Media Category: Guidelines

Using Technology without Compromising Traditions

Content

• Introduction
• What format to use on a website
• Mobile technology
• How do the Traditions affect what we put on a website?
• Unity: deciding on content
• Security: inside and outside
• Welcome newcomers!
• Avoiding endorsement and/or opinions of outside interests
• Technical issues
• Summary

Introduction

These guidelines have been developed specifically for OA service bodies that wish to use the internet to help inform others about the presence of Overeaters Anonymous in their area. As with most things in Overeaters Anonymous, these are not meant to be “rules.” They are provided to help OA members with specific interests related to developing or maintaining an OA-related website.

What format to use on a website?

Generally, OA-related websites contain information presented in a structured, logical format. The main or “home” page contains general information about OA and the service body sponsoring the website. In addition, it may provide links to any or all of the following:

1. Link for newcomers to oa.org
2. Local meeting information
3. Links to OA basics, such as Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of OA Service
4. Local events list and/or local newsletter
5. OA.org bookstore
6. Other OA websites, such as the region

The sponsoring service body decides what information it wants to provide and maintain. Remember that the more complex a website is, the more difficult it is to maintain and, probably, to navigate. “Keep it simple” applies here.

Mobile technology

Staying relevant and attractive to visitors means enabling them to access your website anywhere, anytime, from any device. Recent statistics from a large city’s OA website indicate that 50 percent of its visitors were using mobile devices. It’s likely that visitors already coming to your website are also on mobile devices.

Service bodies should strongly consider having a mobile-optimized version of their website. A single website can be designed to be mobile-friendly. Or, in more and more cases, a separate but identical website exists that only mobile users are directed to. Often website development software includes an option to include a mobile version of the website.

How do the Traditions affect what we put on a website?

Our Eleventh Tradition states: “We need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television and other public media of communication.” The internet is one of those “other public media of communication,” and we must be aware of all Tradition issues related to this medium. No matter how modest a website may be, its audience is potentially large and diverse. Unlike other public information efforts, once it is published, a website is accessible by anyone and everyone. Worldwide.

As an example, in keeping with our Tradition of anonymity at the level of “other media of communication,” it is advisable not to include full names or personal addresses. However, posting the first name (with or without a last initial) and email address (with the member’s consent if it is a personal email account) of a service body’s contact is vital to helping suffering compulsive overeaters find the help they seek in Overeaters Anonymous. For OA’s main website, there is a policy not to use an email address that includes someone’s last name. It might be a good idea to adopt a similar policy. There are several ways to do this. One is to use a service position, for example, secretaryIG or Reg_Treasurer; or a name with initial, for example, maryt or johnt; or something silly, for example, justaboutwonderful.

Unity: deciding on content

Unity is best maintained with broad-based, inclusive information. Remember that, “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OA unity” (Tradition One). Keeping the information general allows us to reach as many compulsive overeaters as possible.

No one may republish OA copyrighted material, including on the internet, without permission from the World Service Office. Any registered OA service body may receive permission to publish OA copyrighted literature by completing the Reprint Permission Request form on oa.org. OA material currently published on the OA website is exempt from this policy. All registered service bodies may reprint those pieces without submitting a written request for permission. Additionally, any registered service body may apply for blanket permission to use the OA logo on any of its publications (e.g., flyers, posters, newsletters, meeting lists, websites, stationery, and business cards) for a two-year period (renewable). The OA Logo Permission Request form (PDF or DOCX) is on oa.org.

The service body is responsible for the contents of the website it sponsors.

Security: inside and out

The internet has made getting the OA message out easier. It has also made it easier for malicious actions to take place. Your website, if not protected, is vulnerable to malware, phishing, viruses, spying, and/or hijacking of visitor information.

Website visitors these days are more tech-savvy than in the past and are generally aware of the potential security risks of visiting any website, OA-related or otherwise. They also likely use antivirus software that not only warns them of a potential threat but can also report your website as unsafe.

If you haven’t done so already (or recently), it’s a good idea to review your website’s security and take necessary action to assure visitors that it has all the proper security systems in place to ensure the safety of their visit.

Administratively, make sure that at least two service body board members know the website’s passwords. Use strong passwords; “serenity” is not a good password for a Twelve Step organization. It is recommended that passwords are at least sixteen characters and contain a combination of numbers, symbols, and upper- and lowercase letters. Change the passwords at least annually or when you have a rotation of service with password-holders.

Protect against the change of status of the person with website responsibility by having more than one person with information about the process. If you use an outside resource for your website, make sure that your group is listed as the owner of the website’s hosting account, domain name, and any other assets. Generally a specific person is listed, so when that person rotates out of service, make sure the contact details are changed with the vendors your service body uses.

Welcome newcomers!

Websites have little time to keep a visitor’s attention. Most often a newcomer will visit your website looking for something specific, perhaps a meeting nearby or someone to speak with. Make newcomer information easy to find by creating a clear path.

• Include an obvious newcomer field on your home page.
• Make the newcomer message inviting.
• Create a separate newcomer page.
• Include OA-approved content that is already available.
• Include links to stories of recovery. These can include reprints from Lifeline, local stories of recovery, “Welcome Home,” and reprints from local and region newsletters.
• Provide a current meeting list (or link) within the newcomer page.
• With permission from the World Service Office (WSO), include reprinted excerpts from OA publications. For more information, see above or the Copy Requests page on the OA website.
• Provide easy-to-find contact information, including telephone numbers, emails, and postal addresses.

Avoiding endorsement and/or opinions of outside interests

As stated in the Tenth Tradition: “Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues.” This consideration is clear when we look at websites developed and maintained by non-OA organizations. When a visitor sees a link on those webpages, it’s as if the website’s owner is saying, “This is a website I think well of. This page can provide you with information you may want to know.” It is an unspoken endorsement of the linked-to site. OA does not endorse, so OA-related websites do not link with websites not affiliated with OA.

Summary

General things to remember:

• Design the website with newcomers in mind.
• Keep content current, especially meeting lists.
• When using OA copyrighted material or the OA logo, use the permission forms on oa.org.
• Link only to websites sponsored by Overeaters Anonymous service bodies or the WSO (oa.org).
• After your website is developed, send the URL (website address) to the WSO.
• As a courtesy, send copies of your website publications (e.g., newsletters, flyers, etc.) to your region office and/or region trustee on a regular basis.
• Create a website technical information document within the service body that includes login and passwords, vendor identification, process instructions, and other important information.

OA Responsibility Pledge

Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible

---

OA Board-approved
©2004, 2008, 2015 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All Rights reserved. Rev. 5/2023.

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

The following guidelines are offered as suggestions only; they are guides to aid you in deciding what information to collect.

