CA WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECORD OF ONLINE BUSINESS BETWEEN QUARTERLY MEETINGS
August 2009 – October 2009
APPROVED
Since this report is a confidential CA document, for members only, it may contain members’ full names. This usage to facilitate communication within the fellowship was approved by the 1990 WS Conference. Such confidential use does not, of course, violate in anyway out Tradition on anonymity in public communications media (press, radio, TV, etc).
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Motion by Joy H.: to accept the PNR response. Second by Lawrence M.
Correspondence
Name: Michael H.
City: Bellevue
State/Province: Washington
Area/Region: Washington Area
Subject: Definition of a Committee
Message: First, I would like to hear the opinions of all our trustees on the following issue: What is a Committee? Does it have any responsibility to the groups if it was created in a District or Area? Does a committee have the same autonomy that a group has?
I have been an active member of CA, but it seems that this is an issue that has no clarity. In some cases I have heard that the committee is responsible to only the Meeting that created the committee. And in other cases I have heard that the committees are responsible to the groups and so therefore must answer to them along with the Meeting that created the committee.
Now the problem, I am respectfully asking if there could be an unofficial response by August 4th. That is not giving you an awful lot of time, but it would be helpful to me to have some direction going into my next business meetings. I do also understand that an unofficial response my not be available and then will have to wait for the “official” response from the Board of Trustees. Your guidance in this would be gratefully appreciated.
Response
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your inquiry to the WSBT.
The dictionary has the following definition of a committee. “A person or group of persons elected or appointed to perform some service or function, as to investigate, report on, or act upon a particular matter.”
As to the question of who a committee would be responsible to, we are guided by both the Traditions and the Concepts. Keeping in mind the spirit of unity that the first Tradition talks about, our ninth Tradition tells us “C.A., as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.” Just who is it that these committee’s serve? Our goal on every level
is to serve the groups so that they may better carry out their primary purpose. They are who we are all ultimately responsible to. From district all the way to world, we all take direction from the groups.
This being said, every level of service and the creation of those committees at the level they were created need to recognize a direct responsibility to the level that created them as well. It is the balance of the committee’s responsibility between the
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group and the level that created it that truly establishes the check and balance required for its success and accountability. Our 10th Concept tells us “Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority — the scope of such authority to be always well defined, whether by tradition, by resolution, by specific job description or by appropriate charters and bylaws.” A committee is indeed free to
make decisions and carry out actions resulting from those decisions, but there should always be guidelines in place, defining their scope.
Please feel free to contact us again at any time.
In Love & Service,
WSBT
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Trevor S.: All votes are in. The motion to approve the PNR Response passes unanimously.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Motion by Joy H.: to approve the response regarding the CA logo on Facebook.
Second by Kim S.
Correspondence:
From: JAY
Sent: Tue 9/8/2009 8:29 AM
To: CAWSO
Subject: permission to use logo on facebook
I may have done something wrong so I’m asking for help and permission to use the logo to help other addicts get the information they need as facebook is used so much these days I just wanted to carry the message of C.A. the best way please help many thanks jay god bless
Response:
Dear Member,
Thank you for your question regarding your use of the C.A. logo on Facebook.
The C.A. logo is the registered trademark of CAWSO and Cocaine Anonymous.
There was an article just published in the 3rd Quarter News Gram that addresses the concerns of the usage of any of our trademarked logo or mottos.
“RESPECTING THE C.A. LOGO, MOTTO and TRADEMARKS” by the World Service Board of Trustees
As the WSBT continues to address concerns over the use of our copyrighted logo, motto, and trademarks on web pages and websites, as well as anonymity issues for those
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connected to the web page/website, we felt that an article regarding the position of the WSBT was warranted. Most questions/concerns have to do with what our protected trademarks are, what is acceptable and appropriate use of them, and by whom they may be used. Cocaine Anonymous has the following trademarks protected in the USA, Canada and European Union:
“We’re Here and We’re Free”
Cocaine Anonymous name
C.A. logo Hope, Faith and Courage
C.A. (USA and Canada only)
If a C.A. group wishes to use any of the above C.A. trademarks on the C.A. group’s website, the service committee for the Area (or District) must have approved the site, and the Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office (CAWSO) must be contacted
by an elected officer of the Area (or District) where the group resides with a statement to this effect. If a C.A. group chooses to be a “stand alone,” meaning not attached to the Area (or District) where the group resides, then the Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office (CAWSO) must be contacted by an elected officer of the group with a statement to this effect. In either of the above cases, the request is forwarded to the CAWSO Web servant, Regional Trustee, Area/District Service Committee and World Service Conference Information Technology (IT) Committee to verify that the site is in compliance with the IT Committee Workbook and Guidelines (these guidelines are available for review on the service section of www.ca.org).
In accordance with the above, the use of the C.A. logo and our protected trademarks on Facebook, MySpace, and other similar sites is not appropriate, or acceptable. Additionally we need always be mindful regarding the anonymity of our members, even when they “innocently” are not. Also, we need to be cautious as to how the public may perceive this web page and how the website represents Cocaine Anonymous as a whole.
