CLOSING REPORT C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2008
PUBLIC INFORMATION REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
PI has once again had a very productive session this year. We had several new members join us. Their energy and enthusiasm infused our group and helped us accomplish several items. Many new materials and ideas are being brought fourth for your consideration to increase the number of tools available to our fellowship.
This year we are thrilled to announce that we have made a huge step, no…a giant leap… forward in the progress towards creating a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) piece. We have heard your concerns about the survey and put our hearts and energies into returning with a revision for your consideration. We are also closely working with the Director of Resource and Project Development (aka Ms. Patty) on two new projects – a makeover of the Fact File and the creation of a fellowship wide poll to assist in the creation of a database to better serve our members in carrying the message. These projects are in progress and will be worked on in the coming months. In addition we have set forth on a path to take our current PI workbook and bring it up to date for the “next 25 years.”
The 2008 WSC PI Census went out to the fellowship earlier this year and we have compiled the results. We received 142 responses. From those responses received, the average attendance at meetings is 39 people. Of those 39 people, 26 of them are men and 13 are women. Because of the low response received, a referral was submitted to WSO requesting clarification of why the Census is conducted. We will work towards having a higher response rate in 2010 when the next census is conducted.
Committee Introduction
Fact File Subcommittee
Mike Fennell-chair
George Mooney
Marty Douglas
Michael Stevens
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Workbook Subcommittee
Susan Bredau-chair
Ethel Thomas
Debbie Ierlan
Steve Kontos
Media Subcommittee
Russell Sedman-chair
Gerald Collard
Robert Bohman
Cynthia Lauletta
Survey Subcommittee
Deidre McKinney-chair
Jenn Scheible
Julie Hampson
Tali Emerson-Secretary
Russell Sedman- Vice-chair
Ruby Lemoine- Chair
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COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
MOTION: Add to page 3 of the Fact File the following excerpt from the pamphlet “And All Mind Altering Substances” under the subtitle “A Definition of Cocaine Anonymous.”
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 one substance. It means that C.A.’s 12 Steps are 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 have a desire to stop, you are welcome here!
Second.
Steve Edwards – Any debate?
Cynthia Cronkhite – I was looking at the fact file, is it going on top or after the existing language?
Mike Fennell – The draft is how it will looks.
Steve Edwards – The motion carries unanimously.
MOTION: Remove “The Recovery Program,” from Page 15 of the Fact File and replace it with the Conference approved literature “We Can Recover.”
Second.
Steve Edwards – Any debate on the motion?
That motion carries unanimously.
Several very creative members of this committee have developed a storyboard for an international television/internet Public Service Announcement (PSA). The PSA is being developed using the 8 Point Process approved by the Conference in 2006. Having been reviewed by the WSBT, this storyboard has now reached Point 3 which requires Conference approval.
Just for your information, the 8-Point PI PSA approval process is as follows:
- Idea/Script/Storyboard
- NEW – review by WSBT
- Approval of Script/Storyboard & budget by the conference
- Preproduction
- NEW – review by WSBT
- Production/Edit
- Review by Trustees
- Approval by conference floor
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What we are trying to portray is the desperation we feel while in the throws of addiction whether it be crack, cocaine, heroin, pills, alcohol or any other mind altering substance. The CA message we are trying to convey is simple . . . we can recover. This PSA will be shot in neutral surroundings using a plethora of drugs, people, and situations to signify this disease touches all types of demographics. We are going to make it possible for the sound and text of the film to be changed to suit local dialects/languages and for local CA contact details to be inserted at the end.
(show storyboard on screen)
Motion: To approve the storyboard.
Second.
Steve Edwards – Would you like to speak to your motion?
Robert Bohman – Not at this point.
Glen Tucker – Point of information. What is the budget?
Robert Bohman – We don’t have a budget yet. This is just the storyboard.
Steve Edwards – I think the question is to approve the storyboard and the budget as point 3.
Russell Sedman – We could not ask for a budget until we knew if the storyboard would be approved and we knew what it would take.
Steve Edwards – Any further debate?
The motion carries unanimously.
We would like to present three images for your consideration. These images are shown as two posters and two pieces of street art. If these images are approved by the Conference, they will be made available on the PI page of the WSO web site and added to the material already available in the PI Handbook. These images were created in Montreal and we are already using them in the Quebec Area.
Motion: Approve new ‘skull’ image
Second.
Jackie Shickler – I speak in favor of the motion. The more materials we have to carry the message, the more the world will know we exist. The talent coming in is wonderful.
Elizabeth Saldebar – I love this. These are going to be posters, is it going to give a phone number or what?
Gerald Collard – There will be phone numbers that can be adapted.
Elizabeth Saldebar – Where do you envision these?
Steve Edwards – Any Areas or District can use them where they see fit.
The motion carries unanimously.
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Motion: Approve new casket image.
Second.
