World Service Business Conference 2025

Questions 1–5

1.

Has there been any discussion at the OA board level about assuring and/or reassuring the safety of those OA members and their families traveling to the US for the OA Convention 2025 and World Service Business Conference 2026? The actions of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) agents, as directed by the Executive branch of this country, are unprecedented, erratic, and dangerous. Although an outside issue, I have to believe that there are many international OA members that might be, rightly so, terrified about their safety if entering the US right now. Is there anything the board can recommend to help those who are coming feel more secure?

Thank you for your question on such an important and troubling issue. Please know that, yes, this has been a topic of discussion amongst the board members and is an ongoing conversation for the Convention and Conference planning committees. Unfortunately, one of the many things the committees have no control over is the political environment in which the events take place, and, as much as we sympathize, there is little the World Service Office can do to assure smooth sailing through immigration and customs coming and going from this country. The planning committees certainly wish things were different. Ultimately, the decision to travel to attend the 2025 Convention or the 2026 World Service Business Conference (WSBC) is an individual decision. We can tell you that the 2024 WSBC was held in New Mexico, and there seemed to be little trouble for international travel then. Yes, things have changed here since then, and thus the individual member must face a risk assessment. Please know too that we pray for, plan for, and do what we can to assure the safety of all our participants. Thank you again for your question and your concern for your fellow OAers.

2.

I have questions about parliamentary inquiry.

  1. How can a delegate communicate a motion/inquiry to extend the question sessions during virtual conferences?
  2. Is there a way for delegates to know how many fellows are in the queue waiting to respond to the center microphone monitor (CMM) before the chair calls the question?
  3. Can the chair ask the CMM if there is a queue of fellows waiting for a reply before the chair calls the question? When we are in person, we can see the line and we can hear the rumbles of concern so we know there is an issue. We do not get this extra level of perception when virtual.)
  4. I asked the CMM if a delegate was allowed to ask to extend the question session. The CMM told me to check the Standing Rules, so I lost the opportunity to extend the question session for motion 5. During Motion 6, I put this in the chat: “I have a parliamentary inquiry. Can we extend the discussion time for this motion by 5 minutes?” There was no reply, and it was not mentioned to the chair who proceeded to the vote. Moving forward, how can we avoid this?

The motion to extend the question period is in order after the pros and cons are presented. The motion is submitted on the form and sent to the address provided. The CMM is contacted by the maker. There is no way to see how many are in the queue unless the Standing Rules are amended to allow delegates to raise their virtual hands prior to contacting the CMM. To protect the rights of the delegates, the chair asked each CMM if there were any other questions before proceeding to the vote. At no time did the chair knowingly preempt anyone. The CMM was correct in directing the delegate to the Standing Rules. There is a certain amount of time allocated to a motion. Check to see how much time has elapsed. The motion to extend might be more complicated than just adding time for questions. If you have a parliamentary inquiry, the Standing Rules direct the delegate to send the question to the parliamentarian via the chat, or to the CMM. The Standing Rules could certainly be clarified to prevent confusion. The CMM and the parliamentarian get numerous questions and chats, and it is challenging not to lose track of what has been received

3.

Over the years, I have heard many people in OA and other fellowships say our prayers, Steps, and Traditions the way they wish they had been written, such as replacing he/him in Steps/Traditions with she/her. How would you suggest this be handled? Since we emphasize that by God, we mean the God of the individual’s understanding, what do we need to be rigid about the way people refer to God? Why can’t we leave the written Steps/Traditions as they are and allow for individual interpretation?