We invite any and all of you to participate in recording your local history and in gathering local historical memorabilia. This will help to ensure that your history is not lost. The World Service Office (WSO) invites you to submit your histories for safekeeping to allow historians and scholars, as well as OA visitors from around the world, to gain a broader perception and appreciation of OA history in different areas. Anonymity and confidentiality will be protected. Please note: the WSO is only able to accept electronically formatted files due to storage limitations.

We suggest that the content and interpretation of local histories be approved by the group conscience of members involved in your area.

You may want to begin by interviewing longtime members or writing the history of your own OA experience.

On a personal level:

• Where did you first hear about OA?
• Did you have a sponsor? If so, how did it help you as a newcomer?
• Do you continue to have a sponsor?
• What contributions did you make to the Fellowship’s growth? (Please don’t be modest.)
• How has OA changed since you first encountered it?

On the birth of OA in your area:

• When was OA started in your town or area? Where were the first meetings held (homes, churches, etc.)?
• Who was responsible for starting the group? Which early members contributed to the growth and success of the group? How was it started: as an offshoot of a parent group, as a split from the first or main group, or by one person starting the group?
• What was OA like in the early days in your area?
• How were new members contacted? How was Twelfth Step work done?
• Was the cooperation of local community agencies and professionals—ministers, doctors, etc.—looked into?
• Who were the founders and group officers of the early groups?
• How often were meetings held and what kinds of meeting formats were used?
• If English is not the local language in your area, how did the founding members start the group? What literature did they use and how has this changed? How has translation of OA literature been carried out?
• Did any special problems arise during the early years? Did the early groups suffer growing pains?
• Was your group ever given a name? What was it? Is it still the same? If it has been changed, what is the present name of the group?
• Do you know how the community received the first group when it started? How has it affected the community since?
• Do you have an intergroup/service board or central office in your area or community? Do you know when it started? How? By whom? Were there any problems?
• Was there any opposition to OA or were there intergroup/ service board feuds in your area? Please elaborate.
• Does your area sponsor OA events such as conventions, marathons, retreats, or assemblies? When were they started? How often are they held? Are they well-attended?
• Do you participate in events outside your area, such as those hosted by other service bodies? Do other members from your area attend also?
• Have you experienced growth in your group, in your area? Who approaches OA today: mostly young people, women, men, minorities? Are all welcome? Are there any special problems?
• Does your area have a website? How was this idea received when it was proposed? How was the website created, and how is it maintained?
• Has your group ever completed a public awareness/information project? Have any members ever written articles for, or been interviewed by, local newspapers?
• Do you celebrate individual and group anniversaries? How?

OA Responsibility Pledge

Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible.

---

OA Board-Approved
©1991, 2008 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All Rights reserved. Rev. 5/2023.

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

Statement on Approved Literature

(Business Conference Policy Manual, 2010a [Amended 2012, 2023])

“In accordance with our Traditions, we suggest that OA groups maintain unity and honor our Traditions by using, selling, and displaying only approved books and pamphlets at their meetings. This includes OA Conference- and board-approved literature; AA Conference-approved books, booklets, and all future editions thereof, with original edition copyright 2010 or earlier; and locally produced OA literature. Although groups may choose to focus on only one piece of OA-approved literature, individuals and groups are encouraged to use any and all OA-approved literature. Locally produced literature must be developed according to OA Guidelines for Locally Produced Literature, and should be used with the greatest discretion. Local literature should be considered temporary and discontinued when OA literature approved for general use is available to cover the topic.”

Statement on Literature That Is Not OA-Approved

(Business Conference Policy Manual, 1993b [amended 2010])

“It is the group conscience of the 1993 World Service Business Conference that the sale or display of literature other than OA-approved literature and AA conference-approved literature (as described in WSBC Policy 2010a) is an implied endorsement of outside enterprises, and therefore in violation with Tradition Six.”

To determine whether you have the most recent version of a piece of OA literature, see the OA-Approved Literature List by Copyright Date and compare it to the copyright date on your literature.

---

OA Board-approved
©1990… 2018 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Rev. 08/2024. All rights reserved.
#570

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

Our OA Responsibility Pledge states:

“Always to extend the hand and heart of OA to all who share my compulsion; for this I am responsible.”

Where are the people who were at your first meeting? How many of them are still coming to OA? There are many things that each of us and our groups can do to keep people coming back. In an effort to extend the hand and heart to those who share our compulsion, we offer the following suggestions for membership retention.

• Study The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition. The Steps and Traditions strengthen our recovery and keep us living in the solution.
• Focus on the miracle of physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery.
• Remember that anonymity is the spiritual foundation of our program.
• Remember that there are no special requirements for members to share. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
• Warmly welcome back returning members. In fact, reach out to everyone at meetings with love. Make outreach calls.
• Participate in group inventories; use both the OA Group Inventory and Strong Meeting Checklist, available as free downloads on oa.org.
• Send strong speakers to meetings in areas where attendance is declining or there is a lack of abstinence.
• Play recordings and podcasts of speakers from OA events.
• Make meetings and special events fun!
• Keep a good supply of OA-approved literature.
• Focus on OA recovery and how using the Twelve Steps and Traditions help you deal with life.
• Encourage and support OA Step study meetings; use the Suggested Step Study Meeting Format available as a free download on oa.org.
• Welcome newcomers to your meetings. Have volunteers telephone newcomers to answer any questions they may have.
• Hold newcomers’ meetings.
• Start and support a recovery from relapse meeting based on the meeting format available in the Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook, p. 9, and as a free download on oa.org.
• Have a regular group conscience meeting.
• Have the service body sponsor a Service, Traditions, and Concepts Workshop.
• Encourage your service body to regularly distribute a newsletter to keep all groups informed about area events.
• Start and end your regular group meetings on time. Meet on holidays, too! Our disease never takes a holiday!
• Have volunteers telephone, email, or text members who haven’t been at the meeting for a while. Build a network of support.
• Create a phone chain for the entire group, especially during the holidays; put all members’ names in a hat and have each person draw one name to call.
• Provide service opportunities that have no abstinence requirement at the group level so everyone can benefit from doing service!
• Rotate service positions, no matter what.
• List all meetings in both large and small local newspapers.
• Encourage members to post information cards about meetings in grocery stores, libraries, and other public places.
• Share that sponsoring and doing service are rewarding and exciting ways to benefit your recovery.
• Hold sponsorship workshops so members aren’t afraid to sponsor.
• Stick to the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, OA Tools, and OA-approved literature when sponsoring.
• Share about your progress in working and living the Steps. When sharing your experience, share your strength and hope.
• Be an example of recovery. This is a program of attraction, not promotion.
• Encourage people in their recovery; support those who don’t “get it” right away.
• Give recovery coins or celebrate success as often as possible.
• Remember that our common solution is the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA.
• Emphasize abstinence from the beginning, making sure that members know that it is NOT OKAY to binge.
• Speak your truth at any level.
• Let go of judgment of another’s recovery or relapse.
• Be open to new ideas or changes.
• Ask people to do service.
• Avoid overloading yourself with service work; try for balance.
• Share your experience.
• Remind members not to cross talk during meetings.
• Welcome all who attend the meetings, being careful not to form cliques.
• Put principles before personalities.
• Rotate service rather than allow one person to continually lead or run the meeting.
• Limit sharing time so all have an opportunity to speak. Problems can be shared one-on-one outside the meeting.
• Keep it simple; people are more important than rules.
• Stick to the message of OA; leave outside issues at the door.
• Honor everyone’s anonymity.
• Remember that what is said in your meetings stays in your meetings.
• Social gathering are welcome before or after meetings, but during the meeting, focus on the program.
• Use OA-approved literature. Using outside literature implies endorsement.
• Reach out to help a group member in trouble; remember-relapse is not contagious. Recovery is!
• Work together to reach common goals.
• Let go of expectations of yourself and others.

