Region IV of Overeaters Anonymous - Intergroup Support
Intergroup Support
This page is intended to help Intergroups in Region IV share ideas of things that are
working in their areas. Included are workshop ideas, community outreach, and
public information practices to help get the message of recovery out to the still-
suffering compulsive overeater.
REGION IV ASSEMBLY, APRIL 2008 ~INTERGROUP SHARING NOTES:
St. Louis:
· 50 meetings in St. Louis
· Big focus is on hosting Region IV Convention in June; they ask to let the groups know about the convention
· IG putting up Info booths at Health Fairs at Universities
· Started a Sunday "Abstinence 1st" meeting - focus is on abstinence. Must be abstinent
30 days before you can speak on a tool at the meeting
· Suffered from weather related cancellation of group meetings - sent around a special
letter reminding groups/individuals of the need for IG funds & collected $300 from
that appeal
· IG office now staffed by volunteers Mon- Thursday from 9:30 - Noon. Gives
volunteers the chance to fulfill service need - if not busy at office volunteers use
downtime to meditate & journal
· March convention had 125 attendees
Kansas City:
· Sponsorship: asked for help on how other intergroups are handling it
· Have hosted 4 Super Saturdays; Big hit was an OA Fashion Show; each group
volunteers for a different topic "Unity Day" "Idea Day" etc.
· Successful retreat in the fall
· Greater KC has an active men’s meeting
· Send out post card titled, “New from Your Intergroup” to IG reps and contact person
for each group with tidbits from last IG meeting and reminder of date, time and place
for next meeting (there is no OA logo on the postcard to preserve anonymity) contact
Connie Y. at lvnantique@sbcglobal.net if you would like a copy of that postcard
· They post minutes on their website
Sunflower:
· New web site : sunflowerintergroup.org
· They have bookmarks they give out with info on them
· Use the "15 Questions" flyer and on back post IG's phone # and web site address
· Web site has blossomed since a "Techy (man)" joined - now have OA Pod Casts on
ITunes where you can listen to different speakers & access
· Speaker's list & symposium
· attendance at a diabetic fair
· Summer Retreat began at "someone's home" - now has outgrown the house and meets
at a bigger place. Topics have been OA Principles and the 12 Steps
Omaha:
· Held a BB Study /Speaker Retreat - really re-energized the members
· Have 17 to 18 in IG
· Have 3 new meetings
· 2 super Saturdays; Super Saturdays are growing - need more space
· Need Ideas for Archives
· IG officers and regular IG attendees assigned to new attendees to answer questions &
explain procedures
· Began "yoking" committees such as Ways and Means with Treasurer and Archives
with Secretary etc. find it keeps people energized and coming to IG & also increased
accountability for committee members
· Intergroup growth; new faces, new ideas
· Preparing entertainment for St Louis Convention; skits are ready!!
· Board members providing good leadership by being assigned to each committee to
keep it active
· Looking for input on committee job descriptions
· Oct. 10-12 Fall Retreat
Central Iowa Intergroup:
· Competition for board positions
· Sponsoring: asking on phone lists, “Do you want to sponsor?” to identify sponsor
· Host: 2 intergroup sharing
· Yellow tri-fold with heading “Do You Have a Problem with Food?” Usual OA Info
plus meeting lists and IG's phone #
· Held workshops on Sponsorship - suggested approaching newcomers at meetings &
giving them your name and # and say "Call me temporarily - and we'll see how if it's
a fit for a sponsor"
· Partnered up PI and a committee - now have a four fold bright yellow "wallet size"
brochure
· For an extra donation for IG they covered large Yogurt containers - slit the lids - and
called them "God Jars" -sent them to groups & asked for group and individual
donations for IG
· Use the Tri - Fold Display boards for advertising group and Open Meetings etc at
functions they have a display
· Held a Super Saturday 8 to 4 and shared responsibilities with other IG's
· Has 6 Super Saturdays each year from 8-3:30 or 4pm
· Members went on a local Radio Talk Show and talked about OA
· Have Info Tables at Alternative Health Fairs and at Farmer's Mkt's booth (cheaper
and more welcoming than medical settings)
Unity:
· Lots of discussion about healing within the intergroup (re: OA/HOW vs. Traditional
OA - they are coming together now)
· In process of identifying groups not attending intergroup
· They will be making a presentation to change the definition of abstinence at WSBC
· “Talking Points” is a printout that is sent after intergroup meetings to pass word to
groups before next meeting; tells exactly what important information an IG rep
should be sure to report to their meetings
· Hosted a BB Study, very successful; 60 attendees
· Held a Sponsorship Workshop - 1/2 day – Had speakers then a discussion in small
groups; also used the Green Dot System to Identify Sponsors - Had topics such as
Principles before Personalities - What Sponsoring Is NOT – Boundaries: also handed
out Feedback Forms for evaluating
· Hosted the recent Buffalo Retreat - 111 people attended- They shared "The Language
Of Unity" that all are members of OA
· In listing groups they list OA/HOW format
· Have an IG Newspaper called "Society Pages
· Encourage IG members to attend "struggling" meetings to help them grow &
strengthen the members own recovery
· Vice Chair is seeking out meetings that don't contribute to IG/ send Reps to IG &
encourage them to support & participate
Heart of Canada:
· Had a table at Health and Wellness Expo. - 3,000 attended
hopefully a seed was planted and they are looking into doing it again next
year plus try to attend more conventions
· OA/HOW has 30 - 40 people
· Winnipeg has 7 meetings
· Hoping that hosting the Fall Assembly in 2008. They have not had a convention
since last Feb., so their funds are down. They are planning a convention in Oct. to
coincide with the Fall Region 4 Assembly, so hopefully lots of members will be
coming to the Assembly & it will re-energize membership & spread the word to the
media.
