OPENING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2019
PUBLIC INFORMATION REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
This past year the WSCPI and its sub-committees have been extremely busy and have achieved what we believe to be great results with some new innovative ideas and ways to engage with the professional community and the public at large.
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COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
Stuart J-Chair
Richard B-Vice Chair
Jon H-Lead Secretary
Christie N-Co-Secretary
Jason L-Trustee
Chris R-Trustee
David C-WSOB
Sub-committee Chairs:
Caroline H-European PI Chair
Greg B-European PI Vice Chair
Rose J-NADCP
Kimberley C-North American PI Chair
Simonne M-North American PI Vice Chair
Jonathan M-PSA/Media Outreach
Megan B -pi.ca.org PI Members Area Chair
Joanna H -PI Survey Chair
Members:
Barry H
Chris W
Michael M
Jerose G
Kelsey S
Gabriele R
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Vivian W
Keith E
Darline L
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE MATTERS WORKED ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
The Committee participated in 14 Conference Calls, including one call taking place during the World Convention in Sweden which brought the European and North American Committee members together. These calls were well attended, and a considerable amount of work achieved.
Colour the World Green, the first ever global poster campaign, was an amazing success, it took place from June 1st – June 7th. Poster
requests were placed with pi.ca.org where these were localized/customized with local Area/District/Groups contact details, email address, etc. This event fostered enthusiasm, created unity, and allowed Cocaine Anonymous’ profile to be raised with the public at large.
The WhatsApp groups have been a crucial element in our Committees functioning this past year, allowing our members to communicate freely and openly with no cost to themselves or the fellowship on a worldwide basis. Quite simply the work achieved this year would not have been possible without the use of this platform.
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The European and North American PI Committees participated in monthly conference calls. Regions throughout North America also participated in what we are calling monthly organic calls. More about this is contained in the closing report.
The 3rd annual European PI Summit and 4th annual North American PI Summit were extremely successful. These summits facilitated a significant amount of work that is being put forth in the SR14 Pack.
There was a significant amount of revisions required to the WSCPI Handbook/Guidelines. These were undertaken over a period of months with the help of experienced members from within and outwith the PI Committee and is available for the fellowship to use. We are incredibly grateful for the help we received.
Trustee Introduction Project: A letter was recently prepared by the Trustees to introduce C.A. to National Organizations, high level, professional communities. The North American and European Committees will go to their respective areas to find and provide contact information for three National agencies. These agencies include Government bodies, news, media and press agencies, and National Organizations.
The PI Rocks Roadshow was test presented in Russia, this created enthusiasm within the Russian Fellowship which culminated in them forming their first ever Public Information Committee.
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The PI Rocks Roadshow was also test presented at the Ohio Area Convention and as a result a PI Committee was formed and continues to grow. The PI Chair is now a member of WhatsApp groups and regularly participates in monthly conference calls. Their members participated in Colour the World Green, they continue to develop and share creative ideas including ways to support and encourage surrounding Districts.
Sub-Committee Reports:
European PI Sub-Committee (Caroline H):
Firstly, I must say what a delight and an honour to be elected as your trusted servant for Public Information in Europe. I have worked to the very best of my ability to inform, enthuse and unify our fellows from across Europe (and other areas) in Public information service, which I strongly believe is our primary purpose.
September 2018:
We started to consider locations for our next EuroPI summit – there was a consensus that it needed to be somewhere outside the UK.
Holland held a Share your PIzza Day in Groningen, and the CAUK festivals committee attended several music festivals across the UK with a 24 hour PI tent.
We were delighted that the Chit System was approved and the Message to Professionals leaflet has been accepted by LCF for further action.
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London UK hosted a ‘Life of PI’ event – attended by visitors from Switzerland PI committee.
I started reaching out to areas with no PI committees to see what I could do to help.
October 2018:
An initial approach to ICAAD was made – enquiring about best prices for Holland and UK events. A budget of $6000 was set aside as a line item for this CPC event so some serious negotiation was needed!
I attended the UK recovery walk and continued to reach out to Areas forming PI committees.
