New Business.
Presentation from our TEC Chair Richard B.
We convenient a week ago today and began the interview process.
After 15 interviews and debate we have our trustee’s SWRT – Jesse Ga
TAL – Edwina S.
We are excited about these elections. Congratulations!
ANRT – World Service Manual states we could vote for one of the interview’s or vote for no one.
Therefore, The ANRT will remain open.
Thank you to TEC for coming in early and all your hard work.
Duane M; thank you all.
Well first of all you guys have been amazing.
So I am going to ask you to trust me We are looking for some constancy and extend the senior
Secretary Amanda T. term by one year. Seeing no objections
Thank you for you trust and support,
Duane M; Have I missed anything?
Any other new business.
Christie L; 5th concept
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I’d like to tell you about what I experienced at my first Conference in 2019 and how I got there.
In February of 2019 I went to the North American PI Summit in Arizona. I had no idea what it was, what to expect or who I would meet there. I didn’t know what Conference was. I had never heard of an SR14 pack was but we quickly got to work on projects that needed to go into it. We worked on the All mind-altering swirl poster, we were all calling out the names of drugs were may or may not have used. To this day when I see the word “shrooms” on that poster I know I was the one that said it, and no I’ve never done them. At some point during the summer, we got into a passionate debate about the wording of a letter, I remember a beautiful woman saying we should stop and say the serenity prayer. I had never seen that happen in an Area or Conference committee meeting. We stopped and said the prayer, opened our eyes and were focused on the spiritual nature of the work we were doing.
While I was there, I met and became friends with people from around the world. Four of those people are here. I also met my first Trustee, Chris R. was the gentleman that went on to teach me many things, including you should always eat dessert first and not risk missing the best part of a meal. I saw the meaning of being a part of a worldwide fellowship. I heard one of those people say something that explained exactly how I was feeling but didn’t understand why.
He said that being in CA felt like home but that getting involved in PI was where he never knew he was always supposed to be. They talked about their monthly call and I remember thinking I needed to join so I could, especially because these were some incredible people that I wanted to stay close to. On that call I got hoodwinked into becoming the secretary. When I asked what
the responsibilities were they said, taking minutes and doing some reports. It sounded easy, but “some reports” turned out to be the understatement of the century.
Back in those days we needed to print our reports at Conference, for me that meant print, re-type, reprint and repeat. Between the printer refusing to print, sleep deprivation, and massive amounts of caffeine I earned the nickname “The Conference Cryer” and don’t worry Jesse I’ve kept up my tradition.
I was introduced to a cool old hippie named Ray. He showed me the minutes from the first business mee ng of Cocaine Anonymous. When I looked at the names, I saw Ray G and I realized that was the man standing next to me. He told me a bunch of stories including that the original chips were going to say, “Hope, Faith and Willingness” but the word “Willingness” didn’t fit but it didn’t fit so they went with “Courage”.
I got to stand with my committee and present the “You Tube” channel. I heard a delegate say he remembered the discussion surrounding creating a CA website, what would have happened had that motion not failed.
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I was standing next to Chris when that motion passed. Looking back at that me I didn’t realize we were making Conference history, but he did.
There were so many other experiences and memories but for the sake of me I will keep it brief.
Being at that Conference was a spiritual experience for me.
On Friday a courageous young lady, a new delegate, asked the question. And I quote…. “I am new here and I am red. I want to have faith – is there something you can tell me to have faith in you? Part of the answer she received was, and I quote “we make mistakes and want to take ownership – BUT we cannot get into why we did what we did”.
Had the sentence “we make mistakes and want to take ownership” ended with “I TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR MY ACTIONS AND I AM SORRY” instead of the word BUT. Perhaps that would have actually answered her question “Is there something you can tell me to have faith in you”
To our new Delegates, alternate delegates and a endees, I am truly sorry for the experiences you have had here.
We have seen so much at this Conference that we have never seen before. Especially, we saw two young ladies have the courage to pour out their hearts and ask for their trust to be restored. We have seen so many posi ve examples of Courage.
And now I ask that we have the willingness to take the steps to heal our fellowship and earn our trust back.
Duane M; Thank you Christie.
Before we announcement about conference next year. We have had a robust conference this year I thank you for your service and par cipa on. We all want we believe is best for the fellowship. Love is an ac on word. I wanted to say Ladies a gentleman lets get ready to rumble.
But difference be er combats and competitors is we will leave here and have a cup of coffee.
We just want what is best for the fellowship.
Dates next year..
1st September to 5th September
After conference reports due in 10mins …….. Some areas will have mee ng soon after conference and we want to keep having report out as soon as possible to honour the areas commitments. Please do not leave un l your a er-conference report is done. Thank you for now.
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Leslie K Motion 80: Motion to close
Seconded
Motion Passes with implied consent.
Out-going trustees to lead us out with Serenity Prayer
Richard B – Leads us in the Serenity Prayer
Duane M drops gavel at 11.17am Conference has ended for another year.
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