Cocaine Anonymous

of Colorado, Inc.

Bylaws and

Area Guidelines

Last Revised:
March 16, 2017

Table of Contents

1.Colorado Area Functions

2.Standing Committees of the Area include:

3.Meeting Times And Places

4.Quorum

5.Voting Members / Practices For General Business

6.Area Service Officers

A.Chairperson

B.Vice Chairperson

C.Treasurer

D.Secretary

E.Literature Chips and Format (LCF)

F.Seniormost Area Delegate

7.Standing Committees

8.What We Do / Discuss At Area

9.Colorado Area Delegate Responsibilities

10.Colorado Area Alternate Delegate Responsibilities

11.C.A. Colorado Area Election Procedures

A.Purpose

B.Who Can Vote in Area Elections

C.Method of Voting

D.Terms of Positions and Rotation of Election:

E.Voting Procedures for Delegates and the Five Area Officers

F.Single Candidate (Area Officer or Delegate):

G.Timing of Elections

i.Area Chair, Area Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and LCF Chairperson:

ii.Delegate / Alternate Delegate:

H.Colorado Area Trustee Slate Nominations Guidelines

12.Suspension / Removal Of Elected Trusted Servants

13.Guidelines For Dispute Resolution

14.Maintenance Of Guidelines

15.Advisory Board

A.Advisory Board members

B.Selection Of General Colorado Area C.A. Members To Advisory Board

C.Advisory Board Chair

D.Voting

E.Suspension Or Removal Of Advisory Board Members

F.Guidelines For Dispute Resolution

G.Purpose

H.Responsibilities

16.General Background

17.Standing Rules:

18.The Twelve Traditions:

19.Concepts (short form):

20.Revision History

Statementof Purpose

The Cocaine Anonymous of Colorado, Inc. Bylaws and Area Guidelines ("Area Guidelines")are intended to supplement the World Service Manual ("WSM") and to clarify how we operate in the Colorado Area. The WSM should be used as the primary source of information, while the Area Guidelines will serve to clarify the specific procedures we've adopted over the years.

1.Colorado Area Functions

  1. Maintains ongoing communication with the World Service Office and World Service Conference.
  2. Elects Delegates to the World Service Conference.
  3. Elects Area Officers.
  4. Holds Assemblies and/or monthly Service Meetings.
  5. Maintains a bank account for Area and all Standing Committees.
  6. Maintains local mailing address/P.O. Box.
  7. Encourages adherence to and approves proper use of the C.A. logo and trademark guidelines as set forth in the C.A. World Service Manual.
  8. For all Colorado bank accounts, the Area shall ensure that applicable checks and balances are in place, including without limitation those referenced in the Financial Guidelines for Groups, Districts, and Areas (

These include, but are not limited to:

  1. Requiring two (2) signatures to endorse all checks.
  2. Provide duplicate bank statements with the account number blacked out; one to the sub-committee Chair and one to the Area Chair. Additionally, it is required that the committee provides a report detailing revenues, expenses, and running balance at each Area meeting.
  3. The Treasurer is never a signer on the account.
  4. The Treasurer holds the check book.
  5. Large cash deposits should be made by two (2) people as soon as practicable.
  6. Checks are not to be pre-signed. They should be endorsed by two signers at one time.
  7. Please see additional requirements in Section 6(C) regarding Treasurer.
  1. We use "Robert's Rules of Order" as adopted by the Area as a supplement to the CA World Service Manual. The "WSC Parliamentary Procedure Guidelines" as adapted from "Robert's Rules of Order" and outlined in the CA World Service Manual shall take precedence if a conflict should arise.