November 2018:
We welcomed new PI chairs from South Africa, Holland and Portugal, the Unity of this committee is growing.
We confirmed and attended ICAAD in Amsterdam, with plans to also attend London event in May 2019.
The Summit Committee continues to work with Berlin PI Unity Day Committee to arrange the 3rdEuropean Summit – the theme PI SAVES LIVES is agreed.
Cosmopolitan Magazine printed a members story with CAUK contact details.
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December 2018:
Liaison with Russian Convention committee began – we worked of forming a workshop to present at the convention – this was the birth of the PI Rocks Roadshow – a refined version is being presented to you all at WSC this week.
I started a collaborative project with North American PI Committee – the PI SUMMIT HANDBOOK – again, this is included in our SR14 pack to WSC for approval.
January 2018:
In Holland we are seeing a great take up of the PI Group Liaison Post
– as formulated in last year’s EuroPI Summit – Holland PI Chair enthuses other members by sharing her experience with us.
London Area have a conscience agreement that the PI committee can start an ‘official’ C.A. PI Instagram Page @calondonarea – a media Liaison post is created to oversee and report back to the area.
We welcomed a new Scottish PI chair to our committee.
Agenda items for our EuroPI Summit were requested and Newsgram articles were submitted.
Portugal have started giving presentations to professional communities and are planning their first ever Professionals day.
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CAUK, North West District had some awesome C.A. cards made, and gave them out at The Warehouse Project – the cards were met with great approval from wider fellowship members.
February 2018
Excitedly, we started to form plans for a summer project – a global poster campaign – our vision was that all over the world members would spend a week postering their local areas and districts. We had a vision to literally COLOUR THE WORLD GREEN
WE welcomed a New PI chair from Central UK Area, and CAUK worked with the Victoria Derbyshire programme (BBC public interest show) with a feature on mums and hidden cocaine addiction
Requests for EuroPI Summit agenda items included Professional Day guidelines and guidelines for School shares
March 2018:
I travelled to Russia and presented our fellow to fellowship PI ROCKS ROADSHOW – this was an awesome experience and a PI committee was formed there and then! Also – thank god for Google translate!
We’ve had a great initial response to our COLOUR THE WORLD GREEN WEEK – the PI members area are all set up for poster localisations – this is going to be an awesome project.
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Portugal are putting together a PI video and asked members from across Europe to share their short PI stories with them – can’t wait to see it at the Portuguese Convention in May
April 2018:
We welcomed a new Danish PI chair – their annual Unity Day is coming up and I will attend to present the PI Rocks Roadshow.
Summit plans are continuing with some difficulties but faith that as a committee we will find solutions to problems (it’s kinda what we do here!)
May 2018:
This was a bumper month for Euro PI! Starting with our 3rdEuroPI
Summit in Berlin. We worked on:
Young People Guidelines
Professional day guidelines
Pi Rocks Presentation
Pi Rocks video
PI Summit handbook
All of these items are included in our pack for consideration at WSC
Straight after the EuroPI Summit, we went to London for the ICAAD Conference – the largest Drug and Alcohol Conference in Europe. It was very well attended and undoubtedly there were great opportunities for CPC, but there are questions to be asked about
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whether it’s an appropriate and productive place for C.A. Public Information
The Danish Unity Day was a great event and the PI Rocks Roadshow was enthusiastically received – again – enthusing members into PI service.
June 2018:
Colour the World Green Week was an astounding success – please see attached report – we really want to make this a firm date in the C.A. calendar – first week of June every year will be Colour the World Green week. We need to better utilize communication systems (i.e. delegate mailings) to make sure that every member knows about this exciting opportunity for PI service.
A new version of the PI Rocks video was finalized
Polish Poster translations were started – with a view to reaching out to the large Polish communities in the UK
July 2018:
We welcomed a new PI Chair for Ireland.
Discussions have started about who would like to host our 4thEuroPI Summit – invitations are extended to all areas in Europe.
