OPENING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2013
Literature, Chips & Format Committee
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
Chair’s Opening Remarks: I would like to take this opportunity to personally acknowledge the amazing group of individuals I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with and learning from over the past few years. Many of you may not know just how hard this committee works to bring these projects to fruition. Long tireless hours are spent both individually and as a group to bring the best possible literature to the Fellowship of C.A.
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The World Service Conference Literature, Chips, and Format (“LCF”) Committee has 11 subcommittees and many members of the main committee wear several hats, not only having positions in the main committee such as Secretary, but also Chair one or two and in some cases more subcommittees. We meet regularly throughout the year, via conference calls and our Yahoo group. The LCF Committee has many moving pieces and processes and without the efforts of the committee as a whole, the work we have done this year would not have been possible. The work can be tiring, brain-staining and at times downright frustrating, but it is ultimately incredibly rewarding. As a spiritually guided group, we utilize the 12 Traditions, the Committee Guidelines, and a loving Creator as He expresses Himself through our group conscience. This foundation has proved to be indispensable to our work.
The work this committee has accomplished this year is nothing short of inspiring and challenges me personally to be the best Chair I can be. Thank you, each and everyone; without you all, I don’t believe I would be here today! Thank you!
LCF reviews, edits, and submits literature to the WSC for approval. It is our function to facilitate the expression of our Fellowship’s Hope, Faith and Courage through the writing of material for distribution. The LCF Committee remains committed to facilitating this work. The work we do is immensely important; it allows us via the written word to carry the message to the addict who still suffers. In a growing fellowship such as C.A., where we cannot always be there to carry the message in person, our literature is a valuable tool, in helping support and inspire, that growth.
The LCF Committee consists of members of Cocaine Anonymous worldwide who have a passion for and about the message we share in our pamphlets and books.
COMMITTEE INTRODUCTIONS:
Chair: Kellie F
Vice Chair: Jason L
Secretary: Tom P
Trustees: Kathy Jo R & Rob W
WSOB Liaison: Linda F & Teresa N
Publications Liaison: Cynthia C
Members:
- Adam O
- Elizabeth S
- Ginger L
- Jay F
- Jeannette J
- Maria M
- Michael A
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- Sally M
- Sheyan S
- Susan D
- Larry B
REFERRALS THAT WERE WORKED ON DURING THE YEAR:
#7092: Please address the lack of Conference approval for all literature. It would seem appropriate for Conference approved literature to actually be approved by the Conference as a whole.
Response: A motion was passed by the main LCF committee to set up a sub-committee to update all guidelines, with particular attention being paid to this referral. Revised guidelines were distributed in the SR14 mailing and we believe that this referral was addressed in the revisions made.
#7123:To insert a new Point 12 in the Book Approval Process to read:
- Following approval by the WSBT, the Book should be distributed to the delegates for Conference approval at the next Conference.
Response: As with the response to the previous referral we are pleased to inform Conference that a motion was passed by the main LCF committee to set up a sub-committee to update all LCF Guidelines, with particular attention being paid to this referral. Revised LCF Guidelines were distributed in the SR14 mailing and we believe that the intent of this referral was addressed in the revisions made.
OVERVIEW OF PENDING PROJECTS AND PROGRES MADE SINCE THE 2012 WSC:
PIECES DISTRIBUTED PURSUANT TO SR14:
- The 12 Principles: Jeannette J has the lead on this sub-committee. This is a new pamphlet approved as a concept at the 2002 WSC. This pamphlet has been through many revisions within the LCF subcommittee. The committee has worked hard to bring to the Fellowship a pamphlet that will help explain the 12 principles set forth on the C.A. metal Principles chip. A draft of this piece was included in the SR14 mailing.
- The 7th Tradition (revision to existing pamphlet): Tom P is the lead on this project. The pamphlet has been revised so that it is consistent with the conference Finance Committee Guidelines. Additionally, the revisions have intended to clarify confusion regarding a group’s prudent reserve. Finally, the updated pamphlet has been
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influenced by the increasingly international character of our C.A. fellowship. Extensive input was received from all project subcommittee members. Comments were reviewed, discussed and the process resulted in a piece which was then submitted to the Literature, Chips and Format main committee for review and approval. We are pleased that the piece was then finalized, approved and included in the recent delegate mailing consistent with conference standing rule 14. This piece is currently at point 10 of the C.A. Pamphlet Approval Process. We look forward to receiving comments from the fellowship as a whole. Thank you for the privilege of serving the C.A. fellowship. A ‘clean copy’ of the revised piece, a redline showing all changes made from the original as it currently appears were included in the SR14 mailing.