And lastly, as guardians of the Twelve Traditions, and concerned members that stand behind the effective voice of the Fellowship as directed through the C.A. World Service Manual, we need to further educate our Fellowship as to the potential harms this web page might have. To elaborate, we refer to the following Traditions:
Tradition 6: A C.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the C.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Tradition 10: Cocaine Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the C.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
Tradition 11: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, television and films.
Tradition 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
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The WSBT’s position is that the use of the C.A. logo and our protected trademarks on unauthorized web pages/websites is not within the Traditions, and we are concerned as to the interpretation of possible affiliation, endorsement, controversy, and overall anonymity.
Additionally, we are guided by the long form of the Fourth Tradition, which provides in part: “And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect [C.A.] as a whole without conferring with the trustees … On such issues our common welfare is paramount.” Also in the narrative text of the Fourth Tradition (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 147), the inquiry seems to turn to whether the action taken would/might “greatly” injure C.A. as a whole. In that same paragraph is the notion that for the group, “Sobriety had to be its sole objective. In all other respects there was perfect freedom of will and action. Every group had the right to be wrong.” We trust that individuals and/or groups who may launch a page on the internet using the C.A. logo and/or its protected trademarks have done so without intent to harm or desire to injure C.A., or the membership/Fellowship. As we attempt to educate the Fellowship, we refer to our “Statement of Policy,” stated below, from the C.A. World Service Manual, 2009 edition, page 13, that sets forth specifically who can and who can’t use our registered trademarks, etc.:
STATEMENT OF POLICY
Who may use the name “COCAINE ANONYMOUS,” the block letters “C.A.”, the official COCAINE ANONYMOUS LOGO (hereinafter “logo”), future variations of the logo, the book title “HOPE, FAITH & COURAGE: STORIES FROM THE FELLOWSHIP OF COCAINE ANONYMOUS,” and the motto “WE’RE
HERE AND WE’RE FREE”:
A. A Cocaine Anonymous “Group” as defined herein, for its function of organizing and operating a regularly scheduled C.A. meeting. A C.A. Group may not use the name, letters or logo for any other purpose (including without limitation, dances, conventions, memorabilia, or fund-raising events) without the prior written consent of its Area/District Chairperson after a vote taken by the Area/District Service Committee.
B. A Cocaine Anonymous “District,” “Area,” or “Region.”
C. Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office, Inc. (a California corporation) and Cocaine Anonymous World Services, Inc. (a California corporation). The service body granting the use of the C.A. logo shall be responsible for ensuring that the proper C.A. logo, with applicable trademarks as shown below, is used on printed materials and memorabilia.
No other individual or entity may use the name “COCAINE ANONYMOUS”, the block letters “C.A.,” the official COCAINE ANONYMOUS LOGO (hereinafter “logo”), future variations of the logo, the book title “HOPE, FAITH & COURAGE: STORIES
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FROM THE FELLOWSHIP OF COCAINE ANONYMOUS,” and/or the motto “WE’RE HERE AND WE’RE FREE” without the written permission of the Cocaine Anonymous World Service Board of Trustees. Cocaine Anonymous groups, meetings and service committees should only use, display, distribute or sell the following literature and materials: the WSC-Approved Literature set forth in the Appendix, the books “ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS,” “TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS,” and “The A.A. Service Manual, combined with the 12 Concepts For World Service,” and Cocaine Anonymous World Service, Region, Area, District and group/meeting approved flyers, meeting directories and other materials displaying the C.A. logo as described above.
The WSBT feels that the manual is clear on who can use the service marks and for what purposes. Anything outside of that is a violation. Our position in the future will remain as stated above, and in our attempt to protect our Traditions, we will be working with the World Service Internet Technologies Committee to contact those in violation, encourage them to willingly remove the C.A. logo, the Cocaine Anonymous name, C.A. motto, and any service marks on the page. If no satisfactory outcome is reached, The WSBT will then set forth correspondence that will involve a “cease and desist” letter. In all cases, we have faith that with the proper understanding of the Traditions and the World Service manual, there will be a positive outcome.
We thank you for your inquiry and hope you found this article informative and clear as to our position regarding the usage and restrictions of the C.A. logo and other trademarked items of Cocaine Anonymous.
ILAS,
World Service Board of Trustee
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Trevor S.: All votes are in. Motion passes unanimously.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Motion by Willie B.: Emergency Motion: to transfer $20,000.00 from savings to operations account, with 2 day discussion 1 day voting. Second by Joy H. Discussion>
>Willie B.: Current financials:
Backup
Savings 108,000.00
Operations 26,376.09
Check register 19,000.00
Bills 36,000.00
Conference bills still due
Payroll 4000.00
Monday, September 28, 2009
Trevor S.: All votes are in. Motion has passed unanimously.
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Monday, September 28, 2009
Motion by Nicholas L.: To approve response to Jennifer S. (WI). Second by Richard.
Correspondence:
Subject: Flyer w/CA Logo/ Fundraiser:
We have a flyer that was just handed out at our area meeting. The Flyer reads:
“BREWERS-LABOR DAY-TAILGATE&GAME; Let’s All GO! GAME ON!; Bring the Kids and Newcomers!; vs Cardinals, Monday Sept 7;(might be a critical game and that’s Labor Day, you have the day off); Tailgate starts at 11:00AM; Game starts at 1:05PM;Package Includes: Ticket(Terrace Reserved Sec 409), Burgers and other assorted tailgate food in the lot;(once parked, call ot ext 4550-5633 or 405-6156 You’re on your own for parking,$8 or Miller Park bus $2);$20 per ticket package,Advance Package Sales-Only 60 available, collected upfront; Hosted by Wis World Convention Committee of 2010; Call or see Quin 550-5633 or Sharon 405-6156 to reserve your spot!”
