World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
Day 1 – August 31, 2023
Russell S opened conference and welcomed all at: 4:31pm
Prayers and reading: we are now a worldwide fellowship. Members were asked to the center mic.
Marcel V – lead us in the 3rd step prayer in Dutch.
Tai B lead us in the 3rd step prayer in English.
Elvira C led us in the serenity prayer in Portuguese.
Robert led us in the serenity prayer.
Morten V read who is a CA member.
Ginger L read the 12 traditions.
Cameron F read the 12 concepts.
Russell S – we’re going to begin roll call. Once we get past roll please state your name, position and how many votes you have. (Russell S asked Wesley B to show the example of stating names when up at the mic.) We’re going to begin roll call, please be very aware of the noise level as there are 4 of us who are keeping track of the roll call. Please be considerate of others and the noise level.
Russell S – total amount of votes 188 quorum 125.
Thank you very much, that was a very smooth roll call. The 188 count is a phenomenal turnout. The seating chart is done. Please stay in your seats, do not change, it helps us out much more so that we can recognize you. If I make a mistake with your name, please correct me. A few comments – this is the 39th world service conference. Phones – please silence them or put them on vibrate. Dais introduction – Amanda is with us; Albina is with us. Please don’t distract them, especially if they are in session, please let them do their work. If you need to speak with someone at the Dais my Vice Chair and parliamentary is Duane M. If you do need assistance from the dais, please stand on the side and wait for him to assist you. Please be patient. If there are any first-year delegates here, please stand up. We have many new delegates, thank you very much. Previous delegates please help the new delegates. Please don’t worry about this being your first conference. Are there any delegate and/or board members in their last year? Please stand. Thank you for your service.
Participation requirements, I’m very impressed with all of your participation. Reminders – if you are an alternative delegate, you can be a voting member of this body. Please credential more non delegates with 0 votes. Thank you for your commitment. Debates – when we debate, debate the motion, speak to the motion, please do not debate the debate. We protect the rights of the minority, please step up to the mic and speak to the motion. When you step up, say you are in favor or against and you speak to the motion. Roll call – we do this every morning. Voting
– raise hand, keep it up high, clenched fist is one vote, two fingers is two votes. Personal belongings, you are responsible for your own belongings, please take everything with you each time you leave for session. The BOX – Robyn G can you please step up to the mic. We are moving all communications to the BOX – we have already moved to the BOX, no backpedaling,
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
that is where all our documents and mailing will be. If you are not familiar with it, please get familiar with it. All the information will be in the BOX.
Robyn G – if you need anything please find me. Go straight to the conference office if you don’t find me. I will always be available.
Russell S – who doesn’t have access to the BOX? Please see Robyn if you need help with the BOX. She will show you how it works. If you go into the BOX, please don’t add notes for yourself, you will be adding notes for everyone to see.
The Conference committee will now explain office hours.
Vicki R – the hotel staff has came to me, and they are very happy with how we are leaving the rooms.
Please note that the prices on the express menu on the list are for lunch only, not dinner.
Misty C. – The meeting after the conference session will be 30 minutes after session finishes.
The hours of the conference office are open one hour before session and one hour after session.
Russell S – please utilize the conference coordinators for any questions regarding the conference.
Use of archives – if you need to find something in the past, please approach them, they are an incredible resource for us. Cameron will let you know how to request information from him if you are looking for something. Referral deadline was Wednesday at 9am. Any new referrals will be passed on to the committee to be dealt with after the conference has ended.
Please keep side conversation to a minimum, if you step out, please move from the doors.
Temperature – it was freezing earlier, now it’s clammy, we will leave it like this for now.
Mic etiquette – it’s important to speak directly into the mic. Please don’t speak away from the mic because we lose what you are saying. Stevie will give us an example.
Stevie – we are recording everything so it’s hard to hear you if you are not talking into the mic.
Please talk straight to the Dais.
Russell S if someone is shorter or taller, please pick up the mic or put it down.
Stevie – we have a tape line, please stand by the tape line. Please do not touch the mic if possible.
Russell S please do not distract Stevie. He’s doing a lot of work over there.
Wi-Fi – log onto the Wi-Fi please only use one device to log into. If we experience any issues, please speak to one of the conference coordinators. We have cables under the tables for you to plug into.
Vaping and smoking is absolutely not allowed here or anywhere in the hotel, there is a smoking area outside the doors. Don’t put your cigs out on the floor, use bins or ashtrays.
Lets do some business.
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
New area petitions: please step up to the mic.
Motion 1: to approve the petition to become an area for CA Holland Noord area. Seconded
Russell S Would you like to talk to your motion? Not at this time. Any debate?
Robert b – question, we have a convention coming up in Holland is there any effect on that?
Renzo L. No, there will not be any effect on this.
