CLOSING REPORT C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2008
WORLD SERVICE BOARD of TRUSTEES REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
Opening Comments
Our thanks to everyone here at this year’s WS Conference, and to the entire fellowship for allowing us to be of service, and for your ongoing support. It is truly a pleasure to serve in this capacity.
In keeping with our desire to always remain accessible and accountable, we would like to explain why we are not yet able to respond to referrals received at this year’s Conference. The WSBT’s quarterly meeting adjourned Tuesday night so that we could complete the TEC interviews prior to the opening of the Conference. During the Conference breakout sessions, we have been with either our respective WSC Committees or the Trustee Election Committee. We simply have not yet had the opportunity to give the new referrals the time and attention they deserve, but the Board will begin working on them shortly after the Conference, as it has every year. Individual referral responses will become available as they are approved, through our record of business as generated throughout the year and distributed via the delegate mailings, and all referrals from the 2008 WSC will be reported on at next year’s Conference.
We are pleased to report that all members of the WSBT and all members of the WSOB were successfully ratified. With great sadness, we will be wishing Bruce Watson, Atlantic North Regional Trustee, farewell earlier than planned or expected and the position of Southwest Regional Trustee was also due to be filled. Three trustees are rotating out at the end of this Conference: Carl Warlick, the Pacific South Regional Trustee and current WSBT Chair, Earl Henderson, the World Service Office Trustee and Bobbie Harmon, Trustee at Large, acting Southwest Regional Trustee and WSBT vice Chair.
Although the faces on the WSBT will be changing at the close of this Conference, our commitment to you will remain the same: to always remember that we are here to be of service, and to allow a loving God to express Himself through our group conscience.
Committee Introductions
Carl Warlick: Pacific South Trustee, WSBT Chair
Earl Henderson: World Service Office Trustee
Bobbie Harmon: Trustee at Large, Acting Southwest Trustee, WSBT Vice Chair
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Hayward Hunt: World Service Trustee
Trevor Scheible: Pacific North Trustee, WSBT Secretary
Bruce Watson: Atlantic North Trustee
Lawrence Matlock: Atlantic South Trustee
Nicolas Lynn: European Trustee
Kim Sherwan: Midwest Trustee
COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
*Motion to amend #2 of the Trustee Election Process, found on page 43 of the 2008 World Service Manual:
Current version: 2) All voting will be done by secret ballot. TEC members have the choice of either voting for one candidate or voting for none of the candidates. Abstentions are counted as votes for none of the candidates.
Revised version: 2) All voting will be done by secret ballot. TEC members have the choice of either voting for one candidate or voting for none of the candidates. Abstentions will not be considered a vote, and the election will be affirmed by two thirds of the voting members.
Motion to amend #9 of Trustee Election Process, found on page 43 of the 2008 World Service Manual:
Current version: 9) FOURTH BALLOT: If no candidate receives 2/3 vote on the first three (3) ballots, the top vote receiving candidate is put up for 2/3 ratification vote. For ratification purposes, TEC members have the choice of either voting “yes” or “no”; abstentions are counted as “no” votes. If that candidate receives the required 2/3 vote, then that person is the elected Trustee. If not, the same procedure will take place with the 2nd top vote-receiving candidate
Revised version: 9) FOURTH BALLOT: If no candidate receives 2/3 vote on the first three (3) ballots, the top vote receiving candidate is put up for 2/3 ratification vote. For ratification purposes, TEC members have the choice of either voting “yes” or “no”; abstentions will not be considered a vote. If that candidate receives the required 2/3 vote of voting members, then that person is the elected Trustee. If not, the same procedure will take place with the 2nd top vote-receiving candidate.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
Referral #5632
Self Test for Addiction
Members have expressed concern regarding the cocaine specific nature of the ‘Self Test for Addiction’ questionnaire on the CAUK website. In line with being a non-drug specific fellowship we would like to remove the word ‘Cocaine’ and substitute with the word ‘Drug or Drugs’. Please see below for the questions concerned…
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Are we able to make such changes at a local level and simply remove the ‘Approved Literature’ statement?