Suan Doch – I have a concern about it being a religious symbol. I’m Jewish. It’s the religious part that says to me there’s something wrong.
Kurt Lynn – I move to limit debate to 2 for and 2 against.
Second.
Motion fails.
Michael Chiki – How big is the image?
Gerald Collard – Depends on how you use it.
Steve Edwards – You can have a business card or a billboard.
Gerald Collard– The print reproduction is not very accurate.
Michael Chiki – I agree with Susan about the cross.
Cynthia Cronkhite – Is it possible to offer a friendly amendment to an image?
Steve Edwards – You can try.
Cynthia Cronkhite – Instead of a cross the image spell out RIP.
Gerald Collard – We accept.
Kenny Williams – I speak against the image.
Steve Edwards – As amended?
Kenny Williams – It could be sacrilegious.
Steve Edwards – The motion is to accept this picture with the letters RIP and not a cross.
Kenny Williams – I am for that.
John Whitaker – Can we do the RIP in French?
Gerald Collard – RIP is Latin.
Steve Edwards – Yes, it’s Latin.
Pete Nielsen – Call the question.
Steve Edwards – There is no more debate so we will vote now.
The motion is accept the image with RIP.
Motion carries unanimously.
Motion: Approve concept of ‘street art’
Second.
Kurt Lynn – I speak against the motion.
Siobhan Ayer – Do we have the authority to spray paint on sidewalks? Do we need to look into the legality of it?
Russell Sedman – When we do posters and work like this we are mindful of doing that sort of work and we ask permission. If we were to assert it in the workbook, we would get permission.
Rhonda Johnson – The word coke, C-O-K-E, are we allowed to use that? Coke is a brand name.
Steve Edwards – Coke is the name of a certain type of coal.
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Scott Keaveny – Thanks the committee for the work, I’m concerned we’re going on one theme. Has PI addressed the other uses of cocaine?
Gerald Collard – Yes, we are aware. Powder form is easier for graphic artists to grasp that.
Ruby Lemoine – We’d also like to clarify these are images provided to us. We would love for you to present images to us. I can’t do this. But if you can do this, please suggest it. We know there are other uses, but this was given to us.
Gerald Collard – The PSA we just saw was pills, crack, the pipe.
Richard Levy – I speak in favor of this motion. This is used in Montreal. This is a piece being presented for approval. Some Areas don’t have sidewalks. It’s something that is being used somewhere.
Steve Edwards – We are not approving this, they plan to put this in the PI handbook and make them available to other Areas.
Roy Ricord – I speak in favor of the motion. It’s another way to let people know where we are. It is a good concept.
Nick Alexander – This is a point of information. That’s wasn’t my question.
Gloria Bridget – I speak in favor of the motion. I like the concept. Thank you. We will come up with something of our own.
Aurora Lopez – I’d like to speak against this motion. I see in the other pieces there’s the CA logo. In the street art, I see no way to enforce a CA logo registered trademark.
Gerald Collard – the Website address is there.
Kathy Jo Rango – All the images appear to be professionally created. Is the artist a member or been paid?
Gerald Collard – Yes, paid $1.
Bill Burmeier – These messages are important. They don’t speak to recovery, only the horror of the disease.
Ernest Martin – I am speaking for the motion. We are diversified, they would reflect more diversity.
Steve Edwards – They are using the concept. There are no people in the image we are debating.
Pete Nielsen – Motion: Call the question.
Second
Motion carries with substantial unanimity.
Now to the main motion to accept the concept of street art.
The motion carries.
REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
- Referral 4770 (received post Conference 2006) – Suggestion to add more optional answers to question regarding language. Reason: present answers do not reflect situation in Europe. Choosing “other” is possible but will not give information. It may give the international CA members the impression
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this survey is not about them or intended to serve the needs of their Area better. We will become better aware of local needs (ie. For translation). People filling out the survey will experience that they are part of an international fellowship, not just North American fellowship.
- Referral 4771(received post Conference 2006) – Re: Membership Survey. Suggestion to add more optional answers to question regarding ethnicity. Reason: present answers do not reflect demographic situation in Europe (and maybe other continents). Choosing “other” is possible but does not give sufficient and needed demographic information. It may give international CA members the impression this survey is not about them or intended to serve the needs of their Area better. I have no suggestion at this time to improve just wanted the PI committee to consider this.
- Referral 4772 (received post Conference 2006) – Regarding Membership survey. Point of consideration. The answers to the question regarding education exclusively reflects the educational system in the USA. That makes the questions difficult to translate. It may give the international CA members the impression this survey is not about them or intended to serve the needs of their Area better. I have no suggestion at this time to improve, just wanted the PI committee to consider this.
Motion: For this Conference to have the new 2009-2010 Membership Survey accepted for distribution to the Fellowship for our next survey.
Second.
Steve Edwards – Speak to your motion?
Jenn Scheible – We simplify this survey last year after trying to enter data that wasn’t transferable from the survey.