The question of reading the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as the individual would like to read them is a Tradition Four issue. Tradition Four states, “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.” The Traditions are not just for the group but for individuals, too, because the Spiritual Principles in each of the Traditions encourages OA members to use the Traditions’ Spiritual Principles in our lives as well. Question 3 on page 22 of The Twelve Traditions Workbook of Overeaters Anonymous asks, “In my meetings, do I consider how my actions as an OA member affect what newcomers or the public might think of OA as a whole?” When an individual chooses to read the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as they see fit, that simple action, does in fact affect OA as a whole. Newcomers may become confused as they read OA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions one way and hear them read at a meeting in a “new” manner. The newcomer might wonder which version is the “right” version. If an OA member attends a meeting that is not their home meeting and hears a different reading of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, the member may wonder when the wording of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions have been changed and why they were not made aware of the change. The member may then go back to their home meeting and encourage the group to change the verbiage of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. This sets a dangerous precedence as individuals and groups are taking it upon themselves to change the wording of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

The wording change of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions can be done but there is a clearly defined procedure as how the change can occur. The World Services Business Conference (WSBC) is the collective voice and group conscience of OA as a whole. If the WSBC approves a wording change, then those groups registered with the World Service Office (WSO) also have a vote to approve the wording change. If three-fourths of the registered groups respond within six months of notification of the wording change and provided that 55 percent of the groups have responded to approve the change, then and only then would the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions wording be changed. A motion to change the wording of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions has been brought to WSBC several times. One time the motion did not make the agenda, another time the motion was withdrawn at WSBC, and this past year the motion was defeated. This topic might be a good discussion for a group conscience item to discuss how individual reading preferences of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions affect OA as a whole.

4.

Does the in-person World Service Business Conference forbid a technology option (hybrid) as well?

Thank you for your question. It can sometimes be challenging to envision OA with limited resources or to recognize that we must balance our resources, including staff time, with other crucial methods of conveying the message, aiding the still-suffering individual, and doing what’s best for OA as a whole. Many of us believe that we will have the chance to witness a hybrid World Service Business Conference soon. Currently, our bylaws stipulate that the Conference alternates between in-person and virtual formats; therefore, our Bylaws would have to be changed.  

There’s a lot to consider if we host a hybrid event:

  1. How would delegates attending a hybrid event debate? How would we know the order of debate? Do we rotate between someone in the room and someone on videoconference?
  2. How do delegates caucus in the room and virtually?
  3. Do we require more than one center microphone monitor?
  4. How do we handle voting in the room and on videoconference?
  5. This would require more staffing and possibly more than one parliamentarian.
  6. There are a lot of “what ifs.”

5.

What is the process for proposing changes to the Standing Rules. Should something be submitted in advance of the Conference? While the Meet the Maker meetings were useful, is there a process whereby delegates mutually interested in a particular topic can caucus in advance of the submission deadlines? Perhaps achieve a unified proposal instead of having multiple submissions on the same topic that have to be sorted out by Reference or during the Conference business meetings? AA has several such pre-conference meetings that are arranged at the request of delegates, not trustees.

Amendments to the Standing Rules may be submitted when the Standing Rules are presented. Amendments may also be sent in advance of consideration at the business meeting. There may also be motions to suspend the rules during the course of business. Informal meetings to caucus are certainly possible. Within the current motion submission process in the OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, there is no way for the World Service Office to know what motions are being contemplated by service bodies. The service body could put the proposal on its website or ask the region to put the proposal on its website and arrange a caucus for those who are interested. A caucus immediately following the Meet the Maker session would not alter the current process but does give an opportunity for informal discussion. The service body or World Service Business Conference committee submitting the motion would be the point of contact and would arrange and host any caucus.

Questions 6–10

6.

As a point of information, time was spent at both last year’s and this year’s Conference discussing the need and process for obtaining AA’s permission to modify the Steps. As a well-established point of clarity, the first edition of the Big Book was not properly copyrighted, thus, AA has no proprietary jurisdiction over the Steps. All correspondence, therefore, has only been a matter of courtesy. Please communicate this to the trustees so that they can short circuit this debate next year if the issue comes up. I can point them to the documentation supporting this assertion.

Thank you for this information.

7.

As the trustees will be affirming some candidates for re-election, what process will be followed, and how will that determination to affirm be made? Do the candidates appear at a board meeting and are voted on? Do they just submit an application?

