OPENING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2007
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
Welcome, Bienvenue, Weikom, WiSIkommen, Valkomnande, Recepcion !!!
Welcome to the 2007 Worid Service Conference. The theme this year is “Each One, Reach One, Teach One”. Looking around the room today one can see that our membership is diverse in many ways, and our theme suggests that together as ONE, we can do what we could never do alone. We can overcome any obstacle and the message of CA can and will continue. This committee’s task during the past year was to provide the best possible service to the attendees of the Conference as well as keeping the delegates and the fellowship informed of issues affecting CA as a whole. Our Committee began working soon after the 2006 Conference, meeting each month preparing for the next year. Below is a summary of the items we have addressed.
- Review of Evaluation of the 2006 Conference
- Review of “Buddy System” “Ask me” system at Conference
- Review of on site situations ie. vendors stolen equipment, Conference Officers illnesses, and power outages
- Voted in Co-Coordinator – Deborah Botz
- Robin Long approved as Administrative Coordinator
- Voted in new secretary – Tammy Peacock
- Completed the “Final Conference Report” for distribution to the delegates/fellowship and posting to website
- Referral form updated for future reorder
- Conference minutes distributed to delegates/fellowship
- Review/copied Conference transcripts
- Review of Closing Report vs. Final Conference Report
- Summary of Motions prepared and distributed
- Approved Conference Committee Guidelines for posting to website and distribution to delegates/fellowship
- Committee review of responsibilities and participation of committee members
- Approved all Conference forms ie: registration, proxy, etc.
- Addressed the “Opening Night Dinner” with changes in the menu
- Continue to work on the development of a electronic referral form
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- Switched to a new conference call company that provides free conferencing
- Approved responses to Post Conference Referrals
- Method of insuring that ail items prepared by the Conference Committee are included in mailing
- Completion of 2007 Conference Agenda
- Review of sites for 2009 and 2010 Conferences
- Completion of Committee list
- Review and update of Orientation for 2007 Conference
- Research into “standardized form” for possible hotel sites for future
- Completed update of Templates for World Service Conference committees
- Established “Yahoo Group” for committee communication and posting of documents, referrals, transcripts
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
Committee Members
Kim Sherwan- Chair
Scott Botz-Vice Chair
Tammy Peacock-Secretary
Leslie Groter -Coordinator
Deborah Botz-Co-Coordinator
Robin Long – Administrative Coordinator
Brian Tenenbaum
Hayward Hunt – WSOB Trustee
Carl Warlick – Pacific South Regional Convention
Two members that served during the year, and have stepped down from the committee are Jenn ScheibSe, and Waheedah Muhammad.! appreciate their time and service to the committee.
I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with ail these fine people during the past year, and to have served this fellowship.
REFERRALS THAT WERE WORKED UPON DURING THE YEAR:
All were addressed and responded to, none resulted in motions:
#4960
For WSC hotel to include, if at all possible, a hot tub (I, like most who have been sober a while have body aches from sitting long in WSC).
Approved response: While we would love to accommodate everyone with a hot tub and other such amenities, it’s not always possible.
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#5136
When the serenity prayer is said at conference, could we please say the “we version”?
Approved response: While the Conference as a whole has shown repeated resistance to mandating any particular prayers, the current Chair appreciates the sentiment of your proposal and will try to remember to take your concerns into consideration when opening sessions of the Conference with the Serenity Prayer. Ultimately, however, the form of the prayer is up to the discretion of whomever is asked to lead it.
#5137
Could WSCC provide copies of all committees manual to non-delegate whom register for CAWSC?
Approved response: Delegate notebooks, which include copies of the committee manuals, are available for purchase on the registration forms and at the Conference. These notebooks are equally available to delegates and non-delegates alike.
#5145
Any referral that extends beyond the bottom of this page be presented in an electronic format. Backup: whoever is typing in-conference referrals has a long and difficult task of typing many referrals and to type up to 3 pages of written text is a cumbersome and time consuming job. Anyone passionate enough to make a referral that long should back it up with a disk or other electronic means.
Approved Response: The spirit and intent of this referral is well taken. The Conference Committee will take steps to see to it that the Conference Chair explains to the delegates that referrals are manually entered into a database upon receipt and suggest to them that lengthy referrals be provided to the Committee in electronic format. Additionally, the Conference Committee will try to include such instructions, space permitting, on referral forms ordered in the future.
#5151
Please consider creating an orientation process and/or written materials for WSC committee chairs. Suggested topics include:
-preparation of reports, opening, conference and closing; -handling of referrals;
-drafting of motions;
-preparation for debate on floor;
-need to attend chairs’ meetings;
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-SR 14 compliance;
-ways to keep committee active throughout year;
-time management @ conference.
Approved response: As the Conference evolves, so does the method of sharing information to the Conference members, and the Conference Committee Chairs. We appreciate your suggestion, and wilt work with the Conference Officers to incorporate more information into the “0060131100“, as well as updating the current written material that is handed out to the Conference Committee Chairs.