At our Area everyone was so focused on the 6th Tradition That I feel they overlooked the 5th Tradition-Each group has but one primary purpose, to carry its message to the addict who still suffers. How is this event doing that? There is no mention of a meeting or any fellowshipping. Should the CA logo be on it? You can look at the Flyer at our Web site www.cawisconsin.org. The Flyer on the Web has a disclaimer in regards to tradition six, but the flyer being passed to our groups doesn’t. If you need me to send you a copy of the one being passed to groups let me know. Thank you for your time and I look forward to some clarification in this matter. Sincerely Jennifer S.-Alt. Delegate WI Area
The WSBT thanks you for bringing this matter to our attention showing great care and concern for the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous.
You raise many points in the referral and we will address them in order:
- As regards tradition 6
We see “Brewers Labor Day event “at the top of the flyer and this may reflect affiliation either by implication or perception. This could be problematic but this flyer has the “6th tradition disclaimer” at the bottom of the page. So clearly this is not affiliation but some members gathering together and attending a local baseball game. Below is an approved disclaimer which can be used on flyers / tickets and websites:
“In the spirit of Tradition Six, C.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution.”
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2. As regards tradition 5
There are many ways to carry the message to the addict; both through fundraising & fellowshipping. Meetings, being of service, dances and attending local events are all ways of making the newcomer welcome and help them feel apart of the fellowship.
Outside events can show the newcomer that we can enjoy sobriety and live life as the rest of society with out addiction; we are now happy, joyous and free.
Outside events are not designated meetings but special events where members get to meet each other, fellowship and enjoy their recovery. Frequently members encourage newcomers to attend so that they can truly experience a new way of life. Events are normally “approved” at the District or Area and the C.A. logo and appropriate “6th tradition disclaimers” are normally printed on the flyer, tickets and website.
We thank you for bringing these issues forward. If you or any other member of the Area desires further information or have any questions related to these matters, please feel free to contact us or have them contact us directly.
In love and service,
The World Service Board of Trustees
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
>Robert L.: I would like to call the vote.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
>Trevor S.: The motion to approve the Jennifer response has passed unanimously.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Motion by Nicholas L.: motion to approve response to Jeff B., regarding 6th tradition. Second by Richard S.
Correspondence:
From: Jeff B.
To: WSBT
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 5:39:10 PM
To the trusties of CA.
I would like to start this letter by expressing my deep appreciation for your dedication and service to the fellowship of CA. Without hard working people such as yourselves our fellowship certainly could not have grown into the place of refuge for the addict that it is today.
I write this letter to you hoping that it does not come across as criticism or with any lack of respect. I do realize that your job is consuming and strenuous and I certainly do not want to make it any harder but I also want to make it clear that some of the things that I have become aware of in the recent past have brought me to a point of concern.
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In our area misrepresentation of the traditions has been somewhat disturbing especially when it comes to the sixth tradition. Not only in our area but an answer that came back from the Midwest assembly was filled with the same sort of representational guidance. I will explain the circumstances, one of our meetings decided they were going to use tapes of speakers within the format of their meeting in order to better come to an understanding of the Big Book and the program of recovery. At this particular time the group decided that they were going to use the Joe and Charlie tapes that explain the Big Book. They made their flyers and brought them to area for approval because the CA logo was on it. Someone raised the idea that by putting the names of Joe and Charlie on the flyer that they were breaking the sixth tradition. Now I understand the sixth tradition and the meaning behind it and I knew they were wrong in their thinking but the idea that the delegates research this and even take it to the Midwest assembly was presented to them. I believed this was an even better approach considering the fact that the delegates should be versed in the traditions and what better way for them to learn than to do the research? I was extremely disappointed to hear the guidance they returned from the assembly with. Part of which was that the Joe and Charlie names should be removed from the flyer before it should be approved and since it was already approved the flyers approval should be revoked. With the guidance brought back by the delegates the area decided to revoke the approval of the flyers.
Now, I don’t know about all of you as trustees but I certainly seen this as wrong in many senses of the word. An entire group of delegates got the meaning of the sixth tradition wrong and because of this Area found itself wrapped in controversy. Several members and even groups considered leaving the fellowship, fortunately cooler heads prevailed and no such action was taken, at least not to my knowledge.
Other instances of this have once again occurred within the last month. The 2010 convention was putting on a fund raiser mentioning the Brewers. Again the sixth tradition was cited as a reason for the flyer not to be approved.
There is more but these are certainly the most recent of these events.
Now I do not have a problem with the Area dealing with its own problems and that the elders find a way to educate their peers.
What I do have a problem with is that a whole regional assembly was incorrect and that the trustee of the region backed up their thinking. Even this I can learn to live with because of the spirit of rotation, what I am really most concerned about and the reason why I am writing this letter is that in the February 15-17, 2008 final approved minutes of the CA World Trusties Regular Quarterly Meeting Minutes, the sixth tradition was once again used inappropriately to actually pass a motion by the trusties of CA. The motion stated: I would like to make a motion that we have a disclaimer for all flyers, newsletters and directories stating: In the spirit of tradition six we are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution.