Thank you for the question. My assumption is that you are referring to the adoption of Bylaw Amendment Proposal Nine at the 2025 World Service Business Conference (WSBC).  OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VII was amended to include the following which may change the way that current trustees submit their application for affirmation.  Below is the amendment that was adopted.

Article VII — Board of Trustees
Section 5 — Nomination of Trustees

  1. Submissions of Applications
    1. At least one-hundred twenty days prior to the scheduled opening of the annual Conference of Overeaters Anonymous, all groups within a region shall be notified by the region officers of the forthcoming Conference, with a request to all qualified members of the Fellowship of Overeaters Anonymous to submit their nominations to the region.
    2. Current trustees not serving as a region liaison may submit their applications for re-election to the Board of Trustees for affirmation.
  2. Affirmation of Nominees
    1. At least ninety days prior to the annual Conference of Overeaters Anonymous, each region may affirm no more than three qualified nominees from applications received.
    2. At least ninety days prior to the annual Conference of Overeaters Anonymous, the Board of Trustees may affirm nominations received from current trustees not serving as region liaisons.
  3. All affirmed nominee applications shall be submitted to the Conference for consideration.
  4. Copies of applications must be sent to all Conference delegates at least forty-five days prior to the annual Conference (see exception, Section 8).

Therefore, only current trustees not serving as a region liaison may submit their application for re-election to the Board of Trustees (BOT) for affirmation. Current trustees not serving as a region liaison may also submit their application to a region as well. If the current trustee chooses to make application for re-election to the BOT for affirmation, they would submit their application prior to a quarterly BOT meeting, likely the November meeting. The application would be placed on the agenda for the BOT meeting and then voted upon at that time by the full Board of Trustees. The affirmation will be considered as new business. The trustee will be introduced and asked to speak for up to five minutes on why they want to continue in their role as trustee. This will be followed by a ten-minute question and answer period after which ballots will be issued and a poll with be taken to affirm the candidate. The nominee must receive a majority of the votes for their nomination to be forwarded to the Conference for consideration at the next World Service Business Conference.  

8.

Where is the majority of the OA Fellowship located physically? And where is the Fellowship growing fastest?

Thank you for your questions. Although it’s difficult to estimate the face-to-face groups where members attend regularly because many groups meet virtually, even if they are registered as in-person, or some others stopped meeting without informing the World Service Office, I could say that, considering the size of the countries, the majority of the OA Fellowship are located physically in the United States of America. In my opinion, the Fellowship is growing fastest in Iran, where there are many groups and service bodies. There are also many translation requests for OA-approved literature. They have an active presence around the world through workshops and meetings. They are also growing in Mexico and Israel. 

9.

In as much as every dollar is so important, has there been any discussion on having the delegates pay a portion, if not all, of the cost of the Saturday night dinner when in person for Conference? I have not been in person for a few years, so maybe it is no longer offered. However, I did see a line-item figure for banquet under Conference in the budget.

Thank you for your question and for caring about OA’s financial well-being. The banquet is still part of our in-person Conference, and the cost is included in the delegate registration fee. The banquet expense line item you noticed is offset by registration income, which appears in the income section of the budget. The registration fee is set with care so as not to be prohibitively high, in order to support broad and equitable representation at Conference.

10.

Regarding what I read in the Literature Review Committee report regarding For Today and the use of non-program quotes, has the board ever discussed putting a loose page insert when sending out For Today to explain that this book was published before we had the policy established about outside literature, and maybe some explanation also that this is one of the earliest books produced and has a special place because of that in OA’s history? I think some type of explanation would be helpful.

As the trustee cochair of the Conference-Approved Literature Committee, I’ll do my best to answer your question. In 2023, the Board of Trustees did discuss the use of non-program quotes in For Today. It was agreed this was a concern, but that no urgent action was required. The board noted that For Today would be reviewed by the Literature Review Committee in 2024. As you noted, the Literature Review Committee reviewed For Today and For Today Workbook. Healthy sales indicate the continued popularity of both pieces, despite the quote issue. It was felt that changes to this piece of literature were not as crucial when weighed against needed changes/updates to other pieces of literature. For Today will be reviewed again in 2034. My sense is that the Fellowship understands that For Today was published long before the OA-approved literature policy was established. As you said, it does hold a unique place in OA history. Your idea of some kind of explanation about the non-program quotes is a good one. I fear, however, that a loose page inside the book may make packaging and shipping more difficult. I understand that something like this was tried before and didn’t go well. That said, you’ve planted the idea in my head and I will keep this in mind.

