reading our minutes and everything looks like it’s in line and something is really out of the ordinary, that’s what we have the Board-to-Board meeting for every quarter. I think anything that I think might be questionable, I think those type of minutes should be available. I don’t know about the day to day operations and I think being available upon request, thinking about the waste of paper, now that it’s online, I’m kind of on the fence with this. Now that they’re available online, I can sit there and read without wasting paper, how much is too much information or is there a point where, Peter was talking about the copier. I know if that went out to the Fellowship, the discussion and the price on that copier, I’m not so worried about my phone ringing, how many calls would the office be fielding about, “well I could have gotten you $50 a month cheaper.” This is where my head went with this. I would rather see our phone lines open for people calling us up because they need help. I think what that would do is open up to more criticism as to what’s going on at the office, which should be coming to us to address, not the office. That’s kind of what I feel about it.
Page 61 of 183
Kim S.: Please restate the motion.
Richard S.: Randy: That the WSBT request the WSOB make the WSOB minutes available and be distributed in each delegate mailing, seconded by Joy.
Kim S.: Prepare yourselves to vote. All those in favor. Anyone opposed? Motion fails. We will remove this from the agenda and I only want to say I still, with the allowance to express my opinion, I believe that our Fellowship, who we work for, is due the opportunity to see the workings of this corporation and this Fellowship, this business, and be open with it in regards. Unfortunately, not everything that occurring at the office board meetings is thoroughly reflected in a timely manner to this Board, nor are any of us diligent in preparing and providing that in our reports, which was one of debate. Next item is #2011.05.05, conference rooming list. Please provide to Peter the rooming list for the conference and do that in a timely manner.
Peter D.: Are we going to re-do the I don’t have a roommate. Who makes up the rooming list?
Kim S.: We can work together on that, and talk offline about that. Next item, #2011.05.06, WSBT budget issues for CAWS 2012. Russell can address this, he briefly talked about it, we hit some focus on that earlier today.
Russell S.: With the convention coming up in the UK, the extra expense my travel incurs in comparison to some of you is going to be, I’m going get the cheap one that time and you guys are going to get the expensive one. That’s the obvious one, the increased travel costs. There are a number of other issues that may resolve themselves, but need to be, in my opinion, need to be highlighted, need to be catered for. And that being, hotel rooms prior to and during the convention, we have not got anything set up in our contract for free rooms as they are in most convention contracts. We don’t start earning free rooms until we’ve sold 1,420 nights. They Fellowship, one way or another, is going to be pay for our rooms for the quarterly meetings, our bedrooms for the quarterly meeting, and the bedrooms for the convention. The other costs, which has come to light, is the actual boardroom there. I’m hoping that with some healthy negotiation with your help and Nick, that some of these costs can be resolved. However, as we stand at the moment, we are looking to having to pay for our hotel rooms for the quarterly and the convention. The meeting they had last week was £250 per day for the boardroom, or $400 per day.
Randy G.: Why can’t we use a workshop room?
Russell S.: Because the contract covers the event period and whilst there are rates negotiated cheaper, there is nothing in there for a meeting room.
Richard S.: Was Liz present at this meeting?
Russell S.: Thank you Richard. I wasn’t there, both Nicks were there, Liz was there. I haven’t spoken to the hotel liaison and I haven’t wanted to overstep the mark and go straight to Liz, but I
Page 62 of 183
do recall a conversation that we had with Liz where we discussed the need for a room and that would be a “yep, don’t worry about it.”
Richard S.: It was open, absolutely. Verbally open.
Russell S.: As I said, I hope that some of these issues will be resolved before the convention, I don’t want to leave it for six months and Liz leave, and us end up incurring these costs. I am aware there is a conference coming up. The budget that these would need to be itemed in is ready to go at the end of June. What do we have for that meeting.
Peter D.: Is this just coming to light now?
Russell S.: Yes, some of it. The increased flights, yes. Around the sleeping, I’ve brought that to you, and I hope that Nick the Stitch has brought it to you as well.
Richard S.: We knew, it was stated at the beginning when it went through TNC, they do contracts differently and they absolutely do not have the same contract structure, contract options, we did have a verbal, through our communications with Liz, I asked how long she had been with the company, if she was planning, I asked the questions the best I could to protect us. I hoped communications would remain with Russell. May I ask what provoked the meeting between the three of these?
Russell S.: Some clarity on VAT.
Richard S.: We knew it wouldn’t be set until next year.
Russell S.: There is a possibility it will change through next year. And setting down some two- night packages, should we need to put them forward.
Richard S. Those are also not going to be set down until.. .Packages themselves were going to be how they were going to be structured and the options we had were going to be set once we had passed the year out mark. So going there prior, according to Liz, they could not have provided that information. We spent a lot of time communicating with this because it’s so different. It’s one of the things we were saying, it’s a different animal.
Joy H.: I asked a lot of questions, there was a lot I didn’t understand when the contract came to the TNC.
Richard S.: I didn’t know another meeting went on and these issues arose, I will let Russell continue on those, but none of those, where I last had a conversation, the day of the contract signing, none of these were available options to be discussed until a year out and the VAT not until the year of, because that fluctuates. That’s why I asked about this meeting.
Randy G.: If you can quantify to the best of your ability what those dollar concerns are, the room, our additional room nights, because I’ve actually put some stuff on Tom Walsh’s agenda
Page 63 of 183
for the finance meeting this weekend. This would be a great place to bring that to them immediately,_____ prior to the conference so we can work on it offline or online until the conference. So, some time before Sunday?
Russell S.: Absolutely, no problem. Please be aware as well as us incurring these costs, I don’t know what we do traditionally with the WSOB, they’re also going to be, if they’re attending, as they normally do, they’re going to incur some hefty costs as well. All of this was put to the conference when the bid, it’s not new, it’s not secret, it’s just gone to sleep for a couple of years while we’ve been focusing on other stuff. It does need to be at the forefront now. I’ve looked through what the requirements are with sending the boards, whilst I see the benefit of sending the full WSOB when it’s a local convention, I really don’t see why the while WSOB should be sent to a world convention that’s going to incur such costs overseas when, I don’t mean this derogatorily, but when most of the time they will just be at the Board-to-Board, which could be an executive Board-to-Board, for the rest, they would do volunteer work, which local members could do. WSOB treasurer needs to be there according to the guidelines, the Chair needs to be there, and the DOO needs to be there. For the rest, I am unaware of the work the other WSOB members need to do.
Randy G.: I will help you with it. I have some convention related issues I’ve already put on that agenda for this weekend for the finance committee.
Russell S.: My personal view with this is while we have the chair in here tomorrow, we should encourage that the hotel liaison get some negotiating help from our office if need be. I’ve tried to helpfully step back and allow the hotel liaison to do that role.
Richard S.: Russell pulled this out of an impossible recovery situation when it blew up with the prior hotel liaison and brought me in and the communications between the three of us went very well, the efforts were great, I believe the introduction, you need to be involved as the current WST and the current hotel liaison. I believe the five of us should get on board together.
Russell S.: I would hope with the current hotel liaison being a former trustee, he would be on the ball, I’m sure again once highlighted to him, hey you need to be a little more helpful with the boardroom costs you know the costs we can incur if we don’t get some healthy negotiation going. I would hope this can be resolved, let’s bring it to Jackie’s attention that it’s a cost we can do with some help negotiating our way through.
Joy H.: Do you know approximately what the cost to fly to the UK is?
Kim S.: Approximately $8-900.
Joy H.: Per person?
Kim S.: Yes.
Richard S.: About $1,100, round trip.
Page 64 of 183
Peter D.: When was it voted on that the office board goes to all the conventions?
Richard S.: I was there, it was last year. There were concerns expressed and the current office board felt it was important for them to attend the World Conventions.
Peter D.: This year, they’re coming here, we’re paying for their airline tickets or their mileage, their rooms and $40 a day.
Richard S.: Yes, and I’ve asked for that budget to be broken out so it could be seen this year, and I haven’t seen it. So I asked Joy where that might be. I did raise that inquiry last year, so hopefully it will be addressed.
Peter D.: This was passed at the conference?
Richard S.: No, at the WSOB. Under the understanding that the WSOB used to travel to the conventions, and they felt that should be an option that was made available.
Peter D.: In the interest of finances, can we change that for this European convention?
Richard S.: I think the Board-to-Board is a great place to revisit that.
Peter D.: As financial planners…
Richard S.: That’s my opinion, personal opinion, you all can make your own decisions regarding this.
Russell S.: That is what I wanted to highlight to you. I am sure we can ask Jackie to get on with this, she knows, as a former trustee, the necessity…
Randy G.: I’ll say the numbers, it’s not as bad as you think.
Richard S.: For this time of year?
Randy G.: The difference between what’s in the budget and to add the things hejust talked about is like six.
Peter D.: Six what?
Joy H.: $6,000 more.
Peter D.: It sounds like a lot.
Randy G.: It is, but…
Richard S.: I’m sorry; I thought you were saying $600.
Page 65 of 183
Kim S.: It can always be the quarterly that you take out of the budget.
Joy H.: The reality is, we can literally remove meeting three and save $6,000. We can take half of meeting three’s budget, put it into meeting four’s budget, and we would still save $6,000. The meetings 2-3 are budgeted for about $12,000.
Kim S.: This seems very viable, to remove that quarterly meeting.
Joy H.: In my opinion, for next year, that would be viable with only one new trustee, however, there is a possibility of two new trustees. It is still viable, as opposed to 2012-2013, where we have approximately 5-6 new trustees, maybe even seven.
Kim S.: We added back in a fourth quarterly meeting, being the 3rd quarterly meeting the year there were five new trustees because of the impact.
Joy H.: Finance will have their work cut out. It will all work out. I still think there are some cost savings, which could cover the budgetary issues the UK is having. I don’t foresee a problem.
Kim S.: We will leave it on the Board-to-Board agenda.
Randy G.: We have to deal with per diems savings, at the same time we probably want to give ourselves a little bit of money to spend to get out of the hotel from time to time. The hotel is essentially, all the food is included.
Russell S.: The committee it self has slashed their budget $20,000, $18,000 . They’re trying Kim S.: Thanks Russell. Item #2011.05.07, LCF items for approval per point seven.
Joy H.: This is Meeting in a Pocket, right?
Kim S.: There are three items that were forwarded to us by Joy for approval 7.
Joy H.: Motion to approval Suggested Participation Meeting format at point 7 of the LCF guidelines.
Kim S.: Do you need to take a break to read these? They were posted online. There is a motion to approve the Suggested Participation Meeting format at point 7 of the LCF guidelines.. Seconded by Randy. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Joy H.: So this moves to point 8, thank you. Motion to approve, at point 7, the Suggestions for Recovery and Prevention of Relapse.
Kim S.: Motion to approve, at point 7, the Suggestions for Recovery and Prevention of Relapse, by Joy, seconded by Randy. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Page 66 of 183
Joy H.: Motion to approve, at point 7, the First 30 Days pamphlet.
Kim S.: Motion to approve, at point 7, the First 30 Days pamphlet, by Joy, seconded by Randy. Discussion?
Randy G.: What was changed?
Joy H.: I actually sent you what was sent me, I believe it was minor housekeeping. The only reason I got this to bring to you was because there was no response or it wasn’t brought to you by the other person it was given to. Since being the backup, I received an email, don’t know if this went to the trustees yet, could you make sure that it gets there, we’re at point 7, these were the housekeeping issues, here’s the cleanup versions, please present so we can move them to point 8. That’s what I did. I am looking…
Randy G.: The only reason I don’t, this is just me cause lam a little stickler for this kind of shit, step 3, and you drop the 9th step promises in there. I just find it odd. If you go through the First 30 Days and it takes you then, step one, step two, step three, then it says “as we continue to work the 12 steps of recovery, we will begin to see the promises below coming true in our lives. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development.. .1 know it gives you a little sentence to take you there, but they’re like, First 30 Days, step 1-2-3, oh by the way the promises will start happening.
Joy H.: Take it Easy it looks like was taken out of there, abstinence stayed, a meeting a day, get a sponsor, using the telephone, one day at a time. Step 1-2-3…
Randy G.: And then the 9th step promises, that’s just my own personal pet peeve, 1-2-3, promises.
Richard S.: Point of Information, are you speaking against the motion?
Randy G.: No, it was really about more of what’s changed, and if this is something…
Joy H.: If this part was added, it would be an issue, but it wasn’t.
Randy G.: It’s been through the Conference already, they’re just tweaking it. It doesn’t mean I couldn’t take a position,_____ been through it once already.
Peter D.: It says, as we continue to work the 12 steps, we begin to see these promises below coming true in our lives.
Joy H.: They added a word.
Randy G.: I get the sentence, but when you’re in your first 30 days, that goes 1-2-3 promises.
Page 67 of 183
Joy H.: This has already been Conference approved, they only added one word: below. I don’t have the redlined version with the change.
Randy G.: I like that they took take it easy out.
Joy H.: They added one word, as we took the 12 steps of recovery, we began to see the promises below coming true in our lives. As opposed to we began to see some of the promises coming true in our lives.
Richard S.: So point 7 is our review for traditions violations?
Joy H.: Correct.
Randy G.: It doesn’t affect CA as a whole, it just irks me.
Kim S.: Any more discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Joy, you will please let LCF know.
Joy H.: Yes, as a matter of fact, when they come, I have an agenda for the conference committee meeting. I will let them know. Thank you very much.
Kim S.: It is approximately 5pm, let’s take a dinner break.
It is currently 7:07pm on Tuesday night; we are reconvening following our dinner break. We are currently at Item #2011.05.08 of new business, French and other foreign language translations in reference to steps and traditions, WSBT interpretation of the bylaws and charter with regard to these issues.
