Aug 29, 2025 – WS Conference Minutes – WSBT Report (Continued) – Day 2

Day 2 – August 29, 2025 – Morning Session Opening session at 9:03am.

Robyn G – There is no vaping in the hotel at all. Please go outside to smoke and vape.

Today we will be provided with boxed lunches.

Russell S – I would like to thank you all for being on time, we need to do better up here.

Ruby C – Serenity Prayer

Russell S thank you

Rudi Van R – We can recover

Russell S – we had some passionate discussion yesterday and while we all love this fellowship, can we please be a bit less emotional. I am very sorry that we are unable to do roll call at this time as we are having some technical difficulties up here at the dais so we will take a break until we can get this resolved. Please return at 9:30am when we will start roll call. Thank you for your understanding.

Conference opens at 9:31am

Russell S Roll Call

Votes: 187

Quorum: 124

Russell S – thanks for calmness during quorum, we will now go back to World Service Board of Trustee’s report and motions within. There was a motion tabled, which will return after the other motions.

WSBT Report (Continued)

Motion 13: to use the adapted C.A. short form of the 12 concepts as approved by alcoholics anonymous, until such a time that the relevant standing committee (S&B) provide a more permanent solution

Strike C.A. adapted Twelve Concepts long form:

1. The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for C.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

2. The C.A. Groups delegate to the World Service Conference the complete authority for the active maintenance of our world services and thereby make the Conference

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excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Fellowship.

3. As a traditional means of creating and maintaining a clearly defined working relation between the Groups, the Conference, the World Service Board of Trustees and its service corporation, staffs, and committees, and of thus insuring their effective leadership, it is here suggested that we endow each of these elements of World Service with a traditional “Right of Decision.”

4. Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional “Right of Participation,” taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
5. Throughout our World Service structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, thus assuring us that minority opinion will be heard and that petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered.

6. On behalf of C.A. as a whole, our World Service Conference has the principal responsibility for the maintenance of our world services, and it traditionally has the final decision respecting large matters of general policy and finance. But the Conference also recognizes that the chief initiative and the active responsibility in most of these matters should be exercised primarily by the Trustee members of the Conference when they act among themselves as the World Service Board of Cocaine Anonymous.

7. The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the World Service Board are legal instruments; that the Trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Cocaine Anonymous. It is further understood that the Conference Charter itself is not a legal document; that it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the C.A. purse for its final effectiveness

8. The Trustees of the World Service Board act in two primary capacities: (a) With respect to the larger matters of overall policy and finance, they are the principal planners and administrators. They and their primary committees directly manage these affairs. (b) But with respect to our separately incorporated and constantly active services, the relation of the Trustees is mainly that of custodial oversight which they exercise through their ability to elect all Directors of these entities.

9. Good service leaders, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them are at all levels indispensable for our future functioning and safety.

10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority the scope of such authority to be always well defined whether by tradition, by resolution, by specific job description or by appropriate charters and bylaws.

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11. While the Trustees hold final responsibility for C.A.’s world service administration, they should always have the assistance of the best possible standing committees and service boards, staffs and consultants. Therefore, the composition of these underlying committees and service boards, the personal qualifications of their members, the manner of their induction into service, the system of their rotation, the way in which they are related to each other, the special rights and duties of our staffs and consultants, together with a proper basis for the financial compensation of these special workers will always be matters for serious care and concern.
12. General Warranties of the Conference: In all its proceedings, the World Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the C.A. Tradition, taking great care that the Conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the Conference members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the Conference may act for the service of Cocaine Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.

Changed to C.A. adapted Twelve Concepts short form:

1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for C.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
2. The World Service Conference of C.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice, and the effective conscience of our whole Society in its world affairs.
3. To ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of C.A. — the Conference, the World Service Board of Trustees and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives — with a traditional “Right of Decision.”
4. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.

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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 2 – Friday – August 29, 2025

5. Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard, and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
6. The World Service Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the World Service Board of Cocaine Anonymous.
7. The Charter and bylaws of the World Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the C.A. purse for final effectiveness.
8. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities.
9. Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.
10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
11. The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern.
12. The Conference shall observe the spirit of the C.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; and that, like the Fellowship it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.

