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MOTION TO AMEND THE GUIDELINES - 

GIVE AD HOC COMMITTEES EMAIL ALIASES?

9.1.26

The monthly Intergroup meeting uses a set of rules to conduct themselves called the Guidelines. If edits (amendments) to the Guidelines are proposed, Intergroup votes on them twice:

1) First to approve the amendment for distribution to voting members. 

2) The next month to "officially" approve or deny the amendment.

If an amendment is approved for distribution, we put it on the website and share with voting members the date and time the amendment will be ratified (officially voted on). 

The Guidelines say that after an amendment is approved for distribution:

"B. The Proposed Guidelines Amendment shall then be posted on the LA CoDA website and distributed to all voting members of LA CoDA with notice that it will be voted on at the next LACC meeting." (see page 18)

So that's what we're doing :)

WHY?

On Saturday, August 8, 2026, we approved an amendment to the Guidelines for distribution. (We also did it in February 2026, but we still need to complete the second half of the process for that edit.)

In the past few years, there hasn't been a suggested edit to the Guidelines, so Intergroup hasn't practiced this process.  So if it seems unfamiliar, it probably is!

This two part process exists for transparency, inclusion and so that a small group isn't making long-lasting, structural changes without the consent of the Fellowship. 

However small or large the vote, the concept helps us follow the 12 Traditions and 12 Service Concepts to keep CoDA healthier.

WHEN IS THE VOTE?

At the next Intergroup meeting, on Saturday, Sept 12th, 2026 9:00am -10:45am, we'll be ratifying the amendment. Anyone is welcome to attend the vote, but only Group Service Representatives (GSRs), Officers, and Subcommittee Chairs may vote. 

WHAT IS THE CHANGE?

Here is what we'll be voting to approve or deny:

"Motion to change guidelines to give Ad Hoc [temporary] Committee Chairs lacoda.org email aliases as the only official contact for Ad Hoc Committees."

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

A current example: There is a Safety Exploration Ad Hoc (Temporary) Committee and we have been using the email safetyexploration @ gmail .com, but this motion passed at the last Intergroup meeting on August 8th, 2026 so now, we'll receive safetyexploration @ lacoda .org and use that as our contact info. 

This helps us follow Tradtion 8 by not endorsing outside enterprises.

In order to make it an official rule for Intergroup to use in the future, we need the Guidelines to reflect this change. If adding it to the Guideline passes, p.11 under C. Ad Hoc Committees will say something like: "4. Ad Hoc Committee Chairs will be given lacoda.org email aliases as the only official contact for Ad Hoc Committees."

WHAT DO GROUP SERVICE REPS DO BEFORE THE VOTE?

Between now and Sept 12th, GSRs are welcome to talk to their meetings during Fellowship to bring back the general will of the meeting and then vote on behalf of their meeting, or they can take a full group conscience with their meeting to get a formal understanding of how their meeting wants them to cast their vote. These two options are not required, they are options.

HOW DOES THE CHANGE BECOME OFFICIAL?

For the amendment to be approved on Sept 12th, there must be a two-thirds majority of "yes" votes at Intergroup. If it passes, the Vice Chair, or another volunteer, will update the Guidelines and the completed change will be distributed in writing at the next Intergroup meeting and posted on the website for transparency for the Fellowship.

Thank you for your service in CoDA! Even you reading this is an act of service. We are grateful for your participation.

LA CoDA Virtual Office Committee

P.S. Here is the formal version of the procedure in the Guidelines (on page 18):

A. Amendments to Guidelines

1. LACC Guidelines may be changed in the following manner:

a. A Proposed Guidelines Amendment must first be introduced at a monthly LACC meeting and approved for distribution by a majority of voting members present (see APPENDIX B).

b. The Proposed Guidelines Amendment shall then be posted on the LA CoDA website and distributed to all voting members of LA CoDA with notice that it will be voted on at the next LACC meeting.

c. At the next LACC meeting the Proposed Guidelines Amendment must be approved by a two-thirds majority of voting members present.

d. The Approved Guidelines Amendment will then be distributed in final written form at the next LACC meeting.

e. The updated Guidelines including the approved amendment will be posted on the LA CoDA website.

AMENDING THE GUIDELINES - 

GIVE AD HOC COMMITTEES EMAIL ALIASES

8.12.26

The monthly Intergroup meeting uses a set of rules to conduct themselves called the Guidelines. If edits to the Guidelines are proposed, Intergroup votes on approving the edits (amendments) for distribution. If an amendment is approved, we put it on the website and share the date and time we'll vote on the change.

