Cocaine Anonymous World Service Conference 2001 Wednesday, August 29, 2001 – Day One Summary of Motions and Activities
- Conference Opens with the Serenity Prayer
- How It Works – Read by David Wyatt
- Twelve Traditions – Read by Heidi Jonathon
- Twelve Concepts – Read by Joy Hutcheson
- Introduction of the Conference Board
- Chairperson – Scott Stevenson
- Vice Chair – James MacWhorter
- Secretary – Brigid Ryan
- Roll Call
126 voting members. Quorum is set at 84.
- Chair Announcements
- Parliamentary procedure review
- Amy Beach: Challenges the chair on the use of Standing Rule 14., reads a prepared statement on behalf of the WSOBT:
The WSOBT’s appeals from the ruling of the Chair made in the 4/26/01 letter to the members of this Conference, specifically, the ruling on page 2 of that letter that states:
The definition of material that will fall under the scope of Standing Rule 14 can be found in Standing Rule 13…material that ‘…changes the WSC structure or a WSC committee structure or which has a major effect upon the WSC, a WSC Committee, the WS Manual or C.A. as a whole…’ will be held to the requirements of Standing Rule 14.
The Conference is of course bound by Standing Rule 14, which has as its clear purpose avoidance of the situation that has arisen frequently in recent years, where voluminous written material is provided to delegates and motions to approve that material are considered without giving the delegates a reasonable opportunity to read and, if necessary, study the material before making a decision how to vote.
We heartily support the decision of the Structure and Bylaws Committee at WSC 2000 to recommend that Standing Rule 14 remain in the WSM and be enforced in the future and the Chair’s resolve to enforce that Rule.
We believe that using part of Standing Rule 13 for the definition of “material” in Standing Rule 14, however, is a misuse of Standing Rule 13 and an incorrect interpretation of Standing Rule 14. It gives Standing Rule 14 a far broader reach than its terms permit or is required by its purpose.
Standing Rule 13 requires that: Any motion made under New Business (which comes at the end) at the Conference which changes the WSC Structure or a WSC committee structure or which has a major effect upon the WS Conference, a WSC Committee, the WSM or CA as a whole must be referred to the appropriate Committee prior to consideration.
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This is so that the appropriate Committee can carefully study the issue and make a recommendation to the Conference, or choose not to, before the Conference is asked to consider the issue. It does not refer to “material” at all. Our experience has shown that virtually all substantive motions can be considered to fall within at least one of the categories in Standing Rule 13.
Verbal motions that do not refer to any written material (and which are only required to be written down to ensure that the Conference is clear what the motion is before it and to ensure accurate minutes) are not “material” as the word is used in Standing Rule 14. To hold otherwise would render Standing Rule 13 completely unnecessary and impotent: if all motions that fall within any of the categories of Standing Rule 13 are not permitted without 60 days written notice to delegates, there would be no need for a special rule for those made under New Business (Standing Rule 13).
It would also mean that any substantive motion not formulated and sent to delegates at least 60 days prior to the Conference must wait another full year – to the next Conference – to be presented and a vote taken. This would render the Conference floor virtually useless and does not allow for even the possibility that it may be appropriate or necessary for any substantive motion to be considered and an informed group conscience rendered without a full year of study following Committee review at the Conference.
In addition, the term “materials” is also used in Standing Rule 21, in which it necessarily refers to written materials: “materials to be distributed to the fellowship.” It would be more rational to define materials in both Standing Rules 14 and 21 the same way, rather than to force upon Standing Rule 14 other terms from Standing Rule 13.
Thus, only written materials (and even more appropriately, lengthy written materials that reasonable could not be reviewed in detail by the delegates during the Conference given the short time period of the Conference and the other duties required to be performed during that time – admittedly a subjective standard subject to a ruling by the Chair on each item with the usual right of the Conference to appeal) ought to be considered to be within the purview of Standing rule 14. For future Conferences, we are asking the S&B committee to clarify the definition of material in Standing Rule 14.
Finally, and most importantly, it is a basic principle of parliamentary procedure that it never be used to hinder the business of the Conference.
- Dale S. Call for the vote. Seconded.
- Kevin Flaws: Point of order – The parliamentarian asked if anyone would be speaking against this motion. The person who was currently at the microphone called for the vote at that time, and no one was actually able to speak against the appeal.
- James MacWhorter: The motion to call for the vote was out of order.
- Discussion on the main appeal continues.
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- Spencer Barton: Point of Order – The parliamentarian made a statement that someone had already spoken on the motion, and would not be allowed to speak again. I don’t believe that now you can decide who can and can’t speak, since it was not made clear in the beginning.
- James MacWhorter: Reads out of Robert’s Rules of Order, that no member may speak twice. My ruling stands.
- Hal Kelly: Speaks in favor of this appeal. I believe this ruling is unnecessary.
- Jim Holder: Point of Information – if this motion to appeal passes, where does that leave us with S.R. 14 for the remainder of the conference?
- Jay Statland: Call for the vote. Seconded.
- Vote on main motion/appeal. 87 for and 11 against. The appeal stands.
- Conference Orientation and Theme – “Unity Has No Borders.”
- New Area Petitions
- Hal: Motion that South Central District of Texas has petitioned to become their own Area. Seconded.
- Discussion ensues.
- Steve Edwards: Point of Inquiry: In the interest of education, it is certainly most common to hear a motion from someone in favor of the motion. My question is that does the maker of the motion need to be in favor of the motion, according to parliamentary procedure. 25) Scott Stevenson-Yes Maker can not speak against their own motion.
- Point of Order: Kevin Murphy, we have now heard two speakers against the motion. We need to hear from someone in that district who is in favor of this motion.
- Ivan: I speak in favor of this motion. .
- Motion to close debate. Seconded.
- Please prepare yourself to vote on the main motion.
- Vote on main motion that South Central District of Texas has petitioned to become their own Area.
Motion carries with noted opposition.
- Veronica: Motion to suspend standing rule 4 for this session only in order that the original
Texas area may assume the vote of the departing delegate. Seconded.
- Kevin Murphy: Point of Information – I would ask if the term departing delegate refers to someone who has left the building or is from the previous area.
- Chair: The latter (someone from the previous area)
- Kevin Murphy: Is it the Chair’s intention to assign votes to the newly designated area?
- Chair: Yes. Both areas do meet the requirements for the proposed amount of delegates.
- John Rosa: Did the district vote for delegates before they came.
- Chair: The new area has three votes. The original Texas area came with five votes. The question is do they have enough meetings that qualify to have that number of votes. The answer is yes.
- Ivan: Yes, the district did select representation that is here in case of this.
- Tony: Point of order – is a motion to suspend the rule debatable.
- Parliamentary Inquiry – Brenda B., what would the outcome of this vote be?
- Chair: The vote that Ivan had originally carried would be proxied to the Texas area delegates. Veronica would pick up his vote.
- Please prepare to vote. Motion carries unanimously.
- Chair: Our new quorum is: 86
- John Rosa: Have we welcomed the new area into Cocaine Anonymous? (Round of applause ensued.)
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- Welcome to the South Central Area of Texas.