OA Holiday Workshop: Unity Day

Introduction

Today, worldwide, in over fifty countries, members of Overeaters Anonymous are meeting to celebrate the importance of unity within the OA Fellowship. Here is a little history on Unity Day.

History

  • At the World Service Business Conference (WSBC) of 1986, a policy was adopted that Overeaters Anonymous celebrate an annual worldwide Unity Day on a date to be determined annually at the World Service Conference by the region chairs at their meeting during the World Service Business Conference. At the 1986 Conference, the region chairs met and reported back their recommendation that Unity Day be held on Saturday February 14, 1987. The moment of unity was scheduled as 11:30 a.m. PST, or [_local time_], and the theme for this occasion was “Love Across the Fellowship.”
  • At the 1996 WSBC, the policy was revised to establish the last Saturday in February for the celebration of OA Unity Day.
  • At the 1998 WSBC, a policy motion was proposed to change Unity Day from February of each year to the third Saturday of January, which is close to OA’s birthday. The policy motion was sent to the Reference Subcommittee for clarification. What came back to the Conference body from the Reference Subcommittee was a revised policy to designate the third Saturday of January as the annual celebration of the founding of OA, but nothing addressed changing Unity Day from the last Saturday in February. Unity Day continued to be celebrated on the last Saturday in February.
  • In 2018, WSBC delegates voted to update this celebration to alternate weekend days for the sake of inclusivity in our Fellowship. Unity Day is now celebrated on the last Saturday of February in even years and the last Sunday in February in odd years.

Readings

Voices of Recovery – February 27

Voices of Recovery – January 5

UNITY DAY HISTORY:
LOCAL EVENT TIMELINE

In the spirit of OA unity, various intergroups have worked together to offer a Unity Day event. Unity Day has evolved into a favorite yearly OA event, as evidenced by the following timeline and the enthusiasm and involvement of local intergroups.

YearHosting Intergroup/
Service Board		Location











Let’s keep this wonderful event going and growing!
Please contact this year’s host at [_contact email address or phone number_]
for information on how your intergroup/service board can host.

OA Board-Approved.
© 2021 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.