I’m a weirdo, I guess, because I love doing OA service. When I was a newcomer, our Intergroup (IG) had Super Saturday events every month. These would often be sponsored by different meetings. During the lunch break, we would have the monthly IG meeting. I sat in once and was hooked. I loved the laughing and the banter as much, if not more than the business stuff. And I admired these people of the IG who had what I wanted. They had a love for OA and a commitment to abstinence. That enthusiasm is contagious!
As soon as I had met the abstinence requirement, they found me a job. Imagine that! You don’t have to look very hard to find opportunities for service! Fast forward about 16 years, and I’m at the Region 5 assembly as the Representative for my new Intergroup, listening to and voting on proposals, getting updates on what is happening in other states and with the World Service Office (WSO), and being amazed at all it takes to run this ship. It felt very personal. If I don’t do my share to keep this miracle of OA going, it could be all gone tomorrow. And then, oh boy would I be in trouble! My previous Intergroup had disbanded, sadly. Let’s not forget that Region 4, also, disbanded. I could not have imagined that we’d lose a Region! So, that’s why I stepped up. As our Responsibility pledge states, “…I am responsible.”
During this two day assembly, I met so many smart, dedicated OAs! Here’s a group of people who know how important this OA service is, and they are willing to do the work to keep OA Region 5 going and to make it even better. It’s like the old-timers in my first meetings told me, “Stick with the winners, win with the stickers!” There are so many long time members serving here at Region! If I want to be a “sticker”, too, then this is a good place for me to be!
I was there to learn and work, but I found out I also there to laugh! We had a good time getting to know each other, and I feel like I have a bunch of new OA friends in the two committees that I chose to work with. I have a tendency to be too serious, and I needed some people in my life who are more relaxed and lighthearted than I am. Here, I found them! They were quick to include me in the fun of working together. They’re helping me to love doing service even more! In the long run, it is the loving friendships that we make with other compulsive overeaters that truly keep us coming back. At least, that’s what’s working for me.
Norma B, Southwest Michigan Intergroup
Category: Uncategorized
NEW ARTICLE!
I served as outgoing CHI-WIF intergroup delegate to this Assembly and here are some highlights.
Friday Evening 10-31-25
1) Workshop – our new WSO Trustee liaison Juliette R. of Ohio gave an excellent talk about dealing with disruptive OA members. Some ideas shared were: Explain traditions & breaks to member; have a one-on-one with disruptive member; form committee to deal with problem; deregister group w/WSO & IG.
2) Intergroup Sharing Session – Discussion on 2 main topics: Getting more members to step up for service, especially at IG, Region & WSO levels; How to get the word out to the public about OA. Some suggestions: Ask someone personally to serve; encourage sponsees; Lower or readjust abstinence requirements & bylaws; be a mentor; job share.
3) State Meetings – Our Illinois group discussed upcoming state events: Unity Day 2026 – Sat. 2-21-26; In-person Retreat – Jan. 30-31-Feb.1, 2026 in Woodstock IL “Abstinence during Difficult Times”; Workshop “Don’t Isolate, Congregate” Sat. Dec. 13, 2025. Illinois reps are also planning an all-Illinois in-person workshop in May/June in the Decatur or Springfield area; more details forthcoming.
Saturday 11-1-25 Morning
1) Roll Call of Attendees – 19 reps from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; 4 officers, 1 parliamentarian, 1 Trustee Liaison. 2) Agenda reviewed/accepted. 3)Mini Abstinence Countdown (longest was 48 years!). 4) Executive Committee Reports presented – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Trustee Liaison. 5)Committee Meetings conducted– Bylaws; Convention; Finance; Media.
Afternoon
1) Parliamentarian Gerri M. gave short talk on proper meeting/voting procedures; 2) Candidates for election to new Vice chair & Secretary positions gave short pitch of their qualifications. 3) Sub-committees for Outreach Committee of the Whole – Intergroup 2 Intergroup; PIPO; 12 Step Within.
4) Discussion on next annual Region 5 Conventions: 2026 in Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend; 2027 possibly in St. Louis Bi-State IG (will finalize in Jan. 2026; dates TBD). 5) 7th Tradition – collected $275 from all attendees & delegates.
Sunday 11-2-25 Morning
1) Committee & Sub-committee Reports from Saturday sessions – A) Bylaws; B)2025 Convention;
C) Finance; D) Media; E) Intergroup 2 Intergroup; F) PIPO; G) 12 Step Within; 2) Election of New Vice Chair (Kevin F.- Indiana) & New Secretary (Kerry M.- Turning Point IG Chicago). 3) Approval of 2026 Budget; 4) Motions voted on & adopted: A) Spring Assemblies meet virtually & Fall Assemblies in Person; B) Dissolution of inactive Greater Canton & Central IL IG’s & all funds distributed 4) Recognition of New & Outgoing Reps.
– Evelyn S.
Categories
My Recovery
NEW ARTICLE!
It always begins with a plan. A plan of eating, a plan for service, and a plan of recovery.
If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.
However, in this day and age and based on my age and shoe size, I quote “failure is not an option”. Having made a decision to turn my life and will over to the care of God, as I understood God, and having made a firm resolve to do just that. As a result of this decision, I launched a long and sometimes treacherous and precarious journey of abstinence and slips.
