CoDA Service Conference Items Page 1
FYI 11000 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Name
Subject
Item: Motion numbers and other items so indicated
by blue color hyperlink to the actual paper document presented at
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11001 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Events Name Michelle
Subject New Delegate Orientation
Item: First order of business was a new Delegate
orientation. (not an official part of CSC.)
Announcement: Chair of Committees will meet tonight to eat
and then a chairs forum afterwards.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11002 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Opening of CSC
Item: Reading of the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions,
and 12 Service Concepts. Serenity
Prayer. Welcome and introductions.
Announcements. Review of conference process, 30 seconds was called.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11003 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks 39 present
2/3's (26 voting members) required to do business
ACTION 11004 7/5/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Approval of agenda
Item: Board moved to approve the agenda. Motion
seconded by Julie B.
Intent
Remarks Aye vote
Nay one
MOTION 11005 7/5/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Delegate Name Dave S., Yumi
Subject To give chairs voice seconded
Item: Motion:
To give voice to chairs of the committees.
Intent Chairs experience, strength, and hope can
add to our understanding.
Remarks Vote by raising of hangs:
ayes 34
opposed 6
no abstentions
ACTION 11006 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Break
Item:
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11007 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum Count
Item:
Intent
Remarks quorum present
MOTION 11008 7/5/2011 Vote MAJORITY Committee Delegate Name Verlynn, Lou
Subject to give voice to 2 members from CDRS seconded
Item: Motion:
To give voice to two members from CDRS.
Motion changed to: To give voice and vote to two members from
CDRS for the 2011 CSC.
(CRDS is the English language publishing arm
of CoDA in
of CoDA in
Amendment to original motion: To give voice and vote to two members from
CDRS.
Voting on amendement: ayes 22,
nays 17, 2 abstentions
As a
result of this amendment the motion was changed as noted above.
Intent
Remarks Vote on voice and vote motion
ayes:
20
nays:
15
abstentions: 5
ACTION 11009 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Board Name Judi Ann C.
Subject Board report Goals Word
Report Presentation
Item: Trustees:Judi Ann C.,
Alternate Trustees: Delia, Mercedes M., Dagmar M.
Explained many legalities that the Board
must abide by. Talked about some
differences between the Corportion and
the
Fellowship.
Most of our income is from our copyrights
and trademarks. Report mentioned many
problems with our copyrights
and trademarks, many of which have been
rectified while others are still in process.
Explained board responsibilities,
priorities, goals.
The new version of our website
(www.codaworldfellowship.org) is in beta testing at this time.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11010 7/5/2011 Vote DEFEATED Committee Facilitator Name
Subject motion to extend time of Board report
Item: Motion to extend time of Board report by
10 minutes.
Intent
Remarks Nays have it
ACTION 11011 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Quarterly Service Name Salle H.
Report
Subject Report
Item: QSR is a recap of the work of Board and
Committees through each quarter to keep
the Fellowship informed.
The QSR is available by subscribing to the
e-mail list on the website. It is also distributed by regular mail. Go to
www.codependents.org and sign-up for the
quarterly e- mailing.
Report
of the web designer, Dave F., who is working on the new version of our
website, was read by Salle H.
New design will give us more manageability
and functionality. The beta version is
at:
www.codaworldfellowship.org
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11012 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject
Item: Dismissed ahead of schedule for lunch.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11013 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum met
ACTION 11014 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Board Treasurer Name
Subject Treasurer's report
Item: Finance Committee was thanked along with
Board members and others.
Problems with the recording of our
financial history were identified.
Presentation of IRS regulations and
mention of ways we are out of compliance.
Royalty income is crucial.
Our insurance bonds are now position
oriented, so that the bonds will be valid as individual members of the board
and special workers change from
year-to-year.
The 5 bank accounts were reduced to 2 and
so unnecessary expenses are being saved.
Talked about Books for Inmates program;
Travel Policy and options; and Treasurer's responsibilities.
Talked about many matters relating to our
tax-exempt status.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11015 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Board Name Judi Ann
Subject extending time of Treasurer's report
Item: Motion:
To extend the Treasurer's Report by 12 minutes.
Intent
Remarks voice vote:
ayes
nays
too close so voting by counting
yes
30
no
7
ACTION 11016 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Board, legal Name Judi Ann
Subject Legal report
Item: report on Voting Entity Issues (VEIs):
Missouri 11-01
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 assigned to Board Note from Board Note1
Note2
So-Cal 11-01and
11-02 assigned to Board
Copyright matters will be talked about
later today in smaller meeting groups.
Identification of our attorneys.
Report mentioned importance of empowering
our non-U.S. Voting Entities.
Report identified that a person in
costly.
Karla K., one of our attorneys and a
member of CoDA, continued with the report.
Talked about necessity to operate under
terms of our Articles of Incorportation (our "birth certificate") and
our bylaws
("procedural manual.")
Talked about our Service Concepts,
inverted pyramid, and our service structure.
Talked about our legal structure.
Posed the question: How to harmonize legal and traditional
authority?
Legal counsel is a necessity.
Identified that our current bylaws are out
of compliance with AZ statutes.
Mentioned the "good business judgment
rule."
13 minutes for questions.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11017 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Delegate Name Yumi M.,Heather S.
Subject extend time seconded
Item: Motion to extend question by 10 minutes.
Intent
Remarks ayes 24
FYI 11018 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Name
Subject Break
Item: 15 minute break
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11019 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks 26
ACTION 11020 7/5/2011 Vote Committee CoRe Board Name Anita F.
Subject CoRe Report
Item: Members:
Anita F., Mary
Anita
gave much historical perspective on the origins of CoRe.
There was very little literature at the
outstart, and now CoRe utilizes an 1100 sq.foot warehouse and uses various
special workers.
The financial reports were given.
There are over 3800 people using the
webstore to buy literature. 71% of sales
are through the webstore.
Projected rate-of-growth is 15%.
Anita is stepping down after years of
service. She received a standing
ovation.
Intent
Remarks
FYI 11021 7/5/2011 Vote Committee Name
Subject Announcements
Item: CoRe Board has 2 applicants to serve.
Chairs Committee is meeting for dinner and
having an information meeting at 7:30 PM tonight in the Savoy Room.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11022 7/5/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Approval of today's minutes
Item:
Intent
Remarks ayes have it
ACTION 11023 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Opening
Item: Opened
Read the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, Service
Concepts,
30 seconds was called.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11024 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks quorum present
MOTION 11025 7/6/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Delegate Name Lou, Judi Ann
Subject To approve revised agenda
Item: To approve the revised agenda.
Amend to:
CoRe asked for 5 minutres
interview time of new CoRe Board member, prior to election.
Ayes have it.
Amend to:
IIMC asked for 15 minutes more
for their report
Ayes have it.
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11026 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Co-Nnections Name Gary
Subject Committee report Budget
Item: Members:
Gary, Jay, Claudia F., Stu S.
Members review submissions and decide on
posting to our site.
Can sign up to receive e-mailing of weekly
readings of selections compiled over the
course of our existence.
Committee works mainly through e-mail.
Members have been helping to design new
web version of our site.
Goals:
increase number of submissions and viewers; and to ncrease number of
committee members.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11027 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Hosptials and Name Yumi M.
Institutions
Subject
Item: Move that that the H&I Committee
description (see attached) is utilized in the FSM, upon the next updating of
the
FSM.
Intent The current description is outdated and does
not reflect the current purpose, goals and duties of the committee.
Remarks Ayes have it
1 abstention
ACTION 11028 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Hospitals & Name Yumi M.
Institutions
Subject
Report Budget
Item: Members:
Yumi, Annie, Lou, Barbara, Kathy, Kristin, Lesa.
Committee's operational service manual
draft has been written.
E-mail listserve has been established to
improve communcation.
As of yesterday there were 400 plus
members signed up to receive the communications via the listserve.
Requests received for books, information,
etc., are being tracked so that there is
a record to help do the work even
more effectively. Turn around time is improving steadily.
"Books for Inmates Program" has been expanded to " Books for Inmates
and Institutions Program."
Each donation made to the program is
matched by CoDA World Service dollar-for-dollar.
H&I has rewritten the CoDA meeting
format to streamline process for voluteers leading meetings.
A new flyer for the Books program is being
formulated.
Committee took some questions.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11029 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Finance Name Judi T., acting chair
Subject Explaining budget process Report Report cont.
Item: Members: Judi, Evie, Della
Committee worked with CoDA Treasurer.
Thanked
We are solvent but do not have infinite
resources.
Finance Committee must make a prudent
budget for Fellowship, and calculatethe prudent reserve for the year. It is
done by reviewing a 3-year timeframe. For 2012 it is just over $300,000.00.
Committees are asked to project their
expenses for a year's time.
Finance has to decide the balance between
budget requests and use of available funds.
Stated that CSC is vital to the Fellowship
and is a cost of doing business.
Asked if CoDA Convention is a vehicle for
outreach to new members?
Committee took some questions which
spurred some discussion about reimbursements, about us as a world
fellowship, and about how to balance the
many facets relating to CoDA existing as a Twelve-Step Fellowship which
is
side-by-side with a corporation.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11030 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Break
Item: 10 minute break
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11031 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum Count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum reached
MOTION 11032 7/6/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Translation Name Roy L.
Management
Committee
Subject Motion
Item: Move that the upcoming publication of CoDA
book in Spanish and other languages be
accomplished without the
stories.
Amend to:
add to motion: "And be named
the Abridged Co-Dependents Anonymous Book."
Move that the upcoming publication of CoDA
book in Spanish and other languages be
accomplished without the
stories, and be named the Abridged
Co-Dependents Anonymous Book
Intent
Translated CoDA Book would include the
stories. Since that time, TMC has heard
that a Texas VEI is requesting
publication of the CoDA Book without the
stories.
Remarks Ayes
have it
ACTION 11033 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Translation Name Roy L.
Management
Committee
Subject TMC report
Budget
Item:
There are many agreements in process and
will be worked until they become legal contracts.
The publication process requires much
up-front money.
This committee does not do actual
translations, and expresses thanks to Spanish outreach for their great
assistance.
Judi Ann is introduced as the new chair.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11034 7/6/2011 Vote Committee CoRe Name Terri S.
Subject getting to know new CoRe member prior to
her being elected by CSC
Item: Terri introduced herself and told us that
she has over 20 years experience in the publishing industry, having served
in many positions, such as an art
director, among other.
