CLOSING REPORT C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2008
UNITY COMMITTEE REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
Opening Comments:
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Good afternoon: It is the purpose of this Unity Committee to enhance communication and outreach among our fellowship as concerned members of Cocaine Anonymous in the interest of carrying the message to the addict who still suffers.
Our Theme for next year’s conference:
Unity…Celebration of Life!!!
We sent out a preregistration for the Unity Lunch and we thank you for your early purchases. We didn’t get the majority of the tickets sold until we got here to the Conference, which made it difficult to set up the catering on such short notice. If we can just be mindful that in the Delegates mailings in the future to look for information and opportunity to purchase Unity Day lunch, we would be very grateful.
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
Waheedah Muhammad, Chair
Willie Austin, Vice Chair
Rhonda Johnson, Secretary
Marcia Williams
John Whitaker, Subcommittee Celebrate Around the World and International Outreach.
David Booth
Mike Dolphin, Unity Committee Registrar
Willie Bailey, World Service Office Board
Kelly Lynch, Subcommittee for Celebrate Around the World
Rose Jones, Celebrate Around the World Chair
Paul Mears, Unity Archive Chair
Steve Goldberg, Unity Luncheon Committee
Glenn Tucker
Kim Sherwan, Trustee
Rose Jones – Celebrate Around the World – over last couple of years we have had referrals about who puts on CATW and what it does so this year we created a flyer and it will be in the December Delegate mailer. Any questions about the flyer?
Motion to accept the artwork as submitted.
Second
Motion passes with unanimity.
Paul Mears – Unity Archive Chair. I was introduced to Unity in the UK and I would have to take on a position so I took Unity. I realized how Tradition One is so similar to Step One. No seems to be interested in Unity until there is a problem. CATW is a fantastic event and the Unity Lunch was fantastic. To enhance our communication and international outreach is what we need to be moving forward. It doesn’t matter how big or small problems are, we must talk to each other.
COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS:
None.
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REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS:
None.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
#1. Subcommittee for Celebrate Around the World will continue working on a flyer bringing better awareness to the fellowship of the purpose and meaning of Celebrate Around the World activities.
#2: Unity Committee Registrar subcommittee. Better utilization of the Unity Committee Registration Form, thereby providing a direct link to our committee, in an effort to pull our fellowship closer together.
#3 We will work on creating guidelines and suggestions to aid international outreach subcommittee chairs of the future.
#4 Archive Subcommittee will be collecting and storing old meeting minutes, reports and artwork to create “pass it on” documentation for future committees. This will enable us to avoid duplication of efforts of previous committees.
#5 Unity Luncheon Committee will be working on guidelines for upcoming conferences.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Referred Item #5810, referred to WSOB. Description: International outreach subcommittee to create a place or way to find CA members outside usual areas of CA. Somehow let them know wherever they are we are here and are free.
Referral Item #5809, referred to WSOB: International outreach committee create glossary of terms for use in helping translation of CA literature.
Referral Item #5808, to create a document or help guide in how to begin a meeting in foreign countries or outside generally recognized areas of CAWS.
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS, BUT COMMITTEE ADDRESSED
Referral #5352: What is happening with the ice cream social?
Response: We addressed the referral by discussing it in committee: We can let inquiring party know that we will always consider Ice Cream Social at future events, as well as considering other events, mindful of host hotel’s policies, costs and other factors.
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Referral #5825: It is this writer’s understanding that many members of CA as a whole are NOT really versed on the History, Background and purposes of the CA World-wide event, Celebrate Around the World. Although the CAWSC Unity Committee has much of this information in the CAWSC Unity Guidelines, for the MOST PART, the general membership does not openly read the Unity Guidelines.
Therefore we would refer to the committee that they work on a Pamphlet with a suggested working title, “What is CATW” to be worked on throughout the year and to be presented to the body in time for SR-14 consideration for the 2008 Conference.
Response: We are currently using our guidelines, Page 9, #6, to create a flyer.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Waheedah Muhammad, Chair
Willie Austin, Vice Chair
Rhonda Johnson, Secretary
CLOSING COMMENTS
As a diverse group of recovering people, we found that communication and outreach among ourselves on the Unity Committee was necessary in our efforts to be effective in our committees’ purpose. In doing so, we were able to address the work of the Unity Committee, as stated above, including discussion of holding meetings of the month, and taking newcomers to meetings in other districts and areas to enhance unity within CA.
