World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous Sat. Sep. 3, 2016 Daily Summary Day 4 – Corrected 27-Mar-2017
Ginger L. – Reads closing report.
CLOSING REPORT C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2016 LITERATURE, CHIPS AND FORMAT REPORT
INTRODUCTION AND OPENING COMMENTS
The majority of this committee’s efforts deal with literature that aids the membership in applying and understanding the 12 Steps and Traditions; that carries the message to the addict who still suffers; that supplies valuable information to the professionals with whom our members would most likely come into contact; and that clarifies the nature of addiction to the general public.
| Committee Introductions | ||
| Chair: | Ginger L. | |
| Vice-Chair | Chiel B. | |
| Co-Secretaries: | Rose G./Ricky W. | |
| WSBT Member: | Anne B-M | |
| Project Leads: | ||
| 12 | Step Companion Guide | Devin R-F. |
| 12 | Steps and 12 Traditions | Jason L. |
| 12 | Traditions and Concepts Illustrated | Elizabeth S. |
| H.O.W. pamphlet | Justin C. | |
| Formats | Ryan A. | |
| Guidelines | Tom P. | |
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Members:
Erin McG.
Cynthia C.
Linda M.
Chuck B.
Petra L.
Kellie F.
Chris Y.
Annemarie R-F.
Rudi R.
COMMITTEE WORK THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
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Ryan A. – MOTION: To approve the Suggested General Speaker Meeting Format included in the SR-14 mailing. (attachment 1)
Seconded.
Tony D. – Do you want to speak to the motion? Any debate on the motion?
Ryan A. – Read attachment to motion #1 attachment.
Ian Y. – I appreciate that this is a suggested format. It is highly different from the way we deliver a meeting format in the UK. The way that you delivered the keytags, we do it different. We do not separate between the newcomers keyrings or 30 days, 60 days. Maybe we can combine the versions.
Tony D. – Prepare yourselves to vote. Make sure your clicker is turned on. If you are for the motion, press a, against c.
Vote 02 – 92 for and 36 against. Motion passed.
*****
*****
Tom P. made a MOTION: To approve the revised version of the Introduction page of the LCF guidelines as submitted in the SR-14 mailing. (attachment 2).
Seconded.
Tony D. – Do you want to speak to the motion? Prepare to vote.
Vote 03 – 107 for and 3 against. Motion passes.
*****
Stu E. – Point of Order- Why are these documents are not in the Box? Maybe we should go back to paper.
Trevor S. – Discussed the Box process.
Carla S. – My clicker is having issues.
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Rose G. made a MOTION: To change the name of the Literature, Chips and Format Committee
to Literature, Chips and Formats.
Seconded.
Tony D. – Do you care to speak to your motion? Any debate on the motion? Prepare to vote.
Vote 04 – 125 for and 6 against. Motion passed.
*****
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REFERRALS THAT RESULTED IN MOTIONS
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 3: Please create a ‘Group Service Representative’ Pamphlet that describes the role and responsibilities of a GSR and includes a proposed agenda for a Group Conscience / Business Meeting.
*****
Devin R-F. made a MOTION: To approve the concept of a pamphlet entitled “Group Service
Representative”.
Seconded.
Tony D. – Do you care to speak to your motion? Any debate on the motion? Prepare to vote.
Vote 05 – 133 for and 5 against. Motion passed.
*****
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 6: The pamphlet ‘To The Newcomer’ is in our opinion drug specific ,particularly the first section that refers to who is a Cocaine Addict – we would like you to make both bits of literature more inclusive to members that may not identify with cocaine addiction but other mind altering substances.
*****
Jason L. made a MOTION: To approve the concept of changing the “To the Newcomer” pamphlet by replacing “Who is a Cocaine Addict?” with “Who is a C.A. Member?” Seconded.
Tony D. – Do you care to speak to the motion?
Jason L. – This change is to make things more inclusive.