She is a long-term CoDA member.
She asked for our support.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11035 7/6/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Service Structure Name
Committee
Subject Motion #1
Meeting list attachment
Item: Members:
Replace the "about the Phone
List" item with the attached, which includes a column for email addresses.
Intent To have space so that members can share
their email addresses
Remarks ayes have it
MOTION 11036 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Service Structure Name
Committee
Subject Motion #2
FSM draft MSP draft
Item: Motion:
To modify the Fellowship Service Manual and the Meeting Starter Packet
so that they are two separate
documents.
Intent Presently the Fellowship Service Manual
(FSM) contains the Meeting Starter Packet (MSP). The MSP is a
duplicate of what is presently in the FSM.
It is our intent to the let the FSM reflect what is relevant to service in the
whole Fellowship and the MSP to reflect
what is relevant to the individual CoDA groups and how to get a new
meeting started. No actual information has been removed or
changed. We simply eliminated the
duplicate material
that was present in the FSM.
Remarks Ayes have it
1 abstention
MOTION 11037 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Service Structure Name
Committee
Subject Motion #3
Item: Motion:
To clarify description in the FSM concerning open, closed and restricted
meetings.
(the strikethrough words will be taken out
and the red words will be added)
SECTION 3 FSM-
“Open” and “Closed” Meetings
A CoDA meeting may be "open.” This
means that anyone can attend. “Anyone” means
codependents, non-codependents, students,
or representatives of other organizations (including
the media), etc. (It is expected, and may
be specifically asked, that all such visitors agree to
respect our need for anonymity and
confidentiality.)
A “closed” group, however, is a group
attended only by people who are codependent or
think they may be
codependent who have the desire to develop
healthy and loving relationships. Newcomers who think they may be
codependent and/or have the desire to
develop healthy and loving relationships can attend a closed meeting.
An open or closed group may be
“restricted.” For example, a meeting may be listed as “closed - women.” In this
example, only women who are codependent
(or have the desire to develop healthy and loving relationships) may
attend this meeting. Another example, a meeting may be listed as
"open-Gay/Lesbian". In this
example "Anyone"
(as described above) may attend this
meeting. It also means that this meeting
may be designated Gay/Lesbian but it
is
still open to those who are not Gay/Lesbian.
However, in respecting the spirit of Traditions
One, Three, and Five, we honor one exception. No member of our
Fellowship shall be turned away from even
a closed or restricted meeting, if there is no other meeting available to
this person.
Intent Intent: To address MO VEI 06014-Motion 06080
to clear up language regarding open, closed and restricted,
meetings.
Remarks 30 seconds called
Voice vote:
Ayes have it
Nays
Abstentions 3
Now doing a vote by count:
Ayes:
35
Nays:
2
Abstentions: 5
MOTION 11038 7/6/2011 Vote TABLED Committee Service Structure Name
Committee
Subject Motion #4
Item: Motion: to change the FSM/MSP FAQ section
concerning tax information to:
Can our group use the CoDA Tax ID Number?
No. The CoDA Tax ID Number, also known as
the Employer Identification Number (EIN) is not for use by any
other level of CoDA except the corporate
level.
Why?
The Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc. EIN is specific to the corporation of
CoDA. Having an “umbrella”
tax status would require that each group
submit information including identifying their officers. CoDA would then
be responsible for the groups’ financial
reporting and financial activity. We would have to establish a system of
controls over the finances of each CoDA
group, intergroup/community, and Voting Entity or regional service board.
We would have to ensure the use of all
income solely for CoDA purposes and require regular reports to some central
CoDA organization, which would account to
tax authorities for the activities of Co-Dependents Anonymous, Inc.
All of this conflicts with our Traditions
of anonymity, group autonomy and our concept of service. For this reason
we recommend that each meeting group,
intergroup/community, or Voting Entity organization that has need for a
Tax ID Number/EIN should apply for their
own.
How do we open a bank account and obtain a
Tax ID Number?
In order for a CoDA group, intergroup/community,
or Voting Entity organization to open a
group entity, not just under the name of
the treasurer, the bank usually requires:
1) A minimum balance.
2) A copy of the minutes of your business meeting that includes the name
of your organization.
3) A list of all officers of the organization and anyone else who may be
a co-signer on the account, including
some form of ID such as driver’s license and
Social Security Number on each person.
4) A Tax ID Number/ EIN for the organization.
To apply for a Tax ID Number/EIN, contact
the IRS to request Form SS-4: “Application for Employer
Identification Number.” You can order tax
forms by phone at 1-800- TAX- FORM (1-800-829-3676.) Or you can get
forms and information at the IRS website at
www.irs.ustreas.gov
The IRS does not require you to be
incorporated to get a Tax ID Number/EIN.
It’s a good idea to check with a
legal and/or tax professional in your state
for more information.
The number should not be
"loaned" or otherwise used by any other group, or person. For
example, a CoDA
intergroup/community should not allow
individual meeting groups within that intergroup/community to use its
EIN. The bank is responsible to report information to the
Internal Revenue Service about certain types of activity in
bank accounts, such as interest income and
large currency transactions.
Accurate records must be maintained for
all income and expenses. Whether a tax return is required or not, the group
must keep accurate records that are
available for inspection if requested by state or federal agencies. Examples of
such
records may include minutes of business
meetings, any changes in officers, and financial records including receipts
for rent and literature. For more
regarding tax returns in the
If you change your address after you
receive your EIN you must notify the IRS of the new address. Use Form 8822,
“Change of Address.” If the group should ever close, the group
officers need to notify the IRS in writing to cancel
their Tax ID Number/EIN.
Alternatives to getting a Tax ID
number/EIN for a bank account
Some groups use the social security number
of the group’s treasurer as the Tax ID for the group’s bank account. A
group may open a checking account,
non-interest bearing, under the treasurer’s social security number with a Doing
Business As (D/B/A) name on the account
(such as “Sunrise CoDA”). While this could have tax implications for
the treasurer, usually the balance of a
group's checking account is so low that there is no problem. For more
information on taxes see the IRS website.
Many meeting groups hold such a small
amount of funds that they choose not to open a bank account. The group’s
treasurer holds the money in a coffee can or
shoebox, or the group may keep the money in a locked file cabinet in
their meeting location.
Tax Information
A group, intergroup/community or Voting
Entity organization that has a Tax ID Number/EIN and a bank account
may need to deal with federal income tax
and various state taxes. Most meeting
groups hold very little money in
their bank account, and even if it is an
interest bearing account, it will usually not earn enough interest to require
income tax payment, although you may need
to file for state or federal purposes. Since tax laws are subject to change
(including the minimum income required for paying
income tax and filing requirements), we suggest you consult
with a tax professional concerning what
state or federal tax requirements apply to your group.
A
group, intergroup/community, or state organization that is involved in the sale
of literature or other items may be
responsible for paying sales tax on those
items. Most meeting groups either give away literature or accept voluntary
donations for literature, in which case there
is no concern with sales tax. However, if you sell things like literature,
tapes, or tee shirts, such as at a
workshop, then you are responsible for keeping records of sales and collecting
and
paying sales tax. Again, if you are unsure
how to proceed with sales tax, consult your state’s website or an attorney
or accountant for further help.
Tax-Exempt Status
CoDA groups are "non profit" but
they are not automatically "tax-exempt".
Obtaining tax exemption status is an
expensive and complicated process that involves legal obligations, controversy
about Traditions, and ongoing responsibility.
Most meeting groups (and even most intergroups/communities)
operate with minimal funds, and
contributions are generally done in cash anonymously at the meetings. Groups
rarely have any tax liability and do not need
tax exemption. Even when you consider the purchase of literature and
other materials, the added taxes are
minimal. So a tax-exempt status really wouldn't buy much at the local meeting
level, and could also result in
considerable paperwork by a meeting volunteer.
Large intergroups /communities or state
CoDA organizations sometimes form corporations and get their own tax
exemption. If a group is doing large
conventions or has a large service office, it may be worthwhile to go through
the
process of obtaining tax-exempt status at the
state and/or federal level. You may want
to read IRS publication 557,
"Tax-Exempt Status for Your
Organization" and Form 1023 and its instructions. Your state may require a
separate
application for tax-exempt status.
Since tax exemption is complex and carries
sizable legal responsibility, we encourage you to consult with legal and
tax professionals who are familiar with
the needs of small nonprofit organizations in your state when preparing your
corporation papers, filing for tax
exemption, and maintaining your nonprofit tax reports.
Intent To clarify, simplify and streamline the
wording in the FSM FAQ concerning Tax information.
Remarks tabled by committee
MOTION 11039 7/6/2011 Vote TABLED Committee Service Structure Name
Committee
Subject Motion #5
Item: To add the following language to Section
9 of the Fellowship Service Manual, under the CoDA Board of Trustees
Position Description:
• Demonstration
of skills and abilities while doing CoDA service in your Voting Entity /Intergroup/ community for
at least one year
• Service
experience on a CoDA standing committee for at least one year.
• Previous
attendance at a CoDA Service Conference.
• Delegate
service for at least one year
• Fluency
in English
Committee amended to the " Fluency in
English" statement so as to provide
for use of a translator if Trustee is not
fluent in English.
Intent To add these qualities to the existing list
shown below:
• Working
knowledge of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Co-Dependents Anonymous
• Understanding
and experience of the group conscience process.
• Familiarity
with the Service Manual and CoDA By-laws.
• Courage
to express oneself and the ability to listen and communicate effectively with
others.
• Dedication
and commitment to the health of CoDA.
• Desire
to carry the message to the still suffering codependent.
• Willingness
and availability to serve the Fellowship through major service projects.
SSC believes this added information gives
clearer guidance for members who are considering the position of Trustee
on the CoDA Board; and gives additional
guidance to the voting members of the Service Conference about desirable
service experience when electing Trustees.
Remarks SSC spoke with (or emailed) many of CoDA's
trusted servants while crafting this motion. These qualities are not
requirements, but are guidelines for selecting
members for the important position of trustee. We believe that solid
experience in the Fellowship is vital.
30 seconds called during pro & con
MOTION 11040 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee SSC Name
Subject extend time
Item: To extend time of report by 5 minutes
Intent
Remarks Ayes:
31
Nays:
10
Abstentions: 2
MOTION 11041 7/6/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Service Structure Name
Committee
Subject Motion #6
Meeting update form Combined
meeting update form
Item: Motion: To modify the meeting update form
in the Service Manual to match the current
database entry form on the
website.
