UNITY REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTS:
This year the CAWSC Unity Committee worked hard on finding new ways to collaborate and find inclusion between all areas within our worldwide fellowship. Stemming from some sentiments shared at the 2023 Conference, we made it our unofficial mission this year to find new ways to provide outreach to, and integration of, the North America and European/ outside North America regions. Our liaison assisted in creating a Unity in
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Europe WhatsApp chat to connect Unity Chairs from all over that Region with us and each other. We also held 2 virtual “Meet and Greet” sessions in January and June that were an opportunity for any District/ Area Unity Chairs to come meet the CAWSC Unity members, learn about the function of Unity, what that might look like at a local level, and ask any questions they may have pertaining to Unity within their local areas. These virtual events garnered attendance from over 40 people in 10 different countries and were very well received by those who attended.
We also started to brainstorm some new ideas to promote Unity at Conference. We created some custom drawstring bags with the theme “Unity, You & Me” that will be handed out at the welcome dinner. We had tried to plan an ice cream social in addition to the unity breakfast but were unable to get the logistics sorted out to bring that idea to fruition for this year. We hope to perhaps try this for next years Conference as another option to add on to registration. Our Breakfast Chair had brought some great ideas for a different format for the breakfast as well, however, our current guidelines didn’t allow for any deviation from it being a speaker meeting to honour an outgoing Trustee. We are bringing a motion to Conference this year regarding this to also hopefully make that event more inclusive and flexible in its purpose.
We have selected and are excited to present to you our choice for the 2025 CATW logo “Awakening.” This logo was selected by our committee from many great submissions over the year.
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AT CONFERENCE:
Position | Name | Email | Phone
Chairperson Miriam F. mfallon29@gmail.com. 403-561-8490
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Vice-Chair Becca A. beccadcock22@yahoo.com 909-289-8250
Secretary Tammy H. hokansontammy@gmail.com 602-574-3234
Breakfast Chair Liaison Uvonna “Luv” uwilliam66@outlook.com 501-580-0786
Sara L. Lindvall82@outlook.com +46 73 250 40 49
CATW John S.jhspencer66@gmail.com 402-937-3386
Guidelines Martin W. martinwilson317@gmail.com 316-616-4692
Lead Trustee Robert B. wsot@ca.org 713-657-5187
2nd Trustee Clay P.mwrt@ca.org 216-322-4316
MemberJacqueline R. jacquelinerosa325@gmail.com 917-204-9619
Member Elvira C. elvira.ramos.costa@gmail.com +35 1965 135544
Member Nick W. nwittrock858@yahoo.com 425-971-8653
Member Pierre H. Pierre.humphrey@gmx.de +49 172 2904536
Member Roy S. royselder@hotmail.com +31 6 30558668
Member Caroline delegate@casw.co.uk +44 7970 665691
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE MOTIONS:
To approve the proposed changes to page 15 of the WSC Unity Committee Guidelines as listed below.
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Unity Breakfast/Dining Event
Statement of Purpose: This event is traditionally held on the Friday of the Conference and is planned in conjunction with the Conference Committee. This event is intended as an opportunity for members of the Unity Committee to interact with World Service Delegates and host the outgoing Trustee speaker event.
Guidelines and Procedures:
- Responsible for planning a breakfast/dining event which includes a speaker component to honor an outgoing Trustee. The event agenda is at the discretion of the
Unity Committee.
- The sub-committee will present the WSC Unity Committee a slate of outgoing trustee names for the committee to select from. proposed agenda for consideration.
- Responsible for creating a flyer for the delegate mailing regarding the event. Flyer should be distributed in all Delegate mailings from November onward.
- Sub-committee chair responsible for keeping WSC Unity chair informed of all progress.
- All monies collected from sales are to be relinquished to the WSC Unity Chair, accounted for, then turned over to CAWSO.
- All final decisions shall be determined by a group conscience of the WSC Unity Committee.
To approve the logo for Celebrate Around the World 2025 (See Attachment 1)
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REFERRALS THAT WERE FORWARDED TO OTHER COMMITTEES:
9028761
WSBT 2021-06, Individual submission, transferred to Unity in WSBT Conference report 2021:
Hello,
Twice in the last year I have done my best to help accommodate two members who have a disability. The first was blind and the second deaf. In accommodating the blind member, we have been able to do so in our in person meetings however once we moved to zoom a barrier was realized. The voice assistant interferes with the microphone so the member was able to listen and unable to participate by sharing.