Lincoln NE:
· Holding meetings everyday but Friday
Quad Cities:
· Membership is stable - holding steady
· IG meeting has moved around to different sites in area
· Held a Workbook Study
Cedar Rapids, IA:
· Give Scholarships to Recovery Events
· Put up "Can't Stop Eating? OA Can Help" signs in Buses (it's free for non-profit)
· A lot of step based recovery
· More meeting sites should be near bus line (see above)
Northern Serenity:
· Have had tables at Health Fairs with TV/DVD player with OA PSA's playing and trifold
display board with literature & meeting lists; plan to do more
· Rotate IG and Open Meetings around our large area - to introduce more people to IG
· Plan to hold workshops on Sponsorship - 12 Steps – etc
· IG appointed new PI and Archive committees
· Have sent out 3 mailings to Physicians & Nutritionist
o included letter from IG;
o info about problems with lap band & other reduction surgeries;
o testimonials from OA members about how OA has changed their lives
o Meeting lists
o Next Open Meeting Date and site
o copy of "The Courier"
***They received positive feedback from some Dr's and Nutritionists. Also
had a couple "lap band" surgery patients attend several OA meetings after
hearing about OA from a nutritionist!
· Intergroup travels for different meetings
Miscellaneous comments:
· Meet in Libraries to keep down cost for IG
· Do 15 minutes/month of Region work
· Be sure to sign up 60 days before assembly
· Region notebook goes above Roberts Rules
· New Courier available online
· Young People’s page on website
· Need articles for region newsletter
This page is intended to help Intergroups in Region IV share ideas of things that are
working in their areas. Included are workshop ideas, community outreach, and
public information practices to help get the message of recovery out to the still-
suffering compulsive overeater.
REGION IV ASSEMBLY, APRIL 2008 ~INTERGROUP SHARING NOTES:
St. Louis:
· 50 meetings in St. Louis
· Big focus is on hosting Region IV Convention in June; they ask to let the groups know about the convention
· IG putting up Info booths at Health Fairs at Universities
· Started a Sunday "Abstinence 1st" meeting - focus is on abstinence. Must be abstinent
30 days before you can speak on a tool at the meeting
· Suffered from weather related cancellation of group meetings - sent around a special
letter reminding groups/individuals of the need for IG funds & collected $300 from
that appeal
· IG office now staffed by volunteers Mon- Thursday from 9:30 - Noon. Gives
volunteers the chance to fulfill service need - if not busy at office volunteers use
downtime to meditate & journal
· March convention had 125 attendees
Kansas City:
· Sponsorship: asked for help on how other intergroups are handling it
· Have hosted 4 Super Saturdays; Big hit was an OA Fashion Show; each group
volunteers for a different topic "Unity Day" "Idea Day" etc.
· Successful retreat in the fall
· Greater KC has an active men’s meeting
· Send out post card titled, “New from Your Intergroup” to IG reps and contact person
for each group with tidbits from last IG meeting and reminder of date, time and place
for next meeting (there is no OA logo on the postcard to preserve anonymity) contact
Connie Y. at lvnantique@sbcglobal.net if you would like a copy of that postcard
· They post minutes on their website
Sunflower:
· New web site : sunflowerintergroup.org
· They have bookmarks they give out with info on them
· Use the "15 Questions" flyer and on back post IG's phone # and web site address
· Web site has blossomed since a "Techy (man)" joined - now have OA Pod Casts on
ITunes where you can listen to different speakers & access
· Speaker's list & symposium
· attendance at a diabetic fair
· Summer Retreat began at "someone's home" - now has outgrown the house and meets
at a bigger place. Topics have been OA Principles and the 12 Steps
Omaha:
· Held a BB Study /Speaker Retreat - really re-energized the members
· Have 17 to 18 in IG
· Have 3 new meetings
· 2 super Saturdays; Super Saturdays are growing - need more space
· Need Ideas for Archives
· IG officers and regular IG attendees assigned to new attendees to answer questions &
explain procedures
· Began "yoking" committees such as Ways and Means with Treasurer and Archives
with Secretary etc. find it keeps people energized and coming to IG & also increased
accountability for committee members
· Intergroup growth; new faces, new ideas
· Preparing entertainment for St Louis Convention; skits are ready!!
