World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 2 – Friday – September 1, 2023
IT Committee
INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTS:
Our committee made substantial progress this year: developed and prepared to launch a CA App for mobile devices, completed a comprehensive review and update to the IT Workbook, reviewed all Area websites, and launched a subcommittee aimed at providing greater guidance to the new world of Virtual Meetings and the Virtual Fellowship. As we gather at Conference, we are more than just a “small but hearty” band of tech enthusiasts; we are a robust group bringing both technical expertise and the spirit of the fellowship to emerging technologies and our existing online presence. In love and service, we provide
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this update on our work.
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AT CONFERENCE:
| Position | Name | Phone | |
| Chairperson | Wesley B | realwblount0309@gmail.com | +1 347 541 1451 |
| Vice-chairperson | Tom T | ||
| Secretary | Amanda | ||
| App Dev | Milton | ||
| App Dev | Chris V | ||
| App Dev | Gustav | ||
| CA.org website redevelopment | Ed M | ||
| CA websites review | Eileen | ||
| Virtual Services Chair | Susan B | ||
| Member | Kini F | ||
| Member | Elle | ||
| Member | Justin G | ||
| Member | Jonathan M | ||
| Member | Rhi | ||
| Member | Mike S | ||
| WSBT | Richard B | ||
| WSBT | Chris M | ||
| WSOB | Yves W |
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE MOTIONS:
Motion: To approve the attached updated version of the IT Workbook
Motion: To approve, in concept, the creation of a CA Mobile Application (“CA App”) to be owned and managed by the CA WSO, which will hold the Developers Licenses and technical specifics of the App developed under the auspices of the WSCITC.
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REFERRALS THAT WERE FORWARDED TO OTHER COMMITTEES:
Referral 11980408: Individual Submission Please remove item j on page 7:
j) Non-conference approved audio/video files as it is in conflict with point g) on page 10.
g) Area/District newsletters, personal stories, audio and video media must be approved by the Area/District and the Regional Trustee before posting on the Area/District website
The removal of point j) would bring the guidelines into alignment
Response; This referral was partially addressed in the update to the IT Workbook; however, the IT Committee referred to the WSBT a request to provide guidance generally on audio and video recordings for the Fellowship, as this is not in our purview.
Referral 11713375: Individual Submission
I would like to request that the IT Committee look into the possibility of changing their current guidelines. I ask this so that Areas could enter into a royalty or licence agreement to allow said Areas to upload C.A. literature A Quiet Peace daily reading onto their websites. This request is made specifically with the intention of the aforementioned materials being available only for web or closed social media platforms.
It would be wonderful to be able to read our daily meditation book wherever we are in the world on our website.
Thank you for all that you do for us.
Response; This was referred to the WSBT, which handles issues related to copyrighted materials.
Referral 8140729: Committee Submission On behalf of the CAWSO and CAWSFC committees we are requesting the creation of an On-Line Fillable form, similar in format to this Referral Form, that would allow all CAWS committees to submit a request for a check for expenses. This request is driven by the discovery of a process not presently being followed for approval for the use of funds by the Trustees prior to the check being issued.
More details to the content of the form may be obtained through the CAWSFC committee and CAWSO committee via the CO director.
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 2 – Friday – September 1, 2023
Response; This Referral has been forwarded to the Conference Committee.
Referral 8050550: Individual Submission
I suggest making Quiet Peace and Faith Hope and Courage 1 & 2 available online via pdf.
Thank you for receiving my suggestion
Yours in Spiritual Growth
Response; This was referred to the WSBT, which handles issues related to copyrighted materials.
Referral 3226506: Individual Submission
A member has come to me, as the IT Chair for CAUK. and asked for this proposal to be put forward as a referral:
That the Quiet Peace reading for the day be displayed on the ca.org website in a prominent location, so people can read it from the website.
The member felt that other members (and newcomers) would benefit from having this available. I explained to him that he would have to make this a referral, since it involves a change to the WSM and the IT workbook. The website was not working for him, so I am making it in his place.
Response; This was referred to the WSOB, which manages CA.org.
REFERRALS STILL IN COMMITTEE:
Referral 9197805: Individual Submission
During the 2021 North American PI Summit a breakout group developed this document in hopes of assisting groups that are having or establishing hybrid meetings.
CLOSED REFERRALS:
Referral 11980808 Individual Submission
On reviewing the IT guidelines there is some clear guidance relating to being able to use an audio archive. I wonder if it would be prudent to include a note at in the text (suggestion to follow) to encourage others to refer to the Archives guidelines as well.
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P10
g) Area/District newsletters, personal stories, audio and video media must be approved by the Area/District and the Regional Trustee before posting on the Area/District website. (insert new language) It is suggested you also refer to the Archives guidelines for information on creating these audio archives. (end new language)
Response; Thank you for your referral, the revised IT Workbook has addressed this referral.
Referral 11980470: Individual Submission
As part of my learning I have been reading each committees guidelines and on reading the IT guidelines it struck me that we have no guidance or roles and responsibilities for the service in the provision of a chat room function on Area websites. This feels like it’s the way of the future and int he same way we need guidance for making sure our Helplines are run correctly, we need to make sure qualified members are looking after the next vital step in our ability to reach the still suffering addict.
Please can you investigate this and come up with suggestions to guide us.
Response; Thank you for your referral, the revised IT Workbook has addressed this referral.
Referral 4941974: Individual Submission
Universal World / European Where to find (like A.A.) ie type in postcode. Day time and nearest meeting comes up in seconds.