Intent This is in line with—MOTION 10028 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee
WEB Name Roy
To modify the meeting update forms to
match the current website database entry form. Referencing primary and
secondary meeting contacts and allowing
for checkmarks for the individuals to choose to publically display their
phone numbers and email addresses. The
online form gives the person the option to publically display either/or
while the paper form allows the release of mail and phone info; respectively,
for the first contact and second contact
Remarks Added checkmarks to the paper form for the
primary and secondary meeting contacts, allowing them to choose to
publically display their phone numbers and
email addresses. The online form gives
the person the option to
publically display either/or while the
paper form only allows the release of mail and phone info; respectively, for
the first contact and second contact only.
See attached document for final version.
Ayes have it
ACTION 11042 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Michelle Name Event
Subject Announcements and breaking for lunch
Item: IMC to meet for lunch with interested
parties
Literature to meet after business tonight
in the lobby
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11043 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum met
ACTION 11044 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Announcements
Item: Flo - One of SSC's motion was taken as
non-Foreign experience. This was not
intented. All international
particpates are encourage to participate
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11045 7/6/2011 Vote Committee International Task Name Jim Y.
Force
Subject International Task Force Report
Item: Members:
Jim Y, Deb,
Created as a motion of board looking forward
to another 25 years of CoDA.
Task force is in its infancy
Collecting information to present to CSC.
Mission:
Look at past 25 years, other fellowships and examine how we might do
things better in future.
6 phase process:
PHASE I
Establish an International Task Force -
ITF
PHASE 2
(ITF)
Provide to
the Board a list of outreaching activities practiced within
fellowships at local levels - groups,
intergroups, and communities. Report as to how other worldwide fellowships
nurture and support their
international fellowships.
PHASE 3
(ITF)
Recommend to the Board outreaching
processes that would be appropriate and effective within this Fellowship.
Recommend any changes that may be
indicated.
PHASE 4
(Board & Founders meetings)
Create a CoDA vision for next 25 years -
with the assistance of Founders
Ken
& Mary.
PHASE 5
(Board, Task Force or assigned Committee)
Assess the needs of the CoDA Fellowship as
a world wide fellowship. With that
information and the Vision as
developed in Phase 4, develop a plan for
implementation of these ideas.
PHASE 6 (Board) Develop a systematic plan whereby the
changing needs of the fellowship are discovered, assess
and responded to in a timely and effective manner. This scope
maybe further defined as the TF reports their
findings.
More volunteers were invited to join.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11046 7/6/2011 Vote Committee IMC Name Natasha
Subject IMC Report
Budget Goals
Item: Members:
Natasha, Cathy, Curtis, Lisa, Loretta
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11047 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee IMC Name Natasha
Subject Motion #1
Item: To update IMC’s description section in FSM
under Section 10, "Board Overseen
Service Functions and CoDA
Standing Committees" Issues Mediation
Committee’s as indicated in the attached
document.
Intent To edit
the FSM IMC description to assist the fellowship with the mediation
process & to rearrange a couple IMC
description lines improve positioning.
Remarks Due to experiences from disputes from this
last year, IMC views that it is in the best interest of all disputing
party(s) to utilize the mediation process
(for objectivity, mediation experience, proper resolution purposes) defined
by the FSM in all conflicts and disputes.
Ayes have it
no Nays
6 abstentions
MOTION 11048 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee IMC Name Natasha
Subject Motion #3
Item: Motion(1) Delete the existing below
bullets under Board Liaison to Standing
CoDA Committees, under
"Conflicts" (highlighted in
blue) as stated below;
(1) Board
Liaison to Standing CoDA Committees
Conflicts:
• If conflict arises within a committee,
the liaison may assist the committee in the resolution of this conflict,
relying
on CoDA‘s Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions for guidance.
• Conflict resolution may involve the
Issues Mediation Committee (IMC); (see Section 10) if the committee chair
and liaison feel this is desirable.
• If conflict arises between the liaison
and the committee, the committee chair or liaison may request IMC assistance
in resolution of the conflict.
• If a liaison/committee conflict seems
irresolvable, the IMC will advise the CoDA Board. This is recommended
because the IMC represents an impartial
perspective on the conflict, and may provide the Board with a clear
understanding of the issues involved.
• In the case of irresolvable conflict,
the Board may choose to assign a new liaison to the committee. This change
will be reported in the subsequent Quarterly
Service Report.
(2) Re-edit
& move those liaison conflicts which is now 2 new bullet points after the 2
existing bullets points
under Section 10 in FSM’s “Board Overseen
Service Functions and Coda Standing Committees” Issues Mediation
committee’s description under Mediation
Procedures. See IMC attachment.
(3) Add
one additional bullet at the end of
bullets. Please see IMC attachment.
Amendment:
Add may to the statement: A Committee member or Board member "may
submit" their request for
assistance to the IMC to mediate the
conflict within a Committee or within the Board if irresolvable,
The
Board and/or trusted Servant, and/or Committee "may submit" the dispute to the IMC to
mediate if they
cannot resolve the conflict between each
other,
The Committee chair or Board liaison
"may submit" a request to the IMC for assistance in resolution of
the
conflict if conflict arises between a
Board Liaison and a committee,
IMC agreed to these changes
Intent To reduce redundancies; bring uniformity
to the FSM & combine all “conflict & mediation” sections (with the
exception of the ‘Disagreement, Mediation
& Resolution Process”) in one place;
the fellowship approved committee-
the
IMC. To avoid awkward writing in the FSM. To allow for transparency according to the FSM. To remove any
bias level positions from the mediation process. To allow every
trusted servant the right to be heard & be
represented in a fair manner. Reinforces
Tradition 1, 2, 3; Service Concepts 7 & 12.
Remarks IMC is making an effort to update its
section in the FSM so the fellowship can easily find the topic related to
conflict resolution. To ensure objectivity in the mediation
process using volunteer members who are nonbiased
and experienced with the process. IMC has been privy to several disputes
whereby parties have been biased and
have not been cooperative with both IMC
and FSM procedures/policies; taken matters in their own hands, and
used their leadership roles & given
“powers” in abusive ways toward other trusted servants and CoDA entities.
Motion reinforces CoDA Tradition 1, 2 and 3; Service Concepts
3, 7 and 12.
Yes:
31
No: 4
Abstentions: 6
MOTION 11049 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee IMC Name Nastasha
Subject Motion #2
Item: Motion: To replace FSM Section 2 (pg. 14):
"Disagreement, Mediation, and Resolution" in our Group Conscience
Process, as indicated on the attached
document (added changes are highlighted).
Amended statement , These parties should
also be recused…" Gramar change
made.
Intent To reinstate key paragraphs and other
minor editing corrections that were accidentally "dropped" during
typing of the
final copy of the CSC adopted motion.
Also, add new verbiage to reflect new dispute experiences. The dispute
process protects the trusted servant as
well as CoDA’s resources as a whole. Upholding
Traditions 1, 3, 5, and 12.
Remarks The IMC is elected each year at CSC for the sole purpose of
mediating disputes and provides an impartial
perspective on conflicts. IMC needs to continuously review its
processes to ensure it is up-to-date and relevant for
the
common welfare of our CoDA fellowship.
Yes:
30
No:
7
abstentions: 3
MOTION 11050 7/6/2011 Vote MAJORITY Committee IMC Name Nastasha
Subject Motion #4
Item: Motion:
Add the following highlighted paragraphs to the FSM’s
"Disagreement, Mediation and Resolution
Process under Section 2; specifically, add
to page 15, after the paragraph, "A situation". (This will be a new
paragraph, the fourth paragraph before the
ending of this section)
“If the dispute case is at the IMC level,
any trusted servant(s) (including Board Trustees, paid/non-paid
administrators, FSWs) and/or any CoDA
entity(s) (including a CoDA Board), directly or indirectly involved with a
dispute/complaint, are expected to follow
CoDA FSM guidelines/Bylaws, and fully cooperate
and participate with
IMC’s investigation, mediation and
resolution process. Some examples of
cooperation are: providing truthful
information and any written "information"
relating to the dispute; negotiating and communicating earnestly and in
good faith; and cooperating with IMC
recommended resolution actions. All
should be done in a timely manner.
If a dispute is irresolvable at the IMC
level, the dispute may be brought to the Board of Trustees or to CSC (if a
Board member/Board is involved with the
dispute). Personal names and titles
will be removed for confidentiality
purposes if brought to the CSC. Bringing a dispute to the CSC is a natural progression
given CoDA’s inverted
triangle. It also avoids a conflict of
interest in the event the Board is directly involved in a dispute.
The Board of Trustees or CSC, while
working together with the IMC, may apply consequences to relevant trusted
servant(s) who excessively violate(s) FSM
policies and/or Bylaws and who may choose not to participate with the
conflict resolution process. Consequences
may include from requesting that the trusted servant volunteer to take a
45-day ‘cooling off’ period; a simple
warning; temporary removal from CoDA service; and/or removal from
leadership positions, etc. This time period would allow for
self-development, personal growth and recovery before
trusted servant(s) returns to service.
The IMC will present the relevant
information to either the CoDA’s Board of Trustees (unless a Board member or
the Board is directly involved with the
dispute) or at the next CSC to allow for accuracy, objectivity, and fairness.
The IMC, and other party(s), can utilize
& present correspondence/emails relevant in the dispute without author’s
approvals (without reproach) in order to
facilitate its duties and responsibilities in the investigative, mediation, and
resolution process.
Amended to remove evidence and replace
with Information. Take out paid/non paid
employee and FSW where ever
they show up. Take out data and add information by the
committee.
Amended to remove last sentence: The IMC, and other party(s), can utilize
& present correspondence/emails
relevant in the dispute without author’s
approvals (without reproach) in order to facilitate its duties and
responsibilities in the investigative,
mediation, and resolution process.
Agreed to by Committee.
Intent This added section is primarily intended
to serve as a deterrent to those who (1) excessively break FSM policies and
procedures, (2) choose not to come to
resolution in a healthy manner; and, (3) who choose not to cooperate or
interfere with the FSM and IMC fellowship
approved process. The FSM and IMC
procedures are meant to
encourage & protect healthy behavior
not unhealthy behavior.
