Aug 31, 2016 – Day 1 – Daily Summary – WSOB Opening Report

Posted on by caws.archivist

Tim A. – Read opening comments from the report. A PowerPoint presentation was shown.

World Service Office Board

2016 World Service Conference Opening Report

Submitted by: Tim A., Chairperson

Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve as the Chair of the World Service Office Board.

Our board has been hard at work on many projects throughout the year. We are excited to announce C.A.’s new Special Edition meditation book, A Quiet Peace. We will have these numbered books available for sale at the CAWSO table.

The new CA website was launched successfully earlier this year. We are very excited about the new look and continue to making changes daily as this is an ongoing work in progress. Thank you to all those who have helped and continue to help make this one of our most effective tools for the fellowship and to the addict who stills suffers.

We have reviewed and implemented new Royalty agreements. We updated the cost to be comparable to today’s expenses and extended the term to 5 years.

CAWSO has implemented many cost saving practices over the past few years under the guidance of our very competent Treasurer.

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  • We have purchased a copy machine that allows us to produce all our pamphlets, guidelines and other printed items at a huge savings over the next 5 years.
  • We have switched Internet and Phone providers to save approximately $250 monthly.

We would like to Thank Kim S. and her Sweet Home Chicago Convention Committees for a very successful 2016 World Convention. We also look forward to another Fabulous Convention in 2017 hosted by our “Spoonless in Seattle” fellowship.

Thank you to Heidi J. for all of her hard work and dedication to the NewsGram. Another Thank you to our former Director Chris J., Former WSOT Frank P and Former Chair Scott S. for their great contributions throughout the year.

Board Members:

  • Kevin M. – Director at Large
  • Laurie R. – Treasurer
  • Allison M – Director at Large
  • Randy M – Secretary
  • Open – World Service Office Trustee
  • Morgan T – Director at Large
  • Ira L. – World Service Trustee
  • Alesia F – Director at Large
  • Linda F. – Director of Operations

Referrals we have worked on throughout the year:

2015 CON-3

That the committee consider offering a basic registration and 4-5 shared room nights for a designated representative from the Archive Committee to oversee the Archive display chain of custody, display set up and tear down. This would ensure the safety of the archive items and provide assistance to the convention archive chairperson. Thank you for your consideration.

Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSOB is not tasked with setting the budget for the archives committee, and are forwarding this to the archive. However, being that we are moving to an electronic archive display, the office board will be recommending that this is not necessary for future conventions.

2015 LCF-2

Please create an “A Quiet Peace” app! This would be a great revenue-producing opportunity for the fellowship! –

Response: Thank you for your referral. We will consider your proposal. However, at this time you may purchase A Quiet Peace as an eBook.

2015 LCF-7

Our first step refers to “drugs and alcohol” instead of mind altering substances. WSO once approved this translation. We think it’s important to translate the text as meticulous as possible. The appropriate translation is ”….cocaine en alle andere geest-veranderende middelen…..”

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Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSO is currently in the process of having the translation of HFC II reviewed and final edits made by the German fellowship. We will pass this on to them and the company that does our translation review and ask for their comments and/or agreement.

2015 LCF-8

A very important reading has been omitted from the Newcomer booklet – “who’s a C.A. Member”. Although this reading was not yet written when the original booklet referral was made, it seems a glaring oversight. Please add this at the beginning of all future printings of the Newcomer booklet! Thank you.

Response: Thank you for your referral and for bringing this to our attention. We will include “Who is a CA Member” in the next printing of the Newcomer Booklet.

2015 PI-2

I do not see a Toll Free number listed on CA.org. Suggest we get/post a Toll Free number for inquiries to CA.

Response: Thank you for your referral. The 800 number is listed on our new website.

2015 PI-5

Anonymous began in Los Angeles in 1982, and has since expanded throughout the United States and Canada, with groups now forming in Europe. Change to read: Cocaine Anonymous began in Los Angeles in 1982, and has since expanded throughout the United States and Canada, with groups now forming on six continents. Reason: We have expanded to more than just Europe, and our website should reflect this.

Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSO and the PI committee are working on updating all the content on the website and the language that you refer to will be included.

2015 WSOB -1

Has the office ever considered doing a “buy back” on old pieces of CA literature. Our Area has meeting with literature that has the WS Office Address clear back to 3 addresses ago! This could be done by having area’s send in the old literature, and possibly the WSO sending them back the same amount of pieces in the updated versions.

