2025 Wrap-Up Report

Credentials Report

The first item of business was to adopt the Credentials Report. The report was presented as follows:

• 197 eligible voters

The Credentials Report was adopted as presented.

Conference Standing Rules

Move to amend the Conference Standing Rules to read as follows:

Standing Rule Amendment 1

Move to amend Standing Rule 2 — General and Communications to read as follows:

2. General and Communications
   1. Delegates shall utilize the Zoom interpretation feature found on the toolbar or where there are three dots. It often appears in the form of a globe. This Conference is being simultaneously translated into Spanish in order for an English-speaking delegate to hear a Spanish-speaking member who chooses to utilize the interpreter at the World Service Business Conference. English listeners must enable interpretation and listen in English. This enables Spanish-speaking delegates an equal right to participation.

Standing Rule Amendment 1 adopted (139 yes, 40 no). 

Standing Rule Amendment 2

Move to amend Standing Rule 2 — General and Communications to read as follows:

2. General and Communications
   3. No photographs are allowed. Only screen shots of posted information will be allowed (no screen shots of people or personal information). No recording will be done except by support staff for minutes purposes. Main motions, or the pertinent part of main motions, amendments, and other documents currently before the assembly, shall be displayed to the extent possible.

Standing Rule Amendment 2 adopted (105 yes, 78 no). 

Standing Rule Amendment 3

Move to amend Standing Rule 8 — Recognition and Debate by inserting and re-lettering as follows:

8. Recognition and Debate
   1. A minimum of five minutes will be allowed to caucus before voting on motions.

Standing Rule Amendment 3 failed (73 yes, 106 no).

The Conference Standing Rules were adopted as amended.

Consent Agenda

Proposal Item 1 (Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI, Section 1)

Proposal Item 7 (Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII, Section 3)

Proposal Item 8 (Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII, Section 4)

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. The Consent Agenda was adopted.

Conference Agenda

The Conference agenda was adopted as distributed. 

Remaining Business

The remainder of business consisted of officers’ reports.

Credentials Report

The first item of business was to adopt the Credentials Report. The report was presented as follows:

• 199 eligible voters

The Credentials Report was adopted as presented.

New Business Motion A-a

Move to grant the Conference Seal of Approval to the revised manuscript, Just for Today wallet card.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. New Business Motion A-a adopted (149 yes, 43 no).

New Business Motion A-b

Move to grant the Conference Seal of Approval to the manuscript, Sponsorship in OA: Guiding Others into Recovery.

Proviso: Groups and service bodies licensed to translate and distribute A Guide for Sponsors and Sponsoring Through the Twelve Steps shall be permitted to continue publication and distribution until such time Sponsorship in OA: Guiding Others into Recovery is translated and published.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. New Business Motion A-b adopted (176 yes, 10 no).

New Business Motion A-c

Move to grant the Conference Seal of Approval to the revised manuscript, To the Man Who Wants to Stop Eating Compulsively, Welcome.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. New Business Motion A-c adopted (141 yes, 30 no).

New Business Motion A

Move to amend WSBC Policy 2010d to read as follows:

It was adopted to:
Establish an OA Young Adults Conference Committee.

Motion required majority to adopt. New Business Motion A adopted (144 yes, 36 no). 

Standing Rule Amendment 4

Move to amend Standing Rule 8 — Recognition and Debate to read as follows:

8. Recognition and Debate
   1. Three minutes will be allowed to caucus before voting on motions.

Standing Rule Amendment 4 adopted.

Remaining Business

The remainder of business consisted of region reports, committee reports, and announcements.

Credentials Report

The first item of business was to adopt the Credentials Report. The report was presented as follows:

• 199 eligible voters

The Credentials Report was adopted as presented. 

New Business Motion C

Move to amend WSBC Policy 2018b to read as follows:

In keeping with Tradition Ten, Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on surgical or other medically recommended methods of weight management. In the spirit of Tradition Three, Overeaters Anonymous welcomes anyone with a desire to stop eating compulsively.

Motion required majority to adopt. New Business Motion C adopted (172 yes, 4 no) as amended.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Five

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article I — Twelve Steps, Steps Three, Seven, Eleven and Article II — Twelve Traditions, Tradition Two, by striking and inserting as follows:

Article I — Twelve Steps
The Twelve Steps suggested for recovery in the Fellowship of Overeaters Anonymous are as follows:

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him God.

7. Humbly asked Him God to remove our shortcomings.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him God, praying only for knowledge of His God’s will for us and the power to carry that out.

Article II — Twelve Traditions
The Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous are:

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He God’s will may be expressed Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Five failed (87 yes, 84 no).

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Four

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article XII — Bylaw Amendments, Section 1 — Procedure, by striking as follows:

Article XII — Board of Trustees
Section 1 — Procedure

6. Amendments to Article I (Twelve Steps) and Article II (Twelve Traditions) of Subpart B of these bylaws may only be adopted if, in addition to d) above, they are ratified by three fourths of the registered Overeaters Anonymous groups responding within six months of notification, provided at least 55 percent of the registered groups have responded.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Four failed (96 yes, 77 no).

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Nine

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VII — Board of Trustees, Section 5 — Nomination of Trustees, to read as follows:

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).

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Nine adopted (143 yes, 24 no).