Self Test For Addiction Questions
- Do you ever use more cocaine than you planned?
- Has the use of cocaine interfered with your job?
- Is your cocaine use causing conflict with your spouse or family?
- Do you feel depressed, guilty, or remorseful after you use cocaine?
- Do you use whatever cocaine you have almost continuously until the supply is exhausted?
- Have you ever experienced sinus problems or nosebleeds due to cocaine use?
- Do you ever wish that you had never taken that first line, hit, or injection of cocaine?
- Have you experienced chest pains or rapid or irregular heartbeats when using cocaine?
- Do you have an obsession to get cocaine when you don’t have it?
- Are you experiencing financial difficulties due to your cocaine use?
- Do you experience an anticipation high just knowing you are about to use cocaine?
- After using cocaine, do you have difficulty sleeping without taking a drink or another drug?
- Are you absorbed with the thought of getting loaded even while interacting with a friend or loved one?
- Have you begun to use drugs or drink alone?
- Do you ever have feelings that people are talking about you or watching you?
- Do you use larger doses of drugs or alcohol to get the same high you once experienced?
- Have you tried to quit or cut down on your cocaine use only to find that you couldn’t?
- Have any of your friends or family suggested that you may have a problem?
- Have you ever lied to or misled those around you about how much or how often you use?
- Do you use drugs in your car, at work, in the bathroom, on airplanes or other public places?
- Do you spend time with people or in places you otherwise would not be around but for the availability of drugs?
- Have you ever stolen drugs or money from friends or family?
Referral #5778
To suggest to the WSBT that it acknowledge communications from non-Delegates or non-Area chairs to ensure that the senders can confirm that the communication was received and what disposition has been taken.
Referral #5788
To clarify the use of CA trademarks on Group websites and the authorization process licensing their use.
Referral #5789
To clarify or describe the procedure for enforcement or protection of CA trademarks.
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Referral #5794 & 5821
Change the name of Cocaine Anonymous (CA) to Cocaine and All Other Mind Altering Substances, but still use the letters CA. To be known as Cocaine and all other mind altering substances (CA).
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Chair: Hayward Hunt WST
Vice-Chair: Lawrence Matlock ASRT
Secretary: Kim Sherwan MWRT
Election of CAWS INC. Corporate Officers has been tabled until the new Trustee orientation due to the laws governing California Corporations.
Trustee Election Committee
This year we had 5 Trustee positions to fill. The TEC worked long and hard, and the following members are being welcomed to the WSBT.
Southwest Region: Randy Groen
Pacific South: Joy Hutcheson
Atlantic North: Robert Lyle
World Service Office: Willie Bailey
Trustee at Large: Richard Schaefer
CLOSING COMMENTS
Thank you for allowing us to be of service. If you have questions or comments on these referrals, or on any matter whatsoever, please contact us at WSBT@ca.org.
Respectfully Submitted: 2008 World Service Board of Trustees
Steve Edwards – Any questions?
Kurt Lynn – There was a number of items relating to trademarks. The concern I have is failure to enforce trademarks is often grounds for losing registrations.
Bobbie Harmon – We’re on top of it. Thank you.
Hayward Hunt – Our service marks are logo, CA name, we’re here and we’re free, and we are fully protected in the US, Canada it’s protected.
Kurt Lynn – I understand they’re protected. Are the trustees aware you have a registered trademark but fail to enforce it you can lose the registration?
Hayward Hunt – Yes, we have a legal team that keeps an eye on that.
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John Bodkin – Thank you WBOT for offering the WSOB to act as your agent in the enforcement and protection of logo, trademark etc. It’s important to note you have empowered the WSOB to act as your agent. We keep the filing fresh and current. I wanted to confirm that’s what we were doing, do you agree?
Bobbie Harmon – Yes.
Steve Edwards – Thank you WBOT.
At this time it’s 10:35. Time for a
10-minute break.
Break
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