OPENING REPORT C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2014
STRUCTURE AND BYLAWS REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
Welcome to the 2014 World Service Conference. The Structure and Bylaws Committee (S&B) is to formulate bylaws, guidelines and a structure by which Cocaine Anonymous can operate day-to-day, at Conferences, Regions, and Areas and elsewhere around the World. We execute with great diligence, the task of being of maximum service to our fellowship, by introducing new verbiage into a comprehensive, easy to read, World Service Manual (WSM). This manual will be distributed in the first quarter of the year following our conference, allowing our fellowship to grow and flourish.
At the World Service Conference (WSC) and other times during the year, the Structure and Bylaws Committee has been asked to investigate concerns regarding our current World Service Manual and either challenge the request by identifying a current solution or create new verbiage to present to the Conference floor, through which, we accommodate the referral.
When creating new verbiage, careful deliberation is undertaken in finding a solution that considers functionality and longevity.
This year has been a difficult one personally and it has at times been difficult to make all the conference calls, in fact I have only made 4 or 5, but we have a secret weapon JON H, followed
CAWSC 2014 – Day Two Redacted Approved, Page 15 of 21
closely by a fantastic group of people who have worked magnificently throughout the year including:
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
Eric T Chair
John M Vice- Chair
Jon H Secretary
Richard E Co-Secretary
Yves W Trustee
Dana V
Julia C
Michael C
Robert S
Suzanne V
Maria M
REFERRALS THAT WERE WORKED ON DURING THE YEAR:
Referral Number 7251
Please consider revising the title of the appendix to “Appendix List of Literature Approved by the WSC for Use, Display, distribution, or sale in C.A.”. This combines the policy on p. 14 with the language in the Appendix and removes the implication that the AA publications referenced in the Advisory Opinions are “WSC Approved” If you can find a more succinct way to say this, please do so. Thanks.
Referral Number 7124
CAWSC 2014 – Day Two Redacted Approved, Page 16 of 21
Please consider adding a page/s at the front of the World Service Manual that lists the revised sections, from the previous year’s edition. The section and page number would probably be adequate.
Referral Number 7355
Change WSM standing rules so that transcripts are not required to be word-for-word written copy of recording but can be dailies and audio transcript which would be made available to anyone, as requested.
Referral Number 7451
With the respect to adding more Delegates to the TEC, I cannot tell you how many years this has come up, at least 10 years. Can S&B once and for all please go back & look at which years this came up, what was the motion that was defeated, and the debate that year. Please make a list so this can be produced each year this argument comes up. Thanks.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
What the heck am I doing here?
I’m was a homeless drunken bum cocaine addict who accidently fell into an AA meeting and got told I was an addict and should really try CA. I did I wasn’t an addict though I just needed to slow down.
I got a sponsor I didn’t need, read a book I didn’t like and did some steps I really didn’t want to.
I stayed, I made tea and coffee with an OCD like efficiency, I got sober, I got clean, I got service, I got a job, I got a home, I got love, I got honest, I got, I got I got…..
I was 18 months sober and applied for a delegate position and to my enormous shock was voted in 4 and half years ago…. That’s right I am an outgoing delegate!!
It’s been an amazing experience and like everything else I did by accident I ended in structure and bylaws and stayed.
The friendships I have made over the last four years will last a lifetime. I will forever be a member of S&B
CAWSC 2014 – Day Two Redacted Approved, Page 17 of 21
I have a fascination with the WSM always have I read it and learned most of it as a GSR and am still known as being a little anal about its proper use!!!!
In S&B we do work. We do take the position of responsibility to the fellowship with which we have so graciously been charged. & we develop friendships. We learn how to work together as part of a team. We learn how to be of service & benefit to not only S&B, but to our respective Areas as well. We love you even if we don’t know your name. We love you & we would love for you to come be a part of our Committee.
John M
Structure and Bylaws
Vice-Chair
Tony D: Any questions?
Kevin M: Do you know the definition of verbiage?
John M: We always choose a word to say which will entertain the conference and this year we chose verbiage.
Jay F: What are the responses to the four referrals listed in the report?
John H: We are going to be bringing them to the floor in our closing report.
Tony D: Let’s thank the committee.
CAWSC 2014 – Day Two Redacted Approved, Page 18 of 21