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Instead of our usual Zoom meeting we met mostly in person at CAWS2019 in Sweden – this was an absolute delight – especially being able to welcome s may international PI servants and trustees
August 2019:
In Switzerland an article about C.A. was published in a Psychiatry Journal, South Africa and Portugal are both having great success with sponsored AdWords online – we seem to be embracing the new technology – these areas are leading the way for us! South Africa also, inspired by London Area have started an Instagram page @casouthafrica and the area has approved a Facebook page – closely monitored and with a clear anonymity statement.
I started a project with Sky News – they attended an open meeting, filmed a mock meeting and interviewed members about their experience of cocaine addiction and recovery in Cocaine Anonymous. This will hopefully be aired mid-September- watch this space.
That’s about all for my yearly round up. It’s been an honour and privilege to serve alongside such dedicated and enthusiastic members across Europe.
We hold monthly EuroPI meetings via Zoom, anyone who is interested is so welcome to join – please do contact me to arrange caeuropepi@gmail.com
+447970665691
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North American PI Sub-Committee Report (Kimberly C.): Wow!! What a spectacularly year it has been for Cocaine Anonymous World Services Public Information. This year really saw the Committee put its best foot forward on so many levels. The continuing efforts of European PI and North American PI have been exciting and inspiring. Shortly after Conference last year, North American Public Information became focused on connecting all the various areas, big and small throughout the US and Canada in order to share ideas and inspiration on how to get C.A.’s message out to the Public, and to increase awareness within Fellowship. This resulted in the creation of 3 organic conference calls connecting various regions together.
- We first established a Canadian and North Atlantic call that also has participation from some Areas in the Pacific North. At one point we had every single area in Canada, as well as US North Atlantic areas, New York, Washington DC, California, Washington State, all on the phone sharing ideas from coast to coast! It was electric! This call is always on the third Thursday of the month.
- We then started an Atlantic South and Midwest call on the first Thursday evening of each month. By the second call, members had already become enthusiastic and excited about it. There has been steady participation and growth on this call. It seems that each call we get a new area involved.
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- We started the Pacific South and Southwest regional conference call. There have been two calls so far, and the participants from those areas are very eager to continue and are happy to help us try to connect with more areas in that region.
There have been no organic calls in July and August due to scheduling conflicts with World convention, as well, vacation holiday timing has made the summer calls very challenging. We will resume the Thursday evening schedules as of September. Lots of amazing things have happened as a result of these calls. One particularly memorable moment was when a newly elected PI chair in a smaller Canadian area called me after a PI organic call , with tears of relief, because prior to that call she had no idea of what PI actually did, or what she could or should do in her area. Since that call she’s formed a committee, they’ve had booths at public events, they’ve participated in poster blitzes. It has been great for the Area. It has also been very inspiring to hear members from the larger areas like New York, Montreal, Arizona, share their public information ideas with smaller, and perhaps struggling areas.
The next big ticket North American PI event was the North American Public Information Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. The event was a resounding success. The host area members reported that having the PI Summit there was very educational and inspirational for their area. The committee did excellent work that week and dealt with a great deal of very important PI affairs. Some of the benefits of the event
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include: Several important docs were updated, we gained an amazing PSA Chair , Jonathan M., from Phoenix, North America PI was able to work on a joint project with Euro PI, where the two sub committees worked together to create a PI Summit handbook to assist Areas hosting future summits, and, best of all, the initiative of our Color the World Green Global Poster Blitz was formalized!
Equally exciting was the unanimous selection of the next PI Summit venue! The 5th annual North American PI Summit will be held in Atlanta, Georgia!!!
The Poster Blitz was an amazing experience. It was the first time ever that areas all around the world were out postering and putting C.A.’s message out there. It was very exciting and inspiring to see all the participation throughout the US and Canada. However, we also learned that there were many areas and groups that had no idea about the event even though we had promoted it for months.
We learned that we had to focus on reaching out to more areas that may be not connected to World or to C.A. PI. We hope to take action on this in upcoming months.
This past year we worked to modify an all mind-altering substances stand-alone poster/banner that includes a variety of different drugs in addition to cocaine. We believe that this will be a wonderful tool to be used at our public events to let the folks know that we are not drug specific.