Russell S.: I’m sure we’re all familiar with a letter that came to us, which for me, anyway, initiated the looking into French steps and traditions. Why I feel it’s important to look at the bylaws and charter with regard to this stuff is because there are some necessary but emotive attachments once we start getting into, this is affecting the French groups and stuff like that. Whilst I understand that is certainly the case, I just thought it would be helpful if we all were in agreement as to our interpretation of the bylaws and the charter, and what our responsibilities are to protect the integrity of the 12 steps and 12 traditions of Cocaine Anonymous. Whilst I feel that there are obvious challenges with translations, for me it really is a black and white, it’s down the line for me, the bylaws clearly show the steps of Cocaine Anonymous. The Charter explains how changes can be made. Within the bylaws, it explains that we should do everything within our power to maintain integrity of our program. For me, it’s so black and white, that’s as far as I can go with initiating this discussion. I do feel that there are a different set of steps and traditions being used by members of Cocaine Anonymous, that according to the bylaws, aren’t the steps of Cocaine Anonymous and aren’t the traditions of Cocaine Anonymous. Whilst I believe that you know in the translation when they were trying to translate, the intentions were good and there’s been nothing intentionally bad. I think we found ourselves in a situation where this needs to be
Page 68 of 183
addressed, and it starts with our understanding of what’s asked of us within the bylaws and the charter.
Kim S.: Does anyone have any additional discussion regarding this?
Peter D.: What’s different in the translation?
Russell S.: From my research, and I’ve been quite thorough with this, the difference in the steps is, having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to cocaine addicts, and within the 5th tradition it’s also substance specific. There is also another issue of at the front of each of the steps they use the word we, which isn’t, well, we use “we” at the beginning of our first step and…
Peter D.: So it’s a translation error, not just someone just doing it to, is it a translation error, or how they interpret it?
Russell S.: I don’t know how it came about, I understand, my French is limited, but I understand enough French to know you can use the word sufferer. In order to be a sufferer you have to put something in front to be a sufferer of it. So, that’s the French meaning of being a cocaine sufferer. Narcotics Anonymous, our 12th step and the 12th step of Narcotics Anonymous are the same. Their French 12th step directly translates to their 12th step as does their 5th tradition.
Peter D.: So we need to change it, basically.
Russell S.: I believe so. The French steps and traditions we’re using as the French steps and traditions of Cocaine Anonymous are not the same as our bylaws.
Peter D.: Is it the same in Canadian French?
Russell S.: Yes.
Kim S.: Initially Russell, and please correct me if l’m wrong, this is what inspired your motion back on May 2nd in regard to ceasing printing, selling and distributing pamphlets, HFC, HFC 2, correct?
Russell S.: Yes. If I may, within our, have we all got access to the World Service Manual? It lists the steps, then on the next page, 62, it says the World Service Boards claim no proprietary right in the recovery program for these 12 steps as all spiritual truths may not be regarded as available to all mankind. However, because these 12 steps have proven to constitute an effective spiritual basis for life which if followed, arrests the disease of addiction, the World Service Board asserts the negative right of preventing, so far as it may be within it’s power to do so, any modification, alteration or extension of these 12 steps except at the insistence of the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous in keeping with the Charter of the World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous as the same may from time to time, be amended. I believe the French steps have been modified and/or altered. As I see it, on individual discussions with some of you, I value
Page 60 of 183
everybody’s views and opinions on this, however “they’ve had them in place for 29 years now, the intention is good, leave them in place.” I don’t get that. If we are going to go down that route, my understanding of the Charter is that we are acknowledging that these are a different set of steps and traditions, therefore we have now two sets of steps and /traditions. In order to make the changes to our primary spiritual aim, which is to carry the message to the addict that still suffers, if we’re going to make such grand changes to our steps in another language, I believe we then need to review the Charter and the interpretation of the Charter which says that the Fellowship may make changes to the traditions and in reference to the steps, it’s been made purposefully difficult. It’s like % of the groups in writing.
Unknown: What was that?
Kim S.: To change the charter takes a 2/3 majority of the conference, is that what you’re referring to Russell?
Russell S.: To change the traditions, or.. .1 just want to be sure I’m quoting this correctly.
Kim S.: It’s on page 58. But no change in article 10 of the Charter or in the 12 traditions of CA or in the 12 steps may be made with less than written consent of 2/3 of the Conference, or CA groups.
Russell S.: Which I believe is put in there to give us some freedom should ever we need through absolute necessity but it’s not an easy thing to do. I think that’s for a reason.
Randy G.: Why? I mean, we don’t have to change the Charter.
Russell S.: I’m trying to deliver the information to you to see if we’re all on the same page here, that we’ve got a set of steps here that aren’t the 12 steps of Cocaine Anonymous and we have a set of traditions that aren’t the traditions of Cocaine Anonymous.
Peter D.: Elizabeth has a company that translates, they’re doing translations right now. Can’t we take that, translate it to the right way and change it? Am I missing something, is there something more? Can’t we just change it, give it to them to just change?
Richard S.: I believe the information we’re being provided is we want to make sure we look at the entire issue if you got sober on one set of steps and traditions and someone all of a sudden said you’re speaking it incorrectly, you need to change it now, here it is, and there’s different dialects of French, we want to be careful, I believe the information we are being is to make sure this board is looking at all the options, issues, and concerns and primarily that we have one set of steps and that is the 12 steps and 12 traditions as they are outlined in our bylaws. If an issue occurred, it occurred in the translation and we have to review and take a look and see where the translation issue might be and how it could have been interpreted differently and be used all this period of time and what the appropriate remedy is considering that we have a Fellowship that is practicing the recovery of Cocaine Anonymous using the steps and traditions worded this way. Is that accurate?
Page 70 of 183
Russell S.: Absolutely. And the interesting thing is that I know a French person who speaks fluent English and I showed them our steps and I showed them the French steps and highlighted what I wanted them to check for me. They read it and said it’s perfect. It was perfect to him because we’re called Cocaine Anonymous and it’s perfect. If and when we go to a translating company, and I feel we have to, or the Fellowship, whatever we need to do, if we use an outside translation company, the one the office is using, they need to be briefed around our 5th tradition and our 12th step, I believe it’s just an unintentional oversight. I think Richard’s point which may be a further discussion is the sensitivity of this and when you read the letter we got, it makes sense when you see this guy is actually defending something that to him, is right. If you read his letter against the French steps and traditions, he’s absolutely right in his views and opinions, it’s going to be sensitive and very delicate in trying to explain to somebody who’s recovered and has a lot of time in recovery as many of them do up there, it’s proven to work for them. Actually they’re not the steps and traditions of Cocaine Anonymous.
Terry M.: I don’t think the, I know on a personal level, even though I worked the steps out of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, I still think that adaptation to, basically I got sober on a different set of steps because we used the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and I was able to.. .1 have no problem with the 12 steps of Cocaine Anonymous, because I believe they are the same thing. I think changing them is what we need to do so it’s more in line, I have a couple of questions. When we started translating all this French literature, was there a lot of copying and pasting being done instead of, I don’t want to say oversight, maybe it was, but I think they need to be in line with us, the US version of the steps. So what is the solution in addressing not with scolding is where my thoughts go. Is it writing a letter to the delegates informing them to their groups that, what do you do, what do we do if the feedback, I heard outside today, I didn’t know this, but their Fellowship is called something different than what my Fellowship is called, am I correct?
Russell S.: The name actually translates as Cocaine Sufferer’s/Addicts Anonymous.
Terry M.: I think this is a big deal, I believe it is a big deal. So for me to be sitting there telling, and I understand the fact, I was on the conference floor when the thought of writing a step workbook was brought, the division on the floor was immediate because a lot of us got sober using this, and now all of a sudden we’re, it wasn’t approved, it was the concept of it being made. This is a real sensitive issue I think. I don’t even think, I know it is. I wish I knew what, I’d hate to see a division but I really have no, there’s so much stuff in line with this, eventually we’re going to run out of French printed materials which, I think there is a big issue in trying to figure out and I think we’re in that. Personally, I know what I feel like when somebody tries to change how I got sober. It’s not that it doesn’t work or that what we have in writing, is they need to be in line with what we have. I lost where I was going with this, I would like to come back to it.
Kim S.: Of course.
Randy G.: I don’t see any option but to initiate the path of the most loving way to produce the change and bring them into line. Bring the translation in line with the spirit of our steps and
Page 71 of 183
traditions. Our conference has went to great lengths to assure that that singleness of purpose that I see existing in that translation or at least interpreted by the people there. Obviously from the letter that we received by him as not representing what our conference Cocaine Anonymous worldwide wants to be, loud and clear. We have and all mind-altering substance pamphlets, we have Who is a CA Member, it’s extremely clear to me anyway, that what our Fellowship wants us to do and who they want us to be. The most kind and loving way that we can address these issues and as quickly and I’m not talking about, take some time, do.. .no, I think we need to move quickly. I think this is a very, I don’t think there’s ever a black or white thing, but I am very much in favor of coming up with a solution, the sooner the better.
Peter D.: When they read that in French, it reads like ours reads in English?
Russell S.: When they read their steps?
Peter D.: Does it read in French the way ours does in English? Does it say Cocaine Addicts Anonymous, or Cocaine Anonymous?
Russell S.: The name actually translates as Cocaine Sufferer’s Anonymous.
Peter D.: They have been doing this for how long?
Kim S.: Twenty years.
Peter D.: Didn’t we just have an instance where something we’ve been reading for 28 years was changed, it drove a lot of people crazy? Some people went with it, some people still read it at CA meetings. Will it cause a big thing, will they be insulted because we’re going to change their language. How would they take it?
Russell S.: I think around their actual name, I need to listen, because I have heard.. .We got into a little debate a few years ago at conference, I don’t know if any of you can remember, where we translated some French literature and to translate Cocaine Anonymous, translates into, the meaning is not so healthy. It’s, I am sorry, I can’t remember what it was, it couldn’t be translated directly like that. That’s the name issue. The steps and the traditions, I don’t believe that issue is there.
Joy H.: They’re not actually CA, they’re actually CAA if they’re Cocaine Addicts Anonymous not Cocaine Anonymous?
Kim S.: No, they are CA, the way it translates is Cocaine Addicts Anonymous, the translation, but they’re known as CA.
Joy H.: The translation for Cocaine Anonymous is actually Cocaine Addicts Anonymous? Is it one word? When you made your motion and I look at the French and then you translate it into English, I notice it’s, like tradition 5, if you look you have cocaine addict underlined under the
Page 72 of 183
English portion and I don’t know what that says in French, but I guess there’s no break between Cocainomane, is that the French translation of cocaine or is that addict translation.
Kim S.: Please allow me to clarify, the French language translates in English “cocaine addicts”, it’s not that cocaine translates to cocaine addicts in French, it’s the verbiage that they’re using in the 12th step and 5th tradition, that the French word translates in English to “cocaine addicts”.
Joy H.: Got it, thank you.
Kim S.: Let me try to reel this in and say that it comes down to what this body is charged with doing.. .very similar to protecting our logo and trademark, doing the next right thing when it came to How It Works. I think one of your questions Terry is, when did this happen, how did it happen, was it a cut and paste thing, it’s really not, in my thought process, how it happened, but where are we right now as far as what the bylaws charge us to do. I think our bylaws charge us with keeping the integrity of the 12 steps and 12 traditions. The translation is incorrect. Is that correct Russell? Basically, we need to focus on what solution we are taking. It’s not so much about presenting the problem, but where is the solution. There has to be some presentation of a solution. Have you considered that?
Russell S.: Randy and I have been on this little cluster when the letter first came in. I think we could probably get a draft together to initiate the contact if we could be given the opportunity to sit down together. A lot of this stuff we can pull from previous correspondence. We’ve had so much correspondence in the past, request to clarify these issues, that some of the substance is already there, directly from our literature, directly from our bylaws, it’s just about a way of putting it together so it’s not just “you guys are wrong…” and presenting it in an informal way. That’s the beginning to put together draft 1 of probably a 47-draft process.
Kim S.: I think it will correlate along with your correspondence, and responses.
Russell S.: To really confuse the issue, and I will find it now, there is actually a French World Service Manual, which some of those guys reference. I need to pull that out, it’s just come to light now, I know it exists and I’m just interested as to what they’ve got down there as their bylaws for the steps and traditions. I think this is going to be where the standard referrance comes from_____ and informing them fully with this. That letter as you read is a guideline, why are you going down this route, our traditions clearly state that.. .our steps clearly state that…
Richard S.: I raised my hand out of concern that we express caution when directing questions to Russell as to what would they think, what do they think and how Russell responds with an answer, because we need, I believe, better information from a consensus, the area, then maybe one individual to draft the letter. So I just raised my hand out of caution on how we, what questions we are asking, the answers we’re expecting and the response to them, and that we take into consideration this is more than one individual, not only that might have a question but it might affect.
Page 73 of 183
Randy G.: I understand that there are some that probably have absolutely have fallen in love with the singleness of purpose and the common issue and common bond, and I know that we have to keep them in mind and try to be as loving as we can to put our piece back together. But I also want to mention that there’s an entire Fellowship that I watch attend the conference and that I watched grow that have embraced the inclusiveness in this, so I carry some excitement towards what a true correction could mean to that group of people. It doesn’t mean that we don’t watch the cautions and stuff, but I don’t want to be so afraid that I don’t recognize the excitement that this can bring them, because I’ve seen it happen everywhere else. There might be rooms of people that would be in our meetings if it was clear to them what we actually stand for.
Kim S.: I guess I am not certain what you are actually trying to communicate, that it’s okay that it’s translated incorrectly.. .or…
Randy G.: No.
Kim S.: Please allow me to finish. That it is appropriate for us to allow that to continue. I guess I am unclear what you’re communicating. I am concerned, as well, about a Fellowship that has recovered based on what they have, what’s on their nightstand. We use that. When we addressed How It Works and I too appreciate passion and excitement for their recovery, and like you said, to me, it reminds me of addressing How It Works and me saying that We Can Recover will not change how I sponsor someone, or how I use the Big Book. There is a fine line here about squashing what they’ve got in the books now and the amount of literature we currently have on hand in that translation. I’m sure throughout all of this we have 491 guides to the 12 steps. I’m not sure what you’re communicating.
