CLOSING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2006
HOSPITALS & INSTITUTION REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
Eric Rosene H & I outgoing Chair. I want to thank the entire H & I committee for allowing me to be of service for the last 5 years. I will miss the excitement of attending the conference. And needless to say, I am especially grateful to God for allowing me to be a participant in all the work that was conducted in our committee.
The committee received 5 referrals this year. Each has been dealt with to the best of our ability.
Chair Eric Rosene
Vice chair Yvonne Collins-Meyers
Co-Secretary Alonzo Mitchell
Co-Secretary Jason Smidt
Correctional referral Chair Felicia Adams
International outreach Chair David Collins
H&I Guidelines Robert Holloway
Creative Writing Caryl Morton
Matt Tepoorten
Tim Andre
Mona Ibrahim
Bill Carter
Michael Joy
Hayward Hunt
Caryl Morton – Speaking to Creative Writing subcommittee. Discussed handout. A lot of H&I meetings and addicts serving in prisons, we have all shared that message to someone. Want to encourage all of you to take 10 minutes to jot down a few of your experiences. We can help you if you think you aren’t much of a writer. Please take back to your Areas, Districts, groups, to keep the hand reaching out.
Eric Rosene – we did turn in a budget. It was the same as last year’s.
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COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
2007 H&I Committee budget
The H&I committee has revised this year’s budget, trimming our expenses due to the completion of several big projects that we have worked on over the last few years. The budget has been submitted to the Finance Committee for approval.
REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
- REFERRAL NUMBER 4905: Questions about the H & I Can
Proposed guideline change:
The initial idea of passing the H&I can seem great, but does the committee believe that any subcommittee should be fully (or partly) self-supporting. A sub committee is accountable to the committee it reports to. It talks in the concepts of ‘tradition and purse’ as ultimate factors in keeping committees answerable to the committee/groups they serve. Therefore, how and who is an H&I committee accountable to if they have funds directly donated to them?? The other issue is that if money is donated to H&I it cannot cross over to other areas of service. Are we putting a part of CA before the greater whole? Are we wrongly informing our members that H&I is ‘special and different’ and is more important than other areas of service?? Should we not be encouraging our members to respect our 7th tradition and learn ‘how it works’, If members don’t trust that 7th tradition monies are being used correctly, shouldn’t we be educating them in the importance of getting involved at District/Area/World levels?? Or are we, as a fellowship, looking for the easier softer route?? The message was carried to me in an H&I meeting, for that I thank God. I am grateful for H&I and put that gratitude into action through H&I service AND putting my money in the Tradition 7 pot, trusting that the group/district/area or world committees will use it effectively to keep the whole of CA running. I trust that no area of service will be placed above another or shown exclusive treatment. I would therefore ask that we stop promoting H&I cans.
Action Taken: Modified and created our guidelines to reflect the original intent of the H&I can.
- MOTION: To strike the CA World Service H & I Committee Guidelines, as Follows:
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On page 5, Paragraph 4 thru to end of page 6 : the entire Section under the listing of “The H & I Can”
Existing Guideline:
The H&I Can
If your district or area does, or wishes to do a separate collection to support the H&I Committee, labels for the “H&I Can” may be obtained free of charge by contacting the C.A. World Service Office. Regular C.A. Meetings which pass a collection for H&I have found the following a suitable modification of the meeting format. At the point where the 7th Tradition is honored, insert:
“The 7th Tradition reminds us that we are fully self-supporting through our own contributions. The can being passed is to support the Hospitals and Institutions Committee of Cocaine Anonymous, it goes to buy keychains and literature for addicts confined in hospitals and institutions. I have asked___________ to read the 12 Traditions for us while we observe the 7th. Newcomers need not feel obligated to contribute.”
Subsequently, all funds collected for H&I should go to the H&I Committee. H&I Committees would be well advised to allow H&I funds to be deposited in their existing area or district bank account and thus save the additional bank charges. In addition, H&I committees are always a sub-committee of the area or district service committee, and in keeping with the Ninth Tradition are directly responsible to those they serve. More information on starting an H&I collection in your district or area may be obtained from the C.A. World Service Conference H&I Committee Chairperson or the C.A. World Service Office.