Response: Thank you for your input. We are assuming that you are discussing the pamphlets that were purchased some time ago. At this time the WSOB has not considered a “buy back” of older CA literature given the cost of shipping if nothing else. However, we are discussing the printing out of labels which can be affixed to the pamphlets covering the old addresses.

We would like to hear from you about the “3 addresses ago” since we can only recollect two reaching back into the early 90’s. The WSO was at the Overland address (suite number changed) until we moved to our current Long Beach address. Some of this literature may be worth having for Archives.

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Last, have you considered packaging up the literature in small units and auctioning them off at a local convention or event?”

2015 WSOB -2

In translating the name “Cocaine Anonymous”, there have been some varying translations of the name such as “Cocaine Addicts Anonymous”, etc., we would propose that for any future we use the following as to NOT have a mistake in the translation to also be added to the Translation Procedures: In translating the name: Cocaine Anonymous — we (CAWSO) always use the NOMITAVE (NOUN) VERSION of the Word “Cocaine” and Anonymous as it is translated by the Alcohol “Anonymous” group.

Response: We assume you mean “nominative” and will review translation guidelines (WSO internal) to see how the names are represented. However, we are not at all expert in translation to other languages and rely on local fellowships as well as our translation reviewers (professionals) to get it right.

2015 WSOB-3

Please arrange for the purchase of a protective cases for all archive Items, many of which are 1-of-a-kind, displayed at the WSO. Thank you.

Response: Thank you for your referral. All archives that are received into the office are handled with archival procedures and materials. In addition, all items on display at the WSO are protected and displayed with due care with the understanding of the importance to our fellowship.

2015 WSOB-4

We would ask that the Translation Guidelines add the following information: In the English language Cocaine Anonymous World Services has accepted the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, 12 Concepts of Service, much of the Meeting Format and certain Big Book references (i.e. The Promises, A Vision For You etc.) as they were first given to us by Alcoholics Anonymous. The AA fellowship has a whole department dedicated to the translation of these documents and any such ALREADY TRANSLATED MATERIAL should first be accepted as translated so that we can:

  1. Promote Unity with OTHER Fellowships and let the newcomer know we are similar and they can quickly understand our differences with the minor changes that exist between our same literature.
  2. Have a similar and congruent tone to make a possible transition from one fellowship to another with less “weirdness” in hearing those “borrowed from” lines sounding the same and/or similar.
  3. Diminish the possibility of any “Personal” biases an individual may have with already translated material.
  4. Making the cost of translation of those items quickly, easily and less cost to the fellowship.
  5. Making the availability of those items of literature quickly available to that language’s people as “some” of the work has already been done. This is in no way meant to hamper or deter any “OBVIOUS” doubts the translator may have. If they choose to deter from already translated norms, then such items should be discussed and changes made by more than ONE individual.

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Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSOB and WSO will review existing Guidelines for Translations. The WSOB and WSO do not have a timeline for this review but will work towards completing this project as soon as practicable.

2015 WSOB-5

Make a quality number sticker of the ca logo that doesn’t peel off like cheap paper.

Response: The WSO was unaware that the logo sticker failed to work well. We will review our current stock and also see if there are better alternatives. Some stock (of stickers) will not work as well when they are old (even if not printed on) so we will try and keep our stock down to manageable levels to avoid this problem.

2015 WSOB-6

Please sell Big Books and 12 @ 12 on the online store. This would help better serve the fellowship with one stop shopping.

Response: Thank you for your referral. At this time the WSOB does not believe it best serves the Fellowship to sell materials from other Fellowships on our online store. We are not a “serenity shop” but use the online store to facilitate distribution of our materials and also as a means to raise funds for our purpose. Also, in many cases (areas) the cost of buying from the local offices of AA would be cheaper than buying from CA given the cost of shipping.

2015 WSOB-7

That the chosen Conference theme be used in all communications between the WSO and delegates regarding the Conference. The Unity Committee works hard to come up with a unifying theme for each Conference, yet I don’t see it incorporated in documents from the WSO. I would hope that the CAWSO would be the first to acknowledge the importance of Unity. Kindly correct this glaring oversight.

