Central Office Oversight Committee—Who, What and How

At the Chicago International SA conference Roy K. announced his departure from running the Central SA office. An ad hoc Central Office Oversight Committee (COOC) was created to provide short-term management of our SA Central Office affairs.

The motion as passed states: “We propose a committee to oversee the Central Office and the Essay. This committee would be selected on the basis of volunteers from various regions of the country and international areas (see below) with at least two years of sobriety as SA understands it. The committee would be composed of not more than nine people and not less than seven.

“This committee will be formed at this conference by volunteers giving names to chairperson. It will meet at this conference and designate two members for a period of seven months to be responsible for the finances of the fellowship under the oversight of whatever auditing procedures are now in place.

“This is understood as an interim committee only and it will cease to exist one month after the next international conference.”

The COOC met at the Chicago conference. Our first business was to share our name and phone numbers. The representatives from the various areas are: Harry В. (Northwest); Betsy T. (Mid-Atlantic); Sylvia J. (South Mid-West); Jim O. (North Mid-West); David M. (Southeast); James M. (N.E. Atlantic); David B. (Southeast); Larry M. (N.E. Atlantic); Dan N. (Southwest).

The committee then elected Betsy T. as Chair and David M. as Secretary. Harry B. is the COOC Essay representative with editor Lawrence M. Our COOC liaison to the General Service Board Task Force, also created at the Chicago Conference, is Sylvia J. We will also share our minutes with their new chair, Michael B. from Wichita. Jim O. arranges the group phone calls. Jim O. and James M. monitor and report on the Central Office finances. The most active job falls to Dave B. who, since he lives near-by, acts as the continuing contact person with the Central Office staff.

The COOC has met on conference calls six times through October. Our concerns have ranged from fiscal management to support of isolated sexaholics. The Traditions have guided our conversations and our Higher Power is definitely keeping SA alive and healthy.

Some of our specific actions to support and guide the Central Office include the following: Central Office administrator Pat, a non-sexaholic employee, receives inquiries from individuals and groups. Letters and phone calls needing a reply from a sexaholic are sent with a reply envelope to the COOC member responsible for that region.

International mail is sent to the COOC Secretary for assignment. Either a copy of the response or a phone log is kept by the COOC respondent. The Central Office is sent a dated acknowledgement that inquiries have been answered on the copy of the inquiry letter sent by the Central Office. A copy of the response need not be sent unless the writer chooses to do so.

We set a $1,000 limit on checks needing only one signature. Two signatures are required for larger amounts.

Second Quarter donations were down 50% over the same 1990 and 1989 quarter. We suggested that the Essay have a contribution envelope enclosed.

The secretary was authorized to sign SA tax forms and bank resolutions on behalf of the COOC. Arranging a current audit is in process.

We have added a Mail Clerk to Central Office staff: This person picks up and opens the mail daily with Pat, the SA Administrator present. We record every piece of mail which includes money on the ledger which the clerk and the office manager sign. Weekly copies of the ledger are sent to the COOC Chair Betsy T.

The Central Office has a great surplus of printed cover Sexaholics Anonymous, Recovery Continues, pamphlets and Member Stories. We will work to reduce this inventory in the coming months. We will also order new plain cover Big Books or perhaps recover the printed ones.

Other matters of concern to the COOC have included investigating a 1-800 telephone number for the Central Office and ways to involve more sexaholics in the operation of the Central Office as is the case with AA.

At our last meeting, Jim O. asked that we should have good coverage of the COOC in the next Essay. As he said, “We are functioning and the Central Office is doing well and is growing.” One day at a time the COOC and the four Central Office staff are seeking to carry the message and to ensure that SA is able to help other sexaholics recover.

Service Board Study Update

A General Service Board Study Committee was formed during the SA Chicago Conference Business Meeting. The Committee is comprised of volunteer members from various regions of the country with at least two years of sexual sobriety. The members include: Bill Z. of Sherman Oaks, CA; Catherine P. of Atlanta, GA; Frank C. of Escondido, CA (alternate); Gordon C. of Washington, DC; Mike B. (Chair) of Wichita, KS; Rich K. of Chicago, IL; Richard D. of Portland, OR (alternate); Richard T. of Chanute, KS (alternate); and Wes B. of Portland, OR. We have been studying the AA 12 concepts and service manual, OA By-Laws, NA By-Laws and CA By-Laws. During our two conference calls we have experienced the willingness to learn from other successful 12-step groups, the humility for what God has wrought in SA, and an openness for what SA might apply in order to provide service in the future. We’re planning another conference call as well as a meeting in San Diego prior to the conference. We’re seeking His will, not ours.