CLOSING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2007
WORLD SERVICE OFFICE BOARD REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
As chairperson I would like to again extend my thanks and appreciation to the entire board for its remarkable commitment and hard work in the many duties and responsibilities that we are charged with throughout the year.
Committee Introductions
John Bodkin – Chairperson
Kathy Jo Rangno ~ Vice-Chairperson
Teresa Neighbors – Secretary
Tom Phelan – Treasurer
Patty Flanagan – Director of Operations
Willie Bailey – Director
Earl Henderson – WSO Trustee
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Hayward Hunt – WS Trustee
COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
There was no committee work that resulted in Motions
REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
There were no referrals that resulted in Motions
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
- Referral #5106
Please add a new section (with tab) in delegate notebook for WSBT reports.
Response: A section in the Delegate’s notebook will be provided for WSBT reports.
- Referral #5374
Add pre-convention spending guidelines to the Convention Guidelines.
Response: To be worked on over the upcoming year.
- Referral#4782
Insure funding for newcomer outreach on the internet. Funding to be used for the development of a specific and separate website for the sole purpose of assisting newcomers. Estimated cost $1,000.00 per year.
Response: 1WSOB passed a motion in committee to add an item to the I.T. budget line in an amount of $1000.00 for web development to enhance our web presence as we develop our larger web strategy.
- Referral #5061
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Can we include a pie chart in the NewsGram ore other publication that shows were the 7th tradition/income goes to.
Response: We will work on this to see about including this type of reporting in the NewsGram in the upcoming year.
Referrals #5082, 5121, & 5122 o Referral #5082
Can the CAWS website contain a “Search” key? it is helpful when looking up certain things such as “Blank Referrals forms”. It would be helpful to search within the website rather than exit the website and search within a search engine?
- Referral #5121
Translate “Cocaine” into multiple languages* and optimize this word for international search engines such that ca.org is retuned. Minimum list of languages translated to be for countries/ianguages where there are known CA groups.
- Referral #5122
Add FTP (or similar) link to ca.org for downloading Conference materials, policies, guidelines, archives, etc.
Response: This is part of our larger web development strategy.
Referral #4784
That a discounted price be established for HFC II for PI purposes (and H&I).
Response: Although the current discount policy does not take into consideration P.I., we will take this referral under advisement over the upcoming year.
Referral #5035
Since Spanish is the second language used in the USA and other countries, please translate the HFC I to Spanish.
Response: It is our long-term goal as the W$OB to translate all of our WS approved chips and literature into the Spanish language. We understand the urgent nature of this request and the WSOB is in the process of determining when the budget will accommodate such an expense and is considering when to schedule preparing such a request.
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- Referral #5077
To have WSO ceased & desist translation procedures on HFCI/or II.
Response: This conference body specifically asked for translation policies and procedures and we are not authorized to reverse this conference mandate.
- Referral #5108
That the “Drug Swirl” artwork be presented for approval at this conference and, if approved, be made available in color and B/W for download from the CA website.
Response: It is our intention to make the final version of this graphic available for download on the C.A. website for fellowship use.
- Referral #5119
Ruby Lemoine, Utah, 801-698-8087, thesoberiewel@vahoo.com l provide an international C.A. outreach service through e-mail. I would like to see the WSO expand on what I am doing.
Please consider the creation & implementation of a mass e-mailing program. This program could be used to outreach a variety of C.A. announcements of interest to the Fellowship at large plus delegate mailing materials. This program could very easily be managed off-site by an elected trusted servant thereby placing little to no additional demands on the WSO employees.
Response: The WSOB will consider the creation of effective e-mail programs for world outreach.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Referral #4776
Delegate report – provide delegates (especially new ones) with formats/guidelines for Area report.
Response: Refer to WSBT
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
- Referral #4786
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Please include the LCF Guidelines, approved at the 2006 Conference (and as may be updated) in Delegate notebooks for future conferences. Thank you.
Response: The most current version of the LCF Guidelines will be included in the Delegate’s notebooks going forward.
- Referral #4197 & 4196
- Referral #4197 ALL subcommittee guidelines and workbooks to be clearly labeled as: “Approved by WSC 2007 (exempt). This would allow members to see they are working from correct literature. Can the CAWS Unity Committee unify our committees on this subject?
- Referral #4196 Please arrange ALL guidelines/workbooks are downloadable from www.ca.org. This would allow all members to freely access these documents and raise awareness for all levels of service.
Response: We aim to always make available, on-line, the most current version of all committee guidelines as well as other literature, as approved by the WSC as soon as they available provided to the WSO. The WSO would not presume to direct sub-committees on how to design their literature but rather serves those committees by distributing their developed literature to the fellowship.
- Referral #4774
Re: Hope Faith & Courage banner & t-shirt
Complaint: The Dutch translation of HFC is correct and not “approved” by the Holland Area. I am aware there is not approval process yet but the question was not received by the Holland Area. A question for HFC translation was received. I have replied answer was in process and was not informed about the use or deadline. Result: incorrect translation on printed material. Waste of money. Urgent Request: Involve local areas in translation issues.