It is no wonder that the delegates and the Areas screw this up when the trustees can’t even seem to get this right. So in the spirit of the 5th concept and the minority opinion, I would like to ask the board of trusties to revisit this motion and God willing overturn it. Maybe I am not aware of the “missing link” that the Trustees jump from the stated and historic position of the 6th tradition to finding , for example, a named space or event being in violation when, if fact, the tradition is silent to this. How did you conclude this? How did you jump?
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I am going to take the liberty to try and explain this on my own and then back it up with the literature.
First I would like to say that I looked up the words endorse, finance and lend; I copied these definitions in this e-mail for you all to check out for yourself.
To endorse something is to approve openly, to express, support or approve of something publicly.
To finance something is backing something up with money.
To lend is to give expecting something in return, to borrow expecting to be repaid or to give assistance or support to as a matter of forceful argument.
None of these things apply in the in the case of the meeting directories listing what church they are meeting in.
Bill created the sixth tradition because he, as well as several others, were beginning to see how they could receive profit or notoriety off of using the AA name publicly. This is well told in the section of AA Comes of Age called ‘Why we are anonymous,” starting on page 286. I did not include these pages because they were so many but if you would like I would happily send them.
What I did include in this e-mail is pages 107,108 and 109. Here Bill explains why he created the sixth tradition without the stories.
I also included pages eighty-three and eighty-four of the book “The Language of the Heart” where Bill W explains the sixth tradition.
You will see that he was not concerned about a flyer that was only going out to our fellowship, you will hopefully understand from this CA is not endorsing the Lutheran religion by saying that they meet in that specific church. No one is getting on Television or the radio and announcing that we use the basement of the Lutheran church therefore Lutheran is our religion of choice.
CA is not making a huge donation to the church so they can continue to have mass or run their schools.
No one went up to the Lutheran church and said, tell everyone CA is coming to your church and it will bring in more people, in return you can pray for us harder.
Bill created this tradition for almost the same reasons as personal anonymity, it is to try and keep our egos in check and to try and keep the fellowship out of the worldly conflicts of things like religion, politics and especially money and property.
I am not asking that you believe what I am saying, I am asking that you please be informed. I am asking that you might want to read what I have included in this e-mail so you can go out and stop this controversy and make the right decisions based on the right reasons.
If when you are done reading what Bill wrote and you come to any conclusion other than mine, that Bill certainly was not intending to try to micro manage and the spirit of the tradition certainly was not intended as an argument to remove a descriptive title, being a proper name or not. I welcome a reply stating why and hopefully backing this statement up with some kind of written history and not the excuse that this type of thing happens all
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the time, it doesn’t need to be written. What am I missing? Where in the history has the sixth tradition taken on new meanings?
It seems to me, and God knows sometimes I am wrong, that this type of policy change is a step in the wrong direction and we all need have more belief in the Power of God and the group conscious rather than fear of what may come.
In love and service.
Jeff B.
The sixth tradition: A C.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the C.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property or prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Endorse: to approve openly <endorse an idea> ; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely <endorse a mayoral candidate> b: to recommend (as a product or service) usually for financial compensation <shoes endorsed by a pro basketball player> Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 11th Edition
Finance: the system that includes the circulation of money, the granting of credit, the making of investments, and the provision of banking facilities. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 11th Edition
Lend: (1) to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned <lend me your pen> (2): to put at another’s temporary disposal <lent us their services> b: to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest
2 a: to give the assistance or support of : <a dispassionate and scholarly manner which lends great force to his criticisms. Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 11th Edition
Pg 107, 108 & 109 of AA Comes of Age.
This is where Bill Wilson talks about why the 6th tradition was created.
A logical outgrowth of Tradition Five, Tradition Six reads: “An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.”
In the old days our Foundation (now the General Service Board) was originally chartered to do everything but lobby for Prohibition. We were chartered for education; we were chartered for research; we could do almost anything. And we used to think we wanted a lot of money to do a lot of things. Out in the groups the same ideas often prevailed.
At that time hospitals did not want us, so we thought we would build and operate our own. People needed to be told what alcoholism was, so we thought we would educate the public, perhaps rewrite school and medical textbooks. We thought we would revise the laws of the land and have it declared that alcoholics are sick people. We would carry A.A. into the dark regions of dope addiction and criminality. We would form groups for depressive and paranoid folks, and the deeper the neurosis the better we would like it. If alcoholism could be licked, so could any problem! A.A.’s uncompromising honesty might soon clean up politics. In the factories it could cause laborers and capitalists to love each other. Having learned to live so happily, we would show everybody else how. We
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thought our society of Alcoholics Anonymous might prove to be the spearhead of a new spiritual advance. Our principles might transform the world!
Yes, we did dream those dreams. How natural that was, since most alcoholics are bankrupt idealists. Nearly every one of us had wished to do great good, perform great deeds that embodied great ideals. We were perfectionists who, failing to attain perfection, had gone to the other extreme and settled for the bottle and the blackout. Providence through A.A. had brought us within reach of our highest expectations. So why shouldn’t we share our way of life with everyone?
