Minutes
WSBT and Representatives of Co-Anon
Memphis, Tennessee
May 26,2005 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Called to Order at 10:05 a.m.
Roll Call
| Teri Knight | Atlantic South Regional Trustee | Chair |
| Bobbie Harmon | Trustee at Large | |
| Cynthia Cronkhite | Pacific North Regional Trustee | Vice Chair |
| Jackie Schickler | Atlantic North Regional Trustee | |
| Jay Finesilver | Southwest Regional Trustee | Secretary |
| Carl Warlick | Pacific South Regional Trustee | |
| John Bodkin | World Service Trustee | |
| Tony Drake | Midwest Regional Trustee | |
| Earl Henderson | World Service Trustee | |
| Present from Co-Anon: Pilar R. Co-Anon World Chair and Jackie B. Co-Anon World Secretary. Also in attendance: Bob C. WSOB Chair | ||
1. Open with Serenity Prayer
2. Opening Remarks by WSBT Chair
Welcome – this is the first time we have had a formal meeting of both boards, in the spirit of cooperation; thanks for the information you have circulated and have brought today, we look forward to opening this dialogue. We will not resolve anything today but will respond and work on these matters this summer in anticipation of the WSC.
3. Pilar Reply:
Thanks for meeting with us, this is the first meeting between the two Boards and representatives. Pilar is trying to get hard facts from the early days, there is not much that is written from the early days, most is verbal
Wants to identify the special relationship that we have and let’s try to put something more formal in writing. Co-Anon has been at every convention of CAWS except maybe one.
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At the first convention Co-Anon was there, was invited and a representative actually spoke at one of the speaker meetings at that CAWS.
Then came more formalized statement from CA’s WSBT such as: the 1997 letter from Meredith A. and the statement authored by Chris P..
We have a proposal to modify the agreement from back then, Co-Anon does not want to do their own registrations at CAWS conventions, wants CA to do that please.
We have some questions and some concerns, wants to know the WSBT view of Co-Anon today, wants to be able to cooperate and be a part of conventions.
She requested questions from the WSBT.
4. General Discussion
John: this is an historic meeting, he’s very excited to have the chance to discuss and meet on these issues:
The goal for him is to have this move forward for all time not just now. The granular level matters are important but John wants to focus on the big picture- what does it mean to cooperate by and among the two fellowships.
Pilar- one slight different is that some Co-Anons are double members and can do service in both fellowships, this path was started by Johnny’s wife.
Even a meeting once a year would be a great start- to share information on an ongoing basis- the WSO gets 40-50% of inquiries about Co-Anon – a ton of information can be investigated- this is probably true in a lot of local phone lines too.
First step is to look at how we build the relationship, they are open to any questions, they want both fellowships to prosper.
Jackie: some Co-Anon groups are opening in the UK, and some questions from across the pond, what is Co-Anon’s statement regarding CA? Answer- the Co-Anon WS will be meeting tomorrow – they do not get the cocaine addicts calling for the most part- they are not getting both kinds of calls. They are drafting their own service manual and getting the permissions they need from the AA and Al-Anon. Co-Anon World Services is working hard to get organized. Pilar will get us a copy of the Co-Anon draft WSM..
Q: how many meetings world wide, and what shifts have you seen
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Big growth in Texas in Austin, new meetings in the UK, meetings in Canada, etc Not a lot per se, but some areas growing and enthusiastic
Earl – excited about this, important to put a face to this relationship, knows John and Jan H. and their CA/Co-Anon history- he knows that at the local level in California, it works well. Mix the spirit but not the funds
Cynthia- excited and thanks them for coming to meet with us. She is also a double member, is curious to see at future point how the local fellowships cooperate; this might be something the regional trustees can do from a CA local perspective
Pilar- to answer the question about how many registrations there are typically- it depends on if there is co-anon there, no Co-Anon in Memphis, so will be smaller, in Houston next yea will be larger since there is a larger local presence there. Pilar gave some past history of how they two fellowships have worked together locally and at local conventions. Her experience is that the two fellowships can do some activities together but can keep the moneys separate.
Bob C. make sure please of the lines/distinctions between the two fellowships. There were discussions early on for hours of keeping things separate but still supporting Co-Anon.
Question about modified proposal that Co-Anon presented
Pilar responded- all other activities aside from basic registration are CA’s; Co-Anon wants just its part from basic registration- costs are the costs to make packet
Costs are costs of registration form and cost of the room. There should be a real number as to the cost of the room.
John: wants the WSBT to be involved in setting the numbers, not just the WSO and staff.
John: the relationship between CA and Co-Anon has changed since the Meredith letter. Also excited about Co-Anon now supporting international inquiries, have you considered how this might need to be done, some trade marking and legal issues abroad, a
Pilar- to answer question of Al-Ateen and Al-Anon- the kids are a division of Al-Anon,. It seems that in CA, there is an adult sponsor, they have a representative from Co-Anon who facilitates the Co-Ateen meeting; Pilar is working on the US issues first and then will tackle those abroad- there is now a big online meeting also. Also Co-Anon does not grow at the rate CA does, there is still a new age of growth upon Co-Anon, it is slower though.
Pilar asked the WSBT to consider the history between the two fellowships and to remember please that there was God in those group consciences at those times. The message has been out there, for twenty years. We need to build on that, not erase it. The details of the letter have
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changed. Perhaps “not to exceed” might be better to match Meredith’s letter in spirit.
Pilar: hard to see Co-Anon ever being capable of doing its own registration- there are a lot of details to figure out, let’s start with what is the spirit of the relationship first.
What can both boards do to further facilitate this vital discussion and to put some closure on this and other related issues?:
John: let’s continue to try to meet like this once a year- his opinion.
Pilar: perhaps the two boards could meet at the CAWS world convention each year. Also a referral may be indicated to the WSCCC that the WSCCC vice chair be the liaison with Co-Anon to communicate and liaise. Local host contact in touch with the local planning committee. Continue to work on written and oral history – some of these have been discussed. Perhaps more of this is discussed than we know about. We need to gather some of the relationship history horn past trustees. Let’s find out what really happened back then, and write it down.
Once we have the spirit of the relationship between the two fellowships, the local areas can then follow what is resolved. It does start at the world level by and among the boards.
Comment: Perhaps we can begin to write the history down as we know it. Will work on introducing and including past WSBT members
Teri will volunteer to be liaison from chair to chair for now until we can formulate a more cohesive plan on this over the summer.
Question: what to do with this year, Patty and the WSO will be the contact for this year- fair to say that Co-Anon will expect the same attention and remuneration like last year- at least ten registrants expected in Memphis.
Adjourned at 10:42 a.m.
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