Response: Thank you for your referral. Although the Conference Committee is generally responsible for the content of the materials distributed we have communicated with the Committee your concerns. The Theme for the 2016 WSC “Unity Strengthens Our Community” has been included in the letter to all attendees. The WSOB believes this adopts your suggestion but is willing, in the spirit of Unity, to hear any additional comments or criticisms about this issue. The WSOB agrees that the Theme should be present in all Conference communications.

2015 WSOB-8/9

I am concerned with the fact that the WSOB chair is given his/her own room at the Conference and Convention. This is now given even when there is not an odd man out situation. I’d like us to go back to honoring the inverse pyramid please and do away with this practice which makes no sense to me at any level. Please re-examine. Thank you.

Response: The policy for all WSOB members regarding room assignments is that each member must have a roommate or pay for half of the room if they desire or need a room to themselves. The exception is the “odd man out” rule which simply means that if there is a single man or

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woman left after assigning the roommates they get a single room by default. This does not mean the Chair, or any other member, automatically gets the single room. In cases at the Convention where a Chair had a room to his or herself the Chair reimbursed CAWSO for the one-half room not assigned to a WSOB/WSO or WSBT member. The only officer that “gets” his or her own room is the Treasurer at the Convention and, even then, if a roommate can be fitted into that room (the individual must meet the requirements of handling money at the Convention) then they will be assigned a room. This policy has not changed.

2015 WSOB-10

Please consider sending WSOB officers to do a tour of the European region in a similar way that officers from the board did a tour of CAUK 7 years ago. This was a great inspiration for members to understand the service structure and brought people into service in our Area. I feel that this could not only been benefit CAUK but the whole of the rapidly growing European region.

Response: Thank you for your referral. Such a visit has been informally discussed among WSOB members in the past but budget concerns have precluded such a visit. However, the WSOB will consider in the next month (August 2016) during its Budget review meetings whether such a visit by one or more WSOB officers can be done at a reasonable cost since we also believe such visits are of benefit to not only the European Region but CA as a whole.

2015 WSOB-11

Please consider assigning a member of the board to sit on WSCITC to be our point of contact so as to better aid communication between the committee and the practicalities of our IT services. I think the time needed to sit on the committee would be minimal however it would be beneficial so as we could know what and how things work. I feel it would benefit the committee and the conference to have a member of the board sit on our conference calls throughout the year. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Response: Thank you for your referral. Since late last year a volunteer member of the WSOB has been on the WSCITC calls and stayed in touch with the members of the Committee. The WSOB recognizes this Committee as being a very important part of the service structure in this day and age.

2015 WSOB-12

To review the CA hotline number status and functionality.

Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSOB has recognized the problem with the Hotline number and functionality for some time. Workable solutions have been limited until recently. One volunteer member of the WSOB has been tasked in the last two months to work with other interested volunteer members to seek out a workable method of providing important information to callers to our hotline. While a timeline has not been established as of this response (July 2016), we hope to have it in place as well as a completed product working as soon as possible.

2015 WSOB-13

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As a member of the h&i committee and corrections referrals we like to request a beginners booklet that contains some few already approved literature to be geared towards someone Incarcerated. Possibly a meeting format. And without staples. Due to the increasing demand for literature from inmates I think it would be a great idea to have one piece of literature to send out for them. Thanks!

Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSOB H&I Committee and WSO staff will review all available materials to see what kind of booklet can be produced. It will most likely be something like the newcomer booklet but may need some additional contributions from members to focus on the incarnated individual. The WSOB H&I Committee representative to the WSC H & I Committee will review with them ideas on this project at the 2016 WSC.

2015 WSOB-14

Please consider adding the last revision date for each piece of literature to the order form so our members can easily tell whether they have the most recent Conference-approved version available. This will help insure that our groups are carrying the current message of C.A. and should help generate sales as out-of-date inventory is replaced. Thank you.

Response: Thank you for your referral. The WSOB has already placed a revision date on the bottom of each individual pamphlet and the revision date is listed on the order form that goes out with ever order, and will be posted on the online store website.

DIRECTOR REPORTS

Laurie R., Treasurer

It’s been an honor and privilege to serve as the WSOB treasurer over the past three years. I have completed my commitment and am rotating out as of the close of this conference. I have grown tremendously during my term, both personally and professionally by sharpening my accounting skills and discovering skills I didn’t know I had!