Questions 11–15

11.

Is the “We” version (or any other) of the Serenity Prayer an OA-approved prayer? This came up in an intergroup meeting.

Thank you for your question. After consulting with others, this is what I found. I don’t know of any place the “we version” of the Serenity Prayer is published as OA-approved literature. If it’s not recognized in literature or as a policy, it’s not OA-approved literature.

Business Conference Policy 1993a

It was adopted that: We, the 1993 Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous, suggest that OA meetings and events be closed with one of the following: the Serenity Prayer, the Seventh-Step Prayer, the Third-Step Prayer, or the OA Promise I Put My Hand in Yours.

World Service Business Conference Policy1993a doesn’t state which Serenity Prayer is recommended or suggested. There are numerous versions and the “we” version is one. The “we” version is from the Twelfth Step of the AA 12&12. The singular “me” version is from the Third Step. The use of the “we” version is common practice in OA and other Twelve Step programs. Finally, here is the suggested meeting format to provide additional guidance. 

12.

Have the trustees or any representatives reached out to AA or NA to discuss their approach to the potential legal problems for encouraging membership to those under 18? If not, is there a plan to, and if not, why?

The Board of Trustees didn’t contact other fellowships nor did we ignore their existence. The members of the ad hoc committee read the service manuals. However, the structure of other fellowships doesn’t align with OA’s service structure.  It is very difficult for OA and other Twelve Step fellowships to identify “potential legal problems” on a global scale because the child protection legislation differs greatly from country to country and also within countries. We are aware that research into what other fellowships are doing has been undertaken by some service bodies, but it has not been carried out at the level of the Board of Trustees for the reasons stated above.

Here is the OA Policy Statement. Please note the sentence underlined below.

Overeaters Anonymous Inc. does not endorse allowing minors to attend face-to-face, online, telephone, or non-real-time meetings. Any decision to allow such individuals to attend a meeting is made locally. In this, OA is guided by the spirit of Tradition Four: “Each group is autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.”  It is recommended that a group or service body considering allowing minors to attend meetings, first obtain legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained before allowing such individuals to attend and before creating or instituting any applicable policies. Keep in mind that laws and rules regarding this issue may vary by country and jurisdiction. Other Twelve Step fellowships might be consulted or studied, but Overeaters Anonymous’ service structure is its own.

Note: The definition of a minor is based on the legal requirements within a state, province, and/or country.

13.

Why is there only a 5 percent recovery rate in OA and what are the main reasons why those 5 percent are successful compared to ones that are not?

Both the 2024 OA survey of 3,400 OA members and OA’s 2017 survey should help to answer your question at Recovery: What Works for You?. Members say that working the Steps and using the Tools of the program, often daily, have been instrumental in their recovery. Respondents report that multiple symptoms of our disease have also been relieved. OA’s 2017 Membership Survey Report contains information about abstinence success and life improvements for members.  

14.

At the World Service Business Conference, I learned so much about who makes up the Board of Trustees, and all the various projects they are responsible for. If I were not a delegate, I would be largely unaware of what this body does. My question is, how do we make the work of the board more transparent and available to all members of OA?

Where can I find printed information about the various Board of Trustees committees, and what they are working on?

Thank you for your interest in the Board of Trustees and how they serve the Fellowship. I have never had anyone ask this question, but it is always the desire of the Board of Trustees to be transparent. The primary resource I am aware of which reflects the ongoing efforts of the Board of Trustees is the World Service Business Conference Delegate Binder. This contains an annual report for each board and Conference committee as well as the region trustee liaison reports. The binder is available for our delegates who are then able to share that information with their local service bodies.

