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Structure of OA
Sample Intergroup Bylaws, Sample Service Board Bylaws and Statement of Purpose
Intergroup or Service Board Inventory
Suggested OA Hotline Message for Service Bodies
OA Inc. Bylaws
Seventh Tradition of OA Pamphlet
Seventh Tradition of OA Pamphlet (Translatable)
Seventh-Tradition Skits
Rotation-of-Service Skit
Intergroup Treasurer Guidelines
Conference Policy Manual
Designated Downloader
Delegate Support Fund
Professional Exhibits Fund
Professional Tradeshows Manual
Reduced-Cost Literature
Consensus Guidelines
Professional Outreach Suggestions
Structure of OA
Individual members
OA’s diverse membership consists of more than 6,500 registered groups in over 75 countries.
Groups
A group consists of two or more people. Each group practices the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA, guided by the Twelve Concepts of OA Service. No member of a group is required to practice any actions to remain an OA member or to have a voice at a meeting.
Intergroups and Service Boards
Intergroups and Service Boards consist of two or more groups. Intergroups are usually formed of meetings within a general geographic area. Service Boards are service bodies that provide support for groups and/or intergroups that are not otherwise served within the existing service structure. This includes national service boards (NSBs), language service boards (LSBs), and virtual service boards (VSBs). NSBs serve groups and intergroups that speak one language (usually not English). LSBs serve groups and/or IGs, usually in different countries, that share a common language. VSBs serve virtual groups (online or telephone meetings). If you are interested in starting an intergroup or service board, read How to Start an Intergroup/Service Board for more information.
Regions
OA has 10 regions worldwide that maintain direct communication with groups and intergroups. Regions sponsor local conventions and assemblies. Regional assemblies also nominate trustee candidates to serve on OA’s Board of Trustees (BOT), whose members are elected at the World Service Business Conference (WSBC).
World Service
The WSBC, attended by delegates from around the world, meets annually each May to conduct the business of OA and to elect the 17-member Board of Trustees. The board acts on behalf of all members of the OA Fellowship. The World Service Office (WSO) works with the BOT to provide quality support and services to the entire OA Fellowship.
Sample Intergroup/Service Board Bylaws and Statement of Purpose
Download these Sample Intergroup Bylaws, Sample Service Board Bylaws or Sample Statement of Purpose to help you draft or review either document. To vote at the World Service Business Conference (WSBC), each intergroup must be register as per OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VI, Section 2a). (To vote at WSBC, each service board must be registered as per OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII, Section 3a).) Please refer to Introduction to Intergroup/Service Board Bylaws for further details regarding drafting or reviewing existing bylaws.
Intergroup or Service Board Inventory
The Intergroup or Service Board Inventory can help intergroups or service bodies evaluate their present performance.
Suggested OA Hotline Message for Service Bodies
Use this suggested script to record an OA Hotline Message for telephone callers.
OA Inc. Bylaws
You may download PDF files of the OA Inc. bylaws for reference. Subpart A governs the organization of the World Service Office and describes the responsibilities of the Board of Trustees as directors of a nonprofit corporation. Subpart B, which is approved by the WSBC, defines OA membership, the basic structure of OA service bodies and specific procedures relating to the functioning of the Fellowship.
Seventh Tradition of OA Pamphlet
Pamphlet detailing the vital recovery services supported by the Seventh Tradition at all levels and how the groups carry the message through their contributions.
Seventh Tradition of OA Pamphlet (Translatable)
Seventh Tradition of OA (translatable version) is a shorter version of the pamphlet, designed for ease of translation into languages other than English.
Seventh-Tradition Skits
Fun with a purpose: Seventh-Tradition Skits are designed to help OA groups and service bodies foster greater understanding of OA’s Seventh Tradition. “What’s It Worth?” focuses on how much OA members spent on binge foods before coming to OA. “Wheel of Misfortune” addresses what program would be like without the services provided by member contributions. “A Typical Day” follows an OA member from morning to evening. All skits can be adapted to local situations. By having fun and using humor, your group or service body can help members understand the direct benefits their contributions provide to the Fellowship.