Most of all, do it with love and
KEEP COMING BACK, NO MATTER WHAT!

These suggestions are not intended to be all-inclusive. We can take many other positive actions in order to encourage members to keep coming back. Share what works, and what doesn’t, with your fellow OA members around the world through OA newsletters, letters to your region or WSO, and Convention!

OA is a Fellowship in which thousands of compulsive overeaters find and share recovery. It is a program of attraction and a positive way of living. Together, we can recover, and together it works when we all keep coming back!

---

OA Board-approved
©1995, 2001, 2015, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All Rights reserved. Rev. 6/2022.

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

Purpose of participating

An OA display at a local health fair is an excellent way of doing Twelfth Step outreach work.

Funding

In addition to funding through your service body, funding may be available through your region, or in cooperation with other local service bodies. The Reduced Cost Literature program can assist groups and service bodies purchasing bulk literature for public information and outreach projects. For an application, go to oa.org/document-library and search under  “Public Information” category.

How to locate health fairs in your area

Your group’s or service body’s public information committee may already have a list of contacts, which can be a great starting point in finding local health fairs. Other great resources are the internet, newspapers, and local community news, television, or radio programs. Search for online community calendars or health-related resources. If you find out about an event too late to participate, ask to be added to the notification list for next year’s event.

Preparation and planning

(about three to four months prior)

Form a committee and choose a chair

Encourage participation within your service body at meetings or through the service body’s newsletter. Describe specific tasks and the time commitment needed to accomplish them.

Questions to ask the fair organizers

• What are the days and times of setup, operation, and breakdown?
• Are there any fees? Ask about not-for-profit rates. If participation is cost prohibitive, ask the organizers if your group or service body can place OA information, such as business cards or flyers with contact information and meeting times, on a table at the event.
• What is the event’s projected attendance?
• Who else will be exhibiting?
• Will other Twelve Step programs be participating?
• Can your group or service body be located near them? Will there be a speaker on compulsive eating?
• Can you hold an open OA meeting at the site?
• Are there size limits or special requirements for the display?
• Will rental tables or chairs be available?
• Will an electrical outlet, if needed, be accessible near the booth?
• Will a copy machine be available if needed?

Materials

(about two to three months prior)

Prepare the display

Your service body might own a professional exhibit booth. If not, use a table and chairs. Create a display using the Public Information Posters (available for free download at oa.org/document-library; “PI Posters”) and a selection of OA-approved literature (see below). Consider a professionally made banner, which can be used again. To use the Overeaters Anonymous logo, request permission from the World Service Office using the OA Logo Permission Request Form found on oa.org. (Go to oa.org/document-library; “Copyright.”) One way to appear professional is to avoid a cluttered look.

Stocking the booth

To prepare, use this list of supplies you may need.

• extension cord
• tape
• markers
• scissors
• glue
• rubber bands
• stapler and staples
• paper clips
• volunteer badges
• correction fluid/tape
• pens and/or pencils
• camera or mobile device to take photos of your booth and/or the event for your website or newsletter. (Remember not to photograph faces or distinguishing features in order to protect members’ and visitors’ anonymity.)
• clipboards and notepaper

Literature

Only OA Conference- or board-approved literature should be offered. (See the OA-Approved Literature List. Bring enough so that people may take some. To avoid clutter, store extra literature under the table. The literature suggested below is high in newcomer interest and low in cost. It’s available from the OA bookstore at bookstore.oa.org.

• In OA, Recovery Is Possible (#135)
• Fifteen Questions (#755)
• Many Symptoms, One Solution (#106)
• New Prospect Card (#450)
• The Tools of Recovery (#160)
• Fifteen Questions for the Young Person (#756)
• Is Food a Problem for You? (#750)
• OA Members Come in All Sizes (#110)
• To the Family of the Compulsive Eater (#240)
• Where Do I Start? (#705)
• About OA (#751)

For health fairs held in work environments, at/or near military bases, or at health care facilities, these pamphlets are also suggested.

• When Should I Refer Someone to Overeaters Anonymous? (#770)
• Courier, a newsletter for the professional community (To download, go to oa.org/document-library; “Public Information.”)

Bring a supply of local meeting lists. (Obtain permission from meeting contacts to include their information.) Include a handout that has the oa.org website and your service body’s website and/or contact information. Back issues of Lifeline magazine are available from the OA bookstore at bookstore.oa.org. Bring along a sign-up sheet for people who want to receive more information or your service body’s newsletter via email. For display only, consider including Overeaters Anonymous, Third Edition, book and CDs; The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition book; For Today; Taste of Lifeline; Abstinence, Second Edition; Voices of Recovery; and specialized OA pamphlets, such as To the Man Who Wants to Stop Compulsive Overeating, Welcome.

Volunteers

(about one to two months prior)

Get firm commitments from volunteers

Booth volunteers should be chosen carefully. They will be representing the OA program and should demonstrate recovery on all three levels: emotional, spiritual, and physical. You may wish to have abstinence requirements. It is highly recommended that booth volunteers have at least one year of current abstinence and are maintaining a healthy body weight. Look for members who have suffered from different symptoms of the disease.

Make sure volunteers know their areas of responsibility

Responsibilities include setup, breakdown, general staffing, backup, etc. Arrange the schedule so that two volunteers are working the booth at all times in case one has to leave temporarily. Shifts no longer than three hours, with two hours being optimum, are suggested. Make sure all volunteers are comfortable with the fact that they’ll be seen by the general public, who may ask them about their OA membership or may assume it. Call volunteers again one month before the fair and again one week before the fair to confirm their participation. Give copies of Guidelines for Health Fair Participation to all volunteers.

Day of fair

Setting up

Do this as early as possible. It’s easiest to have those who put up the display and lay out the literature to take the first shift.