North America PI had a huge success with the National Association of Drug Court Professional presentation that was put on in
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Washington but our hard working and dedicated drug court subcommittee. The US presentation inspired Canadian members to form a subcommittee and research Canadian Drug Court. They are currently in the process of making contact and are waiting on a response.
Throughout North America, active PI Committees have participated in countless events, setting up booths and literature racks containing C.A. info and they have all worked diligently in getting the C.A. word out to Professionals, as well as other addicts.
Under the coordination of our fantastic pi.ca.org Chair, Megan, and Michael, the pi.ca.org page has developed a great electronic resource page! This resource was invaluable during our poster blitz and pumped out record amounts of customized posters!
Our latest PI effort, the Trustee Introductory Letter have just begun, and it has met with great support from many Areas. Again, however, we will need to put in focused effort to reach out and contact members from Areas that may not be connected with World PI as yet.
PI Members Website Sub-Committee (Megan B./Michael M./Barry H.): It has been an amazing year for the PI Members Website Subcommittee. We thank God for the opportunity to serve. We have managed to accomplish a lot with a small committee of motivated members. Special shout out and hearts full of gratitude to the members who helped us along the way; including members of the WSO, WSOB, WSBT, our WSCPI Chair, and C.A. as a whole. It
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really was a group effort, and we pulled as many resources as we could to get it all done.
Here are some of the major accomplishments:
- -Moved the website to the new address pi.ca.org
- -Created a new user-friendly ordering system interface for posters, PSAs, CHIT cards, PI Summit information, other PI materials
- -Uploaded all WSC approved posters, video PSAs, radio PSA scripts, and the current survey
- -Participated in customizing PI materials for the first ever “Colour the World Green” global poster campaign
The numbers are important, as we know. Here are some important facts and figures:
- -Total tickets raised: 93
- -Posters produced for 46 areas
- -Items produced (posters, CHIT cards etc.): around 160
- -Languages for which materials were provided PI materials: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch
Here are our projected goals for the WSO Conference 2019:
- -Research storage solutions for completed PI materials for easy retrieval by future members
- -Research how to produce professional quality, easy to customize and distribute Radio PSAs
- -Work to improve the website templates currently offered on pi.ca.org
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- -Clean up and make available the most current information (ie: fact file and other World approved materials) on pi.ca.org
We again thank everyone who helped us mature in this subcommittee from “winging it” to “getting things done.” God was truly in control, and we are his grateful servants. We look forward to whatever God has in store for us next.
WSPI NADCP Sub-Committee (Rose J, Richard B, Darline L): Attendees: Rose J (Chair) Darline L (Committee Member) Richard B (WSPI Committee Vice Chair) George M (ANR Trustee) Keith E (DC Area Delegate) Lillie L (C.A. Member) Chris W (Local Cali Area PI Chair)
This was the 30thAnniversary of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). This year’s conference, held in Washington, DC. July 14th – 17th 2019, was reported to be the largest ever in NADCP history with over 6,000 attendees.
As in prior years, logistics for the C.A. booth in the exhibition hall was handled by Linda F in the WSO. Linda worked closely with the WSCPI NADCP Subcommittee in determining the location of the booth on the exhibit floor, the amount of supplies and literature needed for the conference, the transport of the aforementioned from the WSO to DC, and the hotel accommodations and conference registration for the C.A. members attending to work the booth. Some items being used at the 2019 World Service Convention had to be brought from Stockholm to DC. Linda coordinated this transport as
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well. All collateral needed was sent to the home of the DC Area Delegate to avoid handling and storage fees charged by the facility. The assistance from Linda and the team at the WSO was invaluable. It was needed and does not go unnoticed.
The location of our booth was ideal. Adjacent to the food court inside the exhibition hall, every conference attendee going to the free breakfast encountered our booth. This gave us the opportunity to engage and make our first introduction. Literally thousands of Drug Court Professionals passed the C.A. booth over the 3 days the hall was open. We said hello to every one of them asking “Do you know about C.A.?” The informed and the curious stopped. We had approximately 400 visitors to the booth. Some knew of C.A., but many did not and wanted to learn more. 125 people completed our survey. No one left the booth without something from C.A. We gave out Fact Files, books, (Hope Faith & Courage I and II, A Quiet Peace), pamphlets, pens, and online meeting information.