Well, we tried A.A. hospitals. And they all bogged down because you cannot put an A.A. group into business; too many busybody cooks always spoil the broth. A.A. groups had their fling at education and when they began publicly to whoop up the merits of this or that brand of education, people became confused. Did A.A. fix alcoholics, or was it an educational project? Was A.A. spiritual or was it medical? Was it a reform movement? In consternation, we saw ourselves getting married to all kinds of enterprises, some good and some not so good.
When we saw alcoholics committed willy-nilly to prisons and asylums, we began to say, “There ought to be a law.” In full public view, some A.A.’s commenced to thump tables in legislative committee rooms and to agitate for legal reform. That made good newspaper copy but little else. We saw that we would soon be mired in politics. We found it imperative even inside A.A. to remove the A.A. name from clubs and Twelfth Step Houses. These strenuous adventures implanted the deep-rooted conviction that in no circumstances could we endorse any related enterprise, no matter how good. We of Alcoholics Anonymous could not be all things to all men, and we should not try to be. The moment we lent the A.A. name to any outside enterprise, we got into trouble, sometimes very serious trouble.
At one time we nearly got embroiled in the “wet-dry” controversy. A liquor trade association wanted to hire an A.A. member as an educator. Its members wanted to teach that too much grog is bad for everybody and that alcoholics cannot drink at all. So far, so good. But it further appeared that in all their publicity, they wished to stress the fact that their educator, Mr. X, was a member of Alcoholics Anony-ous. That was something else again. The public would at once think that Alcoholics Anonymous had gone into the field of education, via the liquor industry. If that happened, the “drys” would instantly hire another A.A. member for “educational purposes.” This would land us, of course, smack in the middle of endless controversy. We simply could not take sides in this fight and do business with sick alcoholics too.
The would-be educator showed up at the New York office, asking for advice. Of course we told him that we thought factual education to be a very good thing and that as a public relations expert and as a citizen he certainly had a perfect right to take the job. But did he think that he should advertise his A.A. membership at the same time?
Our member got the point. He said, “Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life. It comes first. I certainly won’t be the guy to land A.A. in big-time trouble, and this might really do it.” Our friend had summed up the whole endorsement problem. We saw as never before that we could not lend the A.A. name to any cause other than our own.
Long afterward we saw something else. We saw that the more A.A. minded its own business the greater its general influence would become. Medicine and religion and psychiatry began to borrow some of our ideas and experience. So did research,
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rehabilitation, and education. All sorts of therapeutic groups began to spring up. They dealt with gambling, divorce, delinquency, dope addiction, mental illness, and the like. They, too, borrowed from A.A., but they made their own adaptations. They worked their own fields, and we did not have to endorse them or tell them how to live.
Our influence has not been confined just to these fields. It is beginning now to be general. It crops out in political and business life. People who know alcoholics and their families are deeply affected. The very developments that we once wanted to force have begun to take place of themselves.
Today we understand and accept this paradox: The more A.A. sticks to its primary purpose, the greater will be its helpful influence everywhere.
Pages 83 and 84 of; “The Language of the Heart.” Tradition Six
May 1948
The sixth of our Twelve Points of AA Tradition is deemed so important that it states at length the relation of the AA movement to money and property.
This Tradition declares in substance that the accumulation of money, property, and the unwanted personal authority so often generated by material wealth comprise a cluster of serious hazards against which an AA group must ever be on guard.
Tradition Six also enjoins the group never to go into business nor ever to lend the AA name or money credit to any “outside” enterprise, no matter how good. Strongly expressed is the opinion that even clubs should not bear the AA name; that they ought to be separately incorporated and managed by those individual AAs who need or want clubs enough to financially support them.
We would thus divide the spiritual from the material, confine the AA movement to its sole aim, and ensure (however wealthy as individuals we may become) that AA itself shall always remain poor. We dare not risk the distractions of corporate wealth. Years of experience have proven these principles beyond doubt. They have become certainties, absolute verities for us.
Thank God, we AAs have never yet been caught in the kind of religious or political disputes which embroil the world of today. But we ought to face the fact that we have often quarreled violently about money, property, and the administration thereof. Money, in quantity, has always been a baleful influence in group life. Let a well-meaning donor present an AA group with a sizable sum and we break loose. Nor does trouble abate until that group, as such, somehow disposes of its bankroll. This experience is practically universal. “But,” say our friends, “isn’t this a confession of weakness? Other organizations do a lot of good with money. Why not AA?”
Of course, we of AA would be the first to say that many a fine enterprise does a lot of good with a lot of money. To these efforts, money is usually primary; it is their lifeblood. But money is not the lifeblood of AA. With us, it is very secondary. Even in small quantities, it is scarcely more than a necessary nuisance, something we wish we could do without entirely. Why is that so?
We explain this easily enough; we don’t need money. The core of our AA procedure is one alcoholic talking to another, whether that be sitting on a curbstone, in a home, or at a meeting. It’s the message, not the place; it’s the talk, not the alms. That does our work. Just places to meet and talk, that’s about all AA needs. Beyond these, a few small offices,
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a few secretaries at their desks, a few dollars apiece a year, easily met by voluntary contributions. Trivial indeed, our expenses!
Nowadays, the AA group answers its well-wishers saying: “Our expenses are trifling. As good earners, we can easily pay them. As we neither need nor want money, why risk its hazards? We’d rather stay poor. Thanks just the same!”