PASSING AN H&I CAN – THE HOW AND WHY OF IT
Ever since this fellowship was founded, it has been a custom at each meeting to drop a dollar in the basket. Unfortunately, while costs have increased in every area, the amount of this donation has remained the same. Many Areas have made up for this growing deficit by becoming increasingly dependent on special fund raising events. Consequently, the number of conventions, camp-ventions, roundups, etc. increases each year. When one of these events flops however, it may spell financial disaster for the District or Area which it was meant to support. From time to time, we ask members to drop an extra dollar in the basket when the fellowship is in need, but after a while, the donations drop off again. When the fellowship is having financial trouble, supplying regular C.A. meetings is not a problem as they buy what they need. Not so for the H&I Committee, having no income, they depend on the donations from open C.A. meetings for all their supplies.
One lasting solution to this problem is passing an H&I Can at meetings. This helps us in two ways. First the H&I Committee becomes not only self-supporting, but also able to
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provide Bookmarks, Keychains, Big Books, Pamphlets and even C.A. Storybooks. Secondly, as H&I is no longer a drain on the financial resources of the fellowship as a whole, these funds are free to be used elsewhere. In one district having 60 C.A. meetings, passing the H&I Can produced an income in 1993 of $6,678.93. Least we seem overly concerned with money here, let’s look at what it bought. Funds from the H&I Can were used to purchase 480 Big Books, 10,000 pamphlets, and 7,736 Keychains. In 1994, this same committee will begin distributing the C.A. Storybook at H&I meetings as well. Big books are stamped on the inside cover with the C.A. logo and the number of the local Info-line; this insures that we who pay for the books get credit for their distribution The H&I Can not only helps H&I carry the message, the support it represents is a very important moral booster to those who carry it.
If you desire to start doing this in your area, first go to the District or Area Service Committee to solicit their support and approval. Each C.A. group is of course autonomous; the decision on whether or not to pass the H&I Can must be the result of a group conscience by the meeting in question. Then you’ll need the cans themselves; we suggest one pound coffee cans paint white. Any C.A. H&I Committee may obtain labels for the H&I Cans free of charge by contacting the C.A. World Service Office. The importance of using labeled, painted, H&I Cans cannot be stressed enough; attempts to do this by just passing another basket have proved a failure. Another important point concerns the Meeting Format. The H&I Can is usually passed at the same time the 7th Tradition is collected. The format would read something like this: “The 7th Tradition reminds us that we are fully self supporting through our own contributions. The Can being passed is to support the H&I Committee of C.A., it goes to provide Bookmarks, Keychains, and Literature for addicts confined in Hospitals and Institutions.” If the format remains unchanged, what often happens is that the H&I Can ends up gathering dust in the bottom of the box.
One concern which may be voiced is that funds collected actually go to H&I. The simplest way would be for the meeting to send a representative directly to the H&I Committee, a method successfully adapted by at least one area. Unfortunately, it is difficult enough to get one person to show up for the District or Area Service Meeting; trying to find two reliable people each month may prove unrealistic. An alternative arrangement is to have the G.S.R. bring both the H&I Donation and the 7th Tradition to the Area or District Service Meeting, after noting the amount collected in each. The money is then deposited by the treasurer in the Area or District Service Bank Account. The funds remain separated on paper, and dispersed to H&I by the Treasurer. At the end of the year, the amount collected is divided by twelve. This figure becomes the monthly budget for H&I. In order to maintain the integrity of this process, one district amended its by-laws to state that the monthly budget of H&I must always be equal to, or greater than, the average monthly donation from the H&I Can.
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Motion: Stike and Replace with the following:
THE H & I CAN
The H&I Committee is a Sub-Committee of the Area and/or District Service Committee. All funds generated are part of the District/Area General Fund. Funds collected for H&I should go to this General Fund. In keeping with the Ninth Tradition, this committee is directly responsible to those they serve.