“The Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous have been reprinted and adapted with the permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (“A.A.W.S.”). Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Concepts does not mean

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that Alcoholics Anonymous is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism only – use of A.A.’s Concepts or an adapted version in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, or use in any other non-A.A. context, does not imply otherwise.”¹

• THE TWELVE CONCEPTS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship. 2. The World Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice, and the effective conscience of our whole Society in its world affairs. 3. To ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A. — the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives — with a traditional “Right of Decision.” 4. At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge. 5. Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard, and personal grievances receive careful consideration. 6. The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board. 7. The Charter and bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness. 8. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities. 9. Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees. 10. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined. 11. The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern. 12. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority

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over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; and that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.

Barry Ha – speaks for the motion (read the email)

Debate?

Jason L: question – if this motion is approved, does it change article 10 of conference charter?

Barry ha – it does not

Peter Mcg – question – why wasn’t this assigned to Structure & Bylaws?

Robert B – it was concerned with the legalities of it but after this it will go to Structure & Bylaws. Should it have gone to them sooner, yes.

Peter mcg – do you accept that there is some concern over this regarding the overreach of WBST. Side stepping committees and conference itself.

Barry Ha – possible.

Steven C. speaking in favour of the motion

Audz J. Question – Why did they give us the cease and desist?

Barry Ha – they did not give us the cease and desist; they informed us we could not continue using the long version.

Nadz L – speaking in favour of the motion

Jesse Go – question – yesterday, a member said it was a cease and desist, today we’re being told it was just the email?

Joni E – the letter we received that we do not have permission, we shared it with our attorney and in his view, it was a cease and desist. It was only a “no permission to use”

Jason L – question – how can we do away with the long form, and it doesn’t affect article 10? Why doesn’t’ it affect this.

Russell S – we’re not discussing the warranties in the charter; we’re talking about the short form.

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World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 2 – Friday – August 29, 2025

Steve C – question – are the 12 concepts and the warranty separate as it pertains to this motion?

Barry ha – yes

Crawford B. – speaking in favour of this motion

Ruby C – speaking in favour of this motion

Steff N – speaking in favour of this motion

Judd W – question – will you allow standing committees to do their due diligence of rewriting the concepts if that’s what’s in order?

Barry ha – we’re not impeding anyone’s responsibilities; we just did what was asked of us.

Stu E. speaking in favour of the motion.

Russell S prepare to vote

Chad L – question – If we’re not in the position to use the long form, are we not allowed to reference the 6 references?

Barry ha – no

Jason L – motion states to use the short form until a solution is found, but this motion is just to accept the short form, what’s the rest of the language about?

Barry ha – it’s about sending this to S&B for a more permanent solution. We don’t have permission to use the long form.

Point of Order: Steven C – now they’re debating.

Russel S – we need to find a solution to acknowledge to AA that we are taking care of their request and put this in motion and that it is in review and working on it.

Russel S – prepare to vote (re-reads the motion)

Motion passes with substantial unanimity.

Russell S – will a referral be sent to S&B to begin this process?

Barry ha – yes

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MOTION 14: To begin the polling process as stated in the 2025 WSM, Page 56, Item

1. This process will be to address the change of Article 10 of the Conference Charter

(2025 WSM, Pg. 74). from the following:

Strike Article 10 / Concept 12 Long Form language:

10. General Warranties of the Conference: In all its proceedings, the World Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the C.A. Tradition, taking great care that the Conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the Conference members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the Conference may act for the service of Cocaine Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.

Add Article 10 / Concept 12 Short Form new language:

10. 10. General Warranties of the Conference: In all its proceedings, the World Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the C.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; and that, like the Fellowship it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.

Seconded

Russell S – would you like to speak to your motion?

Robert B – not at this time

Stu L – Question – can you please explain the process?

Robert B – the same polling process when we changed tradition 11 and the process is in the World Service Manual. It is a 3-process matter. It will come back to the conference next year.

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Jason L – speaking in favour of the motion

Stephen C – speaking in favor of the motion

Jesse Go – speaking against the motion

Russell S – please debate to the motion, we’re not questioning the polling process, please put in a referral to Structure & Bylaws.

