Dec 9 – 11, 2022 – WSBT Q4 Minutes

2022 Q4 WSBT APPROVED MEETING MINUTE

WSBT 4^th Quarterly Meeting 2022

Airport Marriot – Fort Worth,

Dallas December 9^th -11^th 2022

 

WSBT Q4 2022: Friday Dec 9^th 9am – Breakfast

Friday Dec 9^th 11am- 9pm

Saturday Dec 10^th 8am – 10pm

Sunday Dec 11^th 8am – 1pm

Moment of silence followed by the “WE” version of the Serenity Prayer Personal Sharing (approximately 5 minutes each)

Roll Call

• Richard B ANRT – present
• Chris M ASRT – present
• Sarah T ERT/WSBT Chair – present
• Johan T MERT – present
• Clay P MWRT/ WSBT Vice Chair – present
• Ruby C PNRT – present
• Aurora L PSRT/ WSBT Secretary – present
• Barry H SWRT/ WSBT Assistant Secretary – present
• Gary P TAL1 – present
• Laurie R WSOT – present
• Joni E WST – present

Readings

Reading of Twelve Traditions (Barry)

Tradition 12 & Discuss (Gary)

Concept 12 & Discuss (Clay)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS | Page No.

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WSBT Meeting Minutes |4

Chair’s Remarks
WSBT Officer Reports
Trustee Reports
WSBT Sub-Committee Reports
Trustee Conference Committee Reports
WSO Reports
CAWS Convention Reports
Place Marker / Business Items
Old Business
New Business

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Correspondence Inquiries & Responses | 13

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Referrals | 29

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Attachment A – WSBT Officer Reports | 35

Chair’s Report
Vice-Chair’s Report
Secretary Report
Assistant Secretary Report

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Attachment B – Trustee Reports with Area Questionnaires | 38

Atlantic North Regional Trustee Report
Atlantic South Regional Trustee Report
European Regional Trustee Report
Mainland Europe Trustee Regional Report
Midwest Regional Trustee Report
Southwest Regional Trustee Report
Pacific North Regional Trustee Report
Pacific South Regional Trustee Report
Trustee at Large 1 Report
World Service Office Trustee Report
World Service Trustee

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Attachment C – WSBT Subcommittee Reports	166
External Communications
Finance
International Structure & Development (IS&D)
Legal
Long Term Planning (LTP)
NewsGram
Orientation
Trustee Election Committee (TEC)
Trustee Negotiation Committee (TNC)
Trustee Outreach
World Service Conference
Attachment D – Trustee Conference Committee Reports	175
Archives
Conference
Convention
Finance
Hospitals & Institutions
Information Technology
Literature Chips & Formats
Public Information
Structure & Bylaws
Unity
Attachment E – World Service Office Reports	200
Chair
Vice-Chair
Treasurer
Director of Operations
Attachment F – CAWS Convention Reports	205
2022 Austin
2023 Atlanta
2024 Holland
2025 Phoenix

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Chairs Opening Remarks (Sarah)

Thank you, to all the of the WSBT for making the transition from Vice Chair to Chair a smooth journey. I believe we have had a gentle introduction to this quarter, I feel God has been gracious in preparation for more demanding times ahead. I look forward to this Quarter 4 meeting, and hope that we all fully participate to allow us to do the job in hand that the fellowship has bestowed upon us.

WSBT Officer Reports (See Attachment A)

Chair (Sarah)

Vice-Chair (Clay)

Secretary (Aurora)

Assistant Secretary (Barry)

Motion: to approve the WSBT Officer Reports Passed unanimously

Trustee Reports (See Attachment B)

Atlantic North Region Trustee (Richard)

Atlantic South Region Trustee (Chris)

European Region Trustee (Sarah)

Discussion on license agreements, how EUR is reporting meeting counts: Virtual, In-person, Hybrid, shipping fees when orders are broken up into multiple shipments, and appropriate expense reimbursements

Mainland Europe Region Trustee (Johan)

Regional Assembly will be in Holland to raise fundraising awareness. First regional convention will be in Portugal.

Midwest Region Trustee (Clay)

Region is asking for more regional meetings, an additional caucus and an SR-14 meeting.

Pacific North Region Trustee (Ruby)

Two areas that are considering bids for World Conventions.

Pacific South Region Trustee (Aurora)

In person events are playing a pivotal part in inspiring the regions, region continues to work on boundaries for S&B Map Project, discussion on how to best support the OSA

Southwest Region Trustee (Barry)

Regional Convention will return to in-person in April in Oklahoma, discussion on physical

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literature for H&I.

Trustee at Large 1 (Gary)

Working with meetings in Australia and New Zealand.

World Service Office Trustee (Laurie)

Discussion on office opening two new bank accounts and what they would be used for, discussion on open 2026 Convention and how bids will go to the office, discussion on outside consultant timeline, financial accounts are reconciled monthly, and reconciliation is up to date.

World Service Trustee (Joni)

Motion: to approve the WSBT Trustee Reports.

