CLOSING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2009
H & I COMMITTEE REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
Jason Smidt
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The committee welcomed a wonderful new group of members this year. Bill, Megan and Mona did a wonderful job at making them feel at home and we commenced at once to pass it on. I hope you all took a moment to reflect on the Map that Megan worked really hard at putting together for us. The map does not tell the whole story but does indicate that H& I work continues to flourish across the globe. A local area has requested to borrow the map to share at one of their upcoming events. We are happy to see it put to use beyond the conference. (BTW we can provide you with a pdf version of the map if you are interested. Please contact a committee member.)
Brian Schlenker
Will present the banner to Wisconsin because of the increase of H & I meetings from 12 to 52.
Mike Phelps
As many of you are aware we have an H&I CDR to present to treatment centers and unfortunately, we have not sold many. We made it real clear in our break-out session that these are available. We, as committee members, bought all 7 copies that were available at WSO and put names in a hat to allow God’s Will to determine who would receive them to take back to their Area. We encourage all Delegates to order these CDR’s to have for their Area. Thank you for being willing to utilize this very valuable tool of recovery.
Megan Kenney
H&I Corner
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS
Chair: Jason Smidt, Outgoing | Mike Phelps, Incoming
Vice Chair: Mona Ibrahim, Outgoing | Dathan Martin, Incoming
Secretary: Megan Kenney, Outgoing
Co-Secretary: Erica Decker, Incoming
Co-Secretary: Vonya Quarles, Incoming
Trustee: Randy Groen
Outreach Chair: Lionel Jacobs, Rand Signorello
Correctional Referral Chair: Bobby Coyer, Ben Lew, Donovan Block
H&I Guidelines Chair: Kelly Lynch
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Bill Carter
Jay Swaim
Brian Schlenker
Steve Banks
Marcia Williams
Creative Writing Chair: Corey Swanson, Megan Kenney, Pearl Braboy, Vonya Quarles
COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
Motion: to remove “How It Works” from the H&I Committee Guidelines, and all references to “How It Works” in H & I Meeting Formats. Second.
Kevin Murphy: Any debate?
Bob Campbell: I speak against this motion. It is premature. We need more information. This is one of our original pieces in Cocaine Anonymous and it cannot be treated lightly. We need to think long and hard and more will be revealed.
Susan Bredau: I speak in favor of this motion. H&I represents 40% of our membership. We are to carry the message of CA. Is it any wonder when we give them a Big Book that people go to AA when they get out. Our pamphlets and books carry the message of CA.
Jeffrey Ushry: I speak in favor of the motion. We are growing up, we need to promote CA literature. Let’s promote our literature.
Gloria Bridget: I speak in favor of the motion. We have no permission slip. I don’t see how — we just got this information. We have not talked with AA yet so to be safe, I would rather be safe than sorry. I know a lot of people know the old times that say AA will do it, I don’t want to be in that position.
Ian Young: I speak in favor of the motion. I am a different generation of CA addict. How it works doesn’t make sense to an addict of my time. I find “we can recover” as a piece that I can relate to. I encourage other people to adopt change and let go a piece of literature written in the 1930’s.
Alan Shields: I would like to know when this motion passes, when it would be removed?
Kevin Murphy: I can answer the general question. All motions passed at this conference take effect at the close of this conference.
Jason Smidt: I speak in favor of this motion. It was with a heavy heart we did this. Our guidelines are on the CA website which include the readings and we are trying to do the right thing. When the issue is clear, then “How It Works” goes back in the readings. There’s what’s legal, there’s what’s right, and there’s what’s spiritual. In the course of our committee work we realized it was still on the website. To us it seemed the only right thing to do is take it down for now and then we can put it back up.
Randy Groen: I can assure you that the H&I committee is excited to put it back if we get permission. This involves distribution currently on the website.
Simone Talton: I speak against the motion. I am uncomfortable saying we cannot have that there. I don’t think is AA suing us. I feel this is fear-based.
Edward Moore: I speak against the motion because I believe “How it works” is how it works. I haven’t seen anything written by CA that is better than that in describing how it
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works. Further in reference to losing folks from rehab, that’s not our case.
Rose Jones: I speak against this motion. To the skid-row junkie as a last gasper I understand the BB and I’m not going to run in fear but have faith it will be okay. It seems to be fear-based. We can share HFC and the BB.
Elizabeth Saldebar: Motion to move to table as it’s premature.
Second.
Kevin Murphy: We need to count this one. The motion to table fails 66 – 73. We continue with Cynthia.
Cynthia Cronkhite: I speak against the motion. I asked if changes could be made as a housekeeping matter once the meeting with AA takes place. If we leave this to housekeeping it can be taken care of once the information is available.