- We Can Recover: Cynthia C has the lead on this sub-committee. This is a revision to the existing piece based on various referrals and feedback received over the last several years. As a committee we are aware of the Conference’s attachment to this reading and we have endeavored to incorporate the best of the referral suggestions whilst minimizing the extent of changes. We have done our best to improve the wording so that it more clearly conveys the message of C.A. and is easier to read aloud. Included in this Year’s SR14 mailing were a ‘clean copy’ draft of the revised piece and a redline showing the changes made from the original as it currently appears in the meeting format.
- Too Young to Recover?: Elizabeth S has the lead on this sub-committee. Considerable work has been carried out over the past year. The work in developing the pamphlet led to a move away from the original working title, ‘Young People in Recovery’. The LCF believe that the new title better expresses the original intent of the Conference mandate. A draft of this piece was included in the SR14 mailing.
One of the most important aspects of the C.A. Pamphlet Approval Process is the feedback we receive from the SR 14 material sent to the Fellowship, which the committee reviews at Point 11. We hope you understand the importance of sharing with the members in your Area the DRAFT material sent to you in that mailing. Please remember to share with this committee any feedback you have received from members in your Area regarding these drafts prior to committee breakout sessions. We hope to present these materials for approval in the LCF Closing Report.
PIECES IN APPROVAL PROCESS:
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These projects are new pamphlets unless otherwise indicated:
- 12-Step Workbook: Kellie F has the lead on this sub-committee. The WSC approved the concept for a 12-Step Workbook. The subcommittee has been collaborating via a Yahoo group since December 2, 2007. Kellie Federici has been the lead on this subcommittee since July 11, 2010 and the committee is busy working on each Step. The workbook outline/format per group conscience includes the Step, personal experience, questions, some worksheets, quotes from various literature and a gratitude exercise or prayer for each Step. Help is needed on this project from motivated individuals who would like to see this project come to fruition. Anyone interested should contact the LCF Committee or the subcommittee. Please take the flyer created for the workbook back to your local Fellowship to help us facilitate the project. All we need is few good people. The Workbook subcommittee does not believe this will be the ‘official C.A. way’ to work the Steps but rather another tool to help new people and sponsors work the 12 Steps which are vital to our personal recovery.
- 12 Steps & 12 Traditions Book: Jason L has the lead on this sub-committee. The committee is taking shape and intends to create an outline of what the finished project might look like. A flyer has been created to solicit input from the Fellowship for LCF’s book projects. Several non-delegate members have expressed an interest in joining LCF to work on this project. It is the sub-committee’s intention to collect material from past copies of NewsGram and World Convention share / workshop recordings as a start to informing the writing of the required essays. The Trustees and have also expressed a willingness to provide archived material of their responses to questions posed to them over the years. We look forward to compiling the experience of our fellowship.
- 12 Traditions and Concepts Illustrated: Elizabeth S took the lead on this sub-committee a few months ago and has been assembling a team, including graphic artists, to progress the project.
- Meditation Book: Jeannette J has the lead on this sub-committee. Over the past year this project has moved on in leaps and bounds. It is currently at Point 13 of the C.A. Book Approval Process. Drafts have been reviewed in detail with both by the main LCF committee and the WSBT. The dedication by all those involved has been wonderful. We are very excited that this book is now awaiting professional proofreading and we look forward to a publication date being announced by the WSOB in due course.
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- To The Newcomer (revision to existing pamphlet): Adam O took the lead on this sub-committee a few months ago and we look forward to presenting a draft for your consideration in the forthcoming year.
In addition, in our SR 14 cover letter, we gave notice of our intent to bring the following motions to Conference.
MOTION: To approve the revised C.A. World Service Literature, Chips, and Format Committee Guidelines. This is an update to our existing Guidelines, based on several referrals received at the 2012 WSC and committee experience working with the Guidelines. The current (2012) Conference-approved LCF Guidelines are attached, along with redline and ‘clean copy’ versions of the proposed changes.
MOTION: To exclude the C.A. Meditation Book from any revisions made to the C.A. Book Approval process at the 2013 WSC. As of this writing, the Meditation Book is at Point 13 of the C.A. Book Approval Process as set forth in the 2012 version of the LCF Guidelines.
Please remember that, as with the new and revised material, we would appreciate any feedback you have received from members in your Area regarding these proposed motions prior to committee breakout sessions. We intend to bring these motions during the LCF Closing Report.