Passed unanimously

 

WSBT Subcommittee Reports (See Attachment C)

(Lead member listed first)

Finance (Laurie/Aurora/all)

LTP Finance Committee considers financial planning over the next 5-10 years.

Discussion on prudent reserve verses disaster recovery.

Legal (Joni/Barry)

All registered markers are up to date. Still waiting for South Africa, they are pending. Discussion on budget for app development, standardizing suite of legal documents (separate meeting will be set up for this), discussion on fair use policy

Motion: to start the process to register the C.A. logo in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, China, Mexico, and Peru.

Passed with minor opposition

Motion: to send a cease-and-desist letter to Amazon regarding C.A. color book. Passed unanimously

Motion: to approve outstanding fees for legal services in the amount of $7,270. Passed unanimously

News Gram (Chris/Richard)

NewsGram rotation established, Trustees will submit two articles: one that goes along with the theme, one that goes in trustee corner

TEC (Clay/Johan)

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WSBT Long-term Planning (Gary/Clay/All)

Orientation (Clay/Chris/All)

Orientation documents will be updated. Moved to next Quarterly Agenda.

International Structure and Development (Johan/Sarah/Ruby/Laurie/Gary)

Discussion on global distribution.

Motion: to motion to approve the 2 draft documents concerning the proposed Translation Policy for CA, and by that transfer them to World Services for consideration and implementation.

20221116 IS&D Motion draft preamble translations

20221116 IS&D Motion Process Literature translations Passed unanimously

Motion: for the WSBT to make the following referrals:

1. The LCF Committee of WSC to amend or change the pamphlet “Yes, you can start a C.A. Meeting” to better include current and future meeting platforms for C.A. Meetings.

2. The S&B Committee of WSC to amend the WSM to better include current and future meeting platforms for C.A. Meetings.

3. The IT Committee of WSC to explore current and future platforms for C.A. Meetings. Passed unanimously

TNC (Joni/Johan/Clay/Laurie/Richard/Aurora)

Comedian and sound agreements made for Atlanta; overflow hotel should be coming soon.

Trustee Outreach (Sarah)/Clay)

World Service Conference (Laurie/Gary)

Will propose new language for trustee responsibilities (Laurie and Joni)

External Communications (Gary/Clay)

No report. Moved to tomorrow.

 

WSBT Conference Committee Reports (See Attachment D)

(Lead member listed first)

Conference (Laurie/Gary)

Follow up regarding mailing date.

Motion: to extend the meeting to 10:00P.M.

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Passed unanimously

Public Information (Ruby/Chris)

Hospitals & Institutions (Gary/Laurie)

Literature, Chips & Formats (Barry/Aurora)

Structure & Bylaws (Johan/Joni)

Convention (Chris/Barry)

Archive (Joni/Richard)

Motion: to ask WSOB Chair to reach out to Archive Chair and get the logins and transfer ownership of Virtual Museum, Document Archives, and Cloud to WSO. Passed unanimously

Unity (Clay/Sarah)

A lot of questions about working with Conference Committee regarding Unity Breakfast. 2024 CATW Artwork Flier and Unity Liaison flier will be brought up under online business at a later time.

Motion: to close

Passed unanimously

Finance (Aurora/Richard)

Working on financial guidelines, fundraising patch, freedom fund, subcommittee working on shipping costs.

Information Technologies (Richard/Clay)

Discussion of app progress and IT handbook. WSO Chair and WSBT Chair look into data being extracted from webmasters due to GDPR.

Motion: to allot $5,000 to the IT Committee for a special worker to be the internal project manager for the app.

Passed unanimously

Motion: to approve the Trustee Conference Subcommittee Reports Minus the IT Report. Passed unanimously

 

WSBT Subcommittee Reports (See Attachment C) continued…

(Lead member listed first)

External Communications (Gary/Clay)

Motion: to approve the WSBT Subcommittee Reports.

Passed unanimously

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WSO Reports (See Attachment E)

WSOB – Chair

WSOB – DOO

WSOB – Treasurer

Motion: to approve the WSO Reports.

Passed unanimously

 

CAWS Convention Reports & Updates (See Attachment F)

CAWS 2023 Atlanta (Chris)

Looking into overflow hotel because convention hotel will not negotiate more rooms. Need to hype up fellowship to register. Fundraising also needs to be hyped up. Call the Hotel liaison they will help open room block up again for those having trouble. Rates will go up in January. Workshops need to be approved by Trustees.

1. 1. Room night capacity

i. Great Exchange Meeting program is ready 8-noon Friday

ii. Meet the Boards

iii. LTP Meeting

iv. Trustee Lunch (Tal) Dinner

CAWS 2024 Holland (Johan) Convention is on track. June 2024

CAWS 2025 Arizona (Barry)

CAWS 2026 tbc

CAWS 2026 Bid Concern (TAL) This should now be handed over to the office. Laurie will take back to office chair…three areas are willing to bid: Utah, Florida, and Scotland.

Motion: to approve the CAWS Convention Reports.