#5229
That a separate screen or other means of projecting images, so as not to interfere with the projection of conference minutes be available.
Approved response: The committee appreciates the spirit of the referral overall; however, the funds available to put on the conference are limited and this is cost prohibitive.
#5237
Add to the Conference Committee guidelines the following restriction:
-Any voting member of the conference engaged in inappropriate and irrelevant matters, specifically the following: computer games (but not limited to) spider, solitaire, scrabble, hearts, backgammon or poker; specifically the following actions: personal email, websurfing, memorabilia sates shall be (choose one)
- publicly reprimanded
- computer privileges suspended for the day
- brought out to the pool and have their head held under water several times
Approved response: While the Conference Committee appreciates the spirit of your referral (as well as its sense of humor), the Twelfth Concept of World Service Manual specifically prohibits the Conference from taking any action which is personally punitive. The Conference Committee hopes that the behavior addressed in your referral will be discouraged by fellow Delegates and Trustees.
#5239
Research future hotels that have cell phone blocking so that phone calls do not interfere with conference business.
Approved response: This is against the law. It is as follows: The operation of transmitters designed to jam or block wireless communications is a violation of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (“Act”). See 47 U.S.C. Sections 301,302a, 333. The Act prohibits any person from witifuliy or maliciously interfering with the radio communications of any station licensed or authorized under the Act or operated by the U.S. government. 47 U.S.C. Section 333. The manufacture, importation, sale or offer for sale, including advertising, of devices designed to block or jam wireless transmissions is prohibited. 47 U.S.C, Section
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302a(b). Parties in violation of these provisions may be subject to the penalties set out in 47 U.S.C. Sections 501-510. Fines for a first offense can range as high as $11,000 for each violation or imprisonment for up to one year, and the device used may also be seized and forfeited to the U.S. government.
#5240
The conference evaluation form has some blank spots, i.e., missing box for “how was the registration process at the conference”, no boxes for “education process at conference”, many other boxes not on evaluation form and there is no space for other items not covered on evaluation form.
Approved Response: In order to improve future conferences, we consider what the fellowship likes/dislikes in regards to the Conference and compile this information post-conference. The information received on the evaluation forms at Conference end are processed and compiled into a report for the Conference Committee. The Conference Committee then goes over these reported results to determine what areas would need to be improved for a more efficient Conference. The added written suggestions are also reviewed and taken into consideration, in response to “some blank spots, i.e., missing box for “how was the registration process at the conference”, no boxes for “education process at conference,” many other boxes not on evaluation form” and there is no space for other items not covered on evaluation form.” – we have responded to your concerns. The “2007 Conference Evaluation Form” has revisions seeking the fellowship’s input regarding how the registration process proceeded; are you more informed in regards to the necessary information which helps the conference run more smoothly and efficiently {section entitled “education process at conference”}. Finally, in response to the end of the referral -…”and there is no space for other items not covered on evaluation form.” we review all write in responses on the evaluation forms. When we have too many written responses and no specific category to place our results into, we consider them as “additional miscellaneous considerations”. We are excited about the changes we have incorporated – and hope that you will be, too. We welcome your input, trusted servant, and look forward to hearing your comments, and receiving your 2007 Conference Evaluation Form at Conference end!
#5245
Could you please add meat, chick or fish to the kick off dinner instead of a vegetarian meal and please state the meal in the flyer in the delegate mailing and please provide more room for people to sit as l was pretty crammed at a table.
Approved response: In an effort to add more items to the menu without making the cost prohibitive, we have included grilled chicken to the menu. As for the
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seating arrangements, the largest tables the hotel could provide are rounds of 10. Depending on how many people are going to participate, we can try to add extra tables.
#5449
Would like to see a referral numbering system that reflects the year referral was written (i.e., #6001—written in 2006, etc.) would make tracking and reference much easier.
Approved Response: The intent of this referral is well taken, however, the fellowship currently orders referral forms in bulk to get the most for our money. This quantity purchasing means that we get enough referrals to last several years and a numbering system like that suggested in this referral would mean not only a higher cost for printing but the waste of referrals left over from year to year.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
In closing, we, the Conference Officers and the Conference Committee, look forward to serving you this week, and to having a successful 2007 World Service Conference. If you have any questions or concerns during the remainder of this week, please see myself, Leslie Groter or Deborah Botz, As a reminder, we are seeking and encouraging all members to join and serve on this committee. Being a member of this committee is exciting and rewarding, AND we have a lot of fun! And finally, in keeping with the theme of this Conference, “Each One, Reach One, Teach One”, the universal sign language of the week is… (raise your index finger).
Thank you.
Steve Edwards – Any questions?
John Whitaker – Could you please change the welcome in Spanish?
Kim Sherwan – I did reach out to the international community and that’s what i received. The spirit of it was welcome everyone today, but we will look at that and make any adjustments.
Steve Edwards – Any other questions.
Next up is Public Information. Public Information is not ready so we will move on to the Convention Committee report.
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