We strive to effectively meet the goals and mission of the Unity Committee, which is to enhance communication and outreach among diverse elements within the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous in the interest of carrying the message to the addict who still suffers and promoting CA Unity.
Respectfully Submitted:
Waheedah Muhammad, Chair
Steve Edwards – any questions for Unity?
Susan Bredau – what are the plans for the 7th Tradition collected at the Unity Luncheon?
Waheedah Muhammad – donated to the office.
Gerald Collard – Casino Night – is promoting gambling for a CA Event?
Rose Jones – what we do in Idaho is that we get items donated throughout our fellowship and we play with Monopoly money and then we buy the auction items with the Play Money and we raise a lot of money.
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Steve Edwards – any other questions for Unity Committee? Please thank them for work.
We are going to lay some groundwork for the Finance committee for some budget requests for Committee’s who have larger than 10% increases in their budgets.
Dan Santa Maria – This procedure is for the various Conference committees that need an increase. They are traditionally required to bring this to the floor and it helpful if they are approved and we input in the Budget.
Brian Tenenbaum – Motion to increase from $16,125 to $20,130.
Second.
Steve Edwards – speak to the motion?
Brian Tenenbaum – $3000 is that the hotel contract is going up, $1000 increases of travel expenses for Committee members, which is probably low. We have looked and expect rates to keep going up.
Motion carries unanimously.
Ruby Lemoine – Motion to increase the PI Committee budget from $660 to $900.
Second.
Steve Edwards – speak to motion?
Ruby Lemoine – small increase. We haven’t increased budget for a number of conferences. We need computers to compile next year’s survey. We are not asking for Non-Delegate Chair travel expenses.
Motion carries unanimously.
Patrick Potter – Motion to increase the Archive Committee budget from $2,000 to $4,350$3,950.
Second.
Steve Edwards – speak to motion?
Patrick Potter – in order to implement our guidelines we are going to have to increase spending predominantly on postage to ship these items from all over the World.
Earnest Martin – please explain the $1350 for Non-Delegate Chair
Patrick Potter – my term is potentially going to be up as a Delegate and I’ve been funding myself for the past years and if I’m coming back as the Chair that I’m non-delegate it takes care of my costs while here.
Earnest Martin – have you considered the spirit of rotation?
Patrick Potter – I have.
Mona Ibrahim – what is the $1000 going toward?
Patrick Potter – you mean $3000. Which is mainly postage. We are talking about Bankers Boxes shipped from all over the World. The fellowship will be shipping to us.
Mona Ibrahim – why are we paying for it? Are you paying for someone to ship something to you?
Patrick Potter – Yes
Joy Hutcheson – I speak in favor of this motion because the committee has only been around for 2 years. We have created guidelines and procedures. We need to start collecting the Archives
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and we need to start tracking CA history. This money will allow us to do the work of our committee.
Dan Santa Maria – speak in favor of the motion. I want to be clear that the idea behind the Non-Delegate chair is supported in our Concepts and this is an emerging committee and have a person who is bringing this committee to life and it requires a little more momentum before handing it off.
Roy Ricord – speaks against the motion. It is not transparent enough break down to me with the exception of Non-Delegate Chair in comparison to other Non-Delegates chair expenses.
Bobbie Harmon – presently speak against the motion. But the Non-Delegate chair expenses seems expensive.
John Bodkin – speaks for the motion. I’m no longer afraid to be heard in a group conscience. I’ve heard our Finance committee is OK with it. I’ve heard the Archive committee tell us that this is what they need to get the job done. We owe it our fellowship to be more honest about our financial planning. People say we can always come back and fix it on the fly. I appreciate someone telling me what it’s going to cost. Shipping and transportation has become much more expensive. If this committee decides they want to keep the leadership they have in place and it’s most efficient use of their time, then we have to support them.
Glen Tucker – Point of Order – are their hard copies of these motions?
Dan Santa Maria – there are no copies and I apologize for not being better prepared.
John Bodkin – Point of order – never mind.
Steve Edwards – thank you for raising the questions.
Jeffrey Ushry – how much was your budget last year and of that, how much did you spend?
Patrick Potter – $2000 and $0.