· Board members providing good leadership by being assigned to each committee to
keep it active
· Looking for input on committee job descriptions
· Oct. 10-12 Fall Retreat
Central Iowa Intergroup:
· Competition for board positions
· Sponsoring: asking on phone lists, “Do you want to sponsor?” to identify sponsor
· Host: 2 intergroup sharing
· Yellow tri-fold with heading “Do You Have a Problem with Food?” Usual OA Info
plus meeting lists and IG's phone #
· Held workshops on Sponsorship - suggested approaching newcomers at meetings &
giving them your name and # and say "Call me temporarily - and we'll see how if it's
a fit for a sponsor"
· Partnered up PI and a committee - now have a four fold bright yellow "wallet size"
brochure
· For an extra donation for IG they covered large Yogurt containers - slit the lids - and
called them "God Jars" -sent them to groups & asked for group and individual
donations for IG
· Use the Tri - Fold Display boards for advertising group and Open Meetings etc at
functions they have a display
· Held a Super Saturday 8 to 4 and shared responsibilities with other IG's
· Has 6 Super Saturdays each year from 8-3:30 or 4pm
· Members went on a local Radio Talk Show and talked about OA
· Have Info Tables at Alternative Health Fairs and at Farmer's Mkt's booth (cheaper
and more welcoming than medical settings)
Unity:
· Lots of discussion about healing within the intergroup (re: OA/HOW vs. Traditional
OA - they are coming together now)
· In process of identifying groups not attending intergroup
· They will be making a presentation to change the definition of abstinence at WSBC
· “Talking Points” is a printout that is sent after intergroup meetings to pass word to
groups before next meeting; tells exactly what important information an IG rep
should be sure to report to their meetings
· Hosted a BB Study, very successful; 60 attendees
· Held a Sponsorship Workshop - 1/2 day – Had speakers then a discussion in small
groups; also used the Green Dot System to Identify Sponsors - Had topics such as
Principles before Personalities - What Sponsoring Is NOT – Boundaries: also handed
out Feedback Forms for evaluating
· Hosted the recent Buffalo Retreat - 111 people attended- They shared "The Language
Of Unity" that all are members of OA
· In listing groups they list OA/HOW format
· Have an IG Newspaper called "Society Pages
· Encourage IG members to attend "struggling" meetings to help them grow &
strengthen the members own recovery
· Vice Chair is seeking out meetings that don't contribute to IG/ send Reps to IG &
encourage them to support & participate
Heart of Canada:
· Had a table at Health and Wellness Expo. - 3,000 attended
hopefully a seed was planted and they are looking into doing it again next
year plus try to attend more conventions
· OA/HOW has 30 - 40 people
· Winnipeg has 7 meetings
· Hoping that hosting the Fall Assembly in 2008. They have not had a convention
since last Feb., so their funds are down. They are planning a convention in Oct. to
coincide with the Fall Region 4 Assembly, so hopefully lots of members will be
coming to the Assembly & it will re-energize membership & spread the word to the
media.
Lincoln NE:
· Holding meetings everyday but Friday
Quad Cities:
· Membership is stable - holding steady
· IG meeting has moved around to different sites in area
· Held a Workbook Study
Cedar Rapids, IA:
· Give Scholarships to Recovery Events
· Put up "Can't Stop Eating? OA Can Help" signs in Buses (it's free for non-profit)
· A lot of step based recovery
· More meeting sites should be near bus line (see above)
Northern Serenity:
· Have had tables at Health Fairs with TV/DVD player with OA PSA's playing and trifold
display board with literature & meeting lists; plan to do more
· Rotate IG and Open Meetings around our large area - to introduce more people to IG
· Plan to hold workshops on Sponsorship - 12 Steps – etc
· IG appointed new PI and Archive committees
· Have sent out 3 mailings to Physicians & Nutritionist
o included letter from IG;
o info about problems with lap band & other reduction surgeries;
o testimonials from OA members about how OA has changed their lives
o Meeting lists
o Next Open Meeting Date and site
o copy of "The Courier"
***They received positive feedback from some Dr's and Nutritionists. Also
had a couple "lap band" surgery patients attend several OA meetings after
hearing about OA from a nutritionist!
· Intergroup travels for different meetings
Miscellaneous comments:
· Meet in Libraries to keep down cost for IG
· Do 15 minutes/month of Region work
· Be sure to sign up 60 days before assembly
· Region notebook goes above Roberts Rules
· New Courier available online
· Young People’s page on website
· Need articles for region newsletter
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