Motion passes unanimously.
Russell S so how is this going to affect the voting in anyway? Are there any new delegates here?
Renzo No
Seek a motion to approve the previous motion minutes.
Jacqueline R –
Motion 2: motion to approve the previous conference minutes.
Seconded
Any debate
Motion passes unanimously.
Russell S notified before the conference individual wishes to make a 5th Concept Statement
Susan L – 5TH CONCEPT STATEMENT
Susan Loth
World Service Conference 2023
To the Conference Chair and all the trusted servants here today, thank you for the opportunity to make this statement and share my concerns.
For the past 20 months, I’ve had the honor to serve our fellowship as a Director at Large on the World Service Office Board.
On June 2, 2023, the Office Board Chair phoned me to say that he had been instructed by the Trustees to inform me that I was not ratified as a Director at Large. I had no warning or indication that there was any problem with any of my work on the Office Board. When I asked
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
the reason for the non-ratification vote, I was informed that the Trustees don’t have to give me a reason. The Office Board Chair stated that the Trustees would like me to offer my resignation, and if I opted not to resign, they would allow me the opportunity to appeal their decision. I accepted the offer to appeal their decision, even though I still did not know why I had not been ratified. My appeal was swiftly rejected and once again, I was asked to offer my resignation with no explanation. Still not knowing why I was not ratified, I could not in good conscience resign as I take my service commitments very seriously. I was then removed from my position by the Trustees; again, with no reason given.
It is important to note that not one member of the WSBT attempted to speak with me about anything…any issue, any referral, any work I did or didn’t do. To the best of my knowledge, the Trustees didn’t give the WSOB Chair any indication that my performance was unsatisfactory. I am of the character to speak openly, passionately and sometimes loudly about issues that others might PREFER I not. And yet, not one hint of a need for me to reconsider my thoughts and/or conversations regarding any subject was provided. Not one hint that anyone was complaining about anything I had done. Not one phone call or one text from the Trustees. I say this because I was given no opportunity to correct or update any perceived grievance held by the WSBT. Just systematically dismissed.
It is imperative that you know that I was unanimously ratified by the entire WSOB, which included two members of the WSBT. Additionally, I was nominated and approved to represent the Office Board on the World Service Office Trustee slate and was the only nominee for the Vice Chair position that was anticipated to be filled by the end of Conference or shortly thereafter. I find it very odd that I have the unanimous support the WSOB in a multitude of ways, but I am not seen as qualified to serve this fellowship by the members of the WSBT. The WSBT did not deal with me or my service on a regular basis. I believe we begin to operate in dangerous territory when one Board can indiscriminately remove members of another Board without reasoning or justification.
As I tried to understand what had occurred, I went to the World Service Manual (WSM), which guides the processes for decisions and actions within our service structure, to understand the ratification process but found limited information. In our service structure, the WSBT are the bottom of the upside-down triangle. The World Service Conference has the right to be the deciding body of any process that needs to be developed or revised. In fact, it is the responsibility of the World Service Conference to hold the Trustees accountable and when necessary, to explain their actions. There is no reason the WSBT couldn’t have explained their
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
decision for my removal except they don’t feel like they had to, or the reason is inconsistent with our stated spiritual principles. Decisions such as this cannot be allowed due to personal agendas or personalities. Concept 12 and Conference Charter Item 10 tell us that no person or committee should ever become the seat of perilous power.
I close with this assurance. If there was something that I had done that was detrimental to C.A. in any way, or caused irreversible harm, we wouldn’t be in this situation today. There would have no need to bring a motion to remove me because I wouldn’t put anyone in that position. I would have offered my resignation immediately.
It hurts my heart to have to stand here before you and present this appeal. I love C.A. I love my friends in C.A. and I love my friends on the WSBT and will continue to do so regardless.
Thank you for listening to my 5th Concept statement.
Russell S no clapping please. We should not be demonstrating emotional actions. Jane B –
Motion 3 – to reinstate Susan L to her position of director at large on the World Service Office Board
Seconded
Motion is in order.
Jane B – statement for having Susan L to be reinstated. Why she is speaking in favor. Susan B – speaking in favor. Statement
Wade G – are we able to ask why she was let go so that we can make a decision?
Russell S we speak in favor or against the motion, who are you aiming your question at?
Wade G – would like to know why she was removed.
Russell S. not in any position to assist you with this statement as you are trying to seek the reason why the member was removed.
Russell S asked the chair of the World Service Board of Trustees and the vice chair to approach the dais.
Russell S if you are okay with this, I will allow the chair of the World Service Board of Trustees to speak to your question.
Sarah T – it will incite controversy if we speak to the matter on the floor.
Tai B – speaking in favor of the motion.
Pilar R – speaking in favor of the motion.