Tony D. – Jason, can you explain the literature process to the new delegates?
Jason L. – Yes. Gave a brief explanation.
Kevin M. – I speak in opposition. I came to C.A. because I was a cocaine addict. One of the most profound thing I heard was ‘To the Newcomer.’ I would really want it to stay. I oppose.
Peter O. – I speak in favor of the motion. I think it is pretty essential to expand C.A. We do not care what drug you use. I think we are really just expanding.
Maria K. – I am not sure if I am speaking for or against. Motion seems kind of redundant. We have a reading called is ‘Who is a C.A. Member?’
Susan L. – I like to speak in favor of the motion. ‘Who is a C.A. Member?’ is one of the most important readings that we have. I think it is a good thing moving forward that we present a message that more people will understand. The use of Cocaine has changed since the beginning. Jim S. – I speak in favor of this motion. I was a guy that did a lot of stuff. Our 3rd Tradition states cocaine and all-other mind altering substance.
Henry A. – Why do we have this fellowship? It was you people that showed me that this program was not drug specific. Please let’s keep that. I oppose.
Stu E. – This is Cocaine Anonymous. We keep pushing these readings that does not have cocaine it. We seem to want to pull cocaine out of all our literature. We already have we our all-inclusive. If we have to keep defending our identity, we need to accept who we are. Let’s stop being embarrassed that Cocaine is in our name. I oppose.
Ernest M. – Oppose. I look around and see the love for C.A. It was the love of the fellowship that
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helped newcomers when I came into the rooms. Literature was not what helped me get here, it was the members in this fellowship.
Michael C. – Oppose. We are C.A. Yes, we have members that do other things. Yes, we have members that has never use Cocaine. We take everybody! Let’s keep our inclusivity by keeping what we have and stop pandering to a certain section of our members. Our fellowship is the only fellowship that accepts everybody.
Heidi J. – Oppose. When I was a newcomer and I was reading the Big Book. There were a lot of things that I did not understand in the Big Book. When we read “Who is a Cocaine Addict” the newcomers can understand the language.
Carl R. – Oppose. Whenever I go to an H&I meeting, I always read ‘Who is a C.A. Member.’ ‘Who is a Cocaine Addict?’ has helped me stay here in this program. If we take out ‘Who is a Cocaine addict?’ out of our pamphlets, why are we here? Jimmy Y. – How will this affect the meeting format?
Jason L. – This reading will be replaced.
Earl H. – Oppose. For the entire time I have been in the fellowship “Who is a Cocaine Addict?” has been a reading.
Jay P. – I will be honest when I first heard that this was being considered to be taken out, I got emotional. What I love about C.A. is we have the solution for people that use all drugs. Hopefully, the newcomer might grab a pamphlet, they may just read “To the Newcomer” which would give them an invitation to our fellowship. *****
Rose J. – Call the question.
Tony D. – Prepare to vote to call the question.
Vote 06 – 104 for and 27 against. Motion passes.
*****
Tony D. – Re-read motion. Prepare to vote.
Vote 07 –48 for and 92 against. Motion failed.
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REFERRALS OR ITEMS TABLED UNTIL NEXT YEAR; AND ITEMS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WORKING ON THROUGH THE YEAR
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 4: Please revise the ‘All other mind altering substances’ pamphlet such that it defines what C.A. considers a mind altering substance.
Response: Thank you for your referral. We discussed this at length and will continue to work on this referral throughout the year.
REFERRALS OR ITEMS REFERRED TO OTHER COMMITTEES; WORLD SERVICE OFFICE, OR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 5: That the Committee revise the Newcomer Booklet to include the reading Who’s A C.A. Member? Thank you!
