CLOSING REPORT
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2011
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
The Conference Committee has thoroughly enjoyed Conference this year. Thank you to delegates, committee chairs, and trustees, both new and outgoing members for your service and participation. The spirit of Unity and Fellowship is alive and thriving throughout the room. We feel successful.
Committee Introductions
Committee Members:
Robin L. – Chair
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Barbara N. – Vice Chair
Laurie R. – Secretary
Lori P. – Conference Coordinator
Jay F. – Conference Co-Coordinator
Teresa N.-Administrative Coordinator
Linda F. – Director of Operations
Jenn S.
Siobhan A.
Gregory A.
Brian T.
Mark C.
Ben S.
Phillip A.
Conference Officers:
Tony D. – Chair
Trevor S. – Vice-Chair/Parliamentarian
Susan L. -Co-Secretary
Deborah W. – Co-Secretary
Conference Committee Trustees:
Richard S. – Trustee at Large
Peter DeR. – World Service Office Trustee
Kim S. – Midwest Regional Trustee
COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
NONE
REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
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NONE
REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
Referral #5860:
Introduction
The present WSC system of processing referrals and discussing and adopting proposals excludes CA groups and their members from any involvement in the decision making process. As a result of this the collective conscience of CA cannot be truly expressed and the ultimate authority cannot be fully exercised. As stated in Tradition 2 and Concept I both of these should lie with the groups. To ensure the survival and growth of Cocaine Anonymous the vital link between the CA groups and the WSC must be established. The following proposal is aimed at addressing this shortfall.
Proposal
That the WSC appoint a committee to receive, review, modify and select referrals for inclusion on the agenda of the following year’s WSC.
- That the following WSC members be considered for inclusion in this committee: WSC chairperson, WSC cosecretaries, all WSC committee chairpersons and for guidance, support and continuity 2 WSBT members and the WSOB chairperson
- That WSC set a deadline for submission of referrals from the fellowship to this committee.
- That WSC set guidelines for the selection process of submitted referrals.
- That WSC give a name to the document containing the selected referrals to be sent out to the fellowship. A possible name could be “Questions for World Service Conference”
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e) That WSC set a deadline for sending out “Questions for World Service Conference” to the fellowship. This date should allow sufficient time for groups to discuss the questions and pass on their conscience to their Delegates. A suggested deadline could be no later than the beginning of March to allow sufficient time to facilitate this discussion process.
f) That WSC decide on a manner of sending out the “Questions for World Service Conference” to the fellowship. A suitable method could be direct mailing to all WSC Delegates and inclusion in the first quarter edition of NewsGram.
Additional background information
Concept III gives the WSC and participating delegates the right of decision on how to vote and which questions it will deal with on its own responsibilities and which it will refer to the groups for opinion or for definite guidance. However Concept III also states that this should not be “an excuse for persistently failing to consult those who are entitled to be consulted before any important decision or action is taken” (The Twelve Concepts for World Service p15-16).
In the present system the WSC persistently fails to consult the groups before important decisions are made and actions taken.
Although Delegates can and should vote according to their own conscience there should be some means by which the Groups share their views on important issues prior to annual WSC meeting.
Under the proposed system Delegates would arrive at the WSC knowing their groups’ views on the referrals included on the agenda for discussion and voting. Referring to Delegates, Concept IX states that “These are the direct agents of the CA groups, these are the primary representatives of CA’s group conscience” (The Twelve Concepts for World Service p36.)
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In the interest of transparency and trust, Delegates, as trusted servants, report back to the Groups in their respective Area Assemblies on how they voted regarding various proposals, and why. Under the proposed process, the groups would be in a far better position to hold Delegates to account as they have had the opportunity to view and discuss referrals and exercise their Ultimate authority and if needs be, in exceptional circumstances, to replace a delegate.
The proposed alterations to WSC procedures would restore the vital link between the groups and the WSC. This link was in Bill W’s view vital for the survival of AA and in my view is just as vital for the survival of CA.
Response: The Conference Committee appreciates the spirit of the referral. The committee will be cooperating with the WSO as we address the process and guidelines to fulfill this idea.
Referral # 6249: Conference Action Not Fulfilled For 5 Years
Effective immediately that any motion passed by the Conference that has not been fulfilled within a five (5) year period must be brought back to the Conference floor for re-mandating. This is not to include items correctly held by the WSO awaiting publication.
Response: Thank you for the referral. Actions in CA at the Conference level come quickly and sometimes slowly, although they work out according to a higher plan that we cannot control. That said, putting a five-year period, or any period for that matter, is not how our process works.
Referral # 6254: Earlier Processing of SR 14 Material
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Please issue. Through a special delegate mailing, all SR14 material 30 days earlier than is currently outlined in the WSM. This is to allow a more realistic timescale for documents to be forwarded to Districts and Groups such that an informed group conscience can be found and discussed at the Area pre-Conference assemblies.