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
Barry Ha – speaking against the motion. Explained the ratification method. There was a motion to rescind, and that motion passed. The next morning there was a motion to rescind, that motion passed, they had further debate. Other motions and both of those motions failed. They went out of their way and followed the guidelines. They spoke with both directors through that process. There was another motion to reconsider, and that motion failed. They took another vote to have the position removed and there were multiple debates. They followed the process and the guidelines, took multiple actions, multiple votes and did all that they were supposed to do. Having followed the process and the manual and the guidelines, they did this.
Judd W – speaking in favor of the motion. Read the 12th tradition. Gave a statement about how Susan L should’ve been told why.
Jane B – gave a statement that Susan was given the right to appeal.
Joni E – speaking against the motion. They went through the process as outlined in the manual. They spoke in detail about the process. They discussed it at length for many hours. They went beyond the process, and they believe the process was followed.
Jesse G – speaking in favor of the motion. Haven’t heard a reason why Susan L was removed. How is someone to appeal an issue if they don’t know what they did?
Tai B – Call the Question (motion 4)
Seconded
Russell S we are now voting to cease debate and calling the vote. All in favor?
Motion fail
Barry Ha – speaking against the motion.
Aurora L – speaking against the motion – statement given – spoke about the trustees being trusted servants and how they follow the traditions.
Melanie VR – speaking in favor of the motion. They met the qualifications when they were put in the role, what happened now that they’re being removed.
Gary P – speaking against the motion. Trustees were elected (11 of them) to do the work that they were voted in to do. Compared how they elect other members into roles. They are not here to cause harm, that is not their intention.
Daniel Su –
Motion 5 – to limit debate to 30 minutes.
seconded
Motion passes
Peter M. – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given – they need to be given the correct information as to why it happened.
Jamie D – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given.
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
Alan S – speaking against the motion – statement given – spoke of the concepts that the trustees follow. Regardless of the decisions that were made over the years whether I liked them or not, the decisions were made by them.
Michael Ch Motion 6
Call the Question
Seconded
Motion fail
Kim C – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given – Susan L was dismissed – she is owed an explanation of why she is being dismissed.
Renzo P. – speaking against the motion. Statement given – believes the trustees made the decision.
Parliamentary Inquiry – is someone keeping time? Yes
Parthi T – Speaking in favor of the motion – believes that someone needs to know what the decision was.
Sydney P – speaking against the motion – statement given.
Wesley B – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given – would like to know why the decision was made to remove Susan L from the role.
Stephen C – speaking against the motion – statement given – need to trust the trustees.
Parliamentary Inquiry – Louissin B if this motion passes what happens, and can they take her out of the board again?
Russell S. the motion itself states that she will be reinstated and as for removal from the board again. Yes.
Denise R – Speaking in favor of the motion – statement given.
Dana V. Speaking in favor of the motion – statement given.
Barry Ha – Speaking Against read the statement that he couldn’t find earlier. Trustees are asked to practice patience and practice and they worked through it based on the principles of the program. Reiterated that they followed the process.
Barbar B – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given – believes that they followed the process but felt they should’ve spoken with Susan L.
Jonathan H – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given – doesn’t feel that the process was followed. Read through the charter.
Robert H. – speaking in favor of the motion. Tradition 2 has been quoted.
Marcel V – speaking against the motion –
Vladimir Q out of order
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 1 – Thursday – August 31, 2023
David V – speaking in favor of the motion – statement given – needs to have a reason for the removal of the role.
Barry Ha – speaking against of the motion – statement given – was the completeness of the process done. Was the traditional right of the appeal honored. Did she have the opportunity to rightfully appeal. We don’t need to know the reason, but she should.
Wade G – speaking against the motion – statement given – trust in the process that the trustees followed the process that they needed to make.
Garrett M. – speaking against the motion – suggested not required.
Jacob – speaking against the motion – statement given.
Russell S 30 minutes of debate has passed.
Parliamentary Inquiry – Gary P – do we need to have 2/3 or ¾ of the vote.
Russell S. we have quorum we need ¾ vote of all the members on this floor. Please keep your hands up for this
Motion 3 – to reinstate Susan L to her position of director at large on the World Service Office Board
Seconded
All those in favor
All against.
Motion 3 failed.
Sheree H – need 2/3 not 3/4
Russell S no it doesn’t. needed to make sure we had quorum in the room.
Russell S. we are going to take an hour break.
Break at 7pm – please be back at 8pm
Session reopened at 8:18pm
Russell S
Seth N. opened with the Serenity Prayer
Jacqueline R – reads unity statement.
Russell S – I have a responsibility to run the business of CA and to have us please move forward with the business and allow us to all breathe and consider what we all are here to do. Please trust me in the route I take. I would like to have the archive committee come up. Is there anyone who objects to this? No