Passed unanimously

Place Marker / Business Items (items retained on agenda for every meeting)

• Copyright and Trademark Protection (Joni)

Matter No.	Country	Mark	Renewal Due
59628-0001	Canada	WE’RE HERE AND WE’RE FREE	September 30, 2027
59628-0002	U.S.	COCAINE ANONYMOUS	September 4, 2030
59628-0003	Canada	COCAINE ANONYMOUS	December 13, 2031
59628-0004	U.S.	C.A.	December 20, 2028
59628-0005	Canada	C.A.	June 12, 2032
59628-0006	U.S.	C.A. HOPE FAITH COURAGE (logo)	April 24, 2030
59628-0007	Canada	C.A. HOPE FAITH COURAGE (logo)	August 9, 2032
59628-0008	U.S.	WE’RE HERE AND WE’RE FREE	April 2, 2026

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59628-0009	Europe	COCAINE ANONYMOUS	April 1, 2026
59628-0010	Europe	C.A. HOPE FAITH COURAGE (logo)	July 26, 2026
59628-0011	Europe	C.A.	July 25, 2025
59628-0012	South Africa	COCAINE ANONYMOUS	In process
59628-0013	South Africa	C.A.	In process
59628-0014	South Africa	CA HOPE FAITH COURAGE (logo)	June 30, 2027

1. Protection for emerging Areas update
2. App copyright update
3. Cease and Desist Letter update
4. Amazon Coloring Book update
5. A. Logos on You tube (Sarah) we need IT guidelines added to project chart
6. Ownership of website (Clay) ca.org should belong to CAWS inc. Project chart, Johan will bring up on email

a. Signature of annual corporate documents (Q4 F2F) (Sarah) signed 12/10/22 Placed in Groups.io WSBT Admin-CAWS INC Documents, Laurie will send it to Richard through DocuSign

b. Election of corporate officers (Q4) (Sarah) (should read Q3)

Motion: to elect Chris M. as corporate officer President

Passed unanimously

Motion: to elect Richard as corporate officer Vice President

Passed unanimously

Motion: to elect Joni E as corporate officer Secretary

Passed unanimously

Motion: to elect Gary P. as corporate officer Treasurer

Passed unanimously

c. Ratification of WSO Chair, Treasurer & DOO and DAL at 2nd quarterly meeting (check scope in WSM)

d. Project Chart (Clay) god diety, the amount of work would be arduous Ca.org becomes a marker…Johan, recalling early days…back open, validity

e. Correspondence (Barry)

Motion: to approve correspondence Q4-01-2022-10-18 regarding internal and external guidelines.

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Passed unanimously

Motion: to approve correspondence Q4-03-2022-11-23 regarding anonymity and safety online.

Passed unanimously

Motion: to send Recoverlution a cease-and-desist letter.

Passes with minor opposition

f. Referral Tracker (Barry) reviewed tracker, some items closed

g. Long Term Planning (Gary) Date selected

h. International Structure & Development (Johan)

i. Status of World Service Office (Laurie)

1. Overall update (Laurie)
2. New bank account pending
3. Helpline Earl is working on it
4. WSO Recording /Repeat Discussion on Rebroadcasting
5. Projects for Director of Projects & Resources (pending) pending consultant report
   1. GDPR
   2. Office procedures manual
   3. Storage & change control of IP
   4. Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
   5. Supply chain review

j. Trustee Election Committee. (Clay)

k. Financial Overview (Laurie) (final figure for WSC 2022) reviewed actuals/budgets YTD and P/L YTD

l. Directors and Officers Insurance Renewal (Q1)

m. Monitor Tax Preparation and filing (Q1) – check date

Old Business Items

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1. Regional Restructuring (Johan)- lots of discussion if we are growing then we need to add a trustee for Mid-Europe and South Pacific.

2, Approval Revised Orientation Documents (Clay) In March

• Approved documents (policy) upload to ca.org (Clay)

3. https://www.recoverlution.com/knowledge/cocaine-anonymous-information-meetings Sarah spoke with the CAUK Chair. The C.A. logo has been removed. WSBT agreed to send a cease-and-desist letter because Recoverlution attempts to speak for C.A. and attempts to represent C.A. Website claims C.A. can assist with sex addiction. The website is linked to C.A. Sarah would have to deliver legal letter. Joni will investigate US-Europe requirements.

Motion to send Recoverlution a cease and assist letter. Passes Unanimously

 

New Business Items

1. Access to Clouds Material / who has ownership ? (Ruby)

1. Succession /Rotation plan for WSOB (Sarah) Discussion tabled until March
2. Referral as discussed at Q3 (125miles / one Trustee)
3. Motions DAL brought forward

2. B2B Bi Annual Meeting Date to be agreed

Motion: to have a Board-to-Board meeting on February 11, 2023 from 8:00-10:00AM.

Passed unanimously

3. S&B Process to start ballot to change Tradition 11 (Johan) refer to manual
4. Moving Office WSBT – LTP (Sarah/Laurie/Joni) Reviewed RFPs, discussed shipping and whether to reach out to all regions.