Response; Thank you for your referral. While somewhat incomplete, this referral is addressed by the database of meetings being put together for the CA App, which drives the online meeting finder, and can be applied to local areas as well as the CA.org website.
Referral 4363442: Individual Submission
My experience of using the where to find meetings search engine is very fragmented and hard to use and is confusing for the newcomer. My suggestion is that there is just 1 where to find search engine world wide like the one used in AA. Also on the AA search engine there is a map that appears showing the exactly location of the meetings using a red arrow
Response; Thank you for your referral. This suggestion will be incorporated into the C.A.
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App
PRESENTATIONS OF CURRENT ACTIVITIES OR TASKS (no motions)
Over the next year, we expect the committee to focus on redevelopment of the CA.org website and the gradual reorganization of the Fellowship’s digital assets to give the Office Board greater oversight.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
It has been over 16 years since I first became involved with IT at the World Service level; this year, chairing the IT Committee has been humbling and immensely gratifying. I am proud of the committee’s tireless efforts to address a wide variety of technical and online issues, many of which could not have been anticipated by a worldwide pandemic which forever altered the relationship of tech resources to the life and maintenance of our Fellowship. I am excited for the many future developments we will see as technology and virtual service continue to evolve and grow. Our committee stands ready to meet those challenges with love and service.
Respectfully Submitted:
Wesley Blount
Chair, WSCITC
Tom T – shows a video from his phone connect to the left hand side screen by the podium of the app that they have been working on for us finding meetings. We have a search function. They have meetings that show if it’s live or online or even hybrid. They show a map of the time it would take to get to the meeting. You can also look for types of meetings such as BB discussion, women, etc… you can always click on the directions link to see how to get there. You can go and find the online meeting; all those meetings are displayed in the time zone of where you are. This is great.
In order to move forward there are a couple of things that need to happen, that will be in our motion.
Milton L – we built a global meeting database. Enter the meeting and once you have them there, there’s a plug in for the meetings on the mobile app, this will tie into the area map. You do not need any IT experience. We’re trying to give areas the ability to put in the codes to have them show up on your area website. We want everyone on the area board to create an account so that you can build it.
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Wesley B – this will also allow us to put code into CA.org and this will become the global meeting list. We want to put up the 1.0 version on the play store. It’s only available for Google play android phones not for apple.
Amanda H – Motion 30: To approve the C.A. app as presented and allow us to acquire the developer licenses necessary for the apps initial launch.
Seconded
Russell S – will this add to your budget?
Wesley B – no, it has already been budgeted.
Russel S – would you like to speak to this motion, not at this time.
Russell S any debate? Prepare to vote. All in favor/opposed.
Motion passes unanimously.
Wesley B – we wanted to recognize our developers they have really helped in this.
Ellen – Motion 31: To approve the attached updated version of the IT Workbook.
Seconded
Russell S would you like speak to your motion?
Wesley B – not at this time.
Russell S any debate, seeing none, all in favor/opposed.
Motion passes unanimously.
Wesley B – reads closing statement from report.
Russell S – any questions for IT
John B – thank you, did I understand that the committee is using a platform to allow individuals to enter their own information but will work with other websites, like CA.org? and that this will become our new meeting directory.
Wesley B – This is being updated at the area level, not the meeting level.
Renzo L – Glad it’s finally going on. This motion is about the app.
Clay P – Could the district update this?
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Tom T – in the interface the areas can add districts, groups, and meetings. Jen Gr – would you consider charging for the app?
Wesley B – We’re not unwilling to consider that but this goes to the budget, there really hasn’t been costs.
Nadz L – now that this is going to be posted on a store, it’s going to be rated. Are you putting in a process in place to answer possible questions. How will you keep the app up to date?
Wesley B – yes, we’ll be keeping it up to date and running updates. I would hope that members will contact IT directly with feedback.
Milton L – we’re going to deploy on the play store first and field all those comments.
This will be part of the testing.
Daniel Sn – the search is from city, is the option for distance from zip to zip or just the city?
Wesley B – I believe yes, city to city.
Milton L – we look up your address based on the location of where you are and then when you enter a meeting you tie it to a district, it won’t show outside of that area. This will show up on the mobile app.
Barry He – is there a subcommittee now? Any timeline when it will get to the google store?
Wesley B – yes there is a subcommittee now. The timeline is that we’re applying for a developer license tonight. In terms of apple, we have to see how this goes. The deployment will be as soon as we can get it up and going.
Milton L – the only blocker is the developer license and that should be a matter of a month or two.
Gary M. – any thought about a QR code for the freedom fund?
Wesley B – yes
Barbara L – do you need beta testers? Your handbook, there’s a grammatical housekeeping issue that needs attention to.
Wesley B – After convention we did give out a version to beta test. We will be getting lots of feedback. In the UK areas aren’t accessible to find a meeting in a different area where it can be centralized.
James H – is the database going to be accessing the webpage of who is using an IOS? Wesley B – yes
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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 2 – Friday – September 1, 2023
Milton L – once you enter a meeting it has to be associated with an area. The mobile app has no concept of areas.
Gary P – areas without groups or regions, can you help me?
Wesley B – absolutely
Gary P – great I’ll send you a list.
Rafael M – AA has the chair for the logo, do we have a logo?
Wesley B – We will be using our C.A. logo
Renzo L – will you add additional features, will there be literature?
Wesley B – The app belongs to the office, they will decide what literature will be up there.
Russell S – seeing no more questions, please join me in thanking the IT committee.
Meeting closed at 9:21pm.
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