Demeanor while working the table or booth

Be friendly, but don’t push information or literature. Sit back from the table—this allows people to feel free to take material without feeling intimidated. Look alert and interested, letting people know you’re ready to speak with them if they wish. Be careful about socializing with others staffing the booth; if you appear too “busy,” attendees may be hesitant to approach. When speaking with them, make eye contact. Remember that this is a program of attraction, not promotion (Tradition Eleven). There should be no eating, drinking, or smoking at the booth. Dress neatly and appropriately. Record the number of visitors to your table.

Answering questions

Telling people that OA is “a Twelve Step program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous” will answer a great many questions. Keep in mind that you’re not expected to be an expert on compulsive overeating. You may, however, share your experience, strength, and hope; you might wish to bring your “before” pictures. If you give an opinion, make it clear that it is your opinion and not representative of OA as a whole.

Give people literature and meeting lists. Be sure to mention that if they have any questions, they are welcome to call the contact numbers on the meeting list or visit oa.org.

Follow-up

Send thank-you notes to the fair organizers

Ask them to put your group or service body on the mailing list for next year. Have a post-fair evaluation meeting with the volunteers to discuss how it went and collect suggestions for next time.

For more information

For more information about doing health fairs or other public information work, consult the Public Information and Professional Outreach Service Manual (#765), available from the OA bookstore at bookstore.oa.org.

---

OA Board-approved
©1993, 1998, 2008, 2016, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All Rights reserved. Rev 2/2025.

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

1. Have an OA group, intergroup, service board, or region sponsor the newsletter.
2. Keep it positive. Don’t allow editorial opinions on controversial issues or policies to dominate the newsletter.
3. Before printing, review the issue for observance of Traditions (for example, non–OA event advertising or other endorsements).
4. Traditions Six and Ten guide us to select only material from within the OA Fellowship. This may include OA publications and/or OA program-related submissions from members. Include a disclaimer that personal stories express the experience, strength, and hope of the individual member and not of OA as a whole.
5. Intergroup/service board newsletters can include a brief summary of minutes and financial statements, information about upcoming OA events, reports from loners or groups in outlying areas, and articles about personal recovery.
6. Do not print copyrighted material or the OA logo without permission. Check the Copy Requests page at oa.org or contact the World Service Office for information regarding OA’s copyright procedures and guidelines. The Copy Requests page also lists OA materials that registered OA groups and services bodies may reprint without written permission. For permission to use the OA logo, submit the Permission to Use the OA Logo form (PDF or DOCX), available on the Copy Requests page and in the Document Library, to the WSO.
7. Registered groups and service bodies may reprint individual articles from Lifeline, A Step Ahead, and the WSO News Bulletin for limited personal and group use, crediting the appropriate publication and Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Material from these sources may not be revised. An example of “credit” would be to place “[source, date] Copyright Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.” at the end of the article used.
8. OA newsletters often contain a statement that other OA groups and service bodies are welcome to reprint articles from them without permission. When reprinting from other OA newsletters, be sure to credit the source.
9. Review both the Newsletter page under Guidelines: Events & Outreach and the News & Events page at oa.org to find information about new OA policies and available resources.
10. Original sketches, cartoons, pictures, etc. add visual interest.
11. Determine through the group conscience whether to charge for the newsletter to, for example, offset costs or raise funds.
12. Investigate the most cost-effective way to distribute your newsletter. Many newsletters are published primarily online, for example, on the group’s or service body’s website.

Congratulations! Your newsletter will enhance the growth of Overeaters Anonymous in your area.

OA Responsibility Pledge

Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible.

---

OA Board-Approved
©1991, 2008, 2017, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Rev. 6/2022. All rights reserved.
#570

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

• Purpose of OA events
• Types of events
• Guarding our Traditions
• Committees
• Finances
• Sale of merchandise
• Program and choosing speakers
• Additional suggestions

These guidelines have been developed through the experience of OA members and the Board of Trustees, who have contributed to their creation. They reflect OA Traditions and Concepts of Service as reflected in our OA Conference-approved literature. These guidelines are strong suggestions based on the experience of those who have gone before. The guidelines do not replace the group conscience of local OA members, but we encourage OA groups and service bodies to consider carefully before acting contrary to these suggestions.

Purpose of OA Events

The reason for OA gatherings held outside of group meetings is to provide more recovery opportunities for members. Such get-togethers remind us that we are part of a larger whole, that we are not alone. The focus of such OA events is recovery from compulsive overeating through the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA. Many groups and service bodies hold events in conjunction with International Day Experiencing Abstinence (IDEA), Unity Day, Sponsorship Day, or OA’s birthday. Some host only one annual event, while others hold monthly or quarterly events.

Retreats, marathons, and conventions offer the laughter, warmth, understanding, and support of the OA Fellowship. They introduce members to a wider circle of individuals and to the experience, strength, and hope of others who share our disease.

These events can also benefit OA by raising much-needed revenue for OA as a whole. The income helps groups and service bodies to carry the message of recovery to the still-suffering compulsive eater.

Types of Events

All OA events address recovery from compulsive overeating through the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. Any OA event should not be connected with any outside issues, including religions, politics, therapies, non-OA literature, or other Twelve Step fellowships. The following events are the types most commonly held by OA groups and service bodies, such as intergroups and serviced boards.

Conventions

Most conventions are weekend events that are hosted by a service body rather than a group. They are held in hotels or conference centers that can accommodate the event’s space requirements. The activities are focused on OA recovery and fellowship, meetings, workshops, speaker sessions, and entertainment, such as dances or breaks for relaxation and fun.

Retreats

Retreats are usually held in a quiet location, such as a camp or retreat center. Retreat activities may include speaker sessions, small group discussions, one-on-one sharing, time for writing and reflection, as well as free time for members to experience fellowship.

Marathons

Marathons are usually one-day events. They consist of back-to-back speaker meetings or workshops with various, scheduled topics, allowing attendees to choose according to their needs. OA’s virtual community provides marathon phone meetings on many holidays.

Fellowship Meals/Banquets

Lunch or dinner meals with an OA speaker provide another way to combine recovery and fellowship. This type of gathering can be held at a local hotel or restaurant where the meals are purchased, or it can be as simple as a gathering where OA members provide the food.

Public Information Meetings

Special public information events are held to raise awareness of Overeaters Anonymous for the public, the professional community, and OA members’ families and friends.

Service, Traditions, and Concepts Workshops

These workshops are usually conducted by members with a thorough understanding of the Twelve Traditions and the Concepts of OA Service. A region trustee and/or regional board members can offer these workshops to intergroups and service boards as part of their service to OA.

Guarding Our Traditions

Use the following guides to observe the Traditions when planning an OA event. Remember to honor “principles before personalities” (Tradition Six).