Motion to adjourn for dinner and return at 7:00PM.

Passed unanimously.

5. Translation of pamphlets for non-recognized Areas (Johan) Action: Joni will share with WSOBTC.
6. Recordings/uploads of members shares/pod cast (Gary/Sarah) referred to LTP project chart

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-GDPR, podcasts, we have to be careful on shares and the use of our logo

-having shares for members, be sure not to break anonymity, use disclaimers -CA.org only? Or get a YouTube for CA?

-refer to AA disclaimer, this is here to stay, CA Convention speakers go to cloud -separate domain that way its ours

-the logistics of having to control this is guacamole, the cost would be exorbitant -protect our logo or lose it

-we need to do our due diligence to protect ourselves, we need a disclaimer, a release form, lest we be sued, also speakers should be selected by group area district committee…not the individual self-promoting

– first and last names

-if we start posting the fellowship will give us the shares

7. Referral WSBT 2022-04 – Remove Gender References to God (Joni)
8. Harassment training for Boards (Laurie) found free harassment on the California website. It has 2 hours, questions, quiz, certificate. Laurie has the link and will send it to everyone. Do the supervisor link. Complete by mid-February.
9. Expenses deadline (Sarah) Put your expenses due by next weekend!! December 19.
10. WSBT Budget increase

a. Revised WSBT contracts trustee rooms added

11. New Budget Line Items (Laurie)

1. Storage Expense to be an office expense (Dallas, TX)
2. Fundraising expense (office expense-ongoing Freedom Fund t-shirts)
3. License Income (for license agreement and separate from royalties)

Motion: to add the following line items to the office QuickBooks

1. Storage Expense
2. Fundraising Expense
3. License Income Passed unanimously

Any Other Business

1. CAWS Convention 2026 – at the next conference if nothing comes up, the office will handle it. Bid has to be vetted and put into the SR-14. Utah and Florida
2. Meeting Count on Quarterly Reports-purpose of the information? 3 categories, in person only, virtual only, or hybrid.

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3. Online Service Area-Discussion on how to best support online area
4. Booklet – license or royalty? Pay per meeting as long as license agreement is paid up.
5. Per Diem Increase

Motion the WSBT refer the following to the finance committee to increase the per diem for trustees and other WS trusted servants from $55 per day to $65 per day.

Passes unanimously.

6. Trustee Luncheon/Dinner – TAL will coordinate

Motion: to adjourn: 9:30pm Passes unanimously.

 

Correspondence – Inquiries & Responses (Open)

Q4-01 2022-10-18

Assigned – in process

Q4-01 2022-10-18 / Question About Guidelines – Incoming Inquiry and Acknowledgement

• Name Jo P
• Email Address delegate@casw.co.uk
• City Bristol
• State / Province Bristol
• Area or Region West Country Area
• Subject Question about guidelines

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• Your Message Hi there. I have been reflecting on my first conference experience, which was just mind blowing, and something that has really stuck out for me is the conversations that were happening around internal and external guidelines. I was wondering if you could let me know why a committee would choose to have a set of internal as well as external guidelines. Thank you, ILAS Jo

Q4-03 2022-11-23

Assigned – in process

Q4-03 2022-11-23 / Regarding Anonymity & Safety Online CA Meetings – Inquiry and Acknowledgement

Regarding Anonymity & Safety Online CA Meetings

Dear CA World Office,

My name is Abel, I’m an addict based in the Netherlands and a proud member of CA. I live in Numansdorp near Rotterdam and I follow and do service on the online meetings of the “Dutch Online District” and the “OSA”.

Since the beginning of my recovery, which started 1 year ago, there has been a huge discussion about the Anonymity, the online safety which are in conflict with the first tradition, the third tradition and the twelfth tradition.

We have a group of members that join the online meeting with total anonymity with no face, no voice and no name (often as zoom user). They do not participate in the meeting and sometimes when asked to introduce themselves sometimes respond in the chat; “I do not need to introduce or show myself because this is an anonymous program”.

On the one hand there is a group that is worried about their safety within the group if such a member appears because they don’t know who or what that participant is; it could be my boss checking me out why I called in sick, It could be a man spying in a women’s meeting, It could be someone from the press wanting to write about CA or a preprogrammed bot programmed to record each meeting automatically with integrated face recognition to list every member of CA (a bit far fetched though).

This group stops sharing, is afraid to share their phone number at the end of the meeting and sometimes even re-enters the meeting with total anonymity to the group; they are handling in fear of a break in the twelfth tradition; “Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our

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traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities”. They say that participating a meeting with total anonymity to the group might be a leak to “that what happens in the meeting, will stay in the meeting, and that it’s taking personalities above principles

They say, we are anonymous to the outside world and not anonymous to each other within the group. The meeting is not meant to be anonymous to each one and other within the walls of C.A.. First tradition; “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon C.A. unity”. An unknown participant is no C.A. participant within the meeting and in this way we cannot offer any help to that participant if he or she is seeking this.