Many intensive 12 Step studies later and freedom of 60 excess pounds, I still “trudge the road of happy destiny”. Some days are smoot sailing on a sea of glass, some days are like a hurricane. Most days are just live and let live, one day at a time, and stick to the plan. If you absolutely need to change the plan, don’t do it alone! Don’t do it hungry! Do change your plan with your Sponsor.
– Thomas M.
Categories
Without a Doubt
NEW ARTICLE!
This past weekend I attended our Region 5 2025 Fall Assembly. In addition to conducting our business with kindness and respect, we had 5 minute pop up shares throughout the weekend. In that short,condensed time, I heard the amazing power of this program. Over and over people shared how the addiction was arrested, lives were transformed, relationships healed, and difficult life situations were being handled with faith and grace with OA. Do miracles abound in this program? Without a doubt!
– Carol Ann M.
Categories
Someone is Watching
I heard a speaker recently at my home meeting that talked about how he was led to OA. His mother has been a member in recovery for over 40 years, and he recalled how, when he was younger, his mom would get and make phone calls early in the morning with fellow OA members and was always talking to these strangers. He also shared about this large wicker basket filled with various OA books and pamphlets that had a prominent place in their home. He met and got to know so many of his Mom’s OA friends and how nice and kind they were. And he talked about how peaceful and happy and more loving his Mom became as she continued to work this “strange and wonderful” OA program that he didn’t really understand.
But over the years, as his own compulsive eating got worse and worse, and he got bigger and bigger and more miserable and out of control with his eating, he remembered how the program changed his mom for the better. So, when he hit his own bottom, he plunged in and gave OA a try. He struggled in the beginning, but the modeling that his mom provided for him all those years and how it worked for her, he was able to keep going. And he recently celebrated one year of abstinence for himself. He’s now more peaceful himself and has been able to get through some difficult life situations so much better.
As I listened to him tell his story that night, it helped me again realize how important it is to just keep working our program and keep our commitment to our own recovery, because others are watching and listening. And we never know how our actions can impact a fellow compulsive overeater. So keep on keeping on!
– Evelyn S.
Categories
My Return to Region
So much has changed, there is so much more work and so few people are willing to do the work.
I’m grateful to those who have stayed and kept this life-saving fellowship alive. It is so saving my life. How soon I forgot what this OA fellowship has done for me personally, not to mention those in the family who might need it too. It is so true that many hands make light work. I have to admit that I have not done anything to help other than 7th tradition above the local level in over 10 years. I owe this fellowship and 12 Step program.
Nothing else has ever worked for me and I treat this like I’m doing OA a favor. I got it twisted.
Thanks for allowing me to serve this weekend!
In Unity.
– Anonymous
Click the link below to check out the March Edition of the CSSI Bulletin from the Chicago area in IL.
Click the link below to check out the January Edition of OA Today from the St. Louis Bi-State Intergroup of OA.
Categories
Surrender
Before OA I didn’t take each day seriously. I sat back and let things happen. I would watch TV and eat my food for one. To relax, I would sit back and fantasize about what a great job I was doing or how competent I was. Now I know my past and acknowledge this defect with my food. I do the footwork. I weigh and measure my food. I don’t have a regular scale, but keep using my food scale religiously. I stay with my food plan one meal at a time and surrender the results. I weigh at the doctor’s office and make the necessary adjustments. My weight varies little.
Instead of sitting back and fantasizing, I do what life puts in front of me to do. I mow the lawn, shovel the snow, and clean my house as best I can. I work during the day. I accept my supply orders and act on them as quickly as possible. I make art. Where as before I would fantasize about how good I was, now I work every day. I am 14 years abstinent and have accumulated a good body of work. I no longer have to think about how good of an artist I am, but can see the results. Other artist say they like my work and I am starting to get recognition for it. I have even started to sell some work. It all comes down to taking the Steps, one day at a time.
– Kevin F.
Categories
OA SERVICE
I recently attended the Region 5 Fall Assembly representing my local Chicago area intergroup. Region 5 encompasses the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, North Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, and Minnesota. I was so impressed by the dedication and commitment of the other attending representatives there, and all the time and energy they are putting into spreading the message of recovery from compulsive eating in their areas. These delegates and myself have come to know the benefits of service. I was told early on in my recovery that “We can’t keep our recovery unless we give it away.” I did not understand this for a long time. But now I do, because I have given service in many ways over my 49 years in OA.
Service has gotten me out of myself. Anytime I serve in ways large or small, I receive. Like when I serve as a sponsor, for example, I speak recovery to my sponsee, but I am saying what I need to hear too. Or when I serve as a speaker at a meeting or a convention or retreat, I see heads nodding from the audience, reminding me that I am not alone on this recovery path. And when I talk to a newcomer who is searching for some relief from the pain of food bondage, and see the hope on their face when they hear that they can be set free, I am reminded that recovery is still there for me too. It really is a “win-win” program.
Service is one of our tools that we can use to strengthen and maintain our own recovery. We first need to receive recovery from others when we are new to the program, so we can begin to heal. Then after we feel stronger and have some abstinence, we can serve. There are so many ways to do this: setting up chairs for a meeting; making and receiving calls or texts; being a greeter or serving in other meeting positions; and then moving on up to intergroup, region, and World Service levels to serve as reps, chairs, and trustees.
Remember that service produces growth and strengthens recovery. And this is also a WE program. We do not have to figure out how to do any service by ourselves. There are always others who are willing to help us. So give it a try!
Gratefully submitted.
– Evelyn S.