Randy G.: What I’m saying is that I think we need to act quickly and we need to do it with love and that there is a group of people that we may hurt and we need to be conscious of that, but I think on the other side of that is an entire potential Fellowship, French speaking Fellowship that if truly conveyed, that our message of 12 steps of recovery is an inclusive one and not just cocaine specific, that this could explode. That this is not a bad thing at all, this is a great opportunity for us to bring a clear message of Cocaine Anonymous that quite frankly we’ve found to be well accepted.
Peter D.: Are they aware of trademark rights and everything like that?
Russell S.: I didn’t ask. I don’t know.
Peter D.: They have trademarked stuff in France, I would imagine, trademark stuff? We printed this literature that way?
Kim S.: Like I said, to sit back and go how did this happen 20 years ago, it’s kind of like how did we manage to do what we did 20-something years ago with How It Works and not have had a body in place to do the research.
Page 74 of 183
Russell S.: The way Randy explained it, that’s what I agree with. This Fellowship is our future safety based on new blood, and actually explained correctly to these members, it clarifies their singleness of purpose isn’t being watered down, it’s being focused. The opportunities are fantastic to experience growth and continue to carry the message, and just as an additional piece of information, I’ve got the 2010 French version of the World Service Manual, which within their charter and bylaws lists the wrong steps and traditions.
Richard S.: Does it state the year?
Russell S.: 2010
Joy H.: Point of information, is that the new version of the manual, the 2011 from the 2010 conference?
Russell S.: It is the Edition 2010, reflective of the 2009 conference.
Kim S.: We have the 2011.
Richard S.: But they may not have translated that yet. This is what is posted currently.
Everyone was talking about when and what is being translated in France…
Peter D.: It will probably be the same as How It Works.
Terry M.: That’s not approved, that manual is not approved? Is it approved incorrectly?
Peter D.: It is approved in English.
Kim S.: We don’t translate the manual, it is not a piece of literature that is translated by us.
Terry M.: I would like to make a motion that we draft a letter with love, addressing the translation of the steps and traditions in the French language and putting them in line with our current 2011 World Service Manual.
Kim S.: Can you repeat the motion?
Richard S.: Motion by Terry that we draft a letter with love, addressing the translation of the steps and traditions in the French language and putting them in line with our current 2011 World Service Manual.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion and second to the Motion to draft a letter with love, addressing the translation of our steps and traditions and putting them in line with the World Service Manual. Motion by Terry, seconded by Joy. Is there any discussion?
Page 75 of 183
Russell S.: Can I offer a friendly amendment?
Terry M.: I just put this out here so we can get to the solution.
Russell S.: Madame Chair, I might welcome some other input as I’m wording this, I would like to see a reference to the bylaws in our World Service Manual so…
Randy G.: If the bylaws are included in the manual, you would like it to be recognized?
Russell S.: Yes.
Richard S.: There is an amendment offered by Russell to read that we draft a letter with love, addressing the translation of the steps and traditions and putting them in line with the bylaws outlined in the World Service Manual.
Terry M.: I will accept that.
Randy G.: I thought we were looking in one place and at the bylaws for a different…
Kim S.: No, they are all in the same place.
Randy G.: Okay.
Kim S.: Tolerance?
Terry M.: Tolerance is, well they’re not the ones arguing with us, I think it’s us addressing it with love and…
Kim S.: Understanding?
Terry M.: Yes maybe that.
Richard S.: Here is the most current amendment: Motion by Terry that we draft a letter with love and understanding, addressing the translation of the steps and traditions, putting them in line with the bylaws as outlined in the World Service Manual. Seconded by Joy.
Kim S.: Any other discussion?
Richard S.: Point of information, who would this be addressed to?
Terry M.: I think it would be addressed to our French Fellowship.
Randy G.: That is a good point, should we_____ in a friendly amendment? The motion to establish an ad hoc committee to draft right here. That we draft that letter.
Page 76 of 183
Kim S.: The point of information has not been addressed.
Russell S.: To our French-speaking Fellowship.
Many voices, on top of each other.
Kim S.: Whom do you send it to?
Terry M.: I think our only option is to send it to our delegates that are, those are the ones that are going to carry the message to the Fellowship.
Richard S.: Addressing the area of.. .ok.
Terry M.: Isn’t it the delegates’ responsibility to address the area? At least in my area it is. Richard S.: They are the liaisons.
Russell S.: This is a bit bigger than just, there are CA Paris, CA Monte Carlo, there are a number of websites, this is where I need to be open. Is that the right terminology, to our French-speaking members. Is that what you call a French Canadian, is he or she a French-speaking member?
Randy G.: How does it read again?
Kim S.: Based on what Randy just said, there will be an added ad hoc committee.
Randy G.: I will withdraw that amendment.
Richard S.: Motion by Terry that we draft a letter with love and understanding, addressing the translation of the steps and traditions, putting them in line with the bylaws as outlined in the World Service Manual. Seconded by Joy.
Randy G.: That motion, as is, doesn’t say anything about the word “French.” So we have to address the French translated literature, CA’s French translated literature, it’s not about people, it’s about our literature.
Richard S.: Addressing the French translation of the steps and traditions…
Kim S.: We still need the word literature in there.
Randy G.: Yeah, because they might have pamphlets, bylaws.
Russell S.: Will literature carry websites?
Kim S.: Not necessarily. How about “all French translation, inclusive of literature, chips, books, internet, websites.”
Page 77 of 183
Randy G.: If you say translation you are cover everything, we might want to add…
Richard S. Someone else wanted to add literature.
Randy G.: Literature is okay because I think that dials right in to their readings their books.
Kim S.: Do we need the word literature when basically we’re addressing right now the steps and traditions, which if it’s the French translation of steps and traditions, that’s…
Richard S.: What about the banners?
Kim S.: I think it is inclusive.
Peter D.: Printed materials?
Richard S.: Websites aren’t printed. Public Information videos aren’t printed.
Randy G.: The broader your stroke, the more inclusive our opportunity…
Kim S.: The French translation of our steps and traditions. To me that is whether you speak it, write it.
Joy H.: That is inclusive of everything.
Terry M.: I think this motion’s intent is to get the letter in process and let 2-3 people get it crafted with the addressee or how we want to do it, and then bring it to be approved and make edits. Really what we are doing is trying to create the letter right now.
Kim S.: I don’t agree, we are trying to create a perfect motion.
Richard S.: May I restate the motion?
Kim S.: Please.
Richard S.: Motion by Terry that we draft a letter with love and understanding, addressing the French translation of the steps and traditions, putting them in line with the bylaws as outlined in the CA World Service Manual. Seconded by Joy.
Kim S.: Anything else to add to this motion? Richard has read the motion, it is made by Terry and seconded by Joy. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Russell, you’ll take a lead on this, in addition to I believe Terry and Randy would like to work on it. Thank you. This will remain on the agenda, and move to old business for update.
Page 78 of 183
The next item is #2011.05.09, Ratification of Director at Large. We received the resume. Has everyone had an opportunity to open the resume?
Peter D.: We interviewed Bob Campbell at the last meeting We voted on it, it was a unanimous vote to bring him forth to this committee to have him on as a DAL. I’ve spoken with him three times, Richard gave me his number a few months ago to call about the legal trademark stuff, I called him a couple of times, he’s been at a couple of our meetings and I think he would be an absolute benefit to our World Service Office Board, and of course I’ve heard this, and that. Through a couple of conversations we had at the WSOB, his question was always “what’s best for CA.” I am kind of in favor of that. I like him, I think he would be an asset. I would vote for him. The whole board was unanimous to bring him forth.
Joy H.: I make a motion to ratify as Director at Large, Bob C.
Russell S.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to ratify the candidate for Director at Large, Bob C., motion by Joy, seconded by Russell. Is there any additional discussion?
Joy H.: Point of information, don’t we usually go offline when we discuss candidates?
Kim S.: If you would like to, that’s fine. We can go into Executive Session.
Kim S.: Tom. We are back online, it is currently 8:35pm.
Peter D.: I have a question.
Kim S.: We are back online.
Peter D.: Yeah. Say this individual doesn’t work out, how do you remove somebody, how does that work?
Joy/Richard: The WSOB does that. Office Board ratification.
Terry M.: That brings up a question, does that mean it could come back here?
Kim S.: We are back online, it’s 8:35pm, we are back online, we were in executive session discussing the candidate for DAL ratification presented by the WSOB. The candidate was Bob Campbell. Following our discussion and a secret ballot, Bob Campbell has been ratified as our new Director at Large. Some questions have been presented and seem to have been discussed prior to announcing the vote, and certainly there are guidelines regarding the continuous of Bob in the position, how it will be addressed by the WSOB, and furthermore, the potential of the WSBT addressing it as well. Thanks everybody. Let’s take a quick break.
Page 79 of 183
We are back online, it’s about 8:55pm, we are on our last new business agenda item #2011.05.10. Randy can you please handle the gavel? Thank you.
Randy G.: Item #2011.05.10, request from a member of Marijuana Anonymous/UK to discuss use of a piece of conference-approved literature owned by CAWS, Inc. Richard Leve brought this forward to us. I will read it. It says “To CAWSO@ca.org. Subject: Subject of Traditions Group Inventory. Dear Fellows: I am involved in district level in Marijuana Anonymous in the UK as well as belonging to the UK Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous. We in MA are very interested in introducing a Traditions Group Inventory to our meetings as a way of opening up the 12 traditions, especially to the newcomer. We would like to use the CA format for this, with some obvious minor adjustments to make it MA specific. We appreciate and respect the copy written nature of this documentation and we respectfully request permission to reproduce and amend as necessary for our Fellowship. I look forward to your response and wish you all well in recovery. Kind regards in Fellowship, *** (first name omitted)
Joy H.: I am willing to see how they would modify it to fit their program, I don’t know if we would just give our literature and say change whatever you want. The 12 steps and 12 traditions are, Alcoholics Anonymous pretty much let anyone use, but we’re talking a traditions group inventory that is ours, CA approved literature and it walks through the traditions, and asks questions for us to take inventory of through all 12 traditions. Under tradition 2 it says “Am I supportive of my group’s trusted servants? Am I willing o do CA service work.” I guess they would change CA to MA. Helping another anonymous program grow is what Alcoholics Anonymous did for us. How powerful would that be for CA to do that for Marijuana Anonymous? I would like to see what those changes are, I guess.
Richard S.: Motion to move to board work.
Joy H.: I will second that motion.
Randy G.: There is a motion to move this to board work, by Richard, it has been seconded by Joy. Any discussion on the motion?
Peter D.: Why would we be moving it?
Joy H.: May I respond?
Randy G.: Okay.
Joy H.: Because it is a letter from another fellowship in the UK asking us for something specific, we would give them a response. This is considered a response that would be considered board work, we craft responses and referral responses as we do any correspondence.
Peter D.: Thanks.
Page 80 of 183
Russell S.: Whilst I would support that motion, I would have liked some discussion just a short period, to see where we are with this. I think it was before being taken by a small group for discussion on it, and as such I speak against the motion, I think it’s a bigger issue than the average, very complex.
Terry M.: I am going to speak against the motion too. I think discussing it here just like we have with everything else for a couple of minutes to get some kind of line on where we’re going with this. I have two or three questions before we even draft a letter. If we draft a letter, those questions are going to come up anyway. This might cause that have to be re-looked at. I think limited time of debate or at least let everybody put some input in before we break away and start writing that letter. I think it would be a good idea on this issue.
Randy G.: Anymore debate on the motion? Hearing none, prepare yourselves to vote. Can you please read the motion?
Richard S.: Motion to move to board work, by Richard, seconded by Joy. All in favor. Opposed? Motion fails.
Randy G.: I will re-read the letter. Item #2011.05.10, request from a member of Marijuana Anonymous/UK to discuss use of a piece of conference-approved literature owned by CAWS, Inc. Richard Leve brought this forward to us. I will read it. It says “To CAWSO@ca.org.
Subject: Subject of Traditions Group Inventory. Dear Fellows: I am involved in district level in Marijuana Anonymous in the UK as well as belonging to the UK Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous. We in MA are very interested in introducing a Traditions Group Inventory to our meetings as a way of opening up the 12 traditions, especially to the newcomer. We would like to use the CA format for this, with some obvious minor adjustments to make it MA specific. We appreciate and respect the copy written nature of this documentation and we respectfully request permission to reproduce and amend as necessary for our Fellowship. I look forward to your response and wish you all well in recovery. Kind regards in Fellowship, *** (first name omitted)
Terry M.: Being that its conference-approved literature, doesn’t this need to go back to the conference to be approved to take out?
Randy G.: Does anybody know the answer to that? What does it say at the bottom of our steps and traditions banners? Adapted and reprinted with permission from whom?
Joy H.: Alcoholics Anonymous.
Randy G.: Alcoholics Anonymous who? Is it specific to who in giving permission, I think it’s relevant to recognize where we got our permission. Was it voted on at the AA World Service Conference?
Peter D.: Did that come from them?
Randy G.: They’re_____ , if I remember correctly.
Page 81 of 183
Peter D.: They should ask AA.
Randy G.: The traditions inventory, who would actually give that permission.
Joy H.: It says under Conference Charter #8, World Service Board of Trustees, Composition, Jurisdiction and Responsibilities. Except for decisions upon matters of policy, finance or CA traditions liable to seriously affect CA as a whole, the World Service Board of Trustees has entire freedom of action in the routine conduct of the policy and business affairs of CA service corporations and may name suitable committees and elect directors to it’s subsidiary corporate service entities pursuant with this purpose. Except in great emergency, neither the World Service Board of Trustees nor any of its related services ought ever to take any action liable greatly to affect CA as a whole without first consulting the Conference. So, it would have to go to the conference.
Randy G.: So that’s your opinion?
Joy H.: Affect CA greatly as a whole, which would affect CA.
Terry M.: Being that it’s conference approved literature…
Randy G.: The question I had is what does it say on the bottom of the 12 steps and 12 traditions. Who did we receive permission from, how is it written?