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Also they see that unknown participant as a liability of the safety of the group. It could be a direct hole or leak into the group’s anonymity. They do not wish to exclude or dismiss anyone based on the third tradition “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking / a desire to stop using mind altering substances” and they can always re-enter the meeting as long as they participate, in the way that participation automatically means that he or she has the desire to stop using mind altering substances.

On the other hand there is a group that encourages that every member or participant is welcome based on the third tradition, no matter what; “The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking / a desire to stop using mind altering substances”. They say we must assume that this anonymous unknown participant must be a newcomer and might even be under the influence of mind altering substances and is therefore ashamed to show him or herself.

We see that a lot of the international meeting require a participant to show a sign of life when participating, some force you that for participating it is required to turn on your webcam during the meeting and some meetings it is just required to respond to a service member when participating.

For the online meetings we have a disclaimer which states:

In this meeting room, the standards of decency of the independent CA Dutch Online District groups apply, the service members of the meeting will supervise compliance with these rules. If the safety of the group is compromised, service members have the right to address someone and, in extreme cases, to deny access.

“Due to the technologies being used for these meetings, your anonymity, or the anonymity of others mentioned, could be compromised at a public level. You and our groups as a whole have the responsibility to consider the potential implications, and our level of participation in this meeting. Our group conscience reminds us that Anonymity is the Spiritual Foundation of all our Traditions. Additionally, in the spirit of Tradition Six, C.A. is not allied with any sect,

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denomination, politics, organisation or institution and as such does not endorse and is not affiliated with any of the specific technology providers utilised to facilitate this meeting.”

On the District Business Meeting 2 october a extra line was voted in to remove some feelings of insecurity for the group and wrong interpretations of the anonymity in online C.A. meetings which states:

“By participating in this meeting you agree; to make yourself known and/or to give a sign of life by means; turning on your webcam or respond by voice or chat when asked to do so by someone from the service team.”

Therefore leaving it to the group’s conscience, as the second tradition states; “For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern”. to use the disclaimer within the meeting or not. As the fourth tradition states; ”That each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or C.A. as a whole.”

Final question:

Which comes first in this online situation?

The total anonymous unknown participant which places personalities above principles defended by the third tradition and that this is an anonymous program where he or she can participate in total anonymity to the group.

Or

The group’s safety which states that we are not anonymous to each other within the meeting. That this is a safe place for each other and is willing to help any in need, that it is not necessary to stay in the dark and invites every participant, no matter what condition they are in to enter the light given by C.A. using the first and twelfth tradition in response.

Kind regards,

Abel

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Q4-04 2022-11-29

Assigned – in process

Q4-04 2022-11-29 / request to use adapted version of “A Guide to the 12 Steps” – Inquiry and Acknowledgement

Hello,

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Our primary purpose group of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous would like to request permission to adapt and use content from this page on our group website currently in development. This is the adapted content we would like permission to use. We have not requested permission from AAWS yet.

This section is not a substitute for using the Big Book and a sponsor. Its purpose is to shed light on the Twelve-Step program in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, as it relates to our addiction.

Taking the Twelve Steps prepares us to have a “spiritual awakening” or a “spiritual experience” (page 567* in Alcoholics Anonymous). These phrases refer to the change in our thinking, attitudes, and outlook that occurs after taking the Steps. This change frees us from active addiction.

Applying the Steps in our daily lives enables us to establish and improve our conscious contact with God or our Higher Power. We believe that the greatest safeguard in preventing relapse lies in consistent application of the Twelve Steps.

Newcomers often ask, “When should I take the Steps?” Page 34 of the Big Book states, “Some will be drunk [act out] the day after making their resolutions [not to act out again]; most of them within a few weeks.” The choice, ultimately, is up to each member, but a full understanding of Step One can often provide the willingness necessary to take the other eleven Steps.

STEP ONE: We admitted we were powerless over sex and love addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.

Our powerlessness operates on three levels: (1) A physical allergy to [selfish sex and love], which makes it virtually impossible for us to stop [acting out] once we start; (2) A mental obsession, which makes it impossible to recover on our own (pages 24 and 34); and (3) A spiritual malady, which separates us from our Higher Power’s ability to get and keep us recovered.

Many of us assumed that Step One meant total abstinence because we couldn’t handle sex or love at all. In fact, it really means that barring divine intervention, we are unable to stay away from that first sexual or emotional hit (pages 24 and 34), and that we will seek it out again and again, no matter how much we want to stop.

The second part of Step One refers to how we are unable to manage our lives, even when we have stopped acting out. One example of this unmanageability is being “restless, irritable, and discontented” (page xxviii; other examples are found in the second full paragraph of page 52). Step One is the foundation of the entire Twelve-Step process. Without a full understanding of what this Step means to us personally, we can’t expect to make much progress on the other eleven Steps. For more information, study Dr. Bob’s experience on pages xvi and 155 (Dr. Bob was one of A.A.’s co-founders).