This year, the requests from the Professionals went far beyond the occasional starter kit requests. There was an intense passion demonstrated for C.A. A number of Professionals living in recovery themselves requested support in their efforts with starting meetings in their areas where there are none or they felt more were needed. We had requests from others to come in and do presentations for the drug court offenders. We had request for literature to be placed at their facilities. When asked for info on meetings in their areas we
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went to ca.org and shared the locations. We had requests to be contacted by local PI members.
“The Truth from the False…12 Step Recovery…What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How It Works”. While there were many highlights at the conference this year a shining moment was this presentation. Being invited after submitting a workshop proposal during the “Call for Papers”, C.A. shared the platform with Alcoholics Anonymous for 75 minutes. In a room set for 200 people almost every seat was filled. It was an honor to share the stage with our “Dad” A.A. Keeping within our traditions, and the spirit of cooperation but not affiliation, the time was split equally. 30 minutes for each fellowship and 15 minutes for Q&A. When asked at the beginning of our presentation 40% of the attendees had not heard of Cocaine Anonymous. After the workshop ended, some of the participants came up to us, and thanked us for the informative presentation we gave. Approximately 180 Drug Court Professionals left the session knowing that Cocaine Anonymous exist. That we are not a drug specific fellowship. That we have found a solution that works that may help their offenders. That we are here to help them help those they serve. Their enthusiasm continued to be demonstrated, long after the presentation concluded, through their thanks and appreciation when they noticed and addressed us as we walked the halls of the Gaylord hotel where the conference was held.
Other Highlights:
Six Professionals from North and South Carolina requested help from Darline L (she lives in NC) to get meetings started in their areas.
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One Professional from Oregon requested help from Rose Jones (she lives very close) to get a meeting started in his area.
One Returning Professional from Kansas came to the booth requesting more of our “Meeting in a Pocket” pamphlet. She met us in 2017 at the conference where she first discovered it and loves this tool. She shares them with her colleagues and uses them to do meetings with offenders who are reluctant to go to a meeting in the rooms in the beginning.
New meetings in Maryland and Northern VA were started as a direct result of follow up by local members with professionals from those areas who attended the conference in 2017.
In summary it was a successful conference. New contacts were made. The awareness of C.A. was raised. The potential of new meetings is great. It was all good, however there is still work to be done in engaging this group who literally hold the fate and trajectory of the sick and suffering in their hands. Remember the 40% in the room who had never heard of C.A.
Survey Sub-Committee:
The 2019 survey is available at pi.ca.org. We currently have 1,795 completed surveys. Some of the statistics included in these results include but are not limited to, the Area attended, primary language, substances used, how many meetings attended per week, how the
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person found C.A., if they have a sponsor and etc. The complete results will be used to prepare the next Fact File. A few examples of these results are:
Area attended:
- United Kingdom 38.65%
- United States 26.21%
- Canada 12.55%
- Netherlands 14.95%
- Online 1.12%
Primary Language:
- English 82.04%
- Dutch 13.81%
- Swedish .97%
PSA Media Outreach Sub-Committee (Jonathan M.):
The proposal of the YouTube channel is to raise public awareness of Cocaine Anonymous. It can be used as a tool for groups to access and share PSAs easily on multiple platforms from locations worldwide. It gives us an online presence for the public and potential members, as well as specialized workers and agencies who can help spread our message, allowing people to learn about C.A., if they choose.
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Touching on ease of access to our YouTube channel, concerns may arise about maintaining our traditions and more importantly our anonymity. To minimize those concerns, there are settings within YouTube that emphasize privacy, such as disabling comments. YouTube allows its users to hide who they subscribe to and individual subscribers cannot be viewed from our YouTube page. Likes and dislikes on any particular video are also anonymous and cannot be viewed. Subscribing to and/or liking a video does not create an affiliation with C.A., nor does it create commitment.