Joy H.: Reprinted in_____ permission of AA World Services, Inc.
Randy G.: So who is CAWS, Inc.
Joy H.: We are. This is conference-approved literature of Cocaine Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Peter D.: Are they using 12 steps from AA, and changing them to MA, do you know?
Joy H.: It’s the traditions.
Russell S.: I believe so.
Peter D.: So they probably got the same permission from AA that they gave us? They want to use our group inventory that’s ours?
Randy G.: The traditions inventory is a CA piece of literature.
Kim S.: You’re asking what the disclaimer is? This probably has your answers.
Randy G.: The disclaimer here from AA World Service Inc., in 1990: The 12 steps and 12 traditions are reprinted with permission from Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Page 82 of 183
Permission to reprint and adapt the 12 steps and 12 traditions does not mean that AA is affiliated with this program. AA is a program of recovery.. .Use of the steps and traditions in connection with.. .this can be_____ small letters at the bottom of your scroll or even permanently affixed at each_____ . So, AA World Services, Inc. gave CA permission to use the 12 steps and 12 traditions. That was just an answer for a question I had.
Terry M.: A follow-up question to that is, did the AA General Service Conference give them permission to…
Unknown: No.
Terry M.: This was AA’s material, we came long after Narcotics Anonymous did. Is this something their conference addressed prior to, to give…
Randy G.: To the best of my recollection bring the entire How It Works an bringing these letters, going through these letter that we sent that letter, that request, whatever these requests were, to AA, it was that, either their office board or board of trustees, or whoever they consider AA World Services. I don’t remember any conversation at any time recognizing that the AA World Service Conference itself voted on our request. I believe it came directly from their office, AAWSO, Inc. I don’t know for sure, but of all the information that we were presented, I don’t ever remember hearing that it went to a vote at the AA World Service Conference floor.
Terry M.: I think my question was more around, were they given permission by their conference years before, where it was just permission that was standing? I’m just thinking of the delegate sitting on the conference floor where a question that might come up from that.
Peter D.: I have a copy of the Traditions Group Inventory. On the back it says Conference Approved Literature, Cocaine Anonymous World Service, Inc. Then it lists all 12 traditions but it doesn’t say anything in here about the AA disclaimer. Can we say “you can use this if you want to change CA to MA, get it back to us so we can see what it looks like?” Or does it have to go back to the conference since they approved this piece.
Randy G.: The question is, can they use it, the determination that seems to be the discussion now is that what level of permission does this board feel is required to even address it formally?
Peter D.: If they were to use this piece, would they have to put a disclaimer on the bottom that it came from us?
Randy G.: I would think that would be part of our decision.
Peter D.: Do they also have to put an AA disclaimer on here since these are the traditions that AA let us use?
Richard S.: Was there a response to that question?
Randy G.: I don’t believe so.
Page 83 of 183
Russell S.: Firstly, and I know there isn’t a disclaimer on that. My understanding is there should be. We were allowed to use the steps and traditions, and asked that we list them at the end. That should be in that documentation. My understanding is that needs to be brought to the attention of LCF, the 12 traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous put in the back of there with the reprinted and adapted verbiage. That’s a starting point. I think we are overstepping the mark, giving permission that may be perceived as permission to change the traditions. We got permission to use the traditions and change them to CA, but I don’t think we in the Fellowship have been given the right to say to another Fellowship, yes you can take that. Then we get drawn into have Marijuana Anonymous ask AA, to me that’s an outside issue to be getting drawn into. Two other Fellowships, nothing really to do with us. I can’t see how it can be done.
Peter D.: They would probably have to go to AA and get permission to change the traditions to put in MA as opposed to AA or CA that way they would get that from them. Would they have to ask us permission to use these questions?
Randy G.: That is what they are asking us to do.
Peter D.:We didn’t_____ these questions did we? We approved this piece of literature based on permission from AA to use the traditions and then we added underneath.
Randy G.: In my opinion, similar to a convention logo, when we put together the CA Traditions Group Inventory and put our logo on it, I think that MA is giving us the respect that they believe that is our literature, they’re asking permission to switch it out and use MA.
Kim S.: I think there are a couple of things to consider, one is that I have to say we are not in a position to provide permission one way or another for another Fellowship or another organization to take AA’s steps and use them, change them without permission. I do not believe we are in a position to give them permission. I don’t believe this body is in a position to give any fellowship, organization, to use, change, alter, modify, a piece that has been approved by the conference floor. That is a debate for the conference floor. Those are my thoughts, my opinion. Thank you.
Randy G.: I agree with Kim. I think that we can respond back and I do think it’s a legitimate question to ask them if they do have permission written, from AA to use the 12 traditions. I think it’s very short-sighted of us to not recognize that we have produced a piece of literature that could potentially be used by another Fellowship with no more of a potential change, I use the word potential because we don’t know how they’re asking to change it, we arejust guessing they want to change CA to MA, and it’s nothing more than what we did when we saw the big boy fellowship have what we thought we could use to bring the message to people to help recover. We have some experience that identifies how to produce a disclaimer that worked for us and I believe we could ask the conference to look at working for them. There is a two-tiered type of issue because it was that piece of literature has been expanded upon, something we were given permission to use. IfMA does not have that permission, I agree with Kim, we don’t have the right to give it to them. If they can produce documentation to say they have permission to use the 12 traditions, I think our piece of literature is something, how cool would that be? There is a
Page 84 of 183
traditions inventory in MA and on the bottom it says “produced and adapted with permission of Cocaine Anonymous.”
Joy H.: The question was, did we come up with these questions for the Traditions Inventory, and yes I searched both NA and AA, neither one of them has this. Yes, it is a CA Traditions Inventory. I agree that the disclaimer should be added at the bottom, that we reprinted and adapted with permission from AA and one more time the Charter did say that we have to consult the conference, is what I read. Thank you.
Randy G.: At this point in time, we had a motion early on to take this immediately into board work, that motion failed because that was some discussion that they thought maybe an open- forum discussion would give whoever tackled the response some direction. We are now seemingly at the end of that discussion. I just wanted to bring you up to date as to where we were, and hand back the gavel.
Terry M.: I make a motion to move this into board work.
Russell S.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to move this item number 2011.05.10 in regards to request for MA to use our conference-approved literature, by Terry, seconded by Russell. Is there any additional discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes, may I get someone to take the lead on working on this?
Terry M.: I will give it a shot.
Randy G.: What response are you taking the lead on Peter?
Kim S.: Thanks Terry, anyone want to help Terry?
Peter D.: I will help.
Kim S.: Terry and Peter will work on this. Any further discussion regarding this? Is there any additional new business anyone would like to address at this time?
Joy H.: Motion to remove from the table the June and July conference call dates?
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to remove from table the June and July conference call dates, made by Joy, seconded by Terry. Any discussion about the remove from table? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. We are back to reviewing the June and July conference call dates. Based on our time here, later in the month of June. June 12. Is everyone in unanimous consent of June 12 for our next conference call? Indicate by aye. Anyone opposed? 10 am PST. This will be pending consulting with Richard Leve. How about July or even early in August?
Page 85 of 183
Russell S.: My only concern is that if this is the current board I would, even if it is only a short call, I think it would be helpful to have a call in mid-July, only to check, we don’t know what the feedback is going to be around the situation as it is. Our assembly is July 1-3.
Kim S.: Does July 10 work?
Group: Yes, tentatively.
Kim S.: Again this is all pending confirmation of Richard Leve. Everyone good, unanimous consent signify by saying aye? Anyone opposed. July 10 at 10am. We have several items that have been tabled and moved to board work, with that, before we go back and approve all of the reports, I want to go through the Yahoo group and files to confirm that.
Joy H.: I did that, do you want to know which ones are missing? All of the officer and trustee reports are there, the subcommittee reports, finance is the only one missing. Legal has been posted. Trustee conference committee reports, Convention and LCF are missing.
Kim S.: Has everyone had an opportunity to read the reports?
Joy H.: I have a point of information, did we approve the trustee reports, or we tabled those as well?
Kim S.: The trustee reports are tabled, subcommittee reports have been tabled, and conference committee reports have been tabled.
Joy H.: I make a motion to approve the trustee reports, inclusive of Atlantic North Regional, Atlantic South Regional, Midwest Regional, Pacific North Regional, Pacific South Regional, Southwest Regional, European Regional, Trustee at Large, World Service Office Trustee, and the World Service Trustee reports.
Russell S.: Second.
Kim There is a motion to approve the trustee reports, inclusive of Atlantic North Regional, Atlantic South Regional, Midwest Regional, Pacific North Regional, Pacific South Regional, Southwest Regional, European Regional, Trustee at Large, World Service Office Trustee, and the World Service Trustee reports, made by Joy, seconded by Russell. Is there any discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Joy H.: Motion to approve the WSBT subcommittee reports including International Structure and Development, Legal, Long-Term Planning, NewsGram, Orientation, Trustee Election, Trustee Negotiating, Trustee Outreach, World Service Conference, excluding Finance.
Russell S.: Second.
Page 86 of 183
Richard S.: Motion to remove trustee reports, subcommittee reports and conference committee reports from the table.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: Thank you Richard. If no one objects, we will just move forward in approving that? Does anyone object? Thank you.
Joy made a motion to approve the WSBT subcommittee reports including International Structure and Development, Legal, Long-Term Planning, NewsGram, Orientation, Trustee Election, Trustee Negotiating, Trustee Outreach, World Service Conference, excluding Finance, seconded by Russell. All those in favor? Anyone opposed. Please note that Richard Leve will be posting those reports at his comfortable and earliest convenience. When those get posted, please review them so we can approve them online.
Joy H.: Motion to approve Trustee conference committee reports, Archives, Conference,
Finance, Hospitals and Institutions, IT, Public Information, Structure and Bylaws, and Unity, not including Literature, Chips and Formats, Convention or CAWS 2011-2014.
Russell S.: Second.
Kim S. There is a motion to approve Trustee conference committee reports, Archives, Conference, Finance, Hospitals and Institutions, IT, Public Information, Structure and Bylaws, and Unity, not including Literature, Chips and Formats, Convention or CAWS 2011-2014, made by Joy, seconded by Russell. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Randy G.: I make a motion to approve the CAWS 2011 report.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to approve the CAWS 2011 report, made by Randy, seconded by Joy. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Russell S.: Motion to approve the CAWS 2012 report.
Richard S.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Russell, seconded by Richard. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Joy H.: Motion to approve CAWS 2013 report.
Richard S.: So moved and seconded, Joy and Richard. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes.
Page 87 of 183
Joy H.: Motion to approve CAWS 2014 report.
Randy G.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved and seconded, Joy and Randy. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Please note that reports by Peter and Richard Leve will be posted online, please be sure to review those so we can approve them. Currently we have tabled all of our minutes, we have tabled a job description for the assistant secretary, we have tabled assembly and the Edmonton Hope, Faith and Courage Society response. Please note these, they will be considered board work moving forward. Correspondence that has been tabled is from Eric T, Jean Mark. Tabled are all of the in-conference and post-conference referrals. We continue to have board work regarding the reimbursement policy gas and mileage. We have the motion to draft the letter regarding the French translation and we have board work regarding the MA request. Have I missed anything that’s been tabled or “moved to board work.”
Randy G.: Will there be outstanding correspondences to take on tomorrow morning?
Kim S.: My plan, if everyone is in agreement, is to adjourn for the evening, if you wish to do board work, you’re welcome to stay in this room. I would like to sit with Russell and Richard and at least get through the WSBT mailbox and disburse that. Those will be added to our correspondence for assignments, which puts us in a position to have all day tomorrow to work on these, please take a look at what you’re a lead on, make some priority lists, and let’s try to get this stuff done. I certainly can be in this room and work on things, we have some designated areas that we can sit in outside, and we can maybe reconvene at 2:00 tomorrow as a board to see where we’re at with these tabled items.
Randy G.: Personally, I will be here at 9:00 tomorrow morning.
Kim S.: We have a 9am meeting with Jackie and then we can move forward with our board work.
Randy G.: Cause I’m working with you and you.. .1 got way too much.
Kim S.: What I am saying is we can meet here tomorrow at 9:00, once we are done meeting with Jackie, if you want to stay in the room, if you want to sit outside and craft things on your computers, on paper, it’s board work, we break up into groups and maybe we can meet back here at 2:00. We have 11 items to shoot through for approval. That would be great.
Russell S.: The minutes, which I did start going through, are unfortunately on my desktop and I haven’t got them on my laptop. Can one of your forward them to me.
Kim S.: The one item under the minutes that are completed and haven’t pushed through are the online business minutes from March to May that will get online this coming week. Those are so easy, they’re a cut and paste. They need to be approved as well. They are not on our current agenda. My priorities to get out the door are the minutes, correspondence and the referrals. We
Page 88 of 183
have to get the referral stuff done so we are not hunkered down like crazy people at the conference trying to get that stuff prepared and ready for Richard and I to do our opening reports, because you all have your own opening reports to do as well. Any questions? Have I missed anything. We will adjourn for the evening, it is approximately 9:45pm.
Day 3
Kim S.: Good morning everybody. It’s 10:45am, we are reconvening this morning. We had a brief meeting, a very informative meeting with Jackie from the UK our CAWS 2012 chair, facilitated by Russell. We are taking a lot of information back to our Board-to-Board to address. Also this morning we have Kenny Williams here. He has come back to the Board to address the ratification process. At this time I will turn the floor over to Kenny.
Kenny W.: I’m Kenny, I’m an addict. I don’t know if l’m here to address the ratification process or what because I really don’t know what’s going on. All I know is: I greet you with a sad heart and confused mind.
I am honored to have served with a group of your caliber. I would like to humbly thank each of you for all that you have shared, the time we spent, the thoughts we evoked, the dialog we engaged, the spirits we connected, and the time we shared. All-in-all, it has made me a better person.