Cynthia Cronkhite – Friendly amendment in the “What got us here?” section, first “Other”, please add “(Specify)”.
Jenn Scheible – accepted
Steve Edwards – any further debate?
Motion carries.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
- Referral 5764 – That the service manual include guidelines for helpline/hotline service volunteers including time requirements and dos and don’ts.
Response: Referral was tabled for ongoing work through the coming year.
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REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
None
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
- Referral 4190 – (received at 2007 Conference): Please include Area/District PI committee suggestions/requirements; therefore, turning the workbook into a “PI Guidelines Workbook.”
Response: The PI Workbook will be restructured into a 3-pronged reference detailing PI outreach to:
- To the addict who still suffers
- To our fellowship
- To the public and professional communities
We have developed an outline and over the year will update and develop a comprehensive PI tool.
2. Referral 4672 (received during the 2007 Conference) – To create the poster of the bars of cocaine with a silhouette of a man & woman removing the current pictures of real people. Reason: Not everyone will identify with the current Caucasian images.
Response: This committee feels the spirit of this referral is good and well intentioned; however, we feel the ‘mock ups’ created with silhouettes lose the desired effect. There are other less drug/person specific posters available for use on the WSO web site.
Referral 5668: That PI include in their budget $300.00 to produce a PI promotional item for next year’s conference.
Response: The following budget was submitted to the Finance Committee for approval:
$500 – computer/printer usage during 2008 Conference (necessary for compiling the Survey)
$100 – communication needs
$300 – PI promotional items
$900 – total budget
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- Referral 5537: To raise the PI budget by $2,000 to conduct an outreach plan in the region were the WS Convention will be held.
Response: The maker of this referral has withdrawn this referral.
- Referral 5759 – That the committee accepts the new proposed PI workbook cover and ask that it be approved on the conference floor.
And
Referral 5760 – That the committee agrees to change the name of the PI workbook to “PI Handbook: Suggestions & Guidelines for doing PI”
Response: The committee adopted new cover art and changed the title of the document.
- Referral 5675 – That the PI committee polls the fellowship to determine what PI activities are being done and what areas of outreach can be improved. The WSO will assist us in this endeavor.
Response: This poll and its process are in progress with the Director of Resource and Project Development (aka Ms. Patty). No further action needed by this committee at this time.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Michael Fennell – Fact File Sub-Comm Chair
Cynthia Lauletta – Media Sub-Comm Chair
Susan Bredau – Workbook Sub-Comm Chair
Jenn Scheible – Survey/Census Sub-Comm Chair
Tali Emerson – Secretary
Russell Sedman – Vice-Chair
Ruby Lemoine – Chairperson
CLOSING COMMENTS
As he will be rotating out at the end of this Conference, we would like to thank our beloved trustee, Nicholas Lynn, for all his hard work, steadfast guidance, and for constantly reminding us to keep it simple. We also have a special ‘thank you’ for Michelle Dobson of the UK – a member who attended in spirit and contributed
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as much as those of us who were here. Her work from the other side of the pond gave us the opportunity to continue committee work on a 24 hour basis.
We would like to make you aware that a updated PI Workbook will be available on the web site very soon. For those of you who do not easy access to the internet, we are providing a few hard copies of the manual on the table at the back of the room.
PUBLIC INFORMATION – We DO have the ability to reach out and touch the world with information about Cocaine Anonymous. In this age of technology, PI is striving to carry the message to the addict who still suffers, using the vast mediums available to us and preparing ourselves for the next 25 years.
Respectfully Submitted:
The WSC Public Information Committee
Steve Edwards – any questions for PI Committee and please approach the microphone.
Cynthia Cronkhite – I appreciate the spirit of cooperation between PI and LCF, however, the PI Helpline Handbook. My understanding is that piece was put into your hands and I don’t see it in the binder. Is that in fact with you now and will be made available to the fellowship.
Ruby Lemoine – we have that piece and we just got our Handbook signed off by our Trustee and it should be going out and at the back of the table.
Dan Sadur – Now that the images have been approved, do we have a timeline as to when the still images will be available for use?
Ruby Lemoine – Our intention up on the website by the end of the year. Last year, posters up by November. We will need to edit and change and signed off by Trustees and will be up on the website as soon as that is done.
Nick Alexander – Street art…are there procedures being worked on about how to use the street art?
Ruby Lemoine – The images don’t have to be used as street art only. A referral would be a good thing.
Steve Edwards – Thank you to the PI committee for their hard work.
Glen Tucker – Motion to adjourn.
Second
Steve Edwards – I will rule in order if you are willing to stay and listen to Conference Committee Chair.
Brian Tenenbaum – Please take all your valuables with you and the right side of the room has not returned the Delegate Mailing List.
Steve Edwards – at 11:58 pm we are adjourned. See you at 8:00 am tomorrow.
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