The IMC is established to ensure fairness
& FSM policies are correctly followed in disputes to keep CoDA a safe
environment to serve in. This process is updated periodically &
approved by the fellowship since new disputing
parties bring new concerns that may not be
only harmful towards each other, but to the organization.
In CoDA recovery, utilizing the 12 Steps
and FSM should guide those in conflict and assist them to resolution.
This motion would offer those an
opportunity for more personal recovery time outside of CoDA service. This
motion follows: Tradition 1, 2, 3; Service
Concepts 3, 4, 7 & 12.
Remarks The IMC has been involved with a dispute
this year. This receiving party did not
answer any of IMC questions
or requests (via email) after many cordial
& patient attempts. IMC sent
repeated emails with extended deadlines.
Not one piece of evidence was given to
IMC. IMC cannot rely on hearsay or
stories after-the-fact.
The rest of the group did try to work with
IMC toward resolution at a certain point; however, others interfered
with the process and remained
uncooperative. Comments of being above
the FSM and Bylaws were made as well
as
coercion to not have IMC follow through with the dispute. Researched written facts and information also
clearly showed untruthfulness; a personal
agenda; independent decision making & actions (no group conscience);
unhealthy influence on other members in
the group, and unhealthy interference with the resolution process.
Yes:
24
No:
12
abstentions: 4
MOTION 11051 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee IMC Name Natasha, Yumi
Subject Motion to extend time
Item: Motion for an additional 5 minutes
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
no nays
abstentions: 5
ACTION 11052 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Facilitator Name David & Gary
Subject IMC Elections
Item: Nominations:
Leslie C - NoCal
Heather - HI
Anita - Ut
Deborah - SoCal
Cathy -
AZ
Natsha - AZ
Loretta - Wa
Curtis - Mo - no accept this year
Facilitator declared nominations closed
Move to accept all by acclamation. Lou, Dave S
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
Nays: none
2 obstentions
ACTION 11053 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Break
Item:
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11054 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks quorum met
ACTION 11055 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Communications Name Evie
Subject Committee report Presentation Goals
Budget
Item: Members: Leo, Eric, Evie, Allan, Doug,
Geff, Liz,
Enumerated goals and spoke about
accomplishements
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11056 7/6/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Communications Name Evie
Subject Motion #3
Item: Replace the FSM Section 10 Board Overseen
Service Functions and CoDA Standing Committees, Fellowship
Services section, Telephone Point of
Contact with the following:
CoDA Telephone Point of Contact:
• A
system that will provide meeting information and answers to questions using
available technology to keep costs
at a minimal level without diminishing service.
CoDA volunteers should be used where possible.
Intent Ensure that the FSM reflects the way we
are currently handling incoming telephone contact.
Remarks Current FSM:
CoDA Telephone Point of Contact:
• A
voice contact for all calls made to CoDA
• A
Commercial answering service receives all calls and refers any calls that
cannot be answered by the service to
the appropriate board member, CoDA
committee chairperson.
• When
possible, the answering service provides meeting information as available in
the CoDA meeting database
Ayes have it
MOTION 11057 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Communications Name Evie
Subject Motion #2
Item: Add the following bullet to the FSM
section Communications from the Board, Quarterly Service Report (QSR)
Guidelines:
• No
changes may be made to a committee’s QSR submission without the agreement of
the committee.
Amendment:
No changes may be made to a committee's QSR submission without discussion with the
committee.
No
content changes may be made without mutual agreement unless there is a legal
issue involved.
Amendment was accepted by committee
Intent To ensure that the QSR properly reflects
each committee’s activities.
Remarks The section being modified as it currently
appears in the FSM:
Communications from the Board:
CoDA Quarterly Service Report (QSR) Guidelines
• All
QSR submissions are made through the appropriate board liaison, i.e.: The
Finance committee report is
submitted through the Finance Committee
Board liaison.
• All
submissions to the QSR editor are made through the QSR Board liaison.
• There
are no additions by the editor.
• The
final draft of the QSR is made available for review by all Board members, and
must be reviewed by at least
two members.
• The
editor makes no changes to the QSR after final approval by the Board.
Ayes have it
Nay 1
Abstentions 0
MOTION 11058 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Communications Name Evie
Subject Motion #4
Item: Rename
Section 10 Board Overseen Service Functions and CoDA Standing Committees
of the FSM to be Section
10 Board Overseen Service Functions, CoDA
Standing Committees and other CoDA bodies
Add the following definition and rules for
creation of a new Task Force or Ad Hoc committee to the Fellowship
Service Manual (FSM) in the other CoDA
bodies section:
.
Other CoDA Bodies:
Task Forces and Ad Hoc committees:
Definition of a Task Force:
Temporary group of people formed to carry
out a specific mission or project, or to solve a problem that requires a
multi-disciplinary approach.
Definition of an Ad Hoc committee:
Committee formed for a specific task or
objective, and dissolved after the completion of the task or achievement of
the objective.
When a new Task Force or Ad Hoc committee
is established by the CoDA Board between CSC meetings the
following steps must be followed:
• A
clear mission must be developed
• A
clear set of criteria for membership must be developed
• The
mission and criteria must be made available to the CoDA World Fellowship via
posting on the website and
sending out via the Email List to solicit
volunteers
• Any
decisions made by the Task Force or Ad Hoc committee must be presented at and
approved by the next CSC
prior to any actions being taken.
The following statement was added to the motion
on 6/3/11:
Any current Task Force or Ad Hoc committee
not using guidelines will be disbanded and recreated following the
above procedures.
Amendment:
to strike "prior to any action being taken"
Standing vote on this amendment:
yes:
10
no:
22
abstentions: 10
amendment not accepted
Amendment:
change" decisions" to "suggestions"
accepted by committee
Intent To ensure that CoDA continues to function
as an inverted pyramid where our trusted servants do not govern and only
operate
according to the will of the Fellowship.
Remarks During this past a year an International
Task Force was created by the CoDA board.
The steps listed above were
not followed during the creation of this
task force.
Ayes:
30
Nays:
6
Abstentions: 7
MOTION 11059 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Communications Name Evie
Subject Motion #6
Item: Recognize the existence of the Chairs
Forum as a working entity within CoDA.
Add the following purpose
statement of the Chairs Forum to the
Fellowship Service Manual (FSM) in other CoDA bodies section:
The CoDA Chairs Forum was created to give
current CoDA Chairs the opportunity to strategically work on topics
and common goals and to share our CoDA experience. The Chairs Forum works in a collaborative,
productive and
respectful manner. Topics can include
educational and informational issues, and those identified problems that can be
better solved collectively. By working on these goals, we strive to
become better chairs.
Remarks The Chairs Forum held its first meeting
during last year’s CSC and has held numerous conference calls since
then. Those chairs who have chosen to
participate feel that the forum has significantly improved communication
within the CoDA World Fellowship.
Ayes have it
Abstentions 2
MOTION 11060 7/6/2011 Vote TABLED Committee Communications Name Evie
Subject Motion #1
Item:
Replace the three sections of the FSM
related to communication with the new sections provided below in Remarks
Amendment:
replace "e-mail" with "electronic communication."
agreed by committee
Amendment:
to remove the note on sending an e-mail to IMC for dispute purposes
without permission of original
sender.
Standing vote on this amendment:
Yes:
6
No:
28
Abstentions: 9
change failed
Intent Ensure that the FSM reflects how we
currently do business. All changes
reflect our movement to doing much of our
work online and utilizing newer available
technologies that were either not available or not used consistently when
the sections were written.
Remarks Below are the sections to be replaced.
Areas that have been changed have been highlighted.
Section 1
Board Liaison to Standing CoDA Committees
Description: The Board assigns a member to
serve as liaison, to provide a communication link between each
standing conference committee, the Board,
and the Fellowship
Responsibilities:
• Liaisons communicate pertinent
information to their assigned committee, including: dates of Board meetings,
CoDA Quarterly Service Report (QSR)
publication deadlines, and any information related to the committee’s
goals or commitments to the Fellowship.
• Liaisons may serve in a consulting
capacity between committees, providing guidance in such areas as financial
management of committee budgets.
• Liaisons communicate changes in CoDA’s
overall financial status to committee chairs as soon as possible in
order to allow for any expenditure
adjustments.
• Liaisons provide guidance in adherence
to the Twelve Traditions in all activities.
• Liaisons report on committee activities
to the Board at the monthly con call or meeting, if no committee chair or
representative attends. Liaisons submit
written copies of standing committee reports to the Board before or at each
scheduled Board con call or meeting.
• Liaisons review committee reports prior
to presentation to the Board and Fellowship, and prior to publication in
the
QSR. Liaisons may suggest changes to any report.
Conflicts:
• If conflict arises within a committee,
the liaison may assist the committee in the resolution of this conflict,
relying on CoDA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions for guidance.
• Conflict resolution may involve the
Issues Mediation Committee (IMC); (see Section 10) if the committee chair
and liaison feel this is desirable.
• If conflict arises between the liaison
and the committee, the committee chair or liaison may request IMC
assistance in resolution of the conflict.
• If a liaison/committee conflict seems
irresolvable, the IMC will advise the CoDA Board. This is recommended
because the IMC represents an impartial
perspective on the conflict, and may provide the Board with a clear
understanding of the issues involved.
• In the case of irresolvable conflict,
the Board may choose to assign a new liaison to the committee. This change
will be reported to the committee immediately
and the website will be changed accordingly. It will also be
reported in the subsequent Quarterly
Service Report.
Section 2
Section 12 Guidelines for CoDA
Communications
Communications within all of CoDA
Informative and timely communications are
necessary for the growth and maintenance of any service organization.
Lack of communication among our members
can cause unnecessary conflict.
CoDA members have requested guidance in
applying our Steps and Traditions to new forms of communication,
specifically electronic mail (e-mail). The
principles of effective communication may be applied to all forms of
communication among members, committees,
and service boards of CoDA.
All e-mail/Internet and postal addresses
are confidential and are for CoDA business use only.
Email
Because e-mail is less expensive and more
efficient than Postal Service deliveries, its use is encouraged, provided
boundaries are maintained. These
boundaries include maintaining appropriate anonymity. Appropriate anonymity
requires that we keep our CoDA business
within CoDA and that our emails do not go to people outside the
Fellowship. It also means that we do not forward any
email to a wider audience than the original thread without
the author’s express permission.
Note: The one exception to the above
policy is when an email is pertinent in a dispute. In that case the email may
be
sent to IMC without the author's permission.