2.Standing Committees of the Area include:

  1. Advisory Board: Entrusted with the control of our legal entity, Cocaine Anonymous of Colorado, Inc., a Colorado non-profit corporation. The objective of Advisory Board is to serve the Area, by responsibly revising an annual Area budget, discussing suggestions to improve the spiritual and financial wellbeing of C.A. Colorado. The Advisory Board must ultimately seek approval from the Area it serves, for actions or decisions to be taken. (See Section 15 for additional information.)
  2. Convention:Convention Chairperson terms (Area or Regional) are from the time of election until the convention is completed, and the convention accounting is finalized (outstanding debts paid and receivables collected or written off). In the case of the Regional convention, all items and monies required to be forward to the next Area committee hosting the Regional convention must also be completed. It is possible to have two Area convention chairpersons at one time – the newly elected chairperson for the convention upcoming and the outgoing chairperson for the convention recently ended – their duties and responsibilities do not overlap. Convention chairperson elections are held on an as needed basis depending on when the Area plans to hold conventions.

Convention proceeds from Area Conventions shall be divided such that a portion remains in the Area Convention Account for seed money for the next year (up to $1,000). The balance remaining after the seed money has been set aside is divided by the Area into equal portions one of which shall be retained by the Area at its discretion to meet or supplement its prudent reserve and the other being sent directly to C.A. World Services. It is suggested that the allocation of all proceeds from the convention be fully determined on a percentage basis well in advance of the convention itself. Doing this can save a lot of wasted time at the Area meeting if the convention is more financially successful than expected.

The forgoing does not pertain to when the Southwest Regional Convention is hosted by the Colorado Area. The Southwest Regional Convention is subject to a separate apportionment and seed money process (see World Service Convention Guidelines for specifics).

  1. CPC (cooperation with the professional community)/Lifeline: Refer to Cocaine Anonymous World Service Conference Hospitals and Institutions Committee Guidelines and Information (
  2. H & I (Hospitals and Institutions):Refer to Cocaine Anonymous World Service Conference Hospitals and Institutions Committee Guidelines and Information (
  3. IT (Internet): The duties are as follows: (1) updates website with current months calendar events;(2) keeps online meeting list up to date;(3) pays fees for website hosting and domain name registration; (4) post any documents reflecting the interests of the C.A. Colorado Area. For additional information, see the Information Technology Committee Workbook and Guidelines (
  4. Newsletter:Articles, stories, and other submissions are submitted by members of the fellowship on topics selected by the committee. The Newsletter is published and distributedto the Area as determined by the committee. Funds for the publication are requested through the Area.
  5. PIP (Public Information and Phone Line): Responsible for public awareness of events. Refer to Public Information at additional information. Maintains, updates, publishes, and distributes Area Meeting Schedules. Manages the phone line.
  1. Unity:Facilitates events that carry the message of C.A. and support the overall growth and wellbeing of our fellowship.
  2. Archive Committee: The purpose of the Colorado Area Archive Committee is to collect, organize, categorize, copy, preserve and electronically store Cocaine Anonymous of Colorado's historically valued documents, printed materials and historical items. Refer to the WSM for additional information.

3.Meeting Times And Places

The Colorado Area Service Committee will meet monthly at the time, location, and date designated by the Area Chair. Currently, the Area Service Committee Meeting is the third Thursday of each month in Denver, Colorado at 7:00 p.m. There may be occasions when the standing meeting date / location / time will need to be revised; the Area Chair has the latitude to set the new location / time / date and the responsibility to provide as reasonable a notice of the change as is practical.

4.Quorum

Quorum for the Colorado Area is the number of voting members present at the time any roll call is made. This allows the Area to conduct business no matter what percentage of the eligible voting body is present.

5.Voting Members / Practices For General Business

See Section 11(E)for detailed voting procedures for electing Area officers.

Area Officers (with exception of the Chairperson, who may only vote in the event of a tie), each groups'Group Service Representative(GSR) or an alternate, WSC Delegates and Alternate Delegate, and those Chair-people of Area Committees who have requested and received a vote from the Areaare all voting members at the Colorado Area level and may receive one vote per person. Voting members may informally proxy (i.e. does not need to be written) their vote to another member who is reporting in their absence. A proxy may not be made by the Chair, Vice Chair, Delegate and Alternate Delegate. No voting member shall carry more than one vote.