Two useful questions for deciding whether we are really addicts are, “Can I stop permanently, if and when I want to?” and, “Can I control my sexual and emotional behavior once I start?” If the answer to either question is no, we probably are addicts, according to the Big Book.

STEP TWO: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

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When we understand Step One and are convinced that we are addicts (page 30), we are ready for Step Two. Coming to believe in a Higher Power’s ability to restore us to sanity does not require that we believe in God. All we need is an open mind and a willingness to believe that there is a Power greater than ourselves (pages 46 and 47).

Many of us come to Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous without any religious or spiritual experience, yet are able to make a start towards what the concept of a Higher Power might mean to us. Some of us use the S.L.A.A. group as a Higher Power until we can develop a concept of our own. Any concept, no matter how inadequate we believe it to be at the time, is enough to make a start with Step Two (page 46).

The insanity referred to in Step Two is the part of our thinking that allows us to convince ourselves that we can successfully act out again. Once this “mental obsession” takes hold, we are compelled to act out over and over again, regardless of the consequences that we know will follow. It is this vicious cycle that helps us become willing to believe that perhaps a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity (page 48). Being convinced of the “three pertinent ideas” (the a-b-c’s on page 60) brings us to Step Three.

STEP THREE: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

In Step Three, we make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of our concept of God at the time. The first requirement is becoming convinced that “any life run on self-will could hardly be a success” (page 60). That text illustrates the meaning of a life run on self-will by describing the behavior of an actor who wants to run the whole show. Many of us find it useful to substitute our own name in this passage and to ask ourselves honestly whether this scenario doesn’t sound similar to the way we are running our own lives (pages 60-62). The text further suggests that this kind of self-centeredness is “the root of our troubles” (page 62). After we understand what running our lives based on self-will means and acknowledge its futility, we are asked to do the “Third-Step Prayer” on page 63 (or its equivalent), before going on to Step Four.

STEP FOUR: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

In Step Four, we examine the wreckage that is accumulating from our attempts to run the show and the things that have been blocking us from our Higher Power. By completing and analyzing our inventory (page 70), we are able to see where our natural instincts for money, sex, power, and prestige have gone out of control, as we attempt to satisfy them in selfish and self-centered ways (page 62). The inventory involves looking at the people we resent (page 64-67), the things we are afraid of (pages 67-68), and the people we have harmed through our misconduct. Step Four enables us to discover, own, and begin to be freed from the “bondage of self” described in the Third-Step Prayer.

STEP FIVE: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

In Step Five, we share our Fourth-Step inventory with the person of our choice (usually our sponsor) and continue to discover “the exact nature of our wrongs.” By taking this Step, we are able to identify areas where we have allowed our selfishness, our instincts, and our fears to control us. Sharing our inventory allows another human being to help us examine problems that we are unable to understand by ourselves (page 72). After completing Step Five, it is suggested that we go home and review the first five Steps of the program and our inventory to

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see whether we need to add any resentments, fears, or persons we have harmed (page 75). We ask ourselves whether we have withheld anything in our inventory. Have we illuminated “every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past” (page 75)? If so, we are ready for Step Six.

STEP SIX: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

In reviewing our “shortcomings,” we ask ourselves whether we find these defects of character undesirable and whether we believe God can remove them all. If we feel there are defects we’re not willing to let go of, the Big Book suggests that we pray for the willingness to have them removed (page 76).

STEP SEVEN: Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

When Step Six is complete, we say the Seventh-Step Prayer to have our shortcomings removed by God as we understand God (page 76).

STEP EIGHT: Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

In Step Eight, we list all the people we have harmed, and we pray for the willingness to make amends to them all. Most of the amends we need to make are disclosed in the resentment inventory (page 67) and our sexual inventory (pages 68-70). We also include anyone else we have harmed who isn’t listed in our Fourth-Step inventory.

STEP NINE: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

In Step Nine, we make amends to the people we have harmed. The Big Book gives us examples for how to go about making these actual amends (pages 76-83). Counsel from one’s sponsor, as well as from others who’ve had experience applying this Step, is also helpful in showing us how to repair the damage we’ve caused in the past. It is through Step Nine that we’re freed from the guilt, fear, shame, and remorse that results from the harm we’ve done others. Taking this Step helps us “to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us” (page 77).

STEP TEN: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

Having taken the first eight Steps and made a beginning on Step Nine, we find ourselves at Steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve. Although the Twelve Steps are designed to be taken in order, it is suggested that we take Steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve on a daily basis while making our Ninth-Step amends.

The last three Steps encompass much of the first nine Steps in their structure and application. Step Ten involves continuing to take personal inventory and setting right any new wrongs as we go along. The Big Book teaches us that when our shortcomings “crop up,” we deal with them by using Step Ten (page 84). The main purpose of Step Ten is to prevent us from being blocked off again from God, whose power ultimately keeps us sober (page 64).

STEP ELEVEN: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

There are many definitions of prayer and meditation, and a detailed discussion is not practical within the confines of this page. Some basic suggestions, on pages 86-88 of the text, outline a daily and nightly routine we can apply to allow God to direct our thinking.