I have spent most of my time from the close of last year’s conference to the beginning of this year closing the old quickbooks account, transferring all the office data, and setting up a new quickbooks file to facilitate the change of the fiscal year end to the new calendar year. We changed the layout of the chart of accounts and profit & loss statements which we believe to be a better layout and easier read for reviewing and evaluating our financial reports.

The rest of my time has been spent preparing and analyzing financial statements, reporting monthly to the WSOB and WSBT, attending board meetings and B2B meetings, communicating with the CPA, coordinating filing of tax returns, preparing the books for year-end closing and transmission to the CPA, and continually looking for ways to cut costs and improve efficiency. I also had the pleasure of working in the treasury room during the CAWS 2016 convention with co-treasurers Mitch and Bobby and I was grateful to have also enlisted the help of Kerry W. from Houston, Texas , Maya B. from Utah, and Jason S. from Seattle!

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On the financial front, the office has had another very good year so far. With the proceeds from this year’s convention, we were able to replenish to publication fund back to $25,000 and fully fund the prudent reserve which is now at $119,000 (three months operating costs and three months inventory costs). I fully expect this year to end on a positive note with a positive net income. As I rotate out, I will do whatever I can to assist the office and new treasurer in making the transition as smooth as possible.

A special thank you to the current WSBT, and to Russell, Kenny, Terry, Brian & Kathy-Jo, who had enough faith in me to let me do what I needed to do to get the job done! I thank you all for letting me be of service.

Sincerely,

Laurie R.

WSOB Treasurer

Randy M., Secretary

I was elected to the World Service Office Board in January of this year. I was ratified by a vote of the Board of Trustees in March. I was elected as Secretary of the board that same month.

During my time on the board I have primarily been involved with recording the minutes of the board’s action. I have attended all of the board’s meetings, and have recorded and published the minutes for the seven month’s since my election.

I have also volunteered to be the WSOB representative to the CAWSO Archives Committee. I have attended several Archive committee meetings, have logged items for the archives and have worked with the committee chair to plan future committee tasks.

I also attended this years’ CAWS Convention in Chicago, and participated in registration activities, logging new registrations daily into the registration software. Continued to be of service throughout the convention wherever I could help.

Respectfully submitted,

Randy M.

WSOB Secretary

Morgan T. – Director at Large

This is my final Conference after three years as a DAL on the World Service Office Board. It has been an honour and, when I’ve remembered to let it be, a pleasure to serve the fellowship this way although, as I’ve said many times, this commitment had done far more for me than vice versa.

I have attended our regular board meetings in Long Beach, carpooling down with Richard L our former chair two Thursdays a month, then more recently once a month with our treasurer- thank

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you Laurie- I couldn’t have done this without you! I’ve participated in all the online business, skype meetings and phone calls possible.

This year I have again sat on the PI committee and it has been exciting to witness the great progress being made there over these past few years. I hope that this vital work only continues to gain momentum.

I’ve attended CA meetings in LA, SFVCA, SGPVCA, Oakland, San Francisco, New York, Denver, London and Amsterdam. I can’t wait to keep adding places and friends to that list. Thank you CA.

ILAS,

Morgan T

WSOB Director At Large

Alesia F – Director at Large

I came on the board as a DAL in February. I have worked on the WS unity committee and conference committee. I attended the convention in Chicago and worked in memorabilia and registration. I have worked on referrals this past couple months. I have been in the office working on conference related things. I am very happy to be on the board and looking forward to doing more projects and thank you for having me.

Respectfully submitted,

Alesia F

WSOB Director at Large

Allison M. – Director at Large

It is with great honor and pleasure to accept the Director at Large (DAL) for WSOB position which recently occurred this month. I have been attending the WSOB board office for the past year and have learned immensely the day to day operations of the Office and all the decision making process from a board committee level.

I have 21 years of sobriety; San Fernando Valley (SFVCA) was where I originated my roots in service and meetings at. I eventually ventured out to San Gabriel Pomona Valley (SGPVCA) where I moved to and have continued with the fellowship there.

This will be my first conference attendance and I am truly excited to be a part of it. I am thrilled to be a part of WSOB and I am excited to see the journey God has for me and the WSOB group.

Thank you,

In love and Service,

Allison M.

WSOB Director at Large

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Kevin M. – Director at Large

I have been attending meetings for the last few months and was ratified as a DAL last Sunday. I attended the Board-to-Board meeting on Monday and the Conference starting today.