The second member was looking for an ASL sponsor. After contacting many members, it was in AA where I was able to find two American Sign Language sponsors. One from the AA Accessibility Committee chair and other through an AA member.
I wonder if CA can benefit from creating its own Accessibility Committee to help guide groups and create avenues to remove barriers and prevent discrimination.
Some members expressed concern over anonymity at one point. Until the ASL sponsor was found it was suggested that AA might compensate an interpreter for the member to be able to attend meetings. The concern was around having an non -member attend closed meetings for members only. Though each group is guided by group conscience perhaps we can help groups to guide these discussions?
Perhaps creating guidelines around accessibility will help the fellowship to unify in addressing any concerns that may surface in the future and create spaces accessible to all.
Thank you for your consideration.
Courtney R
A member of Southern Ontario Cocaine Anonymous GSR A Spiritual Experience Group
RESPONSE: Refer to S&B or LCF as member asked “I wonder if CA can benefit from creating its own Accessibility Committee to help guide groups
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and create avenues to remove barriers and prevent discrimination.” This is not something we as Unity can do.
11483255
UNITY-2022 -02, Individual submission, South Central Texas Area, pre-conference 2022
Adding information for Celebrate Around the World in the WSM as Delegate and Area Unity Chair duties.
RESPONSE: Refer to S&B as we do not handle changes to the WSM in this Committee.
13587671
Individual Submission, New York Area, post conference 2023
In Attachment 3 (1) Chart B Proposed changes for 2024 which came about at the 2023 WS Conference in Re: referrals 11511419 & 1134975 – housecleaning
- In the District box. Special Events is listed twice. Thanks
RESPONSE: Transfer to S&B. This motion refers to the organogram presented by them at last year’s conference.
REFERRALS STILL IN COMMITTEE:
None
CLOSED REFERRALS:
2803083
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UNITY 2018-02, Individual Submission, CA Holland/ CAUK, pre-conference 2018
Please could the Unity committee consider adopting in the unity guidelines a liaison for the European Region to support the growth of the European Region?
- Functions as a WSC Unity chair to the European Region, and support the growth of the European Region.
- Create sub-committees and appoints their chair for the European Region
- Proposes budget for Unity in the European Region.
Creating the above ´´a, b and c ´´ will further enable growth of CA in Europe simpler to that achieved by PI Liaison Europe. Unity – committee (Source; PI Handbook page 59 – PI committee liaison for the European Region) Please reply to both of us.
RESPONSE: The WS Unity Committee discussed and agreed that unity does not happen by dividing our committee by Areas, Districts, or Regions, it happens when a delegate from an Area/District or Region is willing to come and serve as a WS Unity Committee member, as chair, co-chair, secretary, liaison… This year we were pleased to have someone from the European Region step-up as the CAWS Unity Liaison. This position is all inclusive of Unity throughout the world.
11074442
UNITY 2022-01, Individual submission, South Africa/ OSA, pre-conference 2022
Please review pronouns on page 8, point 6 and change he/she to THEY
Please review full guidelines to update accordingly to permit inclusion and allow further diversity
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RESPONSE: The 2022 adapted version of the Unity Guidelines no longer contain the pronouns on page 8 point 6.
13127054
Submission on behalf of a Committee, Unity, Pre-conference 2023
To adopt the 2024 CATW Logo chosen by Unity committee and presented at the 2023 CAWS
Conference.
RESPONSE: Was already motioned as part of Unity report at Conference 2023
13233800
Individual Submission, OSA , Pre-conference 2023
To urge and work with C.A. Area/Regional Conventions and events to offer a virtual presence
for speaker meetings and workshops to addicts who still suffer. There are many of our fellows
that have no way of participating in C.A. at all without the benefit of online/virtual platforms.
We should aim to be inclusive wherever possible. Thank you!