STEP TWELVE: Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

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Having taken the first eleven Steps, we are now at Step Twelve and are ready to carry the message to other addicts (pages 89-103). Every time we work with another addict we are reminded just how bad it was when we first came into the program. In the newcomer, we recognize the same hopelessness, look of desperation and sheer terror that we had. We hear the unmanageability in terms of depression, misery, and unhappiness, whether openly expressed or feebly concealed. We are reminded of our own past troubles with personal relationships as we see newcomers struggle with theirs. Finally, our faith in God’s ability to restore us to sanity is reinforced, as we see God transform the life of a newcomer, right before our eyes.

In addition to carrying the message to other addicts, Step Twelve involves practicing these principles in all areas of our lives. If addicts who relapse are fortunate enough to return to the program and analyze what happened, they may find they had stopped practicing these principles in all their affairs—that they were no longer examining their motives, reviewing their days, praying, or carrying the message (pages 15 and 89).

If there were one watchword to describe how these Steps should be practiced, it would be “continuously,” for it is only through God and constant application of these principles that we can be assured of the recovery offered by Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous.

The above guide is from the Cocaine Anonymous website and pamphlet (adapted for Sex and Love Addiction) which can be found here. Page numbers referenced are from the 4th edition of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Kind Regards,

Rachel R

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Correspondence – Responses (Closed)

Q2-14 2022-06-08– P.I. Fact File – Response

Dear Mr. McLauchlan,

Attached you will find a clear pdf file for the P.I. Fact File. Please accept our deepest apology for the time it took us to get this correspondence back to you.

Thank you once again for your interest.

Yours Sincerely,

Cocaine Anonymous

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World Service Board of Trustees

• Name Corey M
• Email Address epnaceoffice@gmail.com
• City Dallas
• State/Province Texas
• Subject PI Fact File
• Your Message Hello, I was wondering if I could get a pdf of the 2019 Fact File, as I do not have a Box account and the images here (https://pi.ca.org/fact-file-survey/) are not particularly readable? Dr. Edgar N.was hoping to use the information in the upcoming ASAM textbook. Thank you, Corey M

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Q2-15 2022-06-21 – CA Chip Vendor – Response

Dear Mr. Cremele,

Thank you for reaching out to us for assistance with your fellowship’s needs for a new chip vendor. We currently are using Lucky Line, a San Diego based company for our product. The phone number is 800.654.6409. Theresa is our sales representative at the company.

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We are currently looking for a new production company ourselves since there are supply issues and we are having trouble getting chips from this vendor for our fellowship.

Thank you once again for your interest.

Yours Sincerely,

Cocaine Anonymous

World Service Board of Trustees

• Name Richard C
• Email Address newcomer@marijuana-anonymous.org
• City Philadelphia
• State / Province Pennsylvania
• Area or Region PA/NJ/DE Service Area
• Subject CA Chip Vendor
• Your Message Good Afternoon: Rich C here grateful CA member and also the Newcomer Support Trustee at Marijuana Anonymous. I am on a subcommittee tasked with trying to obtain a better source for our sobriety chips. Our 2 current vendors, My12Stepstore and Recovery World have been having a very hard time fulfilling our chip orders. Additionally the plastic chips that they supply to us are not of good quality. At our most recent board meeting while discussing the subject I mentioned how well my CA plastic CA keytag/chips have held up over the years. I still have my 15, 18 and 19 year chips, and they all look great! I was tasked with reaching out to CA and asking if we could be put in touch with the vendor for the C

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chips. I can be reach via email at newcomer@marijuana-anonymous.org, or my personal email pkcable@gmail.com, or by phone 215-435-2601. Much thanks! Rich C. Newcomer Support Trustee, Marijuana Anonymous

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Q3 2022-07-31 – C.A. logos are available to the Public! – Response

From: mirthfully@aol.com <mirthfully@aol.com>

Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2022 2:31 PM

To: wsbt@ca.org <wsbt@ca.org>

Subject: C.A. logos are available to the public!

Results for Cocaine Anonymous Logo | LogoDB

Google search for C.A. Logo

Dear Susan,

Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention. We have looked into it and it appears that the logos are not able to be downloaded from the website. However, we will continue to keep an eye on this and will address if it appears again.

Thanks again for bringing this to us.

Yours Sincerely,

Cocaine Anonymous World Service Board of Trustees

Re: C.A. logos are available to the public!

From: mirthfully@aol.com <mirthfully@aol.com>

Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2022 2:31 PM

To: wsbt@ca.org <wsbt@ca.org>

Subject: C.A. logos are available to the public!

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Results for Cocaine Anonymous Logo | LogoDB

Google search for C.A. Logo

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Q3-04 2022-08-03 – CA on Etsy – Response

Hello Susan,

Thank you for your diligence and concern for the welfare and unauthorized use of the C.A.

intellectual property, trademarks, and copyrights.

The WSBT has reviewed the webpage and are currently in the process of determining what the next step(s) in the process should be. We noticed jewelry and merchandise from several other twelve step entities shown on this website as well and will reach out those entities for an understanding of how they respond to the unauthorized use of their trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual properties.