Some Districts/Areas have an additional collection to help offset the cost of the H & I Committee. Regular CA Meetings that pass the H&I Can have found the following a suitable modification to the meeting format. At the point where the 7th Tradition is honored, insert:
“The 7th Tradition reminds us that we are fully self-supporting through our own contributions. The H & I Can being passed is to help support the Hospitals and Institutions Committee of Cocaine Anonymous. The contributions go to help buy key chains and literature for addicts confined in Hospitals and Institutions. I have asked___________ to read the 12 Traditions for us while we observe the 7th tradition. Newcomers need not feel obligated to contribute.”
PASSING AN H&I CAN – THE HOW AND WHY OF IT
Since the founding of the fellowship, it has been customary to drop a dollar in the basket. While the cost of living increases, the costs of H&I supplies increase too, and the donation remains the same.
Many Areas compensate by increasingly becoming dependent on special fundraising events. Consequently, the numbers of Conventions, CampVentions, Round-ups, etc. increase each year. However, if one of these special events fails, financial disaster may occur for the District/Area for which it was meant to support. After a while, the donations drop off, therefore we encourage members to kindly drop an extra dollar in the basket.
Passing the H&I Can helps provide bookmarkers, key-chains, and literature, for those in hospitals and institutions. Please make sure that all literature reflects the CA Logo, the CAWSO phone number and/or the local CA Hotline. This insures the person carrying the book a constant contact with CA. The H&I Can not only helps H&I carry the message, but it represents a very important moral booster to those who carry it.
If you desire to start doing this in your District/Area:
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- First, solicit the support and approval of your District/Area Service Committee. Each CA group is autonomous; the decision on having an H&I Can must be the result of a group conscience by the interested meeting.
- Secondly, you’ll need a can; we suggest a one-pound coffee can, preferably painted white, with the H&I label affixed on the can. The importance of using labeled and painted H&I Cans cannot be stressed enough. Attempts to pass another basket have sometimes led to limited success.
One potential concern is…”Do the funds actually assist H&I?” Yes. It is simply a fund-raising tool. Upon passing the H&I Can, the amount collected is noted on a separate Budget Sheet, and then the money is directly sent with your DSR and/or GSR at the next District/Area meeting. Your Area/District Treasurer then deposits the donated money in the General Fund Account. As the funds become necessary, your Treasurer makes a disbursement and notes it on a separate Budget Expense Sheet.
More information on starting an H&I collection in your District or Area may be obtained from the CAWSC Committee.
H&I Committee Chairperson or the CAWSO.
Second.
Nick Alexander – would this motion fall under SR14?
Chair – If I was to receive an objection under SR#14, I would certainly rule on it.
Nick Alexander – I object under SR#14.
Chair – Reads SR#14. Rules it should be submitted under SR#14.
Committee withdraws its motion.
- Referral Number 4848: Blank Bookmarks
Create “Bookmarks” with a fill in your own time of recovery. Reason: In some institutions clients/inmates count their sobriety time in months that differ or are not available in our standard 30, 60, and 90 days.
Action Taken: Modified and created a new bookmarks that allow a person to fill in the amount of time.
Motion: To approve new bookmarks that have a fill in space for the amount of sobriety achieved.
Second.
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(CA Logo)
Cocaine Anonymous®
We’re Here and We’re Free. TM
_________ Days
CAWSO, 3740 Overland Ave., Suite C, Los Angeles, CA 90034 – (310) 559-5833
(CA Logo)
Cocaine Anonymous®
We’re Here and We’re Free. TM
_________ Months
CAWSO, 3740 Overland Ave., Suite C, Los Angeles, CA 90034 – (310) 559-5833
Chair – any debate from the floor.
Nick Alexander – Parliamentary inquiry. Can they withdraw motion after SR#14 has been imposed?
Chair – Yes
Bryan Bell – Point Of Information – Did the committee check on these being used to falsely claim sobriety using the CA logo as a blind endorsement?