• An OA event must be sponsored by a registered OA group or service body. An event that is not sponsored by an OA group or service body is considered an outside enterprise, and, as such, may not use the OA name or mailing list (Tradition Six).
• The name “Overeaters Anonymous” and the name of the sponsoring group or service body should appear on all flyers, newsletter articles, registration forms, and other announcements and forms for the event (Tradition Five).
• Only OA members may be invited to act as event and workshop leaders or speakers (Tradition Six).
• Printed materials should not contain endorsements of outside enterprises, such as books, publishers, treatment facilities, professionals in the field of eating disorders, hospitals, and other non-OA entities. This includes any materials or information regarding non-OA enterprises or activities with which the leader or speaker is personally involved. Refrain from printing the names or non-OA titles of speakers and leaders at OA events in all information materials. OA service titles (but not names) may be used when a speaker or leader is performing the service responsibility of their OA office (Traditions Six and Eight and OA Business Conference Policy 1990).
• Ask OA members who work professionally in the field of eating disorders or are members of other Twelve Step programs to speak only about their personal experience as recovering compulsive eaters in Overeaters Anonymous (Tradition Five).
• Reimbursement to a speaker beyond travel, food, and lodging is not appropriate (Tradition Eight).
• Only OA-approved literature should be offered for sale at an OA event. For a list of books and pamphlets, see the OA-Approved Literature List at oa.org/document-library under “Guidelines” or contact the World Service Office (WSO). Locally produced literature should be used with the greatest discretion (Tradition Six).

Committees

An event sponsored by a group or service body is an opportunity to involve many members in Twelfth Step work. The larger the event, the more members needed to share the workload. The following are examples of service needs and opportunities:

Program volunteer	Plans the program and obtains speakers or leaders.
Registration volunteer	Handles preregistration and on-site registration.
Treasurer	Deposits receipts, pays bills incurred by the event, and furnishes detailed accounting of income and expenses when the event is over. Funds may be collected via check or electronic funds transfer (if available to group/service body).
Decorations volunteer	Responsible for signs and decorations.
Public Information volunteer	Sends information about the event to local newspapers, radio and television stations, and nearby groups, unaffiliated groups, and service bodies.
Literature volunteer	Handles OA literature to be sold at the event.
Hospitality volunteer	Provides greeters and arranges for refreshments.
Entertainment volunteer	Arranges for songs, skits, dance music, or other entertainment.

Finances

There are no dues or fees at meetings; however, it is not against the Traditions to charge fees for OA events. Events should be self-supporting to enable groups and service bodies to carry out their primary purpose, as many are held, in part, as fundraisers. Estimating both the total expenses and expected attendance should be part of event planning in order to calculate the suggested registration fee.

Items to consider when estimating expenses are: meeting room rental fees, publicity costs (printing, postage, posters, etc.), programs, name tags, decorations, and other handouts. Speakers’ expenses may include transportation, lodging, and meals. For a single-day event, consider asking a local member to host the speaker if they must stay overnight, which will lower this cost. Estimated expenses divided by estimated attendance will indicate the appropriate amount needed per person to cover costs. A registration fee is then added to that amount if the purpose of the event includes fundraising.

Many events encourage preregistration by charging less for those who register early than those who register at the event. This makes event planning easier and allows for the event’s cancellation if there is an indication that costs will not be covered. Like meetings, all OA events should be self-supporting. Collecting a Seventh Tradition at the event is another way to increase contributions.

It is customary to turn no one away from an OA event for lack of funds; however, it is not necessary to provide meals and lodging. Event organizers may wish to suggest to those who feel they cannot afford the registration fee to honestly decide how much they can contribute and accept it with no further questions. It is also possible to ask these members to give service at the event in order to practice their Seventh Tradition. Some service bodies set up “scholarship” funds to help those in need.

Good financial practices for OA events may include the following (depending on the size and complexity of the event):

• Set up a separate bank account for OA events.
• Require two signatures for authorization on all expenditures.
• Pay all expenditures and refunds, if any, by check.
• Require receipts for all expenditures.
• Keep a log of all registrations received, recording check or cash information.
• Appoint three knowledgeable OA members to an audit committee to verify the financial report to protect both the treasurer and the sponsoring body.
• Issue a financial report itemizing income, expenses, and net profit or loss soon after the event. The income section should detail the number of people who registered and the amount received. Receipts and expenditures for items should be separated by category, such as literature, refreshments, fundraising, etc.

Sale of Merchandise

The following statement was adopted by the delegates at the 1984 World Service Business Conference (amended 2014): “It is the will of the Business Conference that sale of merchandise, per se, is not prohibited by the Traditions. With regard to sale of merchandise, ‘Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.’ If you choose to sell merchandise, the following guidelines are suggested:

1. All sales be made by and for OA service bodies.
2. Each sale item be approved by group conscience.
3. Sales at OA events and functions should be conducted in such a manner so as not to divert or distract from our primary purpose to carry the message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers.”

In accordance with our Traditions, each group and service body may determine whether to sell merchandise. Overeaters Anonymous must be ever mindful of our Traditions, which warn against endorsement of outside enterprises.

Program and Choosing Speakers

Recovery events are centered on a theme that is related to the OA Twelve Step program. Topic ideas may be taken from OA-approved literature. Only OA members may be invited to act as event and workshop leaders and speakers.

Some event planners invite a guest speaker, while others rely solely on members attending the event. The sponsoring group or service body determines the eligibility requirements for leaders and speakers. Most events have abstinence requirements for lead speakers but encourage all attending to share if that is a part of the event agenda. Groups and service bodies are encouraged to dialogue with potential and selected speakers to ensure both that there is a mutual understanding of expectations and requirements of the materials they will present when sharing their recovery with the OA audience and that they will conduct themselves fully within the Twelve Traditions of OA.

We suggest that the following OA Speaker Statement be read at all OA events:

“OA speakers do not represent OA as a whole, but speak from their own experience, strength, and hope. OA recognizes there are individual approaches and different concepts of working the Twelve Step program of recovery. We all are reminded that our common disease and our common purpose unite us; differences in approaches to recovery need not divide us. OA is strengthened when we honor and respect all by practicing unity with diversity.”

Unfortunately, some speakers promote outside enterprises, such as eating disorder centers and counseling services; sell their own literature and tapes; or require signed contracts, use of outside services, or other actions that raise concerns. One way to verify a speaker’s respect for the OA Traditions is to seek a recommendation from another OA group or service body for which the individual has spoken. Another method is to ask the potential speaker for a copy of a recording from a previous event where the speaker has shared.

Additional Suggestions

• Contact other groups, service bodies, the region trustee, or the World Service Office with questions or for assistance. They may have more detailed information on how to plan for events.
• Keep it simple.
• Consider handicapped access and the comfort of attendees.
• Schedule plenty of breaks and time for sharing.
• Plan ahead. Include a variety of topics to accommodate all attendees.
• Avoid scheduling on holidays, either national or religious, unless that is the purpose of the event (e.g. some groups and service bodies choose to hold events on holidays where large meals tend to be part of the celebratory aspect of the day). Check with nearby intergroups and service boards (as well as region and the WSO) that may be planning an event on or around the same date. This may hurt attendance at both events.
• Focus on this event, not last year’s or what some other area has done.
• Remember to “let go and let God” and enjoy the event.