Any item of business voted on at Area passes by simple majority (greater than 50% of the total votes cast). In matters believed to be of significant importance, it is possible for Area members to make a motion to require a greater majority (e.g. 2/3 or 3/4) to pass an item of business. The vote on such a motion would typically be passed by simple majority unless different percentage otherwise explicitly stated in said motion.

In all its proceedings, the C.A. Colorado Area shall observe the spirit of the C.A. Tradition, taking great care that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity.

6.Area Service Officers

It is strongly recommended that all Area Service Officers meet the requirements for the position to which they are nominated.

A.Chairperson

  1. Two (2) years of continuous sobriety.
  2. Two (2) year commitment.
  3. One year of service in C.A. at the District or Area Level.
  4. Presides over all Area meetings and arranges agendas and reasonably follows parliamentary procedures.
  5. Assumes responsibilities of coordinating all activities within the Area.
  6. Is the President of Cocaine Anonymous of Colorado, Inc.
  7. The Area Chair is to immediately assume the title and responsibilities as Registered Agent for CACI ("Cocaine Anonymous of Colorado, Inc."). This is done by submitting a Statement of Change of Registered Agent on the Colorado Secretary of State website. The outgoing Chair needs to coordinate with the incoming Chair the automatic and immediate change in the Registered Agent.
  8. Confirm CACI's principal office address is up to date with the Secretary of State (i.e., the P.O. Box).
  9. All Colorado Area contracts (i.e., bank, business insurance, IRS, Secretary of State of Colorado) use the address of the chair, but mail goes to the Area P.O. Box.
  10. Votes only in the case of a tie.
  11. Carries the Area vote at Regional/World Functions.
  12. Gives a quarterly report to the Regional Trustee regarding meetings (both H & I and regular) and upcoming events.
  13. Timely filings with regulatory agencies (e.g. filing forms with the ColoradoSecretary of State, completing state /local taxes and nonprofit corporation forms).
  14. Generally the Area Chairperson does not voice a personal opinion on the matters being discussed at the Area Service meetings. In cases where the Area Chairwishes to participate fully in the discussion surrounding a particular topic, the Area Chair must request someone else (usually the Area Vice-chair) to "act as chair" until the matter is tabled or closed. During this period the Area Chair gains a voice but no vote; the Acting Chair's voting status remains unchanged but they have no voice on the subject. After the matter is tabled or closed, the Area Chair and Acting Chair resume their normal roles. If a tabled matter is re-opened for business the Area Chair repeats the process if they so choose.
  15. Works within the Advisory Boardto establish an annual budget in February of each year. Outgoing Chairperson and Treasurer help new incoming Chairperson and Treasurer create their first budget and ensure they understand the workings of the accounting system and that the books are in order at the time of transfer.
  16. Chair provides the World Service Office with contact information for newly elected Delegates shortly after they are elected to ensure they receive relevant materials in a timely fashion.
  17. Chair completes the required Delegate Registration forms designating the Delegates / Alternate Delegates that will be attending the World Service Conference per Standing Rule 5 of the C.A. World Service Manual. This form is to be received by the WSO 120 days prior to the Conference. Generally, it is safest to ensure this information is received at the WSO by the end of April. Contact the WSO for the applicable form.
  18. Is one of the four authorized signers on the CA bank account.
  19. Selects two C.A. members to Advisory Board. See Section 15(A).
  20. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

B.Vice Chairperson

  1. Two (2) years continuous sobriety.
  2. Two (2) year commitment.
  3. One year of service in C.A. at the District or Area Level.
  4. In the absence of the Chairperson, performs all duties of the Chairperson.
  5. Coordinates general Area Committee activities.
  6. Carries vote by proxy at all Regional/World functions.
  7. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.
  8. Attends monthly Treasurer meeting and verifies count of collected funds.
  9. May be designated as the person to make the deposits from the Treasurer meeting.
  10. May be designated as the Parliamentarian.
  11. Serves on at least one Standing Committee.