My background is 25 years of service work at meetings, district, area, online and world in my 28 years of sobriety. I hope that I can be of service to the World Service office. I also hope the meetings slow down soon. I am coming back after a 5 year break and am very much looking forward to being of service again.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin M.

WSOB Director at Large

Ira L. – World Service Trustee – See Trustee Report.

Linda F. – Director of Operations

This is my sixth CAWS Conference and we are excited to return to this wonderful venue once again, the Sheraton Gateway! Also, I would like to thank you for the privilege to continue to serve you while allowing me to continue to learn and grow. It is always my pleasure to work with many of you in different capacities and I look forward to meeting others for the first time. This is just one more incredible step in my journey of working with Cocaine Anonymous and the World Service Office.

  • Our office continues to serve you with a very small but extremely dedicated staff:
    • Although, all our staff is small we are able to get an amazing amount of work done.
    • If you have ever been around me when someone asks – what is the World Service Office? You will hear me explain, “CAWSO is the business side of a 12-Step Recovery Program. We are responsible for making sure that we have chips, metal coins, literature (over 24 pamphlets along with other publications), books and tons of other miscellaneous items available to all our Regions, Areas, Districts and Meetings throughout the world.” This is done with our hard-working dedicated staff:
      • Customer Service is currently provided by Adrianne L and Sheila H
      • Shipping and Warehouse chores are done by Nicole B.
      • Our bookkeeping is done by Frank C.
      • Our IT Consultant is Marius S.
      • Our Webmaster is Cameron F
  • Have you visited the new Website yet? Did you notice you can make either one time or reoccurring donations! 
  • Remember when “A Quiet Peace” was introduced…This year we are excited to introduce not just one – but two exciting new books that are available for sale here at the conference…
    • We are happy to announce –A special Commemorative Edition of the “A Quiet Peace”

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      • The distinctive cover of this beautiful limited edition features a textured blue faux leather with silver lettering as well as silver foil edged pages. The cover opens to an onion skin hand numbered page also includes a white satin ribbon page marker and comes in a handsome raised gloss printed gift/display box.
      • We have only 1050 issues printed and each one will sell for $35.00 ea. Or $420 a case of 16 books (a 25% savings)
    • Also, available for sale at this conference will be soft cover books of the first volume of Hope, Faith and Courage. Because of a printing error (by the printer)…these are the latest edition with an old cover. We are offering these books for H & I use for only $2.50 each or a case of 28 books for only $52. Plan to carry or have some shipped home before you leave conference!
    • Our inventory of Books available as eBooks continue to grow on both Kindle (Amazon) and Nook (Barnes and Nobel). (Adding all books in English and other languages.)
    • Who has not gotten one of our new Sobriety Chips? – Available in 13 different colors!
      • These make great gifts for your sponsors, your sponsees or yourself.
      • In order to be able to offer these to you at the reasonable cost of $20 ea. Or 3 or more for only $15 each. They are made to order. So they will arrive to you directly from the manufacturer and usually takes about 10-12 business days to receive.
    • We are open for Business: If you wish to place an order of either of the two new books or other chips and literature for your area to have shipped home or delivered to the hotel…please pick up an order form from the WSO table. Items will be shipped the first week of September (and will include shipping and handling).
      • The WSO Store was open earlier this afternoon and will only be open Thursday, and Friday at the lunch and dinner breaks – so please plan to shop early and often!
      • If you wish to place an order from the WSO (order forms are available in the Conference Office) – please turn in your order by Dinner Break on Thursday to have your order delivered to you at the hotel on Friday. Any orders turned in on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be shipped to you.
  • CAWSO continues to work on Translation projects…
    • Currently we continue have translations from English into Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Danish, and Farsi.
    • Just this last year:
      • Portugal in addition to have translated of 22 of our 24 pamphlets; we have just ordered chips from Newcomer to 10 years in Portuguese.
      • German Chips from Newcomer to 10 Years.
      • Danish Chips from Newcomer to 10 Years,
    • Hope, Faith and Courage II is currently in the final proof read from the German fellowship.
    • The new mediation book “A Quiet Peace” is currently being translated by the local groups from Sweden, Germany and Montreal
    • Our work continues with local groups to get as much of our literature translated in all languages to continue to help the addict that still suffers.

