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WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS:
Our committee works year-round to bring this conference to you. It’s a wonderful, rewarding, but extremely intricate and time-consuming process. We truly appreciate the chance to be service.
The conference continues to be better organized. Attendance and productivity consistently continues to increase. This year is no exception. We improved the registration of members, the referral distribution process, increased committee time, revamped the new delegate orientation, and further refined many of our existing conference office procedures.
Due to circumstance that occurred recently, the members of this committee have had to take on added responsibilities. I wish to thank the committee for their assistance, patience, and tolerance with the job at hand.
COMMITTEE MOTIONS:
Motion #1; To change CONFERENCE OFFICERS section, on page 3.8, item b; For the 2003 WSC only, to elect one Co-Secretary with a one year term (one Conference), and the other Co-Secretary for a full term of two Conferences.
Second
Motion passes unanimously
Jay Statland – point of information – wants the chair to clarify what this motion will do for this conference only
Chair – originally the positions were meant to rotate. Due to an early departure both secretaries will rotate out at the same time
This motion is designed so that someone with experience will be in when someone new rotates in
Scott Botz – can we do this not to change the manual
Chair . it is only temporary
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Motion #2; Modify CONFERENCE OFFICERS page 3.8, item b, add a new sentence at the end as follows: Effective at the WSC 2004, the election of the Conference Co-Secretaries shall be staggered with the intent that only one Co-secretary rotate out at each Conference.
Second
Bryan Seid – would like to refer back to committee until 2004
Chair – a motion is appropriate
Bryan – motion to refer this back to committee until 2004
Second
Debate
Bryan Bell – point of information – what is the reason you want this referred back
Bryan Seid – we don’t mind making changes but don’t want to if we don’t have to
Arnold M – call for the question
Second
Chair it is early in the cycle of the motion
Jay Statland – what will the effect or referring this back have at the end of this conference
Chair – none.
Motion to refer fails
Main motion #2 passes with substantial unanimity
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTION
None
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES, WORLD SERVICE OFFICE OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
#1613 Conference
Can an Area Chairperson change the # of delegates attending the WSC although the meeting schedule states a certain # of meetings? Which supercedes the area Chair vs. meeting schedule?
Response: Referred to Structure and Bylaws
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS, BUT COMMITTEE DID ADDRESS:
#2629 Conference
Services could be paid for by a small fee like $5 for 5 minutes, $10 for 10 minutes. Would I be possible to develop a plan for next year’s conference to arrange massage therapists at meals & breaks? The therapists could be volunteers/students, etc. There could be sign-up sheets so conference
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participants could try to schedule their time. It also need not be every day, perhaps just Friday & Saturday or even just Saturday. Anything! Thank you
Response: This has been addressed in committee, will not be considering due to Traditions Violations, affiliation, liability, and cost to the fellowship.
#2698 Conference
How we define regular and H&I meeting counts and that this be a standardized counting procedure. When the meeting counts are given in convention and new area requests are they weekly or monthly totals?
Response: Will keep in committee for future work. We do not have a defined standardized procedure to count meeting. Plan to consult with Structure and Bylaws to define a meeting, inventory the regions regarding meeting schedule, and come to WSC 2004 with a possible motion.
#2814 Conference
Assign someone to chair the 12-step meetings listed on the conference agenda. I know of at least 3 occasions this year that no one showed up to chair the meeting.
Response: We will be addressing this referral on future delegate registration forms. We will ask for members to be of service.
#2858 Conference
Add new Standing Rule: No session may extend past 2 a.m. or begin before 7 a.m. without unanimous consent.
Response: The Committee agrees with the member that late finishes or early starts are not conducive to a productive Conference. However, we are concerned that the ability of the Conference to arrive at an informed group conscience will be potentially constrained if specific time limits are set. In addition, the floor could, with a 2/3 vote, extend the session (or start earlier) if the members chose. While it will be an appropriate point to make during Orientation, the Committee doesn’t believe it necessary to create another Standing Rule to solve this problem.
#2979 Conference
When unsure of what the referral means or refers to, ask the writer of the referral.
Response: We are in agreement with the writer of this motion.
#2990 Conference
Pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order, when an ‘out of order’ ruling is made, it is the motion, remark or action that is out of order, never the person, as in “you’re out of order.” Please observe this.
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Response: Actually in Robert’s Rules of Order the Chair may have to call a member to order in situations where the member is, for instance, failing to speak to a motion. In addition, another member may ask the Chair to call the member to order. In certain cases the Chair may have to state, “The member is out of order and will be seated”. (Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th edition page 626.) However, where the issue is specifically a proposal, motion, or a question then the Chair will strive to remember to call the issue out of order – not the individual.
#3144 Conference
That the WSCC or the WSO make available at least three different versions (by 3 different publishers) Robert’s Rules of Order for sale at the conference.
Response: The WSC Conference committee can not recommend any version of Robert’s Rules of Order. It is not for us to sell these items as well. In order to assist the Conference, several of the versions in use at the Conference are:
Webster’s New World Robert’s Rules of Order 2nd Addition
Padnote, Roberts Rules of Order
Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th edition by Henry M. Robert, Perseus Publishin
#3147 Conference
I would ask that there be some guidelines which would suggest to the WSCC make available to the PI committee a PI table, located in a common hallway in the Hotel of Conference Center which would be created specifically to attract non-CA conference goers. This table would include, but not be limited to, having the following pamphlets provided in English and (when appropriate) available in Spanish and/or French: What is CA?, TO the Newcomer, Self Test, and Higher Power.
