Aug 28, 2012 – Day 1 Daily Summary – WSOB Opening Report

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OPENING REPORT

C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2012

WORLD SERVICE OFFICE REPORT REPORT

INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:

It is our privilege to report to you on the status of YOUR World Service Office operations and special projects of the World Service Office Board of Directors (WSOB).

First and foremost, thank you letting us be of service.

This year, the World Service Office (WSO) and the WSO Board of Directors have been extremely busy with a multitude of projects we have been charged with by our fellowship as spoken through this Conference. We have completed a number of previously pending publication and translation projects and have worked with several members to initiate new translation projects (Elizabeth will report more in detail on these projects momentarily.) We worked with the Conference Public Information (PI) Committee to complete the new Public Service Announcement (to be presented by the PI committee). We have worked with our attorneys to protect our trademark and logo both in the U.S. and

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internationally. We have revised and renewed royalty agreements, vendor license agreements, and contracts. We have monitored budgets and expenses and sought ways to increase efficiency and cut costs without cutting services to the Fellowship. As Linda will report, these are just a few of the projects worked on over the year.

We are very pleased to report a very successful Convention year in 2012 – our first World Convention across the pond! Not only was this an extremely successful event financially, but spiritually, as well. Thank you to the CAWS 2012 committee members and the European Region for hosting such a wonderful event. We can’t wait to move the party to Florida in 2013!

It is my duty and honor to report that, due to lack of any bid submissions, the 2015 Convention has become the responsibility of the WSOB and the Board has been working very diligently to address this responsibility. More will be reported on this during the Convention Committee Opening Report.

I am pleased to report that the WSO is working much more efficiently and effectively than it has in recent years. We have continued to revise and improve office procedures and policies, communications among the staff, between the two boards, and with the fellowship. We are very pleased with the progress we have made and look forward to continued growth and improvement in these areas, as we seek to provide the best possible service to our members.

Two main concerns of the WSOB include sales shortfalls and staffing needs. Both of these topics continue to be topics of ongoing discussion between both the WSOB and the WSBT. There continues to be a decline in sales of books, chips, and literature. It is important to note that we have seen an increase in 7th tradition donations as a result of two very large donations. This, in combination with a very successful Convention, we have gratefully been able to cover some

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of this shortfall. Looking forward, it is ever apparent that both sales and 7th tradition MUST continue to increase if we are to continue to provide services to you – to the fellowship, as a whole.

We are very proud and grateful for our WSO staff. Sheila, our Special Worker in Customer Service, Nicole in Shipping and Receiving, and or course, Linda, our Director of Operations (DOO). Despite turnover this past year, the staff has managed their workload, with the help of volunteers in order to avoid cutting services to the fellowship. We are extremely grateful to those volunteers that have stepped up to help the WSO manage some of the special projects in our time of tight-staffing. Realizing the importance of these special projects to our members and to the growth of Cocaine Anonymous, and being cognizant of the overwhelming workload being placed upon our limited staff, the WSOB is working with the WSBT to develop a job description for a part-time consultant at the WSO in order to assist the DOO and the WSOB with its special projects, such as translations, publications, NADCP, Conference and Convention. Please look for further information to come once the final job description is approved by the WSBT.

I had the opportunity appoint and/or re-appoint several positions to assist the WSO with its special projects: WSO Webservant (Ryan E.), WSOB Translations Ad-hoc Committee Chair (Elizabeth S.), WSOB Fin-Fun Ad-Hoc Committee Chair (Bob C.), WSO Publications Liaison (Cynthia C.), C.A. NewsGram Editor (Heidi J.).

Our thanks goes out to Cynthia C. for continuing to serve this past year as the WSO Publications Liaison, where she spent countless hours assisting the DOO with a number of projects which Linda will talk about. Thank You Cynthia!! Also, a special thanks to the LCF committee, as a whole for their continued assistance.

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A very special thanks to Heidi J. for her work as the editor of the Newsgram. The quality of the Newsgram remains high, and as always, requires the participation of all of our fellowship. Thank you to the WSBT for its consistent participation and to the many members who have submitted articles and other material for inclusion.

Thank you to Ryan E. for his continues work on the website. Web operations were maintenanced sufficiently with little or no downtime for CA.org and we look very eagerly toward the eminent launching of the new website.

The WSOB shall remain focused on all key issues including inventory, revision, production, translation and distribution of HFC II and all C.A. literature, vendor licensing, new/existing royalty agreements, The Newsgram, and Web Operations.