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  • Under the careful eye of our Trustees, we continue to work with our trademark attorney to be sure we stay current with all our trademarks, registrations and licenses.
  • Our relationship with the Volunteer Center continues to provide us with volunteer help for both the office and the warehouse.
  • This year the National Association of Drug Court Professional (NADCP) was once at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California.
    • Trustees Duane M. and Rob W. along with members of PI Committee (John O., Melissa w. and Darlene L) worked together to give our information and HFC II books to over 250 people who work directly in the Drug Court Systems.
    • A special thanks to Public Information Committee Members and Past WSOB Members Richard L., Elizabeth S. and Tom P for their help at this year’s Drug Court.
    • Drug court continues to be exciting and continues to be more productive each year.
    • Next year – NADCP 22st Annual Training Conference will be back in at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, MD, July 9-12
  • Since the last conference, I am happy to report that the CAWSO has opened our doors to the Archive Committee on several occasions to host work days to begin the process of taking inventory, logging and packaging C.A.’s archive for preservation (to date approx. 100 boxes have been secured).
  • We have been very busy this year helping new meetings get started. 57 Starter Kits have been sent out from the World Service Office since January of this year. Yahoo!
    • 47 in the United States to 22 different states.
    • 4 Inmate Starter Kits
    • 6 to other countries including Angola, Australia, Austria, and Canada,
  • Working with the H & I Committee – we have sent out 40 inmate letters and kits, 4 Inmate Starter Kits and 5 H & I Outreach (Rehab) Kits. We continue to help to the addict that still suffers.
  • The WSOB and I wish to acknowledge and thank the Midwest Region for hosting 2016 CAWS Convention in Chicago, IL. Who was there! A good time…right!
    • A special thanks to the Convention Chair; steering and general committee members in addition to all volunteers who helped put together this wonderful event. “Sweet Home Chicago” was truly the theme that played out at every event, every meeting, every dance, and everywhere you looked! This was truly a wonderful CA Convention with Fireworks! Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you to everyone who worked very hard to provide a truly memorable convention experience!
  • Who is ready to “Go Spoonless in Seattle” – for another 4th of July Convention for 2017? Mark your calendars today for Friday, June 30 – Tuesday, July 4th 2017 (Please mark your calendars at the start date is a little later to include the 4th of July!) The CAWS 2017 Convention Chair and Committees are very busy planning many wonderful new and exciting events to make your Seattle experience one of a kind! With a great Hotel selected and many wonderful activities this committee is working to make your visit to Washington State “wanting you to keep coming back!” Plan to make this event one holiday of independence just for you…so we are looking forward to being with you in Seattle in 2017.
  • 2018 CAWS Convention in Montreal, Quebec – CANADA…with a Chair selected along with their steering committee – this convention will be one you will definitely want to attend.

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The committee has even done the homework for our fellowship – if anyone is unsure how to get the proper paperwork to cross the border – just ask! My understanding is that their traditional “Countdown” is truly something you will want to witness and participate in! But you will have to come to see for yourself…as they are not sharing their secret!

  • 2019 CAWS Convention in Sweden…Get your Passports ready…with their steering committee selected this committee is working nonstop to make sure your trip to Sweden is Wonderful! This committee is busy making hotel visits as well as working on fundraising and putting together the necessary volunteers to ensure your memories will last a lifetime!

Respectfully submitted,

Linda L F.

Director of Operations

NEWSGRAM EDITOR REPORT

AUGUST 2016

HEIDI J.

To the 2016 WS Conference:

It is my pleasure to serve as your NewsGram Editor. I took this position in 2011, and it is a wonderful commitment for me. It allows me to stay in contact with addicts all over the world!

Here is the NewsGrams Statement of Purpose from the NewsGram Guidelines approved on 3/22/2007:

The Cocaine Anonymous NewsGram is a quarterly publication of the C.A. World Service Office Board. Its purpose is to be both informational and inspirational, and to help foster a sense of unity throughout our increasingly diverse worldwide Fellowship. The NewsGram should keep the Fellowship informed about upcoming C.A. events, important developments occurring at the World Service Conference, and significant actions taken by the World Service Board of Trustees and World Service Office Board. The NewsGram should also communicate a message of hope, faith and courage by publishing articles from members sharing their experience with recovery, unity and service in C.A. The overall content should convey the experience, strength, and hope of its contributors and reflect a broad geographic spectrum of current C.A. experience. Articles are not intended to be statements of C.A. policy, nor does publication of any article imply endorsement by either C.A. or the NewsGram.