Kelly Federici: Friendly Amendment – insert a clause, “pending a decision from Alcoholics Anonymous for reinsertion.”
Kevin Murphy: I believe she wants to add a clause that it would be re-instated pending a decision from AA.
Jason Smidt: Yes, we accept.
Motion: to remove “How It Works” from the H&I Committee Guidelines, and all references to “How It Works” in H & I Meeting Formats. The piece would be reinstated given a positive decision by AA.
Kevin Murphy: Let me ask if the committee intends to accept what is written?
Jason Smidt: Yes.
Kevin Murphy: Okay the motion now reads as above.
Robert Bridges: Call the question.
Kevin Murphy: The motion passes.
The motion passes with substantial unanimity.
Motion: to revise the H & I Committee Guidelines, 5th paragraph on pages 14 and 15 to reflect the following changes to our H & I Meeting Formats. It is a custom in Cocaine Anonymous to read a portion adapted form the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous entitled “ How it Works.” or of the CA Storybook Hope Faith & Courage, entitled “We Can Recover.”
Second.
Mike Seden: Isn’t this the same thing we just voted on?
Kevin Murphy: The second motion is moot, it’s already taken care of in the first motion.
REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
None
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
CA Lifeline
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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None
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
- #6093 – To remove / replace the word “picnic” on the page 29 of the H & I guidelines.
a. Replace the word “picnic” with the words “outdoor activities/ barbeque” on page 29, item #7. This revision is pursuant to a motion passed on the conference floor in 2007 in the Convention Committee Guidelines.
- #6156 – Please clarify: H&I Director and Area Supervisors duties are the same (pg. 7 CA WSC, H&I Committee, Guidelines & Information 2007) is the Area Supervisor and elected position or appointed position? Are the vice–chair and other members of the committee subordinate to the Area Supervisor? If not, what exactly are the Area Supervisor’s duties? Please clarify. LA, CA, South Central District is a large district that has 38 facilities, divided into 5 areas with 5 area supervisors.
a. Yes according to the H & I Committee Guidelines, per page 7, they are the same position.
b. Per the H & I Committee Guidelines it is an elected position per page 7.
c. The referral references page 7 of our H&I Guidelines and uses the word Vice-Chair. Vice-Chair is not mentioned on page 7 but we can only surmise that the referral maker was referring to the Assistant H&I Director as well as other committee officers when asking for clarification. The Assistant Director and all other committee members are encouraged to work closely with the Director in any capacity as delegated by the Director, as per the H&I Guidelines on page 7.
Our experience has taught us that in keeping with Tradition Nine; which reminds us that C.A. as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
- We are updating the H&I reading format to match those in the currently approved reading formats of LCF.
a. We are updating the current reading “Who is a Cocaine Addict?” on page 20 of our H & I Guidelines to reflect the following correction “It’s this marriage relationship that’s messing me up.
b. We are updating the current H & I Guidelines on page 29 with the following correction: In Closing, second paragraph; “Our 12th step states; “having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this massage message to addicts, and to practice these principals in all our affairs.”
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- We are updating the current H&I Guidelines on page 30 with the following correction DUTIES AND REPONMSIBILITIES: RESPONSIBILITIES:
- We are updating our current H&I Guidelines on page 31 under NEWSLETTER EDITOR item #4 to reflect the following correction – 4. Assure the Newsletter is not used as a vehicle to serve and an individual’s gripes or advertisements, and protects the anonymity of ALL members; 1.e, i.e. phone numbers, last names, etc.
- We are updating our current H&I Guidelines under item #10. to reflect the following corrections. 10. Purchase literature from W.S.O. using the H&I Discount. per the current policy.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Chair: Mike Phelps
Vice-Chair: Dathan Martin
Co-Secretaries: Erica Decker
Co-Secretaries: Vonya Quarles
CLOSING COMMENTS
I received a lot of help and support thru the years. So Thank You. Lots of lessons learned via my favorite method: mistakes. But your patience and love have proven again and again that the process works for me and the fellowship as a whole. The H & I committee has been a wonderful place to hang out and I want to thank them one last time for their dedication, love and support It is easy leaving knowing that we have a great committee in place. I have been taught that the service gig is for fun and for free. I have had fun and I leave a little more free. Thanks again.
Respectfully Submitted:
2009 H & I Committee of CAWS
Kevin Murphy: Any question for H&I. For questions, just line up.
Elizabeth Saldebar: Can we get info about the H&I video?
Jason Smidt: Did you miss Mike’s presentation?
Kevin Murphy: Any other questions? Thank you for a great report.
Next up is Conference Committee.
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