Day 1 – August 28, 2025 – Afternoon session
Russell S opened at 4:31pm
Claudine L – opened with the Serenity Prayer in
Denise R. – opened with the Serenity Prayer in
Tim D.- opened with the Serenity Prayer in English
Steve S. – Read who is a CA Member in English
Mark van S – Read who is a CA Member in
Alex D read the 12 traditions
Kelly C – read the 12 concepts
Russell S – opening comments – please silent all cell phones. We’re going to start roll call and we ask you to please keep the noise down, speak clearly, your name, position and how many votes. Please just state your name. We’ll line up from rows, state what you need and then please sit down quietly. We understand proxies and other things, please don’t come up at the beginning of session, please arrive 10 minutes earlier to speak with me.
Total Votes: 185
Quorum: 123
Russell S – announcements to be made
Robyn G – conference office is next door, closed while in session so that everyone can keep focused. Wi-Fi is available – Mariott conference CAWS2025. If you have any BOX issues, please speak with Nicole. Any issues at all, please see Robyn. No smoking, no vaping inside at all, please go outside and be neat. Room 203 – a 12th step meeting every evening. Agenda is on Box and we have a calendar for you to download. Boxed lunches on Fri and Sat. Still have blankets and items available to sell. There is someone who has a very strong allergy to pineapple, please me mindful.
Russell S 41st WS Conference – making introductions – please do not approach any of the secretaries during session. We have our parliamentarian, Duane. If you need to approach the dais, please go to the side of Duane and he will get to you.
Limited amount of power strips, we do have some spare ones over in the corner if you need them. First year delegates, please stand up. Any last year delegates, please stand up. Any trustees rotating out? World Service Office Board rotating out?
We have a number of members that English is not their first language. If English is not your first language, please stand up. Please be mindful and respectful of debate that
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those who are trying to keep up, we ask that you please speak clearly and slowly. Participation requirement – Standing Rule’s are in the documents. Those of you with 0 votes, you are permitted to debate, please consider it. When we come to voting, one vote is a fist, and two votes are two fingers. Please keep hands raised until asked to lower them. Looking for a non-voting member from both sides to assist with vote counts if needed. When speaking to a motion, introduce yourself, state whether you speak in favor or against it, or asking a question. Do not debate the debate. It can undermine the minority opinion. I will call you Out of Order if you debate the debate, speak to the motion please. Make your points clear, and without repetition. If someone has already spoken to what you spoke of, please just come up and speak in favor or against and walk away. Please stay in your seats, do not change seats. Personal belongings should not be kept in here when conference is not in session. Sell merchandise only after session, not in here please. Everything is on the BOX now, if you have any issues, please reach out to Robyn G. Don’t make notes please on BOX as it is a shared platform. Wi-Fi – one device please, no social media postings. Our members have elected us to serve, so please understand it’s a high expectation. Use of Archives documents, it’s incredible if you are doing any research, Archives will include it in their reports and it’s wonderful to research minutes, for example, from like 5 years ago. Use of committee rooms – can they use the rooms? The rooms next to the office can be used and should be unlocked, if not please see Robyn.
At the end of the conference, positions to be available are Chair of conference (it’s my 8th and final year). A secretary position is also available. We’ll probably be here until Sunday morning, please understand that we were all supposed to be here until 1pm on Sunday. Please have conversations outside, not inside or directly outside the door.
We have Stevie here (sound guy), please do not bother him. We have 2 mics for mobility issues. The air in the room – it’s will be adjusted as necessary. Please smokers, put them in the cans, no vaping or smoking inside. There are a few cables running around, please be careful. Let’s get into some business.
New area petitions.
Petition for an Area to change name
Caroline H – Motion 1 – To approve the petition to change the area name from West Country Area to South West (UK) Area
Seconded
Caroline H – Speaking for the motion
Joe B – speaking against the motion
Russell S – needs clarity is this position solely to change name. no geographical changes being made.
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Prepare to vote: all/for
motion passes with minor opposition
Motion 2: to approve the petition for Belgium to be recognized as an area, seconded.
Speak to the motion, no debate,
Motion 2 passes unanimously
Gary P. Motion 3 to approve the petition for Australia to recognized as an area Seconded
Russell S. – Seeing no debate
Please prepare to vote
Motion passed unanimously
Motion 4 to approve the creation of an online region Seconded
Sophie H -Speaking in favor of the motion.
Debate:
Jason L. – speaking against the motion
Stu E. – speaking against the motion
Georgia R. – speaking against the motion
Johan T. – speaking against the motion
Gary P. – speaking against the motion
Denise R. – speaking against the motion
Kalob T. – Question: what is the expenses around the new region?
We do have some numbers, towards this year’s amended budget – $ 84,570 to spend for the quarterly meetings. Speaks more towards funds in the budget for this, a trustee for the region would be an additional trustee.
Judd W. – Question – you are a region, why not ask to be recognized as an existing region?
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That is one of the guiding forces for us to become a region. Candidates can come from the online service for trustee slates.
Lou B. – speaks for the motion
Steve C – question – what is our primary purpose and what is worth more or less in achieving it.
Sophie H. Stated our primary purpose and then stated does it really matter if we do it online or in person. Yes, it’s going to cost the fellowship, but everything has a cost.
Denise R. –
Point of Order the speaker is debating
Russell S – Yes, they are
Kalob – speaking in favor of the motion
Parthi T – Call The Question
Russell S – I will uphold the Call The Question after as we have heard the last person in line as there is only one more person in line
Johan T – question – is it your intention to pull the mainland meetings into the online meetings?
Shen H. – I cannot speak for China since they are not here
Russell S is this solely for China meetings.
Johan T – speaks against the motion
Motion 5 Call the question
Seconded
Russell S sought unanimous consent from the floor.
Motion 5 passed with unanimous consent.
Russell S please prepare to vote on a new online region
Motion 4 fails with substantial unanimity
Dinner Break – 6:07pm – please return from dinner at 7:05pm
Return to session: 7:10pm
Russell S – Please speak into the mic loudly
Next up World Service Board of Trustee’s:
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