OPENING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2011
Literature, Chips & Format Committee 2011 Conference Opening Report
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
The LCF committee‟s function is to facilitate the expression of our Fellowship‟s Hope, Faith and Courage through the writing of material for distribution. C.A.‟s literature expands the inventory of material adopted by the Fellowship; aids members in understanding and application of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions; carries the message to the addict who still suffers; supplies valuable information to the professional community and clarifies the nature of addiction to the general public as well as to our Fellowship. Our literature, pamphlets and books, are powerful tools to convey our Fellowship‟s purpose and methods of recovery.
The LCF committee consists of members of Cocaine Anonymous worldwide – different parts of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States who have a passion for and about the message we share in our pamphlets and books are represented here.
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
Chair: Jeannette J.
Vice Chair: Kellie F.
Co-Secretaries: Jason L. and Mike S.
Trustee: Richard L. and Joy H.
WSOB Liaison: Tom P., Elizabeth S., and Bob C.
Publications Liaison: Cynthia C.
Members:
Alison M.
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Audz J., BobC., Caroline B., Cynthia C., Elizabeth S., Ernest M., James P., Julie P., Julie S., Larry B., Luana S., Mike A., Mike S., Simone T., Susan D., Vicky M., Yves W.
REFERRALS THAT WERE WORKED ON DURING THE YEAR:
Here‟s what we worked on this past year:
The following material was distributed to you pursuant to SR14:
- Meeting In A Pocket – The changes were necessitated with How It Works no longer being C.A. approved literature and additional changes were made to include C.A. readings.
- Suggestions for Recovery and Relapse Prevention – The revised pamphlet we set forth is the result of a 2002 passed motion that the
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WSO not print any more copies of “Suggestions for Relapse Prevention & Recovery” and that the piece return to point 4 of the 12 point literature approval process, to be effective immediately. We offer for your consideration both a „clean copy‟ of the revised piece and a redline showing all changes made from the original.
- The First 30 Days – This is a revision to the existing piece based on various referrals and feedback received over the last several years. We have done our best to improve the wording so that it more clearly conveys the message of C.A. Attached are both a „clean copy‟ of the revised piece and a redline showing all changes made from the original.
One of the most important aspects of the 12 Point Pamphlet Approval process is the feedback we receive from the SR14 material sent to the fellowship at Point 11. We hope you understand the importance of sharing with the members in your area the DRAFT material sent to you in that mailing. Please remember to share with this committee any feedback you have received from members in your area regarding these drafts prior to committee breakout sessions. We hope to bring to you these materials for approval in the LCF closing report.
We also worked on:
Referral #6414 was respectfully submitted to the LCF Committee at the 2010 Conference.
This referral is a request that the LCF Committee take a group inventory of itself in the spirit of assessing how well the committee helps the Conference to fulfill its purpose and to identify what action(s) the
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committee could take to improve the committee‟s ability to better help the Conference fulfill its purpose.
Response: The LCF Committee completed its Group Inventory.
Referral #6654:
Have the LCF create monthly chips, i.e.: 4 & 5 months, 7 & 8 months, 10 & 11 months.
Response:
This concept was discussed at length during an LCF conference call and with a unanimous vote decided the current structure of how we give and receive chips is a good process for acknowledging and maintaining sobriety. The increasing gap between when chips are given and when they are received works well and has done so for more than 25 years. No further action was taken.
In addition, we reviewed the following 2010 post conference referrals:
- Referral #6454 Pamphlet Name Change
Change the name of the pamphlet “Cocaine Anonymous Self-Test” to “Self Test for Addiction”.
Response: This post conference referral will be addressed in our closing report.
- Referral #6483 Pamphlet changes not made for 3 – 5 years Once a pamphlet, book or reading has completed the LCF approval process, it may not be changed/altered for 3 – 5 years. This will minimize confusion in our fellowship.
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Response: This post conference referral will be addressed in our closing report.