OA Responsibility Pledge

Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible

---

OA Board-Approved
©1990, 1996, 2017, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved. Rev. 5/2023
#570

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

These guidelines have been developed through the experience of OA members and the Board of Trustees, who have contributed to their creation. They reflect OA Traditions and Concepts of Service as reflected in our OA Conference-approved literature. These guidelines are strong suggestions based on the experience of those who have gone before. The guidelines do not replace the group conscience of local OA members, but we encourage OA groups and service bodies to consider carefully before acting contrary to these suggestions.

Overeaters Anonymous supports the development of literature where current OA literature doesn’t fill a need. Locally produced literature may include stories of personal recovery unique to specific geographic areas, languages, or cultural groups. While the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are the common ground of all OA members throughout the world, stories that demonstrate our diversity can help individuals achieve recovery.

Locally produced literature may also include material for public information or professional outreach efforts in a specific area, or OA recovery-oriented literature. OA newsletters have their own specific guidelines, Guidelines for OA Newsletters, available at oa.org/document-library under “Guidelines.”

In the spirit of unity, the following guidelines are offered to assist in the development of locally produced literature.

1. Locally produced literature should be developed, reviewed, and approved by a service body beyond the group level, except for newsletters, meeting lists, flyers, posters, letterhead, and business cards.
2. The OA logo may be used only with written permission. Submit the “Permission to Use the OA Logo” form (PDF or DOCX), available on the Copy Requests page at oa.org, to the World Service Office to start the process. The group or service body name must appear under the logo.
3. If developed for sale, the literature may be sold only within the Fellowship.
4. Check the copyright procedures and guidelines on the Copy Requests page at oa.org for an explanation of what literature requires written permission to reprint and what does not. To reprint excerpts from literature not listed as available to registered groups and service bodies for reprinting without written permission, submit the “Reprint Permission” form (PDF or DOCX) to the World Service Office (WSO).
5. Include the following disclaimer on the cover page of each piece of literature: “This literature has been locally produced by [service body name here]. The content reflects the experience, strength, and hope of our local members. It is not OA Conference- or Board-approved and does not represent OA as a whole.”
6. We recommend that the Responsibility Pledge be included in all published locally produced literature, social media, newsletters, and bulletins.
7. Upon completion of the literature’s development, prior to publication, send one copy to the region liaison and one copy to the WSO. If your service body has not received permission to use the OA logo yet, this copy should be sent with a “Permission to Use the OA Logo” form for permission to publish the literature with the logo.
8. When publishing either local OA history or the history of OA as a whole, ensure that the information is accurately presented. Guidelines to support the development of local OA history, Suggested Guidelines for Writing the History of Your Local OA Area, are available at oa.org/document-library under “Guidelines.”
9. Literature should not judge programs in other areas or compare them with the local program.
10. Review literature carefully to ensure it upholds our Traditions.
11. If the literature includes personal stories of recovery, it is recommended that diverse stories by multiple authors be included.
12. We recommend the sponsoring service body create a committee of three to four currently abstinent members to oversee the literature development or review process. This committee should bring their recommendations to the sponsoring service body for approval.
13. “Local literature should be considered temporary and discontinued when OA literature approved for general use is available to cover the topic” (Statement on Approved Literature adopted at the 2010 World Service Business Conference, amended 2012). To read the full Statement, see the OA-Approved Literature List at oa.org/document-library under “Guidelines.”

 

OA Responsibility Pledge

Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible.

---

OA Board-Approved
©1998, 2000, 2009, 2018, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Rev 5/2023. All rights reserved.

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

Digital communication was unforeseen when the Twelve Traditions were written. It is important to consider how the use of electronic media might impact our own or anyone else’s anonymity as we recover and help to carry the message of recovery offered by the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. These guidelines build on our Fellowship’s experience and offer solid suggestions on the importance of maintaining our personal anonymity and the anonymity of OA members in the virtual world.

Pertinent OA Literature and Policies

Traditions

Tradition Eleven: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television and other public media of communication.

Tradition Eleven addresses the need for members to be anonymous outside the Fellowship at the level of public media. By following this Tradition, we guard against the assumption that any one person’s recovery represents OA as a whole. We also guard against the temptation for an individual to seek public recognition. Members who ignore our Eleventh Tradition can cause damage to OA’s spirit of fellowship, which is essential to our personal healing. Such breaks of anonymity may bring the OA name before the public, but they can also bring jealousy and competition for publicity and financial rewards. We must be willing to surrender our need for recognition to protect our recovery and OA as a whole.

AA’s Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions cautions, “At this altitude [public], anonymity—100 percent anonymity—was the only possible answer. Here, principles would have to come before personalities, without exception” (p. 187).

Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all these traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Within the OA Fellowship, members have the right to decide for themselves what they reveal. At the same time, we share a responsibility to guard the anonymity of our fellow members.

Overeaters Anonymous Statement on Public and Social Media Policy

While Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues, including social media, the delegates of the 2019 World Service Business Conference (WBSC) recommend that any OA member, group, or service body using social media for OA public information and public awareness maintain the personal anonymity of OA members.

Members of Overeaters Anonymous are anonymous. The Fellowship is not. Members of Overeaters Anonymous are responsible for maintaining their anonymity and respecting the anonymity of other OA members. When attending an OA meeting, whether face-to-face or virtual, members are encouraged to seek appropriate means to protect their own anonymity and that of fellow members.

All registered virtual meetings shall inform members that their anonymity is not fully protected when attending a virtual meeting.

(WSBC Policy 2011a, amended 2016 and 2019)

Standards for Various Forms of Digital Media

We need to use caution in OA-related emails. We are publishing at the public level when we post on social media or blog. What we send or post may easily be seen, even repeated, by others within and outside the Fellowship. When we break our anonymity in digital media, we may inadvertently break the anonymity of others. Others may rightly or wrongly assume that our “virtual friends” are OA members.

Email

Electronic mail is a method of exchanging digital messages.

• Avoid the use of your full name as a part of your email address.
• Avoid the use of your business email address. It implies affiliation with an outside interest.

Service Email Correspondence WITHIN the Fellowship

It is advisable to set up a second email address for OA correspondence. If a service body has ongoing service positions that use email, we may create email accounts for the positions, such as chair@servicebody or newsletter@servicebody. Accounts can then be passed on to the next person filling that position simply by changing the forwarding information.

Many service providers allow one email address to be linked to another for convenience, so managing email is simple. Email can be forwarded from the service body account to our personal account. We can then see all of our email without having to log into a second account, unless we need to send a reply.