Our 11th tradition states: Our public
relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always
maintain personal anonymity at the level of
press, radio and films. This does not say that we can not share our
last names with members of the
fellowship. Whether or not to do so is a
personal choice,
Email providers may include your full name
even if it isn’t part of your email address if you have provided it
when signing up. If this level of anonymity is important to
you, use the tools provided by your email provider to
hide your last name. If necessary, create a
new email account and only use your last initial in the last name field.
Anyone in the CoDA Fellowship can request
that his/her email address be placed on the CoDA Announcements
email list. Because e-mail copies involve
no additional cost, broad distribution of general information is enhanced.
Communication is enhanced when at least two
members in each Voting Entity have e-mail addresses and are
willing to disseminate information received
via e-mail.
Any communication may be sent via e-mail.
However, care must be taken when sending copyrighted information
via email in order to protect our
copyrights. Under the "fair
use" rule of copyright law, an author may make
limited use of another author's work
without asking permission. This means
that only a small portion (never
more than 1 or 2 paragraphs) may be used
and no permission is required to do so.
Service items that are available
on
the website may be sent in full.
Proper email etiquette should be used at
all times while conducting CoDA business.
The following items are
suggested:
• Avoid
offensive language, name calling and taking other inventories
• When
using reply all that includes aliases remove individual addresses that are part
of an alias to prevent people
from getting multiple copies
• Do
not use all capitals as that is considered yelling
Social Networking Sites
Because there are concerns about anonymity
and privacy on social networking sites no CoDA literature or CoDA
business should be posted or discussed on
any site that is open to everyone. If
anyone chooses to discuss CoDA
literature or CoDA business on a private
recovery site one should limit literature posting to very small excerpts to
protect copyrights and use discretion when
discussing CoDA business.
These guidelines were developed with
insight gained from the following Steps and Traditions:
Step Ten: Continued to take personal
inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Note;
All I and My statements below were changed to We and Our statements.
If we fail to follow our guidelines, we
admit our shortcomings and make amends wherever and as soon as
possible. If we wronged a person in
private, we make amends in private; if we wronged a person in front of others,
we make amends in front of others.
Tradition One: Our common welfare should
come first; personal recovery depends upon CoDA unity. We ask
ourselves, "Does this message promote
CoDA unity, foster fellowship or promote recovery? Could it be
interpreted as disruptive or
divisive?" If we receive a message that we consider disruptive or
divisive, we share
that feeling with the author before
seeking other remedies. We ask permission before copying an e-mail message or
other communication to others. We review our
responses for adherence to our Steps, Traditions, and principles.
Tradition Two: For our group purpose there
is but one ultimate authority: a loving Higher Power as expressed to
our group conscience. Our leaders are but
trusted servants; they do not govern.
CoDA has procedures in place to determine
the group conscience of a meeting, Intergroup, Voting Entity and even
our
CoDA structure. We determine our collective group conscience by
selecting/electing representatives to serve
the Fellowship. Our Higher Power gives us
guidance in this way. Sometimes people may circumvent our process
by claiming to be interpreters of our
group conscience. To avoid future confusion, when we participate in a group
conscience decision, we make written notes
of the people who were notified and/or participated, identify the
subject we discussed, and include the
results of the decision.
Tradition Three: The only requirement for
membership in CoDA is a desire for healthy and loving relationships.
We need to be aware that not everyone in
CoDA has access to telephones, computers, e-mail, or the Internet.
CoDA is based on inclusion, not exclusion.
Access to technology of any kind is not a requirement for
participation in our program so we look
for ways to distribute information, when requested, to those who do not
have this access.. We make a sincere
attempt to include all interested members in our discussions.
Tradition Nine: CoDA, as such, ought never
to be organized; but we may create service boards or committees
directly responsible to those they serve.
As a member of CoDA, and when working as a
trusted servant in any way, we are respectful to the members we
serve and the members we associate with.
We communicate with others on matters that affect other groups or
CoDA as a whole
Tradition Ten: CoDA has no opinion on
outside issues; hence, the CoDA name ought never be drawn into public
controversy.
As a member of CoDA and when working as a
trusted servant, we respect the careful use of Postal Service,
telephone, fax, e-mail and the internet.
We do not use personal correspondence of any kind to draw Co-Dependents
Anonymous, any of its service boards, or any
CoDA member into public controversy on any matter.
Tradition Eleven: Our public relations
policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always
maintain personal anonymity at the level
of press, radio, and films.
The Internet is not a private form of
communication. It is a public medium. Publishing items to web sites is
comparable to publishing in a newspaper.
For this reason, we encourage members to seek anonymity in screen
names, e-mail addresses, and postal mail
addresses.
Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the
spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place
principles before personalities.
We respect the anonymity of others and
ourselves. We consider the point of view of any writer or speaker. Is
anyone cloaking personal opinions or
concerns in our Steps and Traditions? Are we all respecting group
conscience procedures? Is there a
possibility of miscommunication? Could we be making erroneous assumptions?
Does it feel right? If not, it probably isn't.
When in doubt, check it out.
Section 3
List of Affirmative Communication Actions
• I respect the anonymity of others by not
using a member's last name in the text of a message.
• I obtain permission before faxing or
emailing CoDA identified materials to a member.
• I respect the personal integrity,
anonymity, and privacy of each member, and I expect and deserve the same.
• I maintain civility and decorum in my
communications to members of CoDA, as I practice developing and
maintaining healthy relationships. I
continue to practice healthy interpersonal behavior in communications via
telephone, fax, e-mail, and the Internet.
• When in doubt about the content or
intent of a letter, telephone call, e-mail, or other communication, I first
request clarification from the author
before discussing its content.
• When I participate in a group discussion
(in person or by Postal Service, telephone, fax, e-mail or on the
Internet), I maintain focus on the subject
at hand. My attention and focus is a gift I offer other members.
• Recovery is a process; I respect each
member for where that member is in recovery. I practice my program by
sharing my experience, strength, and hope
with others, not by pointing out faults and flaws in others.
• The text of any forwarded message is
transmitted verbatim. I do not edit it. (For the purposes of committee work
where editing work is in process, I clearly
mark a previous, unedited version and include it with my suggested
revisions.) Generally, emails are not
forwarded to people not addressed by the original sender.
• I encourage others in their recovery,
and do not "flame" them. Flaming is a written attack on a person, a
person's
opinions, or a person's point of view,
distributed to multiple addresses, usually via e-mail. When my opinions
differ from another, I share my
experiences with that person, explaining how they are different or similar.
• When sending email to a list of addresses,
I send the message to myself and use BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) for
the list of intended recipients in order
to protect the anonymity of the members.
MOTION 11061 7/6/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Name
Subject extension of time
Item: 10 minutes
Intent
Remarks ayes have it
abstentions 2
ACTION 11062 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Elections Committee Name David L.
Subject Report
Item: Explaining some of the rules pertinent to
elections.
Naming the members up for elections:
CoRe Board:
Brandi D.,
Salle H.,
Terri S.
CoDA Board:
Evie S.
Barbara D.
Lisa B.
Elections will be held for CoRe and CoDA,
Inc. boards.
30 seconds called
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11063 7/6/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Delegate Name Al, Judi Ann
Subject
Item: To move approval of today's minutes to
tomorrow directly following serenity prayer.
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11064 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Events Name Michelle
Subject Announcements
Item: CoRe literature order forms are available
and can be submitted to CoRe during conference.
Co-NNections invites members
Communications having dinner and inviting
everyone interested
Literature meeting in lobby
7:30 PM and 7:30 AM CoDA meeting in
Capital Room in the
TMC breakfast meeting
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11065 7/6/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject end of day
Item:
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11066 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Opening
Item:
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11067 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum reached
ACTION 11068 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Co-facilitator Name David L.
Subject Announcements and agenda changes
Item: On Friday we will meet at 9AM in the Columbine
Room on the Terrace level, Tower side of the hotel.
Need
to allocate time to approve yesterday's notes, and approve the Board minutes from prior 4 years.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11069 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Facilitator Name Mary, Lisa
Subject Motion to change agenda
Item: Taking 10 minutes away from board
interviews this afternoon.
Amendment:
To take the 10 minutes from the Finance report to allow for approval of
yesterday's minutes. Adding
15 minutes for the international reports.
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
MOTION 11070 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Faciliator Name Lou, Kathy
Subject accept minutes from yesterday
Item: Motion:
Move to accept minutes from yesterday
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11071 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Outreach Name Lisa B.
Subject Outreach Report Goals
Item: Lisa,
Allan, Karen, Lou, John,
Presented a group conscience per changes
in structure and actions, change of alias
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11072 7/7/2011 Vote MAJORITY Committee Outreach Name Lisa B.
Subject Motion
#1
Item: The members of Spanish Outreach are hereby
petitioning the Board, and the 2011 CoDA Service Conference to grant
our
request to become a standing CoDA Committee.
Amendment:
We move that Spanish Outreach be established as a standing committee.
Agreed to by committee.
Intent Spanish Outreach wants to concentrate its
efforts, in carrying CoDA’s message of recovery, and offer information to
all Spanish-speaking codependents at the
World level.
Remarks Since it was first started, eight years
ago, Spanish Outreach has arduously worked to assist Spanish speaking
codependents obtain knowledge of CoDA.
Just as our Fellowship changes, and becomes better known
internationally, so has the nature of our
service work. It is now more time consuming and complex. We are
experiencing an increasing number of
inquiries from Spanish speaking codependents seeking information on all
aspects of the Fellowship. These range
from help ordering literature, to translations, and guidance for the
establishment of new meetings. We are
asked for directions in forming intergroups, and VEs, and ways for other
countries to obtain permissions for
printing their own translated literature. We are asked to translate parts of
the
Fellowship Service Manual so it could be
used as reference material for individual groups. The Hispanic
communities are seeking to serve, and want
to do it well . . . As someone mentioned in one of the emails . . .
“Our group wants to learn and do the way
things are done in CoDA.” There is little Spanish information
available, and codependents come to us
searching for answers. There are new meetings developing every month.