Overview of Pending Projects and Progress Made During 2010 – 2011
Pieces in Approval Process:
These projects are pamphlets unless otherwise indicated:
- 12 Principles
- 12 Step Workbook
- 12 Steps & 12 Traditions Book
- Anonymity
- Crank/Methamphetamines
- Meditation Book
- Recovery for the Disabled
- Suggestions for Recovery
- The 7th Tradition
- The First 30 Days
- Tips for Staying Clean & Sober
- To The Newcomer
- We Can Recover Format
- Young People in Recovery
- Meeting In A Pocket Card
Status of Progress on the Meditation Book:
Thank you for the submissions! So far, we have received 256 total submissions. The committee has phased the review process and is currently in phase two of
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review and tally of the submissions. We have a group of 46 meditations ready to be tallied in phase three which will complete the review of all submissions received. We have begun the process of editing pieces that are moving forward for publication. Know that all submissions received are not making it through the review process and into the meditation book. We still need many more submissions in order to have a meditation a day x 366 days, with an inspirational message of Cocaine Anonymous‟ Hope, Faith and Courage. Please continue to distribute the flier, and announce our need for submissions. The best way to submit a meditation is electronically. Go to www.ca.org Download the Submission documents and email your documents to submissions@ca.org or by regular mail to: CAWSO, Inc., Attention: LCF Committee, 21720 S. Wilmington Ave., Ste. 304, Long Beach, CA 90810-1641. Your support is much appreciated.
Status of Progress on the 12 Step Workbook:
The WS Conference approved the concept for a 12 Step Workbook. A Yahoo Group has been created where the subcommittee collaborates since December 2, 2007.
Kellie F. has lead on this committee as of July 11, 2010 and the committee is busy writing steps individually. The workbook outline/format per group conscience includes Step, personal experience, questions, some worksheets, quotes from various literature and gratitude or prayer for each step.
Help is needed on this project by motivated individuals who would like to see this project come to fruition. Anyone interested should contact the LCF committee or the sub-committee.
The Workbook Committee does not believe this will be the „C.A. way” to work the steps, but rather another tool to help new people and sponsors work the 12 steps which is vital to our personal recovery.
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Status of Progress on the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions Book:
Slowly but surely, a subcommittee is taking shape. Very little work has been completed on this project as we just secured a new lead the past few months. A subcommittee meeting is taking shape to create an outline of what the finished project might look like. A flier is being created to solicit input from the Fellowship for LCF‟s book projects.
Pieces in Publication Process:
Last year LCF created an ad hoc Publications Liaison position to help ensure that all material previously approved by the Conference makes it through the publication process and into the hands of the Fellowship. The Publications Liaison has been working closely with the WSO and significant progress has been made over the last few months. A summary of the Publications Liaison’s activities and an update on the status of each piece will be provided in our closing report.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
The World Service Conference Literature, Chips, and Format (“LCF”) Committee reviews, edits, and submits literature to the WSC for approval. It is our function to facilitate the expression of our Fellowship’s Hope, Faith and Courage through the writing of material for distribution. If you‟d like a new adventure in service, LCF welcomes you to join us on our journey to edit and produce that material! No special skills are needed! You don‟t have to be a journalist, or an editor to be a member of LCF. Just a sincere desire to serve our Fellowship by assisting with the facilitation of expressing our Hope, Faith and Courage in our literature!!
Tony D.: Any questions for the LCF Committee, please go the microphone.
Peter O.: On the status of the progress of Mediation Book, if we submit a meditation, do we receive an approval or rejection?
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Jeanette J.: Actually no, you sign a disclaimer that it becomes property of the WSO. You will receive notification that the submission has been received. I believe that we can work a process that if your submission has been approved, we might be able to notify you and that you will be published.
Eric T.: I love AA and the Big Book, have we discussed putting together a CA Big Book?
Jeanette J.: On our Projects Chart, there is a 12 Steps Book and we would love to have some help to move that along.
Peter O.: When we submitted pieces for the HFCII, we turned over the rights. Is that the same as the Mediation Book?
Jeanette J.: Yes
Susan B.: We have had some controversy in our Area.
Tony D.: This is time to ask questions of Committee not discuss issues about previously printed publications.
Susan B.: Would this be the time to reconsider the LGBT publication?
Jeanette J.: We would need that in a referral.
Tony D.: Next up is H&I.
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