Per California Corporate Regulations, all members of the WSOB were ratified this past year.

Thank you to each of the members of the board for their dedication and service. Of note, Elizabeth S. will rotate off the board at the conclusion of this conference. Thank you Elizabeth for the years of love and service you have offered to us! Additionally, Richard L. rotates out of the World Service Office Trustee position. We are privileged to have served with both of you.

Our own WSOB efforts to recruit new members continues to prove challenging. Although we have received a few resumes from potential candidates for future consideration, we S. have two immediate vacancies at the conclusion of this conference. We are actively seeking resumes. Should you have any questions about the WSOB, requirements for consideration of directorship or the

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commitment, please feel free to approach any member of the WSO board. Please also know that our meetings are open to all members. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month at the WSO at 7:00pm.

COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:

Chair – Teresa N.
Vice-Chair – Elizabeth S.
Treasurer – Barry J.
Secretary – Susan D.
Paid Director of Operations – Linda F.
Director-at-Large – Bob C.
World Service Office Trustee – Richard L.
Acting World Service Trustee – Richard S.
Director-at Large – vacant
Director-at Large – vacant

Sub-Committee Chairs:

Publications Liaison – Cynthia C.
NewsGram Editor – Heidi J.
WebServant – Ryan E.
Fin-Fun Ad-hoc Committee – Bob C.
Translations Ad-hoc Committee – Elizabeth S.
Teresa N.: WSOB Treasurer Report

I want to thank the fellowship for the opportunity to serve.

Over the past year I have been in constant contact with the chair and the Executive consultant, our DOO, Paid Bookkeeper and the WSOT and both boards regarding banking and financial needs of our fellowship (signing checks and going over financials, other banking, etc.)

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I have been in contact with the Treasurer and chair of the 2012 convention and gone over activities and spreadsheet/budget participated in the wonderful truly international CAWSO World Convention in Birmingham England UK.

I participated in the financial needs while at the UK convention, many L. hours counting lots of funny looking coin and bills. Each pence adds up. Thank you. We, all of us of Cocaine Anonymous, over this past year finally had in place a truly international convention. While working within international constraints and the flexibility of the exchange rate between the dollar and the pound (GBP) we had a successful convention creating $104,529.22*

2o10 Convention Gross $134,254
2010 Convention Net $52,140
2010 CAWSO Net 10,292

2011 Convention Gross $264,260
2011 Convention Net $129,775
2011 CAWSO Net $16,084

2012 Convention Gross $193,976
2012 Convention Net $104,529
CAWSO Net $7,132

The 7th tradition income has increased over last year. 7th Tradition is only part of what keeps CAWSO running, we all know these are uncertain financial times for everyone, over the past few years we have made many efforts to reduce costs in many ways at the CAWSO office. Please remember that the sale of books/literature and the 7th tradition is a large part of what funds the operation of

 

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OUR CAWSO office. We should not rely on the ability of a convention to exceed expectations to keep the office and CAWSO going.

7th Tradition

2007-08 $161,501.08
2008-09 $145,971.05
2009-10 $128,395.38
2010-11 $91,172.58
2011-12 $129,431.09

7th Tradition

2008 $136,219
2009 $125,847
2010 $128,395
2011 $84,611
2012 $124,442

Sales of chips and literature have reduced and we need to make it a larger part of the financial independence from the uncertainty of 7th Tradition and Conventions. While the inventory of HFCII and HFC is steadily going down we S. have a very large supply and we can S. use your help, spread the word, buy a copy for your sponsee or sponsor.

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2010 Chips $129,676
2010 Books $46,820

2011 Chips $130,884
2011 Books $42,949

2012 Chips $121,101
2012 Books $33,870

All in all it has been a pleasure to be of service to the fellowship In loving service

Barry J.

Ryan E.: PowerPoint Presentation: C.A. Website

Elizabeth S.: PowerPoint Presentation

CAWSO – Director of Operations 2012 World Service Conference Report Respectfully Submitted by: Linda F.

My name is Linda F., I am not an addict, but I am the Director of Operations for Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office (CAWSO) and I have one vote.

I am excited to be here today, at my second CAWS Conference. It is my pleasure to have had the opportunity to work with many of you and looking

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forward to meeting others for the first time. This is just one more incredible step in my journey of working with Cocaine Anonymous and the World Service Office.