Here is the list of all the committees managed by the trustees.

  • Board Committees: Board-Approved Literature, Board Reference Manual Review, Conference Planning, Convention, Delegate Support Fund, Internal Information (A Step Ahead News and Lifeline Blog), International Publications and Translations, Literature Review, Materials Approval, Public Awareness/Professional Tradeshows, Strategic Planning, Website Review
  • Conference: Bylaws, Conference-Approved Literature, Public Information/Professional Outreach, Region Chairs, Twelfth Step Within, Unity with Diversity, Young Adults

The output of these committees includes the published literature available in the OA Bookstore, as well as documents in the Document Library on oa.org, content for the website, and items distributed through the WSO Bulletin. Trustees plan and organize our annual business Conference and our World Service Conventions. We have a wonderful staff of fifteen employees who assist the trustees and are invaluable in the producing of these final products, but the trustees are continually working on new material to meet the needs of our members, as are all the service bodies within the OA service structure. One example of these efforts has recently been released on oa.org. The Inside OA Podcasts (https://oa.org/podcasts/inside-oa/) are interviews with trustees where they discuss some aspect of being a trustee and why this service is so beneficial to their personal recovery. The first two have been posted recently with more to come. If you have further questions, I suggest speaking with your trustee liaison or any of the committee chairs by reaching out through info@oa.org. Thank you for your enthusiasm. I hope you will return to Conference next year and consider your service future in the years to come.

15.

Does the Board of Trustees hold any meetings in which any OA member is allowed to attend and listen? Or do they make meeting minutes available for members to view?

In accordance with Business Conference Policy Manual Policy 1982e, “It was adopted that:
The Fellowship be invited to attend and observe the open Board of Trustees’ meetings held at World Service Business Conference and World Service Convention. The board is to make available sufficient facilities to accommodate all who choose to attend.” Approved Board of Trustees meeting minutes are available upon request to the World Service Office.

Questions 16–20

16.

During an online meeting, a member displayed a Christian symbol next to their displayed name. This has caused tension, as several members perceive it as a form of religious promotion. Concerns have also been raised about the potential impact on newcomers discovering OA. Is such a display in keeping with our Tenth Tradition, or more broadly with the spirit of OA meetings, which calls us to stay focused on the OA solution—one that does not necessarily rely on religious affiliation?

Thank you for your questions. It was very clear at our 2025 World Service Business Conference that religious promotion has no place in OA. We often discuss how violations of our Traditions occur without a thorough understanding or examination of our Traditions, as mentioned in Tradition Four of OA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions:

“However, failure to uphold an OA Tradition does not result in a group being summarily ejected from the Fellowship—we might not have any OA Fellowship at all if that were the case!

“When a group does not honor the Traditions, it’s usually because members aren’t well informed about them, not because they choose to ignore them. When the Traditions are not upheld, the positive atmosphere of the group begins to change. Enthusiasm and recovery wanes, members may decide to go elsewhere, and the survival of the group may be threatened. Therefore, when the Traditions are not being honored, it is essential that OA members who know them speak up to help the group understand them. A healthy discussion of the Twelve Traditions usually follows, and most groups elect to operate within these time-tested guidelines.”

Most of the time, when a Tradition appears to be violated, it’s not intentional—it may reflect a lack of awareness. If a member displays a religious symbol during a meeting, a gentle conversation after the meeting can help the person understand how such displays may be seen as exclusive or off-putting, especially to newcomers. You might also bring it to your group’s business or group conscience meeting if the issue continues. If needed, you can reach out to your service body for guidance or support. Ultimately, our goal is to maintain a welcoming and recovery-focused space for all who suffer.

If the member chooses to continue displaying the religious symbol, the group may want to emphasize OA’s Diversity Statement or add a reminder in the meeting format that OA is not affiliated with any outside enterprise, ideology, or religion. This can help clarify that what individual members say or show does not reflect an official OA position, and it reinforces our commitment to welcoming all who seek recovery, regardless of their background or beliefs.

17.