Our work has grown, and is becoming
detective in nature. People aren’t just seeking meeting information
anymore. It’s taking longer
and longer for us to provide information. For the most part, we have to search
the main site,
translate, and email the
answer. Being part of Outreach is a wonderful experience. We are grateful to
all of its members
for allowing us to learn
from them, but as a subcommittee, we participate in some of their
teleconferences, and GCs, and
this takes additional
time from our specialized service work. We are confident and knowledgeable
enough to seek
standing status. With
our work, Spanish Outreach has proven to be worthy of standing alone. Just in
the first quarter
of 2011, we answered a
total of 725 emails.
Yes: 22
No:
16
Abstentions: 5
MOTION 11073 7/7/2011 Vote TABLED Committee Outreach Name Lisa B.
Subject Motion #2
Item: The Conference shall appoint a new Ad Hoc
Committee whose goal is to consider our commpliance to legal and
financial matters taking into
consideration CoDA principles and providing recommendations to CSC 2012 for
consideration. If legal or financial decisions cannot be
delayed until after CSC 2012, the Board of Trustees shall
follow the guiance of this Ad Hoc
Committee.
That all opinions and records of
discussions that have taken place concerning CoDA compliance with legal and IRS
requirements, be provided to said Ad Hoc
Committee.
The Ad Hoc Committee shall be constituted
immediately upon approval of this motion with membership to be
determined according to the Communications
Motion #11058. However, no more than
one-third of this Ad Hoc
Committee shall be comprised of people who
have been involved in the discussions and consultations that have
resulted in the present position of the
Board.
Intent To empower the Conference with the
necessary information to make decisions in the best interest of the Fellowship
in concert with the Board of Trustees.
Remarks The Outreach Committee's alias was
redirectted to a paid worker at the end of October 2010. The Outreach Chair
(through group conscience) requested an
explanation of this action from the Board.
Wae were told the
International Task Force was researching
the issue and we would receive an answer soon.
As of Conference 2011 no report has been
received. Several attempts to
communicate with the Outreach Liaison
and entire Board were unproductive. Outreach filed a dispute with IMC in
December,, 2010, and we were told
that legal counsel recommended the Board
not respond to IMC's efforts to mediate the dispute.
The Outreach Chair learned via the Chair's
Forum that other committees were experiencing similar difficulties.
These difficulties interfered with the
Committee's efforts to fulfill their missions.
In addition the Board suggested
via e-mail, Board Reports, face-to-face
and phone conversations with Committee Members and Chairs that
CoDA's group conscience decision-making
process and Service Conference decisions can and even must be
ignored to comply with the IRS and
corporate best practices. When asked for
documentation to back up these
assertions they were not provided.
MOTION 11074 7/7/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Literature Name Karla K.
Subject Motion #2
Item: If Motion #1 passes, to retain the current
Patterns and Characteristics of Codependence on the official CodA website
as an existing service item, so individual
CoDA groups may exercise their autonomy to use the 2010 version or the
2011 revised version in their meetings.
Intent This motion, if passed, will enable the
continued use of the 2010 Patterns and Characteristics of Codependence
(currently posted on the CoDA website) for
those members who would like to keep the current format of the Patterns
and Characteristics on the official CoDA website
as a CoDA Conference endorsed alternative to the revised version
submitted for endorsement at CSC 2011.
Many members of the CoDA fellowship have expressed the power of an
"I"
statement in revealing to them their
continued patterns and characteristics of codependence that need to be
transformed, and prefer the existing
Patterns and Characteristics of Codepndence for that reason. This motion
supports
the
autonomy of each meeting in selecting the version of Patterns and
Characteristics of Codependence that best
Remarks Ayes:
34
Nays:
0
Abstention: 1
MOTION 11075 7/7/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Literature Name Karla K.
Subject Motion #1
Doc
Item: To endorse a revised version of the
Patterns and Characteristics of
Codependence which removes the "I" statements
and uses a format of "Codependents
often..." that precedes each
pattern of codependence as shown on the attached
revised version.
Intent Some members of the CoDA Fellowship have
voiced their concern and resistance to the reading of the current P &
C's of Codependence revised in 2010, because
of the use of "I" statements in this service item. The CLC proposed a
revision of the service item to respond to
this valid concern and to assist members of CoDA in the use of positive
affirmations to enhance their
recovery. Use of I statements in
identifying characteristics of codependency can be
experienced as negative affirmations,
which many members of CoDA believe can actually hinder personal recovery
and growth. Additionally, the proposed
revised version restates the P&C's in
a format currently used in the CoDA
book
"Peeling the Onion" and in other CoDA Conference endorsed
literature. A 2nd motion if passed will
also
enable the continued use of the 2010
P&C for those members who would like to keep the current format of the
P&C's
on
the official CoDA website as an alternative to the revised version submitted
with the motion.
Remarks Ayes:
37
Nays:
2
Abstentions: 1
MOTION 11076 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Literature Name Karla K.
Subject Motion #3
Doc
Item: To endorse a revised version of the
Recovey Patterns which now includes patterns of recovery which are responsive
to each of the revised Patterns and
Characteristics of Codependence which have been submitted for endorsement at
CSC 2011 as shown on the attached
document.
Intent Following the CSC CodA endorsement of the
revised Patterns and Characteristics of Codependence in 2010, many
members of the CoDA Fellowship requested a
full and complete list of suggested recovery responses to the Patterns
of Characteristic of Codependence. This service item is entended to meet that
request. The recovery patterns
contained in this service item are
responsive to each of the patterns and characteristics identified in the
existing
Patterns and Characteristics of
Codependence and in the revised version submitted to CSC in an earlier motion
(Motion #1.)
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11077 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Literature Name Karla K.
Subject Report
Item: Completed projects, such as revision of
the Patterns of Recovery , and Patterns and Characterists of Codependence.
Working on continuing projects:
Story Gatherers, 30-questions, among others. Working on re-editing of earlier
published pieces (Affirmations booklet,
Tools of Recovery, In This Moment, etc.),
Working closely with CoRe on various
issues and appreciate their help.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11078 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Break
Item: Switching web coordinator report on agenda with International VE reports on
today's agenda.
Break
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11079 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum reached
ACTION 11080 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Web Coordinator Name Roy L.
Subject Report
New CMS MP3
Item: Geff, Doug, Joan are part of
Doug does the e-store
Past year's activities:
Many reports posted to Committee Work Area
(CWA) ( www.coda.org/cwa/index.php )
Username and password given
Eradicating spam from thousands to one per
week
Making many reports
Performing backups
Reviewed the arrangement of website and
used many graphics.
Board minutes per the motions and action items are now posted to the
CWA. It takes about two months to get
the
current months minutes listed.
Board Liaison listing to each committee
are included in the CWA, as well.
There is a section to post VE information
(delegate, e-mail information.)
technical development of the site, and
relating to Co-NNections as a way to
demonstrate how to move among menus, etc.
Also explaining that there is
capability to use pictures and graphics
when submitting to Co-NNections.
There will be a training feature available
to help members use the site.
Draft version of the site under development
is: codaworldfellowship.org
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11081 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Co-facilitator Name David L.
Subject Break
Item: Announcements:
Friday's session will be in the Columbine
Room, Terrace level,Tower Side.
Chance to go on an outing, talk to David
L. (to leave at 6:00 or 6:15)
International Report right after lunch
today.
Finance Comm. Lunch today
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11082 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject opening
Item: Announcements:
John - request for vounteers for answering
phone
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11083 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum Present
MOTION 11084 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee International VE Name Geraldine, Heather
group
Subject
Item: To give voice to all members of International VE group
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11085 7/7/2011 Vote Committee International VE Name Various
group
Subject Report
Item: Presenters: Jutta and Werner (
Heather (
Various members presented interesting and
important details about CoDA in their countries.
Judi Ann talked about an important e-mail
from
Yee-Ching
(
letter to be read this year, Isabel (
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11086 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject
Item: Break
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11087 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum reached
ACTION 11088 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Announcements
Item: Heather:
Women's Recovery Retreat,
Feb.3-12, 2012 in
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11089 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Finance Name Judi T.
Subject Report
Item: Judi, Della, Evie, Robert,
Have come to agreement with Events
Committee
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11090 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Finance Name Judi T.
Subject Motion #1
Item: Mileage Reimbursement
We move that the mileage reimbursement
rate for trusted servants who qualify for reimbursement of expenses, to
attend Board and Committee meetings, be
raised from .42 (USD) per mile to .50
(USD) per mile. If the Federal
tax allowance for mileage drops below .50,
we will amend the rate to align with the lower rate.
Intent To recognize the higher price of gas.
Remarks Effective start date is July 1, 2011
Ayes have it
Nays no
Abstentions none
MOTION 11091 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Finance Name Judi T.
Subject Motion #2
Item: Rescind Motion #01049 Re: Advances
Intent To remove a policy regarding advances that
is no longer appropriate. Therefore, we
need to rescind it.
Remarks Motion #01049 required the person
receiving the advance to provide a post- dated check for the amount of the
advance. If the member didn't account for
the advance by 30 thirty days after the event, CoDA would cash their
check.
Because we now have international members,
and it is difficult/impossible for CoDA to cash their foreign
denominated checks, we can no longer
adhere to the policy of requiring members to send checks in an amount
equal to the advance.
Ayes have it
MOTION 11092 7/7/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Finance Name Judi T.
Subject Motion #3
Item: We move that the meals "per
diem" for trusted servants attending CoDA committee or board meetings, be
raised
from a $35 maximum to a $40 maximum
reimbursement.
Intent
Remarks The per diem is for reimbursement of money
expended, up to a maximum. If you spend less than the per diem,
please submit only for the money spent.
Ayes:
35
Nays:
3
Abstentions 5
MOTION 11093 7/7/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Finance Name Judi T.
Subject Motion #4
Item: Committees and Boards shall submit their
budgets to the Finance Committee 30 days before each CoDA Service
Conference.
Amendment:
Committees and Boards shall submit their budgets to the Finance
Committee 30 days before the start
of each CoDA Service Conference.The FSM
will be modified accordingly.
Accepted by committee
Intent In 2010, two motions passed CSC by 2/3
votes
One required that budgets be submitted 60
days before CSC (Motion 10078)
The other required two weeks before
CSC (Motion 10044)
We submit this motion so that the time
frame is clear.
Remarks We think 30 days gives Finance time to
review budgets.
Ayes have it
Abstentions 2
MOTION 11094 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Finance Name Judi T.