In the past few years, there hasn't been a suggested edit, so we haven't practiced this process. But on Saturday, August 8, 2026, we approved an amendment to the Guidelines. (We also did it in February 2026, but we still need to complete this secondary half of the process for that edit.)

At the next Intergroup meeting, on Saturday, Sept 12th, 9:00am -10:45am, we'll be voting to ratify the amendment and change the Guidelines. Anyone is welcome to attend the vote, but only Group Service Representatives (GSRs), Officers, and Subcommittee Chairs may vote. 

GSRs can talk to their meetings to bring back the general will of the meeting and vote on behalf of their meeting, or they can take a full group conscience to vote on behalf of their meeting. 

Motion to change guidelines to give ad hoc committee chairs lacoda.org email aliases as the only official contact for ad hoc committees.

Motions for 2025 annual business meeting

What will be voted on at this year's annual business meeting, the CoDA Service Conference, October 6-9th, 2025? 

To see a list of motions, click: Motions Zip File 

To prep for the meeting:

https://coda.org/delegate-package-2025/

The event is free, but viewers must register HERE by Mon 9/29/25. 

ZOOM DISRUPTORS

Having trouble with Zoom disruptors in online meetings?

San Diego CoDA made this resource to support meetings with their experiences and how they've navigated disruptors and limited them in their meetings.

Los Angeles CoDA has also added the resource to our Safety page, found on the Meetings page.

Here is the pdf from San Diego CoDA:

https://www.sdccoda.org/pdfs/2024/Canceling-Disruptors.pdf

Hope it helps anyone experiencing this!

With warmth, 

LA CoDA Intergroup

JAN 2025

P.S. If you ever want to ask questions about how other meetings get through different situations that arise in meetings, feel free to come to the monthly Intergroup meeting and ask your question during the last 15-30 minutes of the meeting during Open Discussion. There are people from different meetings around L.A. there and they can share their experience with you in hopes that something resonates!

Intergroup Meeting

9:00 am - 10:45 am 

2nd Saturday of each month

Online and In-person

Address: St Bede's Episcopal Church / Parish Hall

3590 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Online login info here

More info about Intergroup

INTERGROUP

Please feel free to share this info with other CoDA fellows or your meeting:

📣

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly hybrid business meeting (Intergroup) for Los Angeles CoDA is on the:

2nd Saturday of each month 

9am-10:45am

For login info and address click here

All are welcome to attend and observe. 

The last 15 minutes is an Open Discussion where anyone can ask questions.

Intergroup Business / Community Meeting Agenda

At Intergroup, we make resources for local meetings to support their (and our) recovery.

If you volunteer, you can choose how much time you put in, designing your service with self-care in mind.

We're looking for members to be of service aka practice their recovery with others doing the same:

🪁

EVENTS

If you have an idea for a CODA event please pick a date, time, provide a description and send to events@lacoda.org so the committee can discuss and make sure it fits within the 12-Traditions of CODA. This can be a workshop or fellowship event or combination.  Feel free to reach out as well if you have any questions.

🧑‍🦳

SPEAKERS LIST

If you've been in program for 6 months and want to be on the list of people willing to be lead-speakers at meetings, email speakers@lacoda.org

💻

VIRTUAL OFFICE

If you'd like to send out monthly announcement emails, please email virtualoffice@lacoda.org

If you'd like to be the Phone/ Contact List person for the monthly Intergroup business meeting, please email virtualoffice@lacoda.org

📘

LITERATURE

If you want to help sell literature at a low cost to local meetings, please email info@lacoda.org

🧭

FREE RESOURCES

How to Start a Step Study / Find a Sponsor

LACoDA.org Resources page 

(Newsletters, Recordings, Meetings in Print, Free Downloads, Weekly Readings, etc)

NEW LITERATURE

FELLOWSHIP SERVICE MANUAL

The 2023 Fellowship Service Manual (FSM) is now available:

https://coda.org/service-info/fellowship-services-manual-fsm/

Two years ago, the Service Structure Committee requested to disband at the 2022 CoDA Service Conference (CSC). They had been responsible for Fellowship Service Manual updates. Since then, the CoDA Board has been tasked with this role. CoDA International has a Fellowship Service Worker doing the work of the former committee, and the Board proofs and approves all changes/updates that are a result of motions passed during the previous CSC. CoDA International (www.CoDA.org) thanks you for your patience and support as they continue to develop their process. // 3.26.24

Best to you all,
The International CoDA Board of Trustees

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