PIECES IN PUBLICATION PROCESS:
The Literature Update Liaison position is an ad hoc commitment created during an LCF conference call on November 8, 2009. Cynthia C is the elected Liaison. The concept was to have a single person facilitate the various publication processes by serving as a liaison between LCF and the Office. The goal was to help clear up the backlog of new and revised literature that had yet to be published.
The hard copy literature is all up to date (with the exception of the Reaching Out card as noted in the Publication Status Chart below). The last publication-related issue that needs to be addressed is updating the website to include the most recent versions of all our literature. Initially, changes were to be made by the webmaster, but in December of 2012 the Literature Update Liaison was asked to work directly on the new beta site. As of this writing, a proof of the literature section of the new beta site has not yet been made available to the LCF Proofreading Subcommittee for final approval per Point 5 of the Publication Process.
Point 5: For publication on the website, pieces shall be laid out by the webmaster. Before posting to the public portion of the website, the webmaster shall make a proof available to LCF for final approval. If there are any errors, LCF will indicate the correction(s) to be made. The
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webmaster will then make the correction(s) and make the corrected proof available to LCF. Once the piece is in its final, correct form, LCF will authorize the webmaster to proceed with publishing the piece on the website. The LCF Trustee’s signature indicating approval will also be required.
Anonymity2012Publication Point 5CompleteNeeds to be added.Needs to be added. Cynthia wrote WSO for assistance in adding page
2/9/13.
| Project | Last Conference Action | Point(s) in Process | Hard Copy Status | Status on Existing Site | Status on Beta Site |
| C.A. is Also for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgenered Addict | 2009 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Needs to be added. | On beta site. Proofreading corrections submitted to WSO 11/8/12. Cynthia made them to beta site 2/9/13. |
| Chosing Your Sponsor | 2008 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Needs to be updated. Site still shows pre-2008 version. | Proofreading completed 11/8/12; no corrections. |
| Cocaine Anonymous Self-Test | 2010 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Needs to be updated. Site still shows pre-2010 version. | Proofreading completed 11/8/12; no corrections. |
| Dos & Don’ts for 12th-Step Calls for Addicts | 2008 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Nees to be added. Site still shows pre-2008 version. | Needs to be added. Proofreading corrections submitted 11/8/12. Cynthia made them to beta site 2/9/13. |
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| Project | Last Conference Action | Point(s) in Process | Hard Copy Status | Status on Existing Site | Status on Beta Site |
| Meeting in a Pocket | 2011 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Not on site | On beta site as of 11/4/12. Does it need to be? Cynthia addressed in e- mail to WSO 2/9/13. |
| Newcomer Booklet | 2007 (booklet itself; individual elements updated since then) | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Note on site. | Cynthia made corrections to beta site 2/9/13. |
| Reaching Out Card | 2009 | Publication Points 4 & 5 | Sent to WSO by Jeannette 10/5/09; revised proof (w/corrected WSO address) sent to WSO by Cynthia 10/28/10 &11/4/12. Current status unknown. | Not on site. | Current status unknown. Committee understood card template would be available for download similar to P.I. business card. Sent file & request to WSO 2/9/13. |
| The First 30 Days | 2012 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Needs to be updated. Site still shows pre-2012 version. | Cynthia made corrections to beta site 2/9/13. |
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To the Newcomer2007Publication Point 5CompleteCompleteProofreading corrections submitted to WSO 11/8/12. Cynthia made them to beta site 2/9/13.
| Project | Last Conference Action | Point(s) in Process | Hard Copy Status | Status on Existing Site | Status on Beta Site |
| Yes, You Can Start A C.A. Meeting | 2007 | Publication Point 5 | Complete | Added without proof being sent to LCF. There are minor formatting issues and A.A. disclaimer is missing. | On beta site as of 11/4/12. Does it need to be? Cynthia addressed in e- mail to WSO 2/9/13. |
CLOSING COMMENTS:
We encourage and look forward to new members joining our committee. Please come and join LCF, bring your interest, your talent and/or your passion and help us help the addict who still suffers as well as support the growth of this amazing Fellowship. No special skills are needed! You don’t have to be a journalist or an editor to be a member of LCF. Come join us!
Thank you for allowing us to be of service –
Kellie F
LCF Chair
Tony D: Any questions?
Terry M: I want to make sure that completed does not mean final, correct?
Kellie F: That is correct; there is still work to be done before it is final.
Terry M: Why is the book blue instead of our signature green?
Jay F: We went with a picture and that was the color of the picture.
Kellie F: we certainly welcome feedback in referrals?
Sara T: Can we get a deadline on when this will be finished?
Kellie F: There are more processes to complete and we will fulfill those deadlines, but we do not have a finished project date.
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