Most importantly, the NewsGram is YOUR publication! We need your input in what you’d like to see changed, added, taken out, articles you’d like to see, etc.

Submission Category Responsible Contributor(s)
7th Tradition Report WSO

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Submission Category Responsible Contributor(s)
Articles re: Concepts of World Service WS Delegates, WSOB and WSBT
Articles re: Recovery Experiences C.A. Fellowship
Articles re: Steps, Traditions and Principles C.A. Fellowship (incl. Delegates and Trustees)
Calendar of Events WSO/C.A. Fellowship
CAWS Convention Host City/WSC Convention Committee/WSO
Financial Information WSOB
H&I Corner WSC H&I Committee
Note from the WSO or WSOB WSOB Chair/Office Staff
WSC Committee Corner WSC Committee Members
Trustee Corner WSBT NewsGram Subcommittee
God Shots Members of the CA Fellowship

Any and all members of our Fellowship can write an article for the NewsGram. And, if you think can’t write, call me on the phone and dictate your article to me! It’s my job as editor to help you clean it up for publication. We want stories on Recovery, Service, Conventions you’ve attended, how C.A. has changed you, the history C.A. of your Area, how H&I moved/changed you, what your sponsor did, or how you sponsor someone, how God moves over your life. We also accept poems, jokes, cartoons, puzzles, or God Shots. Here, in my hand, are copies of our Release Form. If you think you’d like to write an article, please see me and I’ll be happy to give you one. I will collect them this weekend. I can contact you during the next year with NewsGram themes, and perhaps you could write something for us.

Here are some of the locations that I have received articles from in the past year: South Africa, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Three Areas in Canada, and about 15 Areas in the USA. Please keep those international articles coming…Our Fellowship loves to hear what’s going on internationally.

The committee consists of members of the Fellowship in different Regions who solicit articles for me, people who help me proof the NewsGram, office members, my husband Bob L. (whether he wants to be on the committee or not), the NewsGram Trustee Yves W. and myself. I also have assistance from members of the WSO and WSBT who send out e-mails to solicit articles for the NewsGram I have a great deal of assistance from the Chair of the WSO and our DOO, Linda F.. I should say that it does take approximately 40 hours to put together a NewsGram issue. First I send out e-mails to about 35 people; about 3-4 weeks later I send out another flurry of e-mails. Then, I send out nagging e-mails. About this time I get a few articles and I start to panic, and send out begging e-mails. When I get at least 4 articles, I start to put the issue together. That

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means editing all articles, upgrading the Events page, entering the 7th tradition information, and gathering different “ad” types of items. As this is going on, I’m still receiving articles. When I have all of this together, I start to assemble the issue. When everything is placed, I then have to go through and see what “empty spaces” I have to fill. Sometimes I add pictures of literature, or items the WSO has for sale, sometimes I put in a quote, sometimes I get someone to write a 100 word article. When this is all together, I print the issue so I can see what it looks like printed. I proof it all again. I send it to two other people who help me proof it (they are other members of our Fellowship). When I get all their corrections back, I send it to the WSOB for approval. They make a few changes/corrections. When they tell me it’s approved, I send it on the WSBT where they check it for Tradition violations (sometimes they have a correction or two as well). When they have approved it, it goes back to the Office for printing and distribution. Then I get to take about a 4-week break and start that process all over again.

Here’s what the NewsGram needs from you:

  • Each region could have a NewsGram Delegate. That is someone I contact each quarter, which then solicits articles from their Region.
  • I would love suggestions for future “Themes” of the NewsGram.
  • Submissions. They can be from members of the Fellowship, Delegates, Committee Chairs, Trustees, WSO Board members and former members of the WSBT, WSO, and Delegates. They can come from members of your fellowship. They can come from members of our fellowship that are incarcerated. Along with the submissions needs to be release forms.
  • WS Conference Committee Chair persons should fee free to write an article in the next year for the NewsGram, so our membership knows what goes on in each committee.
  • It would be great if each Conference Committee wrote 4 “Committee Corner’s” for the next four NewsGram issues. So far, Unity, Finance and Archive have been the most active. They don’t even have to be typed! Just written out on paper, even on the back of the release form. I’ll type them for you. I can collect them this weekend.
  • I would like to have committee rosters, so that I can contact members of the Fellowship to solicit articles. You can e-mail these to me at newsgram@ca.org.
  • If you have a favorite quote from our literature that you’d like to see in the NewsGram, please forward that information to me. I often have small spaces that are perfect for quotes from our literature.