When sending service body correspondence to multiple members at once, it is important to maintain their anonymity. Use the blind carbon copy (BCC) line or create a distribution group or list with a meaningful title. Don’t use program words, such as “Twelve Step,” in the title, which might compromise anonymity when the message shows up in the receiver’s email in-box. For help in finding the BCC feature or in creating a distribution list, check the email provider’s instructions.

Service Email Correspondence OUTSIDE the Fellowship

It is also a good idea to have an email address that reflects our service position if we have responsibilities that require us to contact professionals or members of the media. It is appropriate to use our full name in such correspondence. This is the exception; we use our full name as this is the standard when conducting business, including when contacting the media and public information contacts. If we are then asked for an interview as a result of this correspondence, it is our responsibility to inform/educate the person doing the interview of our anonymity policy and that no last names or pictures may be used. For more suggestions and resources for contacting the media about OA, find the Public Information and Professional Outreach (PIPO) Resource List on the OA website (oa.org/document-library under “Public Information”).

Personal Email Correspondence and Contact Lists

When we add a member’s name to our personal contact list or electronic address book, we do not place personal reminders in the name field, i.e. Kathy (OA). If information is forwarded, the name is displayed and anonymity may be broken.

Blogs

If we mention our membership in Overeaters Anonymous, then we do not use our full name and/or photo on the Blog page. If we want to use our name and/or photo, we do not mention our association with Overeaters Anonymous, nor make references that would disclose our membership.

Messaging Applications

These applications use the internet to send text messages, documents, images, and video and audio messages to other users of the same application.

When using an application in a closed environment, where we are communicating with a single login (meeting), it is okay to use our name and share images. However, if we are using the application in a shared environment, where we have followers who are able to view the postings, then we do not mention our membership, nor that of any of our followers.

Podcasts

When podcasts of speakers are posted on OA websites, it is important to practice the Eleventh and Twelfth Traditions. To protect the anonymity of the speaker and keep the level of celebrity in check, it is suggested that fictitious names be used, reminding us to place “principles over personalities.” When posting recordings, list by topic rather than by speaker. If speaker names are listed, do not use full names; use only first names or first names with last initials. Before posting a taped speaker, review the recording for Tradition breaks, especially anonymity. If an issue arises, consulting with the speaker may allow for the recording to be edited and the share posted.

Social Networks

Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, pictures, posts, activities, events, and interests with people in their network.

Overeaters Anonymous Public Outreach on Social Networks

Although OA members carry the message of OA, the World Service Office (WSO) is responsible for the production and distribution of all worldwide communications. Service bodies are encouraged to post WSO announcements on their local websites or create links to oa.org and any social media pages that the WSO creates. All forms of social media are an opportunity for public outreach and information.

If a service body chooses to create such an account, it is encouraged to keep the account free of all personal pictures and comments that would reveal the identity of OA members. It is suggested that a disclaimer is put on the page such as “We appreciate that people who like this page are showing support of our Fellowship, but this does not indicate that they are members of Overeaters Anonymous.”

Individual Personal Pages on Social Networks

It is strongly recommended that we not share that we are members of Overeaters Anonymous on our social media accounts. While we may not care who knows we are in OA, we may inadvertently disclose another person’s membership in our posts.

Be careful that posted photos do not reveal that we or others in the photo are at an OA event. Be aware of visible backgrounds, badges, or banners.

Avoid posting an OA flyer on a personal site or talking about OA in a video. If we do post OA information, some may assume, rightly or wrongly, that anyone who likes or supports our site or post is an OA member.

Social Network Groups

OA members may wish to explore the possibility of making a private group on a social network site. Such a group would be password protected and individuals join by invitation only. Privacy policies for social network sites are often changed. It is important that the members feel the security of the group is adequate. They need to be aware that there is a risk to their anonymity when using social media. It is recommended that the group read the privacy policies of the site regularly to ensure the group remains private.

Some social media sites are just for sharing information between select friends. This type of site is a good one to use as an information page. Other websites may offer networking forums and social groups, but they also have a product to sell. On this type of site, there is a chance of the message of OA being confused with that of the website. While we are free to participate on such sites, it is not a good idea to use the OA name or logo in any way. It could be mistaken that OA is in some way affiliated with and promoting the site and its products.

Using a social network site to let people know about OA is a great way to inform the public that OA exists. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just a page that gives the name and purpose of OA with a link to the Fifteen Questions from the OA website page “Take the OA Quiz” (oa.org/quiz) may attract interest.

Use of OA Name and Logo

OA, Overeaters Anonymous, and the OA logo are registered trademarks, and all OA literature is copyrighted. The OA name, logo, and literature should be used for OA group—and service body—related sites only. Permission is required to use the logo or OA literature in any medium, including in print or electronic materials. For complete information, visit the “Copyright Requests” page on the OA website.

A good idea to remember about anonymity in all environments, digital or otherwise, is to never share anything that you would not want to appear on the front page of the newspaper. While you may keep the anonymity of others, you cannot ensure that other people will keep yours.

OA Responsibility Pledge

Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible.

---

OA Board-approved
©2016, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All Rights reserved. Rev. 5/2023
#570

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664

These guidelines have been developed through the experience of OA members and the Board of Trustees, who have contributed to their creation. They reflect OA Traditions and Concepts of Service as reflected in our OA Conference-approved literature. These guidelines are strong suggestions based on those who have gone before. They do not replace the local group conscience, but we encourage OA groups and service bodies to consider carefully before acting contrary to these suggestions.

The guidelines are designed to assist members in situations where an OA meeting (or meeting attendance) is being disrupted by the behavior of one or more members, within or outside a meeting, whether face-to-face or virtual. Fortunately, such disruptions are rare. The disruption can range from subtle, annoying behavior to dangerous behavior. Many times the behavior is unintentional. Here are examples of issues you may encounter in your meeting:

“My regular meeting is having a problem with a member who is disruptive. She speaks out of turn and argues with other people. People are worried and the group is losing members. What should we do?”

“My home meeting is having a problem with a member who acts in a threatening manner. People are afraid and upset; many are not coming back to the meeting. Short of legal action or contacting the police, does OA have a policy on how to handle difficult members?”

“One of our members has made inappropriate sexual advances toward another member. How should the member and the group handle this situation?”

“Some members from my home group are being particularly controlling with their sponsees and specifically saying that, in order to be considered abstinent, members must stop taking medication and must follow a specific food plan. How can we deal with this?”

“Can we kick a member out of a meeting and/or out of OA?”

There are no easy answers. Although OA has no written policy on disruptive behavior, we can refer to our literature and the Traditions.