Bryan Seid – my mind is running a tabulation of what it would got to get here and you are not a delegate next year.
Brian Tenenbaum – Friendly amendment – to $3950 – reducing travel expenses by $400.
Patrick Potter – accepted
Pete Nielsen – motion to close debate.
Second.
Motion with substantial unanimity.
Felicia Adams-Franks – Parliamentary Inquiry – is this budget for 2009-2010.
Dan Santa Maria – this is for travel 2010.
Steve Edwards – it is clear in the context that this will be for the 2009-2010 budget.
Dan Sadur – Parliamentary Inquiry – at the end of the series of short motions, will the floor be allowed an opportunity to ask questions of the Finance Committee.
Earl Henderson – Motion to increase the Trustee Meeting budget from $50,350 to $61,390.
Second.
Steve Edwards – speak to the motion?
Earl Henderson – had all the Trustees increase individual travel budgets where they itemized what they will be spending to travel within their regions. We compiled and took to Finance.
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Transportation costs are rising. We are allocating the same amount of money for meals as we did 5 years ago. This increases reflects the hotel and transportation costs.
Steve Edwards – any debate?
Kurt Lynn – Point of Information – is there a reason why we are asked to take these items into consideration without seeing the whole budget? I don’t understand if the whole thing makes sense. I’m having trouble putting merit to it without seeing all the information.
Dan Santa Maria – I’d love to answer the question because sometimes I find this baffling. The process of committees requesting budget increases of more than 10% and we need to craft a budget but we don’t know if you will approve these items. So we cannot prepare our budget in full context without approval of these items. If the Conference is willing to accept the increases, then we can prepare our budget to present. We would love some referrals as to how better this issue.
Jeanette Johnson – speaking against the motion. I don’t feel like I can make an informed decision.
Earnest Martin – I cannot make an informed decision without information in front of me. Speaking against the motion. I believe the committee needs the money but we need some sort of hard copy before I can make an informed decision.
Steve Edwards – everyone in line remember your place in line. We will get the budgets up on the screen so everyone can see them.
BREAK
Steve Edwards – please take your seats so that we can resume the session. It’s 9:49 pm and we are resuming session after our break. On our honor system, the people in line for debate are in their places.
Dan Santa Maria – I need to let people know what they are looking at.
Ethel Thomas – Point of Information – does this include their travel expenses to the World Service Conventions?
Dan Santa Maria – yes that has been our practice because they meet at the Convention. It is meeting #4.
Brian Tenenbaum – speak highly in favor of the motion. I served as the Finance Chair for 5 years and in the past the travel expenses for the Trustees was $7500 each. They cannot get out to do their job with this money and they do the best they can with the money we give them. $11,000 – 7 trustees travel within their regions and to meetings. Hopefully they can do the best job they can with their limited budget.
John Bodkin – I’m in favor of the motion. I heard the Finance Chair allows for them to finalize the full budget and look at the whole picture. I never got rich on the expenses I received as a Trustee, which I was grateful for as a Trustee. If I have a problem, when I see the full budget and need to talk about it then, I will. It costs more to do business these days.
Gloria Bridget – speak in favor of motion. I take an interest in the fellowship and we have Trustees that travel and have not been able to because of budget constraints. We are fellowship is growing. If we go back to our Areas and enthusiastically talk about what the fellowship is doing and that $1.00 is no longer enough, we can raise more money. We have got to treat the trusted servants of our fellowship just a little bit better.
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Jeffrey Ushry – speak in favor of the motion. 8 Trustees divided by $11,000 is just $1,400. If each of us would fill out Contribution Program forms, we can all help. Let them do their jobs.
Roy Ricord – call to question.
Second.
Steve Edwards – 2/3 majority to pass.
Motion carries unanimously.
Motion carries with substantial unanimity.
Dan Santa Maria – Motion to increase the Finance Committee budget from $0 to $50.
Second.
Steve Edwards – speak to motion?
Dan Santa Maria – I hope I don’t have to…
Motion passes unanimously.
Steve Edwards – there may be some questions for the Finance Committee. Please confine to
Bryan Seid – from the motions that previously passed, 2009-2010 and one of them stated that travel wouldn’t be until 2010. Can you explain?
Dan Santa Maria – My answer was a mistake. The travel will be for 2009 at the next conference.
Steve Edwards – we will now hear from the Information Technology Committee.
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