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Six

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII — Meetings of Delegates, Section 1 — World Service Business Conference, to read as follows:

Article VIII — Meetings of Delegates
Section 1 — World Service Business Conference

2. Time and Location
   The Conference shall be held on such dates as the Board of Trustees may determine. The Conference shall be held on a two-year rotation as follows: via videoconferencing platform.
   1. In person in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area or at such place as the Board of Trustees may designate.
   2. Via videoconferencing platform with the Board of Trustees determining any hybrid elements attheir discretion.
3. Virtual Attendance
   The Board of Trustees may call the Conference, or any part of it, by virtual methods(s).

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Six failed (46 yes, 128 no).

Remaining Business

The remainder of business consisted of announcements.

Credentials Report

The first item of business was to adopt the Credentials Report. The report was presented as follows:

• 199 eligible voters

The Credentials Report was adopted as presented.

Trustee Elections

The results of the trustee elections were as follows:

• Blair P.
• Bob L.
• Juliette R.
• Preston F.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Two

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VII — Board of Trustees, Section 4 — Qualifications by striking and inserting as follows:

Article VII — Board of Trustees
Section 4 — Qualifications

2. Qualifications for trustee must be met at the time the application for trustee is submitted to the World Service Office. Specifically, such trustee nominees must also have:
   1. Worked through all Twelve Steps;
   2. Declared themselves as practicing the Twelve Steps to the best of their ability;
   3. Declared themselves as committed to the Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous; and
   4. Stated two specific ideas, in writing, to improve the health and long-term survival of the Fellowship; and
   5. Affirmed these additional qualifications on their trustee application forms.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Two failed (24 yes, 146 no).

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Ten

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI — Service Bodies, Section 3 — Affiliation and Participation, to read as follows:

Article VI — Service Bodies
Section 3 — Affiliation and Participation

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.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Ten adopted (158 yes, 6 no). 

New Business Motion B

Move to amend WSBC Policy 1992a to read as follows:

The following policy statement was adopted:
“Unity with Diversity” Policy

(Third Paragraph)
THE FELLOWSHIP respects the rights of members, groups, and service bodies to follow a particular concept of recovery within Overeaters Anonymous and encourages each member, group, and service body to respect those rights as they extend the hand of fellowship to those who still suffer. For example, this means we do not try to convince any member or visitor to adopt a belief in God.

Motion required majority to adopt. New Business Motion B adopted (131 yes, 49 no) as amended.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Three

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VII — Board of Trustees, Section 1 — Composition, to read as follows:

Article VII — Board of Trustees
Section 1 — Composition

The Board of Trustees shall consist of sixteen trustees. Whenever possible, a minimum of two trustees shall come from outside of North America.

Proviso: The number of trustees will be reduced by attrition as vacancies occur with no elected trustee being removed as a result of this amendment.

Motion required 2/3 vote to adopt. Bylaw Amendment Proposal Ten adopted (168 yes, 14 no) as amended.

Remaining Business

The remainder of business consisted of announcements.

Credentials Report

The first item of business was to adopt the Credentials Report. The report was presented as follows:

• 199 eligible voters

The Credentials Report was adopted as presented.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal One

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI — Service Bodies, Section 1 — Composition to read as follows:

Article VI — Service Bodies
Section 1 — Composition

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.
   1. Region No. 1 shall be the Pacific Northwest Region composed of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
   2. Region No. 2 shall be the Pacific Southwest Region composed of California, Hawaii, Reno/Tahoe area of Nevada, and Mexico.
   3. Region No. 3 shall be the Southwest Region composed of Arizona, Colorado, Central and West Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.
   4. Region No. 4 was dissolved/disbanded in July 2024 and ratified at World Service Business Conference 2025.
   5. Region No. 5 shall be the Central Region composed of East Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (except Greater Ozarks Intergroup), North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
   6. Region No. 6 shall be the Northeast Region composed of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Bermuda.
   7. Region No. 7 shall be the Eastern Region composed of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
   8. Region No. 8 shall be the Southeast Region composed of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Greater Ozarks Intergroup, the US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and South America.
   9. Region No. 9 shall be composed of countries and territories in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia, including all of Russia.
   10. Region No. 10 shall be composed of countries and territories in Australia, East Asia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific Basin.
   11. Virtual Region is nongeographic and is composed of virtual groups and virtual intergroups.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal One adopted on the Consent Agenda.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Seven

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII — Meetings of Delegates, Section 3 — Delegates, to read as follows:

Article VIII — Meetings of Delegates
Section 3 — Delegates

2. Those who may address the World Service Business Conference are:
   2. Nondelegates: Officers of the Corporation or any parent or subsidiary of the Corporation who are not also trustees, the Conference parliamentarian, trustee nominees, the managing director, the managerial staff of the World Service Office, volunteers, and interpreters.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Seven adopted on the Consent Agenda.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Eight

Move to amend OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII — Meetings of Delegates, Section 4 — Notice to read as follows:

Article VIII — Meetings of Delegates
Section 4 — Notice

Notice of the regular annual Conference and all special meetings of delegates shall be given to each registered service body, unless otherwise instructed by each individual service body, by electronic transmission. Such notice shall be sent no less than sixty days before each meeting and shall specify the day(s), hour(s), method, and manner of the meeting, and shall state the general nature of the business to be considered at such meeting.

Bylaw Amendment Proposal Eight adopted on the Consent Agenda.

Remaining Business

The remaining business consisted of acknowledgements.

Seventh Tradition Total: US$4,277.00