World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Daily Minutes – Day 3 – Saturday – September 2, 2023
Return from break – Call to order.
S&B returning to the floor.
Sydney P – Thank you for allowing me to come back.
- Motion 51: to include the following paragraph under the heading description on pg 21 of the WSM in the description on p. 21 of the World Service Manual.
The importance of the Group, what it constitutes, and its functions cannot be stressed enough. Maintenance of our recovery depends on the sharing of our experience, strength and hope with each other, thus helping us to identify and understand the nature of our disease. A group typically meets at a regular time each week. Those that meet multiple times in a week are known as multi-meeting groups.
A multi meeting group is defined as a group that meets on multiple occasions during a day and/or week.
A multi meeting group has one GSR who carries the voice of the group (representing all the meetings) at the District, and/or Area level.
**For any other guidance we suggest referring to Tradition 4 on page 11 of the World Service Manual.
Seconded
Russell S – Would you like to speak to motion.
Sydney P – Yes. The reason to include the reference is to let them know that they can do what they wish but we wanted to provide guidance. It is an important definition to be included.
Russell S – Any debate
Susan B – I believe there needs to be more distinction between a meeting and what is a group. It’s going to cause more confusion. Just needs clarification, not definition. Now we’re going to refer to groups and not meetings.
Nadz L – Speaking in favor of the motion, thank you for the changes.
David Lu – Speaking in favour of the motion. My area wants to know what a multi meeting is and this text gives clear guidance.
Tom T – Speaking in favour of the motion. Follows clarity.
Jesse Go – Speaking strongly in favour of the motion. This was rewritten very well.
Spoke to my area and found that this affects many areas.
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Stu E – Call the question (motion 52)
Russell S – motion to call the question.
All those in favor/opposed.
Motion passes with substantial unanimity
- Motion 51: Motion to include the following paragraph under the heading description on pg 21 of the WSM in the description on p. 21 of the World Service Manual.
The importance of the Group, what it constitutes, and its functions cannot be stressed enough. Maintenance of our recovery depends on the sharing of our experience, strength and hope with each other, thus helping us to identify and understand the nature of our disease. A group typically meets at a regular time each week. Those that meet multiple times in a week are known as multi-meeting groups.
A multi meeting group is defined as a group that meets on multiple occasions during a day and/or week.
A multi meeting group has one GSR who carries the voice of the group (representing all the meetings) at the District, and/or Area level.
**For any other guidance we suggest referring to Tradition 4 on page 11 of the World Service Manual.
Russell S – Motion passes with substantial unanimity Sydney P – The organogram will be brought back next year.
Parliamentary inquiry – Jamie D – Was that motion on the organigram brought to the floor?
Russell S – S&B is taking it back to their committee.
Finance committee back to the floor
A motion was proposed by Jonathan H that Russell S called out of order (see below)
Russell S – Calling this motion out of order. It’s a continuation of active committee business.
Parliamentary Inquiry – Susan B – could we ask that they provide a breakdown? Russell S – They will provide a breakdown.
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Russell S – There’s some other stuff we need to get through. A member requested to make a 5th concept.
Susan B – 5th Concept Statement – I need to talk about what happened at the beginning of this conference. It started us off with such distention and unbalance and hurt feelings. And all the person wants to know was “why”. And part of what I heard was “we followed the procedure” and “it was a business decision”. I’ve always been taught that we take our spiritual principles out into the world and not the other way around. This process has been broken for awhile. She deserves an explanation as to “why”. No one should not be given a reason as to why they’re given a role and then be dismissed. It’s not okay to say it was done with cause. I’m making a 5th concept about Susan L being removed from her role. What this fellowship needs is a universal adapter. We need treat people the way we want to be treated.
Russell S – Last year we had elections for secretaries. We have this requirement in the WSM that the positions should be staggard. We elected 2 secretaries serving 2-year terms each. What I would like to do is seek unanimous consent for Albina K to serve an extra 1 year to achieve that stager. any objections? None. Thank you.
Next, we’ll go into elections of conference chairperson.
Elections:
Tom T – I nominate Russell S – accept.
Justine K – I nominate Duane M – respectively declines.
Gabriel S – I nominate Tai B.
Tai B – respectively declines.
Any further nominations?
Seeing none, Russell gets up and Duane switches spots.
Duane M – Please tell us if you qualify?
Russell S – I believe I met the qualifications.
Louissin B – Why do you want to do this again?
Russell S – I’m amazed we haven’t burnt into the ground. I just celebrated 19 years yesterday and I’m grateful for Cocaine Anonymous. It’s an absolute honor to serve this fellowship.
Any questions? Seeing none – we’ll ask Russell to please step out.
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Duane M – Any discussion?
Discussion had.
Proceed to vote.
Russell S – Thank you very much. Next, we have the position of Vice Chair/ Parliamentary
Susan B nominates Duane M.
Duane M. Accepts.
Judd Nominates Jamie D.
Jamie D – Accepts nomination.
Russell S – would you both please step to the mic?
Russell S – would you both like to give a statement?
Jamie D – I love service I am familiar with WSM I have been contentious with the chair on the floor. It would be an honour to serve with him.
Duane M. – I am a little nervous. I am the previous Parliamentary. Look at the service I engaged in. I would be honoured to serve this fellowship. This is the first commitment I’ve served in in a while and I really like serving with Russell.
Sarah T – In two years time are you both prepared to put yourself forward for chairperson?
Jamie D – Yes
Duane M – Yes thank you.
Robert Ha – Could you tell me are you both happy with Roberts rules of order and parliamentary procedure?
Jamie D – Yes, I use them in business. I have no problem being a voice of reference.
Duane M. – Yes, it helps us facilitate the meeting and hopefully I have shown that.
Catherine E – What would say is the most difficult thing you have encountered.
Duane M – Fear that I get it wrong.
Jamie D – Fear I will fall off the stairs. Fear of leaving the comfort of LCF. Learning everything completely new. Making the right decision for C.A.
Russell S – Any more questions? Seeing none can you both leave the room?
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Discussion had.
Russell S – Congratulations to Duane M for another 2 years. Jamie thank you for putting yourself forward.
Finance
Johnathan H – Makes motion.
Russell S – Motion out of order – Thank you very much for your service.
Justine K can you step up please.
Russell S – Dates and location of the next conference
Justine K – The next C.A. conference will be here in Dallas 8/28-9/3 2024
Russell S – The credentialing sight takes a while to get updated, you have to credential each year. If you credential your alternative delegate, if you registered, you can participate. Please as you rotate out, get a coffee with your fellows.
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