Hotline:No report.
SUMMARY OF SR14 MATERIALS SUBMITTED IN 2019 AND WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE COMMITTEE MOTIONS LATER THIS WEEK
The committee will be putting forth the following motions:
- To approve the male version Escape Cocaine Poster.
Background: This poster is similar to the previously approved male version “Did your drug use bring you here?” and yet different enough that separate approval is needed.
- To approve the female version Escape Cocaine Poster.
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Background: This poster is similar to the previously approved female version “Did your drug use bring you here?” and yet different enough that approval is needed.
- To approve the use of a YouTube channel to be administered by the WSCPI Committee for posting of previously Conference approved Public Service Announcement (PSA) videos and other Public Information materials developed for public consumption.
Purpose of channel: To raise public awareness of Cocaine Anonymous.
Anonymity of channel: The channel can be set up so no individuals information would be shown, keeping anonymity and the traditions in place. Likes are anonymous but comments can and will be disabled.
- To approve the Public Information 2019 Fact File.
Background: This fact file has been updated to replace the 2016 version.
- To approve the Letter to the Professionals template.
Background: This has been developed as an introductory letter for use at the local level.
- To approve the “All Mind Altering Substances” Banner/Poster.
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Background: This concept came from a banner currently housed at the World Service Office. Committee members discussed having experiences where people have told them they thought C.A. was for cocaine addicts only and discussed what a great impact the “All Mind Altering Substances” banner would have on the public.
- To approve the CAWS Public Information Summit Handbook.
Background: This is the recorded experience of servants who have put together summits in the past, with a view to helping newer serving PI members to organize their future summits. Its aim is to show some of the options and ideas for content, venue, scheduling and outreach.
- To approve the PI Rocks Presentation.
Background: This is an internal fellow to fellowship presentation to enthuse members to set up local committees and get involved in Public Information service.
- To approve the Guidelines for Presenting at Schools and Young Persons Forums.
Background: Following requests for Young Peoples presentations the WSCPI Committee has developed the attached guidelines.
- To approve the Cocaine Anonymous – Professional Information and Awareness Day Guidelines.
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Background: This document contains suggestions and ideas on how to set up a day for Professionals.
- To approve the PI Rocks Video. https://vimeo.com/338970003?ref=em-share
REFERRALS:
PI 2019-01 Dawn M. Monitor of where PSA’s are being played. – In Committee
PI 2019-02 Adding additional Cities to “look for you Area” on website. – In Committee
PI 2019-03 Dawn M. Renaming PI Guidelines – After discussion it was decided to hold off until next year, a new handbook/guidelines will be written.
PI 2019-04 Editing PSA commentary – amend grammar – In Committee
PI 2019-05 David J. German PI Poster ratification – Having considered by committee, we believe it would be best if the poster be available to the whole fellowship.
PI 2019-06 Create an Area/District Manual on what CPC does. – In Committee
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PI 2019-07 Add Tradition 6 statement to all PI posters where there is editable space. – In Committee
PI 2019-08 Enquiry regarding clean time to open and or secretary a meeting. – In Committee
PI 2018-09 OSA business cards – On going/In Committee
PI 2018-10 Drug Court in Canada – On going/In Committee
REFERRALS THAT WERE FORWARDED TO OTHER COMMITTEES DURING THE YEAR:
WSOB 2019-17 Choose language option be added to ca.org.
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THE START OF THIS CONFERENCE
Stuart J -Chair
Richard B -Vice Chair
Christie N -Co-Secretary
CLOSING COMMENTS
First of all, I would like to thank all of our amazing Committee members for the work and dedicated service throughout the entire year, it has been inspiring to watch and be a part of. We look forward to any new or existing members joining our ranks this year, and being part of a wonderful, amazing, energetic Committee.
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Respectfully Submitted:
Stuart J
WSCPI Committee Chair
Trevor S. – Any questions from the floor?
John B- The PI video that was played, is it possible to have that for upload?
Stuart J – yes it will be, and it is available in the Box.
Trevor S. – Thank you PI – S&B is up!
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