  • We continually work with our trademark attorney to make sure we stay current with all our trademarks, registrations and licenses.
  • Our relationship with the Volunteer Center continues to provide us with volunteer help for both the office and the warehouse.
  • Thanks to the help of the WSOB and in an effort to provide better business practices – we have reviewed, revised, updated and implemented:
    • New Release Forms for Original Literary Works
      • This release must be included with submissions to the Meditation Book and/or the Newsgram
    • New Release Forms for Transfer Rights for Artwork
      • This release must be included with submissions for original art work for:
        • T-shirt designs
        • Brochures/Programs
        • Posters etc.
    • Vendor Licensing
      • For individuals who wish to produce items for sale for their personal business that use the CA logo must apply for a vendor License.
      • If you are unsure if a vendor license is necessary, please feel free to ask anyone on the WSO Board
    • Royalty Agreements
      • All International Areas that are printing their own C.A. pamphlets must have a signed current Royalty Agreement on file with the WSO. For more information please see member of the WSOB.
  • CAWSO has made a few cost saving changes to help keep our spending in budget…

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  • We have switched to a new provider for our internet and phone services
  • In an effort to save money in accepting credit card payments we have switched to a new Merchant Service program to process credit cards with lower fees and the money is in our account much quicker
  • This year NADCP was at Opryland in Nashville, TN – Yee Haw!
    • I worked with Trustees Kenny W., Richard S. and several very enthusiastic local members.
    • I’d like to share a little story: The local volunteers that helped us this year were members from the Nashville area. We had about 4 or 5 different volunteers – each of them very enthusiastic and full of energy! With their length of sobriety running from 9 months to 2 years. In learning about them and them about us…they found it quite amazing that Richard S. began his sobriety around the same age as they did…only 24 years earlier! So they began to affectionately refer to Richard S. as “Grandpa”. So, please, if you see Richard S. around the conference, please tell them his friends from Nashville say “Hi
    • Drug court this year was just as exciting and I feel even more productive than last year, perhaps because I felt much more confident in our purpose and message that we presented.
    • We had the opportunity to speak with and get follow-up information from over 280 people who work directly in the Drug Court System
    • We gave our HFC II book and C.A. Pamphlets to folks from 30 different states
    • We followed up with Starter Kit Information to 30 areas currently without C.A. meetings
    • Next year – NADCP 18th Annual Training Conference … July 14-17 o 2013 Gaylord Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor, MD

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  • I am happy to announce the Public Information Committee will have a brand new PSA to present.
  • Over the past year, I have been working with Cynthia C., our Publication Liaison, and the LCF committee, on many projects:
    • We have managed to get all our pamphlets current with the new template as well as updated with correct disclaimers (with date codes to track revisions)
    • All the pamphlets have been given to the LCF for their final review and we anticipate having everything updated to the most current versions and online to the website by the end of September.
    • I am happy to say – all pamphlets are current and have the correct disclaimers! Yahoo
    • Please join me in thanking Cynthia C. for her never ending hours of dedication and hard work!
  • With the help of Cynthia C., Siobhan A. and Yves W. – we have published and have in stock:
    • HFCII, 2nd edition – for all countries outside the US (no more stickered books!)
    • HFC II in French
    • Thanks again for the help of those folks I mentioned…I say this most affectingly…they are truly dedicated “Service Junkies” Yahoo!
  • Since the conference last year, I am happy to report that the CAWSO has opened our doors to the Archive Committee to host scheduled work days to begin the process of taking inventory, logging and packaging C.A.’s archive for preservation.
  • We are excited to announce that 39 new meetings have been started since our report last year.
    • 31 new meetings in the United States
    • 3 new meetings in Canada

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  • 5 new meetings in other countries (South America, Italy, Spain, Porto Rico, and Africa)
  • We have reached out with 93 Inmate and/or Outreach letters.
  • 37 people in need have received our Welcome Kits.
  • We stay extremely busy processing orders for chips and literature to the tune of over 1,560 just in the last year.
  • The CAWS 2012 in Birmingham, United Kingdom was a fun and successful convention! I would like to thank the chair, steering committee members and all those volunteers who through their continued support of the fellowship for putting together truly our first International convention.
  • We are working with the 2013 CAWS Chair and Steering Committee on planning our next Convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They are working very hard to provide a wonderful convention experience with a “Splash of Serenity”!
  • The CAWS 2014 Chair and Committees are busy getting with fundraising and event planning…so we are looking forward to being in Long Beach in 2014.
  • Congratulations to Heidi J., our new Newsgram editor
    • If you’ve enjoyed the Newsgram this past year
    • Or feel there is an article inside you – waiting to be published…please see Heidi

Respectfully submitted by: Linda L F., Director of Operations

NewsGram Editors Report 2012

Heidi J.