From: Jeff B.
To: WSBT
Sent: Saturday, July 25, 2009 10:52:19 AM
Subject: Follow up letter, Please forward this to the rest of the trustees
To the trustees of C.A.:
This is a follow up letter to the trustees regarding the February 15-17, 2008 final approved minutes of the CA World Trusties Regular Quarterly Meeting Minutes, where the trustees passed a motion that stated: I would like to make a motion that we have a disclaimer for all flyers, newsletters and directories stating: In the spirit of tradition six we are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. Where does affiliation come into the sixth tradition?
After I sent my e-mail yesterday I realized that the word affiliation was actually what is in question here. I also realized that I may have not made it clear why this is so important to me so in an attempt to appeal to you as one addict to another I also included part of my story.
When I was new to the program twenty years ago the Wisconsin Area was also quite new. Finding anyone with any kind of sobriety was a bit of a chore and to tell you the truth anyone with more time than me already looked good. Back then the people with more than a year were very few. I actually could count them on my fingers. So I ended up picking someone with about nine months more than me. I was fortunate to find him because he had an A.A. sponsor that was taking him through the steps by the books and he was passing it on to me almost as fast as he was working the steps himself.
This guy saved my life by leading me down the exact path that he was on in probably the exact way that he was being led. I will be grateful to God for placing him in my life for as long as I will live. One of the things that happened to us as early C.A. members in those days was that we were railroaded into service very early on. There was no one else to do it; there was no one else that could fill those positions except the guy with a week or a month clean. Those were some days of extreme upheaval, having just beginning to understand the steps we were all just barely capable of understanding the traditions.
My point being; my sponsor, like many of us used to just read the words on the paper not truly understanding what they meant or the history behind them. The greatest flaw my sponsor at the time had was to pick out single words and try to apply those words into the things he wanted to accomplish or direct me to do. He would not read a whole paragraph to understand the real meaning behind the word or two words strung together he would just assume he would understand their meaning and implication by what he believed a definition of a word meant. At times I came to know these words as being defined differently and the things he used tell me just did not seem right, so I used to open the books and scan every page just to find a word. This was a great benefit to me because after time I ended up reading almost all of the literature associated with A.A. What I
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would almost always find was that: when I would put these words into their proper context they meant something totally different then what my sponsor portrayed them to be. These were valuable lessons that I needed to learn in my quest for sobriety and service. One of the things that I now always pass onto the people I sponsor is to ask, can you show me where that comes from?
So where does the word affiliation come into tradition six?
In the long form of tradition six they state; While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. An A.A. group can bind itself to no one.
Hopefully by reading this you will see the context of this paragraph has nothing to do with naming a church in the meeting directories. Bill was speaking of linking the name of A.A. when working with other outside enterprises.
I believe that reading between the lines can lead to dangerous and destructive consequences.
For further definition of this I looked up the word affiliation in the books I use as reference and the only place I can find affiliation is in “The Language of the Heart” where they reference pages 43 through 46.
I took the liberty to include these pages in this e-mail to follow. Please read them and I again welcome any response that can find another meaning within these pages that can substantiate your actions.
In Love and Service
Jeff Bittner
In the Language of the Heart Bill writes:
Page 43
Dangers in Linking AA to Other Projects
March 1947
Our AA experience has been raising the following set of important but as yet unresolved questions. First, should AA as a whole enter the outside fields of hospitalization, research, and noncontroversial alcohol education? Second, is an AA member, acting strictly as an individual, justified in bringing his special experience and knowledge into such enterprises? And third, if an AA member does take up these phases of the total alcohol problem, under what conditions should he work?
With respect to these questions, almost any opinion can be heard among our groups. Generally speaking, there are three schools of thought: the “do everything” school, the “do something” school, and the “do nothing” school.
We have AAs so fearful we may become entangled, or somehow exploited, that they would keep us a strictly closed corporation. They would exert the strongest possible pressure to prevent all AAs, whether as individuals or groups, from doing anything at all about the total alcohol problem, except of course their straight AA work. They see the specter of the Washingtonian movement among alcoholics of a hundred years ago, which fell into disunity partly because its members publicly took up cudgels for abolition, prohibition, and what-not. These AAs believe that we must preserve our isolation at any cost; that we must keep absolutely to ourselves if we would avoid like perils.
Then we have the AA who would have us “do everything” for the total alcohol problem — any time, any place, and any way! In his enthusiasm, he not only thinks his beloved AA a cure-all for drunks, but he also thinks we have the answer for everything and
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everybody touching alcohol. He strongly feels that AA ought to place its name and financial credit squarely behind any first-rate research, hospital, or educational project. Seeing that AA now makes the headlines, he argues that we should freely loan out our huge goodwill. Says he: “Why shouldn’t we AAs stand right up in public and be counted? Millions could be raised easily for good works in alcohol.” The judgment of this enthusiast is sometimes beclouded by the fact that he wants to make a career. But with most who enthuse so carelessly, I’m sure it’s more often a case of sheer exuberance plus, in many instances, a deep sense of social responsibility.