Rotation-of-Service Skit
The Rotation-of-Service Skit skit explores the importance of rotating service positions, using a lighthearted approach designed to engage and amuse OA members.
Intergroup Treasurer Guidelines
The intergroup treasurer oversees the management and reporting of an intergroup’s income and expenses. The Intergroup Treasurer Guidelines include information on a treasurer’s duties and provide a sample monthly intergroup treasurer’s report.
Conference Policy Manual
Click here to download the Conference Policy Manual, which includes a summary of continuing effects motions from 1962 to 2011.
Designated Downloader
Through this new service opportunity, you can help members of the Fellowship who do not have access to computers. Download the Designated Downloader Flyer for more information and a flyer to post or distribute.
Delegate Support Fund Needs Your Service
Each year at the World Service Business Conference (WSBC), delegates make decisions that affect OA as a whole. For this reason, it is critical that the WSBC represents the voice of the entire OA community. The Board of Trustees (BOT) established the Delegate Support Fund to assist service bodies that are otherwise unable to send a delegate to this important annual Conference.
The Delegate Support Fund needs your financial support! Help send representatives to the WSBC by donating to the fund. The BOT distributes the contributions to service bodies that cannot afford to send delegates to represent them at Conference and gives priority to service bodies that were unable to send delegates to previous WSBCs.
Since being established by the BOT in 1993, the fund has made it possible for delegates from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the United States to attend Conference.
The BOT will allocate donations received by November to service bodies that have applied for funding to the following WSBC and qualify as beneficiaries of the fund. For details about contributing to the Delegate Support Fund, read Delegate Support Fund Contributions. To apply for funds, download Delegate Support Fund Application.
Professional Exhibits Fund
The Board of Trustees has created a special fund to help service bodies exhibit at professional conferences and conventions that might otherwise be too costly. If you know of a conference or convention at which you think OA should exhibit, consider applying for funding that would help your intergroup, national/language service board or region participate. To apply for funds, download and complete the Professional Exhibits Fund Application.
If you would like to support OA in carrying the message through large conferences and conventions, please consider donating to the Professional Exhibits Fund. You may send your check to the World Service Office at PO Box 44020, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4020 USA, or donate by credit card on the Contribution page.
Professional Tradeshows Manual
The Professional Tradeshows Manual provides valuable information for OA service bodies participating in professional tradeshows. Topics include criteria for selecting appropriate tradeshows and health fairs, budgeting for a tradeshow, organizing volunteers, and closing the tradeshow. Appendices contain a list of professional associations, a list of suggested professionals to contact, the professional exhibits fund application, volunteer orientation guidelines, and answers to questions non-OA members frequently ask.
Reduced-Cost Literature
Intergroup Public Information and Professional Outreach Committees may purchase literature through members of the Board of Trustees at a reduced cost when hosting health fairs and professional exhibits or for distribution to professional groups. The reduced cost is the higher of either the actual cost of the literature or 50 percent of the retail price. Shipping is extra. The reduced-cost application form provides space for listing the event, and contact and shipping information; lists the available literature; includes guidelines for making a request; and requires the signature of an OA region trustee.
Consensus Guidelines
To find a process by which their decisions would reflect the wishes and concerns of all participating, the Board of Trustees has approved guidelines for the consensus meetings that are held at each quarterly BOT meeting. Although the trustees created the consensus guidelines for use in board meetings, they hope other service bodies may adapt the process to the needs in their areas. Please click on this link to download the trustee article and consensus guidelines.
Professional Outreach Suggestions
Please refer to OA’s Guidelines for Professional Outreach Committees .
For more detailed information, the spiral-bound Professional Outreach Manual is available for purchase from the World Service Office bookstore (Item #772, $15).
Service bodies may wish to distribute the Professional Outreach Flyer to encourage outreach activities by individual OA members.
The WSBC Professional Outreach Committee is available to assist service bodies that wish to reach out to healthcare professionals. To reach the committee, please email Sandy Hickox at the World Service Office.