To the 2012 WS Conference:

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Here is the NewsGram’s Statement of Purpose from the NewsGram Guidelines approved on 3/22/2007:

The Cocaine Anonymous NewsGram is a quarterly publication of the C.A. World Service Office Board. Its purpose is to be both informational and inspirational, and to help foster a sense of unity throughout our increasingly diverse worldwide Fellowship. The NewsGram should keep the Fellowship informed about upcoming C.A. events, important developments occurring at the World Service Conference, and significant actions taken by the World Service Board of Trustees and World Service Office Board. The NewsGram should also communicate a message of hope, faith and courage by publishing articles from members sharing their experience with recovery, unity and service in C.A. The overall content should convey the experience, strength, and hope of its contributors and reflect a broad geographic spectrum of current C.A. experience. Articles are not intended to be statements of C.A. policy, nor does publication of any article imply endorsement by either C.A. or the NewsGram.

At the 2011 World Service Convention in Phoenix, AZ, I saw the article in the Newsgram that Cynthia was ready to move on to other commitments and ready to give up the position of NewsGram Editor. I talked to some friends and family, and decided that it might be a commitment that I would enjoy. I spoke with Cynthia C. and Tom P. of the WSO about the commitment. I told Tom P. I would be willing to stand for this position.

In June of 2011, I sent Tom P. my service resume, and he interviewed me. He took it to the WSO board, and on June 23, 2011 I was elected to the position; which happened to be my 23rd Sobriety Birthday.

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I was fortunate that Cynthia C. had lots of information for me and she started to forward me documents, old Newsgram issues, guidelines and a few submissions that had not gone into the Newsgram yet. She and I spoke on the phone a few times and I was ready to start my first issue. I was fortunate to have enough items for 18 pages…but was then told that my issue needed to be in pages multipliable by 4, so I had to make it only 16 pages.

At the 2011 WS Conference I went to the H&I Committee and the Unity Committee and asked each member to write a piece for the Unity and H&I Corners. I was successful in getting enough for this year’s issues, plus I have a couple of unused items I can S. use. This year, I will go to those committee’s again and ask for input from their members.

I have put out a total of 5 issues so far; one per quarter I have been the editor. The vision I have for the NewsGram is that it will be fun, inspirational, informative, interesting and attractive. I’d love to put cartoons in, if anyone here knows a member of the fellowship who is good at making/drawing cartoons that might be recovery related.

Categories: The following are considered standard contents when publishing the

C.A. NewsGram:

Submission Category Responsible Contributor(s)
7th Tradition Report WSO
Articles re: Concepts of World Service WS Delegates, WSOB and WSBT
Articles re: Recovery Experiences C.A. Fellowship
Articles re: Steps, Traditions and C.A. Fellowship (incl. Delegates and
Principles Trustees)
Calendar of Events WSO/C.A. Fellowship

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Submission Category Responsible Contributor(s)
CAWS Convention Host City/WSC Convention
Committee/WSO
Financial Information WSOB
H&I Corner WSC H&I Committee
Note from the WSO or WSOB WSOB Chair/Office Staff
PI Corner WSC Public Information Committee
Trustee Corner WSBT NewsGram Subcommittee
Unity Corner WSC Unity Committee

I do have a committee, which consists of Sheila in the office, Jeanne-Ann P. serves as one of my proofers, AJ from Idaho who assists me in getting submissions, my husband, (whether he wants to be on the committee or not), a NewsGram Trustee, Randy G; and a the Chair of the WSO. I have a great deal of assistance from the WSO and our DOO.

Here’s what the NewsGram needs from you:

  • Get your event information into the WSO Webmaster so it gets into the NewsGram. Or, send it to me and I’ll forward it to the Webmaster as well as put it in the next issue.
  • They can be from members of the fellowship, delegates, Committee Chairs, Trustees, WSO Board members and former members of the WSBT and WSO. Along with the submissions needs to be release forms.
  • It would be great if each WS Conference Chair person wrote an article in the next year for the NewsGram, so our membership knows what goes on in each committee.
  • If you have a quote from one of the CA books or literature that you’d like to see in the NewsGram, please forward that information to me. I often have small spaces that are perfect for quotes from our literature.