Subject Motion #5
Item: The Finance Committee moves to change the
wording of the Fellowship Service Manual, Section 13 entitled CoDA
Service Conference (CSC)
Guidelines/Procedures, item number 12,
from “Committee members are expected to be
present at Conference to present their reports and perform committee
work”
to “Committee chairs are expected to be
present at Conference to present their reports and perform committee work”
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11095 7/7/2011 Vote MAJORITY Committee Finance Name Curtis,Heather
Subject
Item: To table the Finance Committee Motion#5 (
11094 ) to SSC.
30 seconds
Intent
Remarks Ayes:
25
Nays:
10
Abstentions: 6
ACTION 11096 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Events Name Michelle
Item: Michelle, Chris ,
Retained committee membership, and asks
for 3-year commitment
Formulated guidelines and defined process
Preplanned next event
Hope to plan with a 2-year lead
Communicated through e-mail blast in various
ways
Is compiling data essential for operating
Events (historical record)
Events created in 2008 to merge CSC and
Convention
Presented figures per costs of CSC and
Convention through recent years
Next year CSC and Convention will be in
Cut coffee service due to prohibitive
costs
One of the goals for next year: to bring a motion to vote deciding whether to
separate CSC and Convention.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11097 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Events Name Michelle
Subject Motion #1
Item: Update Service Manual's description of the
Duties and Responsibilities of the Events Committee, It's in Section 10,
page 49.
Currently reads:
Accept and review all bids for the
upcoming ICC. Bids may be submitted 2 years prior to scheduled ICC and no
later then 9 months prior to ICC. Present
to Delegates and Committee Members at the International CoDA
Convention dates, location and proposed budget
for the next years ICC.
Change to:
Accept and review all bids for the
upcoming International CoDA Convention (ICC). Bids may be submitted 2 years
prior to scheduled ICC and no later then 9
months prior to ICC. Present to the fellowship at the CoDA Service
Conference and International CoDA
Convention: the dates, location and proposed budget for following Events.
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11098 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Break
Item: 10 minutes
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11099 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name Gary & David
Subject Opening, CoRe Board & CoDA Board
interviews
Item: CoRe Board
Terri S.
- had her interview earlier
Salle H. - gave a brief overview of her
CoDA experience
Brandi D.- gave a brief overview of her
CoDA experience
Various questions were asked of candidates
CoDA Board
Evie S.
- Gave a brief overview of her past experience
Barbara D. - Gave a brief overview of her
past experience
Lisa B.
- Gave a brief overview of her past experience
Dagmar M. - Gave a brief overview of her
past experience
Mercedes-Gave a brief overview of her past
experience
Candidates answered questions.
Various questions were asked of all
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11100 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum reached
MOTION 11101 7/7/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Facilitator Name Cathy, Salle
Subject approval of today's minutes
Item: Moved to approve motions as amended
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11102 7/7/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name Gary, Michelle
Subject Close and some announcements about meeting
Thursday night
Item: Meet on Friday in the Columbine Room
Terrace level, Tower
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11103 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Opening
Item:
Serenity Prayer
Announcement: Copier in Capital Rm
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11104 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum Count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum met
ACTION 11105 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Finance Name Judi T
Subject Budget Approval
Item: Committee presented consolidated budget of
all committees for CoDA
Board:
$14,900.00
Fellowship Services: $15,375.00
General:
$38,075.00
Co-Nnections: $2,010.00
Events:
$12,770.00
H&I:
$7,950.00
Finance:
3,150.00
IMC:
$5,500.00
Literature: $6,350.00
Outreach:
$4,750.00
SPO:
$1,000.00
SSC:
$4,750.00
Translation: $3,050.00
Communications: $5,600
Total:
$109,580.00
Prudent reserve = $112,510.00
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11106 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Finance Name Curtis, Dave S
Subject Motion from floor
Item: Move to limit board to 7 members
Amended to 9 members: Annie, Lou Seconded
Yes:
29
No:
7
abstentions: 3 2/3rds vote
New Motion: Move to limit board to 9 members
Intent to ensure that we have some finacial
constraints for CoDA
Remarks for this service conference only
Yes:
34
No:
3
abstentions: 2
MOTION 11107 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Finance Name Judi T
Subject Move to approve budget
Item: Move to approve 2012 CoDA budget as
presented
Amend:
Add $3000 for the extra board memebers.
Committee accepted
New motion: To approve 2012 CoDA budget with $3,000
additional for board as amended
Intent Total Budget: Total:
$112,580.00
Remarks Yes:
37
No: 0
abstentions: 2
ACTION 11108 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name David
Subject Board Elections
Item: Slate:
CoRe Board
Terri S.
- elected
Salle H. - elected as alternate
Brandi D.- elected
No further nominations for CoRe board
CoDA Board
Evie S.
- elected
Barbara D. - elected
Lisa B.
- elected
Dagmar M. - elected
Mercedes- elected
No further nominations
CDRS willingly waves its given voting
privileges for this vote.
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11109 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Old Business
Item: Call for old business
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11110 7/8/2011 Vote TABLED Committee Board Name Judi Ann
Subject VE Issues
Item: So-Cal
11-01 will be addressed at this time.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11111 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee SSC Name Curtis, ?
Subject
Item: FSM is maintained by SSC, tabled to SSC
Intent
Remarks Ayes 29
Nays 4
Abstentions 5
MOTION 11112 7/8/2011 Vote MAJORITY Committee SSC Name Curtis, Brandi
Subject
Item: To accept the board minutes as tasks completed,
but not ratify them.
Intent Close this issue without approval of the
board motions and actions
Remarks There are numerous problems and conflicts
with CoDA Traditions, conference approved business model,
interference with committee responsibilities,
actions taken that should have been approved by CSC before
initiating.
Ayes:
18
Nays:
3
Abstentions: 18
MOTION 11113 7/8/2011 Vote WITHDRAW Committee Floor Name Mary
Subject Board Motions
Item: Move that 2008 & 2009 be ratified and
2010 & 2011 be accepted.
NO second
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11114 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Communication Name Evie
Subject Motion #1
Item: Replace the three sections of the FSM
related to communication with the new sections provided below in Remarks.
Amendment:
To replace "twitter" with "social communication.."
Amendment not accepted by
committee
Intent Ensure that the FSM reflects how we
currently do business. All changes
reflect our movement to doing much of our
work online and utilizing newer available
technologies that were either not available or not used consistently when
the sections were written.
Remarks Below are the sections to be replaced.
Areas that have been changed have been highlighted.
Section 1
Board Liaison to Standing CoDA Committees
Description: The Board assigns a member to
serve as liaison, to provide a communication link between each
standing conference committee, the Board,
and the Fellowship
Responsibilities:
• Liaisons communicate pertinent
information to their assigned committee, including: dates of Board meetings,
CoDA Quarterly Service Report (QSR)
publication deadlines, and any information related to the committee’s
goals or commitments to the Fellowship.
• Liaisons may serve in a consulting
capacity between committees, providing guidance in such areas as financial
management of committee budgets.
• Liaisons communicate changes in CoDA’s
overall financial status to committee chairs as soon as possible in
order to allow for any expenditure
adjustments.
• Liaisons provide guidance in adherence
to the Twelve Traditions in all activities.
• Liaisons report on committee activities
to the Board at the monthly con call or meeting, if no committee chair or
representative attends. Liaisons submit
written copies of standing committee reports to the Board before or at each
scheduled
Board con call or meeting.
• Liaisons review committee reports prior
to presentation to the Board and Fellowship, and prior to publication in
the
QSR. Liaisons may suggest changes to any report.
Conflicts:
• If conflict arises within a committee,
the liaison may assist the committee in the resolution of this conflict,
relying on CoDA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions for guidance.
• Conflict resolution may involve the
Issues Mediation Committee (IMC); (see Section 10) if the committee chair
and liaison feel this is desirable.
• If conflict arises between the liaison
and the committee, the committee chair or liaison may request IMC
assistance in resolution of the conflict.
• If a liaison/committee conflict seems
irresolvable, the IMC will advise the CoDA Board. This is recommended
because the IMC represents an impartial
perspective on the conflict, and may provide the Board with a clear
understanding of the issues involved.
• In the case of irresolvable conflict,
the Board may choose to assign a new liaison to the committee. This change
will be reported to the committee
immediately and the website will be changed accordingly. It will also be
reported in the subsequent Quarterly
Service Report.
Section 2
Section 12 Guidelines for CoDA
Communications
Communications within all of CoDA
Informative and timely communications are
necessary for the growth and maintenance of any service organization.
Lack of communication among our members
can cause unnecessary conflict.
CoDA members have requested guidance in
applying our Steps and Traditions to new forms of communication,
specifically electronic mail (e-mail). The
principles of effective communication may be applied to all forms of
communication among members, committees,
and service boards of CoDA.
All e-mail/Internet and postal addresses
are confidential and are for CoDA business use only.
Email
Because e-mail is less expensive and more efficient
than Postal Service deliveries, its use is encouraged, provided
boundaries are maintained. These
boundaries include maintaining appropriate anonymity. Appropriate anonymity
requires that we keep our CoDA business
within CoDA and that our emails do not go to people outside the
Fellowship. It also means that we do not forward any
email to a wider audience than the original thread without
the author’s express permission.
Note: The one exception to the above
policy is when an email is pertinent in a dispute. In that case the email may
be
sent to IMC without the author's permission
Our 11th tradition states: Our public
relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always
maintain personal anonymity at the level of
press, radio and films. This does not say that we can not share our
last names with members of the
fellowship. Whether or not to do so is a
personal choice,
Email providers may include your full name
even if it isn’t part of your email address if you have provided it
when signing up. If this level of anonymity is important to
you, use the tools provided by your email provider to
hide your last name. If necessary, create a
new email account and only use your last initial in the last name field.
Anyone in the CoDA Fellowship can request
that his/her email address be placed on the CoDA Announcements
email list. Because e-mail copies involve
no additional cost, broad distribution of general information is enhanced.
Communication
is enhanced when at least two members in each Voting Entity have e-mail
addresses and are
willing to disseminate information
received via e-mail.
Any communication may be sent via e-mail.
However, care must be taken when sending copyrighted information
via email in order to protect our
copyrights. Under the "fair
use" rule of copyright law, an author may make
limited use of another author's work
without asking permission. This means
that only a small portion (never
more than 1 or 2 paragraphs) may be used
and no permission is required to do so.
Service items that are available
on
the website may be sent in full.
Proper email etiquette should be used at
all times while conducting CoDA business.