Response: The timeline of SR14 is dictated by the Conference, as described in the WSM. That said, the Conference Committee will work to informally make this information available so as to address these specific needs of your Area.
Referral # 6394: Conference Participants Notification of Parking Rate and Room Tax
That the Committee provide the contracted parking rate and room tax with the Conference hotel information in the Delegate mailing.
Response: This information was (and will continue to be) included in delegate mailings as it is received from the Conference hotel each year.
Referral # 6582: Delegate Mailings of In-Conference and Post-Conference Referrals
That effective immediately, that in the first Delegate mailing post-Conference, that a complete list of the “At Conference” and “Post-Conference” Referrals be sent out to all recipients.
Response: This is a great suggestion. We will implement this effective this year.
Thank you!
Referral #6586: Please add a section to the WSM, which outlines the various facets of the Conference Committee Referral Process. Please explain “At
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Conference,” “Post conference” and “Inter-Conference” referrals and how they are handled, assessed for their substantive content with regard to inclusion in pre-Conference SR14 Mailings. It appears that the current SR14 content is based on timing when the referral is submitted, rather than the content of the referral.
Response: The Conference Committee appreciates the spirit of the referral. The committee will be cooperating with the WSO as we address the process and guidelines to fulfill this idea.
Referral # 6599: Monday Night Meeting Before the Conference Starts Could there be a room available on Monday night for call up meeting?
Response: We are not contracted with the Hotel for any extra meeting rooms on Monday evening.
Referral # 6603: Serenity Prayer to Close each session To close each day’s session with Serenity Prayer
Response: Thank you for the suggestion. We will leave the choice to pray and the specific prayer to the discretion of the Chair, as this has been our practice.
Referral # 6781: Moving items up the agenda if we are ahead of schedule
I would like to see if time is left before lunch or supper breaks that we move up agenda items to fill time so later on we do not run out of time.
Response: This is already done whenever possible. There are times, however, due to other scheduling challenges that cannot, unfortunately, be
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accommodated. That said, we are mindful of the limited time we all have together and will work to maximize efficiency as is our goal every year.
Referral #6791: Badge Color
The badge holders are a bad color. I think a more neutral color would be preferable, as this would do away with outfit clash. Perhaps black, grey or taupe?
Response: Thank you for the referral and suggestion. Some fashionistas on our committee fully are empathic with this, some, unfortunately are here for a higher divine purpose, if that is possible as contrasted with fashion challenges. We can, upon request, provide you with some finger paints or crayons to personalize your badge should you so desire.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
Referral #6768 Electronic Reports
Please provide electronic copies of all documents (committee reports, trustee slate, résumés, etc.) optionally in place of hard copies.
Thank you for your referral. The Conference Committee has decided to form an ad hoc subcommittee to address and respond to this request. It is our goal to work on this throughout the year so that we will have an operational solution for the electronic distribution of documents for the 2012 Conference.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NONE
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NEW CONFERENCE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THE END OF THIS CONFERENCE:
Chair: Robin L.
Vice-Chair: Barbara N.
Secretary: Laurie R.
Coordinator: Lori P.
Co-Coordinator: Susan L.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Thanks to the delegates who supported the Conference by purchasing Delegate Notebooks, t-shirts and Kick-Off Dinner tickets. These are some things we do to help offset the Conference costs. Your participation is greatly appreciated.
PLEASE Take a moment to fill out the evaluation form; we want to know your thoughts on how we can make the Conference even better for you.
I would like to take this moment to thank the Conference Committee for making this job simple for me. We worked closely, and have an incredibly good time doing so!
In 2003 I met a woman in service. She was working at the World Service Convention and I introduced myself. Her organizational skills astonished me, I told her I wanted to work on whatever committee she was on at Conference, I became her secretary. She became my friend, confidante, and mentor. Thank you Kim, for everything you’ve done for this Committee, this Fellowship, and me.
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Now, Lori P. will announce the location and dates for the 2012 World Service Conference. The last week of August and into September, we will be here again next year. They have been so good to us and will be providing us with discounts next year, so we will be back.
In Service,
Robin L.
WSC Conference Committee Chair and
The Entire Conference Committee.
Conference Committee Rocks!
Tony D.: Any questions for the Conference Committee?
Ian Y.: I submitted a referral to S&B (#6619) and they said they referred to Conference. Could you please let me know the status of this referral?
Robin L.: That would be considered a Post Conference Referral. Ian, you are correct.
Jason L.: There is a section at the end of the report (Items Tabled & Continue to work on throughout the year). However there are 2 referrals that did not result in motions #5860 & #6249, why are you not going to be working on throughout the year?
Robin L.: I believe that we placed them in the wrong section in the report and they will be moved to be worked on throughout the year. Sonya S.: Do you know what the rate will be next year?
Lori P.: $99.00 + TAX
Jason L.: In regard to the response, are you putting the task with the WSO or are you prepared to work with them?
Robin L.: Yes, we will work in unity with WSO.
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Tony D.: Seeing no further questions for the Conference Committee, we will have LCF up next.
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