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Here are the Publication dates that we will attempt to follow:

Quarter Submission Deadline Draft to WSO WSBT Review WSOB Approval and Printing Distribution to Fellowship
First 1/10 1/22 1/29-2/9 2/10-2/17 2/17
Second 4/10 4/22 4/29-5/5 5/6-12 5/18
Third 7/10 7/22 7/29-8/5 8/6-8/13 8/17
Fourth 10/10 10/22 10/29-11/5 11/6-11/13 11/16

Yours in Service,

Heidi J.

REFERRALS THAT WERE WORKED ON DURING THE YEAR:

Referral # 6251 Link on Website for WSO Procedures

Effective immediately, that a version maintained copy of the World Service Office procedures manual be loaded onto the CA Website. This is to outline procedures and job descriptions. No personal information which would contravene California employment law is requested to be uploaded.

Response: Thank you for the request, the WSOB believes that the policy and procedures handbook for our employees is an internal working document, and not for publication.

 

Referral # 6551 Current PSA in HD

That the owner of the current CA video PSA be asked to provide the PSA in an HD format, which is the industry standard.

Response: See the office to buy the new CA PSA, HD format.

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Referral # 6552 Spanish translation of certain statements

To create a Spanish translation of: 1) the Tradition 6 Statement, 2) the registered trademark statement, 3) the PDF Disclaimer. These are to be placed on a Spanish version website.

Response: The Spanish translation of the Steps and Traditions and the Registered Trademark Statement are completed. The disclaimer is in progress.

Referral # 6605 Link on CA Website for S&B Guidelines

Please add a link to the WSC S&B Committee Section for the WSC S&B Guidelines. The motion to approve the Guidelines and insert them into the delegate handbook was on day 4 of our 2010 Conference. Response: This item was completed.

Referral #6721 Electronic CA Books

Make the 2 CA books available for purchase by electronic media (ie: for I-Phones, Kindle, Bookmook, etc) and charge a fee for those entire set. Response: We love the idea, since we do not currently have a DRPD, we do not have the resources to develop such product.

Referral #6765 Include Balance Sheet in NewsGram

Please include in the monthly NewsGram a snapshot of our balance sheet showing last year-this year income and expenses year to date this and last year. My area AA Newsletter does it and it is very helpful to show where we are at financially. Nobody knows what it takes to run CA on a monthly basis. Response: This has been added to our quarterly NewsGram.

Referral # 6769 Website and IT ticketing system access

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Please provide IT Committee members with access to the website and IT ticketing system

Response: The WSOB believes this is beyond the scope of the committee and we believe the webservent is the only one who should be handling this.

Referral # 6813 Swedish translation of HFC

That the WSO, on receipt of translated text prepare text and arrange printing of HFC 2 in Swedish. Within the process, WSO to check translation. CAWSO to small print runs and/or look into using a Swedish based book printer to alleviate shipping costs.

Response: Thank you so much for your referral, this project is currently in progress and completion is anticipated by the end of the calendar year.

CLOSING COMMENTS:

This year was definitely a bit of a learning curve for me in my new position as WSOB Chair. I am personally grateful to both boards, all of the conference committees, the WSO staff, the convention committees, and all of our members that have worked with me, taught me, and been patient with me over this past year.

Overall, we had a successful year – the Convention was a fundraising success, translations have taken off, publications projects

I look forward to all that will be accomplished over the next year as we continue to work together.

This report is respectfully submitted. Thank you for letting me be of service.

Teresa N.

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World Service Office Board Chairperson

Tony D.: Any questions?

Jennifer S.: On page 13 of the WSM the logo regarding the one color.

Teresa N.: yes it should be one color.

John M.: What if the artwork is done outside the US for C.A.?

Bob C.: If they are submitted, the same forms and proper releases are submitted.

Cynthia C.: Will there be something in writing for the participation on non-delegate chair budget?

Teresa N.: Yes

Bill H.: Will there be some kind of style sheet for anyone interested in becoming an editor?

Ryan E.: Yes.

Wade S.: on page 4 of the budget there is an outside professional line item. What is that for?

Teresa N.: We had an outside professional for training with new DOO.

Jason L.: Where can we find older archived NewsGrams for use?

Heidi J..: There are electronic copies available back to 1997. Beyond that it will be in Archives.

Linda F.: Archives is working on digitizing older NewsGram issues.

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