So we have with us the enthusiasts and the ultracautious, the “do everythings” and the “do nothings.” But the average AA is not so worried about these phenomena as he used to be. He knows that out of the heat and smoke there will soon come light. Presently there will issue an enlightened policy, palatable to everyone. Tested by time, that policy, if sound, will become AA Tradition.
Sometimes I’ve feared that AA would never bring forth a workable policy. Nor was my fear abated as my own views swung with complete inconsistency from one extreme to the other. But I should have had more faith. We are commencing to have enough of the strong light of experience to see more surely; to be able to say with more certainty what we can, and what we surely cannot, do about causes such as education, research, and the like.
For example, we can say quite emphatically that neither AA as a whole nor any AA group ought to enter any other activity than straight AA. As groups, we cannot endorse, finance, or form an alliance with any other cause, however good; we cannot link the AA name to other enterprises in the alcohol field to the extent that the public gets the impression we have abandoned our sole aim. We must discourage our members and our friends in these fields from stressing the AA name in their publicity or appeals for funds. To act otherwise will certainly imperil our unity, and to maintain our unity is surely our greatest obligation — to our brother alcoholics and the public at large. Experience, we think, has already made these principles self-evident.
Though we now come to more debatable ground, we must earnestly ask ourselves whether any of us, as individuals, ought to carry our special experience into other phases of the alcohol problem. Do we not owe this much to society, and can it be done without involving AA as a whole?
To my mind, the “do nothing” policy has become unthinkable, partly because I’m sure that our members can work in other noncontroversial alcohol activities without jeopardizing AA if they observe a few simple precautions, and partly because I have developed a deep conviction that to do less would be to deprive the whole of society of the immensely valuable contributions we could almost certainly make. Though we are AAs, and AA must come first, we are also citizens of the world. Besides, we are, like our good friends the physicians, honor-bound to share what we know with all.
Therefore, it seems to me that some of us must heed the call from other fields. And those who do, need only remember first and last they are AAs; that in their new activities they are individuals only. This means that they will respect the principle of anonymity in the press; that if they do appear before the general public they will not describe themselves as AAs; that they will refrain from emphasizing their AA status in appeals for money or publicity.
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These simple principles of conduct, if conscientiously applied, could soon dispel all fears, reasonable and unreasonable, which many AAs now entertain. On such a basis AA as a whole could remain uncommitted yet friendly to any noncontroversial cause seeking to write a brighter page in the dark annals of alcoholism.
A concluding word. Several years ago, I believed that we might, in a limited and cautious way, lend our name to selected outside ventures. One of these was a very promising educational project. I was asked by faculty members of Yale University sponsoring the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism whether they might hire an AA. And could that AA, for this special purpose, break anonymity? My answer was that of course an AA could be engaged; that such an engagement could not, by any imagination, be a professionalization of AA, as the work to be done would be in another field entirely; that if an AA could make a better educator, then why not? Though there has never been much question that this was sound enough policy, the same could not be said for my reply on the matter of dropping anonymity, to which, in this instance, I gave approval.
That course has since proved mistaken. A good AA friend of mine took this particular post and then dropped anonymity. The first effect was good. It brought AA a considerable amount of publicity and many members. On the educational side the public was made conscious as never before that alcoholism is a sickness and that something could be done about it. So far, very good.
But of late, some confusion has arisen. Because of the large amount of publicity linking the AA name and that of the educational project, the public tends to think AA as a whole has gone in for alcohol education. And when the AA name became associated in the public mind with a fund-raising campaign, there was still more confusion. Some givers were under the impression they were contributing to AA, only to be told by friends that AA did not solicit money. Hence a long-term liability of dropping anonymity is beginning to offset its short-term advantages. As experience makes this more clear, not only to me but to my friends of the university and of the educational committee, they agree perfectly and are now endeavoring to correct the situation.
Naturally, and most earnestly, I hope that none of those involved or the work of the committee will suffer to any degree from our mistake. Such, after all, is the purpose of the trial and error by which we all learn and grow.
Briefly summarizing, I’m rather sure our policy with respect to “outside” projects will turn out to be this: AA does not sponsor projects in other fields. But if these projects are constructive and noncontroversial in character, AA members are free to engage in them without criticism if they act as individuals only, and are careful of the AA name. Perhaps that’s it. Shall we try it?
Response:
Dear Jeff,
The WSBT thanks you for your several communications regarding the use, interpretation and full meaning and application of Tradition 6. Your care and concern is appreciated and is evidenced by the research you have undertaken.
Where to begin: the words “perception and interpretation” come to the fore and obviously are wide open to varied comprehension by the membership of which the Delegates and Trustees are a part.
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From Webster’s Online Dictionary
– Perception
Main Entry: per·cep·tion
Pronunciation: \pəәr-sep-shəәn\
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin perception-, perceptio act of perceiving, from percipere
Date: 14th century
1 a : a result of perceiving : observation 4 a : quick, acute, and intuitive cognition:
appreciation b : a capacity for comprehension
From Webster’s online Dictionary
– Interpretation
Main Entry: in·ter·pre·ta·tion Pronunciation: \in-təәr-prəә-tā-shəәn,
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : the act or the result of interpreting : explanation
As to your disappointment of the combined Delegate’s guidance, this might fall under the category of misconception. The informed Assembly and the Regional Trustee concurred with the Delegate’s stance. Affiliation may not always be immediately apparent and may be implied, suggested or inferred. If there is the slightest chance of this occurring, surely prudence should prevail?
