Group Support
Resources for OA Groups
Suggested Meeting Formats
Group Conscience Guidelines
Registration/Change Forms
Seventh-Tradition Skits
Contributions
Start a New Group
Strong Meeting Checklist
Flyers for Groups and Service Bodies
Recommended Literature
OA Intergroup Directory
What Region Is My Group In?
Unity Day
IDEA Day
Group Inventory
Group Meeting Record Book
Group Autonomy: Tradition Four Issues
Group Secretary Materials
Suggested Meeting Formats
You may download this PDF file of OA’s Suggested Meeting Format, or you may order it from the World Service Office, item #512. Another format your group might consider is the Lifeline Meeting Format (download this PDF file or order item #515), which gives a structure for a meeting that uses material from Lifeline magazine. The Suggested Step Study Meeting Format offers a suggested format for working through the Twelve Steps in six sessions. You can download the PDF file or order it in printed form (item #516).
Group Conscience Guidelines
Many groups meet to determine how best to conduct meetings, spend funds, organize special events and deal with issues that affect the group or OA as a whole. These business meetings are conducted by group conscience, which is about the special ways (unique to Twelve-Step Fellowships) in which the individuals in the meetings are inspired to enable the meeting to agree on the best decisions for OA. For guidance in conducting group conscience meetings, please download the PDF file Guidelines for a Group Conscience Meeting/Suggested Group Meeting Format.
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.
Start a New Group
Would you like to start a new group, but you don’t know where to begin? Read How to Start a Meeting for more information. For suggestions on publicizing your new meeting, read Let People Know About Your Meeting. For more information about starting a new group and retaining members, read this Excerpt From The OA Handbook. Order the New Group Starter Kit from the online catalog, and you will have everything you need to get started.
Strong Meeting Checklist
The Strong Meeting Checklist will help you assess your meetings to see areas for improvement. Contains 13 items, including everything from starting and ending times to avoiding cross talk and advice-giving.
Flyers for Groups and Service Bodies
Designated Downloader Flyer. Through this service opportunity, you can help members of the Fellowship who do not have access to computers. Download this flyer for more information and a flyer to post or distribute.
Recommended Literature
- Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book)
- Seventh Tradition of OA
- Newcomer Meeting Leader’s Kit
- OA Guidelines
- OA Handbook for Members, Groups and Intergroups
- The Tools of Recovery
- The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous
- The Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous (pamphlet)
- Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook
Unity Day
This day recognizes the strength of the Fellowship worldwide. On the last Saturday in February, at 11:30 a.m. pacific standard time, OA members pause to reaffirm the strength inherent in OA’s unity.
IDEA Day
International Day Experiencing Abstinence (IDEA), celebrated the third Saturday in November, encourages OA members worldwide to begin or reaffirm their abstinence from compulsive overeating.
Group Inventory
The Group Meeting Inventory can help a group and its members assess their effectiveness.
Group Meeting Record Book
The Group Meeting Record Book is now available as a PDF file for download and printing. It contains suggested duties of the group secretary, treasurer and intergroup representative. It also contains sheets for recording information about each meeting with spaces for attendees to sign in. Feel free to print as many of the recording sheets as you need.
Group Autonomy: Tradition Four Issues
Tradition Four: “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.” A workshop at World Service Business Conference 2006 investigated the many facets of this Tradition, and participants shared their experiences and insights. To learn more, download the workshop report, Border Guards: Tradition Four Issues