Laurie G – speaking against the motion/what happens if it comes back as no?

Russell S – it gets re-polled, correct?

Robert B – yes

Sydney P – speaking in favour of the motion

Milton L – question – we just passed to not use the long form, why initiate a polling process and not just say we’re going to change it?

Robert B – article 10 can only be changed with the polling process. 12 Steps, 12 traditions and article 10 in order to be changed must be done with the polling process.

Judd W – speaking in favour of the motion

Parthi T – speaking in favour of the motion

Steven C – question – who is the ultimate authority?

GOD

Peter McG – Parliamentary Inquiry – the process will be to go out to poll to change article 10, do we know the changes? This will still go to Structure & Bylaws for a more permanent solution that will have to go out to the conference again. Will it take a polling twice if the first one is denied?

Russell S – yes and yes this workload will be referred to Structure & Bylaws and then that documentation will be brought back to this floor. It’s not going out to the fellowship for polling until this floor approves it. Yes, they can be polled again for another solution.

Russell S – prepare to vote. Re-reads the motion.

Motion passes with minor opposition

Joni E – MOTION 15: To revise/add wording on page 58 of the 2025 c.a. world service manual:

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Page 58:

4. Trustee Negotiation

To assist the World Service Trustee (WST) by serving as a group conscience in the review of all

contracts negotiated on behalf of Cocaine Anonymous, involving the amount of $500 USD or greater prior to engagement on the part of Cocaine Anonymous. A contract is defined as any signed document between Cocaine Anonymous and any other person(s) or business

(es), that indicates a commitment of services or goods between the two defined entities.

The following criteria shall be followed:

i. Contracts for Service(s) or Product(s) (i.e. – A Comedian’s Contract for a Convention, A Sales Agreement for a New Printer, etc.)

a. Less Than $2,500 – Subject to Review and Approval by the WST Only, Signed by the WST

b. Less Than $15,000 – Subject to Review and Approval by the TNC, Signed by the WST

c. Greater than $15,000 – Subject to Review by the TNC, and Approval by the Entire WSBT, signed by the WST

ii. Contracts that Include Liquidated Damages and/or Performance Clauses (i.e. – Convention/Conference Hotel Contracts) – Subject to Review by the TNC, and Approval by the Entire WSBT regardless of monetary value, signed by the WST

**NOTE – The WST may decide to have any contract reviewed and/or approved by the TNC or the Full WSBT at any time for any reason**

Seconded

Russell S – would you like to speak to your motion Joni E – not at this time

Debate

Randy G – speaking in favor of the motion

Steven C – question – for new delegates – can you please explain TNC?

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Joni E – Trustee negotiating committee (they review contracts and sign) any contract that comes the trustees have to send it to TNC. It can take some time to get the process done. There can be finances involved in this, this will then have to go to the World Service Board of Trustee’s.

Crawford B – speaking in favour of the motion

Russell S – prepare to vote (re-reads the motion)

Motion passes unanimously

Russell S – we’ll take a short break.

Please be back by 11:10am

Russell S – welcome back it is 11:14

Crawford B – motion 16 to remove the previous tabled motion – seconded

Russell S Prepare to vote

Motion passes unanimously

Barry ha –Motion 7: The long form of the twelve concepts of cocaine anonymous has been used without permission by the fellowship of cocaine anonymous and the use of the long form of the twelve concepts of cocaine anonymous shall cease, effective immediately at the end of conference.

Seconded

Russell S – speak to your motion

Barry ha – not at this time

Kurtina R – friendly amendment to insert new language.

Russell S – seeks unanimous consent from the floor.

Friendly amendment accepted by the floor

Russell S – debate

Barry ha – speaking in favor of the motion

Steven C – speaking in favor of the motion

Lee A – speaking in favor of the motion

Jason L – question – does it pertain to the language in article 10?

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Barry Ha – no

Lou B – question – overview of the printed literature that has the 12 concepts?