I am a Trusted Servant. I have been actively participating in the CA fellowship for over 20 years. I love my fellowship. After serving various positions in my area, and as Delegate on the S&B committee for four years, my area put me forth to the ASR regional trustee slate. I accepted. I was interviewed by the TEC at the 2010 conference and selected to represent the Atlantic South Region. I went through several processes which involved hundreds of members. I did a lot of talking and praying to make sure I was doing this for the right reason. In the last nine months, I have visited three areas, with plans to visit two in the near future.
I am still in my freshman year as the ASR Trustee. I do not believe that I have been given good orderly direction from the buddy that I was assigned. To approach my buddy with a relationship that’s so rigid is extremely awkward for me. I never felt the “Buddy” thing. As a result, my direction may have been lacking in areas. If I have made any mistakes and they have gone unforgiven, please forgive me. Our program of recovery affords all members of our fellowship the chance to behave responsibly in many types of difficult situations, to face our fellows, and make amends. I am willing to correct my actions, but I have not been made aware of them. I believe that we also have a responsibility to reach out to the less developed board members. I believe we should be teaching and strengthening each other regardless of our differences.
As a Cocaine Anonymous World Service Board Trustee, we are supposed to be the guardian of the traditions and to do what is in the best interest for Cocaine Anonymous. During my selection process tradition two worked through the group conscious on several different levels. (Tradition Two: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not
Page 89 of 183
govern.) I am praying that this loving God express Himself in your decision. I think that at least four member of the WSBT felt that the processes failed as it relates to me, and that somehow, hundreds of our members are wrong in their selection of me.
Concept Nine – A.A. Service Manual Page 39: Leadership in A.A.: Ever a Vital Need “A “politico” is an individual who is forever trying “to get people whatever they want.”
A statesman is an individual who can carefully discriminate when and when not to do this. He recognizes that even large majorities when badly disturbed or un-informed, can, once in a while be dead wrong. When such an occasional arises, and something is very vital at stake, it is always the duty of the leadership, even when in small minority, to take a stand against the storm using its every bit of authority to effect a change.”
I can fully agree with a not ratifying me for theft of money, derelictions of duties, misbehavior, breach of service guidelines, or in the case of relapse. On the other hand, not being ratified for any other reasons or reasons unknown is very disturbing to me. Something is off beam with the conscious of this service body. I have followed the Trustee Guidelines to be best of my ability. I know my best has not been perfect, has yours? I am still finding my way. Yes, I need guidance! Who is willing to guide me with love and tolerance? I have a service commitment and I need each of you the help me fulfill it. If am hindering Cocaine Anonymous , if I am causing abundant conflict, and if I you really feel that I am not in the best interest for Cocaine Anonymous, then, please, by all means, please remove me from this board.
May God Bless You! I’m Kenny; I am an addict, Friend, and Servant. Thank you.
Kim S.: Thanks Kenny. According to the guidelines in the World Service Manual, as you were not ratified, we asked for your immediate resignation, are you presenting that today?
Kenny W.: No, I’m not.
Kim S.: You have obviously presented your 5th Concept or Right of Appeal, we appreciate that, thank you very much for going through that process. We will go offline to follow the voting process.
We are back online, we have addressed the ratification process with Kenny Williams. Kenny has been ratified and will remain a member of this Board. I would like to advise this Board that Robert Lyle has indicated to me that he would like to rescind his resignation. I told him I would present that to the Board, and if we were agreeable to allowing him the attention of this Board, I would invite him back in to indicate that and leave it up to this Board as to what the process should be moving forward. There is no guideline for this situation so I would leave it to your discretion how to best move forward. If there is no objection, I will ask Robert to come back in.
Is there unanimous consent?
Terry M.: Is that something we should discuss before he is invited in?
Kim S.: Yes, this is the time for discussion, as there is no process or guideline, this is uncharted territory for me, as the chair or a member of this Board. I am happy to open the floor for
Page 90 of 183
discussion, if you prefer, we can go into Executive Session and off record. If nothing else, being online we can provide our Fellowship with how we work through this process and educate the Fellowship. I am offering information, option, and choices.
Peter D.: I would be in favor of allowing Robert to come back in. When they are emotional, they make decision that sometimes after they cool down.. .like right now… I would like to hear from him.
Terry M.: The reason why I opened that up, is you guys spent a long time out there discussing this, so being new, I’m not opposed to this, but I was just wondering if there was some things brought up that…
Kim S.: I met with Randy and Richard to advise them of my discussion with Robert, how I was going to move forward, and my options.
Terry M.: I’m just not familiar with the process, I know there is nothing there, I just wanted to open it up just in case. Somebody might just want to offer the question that would spark something.
Kim S.: I often turn to Randy as the vice-chair and Richard as the secretary, what I consider the Officers board of this board, obviously on a personal basis, I have confided with many of you. Many of those conversations are confidential. That particular conversation was ten minutes, maybe less than that, regarding Robert and his discussion with me. The rest of it was irrelevant.
Terry M.: I think the direction of that just went somewhere totally different. I’m talking about within the concepts and was there some questions raised within that I’m not comprehending. I’m in favor of doing this, but just being hit with something in two minutes, is there something in the concepts that I can’t bring to the forefront. Does that make sense?
Kim S.: Yes, absolutely.
Richard S.: I often wait until others speak because when I’m for something, sometimes it flips the room, so I’m absolutely, there is no direct opposition via tradition or concept to refuse that. If anything, based on the information that Robert has, it is absolutely within Robert’s Rules of procedure that someone may rescind a resignation. It is viable and available.
Randy G.: I just consider, I think our decisions are based at some point in time there’s a line in the sand that says we’ve done this and this opportunity has been afforded through the manual and then another decision was made with the information that all of us had. I agree with a lot of what’s been said. I always caution us, we’re in a situation where we are within the 48 hours so if there’s anything in the manual that says there’s a time frame for issues to be addressed we are still in session. Our quarterly meeting has not been closed, so for my personal opinion, because we are not only within that 48 hours and because we are still in session and for what Richard has said, the opportunity to rescind a resignation, and again I just consider it feasible and spiritual for
Page 91 of 183
us to hear him out. And at that point in time, as a board, we still have a decision to make after that. That’s how I feel.
Kim S.: Thank you everyone. I will ask that you affirm my decision to allow Robert to come back and address this Board by saying aye.
Group: Aye.
Kim S.: Anyone opposed? Please pause the tape. We are back online. Robert Lyle has joined us. We had a brief conversation outside with respect to the process that we will move forward with at this time. Robert now will have the floor.
Robert L.: Good morning everyone._____ I turned in my resignation, I would like
to rescind it, based on the fact that I acted too hastily. After much prayer and meditation, and talking to others both in and out of the Program. I’ve acted too hastily, I regret that. I’m here with my hat in my hand. The group conscience of my area put my name forward, the group conscience of my region put my name forward to the TEC, and the group conscience of the Conference was to ratify me as a trustee that is what the group conscience is. I’m just really humble. If you accept that, I will serve to the best of my ability, that’s all I can promise. Does anyone have any questions?
Kim S.: Thank you Robert. What I indicated to Robert, since we don’t have a guideline or process for this, that he would have the floor and we would ask him leave the room so we can further discuss this, and we would let him know the outcome of our discussion and/or vote, however we wish to proceed. Thank you again, Robert. Go sit in the shade, please.. .it’s hot out there.
Group: Thank you Robert.
Joy H.: I make a motion to accept Robert’s rescinded resignation.
Kenny W.: Second.
Kim S.: I have a motion by Joy to accept Robert’s rescinded resignation, seconded by Kenny. The floor is open for discussion.
Joy H.: We did it with Robin when she resigned as transcriber and we decided not to take her resignation, some people do act in the middle of heightened emotion and he did not get the 2/3 to be removed, I think we owe it to our Fellowship and Cocaine Anonymous as a whole accept that.
Peter D.: I speak in favor of the motion. Everything he did was very classy. Very kind and spiritual. I think he acted a little hastily like most of us probably would have. I know I would. I would not have been so nice. I am in favor of having him come back.
Page 92 of 183
Kenny W.: I speak in favor of the motion obviously, I seconded it. I believe that Robert and I share something that no one in this room shares and I fully understand the range of emotions, feelings and sometimes when the emotions get to be so overwhelming instead of reacting, we act. I fully understand that. Being involved with prayer and meditation, all of the knowledge and time in this program sometimes doesn’t matter. We’re all humans and we make mistakes and we make bad decisions I don’t think we mean to make, this whole thing is a thing of second chances, third chances, and it’s what this whole Fellowship, what this whole thing is about, or none of us wouldn’t be here. I speak in favor.
Kim S.: At this time, to proceed somewhat like we have through the rest of the ratification, I would suggest we do this by secret ballot and 2/3 majority. A yes vote is to accept…
Joy H.: Point of order. I don’t think it needs to be 2/3,1 think it’s a simple majority.
Kim S.: Very good, I was making a suggestion based on the current ratification process. Robert’s Rules is fine as well.
Richard S.: I am looking it up.
Joy H.: Another point of order. We didn’t do a 2/3 when we voted not to accept Robin’s resignation.
Kim S.: I need to add there’s not a process regarding Robin’s position in our guidelines.
Joy H.: I understand that, there’s not one here when you’re talking about not accepting someone’s resignation. So I think it’s only fair. We didn’t use it when we voted not to accept Robin’s resignation with a simple majority, I believe we should be fair and follow the protocol we already set on this Board, a simple majority. You didn’t ask for the 2/3 for that one.
Kim S.: That’s fine, if everyone is acceptable to that.
Richard S.: As this is a point of order, I would like to utilize Robert’s Rules of Order to make certain we are being appropriate.
Terry M.: For some reason, the last two days, it seems like every time we say something or we question something, the Chair’s voice gets raised at us. I’m starting to get really uncomfortable. I’m doing the best job I can, and when, like this last exchange, the voice goes up, I’m feeling uncomfortable sitting in here.
Kim S.: Thanks Terry.
Richard S.: Joy, most of what I have found reference 2/3, have you found anything different?
Joy H.: {reading from RROO}
Page 93 of 183
Joy H.: I will take 2/3 if everyone else doesn’t mind.
Randy G.: I would like to speak in favor ofKim’s decision of 2/3. The reason being, that this is a succession of events based upon ratification process that has been followed and in essence what I understand the 2/3 requirement to be in these situations is to truly have what some would term substantial unanimity, that there is not just a majority but a substantial majority and an overwhelming vote of confidence regarding the ratification that right of appeal, the vote for removal, the acceptance of a resignation, which there was or was not an actual motion being made, but I do believe the minutes would reflect the acceptance of a resignation as being at the very minimum, understood. A right and a request to rescind that, I see the succession of this entire string of events to be based on what our conference thinks deserves a 2/3 vote for action.
Kenny W.: Based on what you’re saying, the individual made a personal decision to take those actions, did this body accept it, and if so, was it 2/3, a simple majority, or did they reject it?
Randy G.: The resignation itself.
Richard S.: There was no disagreement.
Kim S.: The guidelines ask for immediate resignation and after the 5th Concept and additional vote and he called for the outcome of that vote, he chose to resign.
Kenny W.: So after he submitted his resignation, this body had an option to accept his resignation or decline it, whether that was by a simple majority yay or nay. Nothing or abstention would be a yes or an exception to accepting that resignation. So, this is the same thing. This same individual isjust saying I changed my mind. It’s already stated it’s within the framework of 48 hours so why are we, it’s either we are going to accept, put this on the floor and vote or are we going to try to parlimentize this thing into the ground? This body has the authority, has been given it by the conference to make decisions, and I think that each one of us have enough knowledge, enough spirituality to make conscious a decisions based on previous information. I hope what is good for us. If this body accepted, the vote was for him to come back, That was the vote.
Kim S.: Kenny, excuse me, I have to stop you right there. According to the guidelines, this is the process that we follow. We took a vote of ratification. Trustee ratification requires a 2/3-majority vote by the WSBT. If a trustee is not ratified, the WSBT shall ask for the trustee’s immediate resignation, according to that, we all understand that if a trustee is not ratified on that first vote, the next process is to ask for immediate resignation. At my discretion as the chair, I did allow for the, and had you been here, you would have known that I was opening up immediately an opportunity for the right of appeal and 5th Concepts. It goes on to say that if the trustee is not ratified and does not resign within the 48 hours, the WSBT shall immediately vote by secret ballot to remove the said trustee. The next part of that indicates that right of appeal and 5th Concept and the right to be present and have an opportunity to follow through with those rights. The trustee removal requires a 2/3-majority vote by the WSBT, if there is not 2/3 majority in favor or removal, the trustee remains on the WSBT. In your case, this is what occurred. Also, in
Page 94 of 183
the case of Robert, that occurred. Following his request to know the outcome of the vote, please all of you, correct me if l’m wrong, he chose to resign. It goes on to say if a trustee shall resign, die or be removed, the Trustee Election Committee should elect a new trustee at a regular trustee election. I have no strong opinion of how this board wants to move forward with either a simple majority or a 2/3,1 was simply honoring what we’ve done previously in respect to voting and it’s been a 2/3 majority. There is no provision in this paragraph to follow a resignation with a vote. That was not occurred.
Kenny W.: It was a vote, I didn’t say a vote, I said to accept or reject.
Kim S.: There was no argument or discussion following his resignation.
Kenny W.: Because that was his choice, his will. He said I resign.
Kim S.: Yes.
Kenny W.: Now he’s saying I withdraw my resignation.
Kim S.: If there is some other perception following his resignation, please speak now, I presume the board, those present at the time, accepted his resignation. Can those present affirm that by a verbal yes?
Group: Yes.
Kim S.: Is anybody in disagreement with what was just stated? Thank you. I will leave it to this body to choose either a simple majority or a 2/3 vote, I was following what the bylaws have previously indicated through the secret ballot voting.
Peter D.: Since we accepted his resignation, can’t we accept this withdrawal of his resignation? Do we need to vote? Since we haven’t voted.
Richard S.: A motion was made by a member. Now a vote would ensue. I support the chair’s following a 2/3 vote. He was to remain. I can’t see how a 2/3 vote, you used the word “parlimentize” I can’t see, this discussion seems like it’s doing that. How is the 2/3 an issue if he was to stay from before.