Matt Tepoorten – No
Chair – any further debate:
Motion carries with substantial unanimity.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
Referral Number : 5292: Pamphlet : Speaker guidelines ( H & I )
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We have received referral #5292 to check for compliance with our World Service Guidelines.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Referral Number : 5131: HFC audio files
Referred to WSO to verify proper trademark protection.
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
Referral Number : 5166 : How to work with Juveniles
In reading the Guidelines/Information manual, I couldn’t find anything on working with juveniles in treatment centers or in detention centers. Where can we get this information?
Response: No action taken. Beyond our scope.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Chair Tim Andrea
Vice-Chair Felicia Adams
Co-Secretary Alonzo Mitchell
Co-Secretary Jason Smidt
CLOSING COMMENTS
Brief presentation ( H & I Video )
Serving on the H&I committee for five years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To be a part of watching a new person hear our message then see them get this program is amazing. On behalf of the H&I Committee, we would like to thank you all for letting us be of service carrying the message to the still suffering addict.
Respectfully Submitted:
H&I Chairman,
Eric Rosene
Chair – questions for committee?
Jeffery Ushry – how much is the video?
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Eric Rosene – I believe they are $10 through WSO.
Carl Warlick – as we were listening to the video tonight, the gentleman spoke about cocaine. Are we going to do a voice over to mention all other mind-altering substances.
Eric Rosene – we would be interested in looking into it if we were to receive a referral next year. We have no intent to do anything right now.
Tad Smith – I have had the opportunity to use this video at home with new probation officers, etc.
Nicholas Lynn – Would you say that you were slightly disappointed in the sales?
Eric Rosene – don’t know if we had any expectation of sales.
Nicholas Lynn – can you go to the website now and play it?
Eric Rosene – you can download it but can’t copy it.
Nicholas Lynn – you can play it without buying it. Denying yourself revenue. If you are trying to sell it , but you don’t’ have buy it, why would you expect the fellowship to buy it?
Chair – Nicholas, I don’t think this was generated to earn revenue.
Tim Andre – it was intended to reach facilities that we can’t get to because we work during the day. We can mail it and then when they see it, we can then talk to them. Just another tool to get to a facility that we can reach.
Nicholas Lynn – would it be your experience that people are using it but not buying it?
Tim Andre – then we are achieving what we wanted to. How many people are using this video? It’s less than half this room. Let’s go open up some more H&I meetings. That’s what the point is. Let’s get the enthusiasm up. Let’s get off the money part and go carry the message.
Susan Bredau – I noticed in the voice over that a part of what H&I does is go into Youth facilities. I noticed that there was a referral of how to get into Youth facilities and you said that it was outside the scope of your committee.
Eric Rosene – after speaking with author of referral, it wasn’t about getting into the facility, it was about how to get them to listen. That is beyond their scope.
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Felicia Adams – in addition to that, going into Juvenile facilities, as an H&I person, maybe they aren’t listening. Some facilities, the meeting isn’t mandatory. Two people show up. Does that mean that the meaning wasn’t effective? No. We keep coming back. I need to tell you that this video works. There is a department that has a budget to purchase literature. We are there to do the work, we challenge to have your bodies there, not just the literature. There are some areas that are stronger than other. Don’t sit back and get out there and carry the message. Either way it goes, we’re there.
Nick Alexander – has the H&I committee considered coming up with different meeting formats? I know it’s a problem at Juvenile facility I go to. We can’t bring speakers into the facility. Difficult process. Any way to come up with topic specific to inmates? What is CA? Etc.
Eric Rosene – if you are bringing a topic , you may not necessarily need a format, just a topic.
Nick Alexander – juveniles in the facility I work at are asking for us to keep it real. That they will see what is in the meetings outside.
Tim Andre – in the back of the guideline book, there are 25 points that you can ask the Juveniles that will keep them talking. As long as I am sharing from the heart and keeping it simple, they will participate. It’s there.
Chair – thank the committee for all their hard work.
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