Yours sincerely,

Cocaine Anonymous World Service Board of Trustees

Re: Please check this out!

From: mirthfully@aol.com <mirthfully@aol.com>

Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2022 2:03 PM

To: wsbt@ca.org <wsbt@ca.org>

Subject: Please check this out!

Cocaine Anonymous | Etsy New Zealand https://www.etsy.com/nz/market/cocaine_anonymous

Shop Etsy, the place to express your creativity through the buying and selling of handmade and vintage goods.

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Correspondence Q3-06 2022-08-19 – IEACA Boundaries – Response

Dear Lynne,

We received your inquiries. The Pacific South Regional Trustee contacted you through a telephone call on 8/19/2022 and during the discussion it was revealed that both letters were written in response to misinformation regarding the CAWS Conference SR 14 mailing. To clarify the confusion, she addressed your concerns during the phone call and attended the IEACA Area Meeting on 8/21/2022 to clarify the motion regarding area boundaries made by the Structure

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and Bylaws Committee for other area representatives who may have also received misinformation, and to answer any questions.

Please continue to reach out to your World Service Delegates and Regional Trustee if you have any future questions or concerns regarding CAWS Delegate mailings.

Sincerely,

World Service Board of Trustees

Cocaine Anonymous

• Name Lynne A
• Email Address mslynne6@gmail.com
• City Moreno Valley
• State/Province CA
• Area or Region IEACA
• Subject West Inland Empire attempt to to take over parts of our area.

Your Message CAWS members, I am the treasurer of the IEACA. Our board learned yesterday of an attempt by the West Inland Empire to change it’s boundaries by taking over some of the IEACA’s meeting areas. Our Delegates failed to mention this to our Area and
now the Conference is in nine days. I am asking the CAWS Board to not consider their request at this time. Tradition Four states that each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting CA as a whole. This is directly affecting our area of CA as a whole. I do not understand why the Delegates or the Trustee did not bring this to our Area meeting. Please, even if this matter is tabled till the next conference, that would assist us in putting together what we need. It is impossible for our Area to do this in 9 days. Thank you, Lynne A. 562-761-3546

• Name Lynne A

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• Email Address mslynne6@gmail.com
• City Moreno Valley
• State/ Province CA
• Area or Region IEACA
• Subject Boundaries of IEACA
• Your Message Our area, IEACA, learned yesterday of an attempt by West Inland Empire to echange their Area to include (take away), some of the IEACA Area boundaries. Our Delegates and the Trustee failed to inform the IEACA of this attempt. It is now 9 days till the Conference and there is no time for our Area to do it’s due diligence and fight this attempt by West Inland Empire. This action would cause harm to our Area and to the Addicts we serve. Thank you, Lynne A. 562-761-3546 I am asking the CAWS Board of Trustees to not consider this attempt to do harm to our area or to table this until the next Conference. This would allow the IEACE to fight this takeover of our area meetings.

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Q3-07 2022-09-26 – District Chairperson Duties – Response

Response

Thank you for your inquiry and please accept our apology for the delayed response.

Your question is important and the WSBT understands and values the importance of the local districts, the participation of local GSRs, and the work they do for C.A. as a whole. We believe the best course of action is to reach out to the Area and Districts to voice your concern regarding breach of manual and bylaws.

If you have any further questions or require clarification on any item in this response, please feel free to reach out to us again at wsbt@ca.org.

Respectfully,

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Cocaine Anonymous

World Service Board of Trustees

• Name Louissin B
• Email Address louissinburns08@gmail.com
• City Los Angeles
• State/Province CA
• Area or Region Los Angeles
• Subject District chairperson duties
• Your Message Hi there, my short name is Lou. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond to my message. There is something happening in my district that is in direct conflict with the WSM and our Area Bylaws and it is concerning the District Chairpersons duties. I can go into further detail when you respond. My question is can a chairperson decide where the DSC meeting will be held without the group (DSC) having a chance to voice it’s concerns?

22nd – 24th May Convention 25th – 29th May (TEC i/v to be included)

• WSBT Q2 2023:Atlanta – Hosted by World Service Convention
  • MondayMay 22^nd 1pm for lunch
  • MondayMay 22^nd 2.30p pm – 10pm
  • TuesdayMay 23^rd 8am – 10pm
  • WednesdayMay 24^th 8am – 1pm
• Attend Convention
  • ThursdayMay 25^th 1pm – onwards
• Trustee Lunch
  • Friday May 26^th 1pm – 3pm. (check with Programming)
• Long Term Planning
  • SundayMay 27^th 9am – 11am. (check with Programming)
• Meet the Boards
  • SundayMay 28^th 11am – 1pm. (check with Programming)
• Great Conv Exchange
  • SundayMay 28^th 2pm – 4pm. (check with Programming)
  • MondayMay 29^th 1pm close

WSBT Conference Call:SaturdayJuly 22^nd 8am – 12pm PDT

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