If, during virtual meetings, an individual shares their contact information with newcomers under the pretense of becoming their sponsor, and later exploits them financially, does the group have the authority to take action against this person? If so, what measures can be taken?

Whether connected virtually or face-to-face, such exploitation of another member is never appropriate. Using the Fellowship as an opportunity for financial gain violates the Unity Principle of Tradition One and may invoke attachment to an outside enterprise in violation of Tradition Six. Tradition Three says groups and members have both the authority and the responsibility to take action to eliminate disruptive behavior. Thus, the group clearly has authority to act. Tradition Four tells us groups have autonomy around how to handle such issues. 

In short, yes. What you describe violates our Traditions and you have authority to act. Exactly what you do and who does it is more nuanced. It is often best to start one-on-one and see how the person responds to a request to change offending behavior. In this case though something more might be indicated, depending on factors such as the extent of the exploitation, the harm done, any laws potentially violated, and perhaps most importantly, whether the behavior continues. There is a more detailed set of guidelines at oa.org that can help you and your group determine how to handle the disruptive behavior you’ve described.

Thank you for asking this important question. If you need more help, be sure to reach out to your service body trusted servants. Your region trustee liaison can also be reached through the World Service Office at https://oa.org/contact/.

18.

In virtual meetings, if a member engages in crosstalk, verbal abuse, harassment, or disruptive behavior, or if someone joins with a fake ID disturbs the meeting, does the secretary or tech host have the right to mute or, if necessary, remove the disruptive individual? According to Tradition Three, do we not have the authority to remove anyone who claims a desire to stop eating compulsively?

Thank you so much for your question. This is a dilemma most meeting leaders must face at some point. Obviously, the Third Tradition is greatly cherished and should be honored. To be clear, however, the Third Tradition says that anyone with a desire to stop eating compulsively is welcome, not that they can’t be removed. It is also the leader’s responsibility to see to it that the meeting is kept safe, and this is true for both virtual and face-to-face meetings. Crosstalk, however, is not a safety issue. By itself, it is not even a Tradition issue; it only becomes one if the group has taken a group conscious vote to request avoiding crosstalk and have said so in its format. The leader can politely address this at the meeting as or after it occurs. Sometimes a private conversion with a repeat offender after the meeting or a collegial phone call is required. Verbal abuse, harassment, or disruptive behavior should never be tolerated at any meeting, virtual or otherwise. Members engaging can be asked to leave face-to-face meetings and can be removed from virtual meetings. No member can be permanently banned from a meeting, but they can be removed and not allowed back in that day. Sometimes, the disruptive member is placed in a breakout room or a waiting room until an elder statesman from the group can have a conversation with the member and be assured that such behavior will not be repeated. Often a follow-up phone call from the leader is helpful. As far as intruders at an online meeting, they are to be removed immediately and blocked from returning. Many online meetings create a service position to watch for and respond to just these situations. Such things happen much less often in face-to-face meetings, but they do happen, and again, these people should be removed from the meeting. Most importantly, please make it clear to the members of the meeting that if they feel personally threatened by anyone at a meeting, member or intruder, they should report this to the police or proper authority. OA, on the whole, is a safe and warm environment, but people need to take responsibility for their safety when threatened. I hope these suggestions help. For more guidance I have linked two documents from oa.org: Videoconference Security Guidelines and Guidelines for Addressing Disruptive Behavior. Thank you again for your question.

19.

In the OA 90-day format, when someone experiences a relapse, they are often asked to step down from service commitments and say goodbye to their sponsees. Why is this practice? Doesn’t this risk isolating the individual who has relapsed? Couldn’t continuing to serve help support their abstinence and encourage a fresh start? And doesn’t this policy potentially encourage dishonesty among members?

Thank you so much for your question. Since I’m not deeply familiar with the 90-day format, I reached out to a member who follows that approach to learn more and provide you with an informed response. Here’s what I found out. When a member experiences a relapse, the suggestion to temporarily step back from service and sponsoring is not meant to punish or exclude them. Rather, it’s intended as loving encouragement—an opportunity to focus fully on their recovery and take the time they need to return to abstinence. Even during a relapse, members are encouraged to remain connected and engaged. They can still take on smaller service roles, such as reading or serving as a timer in meetings. While they may pause sponsorship temporarily to focus on their own program, sponsees quite often seek temporary sponsors until the original sponsor is ready to resume.