From Webster’s online Dictionary
– Imply
Main Entry: im·ply
Pronunciation: \im-plī\
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): im·plied; im·ply·ing
Etymology: Middle English emplien, from Anglo-French emplier to entangle — more at employ
Date: 14th century
2 : to involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than
by direct statement <rights imply obligations>3 : to contain potentially 4 : to express indirectly <his silence implied consent>
synonyms see suggest usage see infer
As to the “mistaken” direction specific to the flyer with “Joe & Charlie” named on it, Tradition 6 is directly affected when questioned by your own quote.
“Tradition 6 also enjoins the group never to go into business nor ever to lend the AA name or money credit to any “outside” enterprise, no matter how good. Strongly expressed is the opinion that even clubs should not bear the AA name; that they ought to be separately incorporated and managed by those individual AA’s who need or want clubs enough to financially support them”.
Joe and Charlie are in fact “outside” and not approved, giving credence to the very writing you have brought forward.
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Further in the long version of Tradition 6 –
“While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affiliation or endorsement, actual or implied. An A.A. group can bind itself to no one.”
All these statements are open to interpretation and the Board of Trustees are an advisory board who are charged at the present time to run the business of Cocaine Anonymous as requested by the Fellowship via The Conference. The C.A. World Conference recently (September 2009) approved by group conscience a Tradition 6 disclaimer:
MOTION: On page 13 of the WSM, to add new paragraph following item C to read as: “To avoid implied affiliation, when referencing the name Cocaine Anonymous, the block letter C.A., the official Cocaine Anonymous logo (hereinafter logo), future variations of the logo, and the motto “We’re Here and We’re Free”, on publications such as flyers, newsletters, directories, the following disclaimer should be used: “In the spirit of Tradition Six, C.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution.”
The WSBT hopes your concerns have been answered. Should you have any other questions concerning this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us again. In love and service,
The World Service Board of Trustees
Monday, October 5, 2009
>Trevor S.: Motion has passed unanimously
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Motion by Richard S.: To approve the “After Conference Report” prepared by Trevor S. Second by Robert L.
C.A. WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE 2009 WORLD SERVICE BOARD of TRUSTEE’S COMMITTEE AFTER-CONFERENCE REPORT
MAJOR ITEMS APPROVED
NONE
The WSBT would like to thank the fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous for allowing us to serve you. The past year has seen us grow in ways we didn’t see coming. Staffing at the office, HFCII, “How It Works”, and finances has kept us busy, tackling each challenge as it occurred.
We would like to inform the fellowship that Patty F. is no longer employed by CAWSO. Patty dedicated many years to C.A. and she has greatly contributed to much of the progress over the last decade. We wish Patty all success in her future endeavors.
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We are pleased to announce that Yvette L. has been ratified as the new Director of Operations. Yvette has been with us for over a year, and has done a great job. We are excited to see her move into a new role, and are looking forward to working with her in the future.
As we are sure most of you are aware, we have had some challenges regarding “Hope, Faith, and Courage II”, or more specifically with our adapted version of “How It Works”, and its inclusion in our storybook. We are including a complete draft of the WSBT’s process regarding the “How It Works” issue, as well as a brief summary of the meeting between AA and C.A. representatives.
We are sad to see our friend and outgoing chair, Hayward H., leave us, as he has served his term as World Service Trustee. We are grateful to Hayward for all the time and sacrifice he has given to the fellowship. We all learned a lot from him, and he will be missed. The TEC Committee did not elect a replacement for Hayward’s position, but we are moving forward with Richard Shafer, Trustee at Large, filling the WST duties. Richard is already involved with the WSOB, attending meetings both in person, and via conference call.
We as a board are still concerned over the lack of seventh tradition donations. We are encouraging everyone in the fellowship to do a little more, where possible. No contribution is too small, and all money donated goes towards carrying the C.A. message around the world.
As a fellowship, we continue to grow around the world. C.A. has started in Iran, Russia, Portugal, Malta, and many other places. Keep spreading the message, “We’re here, and we’re Free.”
See you all in Milwaukee, and “May God bless you and keep you, until then.”
Thank you for allowing us to serve you and if you have any questions or comments, please contact us at WSBT@ca.org
COMMITTEE OFFICERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION WSBT Chair- Trevor S. 403-477-6676 pnrtrustee@yahoo.ca
WSBT Vice-chair- Nicholas L. 001 44 7968796346 nicholas@nicholaslynn.com WSBT Secretary- Kim S. 847-437-9757 miknawrehs@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Discussion>
>Trevor S.: I am going to try something new for motions. If no one has discussion after 24 hours, we will move to the vote.
>Kim S.: Thanks Trevor…
I appreciate your desire to move things along, but there are guidelines.. .
I would suggest that in the future, who ever is making the motion should include a timeline regarding discussion and voting to move things along…or someone can always call for the vote.
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>Trevor S. Just trying to simplify things. I am cool with waiting. Discussion will be open until Friday 4:00 PST.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
>Kim S.: I call the vote. Second by Joy H.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
>Trevor S.: The vote has been called, if there are no objections, prepare yourself to vote.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
>Trevor S.: The motion to approve the post conference report has passed.
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