OPENING REPORT C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2008
World Service Office Board Report
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
It is once again a pleasure and our privilege to report to you on the status of YOUR World Service Office operations and special projects of the World Service Office Board of Directors (WSOB).
I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the entire board for its remarkable commitment and hard work on the many tasks and various responsibilities that we are charged with throughout the year. Specifically our appreciation is most genuinely extended to the Paid Directors and Staff of the World Service Office (WSO) for another year of hard work. Thank you Patty, Taffy, Susan, Rocco, and Tony. Well done!
2008 has been an exciting year of transition and positive change at the WSO, as we continue to mature and grow. Now, thanks to the Conference decision to develop another Paid Director position within the organization, Patty Flanagan is leading the way as Director of Resource and Project Development where she will now carry forward guiding our activities in new fundraising, program and product development, global growth and development of the C.A.’s availability, long term planning, and communications with the professional community. All of which require our ongoing dedication and attention. Additionally this year, it is our distinct pleasure to welcome our new Director of Operations Taffy Wallace. Taffy joined our organization four months ago after spending several years as director of Growth and Ministries for The United Centers for Spiritual Living in Los Angles, California, where she worked to help to create vision and direction within the
Approved Page 21
organization. She is a licensed Spiritual Coach, and founder of her own organization dedicated to “Living Life Fulfilled”. Taffy fits our organization very well and understands the concept of a spiritually guided organization while drawing on tried and true professional business acumen.
Thank you to Cynthia Cronkite for the fabulous job that she does editing the NewsGram publication. The quality and quantity of work is deeply appreciated. Also to our Webservant Mike Ross for his vigilance in ensuring that CA.org is always there for the addict that needs to find us.
Our love and thanks to outgoing World Service Office Director and Trustee, Earl Henderson, who has given so much of his personal time and resources to Cocaine Anonymous over the years. Earl, you will be missed more than you know… and so will the hundreds of dozens of freshly backed cookies you’ve provided for our meetings. When all else fails a good cookie can really set the tone of a business meeting. On behalf of the entire board… We love you.
Ongoing, the WSOB has identified several areas that it shall remain focused on for the coming year some of which including:
- Professionally and effectively discharging the program services.
- Continually assess and evaluate our staffing needs and new skill sets required.
- International Growth and Development with an emphasis on translation of world service approved literature and formats, as well as other mission critical materials.
- Restructure of our Bylaws and policies to accommodate our revised structure.
- Further develop outreach efforts to the professional and substance abuse diversion oriented organizations.
- Develop new programs, products, and strategies for sales growth and increase in 7th
- Increased support and professional administration of convention event planning.
- Improving IT infrastructure to accommodate and ever-growing need to communicate with the fellowship worldwide.
- Further development of existing and new fundraising initiatives.
The WSOB shall remain focused on key issues Among these is the publishing / development and effective marketing of printed literature and new products, literature translations, vendor licensing, new royalty agreements, Newsgram publication, Web Operations, and the ongoing process of WSOB director recruiting.
Approved Page 22
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
John Bodkin – Chairperson
Kathy Jo Rangno – Vice-Chairperson
Teresa Neighbors – Secretary
Tom Phelan – Treasurer
Patty Flanagan – Director of Resource and Project Development
Taffy Wallace – Director of Operations
Willie Bailey – Director at Large
Richard Leve – Director at Large
Earl Henderson – WSO Trustee
Hayward Hunt – WS Trustee
Sub-Committee Chairs:
NewsGram Editor – Cynthia Cronkite
WebServant – Mike Ross
REFERRALS THAT WERE WORKED UPON DURING THE YEAR:
Referral # 4784
That a discounted price be established for HFCII for PI purposes (and H&I).
- Answer: The Finance Committee is considering the elimination of discounts, except on high-volume purchases.
Referral # 5106
Add WSBT tab to delegate book.
- Answer: Done.
Referral # 4786
Please include the LCF guidelines, approved at the 2006 Conference (and as may be updated) in delegate notebooks for future conferences.
- Answer: the most recent LCF guidelines are included in the Delegate notebooks.
Referral # 5061
Approved Page 22
Can we include a pie chart in the NewsGram or other publication that shows where the 7th tradition/income goes?
- Answer: Yes, Thank you for your suggestion. We look forward to the Finance Committee providing more information for our members in the NewsGram.