Response: A table will be made available beginning Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. We think, however, the responsibility for maintaining the table belongs with the PI Committee. The Conference committee will not be responsible for materials left on the table by other committees, however as we have done in the past a table will be made available for other items.
#3153 Conference
To provide some space at the conference (i.e. a hospitality room) for delegates and others to go to wind down after the sessions close. Possibility is to play board games promoting unity and a place for people to stay here and interact other than doing the business of CA.
Response: The hotel does not have appropriate space to allow for a hospitality area to be used after the session close. The pool and lobby area is open 24 hours a day and can be used by anyone to socialize and mingle.
#3160 Conference
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Remove Conference Secretary and Co-Secretary positions from Standing Rule 22. This position should be filled by resume and after a proficiency exam away from the conference floor.
Response: The committee will review and address this referral in more detail at the conference.
#3161 Conference
That the general session of the WSC begins Friday morning instead of Friday afternoon or evening to get business done before delegates have to leave Sunday.
Response: The Committee continues to tinker with the agenda and time constraints of the Conference. The Sunday departure day has always been a difficult situation that we are attempting to address this year by starting the break session earlier. In addition, the Conference will be asked to adopt a temporary rule/procedure to not read the portions of the Committee reports that do not result in motions, no action taken and referrals sent to other committees into the transcripts. This, we believe, will allow the Conference business to be accomplished earlier. We have also received many requests for additional time for Committee work. If we were to “cancel” Friday for Regional Caucuses instead of breakout sessions a portion of Thursday would have to be devoted to the Caucuses instead of breakout sessions. So, in order to balance the demands of the floor sessions and breakout sessions the Committee will continue to monitor the situation but we do not plan on starting the general session earlier on Friday at this time.
#3198 Conference
I would like to see a different process implemented concerning the people coming into the breakout sessions. At times they are very pushy, disruptive and tend to take the committee out of focus. Especially the people that do the food orders.
Response: We will implement an inbox/ outbox for every committee in the office for every committee to get or facilitate needed information. However there may be urgent situations when a member of the Conference committee will have to interrupt committee business.
#2571 Conference
On our delegate badges is it possible to have a choice of where we want to be recognized from-as is the case with World Convention badges-Currently; I believe that the committee is using only the address city.
For me, my PO Box is in Los Angeles, but I am from, and would like to be recognized being from SFVCA.
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Response: Conference Committee to have badges to reflect Name, Title, Area, and Region.
#3163 Conference
To refine the “minutes”, “transcripts” & “Daily Report” problems from this past year.
- Transcripts must be typed and completed by a NON-voting member of the conference.
- Transcripts must be completed by 10/31 of the year following the conference.
- “Summary of Motions & Minutes” to be completed and back to the WSO for copying by 11/20 of the year following the conference.
- WS Manual completed for the December 1st Delegate Mailing.
- “Summary of Motion & Minutes” to be sent out to the fellowship by December 1st Delegate Mailing.
Response: We have addressed this within our committee, and believe that the procedure set forth in the WSM, and approved in the S&B motions at this Conference, are sufficient and have taken measures to ensure that materials are sent out accordingly.
#3513, 3606, & 3631 Conference
Hold the conference every 2 years to increase delegate attendance & donations and to decrease cost.
Response: An Ad hoc committee has been created to research the financial and non financial impact on holding the Conference bi-annually, to include up to 2 members of each WSC Standing Committee’s and Boards and any other concerned CA member, and report back to the WSCC Committee by start of 2004 Conference. The Conference Committee has elected Gwen Fauquier and Bryan Bell to Co Chair this committee.
#3537 Conference
Trustee Reports are not formatted- Long, Drawn out, “Thank you” speeches. These reports should be formatted & passed out to all delegates for review. The conference could save about 1 ½ to 2 hours of precious conference time.
What is the benefit of these oral dissertations?
Can this time be of better of use?
Please consider removing this part of the conference agenda.
*Trustee Reports, WSO Reports, Conference committee reports could all be issued to the delegates without the need for the current process.
Response: Report templates will be issued, along with instructions. We do request all members be mindful of our time on the floor. Please keep oral reports brief.
#3596 Conference
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Prompt delivery of “Summary of motions” to delegates, and especially the Structures and Bylaws committee secretary to ensure prompt delivery of the SWM showing changes from the prior year WSC.
Response: Please see response to referral #3163
We have addressed this within our committee, and believe that the procedure set forth in the WSM, and passed at this Conference are sufficient. We have taken measures to ensure that materials will be sent out accordingly.
#3597 Conference
Daily minutes to be available on a next day basis.
Response: These will be made available on next day bases called Daily Summary. For the benefit of the fellowship we wish to clarify the following:
Daily Summary, Transcript, Summary of Motions (AKA: Minutes) will now be called Minutes.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE:
Chairperson:Jean Ferretti
Vice-Chairperson: Kim Sherwan
Secretary: Gwen Fauquier
CLOSING COMMENTS:
As we mentioned, we have created an ad-hoc committee to be facilitated by two of our committee members, Gwen Fauquier and Brian Bell, to look at the feasibility of having the conference every other year. The committee will study this issue throughout the year. During the year we plan to address our Conference Committee guidelines. In closing, I would like to remind you to take the time to fill out the evaluation forms located at the back of the Conference floor. Please turn them in before you leave the conference. We truly appreciate your attendance, and participation at this Conference. We are grateful to see the work of CA advance further at each Conference, and to those that serve. A special thanks to those who have completed their service commitment at this Conference and are routing out. We look forward to seeing you next year.
Announcements
Session closed 12:57 am