At the San Diego International Conference business meeting, the Central Office Oversight Committee reported that the committee meets monthly by conference phone call. There have been nine such meetings. Each meeting has an agenda and is limited to one to one-and-a-half hours. The COOC has managed Central Office business since the departure of Roy K. as administrator.
The SA conference in San Diego gave me a strong sense of fellowship and a great hope for our future in recovery and growth. Something that struck me, however, was an experience which brought some questions to mind regarding our commitment to the Twelve Steps as an ongoing foundation for recovery.
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.
I’d like to say something about SA birthday celebrations. I think we’re carrying it too far, going the wrong way with it. For example, in a recent regional SA convention, applause, whoops and whistles weren’t enough, there were horns. Razzmatazz. Is it a popularity contest? Who registers highest on the applause meter? Is this putting principles before personalities or personality before principle?
The following is a synopsis of minutes taken at the Chicago Convention Business Meeting, July 13, 1991, by David M., and approved by Jean P., who chaired the meeting:
Response to Roy K.’s Letter and Papers to Tri-State NY and June Essay • 24 supporting letters and calls • 3 letters (no calls) against
[The following are all responses received by the Central Office to the article “SA and Sexual Abuse” on page 20 of the October 1990 issue of Essay. We hope no response was omitted; the CO was in transition due to Nan’s leaving.—Ed.]
[Convention planners decided that the convention business meeting, traditionally dealing only with matters pertaining to conventions, would, in this case, also bring up other matters. It was stated at the beginning of the business meeting that any suggestions or recommendations made on such other matters would be suggestions only, not binding on the fellowship.—Ed.]
[A member in Germany shares his concerns about length of sobriety required for voting in SA business meetings.]
The overwhelming response to the survey shows how SA is passionately concerned about the issue of how sexual sobriety is interpreted. Over 75% of responding groups hold to traditional SA sobriety (see the report inside). However, over 18% hold to non-traditional sobriety; we have a house divided.
