From the C.A. World Service Manual
WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DESCRIPTION
The World Services Board of Trustees (WSBT) has the broadest scope of any branch of our service structure. The responsibility of this Board is to help deal with anything that affects
C.A. as a whole, either internally or externally. All things that may endanger the existence of our Fellowship or limit our growth are of concern to WSBT.
The WSBT does NOT govern. Its nature is that of custodian only, providing guidance. The WSBT may consist of both addicts and non-addicts as may be needed for professional areas of expertise and to broaden our perspective. Its members are known as Trustees.
The only interest of the Trustees is to serve the best interest of our Fellowship. They are given such authority by and through the World Service Conference.
The WSBT, like the World Service Office, functions as an entity apart from the program.
All actions by the WSBT are guided by the Traditions.
The World Service Office is responsible to the WSBT. In order to perform their various functions, the WSBT utilizes a subcommittee system.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WSBT SUBCOMMITTEES
These committees are composed of Trustees, Fellowship members, and if needed, a non- addict. Members are selected on a “what they have to offer” basis. Internal structure of the WSBT is different from the rest of the service branches. The Trustees do not represent; they serve.
1.FINANCE
Participates in the review and oversight of all WSO financial matters; ensures compliance with existing guidelines and budgets of C.A. World Services.
2.LEGAL
On an ‘as needed’ basis, this committee investigates the legal implications of any business of
C.A. World Services. This includes, but is not exclusive, to copyright, royalty and vendor licenses agreements. It is suggested that at least one member of this committee have some knowledge of legal matters.
3.WORLD SERVICE CONFERENCE
This committee, working with the WSO and the World Service Conference committee, researches future venues for holding the World Service conference. Also is responsible for bids and contract negotiations in collaboration with the Trustee Negotiating Committee. It is suggested that the World Service Trustee and the Pacific South Trustee sit on this committee. Note: this committee is only active every two years.
4.TRUSTEE NEGOTIATING
To assist the World Service Trustee by serving as a group conscience in the review of all contracts negotiated on behalf of Cocaine Anonymous, involving the amount of #500 USD or greater prior to engagement on the part of Cocaine Anonymous. A contract is defined as any signed document between Cocaine Anonymous and any other person(s) or business (es), that indicates a commitment of services or goods between the two defined entities.
5.TRUSTEE ELECTION
This committee coordinates and oversees the Trustee Election process. See Trustee Election Committee Guidelines for addition information.
6.LONG TERM PLANNING
To plan and guide the future of Cocaine Anonymous to insure that the addict that still suffers can receive the message of recovery. This committee is not limited in participation by current WSBT members and it is suggested that former Trustees be included in this committee.
7.ORIENTATION
To assist new members of the World Service Board of Trustees regarding the current matters being worked on by the WSBT, review the roles, responsibilities and guidelines for spending and subcommittee projects, board participation and meeting preparation and to serve as a point of contact for any questions regarding their new role as a member of the WSBT.
8.NEWSGRAM
To review all article of the NewsGram for tradition violations prior to publication and distribution to the C.A. Fellowship. Work with the WSO, NewsGram Editor, Regional Trustees and designated NewsGram coordinators within the regions to generate articles, poems, anecdotes, etc. for the NewsGram. Topics should include those about; Steps, Traditions, and Concepts, C.A. Finances, Long Term Planning objectives, etc. It is suggested that the WSBT provide one article per quarter for submission to the NewsGram in addition to the Trustee Corner.
9.OUTREACH
To work with past members of the WSBT to elicit, on an as-needed basis, their assistance and experience, strength and hope on any of a variety of issues affecting C.A., including, without limitation, soliciting input from the fellowship as a whole on surveys, literature projects, fellowship growth, etc.
10.INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
To examine structure trademarks, expansion, development, language issues across our fellowship internationally.
The Officers of the WSBT are: Chairperson
Vice Chairperson Secretary
THE WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SERVICE STRUCTURE
PURPOSE: To ensure the continuation and growth of C.A.
FUNCTIONS:
a.To deal with matters, both inside and outside the Fellowship, which affect the continuation of
C.A. growth.
b.The guardians of the Twelve Traditions.
c.To actively seek and encourage ways of carrying the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers.
MEMBERSHIP:
All Trustees serve the fellowship as a whole. The number of Trustees serving at any time is limited to a maximum of 12 active Trustees serving the World Service Conference. At least three-quarters are to be addict Trustees.
There are five types of Trustees: (1) World Service Trustee; (2) Regional Trustee; (3) World Service Office Trustee; (4) Trustee-at-Large; and (5) Non-Addict Trustee.