The 90-day format emphasizes strong connection and accountability. Members, including those in relapse, are encouraged to make at least three outreach calls daily, work closely with a sponsor, attend meetings regularly, and raise their hands for small service roles. These actions are the opposite of isolation. It is the disease that fuels shame, fear, and secrecy, not OA. In 90-day meetings, as in all of OA, the door is always open. Everyone is welcome, no matter where they are in their journey.

20.

Are we allowed to announce or publicize meetings that do not have a registration number from the World Service Office?

In the broader sense, no. It is not an OA meeting if not registered with OA. It is making it “an outside issue.” If it is a new meeting just starting and they have not yet registered on oa.org but with full intention to register, then yes, one can begin to announce the anticipated start of a new meeting. The service body officers should follow up with the group making sure they have been able to complete the registration and have received a meeting number or if they need help doing so. 

Questions 21–24

21.

Why is publication licensing granted to multiple groups within the same country? Doesn’t this lead to duplicated efforts if each group starts working on its own translations?

OA grants licenses to registered OA groups and service bodies upon request and review of licenses being correctly completed. This has been OA’s practice, and in the past ten years, more and more groups and service bodies around the world have committed to translating; thus, duplication of effort is likely a byproduct of that good service.

From the Guidelines for Translation of OA Literature and Material:

“OA encourages literature translations to help carry our message around the world. This is an important service to our fellow compulsive eaters. OA grows in countries where compulsive eaters can read program literature in their own language.”

Granting registered groups and service bodies the right to sell translated literature also supports those groups and service bodies to become self-supporting. From the Guidelines for Translation of OA Literature and Material: “We suggest selling the literature at a price that produces a surplus you can use for OA service in your country.”

OA publishes the Digital Files in Translation, which lists known, authorized translations. Groups and service bodies are encouraged to review the list before taking on a translation. From the Guidelines for Translation of OA Literature and Material: “If your service body discovers that the text you want to translate has already been translated into your language, you can work with the service body that has the translated text. If the text has been translated and drafts are being circulated, perhaps you could circulate drafts in your area also. This can be particularly useful if language usage is slightly different in the two areas.

If the translation has already been validated, you can agree on the best way to share the translation:

  • Ask the World Service Office to send you an electronic file you can print from. When you receive the file and License 2 granting permission, you can print the literature with the contact information for your country.

Remember:

  • If you print the translation without changing the text, you need to obtain License 2.2 from the World Service Office so your service body has permission to print and distribute the literature.
  • If you change the text to reflect differences in language, you need to obtain License 2.3 from the World Service Office.

22.

What is the difference between service body and service board? What do the OA Bylaws say about group affiliation and participation to each of them?

Thank you for your questions. They may seem to be the same, but they are different. A service body is a supporting center to help all the affiliated groups in matters that the group cannot accomplish on its own. A service board is a kind of service body.

The difference is well described in OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI. 

Service bodies are formed to support the groups in matters the group cannot accomplish on their own. There shall be five types of service bodies to provide services beyond the group level. Service bodies provide support and representation of the groups and intergroups from which they are formed and act as guardians of the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of OA Service.

Service Bodies

  1. Intergroups
  2. National Service Boards
  3. Language Service Boards
  4. Specific Focus Service Boards
  5. Regions

The relevant differences are outlined in OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI, Section 1 — Composition.