The following items are
suggested:
•
• Avoid
offensive language, name calling and taking other inventories
• When
using reply all that includes aliases remove individual addresses that are part
of an alias to prevent people
from getting multiple copies
• Do
not use all capitals as that is considered yelling
Social Networking Sites
Because there are concerns about anonymity
and privacy on social networking sites no CoDA literature or CoDA
business should be posted or discussed on
any site that is open to everyone. If
anyone chooses to discuss CoDA
literature or CoDA business on a private
recovery site one should limit literature posting to very small excerpts to
protect copyrights and use discretion when
discussing CoDA business.
These guidelines were developed with
insight gained from the following Steps and Traditions:
Step Ten: Continued to take personal
inventory, and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
Note;
All I and My statements below were changed to We and Our statements.
If we fail to follow our guidelines, we
admit our shortcomings and make amends wherever and as soon as
possible. If we wronged a person in
private, we make amends in private; if we wronged a person in front of others,
we make amends in front of others.
Tradition One: Our common welfare should
come first; personal recovery depends upon CoDA unity. We ask
ourselves, "Does this message promote
CoDA unity, foster fellowship or promote recovery? Could it be
interpreted as disruptive or
divisive?" If we receive a message that we consider disruptive or
divisive, we share
that feeling with the author before
seeking other remedies. We ask permission before copying an e-mail message or
other communication to others. We review our
responses for adherence to our Steps, Traditions, and principles.
Tradition Two: For our group purpose there
is but one ultimate authority: a loving Higher Power as expressed to
our group conscience. Our leaders are but
trusted servants; they do not govern.
CoDA has procedures in place to determine
the group conscience of a meeting, Intergroup, Voting Entity and even
our
CoDA structure. We determine our collective group conscience by
selecting/electing representatives to serve
the Fellowship. Our Higher Power gives us guidance
in this way. Sometimes people may circumvent our process
by claiming to be interpreters of our
group conscience. To avoid future confusion, when we participate in a group
conscience decision, we make written notes
of the people who were notified and/or participated, identify the
subject we discussed, and include the
results of the decision.
Tradition Three: The only requirement for
membership in CoDA is a desire for healthy and loving relationships.
We need to be aware that not everyone in
CoDA has access to telephones, computers, e-mail, or the Internet.
CoDA is based on inclusion, not exclusion.
Access to technology of any kind is not a requirement for
participation in our program so we look
for ways to distribute information, when requested, to those who do not
have this access.. We make a sincere
attempt to include all interested members in our discussions.
Tradition Nine: CoDA, as such, ought never
to be organized; but we may create service boards or committees
directly responsible to those they serve.
As a member of CoDA, and when working as a
trusted servant in any way, we are respectful to the members we
serve and the members we associate with.
We communicate with others on matters that affect other groups or
CoDA as a whole
Tradition Ten: CoDA has no opinion on
outside issues; hence, the CoDA name ought never be drawn into public
controversy.
As a member of CoDA and when working as a
trusted servant, we respect the careful use of Postal Service,
telephone, fax, e-mail and the internet.
We do not use personal correspondence of any kind to draw Co-Dependents
Anonymous, any of its service boards, or any
CoDA member into public controversy on any matter.
Tradition Eleven: Our public relations
policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always
maintain personal anonymity at the level
of press, radio, and films.
The Internet is not a private form of
communication. It is a public medium. Publishing items to web sites is
comparable to publishing in a newspaper.
For this reason, we encourage members to seek anonymity in screen
names, e-mail addresses, and postal mail
addresses.
Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the
spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place
principles before personalities.
We respect the anonymity of others and
ourselves. We consider the point of view of any writer or speaker. Is
anyone cloaking personal opinions or
concerns in our Steps and Traditions? Are we all respecting group
conscience procedures? Is there a
possibility of miscommunication? Could we be making erroneous assumptions?
Does it feel right? If not, it probably isn't.
When in doubt, check it out.
Section 3
List of Affirmative Communication Actions
• I respect the anonymity of others by
not using a member's last name in the text of a message.
• I obtain permission
before faxing or emailing CoDA identified materials to a member.
• I respect the personal
integrity, anonymity, and privacy of each member, and I expect and deserve the
same.
• I maintain civility and
decorum in my communications to members of CoDA, as I practice developing and
maintaining healthy
relationships. I continue to
practice healthy interpersonal behavior in communications via telephone, fax,
e-mail, and the
Internet.
• When in doubt about the
content or intent of a letter, telephone call, e-mail, or other communication,
I first request clarification
from the author before discussing
its content.
• When I participate in a
group discussion (in person or by Postal Service, telephone, fax, e-mail or on
the Internet), I maintain
focus on the subject at hand. My
attention and focus is a gift I offer other members.
• Recovery is a process;
I respect each member for where that member is in recovery. I practice my
program by sharing my
experience, strength, and hope with
others, not by pointing out faults and flaws in others.
• The text of any
forwarded message is transmitted verbatim. I do not edit it. (For the purposes
of committee work where editing
work is in process, I clearly mark
a previous, unedited version and include it with my suggested revisions.)
Generally, emails
are not forwarded to people not
addressed by the original sender.
• I encourage others in
their recovery, and do not "flame" them. Flaming is a written attack
on a person, a person's opinions, or a
person's point of view, distributed
to multiple addresses, usually via e-mail. When my opinions differ from another,
I share my
experiences with that person,
explaining how they are different or similar.
• When sending email to a
list of addresses, I send the message to myself and use BCC (Blind Carbon Copy)
for the list of
intended recipients in order to
protect the anonymity of the members.
Ayes: 31
Nays: 0
Abstentions: 2
MOTION 11115 7/8/2011 Vote WITHDRAW Committee Floor Name Roy, Judi
Subject Table
Item: To Table the Communications Motion #1 as
the activity presently on the floor constitutes committee work.
Amendment: Mover retracts motion.
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11116 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Outreach Name Lisa
Subject Motion
#2
Item: The Conference shall appoint a new Ad Hoc
Committee whose goal is to bridge the relationship between the Board
and the Committees and ultimately the
Fellowship. The representation will be:
2 from the Board, 2 from the
Committees, and 3 delegates, alternate
delegates (past or present), international delegate, or the CoRe Board, (past
or present). Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee shll come from
the delegates/alternates CoRe. This Ad
Hoc
Committee shall operate for 1 year and
then report to the 2012 CSC.
Amendment:
the CSC shall create
Committee accepts change
Amendment: and three others to be
chosen from the following:
committee accepted
Amendment:
The Conference hereby establishes
Committee accepted
The Conference hereby establishes a new Ad
Hoc Committee whose goal is to bridge the relationship between the
Board and the Committees and ultimately
the Fellowship. The representation to be:
2 from the Board, 2 from the
Committees,and three others to be chosen
from the following: alternate delegates
(past or present), international
delegate, or the CoRe Board, (past or
present). Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee
shall come from the
delegates/alternates CoRe. This Ad Hoc Committee shall operate for 1
year and then report to the 2012 CSC.
Intent To empower the Conference with the
necessary information to bring unity to the Fellowship.
Remarks
Ayes: 31
Nays:
6
Abstentions: 2
ACTION 11117 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject New business
Item: Open for new business
Intent
Remarks
MOTION 11119 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee IMC Name Natasha
Subject Motion #5
Item: To add the following (highlighted)
paragraph to the “Disagreement, Mediation and Resolution” process, Section 2,
page 15, before the 2nd to last paragraph
(starting with “Groups, Intergroups or Voting Entities do not establish
CoDA policy… )
It is essential that all disputing parties
use CoDA’s approved FSM mediation process, and not an external
mediation/arbitration process. . CoDA follows the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions
and has its own policies and
procedures. The IMC will work with CoDA
members and not attorneys hired or on a pro bono basis by any party
involved in the dispute. The IMC will base their recommendations on
information provided by CoDA members,
FSM policies and IMC procedures.
Intent To follow the FSM, fellowship approved
mediation/resolution process as outlined.
CoDA follows a 12-step program
guideline; its own policies and
procedures. Mediation is an attempt to
settle a dispute through an active participant
of a third, objective party (IMC) who
works to find points of agreement and make those in conflict agrees on a fair
result.
The fellowship has not approved for any attorney to be involved in the
process. An attorney for one party
cannot be objective in the overall
process. This motion reinforces Service Concept 7 & 12; Traditions 1 &
7.
Remarks The point of mediation is to resolve
disputes through an objective third party; achieve resolution out of court;
process the resolution quicker, with
mutual cooperation, and to end anxiety and problems which may also effect
the organization.
In a dispute, IMC noticed that one party
(because of their standing in CoDA) had hired an attorney on a pro bono
basis (and later, CoDA actually paid for
her services) as shown in their board meeting minutes. They not only
had the access to this attorney, internally,
but the other party did not have access to an attorney, & they did not
have access to the CoDA these funds as
well.
Ayes:
26
Nays:
5
Abstentions: 7
ACTION 11120 7/8/2011 Vote 2/3 VOTE Committee Floor Name Lisa, Yumi
Subject Elect ad hoc committee
Item: For the conference to elect the members of
the ad hoc committee at this conference.
Intent
Remarks Ayes:
31
Nays:
6
Abstentions: 2
ACTION 11121 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name David L.,
Subject Elections:
Ad Hoc Committee
Item: Nominations
Board:
Dagmar - she accepts selected
Barbara-she accepts selected
Evie-she accepts
Dianne-declined
Committees:
Teresa-accepts selected
Natasha-accepts
Allan-declined
Yumi-accepts
David-accepts selected
Delegates, Alternate Delegates, CoRe
Board:
Scott-accepts
Leo-accepts
Mary-accepts
Anita-accepts selected
Deborah-accepts selected
Michelle-accepts
Werner-accepts selected
Gary-declined
Eric-declined
Lou-declined
Intent
Remarks
ACTION 11122 7/8/2011 Vote Committee Facilitator Name
Subject Quorum Count
Item:
Intent
Remarks Quorum reached
MOTION 11123 7/8/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Facilitator Name Lisa, Scott
Subject to approve today's minutes
Item:
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
ACTION 11124 7/8/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Facilitator Name
Subject approval of complete 2011 motions
Item: To approve all motions of the conference.
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it
MOTION 11125 7/8/2011 Vote UNANIMOUS Committee Floor Name Stephanie, Lou
Subject to adjourn
Item: Move to adjourn
Intent
Remarks Ayes have it