Joy H.: I will accept the 2/3 as the maker of the motion.
Kim S.: We can affirm by a yes vote, or a secret ballot. Yes will accept his rescinding of the resignation. The vote is affirmative, we will accept Robert’s rescind of rescind of resignation.
Robert, thank you for the time it took for us to discuss and process moving forward. At this time we want to welcome you back, we accept the rescinding of your resignation. We have completed our agenda, we are currently working on board work, responses to referrals, responses to
Page 95 of 183
correspondence, Peter and Randy have a meeting regarding convention business. We will break now for lunch and come back at 2:00 pm and go back online.
Randy G.: It is 2:12 pm on May 25. We are reconvening to attack the board work. We will be going offline while we break into small groups to work on referral responses, correspondence responses and any outstanding agenda issues.
Joy H.: Thanks Randy.
Kim S.: We are back online, it is 5:39 pm, we have been working on referral responses, and correspondence responses. At this time we are breaking for dinner and will reconvene at 7:30 pm, at that time we will continue our board work and get those items approved and hopefully continue on to our group inventory if possible. Thank you.
It is 7:38 pm, returning to board work. It is now 10:15 pm, Wednesday May 26, we are back online following a day’s worth of offline board work addressing referrals, correspondence and other trustee work. Before we move forward with the responses and to the work we’ve been doing I would like to do a roll call.
Peter DeRafaelle, World Service Trustee.
Randy Groen, Southwest Regional Trustee, WSBT Vice-Chair.
Joy Hutcheson, Pacific South Regional Trustee.
Kenny Williams, Atlantic South Regional Trustee.
Robert Lyle, Atlantic North Regional Trustee.
Terry Marsden, Pacific North Regional Trustee.
Russell Sedman, European Regional Trustee.
Richard Schafer, Trustee at Large, WSBT Secretary.
Kim Sherwan, Midwest Regional Trustee, WSBT Chair.
Thank you everybody, I’m going to push forward on the agenda regarding approval to correspondence 2011-01-10, page 7, correspondence from Eric T., proposed response is there.
Randy G.: Motion to approve the response to correspondence 2011-01-10 from Eric T.
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: For the record Randy.
Randy G.: This response is directly responding to the specific issue referenced taking place at the Southwest Regional Assembly in 2010. Though it would be desirable that all trustee resumes submitted at the Regional Assembly come from a structured Area election process and therefore approved by the Area, there were two areas that expressed concerns toward their candidates and the process their areas took in regards to their presentation. The Assembly was well attended and representation was present from both areas that had these unusual considerations. The following minutes of the Assembly reflect the recognition of those unusual considerations and full
Page 96 of 183
disclosure to the Assembly: “Colorado (2) Rob Aaron – Arizona (3) Jay Kevin Randal, TX (3) Sam Susan Dathan. Discussion regarding Dathan submitting a hand written resume,,,,,,Motion – Mike (AZ ) to accepts Dathan’s hand written resume – seconded by Brian (CO). Motion passed. Randy – Susan & Sam (candidate SCT Area) resumes submitted differently – Cliff – missed the area meeting for submission – so an ‘executive board (of sorts) gathered and these names were chosen (accepted) and submitted. Just wanted to let everyone know. Randy – discussed resumes submitted using non-trustee resume format. Randy – Discussed – dead slate – live slate. After area reports; Randy reviewed (read from the WSM) the trustee election process.” Great efforts were made at the Assembly to allow both areas to speak towards the unusual consideration of their trustee resumes submitted. The “right of decision” and “group conscience” spoke through our Assembly and permitted the resumes to be considered. The election of the Regional Trustee Slate took place and will be put forward to the Conference for ratification on the Conference floor in August. Our manual provides us very specific directions as to how Areas should bring forth their trustee resumes. And the Traditions and Concepts provide us with the spiritual guidance that allows for us to work through the unusual considerations that may arise as well.
The WSBT will continue to support the World Service Manual, the Traditions and Concepts in our application of our business.
Kim S.: Are there any discussion, edits, or revisions? Please prepare yourselves to vote. All those in favor? Anyone opposed. Motion carries. Thank you everyone. That correspondence is approved. We will prepare that and get it sent to Eric. Next item for review is correspondence 2011-03-04 from Jean Marc.
Robert L.: Motion to approve correspondence 2011-03-04.
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Robert, seconded by Terry. For the record please read the response.
Robert L.: Dear Jean Marc L.: Thank you for your recent inquiry to the WSBT concerning reasonable accommodations we believe this is addressed in the 2011 CA WSM on page 4: A DEFINITION OF “COCAINE ANONYMOUS” Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of recovering addicts throughout the World. The following definition of“Cocaine Anonymous” is found in our Fellowship’s literature and is often read at meetings of CA: “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. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances. There are no dues or fees for membership; we are fully self-supporting through our own contributions. We are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. We do not wish to engage in any controversy and we neither endorse nor oppose any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay free from cocaine and all other mind-altering substances, and to help others achieve the same freedom.” We use the Twelve Steps ofRecovery, because it has already been proven that the Twelve Step recovery program works.” * Reprinted and adapted with permission of A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
Page 97 of 183
Also we have Pamphlet that provides further explanation entitled “All other mind altering substances” Here are the parts which we think may be helpful.
And All Other Mind-Altering Substances
STEP ONE: We admitted we were powerless over cocaine and all other mind-altering substances — that our lives had become unmanageable.
TRADITION THREE: The only requirement for C. A. me mb e r ship is a desir e to stop using cocaine and all other mind-altering substances. Many people come to Cocaine Anonymous thinking one of two things: “I rarely (or never) even used cocaine. I don’t think I belong here,” or “What exactly does the ‘and all other mind-altering substances’ part mean? I came to Cocaine Anonymous because cocaine had become a problem in my life.” Those of us who have been C.A. members for a while have heard questions and statements like this before; perhaps the words were even our own. Over time, virtually every single one of us has realized that our real problem is not cocaine or any specific drug; it is the disease of addiction. Some of us never even used cocaine. Some of us used a variety of drugs, and for others it was combining cocaine with alcohol and/or other drugs that got us into trouble and made our lives miserable. Many of us rode drug roller coasters; there were drugs to come down with, drugs to go up with, and drugs to mellow out with. SO WHAT DOES “AND ALL OTHER MIND-ALTERING SUBSTANCES” MEAN? It means that it is the collective experience of the members of Cocaine Anonymous that addiction is a problem not limited to any on e substance. It means that C. A .’s Twelve Ste ps ar e not drug-specific, and that Cocaine Anonymous is not a drug- specific fellowship. It means that it doesn’t matter to us if you drank or what type of drugs you used; if you hav e a desir e to stop, you are we l come here! Approved Literature. Copyright 2007, Cocaine Anonymous World Services, Inc. And finally in the following two Traditions they state; 3. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering substances. 5. Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the addict who still suffers. We hope this brings you some further clarity and understanding. All this literature is available at CA.org. ILAS, WSBT
Kim S.: I have one housekeeping, in the line that says, “and finally the following two traditions…” spell out the word two. Are there any other revision? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion approves that response, it will be sent out. Thank you.
Moving to responses to in-conference referrals, page 12, referral #6419 Trustee Election Committee. As responses to referrals are inserted into our opening report, we will not be reading them into the record. Joy?
Joy H.: Motion to approve the proposed response to Referral 6419, Trustee Election Committee. Russell S.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Russell. Referral 6419 response. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections? All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Proposed referral response 6420.
Page 98 of 183
Joy H.: Motion to approve proposed response to Referral response 6420 TEC. Peter D.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Peter. Response to referral 6420. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections?
Randy G.: After the word trustees, please remove the hyphen.
Kim S.: All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Proposed referral response 6421.
Joy H.: Motion to approve proposed response to Referral 6421 regarding TEC.
Robert L.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Robert. Response to referral 6421. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections? All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Referral 6424.
Richard S. Motion to approved proposed response to Referral 6424.
Terry M. Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Richard, seconded by Terry. Proposed response to referral 6424. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections?
Unknown: Housekeeping on bottom, TAL should be all capitalized.
Kim S.: All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Referral 6639.
Joy H.: Motion to approved proposed response to Referral 6639, More TEC Delegates.
Robert L.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Robert. Response to referral 6639. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections?
Russell S.: A capital T in trustee, next to regional, housekeeping.
Kim S.: All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Referral 6641.
Joy H.: Motion to approved proposed response to Referral 6641.
Richard S.: Second.
Page 99 of 183
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Richard. Response to referral 6641. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections? All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Referral 6688.
Joy H.: Motion to approved proposed response to Referral 6688.
Peter D.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Richard. Response to referral 6641. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections?
Russell S.: There are some commas that need insertion, housekeeping.
Kim S.: Thank you, it will be taken care of. All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Referral 6707.
Kenny W.: Motion to approved proposed response to Referral 6707.
Richard S.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Kenny, seconded by Richard. Response to referral 6707. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections?
Joy H.: Can you please capitalize Directors and Large and World Service Office?
Richard S.: Yes, I will take care of it.
Kim S.: All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes. Referral 6479. Randy G.: Motion to approved proposed response to Referral 6479.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Randy, seconded by Joy. Response to referral 6479. Are there any revisions, edits, or corrections?
Randy G.: Point of information, this would potentially be a motion on our part, would this be acceptable to the WSBT to be put forward as a motion on the conference floor directly from this Board?
Kim S.: This means during our opening report our response to this referral would be signified with a motion as well, being committee work that results in a motion. We will look into where it would fall in the agenda. I’m not sure I agree, motions do occur during the first day.
Randy G.: Motion to approve the proposed response inclusive of, that we do that separately.
Page 100 of 183
Kim S.: The response is not written like a motion, I would approve the response and craft the motion online. According to what you’ve already expressed, what we can do is have our response to this motion and in our closing report, if you prefer this, we can have the motion, as a result of this work, regarding this referral, create a motion to present at that time. Any other discussion regarding the proposed response? All those in favor, indicate by aye. Anyone opposed. Motion passes.
Joy H.: Point of information, now that we’ve approved this proposed response, can I then notify LCF that this is a possible change in the book review process of their guidelines? Or notify them that possibly the Board of Trustees will be making a motion?
Kim S.: Let’s further investigate that, how we should move forward, we can always do a notification at the conference.
Joy H.: A lot of LCF are going to be here for the convention.
Kim S.: We should follow up on this. That leaves us with a few referrals that still have not been addressed. We will move those online, it appears we still need responses to referrals 6694.
Richard S.: Motion to move referral 6694 online.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Richard, seconded by Joy. Any opposition, unanimous consent, affirm by aye. Motion passes. Referral 6713.
Joy H.: Motion to move referral 6713 online.
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Joy, seconded by Terry. Any opposition, unanimous consent, affirm by aye. Motion passes. New business item 2011.05.03 WSBT reimbursement policy regarding gas and mileage.
Joy H.: Motion to approve new items 10 and 11 regarding mileage and fuel expense reimbursement to our internal WSBT reimbursement policy.
Peter D.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to approve new items 10 and 11 regarding mileage and fuel expense reimbursement to our internal WSBT reimbursement policy.
Randy G.: Does this need, I don’t know where the number one and two fit.
Page 101 of 183
Kim S.: It’s not actually one and two, it’s the way it got numbered when I copied it over, it’s reading bullet points as numbers, it is 10 and 11.
Randy G.: My concern would only be that after number 1 does there have to be somehow a word “or” fuel. If it reads in two separate paragraphs it could be determined that you could get both.
Joy H.: I will restate. Motion to approve the new item 10 regarding mileage and fuel expense reimbursement to our internal WSBT reimbursement policy.
Peter D.: Second.
Robert L.: Regarding the international, does that mean if one of us that have, like I have part of Canada, and I am driving, do I get 14 cents to the Canadian border, then 30 cents once I get to Canada, I am asking for clarification.
Randy G.: Quite frankly, to respond to your question, your second option is still the best reimbursement even if that was allowed, I guess my answer would be sure.
Robert L.: I just want to clarify.
Kim S.: My thought is if you are buying your fuel internationally, it would be 30 cents, if you are buying it domestically, U.S., it should be considered. This can be revisited.
Joy H.: The problem is, you live in the U.S. that means you are under the Internal Revenue Service Code. Russell lives internationally, and lives under other revenue and customs advisory. That’s the difference, Robert lives in Rhode Island.
Robert L.: So the flip side, a trustee living in Canada, they would travel to the U.S. I usually fill up before I cross the border, I am just looking for clarity.
Kim S.: I will add residency.
Joy H.: Motion to approve item 10 regarding mileage and fuel reimbursement to our internal WSBT reimbursement policy.
Joy H.: Motion to move 2011.05.08 online.
Randy G.: Second.
Russell S.: Can we put Robert back on there as well?
Kim S.: Yes.
Kim S.: All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Response to new business item 2011.05.10.
Page 102 of 183
Terry M.: Motion to approve proposed response to 2011.05.10 request from a member of Marijuana Anonymous.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Terry, seconded by Joy. Terry, can you please, for purposes of the record, read the response?
Terry M.: Thank you for your inquiry to the World Service Board of Trustees. We appreciate you contacting us concerning the use of CA’s conference approved literature.
One of the WSBT concerns is we do not have the authority, and/or permission to approve the use of Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Traditions in any piece of literature to be used by any other 12 step program. The 12 Traditions of CA, of which we have obtained permission to adapt and modify from AA for use in our recovery program. Upon receipt ofMA’s permission from Alcoholics Anonymous to use the 12 Traditions of AA, MA’s request can be presented to our Conference floor for consideration via the “referral process” of which we are happy to assist you with.
Please contact us at WSBT@ca.org to further proceed with your request. Additionally the European Regional Trustee would be happy to also help you.
Kim S.: Are there any other additions, edits, or corrections?
Russell S.: It’s just minor, being as this is going to possibly another Fellowship, should we call ourselves the World Service Board of Trustees of Cocaine Anonymous or am I just being a bit anal about that?
