Delegate Information

What is a delegate?
A delegate is a COSA group member who represents their meeting at the International Annual Delegate Meeting by voting the conscience of their group.

What do Delegates do?

  • Serve as a conduit for information between their group and the COSA board known as the ISO of COSA by forwarding Board communications to the group and relaying the group’s concerns to ISO. (All groups are encouraged to have a year-round delegate who is selected by the Group Conscience to serve their group).
  • Attend the Annual Delegate Meeting
  • Vote on items at the Annual Delegate Meeting

Who can be a Delegate?

  • It’s suggested that Delegates have a minimum of one year in the COSA program
  • If all of the group members who plan to represent your meeting and attend have less than one year, a group conscience decision may waive that requirement.

How long do delegates serve?
Delegates serve a two year term. There is a maximum of three consecutive terms. This maximum provides for rotation of service that is so crucial to our program and our recovery.

How do delegates prepare for the Annual Delegate Meeting?

  • Register as their group’s Delegate by following the registration link below

  • Read the Delegate Meeting Guide Documents found on the Annual Delegate Meeting page.

  • Attend a number of informal, online, hour-long meetings throughout the year to learn what the COSA Board and Board committees are thinking about and working on for the benefit of the fellowship. These meetings give delegates an opportunity to ask the Board questions and to offer feedback from their groups. This exchange of information keeps our fellowship connected throughout the year. Meetings help delegates understand what occurs before, during, and after the Annual Delegate Meeting. Delegates learn from the experience, strength and hope shared by other delegates.

  • Become familiar with items to be voted on at the Annual Delegate Meeting. This usually includes Literature in Development, Budget related Items, new and returning Board Candidates and sometimes a business proposal. This information is available on the Annual Delegate Meeting page of the website.

Register as a Delegate on the Meeting Update Form
Q. When do the informal delegate meetings take place and what will be covered?  
A. Here is the 2022-2023 online meeting schedule:

Saturday, Oct. 29 -OR- Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. GMT; Topic: Budget & Finance (Audio for 10/29/2022 Delegate Teleconference)

Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023 -OR- Saturday, Feb 4, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. GMT; Topic: Nomination  (Audio for 1/29/2023 and 2/04/2023 Delegate Teleconferences)

Saturday, March 4, 2023 -OR- Sunday, March 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. GMT; Topic: TBD (Audio for 3/05/2023 Delegate Teleconferences)

Sunday, May 7, 2023 -OR- Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, 7:00 p.m. BST; Topic: TBD

 
Q. How do I join in?
A. All meetings will be online. The link is available by emailing DelegateLiaison@cosa-recovery.org
 

Q. Can I come to the meetings even if I’m not a delegate?

A. Yes, everyone is welcome at the update delegate meetings. Only delegates and alternate delegates may attend the Annual Delegate Meetings. 
What is the Annual Delegate Meeting?
  • The Annual Delegate Meeting is a virtual meeting, held once a year, where board members and delegates meet to determine the future direction of the fellowship by voting on the pertinent issues. These issues include new literature, budgets and financial issues as well as new and returning board members and any business proposals on the agenda.
  • The Annual Delegate Meeting is held online
  • The 2023 Annual Delegate Meeting will be held on the weekend of June 3 – 4, 2023 from 11am to 4pm Eastern time. Link: ANNUAL DELEGATE MEETING If a delegate is unable to attend a portion of the Annual Delegate Meeting, a registered alternate delegate may attend. Only one representative at a time from each meeting group may attend the Annual Delegate Meeting.
  • There is no cost for participation.
  • Delegates and Board members vote on any literature in development, budget related items, new and returning Board members, and any proposals or submitted business items.
How do delegates get the conscience of their group?
  • The Delegate or Alternate Delegate reviews the material to be voted on at the Annual Delegate meeting. This is all available online on the Annual Delegate Meeting page of the website.
  • Members of the group are encouraged to review the material as well.
  • Groups discuss the issues presented and do their best to communicate their Group Conscience on issues included in Delegate motions.
  • The group’s Delegate gathers input from the meeting’s members (at a Business Meeting or in fellowship) to bring to the Annual Delegate Meeting.
  • Sometimes discussion in the Annual Delegate Meeting reveals new information. Delegates need to rely on their relationship with their Higher Power and vote their individual conscience. When the group elects a Delegate, the group gives their Delegate the right of decision which makes effective leadership at the international level possible.
  • We will have delegates sharing their experience, strength and hope regarding service.
What happens after the Annual Delegate Meeting?
  • Once the Delegate returns, the Delegate reports back to the meeting’s members (at a Business Meeting or as a speaker share at a meeting) about what happened at the Annual Delegate Meeting.
  • Throughout the year, Delegates continue to serve as a liaison between their group and ISO by forwarding Board communications to the group and relaying the group’s concerns to ISO.
  • Delegates provide an invaluable link between their group and the COSA fellowship through the ISO.
What happened at last year’s Annual Delegate Meeting?
Results of voting and a Synopsis of last year’s meeting: click on link below and scroll down.
Results

Please save these dates for the Delegate Update Meetings!

These update meetings are not just for Delegates;they are for all COSAs interested in how things happen to make COSA run. If you are a Delegate, curious about what happens at Delegate meetings, thinking about becoming a Delegate, or are a past Delegate, you are welcome to join us. These meetings generally last for 60 minutes.

Saturday October 29, 2022 -OR- Sunday October 30, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern: Finance
Sunday January 29, 2023 -OR- Saturday February 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern: Nomination
Saturday March 4, 2023 -OR- Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Sunday May 7, 2023 -OR- Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern 
 
 
The first option to attend an Update Meeting was held Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  Tracy, the chair of the finance committee, updated the delegates on the financials.  Two documents for you to view are available if desired. Those present on Saturday were able to participate in financial discussions and questions. Following the finance committee update, Pat, a long term delegate, shared her ESH on service as a delegate. Attendees are always welcome to share their ESH until the conclusion of the meeting.
 
 

If one was unable to attend Saturday, we provided another meeting on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time as another option. We played a recording of the finance committee update and the speaker’s share at that time.  At the conclusion of the recording, Sunday’s attendees were welcome to share their ESH regarding service until the conclusion of the meeting.

 
 

In service,
Kymberlee, Delegate Liaison