Barry Ha – World Service Manual, excerpt in a quiet peace, none of the pamphlets,

Lou B – speaking in favour of the motion

Russell S prepare to vote

Motion passes unanimously

Russell S – what we can expect to see in the next 12 months, will be referrals in regard to the other motions. Structure & Bylaws will likely amend the next World Service Manual and switch out the 12 concepts. Things are going to be happening.

Barry Ha – end of the motions, closing remarks. Newest chairs and positions spoken Questions

Miriam F – when we return to our areas, do we instruct our groups that have the 12 concepts banners to remove them. Barry H – Yes

Peter mcg – LTP – do the committees have projects hosting biannual conference? Barry Ha – yes

Peter McG – What is the scope of this?

Gary P – thank you for bringing up the LTP, explained in a thank you note what the impact of this will entail.

Peter McG – regarding the 12 concepts, concerned of the overreach of the World Service Board of Trustee’s and now the overreach of LTP and was wondering if LTP can attend the RFP committee?

Gary P – please come join the LTP (not the other way around), as I have no problem attending the RFP committee. We want the fellowship to come join in on the work.

Stu E – under the 4^th tradition, would this change with the concepts fall under C.A. as a whole or do groups/areas vote on this as a whole?

Barry Ha – Tradition 4 is very clear, except in matters affecting C.A.as a whole. Areas/districts/groups/meetings – this language will change as we don’t have the permission of AA to use the long form of the 12 concepts. This certainly affects C.A. as a whole.

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Judd W – are there plans in the future to alleviate the every 4 years of the rotate 7 trustees since most of our trustee’s are rotating off? We have more than 50% rotating off.

Barry Ha – we don’t have current plans, but we are aware of the rotation that is currently high. They are investigating new processes, but nothing is set in stone. But they do have a process in place. Sending a referral to the World Service Board of Trustee’s is an effective matter.

Judd W – are you doing something to resolve it?

Barry Ha – not at this time

Jesse Ga – I sit on a lot of other boards; would you consider discussing a solution for him to attend the LTP?

Barry Ha – yes

Justine K – LTP the standing committees have a scope of the conference; we have a subcommittee that meet to discuss the frequency of conference and the location. Why wasn’t the conference committee not invited to attend this meeting?

Gary P – apologies if they did not follow the process, they did send out the referral and with the action taken by the committee (fellowship) was taken by the committees. Sorry to not have the solution to the concerns you have, we’re just trying to take action with the fellowship. I invite you all to come join, we need more members.

Jason L – detailed guidelines for LTP, there is a requirement for any projects for other service conference committees, can the process in place be done.

Can you please get the guidelines posted onto the website?

Russell S – no, internal guidelines cannot be placed on the website. Internal guidelines are for internal usage.

Jason L – would you be willing to bring the guidelines to the conference for approval? Barry Ha – yes

Crawford B – considering we are growing, is there anything in the pipeline to look at regional restructuring.

Barry Ha – no

Patrice F – restructuring of the regions, is there an update on that? Barry Ha – it has gone back to the proper committees for restructuring.

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Russell S – can I ask a question?

One objection.

Justine K – would you allow the question of biannual conference to be handled in conference committee and not by LTP?

Barry Ha – can’t answer that just yet need the committee’s input.

Is Garret M. – it biannual or biennial.

Barry Ha – biannual

Clinton – budget question – sometimes the P&L is clearly a projection, with the actuals coming in, they are significantly lower. We have been instructed to keep the numbers in place, which we do. Are the trustees paying for their own travel and food, etc.

Barry Ha – yes, some trustees are able to afford their own expenses. Some haven’t submitted receipts while others have.

Clinton – is it your desire to leave the budgets in place even if the trustees don’t use it? Barry Ha – yes

Kim G – Finances – at group level receipts are given to the group and these are noted, and members may choose to donate back to the group in tradition 7. But it is recorded what the cost actually are, we would like to keep our prudent reserve, we are thankful that you want to pay your own expenses, can you take the $$ and donate it back to ensure a true reflection of cost is recorded.

Barry Ha – we’ll consider it.

Russell S we will now break for lunch as it’s 12pm. Please return at 1pm.

Russell S. – return from lunch – session resumes at 1:04, thank you for your attention this morning.

World Service Office Board – report in BOX

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