Aug 31, 1997 – Day 5 – Conference Summary of Motions

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1997 Cocaine Anonymous

World Service Conference Minutes

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World Service Conference, Day Five

8-31-97

  1. Session called to order.
  2. Serenity Prayer
  3. Roll Call
  4. 128 votes present. Quorum is 86.
  5. Peter Grant, Finance Committee: Motion to approve the C.A.W.S. budget for July 1st, 1998 through June 30th, 1999 as presented
  6. Motion passes unanimously.
  7. Finance Committee has elected a new Vice Chair: Michael Richker and a new Secretary: Bill Evans.
  1. Suggestions for new formats for budgets, given to Convention Committee for review.
  2. Old Business.
  3. Kevin Murphy, P.I. Chair. Matter of old business, motion that was tabled last year to extend the Conference time by one day.
  4. Brought up under new business under a suspension of the rules and then was tabled.
  5. At this point in time and considering the fact that the Chair has not seen fit at any time during the Conference to limit debate I would like to move that this motion to extend the Conference time by one day be tabled until next year.
  6. Motion withdrawn
  7. This has been done last year. The State of Nevada is an area and is part of the Pacific South Region.
  8. Motion to refer to the Convention Committee to put in place the mechanism to request the fellowship’s feedback in determining the need of the C.A. logo on World Service Convention memorabilia.
  9. Motion withdrawn.
  10. Scott Stevenson, World Service Office Board Chair. Motion to adopt the proposed budget, as submitted with the Phoenix, Arizona proposal to host the C.A. World Convention.
  11. Motion passed unanimously.
  12. David Kulick, New York area. Motion to refer to the Conference Committee, wherever possible, the W.S.C. Conference Committee will suggest assignments for first year delegates, based on the delegate registration forms. The delegate registration forms shall be modified as the Committee sees fit, in order to collect pertinent information.
  13. The motion passed.
  14. Motion counted/52 in favor, 50 opposed.
  15. Motion to reconsider.
  16. Call for the vote.
  17. Motion passed.
  18. Reconsider the motion to refer to the Conference Committee, whenever possible,

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the W.S.C. Conference Committee will suggest committee assignments for first year delegates, based on the delegate registration forms. The delegate registration forms shall be modified as the Committee sees fit, in order to collect pertinent information.

  1. Call for a vote.
  2. Chair: Correction: The last time this motion was voted on, it was carried. We voted to rescind the affirmative vote and we are now voting again.
  3. Steve Edwards, World Service Office Board Director At Large. Point of order. As I’ve seen you run these proceedings so far during this Conference session, it has been appropriate for a member to express his opinion and then call for the vote, and I see that is what has just happened. And therefore, I would request that you rule that motion out of order.
  4. Chair: You are correct. The member first called for a vote, then expressed his opinion, which is equally improper. Therefore, we will go to the next person on the list to debate the motion on the board.
  5. Call the question.
  6. Debate closed.
  7. Motion defeated. Minority voice is heard.
  8. The summaries are done for informational purposes only. They are not the formal minutes of this body.
  9. Heidi Jonathan, Chips, Literature and Format Chairperson. Motion that this Conference entertain single item motions and not multiple item motions, except in simple housekeeping issues.
  10. Motion is now referred to Structure and Bylaws according to Standing Rule 13.
  11. Ed Godfrey, W.S.O.B. Treasurer. Motion that the Conference limit the amount of time any committee has to occupy the floor.
  12. Standing Rule Thirteen refers that to Conference Committee.
  13. Charles Lewis, Atlantic North Regional Trustee. Motion the line item for entertainment not exceed 10% of the Convention budget.
  14. Motion withdrawn.
  15. Motion to refer line item for entertainment not to exceed 10% of the convention budget to the Convention Committee.
  16. The motion to refer passed unanimously.
  17. Kevin Murphy, P.I. Chair.This is a referral to Trustees, Structures and Bylaws and/or Conference Committee. To consider creation of a new standing committee called The Technical Committee, to handle technical matters now handled primarily by Public Information and by Conference Committee.
  18. Opposition noted. The motion carries. Matter is referred.
  19. Jim Chadowsky, delegate, Northern California. Motion that World Service Conference members take to C.A. meetings, districts and areas the following formula regarding the power of Seventh Tradition donations. There are approximately 2,000 C.A. meetings. $1.00 per meeting per week, donated to the World Service Office, not counting any 70/30 Plan donations, would equal over $100,000.00 per year for our World Service Office.
  20. Debate
  21. Danny Falcone, Oklahoma delegate. Call for the vote.