RESPONSE: The CA World Service Unity Committee is doing everything possible to inform CA Areas, Districts and/or Regions, to reach out to us, for more information on how to attract and acquire more unity in their areas. This past conference year (Sept. 2022 – Sept.2023), we created a flyer with our contact information and statement of service, which we printed and place on tables, for all delegates to grab and take to their Areas/Districts and Regions, indicating that we are here to help. The same flyer has been placed in the delegate mailings for the Sept. 2023- Sept. 2024, to ensure that every delegate distributes it to their Areas, Districts and Regions. The flyer asks “How can we be of service?” It also, indicates several ways in which the CA
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World Service Unity Committee would happily love to be of service. Some of those ways include, helping to create/provide a Twelve Step or Twelve Tradition Workshop or a special meet and greet event, via zoom. Because we all live in different parts of the world, it is difficult to always find an accommodating time, however, we will do our best to be of service. Our guidelines also suggest many other activities used by other Areas, Districts and Regions to show unity. Our guidelines can be found at CA.org/unity. World Unity does not own a Worldwide Zoom platform however we can try and help other areas put on a reasonable zoom event to help encourage members in their areas to get more involved. Areas, Districts, or Regions wanting to incorporate a World Unity zoom meeting or event should contact us at Unity@CA.org.
PRESENTATIONS OF CURRENT ACTIVITIES OR TASKS (no motions)
The Committee will be working on a in-depth update of our Guidelines this year. We would welcome any referrals or suggestions from members of things they would like to see included in this document.
CLOSING COMMENTS:
Thank you to the committee for entrusting me to lead you this year. Looking forward to what the future will bring for us into 2025.
Respectfully Submitted:
Miriam F
CAWSC Unity Chair
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Miram F– Read the Unity report
Motion 12:
- To approve the proposed changes to page 15 of the WSC Unity Committee Guidelines as listed below.
Unity Breakfast/Dining Event
Statement of Purpose: This event is traditionally held on the Friday of the Conference and is planned in conjunction with the Conference Committee. This event is intended as an opportunity for members of the Unity Committee to interact with World Service Delegates and host the outgoing Trustee speaker event.
Guidelines and Procedures:
- Responsible for planning a breakfast/dining event which includes a speaker component to honor an outgoing Trustee. The event agenda is at the discretion of the Unity Committee.
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- The sub-committee will present the WSC Unity Committee a slate of outgoing trustee names for the committee to select from. proposed agenda for consideration.
- Responsible for creating a flyer for the delegate mailing regarding the event. Flyer should be distributed in all Delegate mailings from November onward.
- Sub-committee chair responsible for keeping WSC Unity chair informed of all progress.
- All monies collected from sales are to be relinquished to the WSC Unity Chair, accounted for, then turned over to CAWSO.
- All final decisions shall be determined by a group conscience of the WSC Unity Committee.
2nd
Russell S – Any debate?
Jessie G – Would you consider an amendment if I put it together? Miram F- no
Stu E– Question why are you pulling the speaker out of the event?
Miram F- To give the event more focus on what the event should be and why the breakfast is being put on.
Stu E– Question would you consider just keeping the speaker and not making it a honoring event?
Miram F– No, not at this time
Nadz L – Speaking in favor of the motion
Michael C- Call the question motion 13
Motion passes
Russell S all in favor/all opposed?
Main Motion passes
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John S –
Motion 14 – To approve the logo for Celebrate Around the World 2025 (See Attachment 1)
Seconded
Russell S – There has been a minor change to the art piece because of the copying over into a new document. Would you like to speak to this motion?
Miram F– not at this time.
Nadz L– friendly amendment
Tm in the circle
Russell S – Unity is able to swap in the preferred logo of your Area/ language. You just need to email unity.
Marcel V– in favor of the motion
Kurtina R– question – was the different amount of colors taken into consideration? It becomes costly to print.
Miram F yes, it was taken into consideration, but the printing can be done differently and can be cost effective. And the unity committee can change it to black and white to be printed
Russell S Prepare to vote:
All in favor/all opposed?
Main Motion passes
Russell S Questions for the unity committee?
Wesley B – Thursday’s are a hard day for the unity breakfast.
Miram F– we don’t decide the day, we plan the event and pick the date when the conference
Barry H can we still order shirts from the unity committee?
Miram F– we have bags, not shirts.
Patrice F– can we order shirts for around the world event?
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Miram F– we can look into it
Russell S – do you want to put up another committee
Stu E motion 15 to adjourn
No objection
Ended session at 8:53pm
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