• “From Tradition One in The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition: “The unity of OA is a matter of life and death to us. However, unity isn’t always easy to maintain…. If we as individuals did not value the common welfare of the Fellowship above our own … OA … would lose the strength that comes from our union of the many” (p. 92).
• From Tradition Three in The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition: “Occasionally groups are plagued by members who disrupt the harmony of the meetings. Even these people are not permanently barred from the group and denied the chance to recover. Of course groups must protect their members from violence or harassment…. We have found that most personality problems can best be dealt with on a one-to-one basis” (p. 109).

Tradition Five tells us that the primary purpose of every OA group is to carry the message of recovery to those who still suffer. Every member of the group has the responsibility, therefore, to keep that primary purpose in mind. If a member’s actions are disruptive or dangerous, the OA group not only needs to protect itself and its members, it must also make certain that the primary purpose for which the group exists is upheld. If it doesn’t, the meeting may fold and many may lose the opportunity for recovery.

How a meeting protects itself can cause conflict and controversy. Each situation is unique and should be evaluated individually. Discussing it at your group conscience meeting can help. You may find it helpful to contact your intergroup, service board, region, or the World Service Office to learn how others have dealt with such problems. A letter from the chair of the Board of Trustees to OA members, dated October 6, 2017, stated, “In some cases the individuals who offer themselves as sponsors may go beyond the boundaries suggested for sponsorship. . . . They ought only to share or suggest changes that worked for them in their journey. Sponsors should not issue orders or make demands.”

Alerting local groups, intergroups, and service boards or virtual service boards to potential problems helps them to be prepared if the disruptive individual shows up at another meeting. Be careful, however, to put principles before personalities (Tradition Twelve) and protect members’ anonymity as well as confidentiality.

Clear guidelines in meeting formats (such as a statement regarding cross talk or safe practices in choosing a sponsor) can prevent most problems. Important guidelines may need to be repeated more than once during a meeting. Because virtual meetings lack face-to-face contact, it is critical to set guidelines based on principles prior to creating a meeting format. As our Suggested Meeting Format states, “The chair for each meeting has the discretion to suggest to anyone sharing that he or she is off-topic or is speaking too long.”

When addressing a disruptive member, begin informally, one-to-one if possible. One or two members of the meeting may approach the disruptive individual to discuss the problem and look for solutions. Let the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions guide you. Always strive to place principles before personalities and treat others with kindness, patience, tolerance, and love. It is best if the members approaching the disruptive individual are grounded in these principles. Any person is welcome at our meetings, but their disruptive behavior is not. Remember, we are dealing with inappropriate behavior. You might need to ask yourself how you would treat a sick person in this situation. You might need to approach the disruptive person by phone. However you decide to approach the disruptive person, it is often helpful to have another member present to ensure your own safety.

If a one-to-one approach is not possible, or if the individual is uncommunicative or uncooperative when approached, it may be necessary to hold a group conscience with the whole meeting or form a specific committee. Be sure to provide an equal hearing for all. Ask everyone to pray for God’s will and come to the meeting with healthy, tolerant, and supportive attitudes. Blame and accusations help no one. The meeting may decide that this individual should be asked to leave for the good of the group. While we cannot expel any person from OA, we can ask a disruptive member who is unwilling to change their behavior(s) to leave the meeting and stay away until the matter has been resolved. This can be done while upholding Tradition Three; we are not denying the person membership in OA as a whole. If the disruption is significant, it may be necessary to state clear consequences, including registering a formal complaint with the police. Our Tradition of anonymity (Tradition Twelve) should never be used to cover up unsafe behavior of any kind.

Other Suggestions

In all cases, strong meetings can minimize opportunities for disruptive behavior. Do you have a strong meeting? Would your meeting benefit from doing a group inventory? Are you using the suggestions on the Strong Meeting Checklist? (See the list of resources at the end of this document.) You may already have procedures in place for dealing with disruptive behaviors. The Suggested Meeting Format provides wording, giving the chair of the meeting responsibility for dealing with such behaviors. Well-prepared group secretaries, leaders, or chairs—and an informed group conscience— are essential to the well-being of meetings.

If disruptions are subtle and reflect nonadherence to the group conscience or meeting format, consider holding a meeting on Tradition Two and/or Tradition Five. Discuss how the Tradition(s) has helped you in your recovery.

A chair, moderator, or any other member can interrupt a disruptive person’s share or outburst by calling for a five-minute break and using the Serenity Prayer to interrupt the disruption and refocus the meeting. A short break or a moment of silent reflection may help. These ideas may bring enough of a pause between the behavior and the continuation of the meeting to bring everyone back to focus on our OA recovery.

If the behavior includes approaching members (during or after a meeting) for inappropriate reasons, including sales pitches, sexual advances, or other unacceptable actions, group members may interrupt the behavior by joining a conversation that might morph into something else and redirect it. For example, if you have a member who habitually approaches younger newcomers as an available sponsor, whereas another member might be a healthier, safer option, members may interrupt and discourage the person known for this type of behavior.

If the disruptive behavior is subtle and primarily attention-seeking, take the person aside or offline, listen to their concerns, and ask how you can help. Share some of your own experience on how you got well, so the person may identify and find their own solutions. Remember the expression, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Most situations can be resolved within the group. However, if a person appears to be a danger to themself or others, then it is appropriate to call the police. Police are trained to deal with such cases.

Sometimes a member is so distraught that they may need immediate attention. In a face-to-face meeting, it may be appropriate for someone to take that member aside to offer help. In a virtual meeting, a member may arrange to immediately contact the distraught person to work one-on-one offline while the rest of the group continues its meeting.

You can address disruption in virtual meetings by speaking to people privately. If this is not successful, discussion at the group conscience meeting may help the group find a way to approach the problem.

Technology can also be helpful. Phone meetings often have access to an internet interface or “dashboard” that allows meeting moderators to mute or remove a disruptive caller from the meeting. In virtual meetings, make sure that a moderator with access to the dashboard is familiar with the Traditions and only mutes, drops, or blocks a caller after other methods have failed. Online meetings have options such as private messaging and “gag” commands. Moderators can remove a member who is cursing or spamming and offer a public explanation.

Remember, a member is never permanently banned from a meeting (Tradition Three).

Resources

• The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition (#990-2)
• Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions by Alcoholics Anonymous
• The Twelve Concepts of OA Service (#330)
• OA Group Inventory (download at oa.org/document-library under “Group Resources”)
• Strong Meeting Checklist (download at oa.org/document-library under “Group Resources”)
• The OA Handbook for Members, Groups, and Service Bodies: Recovery Opportunities (#120)
• Suggested Meeting Format (download at oa.org/document-library under “Meeting Formats”)

---

OA-Board Approved
©1991, 2008, 2018, 2019 Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved. Rev. 10/2020

Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. World Service Office
Location: 6075 Zenith Court NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, USA
Mailing address: PO Box 44727, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4727, USA
Telephone: +1 505-891-2664