Referral # 5374
Add pre-convention spending guidelines to Convention Guidelines.
- Answer: Yes, although not yet completed they are being finalized and shall be submitted for possible inclusion in future guidelines.
Referral # 5119
I provide an international C.A. outreach service through e-mail. I would like to see the WSO expand on what I am doing. Please consider the creation & implementation of a mass e-mailing program. This could be used to outreach a variety of C.A. announcements of interest to the Fellowship at large plus Delegate mailing materials. This program could very easily be managed off-site by an elected trusted servant thereby placing little to no additional demands on the WSO employees.
- Answer: The WSO and Office Board continue to investigate all manner of technology appropriate for enhancing our ability to sustain and improve communications for the fellowship worldwide. At this time the WSOB does have sufficient technology to “mass-email” lists of conference members or any list of members, and restricts the licensed use of this technology to World Service business matters. The WSOB and the WSO are constantly concerned with the privacy and security of our Members, Volunteers and any other interested parties. The WSOB does not feel compelled at this time to develop, train, monitor, administrate, or otherwise make a mass e-mailing tool available to the fellowship by and large. Although emailing services may be available and may be supported by the office with respect to conference committee level business, we will, of course, continue to primarily rely on the structure of the World Service Conference, its committees, and delegates, for the effective transmission information concerning World Service business.
Referral # 5070
Would like to see the word addicts when used in the context of describing what CA is on the Website, changed to “persons with a desire to stop using Cocaine and all other mind altering substances.” The reason being a person who
Approved Page 24
recognizes they may have a problem with drug usage may not be willing to identify as an addict (yet) and this may inadvertently dissuade someone needing or desiring help and/or information.
- Answer: The Board feels that the language on the Website is consistent with all C.A. literature at this time.
Referral # 5174
Earmark funds specifically for Translations.
- Answer: We already have a line item for this expense in our budget.
Referral # 4918 inclusion of postal code vs. zip code on all WSO forms.
- Answer: This has been updated on all WSO forms, and shall consistently be included in all future forms create by the WSO. We suggest that Delegates & Regions should also be sensitive to this issue going forward.
Referral # 4962—Hotline down too often.
- Answer: We have substantially improved our phone system and continue to constantly work to improve the system’s efficiency. We have received no complaints since March 2008. NOTE: Areas must be vigilant about notifying the WSO when contact information is added or changed. Additionally, if your area has experienced a change in area codes, please let us know immediately. Thank you.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Thank you.
Respectfully Submitted:
John Bodkin
World Service Office Board Chairperson
Patty Flanagan and Taffy Wallace present a Power Point presentation.
CAWSOB Treasurer’s report to CAWS 2008 Conference – Tom Phelan
Review of Balance Sheet at June 30, 2008-
Liquidity, cash on hand is sufficient to support our operational objectives. The decrease in cash balances in relation to last year is a direct result of purchasing books for inventory. We have a significant investment in inventory at this time
Approved Page 25
and care and attention should be given to safeguarding these assets. I recommend we continue our semi-annual physical counts as a minimum and other measures relating to physical protection should be considered as well.
Receivable and payable balances are normal and pose no area of concern.
The only other balance sheet change is an increase in our ‘intellectual property’; additional protections have been purchased this year for Canada.
Review of P&L operations-
The organization produced again, an excess of revenues over expenses of approximately $25,000. ($25,444, see accountants compilation report dated August 18, 2008) On the surface this is a positive result. A closer look reveals potential areas for concern. In summary, operational expense savings, committee expense savings, along with increased revenue from book sales and the convention combined to produce this positive result. Remember, the budget for the year anticipated a break even bottom line. Of the $25,000, $18,000 came from the Salt Lake City convention. The $18,000 in excess of budgeted $45,000 net income was realized primarily from efforts achieved in pre-convention fund raising and from a successful auction event at the convention. While positive, these contributions rely for their success on the personal contributions of both time and money from a very small part of the fellowship. In general, the fellowship did not support the convention to the extent anticipated and we were in real risk of some severe attrition penalties. Further, book sales exceeded budget mainly because the finance committee had no real experiential data to reference in order to project first year sales of the new book, hence, the budget number was off. Whether or not this organization achieves the same level of book sales next year or the year following are additional areas of concern and non-performance will hamper organizational objectives.