C.Treasurer

  1. Three years continuous sobriety.
  2. Two year commitment.
  3. One year of service in C.A. at the Area Level.
  4. Gainfully employed and / or financially solvent.
  5. Maintains bank account with four authorized signers (Area Chair, LCF Chair, and two of the Area Delegates). All checks require two (2) signatures of endorsement.
  6. Receives and deposits contributions from meetings and special events. Write receipts for funds received. Deposits funds as soon as practical after the Area Meeting.
  7. Keeps an accurate bookkeeping system. Bookkeeping or accounting experience ispreferred but not required.
  8. Gives a monthly financial report.
  9. Distributes funds as approved by Area to settle expenses, reimbursements, andmake contributions to C.A. World Services.
  10. Reconciles bank account with the account signers on a monthly basis. Provides copies of the monthly bank statements as requested with the account number blacked out.
  11. Timely reporting with regulatory agencies, federal and state. To protect the Area's non-profit status yearly filings are required.
  12. Refers to the C.A. Conference approved "Financial Guidelines for Groups, Districts, and Areas of Cocaine Anonymous" for additional insights and guidance.
  13. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

D.Secretary

  1. One (1) year of continuous sobriety.
  2. Two (2) year commitment.
  3. One year of service in C.A. at the District or Area Level.
  4. Keeps accurate minutes of all Area meetings.
  5. Maintains an updated contact/phone list of all Area officers, Delegates etc.
  6. Maintains general communications within the Area.
  7. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

E.Literature Chips and Format (LCF)

  1. One (1) year of continuous sobriety.
  2. Two (2) year commitment.
  3. Hold monthly meeting to make items available to the Fellowship.
  4. Maintain and purchase product inventory as required.
  5. Maintain records of purchases, expenses, sales, and inventory.
  6. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary. Is one of the four authorized signers on the CA bank account.

F.Structure and Bylaws Chairperson

Suggested Sobriety: 2 years

Term: 2 years, beginning January of odd years. Nominations for this position will open the preceding October. Resumes will be due and presentations will be held at area meeting in November. Candidates must be present at area in order to be considered for the position. A vote will be held in December at area meeting.

Colorado Area Structure and Bylaws chair is the keeper of the Colorado Area Bylaws and Guidelines, updates those guidelines as needed, and is a reference for questions presented by the area body regarding Colorado Area Bylaws and Guidelines.

Duties:

  1. Call a committee when needed, schedule and preside over meetings
  2. Attend monthly area meetings
  3. Document actions of the area body that change area guidelines
  4. Create verbiage and submit to area for a ratifying vote
  5. Keep track of updates and changes to area guidelines
  6. Update area guidelines master copy as necessary

Other Suggested Quallififcations:

  1. 1 year of service at area or district level
  2. Working knowledge of Colorado Area Bylaws and Guidelines

G.Seniormost Area Delegate

  1. Simply the duly elected Delegate with the longest time in service in that position.
  2. Attends Advisory Board meetings as necessary.

7.Standing Committees

The service term for the Chair Person of a Standing Committee is two years. All other service positions on the Standing Committee are one year. Some Standing Committees may only meet as needed (e.g. Structure and Bylaws or Convention Committee). The terms for those service positions are either two years or to the conclusion of the event. At each Area meeting it is expected that a member of each Standing Committee attend and provide a report concerning that Committee's activities. If no member of a committee can attend, a written report (to the Area Chair) is acceptable. Standing Committees that have funds and/or bank accounts shall submit written financial reports as a supplement to its monthly report. To aid in the Area budget planning, these committees need to submit a budget and financial report at the Advisory Board meeting.

8.What We Do / Discuss At Area

  1. Receive Group, District, and Committee reports.
  2. Maintain ongoing communications with the Districts / Region / World.
  3. Receive reports from all Area committees and officers.
  4. Receive reports from Delegates about World Conference, Southwest Regional etc.
  5. Make decisions on Area functions based on District/group conscience.
  6. Elect Area Delegates and Area Officers.
  7. Contributions to the C.A.World Service Office.
  8. Planning for Area expenses related to Delegate and Area Chair travel as appropriate to represent the Area, sub-committee needs, phone line, internet, and meeting directories etc. The budget is then developed and adjusted by the Advisory Board.

9.Colorado Area Delegate Responsibilities