  1. Intergroups are composed of two or more groups that have formed a service body for the purpose of supporting and representing these groups that are affiliated with it. Each state/province/country may have at least one service body (intergroup or national service board). In a state/province/ country having only one group, that group may function as an intergroup.
  2. National service boards are composed of groups and intergroups who share a common purpose; to deal with issues that require a combination of membership and financial resources of intergroups and groups established within a single country.
  3. Language service boards are composed of groups, intergroups, and national service boards to serve the common needs of a language group, regardless of geographic proximity.
  4. Specific focus service boards are composed of two or more groups or intergroups to serve the common needs of groups and intergroups with the same specific focus, regardless of geographic proximity.
  5. There shall be ten regions: one virtual region and nine geographic regions each composed of intergroups, groups, and service boards that fall within its region. Subject to region and Board of Trustees approval, language service boards that span more than one region may choose to affiliate with any single region or choose not to be affiliated with a region.

You may find the relevant information and differences on the affiliation and participation in OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI, Section 3 — Affiliation and Participation.

Purpose of Affiliation: To facilitate the count of the groups and service bodies of the Fellowship and to encourage the flow of support and information to all.

Purpose of Participation: To facilitate the support and the flow of information within groups and service bodies that have a common need.

For the purpose of registration and World Service Business Conference representation:

  1. An intergroup may affiliate with one national service board if it exists, shall be affiliated with one region, and may participate in one or more language service boards. If the intergroup affiliates with a national service board, that intergroup may choose to affiliate with the national service board’s region or choose to remain in the currently assigned region.
  2. A national service board is affiliated with the region where their nation exists and may participate in one or more language service boards.
  3. A language service board may affiliate with one region. When the language service board spans more than one region, it may choose which region to affiliate with. Should a language service board choose to not affiliate with a region, the Board of Trustees chair shall assign a trustee to serve as liaison to that language service board. The service bodies, and groups acting as service bodies, that participate in a language service board retain their original affiliation.
  4. A specific focus service board may affiliate with one region. When the specific focus service board spans more than one region, it may choose which region to affiliate with. Should a specific focus service board choose to not affiliate with a region, the Board of Trustees chair shall assign a trustee to serve as liaison to that specific focus service board. The groups that participate in a specific focus service board retain their original affiliation.

A group may choose to affiliate with an intergroup. The group shall be affiliated with the intergroup’s region. Should a group choose not to affiliate with an intergroup, but affiliates with a national service board, that group shall be affiliated with that national service board’s region. Groups that choose not to affiliate with an intergroup or a national service board may choose to affiliate with the geographic region where the group exists or the Virtual Region. Any group or service body may participate in the activities (including voting) of another intergroup, national service board, language service board, and/or specific focus service board, and region with their permission.

If you need some more clarification, I suggest you look at the Service, Traditions and Concepts workshops, which also explains in details the OA service structure.

23.

If service bodies are responsible for registering the Fellowship in their countries (national service boards) form a board of directors to comply with that country’s laws, how are these board members selected? Do we have any source or reference for how they should be chosen? Do these board members have the right to speak or vote in business meetings, or are they only supposed to report?

Please see the Suggestions for Starting an Intergroup/Service Board on how to establish a national service board (NSB). Beyond following our Twelve Traditions and Concepts of Service, OA does not have a policy or specific guidance for how OA members might as members of the NSB interact with a government entity. If you are referring to establishing a separate board of directors for that purpose, you could choose to follow the same guidance as for the NSB positions, qualifications, and selection process. As to their eligibility to speak, vote, and/or report to the government entity, that would be governed by the bylaws of the NSB or the laws and/or regulations of the agency with which they register. 

24.

Can service bodies at the national service board or intergroup level define a board of trustees and appoint a trusted servant who would be responsible for deciding on the days recovery groups meet, and change the times and days of the meetings throughout the week? In other words, can they define a committee with such responsibilities in their bylaws? Also, should the decision to form new groups be the responsibility of the board of trustees of this service structure?

Service bodies at the national service board or intergroup level have the authority to appoint officers, according to their service body’s bylaws. Service body officers and meeting delegates are responsible for determining the time and day of the service body’s business meeting. Tradition Four tells us that each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting OA as a whole’ Each group should decide when they meet, what the primary focus of their meeting is, and what format to use. It is not up to the service body to dictate when a group should or shouldn’t meet. If you have additional questions on this topic, please reach out to your region trustee liaison.