Kim S.: Because they were writing us and we are responding, generally what we do in our responses, we leave the original correspondence and ours below.
Joy H.: And we will sign this?
Kim S.: Yes. Anything else? All those in favor? Anyone opposed? The motion passes. New correspondence that was sent to us from Dennis. Peter has forwarded his response to everyone. For purposes of the record, this is correspondence 2011-05-11, correspondence from Dennis H. You have the proposed response crafted by Peter and assisted by Randy.
Peter D.: I move to approve response to correspondence 2011-05-11.
Joy H.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved by Peter, seconded by Joy. Peter would you please read this response.
Peter D.: Dennis H. Thank you for your inquiry and questions on “earmarking”. Below please find an explanation that was sent to another member of CA. A quick glance at the definition of earmarking – “to reserve or set aside for a particular purpose” (www.dictionary.com)* – holds no real threat in and of itself. A general fund of monies in any organization with consistent monthly
Page 103 of 183
bills, payroll, anticipated budget expenditures covering a variety of planned expenses, etc. make earmarking, by this definition, part of its responsible fiscal behavior and success. A second and more specific definition of earmarking – “funds or capital that are set aside to pay for a specific project or event — especially when used in certain congressional settings” (www.investopedia.com)* – is possibly more dangerous in its application to this question. A congressional act of passing a bill that included earmarked funds to be received from its mandated revenue sources and setting aside those funds to be spent a certain way may be standard practice and acceptable in government scenarios. But in CA, this practice would not be acceptable for a number of reasons. Even though Cocaine Anonymous World Service (CAWS) does not pass “legislation,” CAWS cannot mandate that our groups, districts or areas raise funds, send them to CAWS and earmark them for any CAWS identified purpose. Our Tradition 2“… leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern” would not let CAWS act in that manner. Therefore any such effort by CAWS to do so would violate a tradition and be discouraged. The autonomous nature of our groups’ structure would not permit CAWS mandating that our groups, districts or areas raise funds, send them to CAWS and earmark them for any CAWS identified purpose. Our Tradition 4 “each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or CA as a whole” would not let CAWS act in that manner. Therefore any such effort by CAWS to do so would violate a tradition and be discouraged. In most areas, all the money the area events generate goes into the area bank account. The areas have set up a budget for various expenses, including a budget for Delegate Travel & Expenses. I would suggest that your area sent up a budget for your delegates. I hope this has been helpful for you. Please contact us again if you have any more questions. *6th Tradition disclaimer: “In the spirit ofTradition 6: C.A. is not allied ‘with any sect, denomination,politics, organization or institution”. In love and service, WSBT
Kim S.: All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Is there any part of the business we have completed that I missed?
Richard S.: Not according to my records.
Kim S.: Based on that, we got a lot of work done, great job everybody. We have a few items we will be addressing online with respect to reports, minutes, we are going to work on the job description, and the French translation response. Group inventory is all that is remaining on our agenda.
Randy G.: Is it possible to consider reconvening at noon tomorrow after the press conference.
We could perhaps get December’s minutes approved, everyone who has not yet read those, and done whatever, would that be something that could be done?
Kim S.: Has everyone read the December minutes and sent in their changes? Okay, once you’ve sent in your edits, it is a merging of your edits with the current document, it’s time consuming.
Randy G.:I am asking, because closing, sharing, inventory is what’s left, I would like to do that with a clear.. .we’ve had 2-1/2 really long days.
Page 104 of 183
Kim S.: We can either take a break and come back for inventory or determine another time in our agenda, the press conference is at 10:00 am tomorrow, the only other work we need to do is be available to the convention. What do you want to do?
Joy H.: Motion to reconvene tomorrow at 2:00 tomorrow to close our quarterly.
Richard S.: Point of order. I just believe that some of the other items we are doing should still be handled while the quarterly is open and while we are in session. Even though TEC interviews is a separate entity, it’s still a function of this board, I believe the Board-to-Board is a part of our quarterly, and we have our personally inventory after that, I believe we need to remain open.
Joy H.: I withdraw my motion.
Kim S.: We can close the quarterly and still continue to conduct business, which has been my experience. You can all take a look at your CAWS 2011 agenda and tell me when you’d like to do the next business.
Richard S.: Would the chair express her experience based on two more years of these than we’ve been through? My recollection was that last year we left it open.
Kim S.: Last year we left it open, because I recall one of us wasn’t available for part of what we were doing and we couldn’t close out. There was an exception. I do not object. I am not saying either way is right or wrong. We still have the Board-to-Board, TEC interviews are not part of our quarterly, the Board-to-Board, generally, when we are in Los Angeles falls sometime within our weekend so we are always coming back to business. When would you all like to come back?
Randy G.: Saturday at 10:00 am or 5:00 pm?
Joy H.: Would Thursday at 2:00 work? If we need to discuss any issues after the Board-to-Board we can still do that.
Kim S.: My experience at conference prior Denver, we close out our quarterly, we did at- conference business to address some issues regarding Denver. We can close out tomorrow, we can close out Saturday morning. What ever the group decides is acceptable to me. I am here to serve.
Joy H.: I make a motion that we reconvene Thursday, May 26 at 2:00 pm to close out our quarterly.
Peter D.: Second.
Kim S.: There is a motion to reconvene at 2:00 pm Thursday to complete group inventory and close our quarterly meeting, by Joy, seconded by Peter. All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Motion carries. See you all tomorrow morning at 10:00 am.
Page 105 of 183
Day 4
Kim S.: Good morning everybody. It is Friday, May 27, 2011 at 8:48 am. For the record, to bring everyone up to speed, yesterday we reconvened to have our group inventory. Upon completion, we discovered new items of business that needed to be addressed. At this time, we will address those items. The first item is a 5th Concept. I received notification of that yesterday with respect to the ratification of the Director at Large.
Richard S.: I believe the ratification for our WSOB Director at Large candidate was in error and can have a negative effect on CA as a whole. I believe that we accepted a candidate due to a lack of options rather than select a candidate from a pool of candidates. The World Service Office Chair has this task specifically outlined in our World Service Manual of develops candidates for future openings in the Board of Directors and forwards all qualifying service resumes to the Board of Trustees after a ratifying vote by the Board of Directors. Not only have we not been presented multiple candidates for more than a year, but the unfilled positions have not been acted upon with any great actions in over a year according to the minutes we have been provided by the WSOB to date. Our 12 steps are outlined process for recovery we follow. With that recovery a God consciousness is awoken or discovered. Step 12, having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and practice these principles in all our affairs. One principle referenced in step 12 is service. With a selection of a description for this principle containing no longer selfish and self-centered we find our capacity for service is enhanced and easy. I believe a member who has not only served a full term as World Service Office Trustee, but also a full term as World Service Office Board Chair, which is a director position on the WSOB to return as a Director at Large to the same board is not providing others their opportunity to provide others their opportunity to serve our Fellowship and bring new views, ideas, and their experiences to the Board, the same way our Board practices rotation and diversity of its membership. Our traditions are the guiding principle we follow for self-governing in our groups in service. Our adopted and adapted 12 traditions in the AA Grapevine as 12 points to assure our future. Before being adopted at the 1950 World Service Conference as the Twelve Traditions, Tradition 9, CA as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. In the long form it is stated, we are guided, rotating leadership is best. Our world service manual states that the World Service Office is responsible to the World Service Board of Trustees, which is why we are asked to review candidates and ratify or not ratify candidates put forth. I believe ignoring the lack of rotating leadership when presented to us is not providing good guidance to our World Service Office Board. Our concepts are a guide of how our service structure works and detailed descriptions why. Concept nine. Good service leaders, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them, are at all levels indispensible for our future functioning and safety. I do not believe we acted soundly or appropriately in ratifying the single candidate put forth and I am concerned that a lack of consideration to this candidate’s prior board position has more of an appearance of the forming of a former trustee’s club on our Fellowship’s Office Board rather than supporting our Fellowship’s practice of rotating leadership. I deduce that even though our vote was by secret ballot and the 2/3 majority required for ratification was present, my views were in the minority. Thank you for your respect in listening to my references from our literature and this time to present this avenue to exercise an appeal. This Board has listened to and
Page 106 of 183
practiced this right of appeal so I hope that thoughtful consideration to the presentation to this member’s view will allow us again to consider this vote. I ask that we reconsider this ratification and give careful consideration to our option to change it. Thank you.
Kim S.: Thank you Richard. There are several different avenues, and just to provide information, one is no action to be taken following a 5th Concept, Right of Appeal, or Minority Opinion, another is to reconsider the motion to reconsider, another is a Motion to Rescind the previous motion. Based on the dynamic, this Board has changed since that; this is why those options are available. This is just for your information.
Randy G.: I make a motion to reconsider the motion for ratification.
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: As it was a secret ballot, I need you to please reveal whether or not you were on the prevailing side.
Randy G.: Yes, I was on the prevailing side.
Kim S.: And the second?
Terry M.: Yes.
Kim S.: We have a motion to reconsider the previous ratification, by Randy, seconded by Terry. Joy H.: Point ofinformation, we’re voting on the motion to reconsider, nothing else?
Kim S.: Correct.
Peter D.: I speak against the motion.
Randy G.: I speak in favor of the motion, any time any member believes a 5th Concept opportunity is warranted, there is enough passion and enough conviction towards the position, the Fellowship deserves the time it would take to reconsider the position, whether any 5th Concept changes my mind or not, Ijust think its out of to a certain degree, for me, it’s out of respect for the individual’s conviction if nothing else, just provides the Fellowship the result of the vote with as much opportunity for debate as possible.
Terry M.: I speak for the motion to reconsider. Along a lot of what Randy said, sometimes things happen, and a couple of days later you think about it and maybe in my case there was a couple of things mentioned in Richard’s statement, maybe I’d like to hear some debate on. I think that’s only fair. It doesn’t mean I’m going to change my original vote, but I’d like to hear it, sometimes I need to hear that to feel a little bit more comfortable.
Kim S.: As there is no more discussion, we will go ahead with the vote. A majority vote. All those in favor of the motion to reconsider? All those opposed?
Page 107 of 183
Name vote:
Peter: no Randy:aye Joy: no
Kenny: abstain, I don’t have enough information I was not present
Robert: abstain
Terry: aye
Russell: aye
Richard: aye
Kim S.: The motion passes. Returning to the main motion, to ratify the candidate for Director at Large, we received one resume. I presume everybody still has that; it did go to the Yahoo group. The main motion was to ratify Bob Campbell as Director at Large, it was seconded. At this time the floor is open for discussion regarding that motion.
Peter D.: Richard had mentioned something that there were no candidates brought forward in the last year, there were three.
Kim S.: We are discussing the motion to ratify.
Peter D.: Well, he said there were no candidates brought forward, he was one of four candidates, three the office did not ratify, this one the office did ratify. Are there any guidelines stating the terms of service for people who have been in, out for a while and come back in? Are there terms, guidelines that they can, that they cannot? After they’ve been a chair, on a committee? Are there term limits?
Kim S.: No, not necessarily. It states that a Director at Large can serve three consecutive terms, but it is in our manual, the spirit of rotation. This is for information; I am not stating an opinion.
Peter D.: I speak in favor of ratifying him because I like the idea he has experience, whether he was here or not, it doesn’t bother me at all. I’d rather have people with experience than new people. I know the spirit of rotation is important. I think he’s been out of there long enough, and to come back years and years later, he is a benefit, everybody on the office board agreed and ratified him, they like him, I like him, I think he will be a benefit to our Board and our Fellowship because of his knowledge and whether he’s been there or not I don’t think that really matters, in my opinion. I am in favor of ratifying him.
Terry M.: I understand a willingness to be of service. I hope that is something I always have because it’s been a big part of my recovery. A couple of things mentioned in the 5th Concept statement make me think. Especially when we start discussing elder statesmen and bleeding deacon, not saying this is that, what I see is while I’ve been in the Fellowship long enough, that I’ve seen over the years, people get out of service, then come back and fight so much and so hard for the way that it used to be, that I think that sometimes it causes a lot of controversy inside the area and Fellowship. Not saying that is what the intent is or anything, it’s just something that makes me a little bit uncomfortable. I believe the rotation of service is really vital and personally
Page 108 of 183
I’d hate to think that that’s all we can do as a Fellowship is keep turning and relying on the people that have already been at that level of service to keep getting us through whatever we need to get through. I personally made a decision the other night mostly because he’s got the experience, and we could use somebody experienced on the Board. Then the thing is, you know what, when we all got to any level of position we got to, we didn’t have that experience, it was taught to us. I think it’s vital to bring new blood in and teach new blood. Every time we block it out with somebody that’s already been there, to me it’s one less person that gets to enjoy that experience and grow. I’m not quite sure ifl’m going to vote for or against. My head tells me one thing right now, my heart’s telling me something else.
Randy G.: I didn’t take any time with the traditions last night regarding this but I know that if I pick and choose sentences and half sentences and words out of any steps and any traditions that I can potentially bring less than the full spirit of all of the.. .when I look at our manual, because these are our guidelines and traditions, and it does mention the spirit of rotation, it does say the spirit of rotation is a vital principle within our service structure which allows for non-successive terms on all service positions. There is a limit of how much time someone can stay in one position. From my memory, I don’t remember anything in our traditions that talks about keeping someone from returning to a role of service in our Fellowship. If we had multiple people to choose from, it would be part of my decision and my choice. But we don’t. The process and potential disappointment and the responsibility of the World Service Office Board Chair in developing candidates or for that matter, the Office Board’s lack of ratification of other individuals’ in the past to bring forward to our group for these positions is not the vote here. The vote here is whether or not we would like Bob to sit on the Board. And there is nothing in our manual that prevents him from being considered for that role and to that degree I need to look at his experience. We get a resume for a reason. Although disappointed that the people put forward to us don’t fit the direction we would like things to go, and I am part of that group of people that is, for the record, disappointed that we are not actively bringing forth that type of individual, I have to step back from my disappointment and focus on the task at hand. And the task at hand is whether Bob works or not for this opportunity. I believe that he does.