Regional Trustee: Regional Trustees are from the various designated regions. While no Trustee can be said to represent a geographical section of the country or world, Regional Trustees bring an invaluable regional point of view to the WSBT.
World Service Trustee: World Service Trustees are from an area within 125 miles of the World Service Office in California.
World Service Office Trustee: The WSO Trustee is an active volunteer director, who is not already a Trustee, on the WSO Board of Directors.
Non-Addict Trustee: Non-Addict Trustees are from the various designated Regions. Trustee-at- Large: The Trustee will be chosen from the seven regions of Cocaine Anonymous.
Trustees at Large are chosen for their special experience, talents or background. They should: have the ability to be versatile, fill in positions where needed on various committees, attend regional caucuses/conventions, and be, in the purest sense, a servant to the entire Fellowship.
The WSBT may consist of the following: Regional Trustee7
World Service Trustee1
World Service Office Trustee 1 Trustee-at-Large2
Non-Addict Trustee1
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications of Addict Trustees:
1. Willingness to serve.
2. A commitment to service as shown by experience; working as a member of other C.A. service committees; and contributions to the continuation and growth of the Fellowship.
3. The time and resources necessary for active trusteeship.
4. A minimum of eight years of continuous abstinence from cocaine and all other mind-altering substances at the time of the election to the Regional slate.
5. A good working knowledge of the Twelve Traditions.
6. Has to have served as a voting member or committee chair at a prior WSC.
7. A working knowledge of the 12 Concepts and the Conference Charter.
Qualifications of Non-Addict Trustees:
1. Willingness to serve
2. The time and resources necessary for active Trusteeship.
3. A knowledge of the Twelve Traditions.
4. A good understanding of the disease of addiction and the Twelve Step Program of Recovery.
WSBT MEETINGS
1. The Trustees shall hold regular meetings up to four times per year at the discretion of the WSBT
2. Additional special meetings are held upon 60 percent of WSBT approval, whenever needed. Trustees will be notified by the Chairperson.
3. Attendance of at least 60 percent of the Trustees constitutes a quorum.
4. Each Trustee is expected to attend three out of four regular meetings. A Trustee who is unable to attend may be asked to resign.
5. Minutes are kept of all meetings.
6. A copy of the minutes is sent to:a.Each Trustee;
b.The World Service Office;
c.Each Delegate and Area central office;
d.All Conference committee chairpersons;
e.All Conference officers.
The WSBT is an advisory board rather than a directive board. It is their responsibility to offer guidance to members, Groups, and service committees in matters concerning the Traditions or matters, which affect C.A. as a whole.
The Trustees do not have the authority to control C.A. or to change the nature of the Fellowship. Our Second Concept ensures that major policy decisions can only be made by the group conscience of the World Service Conference.
TRUSTEE NOMINEE SELECTION AND ELECTION PROCESS AND TRUSTEE TERM
VACANCY, REPLACEMENT, AND TERM
All Trustee positions shall be selected during the regular Trustee elections at the WS Conference, using the slate approved at that Conference. The term of such Trustee positions shall commence immediately following the close of the WSC at which that position is filled, and shall end at the close of the fourth successive WSC. The WSO Trustee term shall end at the close of the second successive WSC. No Regional Trustee, Trustee at Large, Non-Addict Trustee, or World Service Trustee shall serve two terms. The WSO Trustee may serve two consecutive two- year terms.
In the event of a Trustee vacancy for any reason, an individual elected to fill the position shall fulfill a full trustee term. In the interim following a vacancy and prior to a new election, any vacant Trustee position(s) may be filled by any existing Trustee as selected by the WSBT.
REGIONAL SLATE
The Regional Slate of Trustee candidates shall be those candidates elected at the Regional Assembly but not yet submitted to WSC for ratification. If a Region has followed the Regional Election process and has not submitted any slate, or if no candidates on the submitted slate are selected by the TEC, then no Trustee shall be chosen from that Region that year, and the WSBT will assign an existing Trustee to fulfill the duties of that position until the next Conference, when this process begins again. The Approved Slate of candidates expires when the WSC adjourns.
CONFERENCE APPROVED SLATE
The candidates nominated from each Region shall be submitted to WSC for ratification by two-thirds vote of the WSC, except in the case where written notice is received from a potential Trustee candidate that the said candidate is withdrawing from the election process.
Upon receiving such notice, the TEC Chair shall notify the Regional Trustee (or the WSOB Chair in case of the WSOT) and request that said candidates name be removed from the slate prior to such slate being presented to the conference floor for ratification. All candidates who complete the WSC ratification process successfully shall then be considered the Conference Approved Slate of Trustee candidates. This approved slate expires when the WSC adjourns.