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  1. Motion carried. Debate is closed.
  2. Vote on the main motion.
  3. Motion carried.
  4. Melvin Mercer, Los Angeles delegate. Motion that we suspend the proceedings in order to, elect a Secretary and then refer back to New Business.
  5. Chair: The only election that needs to be taken is the Conference Secretary, whose term expires at the end of this conference. The motion to suspend the rules is not debatable.
  6. Motion carries. Opposition noted.
  7. Melvin Mercer, delegate, Los Angeles. Motion to open nominations for the position of Secretary.
  8. Jeff Schacter, Vice-Chair, World Service Office Board. Nominate our current Secretary, Deneen.
  9. Rose, addict, alcoholic. Nominate Lynne Gibbons, Oregon.
  10. James McWhorter, delegate, San Gabriel/Pomona Valley. Nominate Kimberly, delegate, Alaska.
  11. Declined
  12. Vanessa Matthews, Illinois area delegate. Nominate Debbie Allen, delegate, Washington Area.
  13. John Kaid, delegate San Gabriel/Pomona Valley area. Nominate Brigid Barretta, delegate, Wisconsin.
  14. Anthony C. Joyner, Sr., Central Michigan area delegate. Move to close nominations.
  15. Motion carries. Deneen is re-elected as the Conference Secretary for a two year term
  16. Melvin Mercer, Los Angeles. Motion to refer to the Conference Committee guidelines on who can carry a vote in Conference committees.
  17. Motion withdrawn at this time.
  18. Mike Mastromonaco, Alberta delegate. Motion to refer to Conference Committee and Structure and Bylaws to limit how many years an issue can come before the Conference Committee floor to be voted on.
  19. Motion carried.
  20. Chuck McCollum, W.S.O. Board Secretary. Motion to instruct the World Service Conference and Convention Committees to include in their hotel negotiations at least one day’s rental of a VCR and monitor for the viewing of video public service announcements.
  21. Motion is carried.
  22. Chris Phillips, Trustee At Large. Motion to begin at the Conference 1999 all motions affecting structure, business and other related policies have proposed time lines for implementation included, prior to the presentation to the floor and/or subsequent passage.
  23. Standing Rule 13 provides it should be referred to committee.
  24. Motion to refer to Structure and Bylaws and Conference Committee.
  25. Motion carries.
  26. Bill Evans, Northern California delegate. Motion that the World Service Conference request that the Trustee Election Committee fill the vacant positions

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of Non-Addict Trustee and Trustee At Large at the 1998 World Service Conference or at that time explain the rationale of the continued vacancy of these positions.

  1. Charles Lewis, Atlantic North Regional Trustee. Call for a vote.
  2. Opposition noted.
  3. Motion defeated.
  4. Steve Amalotte, Southwest Regional Trustee. Refer to the Conference Committee: Because the duties of the Conference Secretary are so demanding that it warrants, maybe having a delegate assistant or Co-secretary.
  5. Call for the vote.
  6. Motion to close debate carried.
  7. Vote on main motion is carried. Opposition noted.
  8. Kevin Murphy, P.I. Chair. Motion to post Conference transcripts and/or minutes as available to the C.A.W.S.O. in such form as W.S.O. sees fit.
  9. Motion withdrawn.
  10. Jay Guzofsky, delegate, Orange County. Motion to refer to the Chips, Literature Committee to redesign “Meeting In A Pocket” to accommodate “Who Is A Cocaine Addict?” and affirms that the piece is unique to C.A.
  11. Amended to refer to World Service Office.
  12. Scott Scheeley, Minneapolis delegate. Call the vote.
  13. Motion to close debate carried.
  14. Main motion carried.
  15. Ralph Holland, Oregon/Southwest Washington delegate. Refer to the W.S.O. Office to come back next year on a budget to purchase a VCR and monitor that could be used at this Conference and the World Convention to show PSA’s.
  16. Chuck, World Service Office Board Secretary. Motion to limit debate to one more opposing position on this issue.
  17. Motion to limit debate is carried. Opposition noted.
  18. Main motion is carried. Opposition noted.
  19. Jim Chadowsky, delegate, Northern California. Motion to refer to Structure and Bylaws and/or Conference Committee provide specific language in the World Service Manual regarding the need for full-time attendance of any voting members on the Conference floor during Conference sessions, unless absence is unavoidable.
  20. Motion is carried. Opposition noted.
  21. Anthony C. Joyner, Sr., delegate Central Michigan area. Motion to refer to the Conference Committee to have an outgoing delegate participation meeting starting at the 1998 World Service Conference.
  22. Motion carried.
  23. Mark Keeser, delegate Central California. Motion prepare a budget on what it would cost to store a VCR and monitor and what it would cost to ship it to the conference and the convention.
  24. Scott Stevenson, World Service Office Board Chair. Motion to object to consideration.
  25. Chair: Motion to object to the consideration requires a 2/3 majority.
  26. Objection to consideration is carried.