Response: Our existing translation policy does include local areas participation, ft is critical to the process. The banners and shirts will not be produced until such feedback is received. By the way, we would appreciate your response by Sept. 30, 2007.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Chair John Bodkin
Vice-Chair Kathy Jo Rangno
Secretary Teresa Neighbors
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Teresa Neighbors – Special Projects. One is the NewsGram. i came on board and assigned to this project and rewriting the guidelines. We had to fill the vacant NewsGram position. We had to find a volunteer and get that person ratified. We had someone in mind and I will let Cynthia Cronkhite come up and talk about NewsGram.
Cynthia Cronkhite – NewsGram has been fun and challenging commitment. Haven’t necessarily having a regularly quarterly NewsGram but we are doing best to get best on track. Our biggest obstacle is lack of submissions. We have had 6 submissions so far this year. Great support from Trustees and Office Board but not a lot from fellowship. Take message back to local fellowship. No sobriety requirement. Don’t have to be a good writer. We are really missing the experience of our members. Commemorating 25th Anniversary, we are putting together an anniversary edition. Looking for people who were around to submit article. Deadline is October 1. There is a space in every NewsGram for H&I and P&l and we welcome submissions from all committees. We are also trying to make this more friendly for our fellowship outside the US. Look for any suggestions. How you can submit – hard copy through email. We have a release prior to publication. Email is great.
CLOSING COMMENTS
This hard working board, comprised of mainly volunteer directors as well as our paid Director and staff, regularly meets twice a month and we encourage your participation, and that of our neighbors and friends in the Pacific South. We would love to have your help.
Why do we volunteer countless hours of our time, personal resources and in several cases even our personal anonymity? Perhaps, it’s best described by the text contained at the top of Page 45 of our new book Hope Faith and Courage Volume II – Stories and Literature from the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous which in pertinent part reads:
“Throughout this journey i have seen miracles. I have seen the desire and obsession to use removed not only in my iife but also in the lives of countless others. I have witnessed hopelessness turn to hope and on to joy in the lives of so many of those around me. / know this gift is precious, and keeping it relies on my being of service and continuing to work the Twelfth Step on a daily basis. The wonderful thing is that forme today, I couldn’t think of a better way to live, and I thank God, Cocaine Anonymous, and the wonderful members of our Fellowship— those I know, those I hope to know, and those who came before me—for the opportunity to live life, have a life and value that life. – (Page 45, Hope Faith and Courage Volume II ~ Stories and Literature from the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous)
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Respectfully Submitted:
John Bodkin
World Service Office Board Chairperson
Steve Edwards – any questions for the WSOB?
Dan Sadur – questions for submissions for the NewsGram?
Is there a length requirement?
Teresa Neighbors – we welcome your submission happily and if it’s too long, we will continue about our editing suggestions.
Wesley Blount ~ serving on IT committee and I want to clarifying a bit about the web development strategy that you discuss in your report.
John Bodkin – the internet is our megaphone to the world but it is a net, a safety net for addicts seeking a solution. We have made progress but we aren’t perfect. To make a newcomer friendly home page, to allow delegates to log in and download information. Effective use of email for people who opt in. Search engines optimization. I don’t think that we are doing everything we can do online. We have requested a little budget from Finance for development in that regard. Dan Santa Maria – in closing comments you said that you encourage people to participate. Does that mean that you have an open policy to allow people to participate in the meetings?
John Bodkin – whether or not the meeting is open to people is up to the Chair.
Sometimes we go into Executive Session and reserve that right.
Dan Santa Maria – but you wouldn’t work on that on a regular participation.
John Bodkin – the voting is well defined in the WSM.
Gloria Bridget ~ love the internet. Referral #4782 – how do you propose to do that and what part does the fellowship play in that process?
John Bodkin – our Paid Director is showing our Contribution Flyer. The best possible way to receive the funding we need is through this type of funding.
Vinny Martin – how many referrals were from this year?
John Bodkin – yes.
Vinny Martin – is this a committee that can be joined by other members?
John Bodkin – parameters in the WSM describe the participation in this meeting. We have an open position right now. You would need to attend 2 meetings in advance and people absolutely can do that.
Vinny Martin – is some of this work too much or can you delegate some of the work?
Steve Edwards – do you have committees that members can join?
John Bodkin – we largely wait for the outcome of these conferences to see what needs to be prioritized. Yes we do have subcommittees that people can work on. If you have iegal experience, you could help out on Policy Writing subcommittee. At the end of the day, only the WSOB can ratify such work but we welcome participation.
Kelley Colvin – how can we as the On Line Service Area help you?
We have many committees and we reach the newcomer.
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John Bodkin – you already have helped and we hope that this relationship continues to grow. We would welcome find ways to work together.
Susan Bredau – 1 am disappointed to response to Referral #4784 for discounting materials for Public Information. Is the current discount procedure in place for RFC I.
John Bodkin – yes we are not currently not discounting.
Susan Bredau – seems to help with the people who don’t go through treatment and not the ones that don’t
John Bodkin – we have been to the Drug Court for 3 years now and we are getting the word out there about us. I urge the Pi committee to work on that concept. Steve Edwards – seeing no further questions, help me thank the WSOB for their hard work. Having served on that Board, it is hard work.
Any announcements before we adjourn our session for the evening.
Bryan Seid – S&B will need to meet in the room for a brief meeting to vote on officers.
Tony Drake – Happy Birthday my friend Brian in 3 minutes.
Steve Edwards – many happy birthdays!
We are adjourning for the night and reconvening tomorrow morning at 8:00 am,
*****End of Session for the Day*****
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