Response: This referral was referred to the WSOB
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REFERRALS THAT DID NOT RESULT IN MOTIONS
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 1: Creation of new literature pamphlet “We are not doctors”. The goal of such literature would be to present a unified position from which to help guide the addict/alcoholic who may be either presently under a doctor’s orders for prescription or those facing a medical procedure which may require anesthesia or pain management. This pamphlet may seek to both educate and dispel common misconceptions regarding relapse through western medicine, while placing the responsibility on the addict/alcoholic to seek guidance not only from the physician, but his/her Higher Power, sponsor, and recovery network.
Response: Thank you for your referral. However, we believe this is already addressed in our current literature. Specifically in “…And All Other Mind-Altering Substances.”
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 2: Referral for a redone piece of literature of
“Suggestion for Relapse Prevention and Recovery” – New title “Suggestion for Relapse Recovery”. I believe relapse is a fact, but not necessarily a part of our recovery for that still suffering addict coming back into the rooms. I believe there needs to be a pamphlet to address welcoming and where to go from here.
Response: Thank you for your referral. We considered your suggestion and understand the sensitivity of this issue. However, we do not believe a pamphlet is needed as this subject is addressed in a number of the readings contained in “A Quiet Peace”, in the pamphlets “Tips for Staying Clean and Sober”, “To the Newcomer”, “Tools of Recovery” and “The First 30 Days.”
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 5.5: Is it possible to incorporate the concepts in the book you are doing for the steps. Or can we have a concepts book with WSM, although that might not be practical.
Response: Thank you for your referral. The concepts will be included in the 12×12 book as well as the 12 Traditions and Concepts Illustrated pamphlet.
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 6.5: To create a new pamphlet called “the spirit of rotation”
Response: Thank you for your referral. We anticipate this being covered adequately in the new literature being developed.
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 7: Regarding this year’s referral:
To create a new pamphlet called “Honesty, Opened-mindedness & Willingness.”
Please name the pamphlet “Willingness, honesty and open mindedness” to reflect back to the reference in the Big Book:
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“We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.” (Big Book, Appendix II – Spiritual Experience)
I feel this would make this piece of literature much more in line with our fundamental ethos of our Fellowship chiming back to our roots in the Big Book rather than reflecting a treatment centre acronym.
Response: We appreciate the concept of this referral. The committee did discuss this at length and at this time we believe the pamphlet would flow better utilizing the H.O.W. wording.
- Referral Number LCF 2016 – 8: Please put in internal guidelines that if no work is completed on a project in a year on a subcommittee, the full committee will look into a change of the chair
Response: We continue to review the progress of the work on an annual basis and take actions accordingly.
- Referral Number 2015WSBT-07-LCF: In the preamble change “experience, strength and hope” to “hope, faith and courage.”
Response: We appreciate your referral, however, we feel that the phrase “hope, faith and courage” and the phrase “experience, strength and hope” are not interchangeable and have different meanings.
- Referral Number 2015PC-WSBT-3 – LCF: This is a follow up to a previous I know you like suggestions so I suggest we replace our adapted version of AA’s Preamble with something like this: Preamble: Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of addicts and alcoholics who meet together to share our hope, faith, and courage for the purpose of staying sober and helping others achieve the same freedom. Everything heard at our meetings is to be treated as confidential. There are no dues or fees of any kind. To be a member, you only have to want to quit. We also exchange phone numbers, and give and seek support from one another between meetings. We are all on equal footing here. We are men and women of all ages, races and social backgrounds, with the common bond of addiction. Many years of experience have demonstrated the value of one addict helping another. We use the Twelve Step Recovery Program because it has already been proven that the Twelve Step Recovery Program works.
Response: Thank you for your referral. We do not believe this carries the same message to the newcomer. It doesn’t encompass our Traditions as our current preamble does.
NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AS OF THIS CONFERENCE
Chair Rose G.
Vice-Chair Chiel B.
Co-Secretaries Ricky W./Justin C.
