Service Body Support
Structure of OA
Sample Intergroup Bylaws and Statement of Purpose
Suggested OA Hotline Message for Service Bodies
OA Inc. Bylaws
Seventh-Tradition Skits
Conference Policy Manual
Designated Downloader
Delegate Support Fund
Professional Exhibits Fund
Professional Exhibits Manual
Reduced-Cost Literature
Matching Grant Program
Consensus Guidelines
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. 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 (those that are linked via the Internet) irrespective of geographic boundaries.
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 16-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 Bylaws and Statement of Purpose
Download these Sample Intergroup Bylaws to help you draft new bylaws or review your existing bylaws. To vote at the World Service Business Conference, each intergroup must be duly registered, which requires bylaws on file. An intergroup may temporarily substitute a Statement of Purpose until its bylaws can be finalized. Download this Sample Statement of Purpose for guidance. Email the WSO if you would like the Sample Intergroup Bylaws as a Microsoft Word file to use as a template.
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 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. Both 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.
Conference Policy Manual
Click here to download the Conference Policy Manual, which includes a summary of continuing effects motions from 1962 to 2007.
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 1, 2008, to service bodies that have applied for funding to WSBC 2009 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 Exhibits Manual
The Professional Exhibits Manual provides 41 pages of valuable information for OA service bodies participating in professional exhibits. Topics include criteria for selecting appropriate expos and health fairs, budgeting for an exhibit, organizing volunteers, and closing the expo. 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.
Matching Grant Program
Delegates to the 2005 World Service Business Conference (WSBC) adopted a motion directing the Board of Trustees (BOT) to implement a Matching Grant Program to help service bodies participate in projects that will enhance OA unity and carry the message of recovery to compulsive eaters both within and outside OA. Intergroups, national/language service boards and regions may apply for funds.
The motion states that total yearly funding for this program will not exceed 1 percent of total donations to the World Service Office (WSO) for the prior year. Funding for 2008 is ,500. In the spirit of “matching grants,” the Matching Grant Program will award no more than 50 percent of the cost of the proposed project. Service bodies working together on a project receive preference in fund allocation. Please specify on the application one of the participating service bodies to act as project coordinator. The coordinating service body will provide progress reports to its region trustee.
The application deadline is March 1, and the BOT will allocate funds at its meeting immediately preceding the annual WSBC. It will announce the allocations at the WSBC (and by letter following the WSBC). To apply, download the Matching Grant Program Application and return.
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.