7th tradition contributions to World Service were almost 10% less than projected and in my opinion continues to be a very real area of concern. As a fellowship we are increasing our reliance on net revenues from the sale of books as the support means for our fellowship’s purpose. Since some of the customers, including Hazelden, are not directly members of the fellowship, we are straying from the principle and tradition of self-support.
Finally, the office and the office Board have done an excellent job of paying attention to normal operating expenses and keeping a rein on them. Expense line items consistently are below the budgeted amount. These savings are being realized in spite of our staff being burdened with outdated, poorly operating, technical support equipment such as phones, computers, CD drives, etc. I believe we need to carefully consider our investment in the materials utilized by
Approved Page 26
our staff and I recommend an investment in equipment this year. At a minimum, each employee should have a reliable, effective and fully operating computer.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Thanks for the opportunity to serve and in sharing my love for this fellowship,
Tom Phelan
CAWSO Board Treasurer
| CAWSO Revenue Souce and Expense Allocation Analysis | |||||
| For the year ended June 30, 2008 | |||||
| Revenue | |||||
| Sales-Chips and Lit | $ 161,337.00 | CAWSO Summary (FYE 6-30-08)- | |||
| Sales-Books | 85,109.00 | ||||
| Merchandise Shipping | 36,841.00 | Net Sales Revenue | $ 159,866.00 | 39.86% | |
| Sales Total | $ 283,287.00 | Net Convention Revenue | 62,834.00 | 15.67% | |
| less- | Total 7th | 162,943.00 | 40.63% | ||
| Purchases-Chips and Lit | $ 65,263.00 | Royalties, Interest, Miscellaneous | 15,380.00 | 3.84% | |
| Purchases-Books | 24,649.00 | ||||
| Purchases-Miscellaneous | 2,162.00 | Total Net Revenues | $ 401,023.00 | 100.00% | |
| Merchandise Freight | 29,255.00 | ||||
| Shipping supplies | 2,092.00 | Net Program Services | $ 251,183.00 | 66.88% | |
| Cost of Goods Sold | $ 123,421.00 | Administrative Expenses | 58,897.00 | 15.68% | |
| Trustee Expenses | 48,337.00 | 12.87% | |||
| Net Sales Revenue | $ 159,866.00 | Committee Expenses | 17,162.00 | 4.57% | |
| $ 375,579.00 | 100.00% | ||||
| Caws-2008 Total Revenue | $ 153,921.00 | ||||
| Caws-2008 Total Expenses | 91,087.00 | Net Income | $ 25,444.00 | ||
| Net Convention Revenue | $ 62,834.00 | ||||
| Contrib-7th Traditon | $ 137,842.00 | ||||
| Contrib-7th Donor | $ 25,101.00 | ||||
| Total 7th | $ 162,943.00 | ||||
| Royalties, Interest, Miscellaneous | $ 15,380.00 | ||||
| Total Net Revenues | $ 401,023.00 | ||||
John Bodkin – Accept responsibility as the fellowship. Expect more outreach.
Approved Page 27
Patty Flanagan – Convention expense is not broken down. Per meeting, using 2000 meetings, AA spends $6 per group in California, we are $9.
Kurt Lynn– is $20 a group, if every group provide $20 a year we’re Golden.
Tom Phelan – $375,000 divided by 2000 groups is about $19.
Cynthia Cronkhite – Nice Banner
Patty – during the conference it will not be more than $250 and perhaps $200.
Glenn – On the stats, can that be made available?
Patty – Yes.
Susan – Long-term planning committee, are there any plans to develop a WSO in Europe?
John Bodkin – Absolutely. We are open minded, looking into it. There is no plan on paper. We recognize the need.
Elizabeth Saldebar – Thank you, welcome Taffy. We spend $400,000 on program service, $460,000 divided by 2000 meetings is $230 a meeting.
John Bodkin – Previously program services only, Tom.
Tom Phelan – what you’re doing is per capita analysis. What we bring in the 7th is about 150,000 – $75 per group. It comes in from the Area. To look at a per group perspective is misleading.
Doug Linblad – of 2000 meetings, do these include H&I?
Patty Flanagan – They are regular meetings.
Steve – Thank you for the report.
Approved Page 28