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CLOSING COMMENTS
(attachment 3) LCF is excited as this conference comes to close. In summary, we anticipate that great progress will continue on the development of literature for C.A. Specifically, the “12 Steps12 Traditions” book subcommittee has reported exciting developments in their work. A layout has been completed, databases of information relating to specific C.A. experience throughout the fellowship with respect to the Steps and Traditions has been gathered and organized. Three new members of LCF have joined the subcommittee and a draft book is anticipated to be available for LCF main committee review by next conference.
We are seeking to relate our experience as opposed to AA’s or other individuals; therefore we have collated information from a variety of C.A. sources. Our goal is to achieve a unique C.A. ‘voice,’ that is specifically reflective of Fellowship experience with respect to Steps and Traditions.
We have requested a line item figure to engage the services of a professional writer to assist with the 12 & 12 project. Bill wrote, “The literature committee constantly will have to solve new problems of design, format, and content. Here our policy is to aim at only the best… Like any other General Service Board Committees, this one must be expert in the work to be done. A key figure in its operation will necessarily be a paid writer and consultant.” (AA Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept XI).
(Devin R-F.- read this section.)
The 12 step companion guide is in full swing this year at conference! The enthusiasm in the LCF committee for this project is contagious and we have four new members that have very eagerly and energetically joined our already existing sub-committee. Their dedication during breakout in moving this amazing concept forward is breathtaking, and it is an honor to work with them all.
We are very happy to say that we have fully completed and edited drafts of three steps that are in line with the concept approved by the main LCF committee. We also have a member with professional writing experience who will begin to ghost write these steps into a consistent flow that reflects the spirit of what we all know as C.A.’s very unique voice. The rest of the steps are all being worked on by members of our sub-committee. We are all very excited to continue editing and polishing those step drafts on our regular sub-committee conference calls.
We believe with the new enthusiastic membership in our sub-committee that we have set an entirely realistic and attainable goal of having all 12 steps completed and through a first edit prior to the beginning of conference next year!
(Ginger L. read this section.)
In closing, I want to take a moment to thank the entire LCF committee. Their enthusiasm and passion for our fellowship and our literature is inspiring. The room was always filled with so much love and respect for each other. They worked tirelessly in their sub-committees and real progress
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was made. I have worked on many committees over the years (I am an admitted service junkie) and this is by far the best committee I have ever had the pleasure to serve on.
This is my last “official” conference. I would say I will miss you all, but I won’t. Because chances are good you will see me lurking around the conference in the years to come.
Finally, to all of you wonderful fellow-service junkies here at conference, I give my highest appreciation. The work you do here, year after year, makes a difference. It affects people around the world and for generations to come. Thank you for being the ripples in our pond.
Respectfully Submitted:
Ginger L.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Tony D. – Any questions for the committee?
Kevin M. – Could you tell us how far along we are “In the Light of our Experience” book? Jason L. – We are working on reviewing the NewsGrams. The NewsGram reviews are almost done. We have the electronic copies of the C.A. pamphlets. We are divided up in working groups. We are working through the questions that have been asked of the WSBT over the years. We are looking through lots of resources. We are trying to develop a voice that speaks to all of us. We work throughout the year. Everyone is welcomed to join us on our conference calls. It is very similar to the A.A. 12 & 12.
Rose J. – I think I need some clarification. Is the book similar to the 12 Step Workbook? Ginger L. – Different books.
Stu E. – We appreciate you guys putting up with us with old-timers. Would your committee take our suggestions back to the committee?
Sarah T. – I want to thank the committee. Do you still stick to the point process? Can you explain this to the new delegates?
Ginger L. – Point 5 in the LCF guidelines.
Dave C.– Does the committee agree with me about the quality of the work you are doing so far? Devin R-F. – We have a concept for the 12 Step Companion Guide. We changed the name from a workbook to a companion guide. This differentiates us from other fellowships. Gave examples. Ginger L. – I forgot to introduced new officers. (Introductions done)
Tony D. – Seeing no more questions for LCF, please thank them. Conference committee is up next.
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