Yes, You Can Start An Online Area
Download Petition To Become An Area
NOTE: An Area seeking recognition by the World Service Conference must submit a completed petition to become and Area. If you cannot provide the information within the space provided, please attach separate documents or sheets as required.
1. Reason or need to become a World Service Conference approved Area: The Online Recovery Area provides an alternative Area service committee structure to online groups who want to create the fellowship they crave. The Online Recovery Area would provide not only a forum for like minded groups, but also build an Area website that would attract suffering addicts online and direct those website visitors to Area’s member groups so that Groups can do what the Groups do best and that is “Carry its message to the addict who still suffers” (Tradition Five). Moreover, the ratification of a new CA Online Area would signify to other online groups around the world that, “Yes, You Can” form a new online area and, thus offer a choice in creating a diversity of Online Areas. Currently the Online Service Area (OSA) has been the only online Area available for online groups who are looking to be part of an online committee service structure. We hope to expand the scope of the online C.A. community and offer another choice.
2. Are you a proposed Area in a State, Province or Country that has not been represented at the World Service Conference before? Yes
Name of State, Province or Country: Not Applicable, we’re an online meeting that circumvents the globe. We have no geographical boundaries.
3. Proposed Area name: Cocaine Anonymous Online Recovery Area
4. If applicable: Attach map of regional geographic division of Area as it now exists. Not Applicable for the Online Recovery Area (“The Conference may also recognize Areas whose boundaries do not fit a geographic description – WSM pg 26”)
5. Attach a map and a written description of the proposed division of areas. Not Applicable. The Online Recovery Area would be an Area whose boundaries do not fit a geographic description. Thus, there will not be a geographical division of Areas, per se, because the Areas function entirely online.
6. Total population in proposed Area: According to Global drug use statistics & facts 39.5 million people around the world could be considered “problem drug users” or categorized as having a drug use disorder. (https://www.statista.com/topics/7786/global-drug-use/
CA population in proposed Area:
- 12 Steps 4 Hours Workshop Group averages 2400 participants per year with over 15,000 participants in 18 years of service.
- TGIF & the Midnight Rounders average 35 to 40 members per week and has 251 signed-up members.
- The CA Service Sponsorship Group has 78 signed-up members members with over 1000 participants who have participated in various workshop meetings hosted by the C.A. Service Sponsorship Group.
- The C.A. Online Group, Ten & Eleven averages 80 to 100 Members monthly.
7. Number of CA Groups in proposed Area: (attach meeting schedule) Fourteen Groups (14) as of 2025-10-20
8. Attach a brief five year history of CA Groups and membership in the proposed Area.
9. Structure and function of proposed Area:
a) Proposed Area Service Committee meetings: Once every 3 months.
Frequency: 4 times per year (Jan, April, July, Oct)
Number in attendance: 15 – 20
b) Proposed Dist. Service Committee meetings: Zero
Frequency: 0
Number in attendance: Zero
c) No. of DSRs: ) Zero
Describe activities: 0
d) No. of GSRs: 14
Describe activities: Attend Area meets once per quarter. (January, April, July, October) Elections are held in October.
10. Distance and travel time to nearest current Area Service Committee meeting: Not Applicable.
11. How would the Fellowship benefit by establishing a new Area as opposed to adding more DSRs, creating a new district, or redistricting would accomplish? We believe establishing a new online area will enhance Unity, assist communication, and improve our effectiveness, as an Online area. As C.A. membership continues to grow, we anticipate the formation of new Areas coming into existence. Online Area(s) might form as a result of membership challenges due to language, time zone, area service structure, safety procedures and or new technology advancements. As the adage goes: “Resentment and a virtual platform” will lead to the proliferation of new online areas. The Online Recovery Area will support the creation and growth of these possibilities and provide new and improved committee service structures so that online groups can continue to carry the C.A. message to those who suffer from addiction. Lastly, the Online Recovery Area can serve the respective needs of its member groups well into the future – modem to modem—in Unity and Service and growth of the C.A. fellowship.
12. If the proposed Area is in a State, Province, or Country which the Fellowship has not been previously established, have you investigated incorporating as a non-profit organization in order to protect the CA name? We are investigating the possibilities of incorporating the Area.
13. If this Petition to Become an Area is approved, are you prepared to be responsible for all liabilities the fellowship may incur? Are you prepared to pay all applicable sales taxes and file all the necessary State and Federal tax forms as required? Yes we are.
14. Note any comments or special considerations: None at this time.