Joy H.: I have to ditto a lot of what Randy said. Also, I am in favor of ratifying Bob as a DAL. Not only because sometimes we go out of service and we come back, he is willing to be of service, he is also an attorney, which I believe as Cocaine Anonymous as a whole could really use someone at this point in time for that due to some of the issues we are having at the office. Having free legal advice is always good. I know Bob, he is a very well rounded individual, he loves Cocaine Anonymous with all of his heart, as much as we all do, he is willing to be of service again in a Director at Large capacity, and I think we could use someone with his experience on the Board right now. I am in favor of ratifying him as a Director at Large.
Peter D.: There are four slots open for Director at Large and if he was to fill this one there would be three left. John’s gone, with all his expertise, I think Tom is leaving at the end of this year, I believe his term is up as chair. I think a guy like Robert, with his experience with bringing new people on, I don’t know of anybody that’s been on that board that’s been on for a long, long time that has the experience he has. With John and our chair going, Elizabeth is the only one who has been around for a while, and Richard L., I think he would help bring in new people, young
Page 109 of 183
people. I think he can help groom and teach them as he has always. He’s sat in a few meetings, he’s discussed a few issues we talk about, he seems to be up to date, and he seems to not be the old timer with old ways of thinking. I’m sure he has his opinions, he’s been around for a while, but I’ve learned quite a few things from him the times I’ve spoken with him. I’ve talked to him on the phone, I was given his number to get some information and he’s always been helpful to me, he’s always taught me. I don’t think having a guy with all that experience would be bad to bring new, young people on. He could teach them a thing or two. He knows a couple of things. The legal experience is a plus to CA. if it didn’t work out, we ask him to leave or go through that process. I don’t think it would be detrimental, is there a 100% perfect candidate, maybe not. I don’t know. From what I’ve seen, I think he’s a great candidate, I know that, because I’ve learned from him, and I need to learn, we all need to learn. I think he can help us.
Kenny W.: I’d like to ask a couple of questions, is that in order?
Kim S.: Yes, sir.
Kenny W.: I don’t know Bob. I think I met him yesterday.
Joy/Kim: No, he’s not here.
Kenny W.: The process, if l’m not mistaken, was for the Office Board to ratify this person prior to us, correct? What was the outcome of that? Obviously he was ratified, but, was it unanimous, how did, I wasn’t there…
Peter D.: It was unanimous.
Kenny W.: It was unanimous. This guy would be working for_____ and if he
would be working more closely with them than with us and if that Board feels that strongly about that person, that candidate, then I don’t believe.. .here’s the process, I think that they would know, they would have a better feeling for somebody that would fit them than, opposed to somebody that would fit with us or someone on this Board. It seems he has a great deal of experience, as we talk around this table I have not heard anybody say anything bad or negative about this person, it has already been mentioned, I think there are three or four Directors at Large in terms of bringing some new people in, so I just think if you’re going to work with the particular committee or subcommittee or Board, that we have to respect the process, I believe that Board, in the spirit of our, I think it talks about in the second tradition, that God conscious, we have to believe that works at that level too, at that Board. That group conscience made a decision. Should we have faith in that Board’s decision? I have to think about the aspect of not so much as trying to make, like a lawyer he can find things and gray areas and bring it to life and get somebody free who has actually committed the crime. That’s not what we’re about here, if we take the road; I just think that that Board’s conscious has spoken. I don’t think there’s anybody on this particular board that has any more spiritual insight or knowledge available, I think they used the processes they went through to where they got to, to make the decision that they made. Looking at his resume once again, he’s been of service. So, I don’t know whether I’m in favor of not, I’m just expressing where I’m at, that was my main question, where was that Board with it, and they made a unanimous decision. And I just wanted to voice that.
Page 110 of 183
Richard S.: As stated, Bob C. provided information to Peter as a former trustee, and I provided Peter that contact information because I believe we should utilize our former trustees and former servants for information for their great wealth of information. I’m not against Bob C. I’m against any member returning to serve in this capacity that has served in this capacity prior. I believe in rotation. I can’t imagine a former Trustee as practicing the spirit of rotation seeking returning with a vote instead of just showing up to the meetings, which are open to everybody and providing their support. Why the need to sit with a vote? Why not bring in those fresh new candidates, Director at Large candidates without needing a vote? It gives me great concern to negate seeking out new views and new experience can be ten years of service and experience in comparison to Bob. Bob was at the first meeting I went to, I’ve known him my entire recovery; I have called him to seek advice on issues while sitting on this Board. I’ve used him as an elder statesman. My concern is not looking at how we are ratifying to fill this position and I know that sometimes I can see something differently that the World Service Board might present in a different light, and maybe this wasn’t looked at when this candidate was brought forward and ratified at the WSOB. Maybe the rotation and somebody sitting in these positions prior wasn’t looked at as a possible conflict, having already served on it.
Kim S.: I have a question Joy maybe you can answer it. How long did Bob serve on the WSOB previously?
Joy H.: I think only two years as chair.
Kim S.: I’m sorry, yes; it’s on his resume. He was a director for two years. To clarify, again, they’re all directors; they’re not voted in as the chair, vice-chair, or secretary.
Joy H.: He also served as the treasurer of the Board for one term, so three years total. 1988-1989, chair, 2004-06.
Kim S.: That is two terms total. The whole board, they are directors incoming, and then they are voted in after becoming directors.
Richard S.: I would like to clarify; I can’t sit on this for those who may not know. You can serve three consecutive terms. This is clearly not consecutive, and you can serve three. He has not done that. He has been gone for quite a few years. I want full disclosure for everyone to have healthy information about it. I am not biased to this individual. I am trying to truly express my concern in this area.
Peter D.: I believe in the spirit of rotation. If there were four or five candidates that were up, we would be able to consider more people, they were not ratified by the Board. He came on, he was asked to join if he was interested. Maybe he can help bring new people. If our chairperson’s responsibility is to groom people to become directors, that obviously are not happening, the Board did not ratify the three that were brought up, the Board ratified the one that did come, Bob. He was one of four that was ratified, and there are still three
Page 111 of 183
open positions. I think he would help getting people. Maybe we need to talk to our Chair and ask him to do something or however that works to get more people to come in there. If he is to be ratified, there still are three open positions. Everybody has brought people in there. Richard brought Neil in, that didn’t work. John suggested Robin, she didn’t get ratified. Elizabeth brought another person in, that didn’t work either.
Robert L.: I’ve listened to everything. I go back to the 11th Concept, While the Trustees hold final responsibility for CA’s world service administration, they should always have the assistance of the best possible standing committees and service boards, staffs and consultants. Therefore the composition of these underlying committees and service boards, the personal qualifications of their members, the manner of their induction into service, the system of their rotation, the way in which they are related to each other, the special rights and duties of our staffs and consultants, together with a proper basis for the financial compensation of these special workers will always be matters for serious care and concern.
I’m in favor of ratifying Bob based on that. He’s been out of service for a while. He wants to be in service. He’s willing. From my understanding and talking to members of the Office Board is they’re having trouble getting people coming in because people aren’t being ratified, there’s not a large pool of candidates. We need to help the Office Board find more candidates, it was suggested. Joy, Peter, Richard Leve need to be more proactive in their region to get candidates brought forth. At this time, I believe Bob offers a lot of experience, a willingness to serve and I think he is an asset to the Fellowship. We need an Office Board that’s working. There’s been a lot of stress on the Office Board in the past couple of years, I believe the Chair’s focus has been on other issues, office personnel. I speak in favor of ratifying Bob.
Kim S.: Anyone else? Thank you all. We will vote by secret ballot. Yes vote to ratify, no will not ratify. The motion passes to ratify Bob Campbell as a Director at Large. It is now 9:25am. We have one other item of business. We are back online; it is 11:00 am. We have a new item of business. Joy has sent out documentation regarding this new agenda item, CAWS 2012 Temporary Guidelines for Petty Cash Account.
Joy H.: Russell and I had a meeting with Barry, the WSOB Treasurer and Jackie S., the CAWS 2012 Convention Chair and arrived at a solution, we are hoping with regard to the HSBC petty cash account they have. These are temporary guidelines. There are five items.
- At HSBC. Money will be deposited into the petty cash account at HSBC until the main account is opened at an international banking institution.
- When there are £2000 or more in the account, the funds are to be transferred out immediately. The balance should always be £350, which is approximately $500 US, a normal amount for a petty cash account.
- The petty cash account should be available now, for committee expenses. CAWSO, Inc. to have online access to the account for, if either the European Regional Trustee or Convention Chairs, loss of sobriety, or removed from their position, the HSBC account will be immediately closed and funds sent to CAWSO, Inc.
- Forfeiture of all funds will be done when the WSBT, WSOB, collectively, require funds transferred.
- [there is a missing point on the tape….]
I make a motion to accept the CAWS 2012 Temporary Guidelines for Petty Cash Account.
Page 112 of 183
Terry M.: Second.
Kim S.: So moved, the document entitled CAWS 2012 Temporary Guidelines for Petty Cash Account, by Joy, seconded by Terry.
Randy G.: Point 2, when there are £2000 or more in the account, they are to be transferred out immediately. The balance should always be £350, which is approximately $500 US, a normal amount for a petty cash account.. .immediately, to who? And in what process is that, is that a check, mailed to the office. I just want to make sure that transferred out immediately cannot be assumed in any possibly unacceptable process. I’m not sure how to word an amendment because I’m not familiar with the process of that transfer.
Russell S.: I am in favor of the motion. Around the point 2, point we are trying to raise there is there needs to be a workable petty cash amount, which is the acceptable workable amount, accessible working amount that is available to the committee, which is £350, which is approximately $500. Why we felt it was valid to put the first part of that point, when there is £2000 or more in the account, we would hope and would believe would be the case, the treasurer would forward monies to CAWSO as soon as possible, but if we try to insist as soon as we get to £351we have to forward the £, it’s sort of unworkable and checks for £50 start to be sent and it costs £30 to cash the check, so we felt whilst there needed to be an absolute ceiling in order for use to lovingly say hey, you’re well above that amount, regardless of what you’ve got going on next Tuesday, though there’s more money coming, that check must be sent forward. It also gives a bit of latitude, where they were to have £1200 in the account and they know that some t-shirts have been sold or there’s been an event and there’s another £400 coming through, they have a bit of latitude to be able to operate rather than continually having to write checks every time they exceed the petty cash account. I am in favor of this. I like the document. I think everyone needs to be able to understand it. I welcome that input. We felt as a added security, an added precaution, we put in a point four, if for any reason the convention chair or the European Regional Trustee, for whatever reason stepped down from their position, the account be, it says immediately closed. I don’t know if it needs to be immediately closed or frozen. I don’t know which you feel is appropriate, I am good with immediately closed. That was an extra precaution, as was the 5th. I think it’s workable; it may need some clarification from you. Could we insert in point 2 the accessible balance?
Kim S.: Can we discuss the points; edit the changes, another option. Though we may be in favor of the document, there may be some wording that needs changing. Maybe after discussion, depending on the vote, rework and revisit with a new motion? Is there any objection to that? I need you to please speak up; I am a good reader of body language and faces, even when it’s a blank face.
Randy G.: My blank face came from, I’m concerned about a vote that accepts this if that vote has some predetermined perception that will change it to what’s acceptable because what is in the record this will go down as accepted.
Page 113 of 183
Kim S.: Potentially a no vote will vote this document out, yet allow this document, after discussion, do some rewording that would re-present the document with changes.
Joy H.: I can withdraw the motion, I felt to get it moving, and we needed to have a motion.
Kim S.: Exactly, this is the correct direction. We could potentially have several amendments. There are some things to clarify this.
Joy H.: I withdraw my motion.
Terry M.: I’m okay with that.
Kim S.: Everyone accepting that as a motion put forth and seconded say aye. Thank you. We will go offline and do committee work on this document. We are back online, it is 1:45 pm on Friday, May 27. We have the Board to Board, and our Trustee dinner, will reconvene this evening following the speaker.
Good evening everyone, it is 9:21 pm on Friday evening. We are reconvening. Earlier today we had our Board-to-Board meeting. Prior to that, we had TEC interview. We had a dinner with the former Trustees and current Trustees. Thank you Richard, you trumped yourself from last year. We are back online to readdress an item of business that we previously discussed today. The CAWS 2012 emergency petty cash account. We all have a copy of that. We did discuss it at the Board-to-Board with minimal, yet valuable input. Has everyone had an opportunity to familiarize and confirm that we are ready to move forward with this? I would entertain a motion at this time.
Terry M.: I would like to make a motion to approve the CAWS 2012 Emergency Guidelines for Petty Cash Account.
Russell S.: Second.
Kim S.: Motion to approve the CAWS 2012 Emergency Guidelines for Petty Cash Account, by Terry, seconded by Russell. Any further discussion? All those in favor? Anyone opposed.
Motion passes. Is there any other business to address before we close our quarterly?
Russell S.: Does this now need to go to the WSOB or can this be explained while we have people to help explain it, can this be given to Jackie and the treasurer as shown as what’s in place, should the WSOB have the opportunity to review it?
Kim S.: We did discuss it in the Board-to-Board, basically we are setting policy. We move forward, advising the WSOB, the WSO, as well as the host community of 2012 that this is a policy and they can follow through with the procedure. Is everyone agreeable?
Group: Yes.
Russell S.: I would like to thank you all for your help.
Page 114 of 183
Kim S.: I would like to thank you all; we did some awesome work the past five days. We have conference calls coming up. We have online work coming in the next ten days, reports and minutes. Next ten to 15 days, please make yourselves available to address those items. Is there anything else? Thank you very much; I will entertain a motion…
Joy H.: I so make a motion to adjourn our quarterly meeting
Peter D.: Second.
Kim S.: All those in favor? Anyone opposed? Thanks everybody.
ATTACHEMENTS
Page 115 of 183
For all attached documents and reports see pdf: 2011-05-23-29-WSBT-Quarterly-Meeting-Minutes.pdf