Here are the Publication dates that we attempt to follow:

Quarter Submission Deadline Draft to WSO WSBT Review WSOB Approval and Printing Distribution to Fellowship
First 1/10 1/22 1/29-2/9 2/10-2/17 2/17
Second 4/10 4/22 4/29-5/5 5/6-12 5/18

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Third 7/10 7/22 7/29-8/5 8/6-8/13 8/17
Fourth 10/10 10/22 10/29-11/5 11/6-11/13 11/16

Since I’ve been doing this commitment since 2011 (5 years, 4 issues a year) I’ve been wondering that in the spirit of rotation that it could be time for me to give the commitment up to someone else. I love this commitment. It’s been wonderful in keeping me in touch with Addicts ALL OVER THE WORLD! It is incredibly fulfilling. So, if you would be interested in this position, or know someone who might be interested, you can ask me anytime this weekend and I’d be happy to give you more information. I would not leave the Fellowship without a NewsGram Editor, but I’d like to turn it over to someone else within the next year. I have been putting together a “Pass it On” report, and also I’d assist the next Editor until they felt comfortable with the position in any capacity that they required.

Yours in Service,
Heidi J.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Tony D. – Any question for the Board to the mic, please.

Russell S. – Thank you for this report. Typically, we get the financials with this report.

Laurie R. – Our fiscal year ended 12-31-2015. The financial report went out in the Delegate mailing in March 2016. At end of calendar year 2016, the financial report will go out again in the following Delegate mailing.

Dane T – What is included in the miscellaneous revenue?

Laurie R. – Includes royalties, shipping income (which goes out almost immediately as shipping costs) and interest income.

Stuart J. – Drug court means something different in the UK then it means in the US. I have learned this is a specific conference that Cocaine Anonymous attends at a large expense. Can you explain this more?

Linda F. – Yes, there is an expense for drug court. We pay a non-profit rate for booth space and we give away for some product. In exchange, we get contact info and leads of people looking to learn more about Cocaine Anonymous. Many of those people show interest in starting meetings in their locations. We sent info to the UK awhile back as there was a small drug court conference starting there.

Tim A. – We refer to it as ‘drug court,’ but the proper name is the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

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Stuart J. – Thank you for the clarification.

Devin R-F – The new commemorative coins, does that cost include shipping? Are bulk rates available?

Linda F. – Shipping is not included in the price. We always try to come up with the most reasonable cost for shipping. We do extensive research for shipping of bulk orders and we contact the customer about the options we have found.

Jason L. – Thank you for the report. About translation, it is great that we have books and such being translated. There are currently no translations of the World Service Manual, which makes if difficult for the fellowship to grow. There are at least 10 languages we need this translated in. Considering our finances at this time, could the Office consider professional translation instead of relying on the members of the Areas to do it?

Tim A. – Yes.

Tom P – Thank you for your service. The biggest expenses of carrying the message through literature is shipping, especially international. The technology exists for doing digital file transfer for printing in their own location at much less expense.

Laurie R. – The royalties line item is for the European Region to print their own pamphlets and pay us the royalties. We are working on this type of process for the books.

David C – Thank you for the excellent report. Pie charts quickly inform where money is at. Can these be put in The Box? Would helps us show our Areas where finances are at with CAWS.

Tim A. – Yes, we will get them uploaded.

Jim S – Thank you for the invite to the board meetings, but I’m far away. Would the board consider video conferencing for international members?

Tim A. – Yes, we do Skype in some members. We will get you the info.

John W – Is there any work happening on the European Fulfillment Center?

Tim A. – Yes, this is still a topic of discussion.

Tom P – Will these reports be in The Box?

Tony D. – Yes

Gary M – Parliamentary Inquiry. These are not in The Box

Stuart E – Point of Order, look in a different folder in The Box.

John W – At the convention, I had made a request about translation procedures approved by this body. When was that done and how can we make suggestions, changes, etc?

Tim A. – We are working on those.

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Tony D. – Thank the committee. Last for this evening is Trustee Election Committee.

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