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  1. Is there any other New Business for the Conference?
  2. Charles Lewis. I’d like to just take a moment of the floor’s time to thank first our two outgoing Trustees for five years of service that, as I’ve seen it.
  3. Chris Phillips, and those that have been here, some who have come back and I gotta tell you what those that have come back, you know, you’re a blessing. This is the greatest…for those of you who are questioning whether you want to come back… everybody has and this is the greatest witness of a Power greater than ourselves that you will ever experience, possibly in you life. It’s about love. It’s about service and it’s about a fellowship contained in hope, faith and courage. We don’t have a lot new to say about recovery, but by God, I think we can set the precedent for what there is to say about fellowship here. I want to thank you all for the blessing that you allowed God to give me, the channels that you all work. It has been, and remember the hula hoop. Bye.
  4. John Henson, Thank you for letting me be of service. My God, you’ve helped me to stay sober for five years and you’ve given me a gift that whether I keep comin’ back or not, I’m definitely gonna pass it on. And I’ll never forget this experience and each one you, I love y’all. Thank you.
  5. Charles: Our other outgoing Trustee made a statement that Cocaine Anonymous was not vehicle that saved his life. There is some responsibility to those that are members of this fellowship. The Trustees Chris and John is paying some of that responsibilities by serving. This other gentleman served strictly out of his love, care and compassion for our fellowship. With that I’d like to thank Frances and ask him to come up, please. (applause)
  6. Frances: All I can say is thank you very much for who you are and the kind of hope you give the world and inspiration you give to me, because I pass on what you have.. what you’ve given to me to lots of people and um…not on a daily basis, but on a frequent basis, I’m always trying to help people who need to get into recovery and you’ve been recovery and you really show me the way. I think the longer I’ve been involved with Twelve Step spirituality, the more I get a mouth on me. (laughter) You people taught me how to say the “f” word. And while it’s not nice, it’s very expressive to use. I.. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have been a Trustee for three years, to be with the various Trustees that were there and rolled off, the ones that are on this particular board. I probably have made of faux pas or mistakes or didn’t know this or that Tradition or Concept, but I learned a lot from you and I…I bring it back to my community. We just had one of our monks leave a few weeks ago and we had this group of therapists that I went to see, who were his therapists, and I went and he came… they came to a kind of a good-bye session, if you will, a group therapy session with the monastery and this monk, and after the session, the therapist who was with us says, “You’re a real healthy group.” And I think we’re healthy because of the kind of healthy things that happen in the fellowship that has rubbed off on me and then rubs off on the monks, so I don’t know how to say that exactly, ‘cause I can’t give you absolute direct credit. I guess I have to give our Higher Power the direct credit but God used you to help me to help the monks to get our shit together. (applause)
  7. Charles: I want to thank the floor for indulging me. I’m in a thanking mood, so I want to thank all the delegates for allowing these Trustees to be of service to

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them. I also want to thank the Conference officers for doing a yeoman job this year. Thank you. (applause)

  1. We do have one remaining item of business on our agenda and that is the announcement of the 1998 Conference site and dates. The site of the 1998 Conference will be the Red Lion, Culver City. It’s September 2nd through September 6th, 1998, which is the week that begins just before Labor Day weekend, as always. All right, thank you for that information.
  2. Jim Chadowsky, delegate, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to a member of this fellowship for six years of service on the P.I. Committee, the last two as Chair, and uncounted hours in building our website, and that’s Kevin Murphy. (applause)
  3. Kevin: Thank you. Every hour I spend on that website is an hour I would not have without this fellowship.
  4. Jay Guzofsky, I have two things to bring to the floor. Number one, I invite all of you to do whatever you can to come to Irvine and celebrate the convention with us, and secondly, I want to bid a fond farewell to our friends who will not be joining us next year. You have become cherished friends to myself, as well as to others. Your presence will be missed and you will be in our hearts forever.
  5. Would the gentle Chairlady please entertain a motion to adjourn?
  6. Motion is carried.

End of 1997 World Service Conference.

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