The various Trustee Slates shall be submitted to the Conference for ratification as one of the first substantive orders of business. Each Regional Slate, Non-Addict Trustee Slate, WSO Trustee Slate, shall be presented for approval by a single vote of the Conference. The ratification of the Regional Slate also constitutes the ratification of the Trustee-at-Large designees and the WS Trustee from the Pacific South Region. If there is an objection to the slate, or any individual on the slate, then each individual on the slate will be considered separately.
TRUSTEE ELECTION COMMITTEE
Final selection of a Trustee shall be made by a Trustee Election Committee consisting of the following: Full Board of Trustees and One WSC Delegate from each Region (currently seven).
All Trustees, except the WSO Trustee, shall be selected from the Conference Approved Slate pursuant to the procedures outlined in this Manual. The WSO Trustee shall be selected from the candidates selected by the WSO Board not already a Trustee. In order to be elected Trustee, a candidate must receive a vote of two-thirds of the Trustee Election Committee.
Duties, Responsibilities and Qualifications of WSC Delegates Serving on the Trustee Election Committee:
1. One current WSC Delegate from each Region shall be selected to serve as Trustee Election Delegate by a Regional caucus conducted at the WSC. An alternate shall also be selected.
2. It is recommended that each Delegate have previous WSC experience.
3. During the Delegate’s term on this committee, that Delegate may not be included in any slate of nominee candidates.
4. During the Delegates term on this committee, a Delegate may not serve as a WSC Committee Chair.
5. A Delegate’s term on this committee shall commence the day following the WSC and continue until the closing of the following WSC.
6. A Delegate serving the final year of his or her term at the WSC is not eligible for this position.
7. If a Delegate cannot fulfill his or her term for any reason, the Region must replace the Delegate for the balance of the term.
TRUSTEE SELECTION AND ELECTIONS PROCESS SUMMARY
Regional and World Service Trustees:
1. After approval by each Area, one or more nominee candidates may be submitted from each Area within a Region. Each Area through its Chair or Delegates is responsible for submitting the service resumes of its nominees in writing prior to the voting at the Regional Assembly to either the Regional Trustee or Regional Assembly Chair.
2. The Pacific South Region shall annually elect up to six but not less than four candidates to fill Trustee positions as needed. The remaining six regions shall annually elect up to four but not less than two candidates to fill Trustee positions as needed.
3. The candidates will be submitted to the Trustee Election Committee for qualification.
4. In the event a candidate for slate consideration/ ratification (Regional Trustee , WST, TAL, Non-Addict Trustee) declines the opportunity to interview, the TEC Chair will notify the Regional Trustee and request that the said candidate’s name be removed from the slate.
5. The Trustee Election Committee will submit the candidates to the World Service Conference for ratification by two-thirds vote of the WSC.
6. The Trustee Election Committee will make its selection from the Conference Approved Slate.
World Service Office Trustee:
1. All past and present volunteer Directors not already a Trustee may be considered as candidates for any World Service Office Trustee vacancy.
2. Candidates are nominated for WSOB Trustee and a minimum of two candidates shall be elected by majority vote of the WSOB. The candidates are then submitted to the Trustee Election Committee for qualification. If two candidates are not elected, the WSOB has failed to select a slate.
3. In the event a Standing WSOT is not ratified through the ratification process for Trustee, yet has been submitted for slate consideration/ratification, the TEC Chair will notify the WSOB Chair and request that the candidate be removed from the slate.
4. The Trustee Election Committee will submit the candidates to the World Service Conference for ratification by two-thirds vote of the WSC. The Trustee Election Committee will make its selection from the candidates ratified by two-thirds vote of the WSC.
5. In the event a standing WSOB director is not ratified through the ratification process for director, yet has been submitted for the slate/consideration/ratification, the TEC Chair will notify the WSOB Chair and request that the candidate be removed from the slate…
Trustee-at- Large:
1. At the Regional meeting, up to four nominees will be elected for the position of Regional Trustee.
2. The two Regional nominees receiving the highest number of votes at the various Regional Assembly shall be considered the Region’s nominees for Trustee-At-Large.
3. The two candidates will be submitted to the Trustee Election Committee for qualification.
4. The Trustee Election Committee will submit the candidates to the World Service Conference for ratification by two-thirds vote of the WSC.
5. The Trustee Election Committee will make its selection from the Conference Approved slate.
Non-Addict Trustee:
1. One or more nominee candidates may be submitted from each Area within a Region.
2. At the various Regional meetings, nominees will be elected.
3. The candidates will be submitted to the Trustee Election¬ Committee for qualification.
4. The Trustee Election Committee will submit the candidates to the World Service Conference for ratification by two-thirds vote of the WSC.
5. The Trustee Election Committee will make its selection from the Conference Approved Slate.
